“This is the end.”
I slammed my staff into the Chimera’s head.
This battle in the forest is over.
Until the next Card’s presence appears, another worthless day will begin.
“Eh?”
The Chimera caught Mysty’s staff with its arm.
That’s impossible.
That one was certainly large. Even so, it wasn’t the size of a house. At most, it was about twice Mysty’s height.
Its body was shaped like a gorilla, but covered in crocodile-like scales. It possessed both strength and hardness. But that alone doesn’t explain this power.
“A Card’s presence… this is!”
–Wrath.
By the time I realized it, it was already too late.
The Chimera’s fist slammed into Mysty’s abdomen.
Her clothes and skin tore. Her frame cracked. Unable to brace herself, her body flew into the air.
The staff. I must never let it go. Even if my body is shattered, I will defend it–.
“Ah.”
No matter how strong my resolve, the world doesn’t always cooperate.
Misty’s right arm, which was tightly gripping the staff, was severed near the elbow by the Chimera’s blow.
Then, another blow to her abdomen.
Misty was sent flying helplessly, piercing through two large trees before finally stopping, leaving a groove in the ground.
This is a power I’ve never experienced before.
Even Mysty was created to be quite strong. It feels like I have no chance of winning.
One of the Seven Deadly Sins Origin Cards, Wrath.
It’s inside that thing, creating this abnormal strength.
I didn’t expect there to be two Cards in the same place.
A complete oversight.
Even so, if I had the staff, I could have countered with the power of Sloth.
“Please return it… return it… without it, I can’t defeat you… if I can’t defeat you, my existence will be meaningless!”
The Chimera threw the staff far away.
Then, it stood next to Mysty and swung its foot down. On her head, again and again.
The sound of creaking.
The sound of death approaching.
It’s echoing in my head, so there’s no way to escape it.
The frame that Celine made so sturdy is warping. Magical power begins to repair it, but it can’t keep up. The damage is accumulating little by little.
It hurts.
I’m just more insensitive than humans, but I still have pain receptors. It’s like being hit by a hammer from both the inside and outside.
And it’s scary.
Dying is scary. I’ve died before. The few seconds after being hit from behind, until everything went dark. I remembered that feeling. I don’t want to anymore. I don’t want to die. If I die, I can’t fulfill my purpose. If I don’t fulfill my purpose, I’ll become worthless. I don’t want to die worthless. My master will call me useless. But I can’t even get up on my own. Ah, I’m going to die. My head is going to break.
Someone–.
“Someone, help, me, plea–“se.
The impact stops my words.
But even so, it reached.
A complete mass of darkness, as if it had opened a hole in the world. It flew from afar and collided with the Chimera. The Chimera lost its balance and staggered.
Then, Mysty’s body also floated up. No, she was being held.
She was wrapped in the arms of a boy with a similar build to her. The distance between her and the Chimera increased. A perfect position for observing and attacking. The staff was somehow in Mysty’s remaining hand.
A boy.
One of the trio I met in this forest a few days ago. I think his name was Akito.
He must have picked up the staff, attacked the Chimera with magic, and then held Mysty to create distance.
Why did he help me? We’re unrelated. Did he just happen to pass by? If so, I understand. He has a kind face. He just happened to find someone in a pinch and helped them—I do that kind of meddling sometimes too.
“Good. I made it in time. Just like with Mizuha, it seems I’m destined to arrive at the last possible moment. It’s not like I’m aiming for it though.”
Akito says with a wry smile.
His tone makes it sound like he came looking for Mysty.
We’ve only met once, so why?
No, more importantly.
–This is a princess carry, isn’t it!?
I know the concept. I’ve read about it in romance novels. I’ve seen it in picture stories. But this is the first time I’ve experienced it.
I’ve held hands with Celine. I’ve been patted on the head.
However, the sensation of a princess carry is incomparable to those. Especially with a member of the opposite sex… yes, the opposite sex.
Misty has lived a long time. But in that time, has she ever interacted with a member of the opposite sex other than her father? No. I don’t even have any memories of properly interacting with my father.
“A, a, a, a!”
–I’m going to have a baby!
That’s impossible. No matter how sophisticated Mysty is as an Automata, she doesn’t have the function to reproduce and create offspring. Even if she did, a child wouldn’t be born just from being held.
I have that much knowledge. I do, but my panic won’t stop.
Because, it’s not just that I was picked up. I was saved from the brink of death. He rushed in like a prince from a story.
It’s too cool. It’s unfair. His gentle smile is dazzling.
Misty felt a heat deep in her chest. It feels like I’m going to overheat.