The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed

486 – Ellie

The moment I saw the cane pointed at me, I felt relieved. If you choose to betray me, Ellie won’t die unlike Nelson’s plan. That’s it. That’s all. Ellie asked as she slowly lost the strength in her shoulders and her gaze was lowering towards the floor.

“Do you regret trusting me?”

The moment I heard that voice, I was overcome by a strange sense of discomfort. The emotion blooming in Ellie’s voice was something that could never be hidden. I raised my gaze and met Ellie’s eyes, who were looking at me. I belatedly realized the identity of the discomfort.

Why did I realize it only now?

“… You, that.”

A cane aimed at me. When I recognized it, I laughed out loud at the contradiction that was so clearly visible that I wondered how I had not recognized it. That was not the wand that Ellie usually used, but the wand of the Fairy King that Bella was supposed to have.

In response to Ellie’s silence, I chose to act instinctively rather than think. I tried to steal Ellie’s staff using space magic, but my hands were unable to break through the encroaching barrier created by the Fairy King’s staff. Ellie, who is quick-witted, seems to have guessed what I would do next.

Looking at my hand waving in the air, Ellie took a deep breath inside the encroaching barrier and then smiled as usual and said.

“I told you. “It’s late.”

What is it that is late? I furrowed my eyebrows and gritted my teeth without realizing it.

“… “Ellie, why do you have that?”

“I got a present.”

Eli said, lowering the staff he had pointed at me.

“Because Bella already knew what choice I would make. Rather than a final gift, given Bella’s personality… “It’s probably a gift to prevent unexpected variables.”

“So you’ve had the Fairy King’s wand until now but haven’t used it?”

As I said that, I thought to myself that Ellie was amazing. The fact that she was on the verge of death several times in the labyrinth and yet she saved it just for this moment is admirable, as is her frankly incredible mental strength.

But my prediction was wrong. Ellie let out a bitter laugh.

“No, of course I couldn’t do it. “If I could have used this for you, I would have used it a long time ago.”

Ellie pointed to the obsidian earrings hanging from the end of her ears.

“That was my limitation, Geass. “Rather than using it just once at the last moment, gain the mental strength to endure until then.”

I couldn’t hide my surprised expression at all. I never thought that Ellie would have something similar to the covenant ring I used. I barely managed to fix my shaky gaze on Ellie’s eyes and asked with difficulty.

“… “Then what now?”

I wanted to ask Ellie if she was using it for me now. But even though he knew the meaning of my question, Ellie did not answer. He just smiles calmly, looking at me with his big obsidian-like eyes. As if my eyes were burning with pain, I couldn’t bear it and asked again.

“Are you using it for me now?”

Ellie smiled pleasantly at the earnest question.

“no.”

Ellie spoke in a very friendly voice.

“I kept my promise to be with you all the way to the 10th floor of the labyrinth, so shouldn’t I get something in return for my promise? “I think I have every right to do that.”

I nodded as I saw Ellie shaking the chalice.

“Okay, that’s enough. If it weren’t for you… “I would never have reached the 10th floor.”

It’s true. If it weren’t for Ellie… I would never have reached the 10th floor.

Ellie looked at me for a moment and blinked. Ellie, who was pursing her lips as if she was hesitant about something, asked quietly.

“I would betray you… “Were you expecting it?”

“No, not at all.”

The answer came sooner than I thought. Ellie smiled brightly at my immediate answer, but then she lowered her head helplessly.

“I see, Ross is an idiot after all.”

After saying that, Ellie raised her head again, looked at me, and asked quietly.

“Then why didn’t you suspect it? No matter how stupid you are… “I’m the one who always plays a leading role in the terrible moments of your life, right?”

I’m a little worried this time. It’s not about worrying about what to say to persuade Ellie, but about how far I can reveal my true feelings. But my worries were shorter than my worries. If it were the last time, wouldn’t I be able to do anything?

“Because it’s you.”

As always.

“I thought it was okay though.”

Because to me, you are Ellie.

“… “You’re an idiot after all.”

I could see that Ellie’s voice was shaking a little as she said that. While Ellie was lost in her thoughts, biting her lip for a moment, I wondered if there was a way to break through her encroaching barrier and snatch her Holy Grail from her hands. This may be possible by using the World Tree window. However, Eli will certainly not be immune to the destruction caused by the World Tree’s spear.

I become greedy. I wanted to save Ellie like this and revive Luna using her Holy Grail. In order to do that, she must somehow persuade Ellie to come out of the encroachment barrier on her own.

“I know how to use the Holy Grail.”

I smiled dryly at the voice that interrupted my thoughts.

“I know. Because I found out the whole truth on the 9th floor. All of this… “That it was Nelson’s plan.”

Ellie shook her head playfully.

“It’s not just Nelson. “I did it with Bella, who gave me this wand.”

“I don’t think Ellie would like it if I knew she was following someone else’s arbitrary plan. “Isn’t she more inclined to screw up in her nature?”

When I spoke as if I was worried, Ellie burst out laughing.

“of course.”

“then… .”

“That’s why I joined the plan.”

“… what?”

“Because I think this is the right answer.”

These are eyes filled with firm will. Looking at it this way, Ellie had many similarities with Roel.

“Because this is a choice that only I can make.”

“… “What do you mean?”

At a critical moment, I felt my voice crack. Ellie opened her mouth after a short silence.

“I can’t be the only one who plays the role of your childhood friend who betrays you at the most important moment, right?”

Was that what you meant? but… There is enough refutation.

“There is nothing more tiresome than reusing materials that have already been used many times. “Repetition of mistakes doesn’t suit the Ellie I know.”

Ellie rolled her eyes and looked at me, tilting her head as if she was a little bored with the conversation.

“I’m sorry, but unlike you, I’m not a writer. So it’s okay if you get tired of me. “If that is the correct answer.”

Be firm. It looks like Ellie has already made up her mind. Realizing that further persuasion was pointless, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Then are you going to bring the Holy Grail to Roel now?”

I thought Eli had chosen Roel, not me, to be the owner of the Holy Grail. Because using me for one’s own gain is the most Ellie-like choice. Betraying me at the most important moment. Losing faith in a precious childhood friend who was with you until the last moment of the labyrinth… I thought it was Nelson’s plan.

however.

“No, I know Roel is wrong, so what would you do? Like the title of the novel, “A warrior’s harem has no choice but to win…” “I have to help Roel win.”

I was confused by Ellie’s words. If it’s not to help Roel, then what on earth are you going to do by betraying me? When Ellie gave him a questioning look, she smiled seductively and spoke quietly.

“To use the Holy Grail, you must first fill it up.”

Ellie, who showed me the empty chalice, spoke in a voice without regret, as if she were revealing a secret.

“With one life.”

“… what?”

“To restore one life, you have to lose one life. Should we call it a fair scale?”

Even though I knew it was a futile move, I instantly materialized a spear of shadow and swung it towards Ellie’s hand holding the Holy Grail. But as expected, all she could feel was the feeling of cutting through the air at her fingertips. I threw the shadow spear to the floor and walked up to Ellie and shouted.

“Ellie!”

A voice filled with laughter answered.

“are you okay. “It’s something I’ve been determined to do ever since I learned how to use the Holy Grail.”

Was this Nelson’s plan? It’s not about losing Ellie’s trust because of her betrayal, it’s about losing Ellie herself to get Luna back. It’s terrible. It was so excruciating that I felt like my heart would break.

Unable to do anything in front of the encroaching barrier, I chewed my lips and spoke sarcastically.

“Ellie, do you think I would appreciate it if you did that? You’re just being stupid. “I will just be happy that I can bring Luna back to life through your sacrifice!”

Ellie laughed quietly.

“If you really did that, you wouldn’t be saying that to me now.”

“… “Ellie.”

I tried hard to reach out, but I couldn’t catch Ellie, who was visible to me like vapor.

“It’s strange. Why are the lies of Ross, a born liar, so obvious to me?”

“… Nelson and Bella are wrong. “That plan was wrong!!!”

No matter how much I screamed, Ellie had a calm face. I could clearly feel that she had already crossed an irreversible line.

“You know, Ross. I always behaved unruly and used you for my own gain. “I left you with wounds that never healed, and I did many unspeakable things to you.”

“… “Ellie.”

“Fighting and breaking up, you trying to get away from me… We become strangers, then we go back to being friends… “My relationship with you is so boring now.”

“… Ellie, please.”

Ellie looked at me after hearing my earnest voice. The obsidian-like eyes were filled with tears.

At that moment, I had a hunch.

That this is our last, which seemed like it would never end.

“And yet you always believe in me. Because Ellie. You say it like it has to be that way. “I, who shamelessly tell people I’m your childhood friend, can’t do that like you, but you always act like it’s obvious.”

“… “It’s not something I did hoping for something.”

“I know, that’s why I’m even more grateful. “Because you were always sincere to me.”

Ellie smiled. Her face was full of tears, but her smile showed no sadness at all.

“A selfish and self-indulgent childhood friend. A bad boy who only thinks about himself. “He is a fool who realizes the importance of Ross, who has always been by his side, only after losing him.”

The tears that were in Ellie’s eyes flowed down her white cheeks.

“It’s just time for that idiot to give back what he was barely able to learn from his precious childhood friend.”

“… .”

“I think that’s a good thing.”

Ellie spoke in an extremely calm voice.

“Because you are my only friend.”

Inside the encroaching barrier, Ellie slowly raised her hand holding the Holy Grail. As I was staring at her blankly, I tried to stop her, throwing her arms around and screaming and calling for Ellie, but her actions did not stop.

“You know, are you going to help me become a better childhood friend next time?”

Seeing Ellie smiling mischievously with a face full of tears, I stopped my meaningless struggle and answered Ellie’s last question while swallowing my tears.

“… Of course, it’s you.”

With those words, Ellie disappeared along with the encroaching barrier.

Only the chalice full of contents was left lying on the floor.

I collapsed on the floor helplessly and crawled on my knees toward the Holy Grail. As I held the Holy Grail in my hand, I literally cried and laughed.

We have come this far.

At the expense of everyone.

So I can’t shake it now.

“… “Luna.”

As soon as the name was said, the contents of the Holy Grail quickly disappeared. The Holy Grail, which was completely empty of its contents, disappeared from his hand, leaving an afterimage like an illusion. As he was looking down at his empty palm, he felt the space behind him tremble.

When I looked back over my shoulder, I saw that the space warehouse had been opened arbitrarily. And Luna, who had been sleeping for a long time inside, was seen slowly walking out.

“… Ross?”

The moment I heard that voice, I felt all the emotions I had suppressed until now exploded.