No One's POV
A swish can be heard as the man fell, and soft footsteps sounded when the girl with pinkish red hair landed on the floor as she sheathed her kunai knives.
"Ahhh... finally, I did it. I was starting to think I couldn't finish it."
The girl said as she smiled, and took an object on the man's body as proof of her success, before she returned towards her base, where her employer would be arriving a few hours later.
Little does she know, that what awaits her is certain death.
And only one boy can save her.
Y/N POV
We continued our travels towards Flanders now that we've met and rescued Sphinx, and partially destroyed a Barielle mansion as well. I hope Priscilla won't track us down, but knowing her, she probably won't care a mansion that's just destroyed since it poses no threat to herself.
Oh, right, about Sphinx...
I don't know whether if it was because of my Apostle of Greed ability, but Sphinx seemed to be reacting to it, and quite strongly in some manners. I thought she would be a cold girl that's like... devoid of emotions, and I would have to teach her about that stuff like I did for Omega.
But now that seems a bit unfitting.
Because for some reason, Sphinx has been clinging to me since we met her, and she would not let go. Even my arm feels sore by this point and I even considered relieving the pain a little by Akra.
At last, I didn't comment on her erratic behaviour, and we continued towards our next target's location. But before we get there, I need to visit another place.
Within an hour, we arrived at a storage house, where I recalled an important detail from a non-canon route of Re:Zero.
The Aganau IF, a non-canon route of Re:Zero that barely anyone knew about, was discovered when I came across the topic of the Ten Swords of Power. Now that I'm in this world, the only thing left to do is to obtain the last 6 swords that have not been claimed yet.
The owner of this storage is called Count Reedback, and he greeted us as we entered the mansion's vicinity. I asked him for a trade for an item in his storage, since he is a man who likes to collect eccentric things, which means there is also a chance of finding meteors inside this place.
In exchange for my main target, I offered a diamond sword to the count, along with a pre-made sheath. I told him that the sword will not break under normal circumstances, which is against pure attacks. I believe that nobody without mana could possibly break a diamond sword just by enhancing their body without spells. There are exceptions, of course, but we don't need to talk about that.
I also offered up some grenades and bottles of hydrogen and helium, which made the Count laugh as he inhaled the helium, and his voice started sounding high-pitched. I told him not to inhale too much, of course, since it could damage his lungs. He accepted my gifts and allowed me to enter the storage, which I did.
After digging up many weird things, I found the needle in the sea, which was the object I was looking for. Thank god nobody has taken it yet. Then again, they probably thought this was just a regular sword that looked fancy, anyways.
I unsheathed sword with the purple handle and the golden handguards, admiring it as it gleamed slightly, reacting to my other two swords.
With a smile, I sheathed the sword. I picked up the meteors that I found, and was astonished as I recognized three out of the six. The first was a conversing mirror, which I thought belonged to the Lugnican knight order in general, but apparently there were still lots of them out there. The mirrors came in a pair, so I guess that's what it was for.
The second was a Collar of Submission, which fit one of the phrases Reinhard described it with in a prequel story. The third was a Void Garb, which I thought was destroyed by its previous user. However, I never knew the specific amount of each meteor that Echidna created, so I guess I'm going to consider it as authentic.
With my third Sword of Power, the Life Sword Zeam in my hands, I exited the storage and bid farewell to the Count before starting to travel once again.
Yae POV, 3rd Person Omniscient
Yae entered the building that she was supposed to meet her employer at. She sat down in the empty cafe, cleared out just for this occasion. It was around a year after she has been exiled from the Barielle mansion because of her failed assassination attempt against the candidate. Later, her previous employer discarded her and she somehow wound up in this town, known as Bonobo.
The cost of living here is not much, so it was a perfect base for an undercover assassin.
It was supposed to be, at least that's what Yae thought.
Until today, when her employer walked in with mages and serious-looking men with weapons.
"What is the meaning of this?" Yae yelled at her employer, furious at the betrayal.
"Well, although the mission you were given was completed, I have received new information on your identity. And your old employer would give an abundant amount of money if you are killed. So, I have come to claim your life." He sneered as he ordered the men to move, and Yae took out her kunais as she began hacking away at the enemies.
Yae thought she would be successful until the mage shot a Jiwald at her, crippling one of her arms as they advanced, ready to strike her down until the door to the inn was opened by a boy who seemed lost.
He regarded the situation calmly as he sat down at the bar. "Excuse me, is this place still open for business?"
The shocking words from the boy confused everyone, as if he just ignored the harsh situation in front of him. Of course, the men weren't going to take it, and the bandits advanced on the boy before he sighed and muttered a name.
"Elsa. Slice them up."
"Sure thing."
In the next moment, a purple flash was seen as the men fell to the ground, unconscious right away as some leaked blood while some foamed at their mouths. The woman appeared again, as swiftly as she entered. She spun her kukri knives in her hands before readying them again, and Yae watched in amazement.
Who are those people?
Yae wondered as the mage decided to aim a spell at the boy, and shot it before both parties could realize.
"Watch out!" Yae yelled at the boy, hoping that she could save the one who turned the situation around.
"Sphinx, barrier."
A magic shield appeared around the boy as it sucked mana from the mage, and defended the boy against the dangerous spell. The next moment, the mage fell as a flying mabeast revealed itself, and flew outside.
A pink-haired girl then entered the bar along with a blue-haired girl who had the mabeast on her head, smiling as they entered the fight scene. Yae's employer, now so scared, fainted himself before he could make a move.
Since the bartender has also fled, the boy spun his chair around as he faced Yae. Now that she could calmly observe the young man, she saw three swords strapped to his back, all radiating a powerful energy. The black-haired boy spoke again, to Yae this time.
"It seems I was not too late. Are you Yae Tenzen?" The boy asked as Yae scurried back, shocked that her savior just uttered her name as if he knew it since a long time.
"Who... how do you know my name? Are you here to kill me as well?" Yae yelled back, a realization dawning in her eyes before that theory was disproven.
"HA... As if I'm stupid in enough to do something like that..." The boy chuckled. "No. I'm here to recruit you. Do you wish to join the Liberator's Battalion, Yae Tenzen?"
"Liberator's... Battalion? What do you mean?" Yae asked, unsure of his intentions.
"If you join, I'll help you achieve your goal while also protect you. As you can see, even without myself moving, my comrades can take care of things just fine." He gestured to the three people. "Do you guys want to do a self-introduction?"
"My name is Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter." The woman said as she gave another twirl with her kukri knife.
"Hi! I'm Meili!" The blue-haired girl who had the flying mabeast as a pet waved cheerily.
"My name is Sphinx." The pink-haired girl who used magic said as she gave a slight nod.
Yae's eyes widened as she realized who the three were. The Bowel Hunter and her partner, two notorious assassins at the pinnacle of the international Assassination Organization, so renowned that the woman had a bounty on their head while the child was not known except to other assassins.
The other was a leader of the demi-humans during the demi-human war. An user of ancient magic, she was the main reason for the many successful attack of the demi-humans during the war, and they only started to lose after she was supposedly struck dead. Now that three powerhouses like themselves appeared here, and all under command of a single young boy, who seeks to recruit her...
"I didn't even introduce myself yet, did I?" The boy said as he stood up and approached Yae. Although he should be completely feared, Yae did her best to look the boy in the eyes as he began.
"My name is Y/N L/N. Leader of the Liberator's Battalion, Warlock of Deceit, and Greed's contracted. Yae Tenzen. I ask you again, do you want to join us? All the previous statements still stand."
That day, Yae Tenzen made the most important decision of her life, as she took the hand of the one who would lead her to the most glorious path one could tread.
Timeskippu*
Y/N POV
After Yae accepted my request, we spent a day at the inn (cough, different rooms of course). After that, we set out from the city, and continued towards Flanders, where we were supposed to meet up with Omega and the others.
We were about a few kilometers away from Hakchuri, a close city to the giant hill that the city of Flanders is situated upon. I saw a tiny cart of girls who were being attacked by bandits or something, so we decided to take a closer look.
However, before we can go and help the girls in trouble, the bandits attacking suddenly started to scream and foam at their mouths before they fell to the ground, unconscious. The girl who was the perpetrator of this scenario was my contracted, Echidna/Omega, who smiled as she let her miasma and true form disappear.
"I was about to step in, but it seems like you didn't need any help after all, Omega." I said as I approached, and Omega noticed me as she ran over and gave me a slight hug, pretending to be a bit more normal than her supposed personality. I guess the emotion lessons are finally doing its job.
The only downside to this was the other Ryuzu clone. Sphinx did not really like Omega for some reasons, because she immediately hissed at Omega when she got into my vicinity, and was doing some kind of protective wave to keep Omega away.
"It's okay, Sphinx, she's a friend." I said. Sphinx probably detected Omega's dangerous presence. Now that I look at it, Omega's hair is now white, and her eyes are a shade of yellow instead of Ryuzu Shima's original blue eyes.
"Omega-chan? Is it over now?" A whimpering voice came behind the cart, and the two girls I told Omega to rescue has arrived.
"Who are those people?" Another voice, shriller than the first and a bit more protective, rang out as the blue-haired girl with sanpaku eyes regarded us with interest and suspicion.
"Colette, Palmyra, this is my contractor, Y/N L/N. And those are his comrades." Omega said as she pointed towards myself and the others, and I introduced my companions as Colette's eyes lit up.
"Omega-chan! Are those the amazing people that you told us about?" Colette said as she shook my hand. "I'll be happy to be in your care!"
"On what basis do you think they can protect us? Omega is one thing, but..." Palmyra had her doubts, but it's completely understandable, so I took it upon myself to prove it.
"Okay then. Step back, and I'll do a power demonstration." I told them, and everyone hopped back as Colette and Palmyra followed, wondering what kind of power I will unleash.
"Ah... time to do that chunibyo thing that I haven't attempted since I almost wrecked my neck in the first attempt." I muttered to myself as I took out Inen and Ryokyo, while also using Imperceptible Extension to place Zeam in my mouth, holding its handle with my reinforced teeth from Akra.
The shadows of Inen started to leak out and Ryokyo began glowing. Zeam glowed as it absorbed the life energy around my surroundings, withering grass as it sucked their 'souls' in, converting it into pure Od.
I readied the sword as I dashed forward towards a hill using Ul Akra, and swung the swords as I slashed through the tiny plateau, going straight through it as I slashed it with a clean cut.
"Umbra-spectro-vivum Trinity Slash."
The grass on the plateau that was slashed grew brighter as they bloomed flowers as the dirt was corroded by darkness while also being recovered by spirit energy. The plateau slammed back to its original place, and I used the Authority of Deceit to restore it. The plateau looked as clean as before, with no damage seemingly done to it.
I dashed back again, appearing in front of the Battalion.
"Well? Do you think that's enough?" I asked Palmyra, who was at a lost for words. "Don't worry, you'll be a great mage in the future as well." She widened her eyes at my words, and I nodded. "You have a strong affinity for water, wind, and earth magic."
"Really? How did you know?" Palmyra asked me as I nodded towards Omega for confirmation, and she nodded back.
"If one is strong enough, you can detect the type of mana flow the Od Laguna produces within you." I explained as Omega nodded. "So, since you two are the weakest here, we're going to train you and Colette to become strong."
"So that... you will never lose anything again."
With that promise made, the Liberator and his companions headed towards Flanders, where chaos ensued in the regional capital.
Bio Update:
New Meteors:
Void Garb- it allows the user to create shadowy humanoid figures using their hair that can be controlled. The user shares in the shadows senses, including in their sense of sight and pain. When the user has an yin affinity, it can negate the recoil damage from the shadow figures done to user's body when normally it will kill the user.
Conversation Mirrors- Conversation Mirrors are rare meteors that connect with another Conversing Mirror to communicate with others, similar to a cellphone.
Collar of Submission- A collar which limits the powers of the one that wears it.
New Sword: Life Sword (Meiken) Zeam- This sword has been "fed" with copious amounts of mana, which gave it an ability to kill a person's very soul. One of its main abilities is to absorb life energy from plants and animals (including humans) to convert that energy absorbed into pure Od, enabling it to unleash powerful attacks that hacks away at their astral body.
New Moves?: Umbra-spectro-vivum Trinity Slash- a technique that combines the techniques of three of the Ten Swords of Power, condensing shadow, spirit energy, and life energy into a triple slash.