episode_0106

Looking back, the solution was obvious. No matter how dire Cecilia’s and my current situation seemed—how utterly desperate or unprecedented it was for us—there was no way she had never faced something like this before.

“What are you talking about, Eric? That I could have escaped alone? Why would you even suggest something so absurd…”

“Why is it absurd? Your divine power is overflowing. You’ve maintained this barrier for weeks by now, but you never once thought to use it alone? Does that sound believable?”

“Ugh… I was just worried about you!”

“Yeah. I get that. But that’s not enough reason for you to starve to death alongside me. Look at what’s happening right now.”

The explosions of magic had already escalated into deafening noise. At best, we had minutes before the shockwave collided head-on with the barrier.

“Most barriers would’ve shattered under that level of magical force already. The mere fact that you could withstand it proves your divine power was more than enough. Am I wrong?”

Cecilia didn’t argue. No—she couldn’t. She just clenched her jaw, staring at me with resentment, as if demanding an explanation.

“Don’t glare at me like that. If we weren’t in this mess, I’d have let it go too. No point in making an issue out of something we could both survive. But… this isn’t that situation. If we hold out until the next shockwave hits, it’s truly over. Like you said, the magical collision might let rescue teams pinpoint our location. And if it doesn’t…?”

The answer didn’t need to be spelled out.

“I have an obligation to make this choice. And I also have to tell you what lies ahead.”

If Cecilia refused to flee—if she insisted on staying to “save” me when escape was within her reach—I was prepared. The Fairchild extermination was just one of countless incidents before the final battle against the Demon King. Yet even that first hurdle had spiraled into chaos.

“Eric… Do you really not value your own life?! It’s the same now as it was when you threw yourself into this mess from the start! Why—why are you such an idiot?!”

“You think I want to die?! I don’t want to either!”

What do you think drove me to struggle so hard just to return to this world?

“But there’s no other choice. None. This world isn’t so easy that a half-hearted effort or some empty promise like ‘I’ll do my best’ can save us!”

The words I shouted at Cecilia were also for myself. Save the world and return home. Written like that, it sounded simple. But after being trapped here, in this endless, stagnant time spent waiting, that conviction had dimmed. No—I’d forced myself to forget.

“Then we fight together—!”

“And then you die with me. There are no second chances! One failure is the end!”

The task I took on was far more dangerous than I imagined—a breath away from death. If Cecilia—or anyone from the Hero’s party—got caught in this disaster, it’d be unforgivable.

Lucíella, dying to save me instead of wielding the Holy Sword? The thought alone was horrifying.

To prevent that, I had to put my foot down here.

“That’s cruel.”

“Huh?”

“Now that I’ve heard all this… how could I ever forget?”

“That’s why I said it. Even if I die here, I know our noble Saintess isn’t irresponsible enough to ignore my last request.”

“Why… Why are you already giving up? Nothing’s been decided yet!”

“……Nothing’s going to change.”

I don’t want to die. But I’m not selfish enough to throw away a sure victory for a gamble with unknown odds.

Before I came to this world, when I died in it, and even now—I’ve always been a stubborn, frustrating person. I know that better than anyone.

This personality guarantees losses. The kindness I give rarely returns as gratitude, and results never match expectations. Even the pettiest self-satisfaction is denied by the constraints of my status window.

So why did I even bother persuading her?

My duty was to save Cecilia so she could save the world. Explanations were unnecessary. Just like in the previous world.

“…Haah.”

I slumped onto the floor with a thud.

“‘Nothing will change’—what kind of nonsense is that?!”

“Never mind. Trying to convince you is pointless. You wouldn’t listen no matter what I say. Fine, resist all you want.”

Either way, time was on my side. If rescue comes, great—if not, Cecilia will fight to survive long enough to relay what she learned from me.

“Whether I live or die, nothing changes. Brave, powerful, beautiful heroes—led by the prophet Eric Grave—advance toward destiny and defeat the Demon King. Quite the same as now, isn’t it? If anyth—”

“So this is the deranged nonsense you’ve been thinking about?!”

“‘Deranged’? That’s insulting to actual insane people.”

“Shut up. After hearing that, I understand exactly what goes on in your head. ‘Live or die, it doesn’t matter,’ hm? Yes, I get it. Loud and clear.”

“What?”

Grrrrrrrr—

“Tch.”

Cecilia clicked her tongue in frustration.

“I’ll scold you after we survive this. So until I stop that thing, keep yourself alive and behave. If you bite your tongue trying to pull something behind my back, I’ll bite yours. Think about that.”

With those words, staying put was my only option.

KKKKRKKGUUU—

The shockwave was now close enough that normal speech would be drowned out.

“It’s coming! At most, one or two minutes left! Brace yourself against anything!”

“With what?!”

This underground ruin had nothing but loose stones.

“Then grab onto me! If you get flung away, I won’t take responsibility!”

As soon as she said it, Cecilia suddenly locked eyes with me.

“Huh?”

Without warning, she threw herself over me—still sprawled on the ground—and turned her body toward the incoming blast.

“Did you really think I’d stand by and let that happen?”

No, even I wouldn’t go that far. I had no death wish—just chose the best path forward. But from Cecilia’s perspective, I must have seemed desperate to throw my life away.

Then again, when raw magic clashes with a barrier, the weaker side collapses under immense force before being swallowed. Cecilia could endure, but my weakened body—drained of nearly all mana—might not.

“Hold on tight! 30… 29… 27—no, 23… 22… 17… 19?”

Counting down under her breath, Cecilia shuddered as I clung to her. Forget shame—when someone pleads that desperately, even I keep my word. Whether I bit my tongue or starved, I’d see my promise through.

“5… 3… 2… 1!”

Thwoom—

The impact sounded almost gentle compared to the earlier roar. The divine energy of the relic and Cecilia’s barrier absorbed each other—

—and the stronger force would prevail.

Either Cecilia’s barrier consumes the relic’s power, or its byproduct swallows us whole.

Thwoom— Thwoom—

Each collision rang softly, but the force between them crushed me like a sandwich. Letting go of Cecilia now would send me flying like she warned.

“Sorry!!”

I yelled louder than necessary and squeezed her tighter. For a split second, the softness of her body nearly derailed my thoughts—but I snapped back quickly.

“N-No, it’s fine. You can hold me tighter… okay?”

She smiled warmly. Wait, weren’t you threatening to die with me earlier?

(Omitted: Scene continues with further dialogue and action.)