Chapter 58 Life Goes On
(What? Huh? Are you really not going to run away?)
(I just said it. I'm sticking with this.)
Ruthless doesn't show any expression. She's like a steel pipe.
So I have to read her feelings just from her voice, but this time it was easy to tell. She probably looks like a pigeon that just got hit by a bean.
(But, but! Fighting like this is really risky, you know?! If we can't escape, it'll be too late! Everyone could turn to ash and say goodbye!)
(Maybe so. But at least I'll die with some dignity.)
(What?! Are you even understanding me? We have to run or we'll die!)
(No way. Leaving my friends behind? That's what would kill me.)
(What do you mean by dying?!)
(You know what I mean... heartbreak.)
Ruthless said we should run to stay alive.
To live safely and surely. But that's not right.
If I run away now, my heart will die.
All my 18 years will turn to ash.
(Heart? I don't get it.)
(Spare me the explanation. I'll just show you. My... hero's way of living!)
──Masked hero... here I come!
Hey kid. Now that I'm here, you can relax! ──
The sound of sparks brings back memories.
The back I saw when I was close to death. No matter the risk, I won't leave my friends behind in a burning house.
If it's the hero I know, that's what he would do.
So there's no need to think about it; the answer was clear from the start.
(...Hero? What's that? You call someone who walks a dangerous path a fool?)
(A hero is someone who doesn't give up on saving those they care about.)
(...That's stupid. Humans are fragile and can die easily. You should value your life.)
(What's the point of just living if you're not gonna help anyone?)
(...Ugh! What's with this hard-headedness!)
(Sorry Ruthless. Don't expect me to change my mind.)
(Okay, okay! I get it! Aww! I got picked up by a weird person!)
(Haha, don't worry about it.)
(Shut up! Let's finish this quickly!)
(Okay, okay.)
She still doesn't seem convinced. But maybe she realized that getting picked up by me was her fate, so she seems willing to help.
What's this? She's a good kid for someone named Ruthless. Or maybe my sincere words touched her.
Hehe, nice. A villain turning good. That's also a classic hero story.
"──Let's go."
And going the classic way means charging straight ahead.
I said no, but Ruthless is right; the longer we wait, the bigger the risks get.
We can't take too much time.
So I'll take the shortest route.
"Ugh, ah, aaaaah...!"
[Ruuu, Gi, aaa...]
I'm staring straight ahead. The flames are getting wilder.
Shura is suffering on the other side.
And deeper inside, there's a beast writhing in pain.
Let's end it all here.
I'm going straight through.
"Ahhh!!"
"────."
As I dive through the flames, my body reacts.
Shura's sword swings at me, barely missing my cheek.
But I won't get caught. Thanks to the boost from Shoes of Hel, my legs are strong. But more than that, Shura is confused, so his sword skills are weak.
I let the blade graze me and keep going.
Now, I'm almost there.
[gi, giiiiieee!!!]
"──Sorry, beast. Time to wrap up your pathetic tune."
The beast doesn't sing; it attacks me with its sharp claws.
But sorry, I can't stop for that.
It's faster and stronger now.
With a powerful strike from Ruthless, I pierce the beast's belly.
[a, aa... ────]
The singing beast banshee lies there, holding someone's skull in its hands.
Its lifeless body turns into a black mist and rises to the night sky from the burned ceiling.
* * *
(Huh. You really do what you say, big brother.)
(Course! Heroes keep their promises)
(yeah, yeah, so annoying)
(Hey, lay off the attitude already?!)
The Banshee was pretty weak, even though it spread annoying and powerful status effects. The fight was over in almost an instant.
It was a quick finish because we didn't want to waste time, but even Ruthless, who helped me, seemed surprised. Though, they looked a bit unhappy about it.
Well, anyway.
I had some new experiences, defeated a strong enemy, and saved my controlled friend, so everything was solved. I thought I was really on a roll...
There was a time when I felt that way.
Well, it was just right before this.
"I don't... I don't want this..."
"Wha... Shura?"
"Did I lose again? ...I couldn't protect anyone again...?"
(Hey, is Shura still messed up from the brainwashing!?)
(Must be the aftereffects. Well, she'll get back to normal soon, so it's fine to leave her be.)
Suddenly freed from the effects, Shura still hadn't fully recovered. No, actually, she was mumbling something like a mantra. Ruthless said to leave heralone, but seeing Shura's lifeless face gave me a really bad feeling.
"Everyone... everyone is going to disappear again... I don't want that, I don't want that... I'm the only one. No, no, teacher (director), I'm... ah, ahhh, ahhh!!!"
(...Oh, crap. This might be seriously bad.)
Finally, even Ruthless changed her mind.
In response to Shura's scream, an insane amount of Magi started gathering in the ruins.
And it wasn't just gathering; wild red flames were swirling around Shura.
This is definitely not okay.
If anything, this is the biggest crisis we've faced so far!
(This is bad, bad, bad! Big brother, use any magic to protect yourself! Right now!!)
"Ruthless!? What the hell is going on!?"
(There's no time to explain! Hurry, hurry, or we'll be turned to ash!!)
"Damn it... 'The shield of the Sun God that Envelops Me'!"
I had no idea what was happening or what would happen next.
But with Ruthless's urgent shout, I activated my secret weapon, the white magic.
Strengthening my power with Earth Meging (Megingjörð).
Speeding up with Shoes of Hel (Helskor).
"Uwaaaahhh!!!"
"────'Svalinn'!"
The Magi armor that boosted my defense was amplified by Ruthless.
But then...
As the flames surrounded Shura, a pair of wings formed, and I saw a burning blade emerge from her chest... in that moment, the world in front of me exploded.
(Oh. I might be dead.)
Everything was covered in a bright, dazzling red light.
I seriously thought I was facing death.
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