Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Idea (1)
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This happened a few days before arriving at the Dullahan's domain, Poseyken Hollow—specifically, on the evening of the day I rejected Victoria's confession.
After embarking on the journey to subjugate the Demon King with my comrades, a small curiosity had surfaced in my mind.
Namely, the question of where magic's ultimate destination lay.
The Red Magic Tower says magic is a discipline where power is paramount.
The Blue Magic Tower says magic is a discipline where the user is paramount.
Beyond that, the definitions of the discipline called magic pursued by the Gold, White, and Black Magic Towers were all different, each in their own way.
The five magic towers, said to have been established by disciples of the Chief God Odin, have developed the discipline of magic while each walking a different path.
But,
“Why did the Chief God choose such a complicated and bothersome method?”
Given that Chief God Odin systematically divided the realms of magic and appointed the Hero as his proxy using the Holy Sword, he didn’t seem like someone who would favor ambiguity.
Why, then?
Was there a need to stubbornly adhere to such a complicated method?
Was there something that couldn't be achieved with a single discipline and set of values?
“…Or perhaps there was a reason for it.”
I was recording today's "last words" into a bead that was transparent and glossy enough to reflect my face. Because my attitude toward life had changed a bit from living with my comrades, it had become more akin to recording a diary now.
I kept muttering to myself while looking at it.
In a few days, we would head to the Dullahan's domain, Poseyken Hollow, so I couldn't calm my increasingly anxious heart.
It was because, still unable to shed my guilt and having just rejected Victoria's sincere confession, I felt a fear that someone else might die before my eyes.
“In my opinion, perhaps the ultimate limit of magic is the fusion of different thoughts or values into one.”
I murmured, recalling the time I previously contained Victoria's divine power within a magic circle to annihilate the undead Lich.
If I am indeed the one Chief God Odin is watching, and if the ability of these eyes that can see mana can kill the Demon King….
“…This is the most likely possibility.”
The three-dimensional magic circle spinning fiercely in my palm.
If I could borrow not just Victoria's power but also the strength of the other Hero party members, the potential for something immense was high.
“What good does figuring this out do? I couldn't even accept the feelings of a girl I like, a pathetic fool who made her cry….”
Covering my face with my palms, I let out a sighing voice.
It was because she had tenderly nursed me back to life after I nearly died battling Belamora, and taught this idiot, still shackled by guilt, about the emotion called love.
Of course, there were a few minor issues, like the fact that Victoria, living a limited lifespan, had tried to distance herself from me with insults and harsh words.
But Victoria wasn't lying about her inner feelings; she was showing me her honest self.
“…I want to tell you I like you too, Victoria.”
With what confidence did I, of all people, try to distance myself from Victoria?
A deep sigh, mixed with self-deprecation and self-loathing, escaped naturally, and seeing even that being recorded into the "last words" magic, a good idea suddenly came to mind.
“Ah, I can do it this way.”
If I'm afraid that Victoria might die, or that I might die before conveying my feelings, isn't the best solution right in front of me?
“……It's a bit embarrassing, but doing this would let me leave a real answer to your confession. If things go well, I'll be able to tell you directly, not through this awkward method.”
Clearing my throat a couple of times, I pictured Victoria standing before me in my mind and began to speak.
The woman whose presence carries a faint floral scent, whose smiling face shines beautifully, who has soft, ticklish platinum-blonde hair.
When she teases me, she smiles with her eyes closed as if squinting, and being secretly shy, even when expressing affection, her cheeks, neck, and ears turn red. Just imagining her made my heart race uncontrollably.
“─This is a message for the Saint I love, Victoria Eberhardt.”
I tightly closed both eyes and poured my true, honest feelings in response to Victoria's confession into the "last words" magic.
Victoria must have felt this embarrassed too, must have been so nervous that she stumbled over each word.
I kicked away that precious sentiment with cowardly thoughts—that if I or she died, this thing called love would fail to connect and scatter away.
Actually, I didn't want to do that.
Even though I wanted to say I think I like you too.
“I think I started liking you quite a while ago. Maybe I fell for you the first time we met.”
I remember the first time I met Victoria.
The Saint with flowers blooming over half her body, the pitiful woman who overcame countless pains and hardships with a smiling face to save people.
The moment I first saw Victoria's appearance, I didn't think it was creepy.
Rather, because her eyes held the look of someone about to die, a corner of my heart ached as if being torn apart.
They looked similar to my own eyes seen in a mirror. An empty, glass-like hue that seemed devoid of even hope for life, as if everything was meaningless.
“The moment I first saw you, Victoria, my body moved first with the thought, ‘I want to save her.’ Until now, I thought that was sympathy or empathy with sorrow….”
Thinking back, it was madness.
No matter how much I wanted to help, could I have held the hand of a Saint who must maintain purity and avoid contact with men?
If it were truly just that, I wouldn't have felt that tingling, electric sensation running up my fingers when Victoria's fingertips touched my hand.
It was truly laughable.
Not even knowing when I fell for her, even while hearing Victoria's inner thoughts, I kept pushing her feelings away.
“…I probably fell for you at first sight and wanted to save you. That's why I endured even knowing you resorted to harsh words and insults.”
I said with a slight upturn of my lips.
Because the image of that pure woman—clumsy at expressing her true feelings, using alcohol to act cute toward me, or shedding tears when I returned injured from a fight—was vivid in my mind.
“Actually, the reason I didn't immediately reject your proposed contract relationship was probably that too.”
Looking back now, pretending to be fake lovers to counter a Succubus's illusionary dream is a lie so simple even a passing three-year-old would know.
I went so far as to attach conditions, even adding the justification of subjugating the Demon King, to form a contract with her.
I told myself an irreversible lie.
Because at that time, I didn't know the emotion called love, and she hadn't conveyed her true feelings to me either.
But,
“…Well, why didn't I reject it immediately? Maybe, just maybe, I wanted to truly become your lover, to have a deeper relationship beyond comrades.”
Now, thanks to Victoria's confession, I've realized what emotion I hold for her.
Because it was love—the name of the emotion tormenting me so intensely.
“I think I like you a lot more than I realized.”
Without a shred of falsehood, I calmly poured my true feelings into the "last words" magic.
“Is it too foolish an answer? Sorry, I still don't really understand this emotion called love. It's my first time liking someone….”
Clumsy and immature.
Even though I knew this heart-pounding sensation was love,
I was a coward who couldn't directly tell Victoria about this feeling.
“…Sorry for rejecting your confession last time. And, I love you.”
I uttered an answer that would embarrass anyone, trying hard to ignore the sensation of my face burning up.
“I hope it's not too late for my answer to your confession.”
Hoping that someday these feelings would reach Victoria, I treasured the pounding in my heart and fell asleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Draw the Holy Sword? How dare a greenhorn like you speak to me that way?”
The Dullahan was incredulous as he looked at Astal, who was telling him to draw the Holy Sword.
This guy, who was barely managing to block the weapons that had slain ten legendary creatures of this world, was provocatively smirking with an unpleasant smile.
‘…Has he gone mad knowing he can't win?’
If not,
Could he possibly believe he can win?
Reaching that thought, the Dullahan's grip tightened on his weapon, and his armor clattered as his movements accelerated.
He is the First Hero.
He was incomparably stronger than such a greenhorn, had far more combat experience, and was an existence who had even killed the woman he loved and the child born between them to survive.
To justify his surrender to the Demon King Ergothum, he had to show power strong enough to at least kill the Hero of this generation.
Otherwise, everything he had done until now would become meaningless, so he was flailing about in a pathetic struggle.
“…All talk, huh? Don't you value your life at all?”
Clang─!
Sparks flew as Astal's Core Sword and the Dullahan's greatsword clashed. He was still fighting without having drawn the Holy Sword.
The weapon he drew this time was the greatsword called Breaker, the sword that slew the hardest creature in the world.
No matter how stalwart the opponent's defense, it was a legendary weapon capable of transmitting shock while ignoring it, yet…
Astal kept parrying his attacks. Though his legs trembled from the impacts and the threads enveloping his body were gradually shaved away, he didn't lose his composure.
The longer the fight dragged on, the heavier the pouring rain became.
Now it was a downpour so fierce it drowned out even the cheering roars of the spectators.
“Rain suddenly falls in the arena! Along with it, the Mad Mage's enormous magic circle is growing in size─!!”
Seeing this, Siren raised her voice. She was even considerate enough to cast waterproof magic toward the spectator seats to prevent raindrops from hitting them.
As Siren said, the threads of yarn above Astal's palm began spinning and expanding in size until they grew large enough to blot out the sky.
“I have an answer I need to deliver.”
Astal grinned as he raised that magic circle high.
If he died here, Victoria might end up hearing all the embarrassing words stored in the "last words" magic he had prepared, just in case.
“…Until then, I absolutely won't die.”
He still had a reason to live.