Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The One Left Alone
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Life is hectic enough just worrying about the days ahead.
What should I do in times like these?
Requiya is completely relying on me, and I have to protect Hama too.
'I need to build up my strength.'
Cowering and running away like this won't make me any stronger.
So it's faster to find an ally who can help me wield some power.
I kept walking the narrow path without rest, my mind racing just as relentlessly.
I scanned the surrounding terrain with Blue Eye too.
"Requiya, about the checkpoint."
"Yes. You mean the Hellite checkpoint, right?"
"Yeah. You said Brad is farther from there?"
"That's right. The road is narrow and dangerous. Even merchant caravans that hire a ton of mercenaries tend to stick to the eastern gate because monsters show up now and then."
"Monsters?"
"They say they've surged in the few years since the cataclysm vanished."
Ah, here we go with that story again.
I was about to ask whether the trail or the main road would be faster when a chill gripped my chest.
But another thought crossed my mind.
"You don't know where the cataclysm is sleeping either, do you?"
"No, I've only heard rumors. I don't know the exact location."
Then I'll have to find it on my own two feet.
I sharpened Blue Eye even further.
Darkness was falling over the trail, but the path was clear as day, and the whole area unfolded before me like a sky view.
"Boss, could it be...?"
"I need to awaken the cataclysm."
"Pardon? Why?"
Because I want to wake it up.
Because that seems like it'll boost my chances of survival.
Requiya clearly didn't get it.
I understood his lack of understanding.
That's how deep and broad my empathy runs.
If some guy who's running for his life just to survive says he's going to wake up the dragon he barely sealed away, even I'd call him a lunatic first thing.
"Why on earth do you want to wake it up?"
"Because only I can."
"That's not the point right now. Why wake it—"
"Shh. Let's talk later."
I pressed a finger to my lips, and Requiya pursed his.
I abruptly stopped scanning the skies with Blue Eye and dropped into a low stance.
As I slipped into the underbrush to hide, Requiya followed, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"Something's approaching unusually fast."
"No way."
"It's probably an officer. Strong presence. Moving like they know we're here."
"What do we do?"
"Ambush them. If we let them pass, we'll get sandwiched."
"I'll follow your lead."
I set down the backpack as quietly as possible, not even breathing hard.
Hama picked up on my vibe and stayed silent too. She even tucked in her lolling tongue, tense.
Footsteps grew louder, and someone appeared.
The setting sun was at their backs, hiding their faces, but there were four of them, uniformed—definitely Fiore troops.
They muttered among themselves.
"They're definitely headed this way."
"Yes. Toward Brad."
"We've pursued at full speed, so they couldn't have gone far. Move out."
"Yes, sir!"
As they passed right in front of us, I gripped my lever and leaped out.
Focused on travel, their weak points glowed bright in Blue Eye.
Vitals shone deep purple.
I swung my club at the lead officer's neck.
Thwack—!
I heard the impact, but no scream.
"Up there—gack—!"
The soldier who spotted me mid-leap let out a weird yelp as I jabbed his throat, knocking him out.
Staying low, I spun and swept one's ankle, toppling him.
"Ack—!"
Spinning the other way, I drove into the last standing soldier's solar plexus.
"Guhk—!"
Even I had to admit it was an impressive ambush—fluidly linked moves in seconds.
"Don't kill them."
I called out to Requiya, who was about to crush a writhing soldier's neck with his lever.
"Understood."
Guk.
The soldier went limp with a small whimper after Requiya bashed his head.
"Grab their swords."
"Yes."
The officer's sword looked good, so I handed it to Requiya while unbuckling a soldier's from his belt.
I stripped off the officer's gray cloak and passed it to him.
"Put this on. It'll be cold at night."
"Thank you. I'll make good use of it."
I grabbed the officer's corpse and the unconscious soldiers' ankles, tossing them into the woods below.
Requiya handled the other two the same way.
No time for chit-chat—we each took two swords and kept moving.
"Let's go."
Requiya grabbed Hama's backpack. We shouldered them on the move, not breaking stride.
Successful ambush or not, someone alert might've heard.
The knocked-out soldiers would wake soon too.
"Hoo—."
Requiya let out a long breath, wiping sweat from his forehead with his hand.
He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants.
'A demon this timid? That's probably why he lived more human than human.'
We walked in silence for a while before Requiya, catching his breath, spoke up.
"Um..."
"Why kill the officer but spare the soldiers?"
"Eek—."
What're you so surprised about?
It's not just me getting stronger.
Insight Ability, grown alongside me, had expanded beyond truth from lies into broader realms.
The world felt a bit more manageable now.
Luke was way stronger, so he'd surveil the Hellite border like reading his palm.
'I can vaguely sense emotions. Requiya's clearer since we've been close.'
That's right! Requiya's curious!
I conjured water in my left hand and offered it to him. He cupped it, quenching his throat and dabbing his forehead.
I moistened my lips with the rest before answering.
"The soldiers are innocent. They were just following orders. The officer was in the chain of command too, but leaders bear responsibility. He led them into the jaws of death. Even if we'd spared him, a sharp one like that would've caught up quick and alerted his comrades. I made the choice to keep us alive."
"Ah, got it. I was gonna kill them all anyway."
Requiya scratched the back of his head with an awkward grin.
Ah, this guy's got some serious human hatred.
His grudge against the Fiore warriors who slaughtered his family must run deep. Maybe he's miffed I said not to kill.
I patted his back and smiled.
"Next time they come at us, we kill. For now, let's mourn the dead in our hearts."
"I'll mourn him."
I wonder how I look to Requiya right now.
Like a crocodile shedding tears over its meal? A hypocrite?
Doesn't matter. They were hunting me to kill.
"The officer is dead."
"Yes. I know."
Requiya tilted his head.
His eyes said, Why state the obvious?
'Doesn't work, huh.'
I'd tried saying falsely, 'The officer's alive,' but no dice.
I still can't lie.
...His neck snapped on impact. Instant death.
'Rest in peace.'
Al! Eye! Pee! Yeah—!
Hama, who'd been asleep, stirred awake in the pack. She poked her head out and yawned hugely.
Kwaaaaa—.
I fed her hay from another pouch as she panted like a dog, sightseeing the dark mountain path.
Guuuu—.
It tastes bad!
Still, Hama looked oddly pleased.
Does she like world-gazing like Silver Star?
Her hay-munching mouth looked downright thuggish.
For a while, only our footsteps echoed.
Soon, nameless birdcalls blanketed the forest.
Heralds of full night.
Two moons hung in the sky, stars forming a sea.
As I looked up, Requiya slowed to stargaze too.
"It's truly beautiful. Breathtaking."
"Agreed."
Suddenly, I jabbed at a star with my lever.
Not expecting to hit.
Just wanted to see if I could precisely "press" a distant button.
The stars egged me on.
Go ahead, stab if you dare.
They mocked my misses.
It was decent spear training, but stabbing stars while walking wasn't easy.
Still, I kept at it without slowing.
Checking the path to avoid tripping, I even sped up.
Kept stabbing.
Requiya's look screamed, 'This lunatic's at it again,' but I didn't explain.
'He doesn't get why.'
I don't get why either!
I've no memory of crushing on anyone.
But this burning urge feels similar.
'Hit it.'
Once I latch onto something, I see it through or bust.
After over 50 tries, I nailed one star dead-on.
That instant, Blue Eye enlarged another.
Like it was saying, Hey, next target's this one!
'Silver Star, what'd you touch?'
Nope! Silver Star wasn't even breathing!
Silver Star must've been focusing with me.
Tries to nail a star dropped.
Second star: 40.
Third: 30.
Fewer each time, until I hit one per stab.
I upped walking speed mid-way, varied stabs too.
Added speed to precision.
Working my body built heat, aiding cold resistance.
Sweat beaded on my forehead.
"Fun, huh."
"Is it...?"
Bothered by Requiya's gaze, I blurted nonsense then refocused.
Looks pointless from outside.
Means something to me. That's enough.
Not hurting anyone.
I connected stabbed stars with imaginary lines.
The blinking constellation felt familiar.
'Silver Star, doesn't this look familiar?'
Feels familiar! And not! No memory of Kalruk stargazing!
'Dig through memories anyway.'
Kalruk eyed neighbor girls more than stars since kidhood!
'Hey...'
Got it! Star of stars! Tray-round star!
Constellation or not, memories mangled or whatever.
Even Requiya thinks I'm nuts, but I found solid training.
Loose, slow stabs evolved, after hours, to precise control of power and speed.
'Luke's a genius through and through. Smart head, innate talent for physical stuff.'
Bothered by his look, I asked.
"My training weird? Or the dragon thing?"
"Hm... both, but the dragon worries me more."
"Figured."
Me too, on the dragon.
I kept stabbing stars as I spoke.
"What's our odds, just us two, against your revenge, Red Dragon Knights, Fiore army, Holy Knights?"
"Better than surviving a cataclysm stomp."
Oh...
This demon really fears dragons.
Per Luke's clues, the dragon likely won't hate or attack me.
How to explain that to Requiya?
As I pondered, he spoke with resolve.
"Still, I'll follow you, Boss. You saved my life, stepped up for my revenge, and you're getting stronger by the day."
"You trust me?"
"Have to. Who else can a lone survivor like me trust?"
The one left alone.
Requiya's words unleashed a flood of thoughts.
I mulled blankly.
'The one left alone.'
Time to shout it out.
Luke Seid, you son of a bitch.