Things I Must Do While Alive
The time of the full moon was approaching. It was time for Enril to challenge the tower once again.
Because no hero had ever returned alive from it, even Rion didn't know this fact.
The rule was that those who entered the tower could challenge it again a month later.
Thanks to that, Rion's first goal had become very clear.
To have Enril master the mana cultivation technique within a month.
To deliberately allow her some minor wounds to prove its effectiveness.
And today, he had achieved one of those goals.
“Uuuu―”
Rion, watching Enril take a deep breath, casually asked a question.
“How is it, Enril? Tell me how the mana you're holding feels right now.”
“…It's strange.”
“How is it strange?”
“It's really, it might sound unbelievable, but… it's hot, yet cold at the same time.”
Two words that could never coexist, yet had to be reconciled.
That they existed simultaneously. Anyone listening would think it was a joke.
But to Rion, it wasn't. It was the answer he had been desperately waiting for.
“I see? Hot yet cold.”
“I'm sorry. I said something weird…”
“Congratulations.”
Enril made a confused expression when Rion suddenly congratulated her.
Rion smiled faintly and patted her shoulder.
“You’ve settled in properly. The mana that's different in nature and purity from before is the hardest to lay at the foundation. But it's also something you must do. You've done it.”
“Then…”
“Now the mana cultivation technique should be much easier. To put it in a metaphor… think of it as the foundation work for building a great bridge.”
Without words, one would know by trying it directly.
Rion sat Enril down and immediately told her to use the mana cultivation technique.
Following his words, she closed her eyes and gathered mana as much as she could.
“…Ah.”
Before long, Enril understood what Rion meant.
The mana that had always slipped away no matter how tightly she held it before.
Now, once gathered, it didn't slip away and stayed intertwined, waiting for the next step.
If she went through the mana cultivation technique one more time to double the purity of that intertwined mana.
The efficiency could increase even more than now.
“Amazing. I didn't expect you to do this in less than a month.”
“It's thanks to Instructor.”
“No. This is entirely thanks to you, Enril.”
When seeing the other trainees who started the same way still not having grasped it.
Rion's devotion to Enril was more than enough reason.
Three days before the full moon, Enril had finally realized what the 'mana cultivation technique' was.
*
“…”
The day before heading to the tower. Enril sat alone gazing at the night sky.
Beyond the dark world, the large moon shining brightly among the starlight.
To the people of the world, it would be a very beautiful and romantic sight.
But to Enril, it meant it was time to face hell once again.
If it weren't difficult, if she didn't want to run away, it would all be lies.
I want to live. I don't want to fight anymore. I want to avoid pain.
Just as she had, all the other heroes would have been the same.
But because someone had to do it, to save the world.
So she resolutely accepted that fate and fought silently.
This time, what will happen.
She had already fought the Tower Master eight times.
If she goes up this time, and faces him again, it would be nine times.
Can I win. If I don't win…
Would that person kill her this time, or save her again?
“Enril.”
Hearing her name called, Enril turned her head.
There stood Rion, wearing a robe unlike his usual attire.
“Instructor? How did you get here….”
“Your mana flow is a bit different from usual. I came because I wondered if something was wrong.”
After saying that, Rion plopped down next to Enril.
“You’re going into the tower again tomorrow.”
“Yes. It's the full moon. I have to keep challenging. To complete my fate.”
“Then, will you be able to see the tower collapsing soon?”
“I don't know. I hope so. Otherwise, this meeting might be the last one.”
The last meeting. At those words, Rion slowly turned his head.
An expression of great dissatisfaction. Enril knew what he would say.
“I told you. Instead of thinking about dying, think about surviving.”
“I know. I know. But does it work like that? I hope I win, I hope I can bring down the tower. But if not, I might lose my life like the other heroes.”
“You’ve survived so far.”
“Because the Tower Master saved you. I don't know why.”
That's because you're the only hope. The flame that must be saved somehow.
“The Tower Master. An arrogant being. And… truly, truly strong.”
“If you say that, it must be an incredibly great guy.”
“It's not because he's 'Master'. I wonder what the other heroes went through.”
I don't know either. Not a single one has come to where I am.
The one thing that's clear is that you're much better than them.
“Maybe. Unlike the other heroes, I'm really weak and pathetic. Maybe they send me back alive just to mock me.”
It was a completely different statement from the truth, but Rion just listened silently.
After all, he couldn't say the truth.
Instead, he decided to encourage the somewhat defeated her.
“This time it's different.”
“…”
“You’ve learned a technique that no one has shown you before. This is a method the previous heroes didn't know. No matter how strong the guy is, if you hit his weak point, he'll panic. That's the moment to give him a proper blow.”
This time it's different. Yes, this time it was different, as he said.
She had learned something different from what she had prepared before and trained.
She had never used it while fighting the Tower Master.
The efficiency she had experienced herself by direct observation.
It was sufficiently possible, and if she could do it, it would be amazing.
“You said it. That the Tower Master is an arrogant guy. Now he's underestimating you. Give him a blow at that moment. To wound his pride.”
“…”
“I don't know about the others, but one thing is clear. The possibility of me killing you is high―.”
“No. In my opinion, it's the opposite.”
Enril asked what he meant with an 'eh?' when Rion answered.
He wounded his pride but didn't kill, but saved?
“Those kinds of guys, I know well. Since they got their pride wounded, they'll try to thoroughly crush you somehow. This time, it was just luck that you got a blow, but your limit is clear. To thoroughly show you that, they'll make you promise the next one. To prove that today's shake was just 'luck'.”
“You’ll… save me again?”
“I think so. And…”
Rion, trailing off for a moment, slowly patted Enril's shoulder.
“I hope you live. Whether you complete your fate or not. As long as you live, that's good.”
At those words, Enril unconsciously stared at the person in front of her.
It was the first time hearing it. No matter what, the words to live.
To fulfill duty, not to avoid fate, to save the world.
She had heard many such words, but this was the first time hearing words like that.
“Live. Even if it's shameful, live until you stab that arrogant guy's heart. And laugh a lot on top of him. That your arrogance is now a dagger stabbing you.”
Live. Live. Just live.
Enril, listening quietly to Rion's words, slowly turned her gaze to the night sky.
The moonlight seemed brighter than usual today.
…Thank you, Instructor Rion.
The chaotic mind had calmed a little.
*
The path up the tower was always lonely, arduous, and difficult.
The monsters and various demons placed differently than before.
Traps had also increased, and even spaces to rest were limited.
The body and mind had to endure trials pushed to the extreme.
As a hero bearer, a place that must be overcome.
“Uuu, uuu…”
Enril was already climbing the ninth floor of that tower.
“Haa, haa―”
Tired. Difficult. Painful. She wanted to quit right now.
But thinking about the people who believed in these 'heroes', she couldn't.
For all the things she had done so far, for the past self who endured.
And, I have to confirm. Whether the newly prepared blade will work on that arrogant guy.
Finally, Enril reached the top floor where the Tower Master was located.
The same scenery as the first time, and the same fear and dread of death.
She took a deep breath, opened the large black door as before, and entered inside.
Kugugugu…
Beyond the large hall, a man sitting on a black throne.
The Tower Master. The one who had brought her humiliation many times.
“…”
He tilted his head for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“Eleonore? Unexpected. The speed of coming up is faster than before.”
Faster speed? I didn't feel that.
Enril was about to ask what he meant, but the Tower Master continued.
“Did you train hard?”
Train. Train. Yes, even if just for a moment, I tried hard.
“Well, let's see how different this time it is.”
“…”
“Yes. This time, it will be a bit different. Tower Master.”
Because I was with someone who just wanted me to live, not to save the world.
“So, you have to be ready today too. Either kill me, or let me kill you.”
Unfortunately, it didn't seem she had reached that level yet.
But it wasn't bad. Compared to before, this time was better.
When Enril had entered the tower, steadily passed each floor, and finally reached the top, Rion who had returned to the tower hurriedly because of personal matters looked at her and smiled.