'...Alright. It's a bit hard to get used to.'
Returning to reality after facing a god felt like being hit by a sudden wave.
But nothing had changed. Let's proceed with the plan.
"Mr. Heldre. Then, let me make you an offer."
I spoke to Heldre, who looked at me with suspicion.
Even while begging, he must have deemed his chances of survival slim.
Of course, he wasn't wrong.
âAll I want is your life. So, making a deal with you is out of the question.â
ââ¦â¦Then what do you suggest?â
Heldre muttered unpleasantly.
âI will give you a choice.â
âA choice?â
When Heldre asked, I grabbed Cain by the nape of her neck and lifted her up. Heldreâs gaze turned to Cain.
âYou seem to cherish your granddaughter dearly.â
ââ¦â¦Hey, wait a minute.â
Heldre guessed what I was going to do.
And perhaps his guess was correct.
âIâm going to drop Cain from here.â
ââ¦â¦!â
I spoke calmly. I was trying my best to do so.
âI will shoot the same thing I shot at you at Cain as sheâs falling. Cain probably wonât be able to evade an attack that even you couldnât evade.â
Heldreâs eyes opened wide. When I looked at Cain, her expression was more or less the same.
âBut you might be able to stop it. After all, you did block it once.â
Of course, his arms were ruined.
I smiled. Iâve been feeling like a real villain since earlier.
Iâm putting the lives of a granddaughter and her grandfather on the line in front of the grandfather. Well, anyone would think Iâm an evil villain.
âIâm giving you a chance.â
At my words, Heldre clamped his mouth shut. His jaw jutted out.
It was an expression of rage, but I couldnât know what he was thinking.
âI will be creating an opening between the time I drop Cain and the moment I shoot Excalibur. What you do with that opening, whether you run away or try to save your granddaughter, is your choice. By the way, I donât recommend attacking me. It would be futile with those hands, and donât forget about the person next to me.â
At my words, Heldre turned his gaze to Osprey.
Osprey was already next to me. With his abilities, he could easily protect me from Heldre in his current state.
Heldre spoke after a brief silence,
âDoes Osprey also agree to this proposal? Will that bastard not interfere with me?â
âYes, he will. Isnât that right, Chancellor?â
I smiled, looking at Osprey.
Of course, nothing had been agreed upon beforehand. However, if it was Osprey, he would be able to see through my intentions.
âOf course. I wonât interfere,â Osprey said.
I stretched my arm, which was still holding Cain by the neck, to the side. She was quite heavy, even though she was slender.
âThen choose.â
I said, andâ¦
âArgh!â
I dropped Cain without hesitation. Cain let out a short sound that could barely be called a scream.
I pointed the tip of Excalibur, which I was holding in reverse, at Cain. I pulled Mjölnir back forcefully. It was the same attack stance as before.
I still havenât named this attack, but it resembles a hammer striking a nail. I suppose Iâll call it âNail.â
âKuughâ¦!â
Heldre, seeing thatâ¦
ââran away. Without even looking back. He was disappearing into the distance with propulsion flight.
âThis is good enough.â
Naturally, I didnât have the energy to perform a second âNail.â So instead, I said,
âChancellor! Please chase after Heldre!â
âAre you going back on our agreement?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThereâs no need to attack him! Just chase him so he doesnât come back here!â
âââVery well. I understand.â
Osprey also flew off in the direction Heldre had disappeared, using propulsion flight.
Then I canceled Excalibur and Mjölnir. I dropped vertically towards Cain, who was falling.
Itâs terrible to say after dropping her, butâ¦
I was going to save Cain.
She still has some value as she isnât quite ready to die.