Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Midnight Circus (3)
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The sun had dipped below the horizon, twilight beginning to settle in.
A lone figure crossed the darkening forest.
Taat!
Using his snow-white hair as a landmark, he ran with all his might.
'...No time.'
The closer he got to the distant cliff, the stronger the ominous aura grew.
In contrast, the once-brilliant glow flickered like a candle in the wind, fading away.
Tadak!
Racing at full speed toward the cliff, I soon found myself standing before a cave.
"..."
A faint trumpet sound echoed from deep within.
Fortunately, Estelle was still holding on.
"Ukki! Ukkikki!"
Low-level monsters guarded the cave entrance to block the intruder.
Monkeys with sharp claws, soldiers made of trump cards.
All of them, grotesque in appearance, aimed their weapons at me.
Srrrring...!
The scent of lilac flowers brushed my nose.
'...She's entered her own mental world.'
The Deception Demon doesn't just defeat its opponents.
It drags out hidden memories like ghosts, awakening traumas.
And in the end, it shatters their mind completely, stripping away their will to fight.
Thud, thud.
Suppressing my boiling emotions, I channeled aura into my blade.
Tat, tadat!
"Kieeeek!"
I picked up speed, charging into the cave.
Monsters lying in ambush inside swarmed me.
Shaaak!
I bisected the one charging at the front in a single strike.
Chaeng, chaejaejaejaeng!
I deflected spears and arrows flying from all directions.
"Hup!"
Chok, chajajajak!
Deflecting every attack, seizing the momentary opening.
I unleashed a slash along the red line filling my vision.
'Not sure how much longer she can hold.'
Estelle always wore a stoic expression, rarely showing emotion.
But that didn't mean she was immune to pain.
-"...Was I not supposed to be born?"
Even Estelle, who always hid behind a mask, had once cracked, revealing deeper emotions than ever.
-"People who praise me to my face always talk behind my back."
The prodigy of the Lumeria family.
The Hero Party's mage.
A flower on the cliffside.
People who wore masks on their faces and showered Estelle with flowery praise.
-"It... hurts so much. What am I supposed to do..."
Whenever she showed vulnerability, they stabbed daggers into those gaps.
-"...But I'm glad I have you, Hero."
Covered in wounds, she had locked away her heart tight.
But to those who truly loved her, she always gave everything.
'...Estelle can't withstand illusions.'
True to its name, the Deception Demon's illusions wove truth and lies cunningly.
Now that Estelle had opened her heart to me.
It wouldn't miss that crack, surely crushing her spirit mercilessly.
Shaaak!
A sharp spear grazed my cheek, but.
Creeeak!
I ignored it, pushing forward relentlessly.
'Faster, faster!'
Chok, chajajak!
No time to dodge everything.
Even if it meant taking hits, I had to reach Estelle somehow.
Tat, tadat!
Grazed by spears, slashed by blades.
My feet pounding the ground showed no sign of stopping.
"Kieeeek!"
Even as monsters gathered to block my path.
Creeeek!
I just slashed through them again and again.
-"...Rowen."
-"Yeah? What's up, Estelle?"
-"Thanks... for being my friend."
-"Pfft, out of nowhere?"
One day, during a walk in the park after Estelle contacted me.
As we chatted on a bench.
Estelle suddenly said something odd.
-"...Didn't I burden you, Rowen?"
-"..."
-"Even when we first met, I... acted spoiled. I knew you couldn't refuse, and I did it anyway."
Like a child who did wrong, she hung her head, fidgeting with her fingers.
...It must be her first time opening up like this.
Staring at my mouth, anxious about my response, averting her gaze whenever our eyes met.
-"People always call me a genius... but I'm not. I'm just a fool who doesn't know how to make friends."
-"Estelle..."
-"...It's okay if you hate me. If you say I'm a burden. Even if you tell me not to approach anymore."
As if dragging out a conversation she'd been avoiding.
Her face was furrowed, as if even continuing was hard.
-"Just... be honest. I don't want to hurt anymore..."
-"..."
Estelle tried to hide her trembling hands, steady her wandering gaze.
Meeting my eyes, her pupils shook endlessly.
Terrified of what answer would come.
-"...Estelle. Is that what you've been thinking all this time?"
-"No, I..."
-"Sorry, Estelle. That must've been tough. I should've noticed sooner."
People exalted Estelle as a prodigy of the era.
But the girl before me was just a wounded child.
Pat, pat.
Her slender shoulders didn't look burdened by such heavy weight.
I gently hugged Estelle, just reassuring her.
-"I know you're a fool, Estelle."
-"..."
-"Even when people hate you, hurt you, badmouth you. You just endure it, pretending to be fine. A total fool."
As Estelle flinched at every word.
I released her from my arms and met her eyes.
-"...Still, I like that about you. Even covered in wounds like a fool, you don't hate people."
-"...Ugh."
-"And we're friends, right? Lean on me anytime it hurts. Don't suffer alone."
Estelle, who hurt alone yet never hated others to the end.
I always admired and pitied her for that.
'I hope Estelle doesn't get hurt anymore.'
If my friendship could heal her wounds.
I'd be her tree to lean on a hundred, a thousand times.
Seeing Estelle furrow her brow, holding back tears like it was a new emotion.
A smile slipped out unwittingly.
Wa-lak!
-"Ahaha, yeah. It was tough, wasn't it, Estelle?"
-"Hic... hngh..."
-"...You've held on well."
Always emotionless and cold, Estelle.
But I knew her heart was softer than anyone's.
Tak, tadat!
I didn't want to lose Estelle—not because she was a great ally.
But because she was a precious friend I couldn't live without.
"Haaap!"
The trumpet grew near, a crimson curtain appeared.
Chwaak!
I slashed it without hesitation.
Kudududuk...!
The circus tent, filled with upbeat music moments ago, fell silent.
"Ki, kihit... Better this way...! Saves me the trouble of dragging you here!"
The demon forced a laugh, refusing to admit it was cowed by a mere student's aura.
I stared at it, suppressing my boiling rage.
'...If I'd been even a little later.'
A few seconds more, and I couldn't guarantee Estelle's survival.
Seeing it attack the fallen Estelle.
It felt like the reasoning in my head just snapped.
Creak, creeeak.
The aura coursing through my body pressed down oppressively, unable to be contained.
My gripped sword burned with beastly sword energy, on the verge of shattering.
'...At least Estelle's safe.'
She had a deep gash on her side, but it wasn't life-threatening.
Though mentally unstable, she couldn't help now.
Kuuk...!
Despite overflowing fury, my mind was eerily calm.
They say extreme emotion brings calm.
Staring at the thing before me, I finally understood.
Chararuk!
"Kihit! Just trying to scare you! I'll toy with you till you die...!"
Even as it exuded menace, preparing for battle.
Thud, thud.
I simply advanced step by step.
Its stats were higher than most academy professors.
No wonder Estelle couldn't handle it.
"Kihit! You still don't get it!"
Shaaak!
A single card flew at blinding speed.
Planning to whittle me down with ranged magic, it seemed.
Even as the card hurtled toward me laden with power.
"..."
I merely twisted my body slightly to dodge.
"Ki, kihihit...? Can't even react...! Kihit, I'll end it quick...!"
Shuk! Shook!
This time, it threw two harmless-looking cards.
Seeing me dodge instead of block, it predicted my moves.
"Krrrar!"
"Kieeeek!"
As the cards grazed past, they transformed into monsters and lunged.
Chwaak!
I calmly slashed them down without panic.
Even as it panicked and hurled more cards.
Thud, thud.
I approached with minimal movement.
"Kihit, how, how do you know everything!"
Its failing, it stumbled back in panic.
Its usual smirk lost its smug leisure.
"Impossible! A worthless trash like you reading all my tricks!"
Its barrage of cards emptied, leaving one in hand.
Pushed from center stage, it stood at the edge.
With [Eye of Truth] reading its every thought.
Its attacks posed no threat.
"...Is that all?"
"Kruuuh!"
All stage lights focused on me.
The former star now cornered at the edge.
As if protagonist and audience had swapped.
"Kruh! Damn it! A mere human!!!"
Forgetting it was a clown, it raged uncontrollably.
"Annoying! I'm the star! Not trash like you!"
Born a demon, feeding on manipulated emotions.
This reversal must disgust and baffle it.
"Kihit, kihihit! Didn't want to use this card!"
Tear!
It ripped the card depicting itself.
Jurururuk!
Demonic energy surged, enveloping it.
Gulung, gulung.
The swelling aura halted suddenly.
As black magic faded, its form reappeared.
No, now "them."
"Kihihihit!"
Even as four demons glared, emanating magic.
"..."
No fear stirred in me.
Kwaaaak...!
To vent this unyielding rage.
To repay the pain it inflicted on Estelle—many folds.
Hwaruruk!
Infusing my blade with overflowing aura, boosted by Karin's buff.
"Kihit!"
I assumed stance against the charging demons, claws wreathed in black magic.
Kang! Kagagagang!
Clash of magic and aura filled the stage.
With one knight and four clowns dancing.
The midnight circus began.