Chapter 24: Akegami Yuri Just Wants to Die Already

"《Saint Arts》—‘Heal.’"

I wake in the morning and use my skill on my own head.

The throbbing pain fades.

Today is the day of fate. I take a deep breath and steel myself.

I wash my face. With a clear head, I think.

"Mom. Dad. Yua."

I picture my family—now gone.

"Yuri."

And then, my only friend.

I have to go… so that everything can end.

Everyone gathers atop a pile of rubble.

Today is sortie day. …Kisa and Reina are standing a little apart, probably because things are awkward. Though honestly, they’re the ones who made it awkward.

…Yesterday was a complete disaster. I don’t even want to remember it. I lost control of my emotions and lashed out—and yet they still treated me kindly afterward.

They even tried to stay the night, but I kicked them out.

Ugh… this really is the worst. But, well—it all ends today, so I guess I can let it slide.

"Nagisa-kun."

"Uh… what is it?"

Nagisa-kun looks at me, clearly unsure how to act.

He probably doesn’t know how to deal with me right now—but that’s a hassle, so I ignore it.

I take his hand naturally, lacing our fingers together. He doesn’t even react anymore—guess he’s gotten used to it.

…It’s just part of maintaining the act of being Yuri. If I don’t do things like this, it’ll fall apart.

"—You already know everything about me, don’t you?"

I give him a faint, bewitching smile, and his expression freezes.

"...Yeah. Everything except your name."

"My name?"

"Not ‘Yuri.’ Your real name."

I see. So he didn’t know that yet. The other two didn’t ask either—probably because of how I was acting.

"It’s Soa Aozora."

"Huh?"

"My real name. Aozora Soa. Don’t go telling people, okay?"

Since we’re here, I might as well tell him. I guess it’s fine if it’s him.

The sky stretches blue overhead—somehow, it feels fitting.

"...Thanks for telling me."

"No problem. You would’ve found out eventually anyway."

Nagisa-kun tightens his grip on my hand. I can clearly feel the warmth.

"What’s this? Getting emotional?"

"...I just have a feeling you might disappear."

Sharp, as always.

Well, if he heard about me from those two yesterday, I guess that makes sense.

"Then try holding on so I don’t disappear. You think I want to die anyway, right?"

I end up provoking him a little. It’s more straightforward this way—and part of me wants to see if he really can save me.

"Got it. I’ll save you, Akegami-san."

His serious gaze makes me catch my breath.

…Man, he’s way too cool. Typical protagonist.

"...By the way, did you hear about what happened yesterday?"

"...Uh…"

He looks away. Yeah, that’s a yes.

Honestly, doesn’t it feel like everyone’s sharing way too much about me? It’s embarrassing.

"...Sigh. It’s weird how everyone knows so much about me. Kind of pervy."

"What!? Why!?"

"Digging into someone’s heart like that is pervy too, you know."

"Is it really!?"

And on top of that, they’re only talking about it because they want to help me. It’s unfair—I can’t even get mad at them for it.

…Sorry. I can’t return those feelings. Sounds like something you’d say when turning someone down, though.

—Bzzzz. Suddenly, the terminal starts vibrating.

We’ve all been given communication devices by the training organization.

I pick it up. A message is displayed:

『A massive Abyssal reaction has been detected. Based on its scale, it may correspond to a Fifth Abyssal Disaster. All personnel, proceed with caution.』

—It’s here.

A chill runs down my spine.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Lance.’"

I let go of Nagisa-kun’s hand and summon a spear of light, swinging it hard behind me.

Clatter. The terminal rolls across the ground.

The impact travels up my arm. A mantis-like blade collides with my spear.

"A Fifth Abyssal Disaster… Akegami-san!?"

"...Nagisa-kun, looks like the Abyssals are already here—!"

I force strength into my arms and push back the mantis limb.

That unpleasant sensation crawling up my spine won’t go away.

In front of me stands an Abyssal creature—spider legs below, a mantis torso above. A hybrid type.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Wall.’"

I block the web fired from the spider half with a wall of light.

"Yuri!"

"Looks like you’re holding up over there?"

Kisa and Reina come closer, but it seems they haven’t fully grasped the situation yet.

"Sorry, everyone. Can I leave the rear to you?"

"The rear…!?"

I hear Nagisa-kun gasp.

Well, yeah—there’s probably a swarm coming from behind.

I can hear footsteps in the distance. Lots of them.

A whole lot.

—This is the final part of Chapter 1 of Last Inheritance.

The Fifth Abyssal Disaster. A battle against a hybrid Abyssal and a massive horde.

"We can’t leave Akegami-san here!"

"If it’s a hybrid, I don’t think anyone but me can handle it alone—ngh!"

The wall of light shatters, and both webs and blades come at me. Blocking them with my spear while talking to Nagisa-kun isn’t exactly easy.

But I’m one of those early-game heroines with boosted stats. I’ll manage.

Kisa and Reina try to join the fight, but hesitate when they see the swarm of ant-like Abyssals approaching from behind.

Well… they’re probably worried I might just let myself die here.

"Akegami-san… don’t die, okay?"

"Akegami Yuri, let’s meet again."

"Yuri, we’ll come back for you later!"

The three of them choose to handle the ant-type swarm.

Good—this is just like the original story.

The Connect Link we established beforehand feeds power into me. I barely manage to hold off the relentless attacks. Guess I’m stronger than I thought.

"—Ghk…!"

The spear in my hand is sliced clean through. A thin line of blood runs down my cheek. Just a graze—still fine.

Hybrid Abyssals are on a completely different level from normal ones. Not just because they combine traits, but because their raw power is on another scale.

Even my spear—something that normally wouldn’t break against Abyssals—was cut down instantly.

—Shhht. The sound of something slicing through the air. Webbing.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Shield’—gah…! That hurts, damn it!"

The thread pierces straight through the light shield and tears into my shoulder.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Wing.’"

God, that hurts. Fighting it head-on is rough. But I can’t lose here.

So I take to the air.

I don’t usually fly like this—it burns through energy too fast.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Heal.’"

If the others finish up and come help, that’d mess things up. I need to take this down myself.

I heal the wounds on my shoulder and cheek.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Lance,’ ‘Arrow,’ ‘Javelin.’"

Its only ranged option is those threads.

So I overwhelm it from above.

Light arrows and spears rain down, steadily chipping away at the Abyssal.

I just keep repeating it. A direct clash isn’t in my favor.

…But I’m getting tired. I’ve worn it down enough—this should be about time.

Honestly, I didn’t even need to use this many skills here.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Lance.’"

—Crack.

Something inside me fractures.

Ah… it’s about time.

The Abyssal loses patience and leaps high into the air. Yeah, figures.

I swing my spear to knock it down—but the cracks inside me spread.

Thump. Thump. My heartbeat surges, burning hot.

I slam the spear into the Abyssal—

—and it shatters into pieces.

That hybrid, which had been so strong, collapses in a single blow.

"—Ahaha."

A laugh slips out.

A strange euphoria wells up inside me. It feels like I could do anything.

From the cracks, something thick and viscous seems to spill out—or at least, that’s how it feels.

In the distance, more Abyssals begin to swarm.

Originally, this was supposed to happen only after being overwhelmed by sheer numbers while overusing skills…

Skills aren’t limitless.

A Curse Seeker draws out energy from within, like turning a faucet.

But over time, that faucet takes on more and more strain.

"Ahahahaha!"

A manic laugh echoes as the Abyssals flood toward me.

With a single gesture, countless spears of light form in the sky and rain down, mowing them all away.

Something is overflowing inside me—pulsing, surging. The faucet has broken.

Power floods my body. Heat courses through me.

From excessive skill use and the strain on my body, I’ve reached my limit.

A Curse Seeker—one who hunts curses—will eventually become one.

"Abaddon." The final form of a Curse Seeker. One of the inevitable ends.

Those who reach this state cannot withstand the overwhelming power… and eventually self-destruct.

"Kufufu…!"

I can’t stop laughing. I’m drowning in the sense of omnipotence this power brings.

More Abyssals keep pouring in. I gather light into my hand and fire it like a beam, erasing them in groups.

An Abaddon cannot be stopped.

I sever my Connect Link with Nagisa-kun.

Right now, I’m probably silver-haired, with blue eyes.

A sharp pain pierces my chest. Blood spills.

"Akegami—"

For a moment, I think I hear the voice of my old friend.