I guess that’s a general for you. He knows how to keep his cool.
Brushing off the dirt from his body, Rajas spoke.
“Not bad for a punk. Even though you’re a mage, you seem quite capable.”
“Thanks.”
“But these glancing blows aren’t any use—”
“Glancing blows? From where I stand, you’ve just been swinging at the empty air. What are your thoughts on that?”
“Shut your mouth. Seeing as you can’t hurt me at all, I wouldn’t be so arrogant if I were you.”
He’d laughed off his provocations. This wasn’t an opponent that would let down his guard.
Lefille, having returned to a battle-ready state, reached his side—
“Suimei-kun! Please be careful! Once he gets serious, this guy’s power isn’t anything like this!”
“…Are you kidding me? He’s still not being serious and it’s already like this? Heavens, have mercy…” Suimei muttered gloomily, not caring that his comments were ill-suited to the situation.
Rather, he really was beginning to feel depressed.
Rajas looked like he hadn’t even worked up a sweat. Given what Lefille had said, it was quite possible that he hadn’t even brought out 50% of his true power.
“If he wants to, then this whole area… —!”
“Oi oi, this guy is that dangerous?”
“Yes, even my slashes with this sword aren’t bothering him in the least. You can’t afford to be careless.”
Judging by the white-knuckled grip she had on her sword, she seemed to have been remembering something particularly unpleasant. Actually, that had to be the case. There’s no way she didn’t have a memory like that.
“Hahaha, exactly. You’re just a human mage, don’t get too full of yourself…”
“Ku—”
Lefille groaned at the sudden swell of power. In her eyes, a trace of apprehensiveness appeared.
…If his enemy possessed a power of this degree, then he couldn’t afford to just let things continue like this. He would act before things passed the point of no return.
And so…
“Archatius over—” (Mana furnace, charge—)
—Just as Suimei began his incantation, the situation suddenly changed.
Rajas, who he was sure was about to attack, instead looked over at Lefille and laughed.
“Kukukuku…”
“What’s so funny?!”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought of something fun.”
” ‘Something fun?’ ”
Rajas didn’t bother to answer as he took to the sky.
“I’ll take my leave from the battlefield for now.”
“Wh—?!”
“Don’t forget, though, girl from Noshias – your power doesn’t mean the tiniest thing before us. Once I gather all my subordinates in the area, I’ll be back!”
“Subordinates…? That’s…”
“This was just one part of my forces. Just a tiny fraction, really. Do remember that,” Rajas added, as Lefille could barely speak. “Don’t bother hoping for salvation though. I’ve brought an enormous army with me, and my orders were to ‘Crush all human opposition without mercy’.”
With that, Rajas turned and left with the other surviving Mazoku.
Lefille started to give chase, but as she began to rush off—
“W-wait!”
“Lefille!”
“—!”
Suimei grabbed her shoulder. Her actions were meaningless.
She flipped him a look that asked why he was stopping her. He shook his head. Seemingly understanding, she finally seemed to regain control of herself.
“Are you okay?” Suimei asked with concern.
“Yeah, sorry… I lost my cool,” she answered regretfully.