Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts Are Audible
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The rules for the colosseum proposed by the Dullahan were simpler than I had thought.
First, all participants in the colosseum must fight until one side can no longer move, or until one's existence is completely annihilated, to determine victory or defeat.
This was a unique feature of the Poseyken Hollow, a place where, due to the authority of the Death Knight Dullahan, none of the beings here could truly die.
Even if they bled profusely, if every muscle in their body was severed, or if all their bones were broken into dust.
So, to grant the losers peace, there was even a ritual of taking them outside the territory and closing their eyes.
"Do you truly have to go?"
As I was preparing to depart from the inn room to the colosseum, a voice called out to stop me.
It was Victoria, her platinum hair flowing as she clenched her hands tightly, trying hard to conceal her anxiety.
"I don't like seeing you get hurt, Sir Astal. The flowers blooming on your body haven't all been removed yet, have they?"
Victoria knew this too, and she spoke to me in a worried tone. As she said, the flowers blooming on my body had not yet been fully removed.
"Even if you reach the end of the colosseum, the Dullahan might break his promise. Will you still truly accept his proposal?"
"...He wants to fight me. If it weren't for that whim, he would have killed us long ago."
Victoria was mentioning the second rule of the colosseum proposed by the Dullahan. If one survived to the end and won, they would be granted the qualification to fight him one-on-one.
Ultimately, to avenge my parents and defeat the Demon King to bring peace to the world, it was something I absolutely had to do.
"Besides, I'm the mage of the Hero's party. If I hadn't been prepared to die for the world's sake from the start, I wouldn't have even joined this journey."
Even while understanding Victoria's feelings, I spoke words that drove a large dagger into her heart, my own heart heavy with conflict.
Because if not us, the Demon King cannot be slain. Because we, the first Hero's party in history to have slain one of the Four Heavenly Kings, are the only ones with any semblance of hope.
As Victoria had said moments ago, there were too many burdens on my shoulders to abandon everything and run away to live with her.
"I can't even imagine a life without you now. Just imagining it makes it hard to breathe, my heart aches and tightens, and I feel an impulse to just die instead."
- Because I love you. Because if I'm with you, I don't mind being called a traitor to humanity.... I'd rather run away somewhere. Clutch.
Along with those words, Victoria gently embraced me. Her words, actions, and inner thoughts seemed to indicate she was trying to hold me back, telling me not to go to the colosseum.
With Victoria's strength, she could have easily restrained me, but she deliberately didn't go that far.
"However, I know that believing in and supporting you is what one must do as someone who loves you."
Contrary to her words, a tremor could be felt in Victoria's voice. As if trying hard to hide such anxiety, a bit of strength entered the arms holding me.
"Victoria."
"What is it?"
I slowly spoke her name.
Because I didn't want to cause worry to a comrade with whom I'd overcome countless hardships and battles, and to someone who liked me.
To be honest, it was the portrait of a cowardly human.
My rejection of Victoria's confession might have been because I was afraid she would die, and now, facing a life-threatening crisis myself, I might have needed an excuse.
"Do you think I'm going to die?"
"...I don't think so, but last time, you barely survived after nearly dying, didn't you?"
When I looked back at Victoria's face, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Seeing the change in her emotional state, who usually showed almost no emotion and maintained a stiff attitude in everything, made my heart feel as heavy as a lump of lead.
Clearly, in this contract relationship, there should be no private emotions.
"I want to live my future with you. I want to tell our heroic tale to our children, have it be talked about among people, and lightly share stories saying, 'Ah, back then, such a thing happened....'"
Even I, who didn't understand romance well, could feel just how sincere Victoria's feelings were.
To be honest, I also wanted to defeat the Demon King without anyone dying. If possible, I also wished to spend the rest of my life with Victoria, laughing, crying, and talking joyfully.
But,
"You know that appealing to emotions like that won't change anything."
"...Yes."
Hope is just hope, and reality is reality. The disparity that occurs between them always cruelly kills people and leads them to miserable despair.
"If we retreat here, even more people will die in the future. Even though we've barely gained the upper hand by defeating just one of the Four Heavenly Kings."
Because I knew that fact better than anyone, I gently stroked Victoria's hair, comforting her.
"So, even if there seems to be no hope, we must move forward and fight for the people. That's what I believe a Hero's party is."
As the beautiful platinum hair caught softly on my fingers, it was a moment when I could once again see at a glance just how beautiful a person Victoria was.
The being called the Goddaughter of the Heavenly God, a half-breed with the blood of a Gold Dragon and a human mixed equally, a hero called the Flower Saint, and....
'...A comrade more precious than anyone, who loves me.'
Unable to bring myself to utter the words pounding in my heart, I spoke them in a different way.
Because if I didn't convey these feelings after catching the Demon King, it might only leave regrets for both of us.
In famous novels and plays, isn't it always the case that those who make heartfelt promises before a war or a great battle inevitably die?
"...But, I was afraid of losing you. More than my whole body turning into flowers and my days dwindling one by one, the thought of you dying now is more terrifying."
- I don't want you to die.... So let's just run away.... Victoria was pouring out the inner thoughts she had been holding back towards me. It was the complete opposite of her past self, who hid her emotions with deception and lies.
"If I can just be with you, Sir Astal, I could give up my position as Saint, my entire future life, even wealth and honor.... Won't you do the same?"
- I wish you felt the same way about me. That you loved me, cherished me more than anyone.... So that you wouldn't do such dangerous things. It seemed she had been trying hard to act strong earlier when the other comrades were present. The tears already streaming down her cheeks spoke for her inner feelings.
"Please think about it once more. We can find a substitute. Rather, using the money we've saved to hire mercenaries to fight in your place...."
Thud.
Now she was almost kneeling, begging me not to go to the Dullahan's colosseum. Seeing this, I thought some decisive action was needed.
"Here, keep this safe. I'll definitely win and come back."
A sphere glowing blue like a large droplet. I took it out and carefully handed it to Victoria as I spoke.
"What is this?"
"It contains my last will. I've been recording it since we began the Demon King subjugation. You must handle it carefully."
I explained its nature to Victoria as if it were nothing important. Originally, I had prepared a last will in advance, knowing I could die at any time.
"Why are you giving me such a thing now...? You're not joking with me...! You're truly determined to die...!!"
Hearing that, Victoria immediately bit her lower lip and began pounding my back with her fists. The impact transmitted along with the surprisingly strong sound of impact felt like it would leave bruises.
"Calm down. It's become more like a diary now than a last will...!"
To clear up Victoria's misunderstanding, I almost shouted, explaining the whole story. If I messed up, I might get injured even before entering the colosseum.
"A diary...? You mean this large crystal-like object?"
"Yes! It was something I recorded my momentary feelings and inner thoughts in, just in case I died, but it's also a promise that such a thing won't happen now!"
Originally, what was engraved on this magical tool was the magic for leaving a last will, Last Word.
A magic that, if a last will is recorded in advance during one's lifetime, shows that moment exactly as it was to the first person who finds it after one's death.
"Originally, if I die, the last will inside this would flow out, but there are many embarrassing contents...."
In the end, after surviving a year in the Demon Realm, the last will magic I had set to activate automatically would never be used.
"...Why on earth are you giving this to me?"
Victoria looked it over this way and that, making a somewhat bitter expression. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't shake off ominous thoughts.
"Because my true answer to your confession is recorded in there. I'll definitely not die and will come back to retrieve it, so trust me."
I honestly revealed the secret contained in the last will magic to Victoria. Hearing that, she was so surprised her pupils visibly widened.
"Really...?"
Immediately, a spark ignited in Victoria's eyes, and she wore a bright smile on her lips to the point where it was hard to believe she had been crying just moments ago.
"Hey, wait...! You can't try to forcibly break the magic...!"
"Why not? I want to check the answer inside this right now. What if it matches what I'm thinking!"
Victoria tried to throw the crystal sphere containing the last will on the floor or crush it with her grip.
Through this, I could sense just how hurt she had been by the confession.
- If I just listen to the inner thoughts inside this.... I might get a second chance...! Unaware that I could hear her inner thoughts, Victoria showed me her obsessive side.