Ch.146What He Gave Up

# 1.

The Possessed Nahan.

Though he had crossed over from another world, he now moved to protect those dear to him.

That’s why he was troubled.

Even if he succeeded in saving the world at the end of this story, what then?

He had no reason to return.

His older brother and only friend were dead.

The orphanage director and his younger siblings remained, but they too had found their own happiness and settled in that world.

Even if he returned to that world and tried to reconnect, he would only be a burden to them.

And even if they welcomed him with open arms, saying otherwise, it would be him who felt burdened.

Should he then remain in this world?

But everything here belonged to Black Wolf.

The members’ first salvation was Black Wolf’s achievement, not his own, and the bonds formed thereafter were Black Wolf’s connections, not his.

The endless efforts to save the world through repeated cycles,

Rescuing the members who had to walk through the chaos caused by the Abyss,

Protecting Reina and the Empire as the Yellow Dragon, and Asha and the Light as the Black Wolf.

Even the body he moved in wasn’t Nahan’s but Black Wolf’s.

‘…I can’t stay here either.’

This was Nahan’s dilemma.

-What… should I do?

From the moment he realized until now.

Even while fighting the Abyss with all his might, Nahan couldn’t shake off these thoughts.

If only he had some time to think about what to do.

【Stage 3 Seal Release in progress.】

【Seal Release… 100%】

【The Abyss’s <Soul> is being liberated.】

【Warning!】

【All restrictions on the Abyss have been removed.】

The situation wasn’t favorable either.

“『About 70% of my true self…? Well, this should be enough… So, what do you plan to do now?』”

Nahan was pushed to finish his thoughts.

‘A life that’s been swept along by misfortune, unable to move in any direction.’

A life where he received help from many, but lost everything before he could repay them.

‘This time, completely…’

He would repay those precious to him and then depart.

Nahan approached the Abyss while checking the system window that appeared.

【<Invincibility(Ex+)> is currently active.】

【Time remaining: 00:00:20】

The reason he could block the Abyss’s second skill – Annihilation.

【Skill 2 – Invincibility.】

◆Effect

: Once per day. After activation, grants the special effect – <Invincibility> for 80 seconds. No attack can harm you.

*However, while the skill is active, you cannot harm your opponent either.

Black Wolf’s second skill, Invincibility.

Nahan reached the Abyss with about 16 seconds remaining.

The Abyss silently watched as Nahan approached and reached out his hand.

“『Have you finally made up your mind?』”

The previous offer to join forces.

“『Well, it’s a bit late… but you’re worth it.』”

With the third seal released and having attained semi-divine status, the Abyss could think this way.

It extended a tendril of darkness toward Nahan’s outstretched hand, as if for a handshake.

“『Grasp it and swear your loyalty. I’ll make you a demigod of the new world.』”

Nahan instinctively realized.

That no one in this world could harm the current Abyss.

Not Asha the hero, not Yuria the saint, not even if all the Black Wolf members attacked together, not even himself as the goddess’s proxy.

Before a divine being, they were merely humans, unable to exert any physical force.

So Nahan reached out.

Toward that terrible darkness that instinctively evoked fear, that absorbed and erased even light.

The Abyss looked at the calm Nahan with curiosity and asked.

“『Oh… Aren’t you afraid?』”

A contract with itself meant temporarily submerging oneself in an endless abyss.

The primordial darkness that instinctively made one’s body curl up.

“『No one has ever not feared it. You really are tempting.』”

The Abyss said, tearing the darkness where its face would be into a long smile.

Nahan also smiled faintly.

“That’s the kind of life I’ve had.”

“『…What kind of life?』”

“Just when things get better, I’m thrown back down. Someone rescues me, I rise briefly, then I’m thrown down again… Honestly, I’m more familiar with darkness than light.”

The Abyss saw it.

That the light had disappeared from eyes that always held a glimmer of spirit.

“No matter how desperately I struggle to escape, when I come to my senses, I’m back in the quagmire.”

Instead of the hope that was always present, a murky darkness had seeped in.

Screech.

The corners of the Abyss’s mouth twisted into a sneer.

If Nahan also joined its side now, it would surely win the bet against the goddess.

“So now… I don’t care what happens.”

“『You’ve thought well!』”

Distracted by the victory before its eyes, the Abyss immediately embraced Nahan.

But because of this, it failed to read the truth.

The hope that had always resided in Nahan’s eyes was hope for his own salvation.

So what he had given up was not the salvation of the world, but his own happiness.

“So if I sacrifice myself to save the world… that’s a bargain, right?”

The moment he finished speaking, an immense amount of aura was released from within the Abyss’s embrace.

【Warning.】

【All covenants inscribed in Passive – <Black Wolf(Ex+)> are being nullified.】

The restrictions binding the nine members to Black Wolf were released in an instant.

The Abyss was momentarily confused, but realizing it wasn’t an attack directed at itself, it asked.

“『…? What are you doing?』”

Though it had attained divine status, it was only semi-divine and couldn’t fully comprehend everything.

But it was clear that Nahan was weakening himself.

“『…Ah, perhaps you’re showing that you have no intention of opposing me?』”

Seeing the Abyss ask this, Nahan smiled slightly and nodded.

“That’s how an unlucky fate works, isn’t it?”

No matter how desperately you struggle to escape, few people succeed.

So…

【Warning.】

【Proposing <Black Wolf(Ex+)> covenant to <Abyss(???)>.】

【Failed.】

【The target’s rank is immeasurably higher.】

“I’m just trying to die along with fate.”

“『Don’t tell me… you’ve chosen mutual destruction──!!』”

The Abyss, having finally understood Nahan’s intention after seeing the Black Wolf covenant.

【Passive – Black Wolf.】

◆Effect

: Contract with a target to share their power. The amount of power shared varies depending on the target’s rank.

*However, if the contracted target dies, you will also die.

The angry voice barely had time to spread before the Abyss let out a snicker.

“『But it’s useless.』”

A contract originally requires mutual consent.

Of course, consent could be forced, but the current Abyss was a being comparable to a god.

The Black Wolf contract could only be formed with its permission.

“『I wouldn’t accept it.』”

Having understood Nahan’s intention, there was no way the Abyss would accept it.

But Nahan maintained his smile.

“I suppose not.”

As if he had anticipated this, his empty other hand waved through the air.

At his fingertips was the system window.

Nahan selected the [Main Quest Half Completion Reward] he had prepared in advance.

The reward obtained for saving Asha and Reina.

It was──

【<Limited Divinity(???)>】

【When activated, allows you to use the goddess’s <Rank> once.】

“I was originally going to use this for the final blow.”

He had planned to use it at the decisive moment, after suppressing the Abyss through a joint attack with the others.

But now.

【<Limited Divinity(???)> is being used.】

【Divinity is granted for a single use.】

He chose the latter between an incomplete plan without his sacrifice and a plan that would certainly succeed with his sacrifice.

【Warning.】

【Proposing <Black Wolf(Ex+)> covenant to <Abyss(???)>.】

【Failed.】

【Target’s consent is requir… Correction.】

【As the target’s rank is significantly lower, the contract is forcibly established.】

【Contract established.】

【From now on, <Abyss(???)> and <You> will share the same fate.】

Nahan, having forcibly formed the <Black Wolf> contract with the Abyss, took out what Black Wolf had received from Lactea long ago from his pocket and placed it against his heart.

*However, if the contracted target dies, you will also die.

“『Damn it, Aria, you cursed woman!!』”

The desperate Abyss extended its darkness to stop Nahan, shouting.

“『Stop!! How can you throw away your life for a world that isn’t even your own!!』”

In that fleeting moment.

Nahan briefly pondered the Abyss’s question, but soon found his answer.

“I have nowhere to go anyway.”

So rather than someone like me,

“Isn’t it better for other people to live?”

【<Invincibility(Ex+)> has ended.】

Thud!

…Crack.

A strike so decisive that he twisted his wrist to ensure no chance of survival.

【Warning.】

【You have sustained a fatal wound.】

【If <You> die, the contractor – <Abyss(???)> will also die according to the <Black Wolf(Ex+)> covenant.】

Nahan closed his eyes.