I Think My Fiancé Has Regressed

Chapter 75: The Final Battle (2)

The sun passes through the sky and begins to set near the foot of the mountain as the red sunset and faint moonlight begin to illuminate the earth.

The Academy’s walkways are lit up with streetlights, signaling that it’s already late evening.

The few professors who remained at the Academy until the late hours were also making their presence felt by turning on the lights in their offices.

By the time the dust had settled. I couldn’t help but feel that the final battle was just around the corner.

The final battle in a few moments would be the final test of all that I have accomplished.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

A single defeat in this battle would be enough to put the future of the Kingdom of Leavrov in doubt.

If I fail to capture it this time, as I have before, there is no guarantee of another chance and much of what I and Ariana have secured in this lifetime will be lost again.

I can’t help but feel anxious at the thought of what the future may hold.

Of course, for the sake of her standing beside me, I try to keep my anxiety as low as possible.

“I’m a little nervous, Alex, now that we’re at the end of the course.”

Ariana has both hands on my left arm as we await the resurrection of the Demon Lord.

She’s nervous about this moment, too, and I can feel the trepidation running up her arm and into mine.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her tremble like this in the face of something quite dangerous.

Through the power of prophecy, Ariana seemed to recognize the strength of the enemy we were about to face.

“It’s okay, Ariana.”

I stroked my fiancée’s hair with my right hand, soothing her emotions.

“Trust me. I will definitely win the final battle with my and Ariana’s honor on the line.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Alex….it’s just that I’m afraid I might make a mistake.”

“What mistake?”

“I’m not going to tell you yet, because I don’t want you to hear my story and get all mixed up in it.”

“Okay, okay.”

I didn’t bother to ask her about what she’d said, considering it a small reward after the last fight.

It would be more important to focus on the upcoming fight than any other thoughts.

The streetlights disappeared from the street without warning.

The remaining lights in the Academy’s buildings began to go out at the same time, and the Academy was soon enveloped in darkness.

The long-awaited hour had arrived as unintelligible voices began to mutter in the streets.

Those still inside the building began to come out, one by one, to see what was happening.

It was pitch black with only a few inches of light in front of me, but at least I could make out who was next to me.

I made one last eye contact with Ariana on my arm, and then quickly made my way to the site of the final showdown to defeat the fallen angel Azazel and gain a future of true meaning.

* * *

The lights that illuminated the Academy were all gone, and darkness began to envelope the land, just in time for the late hour.

Most of the power that illuminates the entire Academy comes from the central power stone.

In other words, something is happening in the central power chamber.

That something must be the resurrection of the Demon Lord.

As I was thinking this, I looked over to Alex’s face, and he locked eyes with me as if he was thinking the same thing, then nodded.

“Looks like he’s here.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

He didn’t have to say it, but I knew what he meant.

And what I was about to do would have to stay on schedule.

“Purr, shine a light into the crater.”

We can’t navigate the dark streets blind, and Alex needs to conserve as much magic as possible before the final battle.

I ask Purr, who unlike me can illuminate with flames, to help him see.

“Ku!”

“I promise I’ll make sure to feed you magic tomorrow, okay?”

“Kuuu….”

Purr, who was being forced to go on an intermittent fast by me, shook her head in disbelief at first.

Still, she heard my sincerity, and to a certain extent, it was through her heart, and she immediately began to use her magic at my request.

Reaching halfway into the pocket of my dress, Purr’s palm formed a red fireball of fire magic.

Though small in size, the flame was made of dense magic, and it was enough to light up my and Alex’s vision.

“Thank you, Purr.”

“Kuu!”

With her help, I lit up the dark night, and Alex and I hurried in the direction of the magic leak.

Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who were drawn to the dark magic emanating from the demon.

“Kaaaah!”

An unfamiliar scream began to emanate from the darkness, followed shortly thereafter by the familiar sound of the demon.

“Kaaaak!”

“Gerrrrr, kaaaak!”

“Keeeeeek!”

Judging by the type and loudness of the voices, it was probably a group of goblins.

I don’t recognize the voice of the person who screamed, but it’s probably one of the new students, based on what I know.

“…….”

After my mind went crazy at that point, my steps naturally started to slow down a bit.

If she was even a second year, she might be able to use some self-defense magic.

If she’s still a freshman and has only learned a limited amount of magic, she’s probably not going to be able to deal with a monster that suddenly appeared on her own.

I’m also concerned that it’s a group of goblins that’s trying to get to her.

If she’s left alone, she’ll probably suffer a fate worse than death as a woman.

“…Ariana?”

Alex, who was running with me, noticed my slowing pace and began to call my name, urging me on.

“You can’t hesitate, Ariana.”

“…I guess I should.”

If I save some nameless young lady in the darkness right now, I’ll only be saving one life.

Defeating the Demon Lord, who will appear in a few moments, will mean saving tens of thousands of lives in the future.

We knew this would happen in the first place, and we fully expected that we wouldn’t be able to save everyone.

Saving all of the necessary sacrifices is impossible from the start.

“…….”

“Ariana….”

But I’ve learned that it takes a cooler head than I ever imagined to walk away when you hear someone’s voice in distress so close to you.

When it’s clear to me that it’s time to leave.

Worst of all, if I use my magic to help her in the darkness, I’ll ultimately lose my only chance to cure Alex’s illness.

“Gah, gah, gah, someone please help me!”

I know I shouldn’t be putting people’s lives on a scale, but I’m human, and there are some people I value more than others.

And the opportunity to heal the most important person in the world, someone I would trade my life for, might not come around again after today.

Once I got that far into my head, I was able to calm down and finally make a sober decision.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry….”

I mutter an inaudible expression of apology to her, trying to regain my footing.

“Looks like you’re the one who needs my help this time.”

A gray-haired old man with a long beard emerged from the darkness, with a huge fireball lighting up the surroundings.

“Kie-e-e-e-e!”

“Keeeeeeee!!”

Immediately afterward, the goblins who were hit by dozens of small fireballs let out agonizing screams and began to crawl on the ground.

It was Professor Richie Provayne, the flame archmage of the Eloreal Empire.

“Eeeeeeeee!”

“Keeeeeew!!”

“Kaaaah!”

At the same time, a short distance away, a bolt of arcane energy pierced through the ranks of dozens of demons at once.

At the center of it all, another older archmage could be seen standing in the center.

“Archmage Wales, you need to take cover!”

“Okay, wait a minute….It’s only been half a year since I’ve used magic on such a large scale, and the repercussions are coming again….”

“Form up, everyone! Protect Archmage Wales!”

Professor Wales, the master of arcane magic, as well as other talented mages from the Eloreal Empire.

All of them have come to the Kingdom of Leavrov to fulfill my last request.

On that last day before I left the Eloreal Empire. I left a letter for two Archmages.

A letter asking them to come to the Kingdom Academy on this date, if they would feel my sincere apologies and gratitude.

It was a letter I left without much expectation, intending to save what I could.

The apologies offered to me by the Imperial Mages that day were not untrue, and the two Archmages were punctual in honoring their promise to come to the Kingdom Academy on time.

…Though that wouldn’t leave much time for conversation.

“I apologize for my hesitation, Alex. I won’t stop now.”

“Okay.”

I picked up where I left off, holding Alex’s hand tightly.

It was time for the final showdown with the Demon Lord and the perfect happy ending.