Now, I successfully avoided the collision, but what should I do about this... or rather, what should I do about this girl?
"Fury... san?"
The magical girl in my arms murmurs. Hmm, looking at her again, this girl is quite - no, very cute. My eyes almost went to the two swellings that seem disproportionate to her innocent face, but being a gentleman, I quickly averted my gaze.
"Serafall!"
Then, hearing a sudden ikemen voice, I looked toward it and there was indeed a handsome guy. Ugh, may all ikemen perish!
"Sirzechs-chan"
The magical girl turned her face toward the handsome guy. From what I can gather, this girl's name is Serafall, and the handsome guy's name is Sirzechs. How's that for deduction! What? Anyone could figure that out? Yeah, I thought so.
Well, they seem to know each other, so I'll leave her to him.
"I'll leave this girl to you."
"Ah, yeah..."
His face seems to be twitching. Wait! Could it be that my earlier jealous curse was heard!? Even though I thought I screamed it in my mind, did I unconsciously say it out loud!?
Looking closer, there are several other people behind the handsome guy, and they're all making twitching faces too. This is bad - could it be that those people heard it too? The woman with white wings and the dandy gentleman with black wings are clearly glaring at me. Are they friends of the handsome guy or something? Did they get angry because some weird guy who suddenly appeared insulted their friend?
(Alright, let's escape.)
I wasn't planning to get involved anyway. Yeah, now that I've decided, I'll use the boosters...
"Hmph. Did you also come to interfere with our battle? That killing intent from before - you seem somewhat better than the other trash, but no matter how much trash increases, it's all the same."
Since I had the chance, I turned around to burn the dragon's majestic figure into my memory, and the red dragon looked down at me while moving its mouth.
(I-it talked!)
What!? Dragons can talk!? And with such a cool voice too! A talking dragon is clearly boss-class!
Hmm!? what's this about killing intent! Is that it!? Did it sense my heart that hates handsome men!? Could this guy also be related to the handsome guy!?
"Very well. I'll erase you first. Without leaving even a speck of dust!"
Flames leak from the corners of the red dragon's mouth. Don't tell me it's planning to breathe fire like before again.
"Scatter!!"
At the handsome guy's command, the other people flew away at incredible speed. Hey, don't leave me behind!
"Hey, I'm ready... what's this situation?"
This voice is mom! What timing!
"This and that happened!"
"I see."
Eh, you understood from that!?
"Of course not. I just peeked at your memories a little."
"I thought so! A-anyway, I'm in a pinch! Please lend me some power...!"
While we were having this exchange, the dragon opened its mouth wide.
"Die!"
And I was instantly swallowed by a massive fireball that seemed like it couldn't be a joke.
----
Sirzechs' pov
The war between the three great factions of angels, fallen angels, and us devils had become a quagmire over the long years. No one knew why the war had started. However, if it continued like this, only casualties would keep increasing, and eventually everything would perish.
Then one day, a turning point came to this war. The Two Heavenly Dragons called the Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig and the White Dragon Emperor Albion suddenly began fighting each other. The aftermath of their conflict brought tremendous damage to all three factions.
We weren't foolish enough to continue fighting in this situation. We immediately signed a ceasefire agreement and began working together to stop the Two Heavenly Dragons.
And today, we intruded into the place where the two were fighting to settle everything. Naturally, the battle was extremely fierce. Over a hundred people had already been sacrificed, but we still wouldn't stop. We would end everything today!
In the middle of combat, Serafall Sitri, a fellow devil and friend, was attacked by Ddraig's claws. Serafall managed to block that strike somehow, but she made eye contact with Ddraig and froze in fear.
It was understandable. The opponent was the Red Dragon Emperor after all. It would be stranger not to feel fear. But on a battlefield, stopping movement meant death awaited.
"Damn! Serafall, run!"
While shouting, I headed to save her. But the next moment, her figure had vanished from there. And the flames that Ddraig breathed enveloped the place where she had been just moments before.
(Se-Serafall!?)
I looked around. Then I found her in a slightly distant location. ...No, strictly speaking, she wasn't the only one there.
(What is "that"...?)
Something wearing deep blue armor that covered its entire body - even its face - was holding Serafall in its chest while emitting blue-white light from its back.
That bizarre appearance... could it be called a doll made of machinery? A weapon newly created for this decisive battle? ...But I hadn't heard such talk from the angels or fallen angels, and of course, the devils didn't know either.
I approached while being cautious. I was grateful that it had saved Serafall, but I couldn't trust something unknown. It wasn't just me who was concerned - several angels and fallen angels were also approaching the mechanical doll.
"Serafall."
"Sirzechs-chan."
Serafall noticed me, and then the mechanical doll also turned its inorganic face toward me.
---At that moment, overwhelming killing intent attacked me.
It was definitely released by this mechanical doll. Had it noticed that I was being cautious? It felt like I was being told, "Is this how you treat the benefactor who saved your comrade?" The others must have also been targeted by the killing intent, as they seemed to heighten their vigilance even more.
"I'll leave this girl to you."
It spoke!? So this wasn't a doll but armor or something? Who could it be? It must be quite a skilled person.
"Ah, yeah..."
From the voice, it was definitely a man. I thought such things during the brief moment of pulling Serafall closer.
Then, as if his business was done, he turned his face toward Ddraig. In response to him, Ddraig opened his mouth.
"Hmph. Did you also come to interfere with our battle? That killing intent from before - you seem somewhat better than the other trash, but no matter how much trash increases, it's all the same."
The words of an absolute strong one. But I wonder why. It felt like there was slight tension in that voice. Even after hearing Ddraig's words, he didn't answer. As if saying "try it," he just continued staring at Ddraig in silence.
"Very well. I'll erase you first. Without leaving even a speck of dust!"
No sooner had he said this than flames began leaking from Ddraig's mouth. Seeing this, I immediately gave instructions.
"Scatter!!"
While moving away from Ddraig with Serafall, I turned only my head to look behind and observe his condition, and my eyes widened. Far from running away, he hadn't moved a single step from that spot.
"Impossible!? Does he want to die!?"
"Run away quickly!"
Such voices could be heard from somewhere. But whether he couldn't hear those voices or not, he still didn't move.
"Fury-san! Run away!"
"Die!"
And despite Serafall's scream next to me, he - Fury - was swallowed by Ddraig's flames.
"Ah, aah...!"
"Serafall!"
I quickly supported her as she was about to collapse. It was natural. The person who had just saved her had been killed before her eyes.
"Fuhahaha! This is what happens when trash acts cocky! Now, who wants to die next... What!?"
"Eh...!?"
"What... the hell!?"
Ddraig voiced his shock. No, not just Ddraig. I, Serafall, and everyone else didn't even make a sound, but we all had our eyes wide open.
Because he, who should have disappeared into Ddraig's hellfire, was standing there exactly as before. His armor didn't seem to be burned up - it didn't even appear to be scorched.
No, there was one different place. It was his right hand. A single sword was gripped there. The same blue color as his armor, it had a unique shape that combined sword and gun.
"You're unharmed even after receiving my flames!? Who are you!?"
Ignoring Ddraig's incredulous expression, he swung his sword as if checking its feel. The movement had no waste whatsoever, like watching a sword dance.
After finishing that, he faced Ddraig again while holding his sword ready. Then, breaking his previous silence, he quietly opened his mouth.
"As a knight, I cannot allow your actions. By my sword, Raftclans, I shall return you to the darkness of Vorda!"
It was like a powerful victory song that equally stirred everyone's hearts on the battlefield dominated by despair. I felt my body, heart, and everything that composed me growing hot. Vigor filled me, and I naturally clenched my fists. Looking to the side, Serafall also seemed excited, her cheeks red.
"Follow him... follow the knight!"
Dominated by the desire to fight alongside him, I once again returned to the battlefield.