Looking Forward to Another World

*BANG!*

Amid the flashes of blades and sword shadows filling the training field, a dull impact that was completely out of place suddenly rang out across the field.

A figure suddenly appeared behind Riezel and threw a punch in anger, striking him heavily in the back and producing that dull thud.

Riezel had been completely immersed in the battle, concentrating all of his attention on Charlotte. It was only in that instant that he failed to react in time to the sudden attack.

As a result, he could only withdraw his blade after the fact and raise it in front of the incoming fist. Even so, the impact sent him flying backward, his body shooting a considerable distance away from Charlotte before he adjusted his posture in midair and landed safely.

”...”

Riezel fell silent as he raised his eyes, the fighting intent and battle spirit that had filled them now replaced by an icy coldness.

”Are you okay?”

Saying that, the sudden attacker did not even look at Riezel. Instead, he hurried forward and approached Charlotte, who was covered in wounds from head to toe, intending to help her up.

However, Charlotte, whose life had just been saved by him, not only showed no gratitude but seemed even more furious than Riezel as she slapped his hand away.

”...Who told you to interfere?”

Charlotte’s voice was colder than it had ever been, and the anger within it was unmistakable.

”I-I saw that you were in danger, so—”

At her angry response, the newcomer immediately became flustered.

However, Charlotte’s eyes and expression only grew colder and more furious.

”Do you know?” Charlotte said coldly. ”Because you interfered this time, I will owe that man for the rest of my life.”

Her words left the newcomer dumbfounded.

Charlotte, however, no longer paid any attention to him as she staggered to her feet.

”Big sis...”

Seeing that, the newcomer tried to help her again, only to be forced back by her icy gaze.

Only then did she turn toward Riezel.

Looking at the young man who was staring coldly in their direction, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

She had also been immensely satisfied with the sword fight just now, and she had been equally satisfied with Riezel’s approach to the battle.

A sword fight like that might never happen a second time in her entire life.

For Charlotte, who had always pursued strength, constantly challenged various powerful opponents, and strived to rise above them all, it had undoubtedly been an experience worthy of being remembered for the rest of her life.

Riezel must have thought the same way, which was why he had fought with everything he had until the very end. Not because she was his enemy, nor because she was the Holy Envoy of the Holy Temple.

During that sword fight, both of them had abandoned their respective positions and set aside their hostility, purely enjoying the battle itself.

He had struck that final blow because he had been satisfied!

He had struck that final blow because he had acknowledged her!

It had nothing to do with their hostile relationship, and his blade had been swung purely out of respect for his opponent. Even if it had been enough to take her life, she could only have felt satisfied.

If their positions had been reversed, she would have also struck that final blade to decide the outcome, expressing her respect for a worthy opponent and paying tribute to a sword fight that had brought her such satisfaction.

But the interference from the newcomer, who was none other than Giga, had left an unavoidable flaw in what should have been a perfect sword fight at the very end.

Her life had been saved, yet instead of feeling relieved, Charlotte’s heart was filled with regret and sorrow. Possessing an inhuman intuition, she had already realized that this would become a stain on her life from this day onward.

”You shouldn’t have come...”

Charlotte threw those words toward Giga, and then, without caring about his reaction, she raised her eyes and looked toward Riezel.

By then, Riezel had already sheathed his sword.

At this moment, his expression was emotionless, and he seemed to have regained his composure. He did not even want to swing his blade at the uninvited intruder who had barged into their battlefield.

It couldn’t be helped because, in his eyes, Giga was not worthy of it.

Tonight, he had swung his blade countless times, and every single strike had brought him immense satisfaction.

Since that was the case, why waste another strike on someone like him?

From the moment his final strike had been stopped, Riezel had already lost all desire to continue swinging his blade, and everything suddenly felt meaningless.

”Giga, huh?”

Riezel looked at the young man standing there in a daze and spoke without expression.

”I’ll remember this punch.”

As soon as he heard those words, a chill suddenly rose in Giga’s heart.

He knew that this time, he had truly provoked someone he should never have provoked, and that person had now set his sights on him.

Although the two of them had already clashed once before, Riezel’s attitude toward Giga at that time had undoubtedly been one of indifference. Therefore, even though Giga had managed to escape from him the last time, Riezel had not considered it a matter worth regretting.

But this time was different.

Simply because of the punch he should never have thrown tonight, Riezel now had every reason to kill him.

Riezel then turned around and walked toward the exit of the training field.

”Wait...”

Charlotte instinctively wanted to stop him, but the moment she took a step forward, the pain from her battered body caused her entire body to tremble, forcing her down onto one knee.

Riezel did not even look back. He walked straight out of the training field and left the area.

”Big sis...”

Giga could not hold himself back any longer and stepped forward, looking as though he wanted to help her but did not dare to do so.

Charlotte, however, still did not look at Giga and merely stared blankly at Riezel’s departing figure, the regret, sorrow, and anger in her heart growing even stronger.

After a long while, she struggled to her feet and put away her sword.

Seeing that, Giga was just about to put on his usual smile and brush everything off with a few playful words, but Charlotte simply turned around and walked away.

”Wait!”

Giga panicked and hurried after her.

*WHOOSH!*

As Charlotte turned away, terrifying cold energy suddenly erupted from her body, causing freezing air to sweep outward like a storm and rush in every direction.

In an instant, the ground froze over, while the temperature of the air dropped by dozens of degrees, causing snowflakes to appear.

”What?!”

Giga had barely run over when the freezing wind erupted toward him. Caught off guard, he was struck by countless fragments of ice and sent flying backward.

”Big sis!”

Giga stared at Charlotte in disbelief, yet she still did not turn around.

Just like Riezel had done moments earlier, she walked straight out of the training field and left the area.

Only then did the training field return to silence.

”...”

Watching Charlotte leave without even looking back, Giga fell silent as well, but his fists clenched tightly, and unlike his calm face, his mind became increasingly chaotic.

Giga knew that Charlotte was genuinely angry this time.

In the past, although she had always been cold and distant toward him, she had never truly rejected him or completely ignored his advances, merely finding his persistent pursuit annoying.

However, this time was different.

Giga vaguely felt that he had done something that could never be undone.

Of course, as someone who had known her for years, he also knew why Charlotte was so angry.

Earlier, he had secretly watched the sword fight, and it had shaken him to his very soul. He understood Charlotte very well, so he knew that the girl was cold by nature and was not particularly attached to anyone or anything, with the sole exception of her extraordinary devotion to the sword.

He knew she must have enjoyed that sword fight immensely and must have been satisfied with an opponent like that.

Even so, he could not just stand by and watch her die!

”Riezel Brynhart...”

Giga muttered the name under his breath, his fist tightening even further.

’Wouldn’t it have been better if you had never appeared?’

’If you had never appeared, she would still be that Valkyrie who cared about nothing.’

’Because you defeated her, she started to care about you.’

’Because you fought that sword battle with her, she has already etched you deeply into her memory.’

’.....Why did it have to be you?’

’If you had never appeared, things never would’ve turned out like this.’

Giga made no attempt to suppress the dark thoughts arising in his heart.

It was obvious just how chaotic his mind had become.

[I knew you’d screw things up.]

Suddenly, a voice appeared in Giga’s mind, carrying nothing but helplessness.

”Fire Princess...”

Giga was not surprised, and his expression turned gloomy.

[I told you long ago that the two of you pursue completely different things, and that you see the world in completely different ways. If you keep pestering her according to your own pace, sooner or later, your actions will come into conflict with hers.]

[But you refused to believe me. You thought you could make her see your sincerity. You even foolishly assumed that she didn’t care about anything and was cold toward everything, so no matter how far you went, she would only continue treating you with the same indifference, and there could never be a worse outcome.]

[So, what do you think now? Do you still think that way?]

[Even she has things she cares about. Even she can become angry over certain things.]

As she spoke, Fire Princess’s usually alluring and charming voice was filled with reproach and helplessness, as though she were scolding a disobedient child.

Giga had nothing to say and could only remain silent.

However, Fire Princess rarely stopped there and continued.

[After this, I’m afraid you’ll have to deal with the consequences of your own actions.]

[Originally, that girl didn’t care about anyone in this world except me. If it weren’t for me, she never would’ve joined the Holy Temple.]

[But now, things have changed. Knowing her personality, I’m afraid there’ll be one more person she cares about from now on.]

Needless to say, there was no need for Fire Princess to say who that person was.

”...You can’t seriously expect me just to stand by and watch her die, can you?”

Giga gritted his teeth and said those words bitterly.

[Hahh, that’s exactly why this is such a headache...]

Fire Princess let out a quiet sigh, seemingly troubled by the situation.

After a while, whether intentionally or otherwise, she changed the subject.

[Anyway, the leader already knows that Riezel Brynhart and the others have entered Theresis’s territory.]

Fire Princess’s words temporarily diverted Giga’s attention.

”What did he say?”

Giga forced himself to focus on something else.

[Follow them.]

Fire Princess faithfully relayed the leader’s order.

[We’ve finally been given a chance now that the people from the Hidden Land have shown themselves. It’s a rare opportunity, so we will follow them and enter the Hidden Land as well.]

[Aside from the leader and the old man, the other five Holy Envoys, including you and me, will all enter the Hidden Land.]

[We have two missions.]

[The first is to find that existence.]

[The second is to destroy the teleportation magic circle so that the Hidden Land can never again send anyone into the continent.]

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[A bonus Chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones]

[Support and get early access to upcoming Chapters at: patreon.com/VALRRR]