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A Weakling Who Died a Million Times - Chapter 15.1, 15.2, 15.3
🕑 Added 2024-12-08 08:00:44 +0000 UTCYear 141_Keireki Era_Spring/08
A furious dash!
The door flung open, and a wild escape began!
… Wait a moment.
The door doesn’t budge, no matter how hard I pull.
If pulling doesn’t work, I try pushing—but still no movement.
Maybe it slides? No, it doesn’t move at all.
… Huh?
"None shall escape. The body of the living shall soon serve its purpose in returning to the world."
Looking at the door, I quickly understood why it wouldn’t open.
The vines were tightly wrapped around every part of the door, rendering it immovable.
If this body is good enough for you, go ahead—but not this time. I still value my life.
Normally, I'd gladly give it to you. I mean, it reeks of sourness anyway.
"So, what happened to Ginesis?"
"Can you not see? He is dead. He gave up his body to me—the origin of his rebirth in this world."
"Gave it up? That looks more like parasitism than anything—"
Before I could finish, a vine extended from what was once Ginesis' sleeve, cracking like a whip as it lashed toward me.
The speed and force were nothing trivial. It was the kind of strike that wouldn’t just leave a mark but could sever flesh.
I rolled out of the way, and where I had been standing, the ground bore a deep gouge as if a sword had slashed through it.
"Hey, hey, my body’s supposed to be used, not destroyed!"
"The vines can always stitch it back together."
"That’s not the point!"
Another whip lashed out—this time, two of them. They slithered forth from both sleeves, executing a dual strike.
A downward slash followed by a sweeping blow—there was no room to escape.
Just as I was about to throw a chakram in desperation, the air split with an explosive crack.
Standing before me was the maid.
Her decisive strike had shattered the incoming whips.
"Senia?"
"Watching you gives me an overwhelming urge to protect."
I couldn’t help but be grateful for whatever resemblance my face might bear to someone significant in history.
───────────────────────
Senia advanced.
However, perhaps due to years of experience, the ancestor controlling Ginesis' body maintained the distance Senia struggled with, lashing at her with the whips.
Yet, none of the strikes landed. If it wasn’t Ginesis’ phantom blade, they couldn’t penetrate her defense, nor could they harm her undead body.
"If retreat is impossible, then I must unsettle you."
The target shifted to what she was protecting—me.
The whips, moving like living serpents, evaded her protection and sped toward me.
I tried to dodge, but it was no use. My abilities couldn’t compare to my ancestor’s precision.
Senia attempted to close the gap and draw the attacks back to herself, but the foe skillfully kept the distance, maintaining the focus on me.
I moved right. Blocked by a whip.
I moved left. Blocked again.
Even when I threw a stone to alter their trajectory, they easily avoided it.
It was clear—my throwing skills wouldn’t land a hit. The futility of my efforts only deepened my sense of being cornered.
As I retreated further, my back hit a wall.
"Boy!"
This was bad.
The whips surged toward me again.
In desperation, I reached for my chakram, but just as I did, the wall beside me exploded, and the whips sparked off something that had intercepted them.
"Are you hurt, Vi?"
Through the dust of the crumbled wall, strands of light blue hair caught my eye, slightly dirtied.
"I’m sorry I was late."
"F-Feli…?"
Ah, so this is how faith begins.
Feli, right now, looked like a dazzling goddess—a true savior.
"I should have brought Gadvar and Nichirin along."
"Wait, why are you here?"
"I followed you."
"… Followed?"
"I was… worried, so I tailed you."
I understood what "followed" meant, but that wasn’t the point.
"Doesn’t the guild have rules against this?"
"I’m prepared for demotion. But if it means I could be here in this moment, it’s a small price to pay."
She fixed her gaze firmly on the enemy.
"I heard you used the medicine on Kagnat."
"Ah, yeah… was that bad?"
"Not at all. In fact, it’s why… I wanted to help you. Is it arrogant to want someone who does the right thing to be rewarded?"
Still facing our adversary, she spoke with conviction.
"Thank you, Feli."
With just those words, I felt fulfilled.
───────────────────────
"Shield-bearer, I will attack. Can I leave his protection to you?"
"Of course."
"Boy, do you have another weapon?"
"Yeah, I’ve got something special."
"If you see an opening—"
"I promise."
With nothing left to protect, Senia unleashed her full force.
Despite the strength of Ginesis’ body and the parasitic vine creature controlling it, their combined power couldn’t keep up.
It was evident—they were being pushed back.
Desperate to change the tide, they tried another attack on me. But it was easily blocked by Feli’s shield, creating an opening for Senia to press even harder.
"Feli, when the next attack comes, I’ll use the chakram. It’s going to be intense—can you handle it?"
"I’ll protect you no matter what, Vi."
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Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/08
"Ancestor! What's wrong? You're completely off your game! Ginesis was much stronger and faster than this! Does taking over a body mean that a traitorous mutt's skills amount to this much?"
"Youuu baaastaaaard!! I am nooo dog! Even the Duke was nothing more than a pawn of my era!!"
The whip rages wildly as it lashes out.
Though it packed the most power so far, I evaded it by hiding behind Feli's back.
"Hiding behind someone else and still talking big, huh? What a coward you are!"
"You didn't resist until a strong descendant showed up, did you? Let's be cowards together."
Returning the provocation in kind, I drew my chakram.
From behind Feli, I hurled the chakram hard in a completely unexpected direction.
The art of stone-throwing is not just about throwing a rock with force.
That alone doesn't qualify as a skill.
How you throw a projectile and how it will reach your opponent—this art lies in making that visualization a reality.
The chakram flew exactly as I envisioned.
With a snap of my wrist, the chakram gained rotation, curved sharply at a perfect angle, accelerated further, and—
Meanwhile, the vine monster, whose full-power attack had been blocked by Feli, was pinned down completely by Senia, unable to move and exposed to more strikes.
When the whip attack ceased, it tried to put some distance between us.
But the ghost maid's hand gripped its clothes firmly, while her free hand assumed a piercing stance.
Finally, the vine monster noticed that the chakram, now on an abnormal trajectory, was homing in on it.
However, it couldn't retrieve the whip in time.
Dodging widely was also impossible, as its movements were restricted by Senia.
If it attempted to evade recklessly, it would fall prey to the ghost maid’s piercing strike. If it stayed still, the chakram would strike.
Caught in indecision, it froze as though time itself had stopped.
Its thought processes must have exceeded their limit.
The borrowed body, though excellent, had been relied upon too much, leading to its downfall.
It was an invaluable lesson.
The chakram tore the body apart, shattering it.
"This... cannot be... If it were the ultimate defense, my defeat would make sense. To be brought down by a child like you… Is this the retribution for what I did to the king?"
With a wet thud, the body that had housed Ginesis crumbled to the ground.
"Well, that's that. It's finally over."
"He made foolish choices... No, I should say, I made foolish choices."
Senia spoke bitterly.
Her expression was no longer that of the vengeful ghost maid.
It was the face of a rational person who could control her emotions.
"I am—"
"Watch out!"
Feli's cry cut off Senia's words as she lunged forward.
Shielding Senia, who had been walking toward us, she blocked something with her shield but was pushed back, knocking her away.
"██████!!
████████!!!"
The voice, mixed with gurgling blood, screamed in some language I couldn't understand.
Though I couldn't grasp the meaning, I knew it was a crazed, frenzied scream.
It was the vine monster that should have been split in two.
Vines sprouted from its severed cross-section, growing anew all over its body.
It had transformed into something monstrous, unrecognizable as human.
"I will kill ███! I finally understand the reason for ███!
Kill ███! You are the key!! ███ is everything!!"
The voice, like porcelain grinding together, shifted into a language I could understand.
That made it all the more eerie.
"... Senia, what should we do?"
"If that strike led to this, it means simple physical attacks can't kill it."
"What about the cursed path?"
"I used borrowed tools for that; it isn't my power."
She was a pure combatant through and through.
Given his title as the Ultimate Defense, it was no surprise.
"In that case, let's run away."
"... I have responsibilities to the master. I cannot abandon them."
"I'll take care of Vi."
For a moment, my vision flickered.
───────────────────────
"Vilgram, can you hear me?"
Ginesis?
"You truly are a strange man."
Where are you?
"I'm nowhere; I'm already dead. But that's fine. I feel an odd sense of relief knowing this cursed lineage can finally be resolved. Yet, the thought of the one who caused it all parasitizing my body, becoming a monster—it fills me with rage."
Do you want me to lend you my body?
"An amusing proposal, but that would make me no better than my ancestors. I won't be a hypocrite. I'll snub him in a different way."
A different way?
"Yes. The only reason I can still speak is likely because my beloved sword retains a connection to my soul. That connection will fade soon. But before it does, I can burn away what's left of my soul."
I'm not good with swordsmanship.
"Do it your way. If the blade lands, it'll be enough to shame him. Will you throw it for me?"
If you'll accept my help.
"I'm already dead. I have no limits on what I can attempt, as long as it's within reach."
Sorry we couldn't make it out together, Ginesis.
"Are you apologizing for that? Truly?"
Yeah.
… Am I wrong?
"Heh, haha… To hear that from the man I coerced into this—how ironic. Perhaps this is my punishment for distrusting others. Losing my life is regretful, but learning the truth brings me some solace. If this ends the disgrace upon my bloodline and house… I accept your apology. And in return, promise me this—don't become like me. Trust others and stand together with them."
I will.
"Then let's do this."
Yeah... Let's show them, Ginesis.
----------
Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/08
"Feli, Senia, just once—just give me a chance."
I glanced briefly at the sword lying on the ground.
The two seemed to understand immediately and nodded in agreement.
Perhaps they recognized that even if we were to escape, creating a diversion would be necessary.
Having understood what needed to be done, Senia stepped forward, provoking the vine monster's attack.
It was reminiscent of the intuitive movements she must have possessed in life, as a skilled maid who quickly grasped her master's wishes.
Meanwhile, Feli shielded me as she ran toward the sword.
She moved decisively to help, as if this action was part of fulfilling my unspoken request.
Hidden behind her back, I grabbed Ginesis's sword.
The blade still held a dense, inky essence—perhaps the very manifestation of Ginesis's soul itself.
The vine monster hadn't noticed I had taken the sword.
It focused entirely on fending off Senia's strikes.
Yet, the writhing mass of vines, each as fluid as a whip, moved to corner her.
"Feli! Senia! Duck!"
They reacted instantly to my shout.
Simultaneously, I hurled Ginesis's sword with all my strength.
The monster realized too late.
"Take this!"
The sword flew like a predator targeting its prey, accelerating rapidly before embedding itself into the monstrous form.
As it struck, a burst of black, shapeless blades erupted from within the creature's body—an expression of the pent-up resentment of Ginesis and the spirits of his slain kin.
"Guh, gah, aaaahh!!"
The monster writhed and screeched, its form disintegrating as the vines crumbled into shimmering gray ash.
When its body was fully gone, the sword fell to the ground and then disappeared as if its purpose had been fulfilled.
Ginesis's voice no longer reached me.
I felt a pang of loneliness—I'd hoped for parting words.
───────────────────────
"So... the fight is over now.”
Senia murmured amidst the dissipating ash.
"Do you feel avenged?"
"To be honest... I'm not sure. I believe I made a grave mistake. While avenging my master, I affected his descendants unjustly."
Her tone was calm and rational, nothing like the vengeful ghost she had once been.
"Could the curse itself be to blame?"
"...?"
"Just a thought. The cursed creature was terrifying, but you're calm now. Maybe the curse influenced you."
"It would be comforting to blame it all on the curse. Still, a sin is a sin, and I must own it."
As the room slowly dissolved into ash, she continued, "It seems my time is up."
"Is this goodbye, Senia?"
"Indeed. As an undead bound by the curse, I no longer have ties to this world with the creature's destruction."
"I see..."
Senia turned to face Feli.
"You are called Feli, correct?"
"Yes."
"He reminds me of my former master. Please, I beg of you—protect him."
"I will, I promise."
"Thank you..."
The entire estate faded into gray light, leaving nothing but emptiness.
"Huh?”
“... Oh my…?”
Senia was for some reason left behind.
───────────────────────
"I... I feel like I just said something terribly embarrassing."
"Umm, well, maybe this just means you can help protect him too?"
"A... positive way of looking at it.”
Senia replied, her expression conflicted.
"I'm happy you're staying, Senia. Doesn't this make things less complicated?"
"... Perhaps. The weight of my sins may someday lift, but until then, I am grateful for the chance to protect you directly."
I wasn't the Boy King, nor was I a boy in spirit.
It felt like I was deceiving her somehow, but for now, I let it be.
Sacrifices had been made.
But we had won.
We survived, and for now, that was enough.
───────────────────────
When we returned to the campsite where Nasda and Thomas had been, there was nothing left but faint traces of their camp.
Feli glanced upward, a hint of suspicion on her face.
"It seems about a week has passed since I entered the mansion."
"You can tell?"
"Yes. Judging by the sky, the stars, and the moon's position..."
She began explaining celestial patterns, most of which went over my head, but I trusted her conclusion.
About a week had indeed passed.
"In that case, we should hurry back. If we delay any longer, Iserina might stop speaking to me.”
I joked, hoping for leniency.
"Then let's move quickly,"
Senia urged, and we all nodded in agreement.
───────────────────────
Once we returned, I longed for the luxuries of home—a warm bath, restful sleep.
… But first, I needed to explain everything to Iserina.
And apologize.
I also needed to study.
Both Feli and Senia had pointed out my lack of knowledge.
Learning wouldn’t hurt—it might even prove essential.
Speaking of Senia, I wondered if Feli could recommend her as an adventurer.
If not, we'd figure something out.
After all, Senia had the resourcefulness of a maid—she could manage anything.
Returning home meant a mountain of tasks awaited.
Luluciette, my new home, my new haven...
Yet what awaited us was smoke rising from the streets and a foreign army encircling the city.
Next: https://www.patreon.com/posts/118405001
