Source
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The Goblin General let out a low growl.
The newcomers held their breath at the overwhelming aura emanating from his massive form.
But.
Leona didn’t flinch.
She quietly placed her hand on her sword.
The Goblin General roared.
He swung his massive iron club overhead and closed the distance in one swift motion.
Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to dodge.
That’s what she thought.
But.
Leona vanished from sight.
“…!”
The next instant.
Clang—.
Only a clear, ringing sound echoed through the forest.
The Goblin General’s iron club stopped in midair, never coming down.
A split second later.
Slurp.
The head slid off the torso.
BOOM!!
The massive body collapsed to the ground.
“…That’s impressive.”
I muttered without thinking.
She was strong five years ago, too.
But.
The Leona of today was in a league of her own.
The strongest in the capital.
That nickname wasn’t just for show.
“With this—”
It was over.
That’s what I thought.
But.
Leona didn’t sheathe her sword.
She slowly walked toward the fallen Goblin General.
And then.
Zan!!
The sword came crashing down.
“…Leona?”
There was no reply.
ZAM!!
Another strike.
ZAM!!
ZAM!!
ZAM!!
Over and over.
Over and over.
Over and over.
She continued to hack away at the Goblin General, who was already motionless.
Flesh flew everywhere.
Splattered blood drenched her red hair.
Even the new recruits were speechless.
“Lady Leona…”
No one could stop her.
No.
The very thought of trying to stop her didn’t even cross their minds.
The person standing there wasn’t the Leona they knew.
It was as if…
she had been possessed by something.
“…Leona.”
I called out to her again.
Still, there was no response.
Seeing her like that…
even I felt a chill run down my spine.
That was when it happened.
Thud—.
Intense pain shot through my entire body.
“Ah…”
My vision swayed violently.
All the strength drained from my body at once.
My knees hit the ground.
“Alt san!”
The new recruits rushed over.
At the sound of their voices.
Leona’s sword stopped.
She slowly turned around.
And then.
She saw me, covered in blood.
“…Alt?”
The next instant.
The anger vanished from Leona’s face.
In the blink of an eye.
She rushed over to me.
“Alt!”
She supported me by the shoulder.
“Are you okay?!”
I tried to answer.
But.
No sound came out.
“Alt!”
Leona’s voice was trembling.
I tried my best to smile.
I’m okay.
That’s what I wanted to say.
But.
My vision was growing dark.
The last thing I saw was.
Leona’s face, looking as if she were about to burst into tears.
◇
“Alt!”
There was no reply.
With trembling hands, she touched his chest.
A heartbeat.
It was still beating.
“…Thank goodness.”
Leona let out a sigh of relief.
She turned to the new recruits.
“Can you guys make it back to the guild from here?”
“Y-yes!”
“We’ll be fine!”
Leona nodded slightly.
She picked up Alt.
At that moment.
A thought crossed her mind.
(If it were Serena…)
But.
She immediately shook her head.
No.
Every second counts.
What’s needed right now isn’t
the most skilled healing mage.
It’s the healing mage who’s closest.
“Alt…”
Still holding Alt, Leona sprinted off at full speed.
◇
The royal capital.
The infirmary.
“Is there a healing mage here?!”
The door burst open.
The healing mages inside turned around in unison.
“Please, hurry!”
Alt was placed on a stretcher and carried straight into the treatment room.
Leona could do nothing but stand frozen in front of the door.
How much time had passed?
The door to the treatment room opened.
“His life is not in danger.”
It was the healing mage speaking.
“The wound was deep, but we’ve completed first aid using healing magic.”
“However, he’s severely depleted, so he’ll need to rest for a while.”
The moment she heard those words.
All the strength drained from Leona’s body.
“…Thank you.”
She bowed her head slightly.
And then.
She quietly entered the hospital room.
Alt was asleep.
Bandages wrapped around his entire body.
Alt, still asleep.
The moment she saw him like that.
The scene from that time was seared into her mind.
Blood.
It was Alt’s blood.
In that instant.
Goosebumps ran all over her body.
It wasn’t because she was cold.
It was just…
She was scared.
Her chest felt tight.
It was hard to breathe.
Losing him again.
Just that thought alone…
Her mind went completely blank.
So I…
Before I knew it, I had slashed the goblin over and over again.
Over and over.
Over and over.
Over and over.
Until there was no trace left.
I couldn’t stop.
I didn’t want to stop.
I didn’t want to leave anything in this world
that had hurt Alt.
“…I’m sorry.”
I murmured softly.
I held Alt’s hand.
It was warm.
Tears fell at the warmth of his hand.
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m so sorry…”
My shoulders shook.
“It’s my fault.”
“I’m the one who called him to the guild.”
“I…”
“I’m the one who hurt Alt.”
The tears wouldn’t stop.
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry…”
I unconsciously tightened my grip on his hand.
“I was scared…”
“I was really scared…”
“Never again.”
“I never want to see you like that again.”
“Please…”
“Don’t disappear from my life.”
“Please…”
“Don’t die.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry…”
Leona kept her head bowed.
She pulled Alt’s sleeping hand close to her chest.
As if—
swearing she would never let go again.
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