Chapter 246
Chapter 246
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: If I Could Burn Like the Sun -6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tzzzzz──
The heat enveloping Selbia's entire body was vaporizing every raindrop that fell on her. Flames erupted and subsided repeatedly from the ground where she stood.
But to me, it was nothing but warm.
Not because I'm actually a fire spirit or anything—it's just one of the perks attached to Selbia's incarnation. Her flames won't harm me.
Mr. Cr-whatever had stopped his attacks. He seemed to be switching to defense, trying to gauge Selbia's incarnation. Maybe he was considering the possibility that it countered him.
"You've awakened your incarnation."
"As you can see."
"You found a way out in a crisis. But do you think you can face me with a freshly manifested, unrefined incarnation? Flames are my prey, after all."
He's right.
He's a seasoned incarnation user whose name appeared even in the latter stages of the Hero Selection Tournament. There's a massive gap between him and Selbia, who's just stepping into the basics.
"Who knows...?"
But the thing that always overturns differences in skill and experience is extremity. Selbia smirked confidently and summoned her mind's power in one breath.
Flame wings unfurled from Selbia's shoulder blades, and the surrounding temperature skyrocketed beyond imagination.
Tzzzzzzzzz──!!
The sound of water boiling and scattering echoed everywhere.
The ground within a 30-meter radius dried up completely, without a drop of moisture left, and the rain pouring from the sky dared not cross a certain boundary.
It was a limited space, but she'd stopped the rain. With heat alone.
I could see Mr. Cr-whatever's expression harden.
Just the prelude to her attack had halted the rain—an extreme firepower. That means even his flame-absorbing serpent couldn't swallow it whole!
"Burn him to ashes, Selbia!"
"That's exactly what I had in mind. Watch closely!"
Whoosh!
A small sun bloomed in the center of Selbia's open palms. Rough, straightforward, without any tricks... but purely scorching hot.
The kind of flame only someone who's steadfastly persevered could create. The brilliance radiating from the condensed heat source filled every direction.
Hummm─!
The serpent with its maw wide open clashed with the small sun. The flame serpent swallowed the sun, writhed in agony, then its head swelled up in an instant.
Ssshhhhhh─!
Boom─!!
It exploded head-first.
It was a flame so hot and powerful that even the serpent that absorbed fire couldn't swallow it without bursting!
Kravelin Render calmly contemplated the collapsing 『Courtship Flame Serpent』 that had lost its head. That woman's firepower was abnormal. He knew how to handle flames since he trained in fire magic. Yet even brief exposure had scorched his entire skin. If he'd blocked it with the serpent and still took this much damage... grazing it would kill him. And that radiance was too bright to look at directly; even shielding his eyes with his sleeve made his corneas sting. The world is unfair. Indeed. Lifelong devotions to love go unrequited, and more talented, younger mages surpass you—it's a cruel world full of such occurrences. But heaven, amid such grand unfairness, offers petty fairness. That's an immutable law. First, even geniuses can't buy experience.
"How's that? Can you still swallow it...? Pfft, hrk."
The Crimson Tower woman spat flames mid-sentence, quickly shut her mouth, and wiped them off like drool. She couldn't fully control her incarnation yet. Like someone suddenly sprouting wings. Without ample practice and training, she'd naturally flounder. The experience gap remained. And second, what you gain, you lose. If her firepower was this extremely potent──
"...Hah?!"
Fwoosh, streaaaak─!
The flame arrow Kravelin Render fired in a surprise attack sped toward Selbia's leg. It scattered her ankle in flames—not flesh, but roaring fire. It looked like no damage at a glance, but Kravelin saw through it.
"No defensive function. Or rather, extremely vulnerable."
"......"
"So fragile that a bucket of water would kill you. You've drastically reduced your body's durability, turning it into a bonfire. That explains the firepower."
That made sense of her rain-stopping show too. She'd die if the rain hit her directly, so she'd wasted power to dry the surroundings.
The Crimson Tower woman swallowed dryly and faced him defiantly.
"Hmph, believe it or not... your serpent exploded. And I won't fall for cheap shots anymore!"
"Immature. Expected from a fresh incarnation. Allow me to elegize your path to the afterlife... Don't underestimate your opponent's incarnation."
Slither. Ssslither.
Twitch.
The headless flame serpent's corpse wriggled. And from the severed neck──
Fwoosh─!!
Two heads sprouted.
"...It regenerates too?!"
"Even the slightest attack would be fatal to you now. Block it if you can. Pathetically."
"I'll just blow it up again, 『Radiant Cascade』...!"
Hummm─!
The massive sun packed with explosive power fired repeatedly. Kravelin Render leaped around using the flame serpent as a shield, casting spells from blind spots.
Meanwhile, the two-headed serpent charged with mouths agape.
Boom! Booooom─!!
The world brightened and darkened in cycles.
The serpent was shot down, heads regrew. Persistent and tenacious. Infused with Kravelin's obsessive love, all the more so.
The experience gap couldn't be ignored. Kravelin calmly controlled the fight, pressing aggressively despite taking hits.
"If that trajectory had been just a bit closer, you'd be dead."
"......!"
He kept reminding her relentlessly. Her incarnation's penalty was defensive fragility—one solid hit, and she'd die on the spot.
He judged that psychological pressure would make her passive, tilting the battle in his favor.
But it backfired.
"I've already staked my life! I've finally become able to shine by big bro's side... No hesitation now─!!"
"......"
The Crimson Tower woman pushed herself even harder.
The heat intensified, expanding the rain-free sphere. Her form blurred, flickering like flames. Durability dropped further.
Tssstsss─!
A bizarre sound like air frying accompanied a small star orbiting her, scattering crimson brilliance.
The ground around the Flame Angel melted and flowed.
Kravelin's instincts quietly warned: That's truly dangerous. Even the serpent couldn't handle it.
Kill her first.
As he prepared his final spell, he murmured lowly.
"Is that man so precious? I saw him in the Holy City. He had another woman. They looked harmonious even from afar."
"......"
"A love you can't have. To claim it, you must become far more 'necessary' than those women."
Yes.
That's why he'd resolved to create a sun.
The Crimson Tower Master was obsessed with her research, loving it. To win her heart, Kravelin had to become more 'necessary' than anyone. No holds barred.
That was his desperation.
The Crimson Tower woman agonized, then filled her eyes with resolve and replied.
"Doesn't matter. Even if I can't have big bro."
"...What?"
"Sure, it'd piss me off, make me sad, twist my guts with jealousy...! But. If I can just stay by his side. If I can shine on him as much as he's shone on me... I'd accept it, even in tears!"
Kravelin ground his teeth. Unacceptable.
"In the end, that's a loser's compromise. Not craving what's rightfully yours means your love isn't that precious..."
"You're the crazy one!"
Time dragged on enough. She'd played along for her own cast, but Kravelin was a step ahead. He was faster.
As the small suns flashed blindingly, he'd hidden one serpent head at his feet.
It moved underground stealthily. Finally reached. The extreme glass cannon from her incarnation would die from a single bite.
He shouted.
"Devour!"
"......!!"
Rumble rumble, boom─!!
The ground exploded, serpent surging up. Debris scattered, and the Crimson Tower woman vanished without a trace.
The battle ended.
Her extreme power boost crumbled to one dagger thrust. A blade without a shield is so fragile.
Kravelin moved to finish the Crimson Tower man with the remaining serpent... but froze.
No sensation of consumption. The air was still hot.
A chilling voice whispered from somewhere.
"You thought losing an arm, limping on that leg, all messed up—you figured no more interference. Right, Mr. Cr-whatever?"
"You bastard... what did you do."
"Role division matters. If Selbia's the spear, I become the shield. Team balance."
"I asked what trick you pulled!"
Slither.
The mage appeared from thin air, cradling the blazing Selbia princess-style. He grinned crow-like.
"Of course. How do you cast another school's magic with fire...? You're not human, are you?"
"You're half-not-human right now too. Like a living flame."
"...Not hot, right?"
Illusion magic... with fire? Absurd.
Kravelin had wasted his attack chance. Selbia completed her cast safely. The red star orbiting her aimed at him.
Power gathered, next was release. Likely a fatal blow. But not inescapable.
Abandon the 『Courtship Flame Serpent』. Detonate all amassed power at once. That could block it.
Start over from scratch, devouring flames anew. Better than death.
"Aim... help me, big bro...?"
"Leave it to me. 0.5 clicks left from origin."
Start from the beginning. Stack flames, gather, make a sun. Offer it to the Crimson Tower Master...
Offer it. What would change?
Loss.
Kravelin felt profound loss.
The Crimson Tower woman looked so happy. Every moment with her longed-for childhood friend satisfying, like basking in sunlight.
Even if she couldn't own the sun, just feeling its warmth was enough.
Cowardly loser's thinking. Fake!
From the angel's hand, the red star awakened.
Kiiiiing──!!
Time slowed.
Kravelin watched the searing light pillar hurtling straight at him. As he did, he thought.
Everyone wants to grasp love. He was no different. He didn't think himself wrong.
But doubt gnawed at a corner of his mind. Like a burn scar. Persistent, undeniable.
What if...
What if, instead of killing the pontiff and priests and leaving the Crimson Tower, he'd stayed and built his magic steadily.
What if, instead of craving full possession of love, he'd just wished for his love to be happy.
Even if he couldn't win the Crimson Tower Master's heart.
Maybe just being by her side would've been enough happiness?
"......"
In his final moment, Kravelin released the strength from his spell-casting hands.
And the shadow of the regretting mage was engulfed by light as intense as the sun.
Kwaaaaa──!!
......
No shadow remained where the light passed. Yet amid the outlines, on jagged, melted stones scattered about, a pinch of ash bore one man's final regret.
Was my love... mere arrogance?
What happened next? It wrapped up neatly. Recovered the half-melted 『Psychopath Module』. Dug through the rubble and found it. Successfully implanted in that bastard's head. Boosted computational power and mana capacity! Kravelin Render melted cleanly. No evidence we killed him left—which was fine. Selbia had unlocked her incarnation. Insane performance, conditional demerit: misuse sends you straight to the Jordan River. But that's a plus. Because whenever Selbia activates her incarnation, I'll always be by her side. Handle flashy illusion magic for cosmic defense. She's the blade, I'm the shield. Perfect role split. Plus, I gained a little sister! "Call me big bro?" "O, o...?" "Huh? Eung?" "You'll pay for your arrogance!" "Eek!" A punch to the side. The "big bro" slip came from her emotions shaking post-incarnation unlock. She was mortified, reluctant to say it again. We tidied up roughly and returned to the Crimson Tower. Selbia strutted like a hero's triumphant return. Nothing scared her now that she'd reached incarnation. And the day we faced the Crimson Magic Tower Master. "Selbia reached incarnation? Still got the talent...?" "Enough with the insider chit-chat. Here for mission report. Kravelin Render: wiped clean from existence. End." "Mm, prepared just in time. What our Selbia wanted so badly." "......" Selbia gulped repeatedly. She glanced at me like seeking permission. I thumbs-upped: no worries. Go, Selbia! Claim your dream with that wish ticket! Then, Selbia and the Crimson Tower Master spoke simultaneously. "I want a way to restore memory loss!" "Your childhood friend who shares memories is at the Violet Tower now." "Pardon?" "Huh?" What? I'm right here—what's that mean? As Selbia and I stood stunned side-by-side, the Crimson Tower Master waved, fetching a recording crystal orb. Tapped it. Tzzzzz. A familiar face projected on the nearby wall. Yuna, fuming. -So my baby's there?! I'm coming right now. Touch him and you're gone—war! -Violetiris. Barking so tiny... not scary. And I respect my love's free will. No forcing. But oh my. You... The Tower Master's surprised voice added someone to the projection: a boy around ten, black hair, red eyes, but with a heroically bold face. "...Uwaa?!" Selbia's eyes bulged, weird noise escaping. I nearly did too. My face could make that expression? So... the shota mime spoke softly. -Long time, Mr. Vermilion. -Two of you? -Circumstances. The main body there has no past memories. Skip old stories. Please. Got it? -Of course. Thought memory loss was a shame, but now we can reminisce. So, your name still── Cut. "See? Selbia, your childhood friend... seems split. Glad we found him. How about ditching the guy next to you for true love?" "......" Selbia's eyes spun, neck creaking as she stared at me. No, news to me. No such module in my head. I didn't make it! "Tell me they're the same person quick, Professor." "...Why?" "Or I end up two-timing the same guy...?!" "......!!" I jolted like lightning-struck. That outcome...? No, I considered separating them. Wait. Didn't mishear. Selbia just confessed liking me separate from memory-friend? Before I processed, panic-derailed Selbia dropped more bombs. "...Wait, you already have two. So I can two-time the same person too...?!" "Stop, stop, Selbia! Push that logic further, one of us breaks brains...!" Selbia and I floundered in confusion; the Crimson Tower Master cackled. We learned much later it was all her scheme to tease us.
『Promise』 answered the Crimson Tower Master beyond the crystal softly but firmly. "I'm not the past him. Just a module. Personality from the main body." "But... the man you call 'main body' was very different in personality? The one I remember was 'hero' incarnate. Just like you." "Truth is, the main body never changed. Even possessed by 'that,' core heart unchanged. In other words." "In other words?" -----------------
The childhood friend Selbia remembered, sun-like.
Partly bravado. Mountain weasel village lacked role models, wisdom to learn, good memories. Kids just froze in bad traditions' shadow. So he lit his own fire to shine. For growing kids...
The sun was needed.