Chapter 461 – Their Grown-Up Forms
The Great Magic Spiral.
For everyone who had begun following Earth’s story, this technique had become synonymous with Earth himself.
Although it was reviled by Imperial citizens and those who remembered the Great War, ever since Earth began wielding its power, it had been his ultimate secret finishing move.
But that Great Magic Spiral ……
〔Nuwahahahahahahaha…… such grit. Spirit is also good. However…… th’ power still has a long way to go, compared to him… a juggling act.〕
The spiral couldn’t even pierce the scales of the Dragon King of Hades.
Earth’s special move—capable of blowing a hole through even the mightiest wall—was met with laughter, as if he were being playfully teased by a small child. He didn’t even bother to dodge, simply taking the blow and sending it right back.
He brushed it away with his hand as if swatting a fly, and at times, turned the tables on Earth as easily as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.
“Ugh…… Seriously…… Even though he played some tricks, against Earth, who went toe-to-toe with Jamdi’el.”
“To take that attack from Earth like it was nothing… So that’s what they mean by the Dragon King of Hades……”
Hiro and Mamu, who had never fought Vasalar in the previous Great War, trembled with dread.
The legend that he once held his own against the Great Demon King Tre’ainar is no mere boast.
His power is so overwhelming that, if he were to unleash it in earnest, he could easily wipe Earth’s existence from the face of the World.
That’s why Hiro, Mamu, and the other Seven Heroes, along with the warriors who fought in the previous Great War, are trembling uncontrollably as they watch.
— What if Vasalar had gone on a rampage on the Surface during the past Great War?
The history of the world might have been drastically different today.
Humanity might have been wiped out.
That’s just how formidable a presence he was.
On the other hand……
〔Uooooooooooooohh!!!〕
Regardless of Vasalar’s presence, Hiro and Mamu were captivated by Earth’s figure.
Because no matter how strong Earth had become, his opponent was a legendary being who surpassed even the Six Supremacy.
Above all, the difference in power was obvious in the current Great Magic Spiral.
Earth can’t win this…… that should be obvious to anyone……
〔Foolishly enough, anyone can challenge th’ strong once or twice. But knowing fear, can you still throw yourself out again for something that you can’t give up on? Show me. There I shall see your nature.〕
Despite the overwhelming difference in power etched into his entire being, Earth stood up……
〔More than the fear of what’s in front of me… I’m more afraid of being a disappointment and abandoned! One more time… more than before… I’ll go through you!〕
Nevertheless, Earth stood his ground without losing heart.
“I see… The lad don’t break, does he…… your kid…… Nah, Earth Lagann. Even when the opponent’s the Dragon King himself, even when the difference in power’s shoved right in his face, he keeps poppin’ back up for another go…… Which means no amount of pure strength can break that Earth Lagann’s spirit, plain and simple……”
Hakuki assessed Earth’s desperate struggle in this way.
“Hakuki ……”
“Plenty of people out there, then and now, who’re just chuck fulla strength and talent. But… someone who gets properly thrashed by Vasalar and still stands back up to have another crack… how many of those do you reckon exist in this world……”
At Hakuki’s words, both Hiro and Mamu could only nod in response.
“And that ain’t even the ‘alf of it. If it’s just some strong, gifted git fightin’, folks watchin’ start leanin’ on him. But when there’s a clear gap in power, when someone’s been beaten down and still claws his way back to his feet, well, that kinda grit gets right under the skin of anyone watchin’, innit? Spreads like wildfire, it does……”
Then, in the sky that Hakuki gazed upon, the figure of Kron stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Earth’s struggling form, burning the image into her memory.
〔Earth… you are so brave, aren’t you? And with such a strong heart?〕
The innocent, pure-hearted girl—raised by Jamdi’el like a sheltered princess—was moved by Earth’s presence. She clenched her fists and gazed with eyes full of resolve.
〔Earth. I don’t want you to fly me there. I want to fly with you too!〕
That resolve and determination finally gave her the courage to stand up to the Dragon King of Hades.
〔Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!〕
〔【Great Magic Spiral Earth Spiral Tornado】!!〕
Earth’s Great Magic Spiral, born of his sheer determination.
Vasalar attempts to blow away the massive whirlpool with a single snort.
But, in that desperate moment……
〔Creation!!〕
〔Eh?〕
Kron’s eyes shone with the light of dawn as she stood beside Earth.
“Ah, hey, hey, hey, that girl……”
“Together with Earth… and… that Magic Eye that she showed us when we were chasing after Earth.”
The sight of that seemingly fragile, naive young girl trying to stand up to Vasalar left the entire world, including Hiro and Mamu, utterly astonished……
〔Kron? What, are you… it’s dangerous―――〕
〔If it’s about resolve, then I’ve made up my mind too!〕
〔…… Eh?〕
And so, the world—not just Earth—was captivated by that goddess’s will to fight.
“I see…… So that’s why Earth Lagann got right pissed at me…”
“Huh? Hakuki, what do you mean?
“Hehehe……”
Neither Hiro nor Mamu could fathom the meaning behind Hakuki’s mutterings, but he recalled his conversation with Earth.
—Doll girl— you’re not talking about Kron, are you? Don’t call her a doll!
To Hakuki, Kron was nothing more than a manufactured doll.
It was created for a specific purpose, entrusted to Jamdi’el, and allowed to develop over time.
Hakuki couldn’t care less about Kron’s growth.
Even her growth was something he only learned about through secondhand reports.
As long as Kron’s eyes opened, that was all that mattered.
That’s why, to Hakuki, Kron was nothing more than a doll.
〔If this is a path that must be fought for, not just prayed for and hoped for, then I will go with you!〕
However……
“Ain’t takin’ orders from nobody, just marchin’ right up to scrap wiv the Dragon King of her own bleedin’ accord…… Yeah, Earth Lagann’s right — that thing… nah… ‘Kron’ can’t really be called a doll no more……”
Seeing that figure like this, Hakuki began to view Kron not as a doll, but as a person for the first time.
〔Earth, this power… Jamdi’el told me not to use it carelessly. I disobeyed Jamdi’el’s instructions.〕
And Hakuki wasn’t the only one whose heart was stirred by that strong, mature figure.
〔So the reason I’m here now, fighting like this, is not because …… anyone told me to, it’s because I want to!〕
Just a doll…… It’s impossible for her to think that way.
She was the woman who, from the moment she was born, never left her side, watching her grow.
For that woman, Kron—who had shown the resolve and determination to face the legend in order to save her, even in places she hadn’t seen, in ways she didn’t know about, and to rescue her from captivity……
“Ugh… sniff… Lady Kron… how… magnificent….”
“Huh? Mother?
“…… Huh? …Eh… Ah, agh!? N, nay, wh, w, w, what is it, Lady Kron!? It’s nothing!”
“M, mother. Mother!?”
It was understandable that Jamdi’el’s eyes would well up with tears.
“O, oh, Master, n, now, right now!”
“Mother, what’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?! Why are you crying!”
For Bro, it was the first time he’d ever seen tears in the eyes of a demon.
For Kron, it was the first time she had seen her mother cry.
Bro excitedly made a fuss, thrilled to have witnessed such a rare sight, while Kron, on the other hand, was in a complete panic, never imagining that Jamdi’el would be moved to tears by how much she had grown.
Meanwhile, Jamdi’el……
“N, nay, no, that’s not it! I, I, do not cry! The setting sun brightens the onions in the curry so, blinding me, and dust fills the air!?”
“Mother, what’s wrong? Are you okay, Mother!”
“I, I’m fine! Y, yes, Lady Kron, about Earth Lagann being his disciple earlier…… Well, be that as it may, Lady Kron! What dangers thou has faced away from my sight! How could thou challenge Vasalar so? What if thou had been irreversibly injured!”
Jamdi’el frantically rubbed her eyes and started ranting loudly, as if trying to cover everything up.
Bro, Hilua, and the workers all grinned at the sight.
“Kaka, no~…… I wish I could show this to the guys back at Cacretale. To think that Master was moved to tears……”
“You were so cute, Sis!”
Bro said that and laughed, as if to tease her.
On the other hand, everyone could understand Jamdi’el’s feelings all too well.
〔I don’t know anything. Still, nothing. That’s why…… I want to learn more from now on. I want Jamdi’el to teach me. And Earth too. And the world. I want to know more about the good and the bad.〕
Precisely because they knew how much Jamdi’el cherished Kron……
“Mother, are you really okay!? Let’s see a doctor! You’re crying, so something must have happened! Come on, let me take a good look at your face!”
“I, it’s nothing, so p, please grant me a m, moment, ah, just a few minutes, nay, just a few seconds…… Nay, actually, please wait a few minutes!”
It was only natural to be overwhelmed with emotion.
“Kakaka, you’ve really grown up, little sister. Well, for a naive girl who grew up knowing nothing of the outside world to be running a food stall like this and earning her own living…… If you were facing the legend, then something like that is a piece of cake! And… you’ve fallen for that guy and are trying to get him to notice you…”
Seeing his little sister like that, Bro also felt happy, and thought of Earth fighting alongside Kron.
While there are people all over the world who are captivated by Kron’s appearance and deeply moved by it……
It’s frustrating.
There were also women who felt that way.
Author’s Note
Thank you for your continued support. I previously posted a work on Syosetu, but the depictions were deemed “too refined”, so I had to abandon it. Now, I’ve reworked it and posted it on Kakuyomu.
‘The Under-Studied Magic Kick Warrior ~ Conquering the Academy with the Strongest Legs While Studying’
If you’re interested, please check it out~
