Chapter 105
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A floating card in the sky spins rapidly, emitting an intense light. As the light fades and I open my closed eyes, there she is—
「Sena…」
She stands protectively in front of me, facing off against Mika and the other two. However, there’s something odd about her appearance.
「What’s happening all of a sudden?! A ghost?! No, it’s even more—」
Saint Mika cries out at the sudden appearance of this threat.
As she mentions the word ‘ghost’, Sena’s form is indeed transparent enough to see through.
「Son-in-law, this is the work of Sena’s talismans. They’re designed to activate when something happens to their master.」
「Talismans—」
「Indeed. The Sena before us now is, you could say, a shikigami sent by her—well, it’s like a projection of Sena.」
As I receive this explanation from Sensei, the three women take up defensive stances.
「I sense a power far beyond that of a mere ghost. It’s likely a spirit or something similar.」
「How did such a thing get here?!」
「I don’t know. But it seems clear that she’s an ally of the Holy Knight Yamada, and therefore an enemy to the Hero and us.」
「Ah, so he was hanging out with spirits or something where he escaped to? What an unfunny joke.」
Well, it wouldn’t be wrong to say we were 「hanging out.」
I can’t deny that.
「Your silence is confirmation. You’re not denying it, are you?」
Yes, that’s correct.
「To think he’s dating a spirit… That’s way too abnormal.」
Why are you blushing, you idiot?
I’m not dating a spirit, you idiot.
There’s a much cuter real person, you idiot with an overactive imagination.
And don’t make me say she’s cute, you idiot idiot idiot.
Ignoring my internal monologue, the ‘Talisman Sena’ begins to move.
She demonstrates powerful yet flowing techniques right there on the spot, as if showing off—thrusts, kicks, sweeps, and parries. It’s like a dance, her clothes making a fluttering sound as they cut through the air with her movements.
Finally, she hops in place twice and provocatively beckons to the three in front of her, curling her fingers.
It’s clearly a master-class display of skill, evident at a glance.
「So you’re determined to stand in our way? Very well. Angelica, Eris, let’s do this.」
Responding to Saint Mika’s call, the other two spread out, shifting into combat stances.
「Imitation Elemental Magic!」
Angelica makes the first move.
「Flame Strike!」
In response to the surprisingly short incantation, a massive fireball over twice my height appears and hurtles at high speed towards ‘Talisman Sena’.
Without showing the slightest hint of panic, ‘Talisman Sena’ lightly waves her arm. Following her motion, part of her clothing changes, enveloping her arm and hardening.
With that arm, she swats away the fireball that’s far larger than her own body.
「No waaaaaaaaaay!!!」
Tama-yaaaaaaaa!!
Angelica screams at the astonishing sight before her eyes.
The deflected massive fireball, making a terrifying 「WHOOOOOOSH!!」 sound, heads straight for Angelica.
「Eeeeeeeeek!!」
As Angelica flees in panic with a shrill scream—just before it’s about to hit her—I hurriedly grab her and get us both out of there.
By the time I place the unconscious Angelica on the floor, the battle situation has shifted further.
Eris stands with her sword at the ready, carefully measuring the distance between them.
On either side of her waist hang two swords, like a dual-wielder.
One is the Holy Sword—needless to say, the ridiculously durable sword I used to use. This one remains sheathed.
The sword in her hand—that must be the Sword of Affirmation.
Sweat drips from Eris’s forehead.
I understand. It’s hard to make a move when facing such a powerful opponent.
Then, Saint Mika’s strong voice rings out.
「Return to where you belong—」
Holy light gathers and concentrates in her hands.
「—Spirit!」
The dazzling light is released as a beam, aiming to pierce through ‘Talisman Sena’.
「It’s over.」
Oh no (I realize).
This is what people call raising a death flag.
When the light clears—’Talisman Sena’ stands there completely unharmed. She tilts her head slightly as if to say, 「Did you do something just now?」
Yay! So cute!
「What… is this…?!」
As Saint Mika steadily accumulates more death flags, ‘Talisman Sena’ closes the distance with a single bound. In the blink of an eye, she’s inside Mika’s guard.
「It’s useless!!」
She had the ultimate defense of multiple barriers.
‘Talisman Sena’ hammers her fist into the space—probably Mika’s barrier.
「I said it’s useless!!」
As Mika speaks, ‘Talisman Sena’ continues to pound on the barrier with her second and third strikes.
「I told you it’s—」
Then, on the fourth hit, a high-pitched sound like breaking glass rings out, and the first layer of the barrier disappears.
「—Impossible?!」
With the fifth, sixth, and seventh hits, she calmly and repeatedly punches through, destroying all the barriers with her fists alone.
「No way.」
‘Talisman Sena’ doesn’t let up.
She draws back her hand. It connects directly with Saint Mika’s cheek, sending her spinning through the air with a force impossible for a mere slap.
Seeing an opening—or so she thought—Eris leaps in.
However, ‘Talisman Sena’ dodges nimbly and, despite her smaller frame, launches an uppercut from below. The attack lands squarely on Eris’s chin, overwhelming her skill. As Eris becomes dazed, ‘Talisman Sena’ follows up by grabbing her face and slamming her to the ground.
The three of them lie motionless.
Sensei declares, 「Don’t worry. Their lives aren’t in danger,」 but it was still pretty intense.
It was seriously serious serious (my vocabulary fails me).
‘Talisman Sena’ floats over to me and spreads her arms.
I know what this means.
「Thank you. You saved me.」
I express my gratitude to her and embrace her with all my strength, yet as gently as if handling something fragile.
She also reaches out to my back.
After staying nestled in my chest for a while, she looks up at me. She stretches up and pats my head a few times, then, seeming satisfied, smiles and disappears, leaving behind only the talisman.
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