New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (1/2 chapters)
vs Black Witch (2)
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The explosion sound of the Virginal Arms echoed through the concert hall that also served as a cathedral. The bursting sound was caused by the massive magical cannonballs launched from the Virginal Arms. And from the pipe organ behind the witch who launched them, countless magical cannonballs continued to fall down.
I repelled them with just the ability of my right arm. The venue was completely destroyed, and it was unrecognizable.
The storm of bullets was so intense that the right arm alone couldn’t keep up. My perfected body was only half-complete. Dodging the magical storm that poured down like a mudslide, I continued to punch and scatter with my right arm, while trying to escape. With each escape, my legs and side were hit, and blood splattered everywhere.
“Haha! Come on, come on, come on, if you keep running away, this will never end!” (Medna)
The witch on the stage was laughing arrogantly as she shouted. Her beautiful posture and elegant voice now only carried an aura of madness.
“How boring… you might have become a star if you played a string instrument. It’s such a waste, it makes me nauseous! So, disappear! Cocking!” (Medna)
She shouted, and the words were filled with contempt, contrasting sharply with her gracefully dancing dress skirt. The Medna-san I had known before was no longer there.
“By the way, it’s time to change the stage. Grace!” (Medna)
The leader, Grace Grayson, blew into her flute. The sweet sound of the flute was now my enemy in this place. In response, Medna-san also started playing the Virginal Arms’ keys with a screeching sound.
“My true essence starts now. Jack-kun, in the end, I’ll teach you the greatness of song…! I’ll make you regret abandoning that path!” (Medna)
“What do you plan to do…?” (Jack)
The sound began to play a single piece of music. It was a tune I had heard before.
——Always, the snowy fields are quietly heartwarming.
——Loved by her mother, loved by others, but she was the cursed child.
——Her mother’s love was warm, yet the wind of the earth blew cold and violently.
The Witch of Friedenhen. This was the same song I heard at the pre-festival. But Medna-san, who was passionately playing music and singing, was full of openings.
This is my chance.
“…!” (Medna)
I used the light thruster to leap up and rushed straight for Medna-san. I sent her flying with my Thread Fist, that black shadow of hers.
——”Does the silver world bless me?”
——The girl’s doubt grew.
——When the girl learned of the taboo, both light and darkness would sink.
The song continued. Medna-san was right in front of me. I wound up and swung the Thread Fist with all my might, aiming at her face. At that moment, her eerie eyes glowed red.
——The girl’s power interferes with the world…!
The face I punched was just a snowball. The snow shattered, and what had been Medna-san was only a snow sculpture.
“What…?!” (Jack)
Around me, it was a snowy world. This scene was something I had seen at the pre-festival concert too. But the sounds of the flute and harpsichord were still continuing.
“Song is no different from magic chanting. When you put your thoughts into it, it changes into magic.” (Medna)
From somewhere, Medna-san’s voice reached me. I turned around after sensing something behind me. In this silver-white world, there was the figure of the black witch. Holding the Virginal Arms on both sides, her figure hadn’t changed at all from before.
In contrast, I… I was nothing more than a child. When I looked at my right arm, the Thread Fist was gone. It was just the right arm of a child. There was no strange red-black magical mark either.
“Did you notice? This is my world. You are just ‘Jack-kun’ with no name.” (Medna)
“What is this?” (Jack)
“This is the miraculous power given to me. Through the stories I weave, I create countless worlds—’Tout Le Mon (Three Thousand Worlds)’.” (Medna)
Medna-san’s power was not to turn instruments into weapons, nor was it the Virginal Arms cannon itself. It was song. The world of song was her true power.
“This is what it means to be a fish on a cutting board. Shall we say goodbye now, so there’s no lingering regrets?” (Medna)
Medna-san aimed at me with the large cannon.
If I took a direct hit, I’d be done for. I immediately tried to generate an ice sword from the snowflakes. But it didn’t work. Nothing came out of the accumulated snow.
With a huge “boom,” a large amount of red blood splattered into the white world.
“Ugh…” (Jack)
My left side, from my ribs to my left arm, was blown off. Half my body disappeared, and my weight became lighter. There was no doubt about it. I couldn’t breathe, and my head wasn’t functioning properly. I felt dizzy, and it seemed like I was about to be pulled into the darkness.
“Pitiful.” (Medna)
I collapsed, coughing up blood. I couldn’t make it in time… My vision was fading, and the darkness was taking over.
“Wh…why?!” (Jack)
But surprisingly, that feeling lasted longer than expected. I even heard Medna-san’s voice in disbelief. It was the first time I’d heard such a voice, one that didn’t sound so confident.
“That’s impossible!” (Medna)
The snow around me seemed to cool my head, and gradually, the boiling sensation in my brain started to calm down. With my barely functioning vision, I looked around. The blood that had exploded from me was ‘melting’ the snow.
It wasn’t just melting. The red of the blood and the white of the snow were unnaturally mixing together and dissolving. From where they merged, the ground was exposed, revealing part of the hall’s floor from earlier.
“Human’s mana resides in the blood.” (Kea)
I recalled the words of Goddess Kea. My blood was the strongest purifier…
“Do you intend to invade my world with that power?!” (Medna)
“It can’t be helped. Leave the cleanup to me.” (Grace)
“Grace…! But I—” (Medna)
In the midst of my dazed consciousness, the sound of the flute echoed in my head. The floor I collapsed on was engulfed by a muddy darkness. As if sinking into that black muck, my body was being sucked in.
“This child is quite a threat.” (Grace)
“Dispose of him somewhere… I never want to see him again.” (Medna)
“Medna, it’s rare to see you out of breath.” (Grace)
“…This place is also goodbye. I’m going to Dali now.” (Medna)
“Okay, okay.” (Grace)
My vision was filled with black liquid, and I completely melted into the darkness.
—
“Jack…” (Tristan)
In the completely black world, only a voice echoed. It was the voice of someone I was familiar with.
“Wake up, Jack…” (Tristan)
In the black world, a single white shadow appeared.
That figure, that voice. It’s Tristan!
“You still have a chance to go on—” (Tristan)
What does he mean? Where am I supposed to go?
“You… You should be able to win even by yourself.” (Tristan)
“By myself? Tristan?” (Jack)
“From here on, it’s a solo journey.” (Tristan)
Saying that, Tristan turned on his heel and walked toward the back. It felt like we might never meet again.
I don’t want that. Teach me again.
“Don’t be spoiled. The way of the swordsman is daily training. Everything will become your strength.” (Tristan)
That’s… wait! Where are you going?! Let’s go back to Liberta together!
“If you want Liberta (freedom), you shouldn’t be in a place like this―――!” (Tristan)
—
Tristan’s shadow disappeared. I gasped, and the breath I exhaled turned into bubbles, rising toward the surface.
It seems I’m in water. I can’t breathe.
The sensation in my arms was clear. My left arm was fine. My right arm was also still mine.
Tristan… Tristan isn’t dead. If I want freedom, huh. If I want freedom, I have no choice but to keep fighting. The peace that’s been made is a temporary thing. Only those who continue to fight, the warriors, can win true freedom and peace. That’s the answer.
When I put strength into it, the Thread Fist roared, casting a beam of light in the dark water. The more I scattered the particles of light, the more buoyancy I gained, flying out of the water.
I jumped up to the surface of the water and then shot up into the sky. It was night. Below was the sea. I could see the land nearby. The lights of the city stood out clearly. That was the city of Dali Amor. Using the Light Thrusters, I flew up into the air, heading toward Dali Amor. The wind hit my soaking wet body, and it was cold.
—
I arrived at the city square. I appeared suddenly. The crocodile leather suit the Stride Household had newly made for me was tattered, and the people around me were murmuring upon seeing my appearance. They were saying things like a monster had appeared or that I was a ghost of an assassin.
I guess with this outfit, I don’t look like a warrior or adventurer, but an assassin.
“Why……… when I should have killed you――――!” (Medna)
Amid the crowd, I saw the hateful figure of that witch flash briefly. The witch ran off toward the San Amolina Great Cathedral as if escaping.
This couldn’t be a coincidence. For the two who were just at the Cyans to meet like this in the square of Dali Amor, is this some trick of fate? Perhaps the goddess of fate is telling me not to let her escape this time.
I locked eyes with the goddess relief embedded in the cathedral door.
“This time, I won’t let you escape…!” (Jack)
Using the Light Thrusters, I immediately headed toward the San Amolina Great Cathedral. Perhaps surprised by my high-speed movement, the crowd became even noisier, and I could hear the sound of the guards’ whistles.
I punched the large door of the San Amolina Great Cathedral, destroying it, and jumped inside. The sounds of the ruckus from the square and the voices were unnervingly loud, reaching even here.
The interior of the cathedral was constructed similarly to the Cyans. There was a statue of the goddess Kea in front, but the difference was that behind it, there was a large staircase directly leading to the second floor. As expected of a cathedral, it was incredibly vast, and an imposing atmosphere prevailed.
I ran up the stairs, and as soon as I reached the top, I was in the church area. There were rows of chairs, and in the back was the pulpit and pipe organ. Balconies jutted out from both side walls toward the outside.
There, children were seated. Just like when I first infiltrated the Cyans, the children were praying earnestly.
Had they already moved to this cathedral?
“What’s happened to your body?” (Medna)
The seductive witch in a black dress, wearing a wide-brimmed feathered hat, stood at the pulpit. Her expression was tense, and her face was contorted.
“Half of your body is gone, and you were sunk to the bottom of the sea… to come back alive in such a state, it’s no wonder people would call you inhuman.” (Medna)
“I am a warrior of freedom. I will keep fighting until Medna-san frees these children.” (Jack)
“A terrifying ghost…” (Medna)
Medna-san began playing the harpsichord lightly, placed next to the pulpit.
“It’s all over because of you. There’s no way left to save these children.” (Medna)
“Are you going to kill them?!” (Jack)
“That expression might not be wrong. It’s a kind of living death.” (Medna)
I must stop that. The children, innocently and purely praying, didn’t know anything. Among them should be Irene’s brother, Charleen.
“Heh… I guess this song is fitting for your requiem after all.” (Medna)
The tune was the song from my memories with Medna-san.
――Ah, the magnificent lament, the princess lamenting the invasion of the tyrant.
――Before the withered land, why does my god Heirel not save us?
The first movement of the Highlander’s infernal fire. A legend of foreign warriors rushing through battle and winning. It’s a song praising that.
――Submitting, praying, and finally, the warriors descend.
――The mighty hero draped in jet black. Their eyes hold the very essence of all things.
The song shifted into a chant, and the cathedral changed into a desolate wasteland with exposed red earth. The ruined cathedral. The ruined chairs. The crumbling ruins, lacking even a roof, were bathed in a red sun, despite it being night. The children who had been praying in the cathedral were now nothing but countless corpses.
“That’s… they’re dead?!” (Jack)
“It’s okay. The only ones here are me and Jack-kun.” (Medna)
In front, standing quietly by the crumbling wall of the cathedral, was Medna-san.
“In the song of your memories, there should be no intruders, right?” (Medna)
With a mysterious smile, Medna-san vanished as if blending into the shadows.
――The castles, the feasts, and the late nights. Only through patience does the princess’s love persist.
――The night breeze swirls down from the stardust, rustling the maiden’s hair, heralding the coming of spring.
The second movement began. Once again, I heard Medna-san’s voice from the heavens. The scenery rapidly changed from the sunset to night, with the moonlight illuminating the ruined cathedral. The rapidly changing world made my head spin, and I started feeling nauseous.
“Where are you?!” (Jack)
I was left alone in this world. The violent transitions of day and night were driving me crazy. But despite that, the song continued. The song that once was a dream now became a song of madness. I ran away from the spot, desperately running through an unknown world. But the song kept chasing me.
—
How much time had passed?
In this world with no one else, it was only me and Medna-san’s song that existed. The world continued its dark-light alternations, and eventually, it returned to a sunset-dyed wasteland with a hill overlooking it. This hill… I recognized it from somewhere.
――Someday, the place I’ll return to will be stained with blood.
――His warrior charged through. That era, those battles.
――Thus, the people will be saved. The princess waits, eagerly, to greet the warrior.
It was the day I was taken to the dungeon for the first time. When I was sleeping in the Gala Ruins, the fantasy that the Goddess Kea showed me was also a world like this.
By the way, where did Kea, who was crucified in the Cyans, go? I couldn’t even help her, let alone rescue her.
“……Is it my lack of power? It’s my loss… Everyone, I’m sorry…” (Jack)
Defeat. There’s no way out now. If I were to hurt my own body and forcefully make blood gush out, perhaps I could destroy this world. But I don’t even have the strength to hurt myself. Unless I somehow deal with the nauseating headache, I couldn’t afford to do something like that.
“My… loss…” (Jack)
“——That’s a masterpiece. The ‘you’ who won the greatest victory on this hill is now declaring defeat on the same hill.” (??)
“Huh…?” (Jack)
A mass of light appeared in front of me. It spun around and floated right in front of me. When the light dimmed, Kea’s figure appeared inside it.
“Kea?!” (Jack)
“The Highlander’s flames of sin. The historical war that changed everything, but no one remembers who brought it about, because he was an unknown warrior.” (Kea)
“……What… are you doing?” (Jack)
Anger boiled up inside me. If you’re going to show up so nonchalantly, you should’ve done so from the start.
“You’re still soft. You wouldn’t do anything unless I showed up like this.” (Kea)
“I was desperate… But now, I can’t do anything anymore…” (Jack)
“Stop saying such negative things!” (Kea)
Kea mimicked Alfred’s tone.
Has she been copying people’s speech lately?
“Enough, hurry up and unleash your power. You’re not someone who’ll die in a place like this.” (Kea)
It felt almost like Alfred was scolding me. No, the one in front of me was Alfred himself. The familiar red hair was facing me.
“W-What does this mean?!” (Jack)
“Jack, come back quickly. Once you’ve had a baby, I’ll cook you delicious food again.” (Lindsey)
Lindsey appeared from behind her. I couldn’t keep up with the sudden turn of events.
“Jack-kun, I caused trouble, but I’m okay now.” (Dwayne)
“Dwayne?!” (Jack)
“Breaking my Gladius… you’re really something else.” (Lizbeth)
“Liz too?!” (Jack)
The sudden appearance of familiar faces. I was in confusion.
“Do your best, Jack. Here.” (Alfred)
Alfred extended his right hand toward me.
“Handshake, handshake.” (Alfred)
“……?” (Jack)
I grabbed his hand without fully understanding the situation. My right hand had turned back into just that of a child’s. Alfred’s right hand was strong, warm, and reassuring.
“Why… are we shaking hands…” (Jack)
“You’re strong. You’ve followed us this far without ever complaining.” (Alfred)
Alfred smiled at me, looking me straight in the eye.
“Now it’s your turn to go ahead.” (Alfred)
“Huh…?” (Jack)
“Goodbye.” (Alfred)
The four of them disappeared immediately, wrapped in light.
Goodbye?
In an instant, my right arm started to throb, and it turned into pain.
“………Ahhh!! I-…! Ahhhhh!!” (Jack)
A fierce lightning bolt shot through my right arm. At the same time, bolts, screws, and machinery began to grow from my right wrist. From there, a red-black line seemed to sew its way up my arm. The right side of my body began to change in an unnatural way. The warrior’s song echoed in my head.
――The one who once saved the world, what does he lament on the solitary land?
――Embraced by countless fires of war, exposed to innumerable sword clashes,
――His unwavering gaze pierced through the mountain of corpses.
That warrior was me. No matter how tragic the fate, I wanted to be the hero who could overcome it.
By just focusing my power, light particles scattered from the opening of my right arm. Those particles wiped out the red world. It was as if I had opened a hole, and the three thousand worlds began to break apart.
I leapt into the air. Using the thrust of the Light Thrusters, I ran across the red land. The more I ran, the more the world began to distort, and eventually, the San Amolina Cathedral came into view. The black witch standing at the altar was staring at me in shock.
“………Again… Again it’s broken…” (Medna)
I landed right in front of her.
“Ha… Ha…” (Jack)
“Ugh――――” (Medna)
The black witch once again turned the instrument in front of her into a Virginal Arms and aimed it at me.
“That stubbornness… that repulsiveness, it’s so refreshing…” (Medna)
The witch glared at me as if I were an insect.
If there were no more battles, maybe everyone could live peacefully… But in a world with no ideals or dreams, life would be boring for anyone.
“The ghost of the warrior! Hurry up and disappear from this world!” (Medna)
The witch yelled. At the same time, the harsh sound of the harpsichord rang out, and a series of huge magic bullets were fired along with a discordant tone. I created a sword from the rubble of the collapsed cathedral and cut through them.
The sword shattered with just one swing. But each time, I created the sword again and cut through.
“In this new world, you’re in the way!” (Medna)
“Nobody wants a fake peace!” (Jack)
–Snap… Snap… Snap…!
My heart was beating faster. But this isn’t enough. I need to move faster, faster!
I quickly slashed at the black witch, who blocked with her Arms. Her swing was fast, but it had its limits. The cannon started to give off strange smoke and looked like it would soon turn into scrap metal. The blue-black lightning crackled, about to explode.
“My Virgin (shotgun) is going to be destroyed…! …Is this… battle…!” (Medna)
“I’ll finish this! As soon as possible!” (Jack)
I pushed the black witch back, cornering her against the wall, and finally trapping her at the protruding balcony. The witch glanced down below.
“Fu… fufu… fufufufu…! Hahahahaha! I don’t care about ideology anymore! Fighting with you makes me remember the past! Killing each other is always fun, no matter what!” (Medna)
The black witch infused magic into her Virginal Arms and made it hum. I responded with all my strength. Goddess Kea and Liberta’s companions were supporting me.
I couldn’t let this end halfway!
“I’ve been looking for this kind of battle! Jack-kun, come at me with everything you’ve got!” (Medna)
“Don’t worry, I will――――!” (Jack)
The Virginal Arms and Thread Fist emitted intense charging sounds between us.
“That right hand! It has a beautiful sound! Just as I expected from you!” (Medna)
“Take this!!” (Jack)
“Fire―――!” (Medna)
There was no more thinking to be done. I would just crush her head-on!
High-concentration magic bullets shot out. I slammed my fist into them with everything I had. The greatest anti-magic power that could dissipate any magic. Upon impact, it exploded, and the energy clashed, swelling up and engulfing me, the black witch, and the cathedral. I was blown to the ground. I quickly got back up and surveyed the surroundings. The light was so blinding that I couldn’t tell where I was.
In that light, the black witch wavered. Her dress was tattered, and only her white hair flowed beautifully in the wind. The witch swayed and raised her axe.
“…Look, this is the final blow…” (Medna)
It seemed like she had received a lot of damage, as her movements were very sluggish. It was far too easy for me to deflect her attack. What happened next, though, was completely unexpected.
The final blow was meant for herself. She grabbed my sword with her bare hands and pressed it to her diaphragm, stabbing it into herself. The soft skin gave way, and my sword stabbed deep. Medna-san chose death. She committed suicide…
Why―――?
She collapsed onto her back with a thud. Her flowing white hair and white skin, even though injured, still exuded an alluring aura. Looking up at the sky, her throat made strange wheezing sounds.
I… I’ve done it. I’ve stabbed the woman who healed my heart.
“Wh-why… Medna-san――!” (Jack)
“…That hand…” (Medna)
I gripped her outstretched hand. Her hoarse voice. I would never hear that beautiful singing voice again.
“I… regret not being able to see your future…” (Medna)
Medna-san was in pain. I didn’t know what to do. Various emotions tangled inside me, and I couldn’t say anything.
“Why… are you doing this?!” (Jack)
“It was… beautiful, that’s why…” (Medna)
“Eh…?” (Jack)
“…The fact that I killed myself is a curse… I wonder if I became the first woman to stain your beautiful hands…” (Medna)
My hands, gripping Medna-san’s hand, were soaked in blood. That hand had the feeling of having killed someone for the first time.
“I’ll watch over the figure of a tainted warrior in the afterlife…” (Medna)
I couldn’t understand.
“Please. Spare Grace… a person can live alone… but when there are two… then…” (Medna)
The words Medna-san once told me resurfaced. The memory of the time when I was troubled in the peaceful square of Solter, and she gave me advice. Even though she said no one could live alone, the people around me kept moving away. I was the same. Family. Friends. Companions. Meeting, parting, and sometimes even parting through death. Then why do people live their lives with someone?
―Whether alone then, or two now, cherish this feeling.
At that time, Medna-san was earnestly playing a small flute called a fife. While thinking of someone. It must have been Grace, the commander who saved her.
“Mother… I’m sorry, I couldn’t save the children…” (Medna)
With those words, Medna-san slowly closed her eyes and stopped breathing. Her originally white skin turned pale blue, signaling the loss of a life.
“Ah…” (Jack)
In that moment, I recalled the days spent with Medna-san. To her, it might have been trivial taking care of a child, but to me, it was precious, warm days. In the cheerful days, she taught me instruments, and I heard her sing. Those days were now lost. I could never get them back.
“Ah… Ah, ah… Ahhhhhh!!!!” (Jack)
I didn’t understand anything anymore. I kept crying, not understanding anything. The death of one person was so sudden, and for me, it was too heavy.
――Ki…iin!
“Ahhhhhh, ah…?” (Jack)
A sword was stabbed into Medna-san’s corpse, and it began to glow with a red-black light. The reaction, something I had never seen before, startled me. It was like a tree-like tombstone absorbing Medna-san’s magic. That sword vibrated violently, and then suddenly exploded with mana right in front of me.
My vision was once again engulfed in light, and I took the full brunt of the shockwave, my body flying away.
Is this a punishment for killing someone who was called the saint?
Even in the midst of losing consciousness, the sense of guilt never left my mind.
――Splash…!
Just before losing consciousness, my body was thrown into the sea.
Maybe it wouldn’t matter if I became seaweed.
I held on to the faint hope that the waves might wash away my sins.
(Act 1 “The Warrior and the Goddess” – End)
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