第四十三話 〈死線の暴竜〉
「何かスキルを発動したみたいだけど、それでボクに対抗できると......」
俺は地面を蹴り、一気にマリスへと迫って剣を振るった。
マリスが慌てて刀で防ぐ。
刃が競り合う。
「う、嘘......今の速度も......力も、剣聖であるこのボクに迫っている......! どうして、こんなことが......!」
剣聖は特別、攻撃力と素早さが高い。
そして重騎士はその二つが低い。
結果、近接戦において重要なこのステータスに、通常時において倍程度の差が開いている。
だが、〈死線の暴竜〉と〈番狂わせ〉の効果で、俺の攻撃力・素早さは【115%】上昇している。
ステータスの不利はもう覆った。
「フ、フフ、本当にキミは面白いねぇ、エルマ。どこまでもボクを楽しませてくれる。でも......分不相応な力は、結局どこかで欠点を背負っていて、それが元で崩れるものなんだよ。キミはもう、限界が近いんじゃないのかい? すぐに順当に沈めてあげるよ」
剣と刀がぶつかり、幾度も金属音を鳴らす。
「〈蝋翼の天使〉の話は知っているかい? ボクは昔から、あのお話が気に入っていてね」
〈蝋翼の天使〉はこの世界の寓話である。
生まれつき翼がなく地上に落とされた天使が、故郷を夢見て蝋で翼を作って空へと羽ばたくが、太陽の熱で翼が溶けて落ちて死んでしまった......という話だ。
「分不相応に足掻いた人間が、それ故に順当に潰れるのを見るのが、ボクは大好きなんだよ。特にそれが、憧れだったキミであったら格別だ。キミがここまで強くなってくれていたこと......本当にうれしく思うよ。ありがとう、エルマ。キミが何かを得る度に、ボクにそれを摘む悦びが生まれるんだ。キミがエドヴァン伯爵家に頼らず、苦労して手に入れたその力......失ったときには、どんな顔を見せてくれるんだろうねぇ」
「悪いが、そうはならない」
俺は〈パリィ〉でマリスの刀を弾き、彼女の隙を作って斬り掛かる。
寸前のところでマリスは刀を戻して受け止める。
「フフフ、危ない危ない......。でもね、キミのその愛用してるスキルも......結局はボクの持っているスキルの下位互換なんだよ」
再度斬り掛かった俺の剣へと、マリスが刀を合わせようとする。
「〈流れ水〉......!」
剣聖の専用スキルツリーで習得できる剣技のスキルだ。
刃を利用してマナの流れを造り出し、水流に乗せるかのように敵の剣を自然に受け流す。
MPは消費するが、その効果は〈パリィ〉のほぼ上位互換に当たる。
俺はタイミングをズラし、マリスの〈流れ水〉を避け、彼女の身体を狙う。
マリスは地面を蹴って飛び退き、寸前のところで躱した。
「どうして......ステータスは互角のはずなのに、ボクが防戦一方に......!」
「ステータス差が開いている状態で、お前は俺を追い詰め切れなかったんだ。条件が整えば、こうなるのは当たり前だろう」
マリスの表情が強張った。
だが、すぐに口許を歪め、笑みを作った。
「だったら......これはどうかな! 〈金剛連撃〉!」
マリスの身体が、金色のマナを纏う。
マナの肉体活性により速度を引き上げた彼女が、刀を構えて飛び掛かってくる。
確かに〈金剛連撃〉時の動きは、今の俺よりなお速い。
「普通の斬り合いで届かないなら十回でも......いや、百回でも〈金剛連撃〉をお見舞いしてやる! いずれキミは、防ぎ損ねることになる!」
大きく振りかぶった三振り目が俺へと放たれる。
俺はそれを背後へ退いて回避する。
マリスは空振りで体勢がやや崩れたが、その不格好な体勢のまま、俺目掛けて四振り目を放ってきた。
「マリス、お前の〈金剛連撃〉には大きな隙がある」
それはマリスが、強引に〈金剛連撃〉の四振り目を放つことである。
〈金剛連撃〉はほんの一瞬の間、爆発的に身体能力を引き上げるスキルだ。
その刹那の間に何度の剣撃を放てるかは、本人のステータスと技量次第になる。
マリスの実力では、せいぜい三振りで留めておくべきだった。
三振り目と、強引に繰り出す四振り目の間......マリスはこの際、ほんのわずかな時間だけ無防備になる。
ステータスで追い付いた今では、この時間は致命的な隙になる。
四振り目を下ろした後では遅い。
素早く逃げに転じる彼女を追って攻撃を仕掛けても、その際にはもう体勢を立て直されているだろう。
俺はマリスの刀を、力の限り真横へ弾いた。
彼女の手から刀が離れる。
マリスは目を大きく見開く。
歯を食い縛り、即座に拳を固めて俺へと距離を詰めてきた。
武器を失って尚、か細い勝ち筋を拾いに来ている。
その執念は流石という他ない。
「剣聖はHPはまずまずなんだが、防御力がかなり低くてな。手数が多いクラスや魔物......そして、一部の特殊な計算式のスキルが弱点になり得る」
俺は〈狂鬼の盾〉を突き出し、マリスの身体を弾き飛ばした。
「〈シールドバッシュ〉!」
〈シールドバッシュ〉は【防御力+攻撃力/2】の値で競い合い、こちらが上回っていれば、その数値だけ勢いよく相手を突き飛ばすことができる。
剣聖は元々防御力が低い上に、今の俺は攻撃力が倍増している。
「がはっ!」
ギルドの端から端まで軽々とマリスの身体が弾き跳んだ。
大きな音を立てて、壁に背を打ち付ける。
その際の衝撃で、ギルド全体が大きく揺れた。
マリスの身体が痙攣し、がくんと首が倒れて動かなくなった。
死んだわけではない。
壁までの距離が開いていたため、致死ダメージには至らなかったはずだ。
ただそれでも、打撃系の大ダメージを受けて一気にHPを失ったため、気を失ったようだ。
俺は鞘へと剣を戻した。
身体を力むのを止め、自然体になる。
〈死線の暴竜〉の赤いマナが止まった。
同時に俺は〈ライフシールド〉を解除する。
結局、こっちは使わずに済んだ。
いわゆる保険なので使わずに済むのが理想なのだが、終わってみれば余力を残す形での決着となった。
「勝った......エルマさんが勝った! 勝ったぁ!」
感極まったらしいルーチェが、俺へと抱き着いてきた。
「お、おい、どうしたルーチェ?」
「よかったぁ......本当に、よかった......。アタシ、エルマさんが自信ありげだったから......きっと大丈夫なんだ、信じようって思ってたんですけど......相手の子、すっごい怖くて......エルマさんを殺す勢いで来てて......すっごい不安で......! でも、でも、本当にエルマさんが勝ってよかったです......!」
ルーチェの瞳には、涙が溜まっていた。
「大丈夫だ。奴と戦えるだけのピースは既に揃っていると、そう言っていただろう」
事前に想定していた通りの試合運びにできたため、比較的安全な戦いであったといえる。
〈死線の暴竜〉発動前にマリスの切り札である〈金剛連撃〉を確認し、かつ彼女の決定的な隙を探っておくことができた。
確かにマリスは俺を殺しかねない勢いで来ていたが、エンブリオ戦の方がずっと危なかったくらいだ。
「そんな、馬鹿な......。マリスが、剣聖が......重騎士に敗れたというのか? 一撃入れただけでも異様であったのに、対等に戦った挙げ句に、打ち倒すなど......こんなこと、起こるはずがない......」
アイザスが力なくその場に膝を突いた。
呆然と、気を失ったマリスを見つめている。
Ch 43
"It seems you have activated some kind of Skill, but don't think that would let you face..."
I kicked the floor and launched myself at Mariss while swinging my sword.
Mariss blocked it with her katana in a panic.
Our weapons were locked with each other.
"Im-Impossible...That speed... and that power, is nearly at the level of a Sword Saint like myself...! How did this....!"
Sword Saints have especially high Attack and Agility.
And Heavy Knights are especially lacking in those two.
As a result, normally Sword Saints have basically double the stats that matter in close combat.
However, with the effects of [Half-Dead Savage Dragon] and <Unexpected Upset>  in play, my Attack and Agility is increased by [(115%)] .
With this I overturned my disadvantage in terms of stats.
"Fu, fufu, you really are interesting, Elma. You really are keeping me entertained to no end. However....trying to use power beyond your means is certain to come with drawbacks, and your strength will regress to its starting point sooner or later. You are nearly at the edge, right? I will make sure to properly take you down now."
Sword and katana kept clashing with the sounds of metal impacts continuing to echo.
"Do you know the tale of the Wax-winged Angel? I always liked that one myself."
The Wax-winged Angel is a fable of this world.
The story of an angel born wingless, who was cast down to the earth. He kept dreaming about his birth place, so he made wings out of wax and took flight into the sky, but the wax melted due to the sun's heat, which caused him to fall down and die.
"I love seeing people put up a struggle beyond their capabilities, and despite all their effort, breaking in the end. If that person is you, who I always admired, then it's even better. I'm truly happy.... that you gained so much strength. Thank you, Elma. Every time you manage to gain something, I have the pleasure of plucking it away from you. I look forward to seeing just what kind of expression you will show.... when you've just lost that power you worked so hard for without the support of the Edvan Family."
"Sorry, but it won't come to that."
I deflected Mariss's katana with [Parry] and slashed at the weak point I just created.
Mariss managed to bring her katana back just in the nick of time to block my hit.
"Fufufu, how dangerous... However, you know, that Skill that you are so proud of.... is just an inferior version of mine."
After my next hit, Mariss kept her katana locked with my sword.
"[Flowing Water]....!"
It was a Skill that you can only learn from the Sword Saint specific Skill Tree.
Using the edge of the blade to create a continuous flow with mana, it allows the user to automatically deflect the opponent's sword, as if swept away by a current of water.
It takes MP to keep up, but it's an undeniably superior version of my [Parry].
I shifted my timing; trying to avoid Mariss's [Flowing Water] and aimed for her body instead.
Mariss jumped back, just managing to avoid my attack.
"Why....our statuses should be about the same, so why am I constantly on the back foot....!"
"You weren't able to corner me, even when our statuses had a huge difference between them. With that changed, it's obvious that it would end up like this."
Mariss's expression stiffened.
However, her lips curved up into a smile right after.
"In that case....how about this! [Vajra Barrage]!"
Mariss's body was covered by golden mana.
With her body stimulated by mana and her speed tremendously increased, she launched herself at me with her katana at the ready.
Indeed her movements while under the effect of [Vajra Barrage] are faster than the current me.
"If I can't end this by normally exchanging blows, then I will use [Vajra Barrage] ten times..., no, a hundred times if I need to! Sooner or later, you won't be able to defend against it!"
The third slash with a large wind up closed in on me.
I dodged it by leaning backwards.
Mariss's balance went a bit awry after hitting nothing with that last slash, but even from that position, she launched a fourth strike towards me.
"Mariss, there is a serious weakness in your [Vajra Barrage]."
That is due to Mariss forcefully launching a fourth strike of the [Vajra Barrage].
The [Vajra Barrage] is a Skill that increases the strength of the body for a single instant.
How many hits you can launch is dependent on your own stats and technical skill.
With Mariss's ability, she should've stopped at three at the most.
After her third slash, and just before she tries to forcefully send out the fourth one....Mariss becomes defenseless for just a short moment.
Now that I've caught up in stats, this becomes a decisive weak point.
It would be too late after she already sent her fourth slash.
With how quickly she shifts to running away, I wouldn't be able to catch her after she regained her balance.
With everything I had, I struck Mariss's katana to the side.
The weapon left her hands.
Mariss's eyes opened wide.
Clenching her teeth, she made a fist and closed in on me.
Even with her weapon lost, she came at me in hopes of grasping the last possibility of winning.
I can only admire her tenacity.
"Sword Saints have a respectable amount of HP, but their Defense is quite low. Its weaknesses can be Classes who focus on rapid hits, monsters, and some Skills that calculate their effect in a certain way."
I slammed forward my Mad Demon Shield and sent Mariss's body flying.
"[Shield Bash]!"
[Shield Bash] pits our [(Defense+Attack/2)]  values against each other, and if my value is higher, then it sends the opponent flying with a force proportional to the difference in those values.
Sword Saints have low Defense to begin with, and now my Attack is doubled.
"Gahah-!"
Mariss's body easily flew from one end of the Guild to the other.
Her back impacted the wall with a tremendous boom.
The impact greatly shook the whole Guild.
Mariss's body twitched, then her head fell limp, finally losing consciousness.
It's not like she died.
Since there was a large distance to the wall, the damage shouldn't have reached fatal levels.
She simply lost consciousness from receiving considerable blunt force HP damage.
I returned my sword back to its sheath.
I relaxed my body now that the battle was over.
The red mana from [Half-Dead Savage Dragon] went away.
At the same time, I deactivated [Life Shield] too.
I didn't need to use that one in the end.
It serves as a safety net, so it's best if I don't end up using it, but since I didn't, it means I've won without using up all my means.
"You've won.....Elma-san, you've won! You've won!"
Seemingly overcome with emotion, Luce hugged me.
"H-hey, what is it, Luce?"
"I'm so glad...really, glad.... Elma-san looked so confident....so I tried to believe that everything would be fine....but that girl looked so scary.....she came at you with the intent to kill....I was so worried....! But, but, I'm really happy that Elma-san managed to win.....!"
Tears have gathered in Luce's eyes.
"It's fine. I told you that I already had the most important pieces for fighting her, right?"
Since I was able to direct the fight just as I imagined, this can be said to have been a relatively safe fight.
I was able to see her trump card [Vajra Barrage] and even find a weakness in it before activating [Half-Dead Savage Dragon].
Mariss was indeed coming at me with the intention to kill, but the Embryo battle was the more dangerous one in the end.
"That, it can't be.... Mariss was, a Sword Saint was.....defeated by a Heavy Knight? It was strange for her to receive a single hit, but to even knock her down in a fair duel....something like this, it just can't happen...."
All strength leaving him, Izas fell to his knees.
He just kept looking at the unconscious Mariss in a daze.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
猫子