Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Twenty years had passed.

Though I entered the hole created when the Sacred Sword was drawn, a sturdy door had formed, preventing further progress.

"Demon!"

Fortunately or unfortunately, the demon showed no movement.

'Luterus must have won.'

If my friend had lost, the demon would not be quiet.

My friend might still be alive. This hope kept me here.

Then the other students left, and even the teacher left.

The faces I knew changed dozens of times.

The Academy was still thriving.

"Demon! Demon!"

Of course, it still wasn't listening to me.

No one pays attention to the words of a mere parrot.

'Ugh!'

I'm not feeling well.

The wound left by the mysterious woman hurts, but aging is the bigger problem.

'Is this how I'm going to die?'

It's okay if I die.

As long as my friend is saved, as long as my friend is saved.

'It's okay to die.'

Then I met a human.

He looked similar to Luterus. His name was Zero, right?

"Friend! Danger! Help me!"

"A friend... I need one too. Wish one would just fall from the sky..."

Zero grumbled.

It was hard for him to make friends because of his appearance.

'Such a fool.'

Luterus had told me.

Even if appearances differ, even if species differ, even if communication is hard.

It's possible to become friends.

"Friend! Good! You! Friend!"

I became friends with Zero.

And then he said.

He might have found a way to help.

"Friend! Friend!"

I shouted for my friend with all my might.

It reached. Finally, it reached.

My earnest wish.

To save my friend.

* * *

There was a minor (?) disturbance during the battle, but the strategy was proceeding without issues.

"I'll step out for a moment!"

Raymon, affected twice by erosion, left his position.

I fixed my gaze on the Demon's Shard, heightening the tension.

The only vulnerability in this strategy. The moment the shield called Raymon disappeared.

But again, no attack came my way.

'Turns out it's dumber than I thought.'

Maybe because it's a game based on algorithms?

It just repeated attacks and defenses using thorns.

'Maybe the developers didn't anticipate this scenario.'

After all, it's a game governed by predefined algorithms.

They probably didn't expect someone to fight by removing eroded land with the [Clean] skill.

Maybe the Demon's Shard is stuck in some kind of bug.

'Otherwise, it wouldn't just be taking hits this stupidly.'

Well, if it's bugged, it's good for us.

They steadily wore down its health.

The moment Raymon, who had stepped out to avoid the third stack of erosion, returned to my side.

"Pah!!"

Something shot out from under the eyes of the Demon's Shard.

Rodelin dodged, and Luna, who was behind it, was safe.

The problem was.

Sssk-!

"Ah, Ahh! My, my sword!"

Raymon's sword had melted halfway.

His habit of deflecting attacks had backfired.

'Anyway, if Raymon had dodged, I would have been hit, so it can't be helped. What I'm wondering now is...'

I've never seen such a skill. No, to be precise.

I know the skill, but I've never experienced it.

'Corrosion skill. But it never used it before...!'

Even when I played thousands of times.

Even when other players played tens of thousands of times.

It's a skill I've never seen before.

Some curious players had experimented.

But even going up to the 9999th turn, the demon never used the [Corrosion D] skill.

That's why I confidently reassured Rodelin not to worry about anything else.

There was another door besides the one I saw, but it was useless in front of Zero.

'Luterus! I'm here!'

Finally, I arrived at the place of our separation 20 years ago.

Luterus was not there.

Only a pile of human bones, pieces of clothing, and the broken hilt of a sword remained.

I recognized whose bones they were immediately.

Not just the clothing, but the sight of the hand bones still firmly gripping the Sacred Sword even now, 20 years later.

The hand filled with the will to protect the children.

It was unmistakably Luterus.

"Friend."

Friend, what are you doing here.

"Friend!"

Come on, get up. I'm here.

"Friend!"

I'm... I'm here.

Get up, please.

Tears streamed down.

But no miracle of Luterus rising again occurred.

'I was too late, and he died.'

My friend died.

Because I, I was too late.

I knew it, actually.

Logically, a human couldn't survive alone for 20 years.

I had harbored a sliver of hope, but now it can't be helped.

I have to accept Luterus's death.

I have to acknowledge my friend's death.

"..."

20 years.

My body has aged, but my mind has grown stronger.

Now is not the time to grieve.

It's time to do what I can.

'What about Zero and the children?'

Clack! Clang!

The battle was fierce.

As a mere parrot, who aspired only to stand beside the hero, I dared not interfere.

But surely there was something I could do.

It was time to wait calmly and look for an opportunity.

"Mr. Parrot, you remember team play, right?"

Zero said that.

Team play. Of course, I knew it. But I was puzzled.

How did he know about the conversations and events between Luterus and me?

"Friend, then I'm counting on you."

Zero's request was simple.

Bring either Elester or Caron, the humans.

I had checked their faces before.

Just as I was about to fly out quickly.

Deja vu hit me. No, not deja vu. This is.

'This is exactly like when I parted with Luterus, isn't it?'

It was the same back then.

To find someone to help, to hold on until then.

'No!'

I turned and flew back.

Since parting with Luterus.

I had been thinking about something every day.

Regretting something every day.

'Team play.'

True team play means always being there for each other.

In joy or sorrow.

Always being together, that's what real team play is.

I should have fought together 20 years ago.

Even if I wasn't much help, I should have done it.

Because I am.

The hero's friend.

'I won't make the same mistake again.'

So this time, I will protect my friend.

With my own body.

Whoosh!

Black thorns pierced through my body.

Unlike the normal Zero, who always smiled calmly, as if mocking the world, his face contorted in an instant.

But unlike him, I smiled.

Friend, don't be too sad.

Team play is.

Exactly this, isn't it?

--TL Notes--

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