An expression devoid of any emotion.
The usual foolish atmosphere he used to emit.
The killing intent that would burst forth whenever he got involved with Rubia.
The ominous aura that was uncontrollably scattered around him.
A pair of empty eyes that felt nothing were directed at Aria.
“What the hell… how did you get here…”
Receiving that chilling gaze, Aria gritted her teeth and reached out towards Noah.
“Shit… Mute! Quickly take this woman and run—”
Screech-
At that moment, Noah’s great sword shook, leaving a thin line of a cut in the desolate scene.
And.
Aria’s right hand, which was reaching out to pass Rubia.
Mute’s hands, stretched out to receive Rubia.
Thud- They both fell to the ground.
Ser, who was gazing blankly at it, gently caught Rubia’s body as it fell.
“Thank you.”
A voice still void of any emotion.
Then came the sound.
Thud- as a chunk of meat collapsed onto the ground.
“Guh… wh-what the hell…”
Aria’s face contorted as she saw Mute’s body split in half without any warning.
“Y-you… are you insane? How can you kill Brunhilde, who absorbed our souls—”
Screech-
“…Huh?”
The sharp sound returned again. And Aria’s leg was cleanly severed.
With nothing left to support her, Aria’s body fell onto the ground, soaked in her own innards.
“Ugh, aaaaaaah- ack-”
As Noah stepped forward, he shoved Mute’s severed wrist into Aria’s screaming mouth.
Then slowly.
With the gentle touch of handling delicate glassware, he embraced Rubia’s body.
Even Ser, standing there blankly.
Heinzel, sprawled out on the floor.
The sound of explosions from the place where Hermila continued to fight.
And Aria, writhing in agony beside them.
Nothing seemed important.
After confirming Rubia’s breath with an embrace,
“Huff…”
With a sigh tinged with relief, he thud- shoved the great sword into Aria’s head.
He killed her.
Both masters.
He made it easier than killing a beast.
There were no signs of resurrection.
It wasn’t an illusion either.
He simply killed them.
By simply slashing their bodies and exploding their heads.
In the face of such absurdity, Ser clutched his throbbing head and tried to comprehend Noah’s intentions.
Ser himself could also kill a master if he wanted to.
But considering the upcoming battle with Brunhilde, subduing them was the better choice.
Of course, Noah must have a plan.
No.
Maybe.
Maybe not…
“…Noah.”
With his long black hair swaying down to his waist, his red eyes turned towards Ser.
Completely different from moments ago.
Noah’s usual clueless gaze and foolish expression.
“Ha.”
As soon as he confirmed that Rubia was fine, Noah returned to his usual self, causing Ser to chuckle.
And felt a bit relieved.
Because it was the Noah he knew.
He didn’t break under the trial.
And ultimately, he returned alive.
“Ahem… it’s been a while.”
Ser wanted to ask how they would face Brunhilde. But instead, he thought welcoming Noah took precedence and relaxed his stiff expression.
“…Indeed.”
“It seems like you’ve changed a lot in a year.”
“Eh… really?”
Fidgeting, Noah repeatedly opened and closed his small palm, cocking his head and smiling awkwardly.
“I… I guess it seems like it a little…?”
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re back. Did you complete your trial well?”
“Umm…”
Receiving Ser’s concerned gaze, Noah replied.
“…Yes. I finished everything.”
With an indifferent smile, he removed the bracelet from Rubia’s arm and placed it on his wrist.
At that moment.
[You little piece of shit!!!]
“Eek?!”
[It took so long!!! I thought you were dead… thought… dead, damn it…]
Suddenly, a disheveled-haired, haggard-faced Cartia popped out and clung to Noah.
“Uh… Hehe… long time no see…”
[Hehe? Hehe?! Are you laughing now?! Huh?! You little shit…]
“Don’t cry, you’re a grown-up now…”
[Ugh… damn it… if I had such a past, you should’ve told me… damn it…]
“…Past? How would Cartia know about that…?”
[I know because I saw it!! Waaah…]
“Wait, you saw…? How…?”
Noah’s face contorted more and more.
As he observed this, Ser cocked his head and chose his words carefully.
“So, the reason Lady Rubia fell asleep was that she entered Noah’s trial along with her soul?”
[…Yeah. Ugh…]
“…Huh?”
Noah’s head creaked like a broken doll as it turned towards Ser.
“W-what do you mean… m-m-mmm… what does that mean?”
“Literally. Lady Rubia entered Noah’s trial. Given that, she must have watched everything in your trial. Why do you have that expression? Is there a problem?”
Soon, Noah’s pale face dropped weakly.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed about your past being discovered. Lady Rubia would love all of Noah’s embarrassing moments. Or, did you cheat on her during the trial?”
Noah’s small shoulders trembled violently at that reaction.
Ser also trembled slightly in response.
“…Cheat on her…?”
“W-wasn’t…”
Suddenly.
Crash-!
A rough sound erupted from the battlefield where the five challengers were fighting.
“Cheating… cheating? Huh… I think I should go over there. Noah, you rest here. Since it has come to this, I’ll kill them all, so it should end soon.”
“N-no. I’ll go. Just watch over Rubia and take care of Bald Uncle.”
Ser.
Noah’s voice, calling him by just his name without honorifics, made Ser flinch for a moment, but he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Hmm, aren’t you still not accustomed? I think you’re at a much higher level compared to before. If you misjudge your power and kill an ally, it’ll be a big incident.”
Noah immediately stood up, carefully laying Rubia’s body as the wind swayed, shaking his head.
“They came to take Rubia, right? Plus, with Heinzel Uncle like this…”
“That’s… true.”
“So I will go. Just take care of Rubia.”
Ser, seeing Noah’s determined expression, slowly opened his mouth.
“Brunhilde’s summoning ritual is underway across all of Cartia.”
“Yeah… I know.”
“If she absorbs a high-ranked soul, the summoning of Brunhilde will be faster than before, and her abilities will rise dramatically.”
“Yes.”
Slowly, Noah’s gaze turned skyward.
Then, with his indifferent smile returning, he spoke.
“Still, I will kill everyone who tried to harm Rubia.”
Even if the world were to end.
Absolutely.
The words Noah muttered were swept away by the winds of devastation.
But to Ser’s ears, they rang clear.
“Is that so? Then, I understand.”
Nodding heavily, Ser draped his robe over Rubia’s body and sat down with a thud.
“Go and win decisively. I’ll rest here for a bit.”
Noah’s expressionless red eyes slid down, scanning Rubia’s face.
As if he had seen her face.
He stared intently.
“Can you see now?”
“Uhm… I can’t see. It’s just… it feels strange to have them closed now. Hehe… then, I’ll be off.”
Life began to flicker in Noah’s once indifferent eyes.
At that moment, the limp Cartia perked up and shouted with gleaming eyes.
[Yes! Let’s go, Noahmon!! Million Volts!!]
“Ugh… wh-where did that come from…”
[I saw it on TV!]
Hearing Cartia’s words, Noah looked back and forth between Ser and Cartia and hesitated to speak.
“…Noahmon is… D-Digimon, and million volts are… P-Pokémon…”
[Oh, really? Come on, it’s the same thing. Anyway, let’s go!]
“B-but that’s totally different…”
Grumble grumble.
Noah was earnestly explaining the absurdities of Pikachu and Agumon with gestures, but he blushed at Ser’s question.
“What… what’s Pikachu?”
“Eek… ah, never mind. Anyway, I’ll be off.”
Hastily cutting off Ser’s question, Noah hurriedly turned around.
“W-wait a moment… Noah.”
“Yes…? ”
Noah, still flushed, turned towards Ser.
“…C-can I just call you Noah, without the ‘-nim’?”
Noah, cocking her head at Ser’s question, smiled like she was reminiscing about a past she couldn’t visit again.
“Of course. We’re friends, after all. Hehe…”
“Friends… understood. Be careful and come back safe.”
Noah.
Ser’s voice, carried by the wind, tickled Noah’s ears.
At that sensation, Noah giggled and waved her hand gently as she took off.
*
[So, do you have a plan?]
It was as if he’d never been serious.
Quietly, Cartia turned earnest and asked me.
“What plan…?”
[What you’re going to do next.]
The future… what is there to it.
“I’m going to kill all the masters, kill all the Monsters of the End, kill Jong-eon, and save Rubia.”
[Not that.]
Clap-
“W-well, is that so…?”
[How are you going to handle the fact that you cheated on another Rubia during your trial? Rubia is super angry about it.]
“…Hiccup.”
Imagining an angry Rubia made me hiccup.
At the same time, a massive beast’s maw appeared below me, cracking wide open.
[…How will you resolve that?]
“Umm…”
I stretched my hand forward.
Thump– I grasped the annoying Frey, whom I’d seen a billion times in my trials.
The noisy battlefield quieted down.
The rampaging magical power…
The countless killing auras…
The calm positive killing intent…
All rushed towards me.
The black sun rose.
Dark light descended.
The bizarre magical energy preparing for the summoning of Brunhilde twisted and began to emit horrific magical power.
Standing at the center of all this.
I only thought about slashing through it all.
And so.
As that thought crossed my mind, my body moved.
As my body moved, the result was born.
“C-cute…? Or maybe…”
Screech-
“Should I just wag my tail harder…?”
In a space where even sound could not be heard,
The tail of Carpen, who had popped out in the meantime, swayed softly.
