Ch.3030. Opposition

The one-armed swordsman running down the corridor drew his sword and swung it simultaneously.

Findenai, who had anticipated this, rushed forward first and blocked the sword just before it moved into its trajectory.

Keeeeek!

A strange wailing sound as metal clashed against metal. Sparks flew, illuminating Findenai’s face.

“Look at this guy?”

The swordsman was clearly right-handed. It was easy to tell from the scabbard attached to his left hip.

But for whatever reason, his right arm was completely missing, yet he was matching Findenai evenly despite wielding the sword with his left hand.

[Kraaaaa!]

With an eerie cry, the swordsman pushed Findenai back with sheer force.

Findenai naturally retreated and grinned while shouting.

“Alright, let’s do this!”

Boom!

“Kyaak!”

The moment she landed, Findenai channeled mana and leaped forward again. The fierce backdraft from her leg power made Erika Bright, who was standing nearby, stagger.

Kwaaang!

The two monsters collided once more.

All the windows on the third floor shattered and rained down like beads, but there was no sign of their battle stopping.

The two exchanged blows back and forth.

Even Erika, who had only studied magic, could tell how high-level their combat was from their dazzling movements.

“Not bad!”

But Findenai had the upper hand.

In gaming terms, Findenai had the Berserker trait. The longer the battle continued, the more her body heated up, becoming faster and adapting to combat.

Ultimately, the longer the fight went on, the stronger Findenai became.

Kwaaang!

The swordsman barely managed to raise his sword to defend against the downward strike of her axe, but with his back against the wall at the end of the corridor, he was forced to kneel on one knee.

“An axe is quite a useless thing.”

Findenai clicked her tongue as she examined her already dulled axe. Nevertheless, she twirled the axe and approached the swordsman.

“Persuasion really isn’t my thing. It’s better to beat someone up first before talking, right?”

The swordsman remained still with his head bowed.

He seemed to have exhausted much of his strength.

[Kee, gigigigik!]

The twisted man who had been slammed into the wall by Findenai forcibly stood up.

She thought he might attack, but instead, he just began to wail sorrowfully.

[Kigigigigigigik!]

He started crying as if pleading for something, and the corridor echoed with the sound.

“Huh?”

“What’s this now?”

Erika was bewildered while Findenai laughed, finding it amusing.

Before they knew it, numerous evil spirits had reached the third-floor corridor as if summoned, clinging to the walls and floor, watching the battle between Findenai and the swordsman.

“Did they come to watch?”

Realizing they were only watching and not participating, Findenai clicked her tongue in disappointment.

“…!”

Feeling a sudden pressure from the front, she quickly raised her axe.

With a chilling wind sound and a ripple in space, the sword swiftly swept through where she had been standing.

All spirits harbor grudges.

That was what Findenai’s master, Deus Verdi, had said, and only now did Findenai feel the truth of those words.

A strange strike mixed with grudge and mana. A purple energy rippled from the swordsman’s sword, which was old and missing many teeth.

It was a form of sword energy, known as “extreme technique” among swordsmen.

Findenai let out a hollow laugh as she saw the upper part of her axe blade cleanly cut off while blocking the sword.

“This crazy bastard is still growing even after death.”

[Keu, heueu.]

The swordsman, drooling and staggering, slowly regained his stance.

The purple sword energy was burning ominously, as if it were the swordsman’s belief and vengeful spirit.

“Don’t make me look like the bad guy here.”

Loosening her shoulders, Findenai also gathered mana. Pure white mana, like the color of her hair, rose from her entire body, bringing the match back to square one.

The final clash, tense with numerous evil spirits and Erika watching.

Everyone knew this last strike would determine the winner, but…

Whoosh!

Findenai, who had been growling and showing her teeth like a wolf, suddenly twisted her body and started to flee.

“Huh?”

She grabbed Erika, tucked her under her arm, and jumped out through the broken window frame.

“Ah shit! The master deliberately made the magic weak!”

Findenai threw the axe to the ground, which could no longer harm spirits because Deus Verdi’s magic had worn off, and jumped down from the third floor.

She could clearly see her master’s expressionless face, as if he had anticipated she would act this way.

“I really need a cigarette!”

Findenai licked her lips in midair.

* * *

-Emily, the girl who loved flowers. May she find eternal rest here.

I stared at the tombstone for a moment and closed my eyes.

Since she had already closed her eyes, she couldn’t hear my words or receive my prayers for her.

“I hope you’ve fallen into such a deep sleep that you don’t even remember your wounds.”

I placed a single white flower in front of the tombstone.

It was a flower called “legend” that was known to bloom briefly during Norsweden’s short spring.

I couldn’t find the yellow flowers that Emily liked, and those yellow flowers weren’t particularly good things anyway, so I brought this as a substitute.

Hoping she would like it even a little, I put my hands together in prayer, and the slight flutter in the wind felt as if Emily was embracing the petals.

Warm sunlight shone down as it rose over the mountain range. It was a propitious spot in the Norsweden mountains, permitted by the mountain god.

Since there was no body, we could agree to simply erect a tombstone.

As I came down from the mountain and returned to the mansion, there was a carriage waiting in front.

It was the carriage that had just returned after taking Findenai to Robern Academy.

In front of it, Deia Verdi was directing the servants to load luggage, and a new coachman brought horses and connected them to the carriage.

It was a carriage for me to ride to Robern, as the headmaster and Professor Karen had left the day they arrived.

Deia, who had been preparing, saw me and approached with her arms crossed.

“Everything’s ready. We’ll depart as soon as you get in.”

“Alright, thanks for your hard work.”

“I can even push your butt out since you’re leaving. The maid you brought, Illuania? I assigned her to you… don’t be too harsh.”

“…I won’t.”

“Well, I don’t even want to imagine what that means.”

Deia shook her head as if she didn’t want to imagine what I might do.

She stood awkwardly, opening her mouth to say something but closing it again.

As I waited patiently, Darius Verdi popped up from behind.

“Oh, are you leaving now?”

Look at him, barely hiding his seemingly pleased expression.

I nodded slightly, and Darius laughed and seemed about to offer some words of encouragement, but when Deia glared at him, he turned and walked toward the carriage.

“Are the horses in good condition?”

“Yes, no problem, sir.”

It’s a bit sad to see him asking the coachman about the horses’ condition for no reason.

“Huff.”

Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she took out a pocket watch.

Click.

As five minutes began to tick away, Deia took another deep breath and looked at me straight in the eyes.

“I asked for five minutes because I want to talk with you.”

I nodded in affirmation, and Deia’s hand holding the pocket watch trembled slightly.

“Then don’t lie to me. At least not during these five minutes.”

I already knew this was an unusual atmosphere. I answered without hesitation.

“Alright.”

“Phew.”

Another deep breath.

I could tell how nervous Deia was.

“You.”

Her lips opened very cautiously.

“All this time, your acting like a scoundrel.”

I knew what kind of hope she had and what future she was envisioning, but…

“Was it all because you were possessed by an evil spirit?”

I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

“…”

Since I couldn’t lie, I kept my mouth shut, and Deia anxiously swallowed. Eventually, I had to answer.

“It’s the opposite.”

“What?”

Deia might hate me. She might despise me as a monster who took away her family, curse me.

But I didn’t want to build a relationship on lies.

If she rejected me, I was prepared to accept it humbly.

“I took over Deus’s body.”

I honestly explained the current situation, and…

“W-what?”

Deia stared at me blankly with a shocked expression, unable to say anything more.

She just trembled in bewilderment as she stepped back.

Looking at her, I continued speaking impassively.

“From your perspective, it must be frightening. But I want you to know that I too struggled and fought desperately to survive.”

“…”

“If you despise me, that’s fine. If you hate me, curse me, blame me, that’s okay too.”

“…”

“But I will continue to live as Deus Verdi. Until a blade pierces my neck and I breathe my last.”

Deia stared at me blankly.

Is it possible?

I cautiously reached out my hand.

Was it because her mind was paralyzed by the shocking situation?

Or was she too terrified to move?

Or was it some other emotion?

I wasn’t sure, but…

Deia stood still like a statue and didn’t avoid my touch.

My hand gently…

Stroked her black hair softly.

“Perhaps this might be the last time.”

A bitter smile of regret crossed my face at the thought that I might never have another chance to reach out to her.

“I, I…”

Deia stammered, not even thinking of pushing my hand away. I calmly continued for her.

“It must be very complicated for you right now, so gather your thoughts. I’ll be waiting for your answer the next time we meet.”

“Ah.”

And that will determine our fate going forward.

I slowly withdrew my hand and walked past Deia to board the carriage.

Soon after…

The carriage wheels began to roll with the coachman’s call.