195 My Dilemma
Suddenly, I felt my strength grow once again. It was like a bonus after my level rose.
"|Analyze|." [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: Solace
Race: Forsaken Great Spirit
Gender: ???
Age: ???
Level: 121
Health: 15700/15700
Mana: 8850/8850
Strength: 4038
Agility: 3370
Intelligence: 2832
Willpower: 3770
Status: Confused
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Just from looking at the basic stats, I could tell that they've risen by 2000 points. Honestly, really incredible.
("In that case, my spirit form must have changed as well. Dispel |Mimic|.") [Solace]
I switched back to my original form to find that I've grown. I was still yellow, but I was now the same height as my mimicked human form. Matter of fact, I even had new clothes.
("Hm…") [Solace]
I looked around myself to find that I was wearing some kind of traditional eastern martial garb. I think? It was like one of those robes that had to be tied around the waist. Or was it a ninja uniform? I reached up to scratch my head, only to find that my hair had grown out as well. I now had a ponytail.
("Huh. Never thought I'd have hair this long. Wait, did my gender change?") [Solace]
I peered into my pants to realize that I just didn't have either gender, again.
("How many times do I have to evolve before I can get my manhood back?") [Solace]
All's said and done, I quickly returned to my depressed state along with turning on my |Mimic|. It was like all the dopamine of getting stronger vanished as my eyes set on the pool of blood left in my wake.
("...It's no use getting angry.") [Solace]
Even then, I still punched a tree hard enough to shatter it.
"IF ONLY…!!!" [Solace]
I fell to my knees as tears poured out. Was this how it felt to grieve? Or was this mourning? It felt like my heart was getting torn apart. Maybe there was a thorn digging deep into my chest making me imagine it?
("Phew… Calm down.") [Solace]
I tried taking deep breaths, but every time I thought of what happened my anger resurfaced.
"Shit!" [Solace]
I struck the ground in frustration.
("If only I stopped her! I literally sent her to her death!") [Solace]
To think I walked her all the way to the entrance of the beast. I saw her off with a smile and she smiled back.
("...She knew. Why…?") [Solace]
…It was the village's fault. Elisse is just a child. She's at an age where she fully believes anything told to her. The villagers put these ideas in her head.
("It's their fault… Their fault!") [Solace]
Was I going mad? I punched myself in the face to calm down.
("Shut it, Solace! You're thinking like a third-rate villain!") [Solace]
Maybe reading all those novels and watching all those anime really was a good thing.
("Think logically. They didn't seem too keen on letting Elisse go either.") [Solace]
It would probably be best to go speak to them first.
("Yeah, I should listen to both sides of the story. I can't draw conclusions.") [Solace]
My mind wandered back and forth as I made my way back to the village. Upon arriving, everyone was surprised to see me.
"He… He's alive?!" [Elderly Man]
"He's… all bloody!" [Nosy Villager]
Now that he mentions it… yeah, my clothes were absolutely filthy. The blood of both my own and the beasts had dried on the blue coat Nakros gave me.
"You made the right decision, Alt. It takes a brave man to run away." [Wilharrow]
The Hero, Wilharrow. He patted my shoulder as if to comfort me. Though, I smacked it away.
"I didn't run." [Solace]
"Yes, it was a tactical retreat. Don't worry about it." [Raon]
Did these guys think I just turned tail? That I would just let that monster walk free?
"I killed it." [Solace]
"...Pardon?" [Wilharrow]
"I killed the divine beast." [Solace]
Everyone seemed shocked to hear that.
"Ha… Haha… Very funny young man, but-" [Elderly Man]
"|Item Box|." [Solace]
I dropped the beast's corpse right then and there.
"He… He really killed it!" [Raon]
"B-Blasphemy!" [Elderly Man]
"Alt! What have you done?!" [Wilharrow]
Several villagers quickly went and grabbed pitchforks, axes, and whatever sharp object they could find. I soon found myself surrounded with their weapons aimed at me.
"...I'm not willing to process this." [Solace]
"You've committed a cardinal sin! The goddess Lod will bring her wrath down on us! If we kill you here, we may survive!" [Elderly Man]
As the villagers began to charge at me, Wilharrow stepped in.
"STOP!!!" [Wilharrow]
His voice echoed from its sheer volume, halting everyone's advance.
"Please, I will handle this." [Wilharrow]
He then turned to me with an unsteady gaze.
"...Are you going to kill me too?" [Solace]
Not that he could. I was prepared to turn the tables at any moment.
"No. We have a demon lord to slay. We will immediately leave this village and continue our journey." [Wilharrow]
"No! We can't let him leave! Lod's wrath will fall on us!" [Elderly Man]
All the villagers readied their weapons, causing Wilharrow to draw his sword in return.
"He is a member of the Hero's party! Laying a hand on him is tantamount to opposing Metus!" [Wilharrow]
The villagers hesitated.
"Why are you stopping?! The Lord of Metus is only a man! Lod is a god! Which would you rather face?!" [Elderly Man]
This seemed to solidify the villagers' minds. They charged.
"Negotiations broke down! Raon, Leon, Fina, Alt! Knock them out if they're in the way! We're leaving!" [Wilharrow]
I expected some of my teammates to turn on me considering how the villagers were acting, but all my friends complied. We rushed to the bridge where Zuyil was at. It wasn't very hard avoiding the villagers, considering they were non-combatants. Though I don't know if I can say that we lost them by the time we got to the bridge, they stopped giving chase.
"So? What's the plan this time?" [Raon]
My allies seemed to be a bit out of breath. Well, excluding Leon and I. Wilharrow just looked a bit tired though.
"I'll deal with him." [Solace]
As I began to tread on the bridge, Wilharrow reached out to me.
"No, we should-" [Wilharrow]
"I said, I'll deal with it." [Solace]
This time, he stayed put. Even so, he did have a word to say.
"Just… don't push yourself." [Wilharrow]
"...I won't." [Solace]
I gave him a wave of reassurance and approached Zuyil, the demon.
"...So you've come." [Zuyil]
"So I have." [Solace]
He sat at the very same spot I last saw him, attending to his equipment.
"Suit up. I want to fight." [Solace]
Zuyil glanced my way.
"You may pass." [Zuyil]
That was surprising.
"What do you mean by that?" [Solace]
"I'm not so foolish to fight a losing battle. I know I cannot defeat you any longer." [Zuyil]
This guy is running from a fight.
"You're a coward." [Solace]
I don't know why I kept pushing for it.
"You only fight people when they're weaker than you?" [Solace]
I don't know why I kept provoking him.
"You're no knight. You're just a thug." [Solace]
Zuyil clenched his fists.
"It appears that you haven't come to cross this bridge." [Zuyil]
He clipped on his armor and slid on his helmet.
"You've only come to vent your anger." [Zuyil]
He then stood, making the difference in our heights apparent.
"You're nothing but a child. An angry. Little. Child. Nothing more." [Zuyil]
There was nothing left to say. I swung.
