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Chapter 41 Part 3 – A deadly battle in the maelstrom. Mary tries to take the demon dog Gallam with her, while Bradd and Seraphy put everything on the line for the last hidden card. And then I learn the sad truth about the vengeful spirits that possess the Ruby

 

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Aquilegia

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Mary smiled at me as I clung to the side of the boat.
Her smile was so gentle that it gripped my heart.
Mother screamed heartbreakingly and continued to call Mary’s name like a crazy person.

「Madam….. I was happy that you said that I’m your friend ….. I was happy to meet everyone here ….. Now then!! You’re going to sink along with me!!」

With a glare, Mary put one leg over the face of the demon dog Gallam and lifted herself up. She pushed the arrow further in with both hands. A spray of blood flew from Gallam’s crushed eye and dyed Mary.

「….. Joshua ….. Mom was finally able to do something useful…. I’ve kept you waiting for such a long time …. I’m sorry for being a bad mother ….. I’ll finally go there ….. 」

Mary’s eyes were no longer looking at us and her smile was directed at her beloved son who had passed away. Mary and the demon dog Gallam were tangled together and heading toward the center of the whirlpool.

I saw my father riding his horse and jumping into the water with Matzo.
But it was already too late!!
The whirlpool was gaining momentum and the water was roaring.
And yet our little boat is going around the whirlpool and getting further and further away from Mary ….!!

「Seraphy!! Please!! Bring the boat back!! I’ve got a trick up my sleeve!! I’ll find a way!! So don’t leave Miss Mary!!」

「Owaaaaaaa!! Awooooo!!」

Please!! Save Mary!! She’s my other precious mother!!

As we cried, Seraphy looked at us with his deep emerald-colored eyes, as if testing us.

「….. You want me to dump Miss Mary’s intention down the drain and plunge back into the whirlpool? If we go in there again, we’ll definitely get into a disaster. It’s a stupid self-indulgent act to escape the guilt. You, the people whose lives were saved, want to trample on her priceless self-sacrifice?」

What Serafi said is so right that we are lost for words.
But ….! ….. Still….. !!

「….. But still …. I don’t want to abandon my comrade …. !! …. And I’ll do everything in my power in order to make that happen …..! …. So please believe in me …. Please …. Seraphy Orange…..!!」

Bradd’s eyes turned into a deep crimson color as he appealed to Seraphy.
He invoked the physical enhancement technique 「Blood Atonement」 !!
Bradd and Seraphy glared at each other.
The crimson eyes and green eyes clashed at each other creating a stifling atmosphere.
Sometime later, Seraphy’s expression softened.

「It seems that there is no hesitation in your answer. In recognition of your willpower, I’ll give you a passing grade for the time being. …. I left the whirlpool in order to get onto another current that will accelerate the boat toward the whirlpool. I’ll trust you. So please trust in my skills too. Here we go!!」

Seraphy smiled brightly and pushed the paddle into the current.
The boat accelerated rapidly and was once again heading toward the whirlpool.

「….. You, you intended to do this all along, didn’t you …..」

Seraphy nodded to Bradd’s muttering.

「….. I knew that you were preparing to use your trump card. But in this re-entry, a moment’s hesitation can be fatal. I needed to test your resolve. I apologize for my callous remarks. Both to you and to the young lady.」

Seraphy bowed to us.
Then, he raised his head and stared at the whirlpool.

「….. My father died protecting me from a demon dog. My mother also died because of that …! I can’t see Miss Mary pass away the same way they did…!!」

It was a short soliloquy, but it revealed a glimpse of the intense fury hidden behind his calmness.

「…. We’ll get as close as possible to the demon dog Gallam with this boat speed and distance without getting caught in the whirlpool. At that time, please pull Miss Mary back. I’ll have my hands full dealing with the whirlpool. I’ll leave the demon dog Gallam to you alone, so please do something!!」

Standing at the bow of the boat, Bradd nodded happily at his words.

「…. You’re going to entrust your life to me. I’m trembling. You’re the best guy I’ve ever met. In that case, I’ll have to show you my best side too, or else we can’t be friends.」

A blood-red mist rose around Bradd, as if it was fueled by the flames in Seraphy’s heart.

「…. The skill I’m about to use is the strongest technique of the 「Lawless Crew」. If the target is hit by this skill, their breath will definitely stop at that very moment, no matter whether they are the demon dog Gallam or not. However… because this skill is so powerful, the price of using this skill is also terrible.」

The strongest technique? Then why didn’t you use it until now?
Bradd understood what I wanted to ask and explained with a wry smile.

「I told you. The price of using this skill is terrible. … First, I have to stop moving both of my legs and stay in that position for 30 seconds. During that time, I can’t do anything else. And the effective range is only one step around me when I use the skill. If the range is made larger than this, the power will be scattered around and it becomes meaningless. …I only have one chance to attack. The backlash is so great that I won’t be able to move properly after using it. And once I get into a stance to use this skill, I can’t cancel it midway … Isn’t it funny?」

It’s not funny at all!!
I was speechless at the list of high risks.

「What exactly is that skill? A defective merchandise? Even I, an amateur fighter, can see that it’s a useless technique.」

Seraphy was taken aback.

It makes sense now that he couldn’t use it against the demon dog Gallam.
In short, he has to become a standing defenseless pole in front of the enemy for 30 seconds!!
The effective range is only one step around him, if the enemy is right in front of him, he’s bound to be killed before he can activate the technique, or the enemy can just run far away from him to avoid it. In addition, he can’t cancel the technique and he won’t be able to fight after the technique is activated!? How can such a stupid technique be used in a real battle!?
The only people that can be hit by such a technique are those delinquents who underestimate and tries to grab people by the collar.

「….. It’s normally impossible to use this skill in an actual battle. In the first place, in the「Lawless Crew」village this technique is only used in fighting exercises. But now we have Seraphy here. He’s the one who can give us mobility. He can give us wings. That’s why this technique … will be reborn as the strongest technique only at this moment.」

「….. You’re planning to take me as a replacement for your legs? Moreover, this means that I’ll have to make the bow of the boat come as close as possible to the demon dog Gallam. You’re really….. Even without you adding the pressure, I already have a difficult job to do.」

「But you can do it, can’t you? Also, you’re not the replacement for my legs. You’re the wing that makes my impossible possible.」

「….. On top of being able to read other people’s minds, you’re also a good talker. You’re the one who should be a merchant. All right now. A do-or-die game is what merchants live for!! Now, we’re going to re-enter the whirlpool!! You have just one chance!! Don’t mess up!!」

「…… Bring it on …. !!」

They looked at each other and laughed fearlessly.
Their breathing was in tandem and they looked like they have been best friends for a long time.
The small boat jolted. We plunged back into the middle of the whirlpool.
The hull creaked under the water pressure.
Bradd turned to me and smiled.

「….But I can’t deny the fact that I’m anxious. Wish me luck, Scarlet. ….. How should I put this …. I feel like your prayers are kind of empowering.」

「After all, you are the possessor of the True Emperor’s Ruby. I’m looking forward to it.」

Seraphy also gently nodded.

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