Chapter 170 : Chapter 170
Chapter 170: Wires and Chains (1)
It was a one-sided battle.
No matter if Pariah was a strongman who would go down in history, ‘Beginning’ was an existence outside the standard, the so-called ‘heavens beyond heavens’.
Thanks to that, Pariah had already met ‘death’ more than ten times.
Being burned by 「Hellfire」, having his heart pierced, and having his neck broken.
Of course, each time Pariah literally regained his original form quickly as if nothing happened and rushed in again.
However, no matter if he possessed immortality, it didn’t mean he didn’t possess pain.
Actually, every time ‘death’ repeated, Pariah’s movements started to become duller and duller.
“Now I understand a little.”
Even so, ‘Beginning’, snatching Pariah’s arm that was swinging a fist towards him.
“Ugh...!”
Broke it just like that and said.
“You bastard──”
Then unlike until just now where he immediately delivered a blow to end the life, he stopped at just kicking him down.
He deliberately controlled his strength.
Of course, with just that blow, one of Pariah’s legs would have received damage to the extent of not being able to walk for a while.
However.
“──Unless I kill you, you do not die, is it?”
“…!”
That’s right.
It wasn’t damage that would lead to ‘death’.
So instead of nullifying ‘death’ as he had done many times already, he remained with an injured body.
Kneeling on one leg that he could no longer move.
In a state like a half-corpse practically waiting for death.
Of course, if left alone like this, he will die eventually someday.
An animal that cannot move its body eventually dies whether from that wound or from starvation.
That is the law of nature.
However, that is just not right now.
Therefore, Pariah couldn’t avoid ‘death’ immediately as he had done until now.
Because it hadn’t come yet.
Just like a moment ago, he couldn’t return to a ‘fine state’ again.
Speaking in game terms, his HP was not filled.
Well, because he didn't satisfy the condition to be filled up again── first, HP becomes 0.
‘Beginning’, who saw through this fact, looked down at Pariah who ended up kneeling on one knee in front of him like that and distorted the corners of his mouth into a grin.
“Caught you.”
It was the so-called evil smile.
Extremely Demon King-like.
“Kuh...!”
Eventually, Pariah made a decision.
Instead of just waiting for that ‘death’ that doesn’t come right away, he tried to bring it forward.
Lifting one hand that still moved, by breaking his own neck.
If that happens, he meets ‘death’ and can nullify it again.
“Where do you think you are going.”
Of course, ‘Beginning’ who saw this immediately snatched such Pariah’s arm, making him unable to move as he pleased.
Pariah, who instinctively groaned at that pain, became a body that ‘cannot die even if he wants to’ like that and started glaring at ‘Beginning’.
“Resurrect...”
With eyes that felt suspicion even stronger than hatred for making him like this.
“Did you do it...?”
“Well, something similar.”
At this, ‘Beginning’ with his arms crossed looked down at such Pariah and showed a relaxed smile once more.
“Just why, an existence like you...”
Pariah continued to speak with difficulty in a trembling voice.
“Are you trying to protect... Shurine... the god you wanted to kill...?”
Saying he absolutely cannot understand.
Both the situation where ‘Beginning’ is in front of him now, and the situation where he is preventing the killing of the existence he once wanted to kill directly... that avatar, this time.
And ‘Beginning’s answer to this question was.
“Hm? No. I do not particularly care whether you kill that wizard bastard or whatever but.”
Rather, asking back in a tone asking why he was asking him such a thing.
“...What?”
“The one trying to protect that avatar is the owner of this body. I am merely lending power to the bastard for a moment.”
Saying isn’t taking care of the one who serves you the duty of one who became a king, as if telling him not to ask something so obvious.
“And although I hate to admit it, I still need this bastard. It would be troublesome if the bastard who will prepare my body breaks already, wouldn’t it.”
“That is, just what...”
“Thanks to him I could enjoy a short entertainment, so I do not have much complaint. Of course, the fact that this body is not my body yet is extremely unsatisfactory though.”
Pariah still had an expression saying he couldn’t understand, no, even more than before.
But that was also for a moment.
He eventually chose ‘death’ again.
『──Do not move.』
Of course, as if he had already seen through even that, ‘Beginning’ immediately cast 「Word Command」.
“…!”
Then Pariah, who was about to bite his own tongue, ended up unable to bite it and stiffened in place, flinching just like that.
“I have fought many enemies until now, but fighting a bastard who begs to be killed is a first again.”
‘Beginning’, who let out a pfft laugh once looking at such Pariah.
“──Oi, Vessel.”
Spoke towards ‘me’ who was quietly watching that fight.
“I broke the bastard’s body.”
Saying now it’s your turn.
“Isn’t breaking the mind your share.”
Indeed, since he made Pariah physically ‘stop’, ‘Beginning’ had done everything he could right now.
To kill one who does not die, eventually, one had to break the mind, not the body, and ‘Beginning’ also knows this fact.
Well, actually, it might also be because he knows better that the limit is approaching soon.
“Try doing as you wish.”
Like that, ‘Beginning’ obediently returned the body to me again.
As the hair that was dyed red returned to the original black, I received the control of the body back.
‘Kuh...!’
As a bonus, the recoil of running wild to his heart’s content until now intact.
When the senses of the whole body became solely mine again, the scream that the whole body was letting out rushed in at once.
I thought the burden would be a bit less since it grew much more than the last time he let me use the body... but it seemed there wasn't that big of a difference.
Maybe it's because the stat determining the ‘sturdiness’ of the body is no different from back then.
It felt like I would flutter and collapse like a sheet of paper just by a poke from the side.
Of course, I couldn't collapse.
I still had work to do.
So clenching my teeth tightly, I desperately caught the balance of my staggering body and put strength into my two legs that kept trying to give way.
“...Phew.”
Like that, I looked at Pariah.
Unlike ‘Beginning’, I could absolutely never be his opponent.
However, Pariah was still under the domination of the 「Word Command」 cast by ‘Beginning’.
Of course, when the effect of that 「Word Command」 ends, first he will bite his tongue himself like he tried to do a while ago or something, meet ‘death’ once, and return to a fine body and try to kill me.
“You bastard...”
So, the opportunity was only now.
“You bastards, just what are you...?!”
I had to see the end before that.
“What would we be.”
Therefore, I answered calmly.
“A relationship tied tightly even if we don't want each other, tied to the same chain.”
Right.
The souls of me and ‘Beginning’ are tied to each other.
Wearing the same shackles and having one foot tied each, a relationship where we cannot separate even if we want to.
“Like you and Shurine.”
In a way, the relationship between Shurine and Pariah tied by ‘blood’ can also be seen as similar.
“However, at least we communicate with each other.”
That’s right.
To move forward with feet tied to each other, to continue running the three-legged race, eventually, it was impossible without ‘communicating’ with each other.
Whether that be words, eyes, body, or whatever.
“The guys living in this land only tried to exclude ‘Beginning’ saying he was dangerous, they never tried to talk properly.”
...Oi, Vessel. Just what are you talking about now?
‘Like you said, I’m trying to break the mind.’
Even if I break the mind with 「Vicious Mockery」 like usual, Pariah will just return fine and move again.
“So they didn't know. That even if he is a dangerous guy, eventually he is an opponent with whom words get through. That he is an opponent with whom they can continue to stay together anyway even if there are parts that don't fit.”
The way to stop him by breaking the bastard’s mind as ‘Beginning’ said was, eventually, only [Persuasion].
“But you, didn't do that.”
Making him understand.
“You didn't try to understand.”
That there could definitely be another path for him.
“Of course, unlike other guys, you probably dedicated your loyalty with all your heart. However, that was all. You just prayed blindly, only without reciting the prayer directly in front.”
Just as a loyal subject.
As a believer.
“While being closer than anyone, you didn't stay by her side but only saw her as a god you serve. So you decided about her on your own accord and got disappointed on your own accord.”
Of course, there can be existences in this world whose existence itself is rotten and not worth talking to.
Like pure evil.
Well, I don't intend to deny even that.
However, at least the Rine I know was absolutely not such an existence.
She was an existence I could sufficiently understand.
If only I had a proper conversation.
“What she, left alone in this land, really needed was just a friend to stay by her side ordinarily. Not believers serving while watching from afar continuously.”
I can tell that she just wants to live with us as a person, not something like a god.
But I can also tell that because she has never been treated like that, she just doesn't know the method.
“Just what do you, know...”
“I know well. Much more than you.”
I have directly seen all possibilities she can achieve in this world, all ‘endings’.
And as much as I did, I also know well about you, Pariah.
That you were tired.
That while being active outside, not in Shurina, sending away precious existences who inevitably live ‘shorter lives’ than you one by one from your side, you were gradually being encroached by the pain of being left alone.
That the more it happened, your immortality became a curse, not a blessing.
However.
“Have you ever confessed your worries to her even once?”
“…!”
“You haven’t.”
You hid it.
Just as Rine did, you buried it thinking only you shouldn't do that, that you should absolutely never show such weakness.
Saying you don't want to give another burden to her who is already suffering from too many ‘prayers’.
So the two could have become existences needed by each other more than anyone, but eventually couldn't.
Because you didn't try to cross the ‘line’.
Because you just wanted to remain only as a believer more loyal than anyone.
“So you couldn't understand her and just ran parallel lines all along.”
Even though eventually, you have to cross that line someday to get closer.
It was then.
“──Oi! Bin!”
An urgent shout was heard from somewhere.
“We found, we found Sister──!”
It meant that while I (precisely ‘Beginning’) was fighting Pariah, the companions searching inside this memory finally found Rine.
“.......”
The die is cast already.
So, I know that my [Persuasion] has already been conveyed.
Just as I know that Pariah won't be able to move for a while because he is ruminating on the meaning of those words, even though he has already escaped the domination of the 「Word Command」.
So, I looked at him for the last time and said.
“I came here to cross that line.”
To run on the same line, not parallel lines.
To not leave her alone.
“You are right. She is not something like a god.”
Not contract, nor chain, nor blood.
“She is my companion.”
To be connected hand in hand once again.