Volume 1 Chapter 106 The Last Traitor
'Ark... You have managed to gather all the keys.'
Finally, as the keys come together, a solemn voice echoes from the sky.
The voice belongs to Ragius, who finally learns that the battle has come to an end.
'You have successfully overcome the trials I have set for you. Although I intervened to some extent, this is undoubtedly something you have accomplished with your own power.'
What trials?
If Ragius had come in person, it would have ended quickly.
'You are the one we have been longing for all this time. Your unique abilities...'
A shadow takes the form of Ragius and stands upright, facing me.
'Now, I shall release the magic spell I cast upon you.'
As the eyes of the shadow narrow, the fog in my mind clears.
A list of statistics appears in front of me, and the red X marks disappear. At the same time, various emotions that had somehow gone far away, such as anger and sadness, rush back all at once.
"What have I been doing all this time──"
I thought about everything that has happened so far, and it shocked me to realize the truth.
I regained my sanity and trembled as I recognized my actions.
Not only did I annihilate Balzark's party, but I also ended up taking Fatina's life.
"Why did this happen..."
'You weren't subjected to a mental rewrite, but rather a light suggestion to measure your latent abilities. So there won't be any lasting effects. Don't worry about the lifespan you lost. I'll teach you ways to avoid that.'
I only wanted to help the two of them, so why did it end up like this?
'Now, bring the key to the altar. Once that's done, I have something important to discuss with you.'
As if having a will of their own, three keys floated in the air.
"...I don't want to."
'What?'
"You manipulated me to kill Fatina. Not only that, but you also tried to break our promise and take Mel's life."
'Never mind that, just offer the keys to the altar quickly.'
"What!? Are you saying Fatina's death is just that!?"
I suddenly felt really angry. I couldn't control my emotions properly.
"If only this thing didn't exist!"
I threw the key on the ground.
When I first became an adventurer, I really wanted this power from the bottom of my heart. But now, I can't even bring myself to look at it.
I couldn't help but think that my desire for strength and collecting the keys led to Fatina's death.
'What are you doing? Get the key!'
Ragius's shadow started to look strange. It couldn't maintain its sharp or round shape, like a doodle drawn by a child.
"Ragius, I won't let you have your way anymore. I won't go to the altar."
'Have you forgotten the favor I did for you? If I hadn't intervened, you would have been long gone!'
I can't let him do whatever he wants anymore.
I can't defeat Ragius on my own. Rather than being manipulated again, I'll end my life here.
With that determination, I put the blade of my sword against my neck.
'Stop!!'
"Ggh!"
In an instant, Ragius' shadow extended and entangled the sword.
'Stop your foolishness! Hurry to the altar!!'
"Even if it means dying here, I will never obey you."
I placed my hand on my heart. I didn't know what would happen if I used the Instant Death Magic spell on myself, but I couldn't think of a better way.
'O-Okay! I won't force you anymore! Yes! If you want, I'll tell you how to bring back that homunculus girl!'
I immediately knew it was a lie.
He desperately wanted to throw the key into the altar, but I wouldn't fall for it.
I thought to myself, "Serves you right."
I was able to resist even a little, and it filled my heart for a moment. But that feeling was fleeting, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of loss, nearly collapsing on the spot.
"Fatina, I'm sorry..."
Tears overflowed like a dam had burst.
It was hard to face the reality of Fatina's death. But no matter how much I regretted, she would never come back.
I caused the problem.
Without thinking at all, I made a hasty contract with Ragius, and as a result, she died.
My reckless actions killed Fatina.
There was a sound of metal scraping nearby.
I sensed someone and turned to see Mel picking up scattered keys from the ground.
Yes, Mel is still alive.
"...I have to protect her."
It wasn't over yet.
Fatina had been protecting Mel since the beginning of this journey, never backing down from any opponent and supporting us.
I won't let her remains become a monster's meal.
I have to return her to her homeland.
Fatina, you were always amazing. You worked so hard, truly.
But it was just so sad that I couldn't do anything to repay her nobility while she was alive.
Still, I want to protect what she wanted to protect. I hoped that it would be at least a small way to make up for my sins now.
We shouldn't stay here for long. Let's leave with Mel right away.
I looked for Mel.
She was standing in the middle of the square, holding onto the key, just staring at the swirling clouds in the sky.
'Wait! This plan... at this rate... Alba...'
Suddenly Ragius's voice broke off, and his figure crumbled like mud.
The reason was unclear, but the presence had completely disappeared.
"...Let's go back."
After delivering Fatina's remains, I will return to my hometown village.
I'll stop by Trasverum on the way and talk to Leanne about the future.
I tried to think about how to approach Chester and Edward, but nothing came to mind.
From far away, the sound of flapping wings, which seemed to belong to Drake, can be heard.
We have to move away before the monster comes.
"Mel──"
"It's father!"
Mel, who hadn't had much conversation up until now, suddenly shouted loudly and ran towards the back of the square.
The sound of wings flapping in the sky gradually grew louder──and from within the clouds, a completely black figure appeared.
But it wasn't Drake, it was a gigantic black dragon.
A knight dressed in jet-black armor and an elderly man wearing a crown and a red cloak were riding on the dragon's back. And the old man dressed in a yellow robe next to them was floating in mid-air without any support.
"Are you safe?"
The man who got off the black dragon embraced Mel. His appearance seemed like that of a person with high status. Considering the fact that Mel called him "father," there was only one person who fit the description.
"The king, perhaps..."
The one who had ordered adventurers to gather keys and ruled over Cretia.
Why would such an important person appear now?
If they hadn't sensed that we were in the Inferno Pathway, it would have been impossible for them to appear at this timing.
Could it be that we have been under surveillance all this time?
"Darmud"
"Hee hee... As commanded."
An old man placed his thin, bony hand on top of Mel's head.
I didn't know what he was doing, but it felt unsettling.
"Stop it!!"
Just as I was about to run, a dry sound echoed in the square.
Mel slapped the old man's cheek with an open hand.
I hoped that maybe she had regained her sanity.
──But...
"You dare to touch me with those filthy hands?"
"Please forgive me. It was necessary to restore the coherence of your memories... Hee hee hee."
"Today I'm in a good mood, so I'll forgive you. But there won't be a next time."
Her tone was completely different from the Mel I knew.
The gentle yet uneasy gaze she had shown so far had completely changed. Her green eyes now held intimidation and coldness.
"W-what...?"
What on earth happened?
What happened to Mel?
"Thank you so much, Ark. I couldn't have made it here without you."
"Huh?"
"Princess, your attire."
As Mel looked puzzled, the old man reached into her pocket and waved a small stick towards her.
The clothes Mel had been wearing since escaping Voltana instantly transformed into a luxurious crimson dress.
"We finally got the key."
She untied her braided hair, ran her hand through it once, and then smiled at me with narrowed eyes.
"W-what are you saying! You ran away from the castle to stop the king, right!?"
"Yes, that's right. I never expected things to turn out like this, though."
"We came all this way to destroy the key, didn't we!?"
"No, it's the opposite."
"That can't be! Could it be that you've been under some kind of mind control!?"
"No, not that. If it were mind control magic, it would have just been lifted. The situation is not that simple."
I couldn't understand the meaning of her words at all.
"Mel, I don't understand what you're saying at all! Please explain!"
"I did something naughty before and my memories got rewritten, but this is the real me."
──Take the opportunity to eliminate Cretia's daughter. The spellcaster is unknown, but she's under mental manipulation
Ragius definitely said that at that time.
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