Chapter 95

There was no sound coming out of the flute that the demonic youth was blowing into .

Even so, Amelia-sama once again told Akira-sama to run .

I was going to run away as she said, but I realized that my legs were not moving .

Perhaps it was the result of prolonged exposure to Aulum’s magic power, but my body was weakened and wouldn’t move .

I see, is this what it feels like for a frog to be eyed by a snake, I thought in admiration, though inappropriate .

「The demons are a race that enslaves and manipulates monsters . Monsters that haven’t been enslaved are at my beck and call . 」

There were monsters pouring out from the wall of the dungeon .

It was not tens or hundreds .

It was an army of, perhaps, thousands .

This was the first time I’ve entered a dungeon, but I’ve heard stories of them .

There were many traps within dungeons, and there were even things that could truly kill you, and things like that .

Like this, it seemed like we would be crushed by their numbers .

Perhaps it was because I heard those kinds of stories, or maybe it was because there were no direct confrontations with demons, or perhaps it was thanks to Amelia-sama’s warning that the first to break free from the petrification was me .

「『God’s Barrier』reinforcement!!」

What I could do right now was to try and reinforce the barrier .

Perhaps it was because I was not with Akira-sama and the others, I was separated from them by the monsters .

The ugly monsters approached .

Unconsciously, I made a face .

「Noooo!! Please don’t come over here!!」

I took out my short sword and tried to put up a fight, but my opponents were monsters that prowled the lowest floor of the dungeon .

The short sword that I asked the castle’s knights to forge for me didn’t even hurt them .

Akira-sama would most likely be able to easily do it all by himself .

Amelia-sama had Yoru-sama, so she would be fine .

It seems that the monsters that had yet to be enslaved couldn’t be enslaved, so Yoru-sama would protect Amelia-sama .

In other words, I was the one who was the easiest to get rid of . I was a disposable pawn .

Several of them who had actual ability attracted Akira-sama and Yoru-sama’s attention while the others were coming for me .

The monsters that usually kill anyone in front of them indiscriminately were now displaying very intelligent behavior while under the demon’s command, huh .

「Mahiro said that if the Hand of Protection existed, then it would be troublesome in the future, so–I’ll crush you first, ok?」

Before anyone became aware of it, Aulum Trace was innocently smiling on top of a monster that approached me .

Because I had experienced the demon’s huge amount of magic power at point-blank range, my body was trembling, and my limbs became weak .

The short sword slipped out of my hands .

The sound of the sword falling reverberated, and following that, I collapsed onto the dungeon floor .

My eyes wavered a little, but all I could see was my approaching death .

This was a huge crisis with no escape .

Perhaps this was my divine punishment for running all the way to this kind of place because I wanted to warn Amelia-sama even though I was weak .

Like a revolving lantern, my forgotten memories flashed before my eyes .

As if, telling me who sensed death approaching to not forget them .

That’s right .

Even if it was divine punishment, even if everyone thought that my life had no meaning… .

「…even if that were the case, I, can not die here . 」

When those words left my mouth, the sensations in my body returned .

Perhaps, it was because I became somewhat accustomed to his magic power .

With my trembling arms, I raised my upper body .

When I looked around, I found that my treasured staff that I kept by my side even when I wasn’t casting magic had fallen close to me .

It was my partner that was always with me, even when I was riding on top of Yoru-sama who was traveling at such high speeds…even when Akira-sama was strangling me…as well as the moment when my family died .

I took that staff into my hands .

I used it to stand up .

「Nn–? You can still get up? If you had continued to lie down, you would’ve died comfortably . 」

Certainly, death was a type of salvation .

I would be liberated from the fetters of this life .

「Even so, until I meet that person…no, until these feelings have been transmitted, I can not die . 」

While I am envious of Amelia-sama who thought about nothing but Akira-sama, I was also somewhat regretful .

When I separated from that person, did I tell them my feelings?

Was I this desperate?

Did I do anything for that person?

When I thought about it, I was always on the receiving end . This was no different than not doing anything .

Was it around the time when I entered the royal family as an adopted child?

However, it was different when I looked at Akira-sama .

It’s not good to just watch on and feel envious .

I needed to take action .

It was a desire that seemed like it would be extinguished, but when I looked at Akira-sama and Amelia-sama, I understood just how foolish it was .

I was just using that person as a reason to run away .

「I won’t run away anymore . I won’t waver either . I, I…won’t lie anymore . 」

The enormous magic stone on the staff started shining with a blue light .

This staff was something that was made for me by that person himself .

The magic stone was from a monster that was subjugated by that person .

If I had this staff, I wouldn’t be scared of anything .

「I will definitely go and meet that person . 」

Just like how that person healed my revenge-obsessed self, I wanted to do the same for him .

As if responding to my feelings, the magic stone shone more brightly than it ever had before .

「『God’s Inverted Barrier』」

The magic stone became brighter, and my body started glowing as well .

Guessing from the excited voices, Akira-sama, Yoru-sama, and Amelia-sama were probably glowing as well .

This magic was a new barrier that I created from looking through the books that I collected in the royal castle .

Theoretically, it could be implemented, but something was missing, and at that time, I was not successful even once .

However, it seems that what was missing was, my feelings .

I finally did it .

「That’s a technique that the successive generations of the Hand of Protection didn’t have . Fu–n, was this what Mahiro hated? From what I can see, it doesn’t look like it’s changed much, but…maa, if I try attacking it, I’ll understand, huh!」

Aulum Trace gave an order to all the nearby monsters .

「Kill . 」

They all simultaneously turned towards me, and used their fangs, claws and magic to attack me .

I opened my eyes that were filled with determination .

Not overlooking anything .

I did not become terrified nor desperate .

Since I no longer had a reason to be scared .

「Wha…!!?」

Everything was finished in an instant .

I confirmed that Akira-sama and Yoru-sama were similarly enveloped in a light within the barrier .

Amelia-sama was probably behind Yoru-sama .

The light gradually disappeared, and the stupid look on Aulum Trace’s face left quite the impression .