Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/08
A furious dash!
The door flung open, and a wild escape began!
… Wait a moment.
The door doesn’t budge, no matter how hard I pull.
If pulling doesn’t work, I try pushing—but still no movement.
Maybe it slides? No, it doesn’t move at all.
… Huh?
"None shall escape. The body of the living shall soon serve its purpose in returning to the world."
Looking at the door, I quickly understood why it wouldn’t open.
The vines were tightly wrapped around every part of the door, rendering it immovable.
If this body is good enough for you, go ahead—but not this time. I still value my life.
Normally, I'd gladly give it to you. I mean, it reeks of sourness anyway.
"So, what happened to Ginesis?"
"Can you not see? He is dead. He gave up his body to me—the origin of his rebirth in this world."
"Gave it up? That looks more like parasitism than anything—"
Before I could finish, a vine extended from what was once Ginesis' sleeve, cracking like a whip as it lashed toward me.
The speed and force were nothing trivial. It was the kind of strike that wouldn’t just leave a mark but could sever flesh.
I rolled out of the way, and where I had been standing, the ground bore a deep gouge as if a sword had slashed through it.
"Hey, hey, my body’s supposed to be used, not destroyed!"
"The vines can always stitch it back together."
"That’s not the point!"
Another whip lashed out—this time, two of them. They slithered forth from both sleeves, executing a dual strike.
A downward slash followed by a sweeping blow—there was no room to escape.
Just as I was about to throw a chakram in desperation, the air split with an explosive crack.
Standing before me was the maid.
Her decisive strike had shattered the incoming whips.
"Senia?"
"Watching you gives me an overwhelming urge to protect."
I couldn’t help but be grateful for whatever resemblance my face might bear to someone significant in history.
Senia advanced.
However, perhaps due to years of experience, the ancestor controlling Ginesis' body maintained the distance Senia struggled with, lashing at her with the whips.
Yet, none of the strikes landed. If it wasn’t Ginesis’ phantom blade, they couldn’t penetrate her defense, nor could they harm her undead body.
"If retreat is impossible, then I must unsettle you."
The target shifted to what she was protecting—me.
The whips, moving like living serpents, evaded her protection and sped toward me.
I tried to dodge, but it was no use. My abilities couldn’t compare to my ancestor’s precision.
Senia attempted to close the gap and draw the attacks back to herself, but the foe skillfully kept the distance, maintaining the focus on me.
I moved right. Blocked by a whip.
I moved left. Blocked again.
Even when I threw a stone to alter their trajectory, they easily avoided it.
It was clear—my throwing skills wouldn’t land a hit. The futility of my efforts only deepened my sense of being cornered.
As I retreated further, my back hit a wall.
"Boy!"
This was bad.
The whips surged toward me again.
In desperation, I reached for my chakram, but just as I did, the wall beside me exploded, and the whips sparked off something that had intercepted them.
"Are you hurt, Vi?"
Through the dust of the crumbled wall, strands of light blue hair caught my eye, slightly dirtied.
"I’m sorry I was late."
"F-Feli…?"
Ah, so this is how faith begins.
Feli, right now, looked like a dazzling goddess—a true savior.
"I should have brought Gadvar and Nichirin along."
"Wait, why are you here?"
"I followed you."
"… Followed?"
"I was… worried, so I tailed you."
I understood what "followed" meant, but that wasn’t the point.
"Doesn’t the guild have rules against this?"
"I’m prepared for demotion. But if it means I could be here in this moment, it’s a small price to pay."
She fixed her gaze firmly on the enemy.
"I heard you used the medicine on Kagnat."
"Ah, yeah… was that bad?"
"Not at all. In fact, it’s why… I wanted to help you. Is it arrogant to want someone who does the right thing to be rewarded?"
Still facing our adversary, she spoke with conviction.
"Thank you, Feli."
With just those words, I felt fulfilled.
"Shield-bearer, I will attack. Can I leave his protection to you?"
"Of course."
"Boy, do you have another weapon?"
"Yeah, I’ve got something special."
"If you see an opening—"
"I promise."
With nothing left to protect, Senia unleashed her full force.
Despite the strength of Ginesis’ body and the parasitic vine creature controlling it, their combined power couldn’t keep up.
It was evident—they were being pushed back.
Desperate to change the tide, they tried another attack on me. But it was easily blocked by Feli’s shield, creating an opening for Senia to press even harder.
"Feli, when the next attack comes, I’ll use the chakram. It’s going to be intense—can you handle it?"
"I’ll protect you no matter what, Vi."
What do you think about this chapter?
