Chapter 177 : Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Excess

-Yes. ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍With that, you can obtain three things. In exchange, you will have to give up one thing. Are you prepared for that?

There ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been something strange about the thousand-year-old squirrel bastard’s sneering from the beginning.

Three ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍things I could obtain? Other than Jing’s life and the power hidden in the cave, what else was there for me to gain?

Besides, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I was not even the one gaining the power.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍question was resolved before long.

-Kkwek. ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍So in order to return to normal, I have to die once?

-What are you saying, something so bloody! Do you think I would tell you to die this cheerfully?

El, who jumped up and denied it, struck my head with his small fist as if scolding me.

-Kkwek. Then what do I have to give up?

Even with my voice mixed with annoyance, El seemed excited that I was showing interest, and paced back and forth over my shoulder.

-It is simple. The one thing you have not been able to give up until now.

Perhaps he had finally calmed down, because this time the bastard climbed down from my shoulder and settled on my hand.

When I glared at him to hurry up and answer instead of dragging it out, El grinned and opened his mouth.

-Your freedom......

-Kkwek. I refuse.

When I rejected him at once, the smile that had never left his mouth finally faded a little.

-No, why are you refusing without even hearing me out?

-Kkwek. Hearing that first word was enough.

-You only heard one word! This is not something you should judge so hastily!

He had a lot to say for someone who, no matter who heard it, had just brought up something like a slave contract.

-Kkwek. If you’re going to scam someone, you should at least show the sincerity of trying not to look like it. Kkwek. You openly nailed it down as a slave contract, so what is there to judge?

-Who told you to become a slave? What I meant was that you can no longer run away!

That is the same thing.

It did not seem worth listening any further to a bastard who so confidently spouted bullshit.

When I turned around, thinking I would first have to figure out how to get out on my own, the bastard hurriedly grabbed me.

-Did I not tell you? There are three things you can gain as well! If you want to have what you desire, it is only natural that a price equal to it is required.

-Kkwek. And what do you know about what I want?

-You dislike the master of the prophecy committing killings he does not want, do you not?

-Kkwek. Don’t make me laugh. Kkwek. Do you have any idea how many more times that will happen to him in the future?

As long as he had shouldered a heavy burden, unwanted deaths were things he would experience any number of times from now on.

I was not the bastard’s father, so I could not stop every one of them for him, nor did I have a duty to.

-Your words are right. Since he was born as the child of prophecy, he will kill as many as he saves.

El obediently acknowledged it, but judging by that arrogant expression, he had clearly not given up on persuading me.

-Kkwek. If you know that, then stop trying your tricks and......

-But if you join hands with me, an entirely different result may come out this time.

My words were cut off, but I did not feel offended.

Because I noticed that between the interest and mischief filling that thousand-year-old squirrel bastard’s eyes, there was a seriousness he could not hide.

And that I had already been half won over by it.

***

In the end, perhaps I was only being played by that thousand-year-old squirrel.

But this time, I could not take back my choice either.

He was not exactly reliable, but still, the bastard was a madman who would even give up his life for the prophecy and Ratel, so I had no choice but to trust him once.

It was the moment I tried to raise the sword with my trembling hand.

“This is exactly why I can’t trust you. Every time I trust you once, I get hit in the back of the head far too many times.”

A chilling voice came from directly behind me.

The feeling that the voice was far too close for someone speaking from outside the mist was not my imagination.

Because a hand that suddenly appeared from behind grabbed Sierra’s Sword.

“What? How did you get in?”

I spat it out in confusion, but a part of me also accepted this unexpected action from Ratel.

Because the protagonist always stepped outside common sense.

Even so, the fact that the squirrel bastard’s credit had dropped by about two grades did not change.

“I had to go through some trouble thanks to you. Smashing something I couldn’t even identify.”

But right now, I had no time to waste blaming the bastard.

Because the firmly heated protagonist was glaring at me as if he would kill me at any moment.

More and more strength entered the bastard’s hand as he held the sword.

Judging that if I lost the holy object here, everything would turn into neither porridge nor rice, I quickly reached out with my other hand and grabbed the blade.

The blade dug into my hand, and blood flowed out.

At my determination not to let the holy object be taken no matter what, the bastard’s eyes took on an even more murderous light.

“You should know this isn’t something that can be solved just because you use your head. Making sure you can’t do anything is easy.”

Ratel, who muttered while grinding his teeth, grabbed me by the collar at once and lifted me as he was.

Just as the bastard had said, once my legs left the floor, there was nothing I could do, holy object or not.

“What are you scheming again? Why are you suddenly trying to cut off the orc’s neck?”

The bastard asked as he watched me cough and choke in order to breathe.

“Shouldn’t you be grateful to me? I’m trying to do the troublesome thing for you.”

I regretted it the moment I barely forced out the words.

Because more strength entered the bastard’s hand, making it even harder to breathe.

“Don’t interfere carelessly. This is something I have to do. You were the one who said killing that bastard was the way I could increase my power.”

Of course I knew that.

I also knew that he had already once shown he was not pleased about cutting off the leader’s neck.

You already chose leaving the leader behind over power.

Unfortunately, I knew the bastard well.

I knew that this damned protagonist bastard might look prematurely old, but he was only seventeen, that he had never killed anyone without a purpose, and that, in truth, such things did not suit his nature.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret. Just leave this to me.”

A sneer entered the eyes of the bastard glaring at me as I blocked him.

“If I were going to regret something like this, I wouldn’t have thought of surviving from the beginning.”

“No. You’ll regret it. Because you’re that kind of bastard.”

As if my unwavering answer got on his nerves, the bastard lifted me by the collar.

“What do you know about me running your mouth like that?”

“More than you think, probably.”

Hah. A cynical laugh caught Ratel's mouth.

“Right. You said you know at least that I’m not a good person. Then you should know this too. Killing one or two orcs means nothing to me.”

I looked steadily into the bastard’s quietly flashing eyes.

This time, there was no need to work hard to keep a lie from being exposed.

Because this was a truth I had read countless times over the past fifteen years.

“I know that, in truth, you like saving people more than taking revenge.”

The bastard’s eyes sank coldly.

“Don’t assume things as you please. I......”

“Then why did you come straight to the tower from the temple in the capital?”

When I cut off his rebuttal and asked, the bastard’s brow furrowed.

“What?”

Unlike his fierce face, the hand that lost a little strength honestly revealed the bastard’s bewilderment.

It was still an ignorant grip, but it became a little easier to breathe.

I did not miss the moment my airway opened and continued speaking.

“You didn’t go to the temple to attack the priests, and you didn’t attack the other Imperial Family members staying there. You came straight to the tower.”

The place where the priests and Imperial Family members he so hated were gathered was not the secluded tower the bastard had come to, but the temple.

Whichever way he went, it would have been a reckless choice, but if he had prioritized revenge, the place he should have gone was not the tower, but the temple.

Nevertheless, Ratel climbed the tower without hesitation.

“Because you knew the children in the tower would die.”

The protagonist of the novel I read was that kind of bastard.

No matter how unlucky he was, no matter what wicked things he said, even if his grudge-holding was so long it nearly tripped over his feet, his choices always turned toward saving lives.

It seemed he himself was under the age-appropriate delusion that he was a monster who would do anything for revenge.

That was why I had followed him.

While Ratel hesitated for a moment, unable to find words, I shook off the bastard’s hand and picked up Sierra’s Sword, which had fallen.

But I was different.

I had lived ten years longer than the bastard, I was duller to emotions than the bastard, and I could confidently say my personality was worse than his.

More than anything, I knew myself well.

Because I had already experienced that things like guilt could be worn away as much as one wanted, as long as enough time passed.

I was that kind of human.

A human different from the protagonist or hero of a novel.

But there were also things only a human disqualified from being a protagonist could do.

I could not become a righteous hero, but even I had things I could do.

Just sending the leader away without pain was enough for me to live without much guilt.

The hand that gripped the sword again to cut off the leader’s neck failed to achieve its original purpose this time too.

Because Ratel, who had calmed his agitation, grabbed my arm again.

Yes, he really was faithfully persistent to an almost impressive degree.

The bastard’s mouth opened and closed as if he had something to say.

“You too...... You’re the same, aren’t you?”

Both the bastard and I knew that the words squeezed out without several sentence structures did not hold much meaning.

Even so, it did not feel too bad.

At any rate, the protagonist of the novel was evaluating me as a good person.

The problem, if there was one, was that it was not purely an emotion directed only at me.

I lowered the corners of my mouth as they tried to rise and looked at Ratel.

I knew well who the bastard’s eyes, filled with confusion, were seeing through me.

Unfortunately, I had neither the desire to keep watching the bastard’s confusion any longer nor the leisure to listen further.

Feeling the bastard’s grip, tight enough to hurt, I chose once again to be cowardly.

“Ratel, I’m not your brother.”

In that instant, the bastard’s eyes widened.

This time too, unable to control the emotions he had been habitually suppressing, small droplets of light bloomed one by one around him.

This time, I did not bother avoiding the small floating bodies that drifted without direction.

POP!

A sharp sound of air breaking rang from the arm that collided with a droplet of light, and a shallow wound appeared.

The startled bastard relaxed the strength in the hand holding me.

See? A bastard who restrains his emotions every time because he hates it when things like this happen is saying what?

I shook off the bastard’s weakened hand with all my strength.

Then I raised Sierra’s Sword high.

I could not make a mistake.

Because at least cutting off the leader’s neck in one blow was the final mercy I could offer.

I brought the sword down toward the leader’s neck as it was.

Slice.

The sensation of bone and flesh parting traveled up my hand and struck my brain.

Because of that, I could not tell whether everything around me was moving slowly, or whether it was because of the momentary shock.

Nor could I tell whether the leader’s body and neck truly separated slowly, or whether it was merely an illusion created by my uncomfortable heart.

***

-Are you truly sane?

At a voice worrying about someone’s mental state, I opened my eyes.

What? Did I pass out again this time?

I did not even feel any sign that I was about to lose consciousness this time.

At the bewilderingly sudden change in space, even though I had opened my eyes, I felt as if half my mind was still gone.

No, where is this?

It was a place where I could find no information besides the fact that I was inside a building.

The long corridor did not have a single window, so I could not even tell whether this place was aboveground or underground.

That meant the only thing I could use as a guide was the quiet voice traveling along the corridor.

-I am always sane.

Following another voice answering the voice that had woken me, I moved my feet.

Even as I walked while muffling my footsteps, the conversation between the two continued.

-They do not want to live with humans. That too is merely included in the contract.

-So, you don’t know that if you borrow the orcs’ hands, you’ll have to pay an equivalent price?

-Then, have I ever made a promise I could not keep?

By the time the calm voice asked, I had finally reached the small room at the end of the corridor.

-......Not even once.

The answer of someone whose momentum had somewhat died down flowed out through the small gap in the door.

-Still, this is different from your usual trivial promises. This is a contract. You know too that if it is not properly kept, it will not simply end there.

But the voice, unable to shake off his worry until the end, continued speaking.

-I know that better than anyone in this world. That is why the preparations are perfect. So there is no need to worry about me.

-Who says I’m worried about a bastard like you?

Someone answered grumblingly to the even voice that held not a trace of tension.

-Everything will go well. The plan is perfect.

As if it was not rare for him to be this cocky, the owner of the voice that had been hounding me until now continued speaking.

The words, full of certainty, did not feel arrogant.

Perhaps it was because his tone was dry.

I brought my face to the small crack in the door to confirm the two people speaking.

The gap was too narrow to see clearly, but it was certain that there were two people inside.

Both of them had their robes pulled low over their heads.

Since neither of the two had noticed me even after I came this close, it seemed I could continue peeking a little longer.

It was the moment I was wondering whether I should widen the gap in the door a little more.

-Who is there!!

A thunderous scolding rang out, and one of the two reached his hand toward the door.

Sharp flames flew along his hand, aiming for my eyes.

With my eyes on the verge of being seared by the flames, I closed them.