Chapter 39

“I gasped, but I wasn’t able to say anything to him, and he didn’t say anything back. “Then I heard Luke shout, ‘Don’t underestimate humans, demon!’ When I looked back, he and Berzera were practically on top of each other. Their swords cut each other’s shoulders. But Luke’s had only grazed Berzera, while Berzera’s sank all the way into Luke’s chest. I ran. And I didn’t look back a second time.” I sighed heavily. The memory was a bitter one—not my finest hour. “And that’s all there is to say. Technically, I’m a survivor, but it’s more like they let me get away. It wasn’t like I was strong or anything.” A heavy silence fell over the room. At the same time, I felt like a weight had come off my chest, just like Sophia had said would happen. It wasn’t a bad feeling. Then, after a short while, I turned my eyes to Leonard. “It’s your turn now, Leonard. Honestly, I have no recollection of you in the volunteer army. Were you at the same battlefield?” “I didn’t fight,” Leonard said with a hard expression. “What? But I heard you survived Malika.” The other adventurers had praised his abilities. No wonder he’d survived Malika, they’d said. “That’s not untrue. I did come back from Malika—before the battle started. I ran away without even fighting. Because I was a scaredy-cat.” That made me fume. So, what, he was tricking everyone? All to fashion himself as a seasoned adventurer? Sophia’s and Nina’s eyes were boggling as well. Seemed like they’d had no clue, either. “How dare you?! Who’d team up with a piece of shit like you?! Shameless bastard!” I sprang up from my chair and tried to lunge at Leonard, only for him to grab my hand. “I know. I’m a piece of shit and a shameless bastard. What about you, Evsei? What are you doing with yourself these days? Why are you in a dump like this?” “The hell did you just say?!” I tried to swat Leonard’s arm back, but he gripped me even tighter. “You said they let you get away. That’s it? That’s all Luke died for? He kept the Demon Lord’s army at bay for five years, and you’re doing jack shit?” “…What the hell do you know about me? You just ran away!” “Well, well. I might know, or I might not know. But that doesn’t matter at all, does it? I ran away. It’s like a pebble in my shoe, always giving me grief. I can’t take another step forward unless I do something about it. You know exactly how that feels, don’t you, Evsei?” Leonard’s words struck something deep inside me. “So, what? What are you trying to do, Leonard?” “I’m gonna kill Berzera. Lend me a hand, Evsei. I wanna make it so I didn’t run away that day.”