c168: Newborn Demon

What could be the first emotion of a newborn human.
For a baby-chan, it could be affection towards its parents.
However, for a clone with an abridged process of development?
The power held by the Iona copied from me was tremendous.
Thence, the means by which to demonstrate herself――――may be violence.

「Black Dragon. Was in database. Ancient race Diadora」

Iona licks her lips.

「I take」

Iona’s black hair brings to mind the darkness of an abyss no less than that of the black dragon.
It sways from her magic power.

「Fu-n, looks strong」

Shion-san murmured, as she gazed at that back.
I also began to fixedly watch Iona’s battle.
On that note, didn’t Iona use a term that shouldn’t exist in fantasy.
Well, given that they produced such a perfect clone, they might be more advanced here than in reality.

「Let’s see what you’ve got」

Acting self important like that, Iona was looking at me with a prideful sort of face.
Wait a sec, look forward!

「――」

As implied, the black dragon took the initiative.
A shockwave that blanks out all sound. I instinctively cover my ears.
Black dragon’s roar?
No, this is――is it preparation for its breath!
The ringing in my ears is awful. Perhaps it’s the abrupt change in air pressure.
The Iona who had finally grasped her situation languidly, dashed.
Her characteristic movement.
She entered into the black dragon’s bosom before it could release its breath.

「Haa!」

Without a moment’s delay, she jumps up from below its chin.
She drove her palm up into its jaw as it began to open.

「――Dark・Impact」

The black strike pierces the black dragon’s jaw.
With its breath interrupted, the black dragon stumbled forward. It’s effective.
I see……I might also be able to do that?

「Her fighting style, sure does resemble Alice」
「Ah, it really does?」
「As expected of her younger cousin」
「Uh, yeah isn’t she」

It sure does feel like I’ll lose track of her setting as my younger cousin, if I don’t pay attention……
Iona rushes to lay further hits in on the black dragon.
She steps in to slam its abdomen with a similar technique and――she’s thrown back.

「Field」

Ilya murmured that like it was a given.
The dragon’s prided absolute barrier.
I suppose it canceled it last time just before its breath.

「That really is troublesome. There’s never any choice but to step in only when there’s a gap before an attack, the margin is paper thin」

Shion-san spoke wearily but, she’s presently uninjured.
Ane has a 100% success rate on that paper thin margin.

「Dark ray」

Iona releases a black flash, but it too is stopped by the field.
Fumu? What was Iona’s magic type?
That’s not part of the fundamental classifications of fire, ice and lightning is it?
Since Maria-san uses light, well from the look of it this means that Iona could be called dark?

「What is this, bothersome……」

That rare magician Iona-san has been fabulously irratated.
Impatient is she?
The magic filled fists she throws countless punches with are thrown back.
She doesn’t have any plan doess she. Iona’s attacks certainly aren’t weak but, I suppose as expected of that level of defense.
Black dragon Diadora, was it?

「Troublesome!!」

Dark coloured magic, clads her left and right hands.

「Oh?」

――Double cast, phantasmal magic!!

「Darkness approaching the absolute in my left hand, derivation unto the abyss in my right hand――mix and submerge!」

Ilya went forth before us, to be our shield.

「――Abyss・Fire!」

The darkness coloured dragon is, enveloped in yet denser darkness.

「～～～～revolting voice!」

An unbearable to hear, repulsive throe of death……that sort of phantasmal sound?
A figure of darkness raises its resentful voice as it starts attacking the dragon.
Uuwaa……Iona’s sense, is too villainous……
The viscous darkness proceeds to swallow the black dragon. It’s so dreadful as to swallow the black dragon’s field whole.
There’s no option but to avoid that magic is there. Taking that looks really bad.
Now then, the black dragon-san who ended up taking such magic is――



「――Fumu, I suppose this means the imitation shouldn’t be looked down on either」



Great magic power dwelled in the black dragon being swallowed by darkness.
The flawless field where that magic power dwelled, repelled Iona’s phantasmal magic.

「……What?」

Iona is now bewildered.

「But I have no business with you. Quickly be gone――Fimbul」

Golden snow, assaults Iona.

「Ah――」

That idiot!! For her to stop moving like that――!!
Her experience is too shallow!

「You should dodge that, you idiott!!!」

With one step at full speed, I ram into Iona and fling her away to avoid it.
But I don’t completely evade it.
Though I deploy a magic barrier with my full power, even my magic barrier can’t protect us.
I’m frozen in place up to my ankles.

「A, arisu……?」
「Hurts……」

This much just from grazing me, that magician……

「……Heal」

I’m getting chilblains.
Then Heal is useless like this, so long as I don’t break this ice.
As such, I strike it with my hands but it’s beyond pointless.
Uwaa, ice magic is troublesome……
To begin with my arm strength is so ladylike its laughable.

「Ojousama」

Ilya quickly comes to wedge herself between the enemy and me.
There’s no follow up attack, we’re glared at from above.

「――Fumu, so it’s just that much after taking my magic. Quite the magic power you have」
「……I don’t know who you are or where you came from but, that’s quite the greeting isn’t it」

Or rather, this kind of really hurts. More than being cold this hurts!

――Kin.

While I writhed in pain, a tranquil sound rose and the ice frozen on my legs shrank and broke.

「O-nee-chan!」
「You okay, Alice」

Senbonzakura sliced it finely.

「Hehe, that was a little painful」

I Heal again.
Ah-, that really hurt. That wasn’t nearly a little you know.
But well, when taking an honourable wound while protecting another, it’s a man’s aesthetic to grin and bear with it.

「Alice……did it hurt……?」

With nothing else to do, Iona is still being held in my arms.
She’s become like a scolded puppy-chan.
Her upturned eyes have quite the destructive power.

「I’m okay you know. But Iona, your split second judgement is too naive. Since with that something like winning against me is a dream within a dream」

Well, since during the real thing the difference in actual battle experience is brought out in the brain’s reflexes.

「Tha, that is……please pardon me」

What’s with this child, isn’t she pliant.
No, if you say that’s a given it might be a given.
She may have had knowledge input into her as a clone but, there’s no mistake that she was just born.
The Libra who should’ve become her parent isn’t here anymore. If so, this child could become anything from here.
As such, she should also be able to become a kind ally of justice. If she has a proper adult here at her side.

「Fufu」

Then, this role……It’s fine even if I do it.
As her cousinane, I’m not reluctant to look after my cousinimouto.

「I’m not angry you know. But let’s put our talk off for a little later okay」

After patting the dejected Iona’s head, I stand up.
As if waiting for me, the golden magician is still leisurely gazing down on me.

「Are you, the magician Eclair spoke of?」
「Eclair?」
「The exceedingly cute red haired one」
「Aah, about that demon then? The one with the magic eye」
「And her fang is also cute you know」

She has lots of charm points doesn’t she!

「Suddenly going on about your lover in this sort of situation, that really is ojousama」

I ended up being praised by Ilya for some reason.

「Fumu, it did seem she was pregnant but was it with your child? I’m thankful not just for that good for nothing, but also for making me a proper spare」

Seriously, that person says nothing but disquieting things.
She already ridiculed Iona and if she’d bring harm even to Lumina-chan, is it fine to consider her my enemy already?

「Kuku, you have quite fine eyes there. But I have no business today save showing my face」
「Well, don’t say that, please be my opponent for a bit」

I can’t let a disquieting person like you run loose now can I.
The black dragon also burned the elf village.
Nn? No, did this dragon not burn it?

「There’s no time, is that not the same for you all?」

As if aiming for this timing, some being’s roar shook the town.

「What’s this!?」

Looking in the direction of the village, a sinister purple light rose up from the direction of the ruins.
This is……that monster is it.

「……I want to ask just this once but, was the one who attacked the elf village not your group?」
「No relation」
「……Well, I’ll believe you. Since it certainly does seem we don’t have any time」

I shake my hand, waving them off as a, go away already.
With that the magician gave a strange sort of laugh.

「Kuku, such an attitude toward this me. Are you not quite the person」

Saying that, the magician turned and flew off in a direction not toward the village.
The black dragon also followed her.
What’s with that, is it really the case that they didn’t attack the village?
It’s troublesome having a third power with unclear objectives.

「Everyone, we’re returning to the village」
「……Aah, be that as it may」

Shion-san was wiping her flowing sweat.

「Eei……incredible pressure. To remain unaffected even after taking that, as expected of Alice-dono」

Maria-san is also letting her breath out seeming relieved.
On that note, there did seem to be a tingling sensation.
Right now the village comes before something like that. Since I left my cute Silvi-chan behind there.