Chapter 115 - System Error

'Good, that should do it. It's such a complex magic circle, so ripping it apart ought to be enough.'

The footsteps of the two charging toward me gradually slowed, and soon they began shouting at each other.

"Kania! Now! Pour your black magic in right now!!!"

"Pardon? But..."

"You idiot!! Magic scrolls are meant to be torn to activate!! It was designed that way because it's so intricate, but the activation condition has been met!!"

But thanks to their attacks clashing earlier and creating that deafening roar, all I could hear was a piercing ring in my ears.

So, turning my gaze away from them, I figured it was over anyway since the penalty window had appeared. Staggering from the rising heat from below, I thought:

"Ha."

I let out a scoff at the now-familiar system window floating before my eyes.

"I'm not scared anymore."

Yesterday, when I was with Perloché, I received a letter from Serena. It clearly contained hope.

I trust Serena.

And I trust Kania, who's more reliable than anyone and even fought to take the penalty in my place.

I also trust Irina, who developed the impossible magic for my sake.

Moreover, I trust Perloché, who gave me crucial information despite whatever she's hiding, and Clana, who tried to become a canary for me.

Not this translucent system window hovering above me.

That's why I could bear it all.

"Damn it! It's not activating as designed because there's not enough black magic!!"

"I have a method."

"What? Hey, wait!!"

"Pardon the intrusion."

I was certain that even if I took this penalty, I could defeat the Demon King and give these two girls—the ones I was watching now—a happy ending.

That's why I had no desire whatsoever to let their lifespans and life forces be whittled away.

"Thanks, everyone."

As that thought crossed my mind, I gripped my fading consciousness with all my might and left one final whisper.

"Take care of things from here on out."

And the world went dark.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the sunflower clutched in my hand.

'...Pretty.'

It was a sunflower, shining brightly and beautifully, one I'd seen many times before.

'But I probably don't need it anymore.'

Still, I thought I didn't need it. Because I had become a canary solely for Frey.

One who would perch on his shoulder, sing lullabies when he was tired, rub my face against his when he was sad, and flutter around him when he was happy.

"...Huh?"

But something felt off.

I'd become a canary, so why was my vision like this? It was no different from when I was human.

"Eh?"

And what's this canary flower in my hand? Why do I even have hands?

I clearly...

"Young Master!!"

"No!!"

As those thoughts swirled, noisy voices erupted from ahead.

".....Urk!!"

Startled, I looked forward to see Frey collapsing, vomiting blood from his mouth.

Am I still dreaming? Frey wouldn't vomit blood.

I'd definitely turned into a canary, so he shouldn't have to take the penalty...

"Wait."

A sudden memory struck me like lightning as I sat there dazed.

Frey kissing me as per my final request.

Me collapsing to the floor while holding him.

Our hands, arms, legs, and bodies intertwined in a long exchange of love.

I'd wanted deeper communion, but time ran out, so I stopped to transform into a canary.

And then...

"...Ah."

In that moment, Frey suddenly infusing star mana into the canary flower I'd given him.

Destroying the very canary I was supposed to enter, with a relieved smile on his face...

My first friend.

"No."

Only then did I realize it.

I'd committed yet another grave sin against him.

"Nooooooo!!!"

Springing up belatedly, I sprinted at full speed toward Frey, who was being held by Kania and Irina.

"Cough... Urk..."

But it was too late.

Frey, restrained by them, had already lost consciousness and was spewing massive amounts of blood from his mouth.

"Why? Why did you do it? Frey?"

"Hah..."

"Why on earth? Why?"

Hugging Frey tightly as Kania and Irina sat him on the ground, I demanded answers in a trembling voice.

Drip.

"...Eek."

But what came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from Frey's mouth wasn't an answer—it was blood.

"N-No. No, this can't be."

Panic-stricken and at a loss, I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Nooooo..."

But the blood pouring from his mouth seeped through my fingers, staining my clothes and the ground.

As if mocking me, no matter how much I thrashed, the outcome couldn't be changed.

As if ridiculing me for trying to save him only to be saved instead.

"F-First, let's heal him..."

Finally giving up on stemming the flow, I pulled my hand away, revealing his blood-soaked lips.

"Ahhh..."

He was smiling.

Relieved, as if glad he'd protected me.

As if losing his lifespan was no big deal.

"I-I'm sorry... I messed up..."

Staring blankly at him, I pressed my forehead to his and began to sob.

"I won't do it again... Please..."

I hated myself for deciding to protect him yet failing to let go of my regrets.

For devising this absurd plan that led him to resolve to sacrifice himself.

I should have just turned into a canary in secret.

Flown away somewhere so no one felt guilty.

And only after Frey finished everything, ascended to the heavens to beg forgiveness.

Why that damn flower, of all things?

"Cough..."

"Eep."

As I cried with those thoughts, Frey—foreheads touching—vomited blood again.

Soaking not just my already bloodied clothes, but my face too.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

But I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't think to wipe the blood.

Nor to stop apologizing.

Or the tears.

"Ahhh..."

My one true friend, who secretly eliminated my enemies and selected my informants.

My sole genuine subordinate.

The man I'd known nothing of love for, never planned to, and never dreamed I'd fall for.

But the one I loved and desired more than anyone...

Had discarded his lifespan and life force to protect me.

Frey's already scant remaining years had been halved again.

Because of me. Because I realized it.

Because I hatched this crazy plan.

"I swear it."

After sobbing for what felt like ages, I whispered while rubbing my face against his forehead.

"No matter how much lifespan you have left, what you do next, or even if you become a villain."

"I'll be your canary, serving you until the end."

With those words, I kissed Frey and placed my hand on his heart.

Since we'd already used our oath as children, I intended to swear directly on his soul.

".....Huh?"

But what was this?

"What?"

I couldn't sense Frey's soul.

No energy emanated from his heart at all.

"Frey... No way...?"

My face paled in an instant, but then I felt his heartbeat under my hand and sighed in relief.

'Wait, then why can't I sense his soul?'

But the next moment, a new doubt crashed over me.

His heart was beating, so why was his soul undetectable?

The soul is the most vital part of a person.

Without it, they're no different from a vegetable.

"N-No way... Because of me? Did I cause this?"

If a perfectly healthy person's soul vanished, there could only be one reason.

Me again.

I'd killed Frey again...

"...Ah!"

Despairing, my hands trembling uncontrollably, I suddenly sensed Frey's energy from somewhere.

'G-Good...'

Thank goodness.

If his soul had vanished because of me, I truly couldn't have endured it.

So relieved his soul remained...

Wait.

Does this even make sense?

A person's soul felt not from their body, but elsewhere?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"Th-This can't be... Is this even possible?"

Clana, still being splattered by the blood vomiting from the unconscious Frey, rose with a ghostly expression.

"F-First, we need to trace the soul."

Glancing around frantically, Clana began heading toward the faint presence of Frey's soul.

'Did the penalty's shock eject his soul? That would be disastrous...'

With each step—one, then another—Clana's anxiety grew.

The 'soul ejection' phenomenon, recorded in only a handful of the vast books she'd read, was exceedingly rare, and its countermeasures equally tricky.

'If his soul truly escaped, even if it gnaws at my own, I must become its vessel.'

A soul separated from its body can't return after a certain time, doomed to wander the mortal plane forever as the link weakens.

"I-Is it there?"

Resolved to house Frey's soul even at the cost of her own, Clana quickened her pace as his soul's presence strengthened, her face tense.

"Found..."

After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠walking and walking to reach her destination, Clana...

"...Huh?"

...froze solid.

"Greetings, Princess."

"...Clana."

There, inexplicably, sat Kania—panting heavily against a tree stump where they'd seated Frey earlier—and Irina, her face contorted in fury.

"What... what happened here?"

Staring blankly at them, Clana's face drained of color as she spoke.

"Why... why do I sense Frey's soul from you, Kania?"

"Well, you see. Irina had devised a soul-swap spell for just such an emergency..."

Kania, receiving Clana's trembling question, answered with a troubled expression.

"But her black magic wasn't enough to stabilize the abnormally activated scroll..."

"Kania forcibly stole the magic circle engraved on my body."

Irina cut in, lifting Kania's top to reveal a black magic circle emerging on her abdomen.

"A-And?"

"Yes, the moment Young Master took the penalty, I activated the spell... As originally planned, he should have entered my body, halving my lifespan instead."

"Then why is Frey's soul in you!!"

As Clana raised her voice, Kania quietly stroked her abdomen and said,

"It seems I've conceived Young Master."

"...What?"

"The abnormally activated spell glitched... and I ended up bearing Young Master's soul."

Clana stared blankly for a moment before asking softly,

"So, is Frey's soul trapped in your body forever?"

"No. After a certain time, it will naturally return to his body. And even if not, as a black mage, manipulating souls is child's play for me..."

"What about the penalty? His lifespan?"

"That's..."

"Then what's with all the blood he's vomiting right now?"

Kania looked up quietly and replied, gazing at the translucent window in the air,

"I don't know."

"What?"

"...I truly have no idea what's happening."