Re:Zero: No Job, No Magic, Just a Stupid Romance System

The moment demanded a quick assessment. The fighting spirit under Allen's feet gave him the last bit of strength. In the air, he twisted his body to shield Rudy and Sylphy tightly in his arms.

His fighting spirit was concentrated on his back, and the momentum did not falter.

Then, amid Rudy and Sylphy's screams, Allen crashed into the sea of monsters like a cannonball.

The mass of monsters swelled outward from the point of impact, then exploded. A figure burst out from the center of the chaos.

The last embers of sunlight shimmered over the valley. Blood flowed from Allen's body like a stream, and shattered monster fangs scorched by the fading glow flickered as they fell.

His back had been torn open by monster fangs, blood soaking into the shredded remains of his uniform.

Even though the Dragon Saint fighting spirit had strengthened his body, it was still only an embryonic core. It couldn't fully protect him from injury, especially not while diving straight through a horde of monsters with no blade in hand.

He looked down in mid-air.

Fortunately... they're both safe.

Sylphy and Rudy emerged from his arms, staring at his face in stunned silence. The fall had left them dazed. But the moment Allen broke through the monster net, Rudy instinctively thrust his hand downward and cast a wind magic spell.

The air around them surged, slowing their descent and allowing the three of them to "float" slightly, but the spell was far from enough. They wavered like drifting leaves in the wind.

"Allen! What should I do?! Think of something!"

Rudy kept casting the spell in panic, but it only allowed them to maintain balance—not halt the fall.

While Rudy shouted, Allen, still immersed in "sensory flow," shifted his gaze from him to Paul and Roalds. The two stood at the edge of the broken ridge not far away, eyes locked with his.

They were more than ten meters apart.

Allen had successfully shielded the two children, but the cost was his position. Twisting in mid-air to protect them had reversed his momentum. He had meant to jump back to the cliff—now, he was falling straight down instead.

Suspended in the air, hair flying, wind slipping between his sleeves—Allen stared at the encroaching darkness. The sun had fully disappeared behind the mountain, and night crept in like flowing water, about to swallow them whole.

The roars from Rudy, Roalds, and Paul sounded distant in the muffled world of "sensory flow," as though coming from another place entirely.

In that instant, Allen clearly saw the expressions on Roalds and Paul's faces.

His mind raced.

Worried parents... what now?

A glint of clarity flashed in Allen's eyes. In that split second, he formulated the best possible response.

Allen was still Allen—his instincts, forged by the system's logic of "seeking advantage and avoiding harm," kicked in.

He grinned slightly.

No strength to leap again. Not many options left. But this isn't the worst-case scenario. It's just over ten meters. Paul should be able to handle it.

Blinking, Allen broke out of "sensory flow."

Sound returned.

The wind howled.

Monsters shrieked.

And night swallowed his silhouette.

Allen hurled Sylphy and Rudy toward Roalds and Paul.

His voice cut through the darkness.

"Catch them, Uncle!!!"

Rudy and Sylphy were thrown forward, eyes wide with panic.

No foothold in the air? Then use his own arms as a springboard! If the three of them couldn't get out together, then he would save two first!

Too rational? Calculating? Cold?

Maybe.

But wasn't sacrificing one to save two... the practical choice?

Rudy, completely unprepared, soared in a parabola—Allen's precision control through Beishenliu throwing technique sent him flying toward Paul.

But Allen's smile froze on his face.

Because only Rudy had been thrown.

As for the other...

His right arm was being gripped—hard.

Startled, Allen followed the pressure down his arm.

"Sylphy?!"

In the darkness, Sylphy's face was streaked with tears, but her eyes remained focused on Allen.

She hadn't let go.

She had seen Allen's intention the moment it formed—and refused to leave.

She had always been watching him, every moment of every day, for the past year.

In the next heartbeat, the recoil snapped Sylphy's body forward—she collided with Allen's chest again and clung to him tightly.

Roalds' roar echoed from afar.

"Sylphy!! Allen!!"

The two of them, along with the swarming monsters, plunged into the valley below.

And then—

In the depths of that valley, in the pitch black—

Countless red eyes opened.

The avalanche had come.

As Allen and Sylphy vanished into the gorge, the collapse of the mountain triggered a massive chain reaction. Snow surged down like a black ocean, swallowing everything.

Even the ground beneath Paul and Roalds gave way. Paul clenched his teeth hard to stop himself from jumping after them. He grabbed the disoriented Rudy with one hand and dragged Roalds—who was screaming hysterically—with the other.

Tree trunks tore loose and slid down beside them. Paul jumped onto one, using it like a sled to descend from the ridge into the valley below.

It was the only reason the three of them weren't buried alive.

The moment they touched solid ground again, Roalds dashed into the darkness like a madman. Paul just stood still, his face dark and heavy, watching him go.

The valley floor was cloaked in black.

Roalds didn't get far before he stopped—his mouth open in a helpless cry. His once neatly combed blond hair was now a tangled mess.

Rudy looked around at the devastation.

Finally, he understood.

He collapsed to his knees, gripping his head in despair, unable to speak.

Before them, the only exit from the valley—the narrow "pocket" in the cliffs—had been buried by snow.

Of the three who fell…

Only Rudy was saved.

That was all.