Ch.130The End (1)

Ju-an moved me to this bunker while I was sleeping to protect me, then ordered that orange-haired person to make sure I couldn’t leave.

Still, there’s always a way out even when the sky falls. I need to escape from here and join Ju-an wherever he is.

But I don’t know where Ju-an is, let alone where the Demon King is supposed to be. Of course, Agath didn’t even tell me the location properly for the sake of confidentiality.

Even if I do get out of here, things won’t go smoothly. Even if I’m lucky enough to find my way and join them, I’m much more likely to be a hindrance than a help.

So maybe the most helpful thing I could do is just stay here quietly and pray for them.

But you never know the result until you try something yourself. Perhaps the person who seems most useless could turn out to be the most useful.

That’s reason enough to leave. After all, I’ve managed to get through various incidents so far, so I should be able to handle this one too.

“Please let me out of here!”

“No.”

“Please, I’m begging you! If we’re too late, we won’t be able to turn things back!”

“I said no.”

I pleaded with the most desperate look I could muster, but that orange-haired person heartlessly rejected my pleas.

“I told you before that I would accomplish the impossible! Are you going to end this without even giving me a chance?”

“I can’t let you risk your life over some stupid bet.”

“You disliked me anyway, so it shouldn’t matter if you let me die fighting!”

“I don’t dislike you now. And I’m not foolish enough to let someone die just because I dislike them.”

It would have been nice if I had a way with words, but unfortunately, I don’t have that talent. Still, it’s too early to give up.

I haven’t searched the entire room yet, nor have I tried to smash the door. So if I’m going to give up, I should do it after I’ve tried everything I can.

While searching the bunker thoroughly for a way out, the orange-haired person said somewhat suspiciously:

“This place won’t open until the time is up anyway. Just give up.”

“Do you think I’m going to believe you?”

“Then search everything yourself.”

I was certain I’d find an emergency exit if I kept looking, so I searched every inch of the room down to the floor, but found absolutely nothing.

Fine, let’s try smashing that wall. If I sacrifice about a year of my lifespan, it should disappear easily. With that thought, I took out my gun, but the orange-haired person appeared behind me in an instant.

“Don’t do anything stupid and just stay put.”

With that brief warning, my hands were tied with rope. Now I can’t even aim my gun at the door.

Of course, I could still fire the gun. But I’d be the target instead of the wall.

So now I need to think of another approach. Should I shoot myself to cause an injury? At least then there’s a possibility they might let me out.

But honestly, that’s a bit scary. After that painful experience in the Holy Nation, I feel nauseous just having a gun pointed at me.

That burning sensation throughout my body was truly horrific, though thanks to that, I was able to talk with Leo and somehow escape…

Good ideas often come from trivial thoughts. This is a perfect example.

If I could somehow persuade Leo after entering that state, I might not only escape but also instantly reach Ju-an’s side.

Of course, the chances of successful persuasion are extremely low. But in that state, I could easily untie these ropes and get out.

Nothing will change if I just sit here. So despite being scared, I’ll do it right now. Okay, just take a deep breath and start.

One… two, three!

“Ugh!”

The memory of my entire body burning, engraved in my soul, vividly came back to me. But since I knew it would be painful, it’s much better than the first time.

Anyway, as I stayed in this state, I felt like I was connecting with someone, just like before.

“Leo? Can you hear me?”

[Just state your business.]

“I’m trapped in the guild bunker right now, so please come help me!”

[Trapped?]

“Ju-an locked me in the guild bunker to protect me before he left.”

[The enemies have already departed, and you’re in a state where you could easily be kidnapped. What do you think would happen if you revealed this information to an enemy?]

I was too reckless just now. It’s only because Leo still has some affection for us that we weren’t in serious trouble. If he had completely abandoned his attachment to us, we would have been in real danger.

Given the situation, my judgment is really deteriorating. Anyway, I need to think before I speak now.

Alright, let’s try an emotional appeal. That would be much more helpful than trying to persuade him logically.

“Leo, you know how painful it is to lose someone precious, don’t you?”

[…]

“You know how painful it is when you can never see them again no matter how much you miss them. So please help me one last time.”

[How nice that your precious people are still alive. I’m envious. I have nothing left.]

Leo continued in a voice full of sharp edges.

[I lost everyone precious to me, my beliefs, my purpose—everything. I’ve been living only praying for the day of my death to come. And you’re asking someone like me to help someone who hasn’t lost anything precious yet?]

“…”

[Fine, let’s say I help. What do I get out of this mess? A world where everyone is happy except me?]

A voice filled with even more malice continued.

[The hero of the Holy Sword who wished for everyone’s happiness already died where the Demon King committed suicide. Only a monster stained with malice remains.]

I mistakenly triggered his trauma when I tried to appeal to his emotions. Now no matter what I say, persuasion will be impossible.

But I still need to persuade Leo somehow. That’s the only way I can get to Ju-an as quickly as possible.

I racked my brain, but couldn’t come up with any good ideas. Instead, I came up with a risky gamble.

“Well, is there anything more worthwhile than being used by that so-called Demon King until the end and then dying just like that?”

The gamble is to keep provoking his already heightened emotions. If it succeeds, his anger will be directed at the Demon King; if it fails, I’ll die.

Still, it’s worth a try… Let’s do it first and think later.

“You lost your precious comrades, your lover, your family and hometown—no, your entire life was taken away, but of course you should still help that Demon King, right?”

[…Shut that damn mouth.]

“Alright. Leo, who will dedicate his life to the person who killed his loved ones for the sake of his loved ones.”

I successfully provoked Leo to the maximum. Then a voice filled with deep anger and killing intent quietly echoed in my head.

[I will definitely kill you myself.]

It seems the gamble I chose has failed. Well, the chances of success were low, so it’s only natural.

…I’m so screwed.

Why on earth did I do that? This kind of judgment wouldn’t have done any good anyway.

Of course, it’s something I might have tried as a last resort. But we hadn’t even started yet, let alone reached the end.

This is why people should think before they act. If you don’t think, it’s obvious you’ll end up like me.

Right, come to think of it, Rebecca said the future me would be killed by Leo. I didn’t know why I would die then, but now I’m pretty sure.

It’s because of this damn mouth that speaks without any filter. I don’t know if there will be a next time, but next time I really need to think before I speak.

As I trembled with anxiety, suddenly there were several strong vibrations at the bunker door, and then the door was completely smashed.

And beyond it appeared an extremely furious Leo, emanating a killing intent so deep it felt like my heart would stop.

Of course, Philax tried to protect me. But Leo was much faster in striking Philax’s nape and knocking him unconscious.

…Let’s think positively. At least I succeeded in getting the door smashed, right? So you’ve passed the first gate!

But after the first gate comes hell. You really are an idiot, you fool.

“Um… please spare me?”

Leo ignored my words and took a step forward. Alright, since the situation is already ruined, let me try saying anything.

“Isn’t something strange? You received all the harm from the Demon King, so why are you taking it out on me?”

Leo took another step forward.

“It was strange from the beginning that you joined the Demon King for the sake of the dead Saint. Would the Saint who died fighting the Demon King really like such actions?”

Leo’s face distorted a bit more.

“This… this is all just self-justification, isn’t it? The Saint is already dead and won’t come back, so clinging to that and saying you don’t want to do meaningless things while doing this is truly meaningless.”

This time, the veins on Leo’s face became clearly visible.

“W-why don’t you take revenge on the Demon King instead? Even if the former Saint’s death becomes meaningless, at least you’d feel better, right?”

The situation keeps getting worse with every word I say. Before I die brutally while saying random things, I should leave a last message.

“…Just please tell Ju-an that I love him as my last words.”

“…What did you just say?”

The anger I felt from Leo significantly decreased, and bewilderment began to fill the void.

…Could this actually work?

“I said please tell Ju-an, whom I really like, that I love him.”

“But you’re a boy.”

“I’m a girl now.”

“…”

Leo’s pupils began to shake wildly. But is this really such a serious issue? Since my body is female, it’s normal for my mind to become female too.

“Actually, Ju-an and I are dat—”

“If you say one more word, I’ll kill not just you but that damn new hero too.”

Leo threatened me in a confused voice mixed with anger and fear, then sat down leaning against the wall and began to seriously contemplate something.

…This actually works.

“Um… could you help me?”

“…”

Leo looked at me with a somewhat incredulous gaze, then spoke flatly in a voice drained of all energy.

“I’m too tired for that.”

It occurred to me that Leo might have betrayed us not just for the Saint, but also for himself.

At least there, no one silently pressures him to fulfill his duties as a hero.

He lives like that and then dies with the stigma of being a traitor. While an ordinary person would refuse such treatment, someone like Leo, who has reached the extreme of self-loathing, might genuinely welcome it.

Additionally, directly defeating the Demon King would be denying his own life and that of the former Saint. So it’s possible he committed such acts due to a complex combination of factors.

If this hypothesis is correct, Leo would still have deep-seated hatred for the Demon King. Then I could definitely get help from Leo.

“Please help me one last time. Then we’ll somehow deal with the Demon King ourselves.”

“…”

Leo still looked down at the floor with an expressionless face. Maybe this time I’ll be lucky enough for my hypothesis to be correct.

As I desperately prayed for luck to be on my side this time, a voice devoid of any emotion was heard again.

“You just want me to take you to that damn hero, right?”