Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 151

Libra isn't moving.
I carefully walk around as Libra just stands there with a flippant smile.
Now then what to do?
Even if I don't lose in magic power or combat technique, any number of uncertain factors come bubbling up if this becomes a serious match.
Then the option to choose is experience.
Trump card number one, Resonance World is safe.
However I personally reject that.
By doing that, my conscious will end up being much more mature than it is now.
……This fierce feeling, will end up becoming a mental state where such things as youthful indiscretions would be cleared away.
That's intolerable.
I, want to smash these feelings into her.
Even if that's something to be laughed at with a how immature.

「This side is, pissed off!!!」

I give that grinning Libra a Thunder.
It's repelled by a wall of magic power.

「What is it imouto disciple? Rather careful compared to your vigor arren't you? Did you think such a piddling act would defeat me?」
「I ask that you stay standing while gazing from above until the end, ane disciple.」

Thunder won't get through then.

「Welll then, then this side will also do some minor investigations. Convert, earth!」

A line of magic power ran from Libra's body to my feet.
It gave me a chill so I quickly jumped away.
――A spear of earth to skewer people with sprouted.

「Alchemist!」

Libra's unique job is it.
It's magic outside of the magic system that I know.

「Did you think I was inept in direct combat? My condolences, imouto disciple.」

I land while reaching my hand out and, quickly lower my hips and take my stance.
Magic power ran forth.
Spears of earth rise gradually rise to skewer me one after another while chasing after me.
I jump away again.

(This is bad.)

To the me that fundamentally competes while standing on the ground, this development is harsh.
If it was Till, I suppose there would be the method of hardening ice at her feet.
If it was Eclair, it'd be fine to fly in the sky.
Such attacks won't hit but, they whittle away my stamina.

「――Cast release! Star Flare!」

My judgement is instantaneous.
To release high rank crimson magic just for a foothold.
Adjusting the swelling heat, the flame takes the same winged shape as Eclair's and I gain buoyancy.

「Oya oya, making use of your hidden ball rather easily arren't you.」
「There's also a concept that says tools should be put to use.」

I won't say something like it would be wasted on me, because I can't use flame magic.
I get used to the sense of flight, while lightly circling in the sky.

「I don't like being looked down on. Convert, air.」

Magic ran from Libra again and, she floated up into the air until she had the same vantage as my own.
Did she change the atmosphere around herself into helium or something with alchemy?
That's incredibly versatile.
Alchemist, Libra is it……
This is why Till told me to flee.

「If you have that much talent, just how much expectation did Till have for you……」
「Does the amateur intend to start a debate? Ahaha, a rather cute person for all your anger aren't you.」

I don't feel like admonishing her or such.
But she irritates me and I end up insulting her irregardless.

「Lightning!!」

I release lightning like a cannon, as if hurling my tangled feelings at her.
I definitely caught her but――the lightning curved as if it were specifically avoiding Libra and, pierced the distant sky as such.

「The opponent is the Fairy of Silver Lightning. I've at least prepared the appropriate countermeasures you seee.」

Basically something like a lightning rod then?
She doesn't have the magic power to receive it or, the speed to avoid it.
However, she has a head that can overcome that.

――Strong.

I try confronting her like this and, I possess enough true power to make hidden sinister plans feel cute.
That's precisely why, I'm seething!!

「Nice issn't it, you're angry arren't you, it's like I live just for that gaze you know, ahaha!」

My vision fills with red, and it makes me feel like shouting.
Thinking isn't the fact of having a hard fight like this an insult toward Till, makes me feel pathetic.
Libra raised her hand like she was truly enjoying herself while looking at me be as such.

「Convert, wind.」
「Tsu! Mist Transformation!」

A cutting wind invisible to the eye, passed through my torso as if to cut me in two.
Avoiding danger by a hair's breadth, even my body of mist had a shiver run down its spine.
My appearance returned to its physical body.

「Strong strong, well dodged! That what I feel from the depths of my heart imouto disciple. Maa, if it were o-baba the issue would be dealt with long before she had to dodge wouldnn't it.」
「Noisy!」

I understand without putting out a comparison on each and every act.

「Now then, what will you show me next? I don't understand why you're acting all high and mighty after alll, would you not hurry up and do a high elf transformation for me?」
「……」

Even though it isn't the case that I've displayed it anywhere, she really is well informed.
However, I vaguely feel that that's a bad move.
I can't call it anything but intuition though.
Just, I'll gradually wear out if I continue fighting like this, I guess?
What to do.

「Poor experiences will make you worse than an amateur. Plunging in like an idiot would actually have been more sensible you seee. Because the time you spend hesitating is the time for me to increase my options after all. You're still not there yet are youu.」

……What is she intending, this person.

「Are you trying to correct my ways with a lecture at this point? Did you think I would take it into consideration with that?」
「Whaat, I am a researcher. Because it certainly isn't for your sake, don't mind it so much.」
「You have no such concern do you.」

This isn't to say it's hard to act.
Since there's definitely something behind her actions, I don't want to fall right into the enemy's scheme.
But given that not bringing out my full power by endlessly observing like Libra said is a vicious cycle.
……Perhaps I'm thinking too much.

「Not like me, is it……because I've decided to, beat you with my full power.」

If I do a high elf transformation and use Resonance World, there's nothing like an opponent for the current me.
It's a problem of the mind.
I can't move precisely because I've ended up giving the opponent an overly high evaluation.

「Ahaha, are you coming?」
「As you wish.」

While being cautious of Libra's movements, I focus my conscious.
Pulling in magic power from the atmosphere, I refine magic power deep within my body.

――Skill, Latent Ability release.

Emitting enough magic power to make the air undulate, even the nearby clouds are blown away.
Receiving a halation like a servant of the heavens, I let out one breath.
Unlike before, I feel like I was able to customize it so as to suite me better.
As proof――

「Preparations are complete.」

I brush away the silver hairs that seem like they're shining.
This color really is, like me.

「Ku, ahahahahaa! I see I see, Fairy of Silver Lightning……well you certainly are a monstrosity aren't you, imouto disciple.」

Seeing my magic power that I had no intention of holding back, Libra smiled innocently.

「It's fine to show composure from above but, I wonder just how long you can watch from on high.」
「Don't misunderstand imouto disciple, I said it in the beginning of the beginning? I haven't once mistaken this. That, I'm already no match for you.」

That's rather laudable but……
Looking at my dubious face, Libra licked her lips.

「So you see, I've prepared an interesting plan.」

Libra snapped her finger and, a dry note echoed back from nearby.
I readied my posture but, there wasn't something of the sort that would directly attack or bewitch me.
What……

「――――tsu」

I turn about looking over the surroundings and, my breath stopped.

「Have you noticed then imouto disciple? No, I felt like giving the you who was doing her best a present you see?」

Shion-san, came out from within the forest.
As I watched, she made tottering movements like a marionette.
With a body battered enough to make it questionable if she was alive, I can't sense any consciousness.
Her left eye is, crushed in.

「Oneechan……」

I went pale.

「Aah, even I went to find her for the sake of my cute imouto disciple you know. You should be grateful.」
「People like you, really are……」

Is it Charm?
Even though she isn't even conscious, how is she being controlled?
No, before that don't move Shion-san, when she's in that sort of condition!!!

「Kill, I'll kill you……you should stop, right now! If you do something, I'll torture you to the extent that I won't accept it even if you cry and apologize! Enough that that mouth will cry out and plead, give me death, I'll kill you while giving you a taste of the agony of hell! To the extent, that it won't be enough even if I kill you!! So don't do anything!!!」

It felt like my head would become strange from the, anger and dread and terror and impatience.

「Amusing arren't you, imouto disciple, that's fine madness! It's best when you catch my interest!」
「AAA, AAAAAAAAAAa! Libraaaaaaaaa!!」

My thoughts are driven to madness by the reality of the sort that that Shion-san who is on the verge of death is in the enemy's hands.
Hate!
Hate hate hate!!
Not just Till but, even Shion-san……tsu!

「――Calm, down.」

I return to myself, from within my violent emotions, due to a voice of the sort that drowned out the commotion in the forest.

「Solt-san……?」

Following after Shion-san, a kurozukume with a body more battered than that girl showed his face from the forest.

「Oya? Were you still alive? Unexpectedly tenacious.」

After kurozukume looked at Libra with such force as to stare her to death, he switched his gaze over to me.
I see, kurozukume……you also.

「Shion is, still alright. She was given all that medicine for her injuries.」

In front of my sworn enemy, I gave Shion-san's condition my attention.
That's as if I have no excuse, as if I'm happy.
No, more importantly kurozukume, it seems like you could die even now but……

「And so? I wonder what you can do? This doesn't change that she's in my hand though doees it.」

My anger wells up again as Libra playfully moves Shion-san as if she's manipulating a marionette――toward myself as well.
Would it have invited this situation, had I planned my approach and gone at full power from the start, without showing any openings and, forced myself on her to a suffocating extent?
Even if I win against the enemy, there's no meaning to it, if I don't protect my precious people.

「What are you wishing for? Are you, a freak who enjoys my agonized appearance.」
「That's a hobby that's rather difficult to discard issn't it, fumu, but well have you have calmed down a little……As for unnecessary things」

With a gaze like Libra was looking at trash or such, she looked down on Shion-san――nay, kurozukume.
I sensed danger from her clear killing intent.
To resist that I rely on my magic power.
It's not the case that I attacked but, Libra's eyes opened wide at that amount of magic power.

「Is that a threat that you can kill me at any time, imouto disciple? It's become difficult for either of us to move hassn't it.」

Certainly, I believe that if it's the current me Libra can be defeated without taking much time.
But if she's given even a little time, Shion-san will die.
――I don't move.

「That's right issn't it, so how about we do the negotiations I suggested from the start here?」

I guess there's nothing but to go along with that.

「……I suppose that's fine.」

Libra came to urge for me to come down so, I slowly descend to the earth.
There's no way I can extinguish my wings of flame so, I fold them away.
Next, Libra also came down.
Beckoning with her hand as if to call her over, Shion-san came walking to Libra's side with tottering movements.

「……」

She's ragged……
Such a thing as her left eye, ended up being crushed……can Heal even fix that……
It seemed like my timidity would be shown on my face so, I desperately made a poker face.

「……Sorry.」

In the same manner, kurozukume slowly came walking to my side.
Yare yare……don't apologize.

「Heal.」

I heal kurozukume's injuries, with such timing that neither kurozukume nor Libra can say anything.

「Oi, unnecessary magic power」
「At this extent there isn't enough magic power to do anything.」

Most likely, the tendons of her feet are cut.
Her shoulder too is it.
For now I'll bring the kurozukume that's scowling at her uneven gait, back to full health.

「Doing things as you please arren't you imouto disciple. Do you not have quite shitty guts.」
「Huh, did you tell me something like don't restore Solt-san?」
「Well it's fine.」
「That is appreciated.」

Beyond having a grasp on Shion-san's life, I'm walking a tightrope whatever I do but, even so……

「I won't let anyone die anymore……」

As if to convince myself, I murmur that to myself.
It was a voice like a whisper within my mouth but, perhaps kurozukume heard that, he steadily looked at me.
It felt awkward so, he suddenly turned his gaze back to Libra.

「I will convey this, my objective is the fairy village. The clarification of the existence that is there……No, perhaps its overthrow?」
「? For what purpose.」
「Because that is the truth of the world. I want to test it――whether gods can be slain.」

God slaying?

「Quite the grand fantasy isn't that, ane disciple.」
「That is the result of research. I am a researcher of truth. A being who gives question to the state of this world.」

For speaking of dreams, she makes the tired out sort of face I'd sensed in the beginning.

「And so? For that personal convenience, you brought enough people to their deaths for it to be countless and, say you were gathering souls? Do you think you will be forgiven, at this point.」

I glance at kurozukume.
The avenger whose home was destroyed and, lived desperately together with Rin-chan.

「Forgiven? I do not expect to fill the gap between our perspectives. I won't reach the truth, by making conversation in such a dimension.」
「The normal tomorrow that everyone greets is more precious, than something like the truth you speak of. Having lived much longer than me, do you not understand something of that extent!」
「I said it right? That I do not expect to fill the gap between our perspectives.」

Libra moved her finger.
Shion-san's arm bent, like it was being twisted off.

「Stooooooopp!!!」
「Ahahaa! When you're showing confidence, you always cry with a cute voice soon enough don't you.」

Along with her high pitch laughter, Libra stopped putting her power in.

「……I will definitely kill, you alone.」
「It'd be good if you could wouuldn't it. Now then, shall I convey my wish.」

I confirmed the position of the sun with just a fleeting glance.
――Not long now then.

「There are 2. The 1st is what you put a certain amount of power into, imouto disciple. O-baba gave you the key to the fairy village, it's that bracelet『Sylv・Faeria』. Although, it's become bothersome since there's more power put into it than I imagined isn't there, did I miscalculate? Ahaha.」
「That's a shame.」

I reply with a vague answer.
I'm concerned by the appearance of my oneechan whose conscious still hasn't returned and it can't be helped.

「The 2nd is, people's negative emotions. Most of that has accumulated as planned. After that I thought to obtain an extraordinary negative emotion in the end you see, so I came to where you were, imouto disciple.」
「……」

I suppose so, the current me is filled with negative emotions toward Libra.
But I suppose that's natural.

「Who could kill eachother, while smiling……」
「I suppose so riight, to a kind princess-sama riight.」

Libra expressed a tired sort of smile and, fell into thought.

「Naa imouto disciple, has there been a time you sold your femininity to eat?」
「……There hasn't been.」

I got a bad premonition.

「Is that so, I'm not particularly narrow minded enough to complain when comparing myself with you. I just purely thought it seemed fun you seee.」

She looks at me and kurozukume with a smirk.

「If you want this person released, be embraced by that man in this place, imouto disciple.」
「……」
「……」

My eyes met with kurozukume's.

「Bad taste……」
「Since didn't I say I'm gathering negative emotions? Hurry hurry.」

I look at Shion-san.
I glance at the sky.
……Still, a little longer.
……One way or another, do I have the resolve?

「Doing the ridiculous.」

Even at the cost of my life is it.
Doing that, she tramples on people's dignity, until the end.
I put my hand on my clothing's ribbon.

「Oi! There's no need to listen to what she says!」
「While saying that, you want to embrace imouto disciple so it can't be helped right? Disgusting man arren't you, has it not risen already? Ahahaa.」

I take off my jacket.

「You……」
「I'm just saying this but, since you're absolutely wrong if you're thinking I'll break down into tears.」

Absolutely don't lose is it.
Watch me――

Chapter end