༺ Say You Want To Live – Finale ༻

“Found you.”

Historia muttered with a chilling tone. Immediately after hearing that, I hastily wrapped the rope around myself and jumped off.

Free fall, one of the greatest fears known to mankind. Even though I was aware I was suspended by a rope, the horrifying velocity and the dizzying emptiness beneath my feet triggered an instinctive terror…

Yet, it was obviously less terrifying than the hysterical voice pursuing me from behind.

A thudding sound echoed. A bizarre vibration emanated from the building I had just vacated. Inside the residence, people who had been silently hiding released their screams, unable to suppress their fear.

Understandably so. After all, at this very moment, Historia was…

Climbing up while demolishing the building’s walls!

“Stop right th-!”

“If you were me, would youuuUUU?!”

Succumbing to gravity, I plummeted towards the earth. The rope was slightly shorter than my calculation. At the rope’s lowest point, I released it and rolled on the ground, employing a breakfall technique.

“Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!”

Clearly, the concept of a breakfall must have been invented by those who know little about its practicality. I did exactly how I was taught, but it still hurts! The notion of falling gracefully was absurd; after all, humans, unlike winged animals, were not meant to fall in the first place, you know!

Anyway, after standing straight and clutching my throbbing left arm, I sprinted with all my might.

But, well… Either way…

“Found you!!!”

What could be the method to climb a smooth wall with no footholds? The answer was to just create footholds in the wall as you ascended.

By stepping forcefully, the wall crumbled, providing an anchor for your body. Leveraging these makeshift footholds, you could ascend the wall methodically, step by step.

It sounded like bullshit, but that was precisely what Historia accomplished just moments ago.

By walking up the wall of the residence in this manner, Historia reached the rooftop and pinpointed my location precisely.

“Huey! Stop right there! If you don’t, I’ll shoot!”

Normally, speaking before shooting meant there was no real intention to fire. Without looking back, I yelled in response.

“If you shoot, I die! Haha! Would you shoot your gun at a virtuous citizen who would die even from a mere touch?”

“Think I can’t shoot?”

Historia’s gaze turned dangerous. With a bullet loaded, she aimed the gun at me across the sights.

Ah, damn. Did I provoke her unnecessarily?

｢I’ll shoot just enough to not kill you. A clean shot through your leg will do the trick.｣

What kind of friend says they would make a clean shot through my leg? While internally complaining, I was just about to jump sideways when…

｢…By the way, what is that?｣

Right before she was about to fire, Historia noticed a figure running alongside me and frowned.

Huh? Someone’s tagging along next to me?

Turning my head, I spotted someone running while keeping pace with me. The girl, wagging her tail back and forth, was sprinting alongside me with ease.

…On four legs.

As soon as our eyes met, Azzy barked cheerfully.

“Woof! Nice to see you! Nice to see you!”

Captain. Didn’t you say it was a person? It’s a dog.

Moreover, she’s not helpful at all. Azzy can’t fight against humans!

But still!

“I know it’s a bit shameless of me to say this, but it’s nice to see you too. I’m so happy to see you that I could cry.”

“Woof! Crybaby!”

“I haven’t cried yet, okay?”

｢It doesn’t matter. For now, shooting the leg is convenient.｣

Just before Historia pulled the trigger, Azzy’s ears twitched first. Sensing the danger through instinct rather than sound, Azzy leaped with her eyes wide open. In the darkness, the light reflected in Azzy’s eyes became a beam.

Banggggg!

Along with the sound of the gunshot, Azzy, who had darted behind me, had her head whipped around. Simultaneously, Azzy was flung far away, landing on her back.

Azzy bounced up and down, yelling.

“Woof! Hot! Hard! Hurts!”

Oh, it seems she can’t fight humans, but she can face bullets, huh. More importantly…

“So it hurts for you as well when you get hit by bullets, huh. That’s pretty surprising.”

To think a kid like that would catch a bullet with her teeth. Still, it seemed like it was painful, seeing as it was a bullet from a Star General.

Azzy, with tears welling up, cried out.

“My teeth, shaking! Hurts!”

“Just lick yourself.”

“Woof…! Still hurts! Woof!”

“Why did you even do that? Who catches bullets with their teeth anyway? Can’t you use something like Qi Deflection?”

“Woof? Cheese? Deli?”

“Forget it. What was I expecting from a dog anyway?”

It seemed unlikely that Azzy could keep catching Historia’s bullets in succession. Fortunately, Historia didn’t seem to have too many bullets.

“STOP RIGHT THEREEEEEE!”

Historia leaped from the rooftop in a breath and landed on the ground. The impact of her Qi was so violent that it sent vibrations through the concrete. With the ground shattered beneath her, Historia’s eyes gleamed with a feral intensity like a beast.

“Stop right there!”

Clatter. Four more bullets dropped into her hand. She quickly loaded them into her magazine and rushed forward, aiming the gun once again.

But well… Where there’s a dog, there’s usually someone looking after it, you know?

“Skyblade Art!”

The Regressor landed lightly before me. Literally falling from the sky, the Regressor immediately unfolded an unseen blade.

“Heavenly Mirror!”

This was different from Qi Deflection. It was a pure distortion of space created by spreading the celestial blade, Chun-aeng, in all directions; a technique that could deflect even light.

The Regressor, having created a shield against Historia’s line of fire, urgently spoke.

“Hey! How did you end up as someone who is chased by one of the Six Star Generals?!”

At her words, I calmly retorted.

“Wrong. Actually, I was always someone who was being chased by her. It just so happened that the chaser became one of the Six Star Generals.”

“What difference does that make!”

“It’s important what the order is. What comes first, you know? If it was a Star General from the very start, would I have done something to be this hated?”

“It isn’t important at all! No, maybe it’s even worse, isn’t it?! How did the chaser even become a Star General?”

“Tsk. How was I supposed to know she’d get promoted so fast?”

Bang, bang, bang.

Three successive shots were deflected by the Heavenly Mirror. Boom, boom, boom. The stray bullets carved through the concrete ground as if it were tofu.

Even though I knew they were misses, the sight of the ground shattering beside me was still terrifying.

Moreover, we were still not safe. Both the Regressor and I sensed danger and remained on high alert.

For the Regressor, it was because of her experiences from previous cycles; as for me, it was thanks to reading Historia’s thoughts.

By that, I mean we both knew the next shot would not miss.

Historia aimed at me with a chilling precision.

｢Zero In.｣

After zeroing in with three shots, the next one was promised to hit. This was a Gun Qi Arts that only Historia, who fought by overlaying Qi on bullets, gun barrels, and gun techniques, had mastered.

It was also the extremity of Qi Art that slightly touched upon the Axiom.

She’s gotten a lot stronger, huh. Meanwhile, what have I been doing this whole time….

I should just skip the class reunion if we ever have one. Not that I could attend as a wanted criminal anyway.

No, wait. Actually, there aren’t enough of us left alive to hold a reunion in the first place. Hehe.

｢I can’t deflect that! I have to block it!｣

The Regressor, perhaps drawing on experience from previous cycles, abandoned the idea of flowing past or repelling with Qi Deflection. Instead, she stirred Jizan in large circles, overturning the ground itself.

“Terra Firma Arts, Ground Breaker!”

With a powerful downward strike of Jizan, the surrounding area sank and shattered concrete spurted up like thorns. The concrete, which sprung up instantaneously, created a barrier between the Gunmaster and us.

The bullet pierced through that gap. However, the Regressor easily deflected the bullet, which had lost its momentum from breaking through the concrete. With a Ting, Chun-aeng was twisted, splitting the bullet in half.

｢I can fend off a few shots. But not forever! Unless I engage in close combat…!｣

The Regressor, having made her decision, immediately yelled.

“Tyrkanzyaka! Obscure her vision with darkness!”

“I shall grant it.”

After a soft, leisurely voice responded, the streetlights ominously flickered.

The night of the Military State did not know what true darkness was. Before her arrival, the darkness on the streets lit by the streetlights was akin to a fox pretending to be a tiger by drawing stripes on its face.

The true meaning of night descended. As if some massive existence had blown out the Military State’s candle, the moment a whoosh of wind was heard, the streetlights were simultaneously extinguished, plunging the world into darkness.

A power unmatched by mere imitations of shadows; the disaster known as the Queen of Shadows descended upon the night of a nation that had only existed for a ‘mere’ 25 years.

In pitch-black darkness, where I couldn’t even see where my own limbs were, Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka approached gently with an umbrella slung over her shoulder. After sensing her presence through Mind Reading, I found myself facing glowing red eyes in the absolute darkness.

Holyyyyy. It really is reassuring to see her in a moment of crisis. I was just about to greet her when…

“Congratulations on your marriage, Hu. So this was why you wished to return to this country.”

A cold remark, laced with subtle hostility, pushed me away. Eh? Looks like it’s not the right moment for greetings, huh?

As I awkwardly lowered my hand, Tyr spoke, gazing at me with eyes full of resentment and hostility.

“Yes. Of course. You are of age, so it is reasonable that you would have a fiancée with whom you have made future promises with.”

“Hey, uh, Tyr. Sorry, but I don’t think now’s the time to talk about that.”

“Is that child perhaps your bride?”

Glance. Even in the darkness, Tyr’s red eyes clearly focused on Historia, who was running towards me with a fierce momentum.

“It appears as if you two are not getting along too well. How is it? If you perhaps wish, I could turn you into a vampire. You should not die from a domestic dispute. Is that not right?”

“We’re not married. If she hears that, I might actually die, you know?”

“Mm? You are not married to her?”

It was bothersome to explain the complex and vast situation, so I responded in the simplest and most straightforward way possible.

“I got entangled in something strange while trying to pull off a marriage scam and ended up running away.”

“…Then, the marriage?”

“It was false information, obviously.”

Tyr’s eyes seemed to soften a bit.

“To think one is able to commit fraud through marriage. How intriguing. At any rate, I understand. But why is it that you ran away at the Abyss?”

“It’s a long story. But basically, it felt like if I was associated with you, even ten lives would not be enough to spare me from death.”

“It does not particularly seem like you have enough as it is. What do you think of becoming a vampire and obtaining as many as ten liv….”

“No, please. Stop saying that.”

A roar echoed from beyond the darkness. The Regressor stood in front of Historia, who was attempting to pierce through the shadows.

In close combat, the Regressor, utilizing Chun-aeng, countered Historia’s attacks. After all, when wielding Jizan and Chun-aeng, the Regressor could not be so easily overpowered.

After fiercely kicking Jizan and frowning from the recoil, Historia shouted.

“Move aside!”

Haha. Would it be the Regressor If she simply stepped aside because she was told to? Try tasting it yourself! The stubbornness of the Regressor!

“…Should I? Is it really necessary to fight with a Star General just to take him with me…?”

Hey! Regressor! Is it really the time for that?

As the Regressor sincerely pondered, something emerged beside her. Sharp claws targeted Historia’s flank. Though Historia managed to block the stealth attack with her foot, that same shadow, vigorously swinging its forepaw, sent Historia flying.

“Myaa… Too noisy, meow. Humans change their territories too often, meow…”

Nabi, who had suddenly appeared, grumbled beside the Regressor. Historia, seeing Nabi suddenly join the fray, scowled.

“King of Cats…! Do you wish to die?!”

“Myaaa! How dare you, meow? How dare you ask if I wish to die, meow?!”

Nabi, baring her teeth, was annoying as an enemy, but could not be more reliable as an ally. So, this is what a Beast King hostile to foes is like, huh.

Anyway, with such helpers arriving from the east, it was time to seize the opportunity.

“Uh, hey, Tyr. Shei. And Esteemed Beasts.”

I raised my voice so all could hear.

“I want to live, you see. So, if you’re not too busy, can you please save me?”

A straightforward plea, free from any irrelevant thoughts or absurd strategies.

Azzy and Tyr looked at each other, as if surprised by my unexpected request.

Azzy was the first to turn her head, responding with a bright smile.

“Woof! I’ll save you! Put neck here!”

“Are you planning to sprint with my nape in your mouth? Sorry, but humans call that execution.”

I politely declined Azzy’s suggestion. Say something that makes sense.

“I’m already in the process of saving y… Eeek!”

“Yep. And I’m already in the process of thanking you too.”

“Could you say that with a bit more sinceri…! Tch! So picky!”

On the other side, the Regressor was still engaged in fierce combat. It seemed Historia had run out of bullets, as she was wielding her gun upside down like a club, against which the Regressor wielded Chun-aeng.

“Hoo. Though it is utterly disgraceful and completely shameless…”

Tyr snapped her fingers. In that instant, darkness surged like a tidal wave, enveloping Historia. Although Historia immediately unleashed Qi from her gun to counter, breaking through seemed like it would take a considerable amount of time.

“I shall let you win, for now. Let us leave this place.”

“You’re backing off, right?! I’ll step out after a bit more!”

The Regressor’s voice echoed from the darkness. And then, it was followed by Historia’s frantic screams from even beyond that.

“Shut up! You all have nothing to do with this! Leave that fucker, Huey, behind and get out of here!”

“Sorry, Ria! I’ve got places to be! I’ll treat you to a meal next time!”

“HEY, YOUUUUUUUUU!”

While offering a farewell that held no certain promises to my former classmate, I climbed onto the coffin that Tyr had brought. The coffin riding the darkness raced through the streets faster than I had ever seen before.

Farewell, Amitengrad. The city of ordinary people who had embraced me ever so warmly.

This ordinary petty criminal shall now take his leave.

Bowing deeply toward Amitengrad as it gradually receded into the distance, I bid my farewell.