Chapter 304: A Price Too Great
I step in front of the bursting Houou. To protect Raphtalia. To protect the Heroes, and the slaves, and the Allied Armies. I stand against the flas scorching the ground before .
I have no ti to worry about the damage from Blutopfer.
I can only count on the Wrath Shield’s defense power.
Perhaps the Spirit Turtle Shell would work as well, but this one has higher defense at the mont.
“UWWWOOOOOOOOHHH!”
I let out my voice, as I go forward, step by step, to push away the flas coming at us.
Besides the area I defend, everything is charred black.
Gu… It’s gotten past my Shield’s defenses, and I feel the excruciatingly hot flas eating at my flesh.
The sense of feeling in my arms disappears, along with the pain.
My instincts scream that my body is in danger.
Should I switch to the Spirit Turtle Shell?
It has high fire resistance. I imagine it changing in my mind.
And, from the Shield… I feel sothing screaming out.
If I change to that shield, I still won’t be able to stand this.
「Change Shield」!
I change one of my Float Shields to the Spirit Turtle Shell.
… It was burned to a crisp in no ti! I deploy the Shield again in front of to buy so ti.
Even with the Wrath Shield, I’m taking this much damage.
If this attack gets past , those behind will be reduced to nothing but cinders.
I feel the world around slowing down.
I guess this is the sensation you get when your life is in peril. I think I read about it in a book sowhere, once. When humans sense their lives are in great danger, their thought process hastens, and ti seems to pass slower.
The rciless flas from Houou keep attacking . In order to turn everything into ash.
Barely… I’m barely containing it, but I get the feeling that only 5 seconds have passed in real ti.
How long will I have to do this?
I deployed teor Shield long ago, and it was instantly destroyed.
There’s no point in using a reflecting Shield, and my Float Shields are already out.
But by deploying my floats one after the other, I’m just barely getting through this.
What do I do?
「Dreifach Resist Fire!」
Sothing from behind … is it Ren? A magic that increases my fire resistance flies at .
I guess it isn’t Revelation level because there wasn’t enough ti.
A wise decision.
I feel that the damage I’m taking has reduced ever-so-slightly.
But that’s rely delaying the inevitable.
!?
Houou’s fire’s output increased.
As if to tell there was more to co, the fire power suddenly jumps up. The flas burn through .
The heat seeps through the cracks forming on my Shield. My shoulder is now a nicely baked entrée.
Raphtalia: “Naofumi-sama!”
Ren: “Naofumi!”
“Gu…”
Raphtalia and the others call out to .
A few of them cast recovery and support magic on . I’m impressed they were able to muster that up in this short amount of ti.
But it’s still not enough to handle Houou’s inferno.
Gugu…
I frantically put all of my strength to keeping my Shield arm steady.
The force hitting seems like it’ll blow away at any mont. My limbs are turning into charcoal. The HP bar on my status is unsteadily teetering into the critical zone, and I guess I’ll be burned away to nothing at this rate.
I’m impressed that the past Seven Star Hero was able to take on this monster.
Looking back, isn’t this explosion more powerful than the one on the mural?
Ku…
In ten seconds or so, I’ll be blown away, won’t I?
No, there’s a single way.
If I use that, I’ll save everyone’s life.
But if I do, I’ll definitely die…
But…
“I just have to do it!”
It happened at the sa ti as my scream.
Next to , a single little girl stood.
Atlas: “It’s fine. I’ll protect… I’ll fulfill Naofumi-sama’s wish.”
“What!?”
and… that girl’s brother cry out.
The girl firmly nods… she holds out her hands as she jumps forwards.
I can’t let her challenge the impossible. I imdiately reach out my hand to grab her.
But my outstretched hand never reached Atlas.
Having studied defense under , that girl… uses one of the attacks we made together. 『Collect』. She directs all of the flas towards her, and collects them. She creates a Wall to redirect them, and sends them in a direction devoid of human life.
“Atlas!”
In response to my voice, the girl’s mouth forms a kind smile.
She’s letting off an imasurable amount of sweat… the at on her arms has been burnt to a crisp, yet still, she uses her chi to redirect the flas… And in response to her great will, the flas obeyed.
What ca next was an explosive sound strong enough to destroy my ears, and a flash too loud for to keep my eyes open.
When I open them, the smoke prevents from seeing anything.
“Geho, Geho! Atlas!” (Note: Sound of coughing)
I wave my arm as if to brush away the smoke. I shout out.
And I turn and ask a question.
“Are you okay! Is everyone safe!?”
The smoke clears, and behind , I see everyone standing.
It seems that we managed to change the direction of Houou’s flas, but the flas we missed ca into contact with the army, and caused large casualties.
There are corpses all around. Many have collapsed on the ground.
More importantly, Atlas.
She ran in front of , into the flas. I look for the young girl who took drastic asures to save us.
And… I look up.
And I realized the fact that sothing was falling down from the sky.
I hold out my arms to catch it.
“Ah…”
Heavy emotions run through my head, yet the item in my hands is so light… that thing, that item… was a girl missing an arm, with both of her legs turned to charcoal. It took several seconds to realize that I had found Atlas.
“Atlas!”
Fohl runs over
“KYUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”
At the sa ti, the shadows of two large birds cover us.
Ren: “Naofumi! We have to retreat!”
Ren shouts at .
“Ah… bu-but…”
Ren: “The current you can’t fight! We have to heal your wounds! And… We need to hurry up and treat that child! There are many injured people. This is the ti where… the best healer among us should step forward. This is the ti for you to act!”
No words can co out of my mouth… what do I do? What can I do!?
Ren: “Quickly! Leave this place to us!”
Naofumi: “U-understood.”
Ren: “Raphtalia-san, hurry and get those two out of here! Fohl, you get back too!”
Raphtalia: “Y-yes! Firo!”
Firo: “Yeah!”
In response to Ren’s stern words, I was brought to the back lines. My mind was still blank.
“Ah… ah…”
I still can’t form any words.
Atlas is on the verge of death.
Looking closely, it isn’t just her legs that have turned to charcoal. Everything under her stomach has been burned to a crisp.
It’s amazing that she’s still alive.
“Hah… ha… hah…”
I leave her to rest in a temporary dical tent, and go around treating those on the verge of death with the rest of the dics.
But the most severely wounded is Atlas.
The rest are… only those that survived made it here.
In my blank mind, I look over everything I saw and heard once more.
Fohl: “Atlas! Get a grip!”
Fohl grips Atlas’s remaining arm, and desperately starts talking to her.
Atlas responds in a whisper.
Don’t waver…
What I have to do now is treat the wounded.
I need to save as many lives as I can.
I’m a hero. I’m the Hero of the Shield.
Defense, Support, and Recovery. I’m perhaps the best in the world in those aspects.
… I can’t concentrate.
Even so… I can’t let anybody… I can’t let Atlas die.
Calm down. Concentrate, and cast the highest level healing you can.
「Revelation Heal」!
The glow of my recovery magic envelops Atlas.
But… it didn’t bring back her missing limbs.
Naofumi: “W-why!?”
Healing Magic is all-purpose, right!?
Ah, right, when I got back, the magic they cast on healed my wounds, but it didn’t seem to have an effect on Atlas.
No… It’s probably healing her, but her wounds are too severe…?
Then… I take out Yggdrasil dicine from my Shield, and apply it to Atlas.
It works as an ointnt, and if drunk, it can save patients on the verge of death. If I use it in all ways possible, she should get better.
But…
“WHY!?”
There’s no sign of Atlas healing.
I take out my anger on a nearby healer.
Naofumi: “Why won’t she heal!?”
… She’s crossed the line where healing is possible.“
Rat ca forward, and muttered this.
Naofumi: “What… do you an?”
Rat: “The fact that Atlas-chan is even living is sothing close to a miracle. Starting with the healers, and the Marquis’s magic and dicines, keeping her alive is the best we can do. Also…”
“Rafu…”
Under Rat’s arm, Mii-kun’s core cried out.
Rat: “This child also had her body destroyed as he protected everyone. He did this much…”
Raphtalia: “Rat-san. Is there any way you can save Atlas?”
Naofumi: “Can’t you do anything!? Can we give her life like that Mii-kun in your hands?”
Rat: “Monsters and Demi-Humans are different. If we used homunculus technology, then perhaps we could get her arms and legs to move, but that girl’s also burnt up most of her organs. Alchemy isn’t omnipotent.”
Raphtalia: “This can’t be…”
Rat: “Even by replacing parts, it’s not enough. No matter what we do, she won’t be saved.”
“That’s a lie!”
I won’t believe it! Never! There has to be a way!
Where!? Where is the Shield that can save Atlas’s life? There has to be one.
What the hell is the Hero of the Shield? What the hell is with this hero that had to sacrifice a little girl to survive…
Atlas: “Naofumi…… sama…”
I turn to Atlas.
Atlas: “Did we protect everyone?”
Fohl: “Yeah, but more importantly, you-”
Atlas: “Onii-sama… please bring Naofumi-sama here…”
Fohl: “… Okay.”
Fohl grabs , and drags next to Atlas.
Atlas: “… I know. I have no ti left, right?”
Naofumi: “What are you saying? You have as much ti as there’s ti in the world.”
On my answer, Atlas, weakly shakes her head.
Atlas: “Naofumi-sama… It’s fine already. Don’t worry about .”
Naofumi: “Of course I would worry about you!”
Right. If one Yggdrasil dicine was no good, then if I use more, I should be able to save a single life.
But my supply is limited to two. But if I just get more, then definitely.
I signal the healer to co closer, and order him to bring so Yggdrasil dicine.
Rat: “Quit it already, Marquis! I just said it, but she’s past the limit.”
Naofumi: “We won’t know if it works until we try!”
Rat: “And I’m telling you because we do know!”
I ignore Rat, and apply the second vial to Atlas.
First, rub it on the wounds…
But as I touched her skin, I noticed.
The parts that had beco charcoal wouldn’t co off no matter what.
“Sorry, Atlas!”
I took a knife ant for dical use, and cut off the charcoal portions.
But… still, there’s no sign of her healing.
“Hah… hah…”
It seems she can do nothing but breathe. She puts her remaining hand on mine.
Atlas: “Please… stop already.”
Naofumi: “Never!”
Don’t say such things in front of !
No matter what happened, I never gave up.
Even when I was betrayed by those I trusted, even when I was called a devil, even when I was almost killed, I never gave up.
Even so… I can’t give up in the face of this… this unreasonable turn of events!
Atlas: “Naofumi… sama. Please understand… I can’t be saved anymore. I’m the one who understands that best. Every second, part of my chi, my life force leaves my body, so… I understand.”
“But ,even so-”
Water scatters from my eyes, which I thought had withered long ago.
Atlas: “With Naofumi-sama’s miraculous power, I am… here talking to you. Please… calm yourself.”
Weakly, as if her body would crumble at any second, Atlas stroked my face.
Atlas: “Hah… hah…”
“…”
I close my mouth, and Atlas smiles. It’s a smile like one a mother would give to comfort a crying child. Using her hand, she wipes away my tears.
Atlas: “Naofumi-sama, I love you more than anyone else in this world. And I said this before, right? I wanted to beco your shield.”
Naofumi: “… Yeah.”
And that ans you’ll accept a fate like this!?
If you died because you acted as soone’s shield, do you understand just what sort of emotions the person you protected would experience!?
When I was thinking that, I understood what Atlas was trying to tell .
What she did was exactly what I was trying to do.
Using Collect to gather the flas, and release them sowhere else.
If put into practice, what would happen? I was the one who understood that best.
If Atlas didn’t step in front first… I would be where she is now.
Naofumi: “Even so.. this…”
I can’t muster up anything but a cracked voice from my throat.
Atlas: “I am… satisfied. Like this, I was able to use the life you saved to save yours.”
Naofumi: “No, you can’t die. You can’t die from protecting soone like .”
That was sothing that I should have been doing.
It’s not like I wanted to die.
If it was , I may have survived it.
Atlas: “Naofumi-sama… I don’t think I can… answer that request.”
Naofumi: “Why!?”
I know! I already Know.
But can’t I pray for a miracle too?
Soone. Anyone is fine. God, I pray to you.
I don’t believe in anyone, but I’ll pray to you!
I’m well aware that this is a selfish request.
Even if the God of this world is the Four Heroes, even if I go against myself, if you can save the girl before my eyes, then… I…
Atlas: “Naofumi-sama, please… listen to my last bit of selfishness.”
Naofumi: “What? What is it? I’ll definitely grant it. That’s why you can’t do anything like dying!”
Atlas: “… I wished to beco your Shield. That wish hasn’t changed… and… I don’t want to return my blood, flesh, or soul to the earth.”
Naofumi: “Eh?”
The hand grasping mine moved to my Shield.
Atlas: “I knew from the start I could never beco Naofumi-sama’s number one.”
Naofumi: “What are you…”
Atlas: “But still, I wished for it. If at least this body can be closer to yours than anyone else…”
I rember the Atlas that ca to my room every night.
She always wanted to be by my side.
Atlas: “Even if I lose my form, please let… be with you.”
At this girl’s goal… I trembled.
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