Neta Chara Tensei Toka Anmari da!

–Got her!

The knife she hold was the one her master gave her, a unique piece of equipment with an emblem of rippling thorns. It would cut rock like cutting butter and has a high attack value. Additionally, even a small cut would prove fatal due to its poison attribute. A single scratch would suffice. If she could take the enemy by surprise and leave a small wound, it would be her victory.

That’s why she needs to be extremely careful and release her attack at the most opportune moment. Nacht talking with Linoa, has her attention taken away by her equipment, and the moment her wariness returned to Linoa, that was the perfect timing to strike.

Unable to discern Sakura who appeared from Hiding and failed to draw her weapon to parry would be the end of her.

Sakura has no emotion in her eyes.

Because she would only follow her master order.

However, when the blade almost touch her, surprise appeared in her eyes.

Because even in that despairing situation, Nacht was smiling.

“!?”

The first uncanny feeling comes from her fingertips.

There was a pain in the hand holding the thorn knife.

Followed by the feeling of something missing in the next instance.

And then she noticed.

She who was in the side of taking life, become the one targetted.

“How–!?”

Most likely it happened at the same moment.

The moment when Sakura believed in her victory, the darkness that enveloped Nacht, has decided that Sakura was a prey–and its ferocious fang tear Sakura’s hand before she noticed.

The mechanical parts hidden under her beautiful skin were falling apart beautifully in the air.

Sakura quickly backed out and managed to keep the damage minimum–she only lost her right arm.

The flowing darkness devoured the falling parts, consume them, and like a beast it hide its fang again and returned to become a dress.

“Sakura–! How…Damn! How dare you to do it to my Sakura!!”

Like a bullet, the furious Linoa rush toward Nacht.

“Don’t, milady!”

Sakura still didn’t understand what happened.

Nacht’s existence was too bizzare.

–On the other side, Nacht now looked at both of them.

“Dragon Magic–Fallen Lightning.”

From the thundercloud, a single (eastern) dragon emerged.

As if trying to break force the frightening sound it made, Linoa also roared.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—Bind it! Magic Arts–Thorn Blade!!”

The bluish blade was enveloped with magic power and then split into seven and rushed to tear and bind the dragon that Nacht released.

The collision of the sword and magic attack created a distorted noise and echoes.

The thunder dragon released a bluish light around as if splitting and dispersing the magic power that flowed from Linoa’s sword.

That blinding affair happened only in a few seconds.

“Gh….Hah, Hah…”

Amidst the receding light, Linoa thrust her sword to the ground to support herself.

There were burning wounds all over her body, but the most severe should be in her palm.

The flesh was burned right red.

She felt pain just for holding the sword.

Her body was trembling. In the game, it should be because of bad status–paralyze.

During the game era, even with such wounds, people could continue to rush to attack, but in this world, pain existed. Nacht felt she learned something new.

“!! Milady!!”

The thundercloud cleared up. Looking at Linoa who still has her limbs intact, Sakura quickly rushed, but Nacht did not allow it.

Right after her dragon magic ended, she has already ready another magic.

Although Linoa who broke through Nacht’s magic head-on was amazing, for Nacht it was just one magic. If she could not erase it in a blink of an eye, or have the ability to evade it, it would only give Nacht time to cast another one.

You should not give time to Magicians.

It was an ironclad rule in the game and in this world.

“I seem Seven Spheres are overkill–”

While murmuring those words, Nacht aimed her magic at Linoa and Sakura.

“Ice Magic–Freezing Jail.”

What manifested was land of ice.

From a devastated wasteland, it turned into a land of ice and snow. The area near the forest entrance has changed appearance twice this day alone.

Their breath turned white.

The powdery crystals that fall from the sky were too pretty, even Nacht looked up mesmerized.

“Damn, it!”

“Milady!”

But of course, Nacht’s magic was not only beautiful.

The land of ice turned into rectangular rooms. In no time it trapped the two criminals and locked them in their respective rooms. They were separated into two rooms facing each other, and where Nacht stood would become somewhere like a corridor separating the two. They were both restrained while facing each other.

Freezing Jail was wide-area magic which has low attack power, however, it gave the target debuff immobilize. But of course, against a high level of monsters, it often failed. It is mainly used to restrain summoned monsters that are used as shields by the boss. If Sakura still has her limbs intact or Linoa was not injured, this magic might also fail on them.

Looking at them who has become unable to fight, Nacht turned her gaze to Sakura.

“I see it now, even I would not be able to detect inorganic substance’s presence–”

There were two reasons Nacht was unable to detect Sakura’s Hide.

Number one was her equipment. She wore Robe of Mirage Hide, a Legend rank item that could only be worn by an assassin. It has no impressive stat, but the concealing effect against danger sense and see-through was top-notch. Even with Nacht’s dragon eyes, it would be able to find them.

However, that alone would never be able to deceive Nacht’s soul search.

Because Nacht could always sense anything alive.

If Sakura was a human, she would be easily found her.

This time Nacht was saved due to Darkness auto counter-attack. But if Sakura’s level has been at the same level as Nacht, or she is equipped with an Ancient rank weapon, Nacht might receive fatal would.

“Hmm…it was thin but I certainly felt the heat–I have grasped the nature of the magic puppet soul. Next time it won’t catch me by surprise–”

Nacht reflects inside her heart even when saying those lines.

When she saw Linoa being alone, she was alert due to the difference with the report. However, after looking at Linoa’s equipment and overall strength, she lowered her guard down.

According to her dragon eyes, Linoa’s level was around fifty to sixty, attacking and killing her would be like abusing the weak for Nacht. In the game era, attacking and killing low-level players would quickly make the player a wanted and they would quickly meet with retribution. In that sense, the battle in the cave was better.

“Alright, since everyone has calmed down, let’s talk.”

Hearing Nacht said that, Linoa that has been bound hands and legs, looked up at Nacht and while swallowing the humiliation said,

“Just kill me…!”

Just like the line in a manga.

Nacht become exasperated and shrugged.

“I prefer to know more on how you have that equipment and about that magic puppet–Why do you have equipment from Real World Online?”

Nacht raised her voice and asked.

Unique item was bellong to Thorn of Crystal Tree series that could get from a quest in the land of ice and snow. Although most of them were for warriors, so Nacht has no interest in them, it was indeed items from Real World Online. Additionally, Sakura should be a limited item that could only be got once in the quest for artificial puppet insurrection. And her name was also something that the Japanese would give.

It was clear as the sky for Nacht, but she still wished to hear the truth from their mouth.

“I don’t have anything to say to you! Just kill me!”

It seemed she has no desire to bend.

Linoa’s eyes seemed to be completely taken by the desire for revenge.

“Alright then… I will kill…”

Linoa closed her eyes accepting her fate.

Noticing the danger her master faced, Sakura screamed and her voice reverberated against the thick snow wall.

However, Nacht’s footsteps did not head toward Linoa.

Linoa was taken aback and opened her eyes, and see that Nacht has stood beside Sakura.

“However, I would break this doll’s neck first.”

“What–!”

Nacht’s sharp claw move closer to Sakura’s neck who was bound as if in an execution stand.

“Stop!! Stop! Why! Sakura has nothing to do with this!”

Unlike her attitude before, Linoa panicked voice becomes desperate.

“Nothing to do? Are you dreaming? She has challenged me and aimed her blade toward my neck. How could it has nothing to do with her?”

Nacht rebukked her with strong tone.

Tears started to gather in Linoa’s eyes, but she desperately hold them when looking for excuses.

“No! That was just because of my order! She could not disobey them! That’s why the responsibility is on me! Please kill me!”

However, Nacht did not retract her claw and continued.

“The one who decides that is not you. The winner is me. Listen carefully, stupid girl. Losing a battle means you will lose something important for you. Knowing the risk but still having the desire to accomplish was the reason for a battle, right? Having that kind of determination was the reason you started this battle, is it not?”

That was something Nacht’s very accustomed to.

Reaching 0 HP in PVP means the character would be lost forever. To experience something new, to obtain new equipment, he challenged the strong, sometimes he could not run away and die. Losing items in the Guild battle was also a common thing.

To obtain something with battle mean you would also risk losing something else.

In that regard, for Linoa it should be her servant.

“Bu-ut…! No…! Not Sakura–Not her–Please, I will tell you anything! I will do anything! That’s why, please, let Sakura go–!”

“Milady–!”

Nacht felt Sakura’s soul become thicker.

Nacht became harsher with her words.

“A war is an act to push those sorrow to others. Understand that pushing those despair in your heart to others is what a war is. You must have your reason. You must have hatred. And you might have an antipathy against discrimination against demons. I don’t understand your circumstances, and I don’t want to deny all your options, but I wanted to say this to you–

–What is the most important thing for yourself?

Think about it carefully once more.”

Nacht’s binding magic was released.

The snow and ice disappeared, the land of ice vanish as if it was never there.

The remain of broken crystals was fallen like powder snow.