Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 108

This became longer than I expected so, one chapter was inserted before last time's next time preview.

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Insolently greedily, no ability except that of destruction.
『Demon eye』 is surely, a curse.
When I became aware of that existence, its possessor lost herself every time.
Neither borrowed nor fake, that is the destiny of the natural born demon eye called the gem.
I've heard the grief of its historical holders.
The 『entirety』 of the holders left in history was resentment and hatred, literature speaks of the tragic fate that awaits them.
As such they are always villains and, cannot become the allies of justice.

「Demon eye, release!」

When the pure crimson girl before my eyes shouted, I flashed back to Eclair's suffering.
She glared at the giant snake with a how's that, as if the girl was displaying a treasure she'd been keeping in reserve.
An amber left eye and, silver right eye.
Most likely, a demon eye different from Eclair's.
Releasing that makes her beyond strong.
The overeagerness of a girl innocently conveying the valiant spirit of a preteen.
If it was something I could seal, I would've immediately shut it down.
Thinking that, I was about to go forth and――the pure crimson girl is smiling mischievously.
How's that?
I'm strong aren't I!
I could hear such words coming, it was a smile like a ches.h.i.+re cat.

「Eh? ……Lumina, chan? You're, okay?」
「Nihehee, kaーsama! Watch this okay!」

V, and after conveying her sign, Luminchan jumped in toward the giant snake.
Excessive defenselessness, going out for a short walk.
Such heedlessness, isn't tolerated by the snake waiting for its chance to attack.
Giving nothing akin to an opening through which to avoid it, swallowing even s.p.a.ce itself.
I saw a glimpse of killer instinct, an a.s.sault from every direction.
The Luminchan wearing her characteristic goth loli outfit is, almost a delicate bisque doll.
The charge of the snake's head is like colliding with a 4 ton truck.
A bite could send the four limbs flying.
If that wraps around, a worn out rag.
Something like the frail body of a girl, would be flattened by just one attack.
Thus, physical law cannot be overturned by anything but phantasmsdreams.
The girl is an exceptional magician.
Use a barrier of ice to defend the body first?
The pure crimson magical girl, denies that ordinary impression.

「――Stop!!」

――With that single word, the giant snake's attacks all stopped as if it may even have been paralyzed.
A sudden halt like the image had been switched out in a movie.
What is that?
From the opponent's standpoint, there's a limit to absurdity.
Even the giant snake, seems like it's shouting, don't mess with me.

「Eeei!!」

She didn't listen to such censure or the rest, the magical girl is used to fighting.
Creating an opening on the opponent, without letting that opening go, deliver damage so as to a.s.suredly invite death.
While the girl climbed stairs of ice, at some point her hand held a self made greatsword and swung it about.
Something like the head of a snake that had stopped moving, more simply than cutting a small branch――it fell.
She lopped it off, almost as if doing a beheading.
Cut and cut and, burn away with flame magic.
How to describe it, this strength.
There's no mistake that the s.h.i.+ning silver right eye's demon eye is a curse.
If the demon eye gives excessive power then as much as it gives, that outstanding girl is cut off from the world as an isolated being.
……Somehow, I noticed that I understood the reason my s.h.i.+shou has an atmosphere that doesn't let people approach her.
And thus, having lived to an age different from my s.h.i.+shou, the young girl's transcendental form broke my heart.

「――Shaaaaaaa!」
「Wa waato……it started moving!」

Even so, the deathmatch continued.
The Yamata no Orochi won't forgive the humans who sealed it.
I was only seeking 『meat』.
What sin does that become?
Don't interfere.
The giant snake's a.s.sertion is legitimate.
However the wisdom possessed by humans, won't accept that to that monstrosity it's just a food chain and the act of preying upon it.
Nay, resisting until the end is an obvious thing as a lifeform.
Hence, there's nothing but for that which unfolds in the s.p.a.ce of those 2 beings to collide.

「――Then, be crushed!!」

Ow ow ow!
While raising such a howl, countless pieces of the giant snake's head were crushed.
Following proper manners, the head is crushed just as it was told.
The yet young girl, is trampling down upon the snake monstrosity.
Cutting strikes with the greatsword of ice, burning away with flame magic, even hastening her movement with lightning magic, the snake's heads are shaved away one after another.

「Fearsome isn't she……that kid.」
「……」

3 types of magic with, kotodama?
Demon eye of kotodama.
The giant snake that's ma.s.sive like a mountain is, now caught up in a tiny menace.
There isn't excess attention to spare for 『those others』.
Therefore we are, standing still and watching that appearance to degree I wouldn't expect during battle.
……Even for me, I'm exasperated.
Exasperated, I unintentionally breath a ma.s.sive ma.s.sive sigh.

「Nee Jin-san……Are you, still opposed to the act of offering Rin-chan as a living sacrifice?」
「Obviously, what of it?」
「Why is that?」
「Pus.h.i.+ng everything onto, that yet young girl……putting her, on the firing line……」

While saying that, Jin-san roughly scratched his head and breathed a sigh.
Have you realized it, adult.
Our patheticness.

「Leaving such a thing, to such a child……that's unacceptable isn't it――surely it's unacceptable.」

Turning my eyes to the pure crimson girl who continues to cut the enemy as if it's natural, I ask myself as well.
Oi Alice……You, since when did you become worthy enough to leave things to such a girl and spectate from on high?
If you intend to call yourself the strongest, do not misjudge the time to go forth.
That child is higher in actual ability?
Right material in the right place?
This isn't my normal condition so, I'll fall back to the rear and act like a princess-sama?

「If you're saying that then, I also don't want to make you do anything, Fairy of Silver Lightning.」
「Fufu, you need not worry. Since I am as you can see, already an adult.」

I try displaying my nonexistent breast.
I felt a bit of a gaze.
……It's a strange feeling.

「Dooon't leer at kaーsama!! Hawaa!」

While fighting, a child with a very wide field of vision issn't she……
I couldn't hold my breath back.
I thought she'd turned toward us and shouted and then, there's Luminchan frantically evading the giant snake's a.s.sault.
She's really busy.

「……Oi, is she your imouto or something?」
「This our first meeting though isn't it.」
「She seems rather attached to you though, furthermore there's a strong resemblance.」
「Eeh, she also resembles someone I know doesn――eh? Resembles? Who?」

Jin-san made an idiotic face like a pigeon that ate a peashooter.

「No, but I thought doesn't she resemble you from the beginning?」

And he p.r.o.nounced that sort of thing.
Are your eyes knotholes, he has an annoyed expression that really seemed to say as such.
Being told that, I turn my eyes to Luminchan.
Pure crimson hair with, lively seeming eyes.
An adorable face that a smile really seems to suit.

「Watas.h.i.+……?」

It's not ore, is it, watas.h.i.+, is it?*
Un, I understand.
I'm just doing a bit of a check okay?
Maa, even so I don't understand it well……
From my vision she's, Eclair at a slightly younger time, that sort of sense.
That Luminchan, really is having trouble with the giant snake's vitality.
The exchange of hostilities merely intensified, nevertheless the giant snake is no different from the onset.

「Haa, haa……Mo～～! There's no end!」

Breathing slightly heavily, Lumina took her stance with her greatsword again.
It's certain that's she overpowering but, I don't feel like damage is reaching the giant snake's main body.
It's regenerative ability must not be half baked.
After being given an injury, it's already began recovering.
The 8 heads and the body are particularly fast to regenerate.
The tail snakes are reborn as often as it pleases.
If its heart is pierced it'll be defeated, as long as it doesn't have what could be called a weak point of that sort or such, fully defeating it is impossible without burying it entirely in an instant.
If the demon eye is cheating, then the opponent is also cheating.
Unlimited regenerative power, just that will overtake everything.
As if to say something like excessive ability is unnecessary.
Just and only, don't die.
And thus that is――supreme.

「Mo～ Mo～! I, because I'm not the patient type okay!

I knew it!
Somehow, from her atmosphere that she was exactly like a certain someone I know!
But as much as she comes to want to show her strength in speech, the girl is exhausted.

「Impudent～! Is that possible even if all your heads are cut, I'll let you show me!」

Push in yet another step and display that.
The crimson girl saw that she wasn't making any progress and, issues a move to decide the match.
Jumping into the heart of danger, a high stakes fist fight.
If the opponent gives in with that then I suppose that's as good as it gets but, if not then the one being cornered is Luminchan.
In any case the chain of attacks exceeds the speed of deliberation, because it's prepared for battle there.
Even if I think, even if I see through it, physics can't keep up.
That sort of place.
Perhaps its battle sense really is working, seeing even a slight hesitation――the head turns and acts to wipe away those idle thoughts.
And then the conclusion.
Perhaps bravery, perhaps savagery, the girl's decisive act that felt slightly too rushed.
Leap――

「Tsu!!」
「――Waa!?」

――Before then, I caught her by thrusting myself onto her from the side.
As if I'd let such a reckless suicide attack happen, right in front of my eyes!

「Ka, kaーsama? It's dangerous you know?」

Her head is tilted, the innocent girl is yet adorable even if her cheeks are showered in her enemy's blood.
I rub her cheeks with a handkerchief.
And then, I put my forehead against Luminchan's forehead with a thunk.
Quickly changing from a surprised face, Luminchan's smile spilled out.

――You love, fighting?

At that smile I unintentionally, came to ask something pointless.

「……I didn't think that relying on other people, hurt the heart this much.」

After this and until now, it's plenty for the 1 person I carefreely cheer on to be anes.h.i.+on.
At any rate the sense of faith is different.
The girlLumina is strong.
But, she doesn't rise above to the level where I can say I have faith in her.
……It's just that I worry.

「?」

I unintentionally smiled, as Luminchan came to look at me from the front with seeming confusion.
……Kaーsama, is it.
Frankly it's unclear why she's calling me as such.
With that said, as if they're embarra.s.sing, as if they're pleasant, those words excessively push my back.
That, this child is someone who has come to bear a battle that reeks of blood as 1 person.
As if she was lured by my smile, the girl also smiled.
And went, nihehe.

「That's a good smile isn't it, cute smiling girls are the most endearing you know.」
「Un～～」

Setting the battle aside, we embraced strongly.
The Lightning・Field provides an oblique vigil against surprise attacks.
Furthermore presently, Jin-san is acting as the male representative for adults and fighting the giant snake for us.
However, it takes everything he has to fight a defensive battle with only minor cuts.
The gap in actual ability between him and Luminchan is like heaven and earth.

「The gap in actual ability between an adult man and, a tiny girl……」

The world really is harsh……
That's fantasy I suppose……it makes tears come out.

「Nn?」
「N～n, it's nothing at all.」

At her adorable smile, I unintentionally ended up poking her with the tip of my nose.
A smile like the sun spilled out.
Perhaps I've played too much, Luminchan couldn't endure any longer and strongly embraced me.
Erasing her greatsword of ice and her right eye's demon eye, her state is in battle mode closed.
But well, to the contrary I really welcome that!
Yamata no Orochi is the enemy we should defeat.
There's no mistake in that conclusion.
Whoever is able, if it's defeated there's nothing better than that.
This child is undoubtedly a prodigy.
I've already caught a glimpse of that aspect.
With that said, to say if she wasn't consumed by the demon eye――That's not the case.
Battle frenzy, that word floats in my head.
It isn't appropriate for such an adorable girl.
Saa, let's put spirit into this.

「From here is, the main performer's debut!」

I will deal with the, Yamata no Orochi!
――Before then.

「As such, we'll leave overthrowing the Yamata no Orochi for later. Kaーsama is going to that shrine over there after this. Luminchan will provide cover, alright?」

Using up my full power, will come after I finish various engagements.

「Roger! Nihehe! Cooparative front, isn't it!」
「That's right private first cla.s.s Lumina, can kaーsama entrust her back to you?」
「Unn! I, have been entrusted with kaーsama's back!」

Mo～, cuute child issn't she, really.
Making such a sunny smile, it's no good to nonetheless be swallowed by the impulse to slaughter.
Obsan also taught that to me, Luminchan.

「Nihehe.」

This is bad, somehow being with this child, I come to love her so much my chest tightens……
Leaving the Yamata no Orochi to the adult male, I embrace with Lumina and am comforted.
As I gained peace of mind, a relaxed smile came toward me.
Honestly it's enough to bewilder me.
Is it possible that, I'm being mistaken with someone?
Within my chest, it's relatively complicated.
And so I'm reluctant to part but, we're in front of the enemy.
Let's switch our feelings over.

「……Yoss.h.!.+ Then, kaーsama is heading off to the shrine. While Luminchan gives support to Jin-san, don't push it, don't go too far forward, please fight reliably and gather time. Take care to prioritize your body first okay?」

I turn my eye to the adult male single handedly taking responsibility for the present Yamata no Orochi.
He's putting up a better fight than I expected!
That's great!
……Ma, I've grasped the situation this entire time though.

「Muu, even though I'm history's greatest prodigy, it's vexing you knoow.」
「Fufu, I recognize your talent you know? That's why, I'm asking for a higher difficulty level mission than just defeating it.」

I tried using my mouth skillfully with that sort of thing.
With me as such Luminchan's eyes sparkled and she nodded at my honeyed words.
Forgive me, young girl.
No, is she already a girl?

「I understand!」

A smiling nod is the world's treasure.
Saa, this is the time to show an adult's dignity, Jin-san.

――Makina!

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Next time 『Makina』

Extra

Name: Lumina
Race: ?
Age: 10 Years
Gender: Female
Job: Elemental Master (Inherent)
LV: 10

Skill
・Prodigy
・Demon Eye of Kotodama

Attack Magic
・Various

Support Magic
・Various

Weapon: Aura・Bangle
Armor: Jet Black Divine Raiment (Goth Loli Style)
Accessory: ?

Power 2
Endurance 2
Defense 2
Agility 2
Wisdom 2

Mysterious girl 2

Amber eyes with grown out pure crimson hair.
Having a taste for goth loli attire, self proclaimed prodigy girl.
Small even among those of the same age.
Various parts are small.
A bright child like the sun.
That true form is――best to trust to the imagination.

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TLN: Alice caught herself using the (sort of) feminine version of I in reference to herself, instead of the typical (for Alice in her inner thoughts) manly ore. As this translation doesn't convey all the different I versions of the original j.a.panese, there's a certain degree of loss in that regard so, taking note of a few random things:
Till and Kran both use haughty self identifications that indicate high status.
Eclair refers to herself as Eclair, she doesn't actually use I. Notably, before she awakened her demon eye, she did refer to herself with the normal watas.h.i.+ instead of using the third person, as such, she refers to herself in this way so as to remind herself of her ident.i.ty, and to distinguish her own memories from those of others.
Makina uses boku, which is kind of boyish.*