"She only needed a little push. Misery already had that spark within her, even if she hadn't realized it herself. She already possessed the most important thing for achieving her goal."
Yugo recalled the answer Misery had finally reached when he asked her what it was she truly yearned for. A smile touched his lips at the memory.
Misery had once been in despair over the massive gap in strength between herself and her father. He was genuinely relieved she had realized that pure strength wasn't what she actually admired.
"What Misery really yearned for wasn't the image of her father coolly striking down his enemies. It was his back as he fearlessly stood his ground to protect those dear to him... his very essence as a Hero."
When they were caught in that unexpected incident during their vacation—an event where many people were suddenly attacked by Monsters—Misery's father surely hadn't hesitated for a single moment.
He must have stood against the threat, swearing in his heart to protect the fleeing civilians, his precious family, and his beloved daughter.
In that moment, he fought not just as a Magic Knight, but as Misery's father—as the Hero who would keep her safe.
No matter how painful or grueling the battle, when someone fights for something they truly want to protect, they face the threat without flinching.
Just as Yugo had yearned for the Heroes on TV and wanted to be like them, Misery had harbored a deep-seated yearning and respect for the man her father was in that moment.
"Misery, you are the worthy daughter of a great Magic Knight. You've firmly inherited his most important trait. That's why you can fight like that now."
As it stood, Misery's current style centered on Ultra-close-quarters Combat, utilizing constant jabs to control the flow.
When facing an opponent armed with a weapon, diving into their personal space required immense resolve. Most people would hesitate to step in so deep, paralyzed by the fear of a painful counterattack.
But Misery didn't show a hint of fear. She repeatedly dove into Berbar's guard, evading his sword and closing the distance over and over again.
This had been the greatest challenge of her training. Whether or not she could stand and fight against the enemy without being intimidated was the most vital factor.
Yet, Misery had cleared that hurdle with ease. She did so naturally, without even needing to think about it.
Even before Yugo had offered his advice, Misery already possessed the one thing she needed to become a Hero like the father she yearned for: the Courage to Stand and Fight.
Watching her dignified performance and realizing there was no longer any need for concern, Yugo sent a quiet cheer toward her back.
"Keep going, Misery...! Now is the time to make your yearning reality!!"
His voice likely didn't reach her ears, but it certainly reached her heart.
As if responding to her master's encouragement, Misery unleashed a barrage of sharp jabs. Berbar, flustered and overwhelmed, could only retreat in a panic, desperately trying to find a way to break the deadlock.
(Damn it, damn it, damn it! This left is way too fast! How many times is she hitting me? Why did this brat get so strong!?)
Being one-sidedly pummeled by Misery—someone he had utterly looked down on—had completely scrambled Berbar's thoughts.
That was likely why he bit so hard when Misery finally showed a slight opening.
Her rhythm in the hit-and-run exchange hitched for just a fraction of a second.
In that moment, Berbar lunged with everything he had, convinced this was his chance to flip the script. He swung the arm holding his Straight Sword with desperate force.
(Ignore the jabs! Just one hit! If I can land just one hit, I can turn this around! My firepower is higher! So, so...!)
His raw firepower was superior. His armor gave him the advantage in Defense.
Misery essentially had Paper-thin Armor; a single Clean Hit would likely be fatal. It was far too early to give up.
He didn't care if he took more hits from her left. He didn't care if this was a reckless, messy charge.
Berbar aimed for a trade with a clumsy excuse for a counter... but his consciousness momentarily flickered away with a sharp clack.
"Huh...?"
The next moment, just as he felt an impact rattle his jaw, his head was snapped upward.
Confused and disoriented, he reflexively looked back down, only to gasp at the sight before him.
(Th-The right!?)
Misery's right arm, which hadn't been used once during the entire fight, was now pulling back from an Uppercut. The gauntlet-encased limb retracted smoothly.
Berbar recalled the words Marcos had said during their own duel: "There's no way you can't defend against an attack you know is coming." His face contorted as he realized the terrifying inverse—he had just been struck by an attack he hadn't even considered.
(This is bad! I'm completely defenseless—!!)
That Right Uppercut wasn't meant to be the end. It was merely the setup for the true strike... The True Finishing Blow was coming next.
As if to prove it, Misery was already pouring Magic Power into the Wasp Needle on her left arm, dropping into a stance to deliver the final, certain-kill blow.