Ch.303Chapter 303: Exchange of True Hearts (1)

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The same old provocation with the same old gesture.

It was a movement I’d often seen when Desire showed arrogance beyond mere confidence when facing an opponent she deemed inferior.

However, even if it was familiar, seeing such actions directed at me was hardly pleasant, to put it mildly.

In my less enlightened days, when my knowledge was limited and I blamed others for everything, I might have fallen for such provocation, stopped what I was doing, and hurled satisfying insults at Desire.

But now, rather than wasting time on such trivial reactions, it was more important to close the distance and land a solid hit on her.

So I simply continued my stride, quickening my pace.

With each step, the massive weight of the Crimson Dragon Armor transferred through my toes.

Thud-! Thud-thud-thud-!!

The footsteps echoing across the obsidian floor were heavy and dull, but…

In contrast to those heavy sounds, my movements had become incredibly light, allowing me to step right into the range where I could swing my dragon sword.

Thump-!!

Perhaps it was the recognition that a proper fight was beginning.

Just as during the earlier clash between Shizu and Desire, time once again began to flow sluggishly.

In normal time flow, everything would be decided in the blink of an eye, but now that critical moment stretched out endlessly.

It was somewhat comical to watch Desire’s facial muscles slowly shift to excitement as she saw me instantly close the distance to my optimal range.

But as I mentioned before, in a life-or-death situation where the slightest action could determine survival, even such trivial observations were a luxury.

I immediately focused my mind and swung the dragon sword with enough force to diagonally cleave Desire’s body in two.

Whoosh-!!

Perhaps due to my less-than-perfect physical condition, the blade path that should have cut through the air silently with an elegant trajectory made a wind-cutting sound and veered slightly off course, but it didn’t matter.

I could see that Desire’s eyes still couldn’t properly track the sword I had swung.

[I’ll get through.]

I didn’t need Fafnir’s somewhat ambiguous assessment that my attack would succeed.

This would connect.

While it would be ideal if every attack were perfect…

Sometimes I knew that a somewhat sloppy strike that catches the opponent off guard can be more effective than a carefully executed perfect blow.

Even if this strike wouldn’t inflict a fatal wound on Desire, it would accomplish what I intended from this surprise attack.

The dragon sword, having reached its apex, slowly descended toward Desire’s nape.

The blade was emanating such sharpness that it could cleanly cut even the air in its path.

Yet Desire’s expression still showed heightened excitement, her gaze busy trying to track me after I’d suddenly vanished from her field of vision.

With her visual processing in such a state, neither her left hand (as her right was occupied holding Shizu) nor any other part of her body could possibly react properly.

As I observed Desire’s reaction, the trajectory of my confidently swung dragon sword was about to reach her nape.

I had no doubt that if the blade continued unhindered just a bit more, this dragon sword would inflict a proper wound on Desire’s robust body, which matched her arrogance.

Clang-!!

As if to say my strike—which I hadn’t expected much from to begin with—wouldn’t meet my expectations, a dull metallic sound rang in my ears.

Ignoring the sound, my straight gaze met Desire’s excited expression as she blocked my sword with a movement that seemed to defy the sluggish flow of time.

“Your skills… have really improved~.”

Whether it was genuine admiration or mockery, Desire’s sneering was just a bonus.

[Wow, that didn’t work.]

Even Fafnir seemed quite disappointed that my strike hadn’t connected properly, but it didn’t matter.

“Nice block. Anyway, I’ll take this.”

After all, the sword strike I just delivered was merely a feint to achieve what I had actually intended.

“…Huh?”

It was quite a sight to see Desire’s expression change from excitement to bewilderment as she realized what was missing after hearing my words.

I had never seen her expression change to such utter astonishment before the regression—her usual mask of frivolity that concealed her inner ferocity and arrogance.

This alone was quite a spectacle, but as if to provide me with more entertainment…

As the distance between Desire and me increased, I could see her comical expression slowly contorting in slow motion.

…This really is a convenient ability, allowing me to witness a demon lord’s undignified appearance like this.

It would have been wonderful if I could show this ridiculous sight to those in the demon realm who usually bow their heads hastily before her.

But now wasn’t the time to waste on fantasies that could only come true in dreams.

What mattered was carefully securing what I had taken from Desire.

“…Are you alright?”

I asked about the well-being of Shizu, whom I had snatched from Desire’s grasp and brought into mine.

“…”

The slow flow of time apparently applied not only to Desire but to Shizu as well.

“…!!”

Despite wearing a helmet that concealed her expression, Shizu’s lips trembled in surprise the moment she recognized my voice so close to her.

…That reaction, without the slightest deviation from how she used to react when I startled her playfully in our youth, was increasingly confirming that the person in my arms was indeed Shizu. Just as this certainty was deepening…

“…I.”

A voice filled with indescribable emotion gently penetrated my ears.

Though somewhat more gloomy than I remembered, it was unmistakably Shizu’s voice with little difference.

Yes, this voice…

It was definitely the voice she used when trying to express remorse to me, even when she had done nothing wrong.

Seeing how this matched perfectly with the Shizu who shared memories with the current me, you were undoubtedly the Shizu I remembered from before the regression.

…But.

The mistake was mine, and the apology should be my responsibility.

“I… Cal, I don’t deserve to be in your arms like this.”

Why are you showing signs of remorse?

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My memories with Shizu before the regression, after I became the Agent, were all one-sided.

There was me, saying harsh things to push her away.

And there was Shizu, directing cold anger at me, overlaid with a sense of betrayal toward someone she had trusted and the duty to save the world.

The only memories exchanged between the Agent of the Demon Lord and the wounded Hero were calculated coldness performed by me and one-sided anger from her.

These were the memories between pre-regression me and Shizu.

Even though these moments were so wretched they could barely be called memories…

I had lived desperately, hoping that someday I could confess everything to you and ask for forgiveness.

But in the end, I couldn’t even fulfill that wish.

As the final battle was about to unfold…

I had mutilated my body with the demon sword to escape the Demon Lord’s control, then destroyed even the demon sword itself.

Facing Shizu with nothing but a worn-out iron sword, I met my pathetic end by her fatal strike.

And until my final moment, as my strength gave out and I turned to ash…

I was just a pathetic man who couldn’t even properly say “I’m sorry” to you.

And now I’ve learned that even my hope—that Shizu, who had looked at me so dispassionately, would forget someone like me and live happily in this world that had returned to normal—hasn’t been fulfilled through this situation…

I’m just an utterly worthless man.

“Because of me… Because of me…”

Why are you showing such unmistakable remorse when looking at someone like me?

I still vividly remember.

Those words you spoke to me in the final moment, pointing the holy sword at me with a cold expression.

Those words saying you deeply regretted ever having felt warmth in your heart for me.

I remember them not because I was angry at hearing them.

But because even after hearing those words, I had no excuse to offer, realizing I had done nothing properly for you—that regret scarred my heart like a wound that wouldn’t heal.

And you, the very person who suffered because of me…

Drip- Drip-

Seeing tears flow from behind your visor, down your chin, and onto the obsidian floor…

I can only feel bewildered.

But even in this bewilderment, I know what I need to do.

Back then, I couldn’t do it because my body had turned to ash and crumbled, leaving me without hands to reach out to you.

But now I can.

“…Ah.”

I can pull you, who is apologizing to me while crying and trying to distance yourself, into my arms and comfort you.

I’ve never been more grateful for this slow flow of time that allows me to do what needs to be done even in such a tense situation.