“…Suddenly he can control fire? Wasn’t that guy’s ability supposed to be teleportation?” Daniel frowned and muttered.
The power Ashitaka Saburo had just shown had clearly looked like a movement-type ability.
Leo Benedictus beside him heard that and answered, “That’s generally what people know about him.”
“What do you mean ‘used to be’? Aren’t ability users only supposed to have one ability…?”
“He’s different. No wonder they call him an asymmetrical force.”
Leo fixed his gaze on Saburo, who had formed a gigantic fireball, and thought.
Ashitaka Saburo—the head of the Ashitaka family and the priest of the god they served. The exorcist priest might not know it, but the priests of Ashitaka could wield multiple abilities. It must be related to the power of their god.
That didn’t mean every head of Ashitaka was always the strongest. Even if they could draw multiple abilities, using them well was another matter; humans often couldn’t master a single ability before they died, and managing several was far harder. But Ashitaka Saburo had accomplished that difficult feat.
“They say he can proficiently handle over ten different abilities.”
“…Is that flame one of them?” Daniel frowned and stared at the blazing fireball.
Leo nodded. “It’s called crimson flame. It’s his most famous ability. I’ve heard he’s used it only once.”
“If he’s used it only once, why is it the most famous?”
“Because it’s the strongest, of course.”
“…Very strong?”
“That one time he used it was, I heard, when he killed an old god of another family ten years ago.”
“An old god… killed?”
Daniel found it hard to imagine.
While the two of them spoke in serious tones,
─munch munch
Lena calmly chewed a carrot as if she’d taken it from somewhere. She had neatly split it in half with Azidahaka.
Leo Benedictus, puzzled, asked, “…Wizard, aren’t you worried?”
“Huh?” Lena tilted her head at the sudden question, then answered as if it were obvious. “Of course I’m worried. I don’t know much, but they said the opponent is extremely strong.”
“…Then why?”
“But no matter how I think about it, it’s hard to imagine him losing.”
“…?”
“Hamel losing.”
A brief silence followed Lena’s answer. Daniel broke it. “Come to think of it. That’s true too.”
Feeling deflated, Daniel plopped down and watched comfortably. “Any spare carrots?”
“There was one in Ono’s bag; shall I bring one?”
Ono, who had been sitting quietly, snapped at Lena’s nonchalant reply. “What? Kid. Was that my carrot, by any chance?”
“Yes. Was it expensive?”
“That was something I had saved to give to the rabbit… ahem, never mind. Eat up.”
A composure that couldn’t believe a bet with their lives at stake was unfolding. Leo Benedictus’s eyes narrowed as he watched.
Ashitaka Saburo decided to go all out. He would be bedridden for days after pouring out so much power, but the opponent was worth it. Rather than fight half-heartedly and give an opening, he needed to finish it decisively.
“Now is a crucial time for Ashitaka. I won’t allow outsiders to interfere at a time like this!”
“There’s no ‘people’ in the important thing you’re talking about.”
“What nonsense is that?”
“…No. Forget it.”
Hamel’s expression grew colder. Feeling as if he were being despised, Saburo gritted his teeth and fell silent.
─whoosh
A larger ball of flame heated the misty ground intensely. If this place had been a swamp, the water would have boiled and the ground would have dried to sand from the heat.
─sizzle
It was hot enough to boil human blood.
Hamel’s body trembled slightly. At the same time, flames suddenly rose on the robe he wore.
This was why Ashitaka’s crimson flame was feared: a power that dominated the space itself. Within the space he controlled, any living thing had to be allowed to breathe; left alone, one would wither and die. Saburo did not act complacently. Once he decided to use his power, he intended to end it—Ashitaka Saburo’s way.
─swish
Saburo raised his spear and aimed at Hamel. A small black orb formed at the spear’s tip.
“Black flame.”
Among his abilities, it was the most destructive: the divine-killing technique that had slain an old god.
Black flames flared at the spear’s tip.
─psht
The black fireball shot like a bullet and struck the spot where Hamel had stood.
And the next moment—
─boom!
With a massive explosion, black flame roared where Hamel had been standing—a darkness that devoured light. A direct hit from it would melt even a fortress wall, not to mention a person.
‘It’s over.’
Ashitaka Saburo sheathed his spear. If struck by the black flame, even bones would burn away and vanish. There was no need to watch further. He turned to prevent any more commotion; he expected Hamel’s party of priests might rampage.
But for some reason those companions sat at ease, watching the misty field—chewing on a carrot, no less.
Could they possibly not understand the situation? If so, that would be good. It would be better to suppress those companions by force now…
Saburo could not continue the thought.
His clan members behind Hamel’s party were staring wide-eyed.
“No way…”
It couldn’t be.
What Saburo saw when he turned his head was an unbelievable sight.
─whoosh
A robed figure slowly emerged from the black flames. Around him, blue fire wrapped everything. It wasn’t hard to recognize who he was.
“Hamel Gilmore… could he really be alive?”
As Saburo’s eyes trembled faintly,
─whoosh
Azure Flame swept across the misty field like a gale. The black flame—and even the crimson flame that had heated the space—went out powerless.
What on earth was happening?
A low voice reached Saburo’s dazed ears. “I’ve caught you.”
─whoosh crack
Something burst as if breaking. Only a moment later he realized the sound came from his own body.
“Ugh!”
A violent blow to his solar plexus sent his body flying backward. Then—
─bang!
A fierce impact on his back blurred his consciousness.
Looking at the leather boot that had stomped up to him and stopped, Saburo weakly asked as if he couldn’t comprehend it, “H-How…”
“…”
Hamel, who had been silently looking down at him, said flatly, “Because I’m stronger than you.”
After that answer—
─crack
Ashitaka Saburo lost consciousness from a violent blow to his jaw.
“Phew.”
Hamel exhaled deeply and rubbed his chest. The pain had been so intense he felt like dying—something he hadn’t felt in a long time. His lungs felt as if they had been seared alive. ‘I don’t want to experience that again.’
He loosened his robe to draw fresher air.
His companions approached.
“Good work.”
“What hard work? It ended more anticlimactically than expected. Calling them one of the three great powers is just a grand title, isn’t it?”
At Ono’s remark, Hamel shook his head. “No, this fight was largely due to matchup.”
“Matchup?”
“Yes.”
Hamel reviewed the earlier fight. Close combat had been roughly even. Saburo’s teleportation was tricky, but Hamel’s overwhelming tracking vision and physical abilities—born of dragon’s blood—covered for it. The crimson and black flames were undoubtedly overwhelming; they could take on a large army alone, powers that displayed dominant force even in one-on-one duels. But Hamel had thought he might counter them with the Azure Flame.
The first time that thought came to him was thanks to the Bremen Band.
“The three-tailed cat who pitied me gave me a small power.”
The ability Azinos received came from the god he served. If so… perhaps the Azure Flame would work against that ability. Azure Flame was the breath of Ehuurshika, who had been a dragon; a dragon’s breath could incinerate both gods and demons.
So Hamel waited for the right moment: when the opponent was convinced of victory and let his guard down. He did not miss that chance.
If Ashitaka Saburo had not used the crimson and black flames until the end—if he had continued to press, mixing the Azure Flame with useless teleportation and the other abilities he had—maybe the outcome would have been different.
Hamel looked at Ashitaka Saburo, who lay unconscious in the distance, his face unable to accept it. Even the clan members around him stood dumbfounded as if they hadn’t expected this.
Hamel felt the need to tidy things up. “Referee.”
“Yes, y-yes?!” the stunned referee answered.
Hamel said calmly, “Declare who won.”
The referee struggled for a moment, but the words were already decided. “The victor… is Hamel Saint Gilmore.”
“I lost.”
Kneeling, Ashitaka Saburo pressed his forehead to the ground. Hamel flinched at the unexpected ferocity of the apology.
“…Yes. You may stand.”
“No. I failed to atone for the sin of treating a merit as a fraud. This duel was always a fight to the death. I should die to end it. But will you grant me an honorable death?”
“I don’t particularly intend to take your life…”
Just as Hamel was about to refuse, Leo Benedictus, standing beside him, intervened and whispered, “This is the chance. You should kill that slippery fellow now.”
Hamel glanced at him without speaking. Leo lowered his voice again. “I’ve told you many times. They are not a trustworthy lot. Heretical and full of greed…”
“Stop.”
Hamel cut off Leo Benedictus’s words. An awkward atmosphere flowed between them. Hamel turned his gaze back to Ashitaka Saburo and said, “I do not intend to kill you.”
“…”
“As I have said many times, our goal is to investigate Ajidahaka and take appropriate measures.”
Hamel glanced at Leo. This time Leo grinned and stepped back, making a gesture that he would no longer interfere.
No one could be trusted yet. They would believe only what had been revealed in the current situation and take what was necessary.
“Will you assist us?” Hamel extended his hand to Ashitaka Saburo and asked.
For a moment Saburo, who had been staring at Hamel, hesitated, then grasped Hamel’s hand. “Very well.”
Promising Ashitaka’s assistance.
