Chapter 88

(Note) Last week, due to a mistake in scheduled posting, I ended up updating twice at odd times.

Please be careful. m(_ _)m

34 ～From the Beast's Perspective～

Wandering through the mountains where no one dares to tread.

Walking is not particularly difficult.

I am used to walking paths where there are no roads.

Recently, I have been walking through deep forests.

I have such memories.

Even though it feels like it was just the other day, I can only recall them in fragments.

But, it definitely happened.

I traveled alone, seeking help.

Hungry, thirsty, and wounded.

Still, I continued to walk.

…Then, what about now?

Why am I walking?

I don't know.

There is no destination.

There is no purpose.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't understand anything.

I have lost my understanding.

The 'something' inside me has already devoured me to a fatal degree.

That's why I don't understand anything anymore.

…No.

Is that really true?

A sudden doubt arose.

I don't know what I doubted.

With my severely diminished cognitive abilities, I can't even pursue the doubt.

But, I remembered.

The things that happened after I came to this world…

＊＊＊

At first, it was just confusion.

When I realized I was in a different world, I was excited.

Especially when I discovered I had power, it was even more so.

Particularly, when I was called by Nakajima Kojiro, who would later become the leader of the exploration team, my heart leaped.

—Such an ending is unacceptable.

—We need to work together.

—Your power is needed. Will you come with me?

I don't remember the situation, but I vaguely recall being told these words.

It was like something out of a story.

I fought with everyone who was called, completely engrossed.

The mundane and boring daily life ended, and I felt that something new had begun.

I became a member of the exploration team and started fighting to protect the colony.

…No, that's not right.

It's not like that.

Protecting, that's just a pretense.

It was fun.

I was just having fun.

There were a few odd ones like 'Virtuous' Iwanoyuuna, who fought with genuine anger at the current situation, but basically, everyone was like me.

It was fun to wield power that didn't feel like my own.

It was exhilarating to mow down monsters with my own hands.

But, I could only forget everything and be engrossed for about the first week.

After that, I gradually became anxious.

What will happen from now on?

Just thinking about it made me anxious.

Still, on the surface, I had to act like everyone else.

That was painful.

My inner thoughts were probably transparent to Mihon, who I've known for a long time.

She cared about me.

…That's right.

Mihon is here.

I thought.

This power I have was given to me to protect Mihon… my first love.

I felt that way.

I was aware that I was wrong.

I didn't fall in love with Mihon because I wanted to protect her.

I fell in love with her because I needed a reason to protect her.

That's wrong.

It's twisted.

But, I had no choice but to cling to such thoughts.

It was perhaps a natural conclusion that I couldn't protect Mihon.

From the moment I decided to protect her, I was already wrong.

What should I do?

What should I be?

From the beginning, I didn't understand anything.

That's why I failed.

…What should I have done?

What did I want to do?

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't understand anything.

All I could think of was Mihon's face…

“What a pitiful sight, Takaya Jun.”

I stopped walking, still in a daze.

＊＊＊

The familiar boy stood where I was heading.

Even considering my own giant size, he was a small boy.

Beside him was a tall, fierce-looking boy—actually a monster in the form of a boy.

Another black, human-shaped monster, like a shadow, was watching us warily, its hands transformed into swords, ready to attack.

There were about ten other monsters with them.

“What a foolish one.”

The boy said with a faint smile on his thin face.

“Senpai is wonderful. Truly. You, who don't even know what you want or what you wish for, are no match for him.”

“…”

Unfortunately, I couldn't understand much of what he said.

I only knew that he was mocking me.

But, I didn't feel angry.

Was I so empty that I couldn't even feel anger?

Or did I agree with his insults?

I don't know.

…It didn't matter.

“Your arrogance in challenging Senpai deserves death.”

The boy raised his hand slightly.

In response, the monsters around him tensed, moving in a disciplined manner, like trained soldiers.

If the boy gave the order, they would attack.

There were over ten enemy monsters.

In my current wounded state, I couldn't fight them.

“…”

Even knowing this, I didn't feel like doing anything.

I didn't even want to growl.

In the face of my own crisis, my heart was completely still.

On the contrary, I felt a sense of relief.

The pain, the suffering, the sadness, the guilt.

I felt that everything would end here.

I didn't try to escape or defend myself; I just stood there, my gaze on the ground.

The boy seemed to smile slightly at my lack of reaction.

“Even if I leave you here, you will die soon… but, since we're here, let's finish you off.”

This is the end…

“…But, it would be a shame to just kill you.”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The monsters, upon hearing the boy's words, seemed to be ready to withdraw.

Still, I just stood there, not reacting.

“Your power has value to me.”

The boy's hand appeared at the edge of my vision, but I didn't react.

“Your life is already decaying. If you can't do anything else, be useful to me.”

No matter what he said, it didn't change anything.

I just stood there—

“Then, I will grant your wish.”

“…”

I… I raised my head.

For some reason, those words slipped into my mind.

“How about it?”

The boy had a mysterious smile.

Even if I had a proper intellect, I doubt I could have understood his intentions.

I don't know what he's thinking.

There's nothing to trust.

But, strangely, I didn't see him lying.

So, I listened.

“Let's make a deal. If you work for me, your wish will eventually come true.”

“…”

Mihon's smile naturally came to mind.

The wish. My wish.

What I wish for.

I… I want to protect Mihon…

“It's decided, then.”

By the time I realized it, it was too late.

I couldn't escape the boy's words anymore.

“Give up everything. Hand over everything.”

The words invaded my existence.

“That is the price of your wish.”

“Gah… Gah…”

The last bit of what remained slipped from my hand.

My scattered consciousness unraveled.

Since I was already on the verge of losing it, it didn't take long to disappear completely.

And as my existence became thin… a collar was placed around my neck.

“Yes. As expected. Just as I thought, my ability worked.”

The boy, who now owned the collar, looked up at me and said.

“Huh. Interesting. What are monsters? What are we, the transferred ones… no, what are humans? There's still so much about this world that I don't know.”

The boy continued talking, but I couldn't understand what he was saying anymore.

The part of me that was me was almost gone.

“…King. What are you thinking?”

Just before I disappeared, I heard a voice.

It was a sharp, yet terrifyingly inorganic and emotionless voice.

“You say you are not an enemy to the other king, Masahiro Shinjima, but you promise to grant the wish of the beast who seeks Mihon. Which one is true?”

“Well. How about it?”

The response was a mysterious laugh.

“I just act to achieve my own goals.”

I don't understand.

Probably no one can understand his intentions.

It seemed sad…

With that final thought, I let go of everything.

◆Next, the epilogue.

I will update again today.