Chapter 383-384: Lucy |
February 25 is the release date of Sword Saint Tale Starting from Zero Attack Power Volume 6.
The cover is the Dungeon Master, Anemoi Babel.
…Anemoi-chan, couldn’t you look a little more friendly?
Including my previous work, she’s the least friendly heroine to appear on a cover so far. (But that’s what makes it good.)
—Lucy J. Walker.
The first companion I teamed up with after arriving in this other world.
An elf mage who specializes in fire magic.
Her mother is the hero of the Wood Country Spring Log, the Crimson Witch Rosalie-san.
Rosalie-san helped us greatly in the battle against the Immortal King Bifrons, who tried to revive in the Demonic Forest, and in the fight against the Calamity Witch Nevia, who ruled the Sun Country Highland.
He also helped us a lot along with Anna-san and the White Dragon Mel-san.
When I think about it, I’ve had quite a lot of connections with her relatives, including Lucy herself.
And the one who appeared this time was…
“Lucy!!! My beloved daughter!!!” (Zepar)
A Demon Lord of Hell who claims to be Lucy’s father.
‘Hey, Lucy. Is your father really a Demon Lord?’ (Makoto)
‘I-I don’t know! Mama said something about him being a noble in the Demon World…’ (Lucy)
‘That’s basically a Demon Lord, Lu-chan! You should know that!’ (Aya)
‘I told you I didn’t know, Aya!’ (Lucy)
While we were whispering among ourselves…
“Lucy, come here. Let me see how you’ve grown.” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord of the Demon World, Zepar Pyrocraft, beckoned arrogantly.
“Umm…” (Lucy)
Even Lucy, who normally isn’t the type to get intimidated, didn’t go running over saying “Papa.”
To begin with, he’s only a self-proclaimed dad.
There’s no proof he’s really Lucy’s father.
So…
“Can you prove that you’re really Lucy’s father? Since it’s your first meeting, Lucy seems confused.” (Makoto)
I stood in front of Lucy and spoke to the self-proclaimed dad.
“…Who are you?” (Zepar)
Just as expected, the Demon Lord frowned unpleasantly, as if I wasn’t even worth his attention.
“I’m Lucy’s…fiance.” (Makoto)
That introduction isn’t wrong, right?
When I glanced behind me, Lucy was nodding happily.
Sa-san looked like she wanted to say something, but stayed quiet.
“I see…” (Zepar)
Apparently my words interested him.
Guoooo…
Crimson flames began swirling around the Demon Lord.
(Isn’t the ship going to burn?) (Makoto)
I worried about that, but it seemed to be fireproof.
“So you’re the man who will become my daughter’s partner! I shall test your strength!” (Zepar)
“Haah…” (Makoto)
That’s strange.
I thought I asked him to prove he was Lucy’s father.
Before I knew it, he was talking about testing my strength.
This Demon Lord really doesn’t listen to people.
Though a Demon Lord who listens obediently would feel strange too.
‘Hey, Makoto, Makoto.’ (Lucy)
Lucy poked my back with her finger.
‘What is it?’ (Makoto)
‘I think… that Demon Lord really is my father. Somehow…his mana feels similar. Mama’s mana feels like that too. I can kind of tell…family mana.’ (Lucy)
‘Oh?’ (Makoto)
‘You can tell something like that?’ (Aya)
Sa-san and I were a little surprised.
Apparently in this world, you can tell family relationships even without blood tests or DNA analysis.
Lucy could be mistaken, but the Demon Lord seems completely convinced Lucy is his daughter.
So it’s unlikely that both of them are mistaken…probably.
“Take your stance! Human mage! I will not allow a weakling to stand beside my daughter!” (Zepar)
That’s what he said.
I can’t let Lucy be embarrassed.
More importantly, as a believer of Goddess Noah-sama, I can’t accept being called weak.
“Great Water Spirit, Dia.” (Makoto)
I summoned my usual partner.
“Yes, Our King.” (Dia)
The Great Water Spirit appeared smoothly.
Zuzuzu…
A large number of Water Spirits appeared around us.
The sky grew cloudy, and light rain began to fall.
(Oops, Lucy and Sa-san will get wet like this.) (Makoto)
Just as I was about to cast some kind of rain-blocking spell…
“Barrier Magic: [Wind Barrier].” (Lucy)
“Thanks, Lu-chan.” (Aya)
Lucy used wind magic to block the rain around herself and Sa-san.
“…A spirit user. To command an Undine… Impressive.” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord and the other demons looked surprised when they saw Dia.
“Does that prove my strength?” (Makoto)
If the Demon Lord in front of me really is Lucy’s father, I’d rather not fight him.
“Ridiculous! The test begins now!” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord raised his right hand.
Whoosh!!
A pillar of flame rose, and a gigantic magic sword appeared in the Demon Lord’s hand.
The blade of the magic sword began shining like the sun in an instant.
(That looks like a famous magic sword.) (Makoto)
It radiated a pressure comparable to the Holy Swords wielded by Heroes.
“Here I come!!!” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord -Lucy’s dad- raised his sword and charged toward me like a red meteor.
■ Comments Response:
-Thank you for the many congratulatory comments about the anime adaptation.
■ Author’s Comment:
Zero Attack Power is nearing its conclusion, so I need to prepare a new work…
- WM – Chapter 384: Takatsuki Makoto Fights the Demon Lord
A red meteor comes crashing toward me.
What the Demon Lord holds in his hand is a massive crimson magic sword.
“Hnn!!”
The magic sword carves an arc through the air, and a giant red slash comes bearing down in its wake.
(Fast!!) (Makoto)
“Whoa!”
I borrow the power of the Wind Spirits to dodge it while looking for an opening to counterattack.
“It seems you’re quick on your feet. Then…!” (Zepar)
—— “Reversal Magic: [Hellfire Heaven Crash].”
The sky ignited with the Demon Lord’s words.
And then, countless massive fireballs begin raining down.
What flashy magic.
More to the point, if this fire magic hits the ground, Rozes will be turned into a sea of flames.
“Great Water Spirit Dia, please stop the flames from reaching the ground.” (Makoto)
I call out, and…
“Yes, Our King.” (Dia)
Dia begins shooting down the massive fireballs the Demon Lord had unleashed.
“Not bad, Spirit User. Then how about this.” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord raises his hand toward them.
—— “Reversal Magic: [Crimson Annihilation].”
A massive vortex of flames erupts with the Demon Lord at its center.
A vortex of fire large enough to swallow the sky whole.
(He really uses flashy magic every single time…) (Makoto)
Couldn’t he use something a little more subdued.
(The rulers of Hell show off their authority not just through strength, but through spectacle too.) (Noah)
(Hell is vast, you know. Low-key techniques are unpopular there.) (Eir)
I heard the thought transmission of Noah-sama and the Water Goddess Eir-sama.
I see. So it’s a cultural difference.
This fight with the Demon Lord isn’t really about winning…it’s about earning the approval of Lucy’s father.
In that case, maybe I should play by Hell rules and answer with something equally flashy.
(That said, flashy magic really isn’t my strong suit.) (Makoto)
A leftover habit from my human days when I had almost no mana. I always end up conserving mana without thinking.
The widest-range magic I can use is the God Rank spell [Hell’s World – Cocytus], but if I used that, the Water Country would be frozen solid.
Out of the question.
(Hmm……) (Makoto)
I deflect the Demon Lord’s attacks while thinking for a moment.
“Hey, Dia.” (Makoto)
“Yes, Our King?” (Dia)
“Can you do that? Like what we did with Leviathan?” (Makoto)
“Fuh… Of course.” (Dia)
When I ask, Dia answers with a smile.
◇Lucy’s POV◇
The Flame Demon Lord -my papa- conjures giant fire birds and fire giants with his magic and uses them to attack Makoto.
Makoto has been on the defensive this whole time.
“Hey hey, Aya! Isn’t Makoto being pushed back!?” (Lucy)
“Hmm, that’s strange. I thought Takatsuki-kun would be doing way better if he was being serious.” (Aya)
I grabbed Aya’s clothes and shook her.
“Could it be he’s holding back because it’s my father!? Aah, maybe I shouldn’t have told him you can tell family through mana!” (Lucy)
“But then Takatsuki-kun might’ve beaten up Lu-chan’s papa, so I think it was better to say it. Still, Takatsuki-kun isn’t retaliating with magic at all, is he.” (Aya)
Aya looks worried too.
By the way, Aya and I are watching the battle from a short distance away from Makoto, hovering with flight magic.
At that moment, something white and fluffy drifted past in front of me.
“Oh? Snow?” (Lucy)
It was out-of-season snow.
Until just a moment ago, a light rain had been falling as a side-effect of Makoto’s magic.
That changed to snow.
“Lu-chan…it’s cold…maybe.” (Aya)
Aya started shivering.
Indeed, cold air was hitting my skin.
“Fire Magic: [Flame Barrier].” (Lucy)
I surrounded myself with a thin wall of flame.
That should warm things up, but…
“Lucy, it’s still cold.” (Aya)
“…That’s strange, why is it still so cold?” (Lucy)
Something’s wrong.
I should be able to stay lightly dressed even in the dead of winter on a mountain with a Flame Barrier up.
I was just thinking I should raise the heat a little more, when…
Shudder
A chill ran through my body, and I had my staff raised with both hands.
Keeping one arm linked with Aya so her flight magic wouldn’t be disrupted, I held a battle stance with the other.
It wasn’t that I sensed danger.
It was pure survival instinct.
My brain was telling me to run from this place.
Because this place was……surrounded.
——Ahahahahaha ——Kyahaha! ——Fufufu…… ——Ahahahahaha ——Let’s plaaay~☆
What surrounded us was an uncountable number of Great Water Spirits, Undines.
The Great Water Spirits flew gracefully all around us like a school of fish.
One had drawn up right beside me before I knew it.
That was why my Flame Barrier was on the verge of going out.
“[High Flame]!!” (Lucy)
I boosted the power of my fire magic.
(Honestly, Aya’s going to freeze.) (Lucy)
“Aah~~ so warm~~.” (Aya)
Aya clung to me, and I pulled her close by the shoulder.
Then I looked around again.
360 degrees.
Every direction my eyes could reach, Great Water Spirits, floating gently, encircling us on all sides.
And every single one of them was smiling, gazing at a single point.
(Scary!!) (Lucy)
At the center of the Undines’ gaze was -of course- my father, the Demon Lord.
Thousands? No…what surrounded him must have numbered in the tens of thousands of Great Water Spirits.
Each one of them carried mana that might rival a Demon Lord.
I think it says something about my papa that he can keep his composure even while surrounded by them…
“W-What is this!!” (Zepar)
He was rattled.
(Well, I mean, obviously…) (Lucy)
Even I haven’t been able to stop the chills since this started.
Not because I’m actually cold. Just standing here makes my legs feel like they might give out.
And that’s how it feels for me, even knowing Makoto is on my side…
“Tch! To summon this many Great Water Spirits…! But a human cannot possibly control this many! I’ll teach you that more does not always mean better!” (Zepar)
With that, the Flame Demon Lord raised his magic sword and began channeling mana into it, and it started blazing red…
But the flames wrapping the magic sword went out.
“Wha…………”
The Flame Demon Lord was speechless.
Where his gaze fell was the night sky, and…
“Huh?”
“Whoa……”
Aya and I both muttered without thinking.
At first I thought clouds were drifting past.
But they weren’t.
Coming from beyond the night sky, slowly shifting in form…a swarm of blue humanoid shapes.
Every single one was a Great Water Spirit.
Not thousands, not tens of thousands.
Hundreds of thousands…millions of Great Water Spirits were coming this way.
And somehow, the fact that every one of them wore an innocent smile made it even more terrifying.
I’ll say it again…each one of them carries the mana of a Demon Lord class being.
“””””………………”””””
When I glanced over, the demons aboard the massive floating ship the Demon Lord had arrived on were staring up at the sky with expressions like the world was ending.
“………………”
Papa had completely broken.
(Should I stop this…?) (Lucy)
But surely he’s not going to use God Rank water magic with those millions of Great Water Spirits, right?
I looked at Makoto’s face and…
(Ah…this might be bad.) (Lucy)
That’s his face. The excited face he makes when he’s about to try out a new spell.
“Lu-chan, we should stop him.” (Aya)
Aya pokes me in the back.
Yeah, I thought so too.
“Mako—” (Lucy)
I was about to call out loudly when…
“What is the meaning of this!! Takatsuki Makoto!!”
A massive black dragon suddenly appeared, cutting in between Makoto and the Demon Lord.
“Wha, what!?” (Lucy)
“Lu-chan, that’s the one from the North Continent!” (Aya)
Aya’s words made it click.
Could it be the Ancient Dragon King of the Demonic Continent!?
Why would someone like that be here!?
I was flustered, and then…
“Oh? Astaroth, what’s wrong?” (Makoto)
Makoto spoke to him like he was making casual small talk.
Huh?
“I sensed the presence of Takatsuki Makoto summoning a massive number of Water Spirits! I thought perhaps you were fighting a Divine Beast again, so I came to check…” (Astaroth)
And then the dragon turned its gaze toward the Demon Lord.
“Hmm. Flame Emperor Zepar of Hell, is it. It has been a while.” (Astaroth)
So the Ancient Dragon King is also acquainted with Papa.
I braced myself thinking things would get tense with the Ancient Dragon King showing up, but it just seems like he came out of curiosity.
Moreover, judging from the conversation, he seems to be on Makoto’s side.
……I did hear about it, but they really are close, aren’t they.
“Ancient Dragon King Astaroth! Why are you so friendly with a human! Have you been corrupted from living among them too long in the mortal realm!” (Zepar)
Papa is yelling at the top of his lungs.
Hmm, he had dignity at first, but right now he’s a little…yeah.
“Hmm? Takatsuki Makoto is not human. He is a God of the recently revived Goddess Noah-sama, and thus of divine lineage. Did you not come to this star precisely to pay your respects to Goddess Noah-sama?” (Astaroth)
The Ancient Dragon King stares at Papa with a puzzled expression.
Surprisingly endearing, isn’t he.
“…W……hat…did…you say?” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord’s mouth and eyes went wide open.
The Ancient Dragon King watched that reaction, let out a sigh, and turned toward Makoto.
“Takatsuki Makoto. Return the Water Spirits to where they came from. Against the Divine Beast Leviathan or Bahamut would be one thing, but by any measure, you have called too many.” (Astaroth)
“But I heard that in Hell, flashier magic is more favorable?” (Makoto)
“There are limits. If you use magic in this state, an entire continent will sink into the ocean.” (Astaroth)
He was being scolded by the Ancient Dragon King.
You can’t even tell who the Demon Lord is supposed to be here.
“And after I got you all to come out too…… XXXXXX (sorry about that). XXXX (next time, okay?)” (Makoto)
When Makoto waved his hand at the millions of Great Water Spirits, they gradually scattered away into the distant sky.
I was finally released from the suffocating pressure that made it hard to even breathe.
Incidentally, Papa was still standing there in a daze.
“What have I done… To have raised a hand against the kin of that Goddess of Destruction…” (Zepar)
I could hear him muttering under his breath.
Is the Goddess Makoto worships really that feared?
“I feel like something rather rude was just said about Noah-sama.” (Makoto)
Makoto’s eyes narrowed.
“Flame Emperor Zepar, those words are being heard by Noah-sama in the Divine Realm. You would do well to correct yourself.” (Astaroth)
Even the Ancient Dragon King was saying it.
“W-Wait! In the first place, why is my daughter with a familiar of Goddess Noah……” (Zepar)
The Demon Lord was about to say something when…
“Heeey!! What do you think you’re doing!!”
A red flash came streaking in.
And that red flash slammed right into the Flame Demon Lord.
“Gwagh!”
He went flying.
“Papa!?” (Lucy)
I couldn’t help but cry out.
A voice answered.
“Oh my, isn’t that Lucy?”
The one who turned toward me with those words was -as unpredictable as ever- Mama, the Crimson Witch.
■ Comments Response:
> Hasn’t he realized Makoto’s a god? Surely against a god…
-I think he would’ve figured it out if he calmed down. He just got too worked up seeing his daughter’s boyfriend.
■ Author’s Comment:
Tale of the Sword Saint beginning with Zero Attack Power ~ Abandoned by his childhood friend, he enrolled in the Magic Academy, and ended up making a contract with the Demon Lord ~
It’s complete! And Volume 7, the final volume, has also been confirmed!!
N-Now I need time to write the new story…
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