Ch.52Resolution

# Thud, thud.

“Damn it, this is an unexpected situation.”

From the other side came the sound of Zikharun Misrakh’s exhausted footsteps. His already dark appearance was now covered in dust, making him difficult to identify.

“I agree. You were full of incomprehensible words…”

Next, Bartlant Chester slowly raised his upper body. Blood trickled from under his chin like a necktie, crossing from his collarbone to just above his navel.

Anyone could see that Bartlant was seriously injured. My mind, which had been immersed in the lingering presence of the departed Irefi, finally registered my surroundings.

“Are you alright, Young Duke?”

“Of course. I allowed an unexpected blow, but a Chester recovers quickly from this much damage.”

Bartlant pounded his solar plexus as if to prove his point. It was clearly the area that had been crushed by the hilt of Irefi’s sword.

Somehow, despite his vigorous gesture like beating a drum, he didn’t seem to feel any pain.

“No, normally you’d die. Bartlant, you’re just exceptionally tough.”

Zikharun tackled him good-naturedly. But Bartlant’s response was cold.

“Don’t act familiar with me.”

“You’re responding like that here? You? To me?”

“It’s unpleasant to even exchange words with a traitor.”

“Ah… right. Heh, that’s what I am now. Certainly.”

He smoothly laughed off Bartlant’s piercing gaze and looked in my direction. Zikharun’s face was bright as he sauntered over. I felt like his casual attitude was cutting through my scarred chest.

It was an unpleasant feeling.

“Irefi Justitia retreated quite obediently. It would have been troublesome for us if we lost the Marquess, so that’s fortunate. However…”

Zikharun trailed off, his previously smug expression suddenly hardening.

Then he lowered his voice to a volume that Bartlant couldn’t hear.

“This is the worst of the worst. I don’t know how it’s possible, but a Destroyer with memories of the original work? This completely breaks the game balance.”

“…Indeed.”

“Let’s look at this realistically, beyond gaming allowances. She knows all our patterns, plus she’s Irefi Justitia in her prime with decades of accumulated experience. She’s a perfect boss with no weaknesses. If the original creator were here, I’d ask how they managed to send such a monster to earth.”

“…I see.”

“Hey, Marquess?”

“…”

I must have looked quite pathetic with my vacant stare. No different from a corpse puppet barely clinging to life.

Zikharun mocked me with a sigh as I barely managed to breathe.

“Sigh, anyone would think you just had a heartbreaking farewell on Crow’s Bridge. I wish you’d put aside this tedious emotional drama.”

“What do you know…!”

For a moment, I was about to respond emotionally out of sudden anger. But I closed my mouth at an unexpected loud outburst.

“—Don’t speak to him like that!”

The source of the outburst was Bartlant. He radiated heat so explosively it seemed like heatwaves might rise from the top of his head.

The source of that heat was close to rage. His Adam’s apple trembled as if a volcano was about to erupt.

I was the one surprised by Bartlant’s passionate outburst.

“I was close enough when I fell to see and hear everything. I couldn’t understand even half of what Marquess Justitia was saying, but I understood at least one thing with absolute clarity.”

“Young Duke…?”

I called out to Bartlant belatedly. No answer came. At present, he was like a runaway train with no awareness of his surroundings. He passionately argued like a revolutionary proclaiming the truth.

“Just one thing! Marquess Justitia loves Marquess Alteon. And with an unsound mind, she desperately asked the man she loves for help. That’s all I know with certainty.”

He closed his eyes solemnly, as if acknowledging the limits of his understanding. But in the next moment, his quiet prayer violently transformed.

“However!!! As a man named Bartlant, I dare say one more thing. After hearing such words! After experiencing such things! If one remains unmoved, wouldn’t that disqualify them as a man?! Rather, Marquess Alteon’s heartache is precisely what’s proper and reasonable for someone who has been loved!”

“Bartlant, you…?”

Zikharun let out a dumbfounded murmur. His face looked stunned, as if he’d been unexpectedly sucker-punched.

“Was Bartlant Chester originally such a passionate character? I’m newly impressed by the power of time.”

“You’re speaking nonsense I don’t understand again.”

Eavesdropping on their banter-like conversation, I couldn’t help but sneer for a moment.

“…Heh. Hahah.”

“Marquess Alteon?”

Bartlant bowed his head with a worried expression. Thanks to him, I felt like I’d shed a layer of burden. Not bad.

However…

“Thank you, Young Duke. Your embarrassingly loud proclamation of your opinion has summoned my spirit back from outer space.”

It was an unprecedented black history moment. Bartlant’s anger-infused shout had a power that even thunder would yield to. By now, everyone residing in the main palace would have Bartlant’s speech firmly embedded in their ears.

Indeed, lights in the previously dark main palace were turning on one by one, and terrace doors were beginning to open.

“You might as well have sung a wedding song for Irefi and me. Honestly, it’s… quite funny. Pfft.”

Ah.

Irefi.

What rumors will spread through social circles starting tomorrow?

…I’m quite looking forward to it. Of course, I can’t be embarrassed alone, so you’ll have to share in the shame too.

Yes, I’ve made up my mind.

“T-this is terrible. I was proudly spouting off about being a man, but now I’m incredibly embarrassed. Plus, the knights will surely tease me endlessly… if only there were a mouse hole I could crawl into…!”

“A mouse hole big enough for your bulk would have to be called a bear cave, wouldn’t it?”

“Shut up.”

“Haha. Alright, Mr. Manly Pure Romantic Bartlant.”

“UWAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Actually, it’s not much of a decision. I already determined my purpose once before. On the day I secured Charle’s safety.

[I think changing the future where many people become unhappy might be why I was summoned here. Regardless of the old man’s intentions.]

[Yes, I’ve realized it anew. I want to save Irefi. Like the Emperor said, I too want to see Irefi smile sincerely.]

How eloquent my intentions were. Yet I alone felt relieved, not knowing you were festering inside.

I never wanted to see you smiling radiantly while asking to be killed.

I love your sparkling eyes when you wake up in the morning.

I love your shy smile when I hold your hand.

I love your awkward smile when you snap at me and then say I’m hopeless.

My path has been set for a long time.

I clench my fist with all my mighty strength. It was just enough force to hold Irefi’s hand. If I don’t pull her with this much strength, she’ll forever remain sitting and sobbing.

And I make a vow. That I will never again let anything slip through the gaps between our fingers.

‘I will, without fail, save you. No matter how many times I fall. Even if I get hurt. I’ll create a happy ending in this seemingly impossible game.’

To give up on you now—I’ve learned too many good things about you, as numerous as leaves in a verdant forest. The bond we’ve built in this short time has become precious. Now it feels like daily life without you would be empty.

It’s too early to give up, Irefi. I have so much I want to tell you.

To convey all of that, I organized the situation.

“Let’s end the argument here and move on to a more constructive topic. First, I’ll inform Zikharun and the Young Duke about Irefi’s whereabouts.”

“Come to think of it, I remember Marquess Justitia saying she would wait somewhere.”

“That’s right, Young Duke. I have a rough idea of where she went. However… Zikharun, I think I’ll need your help with this.”

“Hmm? Tell me.”

“The Destroyer’s Last Cabin. I believe Irefi went there.”

“Ha! She certainly picked an interesting place. Well, perhaps it’s only natural. But why do you need my help?”

“I know the location, but… as you know, reality is a bit different. Right?”

Just looking at Eldrion Island, the scale is different from the game map. There are unfamiliar streets filled with shops I’ve never seen before.

How much more challenging would Irefi’s stage be, deep in the mountains? Knowing only the approximate location would make it difficult to find.

But Zikharun, who has merged with his character, would be different. He would thoroughly know the actual geography.

“I understand. As it happens, I’ve been there before, so guiding you won’t be a problem.”

“You’ve been there? Deliberately? Why?”

“Huh? Ah…”

Zikharun trailed off, clearly showing he had misspoken. While trying to maintain his dignity, he scribbled something in the grass.

<Pilgrimage>

That’s what was written in the grass. Zikharun had already pulled a large hood over his head, hiding his face in shadow.

‘…Despite being merged with his character, this guy is still human after all.’

Perhaps Zikharun enjoys this world more thoroughly than I do.

At that moment, Bartlant put his hand on his chin and offered a serious observation.

“Hmm. Is this some Feita code? The Marquess’s wisdom to instantly decipher this…!”

“…”

“…”

Well, let’s go with that.

Bartlant’s slightly dazed admiration soared desolately into the night sky.

Clap!

I brought my palms together to refocus our scattered attention.

We had less than two days left to use the Old Man’s chance. Within this tight timeframe, we had far too many tasks to coordinate.

“Now I’ll establish our raid strategy for Irefi. Since there’s no reset button in reality, prepare yourselves.”

◇

“Haa… haa…”

My breath came in rapid gasps. Even cycling through short breaths without pause, I tasted blood in my airway. After pushing my body to its limits, running and running, I arrived at a mountain clearing brightly illuminated by moonlight.

For a mountain area, the relatively wide and flat terrain looked perfect for building a small cabin.

Now it’s just an empty clearing with no cabin in sight… which is fortunate.

I was relieved that I wouldn’t repeat my mistake. I don’t know what face I could have shown if I had to confront the elderly couple I had slaughtered again.

“I’ll wait for you, Nepy.”

If I were to meet my end here once more, I would be happy. A death at the hands of my beloved Nepy would also be peaceful.

But if Nepy, the only variable, cannot stop me… I will gladly destroy the world.

As an irredeemable sinner, and as a human being avenging malice.

“I hope you’ll bury me yourself, Nepy… this foolish person who came to find her own grave.”

I gave him the location abstractly, but Nepy will find it. If my guess is correct, Zikharun is also an anomaly who has witnessed the future, just like me.

He will be the right compass to guide Nepy here.

To my final battlefield, where long-standing malice will end…