An unbearable sharp pain struck, and Kanu felt his vision go black, half of his head caving in!
He struggled, wanting to support himself and stand up to escape, begging loudly.
"I give up on revenge! You're a Familia of Justice, aren't you? You can't kill me!!!"
Rod delivered a brutal and cold soccer kick, exploding his head, and sent him flying next to the stunned Lily. With his hands in his pockets, he looked down at the Orc, who was like a rotting insect, and sneered.
"Sorry, to disappoint you, but I am not a member of the Goddess of Justice's Familia."
"Eh… eh?"
Lily, still in her crawling sprint posture, looked bewildered.
What just happened?
Just a moment ago, the powerful Orc adventurer Kanu had launched an attack. How did the situation suddenly reverse?
Clang—
Lily was startled by the sudden metallic clang, and upon closer inspection, a spiked club lay before her.
"You harbor resentment, don't you? I'm giving you a chance now to vent your hatred on the one who deserves it."
Things like repaying evil with good, or former bullies coincidentally getting their comeuppance and being killed by monsters… Rod would absolutely not let such things happen before his eyes.
In a world where the strong reign supreme, one should seek revenge for grievances and fight violence with violence!
Rod's calm words clearly left Lily, who was accustomed to passive endurance in her past life, somewhat at a loss.
The decision to sacrifice herself just now had exhausted all her courage.
"Lily… Lily…"
"If you can't do it, I won't keep you by my side after this."
Though he spoke cold, unfeeling words, Rhode was touched by Lily's earlier attempt to stop Kanu and had quietly accepted her.
He only hoped this would allow Lily to transform and completely bid farewell to her past.
"!!!"
Lily suddenly looked up, staring at the handsome face fully bathed in sunlight. Her small eyes were filled with disbelief, and she asked timidly, as if she had misheard:
"S-Sir… are you saying you'll take Lily in?"
Rhode didn't dislike Lily's confusion and longing. Her small, helpless eyes reminded him of himself when he first arrived a few days ago, and his tone couldn't help but soften.
"The premise is that you must show me your will. Otherwise, I will still rescue you, but you will walk a different path in life."
"But Lily is just a useless Pallum… she can't help Sir at all…"
"If I say you can, you can. My future plans have many parts that require you, but you must prove yourself to me."
"!!!"
Kanu, lying on the ground, was completely panicked. Through his blood-blurred vision, he looked at Lily pleadingly, his voice hoarse.
"You… can't… We… companions…"
The beast-man, now unable to move, could only try to manipulate the Pallum he had once easily controlled with the so-called bond of companionship.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
This handsome and powerful Sir said he needed Lily…!!!
Her heart, which had been on the verge of falling into an abyss, grasped onto the last straw of hope.
Lily took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, wiped the dust and blood from her face with her sleeve, and stumbled to her feet, laboriously carrying the morning star. She walked step by step towards Kanu.
As the morning star moved, a series of harsh scraping sounds echoed on the stone floor. The sound was like an invisible sharp blade, cutting into Kanu's heart, blow after blow.
Lily stood before Kanu, looking down at the beast-man whose head was so mangled it was almost unrecognizable.
"Sir Kanu, this is the first time Lily has looked down on you. You really look terrible like this."
Kanu glared at Lily resentfully, his hand, raised with effort, seemed to intend to slap Lily as usual, but this time, he was met with the morning star's full-force attack!
"Ugh ah ah ah ah—"
Organs and bones shattered and shifted.
"You don't have the right… to kill me… evil…"
Blood mixed with fragments of internal organs continuously gushed from his mouth.
Lily ignored Kanu's wails, roars, and curses, simply swinging the morning star with increasing force, again and again, her face expressionless.
Finally, there was someone in this world who needed Lily; no one could stop her!
The bullying, exploitation, ridicule, and curses of the past all erupted in this instant!
After an unknown amount of time, Rhode reached out and held Lily's hands, which were so weak they were almost dislocated.
"Sir…?"
"Enough, he's already pulp."
Rhode, not caring about Lily's dirtiness, pulled her into his arms, his voice calm yet full of power.
"My name is Rhode, you can call me Brother Rhode. From today onwards, you are my person, and no one will ever hurt you again."
Lily pressed against Rhode's chest, feeling the tangible warmth and reliance. She clutched Rhode's collar and finally burst into uncontrollable sobs.
"Waaah… Brother Rhode…!!!"