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“Master!!”

Lucius tried to leap forward, but he was blocked by the barrier and couldn’t escape.

A hero much stronger than himself.

Lucius felt dizzy, thinking he couldn’t break the ice barrier purely with his own strength, as the monster’s grip held his master and the hero.

Should I free them?

His master told him to believe, but it was hard to trust so easily.

What if things went wrong?

If his misjudgment or the master’s misjudgment led to the master’s death?

If that happened, Lucius could never forgive himself.

– Really?

Something whispered within his heart.

– Is that really why you’re so anxious?

He couldn’t tell who it was.

But the voice inside Lucius whispered sweetly.

– You’re actually uneasy, wondering if the witch will choose another hero.

He couldn’t deny it.

Not denying it only made him more anxious.

What if.

What if a water hero stronger than him emerged?

No matter how hard Arther Lucius tried, wouldn’t they need a hero with greater power in the war against the resurrected Demon King’s army?

He might just be pushed to the side.

Believe.

For a moment, he thought he heard his master’s voice.

Trust me.

That familiar voice.

You are weak right now.

But you will grow stronger.

I will use every method I can to train you as a hero.

‘Watch carefully.’

“……Ah.”

I see.

His master intended to use even the water hero as a stepping stone for his own growth.

The power the water hero possessed as a hero.

An unknown realm he hadn’t reached yet.

To show that level of power, they had intentionally pushed the villagers and himself aside.

And that expectation wasn’t wrong.

Swoosh——!!

The monster’s hand, which had been grasping the hero and the witch, exploded in an instant.

A massive torrent of water surged forth, swirling and beginning to take form.

“…Golem?”

It was a golem as tall as the giant monster.

Jewels shimmered all over its body like sapphires, and the graceful yet angular female giant golem gave a majestic impression to those who beheld it.

“W-What is that…?”

No one knew its identity.

Lucius didn’t know, and only the witch was aware.

“…….”

Lucius fiddled with his ring.

Perhaps.

Being able to ‘ride’ that giant was what the witch wanted to show him.

“That’s amazing…!”

Knight Rapid clenched his fist.

The water streaming from behind him fluttered like a cloak, and from the outstretched fingertips, a massive torrent began to take form.

“Is that… the Holy Sword?”

The Holy Sword once used by Liriez had transformed into a massive size, now held in the hands of the blue steel doll.

Beautiful and grand.

And.

[Well, I don’t know what it is!! For Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor!!]

With a tearing shout, the steel golem swung its fist again.

It looked like it would get punched in the face and topple backward if he stayed still.

Although their sizes were similar, the sheer weight of the giant golem made up of armored insects was far greater.

Splash!

A sound of water echoed.

The blue doll caught the fist coming toward its face with its hand, and as it blocked the attack….

Crunch!!

In an instant, it crushed the wrist with its grip.

The armored insects that composed the monster’s body crumpled quickly, and the giant staggered and fell backward.

Swish.

The blue doll merely brushed its hand aside lightly and regained its stance.

The doll was perfectly fine.

In fact, it even used the swirling waters around it to shake off the clinging armored insects.

“That is….”

[Celcius of Spirit Flow.]

Lucius heard the voice of Water Hero Liriez from within.

[The enemies threatening humanity shall be eradicated.]

Enormous water sprays began to surge from the expanded Holy Sword.

*

Five minutes earlier.

“Whoah.”

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this scene.

Though I’ve never looked outside from within Celcius before, the sight itself isn’t unfamiliar.

A single seat.

A magic stone panel floating in front of me.

And a panoramic view that seemed unblocked ahead.

It could also be considered the inside of a giant golem, but saying that might anger Celcius, so it’s better to call it by its original name.

Cockpit.

“This giant doll is called ‘Spirit Device Celcius of Spirit Flow’. Historically, it’s been called various names like Demon Gear or Spirit Device, but for now, let’s just call it Spirit Device.”

Just because it has ‘Holy’ in it doesn’t mean it’s the property of the Order of the Goddess, and it’s not related to the Demon Race because it’s called a Demon God due to its overwhelming form and abilities.

This is simply raw power itself.

“Spirit Device. An existence created to control the water mana flowing through the world. If the Holy Sword is the key, then this is for controlling the water mana.”

“…Isn’t this like an external suit developed by alchemists…?”

“Quite the opposite. They developed that after seeing this. This has existed since before human history, alongside the beginning of the world.”

So long ago, I couldn’t even fathom it.

With the hints caught through the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, I came to know more about Spirit Devices.

The origins of the Seven Demon Lords.

The origins of the Seven Angels.

The perfectly arranged seven of them are positioned to claim the seven Spirit Devices, including Celcius.

The moment one side captures all the Spirit Devices within the Intermediate Realm, the realm would shift into the domain of either Celestial beings or Demon Race.

“When it comes to origins, we can explain it when there’s a hero who doesn’t know details, like you, but can you operate this for now?”

“Operate it?”

Liriez became like a clueless child.

“I-I’m supposed to operate this…? Me?”

“Of course. You are the Hero of the Holy Sword. I’m merely borrowing your power temporarily. As a supporting operator.”

“H-How am I supposed to move this…?”

“That means you just have to learn.”

Seeing her become a naive woman who didn’t even know how she was created made me want to laugh, but right now, a battle was happening in real time.

“Stay seated. The seat you’re in is linking you to move this Spirit Device.”

“If I leave this seat, it won’t move, right?”

“Exactly. Don’t ever get up.”

If she did, I would have to take her place, and if I sat down, Celcius would use my mana.

“Even if it’s hard to understand right now, just trust me and follow along. Got it?”

“Understood. I will do as you say.”

“Good. Then for now, just stay still.”

With that, I sat on Liriez’s lap, leaning my upper body forward.

“W-Witch?!”

“This isn’t a cockpit type, so I have to control it like this temporarily. Ugh.”

With my chest resting half on Liriez’s knees, I pushed my legs between the seat and Liriez’s backside.

“Make sure to hold my waist firmly. I don’t want to fly off if it shakes.”

“Y-Yes, understood.”

Liriez held my waist tightly with her firm hands, and I grabbed the controls in place of Liriez.

Ah, that familiar grip.

It might not be Celcius, but having piloted a model before brings back memories.

It’s not my preference.

It has powerful strength, but I prefer physically fighting myself—

‘Stronger.’

“The Spirit Device draws power directly from the mana sources that exist in this world. The output it can generate depends on you. It can operate as long as your mana and mental strength can hold out….”

“Huh, huh….”

“You can’t be hyperventilating already, Liriez.”

“A-Okay!!”

Though somewhat anxious, it was still within acceptable levels.

Click.

“Do you have a separate weapon? Then I’ll switch to that now.”

“N-No, I don’t have anything regular I use….”

“Then let’s go with the Holy Sword’s Default State.”

Click, click.

I channeled my will through the controls.

As someone who knew the operational words, as Liriez’s supporting operator, and having once awakened the Holy Sword’s final form, I was able to control Celcius without resistance.

Click.

Celcius moved according to my will.

Just in time.

[For Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor!!]

The enemy was about to launch another fist attack, and I moved Celcius to block it, as if moving my own body.

KABOOM!!

“Ugh…?!”

“Hold on tight!!”

I almost slipped.

Since I was relying entirely on Liriez for support, if she didn’t hold me properly, I might roll around in this cockpit like a bug.

‘But I blocked the attack.’

Crunch.

I crushed the giant’s wrist that I had in my grip.

As armored insects scattered, trying to climb over, they were quickly swept down by the flow of mana coursing through Celcius’s armor.

Swoosh.

The enormous amount of water pouring from Celcius’s arm had already soaked the ground and threatened to flood the entire village soon.

“Liriez. We can’t leave that flowing, can we?”

“What should I do?”

“Turn on the external speakers… It’ll let you communicate outside. Just express your intent roughly.”

Clank, clank.

Now the sounds here would flow outside.

After gauging the remaining operating time, I twisted the sword and raised it high.

“…Spirit Device Celcius.”

Once I mentioned the name.

“Evil threatening humanity shall be eradicated.”

Once I made my resolve.

Swoosh.

A torrent of water erupted around the Holy Sword and began to envelop it.

It looked like a drill made of water and resembled a spinning spear.

“Hmm….”

Liriez became flustered.

So, I gave her a suitably fitting name for the technique—the name of the technique once used by the hero who piloted Celcius in the past—and Liriez nodded heavily, biting her lip.

I simply prepared to execute the technique along with her battle cry.

Ready.

“Braun Fighting——!!”

The Holy Sword, simply swung.

‘Spirit Flow Slash.’

The explosive rapid flow tore the giant apart limb from limb.

 

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