Chapter 128: To The Capital Of Ice And Death III (1/2)

After being swung around, I was slammed down onto the hardened snow.

My left leg had been broken slightly below the joint. Fortunately, my shattered bones didn’t break the skin.

The wolves――――rushed me with their claws and fangs bared.

Instinctively, I shielded my throat and face with my arms. In the blink of an eye, my entire body was torn to shreds, my blood and flesh splattering all over the white around me.

This is probably what being thrown into a washing machine with blades on the inside feels like.

It's strange.

Heat and pain shot through all my nerves. I felt the strength leave my muscles. Death raced towards me, a split second away from reaching my vitals.

Strangely, my head is clear and calm.

Come to think of it, I always become calmer the closer to death I am.

Even though I have a death wish, when I'm about to die, every part of me struggles to stay alive, to obtain the information necessary for survival. If there's nothing that can be done, I’ll simply give up, but somehow or another, I've managed to survive until this day.

What an ironic trait.

Oh, could it be that, deep down, I’m――

「Gah!」

I decided that I was going to kill one wolf.

I chose the one that had sunk its fangs into my side. I had no idea how I was able to do it, but I jammed my fingers into its earhole and yanked out its semicircular canals. I then thrust my hand into the gaping hole I had made and crushed its brain.

When I snapped its neck, its fangs came free.

Luckily for me, the wolves around me pulled back.

Slowly, I drew Zamonglass' sword. The blood and brain fluid froze my hand to its hilt.

It's just as well, since I need the sword to stay in my grip.

Now, let's do this.

I heard growling. I thought it was the wolves at first, but it wasn't. It was me.

I don't remember what I was referring to at the time, but I remember thinking these words to myself some time ago.

Beasts show their true colors when they’re wounded.

If so, then I guess, deep down, I’m a beast.

However, I possess the shame of humans. Because I am human, want to be human, I have a heart that feels shame for being a beast.

But I wonder……

Why do I feel this way?

「Ha, HAHAHAHAHA!」

Why do I lose it at the sight of blood?

It can't be someone else's blood. It has to be my own blood. Otherwise, I won't get as worked up as this.

The bleeding from the deep wound in my side showed no signs of letting up despite the temperature being cold enough to freeze blood. I had a broken left leg, bruises all over my body, and too many lacerations to count. In addition, my glasses weren't working. Its power supply had gotten damaged, so it was totally done for. Because of the broken shards, my vision on my left side was blurry and I had trouble making things out.

Then, there was the pain.

Pain that told me that I was still alive was transmitted to me by every nerve in my body.

But that doesn't matter, not right now.

That's no more than a piece of information. I have other priorities.

The snow erupted.

The beasts bared their fangs and charged. I killed the first one before it could reach me, then cut off the head of another with the return slash of my blade. Three more beasts charged at me, and I successfully countered all their attacks, staining the snow with the spray of blood.

Even if we're all beasts, my claw is longer, thicker, and sharper.

The sixth one bit down on my sword. I was no match for it in terms of sheer physical strength. Not with only one leg.

Another one lunged at me from my left.

I flipped the scabbard of my katana over.

With its edge facing downward, I drew it backhanded. It helped that the opening of the scabbard had frozen stiff.

It was a one-handed but 100 points iai-draw.

After a split second, the wolf's body slid apart, becoming nothing more than steaming flesh and blood. I stabbed the wolf that had clamped its jaws around my sword with the tip of my katana and pried it off.

The wolves began to stalk in a circle around me and the corpses of their comrades. Their numbers had increased even more.

Fifty, or is it a hundred? Well, the number doesn't matter. I'm the vassal of a man who took on an army of ten thousand alone. A pack of a mere hundred or two hundred beasts is nothing.

「I mean……」

Even though they're just beasts, they're being wary.

They're observing the situation.

I've already pulled out my claw and my fang, but this is making me lose steam. I could go on the offensive, but my leg is broken. Furthermore, if I move my upper body excessively, it’ll cause the wound in my side to open up.

If possible, I should try to take them all out using counters only……………… Haha, I should stop. This is ridiculous. Cunning tricks won't work on them.

If I just think for a moment, no no no, it's obvious even without doing that.

I took off the now-useless glasses-type device and crushed it under my foot.

Now, I'm completely alone.

There’s no one here, no one watching. Alone, I'm free to do whatever I want.

Well, what do you know.

All that talk about shame, but aren't there nothing but beasts here?

「Hey」

First, one step.

I dragged my broken foot forward.

The joint still worked, but I couldn’t put any weight on that leg. I was feeling dizzy from all the blood I had lost. The left side of my vision had gone completely dark.

But so what?

I still possess all of my limbs. My blades still hold the power to cause instant death. The flames inside me still haven’t died. I still haven’t died. I won’t die. As if I’ll die in a place like this, by the fangs of these guys.

I have a place to return to.

No matter how I end up, I have a home to go back to, and a woman with whom I've made a promise to return. I have a daughter I must go pick up.

So, you know, you guys are……