101 100. Four people on different paths.txt (1/2)

The night of the banquet is over, and the next morning we use the Connection to return to the Allied countries.

It was finally the day before the ”Dance Competition”.

There are many things to deal with, but I said I had an important matter to attend to and slipped out of the Epic Seeker headquarters on my own.

We moved to an empty suburban lot and I did what I decided to do yesterday.

Can you break it ......?

I take out the straight sword of Crescent Pectrazuli from my possessions and press the blade against the bracelet.

This is the same sword that sliced through even that crystal golem. I'm sure that no matter what minerals are used in the bracelet, it should be able to cut them down.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with this one.

--I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

It's not that the sharpness of the Crescent Pectrazuli's straight sword is inferior to the hardness of the bracelet. Simply because I, who is handling the sword, was relaxing right before I was about to cut the bracelet.

The body relaxes on its own, regardless of its will.

I clicked my tongue and reapplied my strength again.

''--!

The bracelet won't get a scratch.

How many times do you repeat it? The bracelet remains intact, as if cursed, and continues to exist there.

On the contrary, I can feel my health deteriorating as I try to break it forcibly.

Nausea and fatigue hit me as if to rob me of my ability to resist.

Yes, like a 'curse'.

'd*mn, I knew it: ......'

As I had guessed, the shock is great.

Until recently, I was optimistic that I could break the bracelet anytime I wanted to. However, the reality is the opposite.

Even if you are determined, you can't damage it even by a single scratch.

...... It's inevitable. Next.

I changed my mind and moved on.

Thanks to last night's contemplation, I was ready for this case.

I return to the Epic Seeker at a fast pace and enter the labyrinth from the Connection in the office without anyone noticing me.

I moved to the 10th level and searched for monsters at the 11th level.

It doesn't matter which one, as long as it has a reasonable attack power.

I walked around, driven by frustration.

I find an easy-to-handle monster that looks like a gorilla, and I approach it with my empty hands.

The monster that found its prey attacked me with a roar.

”--Magic [Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradient)]

He grasps every movement in space and stays there with a strong will.

And against the monster's strong arm, trying to defend against the monster's strong arm with the 'bracelet' - and

--The next moment, the monster was sliced in half.

I was dripping with cold sweat as I watched the monster turn into light and disappear.

My sword was in my hand.

I know.

I can grasp it with the 《Dimension》.

I can remember the process.

Just before I defended myself with the 《Armbandle》, I was struck by an unidentified emotion and slashed the enemy at the same time as I pulled the sword out of my possession. That's all.

''Can't you just let the monster destroy it?''

I shudder at the fact that I was confronted with it.

Then I analyze the unidentified emotion I just felt.

At that moment, I was feeling fear.

Fear' of losing something very important. Fear of losing something very important, and anger at the enemy for trying to take it away. Fear and anger” drives me to unconsciously slaughter the enemy that tries to break the bracelet.

I understand that.

I understand that, but the reason for that emotion is too unclear.

With this, it's as if this ”bracelet” is just as important to me as it is to my sister.

But I am convinced that there is no one I can stand beside my sister. That much I can assure you.

In other words, this is definitely an emotional play on my emotions, regardless of my intentions.

As soon as I finish my analysis, a stagnant emotion arises.

It's exactly the same emotion as the previous 'fear and anger', though of a different kind.

The 'fear and anger' that I'm being played by someone else overflows and doesn't stop.

It reminds me of one of the Reaper's words.

'Don't play with your destiny'.

In a very real sense, I understand those words now.

I never thought it would be so horrible, so annoying to have my will played with.

I made a clenched fist in anger and blood dripped from my palm.

And then I try to hit the 'bangles' with that clenched fist - and deviate. My fist hits the elbow of my arm and transmits the pain throughout my body.

The two kinds of ”fear and anger” blend together to create an uncomfortable chord, bending my will over and over again. Over and over again, I deflect my fist.

When my left arm becomes numb with pain, I break my fist.

Then, with nausea, I walk.

'Again. ....... More ...... this time.

I refocus my resolve.

I won't move, no matter what.

I decide to do so and look for a new monster.

Then I find a few of the same monsters and expose myself to be surrounded by them.

”--Come on!

I shouted and called the monsters to me.

Monsters attack from all sides. I make up my mind that I'm going to take them all on in the flesh. And I try to match the bracelet with one of their attacks.

The monster's powerful arm hits me, as I don't move, directly on the spot.

Directly, directly, directly, directly - but only the last one does not.

The only attack on the ”bracelet” is the one that the body avoids on its own.

''Ugh, ugh--!

No matter how much you hurt your body, your body will always try to protect the ”bracelet” on its own.

It's as if the body moves on its own as if it were protecting something more important than life.

I was struck on the head and my vision flickered. I was slashed in the abdomen and my consciousness faded away. Your limbs don't move well due to the impact. Still, the ”bracelet” is unharmed.

I thought I would die if I didn't, so I had no choice but to cut down the monster that surrounded me.

In the scattered light, I wipe the blood from the wound. I took out a recovery item from my ”possessions” and performed a minimal stop to the bleeding.

'Can't you do this too ......, then ......'

I drag my battered body back to the Epic Seeker from layer 10.

I immediately use Dimension Multiple Deployment (Multiple) to find a competent person who could break my unconscious defenses.

First, I find Snow in my room. However, I wanted to rely on her for the last time, if possible. The insecurity I've been having with her for a long time naturally led me to put it off.

The next thing I found was the Reaper.

The Reaper was in the town's library.

He was rifling through the books with an awfully serious expression on his face. If you look closely, you can see that he is reading multiple books spread out. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on some of these books.

The books I examine are all magic-related.

Maybe the Reaper is trying to figure out how to follow his body.

The Reaper's combat prowess is high. However, I can say that the victory against me is zero. There's a high possibility that they've set up an art form that can't attack me, who is currently a surgeon. In the first place, there is also the fact that it is simply nullified, like when I fought at the 30th layer. It's not suitable for 'bracelet' destruction.

Expanding the magic further, I find Rowen next.

Rowen was strolling around the city. I quickly made contact with him as he walked through the city and took him out to the first clearing.

''--Lowen, can you break this 'bracelet'?

And I asked frankly.

Rowen heard my words, then looked at me and seemed to understand everything.

His face contorts as he understands.

'The 'bangles' at ......?　Why ....... Why now, at this time, ......?

Why?　I finally realized that I shouldn't allow ...... to be false. The Reaper taught me that.

The Reaper?

Rowen was surprised to hear a name she hadn't thought of.

'So I think I'll break the chains. It's about too late for everything. ......

I tell Rowen of my unadorned intentions as a friend.

But his face is dark when he hears this.

It was very dark.

'I'm sorry, but I can't ...... it. It can't be done.

Rowen turns away and refuses my request.

'So, can't you do it ......?'

I would ask the reason for this with my eyes.

'After sensing Kanami's mental and physical disagreement, I went to find out what was going on from Rail Senks ....... Probably hearing more about the situation than Kanami: ......

I'm surprised by that fact.

But I also sense that Rowen is spewing that fact out as a friend without lying.

He doesn't embellish his words, just as I didn't embellish mine.

'After listening, I made my decision. I'd better not take off Kanami's 'bracelet'.

And clearly, Rowen tells me his intentions.

'I agree with Rail Senks. I think Kanami would be better off if she didn't get her memories back. She's much happier that way. --everyone's happy (・・・・・・).

I listen to Rowen's answer and frown.

But I still believe Rowen, who speaks from the heart, and I try to convince her that I mean it.

Even if you're happy, there are things you're not allowed to do. I don't want to be happy, because I don't want to be covered in lies. I don't have any memories, but I know I'm angry at the past. So I'll bring it back. --I have to.

But the persuasion doesn't work.

''Nah, no. If you take off that 'bracelet', there is a good chance that Kanami will stop trying to fulfill my wishes. There is a good chance that she won't be able to focus on me. That's why I won't help you remove it. --I don't want to.

He sounded weak, which was unusual for Rowen.

She seemed ashamed that she was shaking her head for her own reasons.

''No, I'm not!　I'm going to help you fulfill Rowen's Unfinished Business!　If my memory comes back, I swear!

'That's something Kanami, who hasn't gotten her memory back, doesn't know. I don't know what will happen if my memories return. Then I'll choose Kanami as he is now: ......!

'It was Rowen who said my mind and body were falling apart!　Does Rowen really think I'd be better off in pieces like that!

I don't think that's--

Rowen stammered.

It's clear from the way she looks at it that she doesn't really want things to stay the way they are. But even so, I know that there is something about her that I cannot give up.

I lean forward to question him further. But it's interrupted by Rowen.

''- I'm sorry, Kanami. Please wait until the end of the 'dance tournament'.

Wha-......!

Rowen is aware that she is saying things that don't make sense.

Nevertheless, she still tries to get her own wishes across. Hence, along with an apology, he summed it up in brief words.

''In every sense, the 'dancing tournament' is too convenient. If you go there, you can be sure. I have a feeling that by surpassing Kanami, I can become a 'hero' --And if you keep the ring on, you can be sure that Kanami will fight me to find out everything. That's why I can't break the 'bangles': ......

And then Rowen spits out her hopes and plans.

I'll see that there's nothing false there.

”Rowen, do you want to be a 'hero' that badly ......?

'Yeah, that's my dream. All my life, ever since I was a kid, that's all I've ever wished for. Yeah, for a thousand years and always, always. ......!

Loewen spins the words as if she were being chased by something.

She keeps spinning them, and at the end of the day, she screams.

'To give that up would be to betray your life. If I don't fulfill the longing of the House of Alais, I'll never know what it means to be born!

The screaming Rowen looked pained.

She couldn't even smile as strong as me or the Reaper, her face contorted into a smile.

I can somehow understand the difference between the two.

Me and Reaper can accept that we're 'wishing for the wrong thing', so we can reach for our 'true wishes'.

But that's not possible for Rowen.

Because I can't accept that I'm wishing for the wrong thing, I can't reach my true wish.

Her appearance is similar to mine a little while ago.

'With such a painful look on your face, how can you get rid of your regrets ....... I'm sure being a 'hero' won't save Rowen. ...... It's something else that will save Rowen. Even I can see that much now: ......

'Yeah, you may be right: ....... But I can't not. I remembered (・・・・・・・・・) (...). That's the fate of a legitimate son born into the House of Alais ...... and that I was born to be a 'hero' .......

But even if it got through, it wouldn't reach.

Rowen shook her head quietly.

With that, me and Rowen moved away from each other for the last time.

We're so close, but we've become unreachable.

He understands that, and speaks without hesitation.

...... It's already the day before the 'dance competition'. The ”Epic Seeker” has received an announcement. I heard that the contestants have to go to the mobile giant theater 'Vualhura' today.

.......

I think.

I'd rather have everything decided right here and now. If I only thought of myself, I could also defeat the 30th layer guardian (Lowen Alais) here and ask Rail-san to return my memories to me.

However, I didn't want to take the 'given path' of dealing with Palinclone.

I choose to do what Rowen wanted and have it all decided in the 'Dancing Tournament'.

I'll head to V'alfoura first. I'll see you at the tournament, Kanami. ...... and it will all be settled.

'Okay ....... Have a good day .......

Rowen is leaving.

His back wasn't as weak as it was one day.

He was like a light before the wind, but before he knew it, he was clothed with a thick magical power.

With the ”Dance Tournament” just around the corner, Rowen had regained a certain amount of ”regrets”.

The true nature of this 'regret' is probably not the 'glory' that he is talking about.

Surely neither 'Hero' nor 'Glory' would help Rowen.

Although I had a hint of this, I was convinced of it after yesterday's dragon slaying.

Still, Rowen would continue to hope.

The man called Rowen Alais is too kind. Hence, he would reach out for someone else's wishes, even if it was not him.

Whether it was for the Alais family, for someone he knew before he was born, or for some promise he had made to them, he didn't know. However, there is no doubt that Rowen is now aiming to get to the top of the 'Dancing Tournament'.

If someone doesn't tell him, Rowen will keep getting it wrong.

And I had a feeling that I was the only one who could teach it.

I felt like that was the duty of someone who had reached the 30th layer.

But honestly - I don't have that much time to spare right now.

If I don't solve my own problems first, I won't be able to talk about it with confidence. I've lost so many memories and I can't even realize what's important to me, there's no way I can lead anyone down the right path.

Quickly ......!

I hasten to destroy my ”bracelet” for Rowen's sake.

I unfold the 《Dimension》 and capture the person I've been putting off.

I'm worried, but it's no longer an option.

I don't know anyone else who can destroy my bracelet.

I walk to a room in ”Epic Seeker” to meet Snow.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

Ehehe. ......

When I visit Snow's room, she welcomes me happily.

She prepares tea in an unaccustomed manner and keeps an eye on my mood.

Throughout, Snow's smile never wavers.

But the words of the night of the ball make it seem funny. Snow is flirting with me because she wants to ”make it easy”. Once I understood that, my heart was growing cold.

Snow looked for a topic of conversation and showed me various scarves he had knitted before.

He also took out other knitting and sewing tools and talked to me so that we could share our hobbies.

But now is not the time to do that.