『What One Holds Dear』

"Uh... Hey! Can you stop crying? It's bothering me!"

"Eh...?" She looked up, her face was still in tears.

"Fight me!"

The pompous child declared, forcing the crying girl to stand up. The person was quite pushy, not even letting the girl rest.

"If I win, you will be under me—but don't worry, I always protect my subordinates." They proudly said.

"Ah..." The girl stood there in place, not knowing what to do.

The girl's clothes seem to be in tatters and bruises could be seen—it seems yet again, this girl has been picked on, the person thought.

"Hah! Prepare yoursel—"

"—Fuwa!"

*Tumble*

"Eh...?"

The person tripped.

It seems that the moment they had begun to charge at the girl, they had immediately stumbled.

"Pft! Ahahaha." The girl chuckled softly, closing her mouth in an attempt to hide her laugh.

"Yo-You just got lucky!"

"This is not over! I, Dorothy, will return tomorrow!" She fleed, seemingly could not face the girl after that embarrassment.

Despite their complaints, the person could be seen slightly smiling—it seems that she didn't need to be so haughty after all.

<<----------->>

"...you're losing on purpose."

"Eh..ah! No way! You're definitely stronger!"

"I don't want to fight anymore." The girl dropped her sword.

After Dorothy had "lost" for the 10th time, the young girl eventually caught on—it seems that this person was just taking pity on her, she thought.

"...ah! Hmph! I only held back because I was tired is all!"

"...?"

"I will hit you with everything I got!" Dorothy charged forward.

*Thud*

The girl was hit right in the gut, sending her down to her knees. Realizing Dorothy made a mistake, she quickly looked at the girl but surprisingly...

"It hurts but—it's fine!" She stood back up.

"Woah..." Dorothy was in awe, this girl was much braver than she was.

"Come! I will give it my all!"

Even if she was beaten up, even if she was insulted, even if she was ridiculed for her weak aptitude, even if she cried after—she had always fought back. After all, she had wanted to be like her mother and sister, who looked so dignified—who had never once yielded to any opponent.

This was Astria Caroline von Avery, whom Dorothy had admired. For her, Astria was someone much stronger and more beautiful than her—and if she could be by this person's side, she'd be willing to challenge her every time so that Astria would notice her.

Her pride wouldn't allow her to say that she had wanted to be friends at the start—but being rivals wasn't so bad, she said to herself.

<<----------->>

"Over there, Naoki!"

"Wait... it seems the monster is already dead," Naoki said, about to pull out his arrows.

"Dorothy!"

They immediately rushed towards the lone unconscious girl in the clearing—going to her aid.

"This is bad! Her soul is going rampant! She's suffering from extreme Soul Fatigue—at this rate, her Soul nodes will implode!" Astria exclaimed.

"This-!"

"That's right, Naoki! I'm no good with Soul Seeking but you might..."

"But the artifact, she'll-"

"There's no TIME!!!" Astria yelled, her eyes deadly serious.

"...Got it!"

This was the first time Naoki had seen Astria make that face—it was as if nothing else mattered and that if Naoki were to refuse, she was going to make sure that he will regret it for the rest of his life.

<<----------->>

*Howl*

"A Silver Queen!? How is it here?" She grimaced.

"Grrrrr"

In front of Dorothy was a White wolf that was easily thrice her size, namely, a Silver Queen—its strength equivalent to that of someone with 5 Star Nodes.

*Fwoosh*

It clawed Dorothy and was about to hit her—till the sounds of cracking interrupted them.

"My Soul Armor broke instantly!?"

She stepped back, readying her beautifully-crafted silver spear.

"[Rapid Charged Rush]!" She bolted forward, her body became that of a bullet.

*Bang*

A loud shockwave followed.

"It's not effective...!?"

"Grrrrraw!" It kicked Dorothy back, her body was sent flying.

*Thud*

"Kuh..!"

Her back had landed against a tree—fortunately, she had not received a direct hit from the Silver Queen as she was able to guard with her spear.

"...ha..haha"

"Ahahaha...! Is this it...?"

"To think that... I'd die, before I..." She began crying.

*Growl*

"YOU KNOW!?"

"All I wanted...! I wanted to become! Become close to her! This whole time, I couldn't even say that to her—I couldn't! And before I knew it, I keep on pretending to be her rival! I always had to bother her, I wanted her to keep on noticing me—since there was no other way for a beautiful girl like her to ever have a Lineage-less friend like me!" She screamed, her voice had lost its prior softness.

"I don't want to die yet...! I don't but..."

"[Berserker Blood]!" A tear drop from her eyes

As she said that, her body emitted a crimson aura—her eyes and face could be seen with red veins. It seems she had sacrificed her sanity for this Soul Skill.

"GRAHHH!" She charged at the beast.

*Hack*

She pierced one of its legs, separating it from its owner.

"Graww!" It jumped back.

"KILL! KILL! KILL!"

*Hack*

*Hack*

*Hack*

The slaughter continued until not a trace of the monster could be seen. Pools of blood scattered, and not a single of its white fur could be seen.

"..."

*Silence*

"...I'm sorry—I was a... fool. I... In truth—" She collapsed.

"I... I loved her..."

<<----------->>

"Hah... this girl—so that was what it was all about" Astria knowingly said.

"Carol... I can't—I can't keep going!" Naoki groaned, his face was flushed red.

Naoki was suffering the effects of his ability. Without an artifact—he is unable to suppress the surge of emotions and the... carnal urges.

"Pea...sant-?" She spoke weakly.

"Hah... What a relief, it seems like she'll be fin-"

"Peasant~♡!" She lunged herself at Naoki, immediately latching onto him—suffocating Naoki.

"!?!?!?"

"..."

"..."

*Cackle* *Cackle*

"Fuha—! wai-wait! I did nothing wrong!? So please put your lightning away Carol?"

"..."

"...please?"

*Zap*

"He-Hey! HEY!!! Why only me? How about this clingy bug!?" Naoki began to run.

"Peasant~"

And so the night went on. As always, Naoki had gotten another sense of deja vu—it seems he needs to prepare for these kinds of situations future and avoid them at all costs.

<<----------->>

"Are you all ready? We can't afford to fail tomorrow. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch and make the "Violet Trickster" see the truth."

"Yes!"

The several dozen people all cheered in unison, they wore white robes with a golden insignia—indicating their affiliation. Additionally, they all had golden swords that shone brightly, which seemingly fit with their attire.

"We, the Golden Messiah, shall open the world and rid of the fake tyrant!"

"That's right!"

"We will never be blinded again!"

Beneath the bright shine of the moon lies a shadow—it can be said that the two define each other and that none could exist without the alternative. One thing is for certain though—that Naoki will probably face Astria's wrath the entire night.