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Chapter 58 Part 5 – Huh? My death is suddenly decided right from the beginning? More enemy reinforcements. And who is「he」, my strongest guardian?

I hurriedly clung to Bradd.
Here comes that thing that took my life so many times in the previous 「108 times」!!
The terrifying shot from a high altitude!!

「I can read the wind. You may be able to fool the eyes of men, but not the wind and my friend’s eyes in the sky. The moment you conceitedly leapt into the air where there is no place to escape or hide, your defeat was decided. …… Take the arrow of judgment!! …… I’ll leave it to you!! Arnold!!」

With a shout, his hand was lowered again.
Piercing the air and darkness, six arrows shot down from the sky and flew toward Addis.
I felt the air hit me on the face. The almost vertical descent made it resemble an iron hammer.

Aerial view archery!!
And also shooting six consecutive arrows!!
I never thought the day would come when I would be saved by this technique!!

「…… Gah ……!?」

I think Addis was trying to punch the arrow away.
But that attempt is as reckless as trying to push back a great waterfall.

「…… Gogo …… Gowaaa ……!?」

Leaving a grunt, Addis roared and was slammed to the ground.
Dust and plumes of smoke danced in the air as if there was an explosion.

Seraphy brushed his bangs backwards and turned the scar on his forehead and his emerald eyes toward Addis.

「…… I’ll tell you the reason for your defeat. A brave man who forgets to be vigilant is inferior to a calm coward. Moreover, I have a lot of friends I can rely on. Goodbye, you can dance alone in hell.」

It was the embodiment of the will of a proud and weak man who used even his opponent’s complex as a weapon.
Probably because his nerves had reached the limit, Seraphy staggered a few steps backwards. But he immediately held his ground and showed a fearless smile.

After forgetting to breathe in the nerve-racking battle and clasping our hands until it was sweaty, Bradd and I finally let out a breath.

「…… I’m so glad that Seraphy is on our side. And those arrows that delivered the finishing blow to Addis were incredibly powerful. That archer should be Arnold right, Seraphy’s friend. Do you know him as well?」

I shook my head hesitantly.

To be precise, I know Arnold very well.
Of course, it’s not in the present, but in the memories of the previous 「108 times」.
And I vividly remember the technique he just used.

It is a combination of 「six consecutive arrows」 which Arnold unleashes with all his might, and 「aerial view archery」, a sky-high shooting performed from behind a cover while borrowing the owl’s point of view from the sky above. It is Arnold’s most powerful technique and a nastily familiar one that has claimed my life numerous times.

Even so, isn’t that technique too powerful?
My face was twitching.

The current Arnold is supposed to be a child, but this was no less powerful than the teenage Arnold.
No, when he grows up, he will surely be stronger than the Arnold in the previous 「108 times」.
He seems to be on my side this time, but I shudder to think what would happen if such an incredible archer was to become my enemy.
My strategy of learning archery from my mother and someday using it as a trump card against Arnold was already collapsing.

Seriously, when I thought Addis had been defeated, the troubles just kept popping out one after another.

The sand on the beach may run out, but the world will never run out of trouble ……

As I was reciting a plagiarized phrase with a sigh, the next moment a chill ran down my spine.

「…… Nuahaha!! Thank you for the surprise!! I have a surprise for you too!! I have returned from hell unscathed!!」

From the dense cloud of dust, Addis emerged with an insane, loud laughter.
He held out his hands as if conducting an orchestra.
His white dress suit had not a single frayed spot on it.

How!? He should have taken a direct hit from the arrows!?

「But, I’m a『conceited, solitary idiot』, and no one will dance with me. Oyoyoyoyoyoyo …… So I had no choice but to bring my dance partner from hell!! Pan-pa-ka-pann!! Nuahahaha!! Now then, introduce yourself!!」

Seraphy began to tremble.
But no one could blame him.
Mother, Bradd, and Mr. Queer Witch were all confronted with the nightmare and was unable to move in despair.
The giant slowly stood up, as if to cover Addis.
Addis is tall, too, but he is much bigger than him.
No way, what is this!? Where has that giant been hiding all this time!?　

「…… No way …… How can I not detect the presence of this giant even when I read the wind ……!!」

It’s just natural that Seraphy would be shocked.
And Seraphy is not the only one.
Even Arnold’s white owl must have been watching from the sky!!
Does this mean that this giant has slipped through that surveillance as well!?

「He’s been here since the beginning. Nuahahaha!! Don’t mind, don’t mind. After all, even among us all, he is the best at staying concealed. If he wanted to, he could cut off the king’s head in the castle without anyone noticing.」

Addis laughed frivolously.

You’re lying right …… this guy who looks like he’s two times the size of Matzo is actually proficient in stealth ……!!
Even when covered by the cloak, it can still be seen clearly that his body is full of energy.
It felt as if I was confronting a giant elephant.
A wide sword tip came out from the back of both of his hands.
It was as thick as an ax. It could cut a man along with his shield or sword in half.

When the giant moved his body, six arrows fell from the mountain-like broad dorsal muscles. There was white smoke rising from his back due to the friction heat. This giant caught the arrows instead of Addis. His boulder-like cheeks moved and he started speaking.

「…… My name is Phantasma the Phantom Castle, one of the Seven Phantoms. I specialize in assimilating my presence and absolute defense. I don’t like the idea of fighting against women and children, but …… I respect your fighting spirit and I will fight against you as a warrior.」

A monster that brushes off even Arnold’s most powerful technique as if it’s just drops of rain.
It meant that we were dealing with an opponent that our attacks would be completely ineffective against.
A new enemy that may be stronger than Addis has entered the battle ……!!

We were trapped in a nauseating predicament.

　　　　◇

Alisa was quietly sitting on the top of the magnificent spire in the Countess Rosenthal’s mansion.
The scene of her looking over the garden during the night is as beautiful as a painting.
And yet, it is also terribly unnatural.

The wind is roaring and winding around the steep spire.
The strength of the wind on the spire is incomparable to that on the ground.
And from the top of the spire, it is almost vertical to the ground.
Just like an ice wall, once you slip, you will inevitably fall to your death.

Alisa sat on the edge of the spire, gracefully swinging her legs.
It was as if she was playing in the water by the lake at a summer resort.

Without a lifeline, she sang from a height that would frighten even a chimney sweeper.
Her voice that was as clear as a bird’s chirp rang through the night.
Her voice was tinged with a mournful timbre as the pitch rises and falls, making the heart of the listener feel wrenched.

Her blond hair glimmered in even the slightest moonlight.
Alisa squinted pleasantly in the swirl of the night breeze. Her beauty was not at all pulled down by the folds of her high-waisted skirt with blue cape or the large ribbon at her waist.

She was so lovely that she could only be described as an angel or a fairy, but her blue eyes were so cold that they could even make the devil tremble.
A dignity that one cannot possibly expect from a three-year-old emerged from her from time to time.
It was certainly the dignity of a supreme ruler.