Astraea Defensive Battle (Part 3)
If the battle between the swordsman and the gladiator was the pinnacle of martial technique, then the battle a bit further west was a demonstration of incredibly intricate magic combat.
With a wave of her hand, she generated and unleashed a wind blade—an invisible attack with enough power to slice through iron—aimed at her opponent's legs.
When Ram executed this move, she deliberately diverted her gaze and breath, even adding in feints.
Despite such a flawless strike, Roswaal easily shattered it with the tip of his foot.
He simply stepped on it and the magic dissipated.
Describing it that way makes it sound easy, but accomplishing it is anything but.
Ram understood that Roswaal had rewritten the composition of the magic using his toes.
He altered the mana she controlled "through the gate" by modifying it in a gate-less way—something he did in a battle where lives were on the line.
Ram couldn't help but marvel: this was Roswaal L. Mathers—descendant of a famed lineage of mages, current head of the Mathers family, and holder of the title of strongest Court Mage of the era.
"The last time I was pushed this far was half a year ago when I fought the great spirit Puck!"
Raising his voice in admiration, Roswaal unleashed his magical mastery in full force, chanting a five-fold spell.
It wasn't a synthesized attribute, but rather five types of magic cast simultaneously—a divine technique that required the madness of thinking five things at once.
"Lord Roswaal, such an attack is still too naïve against the current Ram."
In normal circumstances, that move would have finished Ram off.
But this wasn't the usual Ram.
Even an ordinary wind spell held overwhelming quality; one spell blocked five.
The horned girl once again appeared in Roswaal's sight.
"Indeed, quite the nuisance."
Roswaal cautiously widened the distance between them as he spoke.
Although his physical prowess wasn't weak, his experience of being knocked out with one punch by Marcos had made him fully realize that his combat role was that of a long-range magic caster.
Now in her oni form, Ram's arm strength far exceeded human limits—just a light touch could shatter someone's body. He certainly wasn't planning on engaging in close combat with her.
"Don't worry. I won't do that."
Ram said, having seen through Roswaal's wariness.
Roswaal widened his eyes in surprise, which made Ram smile.
She continued:
"Because if I kill you in one punch, Ram's wish would never come true."
"Is it really okay to be chatting like this? The method you used to make up for the difference in power certainly has me trembling.
But even if I can't find Rem, if this continues, things will only get worse for you, won't they?"
"It's fine. Because there are things that must be said clearly. Roswaal, are you truly incapable of achieving your goal without Subaru?"
"Yes."
Immediately, Roswaal—until now composed and unflustered—answered with a somewhat stiff tone.
"Such a pessimistic view."
"Pessimistic? Perhaps. I'm always looking backward… always fixated on the past.
For me, all beautiful things reside in the past.
Everything in the present is a lie built upon corpses.
So for me, Subaru is the final key that can let me reach my tragic wish."
Speaking of his hopes in Subaru, Roswaal clenched his fist against his chest.
Witnessing that gesture, Ram felt a dull ache in her flat chest.
That Roswaal expected so much from Subaru… She knew this wasn't the time for such emotions, yet she couldn't suppress her jealousy.
"So that's why you followed that wretched book, going to such lengths to reclaim what was lost?"
Roswaal fell silent for a moment, then once again activated multi-layered magic.
Ram returned to her oni form and used wind magic in response.
"We're both people living in the past."
"What a foolish way of thinking."
Even in the midst of such an intense magic battle, their conversation did not cease.
While casting terrifying spells at each other, they continued their dialogue.
"Foolish? Aren't you acting now to avenge your people and fulfill your tragic wish? Just to ruin my plans, to make me live in regret."
"I feel immense sorrow, Ram.
Because I truly wished for you to achieve your dream and find your happiness.
But you acted out of impatience, threw away your chance, and now may end up dead…"
Roswaal's eyes were filled with sorrow and a hint of loneliness.
It was proof of his genuine regret that Ram might fail her goal, and his remorse that they might not be able to live and die together.
Roswaal truly wished—or rather believed—that before Ram fulfilled her goal of killing him to avenge the oni tribe, they would walk the same path together.
He saw Subaru as his accomplice, and Ram as the one who would end him.
'This man is truly beyond saving in his delusion.'
That was the thought that surfaced in Ram's mind as she deflected Roswaal's attacks.
Perhaps her gaze was too blatant, because Roswaal showed a confused expression.
"Ram?"
"After all this repetition, after all these years of being around me, you still haven't realized my true feelings."
Having observed Roswaal's tiresome cycle of frustration, resignation, anger, and self-mockery, Ram felt as though she might go mad herself.
Whether it was dullness or irrationality no longer mattered, for it had reached an entirely different dimension.
'To think, in his heart, Ram held no feelings for him but vengeance. Not even a trace of affection?'
"Stubborn, rigid in thought, convinced something is impossible, so you never even considered the possibility?"
"If I could have been a demon possessed solely by hatred, who lived only for revenge against my kin's destroyer, it would've been easier.
If I were just a spirit of vengeance, my chest wouldn't hurt so much. But—"
Not understanding her words, Roswaal frowned in confusion.
In response, Ram smiled bitterly.
This man truly could see nothing beyond his own emotions.
Which is why the next thing she was about to say had likely never even crossed his mind—
"Ram loves Lord Roswaal deeply."
Directly confessed to, Roswaal stood dumbfounded.
He had truly never imagined such an answer, so his movements halted.
He couldn't speak, only shake his head.
"What's wrong?"
"What… is this some kind of trick? A ploy to shake me at a critical moment…"
"Do you think such petty tricks would work on you? Or that I need to do that? Ram is simply speaking her true feelings."
"If that's the case, then all the more reason it's impossible!"
Roswaal shouted hoarsely, pointing stiffly at Ram with an intense expression.
"You love me? What nonsense!
I'm the object of your hatred—the one you should loathe!
I'm the perpetrator of your homeland's destruction.
You should hate me so much you want to kill me!"
"That was true in the beginning. But it's different now. Ram now loves you deeply."