Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no “Kokoro”-

[Ln] Volume 3: Chapter 3.1

[LN] Volume 3: Chapter 3.1

Volume 3 Chapter 3.1

The Outburst of Hatred Part 1

Translator : PolterGlast

In Spasim Forest at dusk, Nozomu and Ken were facing each other.

The twilight was shining through the trees, illuminating them both in crimson.

"Why are you here and not Lisa?"

"Why should she have to go to all this trouble to respond to your invitation after what you've done to her? That's why, I told her I would talk to you in her stead."

Ken made no attempt to hide his displeasure as he tossed the letter that Nozomu had given to Lisa.

"...... Well, certainly, I also have something I want to ask you. So I guess it's alright to think that you're here for that reason."

Nozomu, on the other hand, responded so while facing Ken's glare head-on.

The only thing that Nozomu wrote in his letter was "I want to talk to you about something that happened two years ago". Normally, someone with no involvement would have just ignored it and that would have been the end of it. However, the fact that Ken went to the trouble of coming to this place meant that he had his own reasons for coming here.

"I'm going to be blunt. You're the one who framed me and accused me of being a despicable betrayer, right?"

"...... Haa? What the hell are you talking about?"

Nozomu went on with his words in response to Ken, who was playing dumb.

"You had to have a good reason to convince Lisa at that time. So you used my appearance and voice to convince her of your lies ......"

"That's ridiculous. If I were to use magic, even Lisa would have noticed it."

"Yeah, that's why it's weird. You knew I was busy with my training and didn't have time to cheat on her, didn't you?"

"Who knows? I wasn't with you 24/7. I didn't know what you were doing all the time. It's possible that something evil could happen ...... while I was away."

Ken's mouth contorted as he spoke so. The color in his eyes was clearly showing his disdain for Nozomu.

"Well, either way, it doesn't change the fact that you betrayed us......"

"Yeah, that's why it's weird."

"...... What are you trying to say?"

"...... If it were Lisa, she would have tried to make sure. But I've never, ever been questioned by her."

For better or for worse, Lisa Hounds' personality is straightforward. She is the kind of person who will see for herself whether the truth is true or not. Such is her character.

But Nozomu was never questioned by Lisa even once, until she abruptly dumped him.

"Someone saw her actually questioning someone who looked exactly like me. But, I wasn't the one rejecting Lisa at the time......"

"What does such testimony prove? It might have just been a mistake, you know?"

"Even if it was Shina Juliel who saw it?"

Ken's expression turned stiff at the mention of the only elf in Arcazam.

"The elf's sense of source elements is far superior to that of a human being. Normal humans have difficulty even perceiving the slightest trace of it."

Shina's conclusion is based on her elven senses. It was not magic, but a more special power was used.

"Ken, what you used was your ability. It's an ability that you haven't reported to the academy......"

The atmosphere gradually grew tense.

Seeing the slight frown on Ken's face, Nozomu was convinced.

"What's more, you have a collaborator."

The next moment, Nozomu picked up a stone that was lying on the ground near his feet and threw it toward a gap in the trees behind him.

"......~!"

A third person's voice, not Nozomu's nor Ken's, was heard.

Just as the thrown stone was about to enter the shadows of the trees, it bounced back with a high-pitched thud, *Clang!*.

Then, the person who had been hiding in the scenery slowly appeared.

"Camilla, it's you after all......"

It was the female student who had been Lisa's best friend and Nozomu's friend as well. It was Camilla Vecnose. She was gripping a cane that had bounced off the stone thrown at her and looking at Nozomu with shaken eyes.

"How did you notice me? You, the bottom of the barrel ......"

"Even if I couldn't see you, it didn't mean that your presence had vanished. I also felt the gaze of someone who wasn't a beast, and although it was very subtle, there was something strange about the way the grass and trees were swaying. Besides, the flow of air I felt on my skin was slightly off."

"...... You, just what kind of perceptions do you have?"

Camilla probably did not expect that Nozomu would notice her.

She was not able to hide her agitation, and Nozomu took a quick glance at her, then turned his attention back to Ken.

"You had Camilla disguise herself for you two years ago, as well, didn't you?"

"I never expected you to have really figured it out. But how stupid are you to take two years to figure it out?"

"Well, it's too late now, and there's nothing you can do about it," Ken added, shrugging his shoulders.

His provocative attitude struck a nerve within Nozomu.

"Regardless of what truly happened two years ago, your rumors have already been established as true. No matter how much you raise your voice, you have no proof, and no matter how hard you try to change it, you will never be able to."

The public identifies facts not based on the truth but on the atmosphere. And once the first impression is fixed, there is little that can be done to change it.

On top of that, in Nozomu's case, it would be hopeless considering the fact that many people saw the moment Lisa dumped him. That was why Ken did not hesitate to expose the truth.

Nozomu's closeness to Irisdina Francilt is a concern for Ken, but there is no proof. There is a world difference between what one can do and what it takes to prove that one actually did it.

Nozomu clenched his fists in anger at Ken's smugness.

His fingernails dug into the skin of his palms, and blood trickled down.

"...... Why did you do this?"

"Why? Obviously. Because it's impossible for you to protect Lisa!"

Ken's voice couldn't have been higher pitched than it was in response to Nozomu's angry tone of voice.

"She'll become a great adventurer, and she's going to be the center of attention. And you're not qualified to protect her, am I right? Absolutely ...... impossible."

Ability suppression. The reason why Nozomu was to tumble down.

With a look of disdain on his face, Ken raised his voice.

"Her father was an adventurer, and he died during his adventure. But Lisa is kind. Even you, who was unable to do anything due to your Ability Suppression, would not be abandoned. That's exactly why ......"

After a quick pause, Ken took on a demon-like expression on his face.

"I can't accept your existence ......!"

The next moment, Ken suddenly drew the longsword from his waist and slashed at Nozomu.

Nozomu reflexively drew his katana as he faced Ken's vertical slash, which was filled with clear intent to kill.

"Guh!"

A groan escaped from Nozomu's mouth as a shock ran through his arm. Ken's eyes, glaring at him from close range, were somehow dyed not with contempt but with a deep-seated hatred.

"You're dragging Lisa down, putting her life in danger!"

"Is that why you're doing this!?"

"It's necessary! To free her from her shackle which is you!"

Ken swung his longsword as he pushed Nozomu away with all his strength. As expected of someone of A-rank. Despite being full of hatred, his sword strike was sharp, and his body movements were fluid and efficient.

"I told her over and over again! I told her to just abandon you! Tell you to go back to where you came from! But Lisa wouldn't listen!"

Nozomu was able to parry the oncoming sword strikes by stepping back, but Ken, perhaps finding the situation disappointing, pressed him even harder.

"Dream? Yearning? Such things are only possible when there is life! What flower-garden idiots who can't see reality!"

Ken swung his sword in a fit of rage, throwing away both Nozomu's and Lisa's former wishes and dreams. The deafening sounds of clanging steel were heard as if to express his long-standing resentment.

"That's why I showed you both! The reality! And Lisa finally understood!"

"~! What the hell are you talking about!? You're just deceiving her!"

Nozomu finally snapped at Ken, who was justifying his own actions.

In a split second, he put his Qi on the blade of his katana, and with a single blow, he cut Ken's longsword in two.

"Tch......"

Ken reflexively delivered a kick, forcing Nozomu to take a distance.

"I see you've acquired some strength, huh? But it's useless!"

Although he was momentarily surprised to see his longsword severed in two with a single blow, Ken calmly and quickly finished his chanting.

At the same time as the spell was finished being chanted, a new translucent sword blade was formed and extended from the severed part of the longsword.

The blade was reminiscent of a clear crystal. It resembled Irisdina's magic sword, [Lunar Eclipse], which was an extremely advanced magic sword possessing physical solidity.

Ken also invoked the magic of physical strengthening and attacked Nozomu again.

Perhaps because of the strengthening magic, his body movement and slashing speed were incomparably faster than ever before. His speed was comparable to that of Irisdina.

"Hmph ......!"

[Compared to Ken, your existence is insignificant. Therefore......]

As soon as Mefi snapped her fingers, a shock went through the water that was restraining Nozomu.

"Ugh, gah ......!"

The reverberating and amplified shockwave struck Nozomu's entire body, taking away his power of resistance in one fell swoop. After confirming that he could no longer move, Mefi released his restraints. His powerless body collapsed to the ground.

"Good grief. You are more stubborn than I thought ......"

[That's true. Even though he is just a trash, he is still struggling. Truly unsightly ....... By the way, why weren't you helping us?]

"...... It wasn't necessary, was it?"

Mefi turned her reproachful gaze on Camilla, who had been silent for some time.

On the other hand, Camilla, while looking away from Mefi who was questioning her, was dismissive in an indifferent tone of voice.

[Hm~~ph. You're quite cheeky, aren't you?]

"Stop it, Mefi. She is a collaborator. Don't be rude to her."

Ken thought that Camilla was an existence that should not be disregarded, and he intervened between the two of them.

In front of such Ken, Mefi looked dissatisfied.

[But- ......]

"Don't worry. Just leave it to me."

Mefi, unable to hide her dissatisfaction, reluctantly backed down.

"Camilla, you and I have been cooperating for two years now. It is, of course, a mutually beneficial relationship. Though sometimes we have different intentions......"

Ken grabbed Camilla by the chin and turned her to face him.

A deep furrow was etched on his forehead as his mouth twisted into a smile.

"~, Let go of me......!"

"Even so, a contract is a contract. As long as you are my collaborator, I am willing to cooperate with you. But if you're going to walk away, then I don't have a choice ...... You know what I mean, don't you?"

"......Yes, I understand."

"Good. Just make sure you don't give me the wrong idea."

After a few seconds of silence, Camilla nodded her head, and Ken gave her a piercing glance before turning his attention back to Nozomu, who was lying on the ground.

[So Ken, what are you going to do with this guy?]

"Just throw him away. There's nothing he can do anyway. The demonic beast will take care of it. Well, just in case, can you tamper with his mind and memories?"

[Oka~~y! Leave it to me. Now, let's get this over with~~]

The spirit called Mefi looked delighted and raised her hand toward Nozomu, who was lying on the ground.

A light blue source element seeped out from her palm and enveloped Nozomu. His body trembled.

The power of the spirit is the power of the soul. It would not even be impossible to tamper with one's memory or mind at will.

[A~a~. Poor thing~~. But it can't be helped, can it~~. You lost after all~~. I feel a little bad, so I'll erase all those memories~~. And of course, I'll also erase all the memories about your most precious girl~~.]

In front of Nozomu, who was unable to move, Mefi's mouth contorted into a grin.

[Good for you~~. You won't suffer anymore~~. Instead, you'll become a cripple~~.]

Her innocent yet cruel smile seemed too twisted for such a mystical being.

Camilla, who had been silent in front of such a spirit, muttered something quietly.

"...... So wicked."

"You are also involved in that wickedness. I hope you are aware of that."

Camilla fell silent in response to Ken's words and looked down at Nozomu with a somewhat pained expression on her face.

But she quickly averted her gaze, as if to turn away from what was about to happen.

"You fucking spirit ......."

Mefi's eyes widen for a moment upon hearing Nozomu's words, and then she broke into a sadistic smile.

[A~~, you dare to speak like that~~. That's terrible of you~~]

"Ggh, aaaaahh!"

Mefi snapped her fingers, and the source material that enveloped Nozomu's body began to erode his sense of pain.

Nozomu's consciousness was bleached white by the pain, which felt as if countless needles were being inserted into every nerve in his body.

[Kyahahaha! This is so much fun~~!]

The way she looked at Nozomu, who was struggling, was similar to a young child who caught an insect and killed it for fun.

When he eventually stopped moving, Mefi nodded in satisfaction.

[All right, then, let's erase all those memories first ...... Eh?]

Just as she was about to let her power seep even deeper into Nozomu's memory, a strange sensation shot through Mefi's entire body.

"Mefi, what's wrong?"

[What is this, eh?]

A chill that she had never felt before. However, the gaze that peeked out from the depths of his memories was more intense than anything she had ever felt before, and it held tremendous heat hidden within it.

A heat that could obliterate her in an instant.

In the next moment, five-colored source elements erupted from Nozomu's body, unilaterally blasted Mefi's power away.

?

-----

Thank you for my Patrons !!

[Platinum]

Aiden Elliott

Hikari Ashta

Kcx1

KevinP

Kyle Wiggins

Marvin Sanchez

Matthew Shuler

Swagaraga

[Gold]

Matt Nieschburg

[Silver]

ArUnInAcTiOn

Carl

Chris

CoolmanMTD

Glasses Kun

LemonLover

Maddes

Matzar1

Nazmun Saikat

ONEEYED_SLOTH

Thiago Leite Denedai

[Bronze]

Alden H

Anton Lim

Curious Panda

Eric Martinez

Real_Asian

???? ?????

Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon

-----

<> > Next>>