Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 52: The Decision [3]

Ellegaard’s voice echoed alongside the memory.

"Loser"—that was what she called him. "Loser"—that was what many others had called him, even when he was already at the top in his home world. He closed his eyes, calming those memories. He clenched his fists tightly and, just like for most of his life, stared at a screen in the middle of the darkness.

The shadow spoke again. Its voice was calmer now, more understanding.

"Doubt is what turned you into what you are. Do not doubt, for your destiny lies in your decision."

’My destiny...’ His lifeless eyes fixed on the only option that would pull him out of misery. ’I can change...’ Hesitantly, he reached toward the window and made his choice.

[ Accept being the Herald of the Unnameable. ]

The option glowed faintly as he selected it, making the second option disappear. Then, dark-colored electric sparks burst from the window, crackling as a powerful gust of wind disturbed the stillness of the black sludge. The purple flames danced, casting grotesque shadows of the columns that trembled over Mitsuki’s body.

His tattoo glowed as a consequence of his decision, even through his coat, as black veins spread throughout his body. The pain it caused was unbearable. He grabbed his arm, groaning in agony.

The window glitched, sounding like violent electrical short circuits.

[ Your title "Herald of the Unnameable." has been activated. ]

[ Your title "King of the Void" is now in effect. ]

[ Your title "Prince of Misfortune" is preparing to activate. ]

[ Your title "Master of Cinder" vibrates strongly like a compass. ]

[ Your titles have entered into conflict due to an unexpected error. ]

[ Recalculating. ]

’What is this? What’s happening to me?!’ Mitsuki thought. It wasn’t just the pain—his entire body was changing. His hair turned purple at the tips, his eyes began to glow like the flames of the lamps, and his skin split as dark veins covered him. ’It feels horrible!’

[ The system is updating. ]

[ The Herald’s suggestions have been taken into account. ]

"Ahhhhh! Make it stop!"

The shadow whispered, "You must be strong... Your body is preparing to receive the powers that await you beyond this land. This way, you won’t die from the overload, and even if it hurts, it will keep you alive."

"But it hurts too much!"

"It will only be this once. After that, neither I nor the system will bother you again. This is goodbye, Mitsuki."

Gasping in pain, Mitsuki leaned back against the throne. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing... Only that it was fun being your friend, but the time has come for both of us to fulfill our promises. I only hope that, from now on, you make the right choices. You don’t have to destroy the world if you don’t want to, but there will surely be moments when you’ll consider it. Remember, even in misfortune, I will be with you, even if my existence fades away forever..."

"You..."

At that moment, memories of a shadow flooded Mitsuki’s mind. In those memories, he was just a child, smiling as he watched a shadow. Both of them were sitting on the small stage in the park. The shadow watched him play video games, and they chatted cheerfully.

"No... I..."

"It’s a shame you no longer remember me, but at some point, all children must let go of their imaginary friends. Goodbye, Mitsuki."

[ Update complete. ]

[ The skill "Progression Healing" has finished its work. ]

"No! Wait!" Mitsuki shouted through the agony. He twisted on the throne to look behind him, where those white eyes watched in silence. A surge of strange memories pierced through his skull, and as the shadow disappeared, those memories faded as well. "Who are you really?! You’re more than just a part of me! Tell me!"

The shadow did not respond; instead, the sound of electricity and the system’s glitch echoed in its place. Crawling toward the eyes in the sky, Mitsuki fell face-first into the sludge, and as if reading his mind, the sludge hands rose and helped him back to his feet. However, a pair of hands climbed up his head, forming a crown—decorated with a purple jewel shaped like a black hole and sharp thorns—that pierced into his skull.

The pain didn’t matter to Mitsuki. He kept moving toward the eyes in the sky, but he could go no further. The system displayed one final notification.

[ Rest state has been deactivated. ]

[ You will awaken shortly. ]

Darkness swallowed Mitsuki.

He opened his eyes, finding himself staring at the familiar ceiling of his room at the inn. His hand was stretched upward, as if he had been trying to reach someone.

His expression of absolute shock said more than a thousand words.

[ Patch Summary. ] the system displayed on his tattoo.

’What is this...? Discord?’ he thought, as if trying to hide the fact that tears were streaming down his face.

***

It was already early morning. The sun shone, birds sang, flowers bloomed, and the galloping of horses echoed along the road. Jeanne looked at Ellegaard with a complicated expression. She felt both angry and sad—something this elf clearly could not see.

Ellegaard rested at the side of the carriage, reading a book as usual. She ignored everything around her, but she noticed the princess’s gaze.

"You’ve been staring at me all night. Is there something on my face?"

Jeanne sighed, exhausted. "I don’t understand how you can be so cruel. Mitsuki didn’t deserve what you did to him."

She returned her gaze to the book.

"Maybe not, but he wouldn’t have understood what I wanted to tell him unless I made his position clear the hard way. Haven’t you seen how he trains and studies? When he sets his mind on something, he does it no matter what."

"That... that’s true..."

Mitsuki, despite how he is, never gives up when something truly interests him. Even if Ellegaard scolded and beat him, he wouldn’t quit—he would keep trying.

"But he’s weak, and you know it. If he came with us to the heart of Nemoria, he would definitely be killed. And you know very well we wouldn’t be able to protect him all the time. It’s better if he takes what happened last night as a life lesson and goes his own way. And if our paths ever cross again, I’ll kick his ass again."

"I... I just hated the way we said goodbye to him. I can’t deny I’m angry at you for causing all this."

"There are very few times when you get angry. I’m surprised."

"Well... I just hope Mitsuki can get through this. It was the first time I saw him cry..."

Ellegaard lowered her gaze. Her breathing wavered.

"Yeah... I really went too far."