Chapter 61

“…… I have no idea what you’re talking about. What on earth do you mean?”

A human, but not quite human.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, what does that even mean?

“Are you asking me what I’m talking about? Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know? I thought you weren’t good at acting, but now I see you’re quite skilled.”

“I don’t even know what it is that I’m supposed to not know.”

“Hmm, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure either. I just feel a strange sense of déjà vu from you, something different from most humans. Hmm? Let me see……”

Rostia jumped down from the high chair she was sitting on, and with her small stature, she took the biggest steps she could, striding over to me.

Then she stared intently at my bewildered face.

“Huhu, it’s not acting.”

“I know I’m not good at acting. And I have no intention of hiding anything or lying in front of Lady Rostia, the Archmage who has agreed to help me.”

“Now that I’ve looked at your face more closely, I can tell. But you’re not completely unaware, are you?”

“…… Yes.”

“Right, it seems like you’re half-aware and half-unaware.”

A human, but not quite human.

Honestly, there were parts that made sense.

After returning, my strength, agility, and even all my senses have become several times stronger than in my previous life.

And most importantly.

I vividly remember the moment when the power of the high-ranking demon I killed during the last wave flowed into my body.

“Yes, that’s the look. That look and expression of knowing something but not quite understanding it!”

Rostia seemed proud to have caught the crucial clue and smiled brightly.

“Kairon, tell me everything you know. I might be able to help you. It’s more practical to talk openly and find a better path than to suffer alone.”

“Practical, I suppose so. But……”

“But? What is it? That look is so serious, it’s a bit intimidating.”

I looked at Rostia with a very serious and weighty gaze.

But there was a reason for this.

What I was about to discuss with Rostia could truly determine the fate of my life and the Vanguard moving forward.

“Looking at me so intensely, it seems you want something from me. What do you want?”

“A promise.”

“A promise? What kind of promise?”

“I’m really sorry, but I must ask this of you. ‘Oath Magic’……”

“What?”

Rostia’s eyes twitched, and then her whole body trembled.

The innocent and carefree expression of a child vanished, replaced by the troubled face of an adult.

“You said it very clearly, ‘Oath Magic.'”

Her voice was calm, but it was the calm before the storm, indicating she was even angrier.

“You do know what it means to ask a magician for Oath Magic, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And not just any magician, but me, an Archmage……!”

The Archmage’s wrath caused the surrounding mana to vibrate once more.

Oath Magic.

A vow made by swearing on the mana flowing within one’s own body, promising to keep it.

If the oath is broken, depending on the severity, it becomes a heavy burden akin to self-harm.

Rostia, with a voice full of anger, clenched her teeth and interrogated me point by point.

“I asked what you are. But that was out of curiosity, not because I think you’re anything special!”

A situation where losing one’s life wouldn’t be surprising.

But for me, revealing the secret Rostia wanted was akin to risking my life.

To disclose that the Vanguard, fighting demons, has characteristics related to demons.

It was a story that I would stake my entire remaining life on, so I had no intention of backing down.

“I’m sorry. But……”

Archmages who have trained and lived with mana for many years are not swayed by trivial emotions.

Moreover, Rostia, who values practicality, would not be moved by sympathy or groveling for gain.

So I said.

“I can assure you this. Although Lady Rostia has lived a long life and experienced all sorts of things, the story you will hear after making the Oath Magic will be more interesting than anything you’ve ever experienced.”

“How dare……”

Rostia still clenched her teeth, but very slowly.

I could feel the surrounding mana’s vibrations gradually subsiding.

“You’re quite confident. I don’t know what makes you say that, but since you’re not good at acting, it seems you’re not trying to test me.”

“Of course not. I have no intention of testing Lady Rostia. It’s just that the story I have to tell is both very interesting and extremely dangerous. It’s a story I can only tell by staking everything, so I ask for your commitment as well.”

“Commitment, commitment.”

Rostia suddenly extended her palm towards me.

“What does this mean, Lady Rostia?”

“Collateral, I need collateral. No matter what, how can I know if you’re going to tell a story that will shake the world or just spout nonsense worse than a pebble on the street? So give me a little taste of your story.”

“A taste……”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Rostia, who has lived a life beyond imagination compared to what I know.

What kind of thrilling taste could I offer to pique the interest of this high-standard Archmage?

Ah, how about this.

“The End of the World.”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you curious about the end of this world?”

Rostia blinked her eyes for a while without answering.

“Of course I’m curious. But how do you know about it?”

“Would you believe me if I said I’ve seen it? If I’ve already experienced it?”

“Already experienced……”

Rostia’s eyes widened for the first time.

“Kairon, are you saying……”

“Yes. I’ve seen it.”

It still stands before my eyes.

The demons that come with each wave are getting stronger, and of course, the Vanguard has also grown stronger to face them.

But the rate at which the demons are becoming stronger is outpacing the Vanguard, and as a result, the Vanguard is falling behind, suffering heavy losses with each wave.

On the last day when the Demon of Wrath appeared.

Thanks to Abelin’s sacrifice as bait, we managed to defeat the Demon of Wrath, but in the next wave, an even stronger demon would come.

And while the Vanguard was sacrificing their lives to stop the demons, the rest of the world lived in blissful ignorance of what was happening in Cressnig.

The price of that complacency would inevitably lead to the end of the world.

“…… When is it?”

“When?”

“I’m asking how much time is left before the end of the world you’re talking about.”

“About 10 years. That’s when the true end will begin, and no one will be able to stop it. Even if the whole world unites.”

“……”

A heavy silence fell.

And finally, Rostia slowly opened her mouth.

“Kairon, it’s a good thing you’re not good at acting.”

As she said this, Rostia’s right hand glowed blue, and she placed it over her left chest.

“I, Rostia de Medici, hereby swear. From this moment on, I will not disclose anything you tell me without your permission. If I break this oath, the price will be……”

Rostia hesitated for a moment, but then smiled brightly and said clearly.

“The destruction of my mana!”

As soon as she said that, Rostia’s body convulsed, and she staggered to the side.

“Lady Rostia!”

Fortunately, I caught her before she hit the ground, but Rostia was still trembling.

“Haah, hoo…… You should feel honored. I’ve just done something outrageous to hear your story.”

“But ‘the destruction of mana’? I didn’t expect you to set such a heavy price.”

“What does it matter? I’ve already experienced everything interesting, so my life has become quite dull. Adding a bit of thrilling excitement isn’t so bad. And if my mana is destroyed, I’ll just become an ordinary human, not die. Now then……”

Rostia reached out and grabbed my collar.

“Now satisfy my expectations. I’ve taken a bold gamble to hear your story, so bring me the jackpot.”

“Yes. As Lady Rostia has willingly stepped forward, I will also meet your expectations. I will tell you about what I’ve experienced, what will happen in the future, and the end that awaits us.”

I regret keeping Abelin waiting outside, but the story I have to tell Rostia is long and complex.