Konbini Ossan Volume 16 Chapter 11 — Resolve of Parting
The moment Marceline was injured, the Douki retreated like a receding wave, returning into the dark region and vanishing.
I see. A clever choice. Rather than attacking me directly, injuring one of my companions would be a far more effective way to hold me back.
So rational it made me furious.
“Ghh... Yūichi... dono...”
Marceline, as darkness slowly spread through her abdomen, forced out her words.
“Kill me, Yūichi-dono.”
“W-What are you saying?”
“At this rate, I will become a monster that attacks you. Before that happens, while I am still myself... won’t you kill me?”
Marceline voiced such a cruel wish.
“Don’t say that. There’s no way I could kill you.”
“It is fine. The blood of a Hero from the ancient age runs through my body. That is my lineage. If it is a Hero, then before this soul is dyed black, surely I can become one with you, Yūichi-dono?”
Even hearing such wishful reasoning, I could not make that decision.
Heroes, or rather Summoned Ones, absorb each other’s souls by killing one another.
But I had no idea how much that logic applied to descendants of Summoned Ones.
More importantly, even if I turned Marceline’s soul into experience points, that would save no one.
“Please... Yuu... ichi...”
Saying that, Marceline lost consciousness, likely from the burden of the corruption.
There wasn’t a moment to spare.
I was being forced to decide.
But...
“As if I could do that!”
We had come this far to stop the catastrophe that was the Douki.
But it was not for the future of humanity, or for any lofty ideal like that.
It was simply to protect the people precious to me. That was all the reason I needed.
Which meant there was no way I could choose to abandon Marceline.
“Come back!”
I said it, and pressed my lips against Marceline’s.
In sorcery, the mouth is an important part of the body.
Things like spirit words and curse songs are spoken through the mouth.
Techniques for allowing spirits to possess someone are even called spirit invocation through the mouth.
Even medicines with ritual significance are often taken orally.
In other words, one could think of curses as something that can be exchanged through the mouth.
Clinging to that flimsy concept like a desperate hope, I decided to draw out the Douki’s curse that had entered Marceline by passing it through our mouths.
Strangely, through the kiss, I could feel the foreign presence more clearly, the Douki’s curse.
I manipulated it the same way I handled my own power.
There was something like weak resistance, but I forcibly pulled it out.
From Marceline’s body to her mouth.
Then through her mouth and into me.
I took in every last trace of the Douki’s curse into myself.
The process ended faster than I expected.
“Master!”
When I slowly pulled away from Marceline, Yairo called out in alarm.
“I’m fine. No problem.”
That was a lie.
The alien sensation from the Douki’s curse brought nausea and chills.
It might even have shown on my face.
But that was a minor issue.
“We can’t stay here waiting for Marceline to regain consciousness. I need to go beyond that darkness, and at the same time, we need to ensure the safety of an unconscious Marceline. Solving both at once is difficult.”
“It’s alright, Master! I’ll protect her!”
“There’s a more certain way.”
I pulled an item from inside my clothing.
“Yairo. Could you hold this for me?”
“Huh? Yes.”
I placed the item, a spherical magical tool, into Yairo’s hand.
Then I poured magic into it and activated its effect.
A large magic circle spread beneath Yairo’s feet.
“Master, this is!”
“A valuable teleportation magical tool. Once activated, it teleports everyone within range to a predesignated location.”
As I explained, I stepped away from the magic circle.
“Yairo. I’m counting on you to take care of Marceline.”
“No!”
Yairo looked back and forth between me and Marceline, then first pulled the unconscious Marceline into her arms.
“Master!”
“It’s a magical tool we won’t need if I win and return.”
Saying that, I turned my back on the two of them and began walking toward the dark region.
“P-Please be careful!”
In the end, it seemed Yairo chose to trust my judgment.
There was no sign of her chasing after me. Instead, she called out words of farewell.
And so, at the exact moment the two of them vanished from this place via the teleportation magical tool, I stepped into the dark region.
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E/N:
So badass, Ossan! Now defeat this curse and get back to your family safe!
Stay tuned!
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