The Doll Knight/Chapter 19


 * -|English= Chapter 19 - Red Hot Roar

Slightly panicked, the masked puppeteer wrenched back on the strings and put space between himself and the Blue Knight.

'Hey, how about we call it a draw here?'

Knowing it was hopeless, Pedro still offered.

As he expected, a happy voice called back.

'Now, don't make bad jokes like that. It's been too long since I've had this much fun, after all!'

Seemingly drunk on warped joy, Harlequin twisted his hands about in a complex motion. It looked almost as if he were drawing magic circles in the air.

'I didn't think I'd end up using this...' he giggled.

Calamity crossed both arms across its body, as if holding itself.

Slowly, a burning scent filled the air. A cold chill ran down Pedro's spine. He set to moving the Blue Knight, but realized the princess was behind it.

'You can regret it in your next liiifffeee!' Harlequin screamed.

The crimson demon took an imposing stance. Its massive jaw creaked. There was a rushing of air, and then a ball of brilliant flame spewed forth.

The area was engulfed in a violent pillar of swirling fire. The Blue Knight, Pedro, and the princess were all swallowed by the inferno.

'Tch, so that's it, is it... Guess it was kind of a pity to end it there, huh?'

Gazing at the roaring flames, Harlequin muttered regretfully. However, his eyes soon narrowed, puzzled. No scent of meat roasting or metal melting reached his nose.

'WHAT?!'

The crimson maelstrom began to swirl faster, and the center suddenly parted as if blown apart from the inside. From the middle rose a blue twister.
 * -|Japanese= 第１９話　灼熱の咆哮

舞い落ちる真紅の翼. 仮面の人形師は、あわてた動作で 蒼騎士との間合いをとりました.

『ね、このあたりで休戦にしない？』 無理を承知で、ペドロは提案しました. 案の定、嬉しそうな声が返ってきます. 『冗談を言ってもらっちゃ困るなぁ. こんな面白いの、久しぶりなんだから！』

ゆがんだ悦びに浸りきった様子で ハーレクインは、両手を複雑に動かしました. まるで、魔法陣を描いているような仕種です.

『まさか、ボクにこれを使わせるとはね……』 カラミティが、両腕を交差させながら 抱きしめるように身体を縮めていきます.

ちりちりと、焦げくさい匂いがしました. ペドロの背筋に寒気が走りました. あわてて蒼騎士を動かそうとしますが 背後に、王女がいることに気付きました.

『あの世で後悔するんだなぁぁぁぁっ！』 紅い悪魔が仁王立ちになりました. 刹那、巨大な顎#3R あぎと#から 真紅の火球がほとばしりました.

あたり一面に立ち上る火柱. 蒼騎士とペドロ、そしてティーア姫は 灼熱の中に呑み込まれていきました.

『ちぇっ、これで終わりか……少しもったいないことしたかな？』 燃え広がる火勢を眺めながら ハーレクインは、残念そうに呟きました. しかし、すぐに訝しげに目を細めました. 肉の焦げる匂い、鋼の煤けた匂いが まったく漂ってこなかったのです.

『まさかッ！？』 灼熱の紅蓮を吹き飛ばすように 一陣の蒼い旋風が巻き上がりました.