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Chapter 49 Part 10 – A memory from the previous「108 times」. The conclusion. They are dying, but their feelings transcend time. And the loop begins again.

The sound of the wind whistling through the air made Alisa squint her eyes as if to scrutinize it.

「…… Nope, it’s a failure. …… Hmm, I’d give it a passing mark on power, but the trajectory is a little off. And the wind that you’re relying on is not blowing. …… Seraphy’s intuition must have been dulled after being blind and so close to death that he failed to raise his hand in farewell. Ahaha, he died in vain.」

Although her precognition had not yet been restored, Alisa knew exactly how the arrow would fly with her superior reading and experience.

Arnold’s conviction and complexion were unshaken by Alisa’s mockery.

「…… Laugh your ass off. However, putting me aside, in just a moment, you’ll definitely regret mocking Seraphy. Don’t underestimate what I received from Seraphy. I’ll deliver it right to your throat.」

His heroism was nothing more than a buffoonery that provided another laughter for Alisa.

「…… What did you receive? Could it be his passionate feelings? Or is it conviction? Or could it be friendship? Ahahaha!! That’s funny. …… There’s no way I’d be defeated by something so vague.」

She laughed and then, as if she got tired of it, she took her eyes off the flying arrows and Arnold.
She decided to dismiss them as inconsequential.
For a warrior, it was a humiliation greater than death.
Alisa was not so forgiving as to simply kill Arnold for discouraging her.

「This is inside a room. There’s no wind except from the Demon’s Strength that I generate. Melville’s skill is still more clever. This is the penalty for betraying my expectations. You will stand there like a fool and continue to live in shame.」

The arrow was sadly about to pass six steps ahead of Alisa as she walked.

Alisa’s attention was already focused on capturing Bradd.

So, Alisa was unknowingly oblivious to the sign until she heard a rumbling sound and a whirlwind swelling up. Despite her haughty attitude, Alisa was meticulously aware of everything on the battlefield. It was a rare blunder.

The trajectory of the arrow that plunged into the vortex of the wind changed dramatically.
All six arrows were corrected to the perfect timing and trajectory and rushed toward Alisa.

「…… A whirlwind!? Why would it happen indoors ……」

Alisa’s eyes widened at the startling event, and she immediately knew why.

「…… I see! …… The Romalian Flame Flower has created an updraft ……!!　Seraphy, you’ve left a terrible parting gift.」

She spat irritably at the wind that ruffled her blond hair and took a stance to intercept it.

The cause of the whirlwind was the Romalian Flame Flower that Seraphy had made to explode earlier.
The flames were easily dodged by Alisa with 「Subtle Beauty」, but the remaining flames continued to scorch the floor until now. The high heat generated an updraft.

Seraphy had detected the signs. This was the wind that he grasped.

「…… How? There would have been no time for a detailed discussion. How did he tell Arnold about this whirlwind ……」

Arnold responded with a toothy grin to Alisa’s quizzical cry.

「…… I’ll tell you what, little girl. I wasn’t told anything. I trust Seraphy more than anyone. His spirit still lives in my heart. That’s why I was able to do what he told me to do without hesitation. That’s all it was. …… A genius like you will never understand. …… Seraphy’s heart, his way of life, take it!! Alisa!!」

Alisa furrowed her brow and expressed her displeasure at Arnold who was yelling.

「…… You dare to call me a little girl and think that you can get away with it? You should not get too carried away. You are proudly barking at me while brandishing just one person’s way of life? Do you know how many souls I have crushed so far!! …… Demon’s Bullet ……!!」

Arnold caused Alisa to be infuriated. Lightning seemed to flutter from the end of Alisa’s words.
Alisa swung her slender hands again toward the approaching arrows.
The diagonal downward swing was made at a speed that the human eye could not catch.
The air was distorted. The shockwave that gushed from her fingertips became an invisible blade that clashed violently with Arnold’s six arrows. The arrows were completely pulverized one after another with a deafening explosion. The arrow feathers scattered in the air. One arrow, two arrows, three arrows …… Alisa’s mouth that had a relaxed smile at first was twisted into an angry smile. She noticed that the speed at which the arrows were pulverized was gradually decreasing.

「…… Is every arrow cutting down the power of my Demon’s Bullet ……」

By the fifth one, the arrow was not completely pulverized and was only broken in the middle.
The sixth arrow was finally shot down right in front of Alisa. Alisa stared at the arrow that fell at her feet. The iron arrowhead had been severely shattered by the Demon’s Bullet, but the rest of the arrow remained almost in its original shape. Originally, the Demon’s Bullet would have easily pulverized the six consecutive arrows and could even have taken Arnold’s life. However, it was canceled out and the power of the Demon’s Bullet was drowned out by the arrows. It was also positioned closer to Alisa. Even if the arrows were accelerated by the power of the whirlwind left behind by Seraphy, the power of the arrows were too high.

「…… Impossible ……. Is it the power of that damned blessing again? How much longer is it going to stand in my way …….」

Alisa gnashed her teeth with a devilish expression as she saw Arnold’s body glowing faintly.

「…… Heh, that devilish expression really suits your true personality. I’m just starting now ……!! …… The second wave of six consecutive arrows, here I go ……!!」

With vapor rising from his shoulders, Arnold fired another round of arrows in high spirits. The six consecutive arrows he earnestly fired made Arnold completely exhausted. Even now, his entire body was drenched in sweat. He had never succeeded in shooting two waves of six consecutive arrows, even in practice. And yet, what is going on with the boundless energy that is now welling up from deep within him?
Bradd stood up even after being knocked down so many times. Seraphy showed unyielding mental strength while on the verge of death. Arnold accepted with surprise and gratitude that he, too, had stepped into the same miraculous realm as these two respected individuals.
Now, he felt like he could do not only two waves of six consecutive arrows, but even three waves.

「…… That reminds me, Seraphy told me that it was our mission to protect the Queen. There’s no doubt about that, I’m beginning to feel that way too ……」

Just looking back lightly over his shoulder and glancing at Scarlet, his heart was mysteriously inspired.
Now, Arnold had forgotten even his fear of Alisa. He can feel the will to protect Scarlet tingling down to the tip of his arrow. His partner, the white owl, was not here now, but he had the same super-sensory perception that allows him to grasp every edge of the battlefield as he does when he uses his bird’s-eye view archery, and it was even further activated and filled his entire body.

「…… Stop it!! Arnold!! Don’t provoke Alisa any further in relation to Scarlet!! The results will be irreversible ……!!」

On the contrary, Bradd turned pale and warned him.

「…… Heh, irreversible? I’d like to see her do it if she could. This woman deceived us and made us try to kill the Queen. I bet the Queen hates her more than anyone else. It’d be useless no matter how much she loves the Queen, she’ll suffer the consequences of her actions.」

「…… You’ve said it.」

Alisa responded rather calmly to Arnold’s provocation.

Alisa’s blond hair had begun to rustle. Her eyes arched and her fingers curved into the shape of a raptor’s talons. Her mouth formed a crescent moon, but it was not a smile, it was from an extraordinary fury. In her red eyes, he caught a glimpse of hellfire. It was like a peephole reflecting Alisa’s inner blast furnace of emotions.

「…… Don’t get carried away with just the connection in the『True History』. Scarlet is mine. She has always been and always will be. I’ve been by her side all this time, watching her sorrows, her sufferings, her smiles. I will not be defeated by something like fate. I will crush that smug expression of being her protector ……!!」

Unlike her angry appearance, Alisa’s tone of voice was strangely low. This is what makes it all the more ominous. She is holding her emotions firmly in check so as not to be swept away by the rage. Yet, her anger was dreadfully leaking out. It was like an omen of a great earthquake.