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Chapter 78. Conclusion

Now that I think about it, he still needs to activate his grimoire... What could the condition be? Grimoire abilities with activation conditions are always extremely dangerous, so I need to be cautious. Those movements, almost like future sight, might be his grimoire.

"……?"

After clashing swords once, Frodil suddenly withdrew. It was so abrupt... really disappointing, in fact. He had been attacking aggressively, so I don't understand why he's now being so passive.

On top of that, something feels off. I've heard that Frodil, the Minister of Interior, is incredibly skilled, possessing immense power as a magic knight, strong enough to single-handedly take down the First Division Commander... But I don't sense that level of strength in our clashes. His one-handed magical swordsmanship is undoubtedly refined, but to say it's at a level that could defeat the Commander... I'm not convinced. Although, with that future-sight-like prediction ability, he might just turn things around.

"This is difficult... No matter what I do, I can't seem to break through you."

"Uh... thanks?"

"You really are strong. No matter how many times I try, it seems I can't do more than scratch you."

"So, how about we end this here?"

Honestly, when I got that scratch on my cheek earlier, I really wanted to stop. I'm sure I won't lose, but... I can't shake this feeling that I'll get hit by a surprise attack if I keep going.

So... Frodil isn't making any moves. What should I do now? Personally, I'd like to wrap this up and move on quickly, but Frodil doesn't seem to have given up, even though he's stopped moving.

"[S■■dalp■■n]"

Huh? Did I just hear a ticking sound, like a clock's hands moving... Was it just my imagination? I've never seen a clock in this arena... and with all this chaos, I can't imagine hearing something like that.

Now that I think about it, he still needs to activate his grimoire... the condition is... Wait, didn't I just think about this a moment ago?

"I can see my path to victory now."

"Seriously?"

If Frodil sees his path to victory, that means I might lose. If I don't do something about that future-sight-like ability, he'll predict my moves, and I'll be defeated.

Frodil steps forward confidently again, still not reactivating his shield. He seems to have a full understanding of my grimoire.

"It might be a bit underhanded, but don't hold it against me."

"A clone, huh?"

Huh? How does he know what I'm about to do? Is this also part of his future sight? But no matter how much of the future he sees, it won't matter if he can't respond. I'm pushing through with this!

"Your clone magic is simple. You give a basic command to your own mana. In other words, it only acts according to your initial thoughts."

How does he know that much? And he's talking as if he's experienced it firsthand.

Actually... I feel like my attacks have been read this whole time. At first, it seemed like he was testing me out, but at some point, he suddenly started responding to my moves, and now he's completely predicting them. Even my simultaneous attacks with the clone are being countered by focusing on dodging and defense. Moreover, he's dodging my attacks without taking them head-on, while easily blocking the clone's moves.

It's shocking how he seems to know all my tactics. Does he have an incredible intelligence network, or is he really using a god-like grimoire to predict the future?

"It's useless. I've already seen through your attacks."

"Isn't that a bit too quick?"

"Maybe there's a difference in ability."

Sounds like something you'd say during a growth spurt.

The reason Frodil is focusing on evasion is that he knows my clone magic only allows pre-programmed movements, and once those are completed, the clone automatically disappears.

As the clone vanishes, I grab the Verethragna Blade falling towards the ground and attack with dual swords, but Frodil easily dodges and thrusts his sword at me.

"!!"

"That was fairly deep, wasn't it?"

That bastard... he placed the tip of his sword where I was moving, making me impale myself. Now my side is pretty deeply stabbed... What am I supposed to do about this?

"So, what will you do now?"

"Sorry, but I'm not bad at magic."

I cast a healing spell to enhance my self-regeneration ability. In a few seconds, the bleeding should stop... though if I move too much, the wound might reopen.

"I'm surprised... you can use self-healing magic too?"

"Why are you surprised? Don’t you know everything about me?"

"I don’t know everything. If I did, I would have killed you long ago."

Now that you mention it... that's true. So Frodil's strength lies in his adaptability? But it's still strange that he knows all about my grimoire and magic. After all, I’ve never shown anyone my clone magic. The way he acts as if he's "seen it many times before" is really unsettling.

"Does healing your wound mean you're still willing to fight? I'll face you as many times as it takes."

"As many times?"

The first oddity was his battle style, like future sight. He’s completely familiar with my tactics, accurately targeting the blind spots in my strategy... He destroyed my shield, knew about my grimoire, and saw through my clone magic.

The ticking sound... as many times as it takes... could it be that this guy...

"I see now."

"What is it?"

"What a ridiculously unfair ability, Minister... Reversing time, is it?"

"…I'm surprised. No one’s ever figured out my grimoire before."

Of course not.

This guy... he’s been rewinding time, either from a specific point or over a broader range, I’m not sure. But in any case, he’s reversing time. It’s probably not as grand as time travel, but the reason he knows my moves and magic is that he’s actually experienced them.

Frodil's grimoire is a time reversal. I assumed it was a conditional type like Jeremias', but it turns out it’s just that the situation didn’t allow for an effective use of it.

"Well then... how am I supposed to fight against that?"

"As a reference, could I ask how you figured out my grimoire?"

"...It was just a coincidence."

"I see, so if I rewind again, I might be able to keep it hidden this time?"

Huh? Wait a minute... Is he planning to rewind time again and erase the fact that I figured out his grimoire's secret?

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Well then, I’ll see you in the past."

If he rewinds time again, it won’t just be my side that gets hurt next time! I have to stop him, or my life will be taken!

"[Sandalphon]"

The sound of a clock’s hands moving.