Chapter 296: Nameless Cardinal (3)

As the boss’ health bar appeared, the start of a battle was recognised, and the same high-pitched organ from every other attempt began to play.

Glancing at that ‘GUI’ for the nth time, a completely unrelated memory flashed in my mind of my first time in Drakon-Rasa.

Not only was it my first Red Contract, but it was also a game and the first Contract where I encountered an element from the world’s essence due to my Authority―the soundtrack.

Because of that, there were more similarities between that and this Black Contract.

Following that line of thought, I began to absentmindedly wonder what would have happened if I entered Drakon-Rasa with my current level of Authority; what other elements would I have experienced other than the soundtrack?

For example, since it was originally a dating game for young girls, would I have been able to see various male leads’ relationship meters?

‘――Ah.’

Thud-!

Maybe it was because I wasn’t focused, but the Protagonist tried to attack me while I was standing still.

Fortunately, I wasn’t subject to using only the boss’ attacks that were in the game, and so casually raised the black greatsword to block his club.

His attack power was fixed, and it wasn’t enough to make me bend without a riposte. Moreover, he hadn’t the opportunity to use that buff on his weapon, so he was even weaker than before.

‘Dirty cheater.’

I swiped my sword in retaliation, but of course, he simply rolled backwards through it.

‘Tsk.’

Maybe it was for the best.

I couldn’t kill him since that would just reset things to the beginning, so I had to keep both him and myself alive while I destroyed his respawn point.

With that in mind, I mustered power in my legs and charged forward―completely ignoring the Protagonist and continuing down the dirt path behind him.

Naturally, I made it there in the blink of an eye with the boss’ strength, and upon arriving at the modest graveyard, noticed one detail.

Out of all the tombstones present, in the very centre of the yard there was just one with additional ornamentation―a partially cracked grave cross, suffocated with a bouquet of black flowers identical to those decorating the dirt path just ahead of it, and interestingly, a singular lit candle in the middle of it all, the flame an electric blue.

There truly was nothing else that existed in the area that could even come close to being called an item of importance, not so blatantly, and so there was only one action left to take.

Raising the greatsword high, I brought it down without hesitation, pulverising the grave into countless pieces; the remnant flowers ignited the very same dark colour they bloomed, trashed on the dirt below as if they ever mattered, and the tiny candle was practically vaporised.

‘It should be done… Now then.’

Turning around, I spotted the Protagonist watching me from the dirt path.

It looked like he had been chasing me, but after witnessing the destruction of his grave, he paused.

‘What’re you looking at, bast–‘

Suddenly, he spun around and started sprinting back towards the chapel.

Of course, he couldn’t get far.

With the Black Wisp, I simply shot him in the back, no time to see me attacking or to react.

I was originally worried I might not be able to use it due to the size of the boss’ body, but I suppose it was thanks to the Librarian’s use of World Stability that it wasn’t an issue.

In any case, the Protagonist’s body fell limp to the ground, and like every time before, faded away into a wisp of fog with a low groan I could only faintly hear.

Accordingly, those two, crimson words appeared.

[You Died]

Curiosity washed over me.

Was that it? Was I really finished with my first ever Black Contract? My first ever 5-star Contract? Just like that?

If it was, did that also mean I get to keep this armour, this book and this greatsword?

Or maybe, because it was something only obtainable due to special circumstances, that was impossible? However, the same went for the suit I got for being Lucretia’s assistant, and I kept that, so maybe it was possible? Although, perhaps this situation was counted differently due to me only possessing the boss’ body.

With all these questions running through my mind, it appeared that, at some point, I had completely forgotten.

Even this time, the Librarian never once stated that the Protagonist had been dispatched.

Thus, and yet again.

The world before me turned dark.

❖─────★★★★★─────❖

“…”

‘Again… Is there not some kind of limit?’

For the Protagonist to have unlimited respawns, that was just absurd.

In that case, wouldn’t it be simply impossible to clear the Contract?

Rather than any amount of stars, why bother assigning it any level of Difficulty at all? Why bother presenting it to me as a mission to complete?

If things continued without any sign of meaningful progression, I would have no choice but to label it a lost cause.

After all, it was true that I had gained somewhat of a grace period buffer after creating the existence of Earth’s Antagonist, but I wasn’t here to waste time.

‘Librarian, be blunt with me. Is this Contract clearable or not?’

[Certainly! Um, I believe so! Well! There will always be something you can do to succeed, Enki! Fret not! I believe in you!]

The sentiment was appreciated, but it wasn’t really helpful.

Only a short amount of time passed since I accepted the Contract, but I had already killed the Protagonist four times over.

Yet I was still here.

Still, if she was saying there was some way, even if it was only to keep my spirits high, I suppose I should…

‘…Wait.’

Belatedly, I realised something.

It had been a while since I regained consciousness, but… Was the bell not going to ring?

‘And the location name–!’

Jumping from my seat, I rushed to the chapel’s doors, bashing them open to gaze upon the distant graveyard for the second time.

As I thought, I could not see the Protagonist running up the path, nor sense his presence in any capacity.

Then, like clockwork――

[Before World’s End]

A distinct location name appeared.

‘…I see.’

Gradually beginning to understand what it was I had to do, I made my way towards the graveyard.

In the central area, the remnants of the Protagonist’s spawnpoint I had previously destroyed were still present, scattered carelessly across the ground.

Approaching the fragmented grave, I wondered how to get from this place to wherever the Protagonist was, but only briefly.

I placed my hand on a piece of the shattered cross, and with a feeling of some magic beginning to influence the air around me, I was shrouded in a dark mist, my eyes forced shut at the sensation of dimensional travel I was already familiar with.

Upon reopening them, I found myself standing before a small altar.

A single stone pedestal with an open book atop it―identical to that which the boss carried on his waist.

It was placed under a stone pavilion, weathered similarly to the chapel it led to, and beyond that on all sides, a garden of the same black flowers expanded.

At the same time, I realised something different with regards to my own self.

“…Ah. I’m back.”

Donning the Draconic Shadow as usual, I no longer possessed the body of the Nameless Cardinal.