Christina vs. Elimes
"Haha, look at you struggling like that after coming at me. This is what slaves are like, huh? You're nothing but weak! ——— Rainbow Tri-Foam of the Rainbow Belt"
"Ugh... I'll go with Mud Hard Continuous Strike."
"Haha, that's not going to work! You know by now that such weak magic can't block my spell!"
When I arrived at the scene on the master's orders, Hilde appeared to be in quite a bad spot.
A woman dressed in a brightly colored outfit with red hair tipped in yellow, radiating a dazzling spectrum of colors, was unleashing the magic of 'rainbow' from her outstretched hands.
Hilde's 'mud' magic dissipated the moment it touched the 'rainbow,' losing its power unnaturally and breaking apart.
"Ugh..."
"Hilde!"
"...What is it? A new arrival? And another slave, huh. Are you also one of Vanitas's slaves?"
"Hilde! Are you alright? Hilde!"
"Chris..tina...? What are you doing here?"
"It's only natural for a sister to come and help her sibling!"
"...Sister? Christina? Heh, haha, I'm the older sister here."
"No, you're not! Oh, you've been hurt so badly. I'll use a healing potion now!"
"Ah, please don’t ignore me... Haa... What’s with this? I’m really unlucky to be ignored by a slave today."
A woman named Elimes, who according to the master is extravagantly dressed, gave me a puzzled look as I suddenly intruded.
However, my priority is to attend to Hilde's injuries.
I continued the treatment while remaining cautious.
Fortunately, Hilde's injuries were minor, just surface cuts with minimal bleeding.
While her lost stamina wouldn’t be restored, a single healing potion should be enough to address the injuries without issue.
"Christina... the master, is he alright?"
"The master is safe. He was injured, but he managed to hold off the wicked dragon and the troublesome individual named Moritz who seems to be controlling it."
"...The wicked dragon, is it?"
"...Unfortunately, it's still alive. I've seen it up close and can confirm that it’s... an extraordinary existence. It’s questionable whether you can even call it a monster. Even the master’s magic isn’t very effective against it."
"Yeah... the wicked dragon is strong."
"Hey, I’m getting bored here. Is it over yet?"
"Not yet!!"
"Oh... I see."
"So, Hilde, there’s a message from the master for you."
"A message? From the master?"
"Yes, he wants you to come to him on my behalf."
"To the master?"
"...'To fight the wicked dragon Eclipse Dragon, we need your power, Hildegard,' is what the master says."
"I... am needed?"
The master, while evading the attacks of the wicked dragon and Moritz with his injured body, ordered me to call Hilde, even refusing to use a healing potion for his own injuries due to the lack of time, and wiping the blood from his forehead with his arm.
"Really? Even though you couldn't fight properly against me, you seriously think you could take on the wicked dragon? That’s impossible. A weakling who can only make dirty mud would just die uselessly. Ah, I get it now! Haha! Vanitas is really cruel, isn’t he? He’s calling you just to be his shield! Because dirty mud girl, you’re a slave, right? I know that too! Slaves are expendable! Haha, hahaha!"
This woman lets out a truly unpleasant, really unpleasant laugh.
But right now, there’s no time to listen to such malevolent voices.
Even at this moment, the master is desperately fighting against that extraordinary creature, the wicked dragon.
He’s doing so by drawing the enemy’s hostility towards himself to prevent it from affecting those around him.
"External voices don’t matter. The master needs your help, Hilde. I know that the wicked dragon resembles the enemy of your mother. The master is aware of this, yet he still needs your power. Your strength is absolutely necessary to defeat the wicked dragon. ...I cannot do it."
"Christina..."
"Your injuries should be healed now, right? You can move now."
"Yes."
I took Hilde's hand and helped her to her feet.
Her hands were calloused and hard from daily training.
They were the hands of a fighter.
But I know that this is the essence of Hildegard.
She is a strong woman who chooses to fight even in the face of adversity.
"Hilde, you can fight even against the enemy. Both the master and I believe that. Stand up. You have a strong heart capable of facing the wicked dragon."
"Yeah... yeah."
Hilde’s eyes.
I could see her wavering eyes slowly starting to light up in response to my words.
The light of courage and determination.
Yes, look forward.
You’re suited to pushing forward.
"I will take over here. Go."
"......Christina, thank you. I’m going!"
"Yes, go and be safe."
I watched Hilde’s back as she firmly stepped onto the ground and ran towards the master.
There’s no need to worry anymore.
If Hilde hesitates again, the master will help her recover.
He understands Hilde better than I do.
"How melodramatic. To call her over just to face the wicked dragon. It’s like sending her to her death. Moritz, with his nasty personality, would probably enjoy seeing this, but I don’t really care. Haha, in fact, it might even annoy me."
"I see. However... thank you."
"Why are you thanking me? We’re enemies, right? What’s the point of thanking someone you’re about to fight to the death? Do you think I might show mercy?"
"No, not at all. I just wanted to express my gratitude for allowing me to see Hilde off to the master. But even if you had interfered, I would have definitely stopped you."
"...You’re quite cheeky. Is this how all slaves are? I thought they would be more submissive and despairing about their fate. Seeing you makes me feel like I’m mistaken."
"You’re not mistaken. We are the master’s slaves. There’s a bond between us that you cannot fathom. That’s all there is to it."
"Well, whatever. I can’t see the dirty mud girl’s back anymore, so now it’s your turn to face me. If I recall correctly—"
"Christina."
"Christina... Vanitas’s slave. You’re an eyesore, so—die."
Elimes’s hateful eyes pierced through me.
But...
"Do you think there is a sister who wouldn’t be furious if her younger sister was harmed? Elimes, I will defeat you here."
"Oh, so you're just protecting again! ——— Rainbow Tri-Foam of the Rainbow Belt!"
"......Purity Aqua Lotus Shield."
It’s strange.
I felt something was off right after the battle began.
"That shield is useless! No one can withstand my magic!"
"Tch..."
The water shield I activated to protect myself.
The magic, composed of flowing water reminiscent of lotus flowers, was meant to absorb and disperse the impact.
However, it was easily sliced through by the three interconnected rainbow rings of Elimes's magic.
The spinning rainbow rings.
This magic, which moves through the air, slashes anything it touches along the outer circumference.
While rolling on the ground to evade it, I thought.
It’s strange.
Even though our magic collided head-on, only my magic was being sliced through without resistance?
A difference in strength?
Even so, there was no resistance when the magic clashed.
It was as if the water shield were avoiding the rainbow rings...
"......Purity Aqua Eagle."
"I’m already familiar with that water eagle! Rainbow Belt’s Ring Rainbow Hoop! Haha, your target is way too big! Such a weakling!"
Even Purity Aqua Eagle...
Was easily bisected without resistance.
"Then... Purity Aqua Slicer. Take this!"
I slashed at the approaching rainbow rings with a sword enhanced by water currents.
A slight resistance...
This is...
The rainbow rings were bisected and dispersed by the sword, which had lost its water current.
"Could it be... are you erasing magic itself with your spell?"
"Ahaha, you're partially right! But not quite! My magic is 'Rainbow Belt.' Rainbows cannot be touched by anyone. No one can reach the source of a rainbow. That’s right, my magic rejects other people’s magical power! So no one’s magic can touch mine! ...I was surprised when Vanitas’s magic was repelled, though, that was a mystery. But you can't pull off such a feat, can you? So, Christina, you can never beat me."
"That is..."
"How? Are you in despair? Do you understand now that someone like you, a slave, can never defeat me?"
From then on, I was forced into an even more defensive position.
I couldn’t get close.
Despite enhancing my physical abilities with magic, the constantly unleashed rainbow spells slashed through my magic, preventing me from approaching.
As time went on, the wounds inflicted by Elimes's magic continued to increase.
She’s strong.
Even though I knew she was the one who had cornered Hildegard, I felt it anew.
"Heh, you’re still not in despair? Even though the outcome is already decided. You’re so stubborn. Well then, let me show you the true essence of my magic. ——— Seven Rainbow Wings."
"What is this... in the sky..."
Two dazzling rainbows appeared behind Elimes.
Seven-colored auroras illuminated the surroundings as if covering the heavens.
"Ahaha, yes! I can fly freely in the sky! In the sky where you can't reach me! Now, how are you going to win against me? Show me! Show me your sisterly pride!”
T/N: Finally reached c100!