Volume 9 Chapter 70 Supporting
As I opened my eyes, I found myself in the middle of a forest.
"Where...?"
The scent of greenery spread throughout my chest. The branches and leaves above formed a canopy, and warm sunlight filtered through, defying logic.
The shadows of the leaves and light resembled a starry sky at noon.
"I'm... certain."
As I sat up, memories came flooding back.
That's right, I fought Julius and...
"Did I die...?"
There was no voice to answer my question.
I remembered. I challenged Julius alone, but my hands and feet were useless, and I was killed.
That being was far beyond human or demon power.
It's only right to call it a god.
Because Julius was revered as such, and people believed it to be true.
"That's cheating, though."
Even within Sakaki Tsuzuri's Magic Domain, I fought against a god, but that was on a different level.
That god was a creation born from the collective unconscious of the people within the domain.
The power of Julius, worshipped by countless people, was immeasurable.
"Is this like a lantern in the dark?"
As I stood up and looked back, I saw a massive tree like a wall standing tall.
I knew where I was.
This was the mental realm I entered when I fought Larkan Mines.
In the space where the earth and Asteris intersected, creating a chaotic void, the World Tree stood tall, supporting the world.
I was lying at its roots.
"Why did I come here?"
When I was killed by Galeo in the past, I fell into the underworld.
Was it my defensive instincts on the brink of death that brought me here? Or was there another reason?
I didn't know the answer, but I began walking towards the World Tree.
I should have been more anxious, worried, and shaken, wondering what happened to everyone else, but my heart was calm.
It was an unsettling yet natural feeling.
"Hey, what should I do from now on?"
As I touched the rocky tree bark, it felt softer and warmer than I expected. Life was flowing within it.
It's an incredible story. I'm already heading towards death, yet this World Tree is pulsing with life.
At that moment, I sensed a new presence behind me.
"...Yeah, you're here too, aren't you?"
I didn't need to turn around to know.
It was a beast wrapped in swords all over its body.
The symbol of hatred that I had killed, now dying for me.
The beast peeked out from the side, gazing at the World Tree alongside me.
The swords were sheathed, and wouldn't hurt anyone.
"What's up, have you finally calmed down a bit after your arch-nemesis dying?"
Even when I cracked a joke, the beast didn't budge.
It just kept staring at the World Tree.
Its attitude seemed to be truly signaling the end, and no words came out.
Ah...
I'll never see anyone again, will I?
I'll never have meals with them at that house, chat with them, go to college, or do silly things.
I'll never hear their voices or see their smiling faces again.
"――It's just so sad, isn't it?"
I grasped the hand touching the World Tree, closed my blurry vision, and bit back my sobs.
It's all because of my own weakness.
If only I were stronger, if only I had more power...
'No matter what fate lies ahead, I swear to be your support until my soul withers away. So, Yuusuke-san, will you fight alongside me as my knight?'
Sorry, Lisha.
Sorry. I couldn't keep my promise.
You believed in me, a nobody who wasn't needed by anyone, but I couldn't do anything.
"――――!!"
Just as I was about to scream, an unexpected scene unfolded before my eyes.
The beast stepped forward, rubbed its head against the World Tree, and...
The World Tree responded by opening a path, its rough bark peeling away.
"What――!?"
As I reflexively tried to peek, the beast swiftly turned its body.
The intense shock sent my body flying.
"Whoa!"
I rolled around, got up, and saw the beast facing me.
"......"
'――'
I had no idea what it said.
Its sword-like face didn't reveal its emotions, making it impossible to read its mind.
But the beast seemed satisfied, and proceeded into the World Tree.
And at the moment when that figure completely disappeared from sight.
The World Tree was ablaze.
It was a mysterious and breathtaking sight.
A crimson glow surged from within the trunk, and flames ignited on the branches that spread out towards the sky.
The light that illuminated the world was spreading far and wide.
It was neither hot nor painful.
Just gazing at it made me feel like tears were about to fall, it was such a beautiful and gentle light.
'Yuusuke, how long do you plan on sleeping?'
A voice echoed.
It was the voice that had saved me from countless predicaments during the battle in Asteris.
Though her attitude and words were harsh, her heart was kinder than anyone else's.
She taught me that a true Saint wasn't someone who wore a title, but someone who was entrusted with one.
"Mevia――."
A warmth spread from the center of my chest.
Her 'Tenken (Heaven's Sword)' was a power that healed people's bodies and shattered their limits.
It was as if I was being pushed forward, told to "go".
And then I realized. The sky visible through the gaps in the World Tree, and the golden particles. A golden veil was cast over this world, protecting it.
It didn't even cross my mind whose it was.
Could she still believe in me, someone as useless as I am?
Words naturally spilled out of me.
"Thank you――."
In that instant, her face floated before my eyes. With her usual smile and reassuring voice, she said it.
'I've been waiting for you, Yuusuke-san.'
Haha.
Is this really happening?
Can I really give up here?
Everyone is still fighting.
There are people waiting for me.
"......"
I began walking towards the World Tree.
And just like before, I touched the trunk.
It was hot.
It felt like my entire body was burning from the point of contact.
Now I understand. You're not done yet, are you?
"Lend me your power. I'll blow Julius away."
The flames that had ignited on the World Tree seemed to bless my wish, flickering intensely.
* * *
"Ugh――!?"
Magic went berserk, destroying the space and swirling out of control.
None of it would reach Tsukiko.
The 'Sanctuary' that suddenly appeared was completely absorbing Julius's magic.
"'Sanctuary', huh. The keys were isolated in a different dimension, and yet Saint Lyla's blood is incredible."
Julius's muttering could be heard from the depths of his magic.
This was an unexpected situation even for him. Yet, without panicking, he continued to activate his magic calmly.
(What an incredible amount of magic power!)
Despite using this much magic, Julius showed no signs of fatigue.
On the contrary, the power of his magic was increasing steadily.
It was beyond the norm, and its scale was overwhelming.
Tsukiko took a deep breath, gently laid Yuusuke down on the ground, and held him in her arms.
"I'm sorry, just wait a little."
The Sanctuary wouldn't last much longer.
If it broke, only Tsukiko would be able to fight.
"Amazing, Lisha-san is."
Tsukiko touched Yuusuke's face softly and stood up.
At that moment, the Sanctuary shattered.
The shattered fragments flowed down like a golden waterfall.
As Tsukiko gazed at the sight, she poured magic power into the Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear) in her hand. No matter how intense her emotions were, she had to maintain delicate magic power control.
Those were the words Tengai had taught her.
"Fourth seal, release."
Tsukiko released the last seal on the 'Golden Thunder Spear'.
The spear broke apart into its components and reformed.
Six spears floated around Tsukiko, all connected by golden lightning and sharpening their tips like a rice plant's ear.
Julius quietly observed the scene.
"You're going to resist, Tsukiko."
"Of course. It's a disciple's duty to surpass their master."
That's right, Julius said with a sorrowful smile.
His face overlapped perfectly with Isumi Tengai's.
Even if that were the case, there was no stopping now.
'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)'.
'Golden Destruction Thunder (Kanakagura)'.
Magic clashed.
Tsukiko countered the beasts' natural transformations with her spear, one by one.
She soon lost her breath, and her vision turned red.
But she kept her heart beating, circulated her magic power, and ran. She didn't know what would happen or what she could do.
Even so, seeing her friends who continued to fight, she couldn't just do nothing.
'When you're in pain, when you want to cry, I'll always be by your side. Even if I can't do anything, I'll support you.'
The promise they made back then could no longer be kept.
So, at the very least, she had to do everything she could, or she wouldn't be able to face him even if she were reborn.
Hey, Yuusuke.
"――Haa――ah――."
When she came to, Tsukiko was lying on the ground.
――I...
"Tsukiko, you did great. Now, sleep."
――I...
――I love you.
In the end, she couldn't be honest until the very end, and was too cowardly to confess, but from the moment she first saw him, she had always loved him.
The more time they spent together, the more she loved him.
This feeling wouldn't lose to anyone.
Tsukiko slowly closed her eyes.
Even if everything ended now, she believed that she would meet that person again someday.
Julius's magic enveloped her.
"Really, you overdid it."
There was no impact.
Instead, she was struck by the voice she heard.
"――Eh?"
She opened her eyes, which had been closed, and lifted her unmoving body.
The silver armor was gone.
But the reliable back that she could count on more than anyone else was protecting Tsukiko.
"――Aa――ah――uu――!"
Her vision blurred with tears, but she opened her eyes, not wanting to miss even a moment.
His battered body was unharmed, and the heartbeat that had stopped was echoing all the way here.
He, who had stood against the strongest enemy, turned around, smiled reassuringly, and laughed.
"Thanks, Tsukiko. I've kept you waiting."
Yamamoto Yuusuke was there.
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