Chapter 29 - Desperate Struggle

"Kyaaak!!"

The laser bursting from the Dark Golem's core slammed into the ground, sending Irina flying from the shockwave.

"...Damn it!"

The moment I saw it, I launched myself forward and barely managed to catch her just before she hit the dirt.

"...Ngh."

"Ow!"

But with my stamina drained and critical wounds all over, I lacked the strength to stop our momentum. I ended up rolling across the ground with her in my arms for a good while.

"Fucking crazy golem bastard."

The golem stared down at us, then lumbered forward with its massive body. I spat a curse and gripped my sword tight.

"W-We gotta run... You can't beat that thing...!"

"........."

Meanwhile, Irina started yelling desperately at me. Fair enough—I got why she was freaking out. That golem was basically a Demon King's Army strategic weapon, the thing that half-destroyed Sunrise Academy and dealt Isolet a near-fatal blow.

In previous loops, it took the entire Imperial Knight Order half a day to take it down, even with everyone mobilized.

"Ri...na...?"

But right now, I couldn't afford to worry about that. No matter what, I had to fight this damn golem here.

Once it's activated like this, it'll hunt us down to the ends of the earth. Running out of the forest wouldn't make it safer—it'd just endanger nearby villages. Even if we hid perfectly, if it headed to a village, knights from the Empire's outskirts wouldn't arrive for days. The property damage and casualties until then... impossible to estimate.

"...Hup."

"Y-You're not thinking of fighting, are you?"

"Irina... run away..."

And if Irina died, that'd be a disaster.

"No way! If we run, we run ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠together!! I can't leave you alone..."

"Run!!"

"...Eek."

I bellowed at her, and Irina recoiled with a startled look, backing away.

"...Weren't you set on killing Frey no matter what? Steel yourself."

"B-But..."

"Anyway, since my siblings died abused, I've just been a walking corpse."

"........."

"So... please escape and avenge me. That's all I ask."

To fight the golem all-out, I needed her gone first. Swallowing the cringe, I forced out the cheesy lines. Irina bit her lip hard.

"...So it was my imagination."

"Huh?"

"Liana... I won't forget your name, even in death... I swear... I swear..."

"...An honor."

Hearing my wistful words, tears streamed down her face. Then she turned and bolted.

"...Phew."

If she hadn't left willingly, I'd have knocked her out and dragged her away before facing the golem. I sighed in relief and turned toward it.

"Wait, taking this thing out here would mess up the prophecy scenario... Ugh."

Defeating it now would derail the Prophecy Book's script—create a variable. But not defeating it meant game over. What choice did I have? And the prophecy scenario was...

"...Tch."

The golem let out a massive roar, so I shelved my thoughts and analyzed it.

At this point, it hasn't fully recovered... Probably mid-to-upper combat executive level.

The Dark Golem commanded monsters during the Sunrise Academy invasion and was a Demon King's Army strategic weapon... but right now, it's weaker than at its episode final boss peak.

It was absorbing magic from the Ashen Forest when we woke it prematurely, so its size is smaller than during the invasion. Still mid-to-upper ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠combat executive tier, though.

For reference, the Succubus Queen and Yukarius I killed easily weren't combat executives. Those guys don't drop dead to ambushes from scrubs.

Point is, I had a shot. I'd been holding back Star Mana around Irina, fighting monsters with pure martial arts. Now she's gone, I could unleash the hero's power surging from yesterday's mana potion.

Of course... with the life force penalty, I needed a quick finish. I'd be on death's door after.

The moment I finished thinking, a black laser fired from the golem's energy core. At the same time, my sword swung, unleashing Star Mana-infused sword energy at the laser.

A massive explosion erupted, smoke blanketing everything. Seizing the chance, I dove at the golem's leg.

"Hrah!!!"

My sword severed its right leg, and the golem lost balance, crashing down.

"How're you gonna repair it without a leg?"

I'd panicked at its words but sighed in relief and moved to finish it...

"...Crazy."

Suddenly, wings unfolded from the golem, and it took flight. I stared dumbly at the sky.

"Already pulling the desperation pattern?"

This was bad. It only deployed wings for last stands or self-destruct before. Didn't expect flight mode after one leg.

"...Ngh."

Like a dog chasing a chicken only to watch it fly onto the roof, I looked up helplessly—then clutched my chest as agony hit, collapsing.

"Damn... only two swings left..."

Star Mana still overflowed, but life force penalties meant only two more hero-powered strikes.

I should've been grateful for two after all this hell, but the situation was too dire.

"...This is nuts."

Things worsened. Small cannons emerged all over the Dark Golem, aiming at me. It planned to unleash the magic missiles that razed the academy—all at once.

Something's off. Why's it so desperate to kill me?

Doubt crept in. Sure, we woke it, but from its view, I was an ant. Why go all-out? The freakout after losing a leg made sense self-judged, but dumping its ultimate on an ant? Something was very wrong.

Cold sweat as massive magic missiles launched. I'd hoped to dodge without a strike, but academy-level barrage incoming. Stunned, I gripped my sword, deep breath, and swung hard.

Incoming missiles exploded mid-air in a spectacular blast. Screams of terrified monsters echoed through the Ashen Forest.

"Cough...! Urk..."

I clutched my bursting heart, rolling on the ground. At this state, one final strike and I'd be out.

One shot to end the golem.

The airborne Dark Golem wobbled and descended. Looking closer, its left arm and wing were shredded—caught in my strike's missile detonation.

Something was wrong. Smoke poured from the golem. Cumulative damage overload? Heart pounding, I watched—then a shocking announcement hit.

"Shit!"

I staggered toward the Dark Golem.

Smoke billowed from the golem as its central core glowed red-hot.

"Damn it, no!"

Self-destruct would raze the area. Monsters would flood out, turning villages and territories to wastelands. Had to stop it.

"Hrraaah!!"

Ignoring body-wracking pain, I leaped and plunged my sword into the core.

"Urgh...!"

I poured Star Mana into the core; it retaliated, flooding me with magic.

"Aaaaahhh!!!"

Intending to shatter it with hero power, unimaginable pain made me tremble. The golem gathered energy for a laser.

I twisted the sword in the core, hitting the center to weaken output just before firing.

"Argh!!"

Still, the main weapon hurt—even weakened. Hit dead-on, I slumped gripping the sword in the core.

The golem grabbed my limp body with its right hand, overheating the core again. Area annihilation imminent...

"Raaahhh!!!"

Gathering final strength, I swung the gripped sword fiercely.

A desperate, fading strike—couldn't bisect it, but shattered the central core.

Massive magic poured from the shattered core. The staggering Dark Golem dropped me and toppled backward, powering down.

"...Ugh."

Staring, emptiness hit. I touched my face frantically—mask cracked from the laser.

"...Oh, no."

Fear of discovery by responders gripped me. Forcing fading consciousness, I crawled into bushes with baby-strength...

"O-Over there!! That's it!!!"

"Sunrise Empire 1st Class Crime Investigation Unit! Any injuries?"

"...Call the Imperial Knights now! This is serious!"

Irina and investigators' voices from the forest edge plunged me into despair.

Crazy... Hundreds of kilometers from the academy... How'd they get here so fast?

Panicking, I spotted Magic Tower mages with seals rushing in—something wrong.

...Tracked the scroll. Damn...

Magic Tower intervened. Only they could reverse-trace in under a day.

But that didn't add up. The Tower, rivaling dukes and Sun God Church, ignores events without intriguing their eccentric lord. Famous for skipping the imperial curse incident till the Emperor begged.

Dean Lionel? Too incompetent. Tower Lord interested? Too few mages. And they looked pissed—not voluntary.

Then who...?

"Mana traces over there!!"

"...Hm?"

Struggling with dimming vision, investigators pointed my way, approaching.

"N-No..."

Desperate to escape, but consciousness crumbled mercilessly. Trembling eyes fixed on the nearing unit...

Suddenly, massive black magic erupted from the Dark Golem, blanketing the area in darkness.

"Wh-What!?"

"Light! Cast light magic!"

"Ugh... Can't breathe..."

People flailed in the thick magic, collapsing one by one. Seasoned Tower mages panicked, erecting barriers and scanning.

In the chaos, footsteps approached. Panicked, I covered my face and bowed—but...

"Rest easy, Young Master..."

"Ka... K..."

"...Your loyal servant has arrived."

"Kania...?"

Cleaving the magic, Kania appeared with a pitying look. Fading voice whispered her name.

"...So rest easy."

She gently lifted me, merging with the darkness. I gazed at her and blacked out.

"...Thanks."

Somehow leaving those final words.

......

"Mm..."

"Are you awake, Young Master...?"

I opened my eyes in a speeding carriage. Body screaming in pain as I sat up, evening sunset visible outside. Quite some time passed.

"...Kania, you okay?"

Grasping events, I first checked on her—she'd overused black magic rescuing me.

"...You're asking about me right now?"

Kania gave an incredulous look.

"You cast black magic that even Tower mages struggled with. Of course I'm worried. Is your body—"

"...Adapted the evil magic from the Dark Golem's interior—no strain. Worry about yourself."

She cut me off firmly, pulling ointment from her bag and applying it to me.

"...Ah."

Only then noticing my shirt was off.

"All these... from today's mess?"

"...Some from last time too."

"...I see."

After her concerned question, I answered simply. Enduring her touch in the rocking carriage, I asked softly.

"...So, what the hell happened?"

Kania paused ointment, head bowed, then spoke.

"...The family head intervened."

I froze.

"Father...?"

"Yes. And don't be shocked. The family head... collapsed."

"...What!?"

I jolted; Kania grabbed me urgently.

"Calm down. You need rest..."

"Wh-Why did Father collapse...!"

"Well..."

Her explanation left me speechless.

When Irina and I vanished from the arena, Father flew into a rage, personally requesting the Tower Lord. Turns out, Father and the Lord were old best friends—news to me, no hints in prior loops.

Returning from the request, overexcited Father collapsed. Starlight family in uproar overnight—head and heir both down.

"Family head's in a coma now. Return and declare survival; by imperial law, you'll be acting head immediately."

"........."

Dazed long after, I finally spoke.

"Ariane?"

"...Imprisoned in the imperial jail."

"...Haa."

Head down, I gave Kania quiet orders.

"Minimize this incident. Spread rumors I'm behind it subtly—make everyone know but hush it."

"Yes."

"Propose to Dean Lionel dropping charges for Ariane via 'minimizing scandal.' If not, bribe. Hint subtly I swapped the scrolls."

"Understood."

"I'll delegate acting head powers. You're capable... right?"

"...Just entrust it."

After directing cleanup, next crucial question.

"...Arena match result?"

"Judges' majority: your victory."

"...No end to headaches."

Realizing the mess, I muttered.

"...Makes the attacker random now."

"Pardon?"

"Later. Anyway... Father's situation..."

Trying to shift calmly, I couldn't continue, head drooping.

"Young Master... Don't worry too much. Family head will wake soon..."

"...Special event."

"Pardon?"

As Kania tilted her head, I choked out, teary.

"Father collapses in rage at my villainy... Won't wake till Demon King dies..."

"........."

Not finishing, I chewed my lip, then whispered.

"...Hold me, Kania."

She rose, embraced me gently, murmuring.

"...As long as you need."

We held each other briefly—till wounds throbbed too much.

......

"Vanished without a trace—suspicious as hell."

Meanwhile, Irina in the investigators' carriage to the capital stared sharply at the withered fruit in her hand.

"Even briefly... that body when embraced wasn't a woman's. Faint sparkling mana at the scene was odd. And crucially..."

"...No mere maid unrelated to me would've known my nickname 'Ice Dragon.'"

......

As the arena kidnapping closed and darkness fell on the Empire, a woman muttered in bed.

"M-My stomach... why's it hurt so much... And what's with this cat tail crap that the saintess keeps rejecting my checkup over...?"

Isabel, who'd insulted Kania before Frey days ago and paid hundreds-fold, clutched her gut amid Kania's curse-induced endless diarrhea, muttering.

"D-Damn... that bastard Frey... or that lowly bitch got revenge... I'll get even... somehow..."

"Eek!"

Stomach signal hit; teary-eyed, she dashed to the bathroom.

"...Purrk."

A crow on the windowsill silently watched her misery.