I tightly gripped the blade with both hands, trying to block with the blade and cut through his leg. But instead, the claws collided with the blade, and due to the difference in mass, I was pathetically flung backward.
 
I was now airborne.
 
A second or so of airtime, a huge opening.
 
I couldn’t counter in time.
 
The path to the finishing blow loomed ahead.
 
The horned ape, without pause, planted his left leg as a pivot and aimed to thrust at me from a low stance.
 
If I took this blow, my body … Read the rest

 
This technique is not one that elevates both parties. It’s just a technique to press the opponent’s head to the ground.
 
I stand alone in the sacred forest, feeling empty.
 
I abandoned my status, honor, and responsibilities, betraying many people, yet I gained nothing. I didn’t even achieve a small wish.
 
—No, not yet.
 
Ending it like this would be uninteresting.
 
There might still be unexplored possibilities.
 
I turn my mind as I did earlier. I deliberately avoid setting victory as my goal. I calculate the possibilities on my side. With a flexibility close to daydreaming, I examine my mind, … Read the rest

 
I couldn’t do this unconsciously. I had to be fully aware. My arm swings and blade clashes surpassed my own voice. At this speed, mere countering would tear my arms off, so I strengthened them moment by moment to keep them attached.
 
By the time I started hearing sounds, I had already stopped the ape’s fall and was transitioning to my next move.
 
I threw both machetes upwards, spinning them like boomerangs. Then, I quickly bent my knees and jumped.
 
With the advantage in my favor, I now fought barehanded.
 
Had I gone mad?
 
But my brain said this was … Read the rest

By focusing on the twist of muscles and the flow of movement, I could discern the genuine strikes, though there was always an element of chance.
 
In other words, a moment of distraction could mean death, and even without distraction, death was a possibility.
 
“Haha.”
 
This is it. It’s terrifying, and it feels good.
 
Horned Ape felt the same.
 
We grew bored with just using our hands and added forward and backward movements, leaping and clashing mid-air.
 
Introducing height added another layer of complexity. Holding a higher position was advantageous due to gravity, but staying airborne too long created vulnerabilities.… Read the rest

Chapter 10: Puppet Play
 

 
I’m running through the labyrinth.
 
Every now and then, I stop for no particular reason.
 
Usually, there are a few adventurers around, but today there’s no one. Everyone’s in town for the Festival.
 
It’s the same path I took before, but the scenery has changed once again.
 
It doesn’t feel chaotic. The air flows naturally, pooling where it should and flowing where it needs to. I trample over it, leaving my footprints.
 
This is, let’s see, the fifteenth floor.
 
It’s like a cave. The walls are a dusty pale blue, with a high ceiling far … Read the rest

However, there was no longer any point in hiding it, so I decided to speak.
 
“The brain enhancement, what Vim calls [Puppeteer]—”
 
This was something I had never told anyone, not even Vim himself.
 
“—It likely has side effects.”
 
Both Camilla and Abel fell silent at my unexpected revelation.
 
“[Puppeteer] excessively strains the brain. Vim only recognized it as something that would cause damage if it failed, but even if it didn’t, forcing such a delicate organ to function unnaturally would likely have some side effects.”
 
I had noticed for quite some time that Vim was acting strange.
 
“The current … Read the rest

Chapter 9: Please, If You Will
 

 
“Sorry to disturb you on festival night, Heidemarie, Abel.”
 
Camilla, sitting at her desk in the office,
 
looked more tired and less spirited than usual.
 
It was likely due to the adventurers’ guild’s cooperation request or inquiry about the 【Dragon’s Wings】 purchasing a dark map. Given that 【Night Dragonflies】 was on bad terms with 【Twilight Owl】, and with the potential misuse of secret teleportation circle, it was probable that questions about Laura had also been raised.
 
The city was in an uproar because of the incident’s aftermath.
 
However, amidst the chaos in Villeborn, … Read the rest

My eyes catch Chronos’s sword.
 
It’s still coming down, and my blade misses it completely.
 
Chronos’s sword is too slow.
 
I easily counter. I rotate my right wrist, hitting the sword’s hilt with the back of my blade.
 
Chronos is knocked off balance and falls.
 
“…Huh?”
 
He makes a foolish sound, not understanding what happened.
 
I don’t get it either.
 
No, I understand perfectly. I saw everything.
 
The constraints I’ve unconsciously placed on my assessment of Chronos fall away.
 
Was he always this weak?
 
Chronos seems to sense my realization. He stands and charges again, swinging wildly from the right.… Read the rest

 
“Did you buy the house instead of renting it so you could give it to Laura?
 
She could always see through to the deeper intention.
 
“Yes.”
 
“Did you suspect anything about the dark map issue?”
 
“Well… maybe. I felt like I needed to prepare something in advance.”
 
It’s not a lofty act of atonement. I’m always much more selfish.
 
It was all a precaution to lessen my guilt. The technique to help her walk again, everything.
 
“I’m not going to tell you that you don’t need to feel responsible. It’s pointless.”
 … Read the rest

 
 
That night, I had promised to go around the festival with Laura.
 
My steps felt heavy. But a promise is a promise, so I had to keep it.
 
Since Laura’s situation had made it into the papers, we decided to wear deep hoods as a simple disguise.
 
Well, it still stood out, but it was better than nothing.
 
We arrived at the stalls by the central square. It was said to be a must-see spot during the festival.
 
It lived up to its reputation and was quite spectacular. Unlike other random stalls, all the … Read the rest