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Chapter 86 Part 14 – Things that never change. And a promise. In order to protect the lives of the mother and the baby, Countess Rosenthal will put everything on the line to fight against Alisa.

「…… Ohh, to think that you can cut my ‘Demon’s Bullet’ …… That’s amazing considering that you can’t even see the attack. Now that I think about it, in all the loops I’ve been through, you have always been in ill health or have become cowardly after losing your wife. You exceeded my expectations. It’s a shame we’re not on even terms without the ‘Dark Illusion’ ……」

Against the impressed Alisa, the Crimson Duke unleashed a series of lightning-like stabs. It’s at such a speed that it’s hard to believe that he hasn’t caught up with Alisa’s ‘Dark Illusion’. Moreover, all the attacks are aimed at fatal points. Even Alisa could not counter and had to concentrate on evasion.

「…… That’s weird. Right now I’m not holding the Ruby with me. So, how can he so precisely know my location ……」

If the Crimson Duke is a master of ‘Dark Illusion’ at Alisa’s level, she would know immediately. But clearly that was not the case. And yet his aim is too accurate. Alisa tilted her head in confusion and then she burst into laughter when she noticed his nostrils twitching as he persistently pursued her, even after she moved backwards in a zigzag and blurred her location.

「…… Ahaha!! What a hero we’ve got here. He must have sniffed out Cornelia’s residual scent on the arrow.」

Since Alisa exploded the arrow at close range, she also got a slight scent from it.

「Is this also another one of Scarlet’s calculations? If so, it’s a little frightening ……」

「…… You tried to kill Cornelia and Rona. Now die and pay for it ……!! Who you are no longer matters.」

Judging that a point-blank thrust would not work on Alisa, the Crimson Duke’s sword flashes turns into a tornado-like slash. Alisa laughed loudly. She lightly avoided the attack like a celestial maiden dancing in the wind. Her toes barely touched the ground.

「…… Ahahaha, I don’t dislike sword dances either. But right now, I’m the one dancing with you. I’m a little hurt that you don’t care about whatever happens to me and that you actually mentioned other women’s names. You need to be punished. But your expression when you’re bursting with anger and your killing intent, it’s so similar to Scarlet. You two are indeed father and daughter.」

However, even though the ends of her lips were curved up, Alisa’s eyes were no longer smiling. The Crimson Duke’s sword tip became sharper and sharper, eventually it grazed the body of Alisa, who had been dodging with ease except for the first attack.

「…… Hmph, how frustrating. In the end, this is just a temporary body. Fun times don’t last long. I wish I could have danced with you more, but this is the limit.」

Alisa sighed. This adult form is not her original body. It’s a temporary thing manifested by the Blue Diamond. Although it has the advantage on reach, the disadvantage of a slight delay in the transmission of reactions is greater. When the battle is at a level where even a fraction of a second difference is directly linked to death, she will inevitably fall behind. This is also the reason why Alisa fought in her original form as a little girl in the battle against ‘Mother’.

The ends of Alisa’s hair were cut off again. Alisa’s feet, which had been suspended in mid-air, touched the ground. Her rotation slowed.

「…… I got her ……!!」

With his battlefield instincts, the Crimson Duke sensed that this was the right moment to attack, and after exhaling his breath, he launched a deadly sword strike with all his energy. Once, when he was a boy, he severed the Inquisition official Matthew’s arm that was holding a sword with this technique. If the power of this technique at that time was that of a snake, then now this has become a dragon with the added experience of a hero. Armor and shields are meaningless in the face of its fangs. Not to mention that Alisa is wearing a thin silk dress. Had there been a witness that was familiar with his skill, he would have been convinced that Alisa had been split into two across her spine. However.

「You got me? Ahahaha, are you saying that you’re going to take me as a bride?」

Alisa sneered.

「…… I’m not the one who’s reached the limit. Rather, it’s the endurance of your sword.」

Just before it reached her, the sword made a strange noise and snapped at the base on its own. Alisa didn’t even touch it. The blade spun, flew through the air, and pierced the ceiling.

「…… No …… way ……!!」

Alisa jumped into the bosom of the stunned Crimson Duke and placed her hands on his chest as if to snuggle up to him. She looked like a lovely butterfly landing on a flower. However, this butterfly is an absolute powerhouse that sucks up life according to her heart’s content, instead of the nectar of flowers. Alisa’s cheeks are tinted in red and her eyelids closed in rapture. She savored the afterglow of battle as if she just had a love affair.

「…… You’re such an idiot. You misjudged the situation. It wasn’t me that caused your sword to break, it was your own strength. That sword can’t endure for long when you get serious. Especially since you’ve cut through my ‘Demon’s Bullet’. You should’ve brought your favorite rod.」

After Alisa whispered so in an intimate manner, her eyes widened. The demon’s laughter spilled out. Power swirled in Alisa’s palm.

「…… Now, in place of your broken sword, I have a lovely present for you. I wonder if you can accept it? Or will you die? …… ‘The Heartless Autumn Leaves’」

The body of the Crimson Duke shook violently from the impact that was aimed at his heart.

「Ahahaha!! Looks like the answer is death. Goodbye. Burst now. Become a large, red rose worthy of the name of the Crimson Duke.」

The ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’ forces the heart of the enemy to beat uncontrollably, causing the body to self-destruct with the blood flow. Its power is immense, but it can’t be used in actual battles because of the complicated preparatory movements, long charge, and the risk of being unable to move for a while after using the technique. And yet, Alisa easily used the technique. Without bearing any risk. It was a transcendental technique that would have made the〈Lawless Crew〉lose the will to fight if they had witnessed it.

「…… Guh ……!?」

It was as if an explosion had occurred. The Crimson Duke was blown away from Alisa and slammed against the wall. He coughed up blood and fainted.

But Alisa’s triumphant laugh stopped halfway through. She lifted her numb hand and laughed bitterly.

「…… You’re pretty good. I guess I was the one that misread the situation. As expected from Scarlet’s father. I never thought that there would be a human who could give me an answer other than death after receiving my ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’.」

There was no ridicule in her voice, only admiration.

As Alisa said, although he fainted, the Crimson Duke was nearly unharmed. The ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’ had killed even the near-immortal demon dog Gallam from the inside. It was literally a certain kill technique. Moreover, the one that used the technique this time was Alisa. It should have been absolutely impossible for him to be unscathed.

「…… The essential point of cavalry fighting techniques is the control of the flow of power. I knew that he could absorb even the power from outside forces and make it his own, but …… fufu, I never thought that he’d be able to take in even the ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’ and return it to me …… You gave the correct answer. What an insane battle instinct you have. Just like me.」

Her tone was intimate.

The moment Alisa struck the ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’ into his body, the Crimson Duke changed the direction of the energy just before it reached his heart. Even if it’s an attack from the invisible Alisa, he would never miss the flow of foreign power that has entered his body. Although he wasn’t able to repel everything back to Alisa and some damage remained, what he did was a superhuman feat.

…… But Alisa went above and beyond.