Vol 1 Chapter 22: Nio’s Wish (Great Labyrinth Arc)

Silence fell. Upon hearing my words, Yuu—her face etched with the despair of having lost everything—trembled.

I wonder what she makes of my words. After all, just how much does she know?

…No, I can at least speculate to some extent.

Judging by her condition—aside from having been slammed against a wall by Asterion earlier—she doesn’t appear to have any conspicuous injuries. It seems unlikely that Kaim and I fought Grain after we teleported.

Since she had been trailing behind Grain, plodding along, perhaps she has already resigned herself to despair.

If she obeyed Grain, she must have known that she’d be sealed away once again. Yet, without any resistance, she stayed by his side.

I never imagined Grain would ever say something like, “I’ll take you in as an ally,” or claim that joining him would save her.

I know Grain’s true nature all too well. He’s cunning, ruthless, prideful, and greedy—a shortsighted bastard who crushes anyone who dares to obstruct or defy him. Even when I was leading the demons, he proved to be a real handful.

Unable to best me on his own, he resorted to whispering conspiracies about coups behind the scenes; but against foes stronger than himself, he would confront them head-on without hesitation. If they didn’t obey, he’d force them into submission—or kill them outright.

A typical “small fry.” And, to make matters worse, that very small fry ended up wielding power—so much so that he even warped history itself.

That insignificant man would never speak kindly to Yuu, who now wallows in despair after losing Kaim, the very pillar of her heart.

For Grain, Yuu is an opponent who, in a one-on-one, if she truly defied him, he “might not be able to win.”

Grain isn’t stupid, either. Besides, he’s not the type to charge in head-on just to silence someone. Even if an Ancient Elf were to go all out—letting his magic run amok and rampage—he’d likely vanish until utterly spent.

That’s not what’s happening, though. Perhaps after Kaim knocked her out, she was in this state the very moment she awoke.

Even if it had been Kaim’s words, her despair had long since sealed her heart and ears; she probably didn’t even hear what Grain said.

That rules out both the possibility of her being talked into it and that of losing in battle.

If that’s the case, then—

“You’ve given up on everything, haven’t you?”

The very words I had despised for what felt like an eternity were the exception. Perhaps my hunch was right, because Yuu’s trembling form suddenly jerked in a clear, unmistakable reaction.

Even though she was desperate enough to accept being sealed away again, she simply couldn’t stand having me define her.

A voice—so uncharacteristic of her delicate frame—spoke to me.

“What do you know, anyway…!?”

“Sorry—I only grasp things to a certain extent. I don’t know you as an individual.”

“To a certain extent…? You say ‘to a certain extent’…? In that case, try viewing it through that lens: the feeling of having lost everything—comrades, trust, freedom, hope, absolutely everything—simply because you set something in motion…!”

“Ah, right. Alright, I’ve figured it out. If I had to put it into words, I’d say it’s ‘despair.’”

She probably never expected me to answer like this. Faced with a question that was like a curse—loaded with every bit of darkness within me—she must not have imagined I’d instantly retort in such a taunting manner.

But I won’t run. I won’t take even a single step back from the darkness I bear because of the tragedy I’ve caused.

Right now, Yuu is teetering on the edge of plunging into the depths of despair. If I hesitate even a little to help her, she’s moments away from tumbling into the abyss.

If Kaim can’t hold on, it’s over. There’s no time, and I can’t afford to leisurely apologize—going through each of my sins, carefully choosing my words, one by one.

Even if it means prodding her into anger, I have to force her emotions to the surface. Now isn’t the time for the usual tactic of saying, “These words are true, but I’ll say them indirectly so as not to hurt or anger you.”

I don’t give a damn about the strength or choice of my words. If backing down means letting everything end, then I’ll fight on—true to myself—until the very end.

“I’ll be blunt: it was all my mistake. Because of me, countless lives were sacrificed, the world has been twisted, and you’ve been plunged into deep despair. And as for atonement, there’s nothing I can offer here and now. Even if I apologized, bowed my head, or even grovelled on my knees, you wouldn’t forgive me, would you? So I’m not asking for your forgiveness.”

“Then what are you…! At this point, what exactly are you planning to say to me? I’ve heard you weren’t the one who sealed me away! But after listening to words from someone who’s been on the run for hundreds of years, there’s no way I’m just going to accept them, is there!?”

“Yeah, I was running away. I was fleeing while searching for a way to save the world. And then I found Kaim and entrusted Asterion to him. That’s why you were freed—and I was saved too.”

“You’re so defiant…! Do you really think that acting so calmly means I’ll forgive you!!”

“So I’m not asking for your forgiveness—not here, not now, not ever. My only request is this:”

Behind us, the sounds of Kaim’s battle can be heard. Even after escaping, with only one arm, he’s risking his life for an elf he barely knows.

Thinking of that, I said to Yuu with all my hope:

“I want you to fight with me. I need your help to take down that bastard—fighting alongside Kaim, who hasn’t given up even in this dire situation.”

“That guy… could it be…?”

“His name is Grain. He’s the current Demon King, the very one who sealed you away. If things continue like this, he’ll wipe out everyone here except you and then seal you away again. Kaim is risking his life trying to defeat him, but he can’t win on his own—he’ll be killed. I can’t stand that. I might be willing to die, but I won’t let Kaim die. So, once again, I’m asking you to fight with us.”

I believe I’ve said everything—what’s needed now and what must be done.

But even if you understand my words, there are plenty of things you still can’t fully accept. Everyone has moments of doubt.

In fact, Yuu—while saying, “Do as you please”—looked at Kaim with worry. She has stepped just a bit away from the abyss. At last, in eyes once completely stained with despair, a faint image of the present Kaim appeared.

I want her to take one more step away from the edge of hopelessness. To that end, I used nearly all of my remaining magic to heal Yuu’s wounds.

Barely able to stand and staggering, I managed to string together these words:

“Right now, you could kill me if you wanted. I won’t get in your way. I wouldn’t even mind blasting everyone you dislike out of this entire room with mythic-level magic.”

“That is…”

Kaim will die. In this situation, even mythic-level magic won’t be enough to protect him. First, Grain will come to intervene. Kaim, having made up his mind, will try to stop him.

If you were to even harbor hatred for Kaim, that would be the end—just one possible outcome.

It’s you who’s been hurt. And it was me and Grain who inflicted those wounds, with Kaim tragically caught in the crossfire.

If you’re satisfied with that outcome, then even if you start chanting mythic-level magic, I won’t stop you. In fact, I can’t even stop you.

All I can do right now is believe—that within you, that fierce, raging obsession with the hope Kaim has shown will manifest here once more.

“I…I can’t possibly defeat that monster even if I lend a hand.”

Of course. Ancient Elves wield overwhelming magic, and their mastery of sorcery is formidable.

But against the current Grain, you can’t win. I did think for a moment that you might be able to, but your recovered magical power just isn’t enough. Ancient Elves were never meant for battle—that’s exactly why I turned to you in the first place.

I truly understand the power of an Ancient Elf. I’m convinced that you are the one hope that can pull us through this mess.

“I swear, if we fight together, there’s a plan.”

“Do you really think something so conveniently perfect exists…?”

“Feel free to doubt me. It doesn’t matter if that never changes for the rest of your life. Just, please trust Kaim. Let him survive—he’s the man who will become the Sword Saint of Hope. I simply cannot let him die in this wretched pit. And besides—”

“Above all, I just can’t stand it.” I said, once again pouring my heart out.

I wish with all my might that you felt the same. Relying on someone—especially on someone who, of all people, despises me—is utterly absurd.

But I must believe—the truth that the hope I finally found after all my running away has been woven into everything here.

“…I…I am—!”

What should I do? As I gaze upon this battle, where every second counts, and an enemy I’ve come to loathe over countless ages, I ask myself:

What is it that I must accomplish now?