Ch.46Unjust Fate (2)

Last time when I changed fate, I sacrificed about three years of my lifespan to successfully alter things by just a few seconds. But this time, the situation is much worse.

Of course, the situation was bad last time too. Still, back then I had hope that I could somehow manage. But now, I can’t think of any way to overcome this situation.

That’s because the enemy’s numbers are overwhelmingly greater. 1,000 versus 100,000—what on earth am I supposed to do?

Setting traps would be meaningless. There are simply too many enemies to handle with traps.

Should I launch a preemptive strike then? But even with a surprise attack, could I take down 100,000 creatures at once?

While I was desperately racking my brain, Rebecca spoke with concern.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well right now.”

“…I’m fine, I was just surprised for a moment.”

“So, what kind of dream did you have, Ms. Lite?”

Suddenly, I remembered what Leo said before leaving in my dream. He definitely asked me to tell everyone he was going to the magic tower.

I should tell the truth this time. That Leo was planning to burn away his lifespan.

“…I had the same dream as you, Rebecca.”

But I just can’t find the courage to do it. It seems like it would be much happier for her to believe Leo is just missing.

How nice it would have been if I knew nothing about this either…

“That’s a relief. This time, we can get through this without anyone dying.”

“But you said Leo would go missing.”

“Don’t worry. Leo is much stronger than we think. Even if he goes missing, he’ll be back soon.”

“What if, just what if, Leo dies fighting the demons?”

“Aren’t you underestimating Leo too much? Despite appearances, he’s someone who defeated the Demon King single-handedly.”

Rebecca trusts Leo so completely that she denies even the possibility of his death.

If I told her the truth about Leo now… she might fall into that terrible pessimism again, just like before.

“Still, it’s too early to feel safe. Fate might change suddenly.”

“…What?”

“The content of my prophetic dreams keeps changing every time. I’ve had dreams where everyone except Leo and the dragon-person died, and dreams where only you and the other reincarnated person died.”

Suddenly, my conversation with Leo in the dream came to mind.

If we sacrifice many people, the magic can be completed. But the chance of total annihilation is much higher.

And there’s also the method of using me and Ha-eun as bait to draw the demons’ attention while completing the magic.

“…What was the situation like when the other reincarnated person and I died?”

“You two went somewhere far from here, and the demons followed you there. While you two bought time, the magic was completed.”

It’s exactly the same as the second-best option Leo mentioned. If Leo doesn’t sacrifice himself, this might be my fate.

“And when the high-ranking demon was hit by the completed magic, it disappeared instantly.”

“What happened to the remaining demon horde?”

“Since the master who gave them the power to remain in this world disappeared, they were naturally sent back to hell.”

“So if we just defeat that high-ranking demon, everything will be resolved?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

There’s hope. Not just a vague possibility, but definite hope.

The magic couldn’t be completed with a one-hour difference. So if we can complete the magic one hour earlier, things should be resolved smoothly.

We just need to sleep one hour less. Then no one will die, and everything will end safely.

Before I could even finish my thoughts, I was already running toward Leo’s tent.

***

As soon as I arrived at the tent, I explained everything about my dream. However, things never go as I want them to.

“It’s impossible. This is already the maximum speed.”

Leo said while designing the magic.

“Is it impossible even if we reduce sleep?”

“The maximum speed I mentioned already assumes we’ll be working through the night.”

“Then is there no other way to shorten the time?”

“Even if we complete the magic early, it won’t make any difference.”

My already dizzy head becomes even dizzier. Could the situation get even worse?

“If we make the magic one hour earlier, the enemies will also attack one hour earlier.”

“Why?”

“Let me summarize what we’re doing in three stages: design, production, and launch. And those creatures will obviously attack during the final stage of production.”

“You know I’m completely ignorant about magic, right?”

“Design is just using your brain, and your body stays fine. But production requires mana. A tremendous amount of it.”

A tremendous amount of mana is needed. What happens when such work reaches its final stage? Clearly, mana levels will be approaching bottom.

For other professions it might not matter, but for a mage, having no mana is an enormous problem. It’s like having a gun but no bullets.

“So they’ll attack when you and that person are incapacitated?”

“You understood correctly this time.”

“…We’re screwed.”

Now I really can’t think of any solution. If we try to hold out by force, everyone will die. If Ha-eun and I become bait, both of us will die.

The best option really seems to be Leo sacrificing himself. But I don’t want to choose that at all.

If we were facing just one enemy, we might have managed somehow. But this time, there are too many opponents. So stopping just one won’t help…

“…Can I ask just one question?”

“As you wish.”

“Let’s say there’s someone commanding the demon horde. If that someone is neutralized, what happens to the demon horde?”

“…Don’t do anything reckless.”

I could clearly sense the displeasure in Leo’s voice. Fortunately, it seems I’ve chosen the right answer this time.

“So what happens?”

“If I tell you, you’ll immediately go off to commit suicide.”

“I’ll go commit suicide even if you don’t tell me.”

“…Sigh.”

Leo let out a deep sigh, stopped designing the magic, and stood up.

“I’m sorry.”

And before I knew it, Leo had approached me and instantly pinned me to the ground.

“Ugh…!”

“Are you willing to take back what you just said?”

“You know very well that I won’t.”

“…You’re such a handful.”

Leo created a rope with magic, tied my wrists and ankles, and gagged my mouth.

“Just stay put until this is over.”

And then I was put into a sack and moved somewhere. This situation feels oddly familiar.

***

When I was taken out of the sack, I saw the cave where I had talked with Leo before.

Leo untied the rope and removed the gag. Instead, a shackle was placed on my ankle. Thanks to that, there was no way for me to escape.

“But what if demons find us here? Wouldn’t that be a disaster? So please remove this shackle…”

“I’ve set up thorough safety measures, so you won’t be attacked by demons. And there’s plenty of food, so just wait here quietly.”

“Isn’t this a bit too much?”

“Would you rather I let someone sent by the Goddess die?”

But why is Leo being so excessively kind to me? From the first time Leo met me, he just willingly helped me.

Is it really just because I was sent by the Goddess? I definitely don’t think so.

“Can I ask just one more thing, really the last one?”

“No.”

“Do you have any other reason for helping me besides the fact that I was sent by the Goddess?”

Leo looked at me with an annoyed expression and seemed to be pondering something deeply.

“…If I answer this last question, will you promise not to do anything strange?”

“No.”

“Then I won’t answer.”

“Then I’ll reveal the truth to Agath and Rebecca.”

Leo seemed taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected me to counter-threaten him. Well, if you wanted to keep me quiet, you should have done it properly.

After a short while, Leo began to speak as if he had resigned himself.

“I don’t know for sure either. It might just be a whim, or perhaps I’m hoping you all will defeat the Demon King.”

And then, the faint smile he usually wore disappeared, and with a completely expressionless face, he continued.

“But I can’t fight the Demon King like you can. It’s not because of my physical condition. If I burn my life, I can somehow gain the strength to fight.”

“Then why can’t you fight?”

“Well, I’ve forgotten.”

Just like before, Leo deliberately avoided answering. Thanks to that, I could roughly guess the answer to my question.

“It’s related to the plan set by the previous Demon King, isn’t it?”

Leo made no response to my question and prepared to leave.

“I should get going now. See you lat… no, take care.”

“If you leave me here like this, I’ll reveal the truth to Agath and Rebecca. Are you okay with that?”

“Even if it comes to that, I absolutely cannot tell you about that.”

With that, Leo left me here and went outside the cave.

Due to Leo’s extremely firm attitude, I couldn’t dig deeper into the Demon King’s plan. What on earth was the Demon King’s plan?

Whatever the case, it’s certain that I’m trapped here now. Should I just let Leo die like this?

Thinking about it, I don’t really have a reason to save Leo. There’s no benefit in saving him, and Leo himself wants to die.

Does it even make sense to try to save someone who will die in a month anyway, just because I’ve grown attached to them?

My reason keeps saying that, but being an emotional person, I can’t make a rational judgment.

I’m in no position to criticize Ju-an for being a pushover. Birds of a feather flock together, I guess.

…But how do I get out of here?

Let me try shooting at the shackle. With luck, it might break.

But for some reason, my gun wouldn’t summon. Could this damn shackle be sealing my supernatural power too?

Anyway, the conclusion I’ve reached is…

I’m screwed. What do I do now?