Book 16 Chapter 10

Episode 79

The lioness suddenly let me down from her back exactly when the "hoo-hoo-hoo…" laugh was repeated 72 times.

It was also the point when I started to worry if my voice was getting hoarse.

It was also the moment when the endless clamor throughout the entire Canal Line briefly ceased, and the lioness even seemed to be untying the spiderweb knots that bound my body with her teeth.

"What are you doing?"

"Kyugyung?"

"Not you, you idiot."

The lioness, who had been tearing at the spiderweb, shed tears. I think I understood why she was crying when I saw the lioness impaled on a spear over there.

Lions cry too, how strange.

It seemed she was asking for help, but I was a man who didn't get involved in fights that didn't concern him. Especially these guys, I don't really want to help them.

- You've given Rin a chance, haven't you?

But, really, it's crazy, I don't know why, but my childhood self, crying alone in the slums, was overlapping with this beast.

- A chance to live a new life.

I put on my conical hat, and, leaning on my staff, stood up. Hmm. This right now, I'm absolutely not helping because I was asked to.

- I'm sorry, but that's as far as it goes.

It's because I judged this to be the perfect situation to use that line, proudly listed in the [Strongest Mage's Bucket List] from my first encounter with Fride!

The situation looked urgent.

If it goes up to 4-star or 5-star, there's a risk of the entire Canal Line being destroyed, so I have to go with a 3-star spell.

"Osarius-style Hand Seal, 3-star. Lightning (雷). Field (場). Throw (投)."

Normally, 10 to 15 attacks are possible, but now it would be better to concentrate those 10 to 15 strikes into a single blow.

"Yat!"

With a flash, the bolt of lightning that flew out accurately deflected the dark mage's spear strike.

Kkuh~ Success!

I calmed my swelling heart and made my vocal cords resonate.

"That's as far as it goes."

Ah, this sense of fulfillment!

Yes, exactly this sense of accomplishment!

I wondered if this was why people made bucket lists, but then a crisis immediately struck.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

The moment the dark mage retorted that, my mind went blank. It's really regrettable, but I had never once thought about the next line.

Eh…

I needed a next line too? Should I have asked Fride? But Fride isn't next to me now. Therefore, even though my opponent was an enemy, I decided to humbly seek wisdom.

"In this situation, 'that's as far as it goes' – what other words do I need besides that?"

I really wanted to know what this supposed follow-up line was. Depending on the answer, it was a point where I might have to cancel my bucket list achievement.

But as expected of a dark mage who would even sell their parents for power, he was incredibly fierce and suddenly emitted a crazy bloodlust.

"…I think you shouldn't be played with, and I should kill you with my best effort."

But seeing that reaction, I felt it was actually a good thing.

"Yes, a dark mage should respond like that. Only then do I truly feel like beating him. And then this meaningless fight I got into gains some meaning."

Also, the emotional expression of this lion, rubbing its head frantically against my leg, becomes a little less burdensome.

"Ready to earn your keep, you *Sbval* bastard?"

This wasn't an insult directed at the dark mage. If this sounded like an insult, then your mind is filled with an abyss. In response, Sbval swung his fist, hardening his fighting spirit!

"Kyung! Kyung!"