Chapter 39

"FU─！？!"

Hydra, seeing me standing behind her with a dagger in hand, let out a gasp of unmistakable shock. From her reaction, I was certain that Narzenia’s plan had succeeded. Thanks to Narzenia’s strategy, Hydra had given me a critical moment of respite.

Enough time for me to switch from defense to offense.

As a result, I was able to circle around to Hydra’s back, fully prepared, and I smiled.

"Leave the rest to me."

In the next instant, I swung down the dagger with my arm, enhanced by magic and ki. Hydra moved her massive body, trying to escape the range of my attack. However, in the brief moment it took for the dagger to reach her scales, even Hydra could not avoid the attack.

"FUuuuuuuuuuuuu！"

The dagger I swung cut off three of her heads and left a deep wound on her torso, causing Hydra to scream. In the next moment, a magical energy similar to blood gushed from the wound. It was a wound that could be fatal even to a magical beast with immense vitality. ...But even seeing that wound, I couldn’t feel joy.

"Aggh!"

As if in exchange for inflicting a deep wound on Hydra, my hand was wracked with intense pain. The attack that wounded the mutated Hydra was a single, all-out strike without considering the consequences. It was a move I judged necessary because even Narzenia’s attack, which had failed to affect Hydra, might have been ineffective, and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity Narzenia had created.

...But now, I regretted not holding back a little more.

"Aggh..."

The intense pain in my arm, combined with fatigue, made me crumple to the ground, unable to endure it. However, if I stayed like this, Hydra might counterattack...

"FU, uuuuuu,"

...But in the next moment, turning at the sound of Hydra’s weak voice, I realized that there was no need to guard against a counterattack.

Hydra, lying on the ground, was barely breathing. From the wound, dark, gem-like fragments were scattered, and I realized then that the dagger had shattered Hydra’s magic stone.

"Did I hit the magic stone by chance...?"

I smiled wryly at the unexpected luck. If my attack had only wounded her torso, it wouldn’t have been a fatal blow to the mutated Hydra, I imagined from our previous battles. But shattering the magic stone, the beast’s weakness, decided the outcome.

Even with the abnormal vitality that didn’t die immediately after the magic stone was shattered, Hydra wouldn’t last much longer now.

"FUuuuuuu, uuuuuu,"

...But even in such a state, Hydra still glared at us with hatred. Even knowing she was on the brink of death, her eyes were terrifying.

The mutated Hydra was a truly fearsome enemy.

Intelligence, magic, strength, and vitality.

All of these were far superior to before the mutation, even though she was already a monster before.

The reason Narzenia and I were able to defeat this Hydra was simply because the situation was in our favor.

Hydra was too fixated on me and underestimated Narzenia. That was our advantage.

If Hydra hadn’t been so fixated on me and had targeted Narzenia first, or if she hadn’t underestimated Narzenia and had been more cautious, we wouldn’t have won. It was because of these various miscalculations by Hydra that Narzenia and I were able to claim victory. However, in a fair fight, our chances of winning would have been around 30%, even considering our mutual trust and the extraordinary power we exerted.

That’s how much of a power gap there was between us and Hydra. I had desperately sought strength from the bottom and managed to become somewhat stronger, but there were still many monsters above me. Fighting the mutated Hydra made me realize this fact.

"But with Narzenia, I can become even stronger. With Narzenia by my side, I can become the strongest."

But knowing this, I smiled. The world is never kind. The world will continue to try to trample on Narzenia and me with the same kind of injustice as this Hydra incident. I know the cruelty of the world, having been unrecognized and oppressed.

That’s why, even if the world turns its fangs on Narzenia, I want the power to reject that injustice.

And I have the resolve to gain that power with Narzenia by my side.

"So, let this be the foundation."

I said this and swung the dagger down on the still-breathing Hydra. The intense pain in my arm remained, and I wasn’t in top condition. But for a Hydra on her last breath, even this state was enough.

And the fated calamity quietly ended its life.

◇◆◇

"It’s over, isn’t it..."

After delivering the final blow to Hydra, I turned around, and Narzenia, with a tired smile on her face, said this.

"Haa,"

But with that, Narzenia’s body seemed to lose all strength, and she collapsed. Perhaps feeling ashamed of showing such a pitiful sight in front of me, Narzenia tried desperately to regain her strength and stand up.

"Don’t worry about it."

"Haah,"

But I stopped her, picked her up, and held her in my arms. Surprised by my actions, Narzenia’s face turned red with a look of confusion.

"Su..."

But by the time I had walked a little, Narzenia was already snoring softly.

"Good job, Narzenia."

Looking at Narzenia’s sleeping face, I whispered softly, and my heart was overflowing with affection for her. By then, I could no longer hide my feelings.

──The love I felt for Narzenia.

Narzenia was a trusted and reliable companion to me now, a dear and charming girl. And as I carried her, walking past the adventurers who were staring at us in shock, I harbored a wish in my heart.

I don’t dream of a peaceful life.

If Narzenia wants it, I want to spend my life with her.

...I had no idea how many difficulties I would have to overcome to fulfill that wish.