43
Chapter 43
Rubia felt like she was going to lose her mind at any moment.
'What in the world is that Leader doing?'
She hadn't even spent that much time with that child. What kind of trick did he use to make her so obsessed?
It defied common sense.
But no matter how absurd it was, reality was reality.
It seemed the Leader had completely bewitched the girl.
'What am I supposed to do about this.......'
It was only natural for Rubia to agonize over this.
As an entrepreneur, nothing was more important than reading people's emotions.
The emotion dwelling in that child's eyes, her unwavering resolve, belonged to the sort that would never be broken.
They were the eyes of a stubborn person who wouldn't compromise an inch.
As the girl had confidently declared, she wouldn't back down a single step until she was allowed to unleash her sword again.
'Why is she going that far....'
Logically, she could just do nothing and live a life of leisure. Why would she insist on doing something so dangerous?
Besides, she only sent that sword flying as a threat earlier.
She only did it to show them how dangerous things could get, intending to advise them against joining.
And yet, that weakling who couldn't even block that wants to join Black Fang?
Don't make me laugh!
You're all completely unqualified!
That was what she had declared.
However, the girl's words had made it a foregone conclusion. This place had unwittingly turned into Black Fang's interview room.
'I-I'm not some amazing person who can handle this kind of thing in the first place!'
Could he be an entity from outside this world?
The Leader was so powerful that it made her think such thoughts.
Then there was the black-haired half-elf brat, so competent and strong that she wondered if there was anything he couldn't do.
And finally, the girl with monstrous strength, who was usually incredibly clumsy but sometimes became more terrifying than anyone else.
She was so weak that being grouped into the same organization as those people was overwhelming.
She had no talent for magic.
Let alone a Fireball, she couldn't even use a single Light Magic spell.
She hated physical exercise, too.
She had terrible stamina, panting heavily after a single push-up.
Flying Sword.
She had shown off a flashy display of freely making a sword fly around, though.
'That was only possible because it was an Artifact!'
Rubia recalled what had happened this morning.
-Take this.
-Huh?
-Its Mana efficiency is a bit poor, so using magic is more effective. But for someone who can't use magic, there's no better self-defense tool than this.
-T-thank you.
-You can use it right away by just dropping a drop of blood and chanting the Incantation. The Incantation is long, so I wrote it down in a note. You just have to memorize it as is.
-H-how do you know about something like that.
-......The instructions were written in that guy's warehouse.
If the original owner of the Artifact had known how to use it, it obviously wouldn't have been left in an undeveloped state.
It was a completely transparent lie.
Still, it was clear he had figured it out using a power that ignored the very laws of the world, just as he had ignored the Mana Oath last time.
Anyway.
The important thing was that she had merely acquired this power by chance through that process.
Even if she seriously arm-wrestled that girl, Rubia would probably lose.
That was just how weak Rubia was.
But.......
'I can't say no in this situation.'
The atmosphere here.
It was entirely under that girl's control.
If the girl wasn't convinced, the other children wouldn't be, either.
Making excuses like her Mana being barely stable after using the sword just once.
Or that she'd definitely be bedridden tomorrow if she used it one more time, so could they cut her some slack.
Or asking if they could just call it a draw.
There was no way such excuses would work.
She would just get cursed out for messing around.
Since the other side was coming at her so seriously, she had no choice but to respond in kind.
'Please hold up, my body!'
Rubia screamed inwardly and continued the conversation.
*****
"Alright, if you insist."
The woman in front of her spoke.
At the same time, the sword moved once again.
In an instant, the sword grazed past the girl.
An incredible speed.
'I definitely knew it was coming.......'
That something was moving.
She had definitely felt it. However, it was too late.
In the end, she couldn't react.
Despite her bold claims, she couldn't even touch the sword.
But.......
"Please, do it again."
The girl said.
She could see the woman's face filling with panic.
But the girl spoke up before the woman could even open her mouth.
She couldn't give up here.
She must not give up here.
So, she had to do whatever it took.
"This is to prove our resolve, isn't it?"
The girl spoke confidently.
"I am not broken yet. I won't give up yet. So please! Just a little... please keep going a little longer!"
The girl bowed her head and pleaded.
Finally, the woman before her let out a sigh and declared.
"Twice. That's the maximum. No more than that."
"......Understood."
Saying so, the girl focused all her nerves.
She had to block it out.
If she let herself feel all those trivial things, she would be too late.
So, she had to erase everything else in the world except that woman and the sword.
Her breath, the movement of her muscles, where her eyes were focused.
She only needed to feel what was necessary.
She had to react the moment it was fired.
She had to make her body move faster than her thoughts.
-Whoosh!
The sound of the sword cutting through the air.
It flew right past her.
The girl quickly reached out her hand.
But.......
She failed.
The sword was just too fast.
Having lived as a slave for so long.
This body simply couldn't produce the speed needed to catch it.
"Seriously. Is it really worth going that far?"
The woman before her asked.
It was undeniably true.
Could someone like her actually be of help to the Leader?
An ordinary human like her?
Perhaps she was just meddling unnecessarily.
She might just be a burden to them.
But.......
'I made a promise.'
That she would help him someday.
That she would stand by his side.
That she would become the kind of person worthy of doing so.
"I was lucky enough to be saved."
"......."
"If I just appreciate this luck and enjoy the life I was fortunate enough to gain, it would certainly be easier."
Saying that, the girl looked at the other children.
They had gained a new life.
They had gained the freedom to do whatever they wanted.
If they simply rejoiced in that, the rest of their lives would be easy.
There was no obligation to join in that man's ideals.
They had no duty to volunteer for a life of hardship to create a better world.
"But, that would only be easy, not right."
"......."
"I know it's foolish. To have my life saved only to throw it away again."
"That's...."
"But, we survived because of that foolishness. We survived thanks to a fool who risked his life to save us when we were strangers. ...So, how could I turn my back on what is right?"
The girl turned her head back to look at the woman.
And, she nodded silently.
Understanding the meaning, the woman prepared to launch the sword once more.
This was her last chance.
Her last chance to stay by his side.
So.
'I absolutely cannot fail.'
My reaction speed is too slow?
Even if I reach out the moment the sword is fired, I can't reach it?
Then, move before the sword is fired.
Don't just sense and react.
Move before it even happens.
The sword fires.
No, the sword hasn't fired yet.
But its trajectory is visible.
She could feel the unwritten future.
All she had to do was bring her hand to that spot.
The exact location.
At the precise spot.
'Right now...!'
The girl reached out her hand.
A razor-thin margin.
She firmly grabbed the hilt.
However.
"Ugh......."
It felt like her arm would be torn off at any second. Terrible pain shot through her.
Her frail body couldn't withstand the force of that sword.
Just as the girl's hand could hold on no longer and was about to let go of the sword....
She felt something strange.
She could feel Mana gathering around the sword against her skin.
......It was the other children.
The other children were squeezing out what little Mana they had to help her hold onto the sword.
No, that wasn't all.
Before she knew it, countless children were standing beside her.
A child gripping the hilt with all her might alongside her.
Even a child tenaciously clutching the blade despite blood dripping profusely from their hands.
Everyone was pooling their strength together.
To block that sword. To prove their resolve.
Before long... the seemingly invincible sword lost its power. With a metallic clatter, the sword dropped to the floor.
Her arm felt like it would snap at any moment.
Perhaps as a side effect of overusing her senses, her legs trembled, making it hard to even stand.
But, despite that.
The girl stumbled toward the woman.
It was only natural.
There was something she had to say.
Something she absolutely had to convey, no matter what.
She could see the woman's face filling with dismay. But the girl paid it no mind and stepped right up to her.
It had been four years since she was captured and lived as a slave.
For the first time in those four long years, wearing a bright smile fitting for her age.
The girl declared more confidently than anyone else.
"This is our resolve."
Telling her not to underestimate their resolve.