Playful Days (Part 11)

 Meily was finally being honest.

"I don't want any of this…"

"It's okay, I promise… I'll stay by your side." I said, trying to comfort her.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," a voice interrupted coldly. "You'll only end up hurt in the end."

I turned to see a girl with scarlet red eyes, a short haircut, and a black robe. A pair of horns protruded from her forehead. A demon?

"Who are you?" I asked.

Meily spoke before the girl could answer.

"It's the kind girl… the one who healed my mother."

"Kind girl…" I murmured, but my instincts screamed otherwise.

The demon girl clapped, a slow, mocking applause.

"Meily, you're doing great… Show me more results."

Judging from the way she spoke, she was the one who gave Meily that incredible magic power. Just looking at her demonic face, I knew—I would never trust this creature.

"I heard your heartwarming words earlier. How touching. I haven't heard anything so emotional in a long time. Because of that, I want to hear more…"

And then, it happened.

Before I could stop it, Meily and the demon—Eriko—made a forbidden contract. A magic binding of control.

In exchange for power, Meily became Eriko's puppet.

Her once-bright eyes turned hollow.

"Meily, kill your little best friend."

"Yes."

"Snap out of it, Meily! What are you doing to her?!" I screamed.

"You ask too many questions," Eriko sighed. "If I were you, I'd focus on saving my own life."

"Meily, wake up! That demon is controlling you!"

A thick beam of pure magic, powered by dragon blood, shot toward me.

I barely managed to endure the first attack, but as my HP dropped, my heartbeat pounded in my ears. Panic clawed at my throat.

I don't want to die.

Am I really going to die here? Without doing anything?

Useless. Pathetic. Selfish.

I just wanted an easy life… yet, when things go wrong, I can't do anything.

Just like back in school. I couldn't do anything when the girls started bullying me.

Just surviving isn't enough. Surviving for what?

Meily was still rampaging, destroying everything in sight. She had become a monster.

"Help us, Big Sister!"

"Help us, Mayu!"

"Help us!"

Voices. Familiar voices.

I turned and saw the children from the Adventurer School. The ones who used to play with me, their laughter carefree. The ones who never worried about anything.

They were the future.

I had to protect them.

"Sword skill: Cut."

My blade slashed across Meily's stomach.

She staggered, but she wasn't done. A floating orb of magic gathered power for another attack.

I had no time to hesitate.

With one final thrust, I drove my sword into her body.

Everything happened too fast. My mind couldn't keep up.

"Meily…"

She gasped, her breathing rapid. Her skin turned pale. Her lifeless eyes…

Then her voice, soft and broken.

"Mayu… I'm sorry…"

Her body fell.

And Eriko—she just stood there, smiling.

"She just died like that? What a waste. I was thinking of bringing her back to the Demon Castle—she was quite rare. But oh well. I suppose I'm satisfied with this experiment."

Experiment?

"This was… entertaining," Eriko mused. "Tell me, how does it feel? Killing your own friend? Does it hurt? Does it feel nice? Bad? Please, describe it for me—it's for my research, after all."

My vision blurred. My blood boiled.

"Lightning Magic: Lightning Strike!"

A massive bolt of lightning crashed down on Eriko.

"Fire Magic: Pyro Ball!"

A burning sphere of fire exploded against her.

"Earth Magic: Stone Edge!"

Jagged rocks erupted from the ground, piercing her body.

"Water Magic: Water Dragon's Roar!"

A colossal dragon made of water surged forward, biting down on her.

The sheer force of my magic sent Eriko flying into the forest.

But she was still alive.

She smiled.

"Wow, I never expected a little girl to have this much potential."

She locked eyes with me, then used Appraisal.

Name:

Race:

HP: <7,540/12,300>

MP: <14,000/14,000>

STR: <150>

AGI: <230>

VIT: <300>

DEX: <120>

INT: <300>

Level: <49>

Type:

Skills: Status-Check Lv.7, Attract Lv.10, Crafting Lv.12, Smith Lv.5, Wind Magic Lv.12, Fire Magic Lv.5, Earth Magic Lv.5, Water Magic Lv.9, Stealth Lv.3, Mapping Lv.3, Ice Magic Lv.5, Sword Skill Lv.5, Healing Magic Lv.2, Lightning Magic Lv.10

Eriko's expression changed.

"What… is this? Just who are you?"

I didn't answer. I had only one thought.

"Wind Magic: Wind Slash!"

She countered.

"Blood Manipulation."

A crimson sword formed in her hand, slicing through my attack.

I clenched my sword tighter.

With a cold, determined rage, I stepped forward.

"I promise…" My voice was steady, unwavering.

"I will slay this evil creature."