The one who arrived at the hotel even faster than Erica was Salvatore Doni.
Over the years, he had already learned how to deal with those Death Servants, so his infiltration went remarkably smoothly.
Of course, the spell Andrea had cast upon him to prevent magical detection had also played a small but useful role.
And just as he stepped into that small building, he happened to hear the Marquis Voban's laughter—loud and wild with fury.
Pushing past the half-closed door, the King of Swords strode in without hesitation, stepping straight into the room.
Voban and Satsuki were seated opposite each other at either end of the cramped chamber.
In the surrounding shadows, dozens of gigantic wolves lurked, their eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty green light.
—Greedy Pack of Wolves
This was one of Voban's earliest authorities, the power to summon an unlimited number of demonic wolves with deep mouse-colored fur as familiars and command them at will.
Though individual wolves lacked the power of divine beasts, they possessed keen noses, massive bodies comparable to horses, and speed agile enough to chase down automobiles. Anyone below the level of a Great Knight would struggle bitterly against even one. As a pack, they could rival a cavalry regiment from the age of cold steel weapons.
However—such power was utterly insignificant before the King of Swords.
Even a mage proficient in wide-area spells would not need much effort to eliminate these wolves.
Salvatore walked in casually, looking toward the old man seated upon his throne.
"Oh? What a surprise. I never imagined that aside from collecting shrine maidens, you old man also had a habit of inviting female guests over late at night."
As he spoke, the King of Swords strolled forward beneath Voban's icy glare, then stopped beside Satsuki as if he were a knight guarding his lady.
This, too, had been part of his agreement with Erica—upon arriving, he was to protect Satsuki first. Otherwise, their alliance might develop cracks.
"Salvatore Doni…" Voban spat out his name through clenched teeth. "You still dare to appear before me?"
"Since the Marquis—our senior Godslayer—has come, of course I had to drop by and pay my respects."
After that joking reply, the King of Swords proved that his ability to provoke hatred was no weaker.
"More importantly, there's the scent of battle here. Naturally I couldn't miss such a thing. After all, letting a senior experience the sorrow of growing old and frail, then feel ashamed before the vigor of youth—that's our responsibility as the younger generation."
At that moment, Satsuki looked at the King of Swords and spoke calmly, "As proof of alliance, I'll leave his life or death to you."
With that, she pressed down lightly on the hem of her skirt and rose gracefully from the chair woven from the starless night.
"Another Campione will arrive shortly. When that happens, even a self-proclaimed powerhouse like you, Marquis, will pay a considerable price if you try to fight one against two. Why not surrender now, kneel and admit your mistake? You might still preserve your life."
Only then did Voban seem to think he understood something.
"So you were merely stalling for time? Exploiting my instincts to sense a danger that does not exist. I was actually bluffed by the divine power on you… Well done, girl!"
With a wave of his hand, the wolves in the shadows blocked Satsuki's path. She frowned slightly as she turned her head, her heterochromatic eyes cold as they fell upon him.
"That's what you think?"
But Voban was convinced he had seen through everything. He no longer restrained the beast lurking within him and rose abruptly from his throne.
He had no intention of continuing the conversation. As a devotee of power, the only reason he had restrained himself earlier was because he believed she possessed power.
—But now, he no longer thought so.
With his hands clasped behind his back, countless shadows stretched outward from beneath his feet, transforming into several Death Servants.
"Old man, have you lost your mind? You think this trash can get past me, Salvatore?"
Salvatore drew the massive twin-bladed sword from the case on his back and stood before Satsuki. Though short and slender, he effortlessly lifted the enormous blade—something that normally required several grown men to carry—with just one arm.
What answered him was the massive wolf pack surging forth from the depths of shadow.
In the next instant, the King of Swords seemed not to move at all…
No—not unmoving. The arm bearing the twin-bladed sword reflected a certain white light, vibrating at an incredibly minute frequency.
Then several brilliant streaks of silver light cut through the darkness like ascending beams, piercing upward.
Like missiles launched from the ground, the villa's foundation, first floor, and second floor were pierced through instantly as though they were paper crafts.
In a single fleeting moment, not only the bull-sized wolves but the house itself and the surrounding Death Servants were sliced apart.
This technique resembled the swordsmanship Erica once displayed—yet in truth, it was the signature skill of the King of Swords, the very technique he had taught her when she was still a Great Knight.
However, Voban had long been familiar with Salvatore's swordsmanship.
Without any visible sign, he suddenly transformed into a storm and charged at Salvatore.
At that moment, Satsuki noticed Voban's face contort. Coarse fur crawled across his skin, fusing together; his mouth protruded forward; in his green eyes burned twin flames.
This was one of his abilities—Werewolf Transformation.
In this state, he gained speed and strength rivaling high-ranking gods, enough to break through even Salvatore's divine-speed slash with ease.
"Haha, the same old trick again!"
Facing Voban, the King of Swords laughed merrily, then calmly swung his silver-lit right arm in retaliation.
Unlike the previous divine-speed slash that struck faster than the blink of an eye, this strike appeared slow—so slow that the naked eye could follow it clearly.
Yet every Death Servant and every wolf present froze beneath that silver swordlight.
No—not only them.
Even the debris that had just been blasted skyward by the silver beam halted midair, drifting upward in extreme slow motion, as though the scene were being played back at dozens of times slower speed.
Only those versed in swordsmanship would realize that this blade was not slow, but fast—fast to an extreme.
So fast that anyone witnessing it was forced to adjust their own perception just to keep up with the swordlight.
But their bodies could not follow such speed, creating the illusion that everything had been frozen in place.
This was the sign of a swordsman on the verge of becoming a Sword Saint.
One step further—and it would reach the realm of Satsuki's earlier spatial-piercing flash.
Faced with such artistry.
Voban showed no surprise, for even under these conditions, his body could still move freely.
He raised both claws and seized the descending greatsword, utterly ignoring the blade that had already cut into his beastly flesh.
And then—
ROOOOOOOOAR—!
From the gaping maw of the transformed demonic wolf, lightning erupted at near-zero distance straight toward Salvatore's face!
Authority—Raging Tempest!