The Power Of The Holy Sword

“I won’t let you!!”

“I’m more of a happy-ending person than a bad-ending person.”

“…!!”

An ice wall, created as if it had sprouted from the ground, blocked the strike—even as it shattered—and then an arrow pierced the ‘End-of-the-World Cat (Cath Palug)’ while it was still in midair.

“Arthur-sama, are you okay?”

“Everyone… I heal right away even if I get hurt, so why…?”

As Arthur asked in a trembling voice, Kei smiled. Even though she had to be scared against an enemy as powerful as the ‘End-of-the-World Cat,’ she smiled as usual to reassure him.

“Because you looked like you were hurting just now, didn’t you? When I thought I didn’t want you to suffer, my body just moved on its own.”

“Kei…”

Watching her laugh softly, he felt the dark emotions in his chest fading away.

“Tristan!! Buy time until Prince Arthur regains his footing. Understood?”

“Leave it to me!! Though, buying time is fine, but you won’t mind if I just defeat it, right?”

Morgan and Tristan drew it away while being chased by the ‘End-of-the-World Cat (Cath Palug),’ which had switched targets after that last strike.

Because they believed Arthur would fight again….

“Yeah, that’s right… You want to know why I fight? I fight because… I wanted to protect them.”

At first, it really had been to escape the execution flag. But Kei adored him… and everyone else believed in him. He wanted to protect them. That was why he had gripped the holy sword.

“Kei… will you hold my hand? I need your warmth so I won’t lose to negative feelings.”

“Yes, leave it to me!!”

Even at Arthur’s sudden request, Kei obeyed without hesitation. He felt it give Arthur—give the holy sword—more power, and he remembered the Guardian Spirit’s words.

“The ‘End-of-the-World Cat’ devours people’s negative emotions and turns them into mana. That’s why someone who loses to hatred can’t defeat it. If you want to say something cheesy, overcome it with warm feelings like love and courage, and hope.”

Yeah—those were its words. That was why Arthur had brought along the person who had first taught him what warm feelings were.

“‘End-of-the-World Cat’!! Look at me. Your opponent is me—Arthur Pendragon!!”

“…!!”

The holy sword began to shine brighter than ever before. The ‘End-of-the-World Cat (Cath Palug)’ reacted to it, but it was already too late.

Arthur raised the holy sword high, then swung it down in one go with a shout.

“I’ll protect Kei and the others!!”

“…!!”

A raging torrent of overwhelming light erupted from the holy sword and swallowed the entire room—along with the ‘End-of-the-World Cat (Cath Palug),’ which screamed as it was engulfed.

And when the light that had spread through the room finally subsided, Arthur confirmed that the ‘End-of-the-World Cat (Cath Palug)’ was gone. He gave a crooked grin…

…and then his consciousness was swallowed by darkness.