I Became the Butler of the Seventh Princess, Who’s Regressing Into a Child - Episode 52

Episode 52

…….At that rate, I couldn’t win.

If I kept fighting like that, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

My mission was to protect Lady Luciana. That was what I was here to do.

I took a deep breath, triple-stacked my [Acceleration] skill to draw out more power.

In that moment, my vision expanded. The world began to move in slow motion as I pushed off the ground with a single leap.

“…Oh!”

Gushinus kept up with my movements effortlessly.

Even with that, we were evenly matched. That cursed blade of his… its power was beyond what I had expected.

“Damn…!”

The strain on my body grew, and a sharp pain ripped through my muscles. It felt as if they might tear apart. But I couldn’t afford to stop there. I ramped [Acceleration] up to the fourth stack.

“…Ugh!”

A piercing pain surged through my body, threatening to break me apart. But I stifled it, stacking [Strength Enhancement] threefold, and plunged forward.

“This ends here!”

I closed in on Gushinus in a flash and swung my sword downward. My blade howled through the air, hurtling toward him. But—

“Did you really think it would be that easy?!”

Gushinus raised the power of his cursed blade, parrying my strike. I had pushed myself to the limit, and still, we were even.

Our weapons clashed violently, sparks flying from the impact.

“Damn…!”

Every inch of my body screamed in pain, but I kept swinging. My sword and Gushinus’ cursed blade collided in a brutal exchange of slashes, each of us trying to overpower and break the other.

A collision of sheer force.

“…Ugh!”

Sensing me falter slightly, Gushinus lunged forward. He capitalized on the opening.

“Now, this is the end for you!”

His blade surged toward me, ready to slice me apart.

But I maxed out [Acceleration], narrowly evading the strike. I countered with a swift slash of my own, but—

“Too slow!”

Gushinus intensified the power of his cursed blade, closing the gap instantly and launching another assault.

I caught his blade just in time, but the force of his strike pushed me back once more.

—–At this rate, I couldn’t win.

Taking another deep breath, I braced myself, preparing to surpass my limits. Clenching my teeth, I activated my skills.

[Strength Enhancement] and [Acceleration], quadruple-stacked.

I channeled the surge of power throughout my entire body and charged at Gushinus.

“This ends now!”

My sword collided with Gushinus’ cursed blade in a fierce clash.

In that instant, I outpaced Gushinus’ reaction.

Pinning him down, I slammed my sword into his body.

“Argh…!?”

“I’m not done yet!”

Leaping up, I brought my blade down on Gushinus again. I activated [Guard Break] to tear through his incredible defenses.

At the same time, I activated [Spider’s Thread] to slow him. But Gushinus swiftly dispelled it with his cursed blade.

“Don’t get cocky!”

But then—

“Take this! Behold [Celestial Severing Blade]!”

Gushinus raised his cursed blade, shrouded in a dark aura, and released a devastating blow. I reacted instantly, activating my own [Celestial Severing Blade].

“[Celestial Severing Blade]!”

Our techniques clashed, unleashing a shockwave that blasted through the surroundings. Windows shattered, rubble flew everywhere, and we both gritted our teeth, enduring the force.

But—

“Heh, this isn’t over yet!”

Gushinus regained his balance, charging at me again. I braced myself and intercepted his strike once more.

However, that last clash had taken an even heavier toll on my body. My movements slowed.

“Damn…!”

I blocked Gushinus’s attack, but he sent me staggering back.

…My body was already at its limit. But unless I pushed these skills even further, I couldn’t keep up with him.

There was no choice.

I quadruple-stacked [Acceleration] and [Strength Enhancement] again, clashing my blade with his cursed sword.

Both of us, fighting beyond our limits.

Our weapons collided, spraying sparks as I drew out even more power to counter Gushinus.

“…Just how far do you plan to go?!”

That was my line.

Gushinus charged in again.

I dodged his strike and countered immediately.

……Still not enough.

Even if it left me unable to move afterward, it was fine.

As long as I defeated him here, that was all that mattered.

“—[Acceleration]!”

I layered one more stack on top.

In that instant, I had definitively surpassed Gushinus’ speed.

I struck his body with my sword.

“Ugh—gahh!?”

He swung his cursed blade in retaliation, but I was already gone.

I launched a series of attacks, intending to cut down his awareness.

—But then, it happened.

“Lucianaaaaa!”

Gushinus suddenly turned toward the mansion window and kicked off the ground.

…He was abandoning me and going straight for Lady Luciana.

“—I wouldn’t let you!”

I reacted instantly, slamming my sword down. Gushinus tried to counter with his cursed blade, but I dodged his strike.

“Damn it, get out of my way!”

Gushinus rushed at me again. I evaded his attack, swinging my blade as our swords collided violently once more.

Each clash sent shockwaves, shaking the ground and reminding us both that we were nearing our limits.

…My time was running out too.

But it was the same for Gushinus.

Since the start of that fight, I had been tracking how long Gushinus had been using his cursed blade.

—If this were a game, his HP would be nearly depleted by then.

“This… ends here!”