HPV 98

The concept of a “game” came from a dimension that they knew nothing of, so it was natural that it was hard to understand. But Riarun’s soul was expansive—he accepted it without resistance or side effects.

Even the idea that he had somehow reincarnated into this world was successfully planted in his mind.

With the oracle, Riarun learned about the kingdom and escaped on his own.

He then joined the hero’s party, completing the “six” who had been prophesied in the original oracle.

After that, Riarun would slay the black dragon, return to the temple, and fight Hancanera.

That part is yours now.

The god Gaioh had been watching all along—the path Riarun walked.

The Rohin spirit helped Riarun escape from the temple and hid within the boy’s body as they fled.

After so long under Hancanera’s oppression, it was awestruck by the blue sky and dense forest. It inhaled deeply, just like Riarun. It smiled, at peace, immersed in his emotions.

But over time, it began to demonize, losing its sense of self. It hurt the boy.

The desire to protect faded, replaced only by obsession. When a man tried to draw it away, it clung with desperation, refusing to let go.

There were sounds of quiet sobbing.

Of someone struggling to stifle their cries and hold back tears.

In brief moments of clarity, the Rohin spirit wept—its tears made of water and leaves. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I made you cry.

I’ve become a demon, and all I do is bring you pain.

But even in the face of despair, the spirit continued to lose itself—becoming something corrupted.

And then it awoke to a tremendous roar.

A massive being, soaked in demonic energy, stood before it—the black dragon.

The clash of weapons and ringing war cries sounded like a thunderstorm, yet they came from just five or six people.

The spirit tried to guide Riarun to sacrifice himself with the holy sword. It wished for that outcome.

Because I’ll handle the rest.

Riarun had done everything so well, yet here he was again, returned to this wretched place, facing torment once more.

So the spirit revealed itself fully and spoke to him.

I’m sorry I moved your body without your consent. That was something only possible after my corruption. I’ll never do it again.

Thank you for saving me. Now I will devote myself to you.

You called yourself an extra.

But to me, you’re not an extra. I won’t let you become one.

And I won’t let you become a villain either. You’ve done nothing wrong.

You’re a kind and warm-hearted boy.

Stand tall and go forward. My only child. My master.

You are my protagonist.

When I opened my eyes, everything was soaked. A stream of hot tears slid slowly from the corner of my eye.

Hancanera thought I was crying from humiliation.

He didn’t understand—his smiling eyes were cruel. Sometimes even mocking. The hands that had once toyed with my reactions were now moving boldly, touching below.

I am the child of the spirit who governs water and life.

I realized it far too late—what I am. What I was meant to have.

Along with the awe came a surge of determination, welling up like spring water.

The power of water, meant to be clear and fresh, erupted like a volcanic flow of lava.

For the first time, confusion flickered in Hancanera’s eyes.

And in that moment, an immense light burst from my body.

Instinctively, Hancanera unleashed his own power. The two forces collided, pouring everything they had into devouring the other.

“Guh…!”

Blood spurted from Hancanera’s throat. For the first time, he fell. I struggled to my feet.

Belatedly, I too reached for a weapon, ready to kill him.

But the collapsed Hancanera began to squirm in a disturbing way.

It wasn’t his limbs—it was as if something else inside his body, another lifeform, was writhing.

Hancanera’s scream rang through the underground. His skin bulged in unnatural ways, splitting open, revealing skin that was no longer human.

Frozen, I stared at the horrifying sight—of a man falling into monstrosity.

There wasn’t a trace left of the noble figure he had once been. That was no longer a human being.

Hancanera had transformed into a hulking giant that seemed like it could fill the entire underground corridor.

Something like a giant’s foot pounded the floor—thud.

That massive hand reached toward me.

Startled, I recoiled, practically crawling backward. I staggered to my feet.

The Rohin spirit gave me all the power it had left.

And after defeating Hancanera, it dimmed like it was on the brink of death. It had sacrificed itself for me.

There was no time to steel myself.

I was just a weak creature now, no longer bearing the spirit’s strength. Trembling violently, I scrambled to escape.

I’m going to make it back. I’m going to survive.

I want to go to Banwes.

I won’t die here! I’m not some extra. I’m the protagonist.

There’s no such thing as a story where the protagonist dies!

Thud, crash, thud, crash—massive footsteps barreled toward me impossibly fast.

My heart felt like it would burst, and my legs buckled beneath me.

I flailed my arms and ran in a frenzy. I begged with each passing second—please, just let me make it around that corner.

When I fell hard and couldn’t get up again, I crawled with both arms, my fingernails breaking off, trying to get even a little farther. Just a little… farther…

“Aaaah!”

The monster’s hand seized my body in a crushing grip.

Its fingers tightened, and I felt myself being crushed inside.

Crunch—an awful sound of bones breaking.

A bitter wind roared in my ears. Wham! My head slammed into a wall, and I fell.

I have to survive. The Rohin spirit… even Gaoih gave me their strength.

I fought to stay conscious. If I passed out, the pain would hit me all at once. My whole body throbbed. My head…

Thunk!

Just as the monster reached for me again, something slammed into it, knocking it back.

A voice I’d never heard before echoed through the underground like a battle cry.

A man I knew charged the beast.

You really came. You actually came.

But… what happened to you? You’re hurt. I’ll heal you…

I thought I’d shouted it out loud—but why didn’t Banwes respond?

“……”

I didn’t realize I had already stopped breathing.

***

Banwes’s body was wrecked from fighting through the temple knights.

He’d been slammed into stone walls more than once, his frame stiff and battered. He’d been stabbed more times than he could count. His trail of blood stretched all the way down to the underground.

Even so, a fresh surge of killing intent rose from him, and he fought on as if uninjured.

Banwes tried to climb onto the beast, dodging its hammer-like arms, but the monster swung both limbs wildly, turning it into a one-sided risk.

A fist the size of a man struck the wall beside him, sending Banwes’s body crashing into it, shattering the stone entirely.

He rose from the debris.

Snap—his cracked and broken bones knit back together with a sound like grinding stone.

The High Priest had cast aside his former glory to save Riarun.

What can I give up?

Once, after he had returned to his senses from going berserk, he had the mage examine his body.

There’s no such thing as someone who can take both orc and human form. You’re the first, probably.

If that were the only trait, it’d be a blessing. But unfortunately, it’s not.

You’ll only have a few chances in your life. Maybe next time you go berserk… you won’t come back.

Then you’ll be killed by humans.

You won’t be able to return to Ria’s side.

Even if Ria says it’s okay… it won’t be easy to live like that. Holding hands, looking into the eyes of something inhuman, trying to live like lovers…

Even if Ria accepts it, think of how the world will look at the one who loves a monster.

At the time, Banwes should’ve told Penzey there was nothing between them.

But his conscience had gone quiet in that moment. Even if it earned him scorn, he hadn’t wanted to correct Penzey’s misunderstanding.

—It doesn’t have to be you. I can find plenty of humans who could satisfy me.

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in him now.

His body swelled hideously, just as it had before. Dense, inhuman flesh clung to him like armor.

Even so, he was still smaller than Hancanera, now a full monster.

For Riarun’s life, he was prepared never to return to his human form.

The monster turned and lunged at Banwes.

Banwes seized it with both arms, straining to push it back as he withstood tremendous force.

Was there ever a fight more vile?

They punched and kicked and trampled each other. They tore into each other with their teeth. They slammed each other into the ground again and again. Beat each other unconscious.

Banwes roared in rage, threatening the monster with primal fury.

The underground echoed with the creature’s growls.