Chapter 34: Doing the right thing

None of them moved...

They just stood there for a good minute, sizing each other up. Even Harold, who just said that he would kill Cedric, just stood still. It's as if he's waiting for Cedric to do...something, anything at the very least.

Because if he was being honest here, this isn't what he's expecting at all. It seems that Cedric not having any violent reactions to his transformation really threw him out of the loop.

"...not gonna say anything, huh?" Harold scoffed, tightening his hold on his spear.

Seeing that Cedric still wore that stoic expression on his face, Harold couldn't take it anymore. His hooves stomped the ground as he began charging towards Cedric, hell-bent on provoking any kind of reaction from the latter.

It wasn't until his spear was just about to hit Cedric that the guy reacted. Even then, his reaction didn't amount to much...

He merely raised his sword and parried the incoming attack. His face was still impassive, looking as if none of this concerned him at all. And since Harold isn't truly used to his new form just yet, he stumbled upon receiving the parrying blow, causing his huge figure to brush right next to Cedric.

Picking himself up, Harold looked at Cedric once more, still wearing that empty expression. This fueled his irritation even more. Harold was starting to think that this man wasn't Cedric at all, it should be an imposter instead.

This thought caused him to stop holding back. Whether this was Cedric or an imposter, really doesn't change anything in his situation. Harold still needed to kill this man before him to claim true freedom.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Loud and heavy sounds of steel clashing could be heard within the hallway. The venue of their battle was a little too tight for comfort but it didn't stop these two from fighting.

Harold used all means he had to force Cedric into a difficult place. The more they clashed, the more familiarized Harold got for being a Centaur Demon. He expertly wielded his spear, used his bow and arrows, and he even tried using the sheer advantage and weight of his flesh to push Cedric into a corner.

Sadly, to Harold's absolute shock and terror, Cedric just wasn't having it...

For all intents and purposes, Harold has yet to do any substantial damage to Cedric. Hell, he'd even go as far as to say that he has yet to touch Cedric's clothes from their clash just now.

It was painfully clear at this point that Cedric was just not afraid of him. Not even a little bit. Everything Harold did to him in this form was met with an equal — and therefore neutralizing force.

He clashes with him with steel, and Cedric meets him in the middle, blow by blow. He tried sniping him, but the guy just gracefully dodged them, not even coming close to him. He tried adding his weight into his attacks, Cedric takes it head on, not a trace of discomfort on his face as he does so.

Harold never expected Cedric to be this good. Hell, he never even dreamed of it.

It was somewhat discombobulating for him since the Cedric he knew was the weak, sarcastic, cynical, and envious guy who was still holding on to life despite failing miserably.

Even after his apparent 'change', the roots of Cedric's attitude and views haven't changed at all. Sure, he knew that Cedric has gotten lucky lately but that's just it...luck. He never knew that Cedric hid this much strength beneath that attitude of his. So imagine how shocked Harold was at this current moment.

These thoughts caused Harold to pause their fight. And thankfully, Cedric also stopped.

He stared at Cedric, feeling slightly betrayed and displeased, yet also helpless. Harold realized that, maybe, this wasn't the way to go. Maybe he can use a different approach here.

Shank!

Harold's eyes widened, followed by his coughing out blood. He looked down at his chest and saw the edge of Cedric's sword protruding from his chest, a wry smile appeared on his face.

He then felt movement near him and saw Cedric's shadow appearing right next to him as his body crashed weakly on the ground. Harold's lower body lost strength all of a sudden, causing him to collapse just like that, and Cedric was there, sitting right next to him, his bangs were still covering the look in his eyes.

"Damn!" Harold exclaimed and chuckled weakly, blood trickled from his mouth. "Didn't see that shit coming...you're an ass, Bro! How did you get so strong all of a sudden?"

"..."

"Heh..." Harold chuckled and spat some more blood, "I guess this was your choice, huh? You sure are an enigma. You say some things that you truly don't mean at all. I hate you sometimes..."

"..."

"S-sheesh...still not speaking to me? Do I look that horrendous to you? I-I'm sorry already, g-geez!"

"Don't be," Cedric muttered softly next to him, speaking just loud enough for Harold to hear. "Believe it or not, I get it. I really do."

"I-I could...tell. B-but you do have the right...to be angry...at me...I betrayed your trust...after all."

"I'm not angry...not at all, just...sad."

"A-awww...I'm sorry, alright? If it makes you feel better...k-know that I'm not angry at you, too. Not even after what you did just now."

"..."

Harold lifted his hand, sending a quick pat on Cedric's back despite feeling his life being drained from his body. He didn't want to corrupt Cedric so that's all he did, even though he really wanted to at least give his friend a final hug before he departed.

"I hate this world..." Harold softly whispered, "And I also hate Demons...I hate that I was born unlucky, and I hate that even after working so hard, none of it mattered in the end."

That's when Harold saw Cedric looking at him directly in the eyes. His breath stagnated with how sad his friend looked and the sheer mortification his gaze held.

A chuckle escaped Harold's lips for the final time as he uttered his final words:

"Kill more of them for me...and if there's another life after this...let's be bros, again."

And just like that, Cedric lost his only friend in this miserable place.

The way he died was the same exact way how his parents and siblings died as well. He was weak then, but he was strong now. Still...he failed, again.

And that's exactly why this was even more painful than before...