Katahane no Riku

At the training grounds of the Myuuz castle, a enraged voice echoed.

The demons gathered there were swinging weapons like spears, axes, swords. Each on their respectively decided positions were swinging their own weapon while raising their yelling. The beautiful trimmed grass trembled by the amount of wind pressure.

Among everyone that was giving their all in the training, there was an existence that was distinctively a cut above the rest.

It was Riku Barusak. While having her red hair fluttering, she was dealing with the multiple demon soldiers that were charging at her. What she was holding in her hand wasn′t the halberd she would usually be using. a, what she was holding was the silver sword she had obtained when she had fought against Selestinna Bistolru. While glittering, the silver sword was lightly parrying the attacks of the demons.(TL note: いつかしか=? Master google could not provide me guidance:/ Maybe mistyped by the author? The place “a” is written is where this word is.)

Behind Riku, the amount of defeated soldiers had already formed a pile. There were only three demons that remained standing in front of her. They were tightly holding their swords, but were already stepping back. Riku snorted.

“What′s the matter? A chance like this won′t happen more than once.”

With a provocative tone, she asked the scared demons. She lightly did a spin on her sword.

“Even though this is a chance to defeat this human in a formal way… Or could it be that you had given up on the fight from the beginning?”

“Don′t dare call us cowards!!”

The demon that was at the front of the other two attacked while barking those words. In a too stupidly honest way, he tried to break through her defense face to face. Following this, the remaining two people also charged forward.

“Too weak.”

The attack closed in to Riku until the last moment. That was, until the sword of that first demon to attack was just about to reach her. In that situation the sword was only at a paper-thin of distance, Riku agilely stepped her foot to the right. Bending her body, the attack went past her. That demon, who had lost its target, was not able to immediately stop the momentum. Because of how his sword was pressed forward, his side flank had become exposed to Riku. f𝔯ee𝘸𝘦𝚋𝒏oѵ𝐞l.c𝒐𝓂

Moving her left hand, she got hold of the demons arm. Rather than a small grasp, the demon groaned. The sword that had been so tightly hold as if it was a treasure had easily fallen from his hand.

“First one first.”

Before that sword could fall down to the ground, Riku made her next move. Aiming for the back of this demon that was about to be the first to fall, she kicked him without hesitations. The demon was sent flying towards the two other demons that were following behind him.

“Uwaa!”

“To!”( っと!)

One of the demons was able to take some distance and avoid the obstacle coming at him. However, the other one couldn′t do so in time. He directly received the demon that had been sent flying with his body. Receiving a demon of same physiques to him at his belly, he was squashed by the impact.

“Second, crushed.”

Riku calmly turned her eyes to the fallen demon that had bubbles flowing out of his mouth.

And then, she immediately looked at the last one. The last demon had stopped running towards her. While he was holding his sword and looking at her, it felt like he imagining a line marking Riku′s attack range.

“Third guy, are you perhaps not coming?”

“…”

Being asked that by Riku, the last demon narrowed his eyes. Silently frowning his eyebrows, it seemed like he was thinking about something. From the demon′s forehead, sweat was flowing down incessantly. Riku sneeringly smiled.

“If you are not coming here, then I will be coming for you.”

She gave one step forward. It was only a single and simple step. With that step, she had calmly entered within the line he had been imagining about, and started her dance in front of his eyes.

“U-uwaa!!”

All this surprise should have been because Riku′s face appeared right in front of his eyes. Without having time to avoid, he miserably fell down to his back.

“With that, it is the end. …Really pitiable.

Riku coldly declared. Without mercy, she put her silver sword next to the neck of that demon that was miserably lying sprawled at the grass. With how much Riku had closed in to him now, it would be impossible to even try to swing his sword. The demon swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

“If it is so regrettable, then go train without complaining. And then, become a soldier worthy of captain Leivein.”

“It should be “worthy of the Demon Lord”, lieutenant colonel Riku Barusak.”

From behind her, somebody spoke to her in a cold tone. Looking at the direction that voice came from, a youth wearing a long robe was standing. The youth that had clothing unfitting for the soldier′s training grounds was making a sour face.

Riku faintly frowned.

“It has been a long time, staff officer Piguro. Would you have any business with me?”

While still pointing her sword at the neck of that demon solder, Riku calmly asked. Piguro was pretty much the adjutant of the Dragon Demon Battalion. Why did somebody like him come to Myuuz castle?

“…It′s obvious I have some business with you, lieutenant colonel Riku Barusak. It is about work. Follow me immediately.”

Without changing his sour face, Piguro said only that and left the place in a fast pace. It was as if he didn′t even want to breath the same air Riku did. Putting the silver sword into her scabbard, she turned away from the fallen demon.

“That′s all for today. Come again tomorrow.”

Saying only that, she left the training grounds behind.

At the exit of the training grounds, Piguro was earnestly waiting for her. Beside him, Roppu was also waiting for her. Noticing Riku, Roppu gave her a white towel.

“Here, lieutenant colonel Riku.”

“Thank you, sergeant major Roppu.”

It was a white towel overflowing with a sense of cleanness. It was extremely soft and had a faint sweet fragrance. Perhaps it had just been washed. While Riku was lightly wiping her sweat, Piguro opened his mouth.

“It′s an urgent matter, so I will be speaking here. Hear it carefully.”

“Yes.”

Giving the towel back to Roppu, she silently waited for Piguro′s words.(TL note: Actually, it only says that Riku let go of the towel… It doesn′t say what she exactly did with it or where she put it… So I just guessed she gave it back to Roppu^^)

“First of all, congratulations for your promotion to lieutenant colonel. I′ve heard you′ve been promoted because of your achievements at Karkata and for the consideration of your struggles at Sherr island. From now on, may your loyalty for the [Demon Lord] be even more deepened.”

In those words, the word [Demon Lord] had been given intonation. Without saying anything, she lowered her head as if accepting it. As she did that, Riku was looking at Piguro with suspicious eyes.

“…Do you understand? Well, it doesn′t matter. Today, your next task has been decided.”

“Next task, you say?”

Riku raised her head in vigor.

Two months has passed since she had come back from Sherr island. The surroundings were completely engulfed with the jovial feelings of spring and all became more green. Although she had been promoted to lieutenant colonel, there were no changes to her being affiliated with the third army, hence, she was working hard on training the soldiers of the third army.

It is not like she particularly hated the job.

The survivors of the second army leaded by Edgar Zerrik had merged with the third army, making it become bigger. The soldiers that were originally from the third army already knew the strength of Riku, and so they wouldn′t be discontent about her. The ones that would challenge her were pretty much only demons that desired to become stronger.

Those demons that desired for improvement, in general, also possessed great strength. There were many challengers that had nothing to say against her and only wanted to face her to enhance their swordplay.

On the other hand, the remnants of the second army, who didn′t know of Riku′s strength, would raise complaints about Riku. They would speak ill behind her back and look at her with killing intent. Beating down those types while saying it was [training] was somehow very comfortable. She would smash the fangs being aimed at her and make them yield.

During this time she had been accumulating all those trainings, it seemed that Riku′s strength had been gradually permeating into their mind. And so, the people that would gaze at her with signs of killing intent had decreased. Nowadays, all the deep rooted [anti-Riku faction] could do was to look at her with killing intent.

Riku would hurriedly spend her time improving in this daily life.

…However, if speaking of her intentions, there was no way she would only be worrying about her training.

Riku wanted to have military achievements for Leivein′s sake. There is no way she could calmly and slowly increase her strength in a place like this.

Riku wanted to be sent to battle, even if it was for only an hour sooner. That′s why Piguro′s words made her heart dance.

“Where is it happening? Is it a battle filled with screams? A battle you are poured with the blood of enemies and allies? Is it a battle merciless to the point of being sad?”

“Please, don′t start have your eyes sparkle, lieutenant colonel Riku Barusak. Really, strong guys that want to get stronger for random reasons are always…

The mission you have been tasked with is to abduct a certain person.”

In that instant, Riku completely lost her motivation.

Abducting wasn′t a word that had much appeal to it. Riku didn′t have interest in dirty jobs criminals would do.

“It′s showing in your face, lieutenant colonel Barusak. Pay a bit more attention to your expressions.”

“…Yes, I will take care, staff officer Piguro.”

“…In your voice too, lieutenant colonel Barusak. Well, you are this kind of person after all.”

While fixing his glasses, he gave a big sigh.

“If you have success in this mission, it will be possible for the Demon Lord to be ressurected in this year. However, if even in one in a thousand chance you fail, the revival of the Demon Lord will become far away. In order words, it is a extremely important mission. If you succeed, not only will you obviously receive a medal, but Charlotte-sama has also promised that you will be promoted to general without the need of a test.”

“Yes, I will work to my upmost!”

While the muscles of her back became stretched, she raised her voice.

If there was promotion involved in it, there is no reason not to accept it. She didn′t like how Charlotte was connected to that, but even so, if it is for the sake of getting promoted, anything would be fine.

In order to rise to become a general, it was necessary to do a test. If it was only a practical test, she would certainly pass. However, there was also a written test. The written test was what really was the barrier for Riku. Previously, because she asked Gortoberuk, she got him to show her the written test he had done. It wasn′t only tactics, but there were also mathematics, reading of long sentences and translating of the letters of the ancient era, which all would have complex symbols being used.

Without being able to answer even half, even now, she would always be desperately looking at the text books until late at night.

“Then, who am I supposed to kidnap?”

If she undertook the abduction mission, she would be able to send that pain in the ass procedure flying. It was such a magnificent occurrence to her. Riku′s heart became energetic.(TL note: リクの心は、一気に膨れ上がった=?)

And then, she concentrated all her nerves on Piguro′s words. After clearing his throat and putting an air of importance, Piguro calmly spoke.

“The princess Catherinne, who is momentarily staying at the Barusak residence, at the royal capital of the Shiidoru kingdom.”