Chapter 9-14: "The Strongest"

"――――"

A being with fiery red hair that burns brightly like a flame and blue eyes that encapsulate a clear sky, crafted from head to toe with pure heroism. A chosen one whose birth was celebrated by the world, forever standing in stark contrast to himself from the beginning. In the vast, chilly night desert, Aldebaran felt the hair on his body stand as he faced the majestic gaze of Reinhard.

—Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint.

Needless to say, he is an unmatched existence, not only in the Kingdom of Lugunica but across the entire world, and the greatest obstacle to Aldebaran's plan, a twofold peak. The other half of that peak was none other than Natsuki Subaru, but he was already a matter of concern and successfully contained along with Beatrice by Or Shamak. Consequently, among the members whose confrontation was deemed inevitable, this man remained the largest barrier.

—Now, Reinhard van Astrea is the strongest. Cecilus Segmunt, the "Blue Lightning," is faster, Halibel, the "Adulator," is more skilled, Vague Adgard, the "Mad Prince," is further from death, the great spirits related to the Four Greats surpass in total mana, the Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult possess more absurd powers, the Witches of Sin have claimed more lives, countless good people lie better, and countless bad people are sturdier.

When examined by individual fields, there are plenty who surpass Reinhard. Nevertheless, the position of the strongest held by Reinhard van Astrea remains unshaken. —Breaking apart that fortress of strength is the absolute condition for Aldebaran's victory.

"My, the circumstances I'm in are just too dire."

"It's nothing new that your cards are weak. Use me, the joker, effectively."

"…From the perspective of me as a dragon, what do you think of the 'Sword Saint'?"

"Not the same opinion as me as a human… maybe. Likely, this body can sense the opponent's strength better, and it feels even more intimidating than when I was human."

Behind him, looking past Aldebaran to stare at Reinhardt, he narrowed his golden eyes. This was "Divine Dragon" Volcanica—no, it was "Divine Dragon Aldebaran," with Aldebaran's "memories" installed into the empty shell of a dragon.

The "Aldebaran," sharing thoughts, ideas, and even objectives with the same entity, was a lifeline for the isolated, nearly unsupported Aldebaran. Aldebaran had self-reported to be used skillfully as a joker. He never intended to be reserved in the first place, but now he was determined to use it to the fullest. Just as Aldebaran had finished reassessing his hand—

"—From the 'Sword Saint' family, Reinhardt van Astrea."

"——"

Aldebaran narrowed his eyes within his helmet at the tingling sensation on his skin. In this world, it is the custom for those who fight to state their name and title to their opponent. Remarkably, even the Sin Archbishops adhere to this custom, each imposing various reasons upon themselves—some for their own pride, some out of respect for their opponent, some to bask in superiority, and some to embolden their cowardly selves.

As for the reason the 'Sword Saint' Reinhardt adheres to this custom, it is obvious when you look into his eyes. Even in this situation, Reinhardt is showing respect to Aldebaran. —He must have heard from Flarum about what Aldebaran had done in the tower by now.

This is a virtue of Reinhardt, and at the same time, the cause of an unbridgeable gap between him and others. Whether Aldebaran perceived it as one or the other, he had no intention of revealing it in detail, but—

"Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, in charge of 'Arrogance,' Stride Vollachia."

"—"

"Wouldn't it be amusing if I said that?"

—He had firmly decided to trample upon the respect of his opponent maliciously.

"—Bohaa!!"

As if to stick his tongue out at the outstretched hand, just as Reinhard's eyes widened, with an ugly roar, a white light surged towards the 'Sword Saint' standing still. Though the strike from the recently commandeered dragon shell was clumsy and awkward, the power of the dragon's breath released from that massive body was genuine.

Right after overwriting his "memory," if what he unleashed at Garfiel and Ezzo on the top floor of the Pleiades Watchtower had been a sneeze, then this time, it was a single shot imbued with a clear intent to destroy.

To prove the difference in concentrated destructive power, an intangible white wave, as if to eternally transform the uninhabited sand sea aside from Aldebaran and his companions, swallowed Reinhardt.

He doesn't think it can kill. However, if he doesn't do it with the intent to kill, it won't even count as a fight.

As proof of that—

"—Get back, you!!"

"Uooohh!?"

Having exhaled his breath and created white smoke and a massive crater in the sand sea, Aldebaran instinctively extended his claw to hook Aldebaran and threw him to the side without holding back.

Spun around by what was literally his own half, due to this sudden betrayal, Aldebaran rolled, rolled, rolled horizontally over the sand and finally came to a stop.

Then, he raised his head, spitting out the sand that had entered through the gaps in his helmet, and saw the truth that Aldebaran's actions were not a betrayal but a follow-up.

Reinhardt, who should have taken a direct hit from the 'Dragon's breath,' was unscathed and leaping at 'Aldebaran,' beginning a monster showdown of mismatched proportions.

"Not even burned! It's not about being cute; what kind of principle is that!?"

"I borrowed the power of the 'Dragon Sword.' This sword, even if the day the world ends were to come, would not be destroyed. That's how it’s made. I used it to fend off the attack."