LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 66
The giant clouds that made this rough land fertile.
The lightning within the clouds drove away countless evils.
Finally, the wind that moved with the lightning stole away the dirty things that brought harm.
The storm is a guardian watching over us.
Boom!!
“Ugh!!”
Aswel blocked the raging lightning with the holy sword and looked up at the being reigning in the sky.
Quite a bit of time had passed, but he had never succeeded in attacking even once.
No, rather, just defending had consumed all his focus.
‘This is a dragon…!’
A dragon governing the storm, the Stormblast clan.
It was an overwhelming strength, clearly different from the days when he had only faced it.
There was not even a gesture. Just by looking at Aswel, lightning rained down from the clouds.
If it weren’t for the overwhelming defensive power of the holy sword and armor, he would have already been turned to ashes.
Rumble…
Kunder Stormblast’s might was indeed formidable.
Similar in strength to Mercadié.
However, Kunder Stormblast was not currently trying to kill the hero with all his might.
In other words, he was holding back.
“Haah… Haah…”
If things continued like this, he pictured a future where he would fall after endless defense.
But.
‘It’s becoming clearer!’
Kang!
The holy sword made a sound as if it had struck something metallic and repelled the lightning.
But it didn’t just end with that.
Kakakang!!
Boom!!
The lightning that had gathered at the tip of the holy sword was repelled back into the sky.
“……”
Seeing that, Kunder halted the relentless lightning strikes.
Seizing the opportunity, Aswel leaped and sliced the air with the holy sword.
The white light contained within the strike split the sky where Kunder had been.
Kunder, hit by the strike, was unscathed, but the impact split the clouds behind him in half.
“Cough!!”
Aswel didn’t stop and swiftly jumped up again to attack Kunder.
But every time, with the roar of thunder, Kunder’s body vanished.
Rumble…
“Is this truly the justice of a hero?”
Thud.
As Kunder landed firmly again, he glared at the hero with cold eyes.
“How have you dealt with flying magical creatures and demons until now? If a flying demon with power like Mercadié appears, will you just helplessly chase after it?”
His tone was filled with disappointment, causing Aswel to grip the holy sword tightly.
In truth, he wouldn’t have been able to attempt those attacks if it weren’t for his shoes and gloves.
“It seems you still haven’t realized the true power of a hero.”
“Hah… Hah…”
“And yet you still wish to take Rui back. You aren’t even ready to receive her help.”
Rumble…
The storm answered Kunder’s cold fury.
A massive bolt of lightning began to coalesce in a shape different from before.
Aswel sensed it.
No matter what that was, he wouldn’t escape serious injury upon impact.
“Allow yourself to sleep for a moment. I’ll tidy things up without any trouble.”
With the intensifying thunder, the sky was instantaneously covered in light.
Aswel raised the holy sword to block the attack.
However, Aswel was doubting himself within.
The colossal bolt of lightning approached slowly, as if time had slowed.
Could he, and the holy sword, really block that attack?
In that moment.
Heehin~!
With the cry of a horse echoing from somewhere, a thought arose.
‘The reason I came here.’
It was to save my comrades.
At the same time.
‘…To save the beloved Rui.’
A firm ‘will’.
The mana of the sun began to respond to the hero’s ‘will’.
* * *
‘Pegasus.’
The black horse, residing far away in the mansion’s stable.
The hero was releasing burning mana akin to the sun.
It was because of this mythical creature.
‘Surely the Emperor must have given a word, but why?’
Why did that noble steed encourage the hero’s temporary awakening?
Creatures like Pegasus are more sensitive to the world’s laws than the strong.
And yet, that being was helping the hero defy causality.
Why on earth?
The hero’s hair, now turned pure white, absorbed the lightning.
That state wouldn’t last long.
But temporarily reaching a level even the dragon had to reveal itself was something the hero hadn’t even realized.
No matter how great the help of Pegasus was, ultimately, it was the hero’s own will that allowed them to reach that stage.
Moreover, the awakening of the hero inscribed on the prophetic stone was something that shouldn’t have happened yet.
“……”
Ultimately, Kunder halted the lightning he was about to unleash and took a step back.
At that moment, the magic barrier of the Ice Castle dissolved completely, as if welcoming a guest.
The hero, who had been on guard against Kunder, dashed into the castle.
‘Rui, is this also your influence?’
* * *
“Hah… Hah…”
Rui. Where are you?
Not in this room either.
Clank!
While trying to find her by opening various doors, there was no sign of her whatsoever.
Could it be that she’s not here?
“Hero Aswel.”
A voice called out.
Turning around, it was Rui’s mentor.
“Stop your guard. I no longer intend to stop you.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“It means exactly what it says. Rui is in the very bottom of the Ice Castle, in her room, so go down that staircase.”
“……”
“I do not wish to suppress my disciple, so I hope you understand my intentions.”
Having finished those words, the mentor vanished from the Ice Castle along with a flurry of frost.
There was now nothing blocking her path.
The whims of the three dragons and the help of a mythical creature unknown to Aswel.
Aswel descended the staircase and finally arrived at a door.
And.
Creeeak…
Inside, he found a girl tearily gazing at him.
Finally, the hero was able to meet her.
* * *
Why is the hero so stubborn?
“I clearly said I didn’t want this.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Kunder’s lightning had burned away parts of the armor and gloves.
He tried to wipe off the soot with the hem of his robe, but the traces left by the dragon’s lightning weren’t so easily erased.
“……”
I silently bowed my head, repeating this meaningless action.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at the hero’s face right now.
“……Aswel.”
“I’ve heard everything.”
“……Huh?”
“I’m sorry for making you bear such a fate.”
What does that mean?
Unconsciously, I lifted my head to look at Aswel’s face.
“Why… do you have that expression?”
It was a face filled with more anguish than anyone else’s.
Aswel’s face, which had always been smiling and brimming with confidence, was now crumpled.
It was my fault.
This happened because I joined the hero’s party, breaking the original plot.
Why was Aswel apologizing as if it were his mistake?
“I’m sorry, Rui.”
At Aswel’s single apology, the emotions I had buried in my heart began to stir.
A surge of various feelings, which began with longing, surged uncontrollably, and ultimately, I could no longer suppress them.
“Why… why are you apologizing…?”
While burying my face in Aswel’s chest, I struck him with my fist.
My fists, consumed by anger and sorrow, couldn’t wield much strength.
While silently keeping my face hidden in Aswel’s chest, I unconsciously spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
For what?
“I’m sorry for not informing you and my comrades.”
Why?
“I couldn’t trust those who believed in me, trust them back.”
Why?
“Because… I always thought I was one step away from the hero’s party.”
From the very beginning, even before I joined the hero’s party.
From the moment I possessed this world.
I thought I wasn’t a person of this world.
And for good reason, I was a male, a being of reality.
The girl named ‘Rui’ never appeared in the original work, and this world was a fictional universe.
The differences were so extreme that I pretended to accept it outwardly yet struggled to internally.
Deep within my heart, my subconscious still recognized me as a being of reality.
Thus, the hero’s party was the protagonist of the original, and this world was the world of the original work.
But as I joined the hero’s party, that recognition began to shatter gradually.
I helped Rapirie, Serelin, and Ariya connect with Aswel and grew closer to them.
I helped Nia escape from the fire giant to join the hero’s party.
I devised and designed numerous plans so that the people of many towns wouldn’t fall into danger.
I took an interest in the hero and aided him.
But after the battle with Mercadié, that recognition reverted.
Causality, indeed.
I was destined not to join the hero’s party.
As soon as I came to that realization, the truth that I was merely a ‘possessor’ struck me hard.
I had almost caused more deaths than in the original by daring to insert myself among the protagonists.
Would it have been better if I had realized this fact sooner?
Ultimately, this situation arose.
The hero was a hero.
He didn’t give up on me, his comrade, and finally came to find me, dodging Kunder and the mentor.
When I met Aswel previously in the mansion, why didn’t I talk to him about causality?
Unconsciously, might I have been hoping for him to come looking for me?
If so, what was my true desire?
Was it to leave the hero’s party, or to return?
Furthermore, who am I?
Am I the XXX of my previous life, or Rui of this world?
Gradually, my head became hazy, and as emotions flooded over me, I started to cry like a child.
I don’t know.
I don’t know anything.
“Sniff… Sniff…”
I need someone to help me.
Who am I?
What do I want?
Please, help me.
“Rui.”
……Aswel.
“It’s alright. I’m here.”
In that moment.
The colors of the world, which had been dyed gray, returned.
“No matter what happens, I will be by your side.”
The Ice Castle, which had seemed like an ink wash painting, began to shine with its natural blue light.
The distant stars in the night sky regained their colors.
“So Rui, don’t worry.”
However, there were two things that remained unchanged.
“I’ll help you.”
The black hair.
The black hair that had not lost its light even in the murky world seen just moments ago.
And, in contrast, my pure white hair.
Rui.
That was my name.
Aswel.
That was his name.
The moment I realized that trivial fact, I murmured without realizing it.
“Infinity Atelier.”
My own workspace that could grant infinite wishes.
The sea of stars filled the Ice Castle, and I murmured once more.
“……The Record.”
And for that task, my own library that bestows infinite knowledge.
A dimension filled with infinite knowledge. And a single entity existing beyond that.
Ignoring the endless knowledge flowing into my mind, I spoke to the enormous mechanical eye watching me.
“Can I disregard causality and embark on a journey with them again?”
Then it answered as if it had been waiting.
[—-.]
Was it a short word, or a long sentence?
Grasping a memory that slipped away even though it was just a moment ago, my body began to emerge slowly.
At that moment, The Record turned pure white again, and I returned to reality.
“Rui? Are you alright?”
I was cradled in Aswel’s arms, murmuring blankly.
“……I found it.”
The method to defy causality.