"So you're the Sword Saint, .......

　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to do it.
　I hold the Silver Spirit Sword at the ready and call out to Aria behind me.

Aria, please take Iris and get out of here. The way I came should be safe. I'll take care of this.
"...... Okay. I trust you.

　I'm sure Aria had her own doubts.
　But she couldn't just leave the injured Iris there. I'm going to let Aria and Iris go and I'm going to beat Kufilio right in front of him.
　Kufilio smiled and glanced to the side.

"What about you, Kufilio?
"Hmmm, ......, that's quite a turn of events, isn't it? But I think I'll run for it. I'll join you later.
All right. You go ahead.

　Kufilio the boy and Kufilio the man in white - not the same name, but two men of the same existence exist in this world. I can't help but feel a strange atmosphere when I actually see them.
　The white-robed Kufilio left the room without a care in the world.
　I don't look at him, but confront the Kufirio in front of me. Because what I need to do now is to defeat this boy.

"So that guy is Kufirio, huh? That's quite a strange existence.
I don't know. I'd say you're pretty strange too. Your swordsmanship is at the level of a sword saint, and I have no qualms about you calling yourself a sword saint. Though your appearance is a bit strange. You didn't learn the same skills as me, did you?
"I don't want to be lumped in with you. But I am Raoul Isaruf, the Sword Saint. This sword and my swordplay will prove it.
I see. ...... You call yourself that because you're confident you can kill me.
Yeah, that's right.

　I was the one who made the first move.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing. The one who responds is Kufirio's dagger.
　The blades of the sword and dagger clashed, and sparks flew. The metallic sound that echoes through the air turns into a series of sounds.
　Kufirio swung his sword with two or three blows, returning the blade. During this brief battle, Kufilio must have sensed something, because his relaxed smile faltered and he frowned.
　As the blades clashed and balanced, there was bleeding from Kufilio's side and thigh. It's because he couldn't block some of the blows I threw at him.

...... You're sucking up magic. It's a very troublesome sword, really.
"From the way you talk, it seems you know my sword. It is true that I've cut down every opponent I've faced with this sword, and I intend to do so, but do you think people still hears about it?
No, the name of the Silver Spirit Sword has been handed down, but no one knows the effects of the sword. In addition, no one likes to use a sword that sucks magic power, even if they are a swordsman ....... Because everyone is using magic to fight. When that magic is completely gone, all that's left is technology. There aren't many people who can do that, even if they believe in themselves.
"I'm the one who can.

　"I am the one who can do it." I assure him and put all my strength into my sword. With a swoosh, we flicked our blades at each other.
　We immediately close the distance between us and strike a blow - Kufilio's blade doesn't reach me, and my blow catches him in the shoulder. It was almost exactly where I had hit him in the previous fight.
　Kufirio leaps, once away from me. His breathing is still ...... steady, but his blood loss is increasing.

I see, I can't win with me like this.
You can't win with me like this.　You make it sound as if there is another way.
Yes, there is. Why do you think I know you when you were the Sage of Swords?

　That's what Kufilio asked me. It was a question, indeed.
　I don't know Kufilio Notria. I don't know Kufilio Notria, but he talks about me as if he does. If he had heard about me from someone else, that wouldn't be surprising.
　But Kufirio clearly knows about the Silver Spirit Sword -- as if to answer the question, Kufirio took a stance.
《Simple Summoning Technique》--it's used to summon something from a different place, just like me.
　What appeared was a sword with a crimson blade. As soon as I saw the sword, I knew who it belonged to.

...... "The War King, Richto Wirter's Red Sword?
"Oh, so you do remember. Yes, this is one you've fought before. Yes, this is the sword of a man you've fought, a king who lived by the sword. The bright red blade is said to have been stained with blood from ...... a man you once killed.

　I also remember a man named Rikt who challenged Raoul Isaruf to a one-on-one duel.
　He was the kind of man who would be willing to fight on the front lines if war broke out, even though he was carrying his country on his back. What he wanted was a place to die. Not to live as a king, but to fight and die as a swordsman.


　It's a sword used by a man who could only live like that.

What does that have to do with you?
"Well, ...... let's get this straight. It has nothing to do with me.
"...... what?
It has nothing to do with me. This sword is mine, though. Just before I joined the empire, when I was in the service of the country where ...... Richto Wirter was king. That's the extent of my involvement, but that's about it. I'm not sure if you've heard of the magic on this sword, by the way.
No, he and I ended up slashing each other with swords. No, he and I ended up fighting each other with swords, not with magic - we don't know much more than that.

　Maybe it's more accurate to say that I wasn't interested. Because that's the kind of man I used to be.

I used to be that kind of guy. "......, I suppose you're right. This sword is a sword that remembers everything that happens. As magic, it remembers those who have fought with it - in a way, it was a treasure for a man named Rikt. I just used this sword to get the memory of your fight.
"I see. So, will those memories be useful to you?
Yes, it's most useful to me. It holds the memories of the man who used and loved it the longest. ...... So much so that I can retrieve his memories.
"Memories, ......?

　I finally understood what Kufilio was trying to say.
He held up the Red Sounding Sword and traced the blade. A magic circle appeared at Kufilio's feet with a shining golden pattern.
　Before the Silver Spirit Sword can absorb all the magic power, the last spell is activated.

"Memory reading complete!

　Kufilio holds up the Red Sounding Sword. He may be a boy, but his stance is the same as the man I once met. It was Richto Wirter himself.

"It's been a long time. ...... Raul Isaruf. I'm glad you remember me.

　Kufilio's tone changes. A man who has lived in a different body for so many years is able to implant the memories of others in himself. The man who stands here is the same man who fought me, Rikuto.

"Clinging to the ghosts of the past: ...... Is that your last move, Kufilio?
"Ghosts of the past. You're not wrong. I was killed by you, and now I'm a man named Kufirio. I understand that I'm just a person whose memory was used ......, but I feel nothing but joy in this moment. It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your money.

　Kufilio holds up his sword.
　I responded by pointing the tip of my sword at him and immediately began to move.
　The crimson blade and the silver blade meet, and my gaze and Kufirio's crossed.

"Hahaha!　That was awesome!　Now I'm going to kill you, Raoul Isalf!
"No, you won't. No, you will not. You will be buried with Kufilio this time. It's the only thing I can do.

　Those who lived in the past cross swords again in the present.
　The two sides stepped away from each other, and the fierce slashing began again.