2
Lily was nowhere to be seen since morning.
They were staying at the same inn, and they always had breakfast together, but that day Lily never came down from her room no matter how long they waited.
I’ve been searching everywhere but can’t find her. Running, running, running. I’ve searched every possible place. I’ve asked all sorts of people, but no one has seen her.
My anxiety only grew, and before I knew it, the sun was starting to set. If I can’t find Lily by the end of today, I’ll ask Luke for help. He’ll probably refuse at first, but he’ll end up helping somehow. He’ll surely find her with surprising ease, while mocking me for not being able to do even this much.
If I told him this, he’d definitely deny it, but I know better. —But,
“Black hair, red eyes. Just as we were informed. You must be Abel?”
Still unable to find her, I was about to turn on my heel to go ask Luke for help in searching for Lily when someone called out to me.
There stood a rough-looking man with an unkempt beard.
“Who… are you?”
“No questions. Come with me. —You won’t refuse, right?”
“………..”
In that moment, I understood everything.
This person knows where Lily is.
—Are they going to take something away from me again?
I clearly felt a dark emotion beginning to stir within me. …It’s truly exasperating. All the “happiness” in this world seems as fragile as glass, ready to shatter at any moment. I should have known. I really should have known better.
But happiness always deceives me. It makes me believe it will last forever, like sweet honey that’s truly troublesome—.
“…Hey, don’t get any funny ideas, alright?”
“I won’t do anything.”
“………..”
This is no good. My emotions are running high.
I need to stay calm at times like this. …If it were Luke, he probably wouldn’t lose his composure even a little. Following the man’s lead, we left Gilbadia. We came to the wasteland near the Isprite Great Forest, a place I often visit for adventuring.
“I’ve brought him, you guys.”
“………..”
The man guiding me suddenly called out. Then, people started appearing from the shadows one after another.
Ten, no, maybe fifteen people…
“Sorry about this, kid. Well, we do have a request, but to be honest, this is personal.”
“…I believe this is the first time we’ve met.”
“You know that brat Luke, right? We’re the remnants of the mercenary group that kid crushed.”
“—!”
I couldn’t immediately understand what was happening.
A mercenary group crushed by Luke? What are they talking about…
“Well, to put it simply, it’s revenge. I didn’t see it myself, but looking at the state of our hideout, it’s clear how dangerous that Luke brat is. Our leader couldn’t beat him. We probably can’t either. So— we thought we’d destroy everything precious to him.”
—Ah, why. Why does this world allow such “trash” to live so shamelessly?
Darker and darker. My heart is being enveloped by darkness.
“That brat took away my most precious family. Hey, could you forgive that? Could you forgive it if you were in my shoes? Can you understand the despair of coming back to find everything destroyed?!”
“…Luke doesn’t show mercy to his enemies. But he’s basically indifferent to those who aren’t his enemies. Didn’t you do something to Luke first?”
“Shut up. Die!”
I avoided the sword swung at me without warning and took a backstep. First, I needed to create some distance.
Contrary to the burning anger, my thoughts were very clear, and I could see the opponent well. I could feel my senses sharpening.
“Is Lily safe?”
“Who knows? Worry about yourself! Get him, you guys!”
“— [Body Enhancement]”
“What!? He’s fast! Be careful!”
First, one level. There are many opponents. If I make a mistake in dealing with them, it’s over.
I don’t have wide-range attack methods like Lily or Luke. So, I need to fight them one-on-one repeatedly. I accelerate towards the man at the edge again. But—
“—《Body Enhancement》《Slash》”
“…!”
The man accelerated too. Moreover—faster than me. I barely avoided it and distanced myself.
“Don’t underestimate us, kid! Everyone here can use such basic Skills!”
──Skill. It was an unfamiliar word.
Was it not magic? But I felt like dots connected into a line within me. Luke’s swordsmanship during the battle with the ice dragon. And the power swirling inside me, different from magic.
I sensed that same power from these men. …I see, no matter how much I practiced, I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t supposed to use magic.
“Come on, struggle all you want! After we kill you, you’re next. We’ll kill all of Luke’s friends, family, and lovers.”
“…Scum.”
Rage coursed through my entire body, making me tremble from head to toe.
I wanted to kill them right now. Such people absolutely deserve to die. They have no right to live──
[Kukuku, you’re truly foolish, Abel, to let your emotions run wild over something like this.]
“…Haha.”
I felt like Luke was laughing at me. You’re right, I really am an idiot. I can’t lose sight of what I need to do now. I slowly exhale, clearing all unnecessary thoughts from my head.
I’d never say it because it’s creepy, but whenever I hit a wall, I always think:
──What would Luke do?
“Hey, what’s wrong! Is this all you’ve got?”
“…Ugh.”
Dodge. Deflect. But everything is by a hair’s breadth. One misstep and it’s over. Such exchanges continue. Each of them is strong. Very strong. At this rate… I’ll lose.
Am I going to fail to protect anything again? ──No, who’s giving up?
“Haa… haa… Think, think. What would Luke do at a time like this──”
“What are you mumbling about? I’ll give you credit for your tenacity. But this is getting tiresome. Just die already.”
I’m not good at manipulating magic. These people have no openings, so I can’t activate [Body Strengthening] anymore. I gather all my strength and leap backward.
“It’s over. ──《Slash》”
“…!”
Another man who had been lying in wait swung his sword. My instincts tell me. ──I can’t dodge this, nor can I block it. In the moment stretched to its limit, various memories flood into my head like a muddy stream. I realize this is what they call a life flashing before your eyes. Am I… going to die? Here.
Without having… accomplished anything. Without having… protected anything.
──No, I can’t die. I have to save Lily. If I’m going to die, at least let it be after saving Lily.
I won’t let them take anything from me ever again!!
[Abel, the trigger is always something small. So don’t rush. That moment will surely come──]
…As my master’s words resurfaced, I felt like an electric current ran through my brain. Luke’s swordsmanship that I had been watching up close all this time flowed through my mind at high speed.
“──Kukukukukukukukukukukukuku.”
On the brink of death. For some reason, a laugh like Luke’s escaped me.
It felt like everything I had accumulated until now was taking shape in an instant. And a sense of omnipotence, as if I could fully control what I couldn’t grasp before. A certainty that this is it.
Channel this power, different from magic, into the sword, into my body. Flow──
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“──《Slash》!!”
My slash broke the man’s sword and sent his head flying. Amidst the fountain of blood raining down, I think I was probably smiling.
Surprise, fear, anger.
The people around me look at me with various emotions. Unnecessary information disappears from the world. That’s right, let’s try enhancing with this power.
“Haha! I can’t do it well at all! I really can’t match Luke after all! …But, this is good enough for now. ──《Body Strengthening》”
Just once. Yet, many times more power than magic courses through me. At this moment, I clearly understood.
I can’t imitate Luke’s brilliant swordsmanship. Even if it’s clumsy, I should carefully observe the opponent, predict, identify the slightest opening, and drive in my slash. This is what I need to hone to the utmost sharpness.
Because I’m not talented, I can’t afford to misalign the direction of my efforts.
I kick the ground with all my might. With a violent explosive sound, the distance between me and the enemy rapidly closes.
“Wha-, so fas──”
I cut off his head. Right now, I feel like I can do anything. ──Next.
“Gyaaaaaaah!!”
“Wa-wai──”
“Ugyaaaaaaaaaah!!”
“I’m sorry! Please, just spare my li──”
I keep reaping lives one after another. Luke would surely show no mercy.
You can’t show even the slightest opening to people like this. You have to be thorough to the very end.
Three left. I need to leave one alive to extract information about Lily. As I’m thinking about this──
[──That’s enough, don’t you think? You pass.]
Out of nowhere, I hear a clear woman’s voice.
§
[──That’s enough, don’t you think? You pass.]
Abel reflexively turns towards the voice that came from nowhere. But there’s no one there. Then, next. He immediately sharpens his senses and searches for a presence. The reason he didn’t use magic detection, which he should have used many times before, was because the current Abel unconsciously understood.
That this way was better. However, the result was the same. Apart from the frightened men in front of him, he couldn’t find anyone. There was no presence either. That’s why Abel maintains his vigilance and concentrates.
[Your strength is sufficient. …Oh my, upon closer look, your face… No, it couldn’t be…]
“Where are you! Show yourself! Is… is Lily safe?!”
Abel couldn’t hold back and let out his emotions. The woman’s voice, strangely calm and devoid of any tension, was unbearably unpleasant. The owner of the voice is Nicole. She’s the person who previously hired mercenaries to kidnap Luke.
[…Lily is safe. I’ll let you hear her voice now. ──Abel]
“Lily!”
The voice changes. A slight relief that Lily is safe. And then, despair floods in all at once at the possibility that her life might be taken away soon.
[I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, sorry, sorry… I’m really sorry. …I let my guard down… I wasn’t thinking at all… I always act so high and mighty, but I’m such an idiot. I’m really… I’m so sorry. I──]
“──Stop apologizing, Lily. It sounds like you’re the one at fault. …When it’s all these bastards’ fault.”
Listening to Lily’s voice, weaker than he had ever heard before, Abel felt like his heart was being torn apart. Because the first thing she said wasn’t [Help me], but [I’m sorry], an apology.
(You’re strong, Lily…)
More than anything, she regretted becoming a burden to Abel in their current situation. Because he understood this, Abel felt frustrated and pained.
──Unforgivable. It’s absolutely unforgivable.
“If anything happens to Lily, I will never forgive you.”
Abel’s eyes darken. They seem to firmly capture Nicole through the crystal, even though she should be invisible, making her shudder a little.
“──Tch. Fine, if you want her released, you’ll obey my orders.”
“………… “
But even Nicole has things she absolutely cannot yield on. Without any special powers herself, all she can do is use everything at her disposal. Even if it means being ruthless. It’s not that Nicole feels no guilt.
However, there are things that must be done even if it means killing one’s own heart. That’s all there is to it. Therefore, she gives. ──A choice.
[──Kill Luke-Wizaria-Gilbert by the day after tomorrow. If you do, I’ll release her.]
In that instant, Abel experiences despair as if his heart has been grabbed.
Lily or Luke. A forced choice between the two.
“Eh…”
Unable to accept it immediately, yet faced with the reality that he doesn’t have the power to change the situation, Abel felt as if the night had become even darker.
[I’ll say it one more time. Kill Luke-Wizaria-Gilbert by the day after tomorrow. If you do, I’ll release her.]
Nicole gave a choice. But she didn’t give time. She knew from experience that it was more effective that way.
[Don’t forget, I’m always watching. It’s useless to think of anything clever. ──Well then, good luck.]
“W-wait! Wait a minute!”
He shouted reflexively. But there was no response. Still, there was one thing he wanted to say.
“Lily! You don’t need to worry about anything! I’ll definitely save you! Just hang in there a little longer! Everything will be alright! You don’t need to worry about anything!”
Abel shouted so loudly that he was slightly out of breath. Hoping that somehow this voice would reach her. The remaining mercenaries had already fled. Abel was aware of this, but given Nicole’s unclear presence, he had no choice but to let them go.
“…Haha… ha…”
He clearly felt something snap inside him.
Abel slowly and quietly fell to his knees and put his hands on the ground.
And he lightly punched the ground. A bit harder, he punched the ground. Even harder, he punched the ground. It gradually increased in intensity. No matter how much blood flowed from his fists, Abel continued to punch the ground without stopping.
Again and again and again──.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
A scream that tore through the night’s silence. Frustration, his own powerlessness, anger, hatred. Abel screamed as if spitting out all of these emotions mixed together in a jumble.
“I can’t protect anything! No matter how hard I try! I can’t protect anything at all! …Nothing… nothing at all…”
Tears fell drop by drop onto the ground. He was frustrated. Unbearably frustrated. Abel really hated himself for only being able to clench his teeth in frustration. He felt miserable and empty.
──Kill Luke-Wizaria-Gilbert by the day after tomorrow.
Nicole’s words resurface. He’s forced to remember how cruel this world can be.
“…What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do…”
There was no one to lend a hand to Abel as he could only hang his head and sink into the depths of despair.
There’s no power to save everything. Then I have to make a choice…
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