49 Chapter(47)

Episode(47): Are you and idiot?, Still too weak, Promise me!

SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(47)

Sullivan looked at the dumbfounded hero with disappointment and spoke.

[…. Is that all, hero? Does the savior of all mankind only amount to so little?]

He expected better. 

Even if the hero wasn't particularly special he expected him to be somewhat competent.

Like this they won't even get entertainment out of dealing with such a fool.

He shook his head as he continued to engage in a battle of cat and mouse with Renji.

At first Renji was angry, he had even forgotten that even the high leveled warriors at the ball hadn't stepped out when they saw this guy show up.

However now that even his ultimate didn't work he was anxious.

The thought of losing that never crossed his arrogant brain sprung up like geyser. This caused his attacks to be even wilder than before.

[Stop dodging you bastard!]

Sullivan raised a brow and wore a strange expression when he heard these words.

He looked at Renji like he was gazing at a fool.

[Are you by chance, an idiot?]

There was no way he could think otherwise.

What person would stand around while someone else was aiming for their life, especially when the person trying to kill them tells them to stop dodging? 

Sullivan couldn't help but think this person's brain was kicked by a donkey.

That had to be the case otherwise how someone could be so lacking in brain cells.

Akane who was at the side behind Mavis was dumbstruck as well.

'Ah, humanity might be done for'

If the hero was such an idiot then was it really okay to leave the fate of the world in his hands.

Wouldn't the world crumble to dust even faster?

However she had no time to think about that. The situation as it stood was terrible.

Renji was no doubt on the losing side.

Even if the demon hadn't retaliated with an attack just yet she could tell.

As someone that trained with Mavis, even if she couldn't see his movements clearly she knew that this person was levels above even Mavis when it came to technique and skills.

And this was when he hadn't even used his full power yet. 

'To begin with, the guy hadn't even enhanced his body with mana yet'

Akane didn't even have her weapon.

She doubted whether or not she could be a match for such a monster when even the high leveled 'hero' was so helpless.

Heck, she might probably be even more flustered that he was.

Before coming to the ball she had heard rumors that Renji recently passed level 30 so if he couldn't defeat that demon at such a level then even if she stepped forward it would only be to die a nameless death. 

Such a death was too tragic for anyone.

'Renji was supposed to be strong against demons right?'

Even so, when she saw the sight of Renji being toyed around so effortlessly like a child she couldn't help the rising anxiety in her chest.

Thinking about how death might not be too far away, Akane involuntarily trembled.

She couldn't help it really.

Who wouldn't tremble in the face of death?

Was Akane some stone hearted killer in her past life?

No, she couldn't stare death in the face and accept it like a warrior.

She was still just a teenage girl that had yet to even properly live her life.

Yet here she was, about to die in an unfamiliar world unable to see her family and loved ones ever again.

Ah, it was hopeless.

Despair surged forward and she almost lost strength in her legs.

Just then however, a supporting hand held Akane firmly and a sweet yet familiar voice entered her ears.

[Akane...!]

Akane, who had been on the verge of breaking down suddenly looked up.

Her eyes glided up through the huge mountain peaks and up to the beautiful face of the person that supported her.

[Mavis?]

Mavis looked both concerned and serious at the moment.

There was a tinge of helplessness in her expression but at the same time there was a determination to fight.

Akane had seen this expression once before.

It was when Aoi's childhood friend had fought and killed the guards.

She wondered if all warriors wore such a look before they fought.

Maybe it was because she wasn't a warrior that she didn't fully understand that feeling?

However as she saw the look of helpless reluctance on Mavis's face, it was as if she could predict her next words.

Sure enough-

[I'm going to attack]

Akane immediately tried to stop her.

[No!]

She had to.

The idea of fighting that monster was too reckless even for Mavis.

Although she believed in Mavis, Akane would never let her blind belief cloud her judgement.

Anyone could see it clear as day that the demon wasn't someone any one person could take on.

Mavis also understood this fact. Even so-

[Yes]

She held gently onto Akane's trembling hands with a smile.

[That's the only thing that we can do to buy time right now...Unfortunately I doubt the hero can fight that monster and be the victor of the battle]

Renji was bound to lose.

It was obvious even to a blind person that Renji would never be victorious even with plot armor hugging his thigh.

[Not only is its level higher than anyone else's here, its martial arts are even above mine so even with me and all the other knights….]

She would die.

Mavis didn't even need to finish her words for Akane to infer the meaning.

If she let Mavis go fight that demon while she ran away, she wouldn't see Mavis alive again.

She would definitely die.

Mavis was someone Akane considered a close friend.

Even if they had only spent a mere month together, they had been together almost all of the month and they were closer than even most family members.

As such, Akane really didn't want Mavis to fight.

She held her head down and in a whisper she pleaded.

[Don't fight...]

Her voice was so pitiful.

Akane really couldn't understand why the hell Mavis would choose to fight such a meaningless battle.

[...if you know...that there's no winning then what's the point?!]

Tears were already streaming down her cheeks and her expression was tinged with pain.

Why the hell would Mavis willingly go die like that?

She wished and hoped that Mavis would also reconsider.

However the next words caused Akane to be completely speechless.

[...I get to protect you]

[!!]

Mavis sighed as she spoke. 

On her face one could see the powerless expression all too evident.

However the determination in her eyes never wavered.

At this moment Akane was almost sure that no one could deny how Handsome Mavis was. If she wasn't a girl she might have even fallen for Mavis this very moment.

Mavis softly looked at her friend and continued.

[Not just you but the entire country]

Her resolve pierced straight through Akane's unwillingness. 

She too, didn't want to die.

She feared death just as everyone else did.

She wanted to live just as everyone else did.

Even so-

[I am a knight, and as such it is my duty to live and die a death dedicated to the protection of my people]

Akane peered into those resolute eyes with her own.

She didn't know what exactly she could say to counter those words.

Even if she could, it probably wouldn't matter much.

Looking at how determined Mavis was she knew that nothing she said could change her mind.

[I don't know if I'm the same to you, but thanks to you the last month was fun] 

Mavis genuinely smiled and said.

She had truly had fun she never knew she would have.

[We talked, fought together, we shopped...I did things I wouldn't normally do since my peers usually avoided me....but with you, thanks to you I was finally able to live like a normal girl]

Although Mavis hadn't spoken about her background she did tell Akane about her upbringing as a child.

All Mavis knew from a child to adulthood was nothing but training.

When she wasn't training she would eat, sleep, hunt monster and then go back to more training.

Just like that, she had grown to become who she was currently.

With unparalleled skills and unmatched beauty she had naturally outclassed all her peers to become the current commander of the knight guard of the empire.

In short, she was perfect.

However because of this perfection people normally stayed away from her.

She couldn't get along with her peers because their topics were always far away from her daily life and no one took the time to understand her.

But Akane knew, Mavis wasn't perfect.

At least she didn't get to where she was without hard work and effort.

Mavis, like any other girl was just a normal girl.

She laughed, cried and even makes weird faces when she ate something too sweet or too sour.

That same girl was sacrificing herself in order for Akane to live.

How could Akane not feel powerless and hopeless at this fact?

She clenched her fist tightly and squeezed out through gritted teeth.

[….I can't...I won't let that happen!]

She refused to let her sacrifice herself like that.

[Akane...]

Mavis was slightly stunned.

She thought that Akane would instantly want to escape after she explained how hopeless it was, but she never expected the opposite.

Instantly a burst of warmth spread through her chest and she smiled.

Was this what it was like to have a friend that cared for you?

She didn't dislike the feeling at all.

Even then, her resolve didn't waver. Instead it only became stronger.

Gritting her teeth, Akane pleaded aloud.

[E-Even if I die, I won't let you face that monster alone! 

If you want to face him then at least bring me! Please, I'm not weak anymore and I can also fight beside you–]

Mavis shook her head.

[No]

It didn't matter how much determination Akane showed, in the end she was still too weak. 

Mavis looked into her eyes and didn't hesitate to shut her down.

[You don't even have a weapon! Do I even have to mention how low your level is? Look at yourself, the demon hasn't even released its aura yet and you're ready to topple over! Are you telling me to let you fight so I can watch you get killed before my eyes?...]

Mavis, filled with tears pleaded while embracing Akane.

[Please listen to me. Right now, I need to focus my all on that demon and I don't want to be distracted]

Her words hurt, it was piercing to hear that she was nothing but a distraction.

Even so Akane knew it was the truth.

She was baggage.

She was weak.

Extremely weak.

Even though she felt content while training before now she felt like an imbecile for feeling proud of herself.

All it took was a glance for her to feel like she would pass out.

If that wasn't weak then what was?

She wanted to laugh as the helplessness washed over her.

Akane clenched her fist wanting to argue more, but seeing how Mavis was so adamant she could only agree.

[Fine, I'll evacuate]

She didn't want to cause Mavis to spill anymore useless tears and waste her energy crying before the battle.

[Sniff…Good]

Mavis smiled when she heard Akane agree.

That smile was like a field of flowers blooming and it made Akane instinctively want to protect her.

But the current her was too weak. She couldn't even protect herself.

She could only clench her fist and make a condition.

[I want you to promise me, don't die no matter what!]