Necromancer 52

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52. Kenzaki's Fate

"T-thank goodness...!"

Kenzaki gasped for air.

"Thank goodness..."

Relief washed over me, and I felt all the strength leave my body.

I couldn't muster any more energy.

Collapsing on the spot.

But then—

"Heh heh heh... You're such a softie, aren't you?"

Kenzaki laughed.

"You went out of your way to save me, and now you're practically incapacitated? Huh?"

He started approaching.

"I could kill you so easily right now."

"Wh—!"

This guy—.

I was dumbfounded.

I wasn’t trying to earn any favors.

But I stopped your rampage, didn’t I?

And now you’re trying to kill me without hesitation?

Are you really so far gone—

that you’ve lost even the last shred of human decency?

Or is this who Kenzaki truly is at his core?

If so, what a tragically hollow person you’ve become.

"You’ve lost the power of the holy sword, too."

I glared at Kenzaki.

"You're practically out of combat strength, aren’t you?"

"Hah, I’m still better off than you."

Kenzaki sneered.

What to do—.

He was still in his [Beast Transformation].

Even without the holy sword’s power, his innate [Beast Transformation] alone made Kenzaki one of the top fighters in our class.

Could I handle him as I am now—?

Slash!

"Gah...!?"

Suddenly, blood gushed from Kenzaki’s right arm.

Slash!

And then from his left.

"Guahhhh...!"

Both arms, previously severed by Ran in battle, were once again lopped off and fell to the ground.

"D-damn youuuuuu...!"

Kenzaki grimaced in agony.

"Reaper—"

I turned my gaze behind Kenzaki in shock.

"Hiding my presence is my specialty. After all, I am the Reaper."

The Reaper spoke calmly.

"Even with strong armor, previously severed parts remain fragile. Cutting them off again was simple."

"Guahhhhhh..."

Kenzaki collapsed.

"...Kenzaki."

I staggered to my feet.

"You won’t get away with this... You or your precious Nayuka... I’ll ruin everything for you both...!"

Kenzaki’s bloodshot eyes glared at me.

"—!"

Hearing Nayuka’s name, a shiver ran through me, my skin crawling.

"You—"

His nature wouldn’t change.

Even if I spared him now, he’d come for me. And Nayuka—.

"Heh heh heh, someone as soft as you could never kill me. I’ll get my revenge—"

"[Fire Buster]."

I uttered the words.

Fwoosh!

The severed arms burst into flames and disintegrated.

"...Ah."

"Now your arms are gone. You can’t harm me or Nayuka anymore."

"You... bastard...!"

"—No, just taking away your combat ability isn’t enough."

Seeing Kenzaki still baring his fangs, I made my final decision.

"Goodbye, Kenzaki."

—[Flying Sword].

I activated the magic blade skill.

Slash!

Kenzaki’s head was severed cleanly and flew into the air.

Thud.

It rolled to a stop at my feet.

I had killed him.

I had killed a person.

A classmate, no less.

"Master..."

Mirage called out to me.

"You seem deeply shaken."

Reaper spoke as well.

"I—"

Words wouldn’t come.

Kenzaki had clearly gone rogue.

If left unchecked, he wouldn’t have only harmed me but Nayuka as well.

Given what he had done so far, I shuddered to think what Nayuka or I might have endured.

Especially Nayuka.

Just imagining what he might do to her made my mind go blank.

For a moment, my thoughts ceased entirely.

Acting on impulse, I used my skill and killed him.

What I had done—was it right?

Or was it an irreparable mistake?

I had committed a grave sin.

I had acted justly.

Which was it?

Which one?

Someone, tell me—.

My mind spun endlessly.

How long had I been standing there?

"...This was for the best."

I reassured myself, exhaling deeply.

"I couldn’t let him go free. Even if imprisoned, with his skills, escape would’ve been too easy."

...But wasn’t there a way to seal his skills in a cell?

Even so, the risk wouldn’t have been zero.

I had prevented every potential harm and tragedy that Kenzaki’s survival could have caused.

My decision wasn’t wrong.

Originally, I came to this ruin to grow stronger through my skills.

But I no longer had the will to stay here.

I decided to leave the ruins.

First, though—there was one thing I needed to confirm.