Couple Breaker
I never imagined Sara and Verdan would be participating in the festival too.
When they first ran into Abel and Yuni, I felt a surge of surprise mixed with anxiety. But after we kept crossing paths through lunch and well into the afternoon like it was the most natural thing in the world, my mind settled into an oddly peaceful calm.
This actually worked out perfectly.
I’d been on edge, wondering if the Dark Cult might try something, but with Sara and Verdan nearby there was no need to stress. The paladins were tailing us in secret just like I was, so they couldn’t jump in right away. Sara and Verdan, however, had overlapping date routes that kept them relatively close.
If a situation arose that even they couldn’t handle, there wouldn’t be anything I could do about it either.
I was watching their date with that half-relaxed mindset when the accident finally exploded.
-Kyaaaaah! A monster!
-Why is there a troll here? Everyone run!
The voices of Asrai’s citizens came through the listening device. The special enchantment cut out useless background noise while making sure every critical word came through crystal clear.
The monster that had appeared this time was a troll—one of the main ingredients for potions and famous for its insane regenerative power. I later learned it normally lived far from Mt. Berendia but had wandered here after losing a territorial dispute. None of that really mattered, though.
-Abel! It’s a troll! What do we do?
-We have to stop it! Yuni, can you help?
-Of course! Let’s go!
After hearing the shouts, Abel and Yuni quickly agreed and rushed toward the source.
-There it is, Abel!
-Yeah! Yuni! Leave the front to me!
─Kuwoooooong!
Just from the sounds alone, the whole scene played out vividly in my head: the troll rampaging wildly and tearing up the flowerbeds, Abel charging straight at it, and Yuni supporting him from behind.
In the original game this would have been a tough fight, but the game and reality were two different things.
-Over here, you idiot!
─Kuwoooer!
Bang! Boom!
The provoked troll swung its club with monstrous force, but Abel blocked it without breaking a sweat. He had reached level 150 after gaining enlightenment from the clock tower battle. The stat increase wasn’t huge, but his technique itself had evolved. Thanks to that, the fight flowed smoothly.
Abel held the troll’s attention with constant provocation while Yuni poured on magical damage. The troll’s regeneration was excellent—it healed wounds instantly and held on stubbornly—but even it had limits.
Just when its regeneration finally failed to keep up with the accumulating damage—
-Crunch!
─Uwoooooooer!
A sickening crunch accompanied a roar that made my whole body tingle. The ferocious aura bleeding through the listening device made me shoot up from my seat.
“Damn it!”
That was an ogre’s cry. Ogres were monsters over level 200. Their horrifying strength and mobility were infamous. The current Abel and Yuni had no chance against it.
Two monsters appearing back-to-back was too convenient to be a coincidence. As if to answer my suspicion, Yuni gave me the final hint.
-Abel! Its skin is black!
-It’s not a normal ogre! Be careful!
There was only one reason a monster’s skin turned black—when it absorbed demonic energy and evolved into a demonic beast. In other words, the bastard who had dragged the ogre here was undoubtedly the Dark Cult again.
Ethan Gloucester. You’re really starting to piss me off.
He’d already forced me into that ridiculous performance at the clock tower. I had no idea what he was scheming this time. With this many people around it would be hard for him to identify me, and monitoring an area this wide should have been impossible.
I burst out of the café immediately. I wanted to activate Hwasin-hwa, spread my wings, and fly straight there, but Ethan’s surveillance kept me from doing it.
Just hold on until I get there!
─Uwoooooer!Booom!
Another roar slammed down with a black fist that smashed into Abel’s shield. Even his newly acquired skill, Shield of Protection, was useless against that overwhelming physical force. The layer of magical energy covering the shield shattered like glass.
He managed to deflect most of the impact, but damage still crept in bit by bit.
“Ugh…!”
Abel groaned as pain flooded his body. A large portion of the muscles in his forearm had torn, and his shoulder bones kept grinding. Moving was becoming difficult.
“Pierce!”
In that moment Yuni launched a blazing flame spear.
Booom!
Unfortunately the spear couldn’t penetrate the ogre’s thick hide. It only seemed to enrage the beast further.
─Kuwoooooer!
Its high magic resistance and fury broke the provocation, and its blood-red eyes locked onto Yuni with murderous intent. The ogre kicked off the ground and charged her.
“No!”
Abel, who had already read its intention, threw himself in front of Yuni with everything he had. The strike landed immediately.
Craaaack!
The shield tore apart like paper. The fist continued forward and slammed into his abdomen.
“Guhak!”
Blood sprayed from Abel’s mouth. He flew backward, leaving a red arc in the air, and rolled helplessly across the ground. It was only because he had managed to block with his forearm at the last second; a direct hit would have burst his organs and snapped his spine.
Yuni, who had been staring blankly at the fallen Abel, snapped back to her senses and rushed to him.
“A-Abel! Abel! Wake up!”
“Y…uni.”
“H-here, a potion! Drink it! Hurry!”
Even though the ogre was still radiating killing intent right in front of them, Yuni ignored it completely and focused only on treating Abel. But no matter how many potions she poured down his throat, the wounds refused to heal. The demonic energy burning inside the ogre had invaded his body through the injuries.
She dumped every potion she could grab onto the wounds, but nothing changed. Eventually Yuni fell into full panic.
“N-no, no! No! Abel, don’t die! I don’t want this! I hate this!”
─Kuwoooooooer!
The ogre, certain of victory as it watched her, prepared to deliver the final blow—
“Get away from them right now!”
A sharp command flashed with the Red Flash.
Booooooooom!
With an enormous explosion the ogre was sent flying. Sara took its place.
“Yuni, are you all right?”
“Professor… A-Abel is…”
At the trembling voice, Sara turned and bit her lip hard when she saw Abel barely clinging to life. She looked forward again.
“It’s okay. The priests will be here soon. They’ll be able to treat him, so don’t worry.”
“…Do you really think so?”
“Yes. So calm down.”
This was a lie. No matter how fast the priests arrived, Abel’s breath would have already stopped by then. Both Sara, who had spoken the words, and Yuni knew the truth, but neither denied it. They needed something to lean on, even if it was false hope.
Meanwhile the ogre that had been slammed into the forest rose again.
─Kuaaaaaah!
It charged forward, demonic energy exploding from its entire body as if to repay the humiliation. The problem was that its opponent was terrible.
“You just stay down!”
Sara, already furious, refused to tolerate its insolence. She charged forward and threw her fist.
Bang!
The black giant’s fist collided with the small, pure-white human fist. The human won. While the ogre staggered back from the shock it couldn’t withstand, Sara had already leaped and unleashed dozens of punches.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The sound of explosions erupted from its flesh. Under the relentless assault the ogre quickly became a bloody wreck. The moment its defense finally collapsed, Sara’s kick slammed into its neck.
Crack!
The sharp yet heavy strike snapped the ogre’s neck at a grotesque angle. Its head dangled limply. With its brain disconnected from its spine, the creature twitched horribly before its life finally gave out and it collapsed.
“Haa…”
Sara caught her breath and turned around. Verdan had already arrived and was examining Abel.
“Professor Verdan. How is he?”
“…It’s serious. He needs immediate treatment. But the demonic energy has penetrated his internal organs. Potions aren’t working.”
“So that’s how it is…”
Faced with the cruel reality, Sara swallowed her tears and looked at Yuni.
“Yuni…”
“……”
Yuni’s face looked like a wax doll. Her tear-streaked cheeks had hardened, making it difficult to read any emotion. She knew it too—if things stayed like this, Abel would die. She had sensed the coming separation and, terrified of it, had forcibly severed her own feelings.
Sara felt a pang of responsibility for that.
If only I had been a little faster.
If she hadn’t hesitated because she didn’t want to ruin her date with Verdan, she could have arrived before any of this happened. Just as she was drowning in self-blame—
Swish—
Luan emerged from the bushes.
“Luan? How are you here…”
“I heard a troll had appeared. I knew Abel and Yuni were on a date, so I came because I was worried.”
Luan answered casually, walked past her, and examined Abel. His face twisted violently.
He really does cherish his friend.
Sara felt complicated emotions watching him. Luan was the trash who had blackmailed and violated her, but he wasn’t a psychopath. He was a human being who cared for his friends and could feel genuine sadness.
The moment she reached that conclusion, Luan spoke words heavy with meaning.
“Yuni. Do you want to save Abel?”
“Wh-what? C-can you save him?”
“Yes. But there’s one condition.”
“Condition? I’ll do anything! So please, please save Abel!”
Yuni accepted Luan’s condition without a second thought. To her, Abel’s survival was the only thing that mattered.
Sara felt a sickening sense of déjà vu.
No way…
She wanted to erase the thought that had flashed through her mind. No matter how much trash he was, she didn’t want to believe he would lust after his dying friend’s lover.
She prayed desperately, but Luan completely betrayed her hopes.
“Then follow me. It’s a little awkward here.”
“Huh? R-right now? Can’t you treat Abel first?”
“…No. So follow me.”
Luan turned his back coldly. Yuni stared at his retreating figure in confusion, glanced at Abel, then tried to follow.
“Stop!!!”
If Sara hadn’t intervened.
Luan’s steps halted. Everyone’s shocked gazes snapped toward her.
“Sara?”
“…Luan. What exactly are you trying to do?”
Ignoring Verdan’s call, Sara focused solely on Luan. Only then did he turn to face her.
“…To save Abel.”
“Then why are you taking Yuni?”
“Do I really need to explain that?”
“Tell me. Otherwise I won’t let her go.”
“Haa…”
At her resolute tone that left no room for negotiation, Luan let out a low sigh. Then he sent a telepathic message.
Luan offered no excuses. That alone confirmed her worst fears. Sara’s face crumpled as if she were about to cry.
—That’s exactly why I’m doing it.
No matter how much she appealed to his conscience, it was useless. Luan remained ice-cold.
—There’s no reason I need to explain that to you either. Are we done here?
She had nothing left to say. When Sara fell silent, Luan turned away, ignoring the confused stares around them.
“Follow me. We don’t have much time.”
“Y-yes!”
They began to walk away. The moment they disappeared beyond those bushes, Yuni would be violated by Luan. Just like Sara had been, she would endure self-loathing and humiliation for the person she loved, doing anything to satisfy him.
Of course Yuni wasn’t a lewd woman, so she wouldn’t need to doubt her own nature, but she would live the rest of her life drowning in regret. That fact made Sara unbearably angry.
Knowing everything and simply watching would make her no different from an accomplice. So she would stop it.
I’m sorry, Verdan.
Sara apologized silently to Verdan, who still looked visibly shaken, and stepped forward.
“Wait. Hold on.”
“…What is it now? There’s no time. If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
Seeing his annoyed, impatient expression, Sara walked straight up, grabbed Yuni, and pulled her behind her back. Then she looked Luan dead in the eyes.
“I’ll do it.”
“…What did you just say?”
“I said I’ll do it. So leave Yuni alone.”
At Sara’s declaration, Luan’s eyes widened. His pupils trembled violently with shock and disbelief.