Choice

It was hard to understand what the child was thinking when she suddenly charged far away with the being that had attacked Iris.

It was even more confusing because the final enemy that they had known they needed to defeat was still sitting quietly on the broken throne.

However, within just a few seconds, the pressure and killing intent that once again enveloped the surroundings made her heart sink involuntarily.

Almost simultaneously, due to the sword strikes pouring from far away and the shockwaves accompanying those strikes that hit this area.

“Ugh─!”

She was barely able to block the gusting winds that rushed in with tremendous force using a hurriedly cast protective barrier spell.

Only then did she see the child fighting, as the vibrations shaking the ground gradually subsided.

Fortunately, as always, there were no visible wounds on the child’s body… but could that alone really be considered fortunate?

Boom!

Crash!

Ruins debris that cracked into pieces every time something like the glint of a blade was caught in her vision.

No, everything in the area except the shield the child was holding couldn’t withstand it and broke or was crushed.

She didn’t stop pouring attack magic toward what the child was facing.

And counterattacks from the child continued, such as emitting invisible shockwaves or charging head-on once again, but…

Shudder

That excessively sharp force showed no signs of being broken.

What on earth was going on?

The dust and gusts from each exchange of the tremendously intense battle continued to obscure visibility.

Because of this, she still didn’t know exactly who the child was fighting.

However, not long after that.

Kugugugu─

She finally noticed that the sound of something enormously huge moving had been heard from some point.

When she raised her head slightly at this, what she saw was another world.

“What… is that.”

Beyond the real sky outside the Tower, not the artificial sky created by the Tower, another world was gradually approaching.

A world that looked similar to the one she had seen in the form of a vision in the president’s office long ago, the one that had been described as a world that had met its death.

Was this what it meant that they would face the end if they failed?

“Rea!”

After that, Adrian’s urgent voice was heard.

At this, after grasping her reason that had momentarily left, Iris, whom Adrian was supporting, was set down in front of her.

Almost simultaneously, red liquid that flowed out and slightly wet her clothes.

Fortunately, since it was a wound around the shoulder, it wasn’t a life-threatening situation, but…

“H-Healing… doesn’t work.”

“What?”

For whatever reason, the wound wouldn’t heal even though Rea used all the healing magic she knew.

Even if they were just basic healing spells, not proper healer’s healing magic, they should have shown some improvement.

“I’m… f-fine…”

“The wound is opening. Don’t talk.”

In the end, all they could do for now was to staunch the wound with a thin bandage.

However, the person who should have been resting forcibly got up again because the child’s battle was still continuing far away.

Rea’s magic and Adrian’s sniping were already supporting the child, but for some reason, they didn’t seem to have any effect on what the child was facing.

And because of that, all the more.

“I… have to do something.”

It wasn’t strange for Iris, who was the only one among them with a sacred artifact called a holy sword, to step forward to help the child.

At least, a weapon named a holy sword would be able to inflict some damage, however small.

Despite Adrian and Rea trying to stop her from going, as they saw the wound that wasn’t improving at all, her footsteps finally quickened.

As a result, they had no choice but to clear the way to the child with magic and bullets instead.

However, before they could destroy several pieces of ruins debris and structures flying toward Iris.

Before Iris’s sword strike, delivered with all her might, could reach what the child was facing.

Twitch

A more dizzying sensation than ever before flowed through all the blood vessels in their bodies.

What followed was the surreal sight of not only the surrounding air but also the minute amounts of mana floating in the air being sucked in one direction.

Why was the child’s shield, which had somehow been driven to a quite close distance to them, now pointed toward the ground instead of the front?

Right after that, a huge sword strike containing an ominous energy finally began to sweep all around.

“L-Lua! Danger─”

Before the urgent voice uttered upon witnessing the literal sight of everything crumbling could finish, thud.

Along with an enormous amount of impact suddenly applied to the ground, the very ground they had been standing on sank quite deeply.

The sword strike that had just barely missed by a hair’s breadth.

It was after that when Iris, whose condition had somehow worsened, and the child returned to her side.

“Are you, are you okay?!”

Noticeably trembling blue eyes scanned various parts of Rea and Adrian’s bodies.

However, even after telling her that there were no injuries anywhere, she didn’t show even a grain of sand’s worth of relief.

After somehow blocking several slashes from above with the shield she was holding.

The child’s voice, which subtly contained a minute tremor, began to pour out unexpected words.

“I’ll tell you honestly. Only I can face that.”

“If we continue fighting together like this, Iris sister’s condition will surely get worse. No, in a way, it’s a miracle that she’s held out until now.”

“First, we need to treat Iris sister. So, go down to the lower floors until you meet people. No matter what happens, don’t come back.”

After that, what was taken out from the child’s possession was an oval-shaped glowing object.

However, as she increasingly realized what the child was trying to do, her heart began to pound heavily.

“L-Lua, you. If you’re thinking something strange right now—”

Naturally, all three tried to change the child’s mind more desperately than ever before.

Nevertheless, after forcibly placing the oval-shaped object she had been holding into Rea’s hand, click.

“Thank you… for everything. …Take care.”

Swish!

She quickly stepped back a few steps while activating the faintly glowing object.

Not even a second later, the surroundings suddenly changed.

After the various colored lights that had been enveloping all around completely disappeared, the place they arrived at was somewhere they had passed not long ago.

In other words, it meant the child was left alone at the top floor of the Tower.

“A-Adrian. Press that thing that fell next to you again! Quickly!”

She tried to somehow activate the object that had just teleported them away.

But for whatever reason, no matter how much they tried to activate it, it only emitted gray smoke and finally broke down.

“Ah… no. No, no, no!!”

She was enveloped in a dizzying sensation that penetrated deep into her heart.

Right after that, she encountered a presence that had been approaching from somewhere.

“…What’s this? Why are only you here?”

Was it mere coincidence that they encountered the only person among those who were exploring around the gate who knew them?

“H-Help, please help us, President. Lua is in, danger…”

She finally collapsed and earnestly requested help from the familiar face she had encountered quite far from the Academy.

There was nothing else she could do.

“…Wait. Who did you just say… is in danger?”

“?! A-Asha? How long have you been following—”

“Hah, hah…”

How much time had passed since I had evacuated Rea, Iris, and Adrian?

Despite blocking and returning numerous attacks, there was no sign of the battle reaching a conclusion.

And so, once again, slash.

Ding

[A total of 9391 damage has been accumulated.]

[Cumulative Damage: 472107 ▶ 481498]

[Available Damage: 481498]

The damage that had been completely consumed when creating cracks in the Tower’s barrier previously began to accumulate again.

Even though I continuously used the accumulated damage to attack, it quickly filled up again, which made consuming the damage meaningless.

In addition, to ensure not even a small scratch would appear.

Being careful to prevent a skill that would activate with even the smallest wound from activating, my health decreased rapidly.

The opposite of me, not even gasping for breath, not looking tired at all.

The problem was that this appearance was after having already defeated the Tower’s top floor monster alone.

…What on earth happened for it to become that strong?

Crack

“Ngh!”

With each tremendous vibration transmitted through the shield once again, my breathing became increasingly labored.

However, not even a few seconds later, the reason I could no longer just defend was…

“Haah… An intruder has arrived.”

Because the red-eyed gaze that had glanced far away for some reason turned away from me.

And so, forcibly suppressing the anxiety that was gradually rising, I turned my head.

Step

Step

“…Asha?”

I finally discovered a familiar shadow approaching from far away.

Right after that, the strongest attack among all I had received so far was applied to the center of my shield.

Boom!!

[…Unstoppable (P) failed to activate.]

“…What?”

Almost simultaneously, my body gradually began to float.

Pushed all the way up high into the sky, I began to fall in an instant.

“Ugh, uugh…!!”

Boom!

Fortunately, thanks to landing on the shield, I didn’t take any particular damage.

But because I was gradually approaching Asha before I could properly compose myself.

Because Asha, like Iris, wouldn’t think that a familiar face would attack her…

“Ah… no…”

While trying somehow to prevent the worst scene I would soon face.

Due to a question I had suddenly heard long ago resurfacing in my mind.

Even if it was a person who remained unaffected by whatever attack I made, as long as it was 『Lua』.

Rustle─

▶ The Bullied Becomes the Bully (P)

[Forcibly designates entities that have harmed Object Name: Lua as public enemies.]

Wondering if they would be equally affected by an ability targeting none other than ‘me’.

Ding

[Using If Words Come Bad (A).]

[Total damage: 10]

[Remaining damage: 509912 ▶ 509902]

Stab

“Argh!”

The last method left to me.

The final means I could use.

I finally used it.

Because right now, no matter what, by any means necessary, I had to… protect Asha.

Ding

Unfortunately or fortunately, a monochrome system window slowly appeared.

[Skill: The Bullied Becomes the Bully (P) has been activated.]

[Object Name: Lua is designated as a public enemy.]

[Due to the effect of Title: Guardian, the concept of hostility is neutralized.]

At the same time, the red-eyed gaze that twitched and slowly turned toward me, and other system windows that only applied to the ‘Lua beyond’.

Ding

[Due to the effect of Title: Punisher, the power of hostility performed by Object Name: Lua increases dramatically.]

“What are you… doing right now.”

[Object Name: Lua resists hostility directed at itself.]

[Object Name: Lua resists hostility directed at itself.]

[Object Name: Lua resists hostility directed at itself.]

[Object Name: Lua resists hostility directed at itself.]

[Object Name: Lua resists hostility… resistance failed.]

Stab

“…Aaah, ah, ah… AAAAAAA!!”

The despairing appearance that finally began to harm itself while stopping its walk toward Asha.

What followed was a firestorm from a huge elemental summoned from flames that were gradually gathering in one place.

And so, only after quite a long time had passed after the start of a worst scene different from what I had been afraid of just before.

[You have stopped the one who lost their name, 『Lua』.]

[The rebuilding of the destroyed otherworld is halted.]

[The Tower… disappears.]

A message window appeared in the air, informing me that the end I had so desperately wanted had come in a form different from what I had thought.

What followed were white feathers falling from the high sky.

[Ending condition achieved.]

[Beginning to calculate Object Name: Lua’s play data…………]

However, because the footsteps of the person approaching me didn’t stop.

Walking on and on, passing by the person who ‘had been’ me, finally reaching a distance where they could recognize each other.

“What on earth… are you…?”

I couldn’t say anything while facing a gaze that no longer took the form of affection.

Really, I couldn’t say anything at all.

If I just stood still like this, I would surely be attacked by Asha in the end.

And Asha who attacked me would also become everyone’s enemy.

So… I walked.

Not forward but backward.

Because there was no opportunity except when Asha was still confused.

Either way, I had prevented the Tower from destroying the world.

I had prevented my precious people from being killed.

Because I had to eliminate the last possibility that could harm those people with my own hands.

Even if I had never wished for such an end, only the consequences of my actions remained.

Then at least, it seemed like I should do my best until the end.

It seemed better to protect until the end rather than losing once again.

And so, after walking and walking.

Only when the deep and huge pit that had caused the Tower to rise came into view, I turned my head again.

“…Asha sister. I was really… happy. Truly.”

I bid a final farewell to the most familiar and closest person who was still looking at me with a confused expression.

Because I probably would never see her again.

For the last time, wouldn’t it be right to part with a smiling face?

“So, you should be happy too. Forget about a disobedient child like me.”

Eventually, forcibly calming my trembling lips.

As always before Asha.

I tried hard to show only a bright smile.

The tears that had been flowing from some point couldn’t be helped… but still.

“Let’s meet… later, much later…”

Right after that, I took one more step backward toward the empty void.

At this, Asha urgently ran forward and reached out her hand, but this time I just couldn’t be caught.

And so, I finally closed my eyes as the pitch-black pit gradually approached.

Ding

[Play data calculation complete.]

[The Causality Guide offers another choice.]