episode_0038

People are always at a crossroads of choices.

And I made my choice.

To entrust it to the protagonist.

I started by leaving the family.

I was arrogant.

Rash, careless.

The arrogance of knowing the future.

The carelessness of expecting the protagonist to solve everything.

Because of my choice, someone got hurt.

It could have become an indelible trauma.

My arrogance drove a nail into someone’s heart that will never come out.

This is a burden. A burden that cannot be erased.

So, this is not a promise to Elisha.

This is a promise to myself.

‘No matter what happens to Elisha, I will take responsibility and bring her back.’

I draw magic from the core.

As I do, energy begins to overflow in my body.

“Phew..”

What matters now is consuming Shadi’s shadows.

Shadi’s dark magic ultimately relies on having shadows to exert power.

Since Shadi doesn’t possess a large amount of magic power, depleting her shadows is the priority.

However, even if I prevent her from using dark magic by depleting her shadows.

Her exceptional instincts were quite unsettling from the opposing perspective.

Having accomplished numerous feats in Requiem and crossed the threshold of death dozens of times, she had weeded out many newcomers with her exceptional senses and honed physical abilities.

I am weaker than the protagonist of this world and lack stats.

Taking down Shadi alone is practically impossible.

But that doesn’t mean I can give up.

I have a goal.

To safely return home.

And… for everyone to live happily with smiles on their faces.

I hope Elin regains her confidence.

I wish Lucy would set down her heavy burden and live life for herself.

I want to see Silia smile.

And Elisha… I hope she doesn’t feel sad.

I want to protect her radiant smile more than anyone else’s.

I must reciprocate Elisha’s laughter, her faith.

Despite saying harsh things, avoiding her, being brusque.

She still gave me a beautiful smile.

So, I cannot give up.

I adjust my posture and extend my arms forward.

Then, Shadi starts rushing towards me, assuming a stance.

I regulate my breathing.

And, as always.

All I can do is shout.

“Ignition.”

Blue flames begin to burn fiercely.

….

“You’re not bad at handling flames, huh?”

-Swish

Her relentless punches coming at me.

-Swish

“….”

-Swish

Even amidst this, she calmly continues speaking.

“Well, well. There’s nothing you can do. I’ll admit your flames are strong. They possess a power distinctly different from what I’ve seen so far. But, how do you plan to catch me with just that?”

“Just shut up.”

-Swish

In truth, Shadi is right.

Due to the nature of my flames, even if they are the same type of magic, their power differs.

However, that alone won’t capture Shadi.

While I am gradually depleting her shadows, there is no solution at this rate.

Using magical amplification might consume a lot of her shadows, but it would strain my body.

In reality, magical amplification can be considered a last resort.

After a few uses, it would overload my body, causing me to collapse.

Although it’s a good trait, I can’t use it properly right now.

Some progress needs to be made before I can freely utilize it by at least the mid-stage.

So, for now, I need to conserve it as much as possible.

But, is this the right judgment?

At a point where skills to recover stamina and magic are still available, is conserving magic the right choice?

Yes, it is.

I’m waiting for an opportunity.

So, not now.

In the midst of organizing my thoughts, the attacks do not cease.

I dodged her flying fist aimed at my head.

Subsequently, I barely blocked the clone’s attack with my flames.

However, being a shadow doesn’t make one invincible.

Just as too bright a light can make shadows disappear, the shadows touched by my flames were gradually wearing away.

“Your flames are truly peculiar. Shadows vanish when they touch your flames?”

“But nothing changes. This place is no different from my field,” Shadi retorted.

Yes, that statement is correct.

Here, the only light is the moonlight in the sky.

The surroundings were entirely covered in shadows.

As she grows stronger in the presence of shadows, it is true that I am at a disadvantage.

But I must wait.

I must wait for the moment of reversal.

“By the way, can’t you use any other magic? You keep using the same one over and over again. It’s getting boring, isn’t it? Just focusing on defense, seems like I had high expectations~.”

Shadi continued her assault without stopping her taunts.

While she was talkative in the original work, perhaps due to absorbing too many shadows and being ‘corrupted,’ she seems even more talkative now.

Her attack grazed my cheek.

Blood trickled down from the graze.

Yet the attacks did not cease.

Though she uses magic, enduring against her, a true martial artist, is indeed not easy.

However, no matter how strong the enemy, vulnerabilities are bound to appear.

I evaded her punch aimed at my left arm and observed, continuously observing.

And I found it. Her vulnerability.

When she lunges to target my arm, her movements become larger.

A counterattack exploiting that very point.

I drew forth the weapon I had been saving until now.

“Summon.”

“What..?!”

She swiftly assumed a defensive stance sensing something amiss, but it was too late.

The flames I had kept while sparring with Lucy.

I summoned those vicious flames that tried to consume Lucy along with her.

And even the blue flames created by amplifying magical power.

“This is unavoidable.”

“..!!!”

ㅡ!!!!

Following that, a tremendous roar was heard, and the surroundings filled with dust.

Thrown by the explosion, my body was sent flying through the air.

As I soared, my body crashed to the ground, rolling uncontrollably.

Then my body slammed straight into the wall.

‘Even after pouring in magic…’

But with this level of power, Shadi wouldn’t be unscathed either.

Even if she managed to block the attack, it was an attack that couldn’t be stopped without consuming a significant amount of shadows.

“….Elisha, is Elisha okay?”

It was an explosion of immense power.

The collision of flames produced a massive explosion and noise.

Though there was some distance between me and Elisha, one never knows.

I staggered to my feet, looking around with the intention of first checking on Elisha.

As I scanned the surroundings, my gaze fixed on one spot.

There sat Elisha.

Even amidst the dust from the explosion, I couldn’t divert my eyes from her shining like a star in the night sky.

Whether she endured the pain or fainted, she was trembling, breathing heavily.

I brushed aside her disheveled bangs.

“Thank goodness. She wasn’t caught in the blast.”

She fell, but her life wasn’t in danger.

However, her condition didn’t look good.

Although the bleeding from her shoulders and thighs had stopped, the wounds were severe.

If not healed quickly, scars would mar her delicate body.

I retrieved a potion from my inventory and began applying it to her injuries.

With new flesh sprouting, her body began to heal.

However, Elisha’s trembling did not cease.

I took off the school uniform she was wearing and covered her with it as it was.

However, the situation was far from over.

The dust created by the explosion gradually dissipated.

Shady, clad in something, began to appear at the site of the explosion.

Under the moonlight, her figure became even more visible.

Her body was shrouded in black shadows, resembling a full-body suit.

However, there were exposed patches of skin here and there, breathing heavily.

That appearance is when her stamina is below 50%.

A simple yet powerful technique that enhances physical abilities by surrounding the body with shadows.

And judging by the fact that not all of the shadows were wrapped around her, she must have consumed a lot of shadow.

Then, her magical power must also be running low.

“Cough, cough… What is this now…”

“Finally coming to your senses, huh.”

I approached Shady, dragging my weary body towards her.

“How does it feel to be swallowed by your own shadow?”

“Haa… Ha… What, what…?”

Is this kid trying to challenge me now?

Judging by the fading shadows around her, it seems like the abnormal state has been resolved by now.

High-level strategy?

No, that can’t be it.

Then there’s only one answer.

“Don’t you remember anything?”

“Are you that guy from last time…? Damn, since then, my memory… feels like it’s going to explode…”

Wow, I had him in my grasp for so long. No memory?

Was it the same in the original work too?

After being captured by the protagonist, Shady could only be encountered again after the assassin event was over.

Even if you’ve played games for a long time, you wouldn’t know this.

“Well, that’s unexpected.”

“What…? What is this..! Agh..!”

I quickly approached the staggering girl and tripped her with my leg.

Placing my foot on her fallen shoulder without resistance, I pressed down hard and asked.

“Do you not remember anything you did?”

“Kkuh..!!”

“Well, how should I handle this?”

“Kkut….! Even if I don’t know what it is, if I’m seen by a witness, I might face some consequences, so, kill me..!”

It’s hard to believe that this person is the same one I just fought with.

What the hell are you doing?