Next Life – Chapter 181

“What are you going to use your power for?”

Decarabia asked Zagan one day.

They had grown remarkably stronger under Auraniess’s training.
No, if they hadn’t gotten stronger, they would have died.

“It’s obvious. To kill humans. To exterminate those who killed my father and mother. That’s what power is for.”

Hecatoncheir spat out, filled with anger and hatred, and looked at the slime.

“What about you? What do you use it for?”

“To protect. I couldn’t protect anyone… This time, I want to be able to protect them.”

Decarabia recalled a bitter past.
The days when he was powerless and could only be trampled by those overwhelmingly stronger than them.

“Huh? Kill your enemies. Annihilate them. Then you can protect the ones you want to protect, as a result.”

Zagan looked as if he couldn’t understand.
If all enemies are killed, the threat disappears.
That’s what he was arguing.

“What’s the point of annihilating all your enemies? If I can protect the ones I want to protect, that’s enough for me.”

Decarabia answered soothingly.
That did not sit well with Zagan.

“What are you saying, you’re too soft? Even if that’s what you intend, it’s meaningless if the enemy comes to you. Don’t you know the saying ‘the early bird catches the worm’?”

Decarabia also began to get emotional towards his comrade who was raising his voice.

“A preemptive strike doesn’t always guarantee a good outcome. Besides, what about defense while we’re gone?
What if our absence is taken advantage of? It’s not always about attacking.”

“I’m saying to defeat them before they attack. Why are you being so timid? Isn’t it enough to annihilate them before they can attack?”

When Zagan said that,

“How can you tell if someone is an enemy before they attack? If you make a mistake, you might just make unnecessary enemies.”

Decarabia retorted, not to be outdone.
As the argument heated up, Auraniess, who happened to pass by, punched them both.

“Be quiet, you’re noisy.”

The two, who were now friends and had been beaten, were forced to be silent.
They knew that if they didn’t listen, they would receive a powerful attack that could be life-threatening.

“What are you two talking about?”

Auraniess’s eyes lit up.
It was an unspoken pressure, implying that if they didn’t speak honestly, she would half-kill them.
They explained the situation, stammering.
After hearing everything, she snorted dismissively.

“Don’t have pointless arguments. Power is just power. Use it however you want.”

“B-but.”

“Shut up.”

“Fubbeh.”

Zagan, who tried to say something, was punched again.
Hecatoncheir’s massive body was blown away like a thin piece of paper in a strong wind.

“Power is, after all, just power. Don’t you understand?”

A loud noise echoed in his head, and his vision shook.
Even so, he desperately forced out a voice.

“Y-yes, I understand. Thank you.”

He didn’t truly understand.
He only said something to get out of the situation because he felt his life was in danger.
However, Auraniess was satisfied with that.

“It’s enough if you understand.”

“Haa…”

Decarabia approached Zagan, who was limp.

“Hey, are you alive?”

“P-probably…”

With that one response, Hecatoncheir lost consciousness.

“What, he fainted? What a weakling.”

Their superior voice voiced her exasperation.
To her, it was “just a pat.”
But in reality, it was a power that would be fatal to most beings.

Zagan was much stronger than before to have survived it.
Although he was not happy to realize this in such a way.

In the end, their dispute was left unresolved due to the intervention of an unavoidable presence.
However, the rift that had formed between the two never truly healed.
Eventually, the time came for them to go their separate ways. Zagan refused Decarabia’s offer.

“Our ways of thinking are too different. It would be better if we went our separate ways.”

“I need you to bend on this, Zagan. If you’re with me, we can handle both offense and defense.”

Decarabia’s wish for Zagan to annihilate enemies while he handled defense, thus fulfilling both their desires, was dismissed.

“Even Auraniess lost to a human named Melinda. Well, whether you consider that a defeat is another matter, but it shows there are limits to just defending.”

“Auraniess tried to fight alone. If Sophia and Iris had participated, that outcome would never have happened. Even Auraniess, alone, cannot cope with unforeseen circumstances. Our abilities are even more limited. If we combine our strength, can’t we reduce that risk a little?”

Their arguments continued to diverge.
Although Decarabia thought it might be better to stop talking, he couldn’t give up.

“You’re being tiresome, Decarabia. Don’t you understand that I’m trying to part ways with you because I have no intention of fighting you?”

“Don’t you understand that I’m trying to persuade you precisely because I have no intention of fighting?”

Fierce sparks flew between them again.

“…The loser will obey the winner. I won’t complain even if I’m killed. How about that?”

Decarabia accepted Zagan’s proposal.
There was no other way to persuade this Hecatoncheir.

“Let’s go, Zagan. I’ll show you that I’m not just a subject of protection anymore.”

“Talk your fill, slime. You’ve never beaten me before.”

Thus, they clashed, carrying their respective feelings.
Zagan launched a fierce counterattack, aiming for the moment Decarabia closed the distance.
His fluid body, which could neutralize ordinary blows, was hit head-on by Zagan’s rain of palm strikes.

“Guh.”

“I know everything you’re good at attacking and everything you’re Learning. Since we know each other’s moves, the difference in strength will naturally show, won’t it?”

Zagan stated the reality plainly, while Decarabia, staggering to his feet, retorted.

“Reality can be changed… Just as I am now, when I was nothing but a slime. Just as a human could defeat Auraniess. With an unyielding will and diligent effort, it’s not impossible to overcome the inherent differences.”

The slime spoke as if he were convincing himself.
Zagan clicked his tongue in response.

“Fool. Our will and effort are almost the same. Therefore, the difference in race and strength will naturally show. Remember, there are things that cannot be bridged by will and effort.”

The battle, which felled trees and shook the earth, soon reached its conclusion.

“I told you, slime. This makes it my 98th victory out of 98 battles.”

Zagan was the victor.
Decarabia was dazed and could not move.
The giant approached him and spoke.

“I’m leaving now. If you feel you’ve reached your limit, come to me. I’ll let you join us then.”

“W-wait. Zagan… I, haven’t lost yet.”

Zagan clicked his tongue at Decarabia’s weak words.

“What are you saying? If I attack you any further, you’ll die. Just accept your defeat and recover from your wounds.”

Seeing the slime trying to say something else, the giant clicked his tongue again.

“You said you’d use your strength for your weak comrades, right? Is it okay if you continue fighting me like this? You won’t be able to do that.”

Hearing this, Decarabia was struck, and fell silent, looking regretful.
Zagan snorted and left.

Thus, they parted ways and never met again.