Only I know that this world will end – 090 | Sousaku – 創作

Nanase Nao

I was dreaming.
No, it might be more accurate to call it a revolving lantern.
The scenes that appeared and disappeared one after another were like a fragmented film being replayed as if looking back on my life up to that point.
The events of long ago were like faded silent films, but the more the scene approached the present, the more vividly I could remember the conversations and emotions of that time.

Akira Ichijou's 20th birthday. The first time we went to an izakaya bar together, he drank so much that he passed out without realizing how much he had consumed.
When he joined the company I worked for, he smiled at me as if he had succeeded in a prank, even though I had been given no prior notice.
Having a conversation over drinks at an izakaya to cheer him up after he made a mistake at work.

All the other events that come to her mind were also important memories for Nao, and they were all things that could also be called treasures at the same time.

And the revolving lantern ended with a conversation in a dimly lit hospital room with the emergency lights on.
The reason was that Nao Nanase's consciousness had returned to the “present”.

(――What on earth…………)

With a dazed mind, Nao thought about such things while slowly lifting her eyelids.

"Giaaa……! "

For a moment, the pain in her throbbing left arm almost made her scream.
It would seem that a bone was broken.
If she moved even a little, she would scream out in a piercing pain that seemed to run through her whole body.
At the same time, she noticed that a lukewarm liquid was wetting half of her face.
Stretching out her right hand, she could feel a slippery sensation.
As she stared at her hand with her eyes half-open, she saw that it was soaked in fresh blood.

(――――That's right. I was taken by Ichijou to challenge the boss called Werewolf……)

Slowly, Nao recalled her memories.
The battle between Akira Ichijou and the werewolf was a battle that had to be said to be on a completely different level for Nao.
Before realizing it, they were punching and kicking each other.
The gap between them was so small that it felt like the space between them was being distorted and sliced off.
Amidst this battle, Akira shouted Nao's name.
She clearly understood that the scream was the signal to activate the magic she had mentioned beforehand.

(At that time, I somehow managed to activate my magic…… Then……)

And then what happened?

She tried to remember, but due to the impact of the blow to the head, she couldn't remember the time in between.
All she could remember was the fact that Akira had shouted and put himself in front of Nao to protect her from the werewolf's attack, and the fact that they had both been blown away together, unable to completely defend themselves from the werewolf's attack.

"Ooooooooooo!! "

At that moment, a battle cry that shook the air echoed out.
With a start, she turned her head in the direction of the sound and saw Akira raising his fist at the werewolf.

It seemed that he didn't even have time to pick up the axe that had been knocked away by the werewolf and the iron sword that he had let go in order to restrain the werewolf.
He was taking on the werewolf, which was playing with him with its quick movements, using only his bare hands.

However, without weapons, it was impossible to block the claws of the werewolf.
His body, which must have been cut to pieces many times, was in such a bad state that you could tell just by looking at him, with blood pouring out of him everywhere.

"Ichi――――"

Nao closed her mouth as she tried to call out his name.

――What would happen if I called out to him now?

That thought passed through Nao's head.

(I can barely breathe. My heart is crushed by the fear that has become ingrained in me, and I can't even properly cast magic. I can barely stand in front of the monster, but I'm doing my best right now…… What more can I do?)

She knew that she couldn't go on like this.
However, contrary to that thought, the scene that was burned into her mind, that pain, that suffering. All of them seemed to bind Nanase Nao's actions, coming back to life the moment she stood in front of the monster.
Even now, at this very moment. Just the thought of it made Nao's body begin to tremble as if frightened by a fear that had become ingrained in her soul.
She couldn't speak or breathe.
As soon as she exhaled in an attempt to breathe somehow, her airway narrowed and she choked.

"――――！ "

Nao closed her eyes tightly as if trying to escape from the reality of this world.
Everything is disgusting.
My part in this battle is now over.
I want this battle to end soon.
All these words kept going round and round inside her head, filling it up.

(There is no room for me in the battle against the werewolf……)

Slowly, Nao exhaled and murmured to herself.

(From the very beginning, it was impossible. There's no way I could ever work with that guy……)

Heavy, dark emotions spread through her heart.
On the verge of being swallowed up by those feelings. Nao Nanase heard Akira Ichijou's voice filled with pain.

"Ha! "

She couldn't help but look over in surprise.
Nao, who had been staring into the darkness until just now, saw Akira, who was pressing his side with a look of pain on his face.
Looking closely, you could see a large amount of blood gushing out. It was apparently torn apart again by the werewolf.
At this realization, Nao let out a cry, forgetting everything.

"Ichijou!! "

Akira must have realized that Nao had regained consciousness from the voice.
When he glanced at Nao, his face showed a little surprise, and he eventually let out a sigh of relief.
Then, with a gentle smile on his face, he slowly opened his mouth, as if to reassure Nao, who was terrified.

"……Thank God. I'm glad you're okay. …………I'm sorry. Please wait there for a little longer. I'll finish it right away."
"But! You……! Your wound!! "
"……Oh, this one, huh? It's nothing. It'll be fine."

With a smile, Akira reassured Nao again.

――――That's a lie. There's no way that was "nothing".

Nao already knew that Akira had acquired an astonishing vitality.
In addition, she also knew that he had acquired a skill to heal the wounds of his body.
However, he was not immortal. He was not invincible.
If you are hurt, you feel pain, and if you have a wound, blood flows. He was just a human being who had acquired more power to fight in this cruel world than other people.
There's no way he could sustain that kind of injury and not die!!

"Ichi, jou…………"

In a mumble, Nao uttered his name.
That muttering must surely not have reached Ichijou Akira.
However, Akira smiled at Nao again and then turned his gaze to the werewolf.
At the same time as the werewolf attacked Akira, it was hit back and blown into a multi-tenant building, where it was buried under the rubble.
Akira made a small clicking sound as the figure appeared, accompanied by the sound of rubble collapsing.

"――I was going to wait until I could pick up the axe, if possible, but………… This isn't going to get us anywhere. ――――It can't be helped. 『Herculean strength』! "

Activating his skill, Ichijou Akira then rushed towards the werewolf.
At the sight of this, Nao let out a cry that sounded like a scream in agony.

"Ichijou!! "

That's enough. Stop already!!
Such words rose to the back of her throat, causing Nao to burst into tears.
That was painful. She didn't want to see him fight any longer like he was burning out his life.

(Why, why, why!! Why are you trying so hard! Why can't you just give up?! )

Nao fixed her gaze on Ichijou, who was locked in a fierce battle.

(I don't understand! I don't understand!! ――――Why? Why are you able to stand up like that?! )

I can't understand. Even if I wanted to, I can't understand.
Nao bit her lip and trembled with such emotions.
However, she already knew. Somewhere deep inside, she knew.
The reason why he――一 Why Akira was willing to go to such lengths to confront this world. Why does he continue to fight so desperately?

(Is it because the me I don't know from that loop told you not to give up? That's why you――――)

If that's the case, it's almost like a curse.
These were the words of the curse that bound him, spoken by Nanase Nao, who knew nothing of his suffering.

(Because of my words, you……! )

Murmuring to herself, Nao tightened her fists.

She hated herself.
She hated herself for saying such things without knowing the true pain.
But what she really, truly hated was.
Her weak, current self, who could do nothing more than to watch him fight to the death.

(That guy is fighting. He continues to challenge this world, fueled by my words! And yet, what am I doing!? Just sitting on the ground, shaking uncontrollably, unable to speak or cry!? ――――No This is not right!! I vowed. I swore!! I would stand next to him. That I'd be there to support him!! Didn't I say that to him in that hospital room?! That if he fought to the death, I would also fight together with him!! )

Nao bit her lip hard.
She didn't want to just do nothing anymore.
She didn't want to just keep watching his back from afar.
Nao gritted her teeth and bit down hard to suppress the fear of returning from the dead and the trembling of her body.

(I will――――)

To stand next to the man who defied the world and challenged the unreasonable.

(Together with Ichijou Akira―― We will fight and live together in this world! That's right, that's what I decided!! )

Crying out those words with all her heart, Nao let out a voice as loud as she could.

"――! Status!! "

――――――――――――――――――
Nanase Nao ２７years old Female Lv23

Stamina：２５
Strength：３６
Endurance：３４
Speed：３５
Magical power：１６
Luck：２５

Points：７
――――――――――――――――――
Skills

・Physical strengthening Lv１
・Magic Circuit Lv１
・Elementary Magic Lv１
――――――――――――――――――

Quickly navigated the screen.
She then poured all the points she had been saving into her magical power, causing the value of her magical power to grow rapidly.

――Magical power：３７

Then, after checking the number displayed on the status screen, Nao swiped her hand across the screen to clear it.

"Ahhh! "

With all her strength, Nao stood up unsteadily.
It must have been the effect of bleeding from her head. Her vision darkened for a moment, but Nao gritted her teeth and somehow managed to prevent herself from falling.

"Haa, haa, haa, haa……"

Just getting up made her breath come out in ragged gasps.
Her heart was racing and she felt like she might faint if she relaxed even a little.
Nevertheless, Nao rose to her feet and planted them firmly on the ground.
So that she wouldn't fall again.
As if to avoid falling to her knees before this world, Nao struggled to stay standing, using the remaining strength she had.

"Fuuー…………"

Slowly exhaling, she held the gun in her right hand.
Her vision blurred. The blood flowing from her forehead stood in the way.
Despite this, Nao stared at the werewolf with her eyes and clearly muttered these words.

"――――Shock Arrow."