I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 120

From the moment the fight began, gaps were continuously appearing.

While Dait’s attacks were undoubtedly sharp individually, they were merely precise strikes aimed at exact moments.

Knowing this, I could somehow evade or block them.

Yet, the reason I hadn’t exploited any of the openings until now was simple.

I believed that the gaps I observed were surely ones he was intentionally showing.

“Did you really think you could take me down with just this much?”

In truth, those initial attempts to strike were all traps laid by Dait.

But now, I realized.

“Avatarara falls here. I will take you down as my companion!”

The gaps presented by Dait were indeed weaknesses.

I couldn’t understand.

Dait couldn’t possibly be this weak.

Though the titles of strongest and the worst calamity belonged to Rex, it didn’t mean Dait was inferior to Rex.

In the original work, Dait was the pinnacle of technique, having pushed Sophia and Leon to their limits.

The creator’s notes clearly stated that Dait and Rex were on equal footing.

Yet here he was, unable to corner me properly, showing gaps instead.

Of course, this was a favorable situation for me, but being aware of the setting, I couldn’t help but feel skeptical.

“Ugh!”

Neia collided with the pitch-black sword.

And the moment the struggle seemed even, Dait flinched for just an instant, as if his fingertips were stinging.

“…I see, you must have some problems.”

“You’re quite perceptive.”

As if just realizing it, Dait smirked, drawing back the cloak he had been wearing, revealing a glimpse of his torso.

And what was revealed was—

“…What’s that?”

His upper body, stained completely black.

“To transplant the blood of magical beasts and the magical pathway, I have to neutralize those with my own blood. A side effect of pushing that too far.”

Dait said this and covered himself again with his cloak.

“But what does that even matter? You must have come to stop me. So just focus on fighting!”

He then thrust his sword toward me again.

…Yes. What he was dealing with wasn’t important.

The important thing was to defeat Dait and return to Reina.

Thinking that, I too stepped forward once more.

And then, at some point, it was I who started to falter.

The reason was simple.

“Guhh!”

My whole body began to lose sensation.

It was proof that my body had reached its limit.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? My body is definitely in the worst condition right now. But so is yours.”

I thrust Neia forward, aiming for a gap.

Dait lightly deflected it and closed in, driving his elbow down on my left shoulder.

“…!”

Gritting my teeth, I endured the incoming pain and retreated to regain my stance.

But strength was already draining from my left arm, which I needed to grip Neia.

“No, I can still move normally, but I must say that your body has indeed reached its limit.”

It was certainly as he said.

My body was currently in the state Sophia had forcibly allowed me to move in.

However, while he couldn’t demonstrate his real power, Dait could still move sufficiently.

Undoubtedly, the disadvantage lay with me.

★

My vision blurred.

Thoughts wouldn’t settle.

My arms trembled violently, and my legs felt too heavy to take a step forward.

Only the sensation of blood seeping from my pierced side captured my consciousness.

“Aike. Let me teach you something. The future doesn’t change.”

Seeing me like this, Dait suddenly halted his attack and spoke up.

“…What do you mean?”

“If I were to kill you here, the fact that Avatarara will fall would not change at all. Destiny is already set.”

“That’s laughable. I already….”

“Changed the future, did you? That means you saved Reina Rozelia.”

My chaotic thoughts began to clear.

“But if you fall here, I intend to kill Reina Rozelia.”

The moment I heard those words, everything snapped into clarity.

“In the end, the fate where Reina Rozelia dies because of Avatarara doesn’t change.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Even if I were to die, I wouldn’t just sit back and watch.

I gritted my teeth.

I released all the magical power I could pour into my entire being.

Even if I could no longer use magic afterward, that didn’t matter.

What was more important was something else.

“Don’t joke with me.”

I promised.

I wouldn’t die, not ever.

And.

“I promised to tell you, my real name…!”

The tremors ceased.

This was surely a momentary miracle.

A last chance to burn the final embers away completely.

“Just as you said, this is the last time, do you want help?”

A voice spoke to me.

The voice of the ‘true’ Aike Akses, which I had heard at Leon’s society debut ball and had appeared in my dreams with advice.

But.

“I don’t need it.”

Your help, which you didn’t genuinely believe in or contributed to, is unnecessary.

“…Very well. That’s all I needed to hear.”

I adjusted my stance.

And recalled the memory.

The ultimate and strongest strike I knew.

The very one that ‘true’ Aike Akses had shown at the ball, which Leon was impressed by.

But I quickly erased it from my thoughts.

I wasn’t a genius like them. I couldn’t push my techniques to their extremes.

All I could do was simply.

“Is that the final attack you’re showing?”

A full-powered, direct slash.

“Then I’ll shatter you directly as well!”

I weighted my left foot, which stepped forward slightly.

“Come!”

And at that moment, I charged at Dait with all my speed.

“Haah!”

“Uooooooh!”

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I swung down Neia.

Dait raised his pitch-black sword perpendicularly to meet the strike.

“Haah!”

“Uoooooh!”

In an instant, the clash occurred.

The victor of that clash was.

“…Huh?”

It was I who lost.

With a crack, barely audible, a spider-web-like fracture rapidly spread alongside Neia.

“My victory, Aike.”

I had believed Neia wouldn’t break, yet it split in two, with one half ricocheting upward.

As Neia snapped under the weight I had put into it, it was natural that my balance would tumble.

And Dait kicked me away as I staggered.

What I could see as I fell backward was.

“Farewell.”

Dait’s pitch-black sword soaring towards my heart.

And.

“…What?!”

A pure white light appeared, deflecting Dait’s sword.

‘A pendant?’

‘Yes. To be exact, it’s a locket. Just open it once.’

What had protected me was the locket Reina had gifted me before the Martial Arts Tournament held in Heros.

‘If you pour magic into it once, an A-rank Protection Magic will activate.’

You can’t change the future, you can’t change fate, they said?

“Sorry, but here’s proof that you can change it.”

Like me, Dait collapsed.

I regained my stance.

“This is the end.”

I pulled out the dagger, Diana, that Reina had given me and stabbed it into Dait’s chest.

★

“…Did I lose…?”

Dait quietly stared at the ceiling.

Next to him stood Aike, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Whether it was a side effect from the blood of magical beasts, Dait felt no pain despite his heart being pierced.

But he surely understood that the end was nearing.

“Aike Akses, at first I thought I had nothing to say to you, but I would like to ask just one thing.”

Aike silently nodded, looking at Dait.

“If I had returned to the past at the same time as you, do you think my future would have changed had I known of your existence a bit earlier and talked with you?”

At Dait’s question, Aike shook his head without hesitation.

“That’s unlikely. In the end, you are a man who understands Avatarara’s fate better than anyone.”

“Ugh. Hahaha! Is that so? Was I already seen through!”

Had Aike been the one to fall in that final clash, Dait would surely have resumed his actions as Avatarara.

The fact that he no longer had capable subordinates to aid him was irrelevant.

Dait was Avatarara, and Avatarara was Dait.

He would have lived on as Avatarara even alone.

And Aike understood that better than anyone.

“…How amusing.”

In the previous world, Leon and Sophia had never understood Dait until the very end.

But this time, someone who understood his essence stood beside him.

“Truly, I like this conclusion.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. Then for my final question, Aike. Who are you?”

I stood here because I am Avatarara. So why are you standing here? I want to hear that answer.”

Aike pondered Dait’s question for just a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“I am… Reina Rozelia’s….”

And before he could finish his response, he lost consciousness and collapsed.

But that alone was enough for Dait.

“Ah. So you stood here for such a reason until the very end.”

What a fascinating guy, Dait scoffed.

And quietly stood up, grabbing Aike by the nape.

★

Reina stood outside, eyes closed, quietly waiting for Aike.

And how much time had passed?

The massive door that opened silently revealed—

“…So you were waiting here. This is great.”

With one hand gripping the nape of Aike, Dait emerged, dragging him along.

“Y-You….”

Aike, whose whole body trembled, blood still seeping from his side.

Dait also had Diana stuck in his chest, but Reina’s eyes were glued to Aike, not noticing him.

“What… are you doing?!”

Reina’s anger flared as she prepared to cast magic.

“Take him and get him treated. It seems it’s not too late.”

Dait carelessly tossed Aike aside.

“…What?”

“…What do you mean? Avatarara has collapsed, and you have won.”

With those words, Dait vanished back into the room, and the door began to close slowly.

And that door would never open again.

★

“Is it over now?”

Dait sat quietly on the throne, gazing at the heavens.

Though he still felt no pain, he understood that the end was indeed approaching.

“Well, perhaps there might be another chance. Should I strive a bit harder next time?”

Even if that happened, someone would surely come to stop him.

With those final thoughts, Dait gently closed his eyes.

★

Consciousness began to slowly return.

What was my last memory?

I distinctly remembered speaking with Dait.

So that means. Avatarara has collapsed, and the fight has ended.

Thank goodness.

“…Cough!”

As those thoughts crossed my mind, I inhaled sharply as consciousness fully returned.

And what I saw upon opening my eyes was.

“…Where is this?”

An overly familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar white ceiling.

The very place I had thought I would never see again.

“…Huh?”

And this time, it wasn’t a dream.