episode_0220

Mix the swords.

It may sound ignorant, but mixing swords is an exchange of emotions. Therefore, if you mix swords, you can feel the other person’s emotions to some extent.

At least I think so. When you actually clash swords with an opponent, you can vaguely feel the other person’s emotions.

“This doesn’t work either… . If so, how about this!”

Of course, being able to feel emotions does not mean that you can understand everything about the other person.

I can only guess to some extent from the shaking felt at the tip of the sword, the trembling of the eyes, and the breathing.

I slowly blinked and blocked Charlotte’s halberd, which was pushing the spear bar, with my sword. Then, with one arm relaxed, I rotated the halberd horizontally and attacked.

Kagak――Kwaddeuk――!

He forced the sword that was sliding down the pole to stop, took a step forward, raised the sword pole to his body, and struck it down.

Charlotte’s eyes widened, perhaps because she was startled, and she frowned and held on with both hands, but didn’t feel any resistance.

Perhaps unable to hold on, she let go of the halberd and created a new halberd from the ground. The number of halberds consumed in this way has already exceeded three digits.

So it was even more questionable.

“Kkeuch… !”

Despite resisting so desperately, despite facing death just around the corner.

Why can’t I feel any shaking from this guy’s weapon? Why do I feel only satisfaction and joy?

Why on earth do I feel emotions that are completely out of place in this situation?

“Hehe… . I didn’t know that even this wouldn’t work.”

I wanted to see what kind of face she had, but now that the sun had not risen, I could not see her face properly due to the shadows created by the sunlight shining down from the royal capital.

All that is vaguely visible is a smiling mouth and softly shining red eyes. Everything else was obscured by shadow and hard to see.

“… … .”

… I don’t know.

“Hot!”

There is no killing intent in the weapon being wielded. The reason why the guy who even defeated Onii-sama became so weak.

and… . I couldn’t understand the current situation, including the lie that had just happened.

“Are you looking away?”

Even though I am an ignorant person who tackles everything head on and tries to solve it, I am by no means stupid.

If you are given this much information, you can understand the situation even if you don’t like it.

―Obviously, you just said that you and I are ‘friends.’ Can I ask what you mean by that?

The reaction I had when I first heard that we were friends was not acting. It was a truly sincere question.

It was a question I asked because I really didn’t understand. The reaction was never acted out.

―Have you ever thought that what is written here is false?

If I had known that what was written in the notebook that had been reduced to ashes over there was a lie, I would not have questioned the fact that we were friends.

Why did she tell such absurd lies to deceive me? For what?

“Are you saying this is not enough… .”

And, another thing I don’t understand.

Why does Charlotte, a witch doctor several times higher than the witches in fairy tales, fight with a weapon instead of using the curse within her body?

“Kuhup… !!”

And that too with such an unsophisticated body.

“… Hehehe. As expected, this body has its limits.”

Frowning at the fishy smell of blood, I chewed my lip as I looked at Charlotte, who was smiling as if nothing had happened.

I don’t know. It’s full of things I don’t know.

All that is clearly stated is that he is evil, and that I must defeat him in order to prevent the disaster that has struck the capital… .

“… … .”

I didn’t want to do that.

I didn’t feel like it.

I know it sounds crazy. But, for some reason, I couldn’t swing the sword with all my heart.

“If you come to your senses… . No way!”

The moment I unconsciously threw away the halberd that was swinging at my neck, I suddenly realized that I had not been able to properly control my strength due to my boiling emotions, so I looked ahead.

He caught the sight of Charlotte, who had been struck by the spear of the halberd he was swinging and fell down in an ugly manner.

“Ah… .”

“Haha… . after… . As expected, it was foolish to fight with force.”

Why are you happy? Why do you like it the closer you get to death?

No, it won’t be a big deal.

“Why on earth… ?”

“Ha… . ha… . yes… ?”

I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I don’t know why you’re trying to die.

“Why are you trying to die? ? Are you willing to apologize for the sins you committed by dying? Then you shouldn’t have done it in the first place! why… . Why do you like it when you’re dying!? Why on earth!!”

I screamed and pulled out my hair.

It felt like something would come to mind, but it was so painful that it didn’t.

“If I die, that’s it!? Is that the end?!! You can just run away!! If you had this much power, you could have just pushed it all away!! You said that yourself!!”

No matter how hard I tried to keep my thoughts going, I hated that they kept getting cut off.

Let’s not think about it now? Should we just move on? no. I don’t like it.

“Why are you calling me to kill you!? Are you asking me to kill you!? So what’s left!! Aren’t you saying you’re going to commit everything, die alone, and run away!? Irresponsibly!!”

Charlotte quietly lowered her head at my shout and chuckled.

The familiarity I felt from that smile, the sense of déjà vu I was facing like this, and Charlotte’s voice, which was so similar to the distorted voice I kept hearing in my head, overwhelmed me.

“What’s so funny… !!”

Charlotte, who was laughing with her head down, let out a long sigh and stood up, placing her hands on the ground.

I thought they were going to create another halberd, but no. Charlotte didn’t do anything and just quietly got up from her seat.

“Well… .”

The moment I opened my mouth to ask the meaning of those words, the ground shook with a rumbling sound.

A cliff, Charlotte continuously pulling out a halberd from the ground, a halberd being used and thrown away, an empty space that must have been over a hundred in the ground, shock, shaking.

It was only a split second, but I realized what was happening and I opened my eyes and looked ahead.

“What’s so fun… ?”

Dawn began to rise, and a ray of light fell on Charlotte’s face, which had been covered in darkness.

Charlotte’s face, revealed in this way, had a very comfortable smile on it.

“… You don’t need to know.”

As soon as she said those words, the ground where Charlotte was standing sank downwards, and her body fell down the cliff.

“Ah… .”

A fleeting moment. Everything started to slow down.

And for a moment, my eyes became dark. No, the surroundings turned pitch black.

-Remember.

What do you want me to remember?

The voice got closer and closer.

-You promised to keep it.

Who are you telling me to protect?

I tried to frown, but I couldn’t move my body. All I could do was blink my eyes and breathe.

-Have you already forgotten?

What are you forgetting? I can’t believe I already forgot. What does that mean? No, who is it?

The thing that appeared had a similar appearance to me. However, its entire body was covered in a pitch-black shadow like a shadow.

-I am an illusion you created. The reason he was able to appear like this was because of Charles’ great power.

A fantasy I created… .

It said that and came closer and closer to me. Every time something tried to come to mind, it quickly disappeared.

What were you trying to think of? what… . It’s probably not a big deal… .

―You can’t find it even when it’s right in front of you?

What are you looking for?

-What you were trying to find. Master of the voice.

You can’t see anything.

-It’s not something you can’t see. It’s just that I can’t see it because it’s blocked by a wall.

Blocked by a wall… . What you can’t see… .

It was a series of random words. However, it was a word that strangely caught my ear.

I frowned at my pounding head. Little by little, my body began to move.

‘okay. You tried to remember it over and over again. You’ve been working hard until now.’

I felt my fingers twitching.

‘Let’s think about it later? My head hurts, so I should take my time and think about it after everything is over? ‘Since when did you become so cautious?’

The body that had been motionless began to move little by little.

‘You know that’s not like you.’

therefore.

‘in action.’

Before I knew it, it was right in front of me, smiling and putting its hand on my shoulder.

―You know best what to do with what is blocking your path, right?

I threw myself with all my might towards the shadow standing in front of me.

The body cracked like glass breaking, and soon collapsed. The words that could not come out because the light that had been hidden in the darkness were blocked came out.

* * *

I feel a sense of floating.

It falls.

After pulling dozens of sacks out of the ground and deliberately weakening and cutting down the ground.

This is the result of impacting the barely holding ground and collapsing the ground where I am standing.

After enduring the pain of having my intestines chewed and swallowed for hundreds of years, I even gave up my desire to survive this time.

It is the result of throwing away myself, who was barely holding on, and giving up everything for the one person I found at the end.

“Ah… .”

I see you. I see bright sunlight shining on you. I was able to laugh because it felt like it was telling me the future you would move into.

―I told you to call me Hermel instead of princess!

I’m glad you didn’t find your memories. At least you won’t suffer because of my memories.

just… . Even though he can’t even fight properly, they’ll just remember him as a half-poon who desperately wants to die.

… hmm. I really don’t like that either.

-Charles!

I’m glad I got to see you one last time.

At least I will be able to remember your face for a long time.

No, I won’t ever forget you, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

―The mad dog of the royal palace.

I am satisfied because you, who were called by such a derogatory title, will become a hero.

He will no longer be called a mad dog, but the hero Hermel.

If you don’t like being tickled during the day, wouldn’t you like that title too?

-It’s better if you come with someone you like.

“… … .”

thank you. For liking me. Thanks to you, I was able to be saved.

‘I have no regrets… .’

but… . I don’t regret it, but it’s a little sad that I’m leaving without seeing you called a hero.

I looked at Hermel, trying to open my eyes that were trying to close, so that I could look at Hermel’s face for as long as possible.

“――”

What are you trying to say? Through my blurry vision, I saw Hermel’s face distort.

――!!!

At that moment, I felt the curse I felt from Hermel breaking.

‘no way… .’

A fleeting moment. At that time, it felt like Hermel’s body was moving forward extremely slowly.

A sharp cry pierced my ears. Words I thought I would never hear again.

“――Charle!!!”

ah… .

I finally remembered it.

‘also… . You’re not doing as I planned.’

When I think about it, it was always like that, maybe that’s why I liked you.

no… . Was there any reason?

Yeah, there was no reason for me to like you.

‘So, I can’t have you following me out of here.’

I smiled bitterly and snapped my fingers.

I smiled with satisfaction when I felt the griffon at Hermel’s feet jump up and wrap its arms around Hermel’s body.

‘This is it.’

Sorry. love you. thank you.

I closed my eyes, swallowing all the words I couldn’t say.

Kwasik――

There was a sound of something breaking.