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Chapter 82. The Original Grimoire

While holding [Michael], Jeremiah charged straight at Frodil. Frodil showed a slight surprise at the sudden charge but calmly formed a magical shield to deflect Jeremiah’s thrust.

Frodil still knows very little about Jeremiah’s movements. He probably understands that the thrusting sword Jeremiah wields is a Grimoire, but he likely doesn’t know the source of that attack power. However, that’s only for now... If he rewinds five times, he’ll grasp Jeremiah’s movements, and if he rewinds ten times, he’ll completely read him.

“!?! To chip my sword with just a graze… It’s quite a fine piece, you know.”

“It’s not about the attack power.”

As the Judicator’s sword began to glow, magical energy gathered in my [Yaldabaoth].

“I’ve rewound!”

“!?”

Frodil grimaced at my voice, but he calmly avoided the beam fired from the glowing tip of the Judicator’s sword by a hair’s breadth and moved back significantly.

That sword… It shoots beams from the tip? No, it’s probably more that Jeremiah is sending out magical energy... Quite an impressive first-time kill.

“… That was aimed at an instant kill.”

“Even without rewinding, he’s a skilled knight. He likely had enough reaction speed to survive… Besides, that man probably thinks that if he can rewind, he can manage, so he’ll readily sacrifice his limbs.”

From my perspective as someone who’s been fighting continuously, Frodil fights as if his own safety is secondary. Especially when the magical energy is stored and he can rewind at any moment, he attacks in a near-suicidal manner. It seems like he’s too determined, but he continues to act so calmly.

No matter how many times you rewind, the pain from having your arm severed won’t disappear… His ability to repeat it infinitely and his mental fortitude are remarkable… What kind of life must one have to manifest such a Grimoire?

“Now that we’ve rewound, there must be some interval!”

“Indeed.”

Since Jeremiah charged immediately, I floated the surrounding debris and threw it at Frodil. While my close combat has been mostly countered, it’s better to support Jeremiah like this... but I’ll keep the final card.

It seems Frodil is trying to deflect Jeremiah’s high-speed thrusts with his shield. He’s now behaving like a diehard game player, trying to buy time with his shield while using his repetitive rewinds. However, Frodil must have already used up much of his magical energy from rewinding so many times against me. Even if he has the magical energy stored by the Azurite stones, Jeremiah will charge in, and he should no longer have the strength to rewind freely.

“Got it!”

“Damn!?”

Frodil, who was barely managing to fight off the debris I threw, showed an extraordinary reaction to Jeremiah’s thrust, which was accelerated by magical energy. He probably understood that Jeremiah also rewound time. Such a reaction isn’t possible without prior knowledge.

“Jeremiah, come here for a moment.”

“Huh? I was just about to corner him.”

“Don’t get mad… I just have something I want to ask.”

Honestly, I wish Jeremiah’s attack power wouldn’t keep decreasing as we repeat this cycle, so I’d like to avoid unnecessary assaults. But there’s something I want to know more.

“I hear you’re using Azurite stones to replenish magical energy while fighting. Do you know what kind of stones they are?”

“… I believe they are stones that can convert atmospheric magical essence into magical energy and store it… So, he’s rewinding using those?”

“Yes, that’s right… I want to know what kind of stone it is.”

Knowing that would be the final key to defeating Frodil.

“The Azurite stone is characterized by its blue glow… As mentioned, it has the property of storing magical energy.”

“What’s the limit of that storage?”

“Hmm? It’s too precious for anyone to test its limits.”

“I see… Then, can it be destroyed?”

“It can be.”

“Then, that’s good.”

If we destroy that stone, Frodil’s time-rewinding ability will become impossible. Moreover, he would lose so much magical energy from his body that he wouldn’t even be able to walk properly. Magical energy is that crucial for the human body.

“Is the strategy meeting over now?”

“Ah… I didn’t think I’d be so pleased with the fact that you’re so eager to drag this out.”

Frodil waits without interrupting our whispered conversation because he can accumulate magical energy in the Azurite stones. He’s become more talkative during the fight, probably for that reason. He didn’t converse at all at first.

“I’ll try to destroy the Azurite stone.”

“Can you?”

“I have a trump card… I don’t want to show it to you, but needs must.”

“... Then I’ll draw his attention.”

That’s a relief… If I challenge him directly with a sword, it would probably just turn into a futile duel. Jeremiah, who hasn’t fully been read yet, is crucial.

As Jeremiah stepped in, I also closed the distance rapidly and swung my Ursulagna. Jeremiah’s attacks are exaggeratedly deflected with a shield, while my Ursulagna’s slashes are narrowly avoided with ease. He’s clearly aware of our range.

“Pierce through, [Michael]!”

Suddenly, Jeremiah shouted the name of his Grimoire, and light was emitted from the entire rapier as a thick beam shot out from the tip. At the same time, feeling the heat of time rewinding again from [Yaldabaoth], I confirmed that Frodil avoided the beam by sacrificing his shield.

“I saw it.”

Amidst the defense and attack, I focused on the magical energy spilling from Frodil’s chest. He’s definitely storing the Azurite stone there. If I can destroy it, he won’t be able to rewind time after 30 seconds. That would mean our victory is assured. However, the Azurite stone is in his chest pocket. If I pierce it… Frodil might not survive.

There’s no time to hesitate. If we miss this chance… we might never get another opportunity to completely defeat this man.

So… I will make sure to kill him here.

With my own Grimoire, I’ll make the kill.

“[Demiurge]”

My cloak… My Grimoire [Demiurge], which was always active, instantly transformed into a spear and pierced through Frodil, impaling him along with the Azurite stone in his chest pocket.