Well you've finally got the eye of a swordsman.

　Sayama Toratetsu squinted at his murderous granddaughter, Lina, in front of him.

''Don't lick it!''

　With her eyes on her grandfather - Sayama Toratetsu, Lina closed in on him with a sharp step and delivered a powerful swing - a slash.

"A good swing.......but it's sweet!

　Sayama Toratetsu matched his sword to the powerful sword strike swung down on him and then brushed it away with a flowing motion.

''Not yet!''

　However, Lina, with a look of anger on her face, unleashes a series of blows on Sayama Toratetsu, one after another.

"The sword controlled by anger can understand me!
Shut up!　Shut up!　Shut up!

　Sayama Toratetsu used his skillful swordsmanship to taunt Lina's fiercely swung sword, occasionally lacerating Lina's body with his counterattack blade.

'Do you swing your sword with force........ You who have fallen into the demonic path have forgotten the way of the sword too.......

　Sayama Toratetsu turned his eyes full of sorrow and pierced Lina's shoulder with a sharp stab.

''--?!''

　Lina turns her hateful gaze to Sayama Toratetsu while holding her shoulder.

''Rina........I was glad you were alive.... But you crashed into the demonic path. Then it is your duty as a grandfather to hand over the reins to you.

　Sayama Toratetsu raises his sword slowly and takes an upper stance.

　The difference in power is obvious.....

　When I try to intervene in their game....

Rina!　Is that what your sword is for?　Guy is a-- Guy is!　What did you say about your sword!

　Layla lashes out in anger at Lina.

'My ... sword?'

　Lina looks at her beloved sword - Darnslave, stunned.

''This is the last mercy ... go forth with a single sword!

　When Sayama Toratetsu swung his sword down in a fluid motion from the upper stance...

　Lina raises her sword from her natural stance and catches the sword that is swung down. Continuing to leap backwards lightly, Lina flashed her sword with a fluid movement.

''--[Moon Slash]!

　The flash of Lina's arcing trajectory was the first to reach Sayama Toratetsu.

　It was Lina's movements that I had always seen through my smartphone, and it was Lina's swordplay when she was fighting Izayoi.

　Finally, the Lina I knew - the best sword wielder under my command - had returned.


　◆


　The fight between the reinstated Lina and Sayama Toratetsu lasted for over an hour afterwards.

　Perhaps because they were of the same school, they lacked a decisive advantage over each other... an exchange of advanced sword techniques was repeated.

　Sayama Toratetsu was winning in technique, but perhaps because of his youth, Lina was winning in strength. There were times when Lina was pushed, but the quality of the items she was equipped with made up for the difference.

''Kakk!　You're getting stronger.......Rina!


　My grandfather, who was known as the 'Sage of Swords', and my granddaughter, who was known as the 'Brave Man of the Black Sword', exchanged swords with each other with a smile on their faces.

''If I had the guts to do so I would have been the best in Japan.
I'm not interested in being named Japan's number one after all!

　The swords wielded against each other collided, causing a metallic sound to echo around them.

''Hah!''

　As Lina's sword and Sayama Toratetsu's sword balanced each other in a spiteful battle, Lina shook off the Darn Slave with all her strength and spirit. Sayama Toratetsu, defeated by force, is flung backwards and falls on his buttocks in a staggering manner.

　Grandfather and grandson. In the end, the factor that decided the match between the two of them - was the difference in physical strength.

''Grandfather you are in a match. Please surrender.''

　Lina thrust the cut end of the Darnslave at Sayama Toratetsu's throat and declared the final recommendation.

''........Kill me. Show your resolve by killing me.''

　Sayama Toratetsu stared at Lina with eyes that held an unshakable will, despite being in a desperate situation, and rejected the final recommendation.

''........I understand. Grandfather--Please be prepared!

　Although Lina had a tragic expression on her face at Sayama Toratetsu's answer to his rejection of her own recommendation, she took a glance at Sayama Toratetsu with a determined--killing gaze and tightened her grip on the hilt of her Darn Slave.

''--《Shining........''
Wait!

　When Lina, who had made up her mind, was about to swing down the Darnslave that held the holy light, that's when I gave the order to Lina to stop.

　Lina and Sayama Toratetsu - both of their gazes are directed at me as I shouted for them to stop.

''Why did you stop?''
Let's ask the question, why the rush to death?

　I ask the opposite question as I approach Sayama Toratetsu, who asks me with a look of anger on his face.

''It's because you were defeated,''
But he's still alive, right?
This isn't a match. It's a fight to the death. Isn't it?
No.

　I deny Sayama Toratetsu's bland reply.

''That's not it...?
This is a negotiation. Didn't we say so at the beginning?
Nonsense.

　Sayama Toratetsu becomes agitated at my answer.

Sayama Toratetsu. I ask you. Why are you in such a hurry to die?
It's not because he's defeated.
But he's still alive, right?

　Me and Sayama Toratetsu's questions and answers looped back and forth.

　This is the crucial moment. If we succeed in convincing him, we'll have a lot to gain. My brain is going to be in overdrive.

"Demon King!　What do you mean by that?
"Why don't you survive and make a second life with your family, Lina?
Don't lick it!　You betrayed the people you were supposed to be protecting, and now you want me to turn to you, the Demon King... to turn to you!
Let's put it simply. Your granddaughter is alive. I mean, I'm not your avenging agent. So why are you fighting me?　And why the rush to death?
"You're the Demon King!　Because I am human!　I fight for people!　And as the head of the Sayama family, I would never betray the people!

　He's quite a stubborn old man. But Sayama Toratetsu is willing to talk with me. We're exchanging words, not swords. Then there's a chance I can convince him of something.

"To protect the people.... In that case, would you prefer to give up?
Don't mess with the miko!
I'm not playing miko. I'm serious. You want to protect people, don't you?　Then, don't you think the best course of action is to surrender?　What happens if we kill each other at this point?　Much blood will be spilled on both sides. If you surrender I will guarantee the safety of the people of Zhuzhou City whom you have been protecting.
How do I know you'll keep your word?

　It really is hard to convince humanity........ If it was an ordinary human being, they would have easily surrendered if they were driven to the point of killing him.......

"Guarantee......... A guarantee, or rather, evidence........but one thing is Lina's existence. It's not exactly safe, but I'm sure she's living a full life, right?
'Grandfather!　I have no regrets about being under Theon's command!

　Lina puts a follow-up word over my words.

'Another piece of evidence it's not humanity that helps us fight like Lina, it's non-combatant humanity. I'll show you the lives of humanity living a second life in my domain. You won't call it a trap, will you?　There's no such thing as a sophisticated trap to get you alive in this situation and into the realm of control, is there?　And while you're at it, I'll allow up to eleven people to accompany you, okay?

　I roll up my words and try to convince Sayama Toratetsu. Killing him would be easy. However, if I killed Sayama Toratetsu here, the conflict with the remaining 30,000 or so human beings would be decisive.

''What do you want?''

　Sayama Toratetsu asks me with a paranoid look on his face.

He said, "My goal is to rule Zhuzhou City peacefully. More importantly, it's you, Sayama Toratetsu, the 'Sword Saint'.
I don't think I...?
Yes. You are strong. I'd like you to be one of my boys, and I'd like you to fight alongside me if you could. And by the way, he's your apprentice?　I've got high hopes for that group of guys in the camp haori, too.

　I shifted my gaze to Sayama Toratetsu and the group of Jinhae behind him and told them my true feelings.

''Ah!　In case you're wondering, we won't let you fight all the humans under your command, will we?　For those who refuse to fight, I will guarantee that they will be safe within the territory they control.

　I offer a special condition to Sayama Toratetsu.

'Who are you going to fight?　Are you people like us, who are fighting against the Demon King in many places?
'No I'd like to say no, but I'm afraid that includes the humans who take hostile action.
You've betrayed the human race and you want your demon lord to take you down.
''Hmm ... that nuance is a bit different. The Demon Lord who controls the territory he controls in various parts of the country is included in that category - in other words, he's an enemy.

　I - the Demon King's enemies are all those who are not under his control. Humans can join hands with each other, but Demon Lords can't join hands with each other. It's a truly unreasonable world.

"The human race and the Demon Lord are all enemies...
You will. However, if you're under my command, your granddaughter, Lina, will be on your side.

　If this fails to persuade you, what's left to negotiate for?　I turn my head fully around, assuming Sayama Toratetsu's thoughts.

''Rina.''
Yes, sir.
"Does this man the Demon King Theon deserve to be trusted?
'Yes!　You can trust the Demon King Theon!　It's much more reliable than the human race that was touted as 'brave'!

　Lina replies with a confident tone. Lina and I had never talked about the 'brave' era, but that event seemed to have been quite traumatic.


'Yes!　In the name of Sayama I swear to your father, your mother and your brother, it is true!
Well....

　Hearing Lina's powerful words, Sayama Toratetsu meditated, and after thinking for a while - he made a decision.