Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientsit
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Eli
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A wind blew in from far away.
Heat seeped from the blood-soaked air. The hot, fishy, damp breeze greeted my flushed face. It felt leisurely as it drifted in from the distance, then wrapped around my fingers like it was tugging at my hand, chiding me for being so late.
"Haa..."
I mixed my breath with that wind and took a step forward. The world breathed with me, slowly caressing my hardened heart. It deliberately made my heart race and tension ripple through my body, as if it had no choice but to do so. Because someone was waiting for me there. Because I was anticipating that meeting with a thrill.
No. I denied it as I walked on. No one was there. Just the Demon King I hadn't met back then, lurking in wait. Nothing but pure malice coiled up with vicious schemes was waiting for me.
...No.
She's there. She's there.
As I denied it, a familiar girl's voice echoed in my mind. Who could it be? Eli? Or Rachel? I tried pinning the name of a girl I knew, then shook my head. It was clear now who was speaking to me. Probably you.
No need to ask to confirm. I had no words for you anyway. You, who still demanded I give everything—you lost the right to talk to me long ago.
I shut my ears like a horse charging into diagonal fire and narrowed my vision straight ahead. The experience of being trapped in that stone for the first time proved useful now. Your voice faded a bit, and my mind cleared.
"...Aaaah...!"
But then another voice rang out. It was clearly a stranger's, yet it felt familiar somehow. I didn't plug my ears this time. Other voices joined in.
"Uwaaah...!"
"Aaaah...!"
"Uwaaah! Ugh...!"
With each step closer, the sounds grew more varied and immense. Clashing weapons, tearing flesh, air hissing from lungs, hearts bursting. Noises of daily life more familiar to me now than human laughter. As I moved forward without emotion, something suddenly caught my eye.
Thud.
...
I stopped. A thick pool of blood flowed toward my feet like a red carpet welcoming me. The path I'd walked. My fate. It all seemed laid out before me. Instinctively, I followed the trail of blood, then slowly, very slowly, lifted my head.
And gazed at the shattered cross-section of the sky.
Until moments ago, demons had been pouring out of a hole there. Now, nothing remained but traces of it. Instead, faint cracks ran from the broken edge downward, leading somewhere. I knew instinctively that was where I had to go.
"Haa..."
My body exhaled a tense breath on its own. Why was I tense? It was just the Demon King there. Just some villain unrelated to me.
...No. She's there. The one who looked only at you. The one who could never cut you down.
It was no different from what I always did. People unrelated to me. Events unrelated to me. If they got in the way, I just removed them. No reason to feel anything.
...No. This time it's different from usual. Steel your heart.
Just cut her down, and it's over. Break her arms, sever her neck, grab the head, smash the brain, scatter the spilling brains. Then everything ends.
...At least that much was right.
You have to sever her neck.
Because that's your fate.
"...Haaa..."
Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted in. A smell that shouldn't be here, so achingly familiar, filled my lungs. I shouldn't let it. I looked up to find the source, and my eyes fell there again. The site where the sky had shattered. The end of my fate. The end of the blood-soaked carpet.
"No."
I gritted my teeth. This was deception. Another of the Demon King's tricks. Clutching my sword tight, I thought: Don't waver. This isn't what you think it is.
I stopped thinking. But my eyes stayed fixed ahead. The summer heat of twilight poured vividly over my face. I pushed away the familiar sensation I felt so clearly.
And started running.
The ground fell away in an instant, wind clawing my cheeks. Thump. Thump. Thump. Each rough step made my heart pound, pumping blood through my body. As blood and heat surged to my hands, feet, head—everywhere—my senses sharpened, and my forcibly closed hearing and vision opened wide. The screams and slaughter sounds from afar closed in instantly, tickling my body.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
"Uwaaah!!! Aaaah!!!"
"Damn it!!! Run!!! Run away!!!"
"Don't run! We're the Empire! If we fall, it's all over!"
Humans thrashed to protect, demons charged to seize. Screams from those stabbing to avoid loss, to avoid being taken—it was maddeningly familiar, tormenting. How pathetic the words of humans who'd locked themselves in giant stones.
The city wall came into view. I kicked off with all my strength and drew a deep breath.
"Huuuuh..."
Below, a demon's face entered my sight. A creature whose mind held nothing but plunder—no room for many emotions. Unlike my choices so far, deciding its fate was too easy, too simple.
Just like what I planned for that Demon King.
The moment I finished thinking, I was already plummeting straight at it. Sensing something strange, it and the nearby humans looked up simultaneously. What they thought seeing me descend from the sky, I couldn't know.
The only certainty: the moment I cleaved its body in half and bathed in its blood, I felt a moment of peace.
"...!!!"
"Huuup...!"
With the sound of its eyeball mashing with its tongue as its final words, I hurled myself toward the gap in the wall where demons swarmed. Just shoulder-checking the front-runner collapsed their formation like dominoes; countless demons screamed and tumbled below the wall. I pulverized the guts and flesh of those still atop, scattering them into the air, then paused to catch my breath and wipe the blood from my sword.
"Haa..."
Blood and entrails dripped over my face. I let the sticky fluids flow without wiping them, just streaming down my face. Between breaths, the fishy yet familiar smell thickened. Slaughter felt inseparable from my life now. I shook my sword roughly and looked up.
And faced the people's cheers, like fate.
"It's the Hero! The Hero's back!"
"Finally! The Hero's here at last!"
"We won! We're saved now!"
From a scene mixed with despair and grief leaking as screams, hope began crawling out. Cheers, wishes, expectations clutched my ankles, trying to drape the Hero's name over me again. Calling that name, demanding salvation once more.
Blind to how much that name had stolen from me, threatening to take more.
"Haaa..."
I drew another deep breath. Demons swarmed below the wall, and beyond them, something pure white gleamed. The instant I saw it, I shook off the cheers like clinging shadows and leaped down toward the base.
"Kieeeek!!!"
For the first time, a demon screamed. In a battle they'd dominated, spotting a mad human charging them must have been terrifying. I slammed my sword down with full force; dust billowed, mixed with mangled corpse chunks flying up.
"Huuuuh...!!!"
My ragged breath scattered in the air as I took in the demons surrounding me. All filled with fear. How did I look in their eyes? Not a Hero, surely. Maybe a monster.
Yes. That was better. Monsters owed no duties. Shaking off the Hero's name, I became a monster again, swinging my sword wildly as I charged them. Soon, their screams filled my ears.
"Kiek! Kieeek!"
"Uuuuh...!!!"
Their screams were no different from humans'. Dyed in emotion, just as pathetic and plaintive. Didn't matter. I was a monster. No emotions, no matter how much blood soaked me.
Stab, slash, smash, uppercut, rip open. In one breath, I took dozens of lives, charging madly. Block, and I'd crush flesh with weapons; no block, and they'd die unaware. Scenery flashing by shattered by my hand; brutal destruction tore the space. Each time, screams rang out, and I bellowed over them.
"Uwaaaaa!!!"
Tougher, stronger foes stuck now; I felt it in the sword's feedback. But I ignored it. Stronger foe? Thrust harder. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of demons charged to stop just me, but none even grazed my clothes before crumbling. Fragility wasn't just humanity's world. This whole world was too frail.
Why was such a world so cruel only to her?
"...!!!"
A stray thought made the sword hilt slip from my sweaty hand. Seizing the chance, a massive demon body-slammed me.
"Uwooo..."
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
But before it could roar, I charged barehanded, grabbed its neck, and tore it out. It collapsed writhing without screaming; I mounted it, howling as I ripped flesh and guts.
"Aaaah!!! Uwaaaah!!! Aaaaaa!!!"
"...! ...! ...!"
Each thrust made its body buck, hot steam gushing. Unaware why, I pulverized it till my vision drowned in blood.
"Uwaaaah! Uuuh! Uuuuh..."
In moments, nothing but bones remained. Panting raggedly, I snapped my head up. Yes, who next? Which one comes now?
Looking around, I saw demons hesitating.
"..."
"U...uuuh..."
"Auuu..."
Each glance made them stare in utter terror. As I staggered up and stepped forward, some collapsed, legs giving out, scrambling back. No one scolded them. They just retreated with the same faces.
"Haa... haa..."
I stared, then picked up my fallen sword. This nameless blade bore countless names. I flicked off the blood into the air and looked up.
And finally faced the end of my fate.
A dazzlingly alien space stretched before me. Amid the blood-drenched battlefield, white stairs unrolled like the Milky Way in the night sky. At their end stood something lofty, scattering clear radiance even in twilight. It loomed, gazing down at me—or perhaps just into the void—subtly wavering, exuding presence.
And a familiar scent subtly spread.
"..."
I began walking slowly. The demons blocking my path parted, making way to the end. I'd seen crowds surround me before, but never so filled with fear.
But such thoughts vanished the moment my foot touched the first stair. That white, strangely soft texture tickled underfoot, burrowing into my heart. Less stepping on stairs, more strolling a meadow.
"..."
This was surely made for that massive being above. Yet I climbed with eerie comfort. Each step matched my stride perfectly, so familiar. As if waiting for me. As if my approach was fate itself.
"...Haa."
Overwhelming hospitality left me at a loss. Rage boiled up. Mocking me too, are you? Already deceiving, fooling me.
With this endlessly wafting familiar scent.
"Bastard..."
In that instant, like a reckless boy, I stomped the stairs wildly and charged upward.
Like those days running thoughtlessly to become a knight, a Hero. Clutching my pounding heart, I raced to the end. At this path's close stood the Demon King who'd bound my fate. The emotion I should feel now was one: seething rage. I shook off all others while running.
Breath filled to bursting, stairs ended, sky-beyond scenery appeared. The lofty fated face waiting chin-up entered view. I bellowed with all my might.
"Demon King!!!"
At my call, the end of fate—shrouded in years—turned toward me.
Unlike me, soaked in blood, the Demon King gazed wrapped in white, soft shell. Skin like silk or plant bark endlessly swept its massive body. No arms, no legs; it resembled a castle more. Even felt like it was reproaching me for not turning back then.
I leaped at the castle without hesitation. Simultaneously, as if waiting, pure white wings unfurled from its back. Thus, at heaven's edge, the Hero and Demon King clashed violently.
!!!
Wings met sword; the white shell encasing shattered with a crack, chunks crumbling down. Not fully collapsed, so I grabbed a wing, leaped higher, and slashed deeper.
"...!"
The Demon King twisted instantly, wings flaring wide. Feathers bristled, aimed at me. Like stars soon to speckle the night sky, the heaven-full feathers suddenly rained toward me.
"Ugh...!"
One feather grazed my still-airborne shoulder, splattering a drop of blood. I landed swiftly, caught breath, honed instinct over sight, raised my sword. Began batting down incoming feathers.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
Sharp rather than heavy, each targeted vitals; I swung to deflect all. Shattered, splintered feathers stabbed the ground, fragmenting, whitening the earth. The glare blinded; I closed my eyes, paradoxically dancing madly in white world's sole darkness.
Vision gone, other senses sharpened. Forcibly sealed ones drank surroundings instinctively upon opening. Soon, dormant smell awoke in dark, the ignored scent piercing my nose.
Yes. Lethally vivid mint fragrance.
"Ugh...!"
Each feather shattered spread mint bloom scent, summer memories flooding my dark vision. Look here. Open your eyes, face me. Luca. I'm here. Here. Closed sight conjured fancies; impossible voices sounded.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
I screamed to drown it, but reality's voice couldn't bury dream's echoes. Swinging sword, snapping feathers barehanded—mint stabbed nose. Eerily refreshing now, dizzying, cold seeping eye-corners.
Open your eyes, Luca. Don't ignore. Look at me. Girl's voice came; closed lids all white. Forcing back tears threatening to spill, as I screamed again—another voice.
Can't you turn to me now?
"Ah...!"
The youth who'd never looked back, lost everything—finally opened his eyes. The last feather he'd snapped burst, flowering before him. Beyond, the Demon King gazing, spread bony wings wide.
"...!!!"
"Aaaah...!"
In that instant, surrounding space crumpled, brutally compressing me. Heavy air, shattered spaces, the whole world crushed to smash me to earth.
"Aa...uuuh...!"
A seen sight. That day in snowfield, a girl's cries warping space in frenzy echoed in ears. Time now to face her. As you wished, one last time to meet her.
"Auh...uuh..."
Body near breaking. Crush like this, become world's another bloody tear; earth swallows me. Mocking: What'd you say? This your fate. Again that damned fate taunting.
"Uuuuh...!!!"
I raised my head. Even unwanted fate—time to strip its garb, see truth.
"Uuuugh...!!!"
Overcoming crushing gravity, I forced my head up. Demon King slowly folded wings, hiding its face. Like shy bride veiling blush, lover burying face in arms.
"Huuu...!"
Panting, I raised sword to slash the veil. Time to meet fate. End all. Even if despair, even if crumble. Even if.
Truly you. Are there.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
I spread legs near-bursting, leaped over Demon King's head. Raised sword to dying sun, slashed wings with all might. All time poured in. All pain endured poured in.
"Demon King!!!"
"...!!!"
Sword hit wing—instant shatter, white shards bursting softly. Not sharp, they fluttered gently skyward. Cleaving wings, I plummeted earthward; undeniable mint scent soaked me. Fell into Demon King's embrace-like, face-planted ground.
"Ugh!"
Soft ground cradled like childhood tumble. Clutching stinging nose, I snapped head up. Can't relax yet. Demon King still...
...
That instant, all motion stopped; I stared blankly ahead.
White shell encasing Demon King crumbled, flowing down. White shards—no, petals—fluttered on wind, sticking to my face; mixed with red sunset, white glare stung eyes painfully.
Like a bud blooming. After harsh winter, all pains overcome, spring-returned flower drunk on blood finally unfurling leaves, revealing slender form. Leaves not fully open, yet I trembled head to toe.
"Ah..."
Following my sword-slash trace, crumbling petals melted on landing; between, a figure flickered. Like petals white-dyed, pure white dress scattered in wind; slender body within emerged—I bit lip.
"..."
My fate turned toward me. From afar, still petal-trapped, she heaved chest, deep-breathing.
Regulating breath long, she approached slowly. Less stepping, more gliding, softly brushing air—sudden atop her shoulder.
Jet-black hair. Cascaded down.
Night-black hair scattered over face. Neat yet tousled, wind-tossed strands mixed red sunset glow.
"Ah..."
Step by step. Closer, her face sharpened. Long lashes under, chocolate-near brown eyes reflected me; squirrel-cute upturned nose cleaved mint-filled world. Cheeks no blush but ominous black waves tattoo-like spread; hands twig-thin skeletal—but she was unchanged.
"Aaah..."
Kneeling on ground, I watched her approach. Form not yet clear, yet I intuited her identity.
"Ah...ugh..."
Couldn't deny now even if wanted. Instead, deep-buried doubts surged.
Does that sun-like smile I loved dwell inside? The yellow flower blooming unbidden in heart—does it sleep there?
But such doubts irrelevant. As she neared, mint scent spread familiarly—her name slowly slipped my lips.
"Eli."
"..."
Eli didn't reply. Just gazed with stern expression I'd never seen.
"Eli..."
"..."
Her eyes turned to distant bloodied horizon. In years we hadn't met, so much blood flowed, corpses piled. Through that long time, we'd changed so much. But no matter changes, events— one certain: You were Eli.
"Eli..."
I tried calling again, trailed off, bit lip. She didn't scold for lateness, rage it was over. Just watched me.
"I...I..."
Wish-granted youth tentatively reached hand. Desperately hoping she'd take it. So much packed in; much lost, now only one hand left—still ringed.
But Eli didn't take it. Cold gaze dusted hand-back like ash. Finally, hand to ground, I collapsed prone. Hardened heart shattered, thick blood flowed.
And parched eyes leaked hot tears.
"Ah..."
"...Hic..."
"...Ah...ah-hic..."
"Ah-ugh...aa...ah-huu...hic..."
"Aaa...aa-ugh...haa...haaaa...hic..."
"Aa...ah....huhu-hic...aaa...aaaa....ugh...aa..."
Hero. Monster. Stone lump. Lorenheim villager.
All names washed in tears, slipped finger-gaps.
Left only: foolish child.
Child chosen by cruel fate by mishap.
Foolish idiot staring ahead, running, tripping—then looking back.
That child clutched self, wept long, just a bit.
"..."
Scrape.
Sudden, cloth-brush skin sound; shadow fell over head. Last hope, I looked up. Eli's face, leaning toward me.
"Ah...ah-ugh...haa...hic..."
Still sobbing, I hiccupped foolishly, gazing up. Sorry, Eli. Sorry so late. Sorry couldn't protect. Unsaid words piled, but throat choked, silent. Watching me, soft smile bloomed on Eli's lips.
"We finally meet."
Gentle, serene voice rang in ears. Time froze; surrounding noise hushed.
"My Hero."
Eli's bony fingers gently brushed my rough eyes. Illusion? Something flickered in hers too.
"Here."
Before grasping it, Eli closed eyes, knelt before me. Head bowed, sand-dust or pollen fell from her. And with nose-piercing mint, her final words rang clear.
"Now, sever my neck."