Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: 45-4. A Helplessness That Devours People
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The backlash from combining the Fallen Route Glitch and Demon King Slayer.
My five viscera and six bowels twisted, blood vessels bursting all over my body, blood streaming from my eyes and mouth.
Thank goodness I took out the opponent in one go. Otherwise, I would've dropped dead on the spot.
"Licht..!!"
"I'm.. fine.."
Pine cried out upon seeing the blood trickling from between my helmet. At least the Authority of Force had worn off, letting me move again.
My legs gave out in an instant. My balance crumbled right away, and my vision sank.
"..Licht. You need to take better care of yourself."
I thought I'd face-plant into the dirt, but Pine caught me and held me up.
We sat leaning against the rubble of the collapsed temple.
"Pine, your hand…."
I took a ragged breath, steadying myself. My body wouldn't listen, tangled up like a cassette tape spilling out everywhere.
"Got it. Licht."
Even through the Masterpiece gear's hum, her voice carried more worry for me than anyone else's.
My blurry vision showed the status window floating up. Quite the jump from before.
Just like with Nex, I'd managed to patch it up.
"Kai..! Kai..!! You idiot!! Why'd you fight alone like that!!"
"Ariel…. I'm dizzy…. Stop…."
Right at my feet, Ariel was sobbing while hugging the fully healed Kainel.
How worried must she have been? She'd nearly watched the one she loves die right in front of her.
I knew that helpless feeling of watching a loved one die all too well. I'd been through it myself.
"Good thing you're okay.."
As if denying me outright, a single sword returned to Kainel.
The ownership of the Light Holy Sword was over. There's only one holy sword granted to each hero, after all.
"Licht. You're really okay, right..? No other injuries…."
With a rustle, my armor vanished, leaving me in just my old helmet. Pine spoke as she looked me over.
"..Pine, aren't you scared of me?"
This game world had nearly been destroyed once because of the Hero Cult.
Just like Kainel had his trauma, the Demon King didn't have a great reputation here.
Pine Granasia tilted her head slightly at my words.
"Cute.. puppy, scary..?"
Thud. She slowly laid me across her lap. I'd ended up with Pine's lap as my pillow.
"P-Pine..? Wait.. this is..?"
"Stay still. Listen to your big sis..?"
She pressed down on my chest, and I couldn't get up.
I squirmed to rise but failed. Completely pinned by Pine sis.
"Hehe, humans really are weak after all."
"...."
Beating the full strength of the Wolf King who unified the continent would be the weird part, Pine.
Embarrassment flooded me, and I covered my face with my arms. Good thing I had the helmet. My face must be red as an apple.
'..I'd hide in a rat hole if there was one right now.'
Pine kept trying to pry my arms away, curious about my expression. Words from the past echoed in my mind.
The part about not minding if I got burned. About facing hardships together. A sentence that tickled a corner of my heart.
She'd always been like this.
Grabbing me if I ran, extending a hand first when I was scared and trembling.
The inrang tribe woman whose warm heart stayed straight and true, even as the Nameless Saintess.
I was a lousy Black Knight who hadn't even properly confessed knowing her true identity yet.
"..Pine, thank you. Always."
"Hehe, you're late on thanks to your sis, Licht."
I wanted to at least say thanks. It was the right thing to do.
What if I hadn't gotten caught up in the temple trial with Pine Granasia?
Would I have clung to the happiness I wanted and given up on the present? If I went by what the status window told me.
"Probably, without you, I never could've escaped that temple trial."
The past is the past. Some memories belong tucked away behind it.
"..Kainel and Ariel held out great too."
One worry down. If I hadn't used the holy sword's barrier against the ancient god's power, Ariel might've been in danger.
"Ariel, stop crying. I told you I'm fine.."
"I was so worried!!"
My eyes met Kainel's nearby. The hero snorted at the sight of me lying on Pine's lap.
"..Still, that was pretty Light Hero of you, huh? Ariel?"
You're bragging, aren't you? The guy who barely survived death acting so nonchalant—it was ridiculous.
"For real!! Don't ever fight again..!!"
Ariel, furious at his words, was pounding his chest with tiny fists.
He actually looked like it hurt. Ariel, why do you keep overlapping with someone? Is this normal?
'They say people in love start to resemble each other.'
Childhood friends who couldn't be honest with their hearts.
Knowing each other better than anyone, yet keeping distance, running parallel lines.
"Ariel. I said stop hitting…."
"Don't ever do something so reckless again.."
Like flint striking sparks. The two were clashing feelings head-on, hiding nothing.
"Hey, Kai."
"Yeah? Ariel. What?"
The red-haired mage stopped crying and stared straight at the hero's face. Their eyes met softly.
"..Nothing."
Close call. Thought she was confessing.
Blushing, she turned her head aside. Total tsundere. The type who couldn't be honest with her feelings.
"Really nothing? Ariel?"
Kainel grinned and grabbed her. No way, you rascal….
"..I have something to say."
The blond hero wiped the tears from Ariel's eyes as she cried. A whatever-happens-happens look.
"Where to start? Right, while fighting the Demon King earlier, I saw my life flash before my eyes."
Kainel gazed at the half-ruined temple ceiling, murmuring. The Light Holy Sword illuminated his drained face.
"Saw a kid from my childhood, vaguely idolizing his big bro."
The two who'd used a combo attack. Probably couldn't safely due to the Authority of Force—my mistake too.
"So stupid. What was so cool about it? I followed my bro, yapping about slaying the Demon King, becoming a cool knight…."
He sighed emptily, staring at the holy sword.
"..Until the day before my brother died."
Kainel's brother died in the war. Specifically, murdered by a Demon King named Finn.
The Force Demon King.
The blue-haired woman I saw earlier seemed like his sister. Not sure how they shared the title, but her authority confirmed it.
"So before the Light Holy Sword chose me, I holed up in my room and wouldn't come out."
Why he held back on Hero Cult talk when I first met him.
Mentioning family history could've wrecked our rapport instantly.
"Kai, I had no idea…."
Even childhood friend Ariel was hearing this backstory for the first time. Something he'd buried deep.
"....After the holy sword chose me, I acted like I was somebody."
Guilt over failing to protect his brother gave him an obsession.
Over-relying on the holy sword to judge enemies, flailing to prevent sacrifices to the Demon King.
That was the protagonist I knew from [Black Heart]. The Light Hero Kainel.
"Then, one elf showed up for that bratty kid."
He fiddled with her drooping elf ears and continued.
"Clicking her tongue, getting mad sometimes…."
But sorting her tear-matted hair, treating Ariel preciously.
"My kind, pretty childhood friend who always thought of me first."
Kainel gently turned Ariel's head to face him. Now eye to eye.
"Wanna know what I thought right before dying?"
Red eyes and blue eyes pulled like magnets.
"Honestly, more than dying myself…."
"K-Kai..?"
"I hated the thought of you dying. A ton."
That was the moment. Short breaths mingled, and the hero's lips brushed the mage's, then parted.
Time around us seemed to slow for an instant.
"..I've always liked you. Ariel."
Kainel flashed a bright smile and confessed his love.
The confession scene was barely visible. Can't we skip the dialogue?
"Eep.."
The red-haired mage, not grasping the situation, let out a small scream with her mouth slightly agape.
"Ugh, that ugly crybaby face is gone. Good."
"..W-What? Was it a joke..? Kai..?!"
Amused by her reaction, Kainel teased her by pinching her cheeks.
Only 50%. Half the Love Meter left.
To see the Grand Route ending, I'd need to fill another 50%.
'Still, progress.'
The hero only got honest facing death. Huge growth, even including me who'd passed my trials.
"Nah, no way it's a joke. Won't give me an answer? Ariel?"
"...."
Kainel pressed for a response to his confession. The red-haired mage….
"I dunno, Kai.. I don't know…."
Unable to control her flushed ears and face.
"..Kiss me once more."
She pushed bolder.
They say a shy cat climbs the stove first. Guess it's true.
Pine Granasia tilted her head.
Watching Kainel and Ariel confirm their feelings and grin ear to ear, she felt puzzled.
'Why are they…. acting like that?'
They'd just survived death. So why did they suddenly seem even closer?
Her face said she couldn't understand. Staring intently, helmet off.
"Pine, maybe close your eyes right now."
Licht, lying on her lap, said shortly as she gawked at the hero couple's kiss fest.
Thump, thump.
The earlier scene hadn't moved her much. But the moment her eyes met Licht's, Pine Granasia's heart raced like it'd malfunctioned.
An indescribable sensation.
Lately, just seeing this man made her feel off. Wanting to know more, stay by his side, support him….
Then—ku-gu-gu-gung! A rumble echoed. Stairs to the basement appeared in the temple floor.
'..No way, it can't be.'
The girl ignorant of love shoved her worries aside for now.