“The outdoor training was interrupted by the attack of a Rank 5 Monster.”
The person who interrupted Nel’s once-in-a-lifetime confession certainly brought a report urgent enough to warrant that interruption.
The fluffy and happy feeling that had filled her mind until just before had already dissipated like smoke.
Even so, she stubbornly remained close, not letting go of Chrono’s right arm.
“What does this mean?”
“You can read the details here.”
Naturally, Nel was able to read the quest request that was handed to Chrono.
“As you can see, Ischia Castle is currently in a critical situation. Prince Wilhart has issued an emergency quest under royal order to you, Chrono.”
That information was shocking enough to truly surprise Nel.
Her clear mind quickly concluded that there must have been similar reports made to the Knight Corps and the Adventurer Guild, likely in addition to Chrono.
And if the information in the document were true, the enemy was a Rank 5 Monster and countless monsters led by it.
No matter how much Wingroad was present, four people alone would not suffice.
Even if this Greedg was as strong as Raspun, whom they had already defeated, it would be impossible to subdue it with a full party if there were additional enemy monsters aiding it.
No, the matter was even simpler.
(Wingroad or even my brother, they can’t win…)
Nel instantly recognized the severity of the situation.
However, the concern that should have immediately followed—that for her real brother, her best friend, and her party members—
“This is still an unofficial quest that hasn’t gone through the guild, but can you accept it?”
“Of course. I’m going right away, so wait for me alive, Wil, Simon!!”
Chrono’s shout was swallowed by the overwhelming torrent of emotions conveyed through telepathy.
Nel possessed the natural ability of telepathy since birth, but her ability to read emotions was comparatively weaker when not physically in contact, unlike the unique magic possessed by fairies.
However, when she was in close contact like now, especially with Chrono’s heightened emotions, she was able to grasp the explosive amount of information that accompanied it.
Not only could she catch glimpses of the other person’s heart, but she could even catch glimpses of related memories.
In other words, Nel saw it.
(Th-this is――)
So vivid and intense that it demanded all of Nel’s consciousness, making her forget all other worries.
(――Chrono-kun’s memories)
Was it a rural village somewhere?
Wooden houses lined up, and a prominent three-story building exemplified the look of an Adventurer Guild in a desolate rural town.
With a clear blue sky, people carrying farming tools walked by sparsely. It could easily be mistaken for peaceful and tranquil rural scenery anywhere on the Pandora Continent.
However, what reflected in Nel’s eyes was a singular hue of fierce red from the raging flames.
The village was burning.
“Dammit――dammit…”
Nel could hear Chrono’s voice.
But she couldn’t see him. Since this was Chrono’s memory and mental landscape, the images created there were based on her own vision. Without a mirror, it was impossible to see his form.
Nel was witnessing the scenery through Chrono’s eyes.
“I couldn’t protect this village, my friends…”
The village, engulfed by relentless, bright red flames, must have been Chrono’s homeland.
Before her stood crucifixes, like gravestones, with people impaled for some severe crime.
Not just one, but multiple stood like tombstones.
It was as if an evil witch had offered them as sacrifices to a wicked god, engulfed in flames.
While the raging crimson concealed the forms of the crucified, the one in front seemed to be a cat beastgirl.
She and the many other crucifixes behind her must have been Chrono’s friends, who were now burning.
(H-how terrible… how could this happen…)
For Nel, as the Kind-hearted Rank 5 adventurer, death was something she had grown accustomed to.
The gruesome corpses mangled by monsters didn’t make her feel good, but she could gaze upon them unwaveringly.
However, this scene was not the result of a disaster caused by monsters driven by primal instincts.
This was a slaughter conducted by people with clear malice and intent for thorough destruction.
(…War)
There were many words to describe the cruelty, disgrace, and horror of this act—yet Nel was witnessing the worst of humanity through another’s memory for the first time in her life.
At the same time, she understood: this was indeed the motive for vengeance that Chrono harbored deep within.
But that was half the truth and half a misunderstanding.
“This is too much… everyone’s dead…”
As she heard Chrono’s words mixed with sobs, the surrounding flames surged and suddenly obscured her field of vision.
Before Nel could even think, ‘It’s hot,’ her sight cleared almost immediately.
“What the hell… what the fuck is this… why did it come to this――”
The scenery shifted, and now they stood on a street somewhere.
Towering in the distance was a majestic mountain, perhaps the Galahad Mountain Range.
If that were the case, they were not in a faraway land from Spada.
The sky was a deep scarlet dusk.
And the ground beneath them seemed to reflect that red hue.
(Huh, wait, this is――)
“Dammit! Shit! Am I again unable to protect anyone…”
The traces of blood staining the road indicated just how horrible the dismembered bodies had become, compelling such copious bleeding.
There was not a single intact body.
Three headless female archers stood in a row.
The remains of a skeleton, shattered to pieces, left only its black robe behind.
A cracked red orb rolling at their feet was likely the core of a slime.
And before her was a large wolf beastman, impaled through the chest by a great sword and crucified to the ground.
In the midst of this utter annihilation, Chrono murmured as though realizing everything.
“I see, all of them died because of me.”
The feeling of despair pierced Nel’s heart, just as it had with Chrono back then.
(It’s not Chrono-kun’s fault! It’s not his fault, Chrono-kun!!)
The emotions flooding from Chrono presented a mental landscape that could not perceive her cries.
Moreover, Nel, having only glimpsed a portion of the memories, had no idea how Chrono ended up in this massacre scene.
Nonetheless, she could not help but deny and shout out.
How could she watch Chrono, who had been pushed to the depths of despair, in silence?
Whether through mercy or pity or even hypocrisy, whatever the case, she needed to help and comfort Chrono――a maddening urge.
(Oh, please stop, don’t blame yourself so much… because, Chrono-kun did his best, right? I may not have seen it, but I know, Chrono-kun fought hard against the enemies, right? Then, it’s alright, you don’t have to suffer like this. Chrono-kun is not at fault, Chrono-kun is――)
“How can I say that…?”
Denial of her plea met with another denial.
Was it mere coincidence? No; Chrono back then had simply thought the same thing.
And with that thought, Chrono still spat out words of denial.
(No, that’s not right… then Chrono-kun would continue to suffer, wouldn’t he? That’s too much!)
After all, it was but a memory, an event that occurred long ago; Nel’s feelings could not possibly reach him.
Knowing that, she couldn’t help but pray for salvation.
For the sake of a pitiable loser.
“No one… could be protected.”
“That’s not true; you helped me properly.”
Indeed, words of salvation reached Chrono.
As she realized, the surrounding scenery changed once again.
The evening time remained unchanged, but the sky visible from here was terribly narrow.
It was a dimly lit alley, dirty and cramped like a slum.
And extending a hand of salvation to Chrono, who seemed about to be crushed by despair, was――
(Huh, who is this child…)
A child with black hair and red eyes, a trait that should belong solely to the bloodline of the ancient Demon King Mia Elroad.
In modern times, only her real brother Nero should possess that trait.
But it was obvious that this child standing before her was a completely different person.
Even if she made Nero young enough to be this child’s age, their facial features would not match. This was assuredly confirmed by Nel’s memories of spending her childhood alongside Nero.
The young child, who looked androgynous, smiled gently and continued to speak.
“But you still came to help me, a complete stranger, never abandoning me, coming to my aid. You did the right thing; no one can deny that, so don’t hesitate anymore. This time, you’ll surely be able to help everyone.”
Nel had no idea what had transpired between this mysterious child and Chrono.
“Thank you.”
However, just that one word from Chrono back then made her realize that he had already escaped the depths of despair.
In that moment, Chrono became the person he is today.
His current self, strong and resolute, pushing forward without a hint of the horrific past.
It was in that moment of understanding that Nel reached.
“Then, I will bestow a blessing―― but before that, heh, my descendant also engages in some bad deeds by peering into people’s memories.”
(…Huh?)
In the continued memories, the mysterious child began speaking such words.
The child gazed straight at Chrono with sparkling crimson eyes.
Indeed, they should have been looking at the Chrono that existed in the memories of the past.
(Eh, no way… is this child looking at me!?)
A chill ran down her spine.
Unusual, impossible, absolutely unacceptable. Because this was merely the playback of memories.
The telepathic user observing this was akin to a visitor admiring a painting displayed in a museum.
How could the creator recognize a guest that arrived in the future?
Such a fundamentally unintelligible and incomprehensible abnormality. Yet, the situation that should be a lie was nonetheless true.
“Thel Julius Elroad, I’ll make sure you forget this part that you saw here.”
It seemed undeniably real.
(Who are you?! Why are you in Chrono-kun’s mind――)
The mysterious and somehow overly eerie child, as seen through past Chrono’s eyes, merely flickered its crimson gaze.
“You’re not ready to know yet. Farewell.”
And Nel’s consciousness was forcibly shut down――
“――Nel, snap out of it.”
“Ah, yes, Chrono-kun?”
Upon realizing, Nel felt her consciousness returning to reality from the whirlpool of memories.
Just a moment ago, the red――
(Red… what was it again?)
Before her was Chrono’s face, possessing eyes of black and red, a unique color.
Though she had been in a dreamlike state due to telepathy, she noticed she was still clinging to Chrono’s right arm.
Realizing this, she had no intention of letting go.
“I’m fine now, you can let go.”
Unfortunately, the entwined fingers were loosened.
Not forcefully, but slowly and surely, Chrono’s arm was freed from Nel’s grasp.
Feeling a slight reluctance to release the right arm that had decisively parted ways, Nel still did so.
Moreover, there were more pressing matters to consider.
“Um, Chrono-kun.”
Nel held onto the intact left sleeve of Chrono’s torn black coat to stop him as he stood from the bed.
“We’re going to help, right?”
“Yeah.”
No need to elaborate on where, who, and how. Chrono simply returned her strong intent with a firm affirmative.
“I’ll go too.”
Nel declared with the same resolute determination.
(I will become Chrono-kun’s strength because we’re partners from now on… hehehe)
Not for her brother, not for her best friend, not for her party members, and certainly not for the three hundred unknown seminary students—Nel would fight solely for Chrono.
(I won’t let Chrono-kun be alone anymore. I’ll be with him, always, together.)
Having caught even a glimpse of Chrono’s horrific past, Nel knew this feeling in her heart was not mere pity.
Though she couldn’t entirely understand it, there was no doubt that it was impossible for her to abandon Chrono, who had lost two of his precious friends and comrades.
By unintentionally touching on Chrono’s trauma, her understanding and feelings for him deepened.
That was surely beyond the point of no return, undoubtedly fatal.
(Chrono-kun is a foolish man who acts recklessly when left alone, so I’ll take care of him. Hehe, no matter how reckless he gets, I will definitely heal him, Chrono-kun.)
Nel envisioned a world where a blood-soaked Black Nightmare Berserker stood boldly atop countless monster corpses, with a winged princess by his side.
“Then I’ll go too.”
Gripping the safe left sleeve of the Devil’s Embrace, Nel firmly declared with a brave expression that suggested her resolute determination.
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
Chrono replied immediately. Of course, even if Nel was a Rank 5 adventurer, he couldn’t recklessly pull her into danger.
True, having such a masterful healer by his side was incredibly reassuring, but that was simply his selfishness.
So he stated his clear intent to refuse.
“No, I absolutely have to go too. Just as you’re going to help your friends, there are people I must help as well.”
At that moment, it dawned on him just how foolish he was being.
“Is Wingroad there?”
It was a foolish question.
Nel responded with a firm “Yes” and a nod. An affirmation like no other.
He had heard from Wil that she had a close childhood friend relationship with her real brother and especially with that Charlotte girl. In other words, important people were left behind in a critical situation at Ischia Castle.
He was not the only one being tormented by the urgency to rescue them.
This kind-hearted Nel would certainly not sit idly by while her relatives and comrades were in danger.
Moreover, she possessed strength. If she were to quietly remain still for fear of danger, she wouldn’t be adventuring at all. Add to that, she was a Rank 5. A true senior far beyond him.
How could he ever have the face to tell Nel to “wait at Spada”?
“I’m sorry, Nel. Will you come with me? No, won’t you lend me your strength?”
Yes, this was the request he should make.
He didn’t want to lose any more precious friends.
Just as Mia had told him that day in the dark alley of Spada, he would rescue his comrades this time.
If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to use any means, as he could not afford to be choosy.
Unbeknownst to him, or perhaps even if she knew, Nel answered him with a smile like that of an angel, one that would accept and forgive everything.
“Yes, Chrono-kun!”
In the end, it felt as though he was only taking advantage of her kindness. Perhaps he truly was a worthless man.
The cold gaze of Celia, silently watching their exchange, felt somehow chilling. Was that just his imagination…?
Chapter 18 begins. Finally, they’ve returned to the developments that had been lingering since Chapter 16.
And at that moment of return, Nel’s yandere level increased.
Nel has learned the new skill “Lying”!