The Name You Call Me -2-
Yung sat perched on a rock, wearing a bitter smile as he looked at me.
"I didn't recognize you at first."
"..."
"You've changed so much."
Yung's gaze drifted to Tyrving at my waist.
"Grown tall enough to be unrecognizable."
"..."
"Strong enough that I wondered if you were even the same species…."
"..."
"It's funny, isn't it? The same amount of time passed, yet you've become a monster while I've turned into some washed-up relic."
Click, click. Yung clicked his tongue and met my eyes squarely.
"Every time I see you, I can't help but think life is just that unfair."
"..."
"I used to be a decent mercenary myself. Parents died…. Comrades dropped dead right in front of me…. The woman I liked ran away…. So I tried to drown the memories in drink, but it never worked the way I wanted…."
"Spare me the sob story."
"Heartless bastard."
Yung clicked his tongue again and let out a sigh.
"I've been thinking. The obvious methods just wouldn't be any fun."
"..."
"You've wronged me plenty, both body and mind."
"You brought it on yourself. Humbly accepting it might be the wiser choice."
"Haha…! Easy to say."
Yung burst into laughter at my casual retort and nodded.
"Amusing."
"..."
"Truly amusing."
"..."
"You must be curious, so I'll tell you in advance."
"..."
"I have no intention of walking out of here alive today."
"That's the best news I've heard all day."
"You really have no humanity, do you?"
Yung clicked his tongue once more and said, "For the record, I also have no intention of dying by your hand today."
"That's a problem. I've been wondering when would be the best time to kill you."
"Then go ahead and try."
"..."
Yung flashed a sly grin at my immobilized state. His sudden appearance meant he had insurance.
"You can't kill me, can you?"
"No, I can't."
"You held back well, kid. If you'd killed me just now, that little one over there would've died for sure."
"...Black magic?"
"No. I don't write tragic endings into my plays. I prepared something far more straightforward and reliable."
Yung pulled a small box from his coat and showed it to me. The moment I saw what was inside, my fists clenched.
An orb. A black orb shaped like a bead—an artifact I knew all too well.
"An artifact made by the cult leader."
It was capable of triggering a massive explosion. At my flat remark, Yung laughed and nodded confidently.
"Correct. An artifact infused with the cult leader's magic. So you know what this is, too."
"A large-scale explosion."
"You really don't miss a thing. Like someone who's come from the future…."
"...The cult leader wouldn't have given this away freely."
"Of course not. Even for the leader, making something like this isn't easy…. So I stole it."
"..."
"I'm planning to die anyway. What's there to be afraid of? Don't you agree, kid?"
I clenched my fists at the killing intent in Yung's eyes. He didn't seem to be lying.
"I've hidden orbs infused with the cult leader's magic all throughout the basement."
"That's cowardly."
"If you want to watch an entertaining play, you have to pay the admission fee."
"..."
"Even if you'd taken that kid outside, it would've exploded. I hid some aboveground too."
"Could you tell me where?"
"Would I?"
"Pity."
Yung's eyes began to grow cold.
"The activation condition is..."
He pointed a finger at his own throat.
"My neck."
"..."
"The only way to disarm it is also my life."
I frowned at the convoluted riddle. It made no sense. Even the Sphinx's riddle had an answer, but Yung's question—where the correct and incorrect answers were the same—was utterly baffling.
Reading my complicated expression, Yung answered in a reassuring tone.
"Don't worry. All you have to do is not kill me."
"What do you mean?"
"That one."
Yung gestured with his eyes toward Mikhail, who was clutching at empty air.
"That kid is the key."
"The key...?"
"If that kid slits my throat with her own hands, you win. But if you kill me because you can't stand to see her break any further, I win."
"You son of a bitch."
"Angry?"
"How could I not be?"
Yung exhaled a deep breath from his core and spoke in a calm voice.
"That's why I'm showing you."
"..."
"The sight of everything precious to you breaking apart."
"..."
"She's precious to you, isn't she? That silver-haired kid."
"..."
Yung's lips curled into a bitter smile as he raised an eyebrow.
"If she weren't, you wouldn't have come here. Every time I tried to do something to her, you showed up and got in the way…."
"..."
"It's so obvious. Like you're shouting, 'This is my weakness.'"
"You've hit the mark."
"That's why emotions are terrifying. No matter how strong someone is, touch their reverse scale and they crumble."
Yung stared straight into my eyes as he boasted about his plan.
"The script I prepared won't be boring."
It would be heartrending, entertaining. It would bring tears and rage.
I nodded at Yung's surprisingly clever words.
"I've been wondering what the greatest revenge an old relic like me could manage…."
—Hwaaaaaah!!!
Yung spoke as he watched Mikhail charge forward, lost to reason.
"This is it."
—I'll kill you!!!!
"Watching this kid break."
"..."
"I thought the ultimate revenge would be seeing someone you cherish fall apart right before your eyes."
"..."
Smiling cruelly, Yung looked at me and said, "I told you. I can't beat you."
Mikhail drew her sword from her waist and rushed into the empty air.
"Youuuuu!!!"
Yung was standing right beside her.
Yung let out a hollow laugh as he watched Mikhail's blade slice through nothing. Finding it truly hilarious, he gritted his teeth and burst into laughter, making me furrow my brow.
"Even if it's cowardly, I have no choice."
"..."
"Endure it, kid."
—Shwaaaak!
Mikhail swung her sword meaninglessly, as if an enemy stood where she struck.
Yung turned to me and said, "Watch carefully."
"It's been a while since you've seen this, hasn't it?"
"..."
"You need to watch properly."
"You really enjoy nasty pranks."
"That I do."
Yung spoke coolly to me as I forced an awkward smile.
"What do you think would happen if that sword were pointed at you?"
"You mean to change the target."
"I have to show you the script I prepared. You must have expectations too."
A question occurred to me.
"By the way..."
"Hm?"
"Why do you think I can't kill you?"
"What?"
"If I kill you and undo the magic, wouldn't that solve everything?"
"Didn't I say I'd hidden the orbs…. Do you want to be buried alive?"
"You said you came here to die."
"..."
"Even if Mikhail defeats you, you'll just detonate everything and end it."
"..."
"I think it would be better to blow off some steam and save my friend."
I spoke quietly while watching Mikhail swing her sword at empty air.
"I'll admit it. The person you call a kid is precious to me. You're right—she's my weakness, my reverse scale."
"..."
"Even so, I'd rather bet on a future with some hope than on zero percent odds."
"You're insane."
I slowly drew my sword and walked toward him. At the same time, Mikhail's eyes began to shimmer as she looked at me. Her blade, swung in blind fury, turned toward me. I let out a deep sigh.
"You killed her."
"...This is troublesome."
"You... You killed her!"
"Haa..."
Yung stared at us, unable to hide his bewilderment. The situation had veered far from the scene he'd envisioned, and he looked genuinely shaken. He wanted to watch, yet he needed to flee. He'd even considered mutual destruction, but now, for the first time, he seemed afraid as I declared I would shatter the script he'd worked so hard to prepare.
"If you don't obey me, that child will die without fail."
"You're right."
"Do you think that kid can withstand the cult leader's magic?"
"Impossible."
"...Then!"
"I can. Taking the impact in her place should be enough."
I spoke in a cold voice as I looked at Mikhail and Yung, both breathing heavily.
"The picture isn't as pretty as you thought, is it?"
—Clang...!
"Your ominous words had me a little worried, but honestly, I'm disappointed. Archbishop of Oblivion."
Yung ground his teeth.
"Let's see how long you can keep that expression."
—Click!
Yung glared at me and snapped his fingers.
And then—
"Huh..."
Mikhail's eyes regained their light, and she stood before me. She was swinging her sword with determination, but her bewildered gaze danced as if she had no idea where to look.
"How is this..."
I smiled at Mikhail's trembling eyes.
"Have you woken up?"
"Where am I...? I was definitely with that man…."
"Shh."
A sparkling red flash scattered toward Yung. He exhaled deeply as he stared at the wall, now torn and crumpled, muttering that no monster could compare to this one.
"Don't think about it."
"No... No."
"It was just a dream. Don't dwell on it, and don't keep it in your memories."
Mikhail looked at me with shaking eyes, as if seeking an answer for what had happened. I lightly parried her sword and offered a gentle smile. Sometimes a smile whose meaning is unclear is easier to understand than complicated words.
"I hate this..."
"..."
"I don't want to do this anymore.."
I spoke her name with weight, as if reminding her to stay in character.
"Misa."
"Huh...?"
"That's right. Misa."
—Clang!
Once again, the clash of swords rang through the space. A sharp pain shot through my hands, and Mikhail's expression began to shift rapidly.
"Stop..."
—Clang!
"Stop...!"
—Clang, clang, clang!
"Please, just stop!!"
She despaired at her body refusing to obey her will.
"My body won't listen to me...!"
"I know."
"I want to stop...! But my body!"
"I understand."
Mikhail was, right now—
"Please...!"
—trembling with fear.