Volume 4 Chapter 31 Heavy Burden
Eiosnight was the strongest enemy I had ever faced.
There were hardly any enemies who could surpass me in speed. In terms of power, it was the first time I had encountered an enemy that could match me even with magic included.
"I've died again."
My arm flies off. My leg falls. But I'm not just on the defensive.
"Oraaaah!"
Swinging my iron lump sword with one arm and one leg missing, I crush Eiosnight's torso.
"Kuhahahaha!"
The Anahata Chakra repairs my arm and leg. Eiosnight rises from the fragments.
The number of times I've killed him is almost the same. But Eiosnight laughs, gritting his teeth.
"What's wrong? Transcender! Does it hurt? Are you in pain? I'm having fun! It's not every day that Transcenders fight each other――"
"Thunderbolt."
Seizing the opportunity, Sandra strikes Eiosnight with lightning. Eiosnight shatters, his words cut off.
Sandra appears before me. Before I can thank her, she takes my hand and chants.
"Thunder Speed."
"Huh?"
Together with Sandra, I turn into lightning and disappear behind the rubble. The revived Eiosnight is searching, asking, "Hmm...? Where did they go?"
Hiding in the shadows, Sandra speaks.
"Wade, something's wrong."
"...Wrong?"
Me? I point to myself. Sandra nods.
"You're lacking madness."
"...You mentioned it somewhere before, but what's madness?"
Perplexed, I ask, and Sandra is taken aback.
"That's right. Wade, being a natural-born battle maniac, I never really talked to you about madness."
"Wait a minute, did you just diss me in a crazy way?"
"It's a fact."
"Hey."
In the midst of such a tense battle, I am disarmed by Sandra.
"Anyway, Wade. You've been lacking the madness you used to have. I've felt uneasy lately, but now it's undeniable."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
I'm at a loss. I have no clue about this sudden mention of 'madness.' I've always thought of myself as a sensible person. I may play pranks occasionally, but that's normal, right?
So, I had no clue. Until Sandra said this.
"Wade, you seem to be holding back all the time."
"...Huh?"
"Lately, Wade, you're not as selfish as you used to be. You used to act based on what you wanted. You were more selfish before. But lately, you're more focused on us than yourself."
"...Is that a bad thing?"
Frowning, I ask. Sandra stares back at me.
"It's admirable. It's not a bad thing at all. But it's not what we expect from you, Wade."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mentioned it when we were preparing for the barbecue. We are comrades fighting alongside you. We're not here to be protected by you."
"...I understand. Everyone knows that, right? But I can't help but feel uneasy. Because, because everyone is... much weaker than me."
"..."
At Sandra's silence, I fall silent. Several memories flash through my mind.
During the last dungeon exploration, I made the wrong choice as a leader. Because of that, I put everyone in danger. So, feeling overwhelmed with responsibility, I desperately led everyone.
I received a warning from Alex. It was said that everyone couldn't keep up with me. I thought about it. The path for everyone to become stronger. And I found a new path by studying under Mudi and Philia.
―――Previously, everyone was almost killed by Windy. I felt my vision go white. I almost lost everything. Everything important. So, facing Windy, my vision turned red.
"Even so..."
Sandra says.
"We are not a burden. You don't have to carry is. We have decided to bet on you. Wade, and we are just following along. It's our responsibility, not yours. Even if we die, I don't want you to curse yourself."
"I...! I just don't want to lose everyone...!"
I shout, suppressing my voice. Sandra gently embraces me as I tremble all over.
"Wade, you're younger than me, yet I burdened you too much. I'm sorry for not realizing."
"No, it's not like that, Sandra. I... want to bear it. Even though it gets heavy because I love everyone, I still want to bear it...!"
I say while hugging Sandra back. Sandra raises her face as if realizing her misunderstanding and looks at me.
"I kind of understand. So, let me rephrase it. You can bear it. But don't bear everything alone. At least for now, let's split it in half."
"Split it in half?"
"Exactly."
Sandra smiles.
"I'm as strong as you, Wade, now. I finally caught up. So, no more piggyback rides. I will bear half of your burden, Wade."
So, Watch me. With those words, Sandra jumps out from behind the rubble.
I hurriedly follow her. Eiosnight catches sight of us and points his staff at me, saying, "So you were hiding there. But there's no time to rest."
A lightning bolt strikes through.
"Ugh! Gah, hahaha...! You always do this, you Transcendent of Faint Presense!"
From behind Eiosnight, Sandra calmly raises her voice.
"Wade, did you see that? I easily landed a blow on Eiosnight, who was beating up an unenthusiastic Wade."
"Yeah..."
Watching that, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. The presence I thought I had to protect was no longer there.
In the shining crystal, Sandra moves freely, standing there vividly. Her figure was so striking, as if the thunderous impact was destroying my worries and anxieties.
"So..."
I feel my mouth loosen on its own.
"Is it okay to have fun...?"
"It's fine!"
Sandra asserts loudly.
"I like you when you're crazy! Wade who challenges those above him and laughs! Wade who enjoys taking on enemies alone!"
So! Sandra smiles confidently.
"Show me the Wade who enjoys. I trust you."
"Leave it to me."
I raise my sword with a wide grin on my face. My heart is boiling. Ah, it's been a while since I felt this excited. It's been weeks since I've been this thrilled.
"Isn't it delightful, transcendent one?"
Eiosnight says.
"It wasn't bad to tease you when you looked miserable, but when transcendent beings fight each other, it's best to laugh. Isn't that right? Keep killing each other until your limits are reached. Isn't that the ultimate pleasure?"
I laugh back at his words.
"Yes, you're right, Eiosnight. Let's enjoy this. Let's exchange deadly blows that would normally kill us and laugh together. Let's kill and laugh, be killed and laugh."
In those words that naturally escaped me, I understood the meaning of madness that Sandra mentioned. My uncontrollable laughter resonated with Eiosnight's, blending together.
"Eiosnight."
"Transcendent."
We inadvertently say the same thing to each other.
""Let's kill each other until the end.""
In the crystalline eyes of Eiosnight, my eyes gleamed brightly.
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