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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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I glanced at Sola.
I could see her mind working, searching for the most suitable spell for this situation.
She was probably considering various factors—casting speed, low power output, overwhelming power output—and their respective consequences, meticulously selecting a spell while planning countermeasures.
On top of that, she was factoring in my fragile physical state, a far cry from Rain or Odrox, and preparing backup plans to counter the demon’s movements and abilities.
She had a lot on her plate.
A mere warm-up before the main event.
That’s how I was often perceived by enemies intelligent enough to communicate, and in truth, that’s what I was.
After witnessing the insane talents of Rain, Sola, Odrox, and even Lian, who could blame them for thinking that?
However, it was these kinds of opponents who tended to cling the most tenaciously. After all, they had nothing to lose.
As the demon spoke, it shifted behind me, swinging its blade-arm in a swift arc.
And I blocked that instantaneous attack… or rather, I redirected it, my sword twisting at the last moment as I was overpowered.
Sparks showered as the blades clashed.
“Haha, the first strike is always a cheap shot. I know the drill.”
It moved.
Fast.
The previous minotaur seemed sluggish in comparison.
There wasn’t even a starting motion.
The demon danced around me, its movements a blur, attempting to deceive my eyes.
As if toying with us, it would occasionally flicker behind Sola, striking her barrier.
My physical abilities were no match for its speed.
Each attack forced Sola to interrupt her chanting, quickly reinforcing her defenses.
The demon lunged at Sola again.
This time, I anticipated its move, but as it pivoted, it shifted its weight, instantly reappearing on my other side, its blade-arm slashing towards my ribs.
I managed to react, but the attack was too swift for a complete defense.
— Thud…
The blow landed.
“You talk too much.”
A few drops of blood splattered from my side, but it wasn’t bad.
If anything, the realization that I could die sharpened my focus.
It didn’t hurt.
Not much, anyway.
I had reacted just enough to deflect the blade from a fatal blow.
The demon went silent.
Getting serious, it seemed, its movements accelerated.
Even with my bandages removed, its speed was almost impossible to track.
I was surprised it could move this fast outside the Demon Realm.
Six sword strikes and three punches, all aimed at different parts of my body, came at me in the span of three seconds.
I parried a sword thrust aimed at my waist with my dagger just as a downward strike came crashing towards my opposite shoulder.
I twisted my body, barely deflecting the blow.
Another attack, aimed at the same shoulder.
I braced myself, catching the blow on the small pommel of my dagger.
A jolt of pain shot up my arm, momentarily paralyzing me, but neither demons nor soldiers showed mercy on the battlefield.
Even the smallest opening meant death.
Especially against an opponent stronger than myself.
A sharp blade sliced deep into my thigh as the searing pain in my arm finally subsided.
The demon, licking the blood off its blade, spoke as if disappointed by the lack of challenge.
“Haha, you idiot. I told you I’d cling to you. Did you think it would end with just that?”
The demon looked puzzled, as if expecting a geyser of blood.
“Not telling.”
Ignoring its question, I made my move, my steps silent as I closed the distance, drawing upon my experience fighting on the frontlines.
Lowering my body, I thrust my dagger upwards in a swift arc.
I didn’t expect it to connect.
…Think.
Plan your next move while executing the current one.
Like chanting a spell.
The demon twisted its head, dodging my attack.
In that instant, I snapped my arm, using the momentum to wrap it around the demon’s neck.
“You’ll find out.”
The demon didn’t respond, choosing instead to strike me with its other arm.
I braced myself against the blow, even though it wasn’t the blade-arm, it was still a force to be reckoned with.
A powerful impact, fueled by pure muscle, sent shockwaves through my body.
But it wasn’t that painful, yet.
“I’m pretty good at being clingy, you know? This fighting style is a bit awkward, but… let’s get down and dirty, shall we, darling?”
As I spoke, I entangled the demon’s lower body with my legs.
Of course, this wasn’t the end.
I was just buying time, slowing it down.
This wasn’t enough.
With my free hand, I reached for the potion belt at my hip, grabbed a flask, and smashed it on the ground.
The glass shattered, and in that instant, vines erupted from the floor, wrapping themselves around the demon, ensnaring it.
“Alchemic catalyst: Giant Jack seeds. Upon contact with soil, they grow rapidly, latching onto nearby targets. Growth is accelerated if the first contact is with a human.”
“Seeds sold at the academy are infused with divine power to prevent damage and ensure quality. A major alchemic failure can be fatal, after all.”
I recited what I had learned in alchemy class, watching as the demon, looking irritated, twitched its one free finger, unable to break free from my grasp.
“Oh, impressive. Show me what you can do.”
As if responding to my taunt, I felt a series of punctures across my body, the sensation of blood seeping out.
The demon, having ripped through the fully grown Giant Jack vines, tossed me aside.
It glanced down at my crumpled form with disdain, stepping on me as it passed.
The amusement was over, it seemed.
I offered no further resistance.
It wasn’t because I was out of strength.
It was because the chant was complete, because Sola’s voice had stopped.
My role was over, and it was time for the finale.
I turned my head slightly to see Sola pointing a finger at the demon.
Her eyes blazed with fury, her jaw clenched so tight I thought her teeth might shatter.
Her red hair seemed to writhe like flames.
My vision, now clear enough to read even the subtlest changes in expression, showed me the full extent of her rage.
“You… absolute… bastard…”
“I couldn’t protect him. I was too late. If only I had been more composed… If I hadn’t held back… If I had made the optimal choice… Why am I always…”
The demon’s words were cut short as a concentrated ball of energy erupted from Sola’s outstretched finger.
A gaping hole appeared in the demon’s chest as it stared at Sola in disbelief, its foot moving to escape a beat too late.
But it was too late.
A fragment of the energy blast, still clinging to the edges of the wound, began to devour the demon’s body, like a caterpillar consuming a leaf.
The demon, unable to even scream, was obliterated in less than three seconds, leaving behind nothing but dust.
It was only after the last vestiges of its outstretched finger had vanished that I could fully comprehend the power of Sola’s magic.
There, in the wall of the Plate Labyrinth—a wall that had seemed impenetrable, a wall I couldn’t even scratch with any tool—was a gaping hole.
And it hadn’t just pierced one layer.
Sunlight streamed through the opening, illuminating the darkness within, evidence that Sola’s attack had obliterated everything in its path.
As the small mage, who had unleashed such awe-inspiring power, lowered her head, muttering apologies, the weight of the situation crashed down on me.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
“Why? What are you sorry for?”
“I… I let you get hurt again. I couldn’t protect you. I said I could handle anything, but I failed at the most important thing.”
“Failed? You didn’t fail. You kept yourself safe, you killed the demon… and I’m still alive. Isn’t that a win?”
“The cuts… the stab wounds… they’re not gone… It hurts… You’re hurting…”
Sola’s voice trembled as she looked at me, her eyes filled with anguish.
Her hand, shaking, reached out to touch the wounds on my face and those peeking out from beneath my torn clothes.
Then, her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
“Hey, aren’t you overreacting a bit? Look, I’m fine.”
Hoping to snap her out of it, I flexed my arm, trying to appear strong.
But her expression only darkened, her sadness morphing into a mixture of self-reproach and rage.
Sensing that I might have made things worse, I glanced down at my arm.
The petal-like scar had spread, engulfing my hand.
There was no point in hiding it from Sola; she already knew what the scar meant, what it did.
Her gaze darted between the scar and my eyes, her face falling as she froze, her apologies ceasing.
Unsure of what she was thinking, I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Well, it all worked out, right? You did great. Come here, you need a hug.”
Gently, I stroked her soft, red hair, remembering the time when we had been a little closer than this.
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TFTC!