Chapter 86

★ Lark ★

I still remember the day when "little brother" was brought to the mine. A boy who had given up on everything, lost all hope, and hung his head.

When I saw him, the feeling that came over me was a determination to "protect him at all costs."

And that resolve has never wavered, not even for a second.

That day—when the collapse happened at "Rokuten Mine," the binding contract magic that restrained Lark's mind was broken. Like a stack of bricks falling when the keystone is removed, Lark's heart expanded, and it felt as if the clouds had suddenly cleared from his eyes.

The suppressed desires swelled up, and when he picked up the天赋珠玉【影王魔剣术★★★★★★】in front of him and absorbed it into his body, he felt an overwhelming sense of omnipotence.

Lark cut down the soldiers who attacked him one after another.

Then, he suddenly realized.

He felt the gaze of someone watching him.

"……"

He said nothing. He couldn't.

As a mine slave, Lark had only one person he relied on in his heart, the one he had vowed to save even if something happened to himself—his little brother.

He could see at a glance that his little brother was afraid of him.

The sense of omnipotence rapidly faded, and he realized that in those few seconds, he had transformed into a "killer." He felt unbearably tainted.

His heart was filled with regret. Even though he later realized that there was no other way to save his little brother, at that moment, Lark was almost crushed by the heavy weight of his regret.

—Little brother.

He extended his hand.

He wished for him to take it.

He thought that if he did, he could live on, even bearing the sin of being a killer.

—He flinched.

Seeing him flinch, Lark withdrew his hand.

Of course, it was to be expected. Someone who had easily killed others driven by desire could never be loved by anyone.

Lark turned his back on him and started walking.

He had saved his life. He had been willing to die to do so. So, he told himself to be satisfied now.

After that, he doesn't remember much.

When he came to, he was in a town at the foot of the mine, hearing words like "slaves rebelled." Realizing he was still dressed as a mine slave, he entered a store that sold clothes, stole a few items, and changed into them. He also stole food. He wandered from town to town and eventually made his way to the capital.

There, he never expected to meet him again.

But he thought that this reunion might be the last chance God had given him.

He had killed people and absorbed the天赋珠玉【影王魔剣术★★★★★★】, which the old man Hinga had said was priceless. If he were discovered, he would certainly be executed. If he stayed with his little brother, his little brother would also be killed.

So, it was better to live apart from him.

Still, he left a message, "somewhere, someday," in a lingering hope, even though he knew his little brother would never see it.

After that, many things happened.

He saved many people, as if to make up for the ones he had killed, and his body suffered from one ailment after another, often spitting blood. He knew it was because of the 【影王魔剣术】, but he couldn't stop using it. The talent had become a part of his body. In the end, he even stole the "Moonflower." If it weren't for the inexplicable cracks appearing in the sky, he would have traveled to a distant land to seek treatment for his body.

(…Damn it)

The battle against the monsters emerging from the Red Gate was intense, but he felt his heart becoming lighter, little by little. At least he was helping someone now. Lark's actions were all to atone for the sin of killing innocent soldiers in the mine.

(If I'm thinking about this… it means I don't have much time left…)

The moment he saw the End Fang, he knew he couldn't win. But he also knew he had to try. The opponent, who couldn't be defeated even with the six-star talent, seemed worthy of his life.

He believed he couldn't meet his little brother "somewhere, someday" unless he felt that his "sin" had been erased.

That was the "guilt" Lark believed he carried.

He knew that this sin and guilt would not disappear until he died. But he couldn't stop moving forward.

Because he was his sister.

Ever since she vowed to protect him, Lark had always thought she wanted to live a life worthy of being his sister.

(Did I live a life that my little brother wouldn't be ashamed of…?)

He couldn't defeat the End Fang.

He could only say it was bad luck, but he wouldn't complain about it now. It was the luck of the draw.

The only thing he regretted was the thought that if that giant creature was released and harmed his little brother—.

(Oh… I couldn't protect anyone this time…)

But for some reason, the End Fang leaped backward. It seemed a spell had been cast—.

"You've worked so hard to get this far…"

Lark's eyes widened.

He was dressed in rags, just like when he was in the mine, even carrying a tool bag on his waist. The sword was unfamiliar, but she immediately recognized it was him.

Before she could say "Is this a joke?" or "Why are you here?"—a feeling welled up inside her.

The hand extended to her was the same one she had offered in the mine on the day of the collapse.

… I wanted him to take my hand.

… Because he's my little brother, I wanted him to take it.

There were so many things she wanted to say.

But no complaints came out of her mouth.

She hadn't noticed how much her little brother had grown, possibly even taller than her.

His hand was larger, and when he pulled her close and embraced her, it felt warm.

She never thought she would be in a position to be protected.

"…You've grown so much."

Those were the only words that came out of Lark's mouth.

The subtitle of this chapter is not a typo.