Chapter 379: One Percent

The girl, bleeding from her head and motionless.

Riru-kun kicking her mercilessly.

Me, frozen in place, unable to do anything but stare in shock.

"Give up...?"

I'm utterly flustered, taken aback.

Usually, I instinctively find the right answers, but at this moment, I can't tell what's right or wrong.

Yet, there was one thing I was certain about.

This person has definitely crossed a line they should never have crossed.

"Is that girl really the one who transformed into my companion... like this?"

"Yes. I've definitely seen this girl before. Her breathing, the way she glances, the way she speaks—everything's different from the original."

"Of course she'd be different under these circumstances. It's only natural."

"I'm not mistaken."

Ritoko narrowed his eyes and firmly pinned the girl's neck with the heel of his foot.

This... is bad.

Regardless of whether his reasoning is correct or not, the fact that he's convinced himself it's true is the real problem.

In any case, if my single action can determine someone's life or death, I can't just leave it be, can I?

"Her name... was Matsuri, right? She often came to our shop. We've chatted a bit. Always orders curry and ramen—says she'll try something healthier once in a while. Though she's always boasting about being bold, she's actually quite timid. Not the type to risk danger just to deliver a message to that 'nameless' person."

I make a grimace and give a subtle nod to the girl, barely breathing.

She had collapsed with her back facing me, unable to communicate even through eye contact.

"But that's not definite proof, is it?"

"Yes. But it's almost a hundred percent likely."

"Even so, —"

And then I paused, well... how should I put it. I became aware of a searing anger spreading through my chest.

"There's probably a one percent chance the girl is unrelated, right?"

I couldn't possibly do something like this, terrified as I am of that one percent.

Doing something like sacrificing someone like this.

But Rito-kun didn't flinch at all.

Instead, he smirked defiantly.

"Awful ninjutsu. It's pointless."

"Genjutsu...? No. I'm simply stating a fact. Move your foot, and immediately cast a healing spell on that girl. I swear I won't interfere during that time. Even if that girl were my ally, I would never lay a hand on her myself."

"But that's completely pointless for your side, isn't it?"

"……………"

At that moment, I placed my sword down on the ground once more.

If I do this, he’ll understand I’m serious. — That’s what I thought.

But he clearly turned his cold, indifferent expression toward me.

And then, as if clamping down with a vise, he slowly shifted his entire weight onto his right leg.

Naturally, the girl’s slender frame—weighing barely half as much as his—creaked under the pressure.

“Gh… haa…!?”

I heard the girl’s gasp— the sound of breath a person makes just before death.

"You don't get it. Even if you drop your weapon, you yourself are the weapon. Say 'I surrender.' Hurry up."

"I won't... surrender."

"Please understand. I'm just as desperate to save my sister!"

"I already heard that a moment ago."

I see.

I understand his cause.

But I'm alone in this world, utterly isolated. I may not truly be able to comprehend his feelings, at their core.

That's exactly why I thought this way.

Would you really twist logic just for such a reason?

"Are you aware? Right now, you might be crushing an innocent elementary school girl—"

I cut through the silence, pronouncing each syllable distinctly.

"Based solely on an incredibly uncertain prediction."

"…………"

Riru-kun appeared to hesitate for just a moment, but then resumed with a biting tone:

"Blood ties must be cherished."

He said it.

It's no good.

This person is surely completely consumed by their own thoughts.

Because they believe in the righteousness of their cause, they twist reality before their eyes.

There was no time to truly understand each other.

There was nothing left to do but bring them down.

To lose here would mean accepting his way of doing things—something I could never allow.

A man who strangles innocent girls cannot possibly claim victory.

And even if he surpasses me, I can only imagine what awaits him there—certainly nothing but a tragic ending.

Still, the time left to me is probably no more than ten or so seconds.

In that time, I had to make a certain decision.

What came to mind was something that had happened just a short while ago.

A radio conversation I'd had with Yaku GinSuke while in the "Unreal Kingdom."

The topic of our conversation was—yes.

The method for acquiring a newly created, original "skill."