This is the story of a magician and an elf girl.

"!"

Before everyone understood the meaning of his words, the magician who raised his palm to collect all the magic particles in the atmosphere began to make the next declaration: "Imprint this moment of despair in your mind, and then use your body to carefully taste its taste. I am a pioneer of magic, and also a pioneer of intellect. The operating laws of all magic particles in the world are consistent with my hands and brothers. This is my achievement, my magic, and everything that my qualifications symbolize. When this light shines everywhere in the world, it will be the moment when the new world is born, and all life forms bound by the laws of the old world will be reborn."

The sphere of light gathered in the magician's hand and shone with dazzling white light. The adventurers who could only stand there and look up at him had no idea what the sphere in his hand was. Then he recited the words that symbolized his own existence: "'The light of change'."

It was as if a light powerful enough to illuminate the world was released from the hands of an intellectual pioneer. The people who were unable to look directly at the light were gradually swallowed up by it. The rocks that were originally standing on the ground gradually turned into dust without any shape. Linna wanted to do something, but before she could react, she saw Xiaoxue standing in front of her, spreading her arms as if to block the light.

A huge wall was erected for all the living people present, and Xiaoxue, who was standing in front of the crack in the stone wall, nodded with a smile and looked in the direction of Linna. At the same time, she also heard the language interpreted by Xiaobi's skills: "... Please... Successor of Light... Please... stop the master... He... is definitely... not that kind of person... You and I... know his fragility... his pain... his troubles... his despair better than anyone else... so please don't give up... because - all we can do... is to continue to believe in him... right? 」

"!"

"I beg you to do what I failed to do in the past... This time... Please trust him... Don't let the master be lonely anymore... He is just a child who wants to be loved by someone..."

"...wait...you...are not Xiaoxue...could you be——!"

Just as the magician noticed that there was a girl under the stone wall who was gradually being swallowed by the light.

The girl who smiled at him just quietly bathed in the light. By the time the magician came to his senses and wanted to reach out his hand to save everything, the girl's outline had been swallowed up by the light.

“…Is that… Xiao… Guang…? No… How could it be possible… Wuu… It’s impossible… Xiao Guang… has…”

The flickering light began to disperse like the ripples caused by his shaken state of mind, and the huge power disappeared from his hands in the blink of an eye. The safe and sound adventurers watched the stone wall gradually disintegrate, and the earth spirit servant who should have appeared in front of everyone was nowhere to be seen.

"Xiaoxue... Hey... Stop joking... Xiaoxue... Xiaoxue, where are you..."

“… Ugh…Xue-chan…how could this happen…”

“…Damn it… Magician!! What have you done!!”

Jack, who was wearing an invulnerable armor, couldn't hold back his anger and drew his weapon in the direction of the magician.

But before that, he was entangled by the vines controlled by Linnai, and he couldn't move or act at all: "What are you doing... Linnai! He is no longer the person you knew! Now-"

"Shut up Jack and let me have a word with him."

"...Uh...I can understand...my language function...has been restored...No...this feeling...is it a skill..."

"...Please...I don't want to see anyone sacrificed again...You can't solve the problem alone...Wendy still needs you by her side..."

“…Tsk…I understand…”

Jack knew that she was not angry but was thinking about him. If he rushed over to fight the magician now, he would probably die in vain. Everyone in the previous battle already knew that his strength was like a bottomless abyss.

This was the first time that Jack was asked by her, so he calmed down.

Besides, now... maybe she is the only one who can stop him.

"...Brother...Xiaoxue...could she be..."

"I don't have anything else to say to you. Don't let me kill you here with my own hands at this point, Linna."

This was the first time that Linna was instructed by him in such a rude tone, and she felt like she was back to the time when she first met him.

But she knew that even so it was just the echo of the mask he was wearing.

“…Can you do this…”

"I said it, and I can do it."

"Then show me how to do it."

Linnay pulled out the dagger from her armpit, not intending to fight with John, but throwing it in his direction. John naturally took the dagger, and the touch of the nostalgic leather handle seeped into his palm, even though there were more scratches on it that he had not seen before.

Until Linnay uses it, it still belongs to John, and that will never change.

"…What does this mean…"

"...As you said, the weapon has been returned to you. Kill me now."

"..."

"!" "!" "!"

Linnay slowly approached John without any care. If John, who was staring at her, wanted to kill her, he would not have to approach her on purpose. He could just throw a dagger and make a big hole in her face, or he could use the power of magic on the knife and make her body full of wounds and bleeding.

In order to achieve his goal, Linnay's existence is undoubtedly an obstacle for John now. Only by killing her can true peace be achieved for the world.

Is it really?

“…Is it impossible…?”

"..."

The blade in John's hand is still one meter away - don't hesitate, take action.

“…You can’t do that, right…”

"……Shut up……"

The blade was still half a meter away from John's hand - there was no point in hesitating, just strike.

"…I know you wouldn't do that…"

"...If you come any closer to me, I won't guarantee your life..."

There was still one centimeter between the blade and John's hand - there was no need to hesitate, just strike.

"Don't be so stubborn... Brother... No matter what time it is... I will always be your companion... You are never alone..."

“…Ugh…”

Linnay stretched out her hand to lower the blade, and easily accomplished a miracle that no one present could do. John gritted his teeth as he watched her stretch her hand towards him. His stiff expression softened, but then hardened again due to thinking, and had to soften again as he looked forward.

Linna knew that he was too indecisive to hurt herself.

Just reach out your hand.

Once again, accept the chance she gave herself.

Everything can still be turned back.

Is that really the case?

“…No…No…No…Stop it…Stay away from me…”

"……elder brother……"

John could only push her away and distance himself from Linnay in a very hesitant manner, as if he knew what would happen if he accepted her kindness.

John is very clear about what he should do now and what only he can do, and how important it is to the world.

Many lives have died in front of me, and I have felt powerless and exhausted time and time again.

Inferiority complex will not bring any results, but only endless regret and tears.

What the world needs is not tenderness and love, but a cruel and ruthless reformer.

For the future of mankind, for the future of life, and for the future of the world.

Someone has to step up and make real change.

Someone has to choose to sacrifice everything.

This is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice for me as an intellectual pioneer.

I don't need any belief, I don't need any emotion, all I need to implement is change.