TENKEN 451 (1546 words)

Zephyrd of the Skywall
天壁のゼフィルド

Fran escapes from the burning Marquis' mansion with a staggering gait.

It's no longer in original shape due to the fierce battle between the two of us. The debris and furnishings are scattered at our feet.

『You'd better drink this potion for the time being』

「Nn.....」

As she walked, she drank five high-grade potions I had given her and finally recovered about 20% of her life force and magic power. The potions didn't work so well. Could it be that her recovery power is decreasing due to potential release? Or is it because She has overworked her body too much?

Anyway, she was still in a dangerous state. Perhaps it was the accumulated fatigue, but her movements were dull.

Besides, my condition was pretty bad too. While not as bad as when I was in sword god transformation, my durability was greatly reduced and I was slow to recover from it. It was probably due to the divine attributes of the Black Lightning God Claw.

Maybe those who use divine attributes, besides Fran, are using their weapons as disposable. In fact, the Beast King said that he broke an orichalcon spear with his Spear King Technique.

No. Could it be that the divine attributes were affecting Fran as well? There was a possibility that this might be the reason for her slow recovery.

(Master, are you okay? You were screaming a while ago)

However, it seemed that Fran was worried about her partner as well. She asked in a caring voice.

『It was from the cannibalism, but I’ll be fine』

(Really?)

『Yeah, the discomfort has subsided. Besides, that was a huge harvest』

Up until now, the pseudo-fanatic sword only increased my magic power and durability value by one even if it was destroyed and cannibalized. However, when i take the alter ego of the Fanatics that had possessed Marquis Ashtner, my magic power and durability increased by 300.

Although I didn't receive any self-evolution points, I was enhanced as much as a rank-up. I'm really glad I put up with the discomfort from cannibalism.

As I continued to the garden, I saw Eliante and Colbert holding Zephyrd, who was sitting leaning against the rubble.

「How was it?」

「Fran! Did you defeat it?」

「Nn」

Fran nodded and found Zephyrd smiling wryly.

「Is that so. You defeated him huh」

There was no hint of bitterness in Zephyrd's tone. However, he was bleeding profusely from his stomach, and his face was white beyond blueish. This is a dangerous situation. I don't know how he can keep a calm face and smile like this.

『Fran, use recovery magic』

「Nn. I'll heal you now」

However, even after the light of Fran's recovery magic enveloped Zephyrd's body, there was no change in his dying condition.

The wounds did not heal, and his vitality did not recover.

「Hmmh?」

「Even Fran's heal didn't work huh....」

「It won't heal?」

「Even the potion doesn't work!」

You mean a condition that completely nullifies recovery? That's wound is really bad, right!

「What's caused this wound?」

「This is――」

「I was hit by a stray debris」

Colbert was about to say something, but Zephyrd interrupted him with strong words. Don't you want Fran to know the reason for your wound? But Eliante remonstrated with him.

「You should tell her. She’s maybe a child, but Fran is a full-fledged adventurer」

「But...No, you are right」

「I understand that you doesn't want her to be the one to blame for your own death. I think she's someone you can talk to, you know?」

I could already tell from Eliante and Colbert, Zephyrd himself was about to die. No, they can't move him in this state, and if recovery magic and potions don't work, I don't think there's any way to save him......

What bothered me more was the word that the cause of the problem was Fran.

「What happened?」

「There is a technique in the shield saint technique that allows you to transfer the damage that befalls your friends to yourself. That's what Zephyrd used」

「....From me?」

「Zephyrd wants to help at least.....He said that since the Marquise's mansion was destroyed in your battle and he can now see you, he can use his skills」

I had a guess. It was the last thrust that Marquis Ashtner had made in an attempt to counterattack. It was as if the attack, which had indeed pierced Fran, had been nullified as if it had never happened.

I have a physical attack nullification, but I didn't have time to activate it on the spur of the moment. In the future, I will actively use it, even if it is a bit risky, but I didn't have it on at the time. I didn't have time to think about it and returned to the battle before I could figure out what was going on, but it was definitely a strange phenomenon.

So, you're saying that was because of Zephyrd?

However, I know that there is a technique in the shield saint technique. I had suffered a lot when I fought Valkyrie in the Beast Kingdom. If it was a shield saint technique that could transfer even a life-threatening attack, it certainly could explain the phenomenon.

「Black Lightning Princess, thanks to you, I was able to avenge my friends. I thank you....Gobuh」

Zephyrd bowed his head in a quiet manner that did not seem dying. Still, the large amount of blood that he spat out at the end told us about his condition.

But neither Eliante nor Colbert would stop him from speaking. They know he can't be saved, so they want to let him talk as he pleases.

「Even if it was a little, do i be a help for you?」

「So much. If you hadn't saved me, I'd be dead by now」

「Is that so, I have one last piece of advice」

「Nn」

「You used some kind of powerful skill that have great backlash on you right?」

Zephyrd spun his words with the last of his strength. It seems that the recovery disabling condition that Zephyrd has fallen into should have originally fallen on Fran. However, Zephyrd seemed to have taken care of it.

He is highly skilled in the shield saint technique, and he understands that it is a backlash or compensation for some special technique that Fran used.

『In all likelihood, it's the price of Fran's potential release』

「Nn.....」

The price and some of the damage had been took over by Zephyrd. That was why Fran was only weakened. If it hadn't been for Zephyrd's help? Fran would have surely lost her life. We could call him a lifesaver.

「If you know what I mean, you should be careful....Gobuh....」

「Are you okay?」

「I'm a rank A adventurer. I'm sure my friends on the other side will laugh at me if I show my disgraceful appearance at the end of my life」

To be able to stay calm while his life continues to flow out of him is truly a tremendous mental strength. I admire him from the bottom of my heart.

Also, the man's smile of satisfaction while accepting his own death was similar to Kiara's last moments. It must have been the same for Fran. With a somber expression, she tried to bow to Zephyrd. However, it was Zephyrd who interrupted her.

「I'm sorry. It's because of me――」

「Wrong! Gobuh...that's not true. Rather, you're the reason I was able to have a peace on my mind. I can only thank you」

Zephyrd grinned at that. It was Eliante who took over the words.

「That's right. You are in no way responsible for Zephyrd's death. Maybe it was because he was protecting Fran. But it was still Zephyrd's responsibility and Zephyrd's achievement. In fact, you should be proud to send off your friends who did a great job against that monster」

「That's right. Litt-....Fran. You played a big part in this, but we did our best, and so did Zephyrd's. That's the result. And whatever happens, it's our responsibility. Thank us, but don't apologize」

「.....Nn」

They said so, and Fran seemed to agree.

(If it were the other way around, I wouldn't want to be apologized to either)

『Is that so』

She stopped her apologetic look and looked straight into Zephyrd's eyes.

「Thank you very much」

「Fufu.....Me-..too...In the end, i did a good job」

Those were the last words of the rank A adventurer, Zephyrd of the Skywall. We only talked for a little while, but he was a good man. If we had met him earlier, he might have been able to get along with Fran.

『Thank you very much』

「....?」

I wondered if he heard my words as he closed his eyes with a smile on his face.

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___NOT A TLN____________

(1) He was a good man :')

(2) This chapter marks my 50th translated chapter. I've translated 50 chapter worth of 72.235 words in 30 days, gj me! if you have time, please take a moment to fill a survey by me about this website: https://forms.gle/Z8mPsA1fLvVY8QV79

(3) I got a pretty awful toothache, it also give me terible migraine...the updates will be slowing down until i feel better.

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