“……I… did it……”
I looked up at the moons in the night sky. It was a close call. I was treading on a thin ice… and I succeeded. Relief, joy, fear. Everything went out of control and I could never endure the overflowing happiness.
I lived. I survived. I won…! Those words proved how much they meant to me as my first success in taking a step forward. I did it. I did it……
“Agh…!? Owowow……!! It… it hurts……!”
Wh-what happened...? I looked at my arms and they were bursting out small cuts. Hiii! The wounds sprayed blood! Even the skin turned red as it swelled like boiled crab meat! It seriously hurt and I couldn't stop tearing up with sharp pains coming from all over my body!
"...That’s right… I used Fei’s technique." I said in-between whimpers.
I heard he trained for half a year to learn it and it strained the body beyond the limits due to its insane destructiveness… He certainly did have his right arm wounded to prove it. It was a foolish thing to imitate his technique without practicing it… huh…?
Ugh. And I just cut open a monster which was definitely tougher than steel. What foolishness have I done using this weak body……? And I was still feeling under the weather. I felt like crying when ALL of my bones are groaning like this…
“……ah! Th-that’s right… Fei!!”
My feet quickly moved and I rushed to where the black haired fool was. I found him… hey, he’s standing up! What kind of stunt is he trying to pull now!?
“Fei!!” I yelled out and the boy glanced at me. Seemingly surprised.
“…Charlotte……? Why are you—*bam!* Agh!!”
The two of us fell after the front tackle I have done incognito. Fei groaned and rambled in pains but I simply snatched his collars
“ “YOU!” ”
We yelled at the same time, then we were perplexed.
“You idiot!” I recovered first and yelled again! "What the hell were you doing!?"
“You’re the idiot here!! Why did you come here!!?” Fei yelled back.
“Shut up! I ain’t listening to a lousy hero who got defeated after saying cheesy words like that!! What if I didn’t come earlier?!” I rebuked with a swinging fist to the air.
Fei parried the strike and lashed back. “I can live out from that just fine! What about YOU!? What kind of foolish deed did you do?! Did you even contract a devil just to show-off like that!?”
“I! AM! NOT! SHOWING OFF!! It was YOU that tried to show-off, you scatterbrain!!”
Then I rained dozens of fists at the boy. Despite wounded so gravely, it seems that he wouldn’t die just by a few beating from a demon. Even so—
“I was… scared… you know…!?”
“Huh…!?”
Proceeding on hitting Fei again, I complained with “I thought you were going to die…! Don’t make me worry again!! And stop trying to act cool by taking the brunt of all attacks! Are you a masochist!?”
“J-just what’s wrong with you—!?”
“Don’t! You! Ever! Do! That! Again!!”
*SMACK!* My fist landed on his chest and I heard a cracking sound.
“Gah-ouch—ow ow! Stop-I get it! I get it, alright…!? I won’t do it again!!”
“Just saying it isn’t enough!! Say that once you promise not to pick the shortcut to suicide!! Don’t you ever try to think that death is an option for every trouble!!”
The boy literally displayed a very annoyed expression. One that I could never saw before but I was still hitting him weakly which forced him to give up.
“Argh…! Fine…!! I’m sorry for acting rash!! I’m not going to be reckless again…!!” He shouted in desperation.
Clearly exhausted both physically and mentally, the boy huffed as he glared a half-lidded one.
“So just… stop it with the pummeling already. Please.” He begged.
“Really…?” I glared at him and Fei nodded quickly.
“Yeah yeah… But anyway, I don’t want to be told that by someone like you.”
“What does that mean!?”
“Well, you—gah. Never mind… Just get off me already.”
What…? If you want to say something then say it already! But I guess he’s right. We should stop bantering like this.
“Let’s escape from this place!! There's no enemy left, right?!”
“Urgh… after pummeling me like that and you still ordered me around? Some handful Princess you are...”
Oh, please. As if you ever acted like a proper Knight to me. In the end, you’re just a wimp that doesn’t want to bite what you deserve. Also, I’m a man so there’s no way I will allow you to have fun with this body.
With his arm circling my neck and with my left arm circling his waist from behind, I carried Fei away.
We’ve quite a long way to go. It’s true that we should escape but how? From where? I looked around but the fire had already spread around this part of the forest.
“……………………he he………”
When hearing that voice, chills ran down my spine.
What is this? How could this be? What—what kind of worse development is this…?
I glanced at Fei but he also grimaced. As expected, even he was stunned and we… turned our heads. What we saw was—
“………….hah… hi ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! What an interesting bunch!! Hi ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
It was her. It was The Demon who commanded all of those monsters and demi-humans. Spreading wide her black wings as if trying to catch us with them, Ivory Vermillion laughed.
“Surprised? Surprised, aren’t you? Well, I like to drop people from high places and it's delightful to see them go down in absolute despair!!"
The demon laughed. Madness was within her voice and the tone she used was both seductive as well as gross to my ears.
“……..you monster. What kind of thing are you?” Fei glared with a scowl at her.
“Hahah! YOU of all things asked such thing? I think the monster here is 'a humanoid killing tool' such as you, boy. Your internal organs have been regenerated back to normal too, right? Thanks to that Lagnaris of yours.”
“…………………”
What…? What did she just say…? Killing tool…? Lagnaris…? I stared at Fei but his expressions were clouded the moment he received my gaze. He then averted his gaze from mine.
“…Fei…? What is she talking about…?” I asked him. Hoping for an answer but what I got was just a sorrowful face…
The demon laughed again. Interrupting silence. Pressuring the atmosphere with coldness of death.
“Getting sentimental, are we? Well, no matter though. You’re in the end just some children but your potential to become threats are beyond the norm. I’ll have to kill you first before I sniff out the runaway prisoner!!”
She poised a stance. My instinct ringing loudly and as if a switch flipped inside me, I let go of Fei.
“No!!” I rushed and stepped forward. Between Fei and the demon, I raised a guard stance with my arms.
Then, the demon vanished from the spot. She suddenly appeared right before my eyes and my body stiffened.
“What a cute girl~ But you can die now!!”
“Kh……!!?”
The moment she pulled her arm, it turned into another claw. I could not even react properly as the set of long razors flew, tracing the air as they aimed at my chest.
But suddenly—
*FLASH!* The three of us exasperated in surprise. Light suddenly gushed from below us and a formation of complex magic circle came to exist in a flash. There were runic words tracing over the circles, there were magical squares at the center and the most disturbing was……
The blood red light enough to send shivers deep into the marrow of my bones.
Right before I could make out what was happening, I saw the demon in the air with her claw extended reached me. But as if the world slowed down, I tried to use my hands to repel it.
And yet—it was still a fruitless effort.
“Kahg…….!?”
I felt it. I felt the sharp claws dug into my body. I could feel the razor blades piercing my stomach, my shoulder and chest. I couldn’t even imagine how painful it was for a moment merely passed and the claws have already embedded deeply inside me.
Within that instance, I grit down my molar to the point of bleeding and raised a leg in reflex.
I kicked the demon right at the solar plexus. The impact alone was doubled as I was on ground and she was in midair. This resulted with the claw being forcefully pulled off from me and the blades did not even stop from twisting the wounds around before they came out completely.
Then the backlash caused by the kick sent me backward. My back immediately slammed to Fei and we were thrown out of the magic circle. That was when another change occurred,
The magic circle rapidly spinning in the velocity of light. The blood red light became more and more apparent as if in concert with the red moons above… and the demon that was helplessly floating in the air was then trapped within the light.
“Char…lotte……?”
When I noticed, Fei was stunned and he held me in his arms from behind. Unfortunately, I couldn’t muster any strength as I sensed a lump of liquid going up my throat. I immediately spat blood out in large amount as pain started to become real for my nerves and brain to recognize.
“*cough!* *COUGH!!*……shut… *COUGH!* …shut… up…… I… I promised……”
It hurts. It’s painful. It would work wonder for me to not cry in this situation and I noticed that the wounds caused me to be stripped of nearly ALL of my remaining Life. The bleeding status was also stacked up as I have multiple wind holes in my body.
Still—I couldn’t help to cry. I couldn’t help to feel pains. And I couldn’t help staring at the boy whose face was breaking the usual cold, complacent composure with disbelief. Of course… I knew all too well what was within his grey eyes.
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“—Gah… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!?”
...I looked at the blinding red light amplified by the redness of the moons.
Amidst the burning background, there were glitters of crimson light mixed in. A spinning magic circle on the ground which acted as if like the creator of these ethereal lights and the ‘wall’ of light which proved it to be nothing more than a Ritual Magic from the highest rank bestowed deceitful curtains which hid the horrible fate a demon received.
I saw her writhing in agony. With the dusts of light touching her skin, she screamed in extreme pains and the light continued to overflow the space she was in.
Soon enough the scream grew more and more erratic. The body agonized woundless pains. The tormenting light corrupted the mind of the demon who foolishly attacked without any proper awareness.
Over and over, I witnessed the demon rolling, hitting her head on the ground as she screamed for so many times they became cries for help.
“………A Curse…. That's… it must be a Soul Magic.” Fei suddenly muttered and I glanced upward.
As if he noticed my wish to know, the boy then explained “This is no doubt it's a forbidden magic. Look at how her body received no wounds. There’s no way pains could be transmitted without physical pains. If there is, that would be categorized as dark magic and demons have natural resistance against it.”
“That only leaves one thing. A magic terribly effective to any living being, including to immortals. A magic that can damage a Soul. And what Ivory has underwent… is basically a Curse which perhaps, flooded her soul with millions of pains.”
“……Pain… so she is being hurt…”
……As I watched the tortured soul detached with a thin film of boundary, I felt a pang of guilt stuck in my heart. My vision grew hazy yet I decided to stay conscious as I scolded myself once again.
“—ack! *cough!* *COUGH!* *COUGH!!*”
“Charlotte!?” Fei yelled haphazardly as he finally noticed in what state I was in.
He froze at the spot. He pulled a hand which was holding me and he looked at the opened palm with fear and distraught. There were dripping sounds. There was blood staining his hand.
But before his trembles reached his entire body, I raised my hand and grabbed his clothes
“Let’s…… go… Fei…… hurry…… let’s…… survive………”
Forceful. Hoarse. And yet determined. My wish was transmitted to Fei immediately and despite in panic, he complied to my demand.
Everything soon went in blur. I couldn’t remember the majority but… I could feel the wind caressing my cheeks. And a warmth that was so pleasant for me to snuggle in.
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-Fei’s POV-
Why did this happen? Why is this happening again?
I couldn’t understand it no matter how much those questions repeated themselves in my mind. It was as if I was befuddled with mud. Drowning in the darkness which possessed no concept of time and answers.
‘......let's... Survive......’
"Ghk.......!!" I rushed away from the town. The closest place we could leave from was only the northeast and I carried Charlotte with my arms. I didn’t even think how ironic it was for me to carry her like a princess when I have been teasing her as if she was one for two years.
As I kept running through the night, I noticed that monsters were active and that they were pursuing us. Damn it! I thought the Gods were helping but it seemed Irnia has the least bit concern for us!!
Using threads controlled with mana, I paved my way within the darkness. Slaying those who dared to block my way. However, monsters continued to swarm us and I had no choice but to move roughly and stop at times to ensure our safety. Yet the longer I took my time dealing with these asssholes, I sensed Charlotte’s sign of life growing fainter.
This can’t be happening!! Please, hang in there—
“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!”
“Gaaah!!?”
Out of distracted mind, my back was hit by a tackle of a monster and the world turned upside down for a while. My view soon became parallel with the ground as the small damages notified me.
“Da…mn… it……!” I cursed. I felt prickling hot pains stemming from my backbone. Did it broke? Did something cracked? Or is it internal bleeding? Did I have any crushed organs again?
My mind wandered away as I found Charlotte. Bloodied as she seems, she was lying on the ground near me. Her wounds still disclosing blood and I noticed how pale her skin color was due to the moonlight. But suddenly my vision shook with a pang of tremendous pain.
“Guah……!? What… you damn…… wolf……!!”
I looked above and there was a dire wolf on top of my back. But… the size was clearly different than the usual. What is it? It possessed strong muscles, and it has scars at the place above the eyes.
The color of the fur was giving ethereal silvery white light and I soon realized.
“An… alpha……! Fuck! Get off me! You bastard, let me go!!!”
With me being pinned on the ground using the alpha’s paws, as if I could escape from its grasp! Damn it! Damn it!!
Just as I struggled to release myself from the alpha’s powerful press, I heard growls from other dire wolves. Wait… they’re not even close to me but I heard them. I sensed their presences. I looked up and in horror, I was once again driven by the cruel reality.
“……wait… why are you approaching her……? Hey…! Stop it……!!”
There were black wolves gathered around Charlotte. They were showing their predatory instinct as I found several of them licking their snouts. But it was as if time passed so slow that anger and fear engulfed me instantly.
“STOP!! DON’T TOUCH HER!! DON’T YOU DARE TO HARM HER, YOU BASTARDS!!!”
I yelled. I yelled. I cursed. And yet I only heard a low growl from above me. When I looked at the alpha of the dire wolves, I found… a condescending gaze as well as rows of fangs bent. Seemingly mocking me with a wicked smile.
It looked down on me. Just like how they looked at me.
“No……! NO!!! DON’T TAKE HER AWAY!! DON’T HARM HER!! STOP IT! STOP IT!!”
My voice reached no one. Of course, as if monsters could understand human’s language. And yet, as if they understood my fear. As if they recognized my despair. The wolves howled in chorus as the black wolves approached Charlotte’s unmoving body.
Tears welled up. I tried to fight. I tried to release myself from this alpha and wishing to butcher those who dared to bring harms to her. And yet, my efforts were in vain. I watched. I watched again how someone important in my life was about to be taken away again.
That was when my will interconnected with my soul. My fear became one with my voice, and I let out a cry.
“STOP……! DON’T TAKE HER AWAY!! PLEASE DON’T TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!! PLEASE DON’T TAKE HER AWAY…….!!”
The wolves finally arrived around her.
“DON’T TAKE AWAY SOMEONE I LOVE AGAIN….! DON’T TAKE HER! I DON’T CARE WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ME……!”
The wolves nudged at the alpha, and it nodded strongly.
“JUST…! PLEASE DON’T TAKE HER AWAY!! DON’T TAKE CHARLOTTE AWAY……….!!!”
The wolves opened their jaws. Saliva dripping from their mouth. Their desires to satisfy for hunger pent up within their eyes. And they were ready to rip apart the girl.
They are going to kill her.
“No……!”
They are going to take her away to the place I could never reach.
“Please… don’t……!!”
They were going to rip apart the bliss I found after losing it again and again and again.
“Don’t… take her… away……!!”
At that moment—the devil whispered. An evil from the past. A truth that was carved on my core of existence.
Within the throne room, holding the head of a ‘friend’—I heard the cold judgment struck my existence.
”—From now onward, you are Vagnalos of
That was when the blade severed the head of the ‘friend’. And I screamed.
"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
“For the love of Gods… Be quiet for a damn second, will you?”
A silver flash followed by a tirade of red filled my vision, destroying the darkness to the last bits that I lost words to speak.
However – within the blurs was a figure of a person. Someone who swung his hands and throwing small silver objects at the wolves. Each of those thirsty beasts cried in agony as the silver objects – which I identified as needles struck their vital organs such as the eyes, the foreheads, tongues, paws, even their joints.
Like a breeze he strode forward, at his leisure, no threat could approach him before receiving his sharp needles. Then, the Alpha pinning me down growled in anger as it pounced forward, its brethren scurrying away to give it a path straight toward the man.
“So noisy. You’re not worth my time, mutt.” He said with a deep tone that sent terrible shivers to those who heard it, including me.
Before I could understand, a sound like a clinking chains were heard. Following by an upward swing of his right arm, I glanced another object emerging from inside his sleeve…
Then the Alpha Dire Wolf was cut into pieces.