Chapter 82: Black Knight Aarg (4)
“—Please stop, Onii-sama. Please do not say such things.”
Knight denied those words.
Even if it was the person himself—she could not forgive the older brother she had trusted being insulted.
“In the end I am only a little girl blessed with power. I can only swing a sword, release flame, and destroy darkness…”
Do you know? That I cannot even bake a single cake like a girl of that age.
Other cooking is the same. I cannot even do needlework properly. Calculation I somehow managed to become able to do by working hard, but the truth is I’m still not good at it. I packed in knowledge to the degree I can do it if I desperately try, and desperately kept up appearances so as not to disappoint those around me, but sitting at a desk and facing numbers is my weak point. I could keep up appearances with Saber, the junior I most wanted to act strong toward, but Princess Altina always smiled bitterly at me.
Therefore look—the only thing I can do is swing a sword like this and slay evil.
I think defeating the dark beasts that occasionally appear is necessary. I have no intention of specially demeaning myself who can do that.
Ah, but.
“No matter how glittering it looks from the side—this kind of thing is in the end only violence. Even if you have only this kind of thing, you can only punch someone.”
No matter how much talent, no matter how thoroughly trained the technique.
By itself it is only violence. A person who is good at hurting others.
No matter how much you polish this kind of thing it cannot shine. Isn’t that logic even a child would understand.
“Power, a sword, exists precisely because there are people who live their days. Precisely because it protects everyone, violence first shines as a knight’s vow.”
Because behind herself there is someone who must be protected.
Yes, Knight thinks a sword is like a mirror.
“Precisely because those who till fields, bake bread, and face numbers for the country are more splendid—a blade that can protect such everyone splendidly shines.”
No matter how strong, no matter if one possesses absolutely invincible power, who would honor one who uses that power for selfish desire. Such an existence is only frightening.
If the champion of justice Sacred looks more glittering than the people who must be protected, that is because they receive the people’s radiance all at once. Precisely because there is protected radiance, because there is daily living, we shine.
Therefore, Black Knight—
“Please do not say such sad things. There were surely mountains of things only Onii-sama could do.”
Your living was certainly light.
At least she thought so, and believed everyone thought so as well.
Such a person is by no means below Sacred Knight.
“In the first place, a person’s power, a person’s strength, is not something decided by sword or magic, is it?”
Is a girl good at needlework worthless because she cannot swing a sword?
Is a man who bakes bread every morning meaningless because he cannot use magic?
——There is no way that is so.
All of them are shining light, and precisely because of that the Sacred wield power to protect that—and as a result look glittering because they protected many lights.
“That those good at violence are supreme and the rest are dust to be trampled—the end of that is their world, Lemora.”
A world composed of those who all think they themselves are supreme and therefore more more higher higher—there is surely no future in such a world.
Competing with each other and raising each other is important, but that is by no means everything. Warm living, calm everyday—are the efforts of people who maintain those below a little girl who only swings a sword? That itself is unthinkable.
“Precisely because of that I am trying to be the sun. As a blessed holy flame that protects and warms everyone, so that even one more person does not have to fear the darkness… so that many radiances do not freeze and vanish in the night’s darkness!”
Therefore, because you are not good at conflict.
Because your will was weak and you could not endure becoming a Monster Villain.
Please do not completely deny yourself with such things.
A person’s radiance cannot be measured only by martial force or strength of will, right?
“Niisama—it’s not too late even from now. Even I could do it; Niisama too, surely.”
You can become a Vigilante.
Even the frail boy named Gahel Wayne borrowed everyone’s power and feelings and regained his reason.
There’s no way Onii-sama cannot. Let’s go home together.
At those unadorned pure words the Black Knight closed his eyes. Ah, that might not be bad either.
“—Even so.”
In that instant what was reflected on the back of the Black Knight’s eyelids was the girl sitting on the throne.
A girl in gothic lolita with peach twintails. The queen of Lemora, Fine.
“There is a person who sought me. Who said she wanted this sword of mine offered.”
That person who was stronger than anyone and led many Diabolics recognized the value of the Black Knight—of Aarg Wayne.
Whether those words were her true feelings he did not know.
Perhaps she had only spoken pleasant words to obtain a convenient piece.
But even so.
Even so the Black Knight—could not betray those words.
No, this alone he did not want to betray.
“I have continued betraying everything, but those words alone I cannot betray.”
Even if everything was a lie—it was certainly salvation for him.
Because she was the person who accepted the wish of Aarg Wayne that he had sought since before becoming a Monster Villain.
Therefore he would no longer return, could not return.
Since he had been begged that a sword like this of his was good, that she wanted it offered—the black knight distorted by desire would only swing his sword for her.
“—Is that so.”
Then there was no longer any choice.
Knight readied her sword, and Gahel also readied his fists.
At that state he put on a slight smile—
“My name is Black Knight Aarg! Close aide serving Queen Fine of Lemora! Sacred, Vigilante! If you say you are justice, then splendidly slay this me—!”
—He shouted and stepped in.
The Black Knight who raised the greatsword wrapped in black flame and charged at the two—into his bosom charged Gahel wrapped in flame.
Fast—far more than earlier.
That was the strengthening ability Sacred Knight brought. Allies she trusted had their abilities rise in flame.
Gahel who raced through at bullet-like speed slammed that fist into the Black Knight’s chest. Armor burst and shattered, an impact that snapped ribs.
“U, o—oooo!”
Scolding a body that seemed about to collapse, the Black Knight put force into his sword.
Not yet, not yet, not yet! Even if I fall, even if I am defeated—in a figure that does not shame the queen’s name.
Raising a war cry he swung his sword at Gahel—forward, forward, forward, to make the dust-like himself shine even a little.
To die as a knight fitting for that person.
“Onii-sama.”
——The black greatsword was cut off halfway.
What entered his vision was the figure of Sacred Knight putting on a sorrowful expression.
Seeing that, ah.
He laughed as if convinced—
“Goodbye.”
“Un—sorry for being this kind of older brother.”
——The greatsword wrapped in holy flame bisected that body.