Chapter 63.2: Refrigon (8)
If Reef had more time, she could have defeated Gillock and became the champion someday.
However, there was a fundamental difference in ability that was difficult to overcome between the two at this moment.
Reef straightened herself up, grabbing her bloody side. Her eyes glowed.
It still looked like he had not broken her fighting spirit in the slightest, but that was all.
Gillock raised his sword again and took a stance. To finish the game without further dragging.
Even if you become the champion…
After all, her brother’s life could not be saved from the beginning.
Gillock was sure of that.
He was well aware of how much of a vicious demon the Sixth Lord was.
So it might be better for her to die here like this.
“···Sorry.”
He opened his mouth and muttered a little.
“I will see off your younger brother in your stead.”
Reef’s face contorted like a ghost.
Gillock slammed the ground and flew away.
Whoa!
Gillock’s sword strike slashed through her body.
Even in a normal state, it was only possible to barely block his attack. Now that Reef was injured, she was no match for the other.
“Argh!”
Reef roared fiercely and swung her sword in anger. But it didn’t even touch Gillock.
Red blood splattered on the floor. Reef’s body was shattered to the extent that it was surprising that she was still standing without falling down. Despite that, she was still desperately protecting her vital points.
Gillock was about to put an end to it. He raised the magic of his whole body. After deflecting this sword attack that cut through her side, he intended to pierce her heart as it was.
That was the moment.
“···?!”
With a sense of nausea rising from within, Gillock felt his body paralyzed for a moment.
Reef didn’t miss the gap. Squeezing out her last remaining strength, she desperately stabbed her sword to his chest.
“···!”
Gillock looked down at the blade that pierced his chest in disbelief.
His body was heavy and cold. As if poisoned.
It wasn’t just because of the sword that pierced his heart.
This is…
Something flashed through his mind.
The last drink his wife gave him before he left the house.
Gillock barely turned his head and looked up at the top of the pitch.
He could see the figure of the Sixth Lord smiling happily as if he couldn’t stand the joy he’s feeling.
…Ah.
Only then did Gillock realize.
That everything had been decided from the beginning.
He looked at Reef with empty eyes. Blood covered her whole body, and she stood there desperately, holding her sword hilt.
At the end of the day, you and me…
We would both die playing in the devil’s grip.
The sword was drawn, and Gillock’s body was torn apart.
***
Taking a rough breath, Reef looked at Gillock, who had fallen to the floor, with blank eyes.
…I won.
Won.
Killed Gillock. Defeated the champion.
An indescribable feeling surged inside her. Opposite things such as joy and sorrow, achievement and guilt mixed like a mass.
Reef bit her lips tightly and staggered away.
She heard not even the slightest cheers from the audience.
The spectators all kept their mouths shut as if they had made a promise and looked at the scene.
Reef, who had moved to just below where the Tyrant was seated, fell to her knees.
“···I have won!”
As if she wanted everyone to hear it, she shouted with a cracking voice.
“I am now the champion of Actipol!”
In the quiet stillness, the Tyrant had a smile.
“Yes.”
He looked down at her and opened his mouth.
A quiet but loud voice resounded clearly throughout the arena.
“Tell me your wish.”
“My little brother!”
Reef was forced to pause for a moment at the rising excitement, then shouted again.
“I beg you, the great Sixth Lord! Please cure my brother’s light blood disease! This is my only wish!”
The smile on the Tyrant’s lips grew stronger.
“You want to cure your brother’s illness?”
“···”
“Your affection for your blood relative is commendable. Okay, let me treat your brother according to your wishes.”
It was when Reef’s face was about to fill with joy.
“But before that, there is still something you have to do first.”
“···Yes?”
She looked up blankly at the Tyrant.
He was smiling.
It was as if he had just reached the moment of picking the sweet fruit he had been working hard on for a long time…
The Tyrant turned his gaze to the commentator on the other side of the stadium.
The commentator, who caught the attention, immediately exclaimed.
–Well then! The event match to celebrate the birth of a new champion after years begins right now!
There was a commotion in the audience.
Because there had never been such an event match before when someone won the championship.
Kurur.
An iron fence on one side of the stadium went up.
But that was the door where captured monsters came out, not the gladiator.
Reef’s expression, who had been staring blankly at the scene, gradually distorted and became incomprehensible.
Stepping out of the door was the figure of a familiar boy.
However, the only difference was that his whole body was dyed dark red, and he had a completely monster-like appearance.
“Ahh···”
Reef looked at the boy, at his younger brother, and let out a groan of despair.
Krrr.
The boy glared at her with a flash of red eyes.
It was as if he was looking at an enemy who he was going to tear to death at any moment, not at his sister.
“I’ll cure your brother’s illness as much as you want. Of course, you have to finish the rest of the game before that, right?”
The sound of the Tyrant’s laughter mixed with words echoed in her ears, like the whispers of the devil.
Looking at Reef, who was sitting there in a frenzy, he burst out laughing as if he couldn’t stand it.
“Now, what are you doing? Come on, kill that monster.”
A boy, who lost had lost his mind, ran wildly towards her.