Chapter 99: Divine Ascension
“Magic to become a god? That’s just an arrogant thing to say!”
Loretta lunged forward, thrusting her sword wrapped in a violent wind, but its edge caught nothing.
“Disappear…ugh!?”
While her expression showed shock, I had already leapt into Loretta’s bosom and driven my fist into her.
“That sensation just now…a spirit…? Luche, don’t tell me you…!?”
She seemed to realize it after taking that blow. I have to give her credit for that.
“That’s right. [Divine Ascension] is magic to become one with a spirit. In other words, I’m now a spirit itself. Any [disease] that plagues [humans] won’t work on [gods].”
The [Royal Garment Ring] itself is magic to [cloak] oneself in the power of spirits.
My [Divine Ascension] takes it a step further—achieving [fusion] with a spirit.
Unlike Alfred or Leor who manifest weapons after using the [Royal Garment Ring], I don’t have one because in my case, this body, my entire being itself becomes the weapon.
“I didn’t know such magic existed…”
“I learned it while studying abroad, so it’s no wonder you didn’t know.”
Truth be told, I didn’t want to use it.
“I really didn’t want to use it. It consumes mana intensely, and afterwards my whole body goes numb, leaving me unable to fight properly for three days.”
I didn’t want to use it against you. It wasn’t magic I learned to fight you.
“[Thunderstorm]”
Unleashing a thunderstorm in spirit form. Thousands upon thousands of lightning bolts rain down. Loretta tries to evade with side-steps—but it’s no use.
This rain of lightning doesn’t travel in a straight line; it alters its trajectory at will to definitely strike its target.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaahh!?”
The pouring flashes assail her. Unable to evade, Loretta puts up a miasmic wind barrier, but piercing bolts still sear her flesh, bringing her to her knees this time.
“Kuh…! That one hit hard.”
Is this the effect of becoming an [Children of Six Emotions]? She seems to have gained quite a durable body. An ordinary person would’ve been knocked out by that.
“…Say, Loretta. I can understand the feeling of rejoicing in others’ misfortune.”
When I heard that Leor couldn’t become king, when I learned it, when I realized it.
I did feel sorry for him, but I can’t say there was no joy either.
“That dark heart exists within me too…that gloomy joy was there.”
‘Maybe I can become the king instead,’ I couldn’t help thinking. Saying otherwise would be a lie.
“But you know…when someone says ‘thank you for saving me,’ it makes me happy. When my friend passed the Magical Technology Institute’s exam, I was as delighted as if it were my own achievement. And when you praised my singing, I was overjoyed beyond words.”
I only need to close my eyes for memories of joy and delight to resurface.
During academy field training, a merchant was attacked by monsters, and Loretta and I saved him. He said, “Thank you for saving me.”
Loretta and I helped a friend study for the Magical Engineering Institute’s exam. We all cried tears of joy when the results came out.
There were many times my singing was praised, but your praise made me the happiest.
“All of those joys…you taught me.”
“I could never truly feel joy. I was only feigning happiness to fit in with you all. Back then, I still didn’t fully understand myself…Looking back, I probably thought it was all rather silly.”
So that was your true feeling. What a pity. Truly.
“I can understand your point of view. But I can’t see that as joy.”
“…I suppose it was futile after all. I had thought even you might understand me, since I’ve wanted to kill you for a long time.”
“Because I can never fulfill my greatest dream?”
“Yes. Just because that failure of a brother Leor was born male, you cannot inherit the throne. So I thought surely you would feel glee whenever misfortune befell Leor. A dark, pitch-black joy. On that single point, I believed we could understand each other.”
“Well, I can’t say I didn’t feel happy, but I couldn’t truly rejoice from the bottom of my heart…And Loretta, there’s one thing you got wrong.”
“What?”
“I haven’t given upon the throne yet.”
“—Huh?”
I finally said it. My body trembled a little as I did.
Something I hadn’t told anyone yet. Something I couldn’t put into words until now.
“No, that’s not right. To be precise…I’ve decided not to give up.”
…Alfred, you little brother of mine. You’re something else, you know that?
Despite being reviled across the land as the ominous ‘dark-haired, dark-eyed one,’ you could still boldly declare this to me. Something so dreadfully scary, yet you did it boldly.
“Wait. What are you saying?”
“I’m going to claim the throne. I won’t give up anymore. I’ll seize my ultimate dream, my greatest wish, with my own hands. And…because I want to reduce the number of children who can’t freely dream like you and I, even by a little. That’s the dream I want to make come true.”
“So that’s why…!”
“Following my brother’s example, I’ve decided to stop giving up. That’s what I came to tell you today. I just had to convey that much.”
“—Shut up!”
Loretta roared, wearing an expression I’d never seen before.
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“So you finally show me a side I’ve never witnessed.”
“Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up! What dreams? What…not at this late stage! Spouting such pretty words! Damn it! What’s with this at the last minute? All of it! Everything! You really are the worst woman! Sitting idly on your blessings, spewing such drivel! Looking down on me!”
“I won’t deny that I’m blessed.”
“So that’s your true nature, is it! As I thought, you can never understand those beneath you!”
I suppose my arrogance lay in thinking I could make my best friend understand.
It was impossible from the start. No matter if they’re best friends or family, you can never fully understand someone else.
“And conversely, you’ve never understood my feelings, either.”
My feelings for being here right now, fighting you.
It’s you who doesn’t understand that, Loretta. You’re just the same.
“Just because you’re blessed doesn’t mean everything goes smoothly. It doesn’t mean you don’t suffer hardships or get hurt…”
You don’t understand, do you? How much anguish I’m in right now.
“What drivel are you spewing now…? Ridiculous! I have no need to understand the feelings of the blessed! You need only shut your vile mouth and let me kill you!”
“…I see.”
“All that’s left is to kill you. To silence that mouth that vomits such unpleasant prattle!”
“You don’t see me as a friend anymore?”
“I don’t want to!”
Wind gushed from Loretta’s sword as it began whirling into a vortex around the blade.
A veritable storm of fury. A miasmic gale with fangs to devour and shred anything it touched.
“Get out of my sight!”
“I won’t disappear. Never.”
This is my earnest effort. My full power.
“I’m blessed. That won’t change. But from now on, I’ll do what I can with my blessings, even if I’m resented, even if I’m hurt.”
“I told you to shut up!”
I gather mana into my right hand, pouring everything into it. The highly condensed thunderous mana takes the form of a single streak of purplish lightning.
“[Stormfang]!”
“[Thunderforce]!”
Wind and lightning.
The clash of magics resounded with a roar that shook this entire space.
Balance and resolution came in an instant. The miasmic darkness was rent, my vision went blinding white—and before me, a figure crumpled to the floor.
“You really are strong, you know.”
“…Was that…a backhanded compliment?”
“If your heart hadn’t been in disarray, my spell would’ve been torn apart a bit more. Not by sheer power, but by the technique of the sword you perfected…For me using [Divine Ascension] to be brought to the brink like that is virtually impossible under normal circumstances.”
“So it was a backhanded compliment. Even though you were holding back your power to avoid killing me.”
Loretta’s voice was tinged with resentment—a tone I’d never heard from her before, so devoid of composure, baring her frustration outright.
“Why didn’t you kill me? Didn’t you come here to kill me?”
“…When I came here, I did intend to kill you. But that was just me running away from your true feelings as my supposed best friend…I was scared. I couldn’t face it, so I tried to end it all by killing you instead of having to confront that dread. How childish of me, honestly.”
“Then kill me. I told you, I wanted to kill you. I always have.”
“No, I won’t grant you that.”
“Why not?”
“…Because I’ve decided not to give up on you either. Just as I decided not to abandon my own dream.”
“What…does that even mean…”
Loretta’s voice wavered, and then a transparent droplet trickled from her left eye, trailing down her cheek.
“Damn it…Dammit…Why…Why did you have to stop giving up now of all times…? Why go on ahead without me…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“We were supposed to be the same…Fellow souls who had given up, right…? Unable to grasp our greatest dreams, our ultimate wishes, we were to chase after second-bests together…Watching from the depths, gazing upwards side by side…wasn’t that how it was supposed to be…?”
“I’m sorry. But I can no longer stay in the same place as you.”
“Don’t…Don’t go, don’t leave me behind…Luche…How dare you move forward on your own…Isn’t that unfair…?”
I suppose she couldn’t accept it, to the point of losing her composure.
The fact that only I would stop giving up, look ahead, and leave her behind.
In the end, Loretta wanted me to fall into the abyss with her.
As fellow souls who couldn’t grasp our dreams, she wanted me to stay wallowing at the bottom, looking up.
She wanted me to remain just as miserable as her.
She wanted everyone in the world to be just as miserable.
…It’s only now that I realize this. No, perhaps I’m just deluding myself into thinking I understand.
“I’m going on ahead.”
“Wait…Wait, Luche…!”
I wonder what expression Loretta is wearing now. Is she reaching her hand out? I don’t know.
Because I’m facing forward, turning my back to her. I cannot see her expression.
“Wait…Don’t leave me behiiiiiind!”
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