Marumaru, a fifth-grade holy knight, felt dwarfed by the pressure from the twelfth-grade holy knight and the skeleton swordsman.
Fei’s left shoulder was rendered useless, but the skeleton knight also lost his left arm. Both focused their attacks and defenses on their right sides.
The skeleton knight swung a powerful blow, which Fei met with an equally powerful counter.
The clash sounded like a giant iron drum being struck.
“Kuku.”
“Hahaha! This is it! This is what I’ve been waiting for!”
“Yeah, me too. Let’s fight. I knew you were waiting.”
///
continue
///
There was no pleasure in the life-and-death struggle. It wasn’t entertainment. Yet Fei was smiling.
“Why is he… smiling?”
Alpha murmured as if she were looking at a strange monster. A swordsman beyond understanding. It wasn’t about being strong or weak, but a more fundamental mental issue.
“You’re on the brink of death, you know…”
Everyone shuddered at the boy’s smile as he danced with death.
“What’s with him? Is he crazy? Why is he smiling?! It’s insane!”
Gene spoke fearfully, averting his eyes.
“Gene, you shouldn’t look away… This is a piece of a heroic tale. You can’t see this even if you pay.”
“Huh…?”
Gene looked at Fei—a strong warrior, smiling and fighting on the verge of death. He understood. This was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. It was dazzling.
Blood, swords, eyes, stature, and most of all, the soul.
An incomprehensible, bizarre existence that strangely captivated people.
“……Ah, this is it.”
“What’s wrong? You’ve lost your edge.”
Fei deflected the overhead strike with his one-handed wave technique, recreating the wave’s flow, and struck down on the skeleton’s head. The sound of bones cracking sent the skeleton flying several meters. A large crack appeared on its skull.
Living dead are regrets personified. They wish to fulfill desires, ambitions, and lingering attachments from life. These regretful souls inhabit their remaining bones.
However, most living dead forget their wishes, becoming mindless beasts. Such beings disappear when the vessel of their empty wish is destroyed.
But some retain their consciousness and desires, seeking to fulfill their wishes with unyielding persistence.
This becomes troublesome. In the original story, after Gamma was killed, they couldn’t handle the regenerating bones. Holy magic or holy water could solve it, but they didn’t have such conveniences.
However, as their wishes are fulfilled, their bodies gradually crumble. Their obsessions fade. The skeletal swordsman, having had his rematch, began to dissolve…
“……Let’s end this. Your sword has no value anymore.”
“──!”
Past memories surged within the skeletal swordsman. In the haze, he recalled the struggle and his unfulfilled desire.
“Hahaha! Surpass the promise!”
“That’s right, it wouldn’t be interesting otherwise.”
Though it lacked eyes, a pressure like an intense glare emanated from it. Fei advanced without flinching.
Straightforward. Fei swung his sword down. The skeleton knight raised his sword. Both made wide swings. A direct clash of strength.
Their swords collided and separated. In that moment, the skeleton knight launched another fierce attack. His lowered sword stabbed at Fei’s thigh, killing his right leg.
But Fei wasn’t defeated.
“Equivalent exchange. I’ll take your right arm.”
He grabbed the skeleton’s right arm, pressed it with his left hand, and broke it with his sword. Another [Damage Exchange]. Blood was running low. He pulled the sword from his right thigh, and more blood flowed.
His vision blurred. He fought the encroaching darkness with sheer willpower, pushing off the ground with his left leg.
“……”
Silently, he struck down on the skeleton’s head again, crushing it. As the skeleton vanished like smoke, it murmured something.
“Ah, it was fun… Let’s… rematch…”
It said no more. Only a lifeless skeleton lay there.
“Did he… win…?”
Alpha murmured, questioning what she had just witnessed. It felt so unreal. She knew she’d never forget that battle or the man’s name.
The victorious man stood, breathing heavily, bleeding but still on his feet.
──Fei clenched his blood-stained fist tightly.
I won, he thought. I moved forward. He rejoiced in his own growth before losing consciousness and collapsing.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
◆
On a mission today!
Apparently, it’s a new type of dungeon! I’m excited!
Yay! Dungeon, dungeon, dungeon! I love the sound of it!
A dungeon feels like a place for heroes, right?
This mission’s members are Ese, Kamase, Marumaru-sensei, and… who? I don’t know. Ese is flirting a lot, but she’s pretty…
Honestly, as the protagonist, I’ll have the best heroine someday, so I’m not too worried about women.
But she is cute. Go for it, Ese and Kamase.
I’ll be cool, standing in the back with my arms crossed. Still, a dungeon, huh? I’m really looking forward to it. I’m bound to do great, right?
Yeah, I’m excited.
Hm? You want to thank me? Beta? …Oh, this girl? The ponytail girl who got caught in that clichéd situation… Beta, huh? so Beta, Easy to remember.
If she’s treated this memorably, is she a side character?
Ah, don’t worry about it. It was nothing. I don’t dwell on helping people.
Alright, I’m heading into the dungeon! Now, it’s time for me to shine!
Huh? What? I don’t have any magic aptitude, so I’m in the rear guard?
……
……
……
The Alpha team is outshining everyone… Wait, I’m the main character, right? Why are they more noticeable than me? This is my first dungeon…
Ugh, I hate this. I’m supposed to be the main character, but they’re doing better. In this world of “Chronicles of the Round Table,” I’m supposed to be the star. I need to be the one who stands out the most!
Are they trying to win a popularity contest or something? No, that can’t be it. This world doesn’t even have such a thing. But still, I want to be the one who shines.
Oh, maybe I’m being saved for the grand finale? Like, I’ll get the best part at the very end? That must be it. Come on, it’s my turn!
We’ve reached the deepest part. Wait, where’s my turn? No, it can’t be that there’s nothing. The boss should appear here.
Come on, show up! Please! Give me my chance! Maybe there’s a scenario where the main character doesn’t get to shine, but this is too much. There has to be something, right?
Give me my moment! I’m the main character!
“──Come out. I know you’re there.”
Come on, come on, it’s my turn. A skeleton appeared!
──Yes, there it is. I knew it. An obvious boss. I was always prepared. Gamma might have been in danger if I hadn’t stepped in.
Hey, Marumaru, let’s not do the whole team effort thing, okay? It has to be me taking it down one-on-one to rack up my protagonist points.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting…”
I’ve been waiting too! For my boss battle!
“My nemesis… Face me.”
“Come at me.”
Alright, let’s start. First, I’ll draw some blood and deal damage. I won’t be surprised by a little blood.
“Kukuku”
“Hahaha!! This is it! This is what I’ve been waiting for!!”
“Yeah, me too. Let’s fight. I knew you’d be waiting.”
He’s laughing too. Actually, I’m starting to feel excited and laugh a bit myself. Maybe, just maybe, I was worried that I wouldn’t get my moment.
I am the main character, right? Me? It’s just that if I don’t get my turn, I get anxious. It’s the worst when others outshine the protagonist, so I was a bit troubled.
But now that my moment is here, I feel great. I can’t help but laugh. Even if I’m bleeding, I don’t care!
In fact, the more blood, the stronger I feel!
Come on, let’s fight! Right now, I’m a bloodthirsty berserker!
Wait, am I losing my edge? No, it’s fine! Get more fired up! I’m a berserker right now!
Oh, a sword stabbed into my right thigh, and blood is gushing out. Well, for a protagonist, this is like a mosquito bite!
Alright, I’ll take your right arm! Because I’m a berserker!!
I’ll crush your head, and as a berserker, this rough fighting style suits me perfectly.
Alright, I’ve won. Victory and passing out from blood loss go hand in hand. By the way, Ese did a great job as the commentator.
He could do that in the future… Describing moves like “That’s the ultimate technique of the XX sword! That’s dangerous if used against you!!”
Maybe Ese was meant to be the commentator…
Well, this isn’t something to ponder when I’m about to pass out from blood loss. Also, someone, carry me when I pass out, okay?
Good night from blood loss.
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