Extra in a Romance Fantasy

176 – The Center (7)

I had grasped the situation roughly through Ethan’s explanation, but to be honest, I was still in a daze.

Yet, amidst all this, there was one undeniable fact.

That Ethan, and his companions, showing up at this very moment was a significant boon for me.

“With your skills, you wouldn’t be making such a dying expression over this… Were you planning something else?”

Ethan asked calmly about the situation.

To that, I replied.

“…If this continues, Mary will cease to be human. So, I plan to enter Mary’s mind through magic and awaken her.”

I briefly explained the situation.

“Hmm… I see. Well, it’s not that I don’t understand, but…”

Ethan’s gaze drifted toward Beluid, who was standing next to me.

“But does it really have to be that guy?”

Ethan asked Beluid in a somewhat languid tone.

“If we could send someone else instead of him, it would make things much easier.”

That question was valid.

Until just a moment ago, when it was only Beluid and me, there had been no choice.

However, with the number of people increased, the situation could change.

As Ethan said, if we could send someone other than me, it would simplify matters significantly.

Even a mountain of monsters or a cult leader wouldn’t be my match.

But Beluid shook his head.

“Entering someone’s mind is extremely dangerous and complicated. Especially if it’s the mind of someone who is rampaging due to an unknown force. Even someone with considerable mental strength might not be able to enter and could end up collapsing mentally. Considering that, there’s no one more suitable than Wade. He possesses stronger mental strength than anyone else here, and he is also closer to Miss Mary than anyone else present.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but nod inwardly.

Beluid was not wrong.

Generally, martial prowess, magical ability, and mental strength are proportional.

From that perspective, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I possess stronger mental strength than anyone else here, as I have stepped into a realm unique to the current continent.

The matter of familiarity also holds true.

Mary has spent quite a long time at the academy, so she must have built some degree of rapport with others.

Especially with those like Alexis or Cedric over there, who have consistently followed Mary around, they must have become quite close.

However, in terms of the time spent together and intimacy, they likely cannot compare to me.

Mary and I have been together for nearly a lifetime, like family.

“If we had the luxury of time, it might be different, but right now, we are pressed for time. We have no choice but to send the most likely candidate.”

“…Indeed. If that’s the case, there’s no one more suitable than him.”

Ethan nodded as if he understood.

Then he said,

“Got it. Leave it to me.”

He said it casually.

“I’ll handle things here with these guys, so you hurry and save that girl.”

—

At those words, my gaze naturally turned towards Ethan’s back.

Soon, I found myself locking eyes with Rachel, who was looking this way.

“…Please leave it to me.”

With a slightly trembling voice, yet one that revealed a strong will, she said that to me.

For a while, I silently gazed at her, and eventually, my eyes moved again.

The next person I met eyes with was none other than Aira.

Aira held my gaze for a moment before saying,

“…Take care.”

In a calm voice, she spoke.

That voice, that gaze, was so solid that I could hardly recall her once fragile appearance.

“Isn’t there no time? Hurry and go.”

As I felt various emotions from their gazes, a familiar voice reached my ears.

Shifting my gaze towards the direction of the voice, I met the eyes of a handsome man with a neat impression.

“And, please be sure to save Miss Mary.”

In his usual calm tone, yet with eyes that couldn’t hide the worry for Mary, Alexis said to me.

“…I’m counting on you.”

Next was Cedric.

With his usual cold, stiff expression.

Cedric delivered words I never thought I would hear from him, heavy with meaning.

“I don’t know much about you yet, but given the circumstances, it seems I have no choice but to entrust Miss Mary to you.”

“…You must save Mary Blunoir.”

Christ and Wilhelm too.

Swallowing their frustration and regret, they entrusted Mary to me.

“…….”

It’s dangerous.

She could die.

Those words rose to my throat.

But in the end, I didn’t let them escape my lips.

To save Mary, I needed their help.

Meeting their gazes, I swallowed my feelings of guilt and gratitude towards them.

I made a vow.

That I would definitely save Mary.

And then.

“Are you ready?”

At last, the time had come.

Pah—

A soft light emanated from Belruid’s hand, and that light gently enveloped both me and Mary.

At the same time, I felt my consciousness flowing somewhere.

“If it’s you, you can do it.”

Hearing Belruid’s calm encouragement one last time, I closed my eyes—and—

In the next moment, I found myself standing in a space I had never seen before.

*

Wade’s movements had stopped.

He was still standing on both legs, but with his eyes closed, he didn’t move a muscle.

It was because his mind had slipped away.

““…….””

It was at that moment when the group was feeling various complex emotions while watching the scene.

“Well, it seems an unexpected guest has appeared, creating a variable.”

The teacher’s voice intruded into their reflections.

“If things had gone as they were, we would have seen Wade Hebron’s face stained with despair.”

With a hint of regret, the teacher shook his head.

“Come to think of it, it was the Shadow that took care of your opponent. The fact that you appeared here safely means… that child must have suffered?”

“Oh, that guy?”

The one who answered that question was none other than Ethan.

“I kindly sent him off to the other world.”

Saying that, Ethan grinned.

“Just as I thought.”

Upon hearing Ethan’s words, the teacher remarked,

“What a pity. He was a capable and loyal child.”

He muttered that with a calm expression.

“…Is that all there is?”

Ethan asked, gazing intently at the cult leader’s reaction.

“Hmm?”

“I mean, your subordinate just died, and you seem surprisingly composed about it.”

“Oh, I see what you mean.”

The cult leader nodded as if he understood.

Then, he opened his mouth again to speak.

“The death of the Shadow is regrettable for me as well, and it’s unfortunate. The Shadow was a capable and loyal child. I spent quite a long time with that child.”

“You don’t look very upset about it, though.”

It wasn’t an unfounded accusation.

Though he spoke of regret, there was not a hint of sorrow on the cult leader’s face.

His expression remained calm, as if he had merely heard trivial news.

He did not look like someone who had just learned of the death of a cherished aide.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I am indeed feeling regret and sorrow. It’s just that…”

The cult leader smiled.

“There’s no need to mourn as if a mere tool has broken, is there?”

“…Indeed, as the leader of a deranged group, you’re quite the lunatic yourself.”

Ethan nodded in satisfaction at the cult leader’s response.

“Hmm… by the way.”

The cult leader’s gaze swept over the crowd.

To Ethan, and then to Rachel and the others standing behind him.

“You all look rather exhausted.”

And indeed, they did.

Ethan was the only one visibly injured, but the rest of the group didn’t look particularly well either.

They were trying hard to maintain composed expressions, but fatigue was evident on their faces.

It was the result of facing numerous monsters for an extended period, compounded by the strain of taking down the Shadow.

“I appreciate your determination to help your comrades, but… honestly, in that state, it doesn’t look promising. It’ll just lead to more deaths.”

The cult leader shook his head, looking at the group with a pitying expression, then suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something.

“Oh, well, once the grand undertaking is complete, all of humanity will perish anyway, so it’s all the same, isn’t it?”

Casually, the cult leader discussed the annihilation of humanity.

““…….””

At the sight, a few in the group swallowed dryly.

Though the man before them spoke human words, it was clear from his demeanor that he was closer to a monster than a person.

“Well then, shall we keep the small talk to this?”

With an air of indifference, as if he were not the least bit concerned, the leader leisurely raised one hand.

Then, he lightly snapped his fingers.

At that moment.

Crack—

The monsters, who had been quietly observing the situation, began to stir, emitting sounds that were anything but pleasant.

“Even if we leave it be, it would end in failure anyway… Still, it’s best not to let our guard down until the very end.”

Amidst the writhing monsters, the leader finally took a step forward.

Towards Wade, who remained motionless with his eyes closed.

However, that step did not last long before it halted.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Ethan had blocked his path.

“Hm… Are you my opponent? Well, among the remaining ones, it seems you’re the only choice.”

As if he understood, the leader nodded.

With Wade incapacitated at this moment, the only ones left who could face the leader were Beluid and Ethan.

Yet, considering the mountain of monsters surrounding them, it was only natural that Beluid, with his overwhelming firepower and destructive capability, had to deal with the monsters.

Thus, it was inevitable that Ethan would be the one to confront the leader.

“The Ten Blades, Ethan Bertrand…”

The leader’s gaze swept over Ethan once more.

“The youngest to rise among the Ten Blades. They say his talent surpasses even that of the sword masters.”

The leader, who had been observing Ethan with keen interest, soon nodded lightly.

“Not a bad diversion. It would also serve as a nice revenge for the shadows. As the master, I can’t just let it slide.”

“You speak well, even though you have no intention of following through.”

“Oh dear, have I been found out?”

The leader chuckled.

Ethan smiled back in response.

“I hope you won’t disappoint me. At the very least, I’d like it to be anything but boring. Beluid Demens was far more tedious than I expected.”

—

The words of the cult leader, who looked down on him.

“I’ll return that remark, just as it is.”

Ethan replied nonchalantly.

“…….”

The gazes of the two collided in the air.

Those eyes appeared calm, oddly fitting the situation.

Yet, that was not the reality.

It only seemed that way on the surface; beneath it lay a ferocity that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

Thus, Ethan and the cult leader silently stared at each other for a while.

Boom!

At last, the battle began.