My companions were swallowed one after another by the swarm of enemies.
I was knocked down and mixed in with them. A murderous arm grabbed the back of my collar.
“Piyo, Pauline, hurry and run!”
I shouted at the two I threw towards. I’m going to be killed like this, I don’t want to die! It’s not that I just hate dying, it’s because I’m sorry to everyone who kept me alive until now. If possible, I want to send at least those two to a safe place. It feels like the only mission assigned to me since I can’t fight.
I stabbed my dagger into the foot of the man on top of me. I had no hesitation in stabbing someone. No, I didn’t even have time to hesitate, not even a moment to think about it. It was the same as a cornered beast biting its opponent without hesitation.
“Ouch! You bastard! Guah!”
I used the moment of his hesitation to kick him in the face and escape. I hugged the two of them, who were trembling nearby, and started running again. My breath was ragged, and my throat hurt. I felt like the air I was inhaling was leaking from my trachea instead of entering my lungs. Although I didn’t feel like I was alive, I could feel my heart pounding as if it would burst. I was running, but I wasn’t moving forward at all, and my arms holding the two of them were numb.
I could hear voices cursing me from behind. I held my breath, trying to stop the tears that welled up. It was too late to be disgusted by my own powerlessness now. Why did someone like me have to come to this world? If it hadn’t been me chasing that cat back then, things would have gone better. Everyone wouldn’t have had to suffer like this, if only I had the power to take down everyone here and save them.
I had been surrounded by Dark Elves like this before. But that time, Karubene and his companions came to help. In this dark forest, there was no one to extend a hand. Sooner or later, I would be caught and torn to pieces. But what would happen to Piyo and Pauline afterward? The sight of those two crying out in pain was ten times more painful than my own death. Even though I knew in my head that this wasn’t the time, my emotions were about to overflow. My vision blurred, and the trees melted into the darkness.
With a strong impact, I was knocked to the ground. It was finally here, I had already left my dagger behind. I pushed the two I was holding forward. My head was pinned down with great force. I heard the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath behind me. Damn it, I don’t want to die without a fight. I’ll buy them at least a little time to escape, that’s all I can do right now. I can’t face everyone if I just go down without a fight. It’s okay to be pathetic, but at least I want to die like a man in the end.
I grabbed the hand pinning my head down. I kicked my legs and struggled with all my might. I don’t need to save any more stamina, I broke free and bit his arm.
“Aaaargh! That hurts, you, weakling, just die quietly!”
I heard laughter nearby.
“Hahaha, what are you doing? Kill him quickly, it’s a hassle. I’m going to catch the remaining two.”
Thick fingers wrapped around my throat and pushed me to the ground. A sharp blade loomed before my eyes. I couldn’t give up until the last second, I desperately pushed back against the man’s hand. And seeing me like this, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.
