-------------------------
Ritsuka side
We headed for Mount Etna. Along the way, a few magical beasts showed up, but they all just turned into meat before Tonelico. We kept walking like that, and eventually I, exhausted, said,
"Um... Tonelico... let’s take a short break..."
No, seriously, we had been walking nonstop for three days and nights, and I was completely drained. After thinking for a moment, Tonelico said,
"If... you’re that tired, let’s rest for a bit."
So we took a short break. I pulled the gum from my pocket and chewed on it.
I thought, "Haa... Juhwan must be having a hard time too..." and somehow found the strength to keep going again.
"...If we’re resting like this, Juhwan is probably having an even harder time, isn’t he...?"
"Senpai..."
I said that and stood back up.
"Let’s go!! We need to rescue Juhwan as fast as possible!!"
After that break, we started walking again.
"We’ll reach Mount Etna soon! Senpai, please hang in there a little longer!!"
And so we arrived at Mount Etna.
I thought, "Haa... that was brutally exhausting..."
--------------------------
Meanwhile, I took a telescope from my pocket and scanned the area. While I was looking, Ritsuka and the others came into view.
"Hm... looks like they’ve finally arrived."
I thought, "But... why does Ritsuka look so exhausted...?" when Lucius spoke.
"Hm... so they’ve arrived at last. They’re a little late, aren’t they?"
"Yeah."
As I watched Ritsuka’s group climbing Mount Etna, I said to Lucius,
"Should we get moving too?"
"Understood, Master of Rome."
As if he had been waiting for those words, Lucius answered at once.
I thought, "All right then. Let’s see what this ‘A-team-not-Crypter Yang Juhwan’ can do...!"
I threw away the telescope and started moving with Lucius.
I thought, "Just you wait, Ritsuka. I’ll train you hard."
We picked a suitable spot and waited for Ritsuka’s group to pass by.
--------------------------
As we crossed the ravine, we heard a voice from far away.
"What took you so long? Ritsuka, Mash, Tonelico, Ushiwakamaru."
"Juhwan!!"
"Juhwan-senpai!!"
"Master!! Are you hurt anywhere!?"
I said to Ritsuka’s group, who were worrying about me,
"Nope. I’m not hurt at all. Lucius didn’t really lay a hand on me."
When I said that, Lucius beside me added,
"Of course not. Why would this Rome ever harm my Master?"
Tonelico looked extremely flustered at Lucius’s words.
"Wh... what...?"
I thought, "Wow... she looks really shocked. Sorry, Tonelico. I’ll apologize properly when this is over." Just then, Lucius raised his voice.
"Hm... did I hear you wrong? Very well. I shall say it again, magus. I said, why would this Rome ever harm this Rome’s Master?"
Ritsuka’s group stared at me with faces full of despair.
I thought, "Ah... so this is what they call delicious suffering...? I should read up on this properly later..."
"No way!! Juhwan!! You’re lying, right!? How could you make a contract with that guy... You’re lying, right...?"
"Yeah!! That’s right!! Juhwan-kun!! You’re lying, right??"
"Master!! Please say something...!"
I laughed like a madman and said,
"Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Of course it’s real!! After Lucius kidnapped me back then, I talked with him and decided it’d be better to side with the Roman Alliance, you know? So I made a provisional contract with Lucius. Sorry, but I’m no longer Chaldea’s Master."
"Juhwan-kun..."
"...Master..."
"No way..."
I thought, "Wow... this is kind of exhilarating, isn’t it? So Kirei was the only one who got to enjoy this kind of fun...?" Then I said,
"All right~. That’s enough talking. If you want me back to normal, then defeat us. Ritsuka, Mash, Tonelico, Ushiwakamaru."
"Kahaha!! That’s the kind of Master of Rome I like!! Master!! Give the order."
As he said that, Lucius released the limit on his imperial sword Florent. Blue lightning crackled around him.
"All right~. Then we’ll attack first! Ritsuka, brace yourself~. I’m going to kill you all for real!!"
-Mash!! Protect Ritsuka!!
"Yes!! Understood!! Doctor!!"
-Master...!! When you get back, I won’t let you off!!
As the conversation went on, Tonelico felt betrayed. Her clothes changed into Morgan’s outfit, while her body remained the same.
"Master... no, Juhwan. I will remove you from Ritsuka’s side..."
I thought, "Wow... she must really be pissed. I’m screwed... Whatever, let’s just see how this goes. I’ll do a full prostration apology later if I have to..."
That was what I was thinking to myself.
-----------------------
The battle began. Lucius fought far better than I expected. Thanks to Hector’s equipment, he could shrug off anything short of a Noble Phantasm, and he was surprisingly good in close combat, melee, and even firing off beam-like attacks similar to mana release...
I thought, "No... how did he lose to Altria...? At this rate, most Heroic Spirits wouldn’t be able to handle him..." when Lucius said,
"Kahaha!! Is that all you have, Tonelico!?"
"...Shut up, Lucius..."
I thought, "No way... Tonelico is actually getting pushed back. What if he really wins...?" and silently prayed for Lucius to keep going.
"Morgos..."
"Sorry, but that won’t work on this Rome!!"
He was about to bring Florent down on Tonelico. But Ushiwakamaru barely managed to parry the sword, and Tonelico, in Morgan’s form, struck back with magecraft, finally landing a wound.
"Tch! Not bad, Tonelico."
"Huff... huff... Senpai! Are you all right?"
"I’m fine!! Mash, Tonelico, Ushiwakamaru. Are you all okay?"
"...Yes. I’m fine, Ritsuka..."
"I’m fine as well, my lord!"
I thought, "Come on... Tonelico needs to use her Noble Phantasm soon. Why isn’t she using it!? Please, just use it already and bring Lucius down!!"
I was practically losing my mind inside.
I thought, "If that’s how it is, then I have no choice. I’ll have to make her use her Noble Phantasm." With that in mind, I raised my right hand.
"...Lucius. I command you by Command Spell."
As I said that, one stroke of the Command Spell vanished.
"Haa... I’m getting tired of this. Use your Noble Phantasm, Lucius."
With the mana of the Command Spell behind him, Lucius said,
"Understood!! Master of Rome!! I shall grant you victory!!"
As he spoke, Florent erupted with blue lightning. Seeing that, Ritsuka also used a Command Spell.
"I’ll use a Command Spell too!! Tonelico!! Victory to you!!"
"...Understood, Ritsuka..."
Then Tonelico drew out another Noble Phantasm(!?). It was a reversed Excalibur used by an Alter, but instead of red, it glowed a deep blue-black.
I thought, "But how is she even using that!? Did Morgan or Tonelico ever use Excalibur...?" when Lucius, staring at Tonelico’s Noble Phantasm, said,
"Oh... that sword...!! Interesting...!! Come now, Tonelico. Are you ready?"
Ignoring Lucius, Tonelico prepared her Noble Phantasm.
"...It’s a Noble Phantasm I cannot use, but Altria. Please lend me your strength..."
Then Merlin’s voice rang out.
-Seal Thirteen, decision start.
-This is a battle for survival.
-Approved, Kay.
-This is a battle that does not go against the path of humanity.
-Approved, Gaheris.
-This is not a battle against the spirits.
-Approved, Lancelot.
-This is a battle against evil.
-Approved, Mordred.
-This is a battle without selfish desire.
-Approved, Galahad.
"...And this is a battle to protect the Human Order..."
-Approved, Altria.
Tonelico drew the sword back and said,
"...Holy Sword. Release..."
At those words, blue-black light burst forth from Excalibur. Lucius, seeing it, said,
"As I thought... you do resemble that one quite a bit!! Then!! Take this sword of Rome!! Tonelico!!"
The instant he said that, the two of them unleashed their Noble Phantasms.
"Glory of Florent [The Emperor’s Sword That Grants Victory]!!"
"...Excalibur Morgan [The Sword of Impossible Victory]!..."
The two Noble Phantasms collided.
Boom!!!!
"Grrr... this Rome cannot fall yet!!"
For a moment, it looked like Tonelico was being pushed back, but then...
"...Disappear, Lucius..."
Little by little, Lucius’s Noble Phantasm began to be driven back.
"Grrrr... Is this Rome going to be defeated by that Holy Sword again...!?"
And then Lucius was swallowed by Tonelico’s Noble Phantasm.
Thud!!!!!!
A moment later, Lucius barely managed to stand and said,
"Grrr... has this Rome... been defeated again...?"
I walked over to Lucius and said,
"...You did well, Lucius..."
When I said that, Lucius spoke to Tonelico in the distance.
"Cough... Tonelico... your Master did not betray you... What happened this time was merely this Rome’s childish whim... So... do not blame your Master too harshly..."
Tonelico seemed slightly startled by those words. Then Lucius opened his mouth one last time.
"Kahaha... cough... I hope we meet again someday... You truly did well until the end... Master..."
With that, Lucius vanished.
After that, Tonelico came walking toward me, radiating killing intent, and said,
"...Master... care to explain...?"
"Uh... well, you see..."
I’ll keep it a secret that I was completely worn out from explaining everything to everyone afterward. I explained everything that had happened. When I finished, Ritsuka spoke first.
"That was way too much!! Juhwan!!"
-Yeah. This time, you really went too far, Juhwan-kun.
"Master... this time was truly too much..."
"I’m really, truly sorry!!!"
I gave everyone a full prostration apology. Then Romani spoke first.
-Don’t ever do that again! Understood, Juhwan-kun??
-Master... don’t do that again next time...
"Haa... I’ll let it slide this once, Master..."
"Juhwan! Don’t do something like this again next time!!"
"Senpai is right!! Please reflect on this!! Juhwan-senpai!!"
"...I’m truly sorry..."
And after that, we set up a terminal point at Mount Etna, then returned to Rome.
I thought to myself, "Still... I really should read An Introduction to the Study of Pleasure sometime..."
That was what I was thinking inside.
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