For What Do You Fight? -3

Step, step, step, step.

“…”

Step, step, step, step.

“…”

Step, step, step, step.

“…Noah?”

Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step.

“Noah!”

“…Ah, what?”

“Try to calm down. I understand you’re anxious.”

“…I’m completely fine though?”

“I don’t think so.”

Taehwa forced a smile. Noah turned her head away sharply.

“I’m fine.”

“We’re all patients, so take some rest.”

“Ugh… really… when are they going to discharge us?”

At the same time, a sigh was heard.

She turned her head and sighed, as if denying her own feelings.

Despite her self-denial, Noah was deeply worried.

“It’s already been 3 days! 3 days!”

Noah’s face turned sour as she turned her head again.

It was truly maddening.

It was crazy enough that the mister was Kraken, but now he’d been missing for 3 days. Objectively assessing the situation, it would be correct to assume he was in considerable danger.

“Kyukyu, are you absolutely sure about that?”

“Yes. I can still feel Kraken’s… I mean, Shin Hyun’s magical energy in the sky. He must be alive.”

“But why is it being felt from the sky! That thing is up there!”

Noah looked up at the sky through the window.

A large, ominous chunk of meat was floating in the air.

It didn’t need a grand name like Lust.

“It’s just flying pork! Maybe we should eat it with soju!”

“You shouldn’t be drinking soju…”

“Hmph! I already drank it with the mister!”

She really wanted to grill it. Especially since the mister’s magical energy could be felt from within it.

What could he be doing? What was happening inside there? Her concern outweighed the feeling of betrayal from discovering he was actually a villain.

Of course, she fully intended to question him. That was partly why she wanted to rescue him.

“Whew… it is certainly frustrating.”

“Right? So let’s ask Mr. Yu to discharge us quickly.”

“Do you like that mister so much, unni?”

“…Of course. Even if there was deception, I’m sure he had his reasons.”

Noah nodded.

“I’m sure he had reasons for doing what he did.”

If he had wanted to threaten us, he would have done it long ago. If he had wanted to kill us, he would have done that too.

He had so many opportunities.

“I understand, but let’s calm down first, Noah. It’s not too late to go after we’ve rested properly.”

“Ugh…”

“There will be a full-scale attack soon. Let’s rescue Shin Hyun then, okay?”

“…Sigh… alright, I’ll be patient a little longer.”

Her head ached from all the worrying.

Damn it. If only her body were in good condition, she would have charged in immediately. Somehow torn through everything, destroyed it all, and triumphantly rescued the mister!

Of course, she would have to keep his identity as Kraken a secret.

‘…I’ll wait.’

Noah closed her eyes and entered meditation. Sparkling starlight appeared around her body.

She planned to let her body rest properly first, then think about how to rescue him. Though her worries deepened like a well the more she thought about it, she endured somehow.

She even had the absurd thought that it would be better if Kraken were here. Come to think of it, he had been incredibly reliable when they fought together.

“Whoooo…”

Just thinking about it made her sigh.

‘Why on earth did he become a villain?’

Did he become a villain? Or was he one from the beginning?

She would know once she eliminated that monstrosity and met the mister again.

“…I will definitely destroy it.”

Noah took a deep breath and regained her composure, with the determination to absolutely destroy that abomination.

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The operation began about 4 days later. They launched a preemptive strike when signs appeared that the other side was about to attack.

To put it simply, the subjugation itself went smoothly.

Not only that, with other heroes dispatched from the Association joining forces, it wasn’t a major problem.

The issues had always been the numbers and protecting civilians, not that the enemy was qualitatively superior.

Of course.

“How long are they going to keep coming!”

“I’m tired…”

“Girls, let’s hang in there a bit longer. I know it’s tough fighting right after being discharged.”

That didn’t mean it was entirely easy. They kept coming endlessly, attacking again and again, dozens and hundreds of times.

How long could they maintain this advantageous situation? A day at most? Perhaps two?

Eventually, the heroes’ strength would be exhausted.

“I’ll go!”

“Iris!”

“Everyone, hold out a little longer! I’ll break through!”

Iris soared high.

She would destroy it. Eliminate it and definitely find the mister.

“Kyu! Lady Iris!”

“What!”

“I smell Kraken’s magical energy from over there!”

“Okay! I’ll go in one breath! Hold on tight!”

Iris’s gaze sharply focused on one location. A wall of massive meat.

According to Kyukyu, Kraken’s magical energy scent was coming from inside.

Noah clenched her fist and threw a punch.

“Like a star!”

The meteor-like strike hit, and slimy flesh chunks scattered. Having created a large hole, Noah infiltrated inside.

It was a strange place.

All red and squirming. It felt like being inside the intestines of a living creature.

No, that’s exactly what it was.

“…Let’s find him quickly and get out.”

To escape this unpleasant place as soon as possible, Iris began walking.

The mission was to break through this dungeon and enter the heart. The game would be over once she destroyed the essence cluster that should be there.

The only other objective was to find the mister.

“Kyu… it’s enormously vast…”

“It is. It smells and feels disgusting. I want to get out quickly.”

“How can we search all around this place…?”

It was a reasonable question. But Iris answered nonchalantly.

“We’ll break through.”

“There are many strange things… I can see tentacles and such.”

“Huh? That’s not what I meant by breaking through.”

“Kyu?”

BOOM-

“Don’t tell me breaking through means…”

“Yes. Kyukyu, hold on tight.”

“I don’t want to see this…”

Kyukyu closed his eyes tightly. Once again, a resonating BOOM sound was heard, and he felt the sensation of falling.

‘She seems to have become a bit violent lately…’

Was she stressed? Because she couldn’t meet that man?

Kyukyu hoped he was safe. Otherwise, his own body might not survive intact.

Breaking walls, cutting tentacles, they searched and wandered for some time.

“It’s here!”

Iris stood in front of a large boulder. Not a stone door or statue, just a huge rock.

It wasn’t a kidney stone either, making her wonder what on earth it was, but that wasn’t important right now.

“It’s beyond this! The essence is beyond here!”

“Okay… this is it.”

“…I can also feel Kraken’s magical energy nearby.”

“Is he inside?”

“Yes, probably…”

With those words, Iris didn’t hesitate any longer. With another iron fist, the rock shattered into pieces.

Through the thick dust, the inside became visible. In a room surrounded by walls of meat, someone’s figure loomed.

“Mister!”

“…Iris.”

With heavy footsteps, Kraken approached Iris.

“Mister…”

Iris called to him as she slowly approached.

What have you been doing here all this time?

“Iris.”

“Yes?”

“Catch.”

SWOOSH!

Black shadow-like tentacles rose from behind Iris’s back.

+++++

“…”

“Mister?”

“…”

“Mister…!”

“…”

I’m sorry, Noah.

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“A deal?”

“Yes. A deal.”

The rabbit doll looked at me with curiosity.

“I want to make a deal.”

“…Oho.”

Now it sent me an interested look.

Having caught the scent of bait, it was time to cast the lure.

“Can you stop… no, postpone that creature’s invasion for even a week?”

“What? That’s a difficult request.”

“Yes. I know.”

“The only one who can stop this is someone of equal rank, no… only the Demon King who has more power than this one?”

“Then tell the Demon King.”

I took a deep breath and continued.

“If he delays this creature’s invasion for about a week, I will gladly become an object of amusement for you.”

“Oho…”

“I know that neither you nor the Demon King are fond of this meat chunk. So… wouldn’t you like to play with a new toy?”

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‘So this is the result.’

“…How funny.”

“What…?”

Iris exhaled roughly as she gripped her shoulder. It was where the shadow tentacle had pierced.

Red blood dripped down her porcelain-like skin.

It was truly a laughable sight.

I could understand why those creatures had requested such a play for their amusement.

Two people who had been close as brother and sister, now trying to kill each other.

“…I look so ridiculous…”

I raised my head to look at Noah.

Her eyes were filled with tears. The pain of being betrayed by someone she trusted. It must feel like having her heart carved out.

I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t. A bug planted by the Demon King was squirming in my heart right now.

I suppose only jeers await an actor who fails to play his role.

“…Ha.”

“…”

“…Raise your fists, Na Noah.”

“Mister…?”

“Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to kill you.”

Iris’s eyes wavered. She clearly hadn’t expected to hear such words.

I hadn’t expected to say such things to her either.

But well, I had prepared my heart for this in my own way.

I spoke the words I had been holding back and agonizing over for a long time.

“So before that, you must kill me.”

“Mister…”

“You must kill me. Otherwise, you’ll die.”