Chapter 36: Ray’s ability

“....I can’t believe it.....Gaius-sama, one of the old seven demon emperors was handled like a child.....”

“....Just now....it wasn’t even a match....”

“..Maybe what Arnos is saying....is true....? Maybe he really is the Demon King of Tyr—”

“Oi! What stupid crap are you saying!! No matter how strong he is, he’s not a royal. An inept person can’t be the demon king!!”

“That’s right. Neither wisdom nor power is important. It’s the noble blood that flows through our bodies. Don’t forget the pride of the royalty who inherited the blood of the founder. He’s just a strong inept person. His power isn’t noble.”

Such joke like lines come from the audience seating.

Though the founder’s power as been witnessed it’s turned into a joke. Is this the aim of Avos Dillheavia as well?

If you do take over my position what do you intend to do? If they’re a petty person who’s only after power then I don’t need to worry but what is their aim if not?

“Kuukuukuu.”

I heard laughter coming from Izel so I looked over. (1)

“Is that the last one? It was pretty clever of you to throw them but you’ve got none left.”

I looked around and indeed, all the swords stuck in the arena are gone. The only one left is the one in Ray’s hand.

If he meets Izel’s double swords his sword will shatter in an instant.

If you think normally, that person would look defeated but Ray doesn’t.

What’s he going to do? Let’s watch.

“Well then. Shall I do it normally from now on?”

After muttering to himself he heads straight towards Izel in a dignified manner.

“Hmph, have you finally prepared yourself? I’ll teach a little shit like you that swords are not something to throw. Come. Let me show you how to properly use a demon sword.”

Izel and Ray face each other.

All that remains between them is a half step.

In an exchange of blows Ray should be overwhelmed, however, he casually takes that half step forward.

“Careless behaviour.”

The twin swords moved.

Both Izel’s arms moved like separate creatures. The blade of flame heads towards Ray’s head while the blade of ice heads towards his chest.

If he dodges the flame blade then he’s open to the ice blade.

Towards the certain kills coming his way, Ray raises the sword in his right hand.

“There.”

The sounds of swords clashing are heard.

“Two.”

“.........!?”

A grimm expression appears on Izel’s face.

Ray’s sword brushed off Izel’s double blades.

Even though Ray had the ability to intercept the two swords, the more surprising thing was that the sword in his hand was still intact. By all rights, Ray’s sword should have been destroyed by either the flame blade or the ice blade.

“....Oooh...!”

Izel swings his swords again.

The sound of swords rang again and Ray easily brushed them off.

“Four.” Ray mutters.

“...What are you doing little boy...?”

*Gakii* swords sound again.

“Five.”

“....Tch....this then....!”

The next moment Izel doubles his speed and then even more the next.

Ray brushes off innumerable blows and still his sword is fine.

“Eighty seven.”

historical

“That.....How can you defend yourself with that poor demon sword? What trick are you using!?”

*Gagagagaga* *Kikikikikiki* The sound of swords rang out incessantly.

“I see. Every time Izel deflected those swords Ray was throwing his swords got small nicks on their blades. The chips themselves don’t mean much on their own but when added up they stop the swords from using their full power. Doing that means you’ve tied them down a bit huh?”

“.....Such a.... You aimed to chip my blades while I brushed those swords off at high speed....!? Being able to do such a thing......!!”

If I wanted to be more accurate Ray was aiming at the exact same spot on each blade when he threw the demon swords.

He controlled the power, angle and aim to a hairsbreadth to hit the exact same spot on each blade. Doing that many times over, even the demon swords <Zess Ides> will accrue damage.

“I didn’t say anything as revealing my secret would become disadvantageous.”

Ray says without appearing to be worried.

“Plus it was a handicap.”

Izel moves back and fixes his stance.

“....Apparently, I’ve made light of you little boy. From here on I won’t hold back.....”

Magic formations appear on Izel’s hands.

Flames rise from the demon sword Zess and ice covers the blade of Ides.

“This is the true form of <Zess Ides>. Prepare yourself!”

Izel’s figure blurs and the next moment he steps forward swinging his blades at high speeds.

200 consecutive attacks in 1 second. There’s no gap for Ray to escape the fire and ice flying at him.

“....Fuu....!”

Ray breathes out and his sword flashes. Each flash equals the flashes from Izel’s swords.

“Four hundred and forty two.”

“..Wha....? How....? It should have been useless trying to aim for the chips....”

Doesn’t seem like Ray intends to answer so I answer instead.

“It’s easy. Ray’s sword isn’t touching your swords at all. He’s deflecting your blows with just pressure from his swings.”

“It’s quite difficult though.” Ray says with a cool face “I can only fight your twin swords using sword pressure.”

After Ray’s statement that sounded regretful Izel looks at Ray with a face full of anger.

“In that case, how long can your tightrope walk last! Show it to me!!”

Izel’s swords glitter and Ray brushes them off.

“Your sword style is certainly amazing but hows your stamina? I can go on for a century at this ra—”

Izel’s words are cut off.

The blades of flame and ice shattered with their tips flying thought he air before lodging in the ground.

“....My double swords......broke.....”

“Four hundred and forty four. That’s pretty much what I estimated.”

I wondered if that is what he was counting. The number of blows before the twin swords broke.

“By the way.” Ray says with a cool look “When are you going to teach me how to use a demon sword?”

Ray has a refreshing smile on his face but Izel shrinks back as if feeling fear.

Izel turns my way as if to ask for help but finally notices that I’d won too.

“...After all.... who are you guys.....? There’s never been anyone who could treat us old seven demon emperors like children....” Izel says while bowing his head.

I turned my eyes towards Ray.

“Ray. Were you holding back?”

“Not at all.”

“Drop the modesty. With your power, you could have crossed blades without them breaking.”

Ray puts on a cool smile and answers.

“If I’d done that then I wouldn’t have been able to practise.”

“Hou?”

“I wondered if it was possible to break those swords using only skill and no magic. Only at the end, I managed it. I’ve still got a long way to go.”

Kukuku. Yare yare. He’s a funny guy.

You used one of the old seven demon emperors as a training partner.

How interesting. By any means, I want to see how deep his power goes.

“Come at me seriously tomorrow.”

Without breaking his smile Ray answers

“What do you mean?”

“If you try and practise against me you will die.”

“If possible, I’d like to ask that I not die.”

An easygoing answer as ever.

“Whatever, do as you like.”

“I’ll survive then.”

I couldn’t help but laugh before answering.

“You make me want to get serious.”

After looking at me with a blank expression Ray laughed as well.

“Arnos-kun.....you’re a bit of a sadist aren’t you?”

“What are you on about? There’s no mazoku more gentle than me.”

“Well, I’d appreciate it if you went easy on me.”

“Ha. Don’t say stupid things. Your body isn’t saying that.”

He’s not as dissatisfied as he’d have us believe.

He’s not warlike but he definitely doesn’t dislike fighting otherwise he wouldn’t practise the sword so much.

“At any rate, I’m hungry after this bit of exercise.”

“The classrooms empty. Want to go back to class and eat?”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. We’ll sneak off.”

“Roger. Sneaky is it?”

While chatting away we leave the barrier with all the students watching us.

“...Nee. Hang on a sec. You both easily defeated two of the old seven demon emperors so what’s with this everyday life feeling? Why are you sneaking off to eat.....?”

As usual, Sasha is complaining about something or another.