Chapter 35: Hey, Open the Door for Me × The Drawbridge

Drobada ignored the overly familiar stranger and focused entirely on dialing Dia's phone.

"It's no good. Force won't break it."

"Then we have to find the source... and kill the one using the ability!"

Drobada described the scene outside the building in detail, along with his theories about the enemy's power.

'An ability like this couldn't possibly come without a cost. To seal an entire building in one go... the amount of Aura required must be astronomical.'

'It has to be Vows and Limitations...'

Dia calmly analyzed the enemy's power. The most likely limitation for such a technique would be forcing the user into an even more dangerous position in exchange for a massive feedback of power.

But what kind of restriction could it be?

There were too many possibilities; he couldn't pinpoint it yet.

"Hey, Uncle, are you guys trying to make a hole in this wall?"

A boisterous, carefree voice suddenly erupted from the phone, cutting off Dia's contemplation.

That voice... it was vaguely familiar.

On the other side of the wall, Drobada stared at the grinning San, bewildered. What is this guy doing?

"You have a way?"

"Yeah, I do. My ability can open a hole in this wall."

Drobada was taken aback. He hadn't expected the guy to actually have a solution. Doubt and surprise warred within him. This guy... just spilling his ability to someone he's met twice?

Is he an Enhancer? But based on the description of 'opening a hole,' it sounds more like an Emitter ability...

"I get the feeling you're thinking about something weird, Uncle..."

San squinted, looking at Drobada with suspicion. Drobada kept his face neutral and coughed twice, hesitating on whether to let this guy try. Just then, Dia's calm voice came through the phone:

"Drobada, let him try. We have no other options anyway."

Dia had recognized the voice, that reckless Nen user from the restaurant. While rash, he didn't seem to have any malicious intent.

Right. Have to make do with what we have.

Drobada sighed inwardly and spoke solemnly: "Friend, since you have a way, please, give it a try. If you save our companion, we will surely reward you."

San waved his hand dismissively, grinning, "Don't worry about all that formal stuff. Just buy me a drink later."

With that, he stepped up to the wall, raised his right arm, and held his breath. The Aura around him went completely still. He moved with sudden intent, gathering a vast amount of Aura into his right fist, and punched the wall, roaring:

"Hey, open the door for me!"

Drobada's eyes widened. A blue halo suddenly flooded the surface of the wall, shrinking and converging into the shape of a door!

"Done! First try."

San sighed in relief, smiling as he reached out and pushed the glowing door open.

However.

The moment the door swung wide, his smile vanished. He stared in shock at the three people inside, Dia and his two charges, and blurted out:

"Wait? Why are there three of you?!"

Dia halted, his foot inches from the threshold, and asked, confused, "What's wrong with three people?"

A bead of cold sweat rolled down San's temple. "My Hey, Open the Door for Me... it can only allow one person to enter or exit at a time!"

"What?"

Drobada realized the problem was far from solved. If only one person could pass, that meant only one of them could escape right now!

"How many more times can you open this door?" Dia frowned and asked quickly. To his dismay, San offered a sheepish, embarrassed smile.

"One... just one... I can only open it once a day."

Dia fell silent. Behind him, the two women watched the sudden appearance of the door in shock, having overheard everything. Although they couldn't grasp how the door had manifested, the meaning of the man outside was clear: only one person could leave.

Momoze seemed to sense the weight of the moment, as if it were time for her to make a choice. She spoke, her voice calm in a way that surprised even herself:

"Borksen-san, you go first. Dia-san will protect me, but he won't protect you."

It was a logical answer. Since Dia was committed to protecting Momoze, letting Borksen, who was in a more vulnerable position, go first would effectively increase her chances of survival.

But that logic only applied if they held the same status. Momoze truly believed that Dia could protect her regardless of the situation, so she viewed it as a matter of leaving sooner or later.

But Borksen knew better. That was impossible.

The playful demeanor she had adopted vanished like a receding tide. She analyzed the situation with a cold, almost detached perspective. 'The guard's only duty is to protect the Prince. My duty is to bring back what Tserri wanted...'

'The item is secured. In other words, my mission is complete.'

'Which means... I have no value left.'

As expected, Dia paused after hearing Momoze's words. He didn't even look back; he simply exchanged a silent glance with Drobada. Then, with lightning speed, he turned, grabbed the 12th Prince, and shoved her through the door!

When Momoze regained her senses, she found herself standing on the outside. She turned around in a panic, only to see the door behind her vanish.

Drobada said, somewhat out of place, "Your Highness, please return to safety."

Momoze stood frozen, unable to utter a word. After a long while, she lowered her head and gritted her teeth. "I'm staying here to wait..."

Drobada stood quietly, not attempting to force the Prince away. He heard the resolution in her tone. It wasn't something a guard could change. He turned and whispered to San, who was standing to the side: "Your name is San, correct? The Prince's life was saved today thanks to your ability. Thank you."

San waved him off, indicating it was no trouble.

Inside the walls, Borksen stood watching with cold eyes, as if none of this concerned her. She glanced toward the tall figure walking away. He's going to go find the enemy alone now, isn't he? Finally, he's shed the baggage.

And what about me?

She couldn't bring herself to ask. Whether it was her odd pride or a stubborn refusal to beg for help, the words stayed trapped. What else would he do? Ask me to get on my knees and beg him to save me?! As if anyone would agree to that. Those freaks who can fly and walk through walls... they're all heartless, aren't they? Besides, his mission is to protect the Prince, not me. Why would he bother with me now?

The back before her moved. Without a word, Dia turned and headed toward the corridor from which they had arrived, not sparing her a single glance.

Heh. Looks like I'm truly dead this time.

Borksen smiled bitterly to herself. For a normal person to get caught up in something like this and die... it was only to be expected, right? It was a shame, though. All she'd ever wanted was to live a quiet, peaceful life.

She refused to look back at his departing figure; it would make her look like a child, watching her parents walk away. The sound of his footsteps grew fainter and fainter.

Borksen suddenly felt a chill. Her whole body began to tremble, though she didn't know why. She clenched her fists, and her heart began to race uncontrollably. Is it fear? Or is this fog he released just too cold? This bastard doesn't even have the decency to spare a thought for someone like me...

It's so cold.

Borksen lowered her head, her bangs casting a shadow over her face, obscuring her eyes. After being abandoned, the least I can do is not look pathetic...

"Hey, what are you standing there for? Still want to stay here?"

A faint, indifferent voice cut through the silence.

Eh?

Borksen froze. She hurriedly looked up. He had stopped at some point and was looking back at her. His expression suggested he was staring at a clueless fool. She finally registered what he had said, let out a clumsy sound, and scrambled to chase after him.

It seems... I don't have to die?

Borksen kept her eyes on Dia's back, a sense of having survived the impossible washing over her. She pressed a hand to her chest; her heart was still beating strongly, and faster than ever.

In front of her, Dia narrowed his eyes and scratched his cheek.

After all, it was his own selfish decision that had robbed her of her only chance to escape. Leaving her alone meant certain death.

If I'm being honest.

He felt a bit uncomfortable just walking away like that.

Let's just call it compensation for those two million Jenny.