I Became a Raid Boss

Hoo….

As I steadied my slightly ragged breath, the red sword in my hand scattered into tiny mana particles and disappeared.

That’s the beauty of a sword made from mana.

It doesn’t break even if you put a bit too much strength into it.

Of course, it consumes a ridiculous amount of mana beyond its durability, and the skill is outrageously difficult, so it’s not something I would use casually.

After all, it’s not for nothing that swordsmen go to great lengths to search for a Master Sword.

It’s much easier to find a sturdy and well-cut sword to wield than to precisely channel high-density mana and maintain it while fighting.

I shook off the lingering mana from Gracis in my hand and took a step forward.

In the place where the brilliance that colored the world had faded, stood an old man.

“Master Mage… should I call you that? I never thought you could endure that.”

There’s a saying, right?

“Even if it’s the enemy of your parents, that’s a bit….”

It’s a phrase often used to express that one cannot commit such sinister acts or when desperately trying to deter someone else’s choices.

Conversely, if your parent’s enemy is that deep-seated, it means there’s considerable hatred involved.

To me, that old man was such a being.

The eternal enemy who took my father’s life.

However, even if he was an enemy that could not coexist under the same sky, I had no choice but to acknowledge his skills.

As I spoke without holding back my admiration, the old man slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze, revealed under the bright light, was calmer than ever.

“So you endured. Does this look like enduring to you?”

“Yeah.”

Well, it was an attack I intended to cut him in half, after all.

“Just surviving after being cut in two is impressive in my book.”

“Haha… should I call this an honor?”

“More than that, you should fix your tone. Having such an old face while speaking like that feels awkward.”

“It’s too late; I’ve already gotten used to it. It’s too late to fix it now.”

“Tsk.”

Speaking with a serious voice while sounding cheerful creates a huge sense of dissonance, but what can you do?

As he said, it’s true that it’s too late.

A red line crossed the old man’s chest.

Close to the edge but not quite touching, yet it remained a fatal wound.

If what he received had been an ordinary attack and there had been a capable priest nearby, he might have had a chance to survive.

However, the mana seeping from the wound was constantly gnawing, burning, and rotting away at the old man’s body.

Just like what my father endured back then.

As if aware of my gaze, the old man, tracing the red line, suddenly spoke.

“How much time do you have left?”

“Well, at least I have more time than you.”

“Given my age, that should be the case.”

“There’s no order in dying.”

“Still, you should live longer than an old man over a hundred, right?”

“…I am a bit old.”

“Haha. To be honest, I don’t even know my exact age anymore. I gave up counting after a hundred.”

“….”

Talking like that makes it sound like I’m the jerk who keeps on attacking old men.

Maybe age doesn’t matter in a life-and-death struggle.

The mana seeping from the wound crawled up the old man’s neck to his face.

With a face stained black, the old man said.

“I have a favor to ask. Would you listen?”

“I don’t think we’re that close.”

“Don’t say that. It’s not hard to grant a dying man’s wish. Do you know how hard I’ve tried to guard your father’s grave? Why do so many riffraff keep showing up….”

“…I’ll at least hear you out.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The old man revealed a staff.

A staff that was barely hanging on, one that looked like it would break at any moment.

The old man’s gaze lingered for a moment longer on several places, and my eyes followed his gaze.

A long sword reduced to dust.

A bow with only fragments left.

And a great sword that looked more intact than the first three but was still in a condition that required repairs.

“I know your resentment is considerable. Still, with the swords of the Empire and the life of one sage, isn’t that enough for some venting?”

“What do you mean by that….”

I realized what the old man was hinting at.

“…That’s incredibly new.”

The once proud sage of the Empire asking for sympathy.

Amused by my thoughts, he stroked his beard.

“It’s not strange for a defeated dog to seek the mercy of the victor, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but… I thought you’d hold out until the end. Something like ‘I won’t let a single finger touch the Empire until my eyes close!'”

“Haha. That’s funny.”

Even while he chuckled, the old man didn’t deny my words.

After all, with death lurking, saying solemn words would be useless, wouldn’t it?

‘Mercy, huh…’

The contemplation didn’t last long.

I nodded.

“Alright.”

In fact, I didn’t even need to ask.

There was no way I could take revenge anyway, given my current state.

Moreover, due to having personally killed the sage, who was the source of most of my hatred, I didn’t hold any strong feelings toward the Empire anymore.

If it hadn’t been for the sage, I wouldn’t have cared much about the Empire either.

“…Thank you.”

Upon hearing my response, the old man offered a faint smile.

The light faded from his gaze and disappeared beneath his eyelids.

That was the last of the old man, once known as a sage.

“…Even until the end, it doesn’t suit you at all.”

They say revenge is hollow.

Well.

I couldn’t quite explain the emotion I was feeling right now, but if I had to put it into words, it felt closer to refreshment or liberation than hollowness.

Perhaps, this is what the Demon Race felt like.

Hoo.

My eyelids felt somewhat heavy.

The desire to just lie down and take a nap grew stronger, but sadly, I still had things to do.

I pulled out all the mana within me and scattered it into the air.

Some stayed nearby, some seemed to dissolve into the atmosphere, and some vanished into the vast sky above.

It was impossible to eliminate all the mana in the world of Silia.

As long as mana is what forms and sustains the world, mana contamination is inevitable.

If it cannot be blocked, then one must adapt to it.

Changing the existing system that confined the mana to Raxia into a system that scattered it throughout the entire world of Silia was for that reason.

Then, when the mana accumulated beyond a certain point, it would be sent to Edel to be purified.

‘…Is that right?’

‘It’s better than cramming it all in until it bursts and becomes irreversible. And if they are my children, they should be able to overcome this much.’

With the system changed so, what remained was the mana I had within me, but now that too was over.

As both forces supporting my dying body escaped, an extreme sense of weakness enveloped me.

‘So, are you feeling regret?’

…Maybe just a little.

It was only after achieving my goal that the things left behind began to surface.

From the food I had eaten at some point to the places filled with memories… even the connections I had formed.

Well, I didn’t miss Ashie all that much.

“…Speaking of which. I wanted to take a flower with me.”

My plan was to go to the Holy Kingdom and that was all; I never imagined things would turn out this way afterward.

Now that the floodgates had opened, other regrets began to bubble up.

But what can you do?

“I guess I can rest a bit now.”

This could be considered a pretty breathless life, right?

Sitting in the ruined battlefield, I looked up at the green sky.

Such a day should have been a bit darker to match the mood.

Edel really has no sense.

Lost in my thoughts as I looked up, I let out a sigh-like murmur.

“Next time, a bit more….”

“Kana!”

“…!”

I turned my head as quickly as I could at the familiar voice, almost as if it would snap off.

I wanted to stand up, but the feeling of weakness clinging to me refused to let go.

Beyond the familiar face, I could see several others.

The eyes of Da-eun, who rushed towards me, were shaking violently.

I raised my still energized hand and waved it weakly.

“Hello.”

“Kana, your body….”

“This?”

I placed my hand on my chest, and sticky blood came out.

“…Heek! Are you not in pain?”

“Um, not really.”

It hurt before, but now it didn’t hurt much at all.

I felt empty, though.

“…That’s more dangerous! Wait, this isn’t the time! We need to go to a priest! Ah, if only Selin were here…!”

Thud.

“…Huh?”

I lightly brushed away Da-eun’s frantic hands.

At the same time, a dazed voice joined.

“It’s pointless.”

Even if the pope came, it wouldn’t change anything.

My heart was completely pierced and shattered; how could anyone save me?

If I hadn’t forcibly raised my state through mana, I wouldn’t have made it this far.

Blink.

“Oh.”

As the flood of darkness approached, I briefly closed my eyes before opening them to find myself looking at the sky.

Something felt eerily similar to a situation I had been in not too long ago.

Cough…

As I coughed softly, the completely dead blood flowed down my lips.

What came into view next was a face filled with sorrow.

It seemed they noticed the end was near.

“Kana….”

A cold, stiff hand was enveloped by warm warmth.

Da-eun had once confided in me about her past.

Born to certain parents, the childhood she had, and how she lived.

As we shared the stories buried deep in our hearts, I realized the feelings Da-eun held for me were sincere.

But the question that lingered in my mind remained unanswered.

“Da-eun. Can I ask you one thing?”

“…Yeah. Anything.”

Da-eun’s expression was one of someone on the verge of tears….

No, she was actually shedding tears as she replied.

I gazed intently at Da-eun’s mess of a face and shook my head.

“Uh, it’s nothing.”

“…What kind of answer is that? That’s just a way to make someone angry.”

Such a crude little brat.

Da-eun murmured.

I couldn’t tell if she was laughing or crying with that distorted expression.

Then, suddenly, Da-eun remembered something she had forgotten and pulled it out.

What she held was a long sword, quite familiar in shape but with a somewhat antique look.

“This is from Justina. She wanted me to say thank you.”

“I don’t think she would have said it like that….”

More importantly, what significance does giving a gift to a dying person hold?

Even if I wanted it, I couldn’t accept it.

So—

“Just keep it.”

“Huh?”

“Hold onto it, Da-eun. As you can see, I’m in such a state.”

As soon as I said that, Da-eun looked like she was about to cry again.

Every time I spoke, it felt like she would burst into tears, so I couldn’t find the words to say.

“Just don’t use it recklessly.”

“…I’ll use it just how I want. I won’t even clean it, and I’ll smash it against rocks and… oh! And I’ll chop up all the vegetables that Kana hates!”

“…Huh?”

“So—”

Grip.

Da-eun’s hand tightened around mine.

Even if I no longer felt anything, I was sure it had been a strong grip.

“…Don’t leave me. You said you wouldn’t abandon me, so why are you trying to leave first…?”

“Even if you say that….”

I can’t do it by my will.

If it were possible to avoid death by simply not wanting to die, my father wouldn’t have left me.

That old man lying over there wouldn’t have either.

So, I quietly smiled.

“It’s okay—”

We will surely meet again.

Before I could finish my words, all the strength left my body.

Into the familiar darkness—

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