At the top of the lighthouse, we could feel the sea breeze.
　Occasionally, a strong breeze would blow, bringing with it the pleasant scent of the sea. ......, but I'm not in a situation to enjoy it right now.
　I pulled out my "blue armored sword" and Riggles, who was facing me, also pulled out his sword on his hip.
　The pale blade of the sword is illuminated by the sun.
　Riggles stopped moving as soon as I held the sword level with the ground.
　I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword and took up my stance.
　The sound of the waves reaches my ears. After a few waves, Riggles moved.
　He took a large step forward and swung the blade as if it were sliding.
　I swung my blade in response.
　The first blow. Blade collides with blade, cancelling out each other's blows.
　Second blow. I swung slightly faster, and Riggles just barely blocked it.
　Riggles tilts the blade further, slides it, and flicks it.
　When I was slightly out of position, he struck again to take advantage.
　Each of Riggles' blows was fast and sure to strike at my life.
　I fall backwards to catch them.
　Riggles' blade is completely subdued, and we both stop moving.

"You don't use magic?
"Same as Luino, I do. I use magic sometimes, but I'm not good at it. Pure swordsmanship - that's all I've got. You should be using magic, not just swordplay.
"No, I'm a swordsman by nature. No, I'm a swordsman by nature. If you don't want to use tricks, then neither do I.

　The only thing that exists is the skill that you have honed by wielding the sword.
　There is no room for magic in this, and Riggles wants us to fight with our beliefs.
　In that case, I must answer.
　Just like the man who was once called the "Sword Saint" wanted.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

"Hmph.

　I'm sure you've heard of it.
　And then he moved away.
　This time I move. I close the distance and swing my sword down.
　The moment Riggles catches it, my offensive begins.

"......!

　What I unleashed was simply a fast sword strike.
　The power of each blow is low, but even so, it can slice through flesh just by grazing it, and cut down to the bone if it goes deep enough.
　Riggles was on the verge of receiving it.
　--The power he gained from his revenge was enough to take my swordplay.
　...... That's all.

"Ha!

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
　It's a place where you're about to fall from the top.

"...... I see. This is the swordplay that killed Adil and the others. Zenas said I could beat him, but ...... well, maybe I'm not in that league.
That's the path you've chosen.

　I'm not going to ask, 'Do you want to surrender now?
　I'm not going to ask him if he wants to surrender now, because I already know that he will not choose that path.
　I'm not going to ask him if he wants to surrender now.
　It was different from the stance he had just taken. He bends low and takes an animalistic stance, just like Luino.
　And I've seen that stance before on the battlefield.
The Blade Beast-- Souki Tomura. The son and granddaughter of the man who once called me friend take the same stance as .......

(Souki ...... certainly seems to have inherited your skills. But the heart--he didn't seem to inherit it.)

　I also grip my sword tightly and reposition it. Holding the hilt with both hands, I put my left foot forward. I held the hilt in both hands and put my left foot forward, the blade pointing diagonally to the ground, my arms relaxed.

It seems to me that if I continue to fight like this,......, I won't stand a chance. So I'm going to put everything I have into one sword. This one blow will kill you.
"Oh, come on.

　Riggles put all his strength into his legs. He springs to his feet and leaps to the side.
　He closes the distance in my direction in an instant and runs his blade horizontally.
　I step forward and raise my sword.
　The sound that echoed around me was the sound of a sword breaking.
　Just one sword. Riggles moves behind me with his momentum.
　If it was Rui No, he might have created a wall of magic power to follow up.
　But even if he used the same technique - that time will never come again.

"......

　I look at the blade of the Blue Armor Sword.
　It's a great way to make sure you don't get caught in the middle.

"Hahahahaha!　So, this is the culmination of my ...... work.



　Riggles smiles broadly.
　I turn around and look at him.
　He's still not looking at me.
　With trembling hands, he clutched the hilt of his broken sword.
　The fresh blood flowing out was unstoppable, and it was easy to understand that this man Riggles was on his way to death.
　Because my blow surpassed his blow.
　But even in this situation, Riggles seems to really enjoy talking.

"I was able to break the sword. That's a very nice thing. I'm the ...... one!　I'm a man who has defeated many fierce men, including you, Adil!　I was able to break the sword of the man who defeated the fiercest of the fierce, including Adil. ......
I'm not sure what to say.

　I'm not going to ask you if you're satisfied with that.
　The end of the power obtained by the heart of revenge ......, only Riggles can understand that feeling.
　The only thing I want to ask the dying man is.

"What would you like to say to Luino, your daughter?
"To Luino?　To Luino. ......? Yeah, .......

　Riggles looks up at the sky as if he is lost in thought.
　Then, after a few moments of silence.

The last blow. It's so beautiful.

　He falls to the ground with a thud.
　The battle was over, quietly.
　Riggus was dead, and I was the only one left.

I'm sorry. Souki......, I killed one of your family members. But the other one...
Sir!
Sir!　Mr. Iris?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
　When Iris saw me, she looked relieved.

I'm glad you're okay. ......
What?

　I take my hand off the ladder and Iris loses her balance.
　I quickly ran underneath Iris.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　...... It was really close.

......I'm sorry. I was so relieved that I lost my strength. ....... I saw the broken blade of your sword.

　Apparently, he had come to see the broken tip of the blue armored sword.
　I was watching Iris' fight to the end. I'm sure she didn't even have the strength to make it this far.

I know you're worried about ....... For me, this was the most frustrating part of the day.
...... I'm so sorry.
I'll pull you up first!

　I pull Iris up to the top of the lighthouse with all my strength. Iris immediately slumped down.
　She seems to have really used up all her strength to get here.

"Thank you, thank you .......
"You can wait down at ...... at all. I'll be right down.
I didn't think you'd lose. But then I realized I was here. ......
Well, that's just like you. But you're right, I won't lose. That's a promise.

When I called myself the strongest in the kingdom, I made a promise to Iris.
　As long as I'm a knight, defeat would be a violation of that promise.
　--Until Iris becomes the strongest, I will remain the strongest.

I've watched you fight from here. I've watched you fight from here. You've been very reckless, haven't you?
"...... was the best I could do. And I'm sorry I acted on my own.
You've been apologizing for a while now.
I'm sorry.

　I put my hand on Iris's head.
　She did a great job today. I understand that.

There's no need to apologize. You've done a great job.
"Oh, um, ......?　I don't like being treated like a child. ......
Are you bad at that?　I wanted to make my praise as clear as possible.

　I'm not sure if Iris is young enough to appreciate a pat on the head.


　I immediately try to pull my hand away, but Iris takes my hand and places it on her head again.

"Well, I'd like you to ...... me for a minute.

　She says with a slightly downcast look in her eyes.
　I smiled and nodded.

"Yes. You've done a really good job. You've done a really good job. You've made my life a lot easier this time.
I really want to protect you, but ...... you're my escort, right?
You're my bodyguard, aren't you? But this time, I prioritized my position as a sword master.
That's not fair. But thanks to you, I think I'm a little closer to my dream.

　Iris says with a smile.
　This is not the end of the battle, at least not yet.
There is still the matter of Tomra and Luino, and there are still two swordsmen left.
　Still, for now, he decided to genuinely rejoice in Iris' growth.