The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 88

Chapter 88: The Power to Protect

(Amelie’s side)

Death’s blades fall before me. In a feeling where time seems to slow down, I thought, almost as if it were someone else’s fate, that I was going to die.

(Am I going to die? Without being able to do anything…)

Just as I thought this, my vision was covered by shadow. Before I knew it, a sand wall had expanded to completely cover my sight, stopping the falling blades.

“…I’ve already seen through your blades.”

The sand wall crumbled and fell along with the blades. The blades that had landed on the sand mound were buried deeper, their wounds expanding.

“Indeed, your blades seem to cut everything they touch, but if you press the parts of the blade other than the edge with sand like this, it can be stopped.”

Rakul said, taking a step forward toward Dougen. His back was always facing me, and I could tell he was ready to protect me at any moment.

“Unbelievable…”

I was captivated by the way Rakul fought, embodying the very essence of protection. His ability to defend, as if he could see through everything, reminded me of my father.

At that moment, I remembered what my father had once told me.

“Amelie, the weight of a sword is the weight of a life.”

“The weight of a life?”

It was when I was still young, the first time my father let me hold a sword, that he taught me.

“A sword is shaped and weighted in a way that is perfect for taking a life. It is made to unleash the power to take life in the most effective form.”

I looked down at the sword in my hand. My father’s words made the weight of the sword feel even heavier.

“That’s why you must never wield a sword recklessly. You must observe what you should strike, assess it, and decide. By doing this, you protect your life, and the life you protect will have the power to protect another.”

After saying this, my father smiled gently and patted my head.

“The feelings embedded in the Flying Swallow… One day, you will understand them, Amelie. The power to take life can be turned into the power to protect life…”

“The power to take life… into the power to protect life…”

Why had I forgotten? My father had taught me the Flying Swallow when he first gave me a sword.

I gripped the sword that had been handed to me. I raised my head and looked at the scene unfolding before me. Rakul and Dougen were crossing their blades again.

The Corpse Bone Eater on Dougen’s right arm moved and formed into a shape like a hooked claw. It crossed over the Zanma and held it in place as Dougen grinned.

“You think I was just scattering them around? ‘Eating Blade Group Chaos’!”

The blades that had been scattered around suddenly shot toward Dougen like they were being pulled in. Like a rain of arrows, the blades flew at Rakul’s back. Even if he deployed a sand wall, the sheer number of blades would pierce through it, and Dougen’s movements would suppress any chance to avoid them.

I suddenly found myself running. Using the “Shukuchi,” a technique from the Hizuchi clan for moving at high speed, I arrived behind him faster than the blades. At the same time, I drew my sword and readied myself.

I focused on the approaching blades. In what felt like slow motion, I imagined my movements and let my body reflect them.

I knew what to do. I had seen it so many times before. I knew how to move. I had experienced the technique myself.

“Father, Berg-san, Rakul-san, thank you.”

As my imagined movements aligned with my body, I drew my sword. Then, I used the technique that I had inherited from Kunou, refined it, and unleashed it.

“Drawn Sword Technique, ‘Flying Swallow Sky Dance’!”

The sword that had been drawn deflected the blades. It continued to twist and deflect each new blade without losing speed, until it had deflected all of them.

In just a few seconds, all of the approaching blades were deflected. Not only Dougen but also Rakul stopped moving.

“…Your back is safe. Please defeat the enemy in front of you.”

I said this without looking back. In response, Rakul stepped forward and pushed Dougen back.

“I’ll leave your back to you, Amelie.”

My answer was clear.