The Evil God's Scythe
The tale surrounding Melina, the fateful savior, and Baris grew ever more tangled. Was Rathus's unexpected intervention mere coincidence, or did some deeper intent lurk beneath? It didn't matter either way. The situation had grown so complicated that I found myself clutching my head in frustration without realizing it. What should I do now?
I'd hijacked two events already. A massive hole had opened in the path leading Baris and Melina together.
"Haa."
I let out a sigh. As I lamented the situation veering into unknown territory, someone poked my cheek.
"Arnold~"
It was Melina. In her hand was a chocolate wrapped in packaging.
"A gift. I made it myself. Thanks so much for yesterday—twice over."
This was a token of gratitude... For the record, Melina was a character skilled in confectionery. She'd often give chocolates like this to show thanks or affection, but originally, they were meant for Baris, not me. The fact that they were in my hands now meant I'd perfectly stolen her affection.
"Meow~"
And it was all because of that white cat. Rathus was still rubbing against me or giving me gentle nips to show his affection.
"Thanks..."
I was grateful to her, but my emotions grew even more profound. Still, since she'd given me the gift, I set aside my complicated feelings for the moment and bit into the chocolate.
"It's delicious."
The moment it touched my tongue, I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Really~?"
It melted smoothly, releasing a deep, rich cocoa aroma. The initial bitterness was slight, but soon a sweet aftertaste enveloped the tip of my tongue, seeping in like warm comfort. It wasn't just sweetness—the subtle caramel flavor spreading in my mouth, the nutty savoriness, and the faint saltiness lingering at the end awakened all my senses.
"Hehe~ Glad you like it. I have a bit of confidence in making chocolate, you know."
Even in the original story, her chocolates were described as exquisite, but this was on another level. For a brief moment, it made me forget all my worries—a devilishly addictive taste.
"Thanks for the treat."
"No problem!"
My mind cleared a little. In my lamentable position, I could finally entertain some positive thoughts. Sure, I'd snatched those minor events, but the decisive reason Melina fell for someone was watching them slay the evil god right before her eyes. And as I'd said many times, only Baris could play that role. There was still hope.
Yeah, Baris... please.
So in my heart, I entrusted it to him. On the day the evil god would soon break free, please save Melina.
After that, minor events with Melina kept cropping up.
"Rathus?! Come here!!"
Sudden whims from Rathus, like snatching Melina's belongings and running off. Or...
"Whoa?! Th-thief!!"
...getting her wallet pickpocketed. Normally, Baris would have dashed around resolving both. But...
"Meow~"
...even those events ended up as mine, thanks to the white cat.
"Arnold~! Did you catch him?"
He'd steal her stuff on purpose, then leap into my arms as if returning it. Or...
"Ahh, I lost my wallet... Huh? Arnold found it again?"
...somehow snatch it back from the pickpocket and sneak it to me. He was doing everything to connect me and Melina.
Still, if I could just get past the final event, it wouldn't matter.
"......"
Time passed like that, and on what seemed like an ordinary, peaceful day—when everyone was going about their uneventful routines—I headed somewhere with a grim resolve.
The reason? I'd found a handwritten letter in my drawer from someone.
Today is my birthday—and at the same time, the day I die. If you can, would you come to the marked location?
As you might guess, the writer was Melina. Unable to find her fateful savior as her birthday approached, she sent this letter to the one she felt drawn to by fate and vanished. And that letter had come to me.
"Where are you going? Class is about to start. Professor's gonna be mad."
Her location was a wide open field somewhere in the academy. And I was heading there with Baris.
"---- !"
Following the path in the letter, we ventured into an increasingly deserted area.
"Ugh, aaahhh --!!"
As we neared the destination, Melina's agonized groans echoed desperately.
"Huh? Arnold! I hear screams from over there!"
The moment Baris heard her voice, cold sweat beaded on his brow, and he bolted ahead.
"Ah, aaaaaaah ----"
There, in the open field, we found Melina writhing in torment, exuding dark energy.
"Kyaaah -!!"
Rathus was there too, baring his teeth warily at the suffering Melina, as if guarding against something.
"Melina, you okay?!"
Baris reached her first. But the instant he touched her, something eerie happened.
"Kyaaaaah ---!!"
The dark aura swirling around her went berserk.
"Ugh...?!?"
Like she was possessed, Melina's body floated into the air. The sinister smoke pouring from her coalesced, forming a distinct shape.
"Wh-what is that?!!"
At least five meters tall, cloaked entirely in black robes with glowing red eyes—a reaper manifested from Melina's body.
Thud—
"Ugh..."
Melina collapsed like a marionette with cut strings. She was conscious, breathing faintly, slumped on the ground.
"The promised time has come. I shall reap your life, young princess."
The sinister, chilling voice echoed in our heads. Presumably the evil god's. Its red gaze, snuffing out life's spark, looked down on her.
Shing—
The reaper-like thoughtform raised a massive scythe toward Melina.
"N-no, I don't want to...!"
But Melina couldn't flee. More like, she couldn't. Drained as the vessel for the summoning, she collapsed without resisting the evil god's death sentence.
"Surrender your soul."
Clang—
"Hm?"
But the evil god's scythe couldn't pierce Melina's heart. Because a man had rushed to her side the moment the evil god appeared.
"You... Baris?"
It was Baris. He gritted his teeth, barely blocking the evil god's sword.
"Raaah!"
With a mighty shout, he pushed back the attack.
"Haa, haa."
Even blocking once seemed grueling for him. And I couldn't do anything. Only those with the hero's qualities could interfere with the evil god. No matter how strong I was, without the hero's qualification, any attack would be ignored.
"Hoo..."
As the evil god recoiled from the deflection, Baris caught his breath and reset his stance. As expected, he could physically interfere with it.
"You dare interfere with me? Interesting. If you oppose together, you'll be buried together."
The evil god swung its scythe at Baris again. A death-bringing strike hurtled toward him.
Clang—
"Ugh!"
Perhaps due to his destined hero fate, he blocked it once more.
"Baris! Are you okay?!"
Melina watched him protect her, calling out pitifully with worried eyes. But Baris was too strained to reply, fully focused on countering the evil god's assaults.
"..."
Inwardly, I cheered Baris on, hoping he'd slay the evil god and lift Melina's curse. Soon, the hero's power should awaken bit by bit, allowing him to wield the holy force to repel it.
Clang—
"Argh?!"
But... something was off.
Clang—
"Not yet!!"
His talents should be shining by now. Why not?
Clang—
"Ugh!!"
Was his growth insufficient? But he'd been steadily leveling up, and during the Elisha event, he'd gained massive EXP from monsters—
"Huh?"
The moment I thought that, my head stung like I'd been hit from behind. Because during the monster raid on Elisha's farm, I was the one who'd dealt with them, not him. So all that growth hadn't flowed to Baris. It fit perfectly—he hadn't grown enough to manifest hero powers against the evil god.
Clang—!
"Ahh?!"
Then that meant no one could stop the evil god now?
"Nyaa—! Nyaa—!"
At that instant, a sharp sensation hit my leg. Looking down, Rathus was scratching my calf with his claws, urging me on.
Was he telling me to face the evil god? But as I said, only the hero-qualified could interfere.
"Nyanyanyanya!!!!"
Yet the white cat frantically clawed at my calf. What did he want? I wanted to help somehow, but there was nothing I could do...
Crack—!
While I hesitated, Baris's sword shattered against the evil god.
"Wh-what?! Gah!!"
With no means left to block, Baris tumbled across the ground from the attack.
"A novice. I'll reap the princess's life—and yours."
The evil god aimed its scythe at them for the finishing blow.
"Guh... ugh..."
"Baris! Pull yourself together!"
The scythe pronounced their cruel end.
"No, no way......"
In this desperate moment.
"Damn it."
I was done thinking.
Clang—!!
A clear ring echoed.
"What?!"
The evil god's scythe couldn't claim a life again.
"Huh?"
"A-Arnold—!"
Because my sword had blocked the evil god's attack. I'd jumped in on a whim, bottom's up—and somehow, I could interfere with it too.
"Tch."
Why? Only the hero's power should affect the evil god?
"Melina, Baris. Sorry for spacing out."
But that wasn't important now. The point was, I could influence the evil god too?
"Leave the rest to me—"
No choice then.