Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Hardened Will
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Leo and I often clashed over opinions.
It might've been because our roles in the party overlapped, but our fundamental personalities were just too different, leading to frequent arguments. But that day, Leo and I were in complete agreement for once.
"Fuck. We're screwed."
That annoyingly smart bastard.
I think so too.
I wanted to say it, but my mouth was frozen shut. No, to be precise, my entire body was frozen solid, leaving me unable to do anything.
When we finally reached the crumbling Demon King's Castle, it wasn't the Demon King who appeared before us, but the last of the Four Heavenly Kings. His name was unknown, but he wielded powerful magic that pushed our party to the brink of total annihilation multiple times.
We fought for three days and nights straight. The blue moon turned blood-red, and the solid earth split in two—a battle that fierce. But fuck, what did any of that matter? The only thing that counted was the outcome.
We did defeat him. But there were casualties.
Everyone had wounds big and small, but Rick and Bobby had it the worst. Rick's right index finger was severed clean off, effectively ending his career as an archer. Bobby had taken a blow to the head and was showing signs of mental instability.
Of course, I had it the worst of all.
Right before dying, the last Heavenly King muttered something at me, standing at the front. I dismissed it as meaningless deathbed babble and let my guard down. That's when my body started hardening from the toes up. And the moment his life flickered out, my entire body turned to stone, rigid as rock.
The instant he saw me petrifying, Leo hurriedly decapitated the Heavenly King, tossed his sword aside, and checked on me. Shaking my shoulders, shining light in my eyes, yanking hard on my outstretched arm—no change. Finally, he uttered the one phrase I'd ever agree with him on.
"Fuck. We're screwed."
"What do you mean? Something happen to Luca?"
Nadia was the first to rush over. The de facto leader of our party and my pillar of mental support, she quickly assessed the situation like the knight she was.
"Damn. A curse? Bobby! Come take a look!"
"Urk... ugh... Who's talking to me? How dare they... urk..."
Nadia urgently called for our priest Bobby, but he couldn't even stand properly. Biting her lip, she called for Sera instead.
"Then Sera will have to check. Sera! Where are you?"
"What? I'm busy right now. Rick's..."
"Fuck, don't go, Sera! My... my finger got cut off! The index finger! Do something, attach it somehow!"
"I'm trying! But a wound this messily severed—even I can't..."
"You're supposed to be a genius mage! If you can't do this, what kind of genius are you?!"
"Damn it. Stop your whining, Rick."
Leo stepped in to sort things out. He forcibly pulled Sera to her feet and dragged her over to me.
"Fucking finger isn't the issue. Luca could die like this."
"What? Luca's going to... die? No way!"
Startled, Sera bolted over at the mention of my death. Watching her chant various spells gave me a flicker of hope, but sadly, no results.
"How is it, Sera? Figure out the curse?"
"I... it's..."
"You don't know? Then spit it out quick. Don't waste time."
"Who said I don't know? Wait! I'm figuring it out!"
"Then hurry up. If it's draining life force, Luca's really done for."
"I got it, so shut up! You're yapping in my ear—can't concentrate!"
Sera yelled in frustration. Rick, clutching his wound, approached with a scowl.
"Damn... If you can't figure it out, look at my finger already. And is this guy even alive? Maybe he's dead?"
"Don't talk like that!"
"Then check already. See if he's dead or alive first. Then we decide whether to give up..."
Suddenly, Nadia punched Rick's cheek. Not full force, but enough to silence his whining.
"If you're just gonna spout pessimism, shut it, Rick. And honestly? Your finger's the hopeless one. Never heard of a cleanly severed limb regenerating. Better cauterize it with fire and stop the bleeding properly."
"What'd you say, you bitch...?"
Rick bristled in anger but backed off, knowing he couldn't match her strength, grinding his teeth as he retreated. Nadia watched his back, then turned to Sera.
"...So. Is he alive? Can you confirm?"
"Uh... well..."
"He's alive."
The last silent member finally spoke. As the party turned, Eli approached calmly.
"Look closely—the air's being sucked toward his nostrils. Means he's breathing."
"You can see that, Eli? I can't really tell..."
"Then feel with your finger."
A soft finger approached my nose. Amid the metallic blood scent, a clear mint aroma. Eli.
"See? Definitely breathing. Probably a curse that petrifies only the exterior without touching organs. Or Luca's magic resistance halved the effect."
Eli leaned in and whispered to me.
"How's that, Luca? Hear my voice? React if you can—blink or move a finger."
Damn it. Move.
But nothing budged. Eli scanned my body thoroughly, saw no response, closed her eyes softly, and said,
"Seems he can't signal. But he's alive."
"Is that so? Any way to lift it? You know?"
Nadia, finger at my nose, asked Eli urgently. Eli shook her head slightly.
"I don't know. Bobby and Sera need to step up. Right, Sera?"
"Huh? Yeah. Of course. I'll figure it out."
"Then let's set up a temporary camp, treat wounds, and research how to restore Luca."
"What? Set up camp here?"
Leo objected to Eli's suggestion.
"This is right in front of the Demon King's Castle. That's suicide."
"I don't think it's that risky. During the fight with the Heavenly King, no reinforcements came from the castle. They probably aren't in shape to attack us rashly either."
"Can't be sure. Maybe they're waiting for us to weaken."
"Then this is their prime chance. No movement means they don't want a fight either."
"Why not strike the Demon King now, then?"
"Without Luca?"
Leo shut his mouth at that. Despite the situation, I felt a twinge of pride.
"...Fine. Camp it is. Everyone's in bad shape anyway."
"Decision made—move quick. Sera, keep monitoring Luca. Leo and I will set up camp. Leo, tend to the wounded meanwhile."
"O... okay. I'll do my best."
"Let's move. Time's short."
Eli nodded, then leaned close and whispered,
"Hang on just a bit, Luca. I'll get you out."
Her small voice brimmed with certainty and resolve. Hearing it, I knew I'd be freed.
But that night, I realized the problem was when.
Nadia.
The start of it all, my mentor. And perhaps, my dream.
If a young girl's dream is to be a princess, a brash boy's is to be a knight. Most face reality in puberty and shelve it, but with few peers to teach me shame, I dreamed of knighthood into young adulthood. Even if the odds neared zero, miracles happen.
Nadia was that miracle.
She embodied the knight of my dreams. Unwavering poise, elegant swordsmanship, even refined beauty in the details. Watching her swing her longsword, golden hair flying, fueled my dream.
...
Well, recruiting Leo made three sword users, narrowing her role a bit. But she remained the party's leader and charismatic commander. Without her, we wouldn't have made it this far.
It was the seventh day of my petrification.
After camping, the party decided on night watches as always. Night is demon time—skip prep, and annihilation's inevitable.
That unusually bright moonlit night, Rick and Nadia pulled watch. Sloppy Rick and strict Nadia—worst pairing imaginable.
"...Fuck. I'm the injured one."
Rick griped every watch. Others ignored his personality, but not Nadia.
"It's a burden we all share. No complaints."
"Then why skip Bobby? Unfair."
"His mind's not right."
"Should've faked crazy and laid up. Honest folks lose in this world."
"If it were Luca."
Nadia suddenly mentioned me.
"Luca wouldn't complain. Even if his arm got cut off."
...
She trusted me that much.
I basked in sentiment, but Rick spat on the ground and scowled.
"Is it a crime I'm not as dumb as that guy?"
"Rick! Don't talk like that!"
"Why? Gonna punish me, Knight?"
"Keep yapping nonsense, and I won't forgive you."
"Ha..."
Rick stood, muttering.
"Fucking useless bitch."
"What was that?"
"Going to the bathroom. Not policing that too, right?"
They glared. Nadia shook her head and looked away first.
"Fine. Go. But don't take forever."
"If it takes long, it takes long."
Rick grumbled off beyond my sight. Nadia watched, then sighed and relaxed her rigid posture. Tilting her head, she yawned.
"Fuuu..."
First time seeing that. She never yawned or slouched in front of others—her vulnerability felt so out of place. Staring oddly at me, she spoke.
"Luca. You're one tiring guy."
Tell me about it.
I answered silently to the unhearing her.
"Just when I thought you were getting usable, you up and freeze alone. What am I supposed to do?"
...Sorry, Master.
"Well, you earned a break. Tougher training than most knight cadets. Comparing you to those generic types is unfair—you're different."
Thanks, even if just words.
Never said that before. Hearing it now as stone felt bittersweet, yet a chance to glimpse her true feelings was amusing.
"Honestly, didn't expect this from you. First meeting, you seemed... yeah, like a typical country bumpkin. Don't take it bad—anyone would've thought so."
So that's why. She was brutal at first. Swing sword all day, sleep exhausted, wake and repeat. Nearly quit countless times. But dreaming of becoming like her kept me going.
Memories flashed by. Nadia smiled, recalling similar.
"Might've pushed extra hard because of that. Sorry. But you grew a lot, right?"
Oh, really?
"Words can't repay your hardship. Truth is, watching you struggle to catch up was kinda fun. Cute, even."
Nadia scratched her cheek, glancing aside. Moonlight maybe, but her cheeks seemed flushed.
"Jeez. Rambling to a guy who might not hear."
She shook her head, coughed lightly, and continued.
"Never properly praised you once, huh?"
Yeah.
Nadia glanced around, stood, and approached. Hesitating, she bit her lip. Her seriousness made me swallow hard involuntarily.
After long hesitation, she shyly leaned in, awkwardly pressing her lips to my forehead like a first kiss.
Soft, warm sensation on stone skin startled me—I twitched inside. Even petrified, I felt her vividly. Her body heat and this kiss electrified my frozen body.
"...Ahem."
Nadia pulled back slowly, gazing. Never seen her this close. No illusion—flushed cheeks, long lashes hit me: Nadia was a woman too.
"That's my... praise. Dunno if you'll remember, but if you're watching..."
She hesitated again, whispering in my ear.
"Keep it secret from the others."
...
Obviously.
Who'd I tell?
Unaware of my thoughts, she sighed wearily and stepped back, irritably scanning around.
"Where the hell is he? Not one likable thing about that guy."
Rick hadn't returned. Nadia clicked her tongue and walked away from me.
"Gonna have to say something. Rick! Where are you?!"
She'll wake everyone yelling like that.
Wanted to stop her, but mouth sealed. She left.
...
If I could return fast, this petrification wasn't so bad.
How much time passed? Night darkened, vision blurred—other senses sharpened. Heightened hearing caught weird noises from behind.
Sounded like a fight. Probably Nadia and Rick. Their argument quieted suddenly, then a ominous thud.
What happened? I strained to listen, but silence. Senses faded one by one, sleep overtaking. Fearing death, I resisted but succumbed. Please, nothing serious. My last futile wish.