When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword

Chapter 66 Regret

After the white demon and Citrine disappeared, that unnatural distortion closed as if it were a lie.

What remained afterward was just me and Dia, standing dumbfounded, surrounded by a hollow silence.

That stillness forcibly impresses upon me the fact that Citrine has been taken away.

“…”

I couldn’t reach her.

I couldn’t grab her.

I couldn’t stop it.

Even though I was so close.

“If only I had moved faster…”

“Damn it!”

I struck my right thigh with my right hand, frustrated with nowhere to vent.

It wasn’t that I was careless.

If anything, my vigilance was heightened more than ever due to the imminent attack of the demon group.

Yet still, I couldn’t react to the white demon’s ambush and Citrine was taken away right in front of me.

It’s infuriating. It’s humiliating. Regrets flood over me now, wondering if there was anything else I could have done.

But really, what is the demons’ purpose?

What benefit do they gain from taking Citrine away?

Before I can even comprehend that, Citrine was snatched away from us.

“…I’m… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

As I silently grind my teeth with meaningless regret, Dia unexpectedly speaks up from behind.

Her apology is tinged with tears and trembling, surprising me as I turn around.

Dia stands frozen, her face pale as if she blames herself for something irreparable.

“It’s not your fault… Why would you think it’s your fault? You’re not to blame. Citrine was taken because I couldn’t make it in time…”

I try to console her hastily, but Dia shakes her head heavily, burdened by guilt.

“But… but I was entrusted with Citrine-chan. Protecting her was the only thing I could do, and yet I… ”

“…”

Regret isn’t something only I feel.

Dia, too, deeply regrets being unable to do anything and losing Citrine.

Or perhaps, more than me who couldn’t reach her right in front of me, Dia feels a greater sense of self-blame for being entrusted with Citrine.

But well, there’s nothing we can do about it now.

The ability of the one who snatched Citrine was just too different.

In that situation earlier, I don’t think anyone could have stopped them.

So Dia shouldn’t feel responsible.

If anyone’s to blame, it’s both of us.

Therefore, I calmly said to Dia, almost reminding myself:

“Let’s save the reflection for later. For now, our priority is to pursue Citrine.”

“Huh?”

Dia widened her eyes in surprise at my words.

Her expression seemed to question whether she had heard correctly.

She couldn’t contain her astonishment at my casual statement.

“Are… are you saying we can chase after Citrine-chan?”

“I think so… I can’t be sure, but there’s a good chance we can.”

Losing Citrine isn’t the end. There’s still a way to make things right.

I revealed this faint hope to Dia.

“When Citrine was taken by that white demon, I smelled a ‘burnt’ scent from beyond the distortion.”

“Burnt…?”

“Do you remember, Dia? What kind of area Citrine was originally in…”

As I asked, Dia furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

“Um, I think… it was… ‘Obsidian Mountain’ area, right?”

“Yes. And what did she say about that area?”

“I… I think…”

Suddenly, Dia’s eyes widened in realization.

Understanding her intuition, I nodded as if to confirm her thoughts.

“Citrine mentioned that place smelled ‘burnt’. It’s always burning, a scorched area. So I think she was taken to that ‘Obsidian Mountain’.”

I don’t understand the reason behind it, but it’s highly probable.

It’s the area where Citrine originally stayed, so if she was ‘taken back’ for some reason, it gives a reason why she wasn’t killed right there.

Actually, right now, besides clinging to that possibility, we don’t have any other choices.

If our only clue is there, our destination is decided.

Quickly, I pulled out a map and compass from my pocket, confirming our current location and the destination.

“‘Obsidian Mountain’ isn’t too far from here. Charm-san also said it’s a little east of Milchronde. If we hurry, we might make it there by the end of today.”

Honestly, I’d prefer to go by carriage, but I doubt we’ll find one conveniently passing nearby.

Obsidian Mountain is in such a remote area that public carriages are almost non-existent.

Rather than holding on to such a slim possibility, it’s more certain and faster to go on foot.

That’s why I swiftly decided on our next course of action.

Dia looked at me anxiously and asked, “Shouldn’t we ask other adventurers for help?”

At first, I thought that might be a good idea.

Since many demons are already involved with Citrine, it might be too much for just us to handle.

Moreover, this could give us a reason to ask other adventurers for help.

Just asking them to take Citrine to the Guild headquarters wouldn’t be enough to motivate them, but this should give us a strong justification.

However, I honestly expressed what I was thinking.

“I don’t think other adventurers will willingly help to save a ‘demon girl’. Even if we send adventurers to Obsidian Mountain under the guise of a ‘demon extermination’ request, there’s a high chance Citrine will also be targeted for extermination. Besides, we don’t have time to gather other adventurers now.”

If we hesitate, we won’t know what might happen to Citrine.

Given that she was taken away without being killed on the spot, I think it’s unlikely she’ll be killed right away.

But this is just wishful thinking.

There’s no absolute guarantee that Citrine won’t be killed.

Actually, even if the chance of her being killed right away is low, it’s better to hurry for the rescue.

Because in this world, there are plenty of things worse than death.

The anguished expression Citrine showed as she was taken away vividly returns to my mind.

There’s no time to waste.

“Let’s go, Dia. To save Citrine.”

“…Y-Yes.”

Dia, still wearing a troubled expression, replied in a faint voice.

Maybe she’s still a little confused, or there’s something unsettling about her expression.