I was wondering who it was. So it w

I was wondering who it was. So it was you, Rudeus Greyrat. I heard that you were living peacefully, so why did you go after my life?"


It looks like Orsted isn't going to kill me right away.

Maybe because he spared my life once.

Maybe because I've already lost the ability to fight.

Well, whatever.


"Hitogami said..."

"...Hmph, so you really were Hitogami's apostle. Die."


Orsted took his foot off my chest, and held up his sword.


"He said you'll destroy the world, and my descendants will help you kill him."

"...What did you say?"


Orsted stopped moving.


"Hitogami said to fight you to stop you from destroying the world."

"..."

"He said that's why, if I kill you, he'll overlook my kids, my family..."


Lying face up, I clung to Orsted's legs.

And then rubbed my head against them, and cried out my words.

This is the only thing left that I can do.


"I'm begging you. Please don't destroy the world. It's fine to kill me. Don't take away my kids, my future. I'm begging you. This is the first time. The first time I've been so happy. I'm begging you. Give up on Hitogami. I'm begging you."


I cried.

I'm powerless and pathetic.

Uncool.

What am I doing.

Shit.


"...I can't do that."


The instant I heard that, I bit Orsted's leg.


"Fuguuuuaaa!"


Still biting, I lifted my right arm that was spurting out blood, loaded all of my remaining magical power into my fistless arm, and let it all explode at once. With the intention of killing him even if it killed me too.


"Disturb Magic!"


I was kicked away, lost my concentration, and my magical power dispersed.

My awareness became distant.

The next time I used magical power, I would definitely faint.


"Even if you possess an element of Laplace and have vast magical power, if you keep using large spells like that one after another, you'll still run out of magical power."


Orsted extended his hand.


I'll going to be killed.

I'll be killed.

If I'm killed, Orsted won't die.

If Orsted doesn't die, Lucy will...

Roxy will... Sylphie will...


They won't die.

I won't lose.

I need to win no matter what.


But my body won't move.

I have no magical power.

Blood is pouring out of my arm.

My consciousness is dim.

My vision is dark.


Orsted's hand covered my view.

Ah, ah, aah.


Aah...

I should have at least decided on a name.


Part 3

"Mu!?"


Orsted jumped aside.


"...?"


Before I knew it.

A single human was standing there, as if to separate me and Orsted.


She was a tall woman.

She wore dark clothes and a stylish coat.

In her hands was a single-edged sword with a seemingly transparent blade.

I was looking at her from behind, so I couldn't see her face.

Aah, but I know that hair.

That wavy hair long enough to reach her waist.

Deep crimson hair, as if someone had thrown unmixed paint on it.


"Looks like I kept you waiting, Rudeus."


Eris Greyrat stood there.