Chapter 26: Lucia is defeated, Part 2

With every swing of her sword, a life was extinguished.

Lucia knew she had to kill.

She knew that if she hesitated, she or her companions would be hurt.

But the thought kept nagging at her:

Were these people she’d killed living ordinary lives before her arrival, before the system’s interference?

Were they, like her, unwilling participants in this cruel game orchestrated by the system?

There was no one to answer her questions. Even if it were true, it was merely a possibility, an unprovable hypothesis. But that possibility alone was enough to shake her resolve.

Beside her, Carmel gritted her teeth, her sword flashing.

Rumble!

Behind her, Ciella, her face contorted in concentration, unleashed thunderous roars with her unique magic.

She wasn’t the only one burdened by this situation.

She wasn’t the only one plagued by guilt.

But… but…

Lucia still wasn’t ready to kill.

Two years had passed. She’d been unwillingly dragged into countless incidents.

Even amidst her constant vigilance, she’d nearly lost someone she cared about. And the Knight Commander, whom she’d relied on the most, had vanished without a trace.

A typical protagonist would have emerged from these trials stronger, determined to protect their loved ones.

But Lucia’s mind was still stuck two years ago.

A scared little girl, forced to wield a sword, forced to kill for the first time, against her will.

She’d only taken a few steps forward since then.

The system, the world, demanded she change. If she didn’t, she would become another casualty, another forgotten footnote in this unfolding narrative.

She had to change.

But change…

…was never easy.

“…Gah…!”

“…Lucia…!”

Slash!

“You… bastard…!”

Rumble…!

A single moment of hesitation.

A brief lapse in concentration that normally wouldn’t have mattered.

But the system, while manipulating her actions, paradoxically adhered to her will. The skill she’d been about to unleash against the cultist was interrupted, her sword slashing awkwardly through the air.

Even a glancing blow from her holy sword was enough to inflict a mortal wound, but it wasn’t enough to kill instantly.

A brief respite, a single breath before death.

An ordinary person would have writhed in agony, but the cultist, fueled by madness, felt no pain. He lunged at Lucia, a small dagger flashing in his hand.

And instead of Lucia, it was Carmel who cried out, a long gash appearing on her chest.

“…Carmel…! A-are you alright…!”

“Hngh…”

Thud.

Carmel stumbled, her legs giving way. She knelt on one knee, supporting herself with her sword, but her trembling arm seemed about to buckle.

A dark discoloration spread around the fresh wound. Poison.

“I-I’m so sorry… it’s my fault… I hesitated—”

“Lucia!”

“…!”

Carmel’s sharp voice cut off Lucia’s reflexive apology. The effort of speaking made her wince, her body swaying.

Lucia stared at Carmel, her eyes wide with concern. Carmel’s expression was… furious.

She’d never seen Carmel like this. Was she angry at her?

“Lucia. Don’t… apologize… Anyone would have panicked… hesitated… in that situation.”

“But…”

“So, Lucia. Listen carefully. This is something I’ve wanted to say for a while.”

Carmel’s expression softened, and she lowered her sword, speaking again in a serious tone.

“For the past two years… I’ve seen what you’ve done. You cleared an uncharted dungeon, and you eradicated several bandit hideouts before they could cause any harm.”

“Th-that’s… because of me…”

“I don’t understand this ‘I’m the cause’ narrative, but perhaps there’s some truth to it… But… I don’t like it. I don’t like how you try to shoulder the burden alone.”

“I don’t know why you’ve been pushing people away for the past two years, why you’ve been trying to carry this weight by yourself. I don’t know the reasons behind your actions. You might think I’m meddling, interfering where I don’t belong, and you’d probably be right. But Lucia… do you know something?”

Bonk!

“Ouch…”

As Lucia listened, concerned about Carmel’s wound, Carmel gently placed a hand on her shoulder, then suddenly bonked her head against Lucia’s. Caught off guard, Lucia fell back, landing hard on her backside.

“Blaming yourself… constantly apologizing… trying to shoulder everything alone… that’s incredibly selfish.”

“…That’s…”

“Have you ever… even once… looked at your own face when you’re doing this, when you’re agonizing over it? Do you know how it feels, how I feel, how others feel when we see that pained expression? You’re selfish, Lucia. I’m selfish too, but you’re even more so.”

Rumble…!

“C-can you hurry up… please…!”

“Anyway, Lucia. We don’t know what burden you’re carrying… and you don’t have to tell us.

But… please… trust your companions, let us share the weight. Even if you hesitate, we’ll cover for you.

If you have a weakness, we’ll protect you. That’s what companions do.”

“…Carmel…”

“Well… I’m still new to this whole… non-royal life, so I don’t know much… Haha…”

Carmel chuckled awkwardly, then winced, clutching her chest. She extended a hand towards Lucia, her hand trembling slightly, just like Lucia’s.

“…Will you… trust us…?”

I shouldn’t.

This is my burden to bear.

I’ve already caused enough harm. I can’t burden them further.

That’s what Lucia had always believed, how she’d always acted. And even now, her thoughts remained unchanged.

But she was tired. Tired of carrying this weight alone. So tired she’d even contemplated ending her own life.

She was a being without a past. No one would mourn her death.

But on the day she’d made up her mind, Carmel had rushed to the rooftop, her face etched with worry. Lucia remembered that day clearly.

She hadn’t been alone then, nor before. There was no reason for her to shoulder this burden alone.

Her actions had been self-serving, a misguided attempt to protect others, a belief that her sacrifice would bring them happiness.

A paradoxical self-satisfaction, despite her own reluctance.

“…Is it… really alright…?”

The fear of causing further harm lingered, but Lucia wanted, just for a moment, to be free.

Perhaps this was selfish too, but even if it was, trusting her companions and working together was what Carmel meant by “companions.”

“Of course, Lucia. Now, take my hand—”

As Lucia reached out, her hand trembling, to take Carmel’s outstretched hand…

“—Bombarda.”

A blinding light filled her vision.

KABOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the forest.

The world spun, and a sharp pain shot through her chest as she collided with something.

The air was forced from her lungs.

“Gasp… cough… cough…”

Despite the ringing in her ears and the disorientation from hitting her head, Lucia pushed herself up, using her sword for support.

As the smoke cleared, a horrifying scene unfolded.

Trees uprooted and splintered, radiating outwards from the epicenter of the blast. Blood splattered across the ground.

Following the trail of blood, Lucia saw Carmel, covered in blood, her head bowed.

“…Carmel…?”

“The impact… it’s lacking…”

Lucia turned towards the voice and saw a man casually running a hand through his hair, a bored expression on his face.

A large green bar and a name appeared in her vision.

[Rahat LV.56]

“But that means… that means… Khahaha!”

Lucia recognized him. The subjugation target from her status window.

“We are… more…! More favored… than your pathetic little stars…”

“Ahh…!”

“Divinity users…”

Rahat, the cult leader.