CH 136

Chapter 136

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : A Name That Calls Death, Part 8 — The Worst Idea

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

「Who is that?」

「Fenna… it’s me… are you in there?」

「…Olnis?」

Fenna unintentionally uttered the name of her childhood friend. The voice also responded to Fenna’s voice.

「Fenna, I knew it was you… Where am I? I can’t see anything…」

「Olnis, Olnis! Where are you?」

「I’m…」

At that moment, the surface of Dantalion rises to the surface and something humanoid emerges. Then, when it became clearly recognizable as a humanoid, a proper face appeared. Then the mouth moves slowly but clearly.

「Impossible…」

「Fenna… it hurts…」

「…Olnis… no way…」

「…Fufufu… Ahahahaha…!」

There, Lifeless began to laugh as high as he could.

「…I told you, I brought your friends…! Just like you wanted… Ahahhahaha…!」

「What did you do!」

「You rotten bastard!」

「You’re the worst piece of shit I can think of.」

「…Whatever you say… by the way, he wasn’t one of the things they planted in Dantalion…」

Alfiris, Miranda, and Lisa unintentionally curse at Lifeless, but he looks unconcerned. Lifeless is right. Seekers float up one after another on Dantalion’s arms, stomach, back, and knees.

「Fenna… it’s hurts…」

「Where is this place…」

「Hey, Fenna. Where are you… All I hear are voices…」

「Ahh, ah, ah…」

Finally, Fenna abandoned her magic chanting and sat there in a heap.

「Mariel, Mishia, Dolce… no way.」

「Fenna, Fenna! Get a grip, please!」

「…Ah, by the way…」

Lifeless holds up one finger.

「…Although they are incorporated into Dantalion… the organs are intact in their entirety… So if you can separate them well, it might help… you’ll only have to damage Dantalion… However…」

Lifeless was grinning.

「…They share a sense of pain with all of them… and Dantalion, of course… If you’re not very careful at it, they’ll go into shock from the pain… like this…」

Lifeless hits Dantalion with a simple spell.

「Gyaaaahhhh!」

「It hurts, it hurts, it hurts～」

「Aargghhh!」

「Stop, stop… stop already—!」

Fenna starts crying and screaming.

「Why are you doing this to us!? What have we done to you? Hey!」

「…Why would I do this…? You don’t even know that…」

Lifeless expresses his disappointment.

「…Of course it’s because I’m bored, you know…?」

「Wha–…」

「…You should try living for a few hundred years… at first you will spend a lot of time training and fighting… but it doesn’t take as long as you think to master your abilities… And when I realized there was no one to beat me, I had nothing left to do …」

Lifeless suddenly looks at her with a faraway look.

「…A world with no goals, no hope, no one to fight for is a very boring place… And yet I must live forever… This is more painful than I thought it would be… Don’t you think it is your duty to comfort me in my ennui as I crawl along the ground…?」

「What the fuck!」

「You bastard, what do you think of human beings, of life on this earth!?」

「…You’re not very smart, beastkin girl… I told you … it’s just a tool to keep me occupied… No… I’ll take a scream over a tool any day of the week…」

「Y–Y–You——!!!」

Fenna forcefully activates《Earth Wave》and unleashes it on the lifeless, but Dantalion stands in front of it, exposing herself. Rising rocks from the ground pierce Dantalion’s body mercilessly, but not enough to inflict a fatal wound on her. But for the amount of damage it does, a great deal.

「Uwaaggghhh!」

「Fenna, stop it～!」

「It huurrttss!」

「…How horrible you are, girl… I can’t believe you’re about to put the magic in my friends’ face.」

「T–That’s…」

On the contrary, it only made Fenna’s friends suffer. And as Dantalion’s wounds began to heal, Fenna’s face was colored with despair.

「…By the way… as long as Dantalion’s cores are intact, they will regenerate forever… well, I don’t even know if they’re sane… How about it, don’t you think this is a work of art…? I’m willing to give the makers credit only in that they make these things…」

「This… I can’t even think of the right words to describe this piece of shit!」

「Don’t worry. The same goes for Lisa with her venomous tongue.」

「This guy should be killed at all costs.」

「It’s not legal to kill for nothing on the prairie… but this guy won’t break the law.」

「Let’s do this, everyone! Even if we beat this guy, the spirits won’t let him go!」

「…Good grief… I’m just saying it wasn’t me who made it…」

Fenna blocked the way as everyone closed in on each other, following Euthy’s voice.

「Stop, everyone…」

「Fenna, get out of the way. That thing is an entity that must be defeated.」

「But, but then you’d have to take down my friends… there’s no way, I can do that.」

「Fenna!」

「They’re my friends!」

Large tears finally began to spill from Fenna’s eyes.

「We all grew up together! They are all my precious friends. We ate dinner together, we practiced hunting, we went to the river and swam, we climbed trees, and then, and then…」

「Fenna…」

「I’m begging you, please don’t kill my friends…」

「Fenna, get out of the way.」

Alfiris moves forward to push the sobbing Fenna out of the way. Fenna grabs Alfiris’ arm, but her hand is repelled by the outpouring of magical power.

「Ouch!」

「Alfie, are you…」

「I’m sorry, Fenna. You can hold a grudge against me.」

Alfiris had already released the Cursed Brand. The magic power and killing spirit that surged out from her body. Fenna, Nia, Kazas, Euthy, and even Aerial, who had never seen Alfiris release the spell seal, involuntarily backed away from her power.

「Alfie…」

「I’m alright, Miranda. I’ll win. Lisa, do you see anything like the core of that big thing?」

「Eh, yes. Just like those in the center of the body.」

「So, I guess I’ll have to put one in that big mouth of them. I wonder what kind.」

Alfieres begins to mumble and ponder something. But her contemplation is short-lived.

「Okay… Fenna, I can’t save them all, but I will try to minimize the killing as much as possible. So bear with me.」

「Alfie…」

Seeing Fenna’s face turn pale when Alfiris said she would kill Fenna’s friends without any hesitation, Alfiris made a blatantly disgusted face.

「What, you’re not happy? Then come up with a better idea. Or do you think you will die along with your friends? I’m afraid I can’t allow you that option.」

「That’s not why I’m…」

「Then shut up and watch. This is the best option. There is no such thing as a happy ending in reality. The powerless will die, in this cruel world. It would be a blessing if we could save some of them.」

Lifeless slowly applauds Alfiris’ crisp statement.

「…I agree with you on that one…」

「Oh, aren’t we on the same page, Lifeless. But alas, you will die too. And when I’m done with that Archfiend, you’re next.」

「…Fufu… so scary…」

「Enough chit-chat, let’s get started. Everyone stand back.」

Alfiris strode forward. Aerial watching the scene muttered involuntarily.

「This… this killing intent, is this really Alfiris?」

But there was no one there who could answer that question.