Ch.143143. The Star-Cutting Sword (5)

My senses felt strange.

The space within the barrier didn’t seem to follow the physical and magical rules of the outside world. Daphne was floating and drifting inside the barrier. It wasn’t dark inside. An unknown light source illuminated her vision. Fortunately, her body moved according to her will. She could fly if she wanted to, or sit if she chose. The floor and ceiling were one, and there were no walls. Daphne gazed at the comet’s tail, clearly visible even within the barrier.

“…three years’ worth.”

That was Daphne’s calculation. The magical power currently supporting the barrier would be completely depleted in that time. She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist. The mages could maintain the barrier until their lives ran out, but even that wouldn’t last long.

Above all, since the entrance to the barrier had been closed, no one from outside could intervene, nor could they know what was happening inside. So even if Ilroy found a way to destroy the comet, Daphne would have to wait until the comet broke through the barrier and reappeared. Daphne watched the distant comet flying away, then slumped down.

“If I sacrifice everything here to strengthen the barrier…”

A life in the magical world is more valuable than one might think. Magic takes its toll and claims lives. Especially the life of a young 7th Circle mage. The magical power accumulated up to the 7th Circle, the extended lifespan gained through magical development, and the potential for future growth—if all were to explode at once, the magical power gained would be…

“…at least several hundred years’ worth.”

Several hundred years. Would people find a way to deal with this comet by then? Or would the comet lose its power and fall after hundreds of years of wandering? Daphne clenched her fist tightly. The process of sacrificing one’s life isn’t simple. Death and life are two sides of the same coin. Only when death draws near does one truly feel alive. After squeezing out all the magic remaining in her body, when she could vaguely sense her own death approaching, only then would the transaction begin.

“You won’t escape.”

The comet was flying far away, as if searching for an exit. Daphne gently shook her head and traced her connection to the barrier. The barrier was directly connected to her heart, extracting magical power like a pump. Daphne opened that channel wide. Like water flowing through an opened waterway, magical power gushed out.

“Stay trapped here until you meet your death.”

Daphne poured out her magic with that desperate wish. Take more, take more. Take every last drop hidden in my deepest parts. The outpouring magic was unnecessarily abundant. Releasing all of herself for the first time, Daphne grimaced as she felt the endless flow of magical power.

“…more. Just a little more.”

The symptoms of magical exhaustion were appearing. Her head was spinning, and her limbs were losing strength. Yet much magic still remained. The very last bit. She needed to release even the last handful of mana hidden in the deepest part of her veins.

Crackle.

Her veins screamed as they released too much magical power. It was scraping, painful. Bruises spread like stains across her body. As Daphne weakened, the barrier strengthened. The space became more solid, and its unstable precariousness was gradually disappearing.

Pain came with each heartbeat. After an hour of crudely extracting mana, even her ocean-like magical power was now revealing its bottom.

“…it’s meaningless.”

She remembered Nella Tarr’s face as she shouted that it would all be pointless if she died. She was right. Even if this sacrifice saved people, once dead, there was no way to know if they lived or died. One reason to fear death is not knowing what comes after. Daphne looked down at her trembling hands. They weren’t trembling from magical depletion.

Ilroy has been doing this all along.

She hadn’t realized she was fighting from behind someone else’s shield. Above all, she didn’t properly understand what it meant to be that shield. What it meant to support others’ lives with her own. What kind of resolve it required. Daphne observed her magical power, now nine-tenths depleted. The imaginary tube connecting to the barrier extended deep into her body. A handful of magic gathered in her right palm. A little magic pooled in her legs. A drop of mana deep in her veins.

“…I’m scared.”

Daphne murmured. Yet she didn’t stop. She willingly invited death. Or rather, it was like becoming one with the barrier. Magical tubes were inserted throughout Daphne’s body. The tubes gradually moved toward her heart. All residual magic in her body had drained away. Now it was time to extract the most basic magic that formed her circles.

“I’m still scared.”

Daphne smiled faintly. She was still just an ordinary girl from a rural village. She carried the pain of being driven from that village, a scarred monster rejected by people. Ilroy had rescued her from that pit and continued searching for other wounds. Daphne had followed the hero. She saw people’s wounds and watched the hero save them.

And she also saw Ilroy accumulating indelible wounds on his own body.

The hero healed wounds with wounds. The path the hero walked was covered with his own bloodstains. And whenever he looked back, the hero was always smiling. As if to say don’t worry, as if to say it’s alright.

“I want to see you.”

Daphne felt a pain piercing her heart. She could die. She could give her life for Ilroy. And if she was going to give it, she wanted to do it without him knowing. Because if he knew, he would surely try to save her while getting hurt himself.

Still, she wished he knew. She wished she could see his face. The fact that she had done this much for him, that she had found the courage. Daphne knelt, clutching her trembling hands. The pain was growing stronger. The very last moment. Daphne was crying.

“I want… to see you.”

She thought she would just shed a few tears and be done. Daphne gave a hollow laugh, then collapsed, shuddering. It hurt. Her body hurt, and the memories that kept stabbing at her heart hurt. Even the warmth of his touch that she had wanted to feel just once. Daphne bent over, swallowing her sobs.

Actually, I wanted to stop you when you stepped up to face the giant.

Actually, I hated the people who threw stones at you.

Actually, I wanted to enter the fog to find you.

Actually, if I had to die, I wanted to die by your side.

Now, she was ready to make the deal. Daphne looked at the golden strands of magic extending from her chest. The strands connected to the core of the barrier. Once she accepted, there would be no turning back.

She wanted to call his name one last time. Daphne bit her lip, then tried to form that name with her trembling voice.

“Ilroy.”

“Did you call me?”

Daphne froze. Then, very slowly, she raised her head. Was she seeing things? Was this the world’s final mercy? Her vision caught a brilliantly shining silver-white light. Three pairs of glowing wings. Swords in both hands, a halo above his head. And vividly shining blue-green eyes. His ash-gray hair was fluttering in the magical whirlwind.

“The space is a bit strange. It was quite a struggle to find you.”

Ilroy said with an awkward smile. Daphne’s thoughts and actions completely stopped. Ilroy frowned slightly as he looked at the golden tube connected to Daphne.

“What’s this? Why are you attaching such a dangerous thing to your body?”

As Ilroy bent down, Daphne scrambled backward.

“Wh-what? What are you doing here?!”

“What do you mean? I heard you disappeared into the barrier without listening to Nella, so I came looking for you.”

Ilroy was kneeling, looking at Daphne. She stared at him with disbelieving eyes, then slowly approached him. She could sense his presence. She could feel his magical power.

Tap.

Daphne placed her hand on Ilroy’s face. She could touch him. Her hand continued to explore his face. The texture. The traces of battle. His eyelids, the bridge of his nose. And the slightly upturned corners of his mouth.

“Ah…”

It really was Ilroy.

Daphne lowered her arm and, realizing this fact, began to cry again. Ilroy didn’t move or say anything, allowing Daphne to fully sense his presence. She looked him up and down in disbelief, then stammered:

“How… how did you…”

“Sorry I’m late.”

Daphne rushed into his arms. Ilroy’s eyebrows rose at the weightless body falling into his embrace, then settled calmly. Daphne cried more bitterly at the feeling of Ilroy’s hand patting her back.

“You did well.”

It took another 30 minutes for Daphne to stop crying. She sat down, completely exhausted. Ilroy sat cross-legged opposite her. Stars twinkled in the distant parts of the barrier. Daphne hugged her knees and sniffled.

“You can leave it to me now.”

“Are you going?”

He nodded. Daphne looked at him somewhat resentfully. This man always appears when one is cornered, when one is in trouble. And then he takes care of things so nonchalantly and returns with a smile. Daphne looked sadly at his figure, always trying to shoulder everything alone.

“Thank you for holding on. And thank you for preventing the collision. You’ve already saved tens of millions of people by doing that. You should be proud.”

“But… in the end, we couldn’t completely solve the problem without you, Ilroy.”

“The same goes for me.”

Ilroy gently lifted Daphne’s drooping chin.

“You bought me time. Without you, I couldn’t have prevented the world’s destruction.”

“Did you believe in me?”

“I did. That’s why I waited until the end.”

This person reassures me until the very end. He tells me I can rely on him, that I can trust him. He smiles as if it’s not heavy, and he doesn’t fall. Because he knows he is hope. Because he knows better than anyone that he has become a lamp illuminating people’s paths.

“I’ll be back.”

Ilroy looked at the comet’s tail. Like this, she would be sending him off alone again. She would fail to fulfill what she had wished for until her death. Daphne grabbed Ilroy’s hand as he was about to turn away.

“Together…”

Ilroy’s eyes widened slightly. Encouraged by his surprised reaction, Daphne continued:

“Let’s go together.”

Ilroy looked at Daphne while turned away, then nodded and approached her. Daphne extended her hand to him as if asking to be helped up, but Ilroy’s action was beyond her expectation.

“Ilroy?!?!”

“This is faster.”

Ilroy put away his sword and picked up Daphne, giving her a playful smile. She instinctively drew in her arms. Snow-white wings spread wide behind Ilroy’s back. He rose into the air. It was a completely different feeling from rising alone. Daphne struggled a little, but she had no strength left to resist.

“Well then, let’s go.”

One flap of wings. The stars became streaks of light passing by. There was no sensation of wind or speed. It was as if space itself was moving, guiding Ilroy and Daphne to that place. The white light passing overhead was becoming more distinct. Ilroy grinned and looked ahead. Daphne turned her head, following Ilroy’s gaze.

“It’s trying hard to escape over there.”

They had caught up.

The comet was continuing its flight, not knowing where it was going. Now they were the hunters. Trapping the prey in a net and piercing it with a spear. Ilroy flew far ahead of the comet and gently set Daphne down. She sat on the floor again, and Ilroy drew his swords.

“Watch carefully from there.”

Daphne nodded and used a handful of recovered magic to cast a spell on Ilroy. It was the protective magic she had first cast on him. Ilroy opened his eyes wide, then gave a bright smile.

“Thanks. That’s reassuring.”

“Defeat it for us.”

“Of course.”

Daphne felt the magic connecting her to Ilroy and imprinted the image of his retreating figure firmly in her mind. The hero’s back was bigger and brighter than ever before.

==

“Well then.”

I loosened up my body while handling the swords in both hands. The pain I felt when releasing the Holy Sword. Was this the first time since the initial release? With Daphne’s magic enveloping my body, memories of that time came flooding back. Memories have the power to make people smile. That’s why I could smile even while facing the comet’s enormous presence.

“Now it’s your turn.”

My heartbeat is painfully strong. Moving my body is gradually becoming burdensome. But I know well what needs to be done. I crossed Nerul and the Holy Sword, holding them behind my shoulders. My muscles tensed tightly, and magical circulation formed. Something that mixed the power of aura and the Holy Sword wrapped around the blade. The Holy Sword didn’t speak. It was quietly watching me.

“The power you forcibly opened for me. I can’t waste it.”

I murmured, closing my eyes. Even beyond my closed eyes, the comet was there. Cut, and cut again. Cut until the massive ice chunk becomes the size of gravel. My mind was simultaneously full and empty.

“A sword that cuts stars, huh.”

I hadn’t reached the Holy Sword’s conditions. Would I have a chance to know in the future? My mouth tasted bitter. I wanted to know. I wanted to sit there as long as possible to reflect more on the sword. I wanted to look back on my sword, on myself.

“…desiring such purity is probably a luxury.”

I chuckled. I opened my eyes. The comet had drawn near. Its surface shone red, blue, white, yellow, and green. I took a big step toward its center line. Responding to my movement, the swords cried out. Nerul’s cry was sharp and high, while the Holy Sword’s was low.

Cut.

I repeated inwardly.

And simply, cut it down as if cutting down a scarecrow.

The comet seemed intent on crushing and killing just me.

You are nothing but a dot. When I pass by, not even a trace of your existence will remain in this world.

It seemed to say.

Maybe so. But,

I answered the comet’s unspoken question with a twisted smile.

Isn’t that the same for you, comet?

Grip.

Finally, strength entered my sword-holding hands. My stance foot took root. The comet appeared right before me. I advance toward that brilliantly shining white world.

What I need to do next is simply…

Following the flow. Like water flowing down. Just drawing the sword along its path.

.

.

.

“…I cut it.”

I murmured, looking at the comet’s remains, now transformed into simply floating ice fragments.

“[You cut it.]”

The Holy Sword answered with dry sadness.

Cough.

My cough was wet. I wiped away the blood flowing down my chin.

“[Ilroy.]”

“I’m fine.”

I still have work to do.

Until then, I must endure with this body.