CH 343

“““Eh—?”””

For a brief moment, Rafinha, Eris, and Ripple were at a loss, unable to comprehend what had just transpired——

Their gaze fixed on the fallen form of Raphael, his eyes rolled back.

“Forgive me, big brother Rafa… We don’t have much time for explanations——”

Inglis bowed deeply to the unconscious Raphael. To incapacitate someone as resilient as Raphael, she had to ensure he was completely defenseless. And if that meant resorting to a honey trap, so be it. In fact, she had unwittingly already set the trap in motion, her idea forming in an instant.

‘This is a bit embarrassing, in more ways than one,’ Inglis thought to herself, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“W-Wha-, wh-, w-, w-, whawhahwa— WHAT HAVE YOU DOOONNEEEE?!!!”

Among the three, Eris was the first to regain her composure, but she was more flustered than Inglis had ever seen her before. For someone who was usually composed and reserved, Eris was so overwhelmed that her shrieks were barely audible.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION?!! WHO WILL LEAD US AND DEFEAT THE PRISMA WITHOUT RAPHAEL?!! AAAAHHHHH……!! It’s— ARGH!! WHAT DO WE DO NOW?!!”

Eris grabbed Inglis by the collar, shaking her vigorously.

“Raphael! RAPHAEL!! Wake up! WAKE UUUPPP!!! No good, he’s completely unconscious! Rafinha, can you use your healing Gift on Raphael?! We need to wake him up quickly!”

Ripple desperately tried to revive Raphael in any way possible, even turning to Rafinha for assistance.

“Y- Yes! I will…!” Rafinha responded eagerly.

“Rani, wait!” Inglis interrupted her, putting a halt to her intention to heal Raphael. Waking him up at this moment would undermine her initial plan.

“Miss Eris, Miss Ripple! I didn’t make this decision lightly. I have a plan in mind,” Inglis explained calmly.

“You do? YOU DO?! Then speak up quickly! We’re running out of time!” Eris exclaimed anxiously.

“Inglis! What are you planning to do?” Ripple inquired, her voice filled with concern.

“Rest assured, I have a plan. I will need the two of you to lend me your power,” Inglis replied, her smile radiating confidence.

““……!””

Upon hearing Inglis’s words, both Eris and Ripple’s worried expressions softened. They realized that Inglis intended to take on the role that Raphael would have played, utilizing the power of the Hyrule Menaces to confront the Prisma.

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With a pained expression on her face, Eris lowered her gaze and spoke her thoughts.

“I know it’s probably too late to say this, but… I don’t believe you should take on Raphael’s role. If someone has to make a sacrifice, it should be Raphael. He has always approached his missions with unwavering determination, so it should be him…” Eris trailed off, her voice filled with mixed emotions.

“Inglis, girl… I’m inclined to agree with Eris here. But, well… given that Raphael is already unconscious, I suppose we don’t have many options left…” Ripple added, her tone tinged with resignation.

“No, it won’t come to that,” Inglis interjected firmly.

Both Eris and Ripple looked at her in surprise, their voices echoing in unison.

“Eh?”

“I won’t die, you know? Even if I wield the Hyrule Menaces,” Inglis reassured them, a confident grin spreading across her face.

““EEeehhh?!””

Both Eris and Ripple exclaimed in surprise, their disbelief evident in their voices.

“You don’t need to try to comfort us,” Eris protested, her skepticism clear.

“Yeah, we’ll be fine,” Ripple added, nodding in agreement.

Inglis, however, remained resolute. She looked at Rafinha and addressed her with conviction.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve actually tested this in a real battle before, right, Rani?”

As Inglis called out to her, Rafinha’s expression shifted as if a long-forgotten memory resurfaced in her mind.

“Ah… That’s right…! I… I remember now! When we were in Alucard, we encountered a Hyrule Menace named Tiffany. During that battle, Tiffany transformed and became Glis’ armor! And despite that, she’s still alive and here with us!” Rafinha exclaimed, her memories flooding back.

“Tiffany the Hyrule Menace…?!” Eris gasped, her voice filled with surprise.

“You know her, Eris…?” Ripple questioned, equally astonished.

“Yeah… Someone I once knew a long time ago… A really, long time ago…” Eris replied, her voice trailing off.

“At the time, Miss Tiffany purposely weaponized herself and tried to take my life. But thanks to her, I learned how to harness the power of Hyrule Menaces without sacrificing myself,” Inglis explained.

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Essentially, by utilizing Ether, some of the functions of a Hyrule Menace could be modified. Normally, when weaponized, a Hyrule Menace would drain its wielder’s life force indiscriminately. However, Inglis discovered that by using Ether, she could patch that hole and negate the negative effects. This allowed her to tap into the immense power of the Hyrule Menaces without suffering the same consequences.

Back when the Black Mask of the Ironblood Chain Brigade killed Abel, he weaponized Cystia and wielded her without hesitation. It was at that moment that Inglis realized such a possibility existed. And when Tiffany attached herself to Inglis, Inglis instinctively reacted to avoid losing her life.

“…She could be telling the truth. If it’s Tiffany, I don’t think she would hesitate to employ such a deceptive tactic,” Eris pondered aloud.

“Inglis… If you’re right, the implications are grave. Do you understand?” Ripple added, her voice filled with concern.

Observing that the two Hyrule Menaces were still processing the information, Inglis pressed on.

“Miss Eris, Miss Ripple… I can’t begin to comprehend the pain you both have endured. Fighting alongside people you trust, only to witness them disappear from your lives… It must have happened more than once or twice. I simply cannot bear that thought. I can’t even imagine losing Rani,” Inglis spoke with genuine empathy.

Eris and Ripple had lived long lives as Hyrule Menaces. Perhaps, like Arles with Rochefort, they too had formed deep bonds with the Knights who oversaw them. However, having experienced the deaths of their partners and trusted friends, they must have developed a resigned perspective on life, knowing that loss was an ever-present reality.

Despite their physical appearances resembling Arles’ age, the young Hyrule Menace possessed an innocence that set her apart from Eris and Ripple, who exuded a distinct aura of experience. It was the accumulation of their extensive, enduring history.

Nevertheless, they continued to bear the mantle of Hyrule Menaces, devoted to protecting Charalia and its people. Their unwavering commitment was truly commendable. While they may possess ageless bodies, the burden of a broken heart was an entirely different matter.

They persevered, refusing to let their spirits crumble, for the sake of those they safeguarded. Hyrule Menaces were akin to guardian deities—living embodiments of their duty and existence. Inglis couldn’t and wouldn’t imitate their path, but she held them in deep admiration. It was impossible not to respect them.

King Inglis had dedicated himself to his mission and duty until the end of his natural life. In contrast, Eris and Ripple had shouldered their destiny as Hyrule Menaces for an extensive period, likely surpassing even King Inglis’ lifespan.

“I hold the utmost respect and gratitude for everything you’ve accomplished as Hyrule Menaces,” Inglis expressed sincerely, bowing once again. As she lifted her head, she extended her hand with a gentle smile.

“You have fought tirelessly for so long. It’s time for you to take a step back and rest. As long as I am here, you have nothing to worry about. There is no need for further grief or pain. I will prove it to you. So please, don’t fret about anything and take my hand. I will protect Rafinha, Raphael, and both of your hearts.”

A soft plop resonated as tears fell to the ground, but they didn’t belong to Rafinha, who had started crying a while ago.1

“Eris?!” Ripple exclaimed in surprise.

“Ah…?! S-Sorry…! Why am I…? I haven’t even fought…!” Eris hastily wiped her eyes and turned away, feeling embarrassed by her tears.2