Chapter 99

Chapter 99

"Ugh..."

Lérang's face was deathly pale, as if he had no blood in his body.

It was to be expected. He had his right arm, which was transformed by the demon sword, cut off and blood had poured out from the wound.

Though emergency treatment was done with a potion, there was no way to recover the blood that had been lost in the process.

"Haah... Haah... Sorry, but could you bring me a sword from over there?"

In the corner of the training ground, there was a display case.

A sword was taken out from there and handed to Lérang.

"Watch closely, my last disciple, Zero."

"Teacher Lérang... If you overexert yourself like this..."

"Enough, I'm already done for. The demon not only messed with my right arm but also other parts of my body. I'm a dead man walking anyway. So."

Whoosh-.

"Let me choose my own way out."

Lérang's sword dance began.

Dance, blade, wings, darkness, sky.

They were the five secret techniques of the Fleur family.

"Haah... Haah... It's a pity I don't have more time."

"...Teacher."

"Don't make such a face, come at me, Zero. From now."

Slash-.

"I will begin the final lesson."

Lérang raised his sword and took his stance.

Even without his right arm, and barely having experience wielding a sword with his left.

A considerable aura of intimidation was felt.

I took the same stance.

To him, who had fought a lifetime of inferiority and finally won.

I offered a small comfort.

"Keke, the lesson was fun. Truly."

Your zeal for learning, your efforts, and even your affection.

I could feel it all during the lesson.Reêad latest novels at novelhall.com

"Zero, it was an honor to meet a student like you."

Tatat-!

Tat!

We started running towards each other.

Since it was the last time, we decided to send each other off with all due respect.

I might not be able to show the ultimate technique of the Fleur family with [Divine Imitation].

But still, it was enough for consolation.

The fifth secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm's Sky.

The fifth secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm's Sky.

A refined swordsmanship that strikes only once while passing by the opponent.

It was silent.

We whispered to each other with our backs turned.

"Did you see?"

"Yes, Zero. The sky... So this is what it was like."

Puff!

A line of blood formed on Lérang's chest, and then burst open, causing him to fall forward.

At the same time.

Zzzt-.

A thin line of blood was drawn on my right forearm.

Blood dripped down. It wasn't much.

But one thing was clear.

It had touched me. My body.

With his battered body, he had executed the secret technique with all his sincerity.

"Keke, Lérang de Fleur. Your swordsmanship... It definitely touched this body."

Comparable to other families.

Beautiful beyond measure.

"A very fine strike."

* * *

Is that so. It touched.

Though dead, Lérang could tell.

His swordsmanship, the efforts he had accumulated.

Were not in vain.

Yes, Zero. A hero is exactly someone like you.

Facing immense power but never breaking, a strong heart and will.

If there is a next life for me, I will surely live like that.

The will of the Fleur family does not vanish.

It will continue on.

In Zero, in that child.

"Go forth, Zero."

With a will as strong as steel.

Whoosh-.

A portal appeared before my eyes.

A portal that looked just the same as when I entered this place.

"Hmm..."

Before entering, there was one thing I had to do.

'A self-diagnosis on murder.'

This was quite an important issue. Since I would likely commit murder again in the future.

In the worst case, I might have to change my play style.

After taking a deep breath, I slowly began the self-diagnosis.

Q. What emotion did you feel after committing your first murder?

'...I'm not sure.'

It was so chaotic at the time, all jumbled up.

But if I had to name the biggest emotion, it seemed to be 'sadness.'

Sadness for Lérang's character, who dreamed of being a hero but ruined himself due to inferiority complex.

That seemed to be the largest emotion.

Let's move on to the next diagnosis.

Q. Are you under the illusion that you're okay because of the power of [Mental Defense]?

Hmm, this is a difficult question to answer immediately. Let's think about it.

[Mental Defense] was one of the skills I received as soon as I was possessed in the game, along with [Eye Opening].

And I received it at S rank. At first, I thought it was a perk for adapting to being possessed in the game.

'Could be a mechanism to prevent feeling guilt over murder. I could think of it that way.'

If not,

"Keke, or a mechanism to prevent feeling 'joy' from murder."

Because there could be players who go crazy thinking about killing all the characters in the game.

Either way, it's not a normal way of thinking.

"Hmm..."

Even after self-diagnosing, I couldn't feel any particular problem.

I also learned that [Mental Defense] does not block all emotions.

The fact that I felt sadness over Lérang's death.

This was significant.

'Maybe it's a skill that needs a bit more research.'

Oh dear, I've taken too much time.

I slowly started walking towards the portal.

Some might think,

Making a big deal out of killing just one game character.

But I don't think of them as mere characters.

No, I didn't want to think of them that way.

Rodelin, Luna, Raymon, Alex, Yuridia, Teron, and all the others.

They were all certainly living beings.

"Keke, I've been too caught up in sentimentality. I need to hurry."

I didn't want Luna to rip my head off for being so late.

Thud-.

Something caught my foot. It was the demon sword.

The main cause of Lérang's ruin.

Looking inside, something small was busily moving around.

It looked like a dog. Well, since it was inside, it must be a demon wearing a dog's guise.

[Do you wish to acquire the demon sword?]

Hmm~ offering a demon sword for free? This is really tempting...

"Not in the slightest."

It would only consume my body.

It might be a strong weapon to use at the beginning, but I had no intention of giving up my future.

Swoosh-.

Drawing the sword, I recalled the movements Lérang had shown and swung the sword.

The first secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm's Dance.

Clang!

The demon sword shattered into pieces and scattered in all directions.

Screech-!

Was it my imagination? It seemed like I heard a demon's scream for a moment.

By the way, the [Fleur Family Style] I acquired was C rank.

Neither high nor low. I pondered why it was given this rank.

And I could realize.

Teacher Lérang. The rank he had accumulated through a lifetime of training.

It was highly probable that this grade had been transferred to me exactly as it was.

The will, the steel-like will of the Fleur family, continues through me.

"Keke, Teacher Lérang. Your noble will towards the family."

This Zero has certainly inherited it.

"Rest in peace."

With a final farewell, I threw myself towards the portal.

--TL Notes--

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