Chapter 17

It was a terrifying enemy.

A fierce, truly tumultuous barrage of attacks.

It was so terrifying that I wanted to retort, ‘Hey, a sword isn’t a drumstick.’

And then, the magic sword’s buff is added on top of that, making it an act of folly beyond a finishing blow.

What’s terrifying is that a character with such a distinctive appearance has never appeared in the game before.

Such a memorable character would definitely be remembered if they appeared even once.

There’s no doubt it would be etched in memory, but…

This guy doesn’t appear in the original work.

Terrifyingly, despite being so strong, he’s not a main character.

Well, I guess that means [The Thirteen Step] isn’t straightforward either.

They send someone strong into battle with a strong magic sword, a simple-is-best approach.

But it’s quite incomprehensible why I, who should have nothing to do with the story, am involved.

Nevertheless, it’s no joke that right now, there’s no doubt that he’s swinging a magic sword at me, trying to end my life.

So, yes.

I must defeat him.

“……”

I remember the past.

Yes, back when I was still young.

…

”Hyahaha, I am a magical girl!!!”

…That’s not it.

Um, before that.

Yes, when my grandmother put me through rigorous training to the point of death.

”If you stop, I’ll kill you.”

No, if I don’t stop, I’ll die.

—Such were the hellish days I lived through.

The magic born from that experience is [Severance].

That’s why, no matter how much my boss yelled at me, I could endure it by thinking, ‘Is that okay? I have [Severance], you know?’

So.

‘It’s loose.’

Guh, our swords clash.

There’s no need to push back.

Just touching like this is enough.

No need for strength.

Just—sever.

”Sword—”

The man’s expression as he saw the serious cracks forming in his sword.

An expression full of surprise.

Indeed, in the standards of this world, a magic sword is almost an immortal existence.

Seeing it break before his eyes must be quite shocking.

Well, I can finally do it with [Severance], while the protagonist does it with mere physical strength, but that’s beside the point.

The man, now completely disarmed in front of me.

I swing my return blade, Durandal—

Crack.

The other magic sword falls to the ground, destroyed.

The man, now completely weaponless.

I was a little worried that a second round of bare-handed fighting might start from here, but the man, unlike when he first let out a mad scream, now had a calm expression and shrugged.

”I surrender.”