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Chapter 76. Conclusion

"Hey, are you sure this is okay?"

"Good or bad, it doesn't matter. You are a threat to this country."

Minister of the Interior, Frodil, suddenly drew his sword and charged at me. Even though the Dragon Squad and the Magic Knights are fighting, this isn't the time for us to be fighting... But it seems Frodil doesn't think that way.

In his right hand, he holds a rugged sword, and in his left, a simple shield made of magic. This appears to be Frodil's combat style. As a Magic Knight, it's a standard stance, but... the sharpness of his sword strikes doesn't seem fitting for a politician.

"Hah!"

He stepped in forcefully, and when I reflexively pulled my head back, his sword passed just a hair's breadth from me. Though it’s pointless for Frodil and me to fight, I have no choice but to counterattack.

I don't want to kill Minister Frodil. No matter what he's thinking, he wants to move the country forward with patriotism. Killing someone like that is wrong. At the very least, he's the only one I know who can suppress the incompetent group that just indulges in their vested interests and still be a capable politician. Just as the Akralen Peninsula is important to the Kuria Kingdom, Minister Frodil is essential to this country.

What I need to do is stop the Dragon Squad and minimize civilian casualties, and then render Minister Frodil incapacitated without killing him. It's far more difficult than simply killing him, but... I'll give it a shot.

"Guh!?"

He attempted to parry the slash I unleashed with Verethragna, but instead managed to skillfully deflect it and create some distance. If we clash purely with strength, it seems I'm the stronger one.

"Theo!?"

Just as Verethragna and Frodil's swords clashed again, my father rushed in, looking panicked. With a sword in hand and blood splattered on him, it seems he has already killed a few enemies.

"Ah, Vice Captain Misla."

"F-Frodil-sama... Why is Theo fighting the Minister of the Interior!?"

"Your son is—"

"—Just be quiet for a moment."

If I let Frodil speak, it would only work against me, so I have no choice but to silence him with force. I understand from our previous conversations that I can’t win a verbal battle with him.

As I deliberately channeled magic into Verethragna, I could feel the magic flowing through it much more smoothly compared to the iron sword I used before. This must be what the master meant when he talked about maximizing magical conductivity... It's an impressive technique.

Frodil noticed the vast amount of magic flowing into my Verethragna and deflected my sword while shifting his stance. The magic-infused slash from Verethragna cleaved the arena in two.

"Monster!"

"That's mutual, isn't it?"

That slash was supposed to cut off Frodil's left arm, but... whether it was reflexive or intentional, he managed to change its trajectory by striking the magic from the side. It's a skill that requires hitting with magic at just the right moment, and he does it so naturally. Indeed, we are both monsters.

"Father, I'll explain everything later. For now, ensure the safety of the citizens!"

"Prioritize eliminating the Dragon Squad, and mobilize all the Magic Knights. Protect His Majesty at all costs!"

"Huh? Uh, right!"

Receiving similar instructions from two people who should be fighting, my father stopped thinking and flew straight into the middle of the arena where the Magic Knights and the Dragon Squad were fighting.

I hope my father does his best... My plan isn't just about triggering an attack on the Western countries using the Dragon Squad. This assault is only the first stage, but... the timing of the next phase isn't entirely under my control, so I'd appreciate any time he can buy us.

"You're the one who caused this, right? Now you're worried about the citizens?"

"You tried to kill the King yourself, didn't you?"

"I failed."

Both inciting foreign intervention and attempting to kill royalty are crimes punishable by death as soon as they're planned.

Realizing that a direct sword fight was disadvantageous, Frodil sacrificed his shield and stepped on my shoulder to leap into the air, casting magic from above. But, as someone who anticipated fighting Magic Knights, it's not like I came unprepared against magic.

"What...?"

When I blocked the magic with the cloak draped over my uniform, Frodil's eyes widened.

"What is that?"

"Custom-made."

"Don't mess with me... You deflected magic? No material could do that."

Of course, but explaining this is pointless since no one but me would understand.

"[Yaldabaoth]."

I switched Verethragna to my left hand and manifested [Yaldabaoth] in my right.

"A Grimoire... So, you're serious now? It seems you intend to neutralize me without killing... But that's impossible."

Oh, he noticed.

"Either I die, or you die... There's no other outcome."

"I'm holding back because I don't want that to happen."

"Are you saying... that you'd win if you didn't hold back?"

Oh, did I hurt his pride? I thought the Minister of the Interior wouldn't have such a useless thing... but he does have pride as a Magic Knight.

"Even so, you're not showing me your Grimoire?"

"...My Grimoire can't be used in this situation."

I see, just like Jeremiah, his Grimoire must be condition-based. In that case... If he meets the conditions, I could be at a severe disadvantage. So, before that happens, I'll take one of his arms and end this!

As I stepped forward, Frodil reconstructed his shield and stepped forward too. He should understand that a direct confrontation with swords is disadvantageous, but I didn't expect him to come straight at me.

"Sorry about this."

I deflected Frodil's sword with Verethragna and slashed through the magic-constructed shield with my fake Grimoire. Using the power of the fake Grimoire to sever the magic, the shield might as well not exist. Frodil, unaware of my Grimoire's ability, had no way to defend against it... With this surprise attack, I successfully cut off his left arm.

"Guh!"

"Give up. You have no chance of winning now. I don’t want to kill you... For the sake of this country's future."

It's not that I have any qualms about killing, but if this man dies, the Kuria Kingdom would be in real trouble. Let's end this here.

"...You truly are strong. You are indeed my greatest obstacle."

"Thanks, I guess."

"That's why... I will overcome it."

I'm telling you, it's over already.

"[S■■dalp■■n]"