Akatsuki Translations

West of the Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga, Plains Area.

Battle location of the Hero, Diz and Aesula

“【Reflection Steal】” -Echelle

The moment Echelle uttered those words, the situation rapidly unfolded. The surrounding magical power converged at a rapid pace. It resembled a magical phenomenon, but it required neither chanting nor a medium.

Just wishing for it. That alone was enough for the miraculous work of the spirit’s power to occur.

A giant mirror, over 2 meters in size, was born floating in the air. It reflected Aesula, who was slowly trying to escape while being wary of the 【Hero】.

The mirror glowed eerily. A black “haze” covered Aesula’s reflection in the mirror, and at the same time, the real Aesula was also enveloped by the same “haze.”

“Wh-What!?” -Aesula

It was at that point that Aesula finally noticed the situation. An abnormality occurring in his own body, but the 【Hero】he had been watching didn’t seem to be doing anything. He hurriedly looked around and discovered his sister, who had created the giant mirror.

“Y-You!!” -Aesula

“【Miralphyne】!” -Echelle

Aesula shouted in an angry voice. However, Echelle didn’t stop her movement. She stood up and shouted the name of the Mirror Spirit even louder. The glow of the mirror intensified further. The black “haze” concentrated on the 【control seal】, the mark of the master manipulating the familiar, on the palm of Aesula’s right hand reflected in the mirror.

Seeing himself like that, Aesula realized what he was about to be subjected to.

“【Become Immovable, Urigandin】!!!” -Aesula

The radiance of the mighty Earth Spirit overflowed from Aesula’s body. As if protecting Aesula from the “black haze.” However, the power of the mirror didn’t disappear, deflected by the light. It still squirmed, trying to interfere with Aesula’s image reflected in the mirror.

The supernatural powers collided. The atmosphere and magical power flowed busily, and the world let out a scream at the collision of two powers that transcended reason.

“Ngh…!” -Aesula

“…!!” -Echelle

And in that situation, the two facing each other suddenly stopped moving. As if grasped by a large invisible hand, they became unable to move.

Diz, who had been watching the situation, frowned in distress.

“They’re at a stalemate…” -Diz

“It’s like a tug-of-war.” -Yog

Diz then swung her sword without hesitation at Yog, who had unexpectedly appeared. The blade grazed Yog’s green hair. Despite nearly having her head chopped off, she grinned.

“How harsh. All of a sudden.” -Yog

“How long are you going to stay here? You seem to have a lot of free time.” -Diz

“That’s right. I’ve already done everything I can… But you’re curious, aren’t you?” -Yog

Yog laughed. As she laughed, her figure itself gradually faded and disappeared. Like a ghost, as if she had never existed there.

“Can something ‘artificial’ devour the ’embodiment of the Earth’?” -Yog

With just those words, she vanished.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Ur and the others were racing across the plains in the Rock ‘n’ Roll. They had already set up a barrier for the attendants a short distance away from Uuga and had dumped them there (although they were subjected to a barrage of abuse led by Griffin, Kalkara silenced them with a single glare). With the reduced load and lighter weight, the speed of the Rock ‘n’ Roll was quite impressive.

“But still, it’s cramped!!” -Ur

Ur shouted because of how constrained it was. Currently, Ur, Shizuku, Lynne, and Kalkara were all forcibly crammed inside the combat vehicle. They had left behind as many consumables as possible, but it was still cramped. Kalkara was already in a state of being pushed face down.

“I don’t mind.” -Shizuku

“I’m glad to hear that, but are you okay like that?” -Ur

“Never mind that, hurry.” -Lynne

『I’m going at full speed, I tell ya. 』-Rock

As Rock said, the Rock ‘n’ Roll was at full speed. It was a full speed that gave no consideration to the safety of the passengers. Thanks to that, they had already hit their heads several times.

“I see them!”  -Shizuku

Using 【Footprints in Fresh Snow】, Shizuku led the way. They charged straight across the plains. The scenery seen through the small window of the vehicle seemed to be unchanging, but Shizuku announced the change.

“Here!?” -Ur

“Yes! I can see Echelle-sama and Diz-sama!” -Shizuku

It was quite different from the planned location.

Originally, the plan was to have Jain and the others serve as decoys and move to the main base of the Sun Knights, where Aesula was supposed to be, under the guise of “evacuation.” They would approach Aesula, have Diz stir up the situation, and Echelle would seize the 【control formula】. That was supposed to be the flow.

However, this place was still quite close to Uuga.

That being said, it was a plan that was thought up at the last minute. There was no way things would go as planned. It was good enough that they were able to make contact with Aesula. That’s why they had come to provide backup. They didn’t know what they could do, though.

“Rock! Are they fighting right now!?” -Ur

『There’s no blood bein’ shed right now… but… what’s this situation? 』-Rock

The answer that came back was ambiguous. Ur tilted his head and opened the door of the vehicle to see for himself.

” ――――……..What’s going on?” -Ur

As a result, he had a similar impression as Rock.

“Ah, Ur, you’re here.” -Diz

Diz, who noticed the approaching vehicle, responded to Ur. She seemed to be uninjured. Ur was concerned about the presence of a huge, eerie, mysterious mass of flesh near her, but since it wasn’t moving, he ignored it for now.

More importantly,

“Diz, what’s happening to Echelle?” -Ur

Echelle, the most important key to this operation, was in a strange state.

“…!!” -Echelle

“Ugh…!! Ngh…!!” -Aesula

Echelle was facing off against a red-haired man. Based on the situation, it was undoubtedly Aesula. However, the two of them were standing still, unable to move an inch.

Of course, they weren’t just facing each other. Behind Echelle, there was something that looked like a giant mirror, emitting power from it. Aesula was clad in an intense light from within himself, deflecting the black power released from the mirror.

“The powers of the spirits are clashing against each other, resulting in a stalemate. The forces are in balance, rendering them unable to move.” -Diz

“Should we try to capture Aesula-sama while they’re like this?” -Shizuku

In response to Diz’s easy-to-understand explanation, Shizuku immediately confirmed.

But Diz shook her head.

“If we carelessly interfere with this stalemate from the outside, we don’t know what will happen. In the worst case, the 【control formula】 we intend to seize might even vanish. Physical interference should be avoided.” -Diz

If the control formula they planned to seize was damaged, it could lead to a rampage of a supergiant-scale magical beast without anyone to control it. That would be meaningless. It was clear that there weren’t many options left for Ur and the others to take, given that Diz had decided to remain a spectator.

“Echelle-sama!!” -Kalkara

Kalkara also leaped out. She immediately began offering prayers. Just like when Kalkara was reinforcing the temporary city, she was sending support to Echelle through magical power accompanied by prayers. The support was definitely reaching her.

However, if there was a problem—

“Ku… kuku…! What futile… struggling!! I am linked to the temple of the City of Sin, Gradol! You mere rabble! The amount of prayers is on a different level!!” -Aesula

Still, the balance was tilting towards Aesula.

Both were using the power of spirits. It was a supernatural power that transcended human knowledge. However, there was a visibly obvious indicator that made it clear to bystanders that Echelle was the one being pushed back.

“Ugh… ugh…!!” -Echelle

Cracks were starting to form in the center of the mirror that Echelle was carrying on her back.

“Besides, a mirror! In the end, it’s nothing more than an artificial object created by human hands!! There’s no way it can overcome the logic of the world, one of the Four Sources!!” -Aesula

“Ugh… !!” -Echelle

“Moreover, trying to steal the key to the throne from me!! You should be ashamed, you filthy being!!” -Aesula

Aesula’s radiance intensified. The cracks in the mirror spread even further. The equilibrium was being disrupted. Echelle was going to be defeated. Ur readied his dragon fang spear, preparing to immediately protect Echelle.

“Are you alright, Aesula-sama?” -Shizuku

Therefore, Ur nearly tripped over when Shizuku began to speak to Aesula in a very carefree voice next to him.

“…What?” -Aesula

Aesula must have felt the same way. He couldn’t help but listen to Shizuku’s voice, which was unforgettable once heard. Shizuku, with a breathtaking, supreme smile on her face, whispered to Aesula, who turned his gaze towards her.

“She is the favored one of the 【Spirit of Usurpation】, which you people feared and corrupted.” -Shizuku

Ur couldn’t immediately understand the choice of those words. However, in contrast, Aesula’s expression clearly changed. He opened his eyes wide and glared at Shizuku with bloodshot eyes.

What was there was intense anger and—agitation.

Ignoring Ur’s question of why, Shizuku continued.

“An evil spirit that can reflect and steal even the shining divine sun in the sky, a beauty that devours the souls of those who peek at it. That’s why the Temple feared it. To prevent that awe from becoming faith.” -Shizuku

“Sh-shut up!!” -Aesula

The erosion of the large crack engraved in the center of Echelle’s mirror stopped. The already shattered parts rapidly regenerated, and the beautiful mirror surface was restored.

It was recovering? The power of the mirror was growing stronger?

Wondering about that, Ur also noticed. The mirror that Echelle was carrying reflected Aesula. And Aesula’s own light was flowing into that mirror.

Just as Kalkara was offering prayers, power was flowing from Aesula to Echelle.

“But by distancing it, hiding it, and pretending not to see it, the fear conversely grew out of control. Superstition became reality.” -Shizuku

“Stop it!!” -Aesula

The “black haze” intensified. It gathered more and began to accumulate on Aesula’s hand. Aesula raised his voice as if to shake it off. However, even though he raised his voice, he couldn’t shake it off. On the contrary, the more he screamed, the more solidified it seemed to become.

“That’s why you bullied Echelle-sama, right? You were afraid of her, weren’t you?” -Shizuku

“Stop… Ugh!?” -Aesula

Like insects devouring a large tree, it consumed the protection of the Earth Spirit and reached for the 【control formula】 that he had been desperately guarding. Seeing him writhing and suffering, Shizuku smiled gently at him.

“Your faith is correct. The sun-stealing mirror will devour you.” -Shizuku

“【MIRALPHYNEEEEE!!!! 】” -Echelle

Echelle screamed. The mirror resonated and was enveloped in light.

From the inorganic mirror surface, something in the shape of a human figure smoothly appeared. The blessing of the spirit, the power itself, was manifesting and trying to take the form of the spirit.

However, it was far from a mystical appearance.

A tool that simply reflected beauty as it was, too fragile as faith, and should not have been shaped as a spirit, became distorted by superstition and was imbued with the evil act of usurpation.

《――――――Haha, hahaha. 》-Miralphyne

In the end, its appearance as a spirit was extremely distorted.

A woman wearing a dress studded with shattered mirrors like jewels. She had six arms, and her fingertips were white, thin, and long like bones. The veil covering her face was like mourning clothes.

The hidden face behind it somewhat resembled Echelle, the one controlling her.

《Hahahahaha. 》-Miralphyne

Laughing. Snickering. Mocking.

The transparent, high-pitched voice cracked with distorted malice. The spirit danced, wearing a black dress that signified vice. The mirrors danced along with the dress, successively reflecting the surroundings. However, they did not reflect and shine like normal mirrors.

《Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! 》-Miralphyne

“――――It’s being shaved away…?” -Aesula

There was such an unusual sight that even Kalkara, who had been desperately offering prayers, forgot her prayers and stared in fascination.

The mirrors did not simply bounce back the reflected image. The glittering mirror surface, the moment it reflected the target with its body, trapped the target.

The mirrors, which had only the role of correctly reflecting the other party, had transformed into a prison that trapped the reflected targets.

《Give it to me! Give it to me!! Give it to me!!! 》-Miralphyne

The earth was gouged out, a large rock suddenly lost its right half, the sea of clouds split, and space was distorted. Regardless of distance or anything else, everything was simply reflected in the mirrors and was being damaged.

And all of those mirrors were slowly turning towards the prey in front of them.

《Won’t you give it to me? 》-Miralphyne

Miralphyne muttered, tilting her head like a child.

The next moment, a large hole appeared in the center of Aesula’s right hand.

“——————!!!!” -Aesula

“It was stolen…!!” -Ur

Along with the gushing blood, Aesula let out a tremendous scream.

In contrast, Echelle grasped the control formula that had transferred to her right hand and shouted.

“OBEY ME!!! 【DRAGON-DEVOURED UUGA】!!!” -Echelle

The moment she shouted that, what occurred was an earth-shaking roar.

The ground trembled. Ur couldn’t even continue standing. At the same time, there was an explosive sound that made the air tremble. Few could have understood that it was Uuga’s roar. It was too destructive to be called a familiar’s cry. And it proclaimed a single fact.

Uuga responded to Echelle’s command. The usurpation of the cursed city had succeeded.

I created a Facebook page that provides automatic updates for chapters. Right now I’m probably just gonna have it post updates for a couple of series.

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