Mage (2)
While I fired a Cheonma Repulsor at Rick, Lilith jumped in surprise and asked Jung Ayeon, "Ayeon, you can't possibly mean... with that man over there?"
"No! No! Absolutely not!"
"Hmm... is that true?"
Lilith studied Jung Ayeon with a doubtful look. The weight of that gaze made Jung Ayeon's face burn crimson as she blurted out the truth.
"The tournament team name was... 'Cheonma Cowgirl Position.' That's why I reacted so sensitively."
"Hehe. How adorable."
Meanwhile, even while getting pummeled, Rick must have overheard because he somehow endured the hits and roared.
"You son of a bitch! It really was just the word 'cowgirl'!"
"I didn't lie, did I?"
"Like hell you didn't!"
Rick ground his teeth and started chanting. "Begone—"
"Shut it."
Thwack!
Of course, I locked his mouth with a fist before the chant could finish. He couldn't even retreat—my foot was pinning his in place.
"Let me—"
"I said shut up."
"Urk!"
Another chant cut short. That last punch definitely rattled his ribs. I had no plans to stop. Gauntlets materialized from the mana tattoos on both hands as I unleashed the fastest, hardest barrage I could manage. Crisp impact sounds rang across Rick's entire body.
We began communicating with our bodies in silence. I jabbed his throat so he couldn't speak. Too noisy.
Rick thrust his wand at me, trying to continue the conversation. Die.
I caught the incoming wand with one hand and answered with a heavy fist to his gut. Don't give me that crap.
Rick shuddered and ended our exchange. Mutual dialogue was over. Now it was my turn to talk alone.
I shattered his pearly whites. Filthy.
I hammered his shoulder so he couldn't lift the wand. Not even a greeting?
I blasted his side, stealing what little breath remained in his lungs. Take a breather.
I greeted the leg he tried to pull away with a solid punch. Where do you think you're going?
As if answering my silent questions, Rick's body replied for him. It wept. It produced the sound of breaking bones. It forced out breaths that couldn't even become screams.
The sight of Rick utterly overwhelmed was the complete reverse of Jung Ayeon's earlier position. Watching it, Spencer shed a single tear and murmured, "How pitiful... Brother... No, dear brother."
But people grow desperate to survive when death looms. Rick was no exception. Even as I beat him senseless, he slowly raised his wand and took aim—not at me, but at Jung Ayeon. Then, in one last act of defiance, he tried to drive his knee into my groin. I blocked it easily enough, but in that brief window he completed his chant.
"Sever!"
"Jung Ayeon! Dodge!"
We both shouted at nearly the same instant. Jung Ayeon heard and tried to react. Tried. If only her injured calf hadn't slowed her.
The price for her immobility was steep.
Slaaash!!!
Rick's magic carved deep into her left thigh. It wasn't severed, but it was clearly a critical wound. The force knocked Jung Ayeon to the ground, where she clutched her leg in agony.
The moment I saw it, my reason snapped. I repaid him with an identical kick to the groin.
Clang!!!
"...Huh?"
Instead of the sound of something bursting, it rang like I'd kicked solid steel. A numb jolt shot through my toes. The strange noise and sensation made me hesitate—just long enough for Rick to spit blood and chant again.
"Get away!"
I was blasted backward to where Jung Ayeon lay. Rick, flashing a hideous grin with his few remaining teeth, crowed, "I never thought steel panties would prove useful at a time like this!"
Nobody looked surprised. We simply stared at him in silent contempt. Only a few voices from Rick's own side muttered in understanding.
"No wonder he spent so long in the bathroom."
"Looks like he gained twenty kilos."
"No, these days it's thirty-five."
Despite the waves of disdain rolling off everyone else, Rick kept cackling like a madman.
I rose once more, preparing to resume the fight. That was when—
"Young master, I am sorry."
Jung Ayeon suddenly apologized. While I blinked in confusion, she forced the words out as if in pain.
"This one is sorry for being so weak."
She clenched her fist so tightly that blood welled between her fingers. Her head hung low; she looked one breath away from tears.
"I have only caused trouble for all of you. This useless woman is truly sorry."
She was blaming herself. If only she'd been a little stronger, this situation would never have happened. If only she'd been strong enough to ignore a forced engagement like that.
Watching her, I slowly approached.
Whack!!!!
"Ah!!!"
I smacked her head hard. Jung Ayeon teared up from the pain and snapped, "What in the world are you doing! I was finally trying to speak seriously!"
"What trouble did you cause?"
While she rubbed her head, I looked down at her and continued, "We came because we wanted to. We came for the buffet."
"What kind of nonsense is that!"
"Exactly." I stroked the spot on her head I'd just hit. "Just tell me what you really want. I'll make it happen."
"But this one is too weak—"
Bonk!
"You hit the same spot again!"
This time I went lighter. As she rubbed her head once more, I said, "That's not what I asked, idiot."
"......"
"What's the big deal about being a little weak?"
I materialized a two-handed sword in my left hand and rested it on my shoulder.
"There are plenty of weak martial artists in the world."
"......Young master."
"We already have a cat that sheds everywhere, a single-celled organism that only eats, and a person with literally no chest."
"That remark might become your last words."
"Ah."
Sudden ominous voices drifted from my companions.
"See you after this."
"Hubby! Talk later!"
"You're dead meat."
"Fuck."
I was screwed. I quickly met Jung Ayeon's eyes again. This time it was my turn to apologize.
"Actually, I'm the one who's sorry. You got hurt because of me in the end."
"That's not true! It was a situation where this one simply could not dodge!"
"I'm sorry. I won't let you get hurt again."
"......Young master."
It really was my fault. If I'd just blocked with a shield earlier, none of this would have happened. She wouldn't have taken that wound. I came to rescue her and ended up getting her injured instead. I really was a worthless piece of trash.
But self-blame solved nothing. The best I could do was move instead of wasting time on regrets.
Of course, before anything else, the most important question remained.
"So what do you want?"
"...Young master."
I still hadn't heard her true desire directly.
"If you want me to stop, I'll stop anytime."
"......"
"If you want me to fight, I'll fight like a madman."
"...Why?"
Jung Ayeon stared at me, utterly bewildered.
"Why are you helping this one to such an extent?"
"Well." I avoided her gaze, suddenly a little awkward. "Even if it's a bad relationship, we can still call each other friends, right?"
"Friends... you say?"
Jung Ayeon repeated the word and lowered her head. I pressed her for an answer.
"Don't feel burdened. Just tell me what you want."
Until now, Jung Ayeon had never directly voiced her own desires. She'd simply been dragged along by what we wanted. So now she could be a little selfish. No matter who you are, nobody wants to be pulled around forever. Everyone has one or two wishes.
"Because we're friends. So say whatever you want."
They say even brushing sleeves creates a connection. Our first meeting had been the worst possible, yet now she was a precious bond who always stayed by our side. So wasn't it fine to grant her a single request? After all, she was someone important who had formed a connection with me.
What about the guarantee?
That's not a fucking connection, that's a son of a bitch.
Meanwhile, Jung Ayeon kept her head lowered. Then she slowly smiled and murmured, "Hehe. For now, being friends is enough."
She struggled to stand. When I silently supported her, she rose little by little, revealing her desires one by one.
"This one absolutely wants to win. I want to step on that bastard's face."
"Obviously."
"I want to attend classes with all of you again and get completely drunk."
"What else? There's more, right?"
Jung Ayeon's face flushed with embarrassment. Still, as if she'd made up her mind, she quietly confessed her final wish.
"I want to go back laughing with all of you... and visit all sorts of places together."
"As much as you want."
At last Jung Ayeon stood tall. She hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth.
"...Is it all right to ask?"
"Of course it's all right."
Right then Rick stopped laughing and glared at us. His eyes were unfocused, but his wand pointed straight in our direction. I ignored him completely and smiled at Jung Ayeon.
"You should have said so earlier."