Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Crackle—

The arm holding Eternal Bind collapsed. Noya’s body was crumbling. Seeing it, I immediately rushed forward.

Whoosh—!!

Flames burst as I dashed in and caught Noya in my arms. Without delay, I pulled back and examined his body.

“Noya...? Noya!”
“Oh...”

Noya looked down at his shattered body and reacted.

“Well, this is... troublesome. Haha.”

Seeing him laugh made me scowl. Had this old man lost his mind?

“You're laughing... at a time like this?”
“Haha. It just slipped out.”
“Damn it... Why is this happening...”

Ignoring his response, I frantically examined his ruined body.

The arm that had held Eternal Bind was gone. Glancing back, I saw only the blade rolling on the ground. The arm that once gripped it had turned to dust and scattered into the air.

“This... this is...”

*If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net, it has been stolen.*

Words wouldn’t come. What should I do? Hastily, I tried to channel energy into Shin Noya’s body, but the moment my hand touched him, I realized—

“Hah...”

It was no use.

This wasn’t a matter of energy.

‘The body...’

I understood. This was not a real, living body. The difference was unmistakable when I sent my energy into him.

A shell. It was nothing more than an empty shell.

A shell housing only soul and energy—that was Noya's body now.

“This is...”

As I trembled, realizing the truth, something gripped my hand.

It was Noya’s remaining hand.

“You should see your face. Shocked, are you?”
“...”
“Well, what did you expect? A dead man walking—did you think the body would be intact?”
“But... this...”
“Be grateful for this much. Isn’t it a bit greedy to expect perfection... from a fleeting dream?”

Noya rose. I tried to stop him—

“Let go. Tch, you’re a grown man—why are you clinging to me like that?”
“Noya.”