Goooooo—–
After a prolonged floating sensation, they arrived at a place.
Tap. Although they stepped onto the moonlit, rainbow-colored swamp, the ground beneath their feet was firm.
It was a relief to have landed safely. In the past, due to falling from high places, Yoru had developed acrophobia and sighed in relief.
But relief soon turned into vigilance.
“…Where is this?”
Yoru looked at the scenery with wide eyes.
Along the misty riverside, a cliff stretched out as if swallowing the sky.
Though there were many breathtaking landscapes across the continent and nurous fog-covered canyons, there was a particular nostalgia here that felt different.
Changhe Mountain.
Before the demons overran the land, it was the hotown where Yoru was born and raised.
“Whoa.”
Shiron gazed at the cliff with a drained expression. Passing through the multicolored swamp, he headed toward a place where the Apostle’s energy could be felt.
The Fourth Apostle was an incomplete being yet capable of creating worlds. Naturally, they possessed fitting powers, and though they could ‘patch together’ locations like molten lava or storm-filled thunderclouds as destinations, ironically, the Apostle chose Yoru’s holand.
In contrast to the original world, Gaijin didn’t die, nor did the Empire decide to open its borders.
Roughly ten years had passed since then. In this future, Yoru bore the grand title of ‘Warrior’ rather than ‘Kiddo,’ and her mastery of martial arts had progressed significantly, placing her among the ranks of the strongest.
[Did they intend to create a rift between the Hero and the Kiddo?]
‘I think they just want to use every move at their disposal. That intent isn’t entirely absent, I suppose.’
[Yuck!]
In Latera’s once bright and positive heart, a spark of irritation was kindled.
Being an Apostle who represented the god of negation and disgust, the thods were expected to be filthy, but the sheer treachery and deceit were vile enough to make her head buzz with revulsion.
[Utterly childish! Do they really believe that’s possible? The bond between the Hero and the Kiddo is that strong!]
‘…You’re right.’
Though Shiron was a bit taken aback by the casual use of the nickna ‘Kiddo,’ he nodded after a mont.
‘Yoru cares for deeply.’
Although they had first t as enemies and experienced many unfortunate incidents since then, Shiron was now confident that Yoru was a true comrade.
Was there anyone else so willing to cooperate?
Squeeze—
Shiron grabbed Yoru’s rear, as if to show off. Yoru glared at him with narrowed eyes at the unexpected tease.
“Why are you touching my butt?”
“It’s to show how close we are. To prove that their petty tricks won’t work because we’re this tight~ See?”
“…Is soone watching?”
Yoru, while conscious of the hand on her, asked out of curiosity.
The ominous feeling in the air overshadowed any embarrassnt from minor teasing. Compared to the teasing she endured at her father’s grave… she could brush off sothing like this without much care.
Besides, Shiron was much kinder than Lucia or Siriel. Once the incident was settled, he didn’t hit her or use harsh language.
Having grown used to rough treatnt, she turned her attention to the energy she sensed.
“I can feel sothing. Two very strong presences.”
“One is your future self, and the other is your still-living father, I assu.”
“…If Father is alive, does that an my future self still harbors the parasite?”
“There could be a scenario without the parasite.”
“What do you an?”
“It just ans there are all kinds of possible outcos.”
Shiron soothed Yoru, who exuded a fierce aura. While her readiness to confront any foe and her refusal to betray her comrades were comndable, getting worked up over the imdiate enemy wasn’t ideal.
A broader view was necessary.
This was a space created by the Apostle and could be altered at any ti by their powers. Although it was expected that Yoru’s future self would eventually clash with Shiron, just like with future Lucia, they never knew when or where an ambush might erge.
“A future ally, like Seira, might also appear. You might feel guilty or distracted, and in the confusion, they could stab you in the back.”
“…That’s unsettling.”
“So keep your head straight. For the Apostle, using every trick to fend off intruders is no big deal.”
An Apostle did not possess a human heart.
Thus, it’s necessary for them to keep their own emotions in check to so extent.
Shiron took a deep breath and turned back.
Just then, the future Seira arrived, waving with a smiling face. Her eyes didn’t share that smile.
“Need help?”
“Hoo… I’m fine. Don’t mind ; focus on helping your disciple.”
The future Seira let out a deep sigh as Shiron turned away.
She clung to consciousness with all her might. The Apostle’s overwhelming influence at this place ant she’d need to exert even more magic than anticipated.
Her mind was fully under control. The issue was the external force attempting to distort her form.
The future Seira concentrated, reconstructing her spell formations.
The layers of protective barriers twisted, and new formations were added on top.
Then, particles in a hexagonal shape spiraled, fortifying the shield. The future Seira flinched and looked behind her.
It was Seira, adding new formations.
Breathing beca noticeably easier. The future Seira offered a slightly embarrassed smile.
“Haha. Sorry about that.”
“If you’re struggling, the kid can’t focus on the fight. And if you turned against us, that would be even worse.”
“…That won’t happen. I’ve already prepared for that.”
The future Seira waved a scroll with a mischievous gesture.
“If I absolutely can’t hold on, I’ll escape to the outside.”
“In a space governed by an Apostle, is it that simple?”
“I’ve prepared for this day. Isn’t it obvious to consider every possibility and be prepared?”
“Yes, you’re quite sothing.”
Seira shuddered as if in disbelief.
‘Just how much does she care for the kid?’
Though Seira, with her long life, had never felt love, the symptoms of the other self before her bordered on the incomprehensible.
Throwing herself into the fray despite her body’s collapse, she prepared countless asures for possible scenarios.
She had likely even shielded herself against the possibility of mind control by the Apostle.
‘The kid probably already knows. That’s why he countered Lucia with Lucia.’
Seira’s eyes narrowed.
Her insight pierced the core, focusing on the hundreds of loops bound to her chest, hidden under the robe.
Soul separation. Reconstruction of the spirit. Corruption. Pollution. A barrier blocking the unholy.
Sanctuary. A string connected from the heart was linked to a cloud of light.
It was only a brief observation, so she wasn’t entirely certain, but Seira grasped that it was dangerous magic.
The group moved forward imdiately, not toward the place where energy surged, but rather, in a slightly different direction.
However, in the direction they were being drawn by a strange force, imnse energy was once again surging.
‘Is there no option to avoid a fight?’
Yoru pushed aside the unpleasant feeling and followed Shiron.
She didn’t fully understand what an Apostle was, but it was becoming clear that they were troubleso beings.
And, as it seed, quite unnatural ones as well.
Step—
Yoru’s steps suddenly twisted. A faint sll of blood wafted in from the mist.
Sothing was happening up ahead. Judging by the sounds of roars and screams, a bloodbath was likely taking place.
‘No way…’
Yoru suppressed her anxiety and quickened her steps.
A shocking sight ca into view.
A red path seed to welco them, a path made of blood.
People dressed in Silleya attire were lying prone, chests punctured, their corpses strewn about.
“It seems they’re using every trick…”
Seira murmured softly. Excessive cruelty to lower the enemy’s morale was a common tactic: beheading prisoners and displaying their heads, sending a ssage of warning.
However, no matter how many tis one might have seen it…
No matter how accustod one might be…
To see it at this extre level of brutality could unsettle anyone.
They stopped at the end of the blood-made path.
A shadow sat on a platform.
It was clearly the figure of a woman.
With a vacant expression, she leisurely smoked a pipe — it was Yoru from the future.
Despite her relaxed posture, a formidable energy surrounded her.
An aura of supremacy emanated from her body, as if she were the center of the world. The large sword strapped to her back exuded a bloody aura, as if freshly stained with death.
‘That’s supposed to be ?’
A dreadful energy wriggled around the woman, exuding a dominating aura.
It felt as though she might be the strongest person Yoru had ever encountered.
Just facing her made Yoru’s heart pound.
It wasn’t due to killing intent. Nor was it a difference in power. It was the primal alarm that all living creatures instinctively felt.
A thickening sll of blood perated the air.
In the ti it took for them to arrive, the scent was far more potent than the corpses they had passed.
‘Who in the world did she kill?’
Although she feared the answer, the sword on her back was stained with blood. Turning her gaze, she noticed a headless corpse lying beside her.
It was Gaijin, his hair white as snow.
It was obvious who had killed him.
But the question of why lingered. If the intention was to eliminate opposition, wouldn’t it be better to band together? Yet, she had killed her father with her own hands.
Yoru swallowed, trying to regain her composure.
“What a strange feeling.”
The woman muttered, exhaling a plu of smoky haze.
“I received a revelation to face the one who would seek out… but I never thought that person would be myself.”
Her dull eyes fixated on Yoru.
Rather than hostile, the cloudy gaze seed to be examining her intently, almost as though pondering deeply.
“And the man with you is… Shiron Prient.”
“…”
“Mind if I ask sothing?”
Clink — the pipe struck the platform, sparking embers.
“Why are you following such a villain?”
“…A villain? Isn’t that you?”
Yoru barely managed to open her tightly shut mouth.
“I don’t know why you killed him, but you murdered our father. You also killed our kin.”
“I didn’t kill our kin. They took their own lives.”
“But you killed Father.”
“The forr elder attacked first. Though much weaker than , I wondered what kind of revelation he might have heard.”
The future Yoru braced herself on her knees and rose.
Her blood-drenched clothes clung to her pale legs, leaving sticky traces as she moved.
“I’ll ask again. Why are you following that villain?”
No answer ca to her repeated question. The future Yoru drew the enormous sword from her back.
“How distasteful. I’ve done nothing, yet you’re already so scared you’ve beco mute. And to entrust yourself to a worthless man? How utterly pathetic.”
Her previously vacant eyes filled with contempt, twisting in disdain. The future Yoru spat and threw down her pipe.
“Get lost, coward. I’m ashad to even cross swords with you.”
In that instant,
A black flash pierced the ground. The surrounding air erupted as if in an explosion. A storm, more than just a gust, arose.
Crash!
A slender blade struck down against the massive sword.
“Coward? Just who are you calling a coward?”
Red lightning sparked in the woman’s eyes.
The future her must be blind too.
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