Chapter 116
“…What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly getting angry…?”
“Why, you ask! It’s because….” In that moment, my frustration rendered me speechless.
Meanwhile, the guy was staring with wide eyes as if he truly couldn’t understand.
Why am I angry? You seriously don’t know that?
“Don’t you dare think about dying on your own! I know how you feel, but at least value your life a little! If I find that damn organization or whatever it is, I’ll fight alongside you! Just don’t go dying all alone!”
“…I wasn’t thinking of dying.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think I’ve seen guys like you just once or twice?”
The type that gets consumed by revenge, throwing themselves into danger like a moth to a flame.
I’ve encountered countless like him while saving the world and defeating enemies.
His eyes? They gave off a vibe of utter disregard for himself.
A hollow gaze that seemed to imply he had nothing to lose; that’s not acceptable, at least not for you.
“I’m here for you… I promised I’d stay by your side…!”
“…Stella.”
“You told me to live! You said you’d stay with me! Are you really going to break that promise?”
Is revenge all that matters to you? You’re okay if your own life goes to waste?
I can’t allow that. I may not have the right to tell you what to do, but if you were to die and I was left alone in this world—
“I’d die too.”
“What?”
“If you were to die and leave me behind, I’d just up and die as well.”
“….”
“And then I’d come back to you and lock you up so you can’t do anything! Got it?”
“…Fine. I’m sorry.”
He awkwardly averted his eyes from my fierce glare, seeming to regret saying unnecessary things.
But there was a hint of gratitude in his gaze for my concern.
“Right, I definitely have a reason more important than revenge to keep living.”
Saying that, Nova stood up and met my gaze.
Then, he gently placed his hand on my cheek and kissed my forehead.
“Living until everything wraps up, and we can have a peaceful life together as grandparents.”
“I feel like you’re finally coming to your senses…”
Nova started pouring alcohol into another cup next to a wine glass resting on the gravestone.
“At first, it wasn’t like this! When you were kidnapped by that organization, it was the first time I faced an enemy and unlocked my abilities.”
“Really? Is this one of those moments? You know, like in a novel when the protagonist awakens while the princess is being kidnapped?”
“Haha… Maybe it is. Back then, I didn’t know whether to kill the one who orchestrated your kidnapping after defeating him.”
“…So? Did you kill him?”
“I didn’t kill him. I just cut off a finger.”
Honestly, I’m shocked that he did something so bold at such a young age…
By the way, wasn’t Nova like ten back then? Who thinks about killing at that age?
I only got used to such things after enduring all sorts of hardships; he’s just different from the start…
“You’re really… What should I say… yeah, impressive in a way.”
“Well, until that point, I hadn’t committed murder! It just felt like crossing a line, you know?”
“…”
If possible, I wished he would remain pure like that.
But considering the modified gun he showed me before, it’s clear that was made for killing—no, more efficiently for killing.
“Since then, it seems there’s nothing left in my heart other than revenge. I think I’ve convinced myself that there’s no reason I should live with my body intact.”
As he said that, Nova downed his drink like it was nothing.
“Ha… I really was foolish; this world is filled with things that can occur while being an adventurer.”
His voice didn’t carry any anger; only sadness seeped into every word.
He was right; this world starkly contrasts the earthly morals and values I was once familiar with.
Wars erupt at the drop of a hat, soldiers’ lives are squandered like used rags, and crazies pride themselves in that glory.
Security has deteriorated so much that human trafficking and forced slavery happen frequently.
In order to protect their own lives, acts of murder become commonplace; that’s just normal.
Still…
“You’re not foolish at all. It just means you valued those people enough, which is a very human thing. It’s an important sentiment that should be cherished.”
“Stella?”
“Those people surely tried to protect you until the very end, right? There’s no way that action was foolish.”
I hugged him from behind gently.
“They wanted you to live even more… So please, if you can, promise me that you’ll strive to live long enough for their sake as well…”
Nova gazed up at the sky with misty eyes as if pondering my words.
“I hope you don’t die either. Just the thought of you possibly leaving me behind is unbearable; I want you to stay with me.”
“…Yeah, I want to stay with you too, I think so.”
“Alright, just knowing that is enough.”
*
After wrapping up the surrounding area and watering the pot next to me, I finished the ritual.
Most of the schedule was complete, and I thought we were finally going home—ah.
“…I’ll come again if I get the chance, Leo, Lena.”
With that, Nova turned around and began to walk away.
In that moment, there was no trace of hesitation left.
With an expression of relief, he descended the forest path without turning back.
As I followed him, I quietly stopped. Nova, sensing the absence of footsteps behind him, looked back.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
“Um… I think I left something behind; can you go check for me?”
“Left something? I can go check with you.” “No! You go ahead; I’ll be quick.”
“Are you sure you can go alone? Won’t it be scary?”
“I’m not scared!”
“Hehe… Fine, I’ll wait for you down there.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there soon!”
After sending Nova below, I released the smile I had been maintaining.
Then, I turned around and slowly walked toward the place where the gravestone stood.
As I pulled out the knife I had tucked away, I returned to the gravestone with a cold expression.
To my surprise, I found a figure perched on the grave as if waiting for me.
Dressed in a tight-fitting black ninja outfit that wrapped her body in black robes, one could tell she was a woman from her graceful silhouette.
Her face was obscured by a traditional Japanese Kitsune mask.
The eye holes of the mask were sharply and intricately drawn, gleaming like a fox’s eyes.
Silver hair flowed down beneath the mask, accentuating her mysterious aura.
“You’re excellent at hiding your presence, but you can’t deceive me… So, what are you doing here?”
Standing before the gravestone of Nova’s companion, Lena, I could barely hide my astonishment.
To make matters worse, she was holding the rice ball Nova had brought just moments before.
“That’s an offering I brought to honor the deceased; put it down right now.”
I had never seen someone sit on a gravestone and handle offerings like this in my life.
Perhaps finding my words amusing, the eyes behind the mask twinkled with a slight smile.
And then, was she really lifting her mask to take a bite out of the rice ball? Is she for real?
“Delicious… This is definitely better when made by the Director.”
“What a crazy girl…”
In the blink of an eye, my vision shifted dramatically. It felt as though I hadn’t just teleported.
With a powerful leap, I closed the distance and threw a punch toward her mask.
My fist flew straight for the mask, ready to smash it as if to penetrate through her head…but then—
Swish…
Like mist, she vanished in an instant, and my fist swung through the air.
‘She disappeared…? No, she dodged that.’
That punch was at a speed that would leave a normal person unable to react.
To think she dodged it so casually without any preliminary movement…this is surprisingly fun!
As I turned my head, the girl was still holding the rice ball and spoke.
“How about throwing punches while eating? Seems a bit rude~”
“That’s not yours! Put it down this instant.”
“Hmm… Nope~! This was prepared for me, you see.”
What the heck is this girl? She seems entirely intangible.
Her figure is unclear, wavering like fog.
“You’re using some kind of special technique, aren’t you, ninja?”
“Oh my… how did you know?”
She gracefully deflected the kunai that flew back to her as if to repay my question.
Fast and accurate—she’s definitely a top-notch assassin.
“You’re not getting away with this. It’s rude, so I’ll teach you a lesson.”
Planeta Incúmbo
[Stars, whirl around.]
Immediately, meteorites the size of baseballs began to materialize around me.
Numerous pieces of meteors orbited us like a threatening ring.
If you can’t see my physical form, then what does it matter if I limit your operational range?
The girl let out a surprised voice upon seeing the menacingly revolving meteors.
“You can do something like this? Truly impressive for a mage candidate of the next-gen Hero Party.”
“Shut it! You need to catch a beating first.”
Pointing at the girl, a magic circle emerged behind me in the air.
As soon as the magic circle formed, a massive silver laser beam shot toward her.
Kaboom!
The surrounding area was quickly engulfed by smoke from the explosion.
It’s a bit excessive, but it shouldn’t be lethal; I don’t want to ruin the grave.
I adjusted my magic power to be as precise as possible. Still, it’s powerful enough to send one person to their end;
“…What?”
Once the smoke cleared, what met my eyes was a single yellow-tinted barrier.
She blocked that attack? She managed to withstand my silvery magical bullet, which should be stronger than most magic power?
Moreover, that barrier wasn’t generated by magic—could it be…
“Divine power…?”
“Phew… I really thought I was going to die… I had to pull this out, huh?”
The mask bore cracks to reveal that she had sustained some damage.
Shortly after, the shattered Kitsune mask dropped to the ground.
“What the… Why are you here?”
Beneath the cracked mask were icy eyes, and her stunning silver hair emitted a cool aura.
To my surprise, I recognized this person. After all, she was also a candidate from the Hero Party.
“Saint… Mirne Narias.”
