Leona took the water out of the Kureha spring.

Once drunk, it is a poison that gives immense power to the user, and in return eats away at the body.

 

"If you covet with greed and karma, your heart will be torn apart and your body will perish in pain."

 

Words I heard from Mr. Norn.

Greed and karma, I know she didn't try to use the Kureha Fountain with such malice.

Leona must have been prepared to ask Falga-sama.

...... To be honest, I don't know what to say to Leona.

Knowing her resolve, will you stop her?

- Will you take your anger out on her who tries to confront Charon from the front and force her to stop?

I can't say anything about this until I talk to her more.

 

"Then we will start the battle with Charon tomorrow at noon."

 

After the talk with Falga, a council of war was held in the evening to prepare for the battle with Charon.

It was me, Amako, Alc, Nea, Norn, and Leona.

The general plan for the battle to be held tomorrow afternoon was to be held back by Charon and Leona and Aluk, with Nea and I at the center.

The first thing you have to do to deal with Charon is to pull the axe made by Falga away from him.

One of his threatening elements is to contain the substandard ice magic.

After pulling away the axe, you hunt him down until you are incapacitated. It will be very difficult to incapacitate Charon, but if we work together, it is not impossible.

And supporting us in battle are Norn-sama, Amako, and Bulllin.

Norn-sama was responsible for putting up a barrier so that the battle between us and Charon-san would not be disturbed by wild monsters, and Amako was responsible for predicting the danger to us and Charon-san's movements from outside the boundary, and communicating it to us.

He entrusts Bullyn with Amako's bodyguard.

If it was just me and Bullin, I thought that if I were to team up with Alc and Leona, Bullyn would get in the way.

 

"What's the matter? Usato?"

 

As everyone returned to their rooms after the strategy meeting, Leona noticed my gaze and tilted her head.

I frowned at her expression of concern for me as usual, and after hastily pressing my mouth, I turned an awkward smile to her.

 

"Hahaha, it's nothing."

「...... I see."

 

I don't know how to cut it out.

Or rather, I can't talk to Leona in this place where the Norns are still there.

I managed to deceive Leona, and I had no choice but to leave the room as if to escape.

 

●

 

When I came out of the room, I went to the training ground instead of my room.

The darkened training ground was illuminated by the moonlight and the light of magic tools leaking from the castle, and I sat on the edge of the training ground in the chilly night wind.

 

"Huh."

 

Mistress Falga asked me to save Leona.

But I don't know what to do to stop Leona.

It's not just a matter of confiscating the water that Leona has from the Kureha Spring. If she did that, she would be self-deprecating.

However, if the battle with Charon continues, Leona will not hesitate to use water to fight Charon.

 

"It's hard."

 

To tell you the truth, why don't you rely on me? I'd like to say that, but it's also bad that I didn't realize it until I was in this situation.

 

「...... Whew!"

 

He clenches his fists tightly at his own inadequacy.

I couldn't forgive myself for not being able to fully understand the anguish she was going through, even though I had been training with her so much and knowing Leona's troubles.

 

"Usato, are you okay?"

「......!」

 

When I turned around at the sound of a voice from behind me, I saw Leona there.

Unlike during training, she took off her armor and changed into an outfit with a long black skirt, and looked down at me as if looking into my face.

 

"Leona, why ......?"

"It was a little strange, so I came to see it because I was worried."

 

Leona smiles shyly.

He doesn't look like he's prepared to die tomorrow.

 

"What's really going on? I don't think I'll be worried about anything tomorrow—"

"I heard from Master Farga that you brought the water from the Kureha Spring."

「...... Huh?"

 

With that, I stood up and approached Leona behind me.

I got close enough to reach her, who was looking down awkwardly, and continued to weave my words.

 

"Leona, are you going to have a fight with Charon?"

「...... I thought the Norns were going to stop me, but ....... Well, it was you who Falga-sama chose."

 

Leona smiles self-mockingly.

...... She didn't say it, but from her demeanor, it seemed that Mistress Farga's words were true.

Only he knew it wasn't a lie, but I wanted it to be a lie.

 

"He really knows, he doesn't think I'm going to guess the person I least wanted to know ......."

"What didn't you want to know the most......?"

"You're too dazzling for me, because you're straighter than anyone I know, and you're trying to do the right thing without hesitation. Every time I look at you, I feel the urge to throw this water away......

 

From the pocket of her skirt, she took out a small bottle of clear liquid.

Water drawn from the Kureha spring. The amount was quite small, but the small bottle had an unusual presence.

 

"I am a fool, and for whatever reason I have reached for the forbidden spring. At that point, I was fascinated by power."

 

That's not true.

I wanted to say that, but the words didn't come out of my voice.

She's right, no matter what the reason, it's none other than Leona herself who has reached for the fountain. She made her own choice and made a decision.

You can't twist it with words of comfort.

 

"Leona, will you reconsider? You don't have to give up your life. You've been training for tomorrow, haven't you?"

「......」

"And yet, how would you lay down your own life to defeat Charon...... Does that mean that the training you have been doing with me and Alc up to this day is in vain?"

 

I know it's a blaming way to say it, but I can't help it in this case.

Even if she comes out a little bullish, we have to know what kind of intention Leona had when she decided to wrestle.

Leona looked down in silence at my words, but she smiled as if she had given up.

 

"Really...... I envy you for your strength of mind."

"What?"

"The days of training with you were not in vain, in fact, you grew surprisingly quickly to the point where you could fight Charon. I'm sure that if you and I really fight now, you'll definitely win."

"Then—"

"But that's not enough, no matter how much you can fight Charon, if he gets stronger in the middle of a fight, even if you become stronger, you will not be able to defeat him."

 

I can't say for sure that it's impossible.

In fact, the first time I fought Charon, he woke up, showed a glimpse of a dragon, and overwhelmed me and Leona, even though we still had a grace period left.

There's no guarantee that something similar won't happen tomorrow.

 

"And even though we can fight Charon, the chances of defeating him are still low, and if he doesn't make the decision in tomorrow's operation, we ......'t be able to do anything about it."

"So, you ...... trying to win with the power of the Kureha Fountain yourself?"

"That's right."

 

Leona's guess is not wrong.

It's true that I have the power to fight Charon on an equal footing, but I don't have the decisive blow to defeat him.

 

"It's not that I didn't have hope, but there were times when I thought that with you I might be able to defeat Charon. But if you consider the worst-case scenario...... My feet naturally went towards the spring."

「...... Leona, you're ......."

"Usato, you are a person who should not die here, and with the threat of the Demon King, a big battle is inevitable. You, who can save so many people in that battle, should not die in a place like this."

 

I'm just a reckless kid who can only look forward.

But Leona doesn't think so.

My words do not reach her in the face of her firm will.

 

"But—"

"Usato, please understand. I...... You're a hero, ......!"

 

Just as I was about to say a word to Leona to stop her, she grabbed me by the collar and pulled me closer to her.

I was so surprised that I kept my mouth shut, and Leona's gaze met.

Tears were oozing from her eyebrows, which had been hidden by her bangs just a moment ago.

 

"Please don't hold me back any longer...... Every time I hear your words, my resolve is shaken ......!"

"Why did you go that far......?"

"As a hero of this country, I must protect it! A place for everyone to return to! To do that, we have to kill Charon!"

"Oh, you're not fighting alone, are you?!"

 

I can't help but refute her words.

 

"Yes, yes...... Just because you're not alone doesn't mean there's any guarantee you'll win! No matter how tough you are, you're still human! If you are beheaded, you will die!"

"You just have to make sure you don't get beheaded!"

"I don't think that's the problem!"

"Then what's the problem? Being a hero shouldn't be a good reason to give up your life!"

 

I can see that I'm getting hot.

I'm angry at this person.

This person who only prioritizes others and doesn't think about himself at all.

I'm the same way, but this person has no intention of living. That's what I can't stand.

 

"I'm a brave man! We have to protect everyone's place to go! Norn and Farga...... Usato, I don't want you to die!"

"I feel the same way! But you're not the only one in what you call "everyone's place to go"! That would be too sad, wouldn't it?!"

「...... Whew!"

 

What is a hero?

I don't think Faluga and Norn chose you to be a hero to force them to do that.

Leona is speechless at my appeal. He looks dismayed, but there is a stubborn determination in his tearful eyes.

This person is not going to bend his mind no matter what.

 

"Are you willing to kill Charon in exchange for your own life to stop him......?"

"Still, I don't mind."

"Even if there is someone waiting for Charon-san to return?"

 

I told you about Charon's wife before.

I still remember Leona talking nostalgically. I'm sure it's an important memory for Leona.

However, Leona's mouth twists and she looks down slightly.

 

「...... Ahh

 

The moment I heard the response, the expression disappeared from my face.

My heart, which was empty for a moment, overflowed with a different feeling of anger.

 

"Come on."

「...... Huh?"

"I don't think it matters!"

 

Forgetting even the honorific language, I yell at her.

I know you shouldn't impose my ideas. I know, but I can't keep silent when someone says something like that with ...... expression!

I know the look on his face. The girl who had been ravaged by the curse in Samaria had the same expression on her face.

Leona has the exact same expression as Eva, who was trying to suppress her emotions and force herself to accept her vanishing fate.

 

"I'm really scared and can't stand it! You want to run away! And yet, you are ......! I'm going to kill Mr. Charon and be comfortable dead!"

"No, no, that's ......!"

"If I kill Charon and die, that's it! The responsibility for killing him disappears on your shoulders! If that happens, peace will return to Mearlark, isn't it?!"

 

I pull off Leona's hand that is grabbing my chest with my left arm.

I made eye contact with Leona, who was surprised by this, and spat out the words with even more determination.

 

"No matter how much you accept death, I will not accept it, and I will never let you throw your life away in front of me!"

「...... Huh?"

"Look into my eyes!"

 

Leona's eyes flicker at my words.

We will not allow ourselves to look away here.

I suppressed my feelings, took a deep breath, calmed my mind, and spun the words as if I were telling her.

 

"Leona...... I couldn't get to Mealak on my own."

"What......?"

"Whether it's my first time on the battlefield, fighting an evil dragon, or scrambling to break a curse in Samaria, I've been helped and supported by others to keep me going."

 

In the forest of Ringle, Rose saved her when she was almost killed by a snake.

A knight who saved me when I was about to be stabbed by a soldier of the Demon King's army.

His friends helped him fight the evil dragon and break the curse of Samariar.

If it weren't for them, I might be dying somewhere.

 

"There's only so much you can do on your own, so it's okay to ask for help from someone around you instead of having to shoulder everything on your own."

 

I released one of the hands that was still gripping my chest and reached out to Leona, who had sat down.

 

"Norn is here, maid...... Everyone in the castle and, of course, us. If you ask for help, everyone will reach out. So you should reach out too."

「...... Hands?"

 

She looked up at me and stared at my hand in amazement.

He shakes the hand that he lifted to shoulder height, as if wondering if he should grab it.

 

"I don't want to ask for help...... Are you sure?"

"Yes, you can rely on it to your heart's content."

 

He grabs Leona's trembling hand.

I was a little surprised by the feel of her cold hands, but when I looked at her, she was in tears as she stared at my hand.

...... Did I change her mind?

Or rather, the guilt of making an older woman cry now comes to my heart.

 

"Leona, can you stand?"

 

I wiped my eyes and nodded silently, and I stood up and glanced at the vial she was holding.

...... Actually, I should confiscate it here and now, or smash the vial, but it doesn't make sense if she draws water from the spring again.

 

"You can have that water, but please don't use it as long as I'm alive. Even if he breaks his limbs or breaks his body, I will stop him and help him."

"Why, you...... That's ......."

 

You are a very kind and clumsy person.

There are a lot of differences, but I know people who are similar in those aspects. Like that person who was violent, unreasonable, devilishly horrible, but had a certain kindness.

 

"That's all I want to say, I have nothing more to say to you. The rest...... Think for yourself and come up with an answer."

 

I said that without answering the question, turned my back on Leona, who was looking at me in confusion, and left.

We don't know how tonight's exchange will affect tomorrow.

If my words hadn't been heard, Leona would have drunk the water from the spring tomorrow. When that happens, she turns into a monster who is only swayed by her own powers.

However, if he changes his mind, he will fight Charon without drinking the water from the spring. If Leona can rely on us to fight at that time, she will be a very reassuring ally.

In the end, all I could do was not save her, but let her choose.

 

「...... I wish I could have said something better......"

 

As he walks away from the training grounds and into the entrance to the castle, he presses his forehead and complains.

In the end, he just let his emotions get the best of him and spit out his words, which made Leona cry.

Maybe I hurt her with my words, so instead of convincing her, I pushed her into a corner.

When I think about it, I get disgusted with my emotional self.

 

"It's more like you if you don't say anything weird."

「...... Hmm?"

 

As he was in a state of self-loathing, a figure emerged from the shadows near the entrance.

When I looked at it, I saw that it was an amako with an owl on its head.

 

"It's a tantrum, but Nea is right, Usato."

"Hey, what's a tantrum?" Don't you like that you have the same opinion as me? If so, I'm a jerk too."

"Noisy, hairballs"

"Hey, hairballs!? Needless to say, treat me like a hairball this adorable owl!?"

 

I don't know why they have a nair on their heads, but I can kind of guess why they're here.

...... Also, I made you worry.

I smiled inwardly and opened my mouth to the two who started a quarrel.

 

"Mr. Alc?"

"I was here a while ago, but after seeing the exchange between Leona and Usato, I went back to my room with peace of mind."

"Maybe you read the air? Usato looked so distressed."

"Aluk-san cares about you......

 

It's really a terrible travel companion for me.

...... You're not alone, are you?

It's a phrase I said myself, but it's true.