“Neid, you…!?”
“It’s the best! I have the power of the magic swords to rule over people, and the power to crush anyone I don’t like! Everything I want will come true with these two powers combined! I have evolved into the ultimate being! Gihyahahahahaha!!”
Neid laughed with joy despite being turned into a monster armor beast, meaning surely his heart was already that of a monster as well.
He was uglier than people consumed by the power of magic swords, and was drunk on power to a frightening degree. He grabbed Angel’s neck with his left hand, and spoke with a grin.
“Angel…! I can’t stay in this city because Isaac blundered like that, but someone on my side will guide me as I make my exit. They will come for me at the north of the city, so won’t you come with me too?”
“What are you talking…!?”
“You get it, don’t you? Magic knights are scum, and so is everyone here trying to become one. That Isaac stole a magic sword from guards just because he wanted a strong weapon, and asked me to replicate it.
He’s not the only one either, all the others only care about themselves too. That’s why they trip each other up, and some of them even bet girls in duels. Do you want to keep making magic items for scum like that? Don’t you get frustrated being led around by that kind of people!?”
Neid let go of Angel’s neck, and extended his hand towards her.
Let’s go together… Was what his whole attitude said, as he tried to convince Angel one last time.
“Come with me, Angel. Your strength will be useful. If you don’t want to die here, come with me.”
There was an indescribable pressure. Angel felt a coldness and cruelty from his words that told her she would be killed if she refused.
She had no weapons, and could not even move for that matter, so she faced down and was silent for a second… Before her body trembled as she laughed.
“Fu, fufufu…! Hahahahahahahaha!”
“…What’s so funny?”
“Well… You’re more sensitive than I thought. I just think it’s funny how you’re wailing like that just because your friend betrayed you.”
“What…!?”
Neid was surprised by Angel laughing away his threats, and groaned with a sour expression at what she said.
Angel then looked at him with a look of provocation, showing no fear.
“Neid, I have just two things to say to you. First… You need to stop playing the victim, you narcissist full of contradictions!”
“Wha…!?”
“Everyone is scum? Then why did you trust him!? If you were already unhappy with how things were between magic knights and technicians, and everyone in the regular curriculum is scum, how come you trusted Isaac!?”
Neid gulped at the contradiction, and said nothing as Angel continued.
“You never trusted Isaac, he was just convenient to you… He did what you said and gave you materials, so you two got along nicely. That’s all. You call him scum, but you’re the same! Of course that fragile relationship built on convenience and self-interest crumbled so easily!”
“Shut up! I… I…!!”
“Neid, how many times have you spoken to Isaac outside of the studio? How well do you know him? Did you ever think about becoming his friend? No… That’s all there is to it. You were never friends. It was always a flimsy relationship that was going to fall apart easily. And I’m sure you realized it too!”
Neid fell off because he was betrayed by Isaac… That was his version, but it was cut aside by Angel.
Neid was betrayed, but they never had a trusting relationship from the start. Neid just used this victim position he attained unexpectedly to convince himself that he was right.
If Neid found a student who gave him more materials and was even better than Isaac at doing what he said… He might have been the one who betrayed him.
It was always like that, so Angel told him to stop it with the victim act just because he was the one being cut off. And Neid seethed as he heard her.
Angel was undaunted by this, and stared right back as she moved on to the second thing she wanted to say.
“Also… This academy isn’t just full of scum. At the very least, I have people near me who are good-natured and don’t care about that stuff.”
“Like Yuugo? Haha! Don’t make me laugh! He’s the scummiest of them all! Have you forgotten everything he’s done!?”
“Yes, he’s definitely done things that warrant calling him scum, but Neid… How much do you know about him? Do you know he understood how a monster felt and tried to make friends with it? That he can sacrifice himself for someone who abandoned him? That he’ll fight even if it’s dangerous if it means saving someone? How much he trusts me? If you don’t, don’t call him scum again!!”
“…!?”
Neid let out a gasp and stumbled because of the pressure coming from Angel.
She was unarmed and bound, and definitely weaker than him, so he was baffled by how timid he felt, as she continued to launch her thoughts at him.
“Yuugo’s very honest now. He keeps fighting to protect a lot of people. I want him to be the best magic knight. I want to help him become the best hero in the world, and beat any enemy he faces.
We’re both lacking experience, but I’d much rather die here than to do as you say, and betray someone who trusts me so much and puts his life in my hands!”
“…I see. You got it then. I was going to kill you anyway, I just wanted to see you beg for your life! Gihyahahahahaha!!”
Neid let out a mad laugh, as if showing off how much the situation favored him, like he was masking how Angel pushed him back.
He took out a magic sword and showed it to Angel while speaking with a tone intended to frighten her.
“Your vital energy will feed this magic sword. I wonder how complete it will be in exchange for your life… I can’t wait! Gyahahahahahahaha!”
“…”
He threatened Angel to scare her, as he brought the incomplete magic sword closer to her.
As its tip was about to touch her chest… She opened her mouth and spoke.
“…There’s one last thing I want to tell you.”
“Ah? What? You want to beg for your life?”
He sneered at Angel, and listened.
And after a deep breath, Angel spoke with a light tone.
“They always come when a friend is in trouble. That’s what heroes are all about.”
“Ah? What are you…!?”
Neid had no idea what she meant, but he could not finish his sentence before being interrupted by the sound of a wall crumbling next to him.
Sunlight lit the dim room, and a shadow jumped in.
And when Neid turned towards it, he was surprised by the shadow yelling something.
“Blasteeeeer Kiiiiick!!”
“Guooooooh!?”
The moment the yell reached his ears, an incredible impact sent him flying.
He smacked against the opposite wall, the monster armor beast transformation was undone, and when he looked up, he saw someone he hated wearing a black armor.
“Sorry An, I got here a bit late.”
“You sure did. And I had to keep talking because of it.”
Angel was freed, and casually spoke to the boy who slowly turned to Neid.
Neid glared back as he staggered to his feet… And groaned the name of the boy who removed his armor.
“Yuugo Clay…! How dare you get in my…!!”
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Kamen rider refence: rider kick