[Haahh——– ah——- haahh……!]

My face twisted in pain as I gasped for breath.

Wormungandr’s blood was splattered across the ground.

And on the white walls of the labyrinth as well.

However————

Wormungandr, standing a few meters ahead, had already healed.

[I’ve indeed basked in it.]

The silent white-clad apostle suddenly spoke.

[I was able to bask myself in it…… in the potential of humanity……]

Slowly———–

Wormungandr raised an arm and pointed at me.

[My thanks to you, Hero from Another World.]

My breaths were still heavy and ragged.

(……My focus…… it’s finally running out……)

His voice…… I could no longer hear it.

Even so———-

I took my stance.

(……I can still…… keep going……)

[I admire your spirit, but you’ve gotta face it, you’re at your limit. Give it up already. Gerarara…… Not that I’m in top shape either, my regeneration’s been pushed pretty hard.]

Then, as if realizing something, Wormungandr let out a low chuckle.

[Kuku…… y’know, I just noticed something really important……]

Thereupon, Wormungandr tapped his own forehead with a finger.

[I was ordered to “neutralize” you———- Sogou Ayaka, but if you think about it, I was never told to “kill” you.]

[ ? ]

[Vysis’ goal is to neutralize you…… In other words, I don’t actually have to kill you. As long as I keep you tied up here, I’m technically still “following orders”…… ——–Guh…… OGUEEEEEH!]

[…………!?]

Wormungandr vomited.

For a moment, I considered taking this as an opportunity to attack.

But without the ability to hear that sound…… it was impossible.

My sharpened instincts told me so.

[……………………]

So all I could do———-

……was watch what Wormungandr had just coughed up onto the ground.

There……

A lump of flesh, rolled into a ball.

As Wormungandr wiped his mouth with his arm, he spoke:

[This thing’s called a “Synthetic Sacrament”, I had it compressed in my gut…… Vysis told me to use it if I needed to in my fight against you. But y’see…… it’s a real nasty piece of work. I have a pretty good idea of what this thing really is, and honestly, I didn’t wanna use it. But…… Vysis’s Factor has been getting noisy in my head…… commanding me to kill you, stronger and stronger. But still…… killing you doesn’t sit right with me either.]

To me———

Wormungandr’s words felt strangely distant.

[So, I think I’ll be taking my leave and go kill someone else instead.]

[……………………]

Wormungandr turned away.

[Well then, see ya.]

And with that, he vanished from the room.

I instinctively moved to chase after him.

My body simply reacted on its own.

But…… that “something” stood in my way.

The lump of flesh———-

Had begun to open.

And then…… it stood up.

It……

It had the shape of a human.

But its form was grotesquely distorted, far from anything symmetrical or natural.

As if multiple human bodies had once been torn apart———–

Then haphazardly stitched together, further twisted into something inhuman.

It had three arms.

Its body was draped with mere scraps of clothing and decorative remnants.

Half of its face was stripped of skin.

Rotting flesh lay exposed, teeming with writhing maggots.

However……

The remaining half of its face……

——-was familiar to me.

Undeniably so———-

But still……

[But…… no way…… why…… how…… why are you……?]

“He had sustained grievous injuries in the battle at the Anti-Demon White Castle, but had received the Goddess’s healing and returned to his homeland”

That’s what I had been told.

Even though that’s what I had heard……

[A———]

The half of the face that remained———— was one I wouldn’t mistake for others.

This one who had now become a monstrous abomination————

[Agito-san!]

It was one of the Four Revered Saints, Agito Angoon.

▽

[A- Agito-san……]

Ayaka, overwhelmed by turmoil, calls out.

[Agito-san, can you hear me!? It’s Ayaka! I…… It’s Ayaka Sogou! ……Agito-san!]

[Uu…… ah…… ugh……]

Drool-like liquid drips from the corner of Agito’s mouth.

His wide-open eyes lack focus.

It doesn’t seem like my words are reaching him.

[Agito…… san……]

No…… 

What I’m facing here isn’t just Agito.

I recognize it.

I recognize it all too well.

That thing growing from his right shoulder is probably———- Abyss Angoon’s arm.

That half-face attached to his left shoulder, that’s the second son, Brown.

And the head without eye sockets hanging from the tentacle extending from his back————-

[White…… san……]

Other familiar garments and ornaments of the Four Revered Saints are there as well.

They are grotesquely sewn together.

There is no respect for the dead.

Not even a shred.

That thing…… is nothing but sacrilege.

Nothing but desecration of the dead.

The corpses of the Four Venerated Saints, apparently retrieved after the battle at the Anti-Demon White Castle……

[For them to turn out like that……]

Tears dripped down the corners of my eyes.

This is just———— too cruel.

Far too cruel.

Those people fought for us.

For everyone’s sake.

They came in response to the call, to train us Heroes.

To protect this world.

They answered the Goddess’s call, and yet———-

[ ! ]

Agito——— the thing that used to be Agito lunges at me.

His right arm, from elbow to hand, has transformed into a blade.

He swings it down at me.

I block it with my unique sword.

[…………………]

Strong.

He has both power and speed.

But——— I can block it.

I can handle it.

Compared to Wormungandr, this is nothing.

This should be nothing, and yet———-

(Am I……?)

———–I can’t fight like this anymore.

That time……

Was it a mistake to entrust their treatment to Vysis?

I——– had been mistaken huh.

Trusting Vysis back then———–

……was a mistake.

My tear-streaked face twists in regret.

As I fend off Agito’s attacks, our battle continues one-sidedly for a while.

He keeps attacking relentlessly.

I keep parrying his strikes.

All the while, I keep calling out to him.

But———- I don’t get the response I want.

I don’t even know what to do……

So……

I call out once more.

[Agito-san! Agito-san, it’s me! Please…… Agito-san! Stop! Stop this……!]

I———- could kill him.

I could.

I could but……

I haven’t even thanked him yet.

Back during the battle at the Anti-Demon White Castle.

He took on the Human-faced to protect my classmates.

Could I———

Could I really cut down someone like that?

[—————–]

No……!

If I am the one to end this here, with my own hands———–

Then that would be my way of——— Sending him off.

Surely.

Surely……!

[Ugh…… uuh……]

And yet———- my hands won’t move.

They won’t move.

A sliver of hope kept its existence in my mind.

That when this battle is over……

Maybe……

Maybe if it’s a Deity like Loqierra-san……

She might know a way to bring him back.

I cling to that hope……

I hold onto hope.

If I kill him here, then……

Even that possibility will be lost forever————

———-Whoosh———-

[……Ah.]

Agito’s blade grazes my cheek.

A millimeter-thin layer of skin is torn, and a thin line of blood seeps onto my skin.

It wasn’t an attack I couldn’t dodge under normal circumstances.

But this———- this isn’t one of them.

……He called this “neutralization”.

And indeed, to neutralize me———- this is incredibly effective.

(Neutralization……)

Suddenly.

As Agito’s attacks close in, a “solution” forms in my mind.

That’s it.

If I can just neutralize him……

[If I can just keep him from moving somehow, at least until this battle is over———?]

It was at that moment.

Suddenly……

Agito’s attacks stopped.

[Eh?]

[……yaka.]

Just now———-

What did he———-

[Aya…… ka……]

[ ! ]

His eyes regain their focus———-

[A- Agito-san!?]

[U…… I…… left a small part of my consciousness…… in my domain…… so I could talk…… just for a little while……]

I try to rush toward him.

But Agito stops me.

[No…… Right now, I can barely keep myself from moving with my own will…… But I might attack you against my will…… so stay…… right there……]

[Agito-san…… I……]

And then, softly.

With the half of his face that still resembles him, he smiles.

[You’ve…… grown strong…… I can see it……]

[That’s because you…… and everyone…… guided me……!]

The tears won’t stop.

I don’t even wipe them away as I apologize.

[I’m sorry———- I’m so sorry! After that battle…… if only I had made sure…… If I hadn’t left you in Vysis’ hands…… this…… this wouldn’t have happened……!]

[Hah…… You’re…… as serious as ever…… really…… such a serious girl……]

[P- Please…… wait! I might be able to stop you from moving for now, but after this battle…… surely———-]

[And…… you’re kind, as always. Brown was a little worried about that…… He thought it might be…… too risky……]

Still smiling.

Agito slightly shakes his head.

[When Vysis dies, I’ll probably…… disappear too……]

[T-That’s not an absolute certainty……! There must be some way———–]

[And, Ayaka.]

His voice gently interrupts mine.

With a faint loneliness.

He gives me a different kind of smile.

[There’s no one left…… None of my siblings…… are in this world anymore.]

[Ah———-]

“That’s why……” Agito continues.

[To the others…… to Abyss, Brown, and White…… Could you send me to them? Along with the things they left behind……]

Things they left behind.

He’s probably talking about the “fragments” of Abyss and the others that were fused into him.

[I’d like to talk a little longer but…… I don’t…… have time. My consciousness is already…… fading…… I don’t think…… I’ll be able to hold on…… much longer……]

Agito gives me a faint, almost apologetic smile.

[Sorry…… for pushing…… this role onto you…… You don’t like this, do you……? Killing……]

[Uuu…… uuuuuu……]

I shut my eyes tight, gripping the hilt of my unique sword with all my strength.

Bracing myself for what’s to come.

Because the tears——— won’t stop.

[Just this……]

Just this, I want to say——–

Through my tears, I tell him:

[A…… Agito-san, you protected everyone…… You protected Murota-san and the others…… Thanks to you, almost all of our classmates made it back safely…… Thank you so…… so much…… hic…… u…… uuuuu……!]

Agito smiles.

[I’m glad…… So they made it…… And…… since you’re here…… it means…… we won that battle huh…… That’s good to hear…… To be honest, my consciousness never fully returned…… The first time I became vaguely aware again…… was when I was being made into this form…… So I didn’t know…… what happened after……]

[Uuuuu…… I’m sorry…… I———–]

[Ayaka.]

He speaks gently, wrapping me in his words.

[If you feel that way———– then let me say “thank you”…… one last time.]

[ ! ]

He’s asking me.

To kill him.

That’s what Agito is asking for.

[………………………… ————Yes.]

I——— raise my unique sword.

[If you keep on cutting this body…… you should be able to kill me…… Even this body’s regeneration…… won’t be able to keep up……]

[……Agito-san.]

[Unn.]

Agito-san———— everyone of the Four Revered Saints……

Goodbye.

———-Whoosh———-

The sound of my blade racing through the air.

A storm of countless slashes.

I cut Agito into tiny pieces.

Again, and again———–

With tears scattering into the air.

I cut.

I carved him apart.

Just like he asked.

Again…… and again……

[———————]

Amidst the endless attacks, Agito speaks.

With a smile so gentle———-

” Thank you. “

[…………………………………………]

At some point———– I realized, Agito’s flesh is no longer regenerating.

It melts away…… Dissolving into nothing.

And when it’s all over———-

The only thing left in the room———- is the anguished wail of the one once called the strongest Hero.

<Author’s Notes>

We have received one new review since the last update. Thank you very much.

The next chapter is scheduled to be updated tomorrow, Monday, March 24th, at around 9:00 PM.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep