Vol. 4, Chapter 50: Reaching Out to the Truth

"I knew it. We've been killing each other all along... That's messed up!"

As Six yells, attention is drawn from the rest of his squad. This is bad. I don't think it is wise to discuss this while the others are listening. To be honest, I've been wondering if I can trust the Beastkins these days. Not to mention that there seems to be those that do not think highly of the presence of us Champions here, such as that guy who looks similar to the king, Lord Remus was it? That being said, if I don't at least calm Six down right now, I am afraid of what might happen next. We're at an important stage of the plan and I need Six to keep his cool. I want to keep the possibilities of messing up to a minimum.

"Six, listen, I've been keeping quiet since I can't prove it yet, but I don't think they're actually dead."

"What? Are you sure? How?"

At my words, Six goes from being angry and frustrated to being somewhat hopeful. Good, he's believing me, or perhaps he's just desperate for comfort. Either way, so long as he buys my story, it's fine.

"Think about it. These bodies aren't actually ours. They're our avatars in the game, which means that even if these bodies die, our real bodies should still be fine somewhere. So no, I don't think they're really dead. So long as our real bodies are still alive, there's no way we could possibly die for real. That's only logical."

I'm bullshitting of course. I have no idea whether or not if that's true. This whole thing was just something I thought of after experiencing those out-of-body experiences. Otherwise, I have no real proof of what I just said. But, it doesn't matter, it's not as if I have ever been shy about lying through my teeth.

"I'm sure that once we reverse the summoning ritual, everyone will be back in their own bodies and it will be as if nothing ever happened. I mean that's how it usually works in tv shows and games with these things, right?"

Even though I've repeated it so many times, that this world doesn't work like the game we know of, I'm bringing them up to support my ludicrous blabbering. The hypocrisy makes me sick, but whatever, what is important now is to convince Six that they're not dead, not Veldar, and definitely not the other Champions we've killed.

"Yeah... That's right, isn't it? That makes sense. Since these aren't our real bodies, even if something happens to them, we won't really die. Why didn't I think of that?"

Good, Six's complexion is relaxing. Of course, if it turned out to be a lie, if when we returned, the other's stayed dead, I'm sure he'll hate me for it. Even so, it's better than losing our cool and screwing it all up. We're going home, even if it's not all of us, I'm bringing as many of us as possible back to our own world.

"That's right! So don't worry about it, we can definitely all go back."

I check Six's expression one last time. He is definitely looking better. There's still some anxiety, but it doesn't look like he's about to freak out any time soon.

"Anyways, time for me to go. If anything goes wrong, I'm counting on your, alright, Six."

"Yeah, you can count on me. And thanks, Aurelius, you've been a real pal. "

I give him a confident nod before turning around and stride right through the massive front gates.

***

He really almost had me there. Aurelius is a pretty decent liar. I am not particularly fond of being lied to, but, I just can't get mad at him. How should I put it? When he was saying all those things, there was a sense of desperation. It felt as if he wasn't just trying to convince me, but also trying to get himself to believe what he was saying. I realized, after seeing him like this, that he hates this as much as I do, but unlike me, he held up much better. He's thinking hard about how to fix this and getting us back home, he's been doing that this whole time and I haven't heard a single complaint from him.

For a while now, I've been thinking about quitting, just giving it all up. I didn't like the idea of being forced to fight someone else's fights in the first place, much less against people I know. Ever since the forest, when Cecilia and I faced off against those two Champions, the Archer and the Warlock, I have had a sneaking suspicion that I might know them. Sometimes, when I'm at school, during break time, I'd sneak into the computer labs and log in for a bit, mostly in the Arena for PvPs. That's when I would sometimes see the Archer and Warlock pair. Their tactics are the most annoying thing ever and our guild icon is displayed beside their names, so I have quite an impression on them. That is why, after Cecilia and I fought the Champions, after I dealt the finishing blow and the adrenaline of battle left me, I can't help but feel that I've fought them before. Of course, I couldn't confirm it, and I thought that if they were people we do know, either Aurelius or Cecilia or maybe even Toto would figure it out way before I did.

Eventually, however, I realized that Aurelius might have been hiding quite a few things from me. The way he diverted from my questions about how he expects the enemy Champion to understand the white flag was what tipped me off. I guess he was hoping that I would have forgotten after giving me his lengthy reasoning, and for a moment, I did forget, only remembering afterwards. I thought about bringing it back into the conversation again, thinking that Aurelius might have just forgotten, but then again, that should have been an important part of his plan, so he couldn't have just left it in the back of his mind. That's what I thought, and once I thought that, it began to feel like he was trying to hide something. In the end, it turns out I was right.

I am not sure how I feel about him hiding things. On one hand, it feels as if he doesn't trust me, like he expects me to cause trouble once I find out. On the other hand, I realize that maybe I am just that unreliable. So far, I have just been leaving the heavy lifting to the others. Whenever some difficulty comes up, the others always got right down to it, trying to figure out how to deal with it. Me? I just wait for them to hand me the solutions. It feels like messing around before a test and expecting those that did their studying to hand me the answers during the exam.

It is all very frustrating, to not be trusted to help. And yet, I have no idea how to help even when I am asked. Even though I act all tough and condescending towards the Beastkins for being unable to solve their own problems, I myself rely on the others to take care of everything. Of course, I have no sympathy for the Beastkins and I certainly have no love for the idea of them dragging us into their problems, but I do feel pathetic, for inadvertently being such a hypocrite.

"Sir, are we sure we should just let the supreme commander go alone?"

A Beastkin came up to me, looking mighty worried. They have good hearing, so I'm sure they heard our conversation. Whether he understood what we were saying aside, between my shock and Aurelius' desperation to convince me, our tones surely did not inspire confidence.

"He knows what he's doing, always did. And on the off chance something goes wrong, he has us, so make sure we're ready to go at any time, understood?"

I speak with the sternest voice I can muster. Neither Aurelius nor Cecilia would let the others think they're weak, so I will, I must, do the same.

"Of course! We will let no harm come to our Champions."

I nod as I gaze into the Beastkin's eyes without wavering, and in turn, the soldier returns a proud salute. It's going to be fine. Even if something goes wrong, I'll have your back. It's the least I can do.

***

With a swift gait, I approach the Sorcerer Champion. In her left hand, she holds her makeshift white flag and on her right, her staff. With caution, she gazes over with her blood-red eyes. I still remember the last time we saw each other face to face. It was during the battle at the eastern fortress. We had cornered the Warrior Champion when a [Meteor] came crashing from the sky as the Sorcerer came in to try and rescue the Warrior. I would have been done in back then had it not been for Peter, sacrificing himself to save me. At the time, thinking that my opponents were just some [Demons], I wanted to kill her so bad. However, now, knowing that she may just be someone trapped in the same circumstances as I am, someone who just happened to wound up on the opposing side, rather than fight, I want to make peace. If at all possible, I want to put an end to all this right here.

In a timely fashion, I arrive before her. I stop at what I have determined with my [Insight] to be a safe distance, out of range of her faster spells. Then, from my pocket, I pull out a small note that I have prepared beforehand. Written on it are words, words written in the language of our world. While I understood that the H.U.D. alters one's cognition, it doesn't necessarily alter everything. Fundamental shapes, for example, it cannot alter, and words are really just a combination of lines and shapes.

[Nod your head if you can understand this. Shake if you don't.]

That is the simple message written on the paper, and to this message, the Sorcerer nods. My heart fills with elation at this very moment, feeling as if I had just opened a door previously lock and found a brand new path that we did not know off.

Again, form my pocket, I pull out another slip of paper.

[I am Aurelius, do you know me?]

Again, she nods. Then, with her staff, she writes on the ground.

[I am Corona. I was in Oro's party.]

Corona... I remember her, she's a regular in Oro's raiding party. I see her all the time during raids with our guild. As for Oro, he's the party leader, and usually, he plays a tanky Warrior. That was him, wasn't it, the Warrior Champion I fought atop the mountain.

What do I say to her? Do I tell her about Oro, about how I killed him? Do I tell her that I'm sorry? No, to begin with, there isn't even a way for us to communicate properly. Writing all that down in notes won't communicate how I feel. Besides, she wasn't there when I killed him. Oro could have slipped and fallen down the side of the mountain for all she knows, and she'll never know so long as I keep quiet about it. Rather than trying to talk about something that I can do nothing about, I should get to more immediate matters.

Once more, I show her another note.

[I don't want to fight. Do you feel the same?]

She waits a few moments before finally, she slowly nods. Upon receiving her reply, I pull out the next note I have prepared.

[Then let's talk. There are many things we need to discuss, about this world and our situation. I want to know what you know and tell you what I've discovered. Together, we may understand more and find a solution. However, since we can't understand one another's words, this may take a while. Maybe we might arrange something? A truce perhaps?]

I wait eagerly for her to finish reading and to finally return me a response. I am hopeful. If this works out, then it may be the end of our fight and we may put down our weapons and find a solution through dialogue.

Then, from beyond my field of vision, a large shadow falls over me with sunlight glinting off its massive claws. On my chest, I feel a blunt impact, throwing me backwards just in time for the massive claws to swipe across where my neck used to be.

I fall to the ground with a weight on my body. Upon looking down, I find Corona lying against my chest, beginning to get up as she glares at the large shadow who turns out to be one of the Dragonbrood [Demons], one that looks like a mix of a man and an alligator.

"______!?"

She shouts at him with words I cannot understand, though from her tone it sounds like she's absolutely furious as well as incredibly confused.

"_________."

The [Alligator Demon] speaks with a respectful tone, sounding akin to how the Beastkin speaks with me. However, soon the raises his claws again as he spouts what I would assume to be a warning, perhaps telling Corona to get out of the way.

"______!"

Corona shouts, and with her staff raised, she creates a [Mana Wall], deflecting the incoming claw swipe.

"Aurelius!"

From behind, I hear Six shouting. It looks like he saw what happened and came to my rescue just as planned. But, what now? If I just retreat now, the only option left would be to resume fighting, all the while not understand anything. I can't just let this end like this, can I?

"Back off, you!"

Without a single moment of hesitation, Six leaps at the alligator man and lunges forward with one of his swords all the while maneuvering his second swords to intercept the Alligator's claw.

The Alligator [Demon], in response, shifts his weight to the side to evade Six's attack, and though Six was too swift for him to completely avoid the lunge, the Alligator manages to avoid a fatal wound. Then, immediately after, the Alligator pulls back and turns away in an attempt to retreat. Six, tenatious as he is, gives chase, only for it to turn out to be a feint as the Alligator swings down his massive tail at Six once he got close enough and threw him off balance. With that opening, the Alligator reaches out towards Corona, most likely in an attempt to retrieve her before pulling back.

"[Bind Circle]!"

As if I'd let that happen. If I lose her, if I let her get taken away now, I'll never understand anything. I need to know, I need Corona to tell me what she sees, what she was talking with that Alligator about, why he attacked in the first place. She's my only connection to the truth.

With the Alligator [Demon] frozen in place, the soldiers in Six's extraction squad move in for the killing blow with their spears, only for each one to be incapable of piercing the Alligator's hide. As expected, without [Holy Weapon], the Dragonbroods' hide are simply too tough for common weapons to penetrate. However, even without [Holy Weapon], there is still a weapon that should be able to do damage.

Right after the soldiers' failed attempt, Six comes in, swinging one of his two swords, the black shortsword, the weapon taken from the Warrior Champion, the one I've just confirmed to be Oro. With a single swing, Six lops off the Alligator's arm clean off without the need for any enchantments. According to the Beastkin's royal blacksmith, the metal of the black sword was unlike any he had ever seen, that it was a metal somewhat heavier than steel but tougher than any metal known to the Beastkins and Mankind alike. If any weapon can pierce through the Dragonbroods' high defense on its own, it'll have to be this sword.

"Corona!"

I call out to her, not knowing if she could understand what I am saying, and stretch my hand out towards her. It'll be hard to explain to her that I need her as I drag her away, possibly against her will, so with this gesture, I ask her to come with me, hoping that she would comply.

"_______!"

The Alligator shouts, causing Corona to hesitate, but only for a brief moment before taking my hand. She too, most likely, wishes to know the truth.

"Six, we're getting out of here!"

"Her too?"

"Yes. I think she wants to know as well, about this world, about why we're actually fighting."

"Fine, so long as she doesn't do anything crazy like her friend there."

From the pouch behind his waist, Six pulls out a black orb with a fuse attached to it, and with a swing of his sword, he lights the fuse ablaze. Apparently, he had already got someone to cast [Heat Weapon] for him beforehand.

Six tosses the orb as we pull back. In a few moments after, the orb explodes into a great cloud of smoke, creating a screen for our escape.

I have to say, while not everything went according to plan, I feel like we're making progress. Retreating with Corona, the enemy Champion, alongside us is a huge step forward. By exchanging information with one another, surely, we'll be able to figure something out. For once, finally, I feel like I can somehow find the path forward.

***

End of Chapter 50