"Listening to you… it seems you're a companion of Kuro Usagi and the others? A companion from the commonality that was taken by the Demon Lo
"Listening to you… it seems you're a companion of Kuro Usagi and the others? A companion from the commonality that was taken by the Demon Lord?"
Leticia was intently watching the Gift Game when a voice sounded behind her.
Only then did Leticia realize someone had approached. She was startled.
But Leticia reacted instantly. Her wings beat powerfully, and with a graceful turn, she stood several meters away, her face cold and alert, looking at the curiously smiling man.
He looked ordinary, almost harmless, his expression stiff, giving the impression of being rather dull-witted.
But Leticia didn't underestimate him. The fact that he had approached her undetected showed he was at least her equal in strength.
With a swish, crimson light flashed from her hand. A huge double-headed knight's lance, disproportionately large for her, appeared effortlessly in her grasp. After a flourish, she pointed it directly at him.
"Who are you?!" Her cold voice was surprisingly light and melodious, causing Arthas to enjoyably narrow his eyes.
"Don't be nervous. I'm a companion of Kuro Usagi and the others, a new member of 'No Name.'"
Arthas looked at the 'Oni-fied' forest below.
"That forest below… your handiwork, I presume?"
"So what?" Leticia frowned slightly, showing no sign of relaxing her guard.
Though Arthas had identified himself, Leticia didn't fully trust him. He could be an enemy of No Name, and knowing the identities of No Name members wouldn't be unusual.
Moreover, Leticia sensed danger from Arthas—a deadly, venomous aura that could consume her if she wasn't careful.
This seemingly harmless man was very strong, far beyond the Seventh Outer Layer.
Why had someone like this suddenly appeared in the lower layers? What did he want?
Because of Arthas's strength, Leticia was even less likely to believe he was a companion of No Name. Such a powerful person would have no reason to remain in a weak commonality like No Name. He could easily destroy them.
In an instant, Leticia treated Arthas as an enemy.
Clearly sensing the girl's hostility, Arthas looked helpless. He didn't know what was wrong; the girl's hostility was inexplicable.
Leticia's face was strained. She had dared to sneak away from her commonality, intending to dissuade the reborn 'No Name' from their plans, only to discover this hidden, terrifying enemy.
But… what should she do? Could she defeat him with her own strength?
"I say…"
But even with low odds, I must fight for everyone in No Name!
Arthas's words were met with a crimson-glowing lance.
"Hey…"
With a helpless expression, Arthas stood motionless, catching Leticia's downward blow with one hand.
"If you're a companion, that's a rather aggressive greeting."
He said with a hint of teasing, a bone-chilling cold spreading from his palm.
Having failed to land a blow, Leticia instinctively pulled back and distanced herself from Arthas. Soon, she was horrified to feel a piercing chill emanating from her lance. Taken aback, she instinctively dropped her weapon.
"Now… can we talk?"
Arthas shrugged, gesturing towards Leticia's discarded weapon. But to the girl, it looked like a provocation.
Damn it… this broken Gift… have I become this weak?
Leticia gritted her teeth, filled with frustration. Again… this feeling, this despair.
The helpless despair of being utterly powerless against absolute strength…
Confused images flooded her mind: familiar and unfamiliar faces screaming, crushed like insects before her.
And she could do nothing… nothing at all, because she was too weak…
Why…? Why?!
I don't want… I don't want to see this happen again…
If… if I still had my divinity!
Leticia's momentary confusion was noticed by Arthas. Worried about her state, he approached and grasped her wrist.
"L-let go of me!"
A memory overlapped with the present situation. Leticia screamed, striking Arthas's chest with a palm strike, then beating her crimson wings, suspending herself in the air, escaping Arthas's grasp.
"Hey… you hit pretty hard."
Unprepared for the blow to his chest, Arthas stumbled, looking at Leticia with a mixture of helplessness and bewilderment, unsure what was wrong with her.
"D-don't come closer!"
The golden-haired girl sobbed, looking at Arthas as if he were a terrifying monster. A stranger might think Arthas had done something monstrous to her.
Arthas looked helpless, slowly approaching the girl. Overwhelmed by resurfaced painful memories, the girl could only clutch her head, allowing Arthas to gently embrace her.
"It's alright… don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of anything. From now on, I'll protect you, No Name, and you. I'll protect you both."
He held her close, gently stroking her soft golden hair. Feeling Arthas's gentleness, the confused girl finally wept openly in his arms.
The girl, who had carried everything alone, blamed herself for the commonality's destruction and her companions' suffering, bearing the weight of it all. Now, in Arthas's gentle embrace, she could finally rest.
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