As I expected, there was a leader hiding in the shadows. Fortunately, the wolf completely ignored Nora and directed all of its attention toward me.
Fortunately, with no burden left to protect, I could move far more freely.
I raised my sword and slashed horizontally. An energy blade shot out, slicing through the air with a low, smooth hum. The wolf moved even before the light reached its body.
The slash narrowly missed and struck the stone wall behind it.
There was no explosion. No loud sound.
Only light clinging to the wall, like a stain.
The wolf didn't even look back. It knew the slash had failed—and it knew that I knew it had failed. Its shoulders lowered, muscles tightening. Its long claws lined up straight for my throat.
I shifted my foot. Just a little. Lowered my center of gravity, aligned my breathing with my grip. My sword rose again, but this time the swing was short—efficient, with no intention of piercing through.
The wolf lunged.
Fast. Brutal. Without hesitation.
My blade stopped the first claw. Metal and bone collided with a sharp echo. Pain from the old wound in my left arm surged—hot and sharp. Even though it wasn't my dominant hand, it was enough to disrupt my two-handed sword style.
My grip weakened for an instant.
I rotated my shoulder and let its body pass within inches. The second claw tore through empty air. I countered with a short upward slash—not to injure, only to force distance.
It stepped back half a pace.
I didn't chase.
The wolf growled, low and heavy. Its eyes narrowed. It knew I was injured. It knew time was on its side.
It opened its mouth.
Purple light gathered in its throat, dense and pulsing. The ground beneath its feet trembled faintly as thin cracks spread outward.
I ran diagonally, making myself harder to target. The lightning sphere fired. The air exploded behind me. The shockwave slammed into my back, stone fragments raining over my body.
I drove my sword into the ground to anchor myself, keeping from being thrown by the blast.
Before it could prepare a second shot, I was already moving again.
I attacked once more.
Another horizontal slash. The wolf retreated, then leaped sideways. The light struck a wooden wall at the edge of the courtyard, tearing it apart like wet paper. Small flames flared, then died in the wind.
I released another slash.
One more. Then another.
It dodged them all with ease.
Two new lights clung to different stone walls—one to the left, one behind the wolf. Not a single hit landed. The wolf paused briefly, the corner of its mouth lifting slightly. Not a human smile, but a predator's mocking grin.
Then it attacked aggressively.
The distance vanished in a single leap. The next collision was brutal. I braced its jaws with my blade, teeth grinding against steel. Enormous pressure drove me backward. My feet dragged along the ground, my back nearly hitting the wall.
The wolf stepped forward, confident. I was cornered. My breathing grew heavy. Blood dripped from my arm, my strength slowly fading.
It raised its claw to finish me.
The stone wall behind it trembled.
A blade of light burst from the wall and sliced into the wolf's abdomen. The wolf jolted upward, its body lifted. Its side split open. Blood sprayed onto the ground.
It roared, staggering, trying to turn around.
But it was already too late.
The wooden wall behind it ignited. A second beam of light slammed into its back. The sound of bones snapping rang clearly. Its massive body was thrown aside, crashing heavily into the ground.
It was still alive.
Trying to rise.
I had already walked up and leveled my sword at its neck.
The stone wall to the right pulsed once more. A third light appeared—fast and razor-sharp. The wolf tried to jump, but its legs no longer obeyed.
The blade severed its neck from the side, then was absorbed back into my sword.
The roar was cut off.
The body fell. Trembled briefly. Then went still.
The courtyard fell silent again.
I stood there, breathing hard, sword still in my hand. Blood dripped onto the ground, mixing with dust and shattered stone. Pain in my left arm throbbed insistently, demanding attention.
"Good thing that trick worked," I muttered. "Though I feel dizzy from overusing my spiritual power."
I deactivated my sword. The blade vanished from the hilt, and I returned it to the back of my waist.
I tore part of my shirt, folded the cloth several times, and pressed it firmly against the wound on my arm.
"Argh—"
The sound escaped before I could stop it. Pain exploded suddenly, stabbing straight to the bone—far worse than during the fight.
I clenched my teeth and took a deep breath.
"Damn it…" I muttered quietly. "Now it finally hits."
I increased the pressure slightly. Blood still seeped through, but the flow slowed. My arm felt heavy, like it no longer belonged to me.
Maybe because the adrenaline was finally fading, the pain in my arm came crashing down on me all at once.
At the same time, every injury I had ignored began demanding payment—burning pain in my shoulder, dull aches in my chest, and numbness creeping from my palm.
I grabbed my belt, wrapped it above the bandage, and pulled it tight enough. My breath caught for a moment, but I didn't loosen it.
I clenched my teeth against the pain. Better pain… than bleeding out here.
I opened the map, and there was Nora's location. She was heading toward me. At the same time, I checked the remaining time.
<10:41>
"System, can you give me some leeway?"
"Sure, sure. But can't you give me more time? Like a year, maybe?"
I frowned. It wasn't like I'd never captured a girl's heart in a short time—though that only worked if the woman was a prostitute. Even after everything I'd done, the mission still wasn't complete. Which meant that girl's heart was basically stone.
"Kurogane-san!"
From a distance, a girl shouted, followed by several security officers who froze in place.
Nora ran toward me. I predicted her next move and immediately raised my left hand—without warning, she hugged me tightly. Thankfully, I managed to secure my left arm in time.
"Why…?" Nora's voice trembled. She lifted her head, her eyes glossy as she looked at me.
"Why didn't you just leave me behind…?"
I fell silent for a moment. After all, I couldn't exactly say I'd turn into a woman if I didn't save her. And empty, template words wouldn't move her heart anyway.
Silence hung between us. Nora held her breath, as if afraid even the slightest sound would break the moment, her eyes fixed on me—waiting for my answer.
We were so close I could feel her heartbeat. I leaned down slightly, just enough so only she could hear me.
I'd already made my decision. If empty words meant nothing, then the only thing I could do was speak honestly, straight from my heart. I hoped it would move her when she heard it. And if it didn't… then I'd burn myself away, so no one would ever know I'd become a woman.
My voice was low. Barely more than a breath.
"If I left…" I paused. "…I'd regret it for the rest of my life."
The words fell between us.
Nora froze. Her eyes widened, then trembled, as if something she never expected had just touched her heart.
I pulled away before she could say anything and walked past her.
I took a deep breath and let my voice echo around us. "If something like this happens again, I'll do the same. Even if it costs my life, I'd die without regret."