110 109. West Area Fourth Match.txt (2/2)

As we fight, I'm slowly understanding Snow's emotions. She seems to be jealous of us fighting with the power of more than one person.

'Snow, am I jealous ......?'

Keeping his distance, he asks Snow.

'...... You are always, always protected by someone. Always, always!

Snow builds another vibrational magic as he speaks.

He's trying to refine the magic from earlier, this time with multiple refinements.

Even so, it won't be as good as Dea's magic. Snow is also one of the best wizards in the world, but he is greatly inferior to Dia. So I keep talking to Snow with room to spare.

''Snow, you've been protected by Kanami until now, haven't you ......?

It's not what's been important, it's what's going to be: ....... If you don't protect the future, it's useless .......

Yeah. From now on, hey ....... But Snow isn't weak enough to be protected by anyone in the first place, is she?　If you have that much power, you can handle most things on your own, so why go that far: ......

Implicitly, he urges Kanami to give up.

If words were all I could do to dampen my spirits, it would be the best thing I could do.

'If I could manage on my own, I wouldn't be in this situation ......!　You have no idea how hard it is for a weakling like me to live alone. ...... You, who are pampered by many people, will never understand!

Snow alone ......?

In my memory, she was rarely alone.

She was always guarded by someone from House Walker or the guild.

If there was one, it was when Snow was rumored to have run away from House Walker.

I heard from Glenn about a year or two ago.

'Is that what you're talking about when Snow ran away from the Walker family?

If you know ......, go easy on me.

I don't know the details.

But I feel that this is where Snow's roots are involved, so I continue the conversation.

'No, I'm not going to go easy on you: ....... I don't know the details, and I don't know .......

It's ...... simple. From the beginning, there was no way I could get away with it. Because you can't do anything in the world alone. The Walkers could even send their pursuers after me without me having time to sleep. They can plot for as long as the money lasts. I can't stand by and watch that happen on my own. It's not possible. To endure it all alone while everyone else is dying: ......!

Apparently, he was brought back in a very miserable way when he left in the past.

Predicting the whole story from the edge of my words, I try to convince Snow.

'...... but I don't think we would have known if Snow had continued to resist to the end. If it becomes unprofitable, they'll give up too. If you don't give up until the end, I'm sure--

'How many people do you think will die while you don't give up on that?　Enemies and allies alike are dying, you know?　I'm strong and I'm not going to die. I'm not dying, but ...... the friend who ran away with me, someone who helped me with good intentions, dies easily!　How painful that is: ......!

Then why don't you protect them all with Snow...

'Cause no one else could protect you!　Because no one was protecting me!　I'm here!

In response to Snow's cry, a large number of prepared vibrating magic balls are released.

Even though it's just a magic that could break apart one of the houses with a single shot, a large amount of it runs around the small arena.

--I made a mistake in persuasion.

Apparently, Snow has made a huge mistake that cannot be expressed in words. It seems that easy words had the opposite effect.

''--[Divine Arrow]!　The Divine Wall!

Dia is using sacred magic to offset Snow's vibrational magic. There are some things that can no longer be offset, but that's where Sera has been able to avoid them with her legs.

The ground laid inside the arena was no longer on the verge of collapse.

It had become a rough, rocky terrain, and the gritty dust blocked the view.

Then a snowflake rushed at me, lost in the dust.

I quickly meet him with my sword.

Our swords clash, and it's a clash of swords and a clash of courage.

Snow's face is so close to mine that it almost sticks to me.

She moves her pretty mouth and smiles sneeringly.

'--so (...), please (・・・・・・). Please, please. Give me ”Kanami”, please. The only person who can stay with me is ”Kanami” ....... Kanami” won't die. ...... Rather, he will help me. ...... You have an apostle behind you and a group of citizens who respect you. So please share the 'Kanami' with me ....... Please ....... Ehehehe ......

It wasn't an affectionate smile or a heartfelt laugh - a very half-hearted smile was stuck to Snow's face.

I was dripping with sweat at the unpleasantness of it.

'Nah, what, say ......!

'Let's find a balance. Balance, I'm with 'Kanami'. You're alone with the Apostle. It's just right, right?　Lady Rastiara and Sis are both very strong and shining. Everyone loves them. Isn't that enough?　So ......, 'Kanami' to me--

It's a ridiculous theory.

However, Snow is seriously proposing it.

''--【Flame Arrow】!

However, in the middle of the process, a flash of light pierced Snow's side and she was blown away.

'If you've been listening earlier, you b*tc*--!

It seems that Dea has unleashed her magic.

I had included in advance to tell her to avoid talking to Snow as much as possible, but she finally seemed to have reached her limit. Maybe it was an unreasonable order for the belligerent Dea.

''Don't be silly!　You don't deserve Christ to live with such random thoughts!　If you want Christ, get the strength you deserve!

He said, ”...... Our Deer absolutely hates it. Hmmm, maybe I don't like it either.

I tell Snow, who is blown away, my answer as well.

In the dust, Snow wavers and stands up, her red dragon eyes glowing.

'I'm asking so much, why ....... Why ......?'

Snow wonders.

He doesn't seem to understand why his proposal has been rejected.

Then, after a moment of wondering, he walks up to me with a wobbly step. Spitting out words like a curse--

”--then I'll kill him. I'll kill him and get 'Kanami' back.

Everything that had been mended has been stripped away and is no longer respectful.

Snow's heart is now the language.

It resonates with me many times more than the obsequious honorifics of the past.

'I've been listening to the sound of 'Kanami' for the last few days. You've been making me listen to it all the time.

I can tell by the way he looks at me that he no longer intends to negotiate with me.

Along with the piercing killing power, Snow's magic power also transforms. The surging magic power becomes sticky and is trying to cling to me everywhere.

”I hate you people who are trying to turn 'Kanami' back into 'Christ'. I hate you.

The wings on his back expand as his 'dragonization' progresses. The wind grew stronger, and the shattered ground trembled.

Now Snow is determined to kill us for real.

''Even if we die here, it's an accident. It's a common occurrence in the ”Dancing Tournament” ....... You guys are not needed in my world ....... Here, I'm going to cut off everything in Kanami's past ......!

It's not a conversation anymore.

It's a one-sided Snow pronouncement.

Snow's killing intent stings my skin.

There is no longer any room for negotiation - it looks like there is no longer any room for negotiation.

''--Rastiara!　No more!

Dia behind me asks for permission to use magic at all costs. Probably, Sera, who has been 'beastified', would have the same opinion.

''I'm almost there!　Let me do just a little more, Dear, Serah!

But I refused to do so.

Because I thought that now was the right time.

Maybe I was reading too much into The Heroic Tale - a dream story.

But I wanted to believe that the clash of true feelings was the key to a solution.

With that in mind, I was about to glare back at Snow - and the next moment, she was swinging her great sword in front of me. The 『Dragon Wind』 exploded at her back, gaining a murderous acceleration.

At the same time, the shockwave that was generated when she moved also hit her.

That kind of secondary stuff is prevented by Dia's magic, but I can only prevent the sword that rides at a terrifying speed.

Sword and sword collide again.

I try to catch it with my swordsmanship technique, but it still can't kill the power. As I lose my stance, Snow's kick is unleashed. He manages to avoid it with the tip of his nose, and cold sweat pops off. But his head jolts even though he should have avoided it. The momentum of the kick became a shockwave that turned into a completely different attack.

More attacks.

Wild sword strikes down, cleave and cut up.

Occasionally, blows and grabbing techniques would be mixed in.

While dodging it with a paperweight, he chooses words instead of swords to counterattack.

''--Snow!　Regardless of whether Kanami's memory comes back, or if he calls himself Christ, Kanami is Kanami!　Snow is smart enough to know that!　Still, why don't you accept that you were Christ!

Change the way you persuade her.

Kanami wanted Snow to be independent, so I had chosen to persuade her to go along with that, but I knew that she would definitely not be convinced by that method.

This girl is a protected person to the core.

Snow needs to be pampered or she won't stop.

There's no way she'll listen to harsh words.

I continue to throw words at Snow as she attacks me.

''--That means you're aware that if Kanami's memories return, she won't choose you!

Hearing my words, Snow's expression grows tense.

As I expected, there is no indication that he is listening in at all.

''If Snow wins here, I don't think Kanami will remember anything until the ...... end of his life, having lived a life of running away from the past!　Do you really think that nothing will happen all the time!　No, it's not!　Someday, I'm sure my memory will return!

'No!　I don't want to hear this!　Still, if only I could make him my own--!

Snow is furious.

It's on schedule.

The basics of persuasion--

”Drop and lift. My Lord.

-- and I was taught once.

They say the hand that rescues you looks brighter after you despair. The guy's humanity sucks, but ...... is why I've never been wrong about this kind of s*xist teaching only.

'What Snow is trying to do is a stopgap!　You're stupidly trying to protect an illusion that's bound to be broken one day!

But I can only be happy in that illusion ......!　I can't be: ......!　So, ah--!

Snow grits his teeth and swings his sword with more force.

I continue to receive it.

There are many gaps in Snow's wild sword. I can counterattack. But I don't attack yet.

''I don't know much about Snow. But from what I've heard, I know that you want to cling to someone stronger than you. If that's the case--!

And, 'If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly'.

I think this was also the knowledge I was taught by Palinclone.

''-- Sacred Magic 《Growth Extended》!

I transform all my magic into sacred magic.

Light floods my body, and the magic of enhancement seeps into my entire body.

Ignoring the recoil and strain on my body, my physical abilities are raised to their limits.

It won't last for long.

But what we need now is not the ability to continue the fight.

This is not a labyrinth, this is the place to fight.

You can put everything on the line in an instant--!

Snow!

RUSTIARA!

At my cry, Snow responds.

With my enhanced strength, I dispelled Snow's sword.

For now, I had the advantage in a power contest.

And I would return blows with blows, and grabs with grabs, and overwhelm them.

Hard swords and hard swords strike each other, and strong arms and strong arms collide.

Their flesh is gouged out of each other's flesh and their bones are cracked.

The clash between the substandard beings was just enough to cut down on each other's lives.

Snow was puzzled by the situation. It's no wonder, since he suddenly countered with a forceful technique when he thought he was dealing with a sophisticated technique.

Taking advantage of the gap, I discard the sword in my hand and grab both of Snow's arms. Then, I hit Snow's forehead with all my strength with a head butt.

''Gah, ah, ......!

Snow's body wobbles with a sudden head butt.

As it is, he hits a full-force flying knee kick to the gut and falls in a tangled heap.

I fold Snow underneath me.

Face to face is close again.

At close range, almost mouth-to-mouth, I declare.

'Well!　I'm strong, aren't I!

----?

Snow is stunned by this sudden declaration.

But he quickly regains his composure and tries to shake me off.

Holding it back with force, I look at Snow and whisper softly.

'...... Hey, Snow. Can't I?

Yeah.

With a huff, Snow's strength falters a bit.

Thank God.

The enhancement by my sacred magic is only temporary. If I was forced to come here, I would have been left out.

I made up my mind that this was the last time I would be able to persuade him, and I chose my words carefully.

Now is the time to pick up the Snow that I dropped.

''--I'll be Snow's 'hero' and save her!

...... Oh, you?　Are you, the present God, a 'hero'?

Snow is stunned again.

'I have severe Heroic Syndrome, unlike Kanami, who's a badass. I'm sure I can help Snow more than Kanami can.

”...... Mm, of course you can't. You are not like that at all. You're too complete as a man-god to be seen as a 'hero'. No one thinks of you as a 'hero'!

Don't worry, don't worry, I'll stop being a human god soon enough. I'm going to become a 'hero' as a mere mortal named Rastiara, so don't worry. And Rastiara's first rescuer will be Snow, the ”hero” Rastiara. See, isn't that all settled?

-What?　Wait, wait, wait, why are you doing this to me?

Snow loses strength from her body.

It's clear that he's confused by the sudden relief.

'Because I liked Snow's screams of grief so much!　The Hero goes well with the unfortunate!　The Hero and the Tragic Heroine go hand in hand!　I think me and Snow would be a great match for each other!

I can feel that my words are reaching Snow.

After all, if you spoil it, Snow will listen to you.

'Yeah, maybe so ....... But I feel like that's not the case. Something is different--

I'm taking you away from the Walker house!　Everything Snow doesn't want to choose, I'll choose for you!　I'll get rid of your pursuers, too!　I can promise safety and freedom to you, Snow!　If anything stands in the way of Snow's dreams, I will destroy them all!　The price is just going to be mine!

Ugh. ......

Snow blushed and turned away.

The quintessential line that saved me sometime ago. It looks like it's working pretty well.

If I can just continue to move Snow from Kanami to me as a dependency, that should solve a lot of things.

'And I can't do that ....... There's no way to do that. That's not a 'real hero (・・・・・)'. First of all, you can't even trust ......!

But Snow refuses.

Although he finds my story fascinating, his emotions don't seem to allow it.

'I have a reason to save Snow!　For the sake of winning the 'Dancing Tournament', for Kanami and Dia, and for the sake of my hobby!

'Why ......?　Why is that: ......?　I-I want Kanami to save me. Kanami, not Lady Rastiara. ...... but why?　Why would I have Kanami--?

Snow's face contorted and shuddered as he continued to deny it.

I even tried to imitate Kanami, following Palinkron's yawning ways, but apparently that wasn't enough.

There is no bond between me and Snow like there once was between me and Kanami. Hence, I can't take one more step.

I don't know what more to say.

I could try, but if I did, either Deah or Snow's life would be in danger. I don't want this to escalate into an all-out battle.

--this is as far as it goes.

It didn't arrive, but it visibly created a gap.

Knowing a new emotion, Snow is lost.

He picks up on that, and this time he concentrates on turning his attention away from the battle.

Now is the time to expose what everyone has noticed but no one has said.

'--Yes. I knew Snow liked Kanami, didn't I?

What?

Snow looked as if he had been told something unexpected, and he completely stopped himself.

Seeing the look on his face, his suspicions were confirmed.

He had a hunch that Snow's character wanted to marry him not because he liked him, but because it was easy. Judging from his reaction, Snow must have thought so too.

But that's not the case. It couldn't be so.

You can't get away with it, even though you're so obsessed with it.

We're going in different directions, but Snow is a bit like me.

That's why I was able to read Snow's depth of mind.

Snow's mind is young.

His body is big and he is stronger than anyone else. But his mind hasn't grown at all. It has been stagnant since the day the despair began.

Like me, he has a big, useless figure, but his heart is an infant.

That's why I'm not aware of that unusual love interest of mine.

'I think that means I love Kanami. That's why you can't accept me, I guess.

'Nope, no. ....... No, it's not ......!

What's your obsession, then?

'Ta, just that 'Kanami' met the requirements ....... It can't be. He just wants to make it my property because it's convenient and makes it easy for me. I was just trying to take advantage of it because it's strangely strong ......!

A strain enters Snow's will.

Where she was just fighting for herself, the extraneous things mix in and shake her beliefs.

She tries to reject that superfluous thing, but ...... it's not something she can reject because she wants to.

Maria was the same way. Once you realize that, you can't take it back.

'I was just trying to use it, nothing else ....... Because Kanami is strong, kind, and sweet to me ....... She was dependable, gaping, and convenient for me to ....... So, it's not separate ......, it's ...... eh?

They say people like that. As a matter of fact, I only just found out about it myself.

Snow's 'dragonization' is loosening up.

It's entirely clear that his thoughts are flying elsewhere, not in battle.

''--Did I like Kanami?''

Snow muttered, shaking her head.

He couldn't seem to believe the words himself as he spat them out.

And then the strength of his whole body was being drained out.

It seemed as if there was no more place to fight.

Of course, I'm going to aim for that.

''There's a gap!''

I drop my knee into Snow's stomach.

I added more damage to his internal organs from the flying knee kick. While Snow's body is stiff with intense pain, he goes around to its back.

It's still down, so now Snow is on top of it.

I tighten my arms around Snow's neck.

My aim is to knock him out.

”Guh--!　Ugh!

Snow knows what I'm trying to do and tries to put his strength back into it.

But I whisper more in his ear.

'Think about it, Snow. If you like Kanami, you have to think about the other person as well as yourself, or you'll seriously (...) hate them, right?　-- Snow should know a little bit about the fear of having someone you like.

Sufferable fear of being in love with someone else?

Snow is surprised and confused in the face of her first emotion.

Up until now, she had been willing to let someone else hate her for her sake. That's why it was so ruthlessly awkward. But now, I've added a fetters to the fetters. I imposed the constraints that everyone has to deal with.

I gave the young Snow a bit of adult emotion.

With just that, Snow's will wavered and her judgment was clouded by hesitation.

All the while, my tightening up continues.

Snow's hesitation gave me plenty of time to attack.

'Ugh, ugh. ......--'

Snow's consciousness fades, and the strength leaves his body completely.

Finally, I seem to have lost consciousness.

I gently pick up Snow in my arms and declare, ”Okay, you're going to win!

''Alright, Shou-ri!　It was a bit of a cowardly and empty victory, though!

It wasn't a pleasant victory because we fought thoroughly and only with mental attacks.

But it was something we had to do later on.

Even if she lost her magic and her bones and organs were sore from the fresh blood magic, a defeated and desperate Snow could still attack her at night.

However, even the hesitation generated by this mental attack would bind her actions a bit.

''Fuu. I guess the other problem is the guardian's (Guardian) game. If possible, I'd like you to have some leverage, but .......

With Snow in my arms, I made my way to the MC who was taking shelter at the edge of the arena.

He was broadcasting live from a distance, but I didn't hear him in the middle of the fight. He seemed to have been completely evacuated due to the violent and indiscriminate attack.

I need to show the unconscious Snow to the MC and have my victory confirmed as soon as possible.

I walked through the deserted arena and carried Snow through the deserted arena. On the way--

---- and ---- -----！！！！

From the distance, from the south, I heard a strange sound.

Further south of the excited audience.

Perhaps it was the arena ship in the south area where the Guardian (Guardian) Rowen Alais was fighting.

'...... cheers?　No. Scream?

Distant, but I can pick up the voice clearly.

So much louder.

It was Rowen's game and there were screams from the crowd.

That made me anxious, and I sped up my steps even faster to finish the game.