I must obliterate Frey’s soul to delay the Nameless One’s emergence.
I didn’t want to know what that meant or the consequences of not doing it.
But I had no choice.
So, with a raging emotion unlike before, the Great Sword swung toward Frey. Yet she perfectly parried it and once again conveyed her voice.
‘This isn’t a choice; it’s a duty. As my adversary, it’s something you must do.’
The Great Sword that reached toward the sky now fell toward my neck. It looked like a guillotine as it descended, covered by an endlessly calm voice.
‘Today is the first time we’ve met. What are you hesitating for? Just do what you’ve always done. Yes, think of me as the Monster of the End—it’ll make it easier.’
I braced my trembling knees. I twisted my entire body. I lifted my head, ready to clash.
The emotions that pressed down on my shoulders felt insurmountable now.
‘I’m going to die anyway. Pathetically. Why hesitate in front of someone like me? Can you at least explain how everything might work out if you obliterate my soul?’
The swords that had been locked together fell apart. Then, a fist surged toward my face, teeth clenched as I twisted at the waist. The punch grazed my bangs, but I pressed forward with my leg. The resilience from my leg shot up through my waist, and with that energy, I swung the Great Sword.
Kaaang- The sword laden with hesitation swung.
That hesitation was brimming with self-loathing.
‘What? You already know?’
Frey’s winding Great Sword effortlessly brushed aside my own, as if my movements were transparent, as if my thoughts were entirely readable. The extraordinarily smooth motion was more than enough to bury my sword into the ground.
‘None of this was satisfactory, but I do like that you’re quick to calculate.’
Just as Frey said.
As soon as I heard her words, the benefits of that choice calculated themselves in my mind.
That decision felt like the closest answer to this moment.
I didn’t want to calculate.
I didn’t want to think.
But my mind, engaged in desperate combat, instinctively calculated everything and reached a conclusion.
‘Well, your master probably knew from the very beginning without needing any calculations.’
Cartia was no exception.
The emotions conveyed by her were identical to what I felt.
‘We, who survived that damn world until the end, always made the right choice toward victory.’
Ka-dak- The endlessly heavy sword and the infinitely light sword clashed. The outcome was obvious. The light sword could not withstand the heavier one. I was crushed under the weight.
‘Am I right? Cartia.’
The voice that painted the past scraped against the swords.
A happy laugh slipped out as I recalled memories, igniting something within me.
‘I understand well how exceptional your apprentice is. But that’s that; this is this. No matter how gifted, they can’t overcome this situation now.’
Because the future had already been decided.
We are not gods who can change a predetermined future.
‘In the first place, it was sheer luck that my soul got out of that damn place to meet you all. Surviving three strikes of lightning—a ridiculous miracle.’
So.
‘Just do as you will. Hold onto that rotten rope. Don’t let go. Cling desperately to achieve what you want. I won’t blame you for anything.’
Hehehe- A laugh similar to earlier echoed.
‘Do I even need to say this? I don’t want to die disgracefully. A thousand years ago, I died pathetically—let’s go out a bit more stylishly this time.’
It’s different.
Sure, it was the same laugh, but it felt entirely different.
Frey’s laughter felt like she was acting as Cartia.
‘The beast dies and leaves its hide behind; the monster dies and leaves behind materials; I die and leave memories in your skull. Isn’t that cool?’
Finally, as the sword swung relentlessly, a firm resolve was etched within.
‘As the Tree of Life said, you can’t freely leave this tapestry. Similarly, you can’t freely enter. Of course, you could if you wager your life, but it won’t be easy. Which means it’s the optimal place, where there’s no interference from anyone.’
Bam- Frey’s leg, thrusting in an offbeat rhythm, kicked my empty body. There was no pain, but my body crashed to the ground, rolling through a flower bed in a disgraceful manner.
Springing up from the ground, I planted the Great Sword to slow my speed and caught my breath.
I centered my awareness, making my posture firm.
A distance opened up that hadn’t existed before.
‘So, let’s wrap this up. You don’t need me to explain how to obliterate a soul, right? If you really don’t know, ask your master—she’ll tell you.’
The distance was far. I’d have to leap a couple of times to barely reach it. It felt as if it was indicating the way I should tread, as if it was speaking the choices I had to make.
But at the same time, it was close.
So close that if I reached out, I could touch it; with a determination, I could shorten the distance in an instant.
The sword felt heavy. The tip trembled. My breaths were unsteady. My body was heavy. My head was spinning. My emotions wouldn’t settle.
And then, a gentle breeze blew through.
‘Noah. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but—’
The warm voice carried by the wind settled on my trembling shoulders, tidying my hair.
‘If it’s too hard, you can lean on me. Or you can take a break for a bit. There’s definitely another way. No, I believe you can create a new path, Noah.’
I expanded my focus, which had been solely on Frey, to all directions.
Rubia was smiling.
She was gentle. She was warm.
‘So, show me. Just like you’ve shown others. Just like you showed this world. Just like you showed me.’
It was irresistibly charming.
‘Show me the path that was so incredible I’d fall for it—your path, Noah.’
My heart pounded as if it were hammering through my whole body.
The rapidly circulating blood helped heat the chilling emotions deep inside me.
A heated breath escaped me.
The trembling of my body began to cease.
I felt the weight of the choices I had to carry on my shoulders.
I felt the weight of the sword in my hand.
I envisioned the sword’s form.
A sword unnecessarily large and heavy.
A sword that was greatly restricted in space and couldn’t be wielded normally.
But because it was large and heavy, it could destroy everything head-on.
That’s why I loved it.
The Great Sword.
A deep smile blossomed on Frey’s face, who was watching from afar.
A faint glimmer of hope overshadowed Cartia’s emotions, which had plunged into despair and fury.
I caught my breath.
I cast away the impure things.
I took a step forward.
I shed my hesitation.
I lifted my head.
I sketched the path I must take.
Simultaneously.
I sensed the existence of something that had felt so close yet so far away.
I touched what I hadn’t been able to conceptualize before.
The adversary.
The existence of the adversary.
What it could do and what it must do.
Why the Nameless One was watching.
Why Lilith created the adversary.
What meaning those three characters held.
I began to understand a little.
I began to comprehend just a bit.
And so.
I—
*
I raised my sword.
What lay at the end was a girl who had reached a heavy decision.
A girl whose appearance reminded me of someone from the past.
“Hehehe…”
Looking at that figure, a bitter laugh escaped me.
I thought I had completely resigned myself.
Thought I had no further regrets after witnessing Cartia bravely move forward in the past.
What was it that made me feel this way?
Was it not being able to untangle the reunion of a long and arduous journey?
Not being able to reach the promise we had made together across the sea?
Not being able to discern the superiority between the Great Sword and the katana?
Or was it the fact that we wouldn’t laugh together from here on out?
Who knows.
No matter what I think of now, what could it change?
It’s an illusion that I can no longer reach.
A futile dream it must be.
Perhaps that’s why I resigned.
Perhaps that’s why I raised the sword.
Perhaps that’s why I didn’t convey the feelings I should.
Perhaps that’s why I wished to die by her sword.
“Hahaha!”
Eventually, the loneliness laced with bitter laughter became a soft chuckle, settling heavily upon the fragrant flower bed.
In contrast, the Great Sword was held high.
I couldn’t show an ugly side to my friend’s apprentice.
I had to maintain my facade of resignation while hiding the faint hope within me.
As I had a thousand years ago, I donned a thick mask to cover my weak inner self.
I discarded the hope held in my hand.
I crushed the beautiful blooming future.
Hehehe—with a sly grin plastered on my face,
I widened my eyes and faced this cruel world.
And then, sawaq—I took a step forward.
Simultaneously, petals breathtakingly bloomed around the girl standing across from me.
The petals dancing in the air brushed against my cheeks.
The petals exuding a fragrant scent dizzied my mind.
Watching this, I recalled the time I jokingly talked about a flower with a ridiculously difficult name with Cartia.
A flower I promised to remember for a lifetime.
Its name?
Gladiolus.
Its meaning?
Prayer.
And victory.
It was a flower I quite liked.
If only for a moment.
If only for a fleeting instant.
I wish to see its scent and visage before my eyes.
*
*
Swish-
Without the slightest twist.
With no trace of reverberation, it seamlessly followed the line above.
A flower, not extravagant but purely pink, bloomed resplendently.
