NOVEL WEB Chapter 169
169. Are They Only Enemies?
In the pure white space—Inner Space—I stood.
Beside me, Vanessa leaned close, and at my feet, Jack lay collapsed.
Perhaps because Levin’s lingering thoughts had been expelled, the red light that had been overflowing from the Dragon Warrior’s body had completely vanished.
The ominous atmosphere had also completely disappeared.
While I felt relieved about that, Jack, who had taken hundreds of millions of my reflected attacks, was covered in wounds.
Blood seeped from his shattered armor, leaving him in a pitiful state.
“You did well to stop him, Haruto.”
The voice of the goddess echoed within my heart.
“What you have obtained is the power of a god itself. Please, do not drown in that power. Do not let it control you.”
“…Yes.”
Not drowning in power, not being controlled by it.
I’ll keep that in mind.
“All I can do is watch over you… Please, remain as you are…”
For some reason, her voice seemed tinged with loneliness.
“Take care, Haruto. I pray for your safety…”
Her voice grew faint and eventually faded away.
Then,
“I…”
Jack weakly raised his body.
The Dragon Warrior’s armor that had covered him disappeared, and he returned to his original form.
“You really went on a rampage, didn’t you?”
“The cause of it all was Levin.”
I shook my head at Vanessa, who snorted in displeasure.
“Levin…? Ah, I remember now… I…”
Jack groaned with a bitter expression.
“I was caught by his voice… It wouldn’t leave my head… Destroy, annihilate, he said… I hurt so many people… Ugh, ugh…!”
His expression twisted in pain.
It seemed the damage from earlier was still taking its toll.
“You all set me free… Thank you.”
Jack bowed his head deeply.
“This space will be released soon. I’ll be heading back ahead of you.”
Vanessa turned her back.
Her steps were slightly unsteady.
It seemed she had exhausted herself quite a bit using the skill to free Jack.
“…Thank you. For your help.”
I expressed my gratitude.
“I’m in your debt… I’m sorry.”
Beside me, Jack bowed his head once more.
“We’re comrades with skills, after all.”
Vanessa turned back and smiled gracefully.
“Isn’t it only natural to help each other?”
Despite her words, her eyes showed no trace of a smile.
“I’ll give you a warning, though. Don’t even think about strengthening your self-healing to cure those wounds. You’ll lose even more stamina—worst case, you’ll die.”
She shot a piercing glare at Jack.
“For now, you should focus on natural recovery. Lady Sephilia has healing powers, but if she tries any more of her strange tricks, it’ll be unbearable…”
“—So, Jack’s rampage was that girl’s doing after all?”
At my words, she only returned a cold gaze.
The next moment, Vanessa’s figure dissolved into the space and disappeared.
Whether it’s Sephilia or Vanessa, I can’t tell what they’re thinking—or what they’re plotting.
Sephilia, who caused Jack’s rampage.
Vanessa, who was willing to sacrifice Lilis and Alice without hesitation to stop it.
Can these two ever truly be our allies?
Or—
“Are they only enemies…?”
My mutterings flowed into the white space and faded away.
—Just as Vanessa had said, before long, Jack and I were returned to our original location.
“Haruto, you’re safe—”
Lilis looked at me with a relieved expression.
“Yeah, Jack’s back to normal too.”
I briefly explained what had happened in the other space.
“…It’s bad timing, but it seems like a large number of demonic beings have appeared in other regions too. If you look at the sky, you can see multiple Black Phantom Caves, Silraga.”
Sarome spoke up.
“Let’s go and help.”
“Right.”
Alice and Luca nodded.
“I… want to help too…”
Jack offered.
“At least… as atonement…”
But his body was unsteady, and he didn’t seem in any condition to fight.
As Vanessa had warned earlier, it seemed he couldn’t use self-healing to recover either…
“I’ll cast a healing spell—[Arda Cure].”
Alice stepped forward and raised her right hand.
A blue glow of healing magic overflowed.
The next moment, a red spark crackled and burst from Jack’s body.
“Ugh…!? It’s being repelled—”
Alice let out a confused voice.
“My magic isn’t being accepted… Why?”
She tried several more times, but each time, her healing magic was repelled by the sparks that burst from Jack’s body.
Perhaps the divine skill was causing some kind of interference.
Or maybe it was because of the damage he took from my skill…
I don’t know much about magic, but it seems healing magic won’t work on Jack.
“It’s fine… My body is healing bit by bit. I can feel it… naturally.”
Jack weakly shook his head.
It didn’t seem like his injuries were life-threatening.
Still, of course, he wouldn’t recover quickly, and fighting was out of the question.
“Jack, you should rest.”
“…Sorry.”
Jack bowed his head.
—We decided to head to the areas where other adventurers were stationed.
Over twenty regions, more than last time, were supposed to have a large number of Black Phantom Caves, Silraga, appearing.
“Let’s go.”
I called out to Lilis, Alice, Luca, and Sarome, and we started walking.
“…Haruto. And all of you.”
Jack’s voice came from behind us.
“I caused trouble this time… Once my body heals, let me make it up to you.”
He’s been apologizing nonstop.
“I told you earlier. This isn’t your fault, Jack.”
I calmly explained.
Even without turning around, I could picture Jack’s pained expression.
Truly—this man isn’t suited for battle.
I realized it once again.
Even after his body heals… maybe Jack shouldn’t be in a place like this anymore.
His combat abilities are unmatched.
But fundamentally, he’s not a warrior.
Then, what about me?
What is my true nature—?