After the meeting, we all had breakfast and dispersed to do our own things.
Ser mentioned he would finish his research.
Hermila went to help the people.
Rubia set off to heal the injured.
Meanwhile, I was left doing absolutely nothing… turning into a pathetic bum in a corner of the ruined homeland, sitting dismally on a bench that was barely holding its shape.
[Long time no see.]
After about ten minutes of sulking, Cartia quietly sat beside me, giggling hee hee.
“Ah… Cartia!”
[What’s the occasion? Were you bored?]
“A, a little? Hehe…”
I shifted my great sword slightly to make more room for Cartia.
“What are you doing here…? We just had a really important meeting and…”
[I was chatting with these guys.]
“Huh…?”
Cartia pointed to the floating ice fragments and feathers in the air, along with the tail that suddenly sprouted from my butt.
“Can you actually talk to them…?”
[When I’m out here, not really. But in your inner world, it works. I figured it out last time too.]
“In my inner world…? Huh…”
[Yeah. Anyway, I was a bit busy with that. So what was the meeting about?]
Crossing her legs and leaning back on the bench, Cartia was staring intently at the small bag hanging from my waist.
“It was about the subjugation of the Monster of the End… We’re splitting up the subjugation teams.”
I explained the gist of the meeting while I deftly opened the buttons of the bag. Inside were heaps of the jellies Rubia had prepared for me.
The special jelly bag from Ser, with space expansion magic!
I had noticed a peculiar bag around Rubia’s waist for a while, but I never imagined it was for holding jellies.
I occasionally handed jellies to her, but… they all came from this bag.
“Here. You should eat some too, Cartia…”
[What’s this, jelly? You’re carrying a jelly bag now?]
“Rubia… gave it to me as a gift, you know?”
[Ha, what a perfect gift for you.]
Cartia reached out and took the jellies I held in my fist, examining them before popping a bright red rabbit-shaped jelly into her mouth nom.
[So? What did you decide to do?]
“As I said, Rubia, Ser, and I are going to the world’s end…”
I grabbed a handful of jellies from the bag and shoved them into my mouth gulp.
[Hmmm…]
Apple flavor, strawberry flavor, peach flavor, lemon flavor, watermelon flavor.
Ew… why is there a watermelon flavor jelly…?
[So, Brunhilde will only be dealt with by the people here?]
Nodding with my mouth full of jellies, I could only manage a mumble-nod.
[And you suggested the subjugation method?]
gulp-nod-
[You probably got scolded for that.]
I flinched, swallowing hard.
“Huh… how did you know…?”
[It’s obvious. You probably suggested some ridiculous method.]
“It’s not ridiculous…! It’s a strategy filled with great effort and wisdom…?”
[Block and hit, dodge and hit, hit while getting hit?]
“Yeah, and there’s also the super strong strike option!”
Cartia sighed dramatically, looking at me like I was hopeless, then she shoved the jelly in her hand into my mouth snack.
[Given the state of the world, I can’t tell you not to fight, but at least care for the people next to you. You’re too reckless.]
“Still… you know that’s the best way.”
[It’s true for your exceptional instincts. But if you get stronger, those reckless battles will hurt you less.]
Then, she stood up, stretched tall, and grinned smirk.
[So, let’s have a duel. Deal? I’ll teach you a thing or two.]
“A, a duel…? Suddenly?”
[Yeah. You’ve never done it with me, have you?]
“Umm…”
Well, I’m a little… tired right now.
I hadn’t gotten any rest, plus I had to deal with multiple tiring things with Rubia…
“Oh, today’s a bit tiring but tomorrow—”
[Scared?]
thud
“Not that, let’s do it right now.”
Setting down the jelly bag, I tightly gripped the great sword and stood up.
[Bring it, Frey.]
“Ugh… if I swing Frey here, I’ll get scolded—”
[Scared?]
clang—I dropped the great sword on the ground and took out Frey.
“…Come at me.”
Cartia, giggling, also extended her hand and summoned her own version of Frey.
[TEN seconds. I’ll give you a head start.]
Ten seconds… as a head start? What does that mean…?
“You’re just going to stand still for ten seconds…?”
[…No, you dork.]
Cartia, trying to look cool, suddenly contorted her face and slammed Frey into the ground.
[You remember the techniques you learned from Sirin? Those flowing chain attacks.]
“Like the continuous attacks…?”
[Yeah, those. It means you don’t counter for the first ten hits and just defend.]
“Huh… really?”
Cartia nodded and readied Frey again.
[Once. If you even brush my cloak, you win.]
I nodded and repositioned Frey in my grip.
Just as I was about to start, Cartia tilted her head and questioned me.
[Are you really not trying?]
“…I am trying!”
[Fight like you’re killing monsters.]
“How am I supposed to do that to you, Cartia…?”
[Hmm…]
Still shaking her head with dissatisfaction, Cartia then snapped her fingers.
[Oh, right.]
With an idea in mind, she smirked and asked.
[You’ve been getting wet just holding hands with Rubia, haven’t you?]
boing! I lunged at Cartia in an instant, unleashing all my killing intent as I swung Frey.
[AHAHAHA!]
*
“Whew… Hah… Huh…”
thud—Cartia’s sword gently pressed my nose before dissolving into the air.
[Not bad.]
Cartia reached out her hand to me as I sat dazed on the ground, wearing a thoroughly infuriated grin.
[You’re slightly less pathetic than before.]
“What’s that supposed to mean…?”
With Cartia’s firm grip, I managed to stand straight, brushing off the dirt.
My body was a mess covered in dust compared to Cartia, who looked immaculate.
A crushing defeat.
But… what was even more frustrating than this defeat was…
“…Why didn’t you go all out, Cartia?”
Unlike me, she didn’t give it her all.
Throughout our duel, she never once used both hands to wield her sword.
No magical power, no skills, just one hand facing me.
It was infuriating. Annoying. A blow to my pride.
Just a human… right? A monster!
[Come on, chill. One hand is enough for now.]
With a eheh mocking laugh, I brushed off the dust from my clothes.
Only then did the scene around me start to sink in.
The already devastated ruins were now irreparably destroyed, and even the faint magic in the air had completely evaporated due to our duel.
And then…
“W-wait, when did so many people gather…?”
It looked like the entire liberation army had come together in force.
I tried to sense if anyone was injured due to our duel, but thankfully a thick barrier of divine power and electric shields surrounded us.
Perhaps Rubia had healed any injuries that had occurred.
Did I… make a huge nuisance of myself…?
[We were clashing swords for about 30 minutes, so it’s not surprising. Besides, you were fighting like you wanted to kill, right? Even the afterlife can probably hear it.]
Cartia shrugged off the obvious remark while waving at the people far away.
Then the five challengers at the front waved back at the liberation army along with Rubia.
Seeing that, the liberation army, looking somewhat disappointed, scattered in different directions.
“It’s all Cartia’s fault…! For saying strange things…!”
[But it’s the truth.]
“Ugh! Just be quiet…!”
I yanked Cartia’s hand away and secured the great sword hanging by my waist.
[So, how was it? Now that you’ve swung a bit, are you getting used to it?]
wiggle-my fists stretch stretch—
“Um… yeah. Definitely better than before.”
[Didn’t you feel anything during the duel?]
“Feel something…?”
[Like, did you feel a wall while fighting me or a new level of skill? Those sorts of things.]
A wall…? A level?
“Honestly, just the urge to hit Cartia once…”
[Hey, you cocky little brat.]
With rough pats on my head brushing off the last of the dust, Cartia’s figure transformed into a spectral form.
[We’ll duel twice a day. Morning and evening, so make sure to eat enough, or you might throw up.]
Or else, you know?
She giggled while sending me a message through my mind before disappearing.
Then a tail popped out and slid down my thigh swoosh.
Following that, the ice and feathers that appeared in the air flickered around me, pretending to be friendly.
“…Why do you come out late and act all chummy?”
swish– swish—
“Enough… just go away.”
The dejected tail drooped, the dripping ice plop.
The feather that fell to the ground thud.
Feeling these pet-like traits made my head spin.
Why can I be friendly with the Monsters of the End?
Why does Cartia suddenly want to teach me?
Why are the Monsters of the End showing me their hopes and nostalgia?
I have no clue.
Everything is utterly confusing.
I thought overcoming trials and elevating the level of my soul would clarify many things.
But instead, it got more complicated with even more unknowns.
Lost in these thoughts, I arrived at the bench where I left the jelly bag, carefully shaking off the dust and securing it at my waist.
At the same moment, I heard familiar footsteps approaching from a distance.
“Phew…”
Still worried and overwhelmed, my head is still a mess.
But… the path I must take remains clear.
“Didn’t I say to take care? Looks like Noah needs a good talking to.”
“Hehe…”
“I just finished my tasks, want to wash up together and take a little rest?”
Rescuing Rubia.
That is the path I must take.
The goal I need to reach.
The happy ending that will conclude this tale.
“Y-yes…!”
Rubia’s delicate finger slowly intertwined with mine.
“So, if I hold it like this… it gets wet, right?”
“…Huh?”
“Since there are many eyes on us now, we should check it out once we get to our lodgings.”
“Uh…?”
With a mischievous smile creeping across her face, Rubia leaned in closer to my ear.
In a voice that tickled my whole body, she whispered.
“It’s just like me.”
