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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Climax (2)
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No matter how much I thought about it, I just couldn't understand.
Fran, the protagonist of the original story, why in the world was he blocking my path?
Was it because I hadn't paid him enough attention?
No, that wasn't it. I was well aware that Envy might approach Fran, which was why, despite the hassle, I secretly followed him to the training grounds every day.
Of course, I didn't watch him all day. Fran wasn't the only person I needed to keep an eye on. There were bound to be times when I couldn't watch him.
Regardless, I hadn't detected any unusual signs from Fran until now.
Fran had been solely focused on swinging his sword every day, and he was always alone in the secluded training grounds.
Yet, despite all that, despite all that.
He was brazenly blocking my path, glaring at me with a menacing aura.
I scrutinized Fran's mind, every nook and cranny, with my Clairvoyant Eye.
Just in case he had fallen during the brief moment I hadn't been watching.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Fran's mind was filled only with brilliant starlight; not a speck of demonic energy could be felt.
I simply couldn't understand.
Since he hadn't fallen, he should still be capable of normal thought.
Given that he was here, it seemed he had some connection with Envy.
But why was he siding with Envy and blocking my path?
So, I asked Fran.
Why are you, the protagonist of the original story, standing in my way?
Why are you, a hero candidate, helping Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins?
At that, Fran's firm lips slowly parted.
"To stop you."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
His preposterous answer made my expression instinctively twist.
Why are *you* stopping *me*?
"I received a request from a woman who yearns deeply to meet someone she misses dearly, if only to speak with them for a moment. She asked me to buy her a little time."
"..."
Fran's resolute tone left me speechless.
"I heard. That you don't approve of that meeting, and that you wish to obstruct it. That is why I am stopping you. Because you possess a different sense of justice than I do."
As I listened to his continuing words, I began to vaguely grasp why the situation had turned out this way.
This guy had met Envy. It was probably when I was keeping an eye on others.
And for some reason, after meeting Envy, he had been persuaded by her. Or perhaps brainwashed.
"Hey."
Perhaps because I now understood the situation, my voice naturally dropped.
"Do you even know who that woman is, spouting such bullshit?"
I was genuinely curious. Honestly, it was a problem whether he knew or not.
If he knew and was still doing this, I'd have to seriously reconsider his moral compass. And if he truly didn't know and was doing this, I'd have to seriously reconsider his intelligence.
"I know."
I don't know if it was fortunate or not, but Fran answered my question, implying he wasn't an idiot.
"Someone who knows that... and supposedly a future hero candidate... Ha...!"
Seeing that, I couldn't contain my frustration. I muttered to myself, then finally let out a sigh.
"Blocking my path? Do you even know what you're doing right now? Do you know what's happening at the academy?"
"..."
"Ha... fine, just move, you idiot. I'm busy."
I clutched my throbbing head, trying to ignore the utterly frustrating Fran and pass him by.
"I know."
A small voice reached me.
"It's precisely *because* I know better than you that I can do this."
Fran drew his sword, pointing it at me as he spoke. I, in turn, fixed him with a serious expression and retorted.
"You know better...? Hey, do you also know that innocent people could die because of this?"
"That won't happen. Never."
"How can you guarantee that?"
"I'll tell you that later."
"What?"
"Regardless, my resolve is firm. I will stop you to give Celetina time. So, Kael, if you wish to enforce your will, draw your sword. I will uphold mine."
"Ha! Are you on drugs or something?"
I was beyond dumbfounded, feeling like I was about to lose my mind. I sighed and, left with no other choice, drew my sword.
"Wait a minute."
Then, noticing a subtle change in Fran's face, I gave him a bewildered look and asked.
"He... he really *did* take something?"
"..."
No wonder his aura felt so unusual.
Looking closely, the reason was the elixirs this bastard had consumed.
I looked around, and now I saw them: empty flask bottles strewn across the ground over there.
Dragon's Blood, Power Elixir, Fairy's Tears...
He'd really guzzled a lot.
Suddenly, I wondered: where did this guy get these incredibly rare elixirs?
The answer to my question immediately became clear.
"You... you need a beating."
This bastard, he even took bribes from Envy. Having reached that conclusion, I immediately lunged forward.
To hit him over the head with the flat of my sword and knock him out.
-Whoosh!
"We'll see who gets beaten."
Perhaps the elixirs really did have an effect, because to my surprise, Fran quickly ducked and evaded my attack, then swung his sword at me instead.
-Whoosh!
'This bastard?'
I tilted my head back to dodge a sword strike that went from the lower right to the upper left, feeling quite flustered.
It was just one strike, but it was faster and sharper than I expected. Enough to fluster even me, who had been observing Fran's growth from afar all this time.
"I ask you."
Fran brought his raised sword down again with a graceful movement and asked me.
"Do you... do you think you're superior?"
What an out-of-the-blue question.
It was a question not even worth answering, yet also one with a predetermined answer. So, as I dodged the sword descending towards my head, I replied.
"Yeah."
-Clang!
This time, I swung my sword lightly, and Fran met my blade with his own. At that, his body began to slowly slide backward.
Seeing that, I had to tilt my head in confusion.
Even if he was on drugs, seriously? He's resisting my sword *this much*?
"I've always thought this, you know..."
Just then, Fran began to mutter something. I looked at him with a questioning gaze and swung my sword even harder.
-Clang!
His body slid back a little further than before. This was also unexpected. I'd thought he would at least be knocked flat on his back by now.
"You are too arrogant. You only trust yourself, and you always think you're unconditionally right."
Muttering that, Fran changed his stance and swung his sword in a continuous flurry.
A clean combination, flowing from lower left, to middle, to upper right.
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
Parrying each one with my sword, I asked Fran seriously.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because you believe only *your* justice is right."
"I'm genuinely sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about."
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
As swords clashed, sparks flew, and starlight shimmered through the air.
When I replied with a look of pity, Fran glared at me as if to kill, swinging his sword even more fiercely.
As I continued to dodge his sword, a question arose in my mind, and I asked Fran seriously.
"Let me ask you something. When did I ever say that only *my* justice was right?"
As I said that, I spun my body and kicked Fran in the side with my right foot.
-Thwack!
"Ugh...!"
I'd put quite a bit of force into it. Yet, seeing Fran still standing, I was momentarily surprised. I swung my sword again and continued.
"It's true I'm arrogant. I've never thought I was wrong. But I've never shown it to others, either. So why do *you* think that?"
-Clang!
Fran, who had once again met my sword with his own, widened his eyes and replied.
"Did you not stand by and watch others suffer?!"
"I stood by and watched?"
"I'm talking about Sage, who's in there! Didn't you stand by and watch that friend suffer just to lure out Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins? Even when there were plenty of ways for that friend not to suffer...!"
"..."
How did this guy know I had killed Greed? A question arose, and my mind momentarily went blank, leaving me speechless.
In truth, he wasn't entirely wrong. Although I had the excuse that I did it to prevent Fran — this bastard's — harem, it was undeniably a wrong action regardless.
Did he think my moment of hesitation was an opening?
Fran didn't miss that fleeting moment. He shifted his offensive and began to swing his sword with full force, imbuing it with starlight.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
Starlight clashed with starlight, and deafening explosions erupted between the swords.
Every time our swords clashed, I felt regret.
Every time our swords sparked, many thoughts ran through my mind.
How many exchanges had I had with Fran like that?
During that fleeting moment, I collected my thoughts and said quietly.
"You're right. I was wrong back then."
"Yes. You were so arrogant... What?"
"I said, I was wrong back then."
"..."
"But even so..."
And then I swung my sword fiercely. This time, with enough power that Fran couldn't possibly block it.
-Schwing!
Seeing Fran's sword cleave apart like paper, I immediately grabbed Fran by the collar, lifted him, and threw him to the ground.
-Thud!
"Ugh...!"
"The choice you just made isn't the right one, though."
I gripped Fran's wrist, watching the engraved symbol there as he lay on the ground, gasping for breath, and said.
"This is it, isn't it? The reason you said you knew better than me."
"..."
"The contract with the Scales. Tell me. What did Envy, that woman, stake on the Scales, and what did she agree to gain?"
"She... she staked her life. To earn my trust."
"Staked her life? Elaborate. This is important."
I hadn't expected this. Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, staking her life on the Scales?
"Celetina swore to me. That she wouldn't harm anyone until her reunion with her old love was complete. If she did, she would offer her life to the Scales."
"And then... after that reunion is complete?"
"After it's complete, she'll naturally return..."
"Right, she'll naturally return. After she's killed everyone she wants to kill!"
"..."
As I spoke, Fran's eyes widened, and he wore a dim-witted expression, as if he'd just realized something.
"I... I really have a lot I want to say to you, you know? But let's talk later."
I suppressed the urge to smack that face, walked past Fran, and began to enter the cave.
"Ha..."
Just then, I heard a faint sound and briefly turned my head back.
"Hey, Fran."
"..."
Fran didn't look at me, remaining silent with his head bowed.
For some reason, the ground seemed a little damp, and I could see Fran's sturdy body trembling faintly.
"In a situation like this... it's a bit awkward to say this, but..."
"..."
"I've always thought of you as a hero. And... as righteous."
"..."
As I hesitated and muttered, Fran lifted his head and looked at me with reddened eyes.
"I'm a special case, that's all... You're doing well enough. And... ah, damn it... Never mind. Hey, let's talk later."
I forced myself to say it because it seemed necessary. But if I said any more, I felt like my hands and feet would shrivel up and disappear, so I stopped talking and turned away.
Bastard, why are you suddenly crying and making my heart ache?