The shrieky scream. The scary shadow. The wrathful wind.

I don't know what to think anymore. In fact, I know deep down I'm a bad person, but...BUT...this is wrong...

"If you tell this shadow bastard to let me go, I swear not to..."

"Plank, I'm not letting you break your promise."

"Promise, promise, PROMISE!! WHy THE HECK DOES THAT HAVE TO BE YOUR CONCERN?! Do you have a death wish?! Is that why you're doing this cruelly?!"

"I told you, Plank. To kill me, you must not be a hypocrite. Meaning you must not change yourself. At all."

"Wha...how does saving that unselfish kid change me..."

"Doesn't being a warrior means to devoid unnecessary emotions?"

Again...She has mentioned the right way of being "The Hero", or in another cruel word, a warrior. Right when Atsushi has just climbed and laid down on the riverside, the Eis-Golem approaches him with a huge leap. When it lands several steps on his left side, Atsushi nearly gets blown away by its landing's shockwave. That's when I believe this kid will die for sure unless someone...someone...

"Hey!! Demon Princess! Leave me and save that kid..."

"I'll stand by, Plank. So do you."

"Why can't you save..."

"Because I'm not human. Those who aren't human don't have the right to save humans."

"Why the heck does that ridiculous reason matter to you?! I'm begging you...save him..."

It's no use. Somehow the controlling shadow lets me move a few steps, but I end up all fours on this bridge's ground. Rather feeling stupid humiliation, I feel guilt. Most of it coming from my dad's death once flashbacks of his wrecked and mostly bloody body. I don't want to remember this...but...but!

"That's enough, Nelly!"

I look ahead and I'm sure I'm still awake. Whatever surprised look I've on me now isn't an issue. Whoever is in front of me and the Demon Princess turns out to be someone, with a small black pouch at her waist, I've least expect to be here.

"Suzuki...how did you..."

"I came via this silver note's teleportation magic."

"Hey, wait... isn't that note..."

"No time for conversations, Francis. I'm going to save that kid."

"Huh...what? What are you saying..."

"No worries! I've got a full safety gear. My hiking boots. A long rope and a large part of the curtains. A flashlight..."

"Are you sure, Sensei? I won't be helping."

"I'm aware of that, Nelly. I've overheard your conversation a few minutes ago. Anyways, is it possible for a non-magic user to ride that shield?"

"It's a Light Magic item so you'll be fine, Sensei. But what you're about to do is reckless and dangerous."

"Yes, I know. That's why if you two are standing by, I'll be able to stay focus in getting the boy out of that area."

"Wait a moment, Suzuki! This isn't some random human you're up against! It's literally an ice monster! If you get there, you'll be killed by being frozen..."

"Francis, you said I should've stayed put which meant... I shouldn't pursue my dream..."

"What are...you saying..."

"I always wanted to be a police officer like my late father. Even though he didn't get to be an Inspector before his untimely death...he always had the time to tell me to endure whatever unpleasant encounters I'll have since nothing is easy in this world. Even if I regret for almost hurting somebody, I still want to rescue people just like my father was determined to leave no one left behind."

No one left behind... I try to hold back whatever sadness I'm about to express at this moment. Just when I want to tell Suzuki that she shouldn't play the hero in my stead, she hops onboard the Levitation Shield.

Before I can shout a word at her, the shield seems to obey her command, whisking her away from this bridge. I've no idea it can move with her onboard despite being a non-magic user. As soon as she's able to be hovering next to Atsushi, the Eis-Golem roars as it's about to squash them until she throws a big sheet at the monster's face. During its struggling moment of getting that sheet off of it, Suzuki ties the puppy on Atsushi's back with the long rope she has brought.

I can't hear what she's telling him, but I believe she's telling him to trust her and run without looking back. They do run except it only happens for a few moments because the Eis-Golem takes off the sheet immediately and jumps in front of them. Another shockwave hits them. Suzuki is shielding Atsushi and the puppy from impact.

Just when the monster's right hand is trying to grab them, Suzuki unzips her pouch. She takes out a small glass jar, with her left hand, and a rectangular item, with her right hand, out from it. In an instant, she aims and throws the jar towards the monster's face. Then, her rectangular item lits a small flame. Immediately, when the glass jar breaks on its face, she throws the lit item towards its face. When it does, the flame turns into a blaze, burning the monster's whole face. It wails as it struggles to put it out with its bare icy hands.

"Amazing...But...what was in that jar?"

"Sanitizer."

"Sani...what?"

"These days every household is equipped with a bottle of that item, mostly hand sanitizers. I guess she's smart in planning her self-defence attack two steps ahead of that creature."

I'm about to feel relieve they're able to escape...that is until the Eis-Golem has put out the blaze from its face in an instant. In a swift move, its right hand head towards Suzuki, knocking her out of the way. Her right side lands on the ground roughly. Seeing her looking in pain, I try to move forward as much as I can. To no avail, the controlling shadow has a tight grip on my own shadow.

I can hear Atsushi's efforts in crying for help. I seem to feel powerless despite my accomplished missions I did back in Branshire...wait...

This isn't Branshire. I'm not supposed to feel guilty... usually...then why...

Flashbacks of my dead dad come back into my mind again. This time, at his funeral where many random people seem to take pity on me. But to me, they aren't sensitive enough to know what they were saying about my dad, especially when it comes to helping strangers...

Poor kid. His dad shouldn't be a hero when he's not chosen by those heavenly beings.

Tell me about it. Why was he so fixated on helping anyone? Nobody asked him to do so.

I heard the kid's grandpa was rumoured to be a ruthless merchant. Selling stuff at a ridiculous price to the needy. I mean surely that's cruel exploitation.

I guess it can't be helped, but to me, the kid's dad is the most foolish man I've ever...

My dad!! ...is not a fool...

Look, kid...I know it's hard for you...

Then! I'll prove it!!

Wha...prove what??

If I'm chosen...as the Hero... You'll swear never ever!! To insult him...

"...ever again."

At that moment... in my current situation... I manage to move at my own will. In fact, I glance at my shadow being freed by the controlling shadow. I don't have the leisure to look back at the face of the Demon Princess. Right as I summon another Levitation Shield, I hop on it, making it fly towards the Eis-Golem's back. Once my glass shield lands on the back of its head, I've made in time, stopping the monster from crushing Suzuki with its right fist. I jump in front of her.

Knowing that I'm swordless, I'm not running away. Not when someone is fighting in my stead. Not when this icy monster is about to kill innocent people in front of me. Somehow for the first time in my life, I want to protect Suzuki... Atsushi... whom I never ask for help and kindness in the first place. For that, I'm gonna fight with my life on the line.