A knife would have been nice, but I didn't have any weapons ready at the moment.
In this volatile situation, running into the house to get a weapon wasn't an option, so I could only rely on my bare hands.
The two men in suits standing before me hesitated, their eyes widening as they witnessed my ability activating.
"Are you really going to fight? All you need to do is come to the Association."
"I already know what happened to Kanna when she did that."
Glittering lights and the lines connecting them surrounded me.
These formations, now in position after I'd prepared myself, served as both my spears and my shield.
I could pierce my opponents at will and construct a defensive formation to protect my body.
The men seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation, looking somewhat troubled. But they made no attempt to resolve things through conversation.
With a heavy thud, they took a step forward, flexed their hands in the air, and addressed me.
"...You seem like a hero-in-training. Don't you want to become a hero?"
"What does becoming a hero have to do with this?"
"People live in constant fear of the Wall collapsing, yet you were about to hand over a Totem to someone who might be contributing to its destruction without even realizing it. And now you're refusing to cooperate."
Their expressions grew more menacing.
"Is there something you're hiding? All you need to do is have a simple conversation and claim your innocence."
"Innocence? I was innocent before too...! After cutting off her arms and legs, you suddenly show up and tell me to claim innocence? What nonsense is that..."
The stars flashed brighter.
I already felt a constricting sensation, as if my limits were approaching.
If it weren't for that Strange One, I would have already pushed these people away with the output I had in mind, but I couldn't, which was frustrating.
This situation was all my fault.
But what was I supposed to do?
Stay here quietly while Kanna remained blissfully ignorant, thinking she only needed to be by my side? That was impossible, and I couldn't forgive myself for living that way.
There was no other way to help Kanna recover her memories and restore her mind.
Whether President Lignum had filed a separate report or the information had leaked from somewhere, what I knew for certain was that there was no one I could trust.
In this moment when everything directed at Kanna seemed hostile...
I moved because I believed that being separated from Kanna would put her in danger.
"Breaking and entering... won't work as an excuse, and if you move, I'll shoot."
I harbored hostility that clawed up from my throat.
The men standing in my yard hesitated briefly before tilting their necks slightly.
They seemed to be preparing to charge, cracking their joints, so I remained on high alert.
Two opponents—a bit much to handle alone.
And they weren't ordinary people but Awakened Beings who appeared to be direct Association employees, which would make things even more difficult.
I tried to think of ways to make them give up, but nothing came to mind except overpowering them with force.
How could I overpower them when my ability had limitations?
Could I defeat these two even with those constraints?
No matter how many times I pondered these questions, there wouldn't be a clear answer, so when one of them stepped forward, I raised my right hand and swept it to the right.
Flash.
The small stars in front of me flickered and shot forward like spears.
The light flew like bullets, grazing past them.
"...So this is what makes the Top Rank different."
The man remarked with admiration.
They had moved just one step, and I had fired as a warning.
The tense atmosphere that had been about to explode cooled down again.
"Step back and leave."
"You'll regret this."
"What do you mean?"
"Kanna Aurora. Someone who has had multiple solo encounters with a Strange One and is involved in the Wall's collapse. If she's expelled with such accusations, she won't even get a chance to explain herself."
My teeth clenched.
"If you want to explain, now's the time. If not, she might be banished beyond the Wall based on the Representatives' vote."
They call it banishment beyond the Wall, but how is that any different from killing someone?
Outside, nothing necessary for human survival existed.
If banished, she would likely die of starvation before encountering a Strange One or being trampled by monsters.
If I made the wrong choice again, would Kanna die?
I wanted to protect her, but questions with no answers kept piling up.
And the consequence was a collision of fate I couldn't prevent.
Taking responsibility for one's choices—if that's what being an adult means, then I was still no better than a child.
Even if I was prepared to accept anything and claimed I would bear any burden, it felt painful and miserable when what I had to face became unbearable.
If I cooperated but was only misunderstood and had to return without Kanna, who would be responsible?
If I didn't cooperate and Kanna was banished as a result, and I either died as an accomplice or lived branded as a criminal, who would bear that responsibility?
Since going to prison doesn't mean taking responsibility, even that was impossible for me.
I hated the people who kept backing me into corners, forcing outcomes that were wrong either way.
I hated them so much that I raised my head again.
No.
I can't compromise anymore.
Even if I lacked strength, I intended to fight desperately until I couldn't anymore.
I couldn't let Kanna go. Since I believed either option would push her into an abyss, I wanted to prevent having to choose either one.
I firmly resolved that I couldn't negotiate or compromise with Kanna's life at stake, and I stood my ground.
"—Step back."
I opened my eyes wide.
Words were useless. Neither mine nor theirs.
We wanted different things, and negotiations had broken down.
My unyielding attitude shifted them into combat stance.
They hadn't brought weapons, but I hadn't seen their abilities yet, so I needed to watch their eyes carefully.
Or did I even need to?
Couldn't I just prevent them from using their techniques?
With that thought, my hands came together.
I formed a triangle by joining all my fingers.
"Tch, you won't listen to reason."
The two opponents tried to split left and right.
I looked at each of them in turn, left and right, then opened my mouth.
"Downpour."
With those words, a ring formed above my head.
A crooked ring, as if numerous stars were connected by lines.
It expanded instantly, and the lines thinned until they broke.
The stars floating in the air flashed brilliantly and poured down in a circle around me.
They halted their attempt to use abilities against me and stepped back as the meteor shower-like downpour covered all the grass and soil in the yard.
"Ugh!!"
The man who had been talking all along groaned, apparently unable to dodge completely.
The other man, who had remained silent until now, quietly looked at me.
"From now on, this is considered insubordination. I'm raising Kanna Aurora's threat level. Simultaneously, I'm designating Yoon Ha-min as an accomplice. I strongly advise you to surrender immediately."
"No. That doesn't guarantee our safety anyway."
"That will be for the Representatives to decide."
That's exactly why I refuse.
What I hated most was how they calmly cut off her limbs before.
I hate it, all of it!
Do you really think rejecting her will prevent Strange Ones from entering completely? Was it all because of Kanna that those invasions recorded in history books happened?
No. Those beings would have entered regardless of her existence.
It's ultimately a matter of timing, so why are you making such a fuss about wanting peace, about finding peace in your hearts?
It was maddening.
I had so much to say.
But knowing that we couldn't understand each other, further conversation was pointless.
After dodging my attack, one of the men seemed to see an opening. He gritted his teeth and clapped his hands.
Blood flowed strangely from him and formed in his hands.
The shape of the blood-formed knuckles made me realize his injury wasn't due to inexperience.
He had deliberately allowed himself to be wounded within reasonable limits. That's what it meant.
My mana seemed slightly insufficient. Or rather, the efficiency wasn't great.
Still, I was determined to give it my all.
"Yoon Ha-min, if you surrender and cooperate now, I'll spare just you...!"
"That would be meaningless...!"
A flash of light shot toward the opponent's fist.
He slightly tilted his head to minimize the glare and twisted his waist.
As if his fist had rotated, the bullet of light curved slightly and grazed past.
I wanted to break through his ability even if it meant taking a hit, but it seemed remarkably solid.
"Ugh..."
As I groaned, a sound froze me in place.
It wasn't the opponent's threatening voice or attempts at persuasion.
Just the ordinary sound of a door opening.
The front door clicking open.
"...I-I surrender!"
Kanna shouted that upon seeing me fight.
No, you can't.
"I'll go with you!"
Whether she didn't understand my feelings or I needed to understand hers, she gave me a gentle look despite her apparent fear.