Giggling, the front of the armor opened with a creak.

　I quickly returned the length of my spear back to its length.

　A silver light rushed through (,,,,,,,,).

　Fast as lightning, it exceeded the speed at which the spear returned.
　An attack of some kind, not.

　It was Fulkas-san herself.

　She was just running, her white hair dominating like streaks of light drawn by a meteor.

　--There's a hole in your heart........!

　We were too fast to miss her, but the afterglow of magical power danced where she passed by.
　Our attack had succeeded.

　Normally, we would leave immediately, a fatal wound.
　I can't explain it with fervor. From the wounds, it's unlikely that they have regenerative abilities. It's not like she doesn't have a heart, or even if she does, it's not a weakness or anything like that. Her body is built like a human.
　There are creatures in this world that are extremely hard to die from, but there are no creatures that do not die - right.

　Mortal creatures.
　I had been thinking about her race, but then I became convinced.
　Close to human appearance, gluttonous, powerful.
　And a high life force.

'This time, I'll take it back.'

　Passing the spear, which is still on its way back, Fulkas-san cuts off the spear with her hand sword and holds it in place.
　The side she's holding is - longer.

'What happened to the sword?'

Yeah.

　The voice belongs to me and - Belito.

　Because at that moment when she regained her spear, Berit exited.
　At the same time as she grabbed the spear, she adjusted the angle and extended the spear.
　It pierced through the head of Berito, who is still caught in the arm of the armor, and instantly returned to the wielder's hand.

　--without even looking...!

　Belito's body collapses and turns into a particle of magical power.
　With that, all of the white silver disappears as well. The white silver that was connecting my right hand to my staff also disappears, and I drop it.

　I discard the spear that has turned into a mere stick and grab the falling staff with my left hand.
　If I hadn't done that, I would have been skewered.

　Flukas's magic tool pierces the space where his upper body used to be.
　He exits Belito, brings the spear back, flips it around and points it at me, then aims and pokes.
　The time it takes for that much of the process is less than a moment.

　A moment or so later, I thought the spear had returned, and then Fulkus-san was right in front of me.
　Those silver eyes are catching me.
　Unintentionally, it overflowed from my mouth.

''--Ogre (Ogre).''

　She twisted her lips into a slight smile.
　The stab comes.
　I could read it, but my left ear was pierced and shredded by a piercing.

'Correct.'

　I lost my stance and she kicked me in the stomach as if she were using me as a ball.
　Oxygen is exhaled from the lungs of the magical body (avatar), which replicates breathing for no reason.
　My body rolling on the ground.

　-- Oh, come to think of it, you said that if I guessed my race, you would say so.

　What a thought in the corner of my mind.

　It is said that in the long ago, there were many individuals with horns that were often mistaken for demons, but demons cannot use magic. Some seem to be able to use illusionary magic called sorcery, but basically they fought on their own.

　It is said that they were called demons of magic power and demons of life force.
　As the word suggests, demons are said to boast tremendous life force.

　If they don't have superior magical organs, they probably aren't converting magical power.
　If so, where does this life force come from?
　Does it get its energy from the food it eats?

'What did my sword master teach me?

　In the middle of my rotation, I thrust my left arm into the ground and adjusted my stance when my body was floating.
　As I was thinking about how to avoid her attack, Fourcas-san said.

　-- with that one word, I realize her intentions.

　I've been using the sword of my training staff many times in this tournament, but I can just barely say that I fought with my sword in a decent match against Marc-san. Even so, it was decided by black magic and a sharp bone that did the rest.

　If Fulkus-san loses like that.
　If he avoided exposing himself and chose to exit as a [Reaper Knight].

　【Black Mage】 Reme would end up with the sword skills that Fulkas-san had trained him in without being known.
　If that happens, Reme will return to his job as Remegeton in the Demon King's Castle.
　It's not often that he gets the opportunity to take the public stage as an adventurer.

　That's why he was willing to expose his identity to the public.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　--You can't get away with it.

　That's about the only thing that the sword master praised me for.

　-- 'Yes, Reme 'watched' the party for years. Always making sure they won without any discomfort. That's how he honed his 'observation skills'. That's why he's so good at his job as a general strategist. Watch closely and find ways to win. That's what I'm good at.

　Look closely. She's not immortal. There are no such creatures.
　Look at her face, the one that usually doesn't sweat. Others might think it's expressionless, but I've seen it many times before. Don't miss the change. She looks like she's in a lot of pain. The damage to her heart is in her movements, even if it doesn't hurt. She herself is having trouble moving it.

　It's coming.
　A smooth movement. The upper body moving with the left step. The left foot steps on the earth, the force is put in and the thrust is released at the same time.

　A stab on the level of [hunter] Lily's "God speed" strikes my chest.
　I jumped diagonally.
　It's not to avoid her spear.
　I catch the thrust.

　With my staff.
　A sharp stab pierces my staff. The impact was so great that it made my hollow body spin.

"...and...

　I spun around once in the air without resisting the force, and with my momentum intact, I swung my sword at Fulkus-san's neck.
　I knew that her thrust would shatter the sheath portion.

　Mr. Fulkus' eyes widened, but he responded immediately.
　He avoided it by deflecting his upper body.

　There, he multiplied the speed reduction again. I released it at the stage where it pierced my heart and my armor stopped.
　I had already consumed a large amount of magic power, so I was working hard to regenerate it.

　I landed on her spear. The moment before it descended to the ground was regrettable.
　Normally my stance would be broken, but Fulkus-san doesn't drop her spear at this level.

'Shrink.'

　Her spear has shrunk to the level of a short spear.
　Naturally, there was no room for me to stand.
　But it was one move too late. I had read that - and I had already pounced on her.

　-- ''Those eyes and black magic go well together. It makes the enemy slow, weak, and fragile, and then dodges the enemy's attacks and hits you.''

　The defensive power reduction is layered on top of it, and it cuts through the right shoulder to the left side of Fulkus-san, who was returning to his upper body.

　Dancing magic particles.
　For the first time that day, I was able to decide on a single sword to my master, which I hadn't been able to do even in training.

　-- ''I'll adjust that eye for one-on-one. If I can, I'll be a little better.''

That's fine.

　I thought Mr. Fulkus smiled.

'--but sweet.'

Gu..........?

　Her left hand tightened around my neck.
　She also discarded her proud spear and her right hand is holding my left arm down.

　If my neck bone is broken at this point, I will leave.

''We shouldn't let up until the end.

I know...

"?　......... --..........!

　My right hand was thrust into her chest.

　It was certainly injured to the point that I couldn't grab the sword on my own after receiving Orobus-san's spear throw, and I didn't even pretend to lift it during the fight with Fulkas-san.
　So it wouldn't be surprising to think that he wouldn't move. Even if he did move, he wouldn't be able to do much.

　But I can at least plunge into the hole in my heart where the wound in my chest, which already has a hole in it, was further widened by the earlier blow.

　The spear wound has penetrated all the way to her back, but there's not enough room for her heart to pass through.
　So I just do my best and crush her heart.

''If I'm wrong about something, I'll tell you. I just want to win.

　I know. No one wants to lose. Even when I lost to Fenix, he wanted a rematch, albeit under the guise of being a helper.
　He didn't want to say it was for me, but only for himself.

　Both of my mentors were strict, kind, and untruthful.
　If he says so, I won't deny it. That's what disciples are for.

　At that moment, a sound that shouldn't have come from the bone in my neck that was creaking on the edge, was about to ring out.
　Suddenly, the strength from Mr. Fulkas-san was released.

''...........Black Mage, Reme.

Okay.

　I'm not very good at talking.

It's brilliant.

　My vision opens up.
　It's because the opponent in front of me has turned into a particle of light.

''Huh..............................''

　What a strength. What a life force.
　He continued the battle while his heart's organs were pierced. It boasts a movement speed that exceeds the expansion and contraction of its magic tools, and the brilliance of its spear has reached the extreme of martial arts.

　I was able to deal with it, even if I was barely, if only at the end. It's because I had the opportunity to see her spearmanship many times. It was because she was my apprentice, who had been taught how to use a sword.
　My own strength is not nearly as strong as hers.

　But not today.
　Only this one match is a tag team tournament.
　Me and Verito against Mr. Fulkus and Mr. Orobus.

"...the winning pair, the Leme and Beritto pair!

　--I won.