I couldn’t understand.

I couldn’t believe that Lancelot-san was an enemy. I had no idea what had happened in the Kingdom of White or the Kingdom of Black.

Yet, I believed in his determination.

 

Kai: “Understood. I’ll defeat you with all my might.”

 

All I did was grip my sword.

Using Lightning, I teleported to a shadow behind me. Activating and deactivating Mirage, I tried to mislead his vision as much as possible.

Lightning gives away my direction of movement based on the flow of my magic power. And obviously, Mirage, even when I become transparent, would probably be seen through by the Eye of God.

So, I had to strategize. Going head-to-head in swordsmanship against him would be to my disadvantage.

Think, and build a plan step by step. If you can’t win with skill, win with strategy.

 

Kai: “Hmph!”

Lancelot: “Hmph!”

 

Lancelot-san’s onslaught attacked me. Each of his moves was like a tactical game of shogi, where a slight mistake would lead to defeat in an instant. The sharpness of his close-combat decision-making was leagues above mine.

Furthermore, his Eye of God saw through all my skills. Attacking him head-on was impossible, and every possible flanking move was read by him, both in skill and magic power.

He would be the worst possible enemy to face.

He might be self-deprecating, but I even thought he was truly worthy of the title “Supreme Knight”.

He was simply powerful.

I even felt admiration for his exquisite swordsmanship. How much training did it take to achieve such unity between body and blade? No matter how much I tried to deceive him with Lightning, he calmly and slowly dealt with me.

But admiration is the furthest feeling from victory. I shook my head and readied my blade.

Lancelot-san lunged at me.

Just as I tried to use Lightning to create distance…

 

Kai: “Damn it!”

 

It was a feint. The moment he saw my magic power move, he sprinted at full speed in that direction.

I tried to stop the activation but was too late and teleported. Right before me was Lancelot-san, already winding up his blade.

The only reason I was able to block in time was due to my enhanced physical abilities from my increased magic power. But he had nearly the same power as me, and being off-balance meant I couldn’t hold him off.

My sword was deflected, leaving me defenseless.

Desperately, I tried to dodge with a backstep. But his relentless pursuit continued.

 

Kai: “Gah!”

 

Lancelot-san’s blade slashed across my chest. The burning sensation felt as if I was set on fire. I tried to regain my balance, but a storm of attacks kept coming.

Bleeding, I somehow managed to counterattack.

But the gap that had opened up was too much to recover. With each exchange, I was being cut down, covered in wounds, and nearing my last breath.

I needed to find a shadow, a momentary escape.

 

Lancelot: “If you can’t see, you can’t move.”

 

Blocking my view, he closed in. I had no room to find a shadow, with the white knight filling my entire vision.

With resolve, I swung my white blade with all my might.

 

Lancelot: “You finally showed a real opening.”

Kai: “──!?”

 

But my swing was too broad, driven by desperation. Such an obvious move would never reach someone like him. I was foolish.

My sword was easily deflected, leaving me utterly exposed.

 

Lancelot: “…It won’t reach. But that’s the fate of this world. With such limited power as yours!”

 

Lancelot-san aimed his blade’s tip directly at my heart.

 

Lancelot: “──You could never save the world!”

 

I couldn’t defend in time.

Am I going to die?

All I could do was stare at that blade. It was a strike filled with intent to kill, and there was no way to avoid it.

I don’t want this.

I don’t want to die like this.

I can’t die.

Because I made a promise to defeat the head of the God-Destruction Cult and bring a smile to Reina’s face.

Because I decided to protect Nagi from any enemy.

Because…

 

*

『Let’s go on a date!』

*

 

I decided to have my first date with the girl I love!

Desperately, I forced my immobilized body to dodge to the right. I didn’t know if I would make it in time, but I had to. Otherwise, I would die right here.

 

Kai: “Aaaaah!!!”

 

A sword pierces through my body. If things continue this way, it’ll pierce my heart and I’ll die. Move! Escape! Live! From the depths of my heart, I scream and try to dodge.

At that moment…

A deafeningly loud alarm resounds throughout the silent temple.

 

Lancelot: “What!?”

 

Perhaps startled by the sound, Lancelot-san’s sword slackens, and I manage to dodge just in time. He was likely cautious of the sudden blast echoing before him. He immediately creates distance between us.

I narrowly escape.

And recalling the source of the alarm, I can’t help but chuckle dryly.

 

Kai: “…Haha, is it that time already?”

 

The smartphone I’d tucked away in my pocket and completely forgotten about. I never thought it would save me again.

That’s right, today is my date with Aya. I’d set the alarm to the maximum volume so I wouldn’t be late.

The time was 6 a.m., time to wake up.

Night had ended, and morning had come.

 

Kai: “Thank you, Aya. This makes it the second time you’ve saved me.”

 

I recall the battle with Lightning. Back then, this smartphone saved me.

And that time too, in the end, it was Aya who had supported me.

 

Kai: “I’ll never be able to repay her… When I get back, I have to hug her tight. So…”

 

I grip the last stun grenade attached to my waist. Lancelot-san, ever vigilant, only watches.

For the first time, I see his magic wavering, as if he’s agitated.

This is my only chance. It’s the first time Lancelot-san is on the defensive. Now’s the time.

I have to press the advantage.

Even the “death-on-first-sight” Eye of God wouldn’t know when it comes to this alone.

When it comes to magic, that eye might be the most powerful.

In times past, that eye might truly have been the Eye of God. It could see through any strategy, detect any lie. Truly a godlike power.

But times have changed.

Smartphones, alarms, stun grenades – they’re all things that didn’t exist in the age of myths.

Because this is the modern era. An era many have strived and struggled to shape.

Suddenly, dungeons appeared in the modern era, fantasy became reality.

I pull the pin from the stun grenade and roll it in front of me.

 

Lancelot: “First that blast, and now… what… what is this? What kind of magic is this that even my eyes can’t see through!?”

 

Lancelot-san, unable to comprehend, directs maximum caution at the black object and stares intently with his sword ready.

It’s understandable. The Eye of God can only see through matters imbued with magic.

And in his era, anything unknown was to be treated with utmost caution.

But he shouldn’t be staring at it now. It might seem like an unknown magic from their era.

Because this is…

 

Kai: “True, it might be magic. Even I don’t fully understand the principles… but if you really want to name this magic…”

 

A weapon unique to the modern era. A product of humanity’s history, built upon trial and error.

Please don’t call it unfair.

Because this is…

 

Kai: “…Science, I guess.”

 

After all, this is a tale of the modern era.