── Why?
Karma was bewildered.
The bodily strain he had never once felt since being born. Even though he was pouring all his magic power besides what was needed for casting spells into desperate healing, there was no recovery at all — rather, the virulent magic power that had invaded his body continued to assault him in the form of freezing cold.
This was something he had never wished for.
This was something that should never have happened.
── Why, why, why, why—!!
It would have been easier to accept if someone told him everything was a dream. A world that didn't go according to his wishes was impossible.
This was a lie. This couldn't be happening. Don't screw with me. This was ridiculous.
( It's a lie, a lie — )
His instincts denied what was happening before his eyes. Somewhere in his heart, something screamed that this was absurd. He was the being chosen by the magic that created the world, an existence naturally superior to all humans, and his given duty was to reclaim every last drop of magic from all of humanity without exception — and that was supposed to be —
── …………, what?
But.
There, Karma—
( Who )
( decided )
( that? )
That thought finally arrived.
At the same time, he looked at the men who were closing in to kill him.
"——"
He saw Ermes's eyes — beautiful, piercing, yet brimming with a conviction so terrifying it was almost frightening.
He saw Lucius's eyes — harboring tremendous fighting spirit and will to battle, yet noble and pure to the last degree.
And Herck's.
Not refined. Not purely beautiful. Still harboring all manner of emotions that Karma had yet to know — jealousy and inferiority, hatred and loathing, and more.
And yet — beyond all that, he saw eyes that held a genuine wish.
( ………… So this is what human eyes look like )
He thought, suddenly.
( …… )
( That looks )
( wonderful )
At that very moment.
What had been there since the moment he was born. What had been ordained by magic to be his fate.
In other words — what had been bound by magic. Something that could be called a curse... he felt it shatter.
◆
Cornered.
Standing at the end of an endless retreat, at a natural dead end enclosed by cliffs — there stood Karma.
It should have been checkmate.
With three against one, there was no possibility of defeat. Of course, they would not let their guard down until the very end, but... from here onward, a reversal was impossible — that was what Ermes's keen eye and experience, having analyzed Karma all this time, told him.
And yet.
Something beyond logic, an instinctive feeling whispered to him.
── Don't let your guard down yet.
It seemed Lucius beside him was having the same sensation, as he maintained a tense posture while surrounding and fixing his gaze upon Karma.
And so, as the three watched and waited... Karma spoke up softly.
"…… I never thought this was possible."
He couldn't recklessly charge in. This was not an opponent on that level. And so, inevitably, the three listened, and Karma continued.
" I was supposed to be superior to any human. Humans are vastly inferior beings who have to mouth difficult words just to cast a single spell. Those constrained beings usurped and mistreated magic, and I was supposed to reclaim it all and become the king of magic."
"……"
" That was supposed to be absolute. If that weren't the case, if that could be overturned, it would be impossible. Absolutely impossible — just a bad dream. Because I was made to be that way —
— that's what magic kept screaming at me."
Ermes's eyes widened slightly.
Those words hinting at his origins were certainly worth analyzing... but at the same time, he understood. The real point wasn't there.
"…… But that's not true, is it?"
Just as he had intuited.
" —
This is reality.
Everything before was the dream.
Because right now, I'm in pain, I'm struggling, it hurts. I feel like I could die at any moment. …… In your words, I suppose this is what it means to be 'alive.'"
"…… That's —"
" If I deny this and die, there's nothing I can do about it. So this must be something I need to overcome. Without relying on my body, I have to push through this hardship with my own wisdom and ingenuity... just like the both of you."
And with that, Karma raised his face.
His beautiful features remained unchanged... but what was decisively different were his eyes.
Gone was the somewhat inorganic light of before. In its place was a light that held genuine will and a genuine wish — if he dared say so, a light that only a human could wear.
…… He hadn't understood everything.
But he had grasped, in broad strokes, what had happened to him.
The Karma of until now had truly been nothing more than a child. Intoxicated by the power given to him, dominated by a sense of omnipotence because nothing could stand in his way, he had made no effort whatsoever to hide the mockery and pity that came from everyone around him.
To destroy all humans and house all magic within himself — to borrow his own words, what "magic told him to do." He had been led by what could only be called the will of the magic that created him, perhaps without even being aware of it.
But through the power of Ermes and the others, that fantasy of omnipotence had been shattered. He had fallen into a situation where he could not win through his own strength alone, through relying solely on the body he had been given.
At the end of it all. Even so, rather than clinging to what had been given, and rather than refusing to acknowledge reality—
He realized that he had to break through this on his own will, with his own heart. And he resolved to do so. Even if it was painful, he decided to press forward toward his goal.
He had evolved — no, that expression was surely not apt.
He had "grown" in that way. From a naive and arrogant young child into a boy who understood the value of reason and challenge.
If that was the case, then naturally, there could be absolutely no letting of one's guard.
This boy was now more than ever — almost certainly far surpassing the many nobles who infested this country—
A truly "formidable" opponent.
" I do hate humans. I am a monster myself, and I don't intend to force myself to defy that. …… But —"
Before Ermes and the others, who had steeled their resolve and deepened their concentration, Karma fixed each of them in turn with a quiet gaze and voice.
" At the same time, I admire the way you face hardships that cannot be overcome and push through them.
…… It's fine, you know. It's perfectly okay to both hate something and respect it."
"…… Yes, that's exactly right."
Naturally, words of affirmation overflowed alongside respect.
The way of being that Karma admired was fundamental to his very core. And at the same time, it was surely what this country needed most for its future.
Hearing Ermes's response, Karma smiled. A pure, natural smile, free of all arrogance and mockery.
" I see. Then... following your example, I suppose I'll throw aside all pretense and come at you."
With those words, Karma raised his hand.
In an instant — the ground behind Ermes and the others surged upward dramatically.
From it emerged two enormous monsters with hard scales and fearsome jaws.
" Earth dragons —"
" Dragon species, is it. I suspected they might have something, but I didn't expect them to have hidden something like this on that battlefield..."
So the retreat up to this point had also served a clear purpose.
" I was saving these for the most troublesome spot, hoping to crush your spirits. Strangely enough, they came in handy.
…… Well, I'm not sure how effective they'll be against you two in particular... but against the 'current' you, they should at least serve as a delay."
That was entirely true.
With Ermes and Lucius's abilities, even against dragon species, victory would be easy.
But... right now, both of them had taken Karma's blow and were covered in wounds. With top-class monsters as opponents, they couldn't simply dispatch them with one hand.
They were considering what to do, Lucius and Ermes together, when—
" Deal with the dragon species, both of you. That's all you need to do."
There, the young man who had been quietly watching the situation unfold spoke up.
" Herck, Your Highness."
" Are you certain? If I may say so, facing that one now, even Your Highness would..."
" I'm well aware. I can't guarantee I can win alone, which is why I need you to finish this as quickly as possible."
He nodded honestly at Ermes and Lucius's words, while seeking the best path to victory.
But then Herck continued.
"…… If it were merely a monster — a beast without thought or will — I would prioritize nothing but certain victory."
"……"
" But this one is different now, isn't it? It's an opponent with a genuine will.
If that's the case, then there is etiquette to combat as well. …… I don't think a royal who flees from a duel when challenged in this situation, at this juncture, would have any worth."
In those words,
Both of them recognized a certain logic and value.
" Understood." "Then, may fortune favor you."
This battle's crucial moment had been entrusted to him from the start. They had resolved to move in order to dedicate their victory to him. If Herck himself had decided this, then there was nothing more to say.
Having reached that conclusion, the two turned their backs and focused on the dragon species as instructed.
A brief silence fell between the remaining two.
" Times like these, I believe the custom is to start by introducing ourselves, yes?"
It was Karma who broke the silence. Since there was no possibility of Ermes and the others losing on the other side, time should have been working against him.
Knowing full well this, he deliberately chose to — in a way that was perhaps the most human he had been throughout all of this.
" My name is Karma.
Born from the magic that forms the very foundation of the world, and destined to be both the king of monsters and the king of magic.
But I admire you, I learn from you, and I shall — surpass you."
For an improvised speech, it was remarkably well composed.
As royalty — as an existence born to honor from the very start — it was only natural that he reciprocate.
" First Prince of the Yustia Kingdom, Herck Joseph von Yustia.
── The one who will spend his life defeating you."
A grand declaration, spoken through gritting teeth against his aching body.
Receiving those words, Karma smiled.
" Yes. …… Right now, I can honestly say I'm happy to hear that."
" I see. On my end, I have no feelings toward you. No... I have too many, and by now they've come full circle."
The final exchange of their thoughts.
With that as the closing, both parties raised their magic power in unison and drew a breath.
" Bloodline Magic — 'Serpent of the White Calm.'"
" — [Awaken]."
The oldest and greatest entanglement of this battle. The final fight had begun.