Volume 3 Chapter 53 The Thing Visible in That Hand
"...Ugh..."
Emerada spits out black blood from her mouth.
The tip of Abel's sword is buried deep in her belly.
"........."
I pull the sword out of Emerada's belly and silently look down at her.
The robe slowly spreads with a red stain.
It's undoubtedly a fatal wound.
Yet, Emerada opens her eyes and laughs.
"Hah... Heh heh heh... So, it's like that, huh? In the end, I'm just meant for destruction, right...?"
Emerada laughed—relentlessly, almost as if mocking herself.
Her words might have said one thing, but the look on her face held no regret.
She was simply staring at the reality—the kind of ending that always comes for someone as arrogant as me.
"Is this, perhaps, a punishment for trying to use the power of the gods...?"
"...Who knows"
To Emerada's question directed at no one, that's all I say back.
That's something you should ask the gods.
However, I don't feel much when I think about my teacher dying by my own hand.
Maybe I don't see this person as my teacher anymore.
If that's the case, it's a bit lonely.
"...Ah-ah, to be so easily surpassed by Ryuuji. I planned to overwhelming win and quickly take Lene away with me."
Emerada says this without even looking at me, as if it's nothing important.
Is she still hung up on Lene?
You're pretty stubborn too.
"Lene is your sister, but you can't just do whatever you like with her. And──"
"And?"
Did Emerada think I was about to say Lene was my wife or something? Her expression turned slightly sour.
But that's not it.
What I really wanted to say was—
"Lene, you know, on the day her Elf village was destroyed by you, she realized there was a problem with the way she dealt with other people. Then, she decided to correct that and live her life that way."
"........."
There was Emerada, standing with her mouth wide open, probably never expecting what I just said.
"Back then, Lene looked at what she was doing and decided to change it. What about you? This mess is what happens when you keep blaming other people forever, right?"
"...Tha... that..."
Emerada went speechless at my harsh tone.
Maybe it's arrogant to lecture my former mentor, but I want you to think about this before you die.
"Surely, if you'd met Lene again just a bit sooner, she would've set you straight, and you wouldn't have lost your way."
"...I see... I always thought she was still a child, but now I feel kind of lonely."
While toying with her hair using her uninjured left hand, Emerada coughed from time to time and spat out black blood.
There probably isn't much time left to talk.
"She's no child. She's already a proud mother of one, and soon it'll be 2. Well, maybe 3."
"...Even that Ryuuji, huh? You sure went all the way..."
Shut up.
Don't go calling me "that Ryuuji" or saying I'm doing stuff.
"...I've heard about the tough times Lene went through. She was tossed around by life's storms, and naturally, she's grown."
"Yeah, that's true."
And then, a short silence flowed between us.
Glancing at my younger sisters and the rest of the squad, it looked like their battle was finished, too.
It seems everyone is safe.
An especially loud cough echoed in the silence.
It looks like this is really the end for her.
"...Well then, I guess it's about time I died."
With a small laugh, Emerada brushed her hair back in a casual gesture.
Was she trying to look dignified in death or something?
"Want me to finish you off?"
"No need. I'm fine with it. Just──"
"...Hm?"
When I turned my gaze back to Emerada, I was struck by a strange sense of unease as I watched her toying with her hair. I couldn't look away.
Then I saw it—something glinting in her hand—and I felt the blood drain from my face.
That's right. She's a Dark Mage.
Why the hell didn't I think of that?
"You see... a blunder like this? There's no way they'll forgive me! So at the very least, I'll be taking you all down with me!"
"Don't—!"
But I was too late.
Emerada plunged the golden needle she'd been hiding straight into her own neck.
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