Chapter 34: 《Red Authority Cane》

「Well then, you’ve got my permission to use this… 《Ares Hand》. I knew that with your skill, you can utilize the power of the spirit in this cane much better than its previous owner.」

Alice handed over the red cane… Probably the 《Red Authority Cane》 to Kotone.

Kotone’s body twitched, she suddenly held her head.

「… There’s a voice, coming from the cane. I don’t know their language but… I understand its meaning.」

Muttered Kotone with a vacant look in her eyes.

「Kotone… San?」

Kotone’s state was clearly abnormal.

Her speech and conduct became mismatched with the usual her due to being manipulated by Alice and yet, it seems Alice’s control got interrupted in one way or another by the 《Red Authority Cane》.

「Fufufu, I’ve never expected that you’ll be able to talk to something like that. I guess my hypothesis is correct. The higher existence might have been pulling the strings but, to think that the royal family is this stupid. They even hand this precious cane to her without even knowing what kind of thing it really is. I actually wanted to withdraw but, I’ve no choice I guess.」

Alice laughed loudly.

「Well then, it’s time for the real battle, my 《Ares Hand》! Show him the power of wicked spirit who once wreaked havoc in the world!」

Kotone raised the 《Red Authority Cane》 the moment Alice said so.

「Flame Magic, 15th Rank《Agni Wrath》」

Countless huge magic circles appeared around Kotone.

Alice was dumbfounded the moment she saw that spectacle.

But, it was instantly replaced with a wicked smile.

「Wonderful, truly wonderful 《Ares Hand》! I’ve never expected that you can easily surpass the 13th rank which became the limit of humanity for hundreds of years! 《Ares Hand》! You who mastered 《Red Authority Cane》 has already stood on the same rank as those higher existence!」

Alice’s shrill laugh resounded inside the room as a huge lump of flame appeared from the magic circle.

The lump of flame formed an anguished look of a human.

In the blink of an eye, more and more lump of flames appeared till it filled the entire building.

Each lump of flames was clearly aimed at Bennet and I.

「W-What happened? Is this place just turned into a… Hell?」

Bennet stood still with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Even the sword he held in his hand had already dropped on the floor.

It seems that he had realized that he couldn’t do anything against Kotone’s magic.

Kotone swung down the 《Red Authority Cane》.

Those numerous lump of flames heading straight toward us.

「Poor child. If only you’re obedient, the higher existence won’t be so desperate to the point of sending me to erase you.」

I pointed 《Hero Sword; Gilgamesh》 at the ceiling.

「Flame Magic, 20th Rank 《Apocalypse》」

That moment, a gigantic red coloured magic circle appeared with me as its’ center.

Tremendous amount of flame in the form of a gigantic dragon appeared from within the magic circle.

The dragon swallowed the lump of flames heading toward us, destroyed the wall of the building, and rose up to the sky through the roof.

「You won’t be able to reach them with just 15th rank magic you know.」

I said so while glaring at Alice.

Alice’s smile stiffened the moment she saw my magic.

「E-Eh, what happened? Am I still… Alive?」

Bennet, who squatted on the ground, was trembling like a newborn calf slowly raised his face.

「Give it up. I should’ve made it clear just now that you can’t defeat me even with that cane. Kotone-san isn’t your tool, release her immediately.」

Alice flinched back as I approached her.

「L-Lies… How can it be? How can an otherworlder… Have this much power? But, I still have 《Red Authority Cane》, I ca—」

「Or else, will the brainwashing technique get undone once I kill you?」

This time I pointed 《Hero Sword; Gilgamesh》 at Alice.

Alice glared at my sword with a look as if she had never expected this outcome.

Ghost magic was an extremely complex magic.

Kotone should be alive, Alice probably only did something to her soul.

The only reason Alice was still alive by now was simply because I was afraid that killing her would crippled Kotone.

I had to somehow capture her alive.

「Oh… I see. Fufufufufu, Wahahahahaha! You really are hated by the higher existence eh!」

Alice bit her nail in frustation.

It seems she chewed too hard since not long after, her hand was drenched by her own blood.

She was trembling in fear.

「Fine then, I’ll fight till the end! 《Ares Hand》! Release the evil spirit sealed in the 《Red Authority Cane》! You who mastered the deepest secret of the weapon should be able to do that!」

The moment Alice ordered so, Kotone raised the 《Red Authority Cane》.

Bright crimson light erupted from 《Red Authority Cane》 .

The light dyed the entire region.

What she is trying to do now!

I pointed 《Hero Sword; Gilgamesh》 to the air.

""

Something big appeared in the air.

Its entire body was covered in a darkish red color similar to the 《Red Authority Cane》.

It looked like a stone painted in dark color.

It looks like a red pillar with a sculpture of an old man’s face on its surface.

The eyelids of the expressionless old man were shut tight.

On top of its head was a cap with a cross symbol.

It had such a baffling appearance, if I had to say, it looked like the king’s piece in chess.

It had a monstrous presence that distorted the air around this place.

It felt as if the light itself had been distorted.

「What the hell… Is that?」

This fella was obviously an aberrant existence in this world.

「Fufu, getting cold feet too, eh? Right? I’m scared of it too after all. Red King… The being that was once used by the higher existence to end the other world, the worst of the worst among the great spirits. Those fools must have never expected that this kind of evil spirit was locked in their warehouse but easily taken out right?」

Alice revealed a gloating smile on her pale face.

「K-K-Kanata, i-i-is that… A spirit?」

Bennet pulled the sleeve of my robe as he asked me with an anxious look on his face.

「Dunno but… It’s a relief that it isn’t devil from the mirror.」

「Eh, what are you talking about!」

I glanced toward my enchanted pouch.

When it appeared, I almost mistook it as one of the demons that came out from the 《Distorted World of Cursed Mirror》.