◆Valkyrie, Shizufae

  「WAIT, NOVIS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? STOP, DON’T FORCE YOURSELF!!」


  Novis didn’t even reply to my scream.

  Even though he usually would say 「Don’t worry, Shizufae. Leave it to me!」.

  「GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!」


  Novis raised a warcry as he charged toward the Lesser Daemon.

  The way he swung his sword could only be described as reckless.

  He might’ve already completely lost his mind right now due to the effects of his skill.

  I mean, my voice didn’t even reach him anymore. He was bound to fall first with such a reckless way of fighting.

  「DAMMIT ALL! HOW DARE YOU LOWLY HUMAN!!!」


  The Lesser Daemon used big hatchets to block Novis’ attack.

  I’ve seen Novis fight in this berserk state a long time ago.

  Novis, who turned into a berserker, rushed at us once he annihilated the monsters.

  We somehow managed to escape at that time and bide our time, waiting till Novis was too exhausted before we saved him. Honestly, I don’t want to remember that time.

  Novis’ power, who turned into a berserker, was truly terrifying. But, that Lesser Daemon had no problem in blocking Novis’ attack in his berserk state.

  The exchange of their offense and defense created shockwaves that shook the air around them.

  The Lesser Daemon was being pushed back by Novis’ relentless attack.

  But, Novis, who turned into a berserker, had no way to protect himself. He just kept moving till the enemy in front of him died, or he died. In this situation, even if he managed to kill the Lesser Daemon, he would eventually die from exhaustion too.

  In the God of Battle, Thors-sama’s, faith creed, there was no higher honor than dying in battle. That’s why many Thors-sama’s warriors died at an extremely young age.

  But, I absolutely won’t allow that to happen.

  I won’t let anyone close to me die meaninglessly again.

  My father who became a freedom fighter was killed by a monster during one of his missions, leaving my mother and I behind.

  I used to think that IF I’d fought by my father’s side at that time, would he survive the entire ordeal?

  Naturally, there was no way that was going to happen. I was far too weak, I wasn’t born to become a warrior. This fact was confirmed by big sis Keyna too.

  But still, I couldn’t help but think about the IF case.

  Why couldn’t I save my father at that time? Why was I not by his side at that time?

  I love both my father and mother. They were the ideal couple in my eyes. But, that ideal was broken with my father’s death.

  Mother remarried after father’s death.

  I knew that was a natural thing to do and didn’t blame her for that. Because my mother had no one else to rely on without my father’s income.

  My stepfather was a kind man. He was also kind toward me, his non-blood related daughter. He even went as far as to look for a husband for me.

  Honestly speaking, I’ve felt nothing but gratitude toward him. But, I couldn’t help but get scared of marriage seeing how easily a couple’s marriage broke.

  Unable to withstand the pressure to get married from my parents, and the regret that was born since I couldn’t save my father, I consulted big sis Keyna and decided to become a freedom fighter.

  As if to vent my frustration at being unable to protect my father, I fought to save someone in need.

  That’s why when I received divine protection from Rena-sama, I was sure that it must be because she heard my heartfelt wish. [Note : I’m sure that she’s going to laugh at you when she hears this nonsense.]

  This was the power to protect those who are dear to me, the power to save everyone in need.

  「O Rena-sama, Goddess of Wisdom and Victory!! Protect Novis!!」


  I deployed my magic.

  Shining magic shield appeared around Novis. And that magic shield protected him from the Lesser Daemon attack.

  The Lesser Daemon looked really annoyed upon seeing that his attack failed to hit Novis.

  Even though they belong to lower rank, Lesser Daemons were still a member of the superior Demon race. If it was just me, I wouldn’t have the chance to beat him.

  This was the first time I protected Novis, it was usually the opposite. With this combination, we might be able to beat the Lesser Daemon.

  On the other hand, we’re racing against time since we have to defeat him before I run out of mana.

  I’ve also noticed that Novis’ attacks weren’t as strong as before.

  He was also about to hit his limit.

  Everyone who was fighting behind us were also unable to assist us since they’re really occupied with fighting against the seemingly never ending waves of ratmen.

  「GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!」


  Novis raised a warcry.

  The Lesser Daemon’s attack broke through my magic shield that protected Novis and blew him away.

  Fortunately it wasn’t a direct hit since the Lesser Daemon’s attack hit his Novis’ great sword.

  But still, it was a really powerful attack since it was strong enough to blow Novis. Novis was sent flying to the side, crashed against the wall and then stopped moving.

  「NOVIS!!」


  I hurriedly rushed toward Novis to check his condition… it seems he was still alive, just unconscious.

  「HUMPH!! THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR GIVING ME SO MUCH TROUBLE!!」


  The Lesser Daemon spoke with a look of contempt on his face.

  Seeing that, my comrades came closer toward us.

  Though they defeated so many ratmen, their numbers were simply too overwhelming.

  Everyone wore an exhausted look on their face.

  Strangely, the ratmen didn’t go after them. It seems they really are planning to capture all of us alive.

  「I don’t care about what you’re going to do with me!! But at least spare these girls!!」


  Decius-sama shouted to the Lesser Daemon.

  「That was my intention from the very beginning, lady-killer. These women are outstanding beauties after all. I’m going to give them to my comrades. In that way, I can save my face in front of them and have them to help me later when I need their help.」


  The Lesser Daemon was smiling as he spoke.

  「SORRY BUT I WON’T LET YOU TO DO THAT!!!」


  Suddenly, a loud voice resounded from behind the Lesser Daemon. It was most likely a woman’s voice.

  「WHO’S THERE!?」


  The Lesser Daemon turned around quickly.

  Thereupon, a shining white butterfly was flying around Decius-sama.

  「T-THIS BUTTERFLY!?」


  And then, a girl fell down after she passed by the Lesser Daemon by running along the wall.

  「SIENNA!!!」


  「SIENNA!!!」


  Both Ainoe-san and Decius-sama shouted upon seeing the girl.

  「I come to save the day, Nii-san!!」


  ***

  ◆Dancer, Sienna

  「SIENNA!!!」


  「SIENNA!!!」


  Both my brother and Ainoe-neesan shouted my name.

  I somehow managed to arrive in time.

  Though I had the butterfly as my guide, it still took a really long time to arrive due to the number of ratmen along the way, thus I barely arrived in time.

  It seems there was a fierce battle before I arrived.

  Though I wanted to rush in immediately, I held back since I might end up making irreversible mistakes if I entered during the fierce battle, thus, I bided my time and waited for the perfect moment to arrive.

  And then, I came out in a hurry as soon as I saw the warrior who wielded a greatsword in his hands get blown away by the Lesser Daemon.

  「Sienna, why are you in this kind of place? Weren’t you supposed to be caught by the Moonlight Goddess?」


  My brother asked with a confused look on his face.

  「Save that for later, nii-san. Now let’s focus on this battle.」


  I said so to him while looking at Ainoe-neesan and the Lesser Daemon.

  「You’re still alive huh, Sienna. Though I’m sure that you’ve already become the plaything of that personage.」


  Ainoe-neesama spoke while revealing a smile filled with cynicism.

  「Unfortunately, I’m still alive.」


  I replied back with a daring smile on my face.

  「But, why did you come to this place? Do you think you can save them? Oh whatever, this is the perfect place to kill you.」


  Ainoe-neesama swung her sword. The sword had a long blade, thin, and flexible blade.

  「Oh my, are you sure that dare to say that to me? Shouldn’t you be wondering why I’m still alive right now?」


  After saying so, I unsheathed the katana which I borrowed from the Dark Knight.

  Jet-black flame appeared from the sword’s blade when I unsheathed the katana from its sheath.

  「THAT BLACK FLAMEEEEEE!!!」


  The Lesser Daemon screamed loudly as soon as he saw the black flame.

  「That’s right. You’re Zeal, I presume. That person is really angry at you. He entrusted this katana to me to act as his messenger. Now then, if you leave now, I will at least mediate between you and that personage you know?」


  That was a big fat lie.

  He only entrusted this katana. He said nothing about making me his messenger.

  But, it seems those words alone were enough to scare the Lesser Daemon.

  「T-THAT PERSONAGE IS ANGRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY――――!!! AWAWAWAWAAWAWA!! LET’S ESCAPE FROM THIS PLACE, AINOE-CHAN!!!」


  He was so flustered to the point that his composure from before seemed like a lie.

  Behind me, nii-san and the others were looking at this scene with a dumbfounded look on their face.

  「N-NO!!」


  Unexpectedly, Ainoe-neesan refused to escape along with the Lesser Daemon.

  「A-Ainoe-chan, we angered that personage you know? You saw it yourself just how terrifying that personage, right?」


  The Lesser Daemon was trying to persuade Ainoe-neesan in a hurry.

  And yet, Ainoe-neesan’s reply was,

  「NO!! LIKE HELL I’M GOING TO ACCEPT A DEFEAT FROM THE LIKES OF SIENNA!! I REFUSE TO LOSE FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS RAISED COMFORTABLY WITHOUT KNOWING HARDSHIPS!!!」


  Ainoe-neesan sent a piercing cold gaze toward me.

  「DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH HARDSHIP I ENDURED TILL I BECOME THE STAR OF THE TROUPE!!! EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, I DANCED IN THE BAR IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN!!! I EVEN SOLD MY SOUL TO A DEVIL SO THAT I CAN GET OUT OF SUCH MISERABLE LIFE!!!」


  「Neesan…」


  「AND YET, THE DAUGHTER OF A MEMBER OF SENATE, THE SISTER OF A KNIGHT OF LAW, A PRINCESS WHO WAS RAISED WITHOUT HARDSHIP LIKE YOU SUDDENLY CAME AND ROBBED ME OF MY STATUS!!!」


  Ainoe-neesan shouted loudly as if to vent her pent up emotions.

  Maybe, that pent up frustration has been piling up for so many years.

  「DO YOU HEAR ME, THAT BROTHER OVER THERE!! HOW DARE YOU, WHO NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE HARDSHIP THAT I ENDURED TO REACH MY CURRENT STATUS, PREACH ME ABOUT JUSTICE!! YOU PAIR OF SIBLINGS ARE JUST AN EYESORE TO ME!!!」


  Ainoe-neesan was pointing her sword at us as she shouted.