Chapter 7

The clear sky quickly became cloudy, but the dark clouds only extended over the courtyard. A downpour that you couldn't even breath in clapped down on the pavement. With his eyes barely open, there was a reflection of Yuuri gazing at Wolfram.

"...Your Majesty?"

Gunter's voice was trembling as he called out, but he wasn't going to turn around.

Even his voice, not even mentioning the tone, sounded like a different person.

"You refused to accept defeat, running around wildly and ignoring the rules. And then an innocent girl was dragged into it, and still you greedily want victory."

"Wh, what are you saying like some sort of actor?"

"Is this what you call a real duel?! If that's the case, I can't let people like you do whatever you want! It's not my intention to shed blood, but I have no choice, I will slice you down!"

"What?!"

Though he said "slice", Yuuri's weapon was not a sword.

"Judgement!"

It appeared at the tip of his fingers like the fire magic that Wolfram used. It was two serpents that had fangs and were the same blue as the pouring rain.

"What is this, how, that isn't a very king-like figure."

"More importantly than that, when did His Majesty make an oath with the element of water? Besides, it's virtually impossible to manipulate particles without saying the commands. How is His Majesty doing that even though no one taught him..."

As both people in Yuuri's group expressed their own thoughts, Gwendal muttered so lowly that neither of them would be able to hear it.

"I see, so it seems his soul is authentic."

"Justice" was faintly written on the translucent, glittering side of the serpents. It was really out of place. Without error it coiled around its Mazoku quarry. Wolfram let out a scream that was unlike himself, as he resisted and tried to shake it off. Every time he created flames at his fingertips, the downpour would squelch them. This was evidence that a water user had an advantage over a fire user. Victory or defeat of an embodied element was decided by the owner's status and ability.

"Get this thing off me! How the hell could you do this, so suddenly... You, who are you really?!"

"Who am I? Did you forget my other face?"

It was completely like a historical play.

"You, who selfishly snatched away an innocent life, I absolutely won't allow it!"

"Guh..."

More and more the serpents ("Justice number 1" and "Justice number 2") tightened around Wolfram trying to punish him when a soldier called out joyfully.

"He~y! She's recovered consciousness, she's not in any danger."

The girl was in the man's arms, with her eyes open as she recovered. She let out a small groan with a hand to her face.

"...I...why..."

Yuuri and Wolfram saw that. Wolfram wasn't about to make excuses. If he was going to kill him, then kill him. For a brat who only had some good looks being conquered was humiliating, and he would rather die like a military man than kneel and beg for his life.

However, the water serpents that were even wrapping around his neck evaporated and vanished rapidly. Out of strength, he sat down. Even Yuuri's radiant eyes weren't that of a normal person as he glared, and he pointed at Wolfram, declaring,

"Wolfram, undergo a great reformation after this! Even the lord has mercy."

"M... Mercy?"

Calling himself the lord, he gave a loud splash as he hit the muddy water.

(Translated by Emeryl, originally posted on Onadoru Euphoria. Re-posted with permission.)