Save those who cannot be saved. His determination to say such a thing. Is it fine to be fascinated by him yet do nothing―?
Suimei’s body bounced off Rajas’ fist and flew back in front of me. He was hurt all over. But his strength to get back up, nor his determination did not diminish one bit. He stood up strong as if he was saying he didn’t lose yet.
I didn’t realize when but I was talking to him when I realized.
“Suimei…. Why do you go so far…..”
What drives you to go so far? When I asked that, he spoke curtly while still facing forward.
“Because I want to protect you.”
“―”
When I listened his words, something revived within me. The heated heart lying at the center of the broken heart.
“You know how it feels, right? You have someone you want to protect as well. You came here because you had someone you wanted to protect even if it cost your life, right?”
“Ah―”
I wanted to protect. That was right. His thoughts and beliefs were the same as mine. That was why he was standing tall here no matter how much he was hurt.
Was it alright for me to give up like this? No, it wasn’t alright. I didn’t want that kind of an end. I never wanted that kind of an end. I wanted to run towards my dream once more. Never stopping, just like that boy with the same thought as me.
….. That boy charged towards the gigantic enemy once more. To push forward his belief.
When I realized it, I couldn’t sit by any longer.
“I―”
So once more. One more time. Give me the strength to fight once more. I prayed dearly with my bloodied, pain-filled and unsightly figure.
“Our goddess, Alshuna. For me, who couldn’t change anything on my own. For me, who couldn’t change on my own. Please give me the courage to change myself just once. I implore you, just once. Just one more chance for me―”
It was a sincere wish and dearly prayed words. To encourage myself and blessing of revival to be able to grab the sword once more. But the goddess would never help. I already knew it. Because she didn’t exist in this world. She simply watched on. So all these words were to help myself change.
Then when I opened my eyes, my body was filled with strength that was not there before. As if the time I knelt and gave up was a lie, the weakness that occupied my heart did not exist anywhere now.
The one who gave me this strength, this courage, was that boy standing in front. He taught me to push forward with my belief. He showed me physically, he awoke me, so I could stand again.
I grabbed the sword I had dropped and swung with all my might.
The red wind created by the sword cut between Suimei and Rajas.
“Haaat― that wench?! Where did you get that strength?”
“Lefille…..”
What greeted me, who stood up once again, was a face of shock and a face of happiness. There was no need to explain to whom each of the face belonged to.
The power of spirit. I released all the power I could muster. Red Wind. Everything dyed crimson as if the spirit of war and fire Ishaktoni’s crimson flash. Rajas couldn’t withstand the sudden gust of wind and stepped back.
“K..kuuh….. This is.”
Rajas blocked his face with his arms to avoid the gale. I spoke out my resolve while pointing the sword at him.
“..... Rajas. Watch closely with your own two eyes. This is the power that will exterminate you mazokus. The disciple of the goddess. Power of the spirit.”
“Power to destroy what? You’re just a wench who ran because you were afraid of death!”
“―Shut up….. I won’t run anymore to live like who I am right now! No matter what or who. Even from this fate!”
“You stupid girl! Only thing you can do is blabberrrrr!”
I faced screaming Rajas’ fist with the greatsword and crimson flash. A fist and an arm with strong aura extended this way, but I didn’t fly back this time. I wrapped the sword with the red wind and striked at Rajas’ fist, deflecting it.
“Kuuh! W, what?! That was completely different from before……”
The difference was natural. My weak self died moments ago, and what stood here was my new self. Attacks that pressed me until now didn’t work anymore. And I didn’t have the time to explain something like that to him.
“Hyyaaaapp!!”