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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Climax (3)
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As I entered the cave, I found myself lost in a somewhat unfamiliar thought.
'If Fran hadn't been the protagonist of the original story, what choice would I have made?'
There was no need to think, really. The answer was already set.
If it had been anyone else blocking my path, or if Fran hadn't been the original protagonist, I would have certainly killed him. Without hesitation.
Yet, I didn't kill Fran, who stood in my way. Instead, I even offered some awkward words of comfort to the crying Fran.
The reason I did that was simple.
Fran wasn't just *any* protagonist; he was indispensable for preventing destruction, the most crucial protagonist in the original story.
In the original story, Fran was the only one who could meaningfully oppose evils like the Evil God or the Seven Deadly Sins.
In short, I didn't kill Fran because he was a necessary existence in this world.
But when I actually thought about it, that wasn't quite right.
Why? Because in *my* world, not the original story, an existence far stronger than Fran—me—was already taking on the role Fran had in the original.
There was a question that had occasionally crossed my mind before.
Perhaps, in this world where I exist, Fran might be an unnecessary existence?
My answer to that question had always been the same.
As long as I didn't die, Fran was indeed an unnecessary existence in my world.
In fact, he was even a threatening element who could form a harem and bring about the world's destruction.
Despite always thinking this way, I didn't kill Fran, even though he had contact with the Seven Deadly Sins and, moreover, blocked my path in a critical situation.
To be honest, the moment I saw Fran, I completely ruled out the option of killing him.
Even though it was a situation where killing him would have been justifiable, even though there was ample reason to.
Why did I do that, exactly?
That question suddenly popped into my head, but upon reflection, the reason was clear.
Because Fran was a protagonist I had once been deeply immersed in, a guy I had even considered a part of myself.
So, I couldn't help but know.
His regrettable, dark past,
What kind of personality he had, and how incredibly hard he had worked,
What he liked and disliked,
And what beliefs he held.
To be honest, Fran was astonishingly similar to how I was back then. That's why I could deeply empathize and easily immerse myself in his story.
Fran was that kind of protagonist. While it's true that the current Fran is frustrating and acts like a naive child, Fran is Fran, regardless.
Someday, he'll mature, and someday, he'll become not just a hero candidate, but a true hero, fulfilling his role.
More than anything, if, by some slim chance, something bad were to happen to me, he would be the only one who could fill my void.
'I really haven't paid enough attention to Fran.'
Although I had the excuse of being holed up in the training ground, even so, it felt like I had been excluding Fran too much lately.
Thinking he had come to his senses, I hadn't even bothered to care if Fran got a girlfriend.
As my thoughts reached this point, a single resolution formed.
So that he wouldn't be swayed by evil like Envy, as he was today,
So that he could wield a sword, not be swayed,
So that he could rise as a hero, without collapsing,
So that he wouldn't cast his eyes on vain things like a harem,
Even if I wouldn't treat him exceptionally well in the future, I would need to pay more attention to him.
****
As I entered the cave, lost in various thoughts, I saw Sage and Rose soundly asleep on the cold floor.
Although several magic circles were visible nearby, I decided to check their condition first. I was worried they might have been injured.
My gaze slowly began to scan the bodies of the two women lying side by side.
Their beautiful faces, slender wrists and collarbones, and then their skirts, slightly lifted, revealing tempting curves...
"…"
Confirming that neither of them had any visible injuries, I naturally shook off the masculine instincts that had begun to subtly creep up, and then started to examine my surroundings.
As Malik had told me, several magic circles were visible. I dispelled them all simultaneously, then reached out my hand to lift the sleep spell on Sage and Rose.
"Where is this…?"
"Yawn… Huh? Camel…?"
The two women yawned and woke up, wearing bewildered expressions.
"Are you both alright?"
"...Yes."
"We're fine, but…"
When I asked about their condition, Sage and Rose both lowered their heads, answering as if embarrassed by something.
Then, perhaps, the moments just before they collapsed came back to them.
"Oh, is Mr. Skeleton safe?"
"What happened?"
"I'll explain later, but for now, can you take my hand? We need to move quickly."
They both looked up and asked me simultaneously, and I extended both my hands to the two women, asking them to take them.
My intention was to activate the artifact and teleport us together as soon as Sage and Rose took my hands.
"Hand… Understood!"
"S-Suddenly…?"
For some reason, they seemed shy, yet they didn't hesitate, gripping my hands firmly.
"Hold on tight. Don't let go."
I didn't bother to add that last part, fearing it might scare the two women, and instead began to inject mana into the artifact on my finger.
"...?"
As I did, a strange sensation suddenly came over me.
My gaze naturally dropped.
"Huh?"
Curious as to why the injected mana was flowing back out, I looked down and saw that the gem embedded in the artifact was shattered.
'Why is this broken? Could it be…'
My thoughts raced, and before long, a single premise surfaced.
'Envy, that woman, must have destroyed the artifact Daisy was carrying.'
Having reached that conclusion, I immediately had to call out to Sage and Rose.
"Rose, Sage. Take this first."
"It's a communicator. Why this?"
"...?"
"I'll explain later, but for now, take the kid outside and hide somewhere safe. Contact me immediately if anything happens. And contact me wherever you end up."
With those words, I immediately started to move.
For the first time in a while, and against my will, deceiving the Scales.
****
Dean murmured softly, looking at the sign hanging at the cave entrance that read 'No Entry'.
"It's been a while…"
This place, tucked away in a corner of the academy, was the Cave of Illusions, capable of showing those who entered whatever illusions the user wished, or imposing whatever trials they desired, depending on the user's capabilities.
It was a place that had been sealed off due to the risk of mental collapse, but for the old Dean and Celetina, it was also a place of cherished memories.
"Those were truly fun times."
Before their engagement, Dean and Celetina were more rivals than friends.
The reason for this was that they had many similarities.
Outstanding talent as mages,
A competitive spirit that hated losing,
Unyielding pride and sensitive personalities.
The two, who shared many eccentric similarities, happened to be in the same magic faculty and the same year, constantly clashing over every little thing.
Dean, even if his opponent was an Imperial Princess, never bowed his head or bent his waist to Celetina.
Celetina, even if her opponent possessed the qualities of a great mage, hated losing to Dean and, in fact, wanted to be acknowledged by him.
So it was only natural that Dean and Celetina, asserting their petty pride and bickering, drew envious gazes from others.
Their strong competitive spirits led them to frequently use this place, the Cave of Illusions, to prove their superiority to each other.
The reason they favored this place was simple: at the time, the only academy students who could freely utilize this cave were the two of them, who possessed the qualities of great mages.
They used to make wagers here.
Some days, they competed to see who could create a more magnificent illusion.
Other days, they showed each other terrible illusions to determine who was the bigger fool.
And on still other days, they would give each other trials they had devised, testing each other's capabilities.
Superior to others, they fought in their own unique way.
Different from others, they were thus able to slowly, unconsciously, draw closer to each other, so similar they were.
This was why this place was a place of memories for Dean and Celetina.
Because it was the only place where their untainted feelings for each other and the memories of that time could be preserved exactly as they were.
"You, who remember this place, you who fell into depravity instead of coming to me, what kind of illusion have you prepared today?"
As various emotions intersected in Dean's mind,
Dean murmured in a bitter tone, slowly beginning to enter the cave.
-"Just remember one thing. That's when you feel so happy you wish the moment would never end."
Recalling the words Camel had told him,
And touching the ring Camel had given him.
****
The woman, who had just finished her makeup, slightly lifted the hem of her dress and asked the woman beside her.
"How do I look now? Pretty, aren't I?"
"Hmph, hmph…!"
Unlike the brightly dressed woman, the woman hanging on a cross-shaped wooden board was gagged, unable to answer.
Perhaps the sight of the woman brought her a sense of satisfaction.
Envy smiled sweetly, gestured towards the crystal ball floating in the air, then whispered to Kalmia in a decadent voice.
"What's wrong? Are you worried about Dean, who you see there?"
"Hmph…!"
What Kalmia saw beyond the crystal ball was Dean, walking inside the cave.
No, to be precise, Dean was standing still, making various expressions.
Dean was laughing or crying. He would get angry, then rejoice like a child.
"You don't need to worry. Dean is going to be with me forever now. He'll spend his life intertwined with mine, steeped in happiness."
"Hmph…!"
"Pfft, Kalmia. You really look ugly like this. I'm genuinely curious. With such an inadequate face, how could you dare to think of liking Dean?"
Envy's finger stroked Kalmia's disheveled hair, as if caressing it.
"Ah, do you perhaps still hold a sliver of hope? For instance, hope that a child named Camel will come here, or that the ring on Dean's finger will work a miracle."
"Hmph, hmph…!"
"If you truly thought that, I'm sorry to disappoint you. As you know, I'm a very thorough woman, so I've already made all my preparations long ago. So…"
Envy gestured with her head towards the hillside below, where ghouls were roaming, and continued.
"Stop thinking about other people's men, and I hope you start worrying about yourself. Who knows? Maybe I'll be in such a good mood after kissing Dean through that crystal ball that I'll let you live?"
"Hmph, hmph…!"
"Pfft, still quick on the uptake, I see. That's right, it was a lie. Those ghouls will try to kiss you the moment I kiss Dean. Or rather, is 'open their mouths to chew you up' a more accurate description?"
Tilting her head, Envy said that, then smiled sweetly and flicked her finger.
-*Shimmering*.
Black murky water swirled, and a space opened up.
"Goodbye, Kalmia. I hope the time I've prepared for you proves to be a good one."
With those words, Envy began to walk gracefully towards the newly opened space.