“Asagao, please, just let me protect you.”
As he said those words, my whole world stops. I am trying to comprehend his words. He wants me to stop and just be protected.
His plea is sincere.
What difference a one person can make in a battle?
And that person is me, which someone who wasted my time playing around so I am currently training because I am too weak.
Can I make any difference in this group of absurdly strong people?
I don’t know.
But…
“I firmly refuse.”
“…”
“And…do not ever ask me that again… or I will hate you.”
“Why…”
“This may seem sound obnoxious but, I feel like you are belittling my resolve. My will may falter at times but not my resolve, my desire to fight.”
I push him away and I stand up and walk away from him. He sat on the bed and stare at me seriously as if trying to read if I am serious with my answer.
“You say that but if you are willing to fight, then you shouldn’t hesitate to kill someone.”
“Ah…!”
I froze on the spot unable to respond from his rebuttal.
…
I don’t know what to say…
“You were attacked in the middle of the night, beaten black and blue in your training, you were accepting criticism like it’s a common occurrence for you and that dragon guy is doing something shady behind your back and you won’t even bat an eye to it?”
“…”
“Why are keep enduring it? Is this how you really want it? Don’t you feel bad for yourself?”
“…”
“When I first met you and the Asagao right now, you hated painful things before, but now, you are accepting it. I know you wanted to change too, but, you are forcing yourself.”
“That’s…”
“Shouldn’t you learn your limit of when you had enough?”
…
I am getting scolded…
What he said was all true and undeniable. I should know when to say enough. I should learn to know how to get angry.
Apparently, just talking to master and Milin won’t suffice. I have to thoroughly have a word with them.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
But, our discussion is just heating up.
“All of what you have said is true, but I won’t stop.”
“Why?”
Why do you ask?
Do I have to state the reason again of why?!
I look at him dead straight in the eyes and proudly announces it.
“I am not someone needed to be protected! I am someone who will stand beside everyone! Who will fight with everyone despite the difference of strength and power!”
“And someday, someone who will also protect people! Even if you get hurt over and over and over and over again! You won’t mind the pain! You will keep walking to the path you have chosen! Even if it is a thorny path or a blooming path!”
“Ah?”
“I know. I already know that. What you said that day is something I will never forget.”
“Then…”
“I am sorry Asagao. I used what occurred yesterday to see if you still have the will after what happened. I wanted to know how you feel about it.”
“Eh?”
“I am actually proud that you didn’t forget your moral as a person and you even forgave Milin unconditionally.”
“Eh…”
“What just infuriates me the most is that dragon guy.”
“…I get it that you two don’t like each other…”
“He is certainly doing something behind our backs. I also dislike the fact he doesn’t look remorseful beating you up every day and use training as a reason.”
“…”
“And I hate how he keeps sneaking into my office to grab some books. No wonder Violetta is so addicted to books too! They are both book maniacs.”
“T-that’s somehow not related to our discussion right now. As a matter of fact… it sounds like a personal grudge…”
“…”
“…”
………
……
…
“Pfft…Hahahaha!”
“Hahaha! Hilarious! Simply hilarious!”
“Fon-nii! You are pulling off this scheme too, like them! Hahaha!”
“Hahaha… I am no different from them… “
“Does it matter now? Everything has already happened. What should we do now is fix things up.”
“Yeah. But… I am glad that you didn’t falter, that you still have the fortitude to cling to your own belief. But I should tell you that don’t just endure painful things because you said so. Learn to say when you had enough or when you need to take a break.”
“I understand. I will talk to master and Milin regarding that.”
“And about that dragon guy scheme…”
“Violetta-nee will take care of that I think.”
“Well, she did say she’ll talk to him so let’s leave it to her.”
So that’s what he wanted to know.
For a second there, I though he will force me to stop.
“Hey… what are you going to do if…”
“If your mind crumbled from everything and if you feel like the strain is too much for you.”
“That…”
“I will… confine you here in this castle, in this place so you won’t be able to get out. So you won’t be able to face that man, Nil.”
“Eh…”
“And while you are confined in this place, I won’t let you leave until I have killed Nil until there are no traces of his existence. That’s what I am going to do.”
“…”
Somehow, I avoided a really explosive landmine.
If I had answered poorly, that means I am going to be a princess stuck in the castle.
But…
“But, I am the one who is going to defeat Nil, not you. I have to face him.”
“Asagao, based on what I heard, Nil is a man who uses Arcana Magicians as a pawn. He also uses the devils as he pleases. Not to mention, if this man was really able to take down Alstroemeria, then surely he can do that to me too. We still don’t know the limits of his power.”
“I know. But, I will do whatever it takes. I don’t know how but I know I should confront him.”
“Then Asagao, I am sorry to say but if I had the chance to kill him, I won’t think twice. You may never have any chance to confront him.”
“Is this a competition? Fine, I can say the same. I am going to defeat him before you could do it!”
“Hehe… Then Asagao, if you are really serious about your words, then you have to work harder, but in moderation. Before trying to venture your own physical limits, take care of your mentality first. And remember that… I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”
“…”
“I am… just trying to endure everything that happens in your training. What happened last night had gone too far.”
“I see. I am sorry for making you worry.”
“Violetta is worried too. You may not know it but Edelweiss has been coming here too from her missions, she just doesn’t want to disturb you as she is also proud that you are working hard.”
“Un. If I see her, I will also apologize for making her worry.”
“And Asagao.”
“?”
“In three days, we are going to the dragon capital. Will you go with us?”
The dragon capital?
That’s where the others are.
“I will! I will go with you! I wanted to see them too!”
“I see… even though… one of them…”
“It’s okay! I already know it! I am fine!”
“That’s good.”
Finally, I can see them again.
And I am coming to the Dragon Capital.
I wonder what does it look like.
I am getting excited!
“Well, then. Let’s go. We have things to take care of.”
“Yes!”
As we prepare ourselves, my feet stumbled and I lost control over my body.
“Eh?”
“Asagao!”
My vision darkens…
My consciousness is being taken away…
What’s happening?
All I can hear is the voice calling out to my name…
.
.
.
“Asagao!~”
Ah?
What…
“Dear Asagao.”
This is someone else voice…
It’s not Fon-nii’s voice. It doesn’t belong to Violetta-nee…
But I know I heard it before…
“Asagao my dear, is your consciousness active now?”
“Fueh….”
I open my eyes.
What I saw…
…
A white room.
Completely white.
And a woman.
A woman who looks exactly like me…
In her neck and limbs, there are shackles attached.
She is… beautiful… even though… we have the same face…
Radiant white hair and clear blue eyes…
And beautiful thighs and bigger boobs…
She gives off a really charming woman that would make any head turn to her direction because of how… beautiful cannot describe it... I don’t know what kind of words to use…
She is in her early twenties, or she looks like.
“Ummm… where…who…”
“Asagao. I missed you.”
“Who…are you?
“Ah…sorry…”
In her face is a faint smile that she is forcing.
“My name is Nivalis. I have stolen your consciousness from the living realm to this plane where transcendental beings reside.”
“…wait…”
“Asagao, you may not believe me but… I wanted to see you so much…my daughter…or rather… my son…”
The woman who named herself Nivalis called me her daughter…no… son…
What does she know?