TYHL SS 31 💫

~Side Story 31~

It was a demonic beast.

Judging by how thoroughly it had masked its presence before launching an ambush, this was no ordinary monster.

Where is it?

Just as he clenched his sword and grit his teeth—

“Mister, above you! Move!”

An unfamiliar voice shouted.

Leviathan didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat. He kicked off the ground.

A massive demonic beast dropped straight down from above.

“Ugh— I can’t— hear— anything!”

Rubian tugged hard at her ears, as if that might help.

It didn’t.

Between the pounding rain and the wind, not a single word was carrying.

“Geez. Is Dad about to make Mom angry again?”

Leviathan’s back was so broad she couldn’t see Rosetta’s expression at all.

Maybe I should amplify my voice with magic—

“Stop.”

Khalid cut her off immediately.

“Don’t overuse magic. You’re already maintaining protection spells and stealth nonstop. Your core’s still weak.”

Rubian sighed.

“I know, I know… I’m tougher now—ugh. But you’re right. Maybe I got a little reckless since you keep holding my hand.”

She clasped and unclasped both hands experimentally. Khalid didn’t even let her finish—he grabbed her hands tightly again.

“Don’t let go. Just keep holding on. Ideally forever.”

A gentle, pleasant current of mana flowed into her.

Then—

Without warning, Khalid let go and dropped flat to the ground.

“What was that?! Your ‘forever’ lasted one second!”

“…A resonance.”

“Resonance?”

Khalid clicked his tongue.

“Ruby. This mountain—”

He didn’t get to finish.

“A demonic beast’s presence—!”

Stinging mana was closing in fast.

Their eyes met.

“Damn it,” Khalid muttered under his breath. “I had a bad feeling.”

“Khal!”

To make things worse, one of the beasts was already creeping up behind them.

“Ruby. I’ll take care of that one.”

“What? But—”

“It’s fine. Stay here.”

Khal clenched his fist until it cracked.

Right now, he was stuck in the body of a ten-year-old, with limited control over his mana—because another version of himself existed in this timeline.

Even so—

He had to protect Rubian.

No matter the cost.

‘Hey. Cave-bound version of me.’

Khalid drew his dagger and smiled coldly.

Blue mana hummed, racing along the smooth blade.

‘From now on, I’m protecting Ruby. So shut up and cooperate.’

Our goal’s the same anyway.

Rubian being happy.

He drew up more mana, silently praying that his other self wouldn’t do anything stupid.

“Kh—be careful—!”

Rubian’s voice faded into the distance.

Is Khalid going to be okay?

She was worried sick—but she reminded herself of what mattered most.

Right in front of her were her parents, still young, still inexperienced.

And above their heads—

A jet-black demonic beast was plunging straight down.

“Wow. Being born is seriously a nightmare!”

Rubian sketched a magic formula and sprang forward.

“Mister, above you! Move!”

“…!”

It happened in an instant.

By the time Rubian blinked—

The spot where Leviathan had been standing was nothing but a deep crater.

He’d pushed his body to its absolute limit and leapt away in a single motion.

Rubian secretly cast a binding spell, locking the flying beast’s legs midair.

Strangely enough, she knew her father’s combat patterns inside and out.

I probably know better than anyone how Leviathan Zebert fights demonic beasts.

She’d heard the stories of his exploits in the demonic war so many times they’d become exhausting.

Of course… I’ve never helped this directly before.

But even before the war, his fighting style wouldn’t be much different.

Without him noticing, Rubian supported him with magic.

Leviathan leapt once more and drove his blade straight through the beast’s skull.

The demonic beast tumbled far down the cliff below.

“…You!”

Clink.

The moment Leviathan sheathed his sword, he rushed over to Rubian, who had collapsed to the ground.

She quickly calmed her eyes—reddened from mana use—and looked up.

“Hi, Dad— uh… mister.”

A very sudden correction.

Leviathan stared at the child as if she’d completely baffled him.

All the while, the girl was clinging tightly to Rosetta’s sleeve, like she was afraid she’d run away.

Strangely… admirable.

Ah. That’s where I’ve seen her before.

Rosetta had once brought her to a banquet, saying she was a maid’s daughter. How had he forgotten?

“First things first—haah. Get up.”

Demonic beast blood had splattered across his pale silver hair.

An unpleasant feeling surged up inside him, like he’d seen something he wasn’t meant to.

There shouldn’t be this many ambushes. It’s like someone deliberately stirred the beasts awake…

Scanning their surroundings uneasily, Leviathan frowned.

This is bad. We need to get out of here, now.

“Mister—her condition—! Miss, are you okay?!”

Just as Leviathan clicked his tongue and moved to lift Rosetta—

The ground shook violently.

“Ruby!”

At the same time, Khalid came running from the distance, having dealt with the rear beast.

He was shouting something, but the roar drowned out his words.

“…Ta—!”

What?

Rubian tried to spring to her feet—

Then—

Kuurrrr—BOOM!

Danger! Danger!
Traveler’s physical safety at risk!

A chill raced through her entire body.

Now that she thought about it—

This much rain. A mountain. Violent combat.

It was the perfect setup.

A landslide.

The realization came too late.

Kugugugugung!

A deafening roar split the mountainside apart.

Earth and rock surged forward, the ground collapsing beneath them.

Khalid’s face—rushing toward her—vanished in an instant, swallowed by the cascading mud.

Wet soil and dust flooded her mouth and nose. Rubian tumbled helplessly, dragged along with the debris.

Warning! Warning!

No—Khal! Mom—Dad!

Rubian threw up a barrier around Khalid and desperately tried to restrain the mountain’s rampage with magic—

But—

“Urk!”

In front of nature, humans were powerless.

Her mana drained away all at once, blood filling her mouth.

She clutched her chest.

I can’t die like this. I really can’t.

Warning! Warning!

Seriously. Really.

There’s a bunny-like dad and a lion-like mom waiting for me at home.

And a wolf-like boyfriend too—I haven’t even done half the things I want to yet!

Her consciousness began to fade.

Her flailing hand found nothing—no roots, no grip.

Then—

Someone grabbed her hand hard and yanked her upward.

Rubian instantly recognized the person who pulled her into their arms.

“Stay awake!”

Rosetta’s blue eyes—wide with shock—were clear again.

“…Mom…”

It felt like instinct etched into her soul.

Some kinds of love and obsession transcend time itself.

“…You can’t die. Never.”

Had she ever wanted to save someone this badly before?

Rosetta, fully shaking off the effects of the drugs, clung with all her strength to a nearby tree.

The tree seemed to wrap around her hands in return, holding fast.