Chapter 84
Flash!
Magic power shone. Or perhaps it was merely moonlight reflecting off Eden’s sword.
At some point, he had gotten back to his feet. I saw him swing his blade.
“Eden Croiden!”
The enemy’s attack came flying toward him. Fortunately, he blocked it.
Blood streamed from his nose and mouth, yet Eden remained strong. Facing an opponent he couldn’t even see, he raised his sword without a moment’s hesitation.
Like a wild beast, he intercepted every attack.
But blocking was all he could manage.
Perhaps the enemy realized this as well, because the attacks became faster and faster.
My gun!
As I frantically looked around, I spotted the gun lying near my feet.
I immediately threw myself toward it, grabbed it, and aimed at the enemy.
Bang!
The moment the muzzle flashed, Eden was suddenly alone.
And standing right in front of me was—
Danger…!
Clang!
A horrifying sound rang out from the gun barrel as I barely managed to block the attack. My body was pushed backward.
Bang!
The gun fired.
“AAAH!”
My hand was pierced through.
At that moment, the opponent we had clashed with began to glow.
“…!”
Only then could I vaguely make out its shape.
It looked human.
Behind the glowing figure, I could see Eden, leaning on his sword like a cane after driving it into the ground.
He was already at his limit.
Rumble…
The air began to vibrate.
I knew exactly what that meant.
I had to run.
Immediately.
But with my hand pierced through, I couldn’t move.
Gathering the last of my strength, I raised my uninjured hand.
“…!”
I watched as a faint dome-shaped barrier formed around Eden’s body, distant yet somehow close at the same time.
“Rua—!”
BOOM!
And that was the end.
* * *
The explosion that suddenly erupted within the forest was so massive that everyone present could see it.
Mana overload?
The pure white blast of magical power destroyed half the forest before disappearing.
Even after witnessing such a sight, Arthur didn’t have many thoughts.
Only questions.
Why would there suddenly be a mana overload in a place like that?
It was far away from both the dragons and the people.
There was no reason for an explosion to occur there.
At that moment, Peta came running toward them in a panic.
“Elma! Arthur!”
Because of the distance, they couldn’t make out exactly what he was shouting, but Peta was clearly yelling something at them.
His pale face was filled with fear and worry.
“Peta? Why—”
“Ruana Polly! Marquis Croiden!”
“Why would they—?”
Since neither of them had been seen for some time, they had assumed the two had already evacuated somewhere safe.
But when Peta finally reached them and shouted between ragged breaths—
“They’re over there! Ruana Polly and Marquis Croiden are over there!”
“…!”
Arthur’s face turned completely white.
* * *
The room was filled with the smell of blood.
Standing in the center of it all was Eden Croiden.
In Eden Croiden’s hands was a human corpse.
Holding it exactly as it was, he spoke.
“Save her.”
【Impossible.】
The cat answered firmly.
Eden Croiden drew his sword.
“I’m done asking nicely.”
Holding Ruana Polly in one hand and a sword in the other, he spoke again.
He looked ready to cut the cat down if necessary.
“Save her.”
【I told you. It’s impossible.】
“Do you mean you’re incapable of it, or that you’re refusing?”
【Both.】
Clang.
The sword slipped from his weakened grasp.
Eden Croiden collapsed to the floor.
His face twisted strangely.
A voice filled with despair escaped from him as he bowed his head.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
【…Tch.】
Even the cat’s face twitched awkwardly.
【It will be difficult, but not impossible.】
The cat paced around the room as it spoke.
【If I help you with all my heart, then even on your own you should be able to—】
“No.”
Eden Croiden raised his head.
His expression was dark and chilling.
“I don’t care about the world.”
【……】
“What am I supposed to do?”
The precious thing cradled in Eden Croiden’s arms was Ruana Polly.
Ruana Polly, who was already in a state where calling her a corpse would not be inaccurate.
Her breathing had nearly stopped.
Her soul seemed ready to depart.
Within minutes, even her heartbeat would likely cease.
Yet Eden held her more carefully than he valued his own life.
“What am I supposed to do without her?”
His pale face looked like that of a child who had lost his mother.
His empty voice continued to spill out endlessly.
“I can’t live without her. I can’t.”
【…I do not possess the power to revive the dead.】
“She isn’t dead yet!”
Aimless words poured from him.
“Save her. Please. She’s still okay, right?”
【Eden Croiden.】
“Save her. Please. Huh? Ruana, Ruana…”
His wandering gaze settled on Ruana Polly in his arms.
A state where she could be called a corpse.
No…
Had she already become one?
“Ruana. Open your eyes.”
He shook her gently.
“Open your eyes. Please. I’ll really do better this time. Please… okay?”
Watching this scene, Lapis Lazuli finally spoke.
【Eden Croiden. Do you know what a ‘Heroic Narrative’ is?】
“I don’t know. And I don’t want to hear any more nonsense.”
【Yet Ruana Polly knew.】
At the mention of Ruana, he raised his head.
Ignoring the glare directed at him, Lapis Lazuli continued.
【Every heroic tale includes the death of a companion.】
“…What are you talking about?”
Lapis Lazuli answered the words he practically spat out.
【It means that is the child’s fate.】
“What?”
The cat’s pupils narrowed.
【Ruana Polly knew this. She knew that the path you walk, Eden Croiden, would be filled with hardships and suffering.】
“So what?”
Eden shouted viciously.
“So you’re saying she’s going to die? That this is her fate?”
【……】
“And you’re saying Ruana knew that…? She knew… she knew all along…”
He couldn’t continue.
Breathing as if he were dying, Eden Croiden sat frozen while the cat approached and looked up at him.
【I heard Ruana Polly protected you at the very end.】
“…”
【Then this was her choice.】
A tear finally rolled down Eden Croiden’s cheek.
【Eden Croiden. Accept it. There is nothing you can do.】
“I can’t.”
With trembling hands, he placed his fingers beneath Ruana’s nose.
He couldn’t feel her breath.
Drip.
Drip.
More and more tears fell from his chin.
For the first time, pity entered the cat’s voice.
【How cruel.】
Then, as though remembering something, Eden suddenly looked up.
“Then what happens to her soul?”
【Her soul?】
“You said her soul came from somewhere else.”
For the first time, hope appeared on his face.
“Then does she go home? Does she return… and get to live?”
But the cat’s answer shattered even that tiny fragment of hope.
【No.】
“…”
【The system isn’t that convenient.】
Ah.
A silent sigh scattered into the air.
At that moment—
Bang!
The door burst open.
Eden and Lapi both turned toward it simultaneously.
Arthur Camelon stood there, breathing heavily as if he had run the entire way.
His gaze moved from the quietly seated Lapis Lazuli, to Eden Croiden crying uncontrollably, and finally—
“Miss Ruana…”
After seeing Ruana Polly’s condition, Arthur rushed over and dropped to his knees beside them.
“I’ve removed the barrier surrounding the estate.”
Gathering magic at his fingertips, he spoke.
“Please… Miss Ruana, please…”
But no matter how much healing magic he poured into her, Ruana did not open her eyes.
With bloodshot eyes, Eden glared at Arthur Camelon.
“This is your fault.”
“…”
“Didn’t I warn you? Because of your greed, Ruana…”
Arthur’s face turned deathly pale.
The shock was obvious.
His eyes widened, but no words came out.
Seeing that expression, Eden turned his head away.
He, too, could not continue speaking.
【That is not true.】
