Isekai Tensei - Kimi to no Saikai made Nagai koto Nagai koto Volume 1 Chapter 22

Just read demon sword master as a demon, master swordsman, not a master of demon swords. Thanks for reading~

"What're you gonna do, Samejima? Do you have any ingenious, demon king-like ideas?" (Velt)
"Fu-, I want to hear one if you have any. Not being able to surrender in *shogi is quite tough." (Sharkryu) (TL Note: *j.a.panese style chess.)

Just as Samejima said, he has already lost this battle.
However, even if they understand that he's been checkmated, this battle doesn't allow resignation.
Humanity's great allied force's merciless cleaning up started.

"Uwaaaaaaaa!"
"It, it's no good, let's escape! If we enter some tunnel and escape……"
"Ah, they were lying in wait for us on this side!"
"s.h.i.t! This side as well, we've been surrounded!"
"Wha, what the h.e.l.l…… we don't have any way to escape……"

Even in this wide hollow, humanity's great allied forces have surrounded the demons without a single gap, and the encirclement steadily contracts.
Without any ways of escaping, we are just in the centre, helpless.

"s.h.i.t! In that case, let's break through from the front!"
"As if I could stand dying! My wife and my kids are waiting for my return!"
"Even I'm getting married after this war is over! I'm definitely returning!"

Some of the demons pick up their weapons, and boldly rush out in order to break through the encirclement.
However, no matter how strong demons are, they are soldiers that are already exhausted.
On the other hand, Gyanza's army is an elite force with good coordination.

"Earth attribute magic unit!"
"Haha! Judgement of the ground to the evil sinner who stands in the way of the mother G.o.ddess's guidance!"
"Boulder Toss!"

Mages that wore robes appeared in the front lines of the encirclement.
When they raise their staffs and chant, large boulders that were created with the power of magic are fired towards the group of demons all at once.

"Gugyaaaa"
"Gyapu"

A countless number of rocks many times the size of a demon rain down incessantly, crushing ten to twelve demons and scattering blue blood.

"Be, Bengal's unit was!"
"That's a lie…… Gyagan was also taken down…… even though he still had a young kid!"
"s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t! What is this treatment to us, you d.a.m.n humans!"

What am I looking at?
Burning pa.s.sion; a large number of blood seas; the smell of scattering excreta.
‘I might be able to meet my old friend’…… just because of that thought, I came all the way here, but I had forgotten.
Right now, the world is in war.

"Please don't joke with me, you people always deceive us with those sorts of lies. You destroyed the Bolbardie Kingdom like that as well, right?" (Gyanza)

While feeling sadness from this war, Gyanza is accusing him while shedding tears.

"I know that even demons should have hearts. They should have hearts to love or protect someone. Despite that, why do you people only perform unjust actions? I definitely cannot forgive that!" (Gyanza)

She's drunk with herself.
Drunk with herself that has no choice but to carry out justice while being burdened with sadness.
Dialogue itself is meaningless to this woman.
From the start, nothing you say reaches her.

"I, will, I will kill that woman! I will definitely kill her!" (Ura)
"Please calm down, Ura-sama." (Ruuga)
"How can I calm down! By that, that mad woman, mother was! And now, my important comrades!" (Ura)
"I know. Of course I know." (Ruuga)

While holding back Ura who seems like she will jump out at any time, Ruuga glares at Gyanza.

"…… To overthrow this situation…… there is only one thing." (Ruuga)
"Ruuga?" (Ura)
"Princess, in a second, this Ruuga will become a devil, and defeat the enemy. It will only be for a short while, but princess, please allow your guard to leave you." (Ruuga)
"Wha, what are you planning to do, Ruuga!" (Ura)
"The most fundamental way of ending a war. Killing the enemy's general!" (Ruuga)
"Gyanza, huh…… I understand. Certainly, you are the only one that can do that. However, don't be unreasonable. You must return without fail. This is an order!" (Ura)
"Even if it costs my life!" (Ruuga)

On one knee, Ruuga makes an oath as a knight.
Each and every word he says is packed with extraordinary resolution.

"Velt-dono." (Ruuga)
"Ah?" (Velt)
"I apologise. It doesn't seem I will be able to protect it…… my oath that I will no longer kill humans." (Ruuga)
"Oi!" (Velt)

Bloodl.u.s.t overflows from Ruuga's expression.

"Lucas! Puppy! Gather everyone who can move immediately, and follow me!" (Ruuga)
"Ruuga-sama!"
"Right now, when Sharkryu-sama cannot fight, we shall abolish this situation alone! Break through the encirclement, and no matter what, protect Sharkryu-sama and Ura-sama!" (Ruuga)

In this situation where we have been cornered, a capable and trusted commander is needed to reorganize their allies.

"Uoooo, you humans! We will show you our pride as demons!" (Ruuga)

By taking the initiative and going to the front, Ruuga, who had the role of guarding Ura, is trying to encourage his surviving comrades and lead them.

"Tha, that is…… the demon king's right-hand man, the demon sword master Ruuga!"
"Decapitate him! If the demon king cannot move from the wound hero-sama gave him, he is the cornerstone of this army!"

It seems that Ruuga's name has even reached the human society.
My impression I felt when I first met him wasn't that much of an overestimation.
He lost one arm because I argued with him, but his strength and force is unbelievably far from my imaginations.

"Zuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" (Ruuga)

Like a sc.r.a.p of paper, the crowd of humans are cut up extremely easily.

"Alright, follow Ruuga!"
"Aim for the enemy headquarters!"

Ruuga, no, the demons have changed into beasts.
Carrying that vigour without change, the humans are kicked about in succession.
It was a scene gruesome enough to make me want to cover my eyes, but it was firmly scorched into my eyes.

"So strong, thi, this is, this is Ruuga!"
"He, he's killing so many by himself! Kuh, the others are taking the opportunity as well……"
"Not good, stop them! Those guys are aiming for the general! Protect general Gyanza!"

However, Ruuga and the other demons' vigour isn't stopping.
Humanity's great allied forces step in front of Gyanza and try to solidify their defences, but this vigour can reach them.
Countless arrows of magic are sent flying to stop Ruuga, but Ruuga kicks through them.

"So strong." (Velt)
"Of course he is, Velt. Ruuga is someone father and I trust, and is the strongest champion, even in our country." (Ura)

I unintentionally murmured. Saying that while he's killing humans with reckless abandon is a bit off, but his strength is the real thing.
Ura and I both thought that.
And then,

"Aah…… how sad, even though I want us to understand each other so much, we aren’t able to…… war is such a sorrowful thing." (Gyanza)

One swordsman appeared in the front.

"Eh, whaaaaa!"
"Gen, general Gyanza!"

That must be a lie, that woman! Far from solidifying their defences, she personally went out to defeat him.
A strategy? No, the guys guarding Gyanza are panicking.
It's completely her own judgement.
However, this is a chance.
No one is trying to prevent the two of them.
Ruuga and Gyanza. If Ruuga defeats Gyanza here, this battle will end some way or another.

"Demon sword master Ruuga…… I wanted to meet you in a different era…" (Gyanza)
"Gyanzaaaa! I will take the head of the queen's enemy soon! Take my strongest blow!" (Ruuga)

Ruuga's long sword, and Gyanza's sabre.
Just before the two of their specialized weapons increased their speed crossed over each other……

"! Not, not good, escape, Ruuga!!!!" (Sharkryu)

Noticing something, Samejima shouts at him.
And then, I also notice.
It was only for a moment, but "something" is overflowing from Gyanza's body.
The black aura that looks like a huge skull shows a smile.

"Chronos Crusade." (Gyanza)

I heard her quietly murmur that.
WIth just that, the sabre Gyanza was holding returned to its sheath without being swung.

I don't know what happened.

Ruuga doesn't stop either. The moment Ruuga's blade is almost about to send Gyanza's head flying,

"Eh…………"
"………… Ru……… Ruuga?"

Pieces of meat scatter to the point where you wouldn't be able to tell what the original shape of them were.
It took a bit of time for Ura, the demons, and I to realise those scattered pieces of meat was Ruuga.
The scattered pieces of meat and large amount of blood depict a cross on the ground, as if making him an example.

"A cruciform cut made by mastering high speed, speed of sound, speed of light, and G.o.dly speed. I would not have been able to defeat you if I hadn't shown this technique. We were not able to understand each other until the end, but that strength is worthy of praise, demon sword master Ruuga." (Gyanza)

From the overwhelming shock, none of us were listening to Gyanza's words of praise.
However, the moment we realised the chopped up things that didn't leave any traces was Ruuga, a shout and a scream of sorrow resounded.

"That's a lie…… a lie…… Ruuga…… Ruuga…… that's a lieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!" (Ura)

Ura becomes frantic, but I couldn't stop that.
Even I hadn't been able to put everything in order in my head.
Ruuga, who had been laughing with me until just recently, was chopped us, without leaving any traces.

"U, uoe…… wha, what the h.e.l.l is this…… am, am I in h.e.l.l?" (Velt)

This isn't good, I have no gastric juice, so I can't even vomit.
I don't have any material pain at all, but my spirit can't last anymore.
At this place, I will……

"……… Asakura………" (Sharkryu)

My name? Who is it? No, thinking about it normally, there could only be one person.
It's Samejima.

"Wha, what is it…… haa, haa, haa……" (Velt)
"It might be tough, but I want you to exert yourself somehow." (Sharkryu)
"Aah? There's no way I can do something about this situation! More like, I'm a human, so I don't have to worry about being killed…… no, that's doubtful. That stupid general wouldn't overlook a human that's close with demons after all." (Velt)

Although there's no reason for me to be killed, I can't wipe my premonition that I'm going to be killed no matter what.
Then,

"Don't worry. I definitely won't let you die." (Sharkryu)

With his injured body, Samejima murmurs that as if he decided on something.

"What are you?" (Velt)
"Are you listening? I'm going to break through the encirclement now." (Sharkryu)
"Haa? What were you looking at right now. Ruuga, who was supposed to be leading that, got turned into pieces you know?"(Velt)
"Yeah, but there's one more suitable person to lead the soldiers." (Sharkryu)
"Suitable person? …… wait, oi!" (Velt)

By the time I realised Samejima's thoughts, Samejima was kindly hugging Ura, who had lost her composure.

"Fa, father…… Ryu, Ryuuga was…… Ruuga was……" (Ura)
"……… Ura……" (Sharkryu)

Samejima's appearance is one that I have seen somewhere before.
Oh, that was from just recently.
Samejima's current appearance looks exactly like my old man and mum.

"Ura, please live. Even if I fall down to h.e.l.l…… "*I" will be watching over you! You don't have to be burdened with anything, and just be happy. That is Ruuga's, your dead mother's, and my wish!" (Sharkryu) (TL Note: Starting from the *I, he starts talking like Samejima, not the demon king.)
"Fa………… father?" (Ura)
"Asakura!!! I'll leave the rest to you!" (Sharkryu)
"Wait…… heeeeeeeeeey!" (Velt)

There, the Samejima I knew was no longer there.

Only the demon king that rules his opponents with overwhelming mana and power was there.

Demon king Sharkryu roars.
Them, in the next moment, blood starts violently flowing from Sharkryu's body.
The wound given to him by the hero had opened.
The engraved, painful-looking wound opened further.
A wound that definitely needs rest to heal.

"Listen! O foolish humans!! I am Sharkryu, the strongest of the seven great demon kings!!" (Sharkryu)

That was the demon king's last words of encouragement.

"Although we died oceans in blood, we fought so that we could someday obtain this wonderful world!

But, this body will meet its ruin before long, from the powerful hero's holy sword!

However, I will not just die!

Instead of choosing a proud, manly death, I choose death to survive!

My proud brethren! Now is the time to offer your lives to me!

Not a single one of us is allowed to die! Die to survive!

Right now, demon king Sharkryu will teach you his last plan!

Everyone, follow me!" (Sharkryu)

Don't stay silent and be killed.
Die while fighting.
Sharkryu shouted.
Then, what will happen? The pessimistic guys who were on the verge of death just a moment ago temporarily became one life and burned the flames of their heart.

"""""Uoooooooooooooooo!!!!"""""

Demon king Sharkryu, and all the demon king's brethren transformed into devils…… no, they transformed into fierce G.o.ds.

"A, amazing……" (Velt)

Even I felt a welling up of an intense urge from the bottom of my stomach.

"Samejima…… you…… went quite far, huh." (Velt)

I see my old friend's back in the distance.
But, for this reason, I need to give him my own responce.

"Fatheeer!" (Ura)

I caught Ura by the hand, who was about to start running towards him.

"L-, let go, Velt! Father is! Father is!" (Ura)
"Yeah, he will definitely open a path. You absolutely can't miss that moment!" (Velt)
"Velt…… what are you……?" (Ura)

Something more important than the demon king's life.
I don't acknowledge it, but I have no choice other than doing it now.
I'll protect her!

"Ura, look for a gap so that you can escape from here with me." (Velt)
"Do, don't be absurd! If father is fighting, I will also fight! If everyone is going to die, I will also die fighting!" (Ura)
"Shut up, your old man doesn't want that at all!" (Velt)
"N, no! Father, no, no, no, no! I will die as well! I will die fighting!" (Ura)
"Even if someone like you tried to do something, nothing will happen! He doesn't want it, but if you want to fight no matter what, come back after becoming strong enough to not regret it! You and I, that is!" (Velt)

Ura really does have eyes that are prepared to die. Looking at that, I let out a sigh.
What was I like when I was ten years old?
Even Forna and Ura, why do so many of the women and children in this world not understand the feelings of men and their own parents.

"Also, the only ones that can say the words 'I don't mind dying' in front of your old man or me, are the people that really have died once. Remember that." (Vet)

I can't do anything.
Listening to Samejima's grumbles and complaints, or understanding them.
However, even so, I was entrusted with her. In that case, I need to live up to that much.
As a friend, and as a man.