Chapter 83
In its fading consciousness, 'it' wished.
―――I don't want to disappear...
The world had suddenly changed.
Its mate had been separated from it.
―――I want to see it...
But that wish would not be granted.
It was trapped by a strange power and could not act freely.
And above all, its body was now heading toward death.
―――I don't want to die...
It wished.
But its wish would not be granted.
Its only solace was that the strange chains placed on it by that human were coming undone.
It was likely that these chains would lose their effect when it died.
But what good did knowing that do?
It was already too late for anything to matter.
―――I don't want to die.
'It' wished once more.
There were still things it had to do.
Things it had to accomplish.
There was someone it had to meet.
It couldn't end here.
≪―――Krrr―――received―――krrr≫
―――What?
Suddenly, something like static echoed in its head.
≪Krrr―――confirmed≫
It heard it again.
As if trying to tether its fading consciousness, the static gradually grew louder.
≪―――Krrr―――≫
≪―――target―――name―――krrrr≫
≪―――will――――execute≫
≪Skill―――' '―――granted―――krrrr≫
―――What? What is it saying?
But strangely, it felt no discomfort.
Then it heard the next words clearly.
≪―――Evolution commencing―――≫
There, its consciousness was cut off for a time.
"Well then..."
I readied my weapon and took a step forward.
The Monster Tamer was visibly shaken.
"No... That's impossible... No way."
Shaking her head and backing away, she glared at me.
"That guy... that Dark Wolf was my strongest asset! Its level was over 20! Twice mine! Its Skills were powerful, too... and I even 'Enhanced' it on top of that... This can't be happening! This is wrong!"
Spitting as she spoke, she shouted.
She looked just like a child throwing a tantrum.
Even so, I see... that Dark Wolf's level was over 20...
No wonder it was so strong.
But there hadn't been an announcement like when I defeated the High Orc.
So the Dark Wolf hadn't been a named monster?
My level had only risen by one, too.
I had felt that it was somehow different from the other monsters, but maybe that had just been my imagination.
No, perhaps that was for the best.
I couldn't handle a situation like the one with the High Orc happening that many times.
Especially not two days in a row.
Ah, right. I needed to collect the magic stone.
It was within my Item Box's storage range now.
I willed the magic stone into my Item Box―――and failed.
...Huh?
I tried again. It failed.
What was going on?
Could it be that even though it was now only a magic stone, its 'ownership' still belonged to the Monster Tamer?
Well, if so, fine. I'd deal with it later.
"D-damn... Not yet! It can't end yet!"
'Darkness' spread at her feet, and several monsters emerged from it.
One orc and three goblins.
...There were still some left?
"Monsters! Buy me some ti...me... huh?"
She began to say that, then stopped.
Of course.
Before she could, the heavy machinery I had sent out crushed the monsters.
≪You acquired experience points.≫
The heavenly voice echoed in my head.
Sorry, but at that level, you couldn't even buy time.
I quickly retrieved the heavy machinery and approached her.
"D-damn it!"
The Monster Tamer turned her back on us and tried to run.
But before she could, a small gunshot rang out.
It was Ichinose-san.
The bullet she fired struck the Monster Tamer in the thigh.
"Guh..."
She collapsed on the spot and groaned in pain.
Now that the Dark Wolf was dead, the automatic defense provided by the 'Darkness' was probably gone as well.
Perhaps she could convert some of the Skills and stats of the monsters she controlled into her own power.
If so, that would explain her physical abilities at the cafeteria, as well as why the Dark Wolf hadn't used the 'Darkness' automatic defense.
It was an extremely troublesome ability.
But conversely, now that she had fewer monsters at her disposal, her physical abilities should have declined.
"Damn... damn it..."
Even so, she desperately crawled away.
I easily caught up and blocked her path.
"...This time, it's really over."
"Eek! W-wait! Please, wait! Please, don't kill me!"
She looked up at me pleadingly.
There wasn't a trace of the composure she had shown at the cafeteria.
This time, she really had no options left.
"I'm sorry about what happened earlier! I'll never do anything like that again! So let me go!"
"..."
"I-if you want, I'll be your companion... no, your slave! Please, use me! I'll definitely be useful! This body belongs to you! Use it however you want! Y-yes, that's it! If you want, you can even sleep with me as much as you like!"
She was desperate.
She didn't want to die.
With only that thought in mind, she desperately babbled on.
But her words did not reach my heart.
How could I trust someone who had once tried to kill me?
Considering Momo and Aka, her existence was far too dangerous.
Above all, I already had my answer.
It was only that I didn't want to carry it out.
Only that I hadn't had the resolve.
"......Is that all you wanted to say?"
A voice came out colder than even I expected.
"―――! N-no... no, I don't want to... I don't want to die... I don't wanna dieeeee..."
Shaking her head from side to side, she finally burst into tears.
"At last... at last, the world has become one where I can be my true self. There are still so many things I want to do. I don't want it to end here... I don't want to die... no... nooooo..."
The hand holding the cleaver trembled.
Cold sweat ran down my back, and my heart pounded unnaturally hard.
―――It's fine, isn't it? Just let her go.
―――She's a girl, and she's crying.
―――Just restrain her and leave the rest to the students here, right?
―――You don't have to get your own hands dirty, do you?
―――If you want, leave it to someone else—Ichinose-san.
―――You can't do it.
―――You can't, you can't, you can't, you can't.
Stop. Don't think about that.
I shook my head as if to dispel those distracting thoughts.
This was―――a test of resolve.
A wall I had to overcome.
A test of resolve I had to pass to survive in this world.
It wasn't that I wanted to kill her.
But whether I could do 'it' or not would greatly expand or limit what I could do.
Like this time. Hesitation and half-measures put my companions at risk.
So... it was time for me to finally steel myself.
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Stress Resistance has increased from Lv. 6 to 7.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Stress Resistance has increased from Lv. 7 to 8.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Stress Resistance has increased from Lv. 8 to 9.≫
The heavenly voice echoed in my head, as if answering my resolve.
At that moment, my heart felt slightly lighter.
"Phew..."
I steadied my breathing, then looked at the Monster Tamer's face again.
It was dyed with despair. I would never forget that expression.
I absolutely couldn't forget it.
"―――Goodbye."
Then―――I swung the blade down.
Or so it should have.
"...Huh?"
The blade had stopped halfway down.
Because of a small barrier of 'Darkness.'
"Huh...?"
Apparently, this phenomenon had been unexpected even to her.
She wore a confused expression.
What was going on?
The Dark Wolf was supposed to have died...
"―――No way..."
I turned and looked toward the place where the Dark Wolf's magic stone had fallen.
―――It was gone. The Dark Wolf's magic stone had disappeared.
In the midst of my confusion, yet more confusion assailed me.
The 'Darkness' that had appeared before her changed shape, becoming a fist-sized 'hole.'
Black, writhing darkness spewed out of it.
It fell in clumps to the ground like a waterfall of mud, spreading in an instant.
I reflexively leaped back, but the Monster Tamer, unable to move because of her injured leg, had no way to avoid it.
She was helplessly caught by the mud.
"W-what is this?―――Aaaaaaaah!?"
Screaming, she was slowly swallowed up.
First her legs, then her arms, then her torso, slowly, slowly.
It was as if the darkness possessed a will of its own and was chewing her up.
"Eek, h-help me—glkkk―――gurgle..."
With a sound that could no longer be distinguished as either a scream or a strange cry, she was swallowed by the darkness.
"―――!"
I felt something ominous.
The chills wouldn't stop.
What... was this enormous pressure?
"Ichinose-san!"
I shouted.
I dashed toward her and hoisted her body over my shoulder.
"K-Kudo-san! What is that...?"
"I don't know! But that thing is dangerous! We need to get away right now!"
Without waiting for her reply, I started running.
The dark mud surged forward with a spray and began spreading radially at a terrifying speed.
A beast emerged from its center.
No, strictly speaking, it was darkness itself wearing the shape of a beast.
A monstrous beast whose legs, torso, tail, ears, and fangs were all dyed pure black.
Was that... the Dark Wolf?
No, it was different.
That was something even more dangerous.
A grotesque, alien monster.
'――――WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!'
It let out a great cry, as if announcing the beginning of despair.
≪Unscheduled announcement≫
≪An individual has reached the Race Lv. cap≫
≪Confirmed that certain conditions have been met≫
≪Beginning search for similar individuals≫
≪No matching results≫
≪Target recognized as a Unique individual≫
≪Confirmed the target individual's body has vanished≫
≪Confirmed that the core is intact≫
≪Connection―――connection―――successful≫
≪Beginning reconstruction of the target individual's body≫
≪Constructing a new Race≫
≪Special new Race 'High Undead Dark Wolf'―――reconstruction complete≫
≪Target individual recognized as a Named Monster≫
≪Target given the individual name 'Schwarz'≫
≪Bonus perk awarded≫
≪Unique Skill 'Wolf King' granted≫
≪Skill 'Intimidation' granted. Skill 'Howl' granted. Skill 'Claw Strike' granted. Skill 'Attribute Infusion' granted≫
≪Various stats increased≫
≪Periodic report≫
≪Number of Named Monsters generated: 41≫
≪Number of Named Monsters defeated: 3≫
≪Number of Unique Skills manifested: 22≫
≪Number of Unique Skill holders deceased: 10≫
≪Continuing expansion of Chaos Frontier≫