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I don’t feel the danger of death.

And yet, the world moved as if in slow motion. Behind the Divine Soldier, Sufi and Noche rushed in, raising their swords. The fallen knights had also gotten back up, reaching toward me. Chytis Khaleed’s kick, aimed at the monster, was deflected, throwing him off balance.

The monster’s hand grabbed my left arm. The grip was too strong to resist, yet it didn’t hurt. It didn’t seem like it actually intended to injure me.

With one arm restrained, I can’t reload new rounds.

For a moment, the thought crosses my mind—if I get taken, as long as Sufi and the others are safe…

“LET ALICE GO!!!!!”
“Don’t you dare touch our youngest, nya!”

Sufi and Noche slammed their swords into the Divine Soldier’s back.

“Don’t touch the blood!”
“Nyah!?”

The warning slipped out instinctively. Avoiding the splattered blood, the two of them pulled back. Relief that they dodged, and a bit of admiration that they managed it, both emotions surfaced at once.

At that moment, I remember a fragment of the day I supposedly died in my previous life.

That day, among the occultists who attacked Sector 0, there was a monster like this.

Those creatures were also called a Divine Soldier. Something a human became after receiving the blood of a god.

It had a durable body and high immortality. If its blood touched a human corpse, that corpse would transform into the same kind of monster.

That’s all I know—but right now, even that is enough.

Living humans should be fine even if they get splashed with blood, but there’s no guarantee it’s exactly the same kind of monster. I don’t want Sufi and the others touching something so unknown.

“If its blood touches a corpse, it might turn into the same kind of monster. Avoid it as much as you can.”
“Nyaa!?”
“I said stay back!”

Unlike the shaken Noche, Sufi boldly attacked the Divine Soldier. But instead of cutting, she struck with the flat of her blade.

“I swore as a knight (Beloved Child), to fight for the weak (acknowledge us), that oath will never waver (let the Gods return to this land once more).”
“That makes no sense.”
“Then let go of Alice! She’s weak!”

The overlapping, rasping voice can apparently only be heard by me. No matter how many times Sufi and Noche struck him, the Divine Soldier didn’t flinch.

The Sister and the nun… seemed to have moved the battle elsewhere. The sounds of combat came from outside the room. It’s good that that insane nun isn’t interfering, but we can’t expect strong reinforcements.

“The power to protect the weak (You’re annoying), the shield that repels all hardship (Hakomori girl)¹”
“Ugh!?”
“SUFI!”

Like swatting a fly, the Divine Soldier’s arm struck Sufi’s body. For a moment, anger surged—but I forcibly regained composure by steadying my breathing.

*“Separate thought from emotion. If your thinking is driven by anger, you’ll lose even fights you could win.”*

Remembering Captain’s words, I glared at the puppet-like face of the Divine Soldier.

“Huh…? That didn’t hurt.”

Sufi, who had been sent rolling, popped back up as if nothing happened.

My blood ran cold, I remembered how she was attacked by that weasel before, but it’s honestly relieving to see she was okay.

“You are under the Sister’s protection. You won’t be injured. However…”
“She bears all the damages in our stead…right?”
“Yes. Please don’t overdo it.”

I thought that might explain why I don’t feel pain, but my arm really was only being held in place. I couldn’t feel the Divine Soldier ever trying to crush it.

Chytis Khaleed and the knights were back on their feet. But since I was being held, they couldn’t make a move.

“I am the judgment of the Light God (acknowledge me), I am the sword of the Light God (acknowledge us).”

The Divine Soldier keeps talking nonsense, without trying to carry me away.

I don’t want to keep holding everyone back.

I let go of the gun in my hand. It hit the floor with a lighter sound than expected.

It’s possible. I don’t have a way to explain it, but there’s a strange certainty that everything will be fine.

That sense of nostalgia I felt the first time I saw this lantern.

If this lantern helped me before, then the sudden appearance of that incantation must have some kind of meaning as well.

“O gathered fragments of an endless Illusion (Dream), drifting from the edges of the Void (Sky). Bind together the words and the wishes of the Beginning, and be its vessel here and now, O Innocent Chaos.”
“I shall fulfill my mission (Stop, Beloved Child).”

God knows what’ll happen, or perhaps the Devil himself will pop up. Whatever it is, so long it deals with this monster, I wouldn’t mind.

I recited the Japanese incantation exactly as I remembered it. It doesn’t match any system of magic I know. But I do understand what the invocation implies. Anyone who can read Japanese would at least recognize the name.

Though I have no confidence I can actually control something like this.

“‘False Code (Pseudepigrapha) — Ame-no-Murakumo.’”

The black shadow swirling around the lantern gathered in my right hand, forming a single sword. Only the pommel spread out like a T-shape. From grip to tip, the blade was long and slender—closely resembling ancient bronze swords from Japan or China.

One of the Three Sacred Treasures in Japanese mythology. The sword said to have come from the tail of Yamata no Orochi. Probably the most famous sword in Japan.

The formed blade is pitch black and nearly weightless. I can somehow swing it, but… I have zero confidence using a sword!

“Gu—Gaaah!?”

I swung it at the arm holding me. The blade passed through with almost no resistance, and for the first time, the Divine Soldier reacted—grabbing its arm and screaming.

Its grip loosened. As I staggered, Sufi rushed in and caught me, pulling us both back.

I kept my eyes on it—but the arm I cut showed no visible damage.

“Alice, are you okay!? What is that!?”
“I’m fine.”

Honestly, I’m confused too. Judging from the incantation, it seems like a technique that recreates artifacts from myths or heroic tales.

The effect is immense, but it doesn’t feel like it’s consuming my mana. Could this be the lantern’s true power?

If so, why now? There must be some condition—no, this isn’t the time for that!

“Sufi, behind you!”
“Huh—hya!?”

The Divine Soldier swung its left arm down. Thankfully, it’s not that fast—Sufi managed to leap away while still holding me.

But the power behind that swing was absurd. One strike shattered the floor, and the shockwave staggered even trained adults.

We’re blown away, tumbling across the ground together.

“Kyaa!”
“Guh…!”

That destructive power doesn’t match the speed or mass at all—this is ridiculous…!

“I-I-I-am-am (some injuries) god-god-god’s (are inevitable).”
“So it comes to that after all.”

I broke free, but now it seems the enemy has decided to use brute force.

“Why are you targeting me?”
“the-god-god-god (For the Gods) judge-judgement-ment (to return upon this land).”
“That makes no sense—cough… I don’t have that kind of power.”
“Judge-judge-judge (Only you), knight-knight-oath-oath-oath (can open the Pithos)”
“…What? What are you talking about?”

…Pithos?

I don’t understand. I have no idea what that refers to.

“Alice, what are you saying!? We need to get away!”
“He’s completely nuts, nya! And why are you talking to yourself, nya!?”

I tried to fish out information, but Sufi yanked me back hard.

Pulled away, Sufi and Noche stand in front of me with swords ready, shielding me.

Only I can hear that overlapping noise-like voice. Explaining it would be complicated.

“you-kill-kill-kill-killed-me-me (Only you are allowed).”
“…For what?”

I already noticed the young man’s voice has been breaking down for quite some time.

…Is it because I cut him with this sword?

I don’t know much about Japanese mythology, but did Ame-no-Murakumo have an origin like this? I’ve never heard of the Three Sacred Treasures having specific powers like this.

But it’s definitely working.

“‘Gale Slash’!”

Langbert, who had been waiting for an opening, charged in. His wind-wreathed slash swept across the Divine Soldier’s torso, staggering it slightly.

“‘Rekkuukyaku (Sky Rending Kick).’”

Khaleed followed with a flying spinning kick, blasting the off-balance Divine Soldier away with a tremendous impact.

“Attack!”
“‘Charge Thrust!’”

At Langbert’s command, the knights surged forward with their Martial Arts. Countless blades pierced the Divine Soldier.

Remembering the warning about the blood, they immediately pulled back once they confirmed the hits.

“Th..ank…you for(I shan’t yield), stop…ping…me (we will meet again).”

Only after being that thoroughly destroyed did the Divine Soldier finally stop moving.

“…Did we get it, nya?”
“Probably.”

With those ominous final words, whatever had been controlling him seemed to have disappeared. I don’t know whoever they had mistaken me for, but I’d wish they’d stop pursuing after me.

As the Divine Soldier lied completely still, a sudden bad feeling hit me.

This thing turns corpses into monsters through its blood. If somebody was controlling it, they would have backups.

However, if someone had ingested its blood beforehand—what happens when that someone dies?

“Where’s the Sister!?”
“It seems her battle has just concluded.”

I asked Chytis Khaleed, who was likely observing through his familiar. He was sitting on the floor, visibly exhausted, but still monitoring the other fight.

“The Sister has won. The Nameless Order’s knight’s weapon is broken… and now she’s taking her own life—”
“Stop her, now!”

I was a little too late to realize.

From the direction where the Sister was fighting, a grating, unpleasant laugh echoes.

“I’d rather avoid consecutive battles.”
“…Khaleed, stay with the children. We’ll handle that side.”
“Regrettably, if I move now, I’d only be a burden.”

Seeing Langbert rushing off to support the Sister, I helped treat Chytis Khaleed with Sufi supporting him.

It’s not going to end that easily after all…