I could see that Hibigami was about to step in.
　He kicked the ground ahead of it.
　But Hibigami's stepping in was a fake.
　The opponent cancels his step in and turns to a waiting stance.
　He seems to have shown a pretense of daring to step in.
　Still, I won't stop.

　--Prohibited chanting.

''Nuh?''

　Chanting and fighting.
　Simultaneous attacks with forbidden spells and swords.
　The way I learned to fight in that Blue Goblin battle.
　A red rift appeared.

　--In time for the sword to reach, it entered.

　The chains attacked.
　Hibigami wielding his sword in all directions with blinding speed.
　The chains are being cut off cruelly.
　I cleave my sword to the side.
　Without missing a beat, Hibigami also beat away my slash, and also made the dimensional hole disappear without difficulty.
　But I don't let up in my offensive.
　With my returning sword, I unleash my next series of blows.
　One blow, two blows, three blows, four, five, sixty-seven, eighty-nine, ten--.
　I'm not sure how many times we've crossed blades.

"This tachi-suji, I--

　When I saw the discomfort in his expression, the hibigami jumped.
　Those cloudy eyes are watching me intently.

　Tachi-Suji?
　Swordsmanship...
　--Shit.
　This guy.....

I didn't think it was possible after crossing swords with him a few times, but...

　I tighten my expression and take a stance.

'What's up?　Don't you want to continue?
Currier, Versteyn.
..........

　Hibigami bends his head sluggishly.

'You know what I mean?'

　It's not a good idea to reply "I don't know" here.
　Well, then.

'Yeah, I know. I did meet a woman of that name in the East 'back in the day'. And for a short time, she became my sword master. Do you know her by any chance?　Then, if you know where she is, let me know. I just want to thank her again.
Well, I'm afraid I don't know.
Okay.

　I lowered my gaze a bit in disappointment.
　I didn't see any particular sign that Hibigami was doubting my words.
　It was a lie that came out on the spur of the moment, but well, it's true that Currier-san is the master of the sword.
　A certain amount of truthfulness should have been granted to the words.
　Besides, the way he said it now, he wouldn't think she was in this royal capital.
　Hibigami tapped himself twice on the shoulder with the sword chisel.

''But this is interesting. That 'silver maiden' teaching a stranger how to use a sword.
I don't know. I just like her. I have a lot of respect for her.
'Kaka, another hilarious element has popped up. Oh, so you're Currier's apprentice. Totally--

　Hibigami grips the sword in both hands and holds it horizontally.

'-- entertaining.

　With a plop.
　The sweat running down my chin falls to the ground.
　I felt the man in front of me, sword in hand.

　This guy, I can't see the bottom of it.

　This feeling of looking into the bottomless abyss is very similar to that of when I was dealing with Currier-san.
　This is - is this - the sixth house?
　But I can't pull it off here.

　Nevertheless, the effect of the forbidden curse is not so promising when it comes to this man.
　Also, if you're in a state of pause like this, or even if you're in a state of pause like this, I also found it difficult to chant while matching swords with that man, due to fatigue and concentration issues.
　If I had a trump card that I could use other than forbidden spells--

..........

　That's all we have.

　We have to release that 'feeling' until the very last minute.
　We can't afford to lose our way.
　--I'm going to do it.

　I'm going to sharpen my nerves.
　I'm going to focus all of my attention on the battle.
　..........
　Come on.
　Your kind of battle.

　--Boom.

　He's here.

"Hm?
Gu.........gu..........

　Your arms will be holed up.
　Sensors no longer detect buildings, guards, or civilians.
　My nerves are sharpened, just to eat and kill the 'enemy' in front of me.

'What?　Me ... what is this 'nothingness'?

　Nothing?
　What are you talking about, Hibigami?
　You're going to do it, right?
　We are.

　Are we going to f*ck this thing?

'Guh--g--gaaaaah!

　I roared and I ran.
　Like a gale.

　The blades and blades clashed violently, and sparks flew.

　Immediately after.
　With a bang.
　Hibigami's hair rose to the surface.
　It was probably actually the wind, but it looked as if it was pushed up by the fighting spirit that was released.
　The holy sword attacked Hibigami as it cut through the wind.
　I call in more 'sensations' - 'beasts' - into myself.
　And I let it spread throughout my body.
　I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

　--You're going to be able to eat it.

　The storm of slashes that rushed in like a rage, Hibigami stood up to receive the storm of slashes from head on.
　And Hibigami, who had been dealing with the blades that constantly jumped to urgent points, was suddenly blindsided.

''This is--''

　The trajectory of Hibigami's sword switches at once - increasing in speed.
　This man's sword probably doesn't have a "pattern".
　I'm sure an ordinary swordsman wouldn't be able to handle this 'switching' well and would be confused.
　But I follow the trajectory of Hibigami's sword.
　I'm chasing it.
　I'm chasing it.

You're trying to swallow my sword blade, self!　Not just Currier's sword--not even my sword!

　Immediately after their blades touched each other, they were already moving on to their next move.

''And even this shapeshifting taiyouji is not going to bite and let go!　Way to go, Sagara Kurohiko!

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the best out of your own personal life.
　If he lost control, this feast would also end at the same time - he seems to have such a fear.

''Kaka kaka kaka!　Who the hell am I, really?　You know, I never thought I'd find anything like this if I went after Cecily Arkwright.　I don't know!　You never know what's going to happen in this world!　But then the world!　I wouldn't admit to being in this world if I wasn't surprised!　What do you think of yourself!　Sagara Kurohiko!

　I'm not going to tell you anything.
　And now my sword is speeding up.

But I can't see, I can't see, I can't see. I can't see, I can't see, I can't see--?

　One of Hibigami's eyebrows twitched.

''Oh, well that's what I meant. Kaka-kaka, I see!　I'm not 'nothing' after all!

　It was right after the gain on his face.
　A thin layer of black veins appeared on Hibigami's face.
　It was like a cracked surface with black cracks running through it.
　Next, the whites of the eyes grew darker, and then the part of the eyes that was black turned red....

"You are not 'nothing' - you are 'invisible' because the endpoint of your growth is so far away!　Finally, I've got it all figured out!

　A moment.
　The hibigami, which seemed to have pulled back half its body, made an eerie creaking sound from its arm with a squeak.
　Black veins that look like tree roots are floating on the arm peeking out from the sleeve.
　And then, a flash that cut through the sky--

"--gasp.

　The hibigami strike delivered by his fearsome physical strength is unbearable, and the holy sword in his grip is flung away.

　What a heavy blow.

　At the same time, my consciousness was rapidly drawn back.　
　Slightly later, sweat wiped out all over my body, and a sense of fatigue washed over me.

　Hibigami, on the other hand, was holding his face in his hands, trying to stifle the laughter that was welling up.
　The changes in her face and eyes have already subsided.
　Hibigami opened his mouth slowly, in an eerily quiet tone.

'Finally, I've found it.'

　His wide-set eyes catch me, as if he's trying not to miss.

"I have finally met my lifelong adversary, a man with the potential to grow and develop as much as I deserve.
...What?
Rejoice, Sagara Kurohiko. Your potential is...

　Hibigami thrust the tip of his sword into the ground with a thud.

"Probably beyond the guys in the Sixth House.

　What is it?
　What the hell is he talking about?
　My potential exceeds those in the Sixth House...?

So, no more Cecily Arkwright. You can continue to hone your unconventional, boring sword and see its limits. Or you can indulge in sweetness and one day make an irreparable mistake and be destroyed. Or you can pursue beauty and become the lapdog of the powerful. End as you please.

　Cecily-san, in fact, did not cower with her face down, even though Hibigami threw those words at her.

But if by any chance he turns into a Shura, I'll give him a second chance. Well, I do give you credit for introducing me to Sagara Kurohiko, even if it's just a coincidence. By the way, Sagara.

　Hibigami turns to me.
　What do we do?
　Let's just try to invoke the ban on the spell for now, shall we?
　Anyway, that thing with the Sacred Tree Eight Swords.......hasn't arrived yet?

''I've been thinking about it. The spell I used earlier I have to understand how it was able to be used in a space beyond the reach of magic. There is only one conclusion I can draw. That's the only one I can think of.

　Hibigami sneered, exuding wickedness.

'Your own power ahead, is it not a forbidden curse?'
Well, what about you?
Kaka. Okay. So the mythical King of the d*mned is back. Hey, how long do you expect me to indulge in this?
So, you want to keep going?　I could still do it, right?
Kakk, take it easy. You've got room to stretch, but your body should already be close to its limits.

　Hmph, I laugh.

'I don't know.'

　But in reality, it was pretty close to the limit, just like that guy said.
　To tell the truth, it's a burden on me right now to deal with that man.
　But

You should be doing this a lot better if you expect me to. You just let me get my sword and I'll go along for the ride, okay?

　He expects me to do something.
　If he talks like that, he's not likely to kill me at this point........
　If someone else here - such as Mr. Hirgis or the guards - were to appear, they might be killed.
　But if that guy doesn't intend to kill me.
　We can carry on fighting with some peace of mind.
　We can buy ourselves a little more time.

　We can.
　Worst-case scenario you'll have to think about giving the Beast your entire consciousness.
　I'm going to have to clench my fists.

　Are you ready to make up your mind?

Hmm?

　Is that the sound of ... hooves?
　Hoof?

　I looked towards the sound.
　Then I see a single black horse coming towards us.
　We open up a space for the guards and spectators to make way for that horse, puzzled.
　The horse heads towards Hibigami without hesitation in a straight line.
　The eyes of the person straddling that horse also catch the figure of the samurai who is Magatu straight away.

'Kaka ... it's a good day, indeed.

　Hibigami sheathed the black blade - I believe he called it 'demon eater' - in its sheath.
　And then he pulled out the other sword, the one he called 'no-kill', and let go of it smoothly.

You've been tricked, but... what the hell, there you are!

　Hibigami lowers his posture and holds his sword horizontally.
　The horse closes in.

'Currier, Versteen,'

　A man in black on a horse--

　Mr. Currier picked up a sword on his horse.

　A long sword wrapped in cloth.
　It was that sword I had seen when I first met her.
　And then, with a plop.
　The cloth that was wrapped in it was untied.

　A white scabbard with gold decoration was revealed.
　Currier-san pulls out a sword while letting the wind swirl through her shining silver hair.

　The blade pulled out of the scabbard is a deep blue color like the ocean.
　The blue sword barrel, in which a feather-shaped crystal was embedded, was carved with a complex and bizarre jutsu.

　Hibigami.
　Currier-san.
　The distance between them approaches.
　Leaning his body, Currier-san swung his sword.

　--Kiing.

　A cool tone that even feels pleasant resounded through the area.
　It was the first time in his life that he had ever felt the sound of a sword clashing with a sword as pleasant as this.

　The horse passed by Hibigami and rode away.
　But there was no one on the horse.

　Everyone was staring at the scene with bated breath.
　Even those who didn't know what was going on could understand that something uncommon was happening.

　Right now, in a corner of the royal capital, Christophia.
　Under a clear blue sky...

Long time no see, "Silver Maiden".
I feel awful that you're looking so well, 'Broken God'.

　The two 6th House graduates were relative.