Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Opposition
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The one-armed swordsman racing down the corridor drew his blade and swung it in one fluid motion.
Pindenai, who had anticipated the move, charged forward first, blocking the sword just before it reached its intended path.
Kieeeek!
A bizarre screech erupted as steel clashed against steel. Sparks flew, illuminating Pindenai's face.
"This guy, huh?"
The swordsman was clearly right-handed. It was obvious from the scabbard hanging on his left hip.
For some unknown reason, his right hand was empty, but even wielding the sword left-handed, he matched Pindenai blow for blow.
[Graaaaaah!]
With a cry laced with malice, the swordsman pushed Pindenai back through sheer force.
Pindenai naturally retreated, flashing a grin as she shouted.
"Fine, let's do this!"
Boom!
"Kyaa!"
The moment she landed, she infused mana into her legs and leaped forward again. The fierce backlash from her kick made Erika's body sway beside her.
Kwaaaang!
The two monsters clashed once more.
Windows across the entire third floor shattered, raining down like beads, but their exchange showed no signs of stopping.
The two traded blows evenly, neither gaining the upper hand.
Even Erika, who had only studied magic, could tell from their flashy movements just how high-level their combat was.
"You're pretty good!"
But Pindenai had the slightest edge.
If this were a game, Pindenai was a berserker type. The longer the fight dragged on, the more her body heated up, the faster she got, and the better she adapted to the battle.
In the end, the longer the fight, the stronger Pindenai became.
Kwaaang!
The swordsman barely raised his sword to block the downward axe strike, but his back hit the corridor's end wall, forcing him to one knee.
"An axe isn't half bad."
Pindenai clicked her tongue as she glanced at the already dulling blade. Still, she spun the axe around and approached the swordsman.
"Talking it out was never my style anyway. Better to beat some sense into you first, right?"
The swordsman kept his head bowed in silence.
He seemed to have exhausted most of his strength.
[Kik, kigigigik!]
The twisted man, who had been slammed into the wall by Pindenai's blow, forcibly rose.
For a moment, it looked like he might join the fray, but instead, he let out a pitiful wail.
[Kikikikikikigik!]
As if pleading, he began to cry out, and the corridor echoed in response.
"Huh?"
"What now?"
Erika looked flustered, while Pindenai grinned in amusement.
Before they knew it, countless evil spirits had gathered on the third-floor corridor as if summoned. They clung to the walls and floor, watching the fight between Pindenai and the swordsman.
"Come to watch the show?"
Realizing they had no intention of joining, Pindenai smacked her lips in disappointment.
"......!"
But suddenly, she felt overwhelming pressure from ahead and hastily raised her axe.
With a chilling whoosh and a ripple in the air, the sword sliced through the space where she had stood.
All evil spirits harbored grudges.
That was what her master, Dayus, had said, and now Pindenai truly felt it in her bones.
A bizarre slash infused with grudge and mana. From the swordsman's worn blade, missing half its teeth, a purple aura flickered.
It was a form of sword aura, what swordsmen called the pinnacle.
As she blocked, the upper part of her axe blade cleanly sheared off, drawing a hollow laugh from Pindenai.
"You crazy bastard, still growing even after getting pushed back."
[Grooo, huuuu.]
Drooling and staggering, the swordsman slowly regained his stance.
The purple sword aura blazed fiercely, as if embodying the swordsman's conviction or vengeful soul.
"Don't act like I'm the bad guy here."
Pindenai rolled her shoulders and gathered her own mana. Pure white mana, matching her hair color, surged across her body, resetting the fight.
Under the gaze of countless evil spirits and Erika, tension built for the final clash.
Everyone knew this last strike would decide the victor.
Whoosh!
Pindenai, baring her teeth like a wolf and growling, suddenly twisted her body and fled.
"Huh?"
She scooped up Erika under her arm and vaulted through the broken window frame to the outside.
"Damn it! Master put that spell on on purpose to weaken it!"
Dayus's magic had fully worn off, rendering the axe useless against spirits. Pindenai hurled it to the ground and leaped from the third floor.
She could clearly picture her smug master's blank expression, as if he'd anticipated this exact move.
"God, I could really go for a smoke!"
Midair, Pindenai smacked her lips.
* * *
-The girl who loved flowers, Emily. May she find eternal rest here.
I gazed silently at the gravestone for a moment, then closed my eyes before it.
She already had her eyes closed forever.
She couldn't hear my words, nor could my prayers reach her.
"May you fall into such a deep slumber that you remember no wounds at all."
I placed a single white flower before the stone.
It was a flower called Snow Tale, known to bloom briefly in Northsweden's short spring and then wither.
I couldn't find the yellow flowers Emily liked, and since they weren't anything special anyway, I'd brought this substitute.
As I clasped my hands in prayer, hoping she'd like it even a little, a breeze scattered the petals slightly, feeling as if Emily herself were cradling them.
Warm sunlight floated over the mountainside. It was a prime spot in the North Wedden Mountains, permitted by the Mountain Lord.
With no body to bury, we'd settled on just a gravestone.
Descending the mountain, I returned to the mansion to find a carriage waiting out front.
It was the one that had taken Pindenai to Robern Academy, now just returned.
Deia stood before it, directing the attendants to load the luggage, while a new coachman led the horses over and hitched them up.
The dean and Professor Kerun had left that same day they'd arrived, so this was the carriage for my trip to Robern.
Deia, who had been preparing, spotted me, crossed her arms, and approached.
"Everything's ready. Hop in, and we're off."
"Got it. Thanks for the hard work."
"With you leaving, I could even give you a push out the door. The maid you brought is Iluania, right? With her around... don't go too far."
"......I won't."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
Deia shook her head, not wanting to imagine what I might be up to.
Standing there awkwardly, she opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.
I waited patiently, and then Darius bounded out from behind.
"Oh, heading out now?"
Look at him failing to hide his barely contained glee.
I nodded slightly, and Darius let out a hearty laugh, seeming about to offer some parting words of goodwill. But Deia shot him a glare, and he turned toward the carriage instead.
"How's the horse's condition?"
"Fine, no issues."
Asking the coachman about the horse's state out of the blue was kinda pitiful.
"Hoo."
Finally, as if steeling himself, he pulled a pocket watch from his pocket.
Click.
The five minutes began ticking away, and Deia took a deep breath, looking me straight in the eye.
"You asked for five minutes because you wanted to talk to me."
I nodded in affirmation, and Deia's hand, clutching the watch, trembled slightly.
"Then don't lie to me. At least not for these five minutes."
I already knew the atmosphere was heavy. Without hesitation, I replied.
"Understood."
"Huu."
Another deep breath.
I could tell just how tense Deia was.
"You."
Her mouth opened very cautiously.
"All that time acting like a wastrel."
I knew exactly what hope she held in asking this, what future she envisioned.
"It was all because evil spirits possessed you, right?"
I couldn't give her the answer she wanted.
"......"
I couldn't lie, so I stayed silent. Deia swallowed hard, looking anxious. In the end, I had to answer.
"Quite the opposite."
"What?"
Deia might come to hate me. She might despise me as the monster who stole her family, curse me out.
But I had no desire to build our bond on lies.
If she rejected me, I would humbly accept it.
"I took over Dayus's body."
I explained the truth of my situation honestly.
"......What did you say?"
Deia stared at me blankly, shocked, unable to say more.
She just backed away, trembling in bewilderment.
Looking at her, I continued calmly.
"It must be frightening from your perspective. But know that I struggled and fought desperately just to survive."
"......"
"If you hate me, hate me. Despise me, curse me, resent me—it's all fine."
"......"
"But I will live as Dayus. Until the moment a blade pierces my throat and I draw my last breath."
Deia stared at me in a daze.
Was it possible?
I cautiously extended my hand.
Was her mind paralyzed from the shock?
Or was she too terrified to move?
Or some other emotion?
I didn't know.
But Deia stood frozen, unmoving, not avoiding my touch.
My hand lightly.
Brushed her soft black hair.
"This might be the last time."
The last chance I had to reach her. Regret tinged my bitter smile at the thought that there might not be another.
"I, I."
Deia stammered, not even thinking to brush my hand away. I continued gently.
"It's a lot to process right now, so sort out your thoughts. I'll be waiting for your answer the next time we meet."
"Ah."
And that would determine our fates going forward.
Slowly withdrawing my hand, I passed by Deia and boarded the carriage.
Soon after.
With the coachman's shout, the carriage wheels began to roll.