― Save the women who cannot be saved in my place.
After leaving behind the word “Sorry”, the man who dreamt of a happy future with his family passed away. Without even listening to my replies.
As if he already spoke everything he wanted to say. Like a real statue this time. The dreams he had imagined in the sky just beyond the window. Without ever being able to see the happy family he had hoped for.
He was willful. He forced me on an abnormal path, a dangerous path. And to preach such a happy dream to me.
It all felt abrupt.
So that’s why. That was why I shouted at the dragon that was letting out its last roar.
― I will achieve your dreams. At any cost.
… Yes, there was a day like that. The day I howled at the grief of losing my father. The oath I shouted back then. I never once felt my actions were wrong since then. Thus, after chasing the mystery, here I was.
To walk towards the end of the path and prove that there was nobody who cannot be saved.
It was a childish dream. It wasn’t realistic and there was no feasible chance of reaching the end of the path. It was more faint than looking for a slightest outline of a figure in thick morning fog. But I wanted to achieve that dream. It was a dream that I wanted to achieve.
Science and magic. Regardless of the discipline, the wisdom that is said to lie at the end after solving the laws of nature: the Akashic Records.
Past, present, future and the astral plane as well. The record which contains everything. If a happy future for those who could not be saved was written down, then they could be saved. The leader’s philosophy to pursue happiness for all. If someone could find the record, it would validate that the path those two had trodden on was not pointless.
The oath like confession now was a vow.
“.... Father, the words you left behind might have been a curse binding my future. But I am your son and a magician. I want to see what you chased after. So ―”
Just like you, I will go to save those who could not be saved. I will save them no matter what. In this world as well as that world.
I closed my eyes and slowly chewed on my oath. Never forget. I steeled my resolve once again. I will save her. I will save that girl crying from the misfortune she has to carry with her.
When I opened my eyes, a disgusting desert filled my sight. Just glancing at those creatures filled with evil and malice was enough to make me feel disgusted. They were swarming like maggots on a piece of rotten carcass.
It was a funny situation. I made all that ruckus back in the castle because I didn’t want to run into something like this. Now here they were. What a cruel irony.
“Hmph.”
I blew away any sense of self-deprecation with that snort. I remembered what Rajas said to Lefille and glanced left and right furiously. They were probably that thing’s subordinates. How many of them were there? Thousand? Ten Thousand? It was no use thinking about it now, but I didn’t like how many of them there were.
________________________________________
Suimei took a step forward towards the sea of monstrosities.
They probably noticed his movement as the mazokus rushed to attack. Creatures that were touched by the breath from the god of death which preys on this world from outer realm. They were minions befitting it. Possessing neither mana, nor qi, nor astral body, they were abnormal and irregular creatures that possessed black aura-like power.
“Ha…”
It was annoying. What was a mazoku? They were creatures principally opposite to human in fantasy setting like a game or a novel. Why do I, a modern magician, need to fight something that comes out in a fairy tale? It was annoying. The philosophy of the Association. The dream father chased after. Why am I fighting a Demon King hell bent on destroying the world instead of chasing after my small dream―.
That’s right. My other deep inside self came to a realization and looked at me with its cold eyes. Ahh… I was sick of it. Sick of it all.
Mazokus bared their claws and charged at Suimei even as he closed my eyes and sighed. They simply rushed forward like a charging boar, as if they knew nothing about fighting.