“URRAAAWWW!”

Flow suddenly swings his right claw towards Milin, not minding the spear stuck in his chest. By reflex, Milin did not pull the spear and left it as it is and leaps back a meter away from Flow. Meanwhile, I saw the opportunity to make a defensive attack!

“[Barrier!] [Thorn!] [Force!]”

Upon multiple activations, the translucent blue barrier appeared and covered itself with thorns and expanded towards Flow.

Since Flow got occupied for a moment trying to read Milin’s next move, he didn’t notice the barrier expanding towards him. It was too late when Flow noticed it and the thorny barrier rams him flinging him upward!

“Milin!”

“Yes! My lady!”

Upon my signal, Milin rushes to my side and jump.

“[Barrier!] [Force!]”

Upon activation of my barrier, Milin who is in mid-air used it as scaffolding. Upon activation of Force, Milin rides the barrier and descends to the sky towards Flow!

As my barrier reaches its highest point, Milin launches herself towards Flow who is struggling to remove the spear stabbed in his chest.

“It’s time to cut you down again!”

“Curse you! I won’t be beaten by your likes!”

As Milin reaches Flow, she spins her body and at the highest point of her jump, she slashes above Flow and hammers her sword atop of the wolfman.

SWISH!

But…

Flow didn’t get hit or even grazed.

“What…happened?!”

“Milin! Flow has eaten his location again! He should be around here!”

“Tsk! That’s an Arcana Magician for you…”

Milin spews bitter words and struggles to straighten her fall.

I jump and activated my barrier below me and launch myself into the air towards Milin!

“My lady?!”

“I’m going to catch you!”

“Eh?!”

As I soar through the air, I collided with Milin as I caught her with a hug.

“My lady, that’s reckless of you!”

“Ehehehe!”

“But I’m glad you’re safe!”

“I got burned and have my bones broken several times!”

“My lady!”

We exchanged during our free fall.

I activated barrier below us and expanded it to the ground. As it touches the land, I use Retract to decrease the size of the barrier. It serves as our cushion since Milin won’t survive the fall.

As we set our foot on the ground, I immediately strengthen my intangible barrier that can sense everything around.

………

It seems that Flow is not around anymore. I look at Milin and shook my head weakly to let her know that the foe disappeared.

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“Don’t be fooled, My lady.”

“Eh?!”

“My soul weapon, the Quick Spear, hasn’t returned yet and I can feel that it is still attached to him.”

“Is that so?! Well, he is greatly weakened from all those attacks. He won’t be able to make a bold move anymore.”

“If he just hides like this, Lady Violetta and Lord Mrothgir can meet with us without any problem.”

“Let’s just watch each other’s back.”

We have already secured our safety at this point. Milin and I can make it out alive.

Whatever Flow do, he cannot act against the two of us.

………

Wait…!

Flow…ealier said that…he ate his own presence…

And…

The Twins!

“Milin!”

“Ah?!”

I frantically turn around to search for the twins. Blood suddenly drains from my face and cold sweats started flowing to my back.

“WHERE?!”

“My lady?!”

“The twins! The two elves!”

“My lady! There!”

As for where Milin pointed, the twins are lying next to each other peacefully. Milin and I both rush to the twins when suddenly…

Surging bloodlust came from behind as we rush to Casablanca and Hibiscus…

“Milin!”

“My lad--?!”

As I called out to Milin while turning around to her…

What I saw is… a bloodied claw going through Milin’s body.

………

No…

No way…!

“Guh…!”

“M-Milin!”

Milin’s was full of shock and despair zaps my mind.

She began vomiting blood!

“Carelessness is next to death. From the scent coming from you, you are a veteran of killing people. How many have you killed? Hundreds? Or thousands? The same as me? You’re overflowing with the stench of blood.”

“S-shut up! Don’t you dare…say anything further… not in front…of My lady…”

“Well, no matter.”

My body couldn’t move. I couldn’t move a single muscle. I don’t care what Milin did in the past, what I truly care for is Milin herself.

I run desperately towards Milin and throw punches at the claw that emerged from her body.

My eyes become hazy as tears flow nonstop from the thought of Milin dying.

“You--! Remove it! R-remove it from her! Milin! I…I will save you!”

“Bad…really bad… you two almost had me back there. But now, after I’m done with this woman, those two over there is next!”

“BASTARD!!!!”

I punched it! I clawed it! I even banged my head on it and bitten it. I did everything as Milin is helpless before me.

No…!

No!!

Flow didn’t take any damage at all neither flinches from my desperate attacks and pleas.

I look at Milin’s face as I ran out of breath.

…!

Why…

Why are you smiling like that?

Don’t smile like you are going to die!

Don’t make that kind of face!

“Milin…!”

“My Lady…my apologies…”

“!”

Milin kicks me and sends me flying. As I land, I rolled on the ground, getting bruised, but that doesn’t matter!

I need to save Milin!

“Oh? Why’d kick her? I’d love seeing her despairing face.”

“The…ack…only one…who will despair…here is…you…!”

Holding the sword tightly in her hands, Milin forcibly bends Flow’s only arm. In the process, blood gushes out from her body.

Flow got startled and wasn’t able to react to Milin’s sudden movement.

“EAT THIS!!!”

“GUAAAH!!!”

As Milin completed her turn, she swings the sword upwards. Because of the sudden attack, Flow took a step back.

But his body receives a straight line of slash diagonally upward and…decapitating his remaining arm. With that, Milin was able to free herself but…

“Milin!”

“Guh…”

She was pale…really pale…she lost too much blood. She weakly staggers and falls down.

I rush to her side immediately.

She won’t die!

She definitely won’t die!

“GUAAHH! You’ve taken another one of my arms!”

“Heh. Now, you can never ever lay your hands on anyone anymore.”

“…You will die now anyway…I at least have that.”

“You are the one who loses.”

“Tsk! You may not have killed me…but it’s frustrating. Be proud that you pushed me this far. I have no other things I can do now. Farewell!”

Flow run and rapidly left the place with no more arms attached to his torso.

Did we really win against that…?!

We lost…we totally lost…

And Milin…

“Milin! Hang in there!”

“My Lady…”

I reach out for her hand and hold it.

Heal…!

Heal!

What--?!

…I forgot…

Heal was gone…and was replaced by regeneration…

I needed that the most…

Is this what Violetta told me… about unable to do anything towards my friends, my comrades when they are in a life threatening situation like this?

“Heal..”

“My lady…”

“Heal…!”

“…Please…”

“Heal! Come out! Please! Heal! Heal! Heal!”

“Please…stop…”

“Milin! I will save you…!”

“My Lady, your kindness…your gentleness… and you very own existence…has already saved me.”

“M-Milin?! What are you talking about?!”

Milin sits in front of me while gently wrapping her arms around me.

Weakly… shakily… she pulls me towards her body…

“Milin…?!”

“You have done nothing wrong, you have done everything you can…I know that… you tried your best. I know that. You endured everything, I know that. So please, my lady, don’t blame yourself for my death.”

“D-don’t talk like that…Ahaha…you’re still lively… you are strong and energetic…right?”

I want to laugh it off and avert my eyes from the reality but…

My tears… flows down like a river… my chest tightens… and most of all, it’s painful…

It’s more painful than being burned!

It’s much more painful than being stabbed or being slammed on any damn places. It’s much more painful than any physical pain I have felt.

“You…*sob* Milin! You…are…my first friend…you…*sob*…even with all your antics…*sob*… I didn’t hate you…even once…*sob*…”

“I am…ack…undeserving… I am not worthy…to be your friend…”

“No..! Milin! You are the first one to become my friend! You…*sob* you are one of the…*sob…special people…I wanted to…*sob* to protect!”

“No… you…my lady…calling me casually by my name…is already a blessing… a heaven sent. This is…simple…atonement for my past sins… “

“D-don’t talk anymore! You’re wasting your energy! Hang in there! Violetta and Master are coming!”

Milin’s eyelids seem like they are getting heavier and heavier as every second pass.

Raindrops…started to pour one by one…

“It seems…Lord Mrothgir has already succeeded in the means of….extinguishing the fire throughout the city.”

“Right?! They are now coming for you! Please, hold on a little longer!”

The rain then becomes increasingly heavier from drizzle to a downpour.

“My lady…Ack…!”

“Milin! I told you to stop talking!”

“I… I am very happy…from the bottom of my heart. I am very happy… to have met you…! You…brought color to my life…even for just a short amount of time! My lady…Asagao…Asagao! I’m already happy that you care for me…the I…who have taken many lives…Me…who mercilessly murdered people…from the past…I am happy…that an angel like you…descended in my bland…declining life…”

“Milin! I am happy too! I am really happy that I get to know you! I don’t care about your past! I want and like you, so please, fight on! Don’t let go!”

As I try to encourage her, I tighten my grip on her hand.

My mind frantically repeats to all the gods in this world to save her!

To my mother, Nivalis! Please, save her!

“My Lady, I will…believe in you… You…who will find your own path…You… will make everyone happy… you…who will always be herself…and from now on… You… who will save people…”

“No..! Milin…! Hold on a little more! Master and Violetta will come!”

“Thank you…”

Her hand loses its grips. Her body isn’t moving anymore. Her breath ceases to be heard anymore. Her tired eyes are closed.

She is just resting.

She is just resting… I know it!

She is just being playful as usual. She and her unfunny pranks never cease to make my annoyed.

She is just…

“Milin…! Milin…?”

My world stops as I stare at the lifeless body of Milin in my embrace.

This was... the first time…someone dies in my life.

Her life… that I was trying to grasp…slip…

My heart aches painfully…

Even with all the bravado, I have shown to everyone.

I can’t even save a dying person in my hands.

“*sob* Milin…*sob* Milin…*Hic*…uhh…”

I can just cry painfully at my own worthlessness and for not being able to save one of the most important person in my life.

Milin.