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Chapter 47 Part 7 – A memory from the previous「108 times」. Beyond sorrowful. The men risk their lives to challenge the monster called Alisa, who is playing with fate.

He didn’t need to be told by Seraphy.
Arnold’s restraint on his attacks had burst out from fear.
His survival instincts rang out a warning with all their might.
The premonition of being killed drowned out the fear of what might happen.
The bowstring rang, and Arnold’s arrow was released without restraint.
If he had been calm, he would have felt a chill run down his spine at what he had done.
Arnold’s bow had the power to pierce through the entire armor to the back.
It was insane for him to fire an arrow filled with murderous intent at a woman in a dress.

But that’s when the insanity began to start.
Alisa had disappeared from the hall. Along with the arrow that was supposed to be flying towards her.

「…… That’s all? That was below my expectations. Come on, get me more excited.」

Her breath tickled Arnold’s ear as he was stunned.
The smell of sweet roses almost choked him.
Blond hair swayed at the edge of his vision and brushed his cheek.
Arnold’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he realized that Alisa had somehow closed the distance.
He couldn’t see her move at all.

The hall where Alisa was standing must have been at least ten meters away from here.
Moreover, it was in mid-air about three meters high and there were no stairs to descend to nearby areas.
It cannot possibly be a human feat.

「… It’s a punishment game for making me disappointed. Arrows, you know, they stick in your body like this ……」

Alisa whispered to Arnold in a friendly tone. Chills ran down his spine.

「…… Uwoohhh!?」

「…… You monster!! Stay away from Arnold!!」

A sharp pain shot through Arnold’s left shoulder as he tried to get away from her and at the same time the air exploded with Seraphy’s shout. Seraphy wielded the whip he had hidden.
The black dress receded like a shadow.

「…… Oh my, it’s tactless of you to interrupt our private conversation. I was trying to show him the pain of being pierced through the bone, but it ended halfway through.」

About 20 meters away, Alisa’s mouth pouted in complaint.

Arnold’s shoulder was pierced by the arrow he had just fired.
Alisa had grabbed Arnold’s arrow in mid-air as she jumped down from the mezzanine hall and made her approach in a single breath.
Then, with incredible force, she tried to push the arrow into Arnold’s shoulder.
Without the support of Seraphy’s whip, Arnold’s left shoulder would have been completely pierced.

「…… Arnold, are you okay?」

The one who launched the counterattack, Seraphy, was also pale.

「…… Thanks to you …… the stab was shallow …… Hey, is that really a human being? She was even faster than Bradd when he used Blood Atonement ……!」

Arnold asked as he pulled out the arrow with a grimace.
Seraphy had a stiff smile when he responded to Arnold’s question.

「…… Honestly, I’ve lost confidence …… She easily brushed off my hidden card, my whip, with her bare hands.」

「That whip that can split a log in half ……! What about her is a flower-like young lady. What a ridiculous joke. …… Isn’t she just a genuine monster that can tear people apart with her bare hands. There should be a limit to how far she can deceive people.」

Arnold let out a shuddering groan.
Alisa smiled sweetly at Arnold.

「…… What’s so wrong with deception? A woman is a creature that tries with all her might to deceive in order to attract the heart of the one she loves. A lie with that much feeling in it is no different from the truth. Whether they despise the effort as a lie or courageously love the effort …… that’s where the degree of a man is divided. I wonder which you two are.」

The smile on her face as she brushed back her messy hair was so charming that for a moment Arnold forgot his anger and fear.
The words that escaped her lovely lips almost drew him in.

「…… Don’t listen to her, concentrate. Arnold. Alisa is adept at deceiving people. Remember, this woman is a lot stronger than we are. She will kill you with a single blow if you are distracted by her words.」

Seraphy warned him sharply and Arnold hurriedly pulled himself together.
Alisa smiled bitterly.

「…… You have quite a lot to say. It seems you’ve read Ethelreed’s journal and learned a lot of my secrets. You shouldn’t expose the inner workings of a woman’s life. …… But even if you get through this and, say, defeat me, what then? Make Scarlet become the queen again and rebuild this kingdom? But Scarlet is already dead. ……Ahahaha, that good-for-nothing Sir Valentine wasn’t able to protect that girl ……」

Arnold was enraged by Alisa’s words.
His chest tightened as he remembered Matzo’s death, noble and heroic even when covered in blood.

「…… Stop laughing!! Old man Matzo risked his life to let the queen go. He was a real warrior. I will not allow anyone to laugh at his way of life …….!! …… The old man had entrusted the queen to me!!」

Seeing Arnold gritting his teeth, Alisa rolled with laughter.
Seraphy covered his face with one hand and sighed.

「…… You idiot. That’s why I warned you not to be distracted by Alisa’s words …… What are you going to do by specially spilling the beans about the survival of the queen?」

Arnold is shocked to realize that Alisa had set him up, but Alisa happily talked to him.

「You should learn to lie a little bit. If you are too honest, you won’t be able to read what is behind people’s words. Honesty is also a vice in warfare. You should be suspicious the moment I started speaking ill of a man as good as Sir Valentine.」

「…… Sorry, Seraphy ……」

Seraphy smiled bitterly at the despondent Arnold.

「…… It’s fine. Alisa would have found out about it anyway. On the way here, I saw that the set up was activated and the entrance to the escape path was blocked. If that were the case, it was impossible that someone as good as Sir Valentine had not fulfilled his last role as an escort. Since I realized it, Alisa must have figured it out as well …… You said that Sir Valentine entrusted the queen to you. It seems that he has passed away.」

「Yeah …… He caught all my arrows with his wounded body. It was a splendid end. If only I had found out about Alisa’s true identity earlier …… It’s all my fault ……!! The queen will be very sad once she finds out that Sir Valentine has passed away …… That person had truly cried for my family. And yet I did something irrevocable ……」

Seraphi consoled Arnold as he was suffering from remorse.

「Don’t blame yourself. I was also made to dance by Alisa. Let’s atone for our sins together. We will carry on Sir Valentine’s legacy, save the queen, and rebuild this kingdom. Sir Valentine must have thought highly of you, so he entrusted the queen to you.」

Seraphy continued, while vigilantly glaring at Alisa.

「…… If we can delay Alisa here, no one would be able to get into the escape path that had the entrance crushed. The exit is fortified with people associated with the Orange Privateers and Ethelreed. Unfortunately, the Queen and Sir Valentine could not be contacted in time. …… Then, once she escapes on the Blanche, no matter if they’re the four great kingdoms, they will not be able to touch the Queen. The most important thing to remember is that it’s okay even if we can’t beat Alisa, as long as we can delay her here, then we’ve won. No matter what kind of monster she is …… if the two of us are willing to lay down our lives …… we can stop Alisa at all costs.」

Arnold smiled broadly after hearing what Seraphy said.

「…… Thank you, I feel exactly the same way. Even if one of us can’t stand up to that monstrous woman, the two of us can double the chances of a miraculous victory.」

Seraphy and Arnold nodded at each other with grim resolve and took a stance toward Alisa.