Volume 3 Chapter 19 How Do You Know
I had tumbled off the cliff, my body bruised and broken, yet here I was, ironically still conscious thanks to the very person who must've orchestrated this disaster──Adiliana, standing right in front of me.
Losing consciousness meant never waking up again, and that thought lingered ominously in my mind.
But this woman had just declared with chilling clarity that she would "make sure my breath stops," so there was no way she would just let me go.
It was probably the reason she had taken away my Healing Potion.
"...Let me ask you one more time. Why... are you still alive?"
I was simply trying to buy myself a moment to think of a way out of this nightmare, so I tossed the same question back at her.
...Not that I hadn't been dying to know the answer.
"Did you really think I would die just because I fell into the lake?"
"...If that's the case... then why don't you just ride off on a dragon and flee with your tail tucked between your legs?"
It was a mistake to let those words slip out.
I found myself receiving a silent but powerful kick to the face from Adiliana.
Pain shot through my entire body, every broken bone screaming in protest, and I couldn't help but let out a soundless scream.
"...It seems you don't understand your position, do you?"
I almost wanted to say that now I did, but I had the feeling that any further comment would earn me another kick.
I needed to keep my words sharp and focused.
"Well, let me enlighten you. I've died once... No, I'm still dead, in fact."
"Dead...?"
But here she was, alive enough to be kicked, and definitely not appearing as a ghost.
What on earth was she talking about?
"...Could it be?"
A possibility struck me, and I fixed my gaze on Adiliana's face.
...Just as I thought, it was white.
It could even be described as unnaturally pale.
It was almost like she was a corpse.
"Ah, it seems you've noticed~."
"...So, you've become an Undead... I see. How thorough of you..."
Watching Adiliana's confident demeanor, I felt a sense of certainty wash over me.
The fact that she had a physical form despite being dead meant she was a reanimated corpse, most likely operating as a lich.
I'd heard that to become a high-ranking undead like a lich, one had to perform certain rituals while still alive.
Just in case one lost their life, they would prepare to operate again using the power of the Evil God.
Since she was a Dark Mage, I could hardly dismiss that possibility.
"Yes, yes, but it took me half a year to recover to this point! All of this is your fault, you know!"
"Guh...!?"
Adiliana had smacked my chin upward with her healing spell.
I wanted to shout that it wasn't my fault she fell off the back of the dragon, but no words came out.
"Honestly, I had such a terrible time thanks to you while I was alive, and this doesn't even calm my feelings! What are you going to do about it?"
I held back the urge to reply that those were my words.
She was so completely selfish.
It was all just her meddling, and apparently just pushing her off the cliff wasn't enough.
"...Actually, there's still something I need to ask you..."
"...Huh? What is it~? Even now, you're still asking about your──"
"The 'teacher'... was an illusion... wasn't it...?"
Before she unleashes another kick, I've got a question.
About how we got here, about the 'Teacher' I've been chasing.
I actually fell for this guy's illusions while chasing the 'Teacher'.
If that's just a coincidence, it's a bit too much of a stretch.
So, this guy knew about my connection to the 'Teacher'.
Why is that?
"Huh?"
But Adiliana just let out a completely crazy shriek at my question, furrowing her brows.
It's like she was saying, "What are you talking about?"
But that was just for a fleeting moment.
She wore an expression as if she understood, and said, "Ah, that's right! That's it~!"
What the heck is going on?
"Hehe, so that's how it is. You were, weren't you?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"That is..."
Just as Adiliana, with a mischievous smile, was about to say something, she turned serious and shook her head before turning her back on me.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I grabbed a magic stone from my waist.
This is a 'Gift' magic stone, something a Dark Mage like Adiliana, who wields the power of 〈Godkiller〉, can't use.
So, it won't work right now.
But there's no other way.
I have to pull this off.
I have to believe she'll make this work.
"...I don't owe you any explanations, so I'll end it here."
"What? Hey──"
My words to stop her died in my throat.
Because Adiliana, with her back turned, launched a golden tendril that pierced my chest.
"...hahh..."
I couldn't breathe, my last breath escaping my lips as I convulsed.
"Goodbye, enchanter Ryuuji. With this, one of the obstacles before that esteemed person has been removed."
Even now, Adiliana's words felt as if they were echoing from far beyond the horizon.
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