#374
Partner
As the universe crumbled, the reality revealed itself before my eyes.
Above the ruined ceiling of the ancient site, the sky appeared.
There it was, Earth.
The place I so desperately wanted to return to, my original hometown.
The parallel world’s Earth that the Messiah referred to as the utopia was covering the sky of this world.
Beneath it stood the Messiah.
With black hair and eyes, that handsome guy looked at me while wielding his Leviathan.
“… You mean to say that he, the usurper wearing Kim Deok-Sung’s skin, is my adversary? Son of the Sword Master?”
The Messiah shouted at me with anger as he pointed Leviathan in my direction.
“Is that truly your will?”
He yelled with a voice soaked in rage.
Well, who would’ve thought the crazy guy would pick and choose his fights like this? It’s absurd.
[That’s not my will, Messiah.]
Just as I clicked my tongue, Yuji’s voice echoed throughout the ruins.
[The one recognized as the Messiah is the collective will of all worlds, except for you and your cronies ─ the will of all 7.7 billion people you so disdain!]
Whoa.
With Yuji’s statement, the Black Stone on my chest vibrated.
“Ugh?!”
Along with that, an overwhelming wave of magic, so intense it could be described as infinite, rushed into my body from behind.
A tsunami of mana, like the ocean, engulfed me.
Magic continued to flood into my cramped mana circuit.
The Magic Core heated up intensely.
“Grahhhhhhhhh!”
Pain surged from my chest.
Blood trickled from my mouth.
No matter how much of an EX Rank I am, it’s impossible to absorb an overwhelming energy equal to a nuclear explosion, no, the sun.
The massive energy shattered the ice surrounding my body into tiny particles that vanished.
‘That bastard Yuji…!’
It was obvious what was going on.
The reason Yuji defeated the Messiah in the original story was due to converting and amplifying the will and consciousness of all 7.7 billion humanity into mana to counter the Messiah’s infinite magic.
But that was only possible because Yuji possessed the colorless mana, a superior version of all magic.
I didn’t have colorless mana.
Yet, instead of using the energy generated by humanity’s collective will to fight, Yuji was passing it onto me.
I could slightly understand that judgment.
Unlike in the original story, the current Yuji had just awakened to EX Rank. It was nearly impossible for him to face off against the mature EX Rank Messiah and win.
The only reason I left Yuji behind was as a backup in case something happened.
I originally intended to fight the Messiah to the end myself.
That said, it didn’t mean I wanted him to blindly shove power into my body like this.
I was just a C Rank extra at best…
Just as I was finishing that thought.
Whooooooooooosh!
The Black Stone vibrating on my chest began to ravenously absorb endless magic like a black hole.
Right, there was the Black Stone.
While it was essentially being used as a magical power booster, the essence of the Black Stone was an incomplete Philosopher’s Stone.
It was a powerful item so enticing that even the Messiah coveted it.
‘To complete the Philosopher’s Stone, an unimaginable amount of energy must be injected.’
I recalled the original setting.
However, it didn’t specify just how much energy that was, but if it was the mana derived from the collective will of all 7.7 billion humanity, I had more than enough.
With that level of output, I could complete the Black Stone into a Philosopher’s Stone.
If I could carry the Philosopher’s Stone—the ultimate catalyst that produces infinite magic—within my body…
Maybe I could win this fight.
As I thought about it, I smiled through the pain twisting my face.
At last, I could see a chance for victory.
To put it numerically, it was just a rise from 0% to 15%, but that was enough.
To put it bluntly, it’s only gone from 0% to 15%, but even that is enough.
“You! You’re awake!”
“Master!”
“Deok-Sung, you’ve come to. I’m really glad you’re alive.”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung… It’s a relief you’re okay.”
“Deok-Sung oppa! I knew you’d wake up!”
“Hey, kid! You’re up!”
“Master’s master… You’ve regained your senses.”
“Junior… I was worried about you.”
“Mr. Kim! You’re awake! Teacher, I’m relieved!”
“Lord… You’ve awakened! What a relief!”
“Wow, wow, wow, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is back! That’s worth ten years off a girl’s life!”
“… I’m relieved you’re up, Human. Hmph.”
“… Thank goodness…”
Voices of Olivia, Eri, Rin, Aris, Haru, Seira, Bella, Senior Kasumi, Teacher Mayuzumi, Makoto, Evangelin, Beatrice, and Wilhelmina echoed.
Their gazes were fixed on me.
As I guided the immense magical power surging at me straight into the Black Stone, I said, “Buy me some time. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Just a moment.
A brief moment is all it takes.
Shudder, shudder.
Thump, thump.
The Black Stone, endlessly absorbing magical power within my chest, pulsed like a heart.
As if it were an egg about to hatch, cracks began to appear on the surface of the Black Stone.
At my words, the heroines silently nodded and stood to block Messiah’s path.
“Deceiver, I don’t know what your tricks are, but… I’ll play along. It seems your claim to being the Sword Master’s son is true.”
Messiah laughed.
“Moreover… Thanks to you, the path to the New World is growing faster! Hahahahahahahaha!”
Messiah spread his arms wide.
With that, the world shook, and the ceiling of the ruins collapsed.
What appeared beyond was the vast clear sky.
And another Earth, my hometown, drawing nearer and nearer.
I gritted my teeth and poured the raging magical power straight into the Black Stone.
With an output exceeding the limit, the magic circuit screamed.
Just then, as blood spurted from my mouth…
Crack!
The surface of the Black Stone in my chest completely shattered.
The potential of the Black Stone was released to 100%.
Gooohhhhhhh.
Along with it, black light burst forth from my chest, wrapping around me and soaring skyward like a pillar.
Thump, thump.
The pain that had tormented the magic circuit and my body just moments ago vanished as if washed away.
What took its place was an overwhelming amount of magical power—truly so great it would be a waste to call it infinite.
The Black Stone had transformed into the Philosopher’s Stone.
With incredible power, it was as if I contained the sun within me, endowing me with a sense of omnipotence.
I felt a thrill and smiled as I lifted Durandal.
Clank, whoosh.
Steam rose from Durandal.
[Durandal]
[True Name Liberation]
[The Demon Sword that Burns through Darkness]
I proceeded to liberate Durandal’s true name.
The blade trembled, turning pitch black. The once lustrous blade became completely matte and dark, flames of darkness igniting upon it.
Kuaaaaaah──!
Black magical waves surged across my body.
Immediately after the True Name Liberation, I used Union.
Flash.
With a black flash, the Black Prince manifested behind me.
The Black Prince’s overwhelming talent and experiences that transcended life and death fused into my mind and body.
[Partner, now’s the time…!]
The will of the Black Prince echoed in my head.
I understood his intent now.
I closed my eyes.
The overwhelming expansion of cognition, boundless magical power, the collective will of 7.7 billion humans beyond that all resonated within me.
I could hear their wishes, their hopes, and the desires of this world.
Messiah’s words were true.
I had been chosen.
To this damn light novel world.
Those lazy bastards passing the responsibility onto others.
I muttered this while opening my eyes.
And while raising the darkened Durandal, I declared.
[Reality to Save Everyone]
【Break The Fourth Wall】
The words that escaped my lips became a binding incantation for this world.
Vroom.
The Philosopher’s Stone in my chest vibrated.
Vwoooom.
My magical circuit, my body, resonated.
Vwoooom.
The responding magical power around me echoed in harmony.
Vwoooom.
The heroines’ magic and the ruins’ magic responded to me.
Vwoooom.
When the magic from outside, from Kurosawa Yuji and others, and ultimately the collective will of all humanity resonated with my incantation…
Sparkle.
A star appeared in the sky ruled by Messiah.
Sparkle, sparkle.
Beside the first star, one by one, two, three… The number of stars increased exponentially in an instant.
One, two, three… The number of stars instantly multiplied to an endless multitude.
The total reached 7.7 billion.
Humanity’s will collided with the stars I had conjured in my mind.
The World Gate created by the Messiah came to a halt.
I raised my left hand, gazing at that scene, and proclaimed.
“Blessing of the Stars.”
Boom.
At my words, the cosmos controlling the sky trembled.
The stars hanging in the sky quivered.
Along with that, 7.7 billion streams of starlight shone down upon me.
“I told you that mere human will wouldn’t be able to stop me!”
Boom!
The Messiah slammed Levantein into the ground.
Just when the halted World Gate began to swell again.
“Who’s stopping me with that?”
In the original story, humanity’s collective will could never hold him back.
The skill that Kurosawa Yuji used to take him down was the ultimate technique of the Kurosawa Sword Arts, “Impermanence.”
Naturally, since I’m not the protagonist, I’ve never heard of the Kurosawa Sword Arts.
But I had my own equivalent trump card.
By utilizing the “Heaven and Earth Sword Method’s” magic circulation, sparks and flames erupted simultaneously, overlaying the Heavenly Sword atop Durandal.
Gooooooo.
An overwhelming magical shockwave swirled around me.
I lifted the dual-colored Durandal, black and white, where darkness and flame coexisted.
The Heavenly Sword Method consists of three techniques without any ultimate move.
The first technique, “Earth Breaking,” and the second, “Sky Severing.”
And the incomplete third technique.
The final technique of the Heaven and Earth Sword Method, if completed, would have matched the power of the Kurosawa Sword Arts’ ultimate technique, “Impermanence,” according to the original setting book.
However, since the protagonist was Yuji, the completed version of the third technique never appeared in the story.
Originally, the third technique was just a background setting scribbled by the author, and during the training in the imaginary world with the Black Prince, I never managed to complete the third technique.
But now.
Now, gathering the collective will of all humanity, cradling the Philosopher’s Stone, tapping into the infinite magical energy.
I could complete it.
‘No, I must.’
As I thought this, gritting my teeth, I poured my belief, the collective will of humanity into the blade.
Heaven and Earth Sword Method.
The final element needed to complete this technique named after heaven and earth is “Human,” the essence of humanity.
With my belief, the collective will of humanity, Durandal shone ominously in black and white while trembling violently.
The surge of energy beyond the absorption limit made Durandal heat up intensely.
If this continued, after using the third technique, Durandal might lose that ability forever.
If that happened…
“Hey, are you okay?”
I might lose the existence of the Black Prince, too.
The Black Prince disappearing?
That human vanishing?
In a moment of losing my composure, the mana condensed in the sword dispersed.
[Partner. Were you worrying about that? Hey, thanks for that.]
A voice from the Black Prince echoed in my head.
Shimmer.
With a black flash, the Black Prince appeared beside me.
Dressed in black armor, the handsome man with black hair smiled at me.
“But I’m fine, so don’t worry. And about the last technique of the Heaven and Earth Sword Method… Adding ‘human’ to ‘heaven’ and ‘earth’ is a good idea. But according to my calculations, it’s still just barely a bit short of being completed.”
The Black Prince said.
“So…”
I trailed off.
I could guess roughly what this frustrating, stereotypical light novel heroine’s older brother character was about to say.
So it came.
I didn’t want to hear the next words.
“Because of that, you’re saying you’ll sacrifice yourself…?”
Just as I was about to object.
The Black Prince laughed.
And with that, the world changed.
[The Dawn Breaking the Night]
As the Black Prince’s figure dispersed into the air, his imagery overlapped with the cosmos.
Dark clouds gathered over the black universe, and a brilliant dawn light pierced through, illuminating the earth.
“This bastard…”
That day.
The day when the Berserk attacked the ryokan during the hot spring trip.
When the Black Prince spread his imagery, I remembered what he said.
This was a one-time assist through his imagery.
If he projected his imagery twice through unity, he might face the risk of disappearing.
I had just brushed it off back then.
But now…
[My partner is a kind person, so you definitely tried to stop me, right? So I used a little trick. Partner, you’re still a hundred years early to catch up to me. Hahahahaha.]
“Still, it’s a hundred years too early. Hahaha!”
The voice of the Black Prince echoed in my head.
My hands trembled.
Why…?
“I can’t face him with the incomplete Third Style. So… now is the time. With this noble lord Black Prince’s mental projection… to kill him… He is the enemy of me and my comrades… Therefore, to catch him, I will do… anything…”
Noise distorted the Black Prince’s voice.
“….Olivia… I’m begging you… partner…”
Clunk.
His voice cut off.
Along with it, the presence of the Black Prince vanished.
Only his mental projection remained like a memento.
“….You bastard…”
The hand gripping the sword shook.
The blade trembled.
Tears rolled down my eyes.
Wooong.
Now, the vibration of Durandal, which had lost its spirit, ceased.
My belief, the collective will of 7.7 billion people, the starlight of the universe, and the infinite magic produced by the Philosopher’s Stone coalesced into the thin blade.
In that moment, enhanced by the last remaining strength of the Black Prince, it emitted a brilliant light of black and white.
Heaven, Earth, Humanity.
I felt that the Triad of Heaven and Earth and Humanity, this world, and the universe resided wholly in the single sword I held.
“Is the dramatic climax over? While you weep disgracefully, the New World plan is steadily progressing. I will surely save all humanity…”
I heard the nonsense of Messiah in my ear.
I pulled myself from my thoughts and returned to reality.
The Black Prince was already presumed dead.
He was always nagging me, throwing pointless jokes, and sometimes helping me; he sacrificed himself for the completion of the Celestial Sword and the death of Messiah.
He might not ever return.
The dice were cast, the water was spilled, and the glass was already shattered.
Then, what was left for me to do?
“Shut up, you bastard.”
Just as the Black Prince said, all I had to do was eliminate that damned final boss.
I firmly gripped the completed Celestial Sword.
Durandal trembled.
With that, I kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, aiming the sword tip at Messiah.
Black and white perfectly split the blade and ignited.
At the tip stood the bastard.
Messiah.
The weakest hero was the final boss of the world savior.
Aiming at him, I utilized the final technique of the Celestial Sword I had perfected with the Black Prince’s help.
[Celestial Sword Technique]
[Third Style]
If the first style was the Earth-breaking downward slash and the second was the Sky-slicing cut, then the third was the thrust.
A simple motion, basic swordsmanship; yet the precision of the thrust was all the more terrifying.
The power of the universe reminiscent of the Big Bang, the will of all humanity, the 7.7 billion strands of starlight, the soul of the world, and the infinite magic converged into a single point at Durandal’s tip.
An overwhelming force, as if containing an entire galaxy, compressed again and again into a minuscule point at the edge of the blade.
When the compression of power was complete, and the black light and white flame of Durandal fused, sublimating into the starlight of the universe…
The world stopped.
Messiah’s figure in my view distorted, the landscape around me warped.
Starlight, the universe, the World Gate created by Messiah, even sound vanished in that dark space.
In the midst of it all, I saw an incredibly alien white dot.
I instinctively felt it.
That white dot was Messiah.
In the stopped, distorted dark world, I thrust the energy compressed at Durandal’s tip directly into the white dot, Messiah.
It was time to end everything.
[Cosmic Split]
Bursting forth from the very name of the skill, a single point thrust with power capable of ripping through the cosmos, hit the white dot with not a single 1% energy waste — fast, accurate, and silent, like a supersonic missile.
In that moment.
I felt it.
The dawn’s light left by the Black Prince shining on me from within the dark space.
The hearts of Olivia, Rin, Eri, Aris, Senior Kasumi, Makoto, Haru, Seira, Teacher Mayuzumi, Wilhelmina, Han Seo-Jin, Yoo Se-Ra, Bella, Evangelin, Beatrice, and all the heroines ─
The hearts of all those linked to me, including Kurosawa Yuji, Shinozaki Ichiro, Ishihara Saori, Ishihara Daiki, Satou Rena, Kamiya Ritsuko, and the President of South Korea, backed me up.
– Partner! Blast him away!
Just before Durandal made contact with the point, I heard the voice of the Black Prince echoing in my ears.
And then, light exploded.
