Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (LN) - Volume 20 - Chapter Pr3

3 

 Julius Juukulius, the most distinguished of knights, a member of the Royal Guard famous throughout Lugnica, was a rather peculiar young man. 

He often found himself embroiled in misunderstandings. In spite of everything he always believed that people are good by nature. He believed that if they do wrong, it is not without reason, that circumstances forced them to do so, because in the heart of every man there is always a spark of goodness. Some people called him an idealist because of this, while others called him a naïf. 

Young Julius' views always bothered his parents and friends, but at the same time they were one of the reasons why they loved him so much. And he did everything to make sure that no one had to worry about him and that he lived up to expectations. 

He was a good man. He loved others and was loved by them. For someone like that, the clash with the evil of the Witch Cult was a real shock. He couldn't stand the twisted Archbishops, wouldn't and didn't even try to understand them. From his point of view, they were simply weeds that should be gotten rid of as soon as possible because they would only harm the world. 

The cult members, by their very existence, were undermining the foundations of his chivalric philosophy. 

- El Clauseria! - shouted Julius. A rainbow light gushed from the hilt of the blade. 

He decided that in his fight against the Archbishop of Gluttony, Roy Alphard, he was not going to be patience. He immediately used his ace up his sleeve - one of two spells that were his own creation. 

He got the idea of combining all six colors of magic from court mage Roswaal L. Mathers, but Clauseria and Clarista were based on a method he developed on his own. With the help of the spirits, he was able to make the six different types of magic combine in his blade into one powerful attack. It was through Clauseria and Clarista that he gained respect as an exceptionally talented wizard and knight. 

So far, no one had escaped from the Rainbow Light - it was too fast. Everything it touched was destroyed. Yet Alphard narrowly escaped the powerful attack by leaping backwards. 

- What! - shouted the knight. 

The beam flashed faster than the wind. To avoid something like this, this boy would have to be at least as fast as Reinhard. 

- How is that possible! 

- It turns out that you have a certain unpleasant flaw, brother.... You prefer not to see things that are unpleasant for you," replied Gluttony mockingly. - You have made an impression on us. We appreciate the effort it must have taken to cast such a complicated spell. But we already know the tricks! 

Indeed, Alphard as if he had expected this attack. He dodged, taking a step towards Ricardo. 

- Hey, what are you grinning at, son?! You're going to get your wish in the next world! - shouted the mercenary, slashing with his sword. 

Alphard took the blow with the knives he had hidden in the sleeves of his robe. He wielded them with great skill. In one swift motion, he swung Ricardo's huge blade to the side until it clattered to the pavement. There were sparks. 

- Wow! - cried Alphard gleefully. His knives flashed between the shards of stone flying around. - Skewers of dog! Dog meat is tough and stringy, so you have to prick it first to soften it. Then it's easy to chew, perfect for excretion, becomes good fertilizer and the circle closes, it's a cycle, a veritable food chain! - he chattered, deftly avoiding any more blows from Ricardo. - How wonderful! A rare delicacy! Please understand, Mr. Ricardo! 

The Kararagian couldn't keep up with the quick movements of the agile Alphard and time and time again he felt the boy's weapon painfully smack his body. It was not easy for the big mercenary to fight such a small opponent. Fortunately, his thick fur protected him from more serious wounds. If not for that, it would have been really bad. 

The archbishop attacked patiently and with great precision, aiming precisely at the most sensitive places, least covered with fur. 

I have to admit, with some admiration, that he has great tactics... He plays with him, he wants to tire him out, weaken him. That's how experienced fighters fight, who've trained hard for years... And he's just a kid! - thought Julius and decided it was time for new orders for the souls. 

- Ricardo, fall back! - he shouted to his companion, then turned to his quasi-spirits. - Ia! Aro! 

Two colored lights began to circulate around his sword. With their combined powers, Julius cut with the flame. However, even though he attacked from the side, so that his opponent had no right to see him, the Archbishop immediately reacted as if he had eyes around his head. 

- Oh, we've seen that too! - he said, dodging. 

Not only did he dodge the attack - he also managed to land a punch to the stomach of a surprised Julius and kick Ricardo in the jaw. 

- Great, great, what a perfect game! And you brother and Mr. Ricardo, you are both unparalleled opponents for us! Perhaps something will happen that we have not yet seen? And we were beginning to think that nothing in this world could surprise us... Ah, we are so poor! 

- What the hell are you doing there, son?! You can't even keep your mouth shut! You stupid bastard! - growled Ricardo angry. He was bleeding. It took him a moment to calm his breathing. 

I agree wholeheartedly,' Julius thought, still half-bent with pain. The mischief that Alphard was saying bothered him greatly. 

- It was the same during the fight on the roof of City Hall. Though no, it's worse now. I would guess there's no deeper meaning to it. He's probably just toying with us... 

- You are curious, very curious! Mr. Ricardo is a real volcano of emotions! And you, brother, have no less... except that you hide them very deeply. But we know! - Alphard clapped his hands provocatively. 

- Well, we're about to find out what you know! - replied the knight, positioning himself for the attack. 

- Hey, Julius! But don't push yourself to the front! 

- I'll take care of him! And you wait for Kua to stop the bleeding! - cried Julius. 

He ordered the quasi-spirit of water to attend to Ricardo's wounds and jumped at Alphard, activating the spell. 

- Cha, cha! - laughed Gluttony, stopping Julius' sword with his knives. - And this has us... HM!!! 

His face darkened. He noticed that Julius had unexpectedly become much faster. He moved so agilely that at the exact moment when the Archbishop was blocking his sword, he launched another kick. It hit Alphard in the chest with such force that he flew to the side and landed on all fours. 

That's my little retaliation! 

- Whoa! What was that, what was that, brother! - cried the fascinated Archbishop. 

- I used the power of In and her light magic, and asked Nes to lend her dark magic. Their powers influence each other, and the effect is just that, making me faster and stronger. You've never seen this before, have you? 

- Chi, chi, chi, chi... Excellent! As befits the most distinguished of knights who studied magic so diligently! Looks like there's still a lot of greatness left that we don't know about! 

Alphard stared at him as if enchanted. This fascination caught Julius off guard. Suddenly he threw the knives to the pavement and stomped hard, shouting: 

- Gluttony will devour even the moon! 

He ran down Julius, leaving the cracked surface of the square behind him. He flew towards him with his hand extended forward, clearly preparing for some special attack. The knight took the blow, but failed to brake the Archbishop, who was too powerful. Juukulius felt a piercing pain in his arm and chest, and his slim body rolled on the cobblestones. 

- You felt that blow everywhere, didn't you? Right down to the marrow of your bones, right? - Alphard looked at the effect of his attack with a smile, almost touched. - You weren't the first. Many have already had the opportunity to experience it. We have eighty-eight handsome men alone! 

Ricardo jumped at Julius, who was still rolling with momentum, but the force of Alphard's blow was so great that when he caught him, they rolled together and only stopped on the wall of the nearest building. 

- Huh?! What do you mean! - cried Ricardo, looking at Julius, who was battered and coughing with blood. - Oi, my dear! I'll be fine, go and treat Julius! Hurry! - he shouted to the blue light, patting the knight on the back. 

As Kua flew over to the injured man, the mercenary focused on Alphard. 

- You fucking bastard... 

The satisfied Archbishop spread his hands. 

- Welcome back! Maybe it's time to eat something? Maybe a snack? How about... dinner?! 

Suddenly, the water in the channel behind Alphard's back stirred, churned, and rose upward, forming the shape of a water dragon's head. Ricardo's hair turned furry. 

- Chi, chi chi! 

- First knives against tentacles, now magic... What else can you do? 

- How was that? We're just a lowly mage who is shamed by his own family! Somehow. Che, che, che! - Alphard laughed nastily, and the water shape bared its fangs. 

If he was alive -  thought Ricardo  - then I would know that if I cut, he would die. But such water? How to grab for it? I can not just jump aside, because behind me I have a hurt Julius. No way, I have to deal with it somehow.  He stuck his machete into the ground, made sure his feet were firmly on the ground and... 

- HAAAAAAAAA! - he roared loudly. 

The technique that Mimi and her brothers often used was actually Ricardo's invention. Only he didn't need company. He alone was able to create a sound wave with the strength of a cannonball. His attack was more powerful, but since it wasn't spread over three people, it also taxed him more. 

The sound collided with the stream of water. The mercenary endured only because of the support provided by the machete stuck in the ground. He won. 

- Wow! Wonderful! - exclaimed the delighted Alphard, but his voice disappeared amidst the noise of falling drops. 

Ricardo knelt on the wet cobblestones. He was gasping heavily, and blood was dripping from his mouth. 

- It's been a long time since I've done something like this... Khe! Damn... 

- Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! No one was able to take our attack like that, right? As far back as we can remember, no one! Excellent, excellent, splendid, wonderful, divine, sensational! - cried Alphard cheerfully, staring at his clearly finished opponent. 

Then Julius came back into action. 

- Enough of these synonyms," he said. He was deathly pale, and there were bloodstains on his white outfit. His breathing was fast, shallow, nervous. 

- Thank you, Ricardo. 

- You're welcome. You'd better tell the missus about my merits. I've earned a bonus for my awful working conditions. 

- You can be sure I'll describe everything in detail," he replied, patting him on the back, then he adjusted his grip on the hilt of his sword and turned his gaze to Alphard. 

The boy smiled insolently. His eyes were on fire. 

I feel extremely confused by his fighting style, his behavior, the way he speaks. One move doesn't match the other, each sentence as if it came from a different person. Or maybe that's just the way the Archbishop of Gluttony is? Bizarre and disturbing? 

- You can fight with white weapons, melee weapons, and use magical arts. How did someone so talented end up on the path of evil? With such power, you could achieve so much! 

- Oh please, you want to be our counselor, brother? What other paths were waiting for us? I ask for examples! - The archbishop gave him a piercing look. He spoke maliciously, but also seductively. There was something sticky about him. Julius felt dirty inside every time Alphard addressed him as 'brother'. 

It was a very strange feeling. After all, he had no siblings to call him that. 

- You could be a knight, for example. Or a mercenary. Or even a hero? If you don't believe in your power, it's easy to be corrupted by evil. It's dangerous to be powerful. That's why... 

- We knew you'd say that! That's what we guessed! As much as we know you, brother, we could have predicted it. Ha! 

Alphard decided that enough talking was enough and moved his foot back to kick Julius. The man instantly raised his sword, but the steel bounced off the Archbishop's boot as if it were lined with iron. The boy did a turn in the air and kept kicking as if he were doing an Irish dance. The knight defended himself with difficulty. 

- Remember when we were children? - he cried out, opening his mouth. - We were sick all the time.... Remember when we felt worse and wanted to eat the appa from the tree in the garden? 

What's he saying? Is he crazy?! And he's crying... 

Julius parried the subsequent attacks, listening to the Archbishop's words with astonishment and furrowed brows. 

Why is he telling me this? Is he trying to throw me off balance? To distract me? 

- We were just little boys then. You were just a kid, too. You said it couldn't be done! Do you remember? Maybe you don't remember... So the more you said it couldn't be done, the more we wanted to eat that appa! Do you understand why? Or don't you understand, brother? 

- What are you talking about?! I don't know what you're talking about! I don't know what you're talking about! - He screamed. His arm went numb, he could still feel the pain in his body, the taste of blood in his mouth. He clenched his teeth. He couldn't help but listen to Alphard's chatter. 

- And because of those events, we...! Brother, we...! All this, all the time we thought about it! All the time we felt! That it had to be different! That it was terrible baggage! So what? What do you think? How do you feel about it now? How did you feel then? I'm sure it felt great! We finally understand! 

- But I don't know you! You're a stranger to me! - Julius finally got angry. He attacked, slashing rapidly and making quick thrusts until he knocked Alphard out of rhythm. 

Why am I so angry? 

Furious, he attacked so fast that the Archbishop lost a lock of his hair. But Julius was, after all, not just a talented swordsman. 

- My Buds, it's time for you to go! - he shouted. 

Six different colored lights danced around him to merge into a beam of light that flowed from the sword. 

- It's your end! - shouted Julius, convinced of his victory. No one was able to escape from this attack. 

The rainbow beam hit the boy right in the chest. 

- The Hands of the End! - said Alphard and grabbed the blade of the rainbow sword with both hands, which shattered into pieces. 

Hardly! Cutting won't hurt him anymore, but magic will! 

- Here I am, the master of grey magic! 

The colored lights were just about to reach the Archbishop when Alphard used another spell. A light of six colors flashed behind his back. The rays hit the rainbow created by Julius, red to red, green to green, and they cancelled each other out, creating the color gray. After a moment, everything disappeared. 

The knight’s eyes widened. 

In a flash, a knife appeared in the Archbishop's hand, one of the ones he had dropped earlier. Alphard had purposely steered the fight so that they were close to the weapon lying on the ground, and then he lunged at it with a swift kick so that Julius didn't even notice when the boy retrieved the weapon. 

- Twin Blade Serpent! - He shouted and began to spin around his own axis in a flash. A hurricane rose up. 

Julius held out the stump of his sword towards him. He felt as if his pride had been broken along with that blade, all the days of grueling training and hard study, his efforts lost. 

- You got that appa for us. And we hated you for it. 

Someone's arm, cut off at the elbow, swirled in the air and fell to the pavement with a quiet clatter.