Thud.
The small boy's body sank into the pool of blood. The moment he drove the sacred artifact into his own abdomen, the crimson weapon vanished from the rogue wizard's sight as if it had never existed. The disappearance of the sacred artifact was proof of its host's death.
The child lay face-down, motionless. The rogue wizard was consumed by such rage that he canceled the magic circle he'd been forming mid-cast and slammed his fist into the wall with all his strength.
His heart was nearly shattered. Every subject he'd experimented on had begged for their lives, clinging to him in the face of his overwhelming power. That's why he had driven this boy to the brink and brutally crushed his spirit. Yet he never imagined that the very thing that had fascinated him so deeply would vanish before his eyes in an instant.
He had underestimated the boy. Indeed, it was an effective act of revenge. His nerves were frayed to the breaking point. That act of suicide had rendered all their time together meaningless. Unable to process the torrent of emotions surging within him, he struck the wall again, despite knowing it would only bruise his knuckles. His teeth ground together with a sharp, grating sound.
Still, what was done was done. Above all, he couldn't remain here any longer. The survival signal he'd been transmitting to his comrades had cut out a short while ago—they must have been killed or captured. He had led them away from the main battlefield, but he didn't know when the "Ice Princess" might appear here. And most critically, as the boy had predicted, he had led the child to a gruesome death and would now face the ice maiden's wrath.
From now on, he had to move with extreme caution.
In the end, everything had been turned upside down. He glared at the boy's lifeless body as if to blame him for this outcome, then stepped forward heavily. He knew he needed to escape immediately, but the anger that wouldn't subside drove him onward. It was because of a despicable impulse—he wanted to use the boy's corpse as experimental material even in death, to humiliate him further.
He crouched near the boy's body, concentrating on casting a teleportation spell to carry him away, but just then—
Shlunk!
A red spear pierced straight through the rogue wizard's abdomen.
"What the—!"
He felt a sudden shock of piercing pain in his gut, followed by a searing agony like fire, then the sensation of something vital rapidly draining away. Before he could even think to cast an attack spell to dispel the weapon, the boy's blood-soaked body sprang up with startling force, yanked the spear free from his abdomen, and leaped backward. The crimson spear was now slick with the wizard's blood, and though the boy grimaced at the sight, he still aimed the weapon's tip directly at his enemy with clear hostility.
What in the world was happening? Why was this boy still alive? Along with shock and pain, he felt unease, confusion, and a creeping hint of fear. Ironically, both of them shared the same dread of something they couldn't comprehend.
"...I didn't have the courage to erase a person from existence. But I did have the courage to point a weapon at someone for my own sake. That's good enough for now, right, partner?"
"You bastard, how...? Why are your right leg and abdomen completely intact?!"
"...Sorry, but I don't have the luxury of explaining it to you dramatically."
The boy shrugged and forced a faint smile. However, as he'd said, his complexion was deathly pale, and cold sweat trickled down his cheeks. But the wizard was in no better condition.
Still, he couldn't believe that the injuries to the boy's right leg—the fracture—and the wound that should have been pierced through his abdomen had completely healed. It was as if the injuries had never existed in the first place, utterly erased.
When his thoughts reached that conclusion, the man's eyes widened in disbelief at the realization that had just struck him.
"Could it be that this sacred artifact affects not just physical matter, but conceptsthemselves?!"
"...That's why dealing with smart people is so exhausting."
The wizard's near-certain declaration made the boy's lips twitch in annoyance. Yes, the boy—Kuraimoto Sota—had done something simple yet decisive. He had erased the wounds he'd sustained in battle.
The conversation and the spear in his abdomen had all been an elaborate performance to make the wizard believe he had committed suicide. Then, while feigning death by using the sacred artifact to silence his heartbeat, he had shrunk the weapon to palm-size, erased the wounds on his abdomen and right leg, and when his opponent approached carelessly, restored the spear to full size and struck.
If the wizard had simply fled without approaching Sota, that would have been acceptable. The fact remained that he had achieved his revenge, and the wizard would believe him dead. He had planned to escape immediately afterward.
If his opponent had tried to destroy the corpse with magic, Sota would have used the sacred artifact to erase his appearance and presence at the crucial moment, then escaped and hidden until the wizard lifted the barrier. However, his opponent was such a vile creature that he even sought to defile Sota's corpse. Therefore, all hesitation within him vanished, and he could now harbor pure hostility toward the wizard.
Of course, Sota's own exhaustion had reached the point where he could collapse at any moment, but the divine weapon was supporting him to its absolute limit in response to his resolve. The pseudo-healing technique was extremely taxing. Despite that, he had managed to pull it off at the last second and was standing here now. By entrusting everything to the divine weapon and exploiting his enemy's carelessness, he had grasped a sliver of hope—just enough to keep his body moving a little longer.
"Damn it! Why won't my magic work properly?! My body won't move..."
"...I didn't have the resolve to eliminate you completely. But I did eliminate something else. I erased the magical power within your body. It was too dangerous to leave intact. Oh, and I took a bit of your stamina too."
"What—?!"
The fact that he had just erased his own wounds right before the wizard's eyes gave his words undeniable weight. Though he had only managed to make contact for an instant, so the effect might only last a short while—Sota thought to himself, but there was no need to tell the man that. Besides, that was more than enough time for what he needed to do.
For someone who had been drunk on overwhelming magical power, having that ability stripped away was devastating. That fact alone was more than sufficient to shatter the very foundation of what it meant to be a mage. The light faded from his eyes, and he muttered "It's a lie..." as if in delirium. Sota watched the man's expression calmly, then slowly took a step forward.
By the time the mage noticed Sota approaching, the distance between them had nearly vanished. The man tried to back away, but a sudden sensation of weightlessness threw him off balance, and he found himself trapped in a small pit. The boy had stabbed the sacred weapon into the ground where the man stood, creating a depression. With nowhere to flee and no strength remaining, the man's face turned ashen with despair, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
"...Unlike you, I don't enjoy hurting people. But I can't forgive what you tried to do. So this is the end."
The protagonist, Hyoudou Issei, had said something similar. It was his solution when anger couldn't be contained any other way. Sota agreed with that approach this time. It was simple, but it was the most direct way to confront someone with your true feelings.
"Just take this one punch!"
With a resounding thwack, Sota, empowered by the sacred artifact's effects, struck the man's cheek with all his might—his first real punch in his entire life.
"...Did I go too far? No, but this much should be okay, right?"
I looked down at the wizard before me, his face a mess of tears and snot. He had fainted the moment my fist connected. Even though I'd given it everything I had, the fact that a child's punch could knock him unconscious must have been shocking, considering how much of his magical power had been drained. If my partner were gone, I wouldn't be able to stay composed either.
Another problem was the wound in this man's abdomen. If I left it untreated, he would die. I didn't want to become a murderer, so I needed to contact the Mages' Guild somehow. However, I was already at my absolute limit. After fashioning a makeshift bandage for the unconscious man's abdomen using his own clothes, I leaned against the wall and couldn't move another muscle. Honestly, I was surprised I'd managed to do even that much.
I had been desperate and acting on pure instinct, but I could tell my partner was doing everything it could. When I suddenly thought of "erasing the wound," my partner had hesitated, knowing how difficult it would be. It wasn't impossible, but the chances of success were fifty-fifty at best. Still, I'd had no choice but to take that gamble. I really don't want to fight like this again. I truly want to live a peaceful life, working hard in my own way... But at the same time, I also want to become stronger.
Still, it's incredible that I managed to develop a pseudo-healing technique, even under these circumstances. In the original story, I believe Rias's divine artifact, which possessed healing properties, was also considered extremely rare. Even in contracts between devils and mages, countless applicants would gather hoping to receive the blessing of healing. Mine is an unconventional method that simply erases wounds I've already received. Of course, I haven't recovered the lost stamina or blood, so I'm currently collapsed from anemia and exhaustion. But the ability to erase what exists is truly reassuring.
"Ugh, I really wish someone would come help me soon. It'll be seriously bad if this guy wakes up."
"He won't be getting up anytime soon. What you did caused significant psychological damage."
Huh? That's strange. It's a very deep voice, clearly from a third party. Tap, tap—the footsteps that seem to respond to my words make me turn my head. Emerging from the alley with measured steps is another hooded figure. This one is taller than the previous one, and a terrible feeling swirls in my gut. If it turns out a new enemy has appeared at this point, I think I'd be willing to pick a fight with God himself. Even though God doesn't exist.
"By the way, may I ask which faction you belong to?"
"Well, I'm not in the best mood right now, but I'm one of his comrades."
"You've got to be kidding me! What the hell do you want from me?! This is supposed to be the part where my allies show up to save me, isn't it?! Ugh, cough!"
"You don't have the strength to throw a tantrum."
"...Thanks to you people. Could you please take that guy away and let me go?"
"..."
Ah, I knew that wouldn't work. I see. It seems this guy witnessed our earlier fight, and I don't know why he didn't come to help his comrade, but these people clearly don't have any sense of loyalty to each other. Plus, I showed him my "pseudo-healing technique" and "magical power drain" earlier. If I were in their position, I'd either try to eliminate me because I'm dangerous, or brainwash me and drag me back to base. My abilities would definitely seem appealing to someone harboring hostility toward the Mages' Guild.
Damn it. I worked so hard. I gave it everything I had, and this is the result? I bit my lip and couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. Before fighting the first wizard, I had considered the possibility of his allies intervening.
And that's exactly what happened. I've truly exhausted every last ounce of strength I possess. I have no power left to resist. The towering wizard, magic circle aimed at me, began walking toward me cautiously. Too bad for him, though—I'm completely drained, so his caution is pointless. Even moving a single finger feels like an insurmountable task. Still, I gripped my partner in my right hand as tightly as I could, at least to show some defiance.
Out of fear, I squeezed my eyes shut.
As the wizard approached, I suddenly felt a cold breeze brush against my skin. It was cold, yet somehow carried a gentle warmth. What was that? I slowly opened my eyes and saw the tall wizard sweating profusely as he looked behind him. Following his gaze, I saw her.
"Because of my poor judgment, I've dragged an innocent person like Sota-kun into this mess. I won't let you hurt him any further."
"As expected of the 'Ice Princess.' Have you taken care of all our comrades?"
"Yes, I've frozen them all. Now it's just you."
There stood a girl with beautiful golden hair and sapphire eyes, as lovely as a fairy. However, her expression was completely different from when I first met her. Her eyes burned with piercing hostility. Cold air swirled around her, and an icy wind brushed against my cheek. A pale blue radiance emanated from her form, making her appear fantastically beautiful.
"...Partner?"
In response to the girl—Lavinia's—frigid aura, my sacred artifact pulsed in reaction, emitting a faint crimson glow. What was happening? This cold wasn't caused by magic, was it? Gradually, the chill began to envelop the entire area around us. I noticed my breath had turned white. In other words, the temperature in this whole district was definitely dropping. The one causing this impossible phenomenon, standing at its very center, was Lavinia.
"Lavinia"—I had assumed that name was simply her magical alias. But if that was a misunderstanding, there was only one other sacred artifact with a similar name that I knew from the original work. However, since the details hadn't been revealed in the source material yet, I had dismissed that possibility. But as the frigid air surrounding her intensified, that possibility began to take concrete shape, however faintly.
Lavinia's sapphire eyes had turned dark, like the abyssal depths of the ocean. She exhaled white mist while spreading her arms and beginning to chant something. It was a sorrowful, lonely, and mystical incantation. For some reason, it seemed to embed itself in my ears. Was this it? Was this—that?
"—Awaken from your eternal slumber. And grant eternal rest to these fools—"
Cold air swirled around her like a living entity. I was completely overwhelmed by the sight. An aura of unimaginable power emanated from Lavinia, growing stronger alongside the arctic winds. Then, something began to take shape near her. Was ice moving of its own accord, forming something? My questions went unanswered as the ice continued to transform.
First hands formed, then legs, a torso, and finally a head. If you looked only at the process, it might resemble a robot, but it felt more like an elegant doll. It towered above the alley walls, probably around three meters tall. The ice figure wore a dress befitting a princess, which made sense if that was the origin of the "Ice Princess" moniker. However, there was so much more to this Ice Princess.
The doll possessed an awe-inspiring beauty rather than Lavinia's mortal loveliness. The left half of its face bore six glowing eyes, while the right half was covered in thorns. It had four slender arms, though its hands were unnaturally large. Despite its unbalanced proportions, there was an eerie, mesmerizing beauty that made it impossible to look away.
"...Is this one of the Thirteen?"
Transfixed, I snapped back to reality at the voice of the wizard nearby. When I glanced over, the man's face was pale even beneath his hood. That was only natural, though. Their downfall was underestimating her power. Being shown such a thing and having it turn on you as an enemy—feeling fear was only human. If this Ice Princess was what I thought it was...
"..."
As Lavinia's chant concluded, a massive sphere of energy materialized. The Ice Princess fixed her six eyes upon her target, unleashing a bone-deep cold that froze the man's movements entirely. A terrifying yet beautiful power that froze everything in its path and granted it eternal slumber. That was the power she had been born with—her lifelong companion.
Yes, Lavinia was the wielder of one of the Thirteen Longinus. An existence feared by all factions, said to be capable of even slaying gods—she was the possessor of such a being.
***
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