Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

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A bone-chilling silence settled between us and the Second Princess, as if the very air had frozen in place.

Sure, it was partly due to the cold emanating from the Second Princess’s powers, but there was also a shiver coursing through my body, reacting to the palpable tension in the air.

It wasn’t just us who sensed this; even the Second Princess was quietly staring us down, opting not to launch an immediate attack.

I stole a glance at Gaia, who was bound by the Second Princess’s will. Her complexion seemed to gradually return to normal, indicating that she was not in grave danger.

It’s her fault we’re in this mess, so why should I be worried?

Once it’s all over, I’ll make sure to ask Oko for compensation for all the damage we’ve suffered.

I shook off my wandering thoughts and refocused.

The power capable of forcefully stripping me of my strength.

A skill that could flip the odds against all divine races from the very start.

A resilience strong enough to freeze this whole world solid.

Admittedly, I felt pretty silly thinking about this now, but I was genuinely terrified.

Not of dying, but of the consequences following a failure had my hands trembling, diminishing my will to fight.

This might be the first time I’ve provoked the Second Princess to this extent.

Just look at her expression.

Despite her already frigid demeanor, she proved that a person’s face could become even colder.

Though it was a sneak attack, Gaia felt a fleeting moment of deathly dread from her assault.

But would a mere human like me have any chance of defeating her?

I slowly began to assess the cards I had.

The sword crafted by Sintol.

It was solid and durable.

Considering it was on par with weapons made from pieces of an Outsider, I should be able to inflict damage regardless of her being a divine race.

But if I couldn’t even land a hit, it would all be pointless.

Zumiya’s Dragon Molecule.

I wondered if spitting fireballs from my mouth could serve as a counter against the Second Princess.

However, when I thought about the mechanism of her powers, this wouldn’t even hold up.

Her ability wasn’t just about creating ice; it was a power that siphoned warmth from her targets.

Expecting Oko’s support?

If the Second Princess were a complete divine being, that might be a possibility.

But she was half-human, half-divine.

Ignoring her half and using Oko’s power might bring about some cosmic consequences I couldn’t fathom.

The more I thought, the more I realized my pupils were shaking worse than ever.

Had I always been this reckless?

I thought I had come prepared.

Actually, the issue was assuming the Second Princess wouldn’t be this strong.

Who would’ve guessed she could overpower even Gaia?

The Second Princess was on the move.

Just her simple action of raising her arm filled me with adrenaline coursing through every inch of my body.

Whether it was my brain commanding me to prepare to run or my instincts as a knight to fight honorably, I didn’t really know.

“Iphomia!”

At that moment, the Princess suddenly stepped forward and shouted my name with a loud voice.

Iphomia.

So that was the Second Princess’s name.

In that instant, I admired her resolve to say what she needed to, but quickly realized my impression differed from the reality.

The corners of her eyes and mouth were visibly trembling.

She was scared too.

Not of the life-threatening fear I felt, but of facing her own trauma.

“…Don’t call me that!”

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. But I have something I want to tell you! Please, just listen to this one thing, Iphomia!”

“Don’t call me by that name!!!”

The Princess’s outburst seemed to trigger something in Iphomia, as she screamed and unleashed ice in all directions.

The speed at which it flew was astounding; it was already upon me before I had a moment to register it.

I twisted my body at the last second.

Thanks to the protective gear the Princess had provided, I was unscathed.

But that didn’t mean the Princess was slow; she was quick on her feet.

“Argh!”

The Princess’s powers, inherited from lifeforce, could restore life.

So, this kind of attack wouldn’t kill her.

But she was already exhausted from shielding us.

While she wouldn’t die, it meant her condition wouldn’t improve.

“Your Highness!”

“What on earth are you babbling about now?”

As I attempted to assess the Princess’s condition, I turned back due to Iphomia’s growling voice.

Iphomia’s expression twisted into one of disgust.

“You have something to say? Then why didn’t you say it earlier? You just abandoned me to hoard love, and now that it’s over, you’re oh-so-relaxed, are you? Is that why you’re calling me by that name, given to me unilaterally?”

As Iphomia spoke, she stepped forward.

Drawing the sword from her back, she took a defensive stance.

“Tanton! You mustn’t kill her….”

The Princess’s frail voice reached me.

Iphomia sighed, as if finding that statement ridiculous.

“What’s this, what are you saying? You only come to play the hypocrite when you’re feeling uncomfortable, is that it? What is this? If you didn’t come to kill me, then what on earth are you here for?”

Iphomia began to conjure ice again.

This time, surely she would react properly.

“Answer me! Selvia!!!”

As predicted, Iphomia flung ice again.

I swiftly threw myself to shield the Princess, swinging my sword to deflect the ice.

After clearing everything, I checked the state of my sword.

Frost covered it thoroughly.

Thanks to Sintol’s sword, it had held up, but a normal weapon would have likely shattered into pieces by now.

What do I do?

Selvia’s words weren’t getting through at all.

At this rate….

“Raydan.”

Amidst my growing panic, a comforting voice reached me.

It was Oko.

“Calm down. You can definitely win.”

Her voice was laced with assurance, as though she had firm grounds for her confidence.

Even while all this was happening, Iphomia was preparing to launch her next attack.

Yet, Oko seemed completely unbothered by it, casually stroking my back.

“Sorry to say it’s a harsh method, but you acquired a power that can absolutely influence the Second Princess.”

“Absolutely influence?”

Even if I couldn’t immediately find an answer, Oko didn’t show any signs of frustration.

In fact, she smiled gently, as if trying to help me relax.

“Loneliness, jealousy, despair. What could we collectively call all these emotions?”

“Loneliness, jealousy, despair, woe, sorrow….”

As I absently muttered related words, I started to feel like I was onto something.

Right.

All these feelings had one thing in common: “suffering.”

And suffering means.

Pain.

“Ah.”

“Hehe, that’s my Raydan. You found the answer quickly.”

Right.

How could I have forgotten this?

From the start, hadn’t Oko said something like that to me?

With Zumiya’s Dragon Molecule and the Interrogator’s powers still in play, my mind had gone blank, while my eyes went orange.

The root of Iphomia’s actions.

It was all born from her hatred for a world that didn’t understand her heart.

In other words, the injustice of the pain she had experienced.

I took a steady look back at Iphomia.

Somehow realizing I had missed something in my daze, I now saw that a colossal red mist was swirling around Iphomia.

Haa.

Goodness.

From start to finish, I’ve been leaning on Oko for help.

Just as Iphomia’s arm was about to swing, I gathered the pain into one place.

Compressing the pain.

“Ugh…!”

Iphomia clutched her chest as if in agony, doubling over.

She was breathing heavily, visibly displaying her suffering.

Originally, when a wound is touched before it heals, it’s always painful.

And if that wound gets pressed and forcibly sealed.

“…You.”

Iphomia glared at me with a fierce expression filled with wrath.

From this, I understood.

With just the power of the Interrogator, I couldn’t completely restrain Iphomia.

But at the very least, I could manage some suppression.

“What have you done…!”

“Your Highness.”

I knelt briefly in front of Iphomia.

Even if she had enough sins to nearly bring ruin to the Empire.

Even now, full of wrath and dreaming of extermination.

Even if this wasn’t for Selvia’s sake.

I was resolved to save Iphomia.

A being who failed to receive enough love from her mother and father due to Gaia’s schemes.

Who had swallowed the bitter taste of misery, endlessly comparing herself to her sister.

Who, after all this time, had no one come to understand her heart.

If I had resolved to save her, then for me, Iphomia was another royal just like myself.

“I apologize, but as a mere knight, I wish to offer my counsel.”

From now on, the words I would deliver to Iphomia.

I only hoped my struggles to reach her would resonate.

I drew my sword.

Iphomia gritted her teeth and forced herself to rise at the sight of me.

Yet, this meant her will remained unyielding.

To carve through her resolve, and to shatter her misconceptions.

I intended to swing it now.

“HYAAAH!”

 

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