Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter9
Chapter Nine- Confrontation with The Mysterious Bird
Saito exited the main tower and went to Louise's room for a look at once. However, she did not come back. "Anyway, if I could not find Louise..." That was the only thing on his mind.
He had never seen Louise so sad before.
He made her become like that......no matter what, that was unforgivable.
He wanted to meet her and apologize.
Whilst he was running, Saito imagined Louise's feelings. She saw the princess she esteemed and......the familiar whom she always thought to be faithful, hugging each other as if they were lovers; how much were her feelings hurt?
Although they were not lovers......, Louise had seen him allowing Henrietta as far as kissing, what a pain it had been to her! By only thinking about this, Saito's heart hurt.
Leaping out of the room, he ran to the courtyard of the academy at night immediately.
In the midst of the almost pitch-black darkness......Louise's figure could not be seen anywhere.
When he was going towards the Vestri courtyard......
The clouds cleared, and the moonlight revealed a figure; a shadow which was sitting on the bench could be seen.
“Louise!”
He unintentionally shouted and rushed forward, only to find that he was mistaken.
“What? Oh, it's you......”
It was Tabitha. Not even attending the ball at such a night, reading a book at a bench to which no one would come; it was really typical of her.
“Hey, did you see Louise?”
Tabitha did not respond.
Staring fixedly at the book, just like that, her body did not stir an inch.
She didn't hear it? He thought, and repeated himself.
“Don't you know where Louise is?”
The face which was illuminated by the moonlight, was completely pale.
At that moment......Saito realized that there was a shadow circling in mid-air with its back against the moon.
“What's that? It's not a bird......and it's got legs?”
With the figure of a human and flapping wings, it appeared to be a strange creature. It was just like the figure of demons he saw in manga and televisions in the former days.
“Gargoyle.”
Briefly, Tabitha said.
“You......!” At that moment when he said that, Tabitha waved her wand.
Buoo! The air in front of him expanded, and Saito was blown off.
“What are you......!”
Not even having the time to shout, ice arrows aimed at Saito and flew towards him.
At a place somewhat far from the Academy of Magic, Louise was crying ceaselessly.
“Cruel......too cruel......why, why!”
Pitch black darkness was around her.
It was as if she was left behind all alone in this world. Yet, right now she was not fearful of the darkness. Rather, Louise felt that part of her heart was the same as well.
“Unforgivable......Cruel......absolutely unforgivable......”
Words and tears overflowed together, unstoppable. Her miserable feelings kept reproducing.
She muttered that many, many times, and......
“What is unforgivable?”
In the midst of the darkness, a voice could be heard.
Louise who was in a state of confusion , felt that reverberating inside her heart.
“I was betrayed. That's why, unforgivable.”
“By whom were you betrayed?”
“By someone who was valuable to me......”
“Well then, you must take revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“Unforgivable right? If that's the case, you must take revenge. You can do it. User of the great Void.”
At that, Louise came to her senses.
“......Who are you?”
“One of your friends. Since a long time ago......one who serves you people.”
“Who are you! Come out!”
Louise shouted into the darkness. Then she remembered that incident in Albion before this.
“Myozunitonirun?”
“You got it, but you're still wrong.”
She focused her eyes......and a winged shadow came into sight.
“......Gargoyle?”
As Louise was about to stand up,
“Don't worry. I will not harm you.”
The gargoyle which had appeared from the dark headed towards Louise's feet and crouched down reverentially.
“What......what's your intention! Myozunitonirun! You said you won't harm me! Then come out! Let me be your opponent!”
However, the gargoyle opened its mouth.
“For the things that had happened before this, I apologize. But, that was a so-called test. To determine whether you deserve to be our ally or not.”
“Speak properly! You think I would believe such words?”
“Well then, ask yourself. In this world, what is worth believing in?”
Louise was speechless. Just a while ago......wasn't she just betrayed by those two?
“My master can teach you that.”
“Lie......that's a lie!”
Louise's voice was becoming increasingly softer.
“The one who can truly understand you......is only a fellow user of Void. We want you to lend us your power.”
“......My power?”
“It's natural for you to be cautious. Yet, excessive caution would turn your eyes away from the truth.”
Whether or not it was magic, but the gargoyle's voice was enchanting.
Gradually, Louise's caution disappeared.
Louise who was confused because of her grief, did not know that she was falling for that trick.
“You, are you really my friend?”
“Of course.”
“My friend? You won't betray me?”
“I will definitely not betray you.”
The gargoyle slowly turned around, and showed Louise it's back.
“Please ride on me. One of our great masters.”
Louise could not resist that voice any more.
She felt the gargoyle's back......and Louise's senses flew away. Slowly, as if she was falling asleep, Louise lay down on the gargoyle's back.
Gaa!
Gagaa!
Gagagagagaaa!
With perpetual Windy Icicles striking him, Saito tumbled sideways to avoid them.
Clearly, it was an attack whose aim was to......kill Saito.
If he had not undergone Agnes' trainings, he should not be able to evade them.
“What the heck! What do you want to do!”
Saito yelled in anger. He did not understand the reason behind those attack at all.
“Oi! Tabitha! You, what the hell......wh-!”
The response was magic.
Tabitha scattered the Windy Icicles in all directions, got him surrounded, and released them.
Bashushushushushuuu!
After the smokescreen of water vapor produced by the countless Windy Icicles cleared up......
Contrary to her expectations that a skewered figure would come into sight, Saito was standing there with Derflinger unsheathed. The Windy Icicles were absorbed by Derflinger, while the remaining ones were swiped away by Saito with the blade.
“What on earth, what's your reason? Why did you attack me? Say it!”
Tabitha lifted her wand.
“Because of a command.”
“Command? Who commanded you!”
As expected, her reply was magic.
Saito gripped Derflinger tightly and leaped. He planned to shortened their distance in one breath......and knock down the wand Tabitha was holding. But Tabitha reacted to Saito's movements, and leaped, passing by him. Her body moved agilely, just like the traditional 'Wind' which she prided in.
As if she were a clockwork puppet, Tabitha combined her body skills and magic to dodge the sword Saito brandished.
“!?”
She was jumping up and down, evading the sword, and at the same time,
“Deru Bagaraasu.”
She chanted the spell, and subsequently, used magic to fly past him. Very slowly, as if she was chasing cotton wool.
And then, sometimes, she would utter incantations which would cause attacks like bee stings.
The air was distorted, and it attacked Saito.
“Air Hammer.”
At that instant the sword was already set up, but, taken by surprise, Derflinger could not absorb it.
Receiving the full blow, Saito was hurled into air.
“Dam......”
However, that attack did not carry strong powers.
It seems that both sides lacked decisive blows. To match with Gandálfr's speed only, she had to put in a lot of effort.
Because she did not have enough time for her chants, she could not use strong incantations. Naturally, the Windy Icicles and Air Blades were quite weak.
Yet, Tabitha was fast.
With a small and light body, her movements were faster than Wardes whom he fought before this.
“This fellow is that. The movements of an assassin.”
Derflinger revealed its feelings.
“Assassin?”
“Yeah. Avoiding direct battles, and when the opponent reveals his weakness, deciding the victor in an instant. That girl's one by one strikes are not very strong. Her moves and speed are extraordinary though.”
“......To compare us, isn't that she has a wand?”
“Partner's heart is shaking, that's why.”
“That's very true! Why am I fighting her......!”
Saito could not even display half of his usual powers.
In his state of not understanding the reason, he could not fight Tabitha.
Before he knew, in his defensive battle, Saito was driven to a corner. No......Even if he could utilise Gandálfr's full power, Saito should not be able to fight Tabitha seriously. Now, he only drew his sword to try his best to knock off Tabitha's wand. Saito was a person like that.
The offence and defence continued for many times......
Saito and Tabitha were confronting each other within a distance of 15 mails.
It was scarcely an interval.
Instantly, Saito retreated slightly out of the distance which he could plunge forward towards her immediately.
A distance at which Tabitha could avoid if he were to plunge forward towards her......
That was the same for Saito as well. Even if Tabitha uttered any spell......he had the confidence to deal with it from this distance.
“Oi! It's about time you say the reason......”
At that moment,
“What's your problem in dealing with him?”
As if it was reverberating in their heads, a voice could be heard from above the sky.
The gargoyle which they had seen since some time ago, was carrying something behind it and circling them.
It was a shadow.
At the moonlight, pink hair shone.
“LOUISE!”
At the back of the gargoyle, as if entrusting her body completely to it, she had lost her spirit.
He instinctively dashed towards the place directly under it......but before he could do that, Tabitha blocked his way.
“You......step aside!”
With eyes that revealed no emotions as usual, Tabitha glared at Saito.
“There is no reason for her to step aside. This child is the Knight of the North Flowerbed. Our loyal watchdog.”
“Watchdog?”
“Something interesting eh? Chevalier versus Chevalier. A combination for which my master would be jumping with delight.”
Tabitha bent her body slightly and set up her wand.
Heavily......
The surrounding air appeared to have turned heavy abruptly.
Her magical powers changed into an aura, which drifted about around Tabitha, like a heat haze. Under the illumination of the moonlight, that aura squirmed about bewitchingly.
Blue.
An aura which was like the manifestation of Tabitha's power.
Saito gulped.
This fellow's magic power was not for show.
“Oi, Tabitha. Since Louise is involved, I'll be serious.”
“............”
“Because you are strong, I can't go easy on you.”
Tabitha started to recite spells.
“Hey, Gandálfr. If you don't be serious, you'll get hurt. Do you get it? If you keep continuing like this, you can't save your valuable master.”
“Step aside! Just step aside!”
At his angry yell......Tabitha continued reciting her spell.
“Raguuzu Vootaru Isu Iisa Hagaraasu.”
Matching her aria, Tabitha swung her wand simultaneously.
Ice spears revolved around her body like serpents.
Guided by the wand......the ice spears rotated.
Whilst rotating, they swelled......larger, sharper, and the blue radiance kept increasing.
Derflinger muttered.
“Those are 'javelins'. Their destructive power is strong. Don't get hit, partner.”
“Oi Tabitha! To save Louise I'll kill you! Do you get it!?”
The gargoyle's shout reverberated.
“That is the same for this child as well.”
“Do it! Partner!”
Saito shook his head as if giving up, and jumped.
Simultaneously, Tabitha swung her wand downwards.
Along with the wand, the 'Javelins' aimed and fired towards Saito.
The sword and the Javelins crossed each other.
The Javelins were slashed, and smashed to pieces.
The glittering ice splinters which were like smashed glass, attacked Saito.
“Wai-!”
From the gap between the ice splinters, Tabitha appeared to have lifted her wand over her head to fire another round of javelins.
“The first round was a decoy!”
Derflinger shouted.
Tabitha had created two rounds of javelins at the same time just now.
“Uooooooo...!”
Together with his scream, Saito's left hand shone.
In the split of a second, he rushed over and knocked Tabitha down.
Horse-riding that petite body, he pointed his sword at her.
But Tabitha would not release her wand.
“Put your wand down!”
Saito thrust his sword fiercely over her head, and shouted.
Tabitha stared at Saito motionlessly.
Those eyes were......completely cold. Whatever emotions could not be seen at all.
The only thing was, 'Kill the enemy'.
Because he was there.
He could only read as far as that from those eyes.
At Tabitha's wand, large Javelins entangled around it. By only swinging the wand down.......the spears would be unleashed, and would probably pierce through Saito's body.
Without the slightest hesitation, Tabitha waved her wand.
“Stop!!”
Saito yelled, and swung his sword downward.
The Javelins were activated, and 'Bang!', were enveloped by water vapor.
Tabitha gazed at Saito, dumbfounded.
Saito's sword was stabbed into the ground beside Tabitha's face.
Tabitha's 'Javelins' which shone with a blue white color......pierced Saito's side. Red blood flowed from Saito's wound.......and dripped onto Tabitha's cheeks.
The snow white cheeks were stained in red.
“......Why?”
Without the slightest stir, Tabitha asked Saito.
Saito ought to impale me by now.
Yet, Saito pointed his sword away.
“Dunno......I pointed it away reflexively. How shameful......And I have to protect Louise...why did I spare the enemy......? I......”
Saito murmured with an anguish-looking face.
“But......You had saved us so many times, I suppose I can't kill you......”
“............”
“To protect the most valuable person of my life......even so, how could I sacrifice such a person......?”
Tabitha's eyes opened big.
After that......from the inside of the transparent, blue eyes, tears welled up, overflowed from the side of her eyes......and trailed down her cheeks.
“What's the matter? What are you crying for? Your task hasn't finished yet. Deliver the finishing blow quickly!”
Tabitha sprang up, and with 'Wind Break', blew the falling Saito off.
“Ouch!”
Tumbled over, Saito tried to stand up......but the side of his stomach hurt, and his body went numb- he could not move.
Tabitha waved her wand for a few times.
“Gou!” She chanted, and wind which furiously revolved around Tabitha enveloped her.
In the midst of that, snow fragments glistened sparklingly.
Would I be hurt by those beautiful snows......? In a daze, he thought......
Tabitha did not aim her wand at Saito, but at the gargoyle, and waved it.
Mixed with snowflakes, the tempestuous wind attacked the gargoyle with sheer force, cutting off its wings. It dropped to the ground, at the same time, throwing Louise off.
Tabitha turned her face towards Saito.
“Finish it off.”
Enduring the pain at the side of his stomach, Saito stood up and struggled to pierce his sword at the gargoyle.
“Oh my......Knight-dono of The North Flowerbed. A pet dog defying its master?”
Tabitha lifted up her wand in readiness.
“......Don't misunderstand. I had never sworn loyalty to both of you, not even once.”
Glaring at the gargoyle, she declared in a soft voice.
“I will report your treachery. Besides, I have already received my prey nicely.”
The instant she said that......
From the sky, a huge shadow descended.
The diameter of it should have been around 30 miles......It was a gigantic gargoyle.
“Hu-huge!!”
This gargoyle was a few times bigger than the one before.
Catching the unconscious Louise with its left hand, it rose up in one breath.
By a mere flap of its the wings of the gigantic gargoyle, Saito and Tabitha were blown off and hit the ground hard.
Tabitha who had risen up whistled.
Roaring, Sylphid flew and landed in front of Tabitha.
Nimbly, Tabitha extended over to Saito and urged him.
“Get on.”
Whilst holding the side of his stomach, Saito climbed onto Sylphid's back. Tabitha held out her hand, and helped him up.
“Chase them.”
At Tabitha's brief command, with a Kyui! purr, Sylphid soared into the sky.
Saito and Tabitha were riding Sylphid on its back, pursuing the huge gargoyle. Was Myozunitonirun controlling the gargoyles from somewhere......? Her figure could not be seen on its back.
“Hey Tabitha. Tell me. Why did you attack me? Who are those fellows?”
Tabitha was staring straight forward......and muttered.
“We'll talk afterwards.”
“Got it.”
Saito nodded. Indeed, now wasn't the occasion to listen to the reasons.
Flapping its wings, the speed of the gargoyle was not that fast. Tabitha's Sylphid managed to catch up with it easily.
Flying under the moonlight, that monstrous figure became distinct.
Before he realized, Saito recalled the rumor he heard in the dining hall.
A dragon knight was sighted on the skies of Tristania, with huge wings......
Its figure must have been mistaken to be the mysterious bird.
Its true appearance had to be this one.
The saying that the diameter of its wings was 150 mails, no matter what, had to be an exaggeration.......The size should have appeared to be bigger by a few times due to the darkness and the terror.
“Go nearer! After that I'll somehow do it!”
Tabitha nodded, and ordered Sylphid.
“Go nearer.”
Kyui, at that moment when Sylphid purred......
In the sky, a small back dot started to appear gradually.
“Wh-what is that.......?”
Those were gargoyles.
Like a flock of ravens, in a number which covered the sky, the gargoyles advanced on them.
Moving by magic, the gargoyles' yellow eyes shone. They started to surround Sylphid.
“Shit!”
There were about tens of them.
To stop them from approaching the huge one carrying Louise, they attacked with their claws and fangs.
“Kyui, kyui!”
Sylphid let out a terrified sound.
Tabitha chanted Windy Icicle again......only one of them dropped down. Because of her previous battle with Saito, it seemed like her willpower had depleted.
Saito grind his teeth.
Not possessing any firearm, Gandálfr was powerless in such a situation.
“Damn it all!…… What Gandálfr! Without any weapon I can't do anything at all!”
Be it a knight or a Chevalier, he was shameful of himself who was once celebrated.
At that time......Tabitha informed Saito softly.
“Up there.”
He looked up......The thing which was spreading out......was an enormous shadow.
“Wh-what is that.......”
Truly enormous......besides that, nothing else could describe it. It was flying with its black wings.
That appearance was like a demon spreading its wings......
Shushushushushu......A unique sound could be heard from it.
The dragon knight's report was not wrong.
Its overall width was more than 150 mails.
“This thing is so big......Does it really exist?”
Compared to the flock of gargoyles and the one carrying Louise, that was about 50 times bigger. Apparently, it was an ultra big gargoyle......
No matter how you think of it, going against such an opponent was unreasonable.
If they didn't want to die, they had to escape from there.
In spite of that, Tabitha did not try to make Sylphid retreat.
On the contrary, she stopped dodging the enemy, and made Sylphid fly at the same level as it.
“Oi Tabitha! That reckless!”
Tabitha stared straight at the gargoyle who was holding Louise.
To stop Tabitha, the gargoyles rushed from the front and prepared to rip Sylphid's wings.
There was 7 of them.
It exceeded the number Saito could deal with.
“Run Tabitha! You will die!”
“You helped me.”
“Eh?”
“I offer this life to you.”
For him, Tabitha was going as far as sacrificing her life. At his helplessness, Saito grind his teeth hard.
“Damn it all!!”
Like revolving lanterns, Louise's face, Siesta's face, and Mr. Colbert's face flitted across his mind.
What succeeding teacher's wish!
What the things I can do!
Protecting the one girl I love......I can't even do it!
“Teacher! The things you did, I can't even do half of them......no, not even a tenth of them!”
Facing the sky, Saito yelled.
The 7 gargoyles were approaching them from the front......
At that instant when they intersected each other, Tabitha, Sylphid, and he himself......should be torn up into pieces by those huge claws. At that instant when he was thinking that he would be struck and fall......
From the gigantic. Dark shadow on top, flames spread.
That was......a roaring flame.
Like a planted snake, it encircled the gargoyles which were trying to strike them......and reduced them to ashes.
Saito and Tabitha were taken aback, and looked up to the sky.
“Why?”
“Ally......?”
Voices could be heard.
“'Not even a tenth of them.', what do you mean?”
From the skies, that voice reverberated.
As if it was transmitted through a megaphone or something else, it strangely echoed.
Nevertheless, that voice rang a bell.
In the laboratory, in the classrooms, in the courtyard......a voice he had heard many times.
“Teacher?”
Saito murmured.
He shook his head after that. It was a hallucination. But, teacher was supposed to have died.
It was merely an imaginary voice he heard at his wit's end.
The gargoyles' assaults continued. Sylphid began to dodge the attacks frantically again. Because of this, Tabitha and Saito could only cling onto it with all their might. They could not counterattack at all.
“You are not me right? That isn't something to be ashamed of.”
That voice could be heard again.
Saito lifted his face, and yelled.
“Teacher!!”
He had not heard wrongly. It was Colbert's voice.
His heart grew with joy and astonishment.
Guonguonguon......The sky sounded.
Shushushushushushu......The sound became louder.
The ultra big shadow descended slowly, and approached them who were being attacked by the gargoyles.
Saito's mouth was wide open.
The thing which appeared to be like a demon, or a mysterious bird......was the huge wings.
Yeah.
Those had to be wings. Huge wings which had a diameter of approximately 150 mails. Behind the wings, huge propellers revolved a few times.
That was a flying object which had wings of the shape of an isosceles triangle, and huge propellers with strong driving force......
Quite different from the mysterious bird, this was the true thing.
When he saw those propellers......Saito's hope turned into belief.
“You're alive......”
After that, a lady's voice which contained excellent, sensual charm which hadn't been heard for a long time echoed.
“You guys, what are you doing? Looks very fun, doesn't it? Since when did you manage to make friends with gargoyles?”
At that voice, Tabitha lifted her face.
“I was thinking of secretly arriving at the academy, and display this Ostland to surprise you all. But recently, we made a mistake and accidentally sailed to the sky of Tristania, after which we turned back frantically.”
“Kirche!”
Sure enough, that was the voice of Kirche who had not shown herself at the academy since taking Colbert's remains to Germania.
Next, Colbert's voice could be heard.
“Anyway......the 'Flying Serpents' are about to move, so be careful.”
Saito yelled at Tabitha.
“Dive down!”
Tabitha nodded. Sylphid lowered her head, and escaped downwards in a breath.
Baraaa...barabararararararaaaaa! Many shots were released from the gun barrels from the bottom of the Ostland.
From behind of the dropping shells, igniting blazes shone.
After that, shupooooo! The sound which he head heard while he was being pursued by the dragon knights in Albion the other day, reverberated from the sky.
Like fireworks which shot out in the night sky, Colbert's Flying Serpents were ignited completely.
The tip of the Flying Serpents were equipped with a magic device which transmits 'Detect Magic'. That magic device would react excitedly at the gargoyles, and the Flying Serpents would dash towards them swiftly.
Generally, there were about two or three 'Flying Serpents' pursuing each gargoyle.
At a point-blank range near the gargoyles, the Flying Serpents would explode into pieces, which would scatter at the gargoyles, smashing them to pieces.
The gargoyles could not even think about escaping. One by one, they continually dropped to the ground.
One of them reacted to Tabitha's magic, and flew towards her.
Saito jumped from the top of Sylphid, and slashed it.
Before he knew it, he could not feel even the pain at the side of his stomach.
The teacher is alive.
The person who recognizes me......is still alive.
The person who had helped me many times is still alive.
And again......he is trying to save me.
That fact gave Saito courage.
“I'm not alone.”
The runes on his left hand shone.
Using the explosion just now, grasping Derflinger with his left hand, Saito caught one of the Flying Serpents in the air.
Clinging onto it which had a height about the same as Saito's, he forcibly turned the head of the Flying Serpent to fly towards the gargoyle which was holding Louise. The magic device which had Detect Magic in it, sensed that gargoyle, and rushed swiftly towards it.
On top of the Flying Serpent, Saito adopted the stance of crouching on top of a surfboard.
He approached the gargoyle in a furious speed.
He timed it properly.
Precisely a second before the collision, Saito leaped from the top of the Serpent, and sliced through the arm which was seizing Louise. Just like that, he caught Louise in the sky.
Almost simultaneously, an explosion occurred behind that 'Serpent', and the gargoyle whose arm was sliced through was blasted into smithereens.
They were lifted up by the blast......but Saito did not part with Louise.
The fragments shot into his body, sending intense pain to him.
In spite of that, Saito did not part with Louise.
They were blown off by the explosion to the top, and dropped due to gravity.
There were traces of tears in Louise's eyes.
Gazing at that, Saito began to think of thoughts which pressed his heart hard. Has she broken free from the magical hypnotism due to the gargoyle......? Those eyes opened quickly.
“Yo, yo...”
Saito said, and...
“Release me!”
Louise began to struggle.
“I-idiot! We are falling down now! Don't struggle!”
“I don't care! That's enough, let me off! I hate you the most!! Just die! I hate you and princess the most!! Both of you lied to me together! Definitely unforgivable!!”
“I've said already, that was what it turned out to be......”
Even though Saito tried frantically to sooth her, Louise was still bawling and struggled with her hands. Perhaps she would be accidentally released like this. It would be terrible if they were to separate during the fall. I must somehow sooth her.
“I hate you! Let me off! That's enough!”
Looking at the bawling Louise......Saito knew that he could not make her understand through words.
Wh-what should I do......?
He could not help but to be troubled. Saito looked straight at Louise, and said.
“I love you, Louise. Only you!”
“Liar! I don't believe you! I HATE you!”
Louise ran amok increasingly.
There is no other way. Damn, if things become like this......
Saito hugged the raging Louise tightly. Louise was kicking and struggling, but he pressed his lips hard against hers. Louise who had been struggling for quite a while......eventually, ngu......she murmured, and became quiet.
But we would die if we drop just like that! ......Whilst he was thinking about that, buon! Its voice could be heard, as Tabitha's Sylphid scooped them up.
Hugging the still weeping Louise, he looked up to the sky......
In the midst of the moonlight, traveling grandly in the sky, the Ostland on which Colbert and Kirche were riding could be seen.
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