Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 156

Florid ice pours down like evening sakura .
Though it’s a sudden matter, winning on the first move is the way of the world .

(Mist transformation)

I’ll show this overly vivid storm of ice be pa.s.sed straight through .
Lately, I feel that I’m relying on this too much .
I don’t want a counter strategy to be used against me so, let’s do this in moderation .
I exit the storm of ice while thinking that sort of thing and, dash straight forward .

「It has no effect then . 」

――Young .

She used an adorable voice, of the sort that still hadn’t reached that of a girl’s .
I ran across the land while thinking, there’s no way I can deliver the finish like this is there .
The distance to the girl I’m confronting closes .
Now then, what do I do next?
I jump at the opponent while carrying a slight amount of tension and, overflowing curiosity .

「Answer to my heart, oh magic sword . 」

The girl quickly drew a slender sword from her waist .
Quickly straightening her back, she takes one step back such that she crosses her legs .
She exerts herself, lifting her slender sword toward the heavens in front of her chest .
A silent intent to battle with which to stab to death the prey jumping in toward her .
Her posture has become rather, befitting of that .

(But, in that case it’s the same thing you know . I won’t be caught . )

While it is regrettable, something like, if magic is no good then how about doing it physically, is overly insufficient as a counter measure for mist transformation .
Please learn from viewing a painful experience .
The distance has closed――Now!
Together, we took the final step in with the intent to strike .

「――Ru――――」

the moment a word formed from the girl’s mouth, s.p.a.ce warped .
Reflexively, I jump away at a right angle .
My body raises a scream, at my usual forceful conduct .
But the thrust that produces enough spin to wind up a whirlwind, cuts through the air as a result .
That was a fine step in, it made my back break out into a cold sweat .
――But, what was that just now?
There should have been, some sort of mechanism there .

「……Such immaturity, it will not hit then . This is as far as it goes after letting the chance for immediate victory by . 」

She turned her heel, with a『technique』that placed her slender sword into its scabbard using elegant movements as if it was flowing in .

「Ehh? You’re ending it with this!?」

Still giving no reply, the small statured human silhouette sank back deep into her overcoat and faded into the darkness .
After that was, only the crying voices going ho- ho- like owls and echoing across the night sky .

「……Her exit was overly splendid wa.s.sn’t it . 」

I tried stroking my own hair .
One section of my『mist transformed hair』for which my right angled jump had ended up being too late, fell gently to the ground .
Had I charged in, I’d have been skewered then .
Something like the saintess’s skill?

「Ah, that Sitra comes first right now does she . 」

I tried attentively looking over the environs but, I couldn’t sense a human figure or hostile intent anymore .
I can’t feel that a girl of that age, with that much true power was a brigand but……
In any case having misfortune descend toward my self, is the price of fame, is it?
Seriously, it makes my head hurt……

◇■◇■◇

(Sleeping, like always……)

I pa.s.s by the side of a stump monster that’s sleeping peacefully .
It’s a nostalgic path .
The place where the beginning of my journey approached is here .
I advanced without getting lost and, went out into a place where the forest opened .

「The ruin is, s.h.i.+ning, more blindingly than it normally does……」

In this darkness, it’s becoming a landmark such that nothing can surpa.s.s it .
I understood that something unusual was happening even from far away .
Checking my status, in any case it seems that the saintess went into these ruins .

(Nn? Ilya’s heading over here is she . )

It really is easy to know a party member’s movements .
Perhaps she’s moving by foot, it’s a leisurely pace .
Maa, it’s a road at night so I want her to take care .
On that note because I know Ilya’s movements, the saintess should also know I’m present near her .
In terms of position, it’s the room for the job change’s trial called the altar’s area is it .
I enter within the magic system and, a ruin bear promptly came charging at me .
After meaninglessly seeing through it’s power centric side swipe with millimeter precision, I step in with a lightning palm .
It ended in about 2 seconds .
Besides the bear-san I invited to heaven after the chance meeting of a traffic accident, there was no one that came at me .
They’re sensitive to that which is called a gap in power aren’t they .
Walking briskly with a mood like a walk, I arrived at the altar’s area .
Going inside the room, the saintess was in the middle of praying while kneeling in front of the altar .
On that note, while saying they were weak monsters, she can fight to the extent of being able to force her way within here on her own can’t she .
I absentmindedly, waited for that prayer to end .
I won’t particularly, call out to her and make her stop halfway through .

「――I have kept you waiting, Alice-san . 」

With her prayer finished, the saintess turned about .
Both her eyes are closed as always .

Both her eyes are closed as always .

「I apologize for the matter of having stolen one of Alice-san’s oneesama’s eyes . 」

After starting anew her first words are that is it .

「It was an event on the battlefield . Since we were both putting our lives on the line . 」

Maa, my lovely ane ended up striking with the back of her sword at the last moment though .

「And so, why in this sort of place? Marisan is troubled though . 」
「I was investigating, an aspect of this world’s abnormalities . 」
「The world’s abnormalities?」

One aspect, of the darkness swallowing the northern sky?

「……A surge of magic power is being blown out from this ruin, no, from ruins throughout the world . 」

Certainly, it kind of is s.h.i.+ning but……
Does Sitra have a skill that senses this sort of abnormality?
She’s like a prophet .

「Would Alice be aware, of the number called 666?」
「――The number of the beast . 」

I shuddered, sensing the sudden link with reality .

「Exactly that . The number of the beast, the worst number . However it is called, the meaning is the same . It is the name of ruin . 」

The Book of Revelation .
When I was living apathetically in that world, such things were no more than the setting for a game .
While it may serve as an anecdote, the people who believed in it were only the devoutly religious .

「It’s said that calamity occurs in the age when the beast appears, right? ……This current situation is . 」
「Truly . We may be, observing the end of the world . 」

Sitra, gave an extremely detached answer .
It was so lacking in a sense of realism that, my head couldn’t keep up .

「Whether for country or race, this is not the occasion to be causing a commotion for such things……it was not . 」

Even saying as such, countries will not move for a future premised on an if .
This is something that’s the same whether in that world or this world .
It’s human that countries with poor relations.h.i.+ps can’t offer to hold hands, because they『might』be destroyed .

「Sitra, knew?」
「……It was when I pa.s.sed out on that battlefield, that these blind eyes saw the future . 」
「I see……that’s why, there was a change of heart in the you who had that much resolve . 」

Since I couldn’t understand the meaning of her saving me, on the battlefield she desired, while carrying a heavy, stiff determination .
Maa, I suppose it is a fact that Libra’s matters angered her though .
Sitra was nodding silently .
The beast of ruin, that brings the world to its end .
That name is……in short, Diadora right?
The legendary black dragon, said to have approached its resurrection in Sacrament .

That name is……in short, Diadora right?
The legendary black dragon, said to have approached its resurrection in Sacrament .

「I do not know, the true form of ruin . 」

Sitra spoke, as if reading my heart .

「Black dragon Diadora is, fundamentally the contracted dragon of the high elf spoken of in anecdote . It is in the category of a fairy tale . 」

Lunaria・Einshaula’s contracted dragon is it .

「This abnormality is, the beast is, something different……I sense that it is so . 」
「And so, is that what the matter of going to investigate the altar at such a late hour was? Is it somehow related?」

Sitra looked up from the altar .

「Is Alice-san, aware of the number of these ruins?」
「Could it possibly be――666?」

Moving her head, the saintess nods .

「The number of similar ruins left in the world has, become 666 . 」

To say the world, it’s not only this region but, including the empire and the other lands as the word implied, I suppose it speaks of the entirety of this world .

「……This has become quite a grand conversation hasn’t it . 」

The beast……I a.s.sume, it really is a more dangerous being than the Yamata no Orochi .

「Even having investigated this abnormality, the northern……etto, fairy village? Is going there the correct answer?」
「I am fundamentaly none other than a being ordered to accompany you but, I believe it is probably not a matter that could be said to be unrelated . 」

Since this isn’t the occasion for a fool’s errand even while being told that the world is ending is it .

「――Ah . 」
「Sitra . 」

All of a sudden, the ruins shook .
Or rather, is this an earthquake!?
I a.s.sume it won’t crumble right, this ruin!

「This place is dangerous, let us hurry and go outside . 」

Large stones fell from the ceiling beside us as she spoke .
Pulling Sitra’s hand, I hurriedly left the room .
Sitra was steadily gazing toward the altar, with those unseeing eyes――

◇■◇■◇

It’s good that we somehow escaped from the ruins but, this earthquake, is still continuing .
Regardless of anything this is too long!
In terms of the sensation from the shaking I a.s.sume it could be called somewhere around a seismic intensity of 3～4?
I suppose this doesn’t mean it’s at the sort of level where buildings would collapse but, I’m worried about the town .

In terms of the sensation from the shaking I a.s.sume it could be called somewhere around a seismic intensity of 3～4?
I suppose this doesn’t mean it’s at the sort of level where buildings would collapse but, I’m worried about the town .

「O～～i, Alice-chan!」
「Ojisan!? Why are you in such a place……tte, Ilya . 」

Ilya came along with an apologetic sort of face, while accompanying ossan like a bodyguard .

「Like, I heard that you’d run off while it was still night so, didn’t I have to come looking for you along the way back from my work . 」
「Well, I did cause you worry . But I’m also a splendid adventurer now you know? Please don’t give me menial tasks or the like for going out on a walk at night okay . 」

Ossan makes an sullen face, at my claim .

「Even if you say that since Alice-chan is such a cute girl riight, going out for a walk at night isn’t good iss it . 」

This ossan, is he worried for me? Or is he complaining out of jealousy?

「――Alice-san . 」
「Nn? What is it Sitra?」

Sitra’s hand was trembling as I continued to hold it .
Unlike intermittent shaking, her body was clearly trembling .

「――Coming . 」

A roar rose, from the ruins .
The screaming voice of a『beast』, of such an extent that the atmosphere shook like it was being torn apart .
『Something』, from the ruins――came out while biting through the ruins .
An earthquake of the sort that reverberated from the bottom of the earth, was it……the birth of that being?

「We can’t fight if we’re here in a forest like this……run to the plains!」

Everyone recognized that it was an emergency situation so, they ran off without debate .
Aah, s.h.i.+t .
I don’t know the extent of the opponent’s threat but, the town of Rinal is right before my eyes .
From the beginning there was nothing like the option called escaping .
I try checking the positions of my comrades and, it seems s.h.i.+on-san and Marisan are already running about in town .
It can’t be……I can a.s.sume there isn’t anything happening in town right?

「――Having come to this, this is already the limit . 」

With a hood covering deep down to her eyes, the girl I clashed with just a bit ago came to run by my side .

「Who is this . 」

Ilya readied her lance but, I held her back .
I can’t sense……the intent to fight .

「……Will you come fight with us?」

At my question, she faced me with eyes that s.h.i.+ned even from within her hood and, gave a small nod .

「For what it’s worth, let me become your power――Fairy of Silver Lightning-dono . 」

She’s a strangely mature child, relative to the youth that lingered in her voice .
And so, almost at the same moment wherein we arrived at the plains, one more roar that seemed to pierce the heavens rose from the ruins――

Florid ice pours down like evening sakura Though it’s a sudden matter, winning on the first move is the way of the world . (Mist transformation) I’ll show this overly vivid storm of ice be pa.s.sed straight through Lately, I feel that I’m relying on this too much I don’t want a counter strategy to be used against me so, let’s do this in moderation I exit the storm of ice while thinking that sort of thing and, dash straight forward . 「It has no effect then . 」 ――Young . She used an adorable voice, of the sort that still hadn’t reached that of a girl’s I ran across the land while thinking, there’s no way I can deliver the finish like this is there The distance to the girl I’m confronting closes Now then, what do I do next?. I jump at the opponent while carrying a slight amount of tension and, overflowing curiosity . 「Answer to my heart, oh magic sword . 」 The girl quickly drew a slender sword from her waist Quickly straightening her back, she takes one step back such that she crosses her legs She exerts herself, lifting her slender sword toward the heavens in front of her chest A silent intent to battle with which to stab to death the prey jumping in toward her Her posture has become rather, befitting of that . (But, in that case it’s the same thing you know . I won’t be caught . ) While it is regrettable, something like, if magic is no good then how about doing it physically, is overly insufficient as a counter measure for mist transformation Please learn from viewing a painful experience The distance has closed――Now!. Together, we took the final step in with the intent to strike . 「――Ru――――」 the moment a word formed from the girl’s mouth, s.p.a.ce warped Reflexively, I jump away at a right angle My body raises a scream, at my usual forceful conduct But the thrust that produces enough spin to wind up a whirlwind, cuts through the air as a result That was a fine step in, it made my back break out into a cold sweat ――But, what was that just now?. There should have been, some sort of mechanism there . 「……Such immaturity, it will not hit then . This is as far as it goes after letting the chance for immediate victory by . 」 She turned her heel, with a『technique』that placed her slender sword into its scabbard using elegant movements as if it was flowing in . 「Ehh? You’re ending it with this!?」 Still giving no reply, the small statured human silhouette sank back deep into her overcoat and faded into the darkness After that was, only the crying voices going ho- ho- like owls and echoing across the night sky . 「……Her exit was overly splendid wa.s.sn’t it . 」 I tried stroking my own hair One section of my『mist transformed hair』for which my right angled jump had ended up being too late, fell gently to the ground Had I charged in, I’d have been skewered then Something like the saintess’s skill? 「Ah, that Sitra comes first right now does she . 」 I tried attentively looking over the environs but, I couldn’t sense a human figure or hostile intent anymore I can’t feel that a girl of that age, with that much true power was a brigand but……. In any case having misfortune descend toward my self, is the price of fame, is it?. Seriously, it makes my head hurt…… ◇■◇■◇ (Sleeping, like always……) I pa.s.s by the side of a stump monster that’s sleeping peacefully It’s a nostalgic path The place where the beginning of my journey approached is here I advanced without getting lost and, went out into a place where the forest opened . 「The ruin is, s.h.i.+ning, more blindingly than it normally does……」 In this darkness, it’s becoming a landmark such that nothing can surpa.s.s it I understood that something unusual was happening even from far away Checking my status, in any case it seems that the saintess went into these ruins . (Nn? Ilya’s heading over here is she . ) It really is easy to know a party member’s movements Perhaps she’s moving by foot, it’s a leisurely pace Maa, it’s a road at night so I want her to take care On that note because I know Ilya’s movements, the saintess should also know I’m present near her In terms of position, it’s the room for the job change’s trial called the altar’s area is it I enter within the magic system and, a ruin bear promptly came charging at me After meaninglessly seeing through it’s power centric side swipe with millimeter precision, I step in with a lightning palm It ended in about 2 seconds Besides the bear-san I invited to heaven after the chance meeting of a traffic accident, there was no one that came at me They’re sensitive to that which is called a gap in power aren’t they Walking briskly with a mood like a walk, I arrived at the altar’s area Going inside the room, the saintess was in the middle of praying while kneeling in front of the altar On that note, while saying they were weak monsters, she can fight to the extent of being able to force her way within here on her own can’t she I absentmindedly, waited for that prayer to end I won’t particularly, call out to her and make her stop halfway through . 「――I have kept you waiting, Alice-san . 」 With her prayer finished, the saintess turned about Both her eyes are closed as always . 「I apologize for the matter of having stolen one of Alice-san’s oneesama’s eyes . 」 After starting anew her first words are that is it . 「It was an event on the battlefield . Since we were both putting our lives on the line . 」 Maa, my lovely ane ended up striking with the back of her sword at the last moment though . 「And so, why in this sort of place? Marisan is troubled though . 」. 「I was investigating, an aspect of this world’s abnormalities . 」. 「The world’s abnormalities?」 One aspect, of the darkness swallowing the northern sky? 「……A surge of magic power is being blown out from this ruin, no, from ruins throughout the world . 」 Certainly, it kind of is s.h.i.+ning but……. Does Sitra have a skill that senses this sort of abnormality?. She’s like a prophet . 「Would Alice be aware, of the number called 666?」. 「――The number of the beast . 」 I shuddered, sensing the sudden link with reality . 「Exactly that . The number of the beast, the worst number . However it is called, the meaning is the same . It is the name of ruin . 」 The Book of Revelation When I was living apathetically in that world, such things were no more than the setting for a game While it may serve as an anecdote, the people who believed in it were only the devoutly religious . 「It’s said that calamity occurs in the age when the beast appears, right? ……This current situation is . 」. 「Truly . We may be, observing the end of the world . 」 Sitra, gave an extremely detached answer It was so lacking in a sense of realism that, my head couldn’t keep up . 「Whether for country or race, this is not the occasion to be causing a commotion for such things……it was not . 」 Even saying as such, countries will not move for a future premised on an if This is something that’s the same whether in that world or this world It’s human that countries with poor relations.h.i.+ps can’t offer to hold hands, because they『might』be destroyed . 「Sitra, knew?」. 「……It was when I pa.s.sed out on that battlefield, that these blind eyes saw the future . 」. 「I see……that’s why, there was a change of heart in the you who had that much resolve . 」 Since I couldn’t understand the meaning of her saving me, on the battlefield she desired, while carrying a heavy, stiff determination Maa, I suppose it is a fact that Libra’s matters angered her though Sitra was nodding silently The beast of ruin, that brings the world to its end That name is……in short, Diadora right?. The legendary black dragon, said to have approached its resurrection in Sacrament . 「I do not know, the true form of ruin . 」 Sitra spoke, as if reading my heart . 「Black dragon Diadora is, fundamentally the contracted dragon of the high elf spoken of in anecdote . It is in the category of a fairy tale . 」 Lunaria・Einshaula’s contracted dragon is it . 「This abnormality is, the beast is, something different……I sense that it is so . 」. 「And so, is that what the matter of going to investigate the altar at such a late hour was? Is it somehow related?」 Sitra looked up from the altar . 「Is Alice-san, aware of the number of these ruins?」. 「Could it possibly be――666?」 Moving her head, the saintess nods . 「The number of similar ruins left in the world has, become 666 . 」 To say the world, it’s not only this region but, including the empire and the other lands as the word implied, I suppose it speaks of the entirety of this world . 「……This has become quite a grand conversation hasn’t it . 」 The beast……I a.s.sume, it really is a more dangerous being than the Yamata no Orochi . 「Even having investigated this abnormality, the northern……etto, fairy village? Is going there the correct answer?」. 「I am fundamentaly none other than a being ordered to accompany you but, I believe it is probably not a matter that could be said to be unrelated . 」 Since this isn’t the occasion for a fool’s errand even while being told that the world is ending is it . 「――Ah . 」. 「Sitra . 」 All of a sudden, the ruins shook Or rather, is this an earthquake!?. I a.s.sume it won’t crumble right, this ruin! 「This place is dangerous, let us hurry and go outside . 」 Large stones fell from the ceiling beside us as she spoke Pulling Sitra’s hand, I hurriedly left the room Sitra was steadily gazing toward the altar, with those unseeing eyes―― ◇■◇■◇ It’s good that we somehow escaped from the ruins but, this earthquake, is still continuing Regardless of anything this is too long!. In terms of the sensation from the shaking I a.s.sume it could be called somewhere around a seismic intensity of 3～4?. I suppose this doesn’t mean it’s at the sort of level where buildings would collapse but, I’m worried about the town . 「O～～i, Alice-chan!」. 「Ojisan!? Why are you in such a place……tte, Ilya . 」 Ilya came along with an apologetic sort of face, while accompanying ossan like a bodyguard . 「Like, I heard that you’d run off while it was still night so, didn’t I have to come looking for you along the way back from my work . 」. 「Well, I did cause you worry . But I’m also a splendid adventurer now you know? Please don’t give me menial tasks or the like for going out on a walk at night okay . 」 Ossan makes an sullen face, at my claim . 「Even if you say that since Alice-chan is such a cute girl riight, going out for a walk at night isn’t good iss it . 」 This ossan, is he worried for me? Or is he complaining out of jealousy? 「――Alice-san . 」. 「Nn? What is it Sitra?」 Sitra’s hand was trembling as I continued to hold it Unlike intermittent shaking, her body was clearly trembling . 「――Coming . 」 A roar rose, from the ruins The screaming voice of a『beast』, of such an extent that the atmosphere shook like it was being torn apart 『Something』, from the ruins――came out while biting through the ruins An earthquake of the sort that reverberated from the bottom of the earth, was it……the birth of that being? 「We can’t fight if we’re here in a forest like this……run to the plains!」 Everyone recognized that it was an emergency situation so, they ran off without debate Aah, s.h.i.+t I don’t know the extent of the opponent’s threat but, the town of Rinal is right before my eyes From the beginning there was nothing like the option called escaping I try checking the positions of my comrades and, it seems s.h.i.+on-san and Marisan are already running about in town It can’t be……I can a.s.sume there isn’t anything happening in town right? 「――Having come to this, this is already the limit . 」 With a hood covering deep down to her eyes, the girl I clashed with just a bit ago came to run by my side . 「Who is this . 」 Ilya readied her lance but, I held her back I can’t sense……the intent to fight . 「……Will you come fight with us?」 At my question, she faced me with eyes that s.h.i.+ned even from within her hood and, gave a small nod . 「For what it’s worth, let me become your power――Fairy of Silver Lightning-dono . 」 She’s a strangely mature child, relative to the youth that lingered in her voice And so, almost at the same moment wherein we arrived at the plains, one more roar that seemed to pierce the heavens rose from the ruins――.