I Became the Son of a Corrupt Lord, so I’ll Enjoy an Easy Life in Another World ~but Please Stop Revering Me as a “Saint”!~

Stage 3-21. [Residual Shadows – Wind-Cleaving Dust]

“Ouga-kun! Pull yourself together!”

“…! …Sorry. I’m fine now.”

A sharp slap on the back jolts me awake. Thanks to Reina’s intervention, I manage to shake off my haze.

Standing before me is the swordsman renowned as the strongest anti-magic user.

In terms of combat ability, he’s far superior to me.

For Reina and me, there’s no greater foe than this.

Fighting while distracted guarantees defeat.

Without a doubt, we’ll die here.

…Focus.

Accept that Alice is under mind control, then formulate a solution.

We have two options.

Either knock Alice unconscious or use [Delete] to dispel the dark magic.

In both cases, there’s one condition:

We must land a direct hit on her.

“Ku-ku-ku… A close-quarters fight with Alice, huh?”

This isn’t like our usual training. She’s coming at us with lethal intent.

But we also have an edge.

We can face her two-on-one with my dependable sister-in-law.

“Reina, can you back me up?”

“Of course. I was starting to worry you’d forgotten about me.”

She’s ready. It’s not about whether we can or can’t.

To save Alice, we must.

…What a grueling mission to face at the end.

“I don’t have any Mana Enhancement Extract left. I can only use lightning magic.”

“Understood. …Well then, let’s see how far we can go.”

I lightly extend my hand toward Alice, tapping it rhythmically as I bounce on my toes.

This keeps my muscles loose, letting me respond instantly to either my timing or hers. It’s a versatile defensive stance.

“…Is your strategy meeting over?”

“Thanks for waiting so patiently.”

“If you need more time to repent for your sins, I’ll allow it…”

“Unnecessary. I don’t have such plans now or ever.”

“In that case… become rust on my blade.”

The unleashed killing intent bears down on us, leaving my entire body on edge.

Alice at full power is terrifying.

“Swift!”

Her speed and closing distance make it feel as if time has stopped.

In a single breath, she’s within striking range, her sword coming from the left to split me in two.

“Fuuuuu…”

Blocking it would shatter my arm.

Minimize contact, redirect the force, and neutralize her attack!

I align my left hand with the trajectory, striking the flat of her blade to shift it from horizontal to vertical.

The deflected blow shatters the floor instead.

“…!”

I swallow hard. A direct hit would’ve been fatal.

What’s frightening is that this wasn’t even one of her sword techniques—just a basic attack.

We can’t afford to drag this out.

Seize the opportunity when she’s on the offensive!

“[Delete]!”

I thrust my open right hand at Alice’s chest.

All I need is contact. Even if she tries to block, a touch means my victory.

If successful, [Delete] will activate, breaking her mind control.

I aim for a broad, hard-to-avoid target area.

“Naive. But there’s danger in that simplicity.”

“What—?!”

She lets go of her sword with her left hand, twisting her scabbard to block my strike without letting me touch her.

To avoid contact so deliberately… how sharp is her instinct?

“Well? Do you have time to be shocked? I’m finishing this.”

Her abnormal strength lets her swing one-handed with lethal precision.

“[Lightning Flash]!”

Reina’s magic intervenes, forcing Alice to dodge and sparing me the blow.

“Thanks, Reina.”

“It’s hardly worth your gratitude.”

Reina skillfully supports me, ensuring her magic doesn’t disrupt my attacks while covering for my openings.

Alone, I’d already be dead. With her, we’ve managed to level the playing field.

“Hmph… What a nuisance.”

“That’s my line.”

I retake my defensive stance.

A prolonged fight is disadvantageous. But rushing in recklessly offers no guarantee of success.

Throughout history, the way to beat a superior opponent has always been clear:

Focus solely on countering. Against Alice, this is the only strategy I can rely on.

“So you’ll stick to defense… Fine. I’ll make you realize the folly of that choice.”

“…What?!”

“This aura—!”

Alice’s killing intent surges explosively.

Was she holding back earlier?!

Before I realize it, I’ve stepped back.

My instincts scream that fighting is suicidal.

But despite my fear, my mind remains sharp, still spinning.

…Is this the Alice I know?

Can someone who’s lost her justice and wields her sword under evil’s control still be Alice?

Was the Alice I feared nothing more than a monster with no conviction, swinging her blade aimlessly?

What keeps me from fleeing shamefully is the desire to save Alice.

Forcing instinct to yield to reason, I steel myself to face her.

Because I believe this path will lead to the light we seek.

“Reina! Hide behind me!!”

“[Thunder Arrow of Twenty-Four Strikes]!”

Reina swiftly responds, moving into position while surrounding us with lightning arrows for protection.

Still, the looming sense of death remains undiminished.

“—[Residual Shadows – Wind-Cleaving Dust]”

Alice’s afterimages multiply into ten, one of which unleashes a slash.

◇◇◇◇◇