ch401-ch420 · 420-ch420

Chapter 420: Call Me by Name

(Thrust—no MP release!)

I thrust from behind the 'All-Rounder Samurai skeleton' locked in combat with Kasumi-san, finishing off our third skeleton.

"Haruki-san!"

I hold Kasumi-san back with a hand as she worries over my blood-drenched state.

No resting, no dropping to a knee.

Another fireball will come from above, after all.

Glancing at 'Sword Saint-chan' so as not to show an opening—she's slightly on the back foot.

Her opponent is receiving buffs from the 'Blue Shadow skeleton,' on top of which it interferes with thrown weapons.

"Let's pin them down too. Please aim your 【Javelin】 at 'Blue Shadow.'"

"Yes."

Keeping them at bay is all we need.

The moment her opponent turns to defense for even an instant, 'Sword Saint-chan' can smash it—sword and all—with a 【Dimension Slash】.

Right now she's managing by cleverly holding the distance, keeping out of each other's range—but the moment she moves to attack, 'Blue Shadow' interferes.

Remove that interference, and things should work out.

In this state the 'Sword Saint skeleton' shouldn't come at us either, so I boldly dart out of the 'Gates'' shadow and throw a 'Lilliputian Spear.'

"【Aiming】【Javelin】"

Kasumi-san uses her skills; I can't use mine, since I'm pouring MP into the 'Silver Spear.'

Even so, at least my throw's direction is on target.

The 'Blue Shadow skeleton,' annoyed, shifts position—dodging all the while as it hurls shuriken at us.

Can't lose this.

I throw back every shuriken I have—none connect.

But that's fine.

While we held its attention, the match was decided.

Just as predicted, the 'Sword Saint skeleton' is cleaved clean in two, sword and all.

A few shinobi knives came flying from a blind spot and stuck into me—not that I care.

That leaves one skeleton.

'Sword Saint-chan' glanced back at us for an instant—then broke into a run straight at 'Blue Shadow.'

I'll go too.

(【Gate】)

I know a game of tag won't catch it, after all.

Getting ahead of it and cutting it off is the standard play.

Twice, it changed course the moment I appeared before it.

On the third, the moment it burned its evasion skill on a 【Flying Slash】 from behind, I tackle-blast its dodge point.

Finally it rolls to a stop in front of Kasumi-san, where the finishing blow lands.

No—exactly as calculated, you know?

"It's coming! I'LL take it!"

Hands off, then?

Well, five minutes haven't passed yet.

I'd like one more minute of MP charging, ideally.

'Pyeeee—'

The Lich that had been flying overhead descends, letting out a hard-to-make-out shriek.

It looks awfully relaxed—but a 【Flying Slash】 comes down as if to split that face lengthwise.

But......

"It's not working after all?"

Kasumi-san murmurs, watching the Lich spring back to its original form.

That said, according to 'Sword Saint-chan,' swapping her weapon for the 'Silver Sword' means even a 【Flying Slash】 carries feedback of roughly double the damage it used to.

Well—double one is still two, you know.

For long-range attacks—【Dimension Slash】 included—apparently it's more a matter of "it works somewhat better than before?"

But close-range attacks—when the 'Silver Sword' can touch it directly—are another matter entirely.

Apparently the feedback is like cutting something with actual substance.

Even so, 'Sword Saint-chan' said she has never once defeated the Lich.

She'd land a strike or two with a jump, but the surrounding skeletons would interfere, and that was that.

She's never fought the Lich one-on-one, so we'd agreed from the start: if we could wipe out the copy skeletons, we'd let her have her fight.

'Pyieeeeee—!!'

This time she steps in for a direct strike.

This one is definitely working.

But the moment the Lich senses the tide turning, it naturally tries to flee upward.

"You won't!"

'Pyiiiii—'

A leap, and a follow-up strike......

But that's as far as it goes.

Carrying too much momentum, she passes clean through the Lich's body and comes back down to the floor.

The Lich is still going strong.

And it's chanting something.

A fireball is coming.

This one can't be helped.

For me, the top priority is Kasumi-san.

Dream or no dream, that doesn't change.

(【Gate】, then 'Magic Shield')

I deploy an 'Eye Gate' in front of the fireball, thrust my left hand in, and crush the fireball in my grip.

This is actually a deceptively tricky technique: putting my left hand straight into the 'Left Eye Gate' so as NOT to open the 'Left Hand Gate.'

With no skeletons around, I can pull off tricks like this.

"Ah!"

'Sword Saint-chan' goes "Ah!"—then immediately jumps for another strike.

'Pyeeee—'

But it still isn't enough to finish it.

It's working—without a doubt, it's working.

If I'm not imagining it, the Lich seems to be shrinking.

But this is as far as......

('Aiming'!)

If anything, I should thank it for making the perfect opening.

The time has passed, so I throw the 【Charge・Spear】 without mercy.

The thrown 'Silver Jumonji Spear' pierces the Lich without the slightest resistance—and destroys the fortress ceiling too.

While every eye is on the great hole torn in the ceiling, the Lich disperses.

The ceiling—this floor's ceiling, that is......

"I had it."

A flat, toneless voice—but a thread of anger comes through.

Still, if that fireball had taken 'Sword Saint-chan' point-blank, the blast would have finished us off over here too, you know?

Strike when you can—that's always best.

"So it's defeated, then? But there's no 'Gate to the Next Floor.' Worse, even the 'Gate we came in through' is...... Ah—Haruki-san? Haruki-san!?"

I only dropped to one knee for a moment.

No—the first 【Flying Slash】 was deeper than I thought......

I've lost too much blood.

Maybe I'll lie down for a bit?

(The dream can end now, surely......)

Kasumi-san catches me as I start to crumple.

Thank goodness.

Kasumi-san is safe.

Then it's fine......

"Hey? You've been wavering over what to call me, haven't you? 'You'—and when you talk to other people, you say 'Sword Saint-chan,' don't you?"

Is that the topic for now!?

"This is hardly the time for that!?"

"Watanabe Kasumi too, you know? I think I've said it before—I want to be called by name. Right—I'll call you 'Kasumi,' too."

So she wants me to call her 'Chiharu'?

Well, maybe 'Chiharu-san' with the -san is the safer call......

"There is no time for that! Find us a way out! Haruki-san, you must not sleep! Open your eyes! Please!"

I was thinking that if I did fall asleep, I might actually wake up, you know......

"When you wake up, call me 'Chiharu.' That'll be the proof this was no dream."

Ah—so that's what this is about......

Well, it IS a dream, though.