Volume 9 Chapter 55 Death God Vs Demon, Part Five
Noire's strike shattered Kushina's magic 'Side Cost' binding Sebas. Magic power scattered like cherry blossoms.
And Cova, whose soul was severed in two by Sharla, crumbled on the spot.
Physical attacks were pointless. The only option left was to attack the soul.
The Origin Severing, the ultimate sword created by Agni, the first Sword Saint, in the underworld, is the only technique that can directly damage the opponent's soul.
Even for Sharla, it was an impossible strike that required complete concentration and the use of the underworld sword 'Soul Harvest'.
Cova had no physical wounds. He just couldn't move.
Amidst the pain that seemed to consume him, he could only feel his own soul fading away.
"I... hear... nothing..."
Whose voice was the last thing he heard? Sharla has no way of knowing.
He wouldn't go under the god, but vanish for real. Yet, there was no other way to free his soul from the demon (akuma).
Just as she thought for at least some peace...
An unexpected event occurred for both Sharla and Noire.
Black erupted from Cova's body.
The demon, deprived of its host named Cova Liber, went berserk. Black tentacles burst out with such force it seemed like the blood inside was boiling, closing in on Sharla, who was closest.
"――‼"
Sharla, using her sword as a cane, had no time to react.
And then, warm blood splattered on her face.
"...Ah"
Before Sharla stood a man. Just as Sebas had been released from the magic, he intervened to protect Sharla.
The blood on Sharla's cheek was his.
"Why...?"
"I figured I should be of some use, at least at the end. I wouldn't want to be scolded by Mevia-sama."
From the large, black back, a blood-soaked blade was emerging. Sebastian was piercing his own chest with twin swords.
The blood splattered onto Sharla.
"It seems that this demon (akuma) possesses humans. If that's the case, Sebastian, let's go to the underworld together responsibly."
"Even if we don't do that, we..."
While saying it herself, Sharla realized it was impossible. Neither she nor Noire had the strength to fight anymore.
Sebastian turned around and put on his usual smile.
"It's okay, Sharla-sama, Noire-sama. Thank you. With this, my life won't be wasted in vain."
Inside Sebastian's body, the demon raged. His body unnaturally bulged, telling the intensity of the struggle.
Still, Sebastian didn't lose his composure. But his eyes no longer focused on Sharla and the others.
"Mevia-sama, I will never forget the great kindness I received from you. I hope for a future full of happiness."
The guardian of the Saint, who had fulfilled his duty for a long time, fell with a peaceful expression.
There was no longer any trace of the demon.
That was when it happened.
A heavy sound, as if dragging something, shook the ground.
"The gate..."
As they turned around, the tightly closed castle gate was open, as if eagerly awaiting the triumphant return of the victor.
If Cova's story is to be believed, passing through there would lead to the next place.
And surely, Yuusuke would be there.
After witnessing that, Noire's hair color changed from cherry blossom pink to brown.
'Hinata, I... I'm at my limit.'
"Oh, Noire! Are you okay?"
Naturally, Hinata, who had regained control of her body, almost knelt right there.
"What is this..."
Her whole body felt heavy as if the blood had turned into lead. No matter how much she breathed, she couldn't feel any relief. Even when she exerted herself in a marathon, it wasn't like this.
She pushed herself too hard to get Cova within Sharla's reach.
(But if we can just get through that door, it'll be okay. Senpai should be there.)
As she tried to put some spirit into her trembling knees and started to walk, she heard a thud as something fell.
"...Eh?"
When she turned around, Sharla was lying on the cobblestones. The curved sword she had been gripping until her hand bled was rolling away, leaving behind droplets of blood.
"Sharla, are you okay...?"
Even though she called out, there was no response.
With a bad feeling, Hinata approached Sharla.
"Sharla-san! Please, respond!"
As she shook her body, she saw her pale face.
Her slightly open red eyes were looking at an unknown place.
"Sharla-san!"
"...Sorry, I can't move anymore."
"You can't move!?"
Hinata lifted her hand in a panic to check her pulse, only to be shocked.
Her hand was as cold as ice.
It's a feeling of fading, of disappearing life.
A fear unlike anything she had ever experienced choked her with reality.
Trying to escape that suffocating feeling, Hinata wrapped Sharla's arm around her shoulder and forcefully lifted her up.
"What... are you... doing?"
"Someone else might be able to help! So please, just a little longer, hang in there!"
Just one more person.
Normally, Hinata could carry this weight alone, but now it felt incredibly heavy. Her steps were sluggish, and if she let her guard down for even a moment, they might both collapse.
There's a door right in front of them.
Yet it feels so far away.
"How much longer――?"
As if urging on the two, the space around them began to emit a faint light.
"W-What's... happening? Why... why is this?"
"...The space is starting to collapse. We need to get to the door quickly, or it will be too late."
"No way―!?"
How much time do they have left?
The cityscape is breaking apart, turning into light and rising into the sky. The path they're walking on is getting narrower.
But the door is still far away.
"Go."
Sharla's voice echoed in Hinata's ear.
"I'm fine. Go."
"I can't do that!"
They fought together.They lived in the same house, and they fell in love with the same person. She can't just abandon someone like that.
But the harsh reality remains unshaken.
Hinata's legs won't reach the door.
"Noire! Noire, wake up! Can't you hear me? Wake up, Noire!"
She shouted at the sleeping Noire within her, but it was futile. She had already surpassed her limits.
"Either way, I won't be saved. So, go."
"I don't want to!"
Like a stubborn child, Hinata said tearfully.
So Sharla changed her words.
"You want to see Yuusuke, don't you?"
"That's..."
"Go. I've received enough."
Yes.
She thought she'd never see Yuusuke again, but she had. Even if only for a short while, they had spent peaceful days together.
That's all Sharla wanted.
Hinata, who had stopped, bit her lip, wiped away tears, and said,
"I understand."
"Yeah. That's okay."
Hinata slowly lowered Sharla to the ground.
Both of them, convincing themselves that this was for the best.
Hinata gently brushed the hair away from Sharla's face.
"Is there something you want to say as your last words?"
Perhaps that was her way of showing kindness.
Words.
Words.
Thoughts.
Feelings.
What she wanted to convey at the end.
Her wish to reach that person.
“――Yuusuke”
From her bright red eyes, tears overflowed. They flowed endlessly, staining the cobblestones black.
"I..."
What Sharla remember is his face.
His expression.
His voice.
His gaze.
"I..."
And the scarlet girl is always there.
"Just once,"
Yes, just once would be enough.
"I wanted to be your number one――"
The words spilled out with tears, the true feelings of Sharla.
Having lived a long time, even battled against the Demon Lord, the hero sobbed and cried.
There's no way it's okay to be second.
Everyone, anyone wants to be someone's number one.
Actually, she was hoping just a little.
If she could be the first to meet him on this earth, maybe she could be his number one.
Yet in those eyes, there was someone else.
She realized she couldn't stand in the gaze of the one she loved.
Other than crying, there was nothing she could do.
"Sharla-san..."
Looking at Sharla crying like a little child, Hinata looked at the door and thought about something.
After thinking, she slowly sat down next to her.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, I thought about it and I'm tired too, I can't take another step, and if we wait here, I'm sure someone will come to help us again."
"Don't be stupid――go!"
"I won't go."
Hinata firmly refused and embraced the fallen Sharla as if covering her body.
As if to warm her cooling body.
The pain of not being seen as the most important person by the most important person, Hinata also knew well.
Once she heard that, she couldn't just leave it alone.
――I'm sorry, Noire.
Murmuring that in her heart, Hinata closed her eyes.
"Being alone is lonely."
The world was filled with light, gently enveloping the two.
The door that no one had passed through eventually swallowed everything up, and then, disappeared.
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