Schnee answered with a smile, to Girard who was disappointed. Knowing the temper of her fellow companion, she replied without hesitating.
“It can’t be helped. Leaving my heroic tale aside. In exchange, please tell me about Shin’s circumstances instead. I received the message, but not the minor details that weren’t written.”
“Is that so, though I already told Schnee, to tell you the truth――――”
Just like at the time with Schnee, he explained to Girard how he ended up here.
“I see. That explains why no matter how much I looked for you, not even a single clue was found.”
Girard, who had now heard his circumstances, nodded. Girard had searched countless times for Shin. Since he shared information with Schnee, he knew that difficulty well.
“Even so, Shin too, don’t let this mysterious thing bother you.”
“Indeed. Well, though not everything, helping out isn’t all bad.”
Girard wore an expression seemingly wanting to say “Yareyare”. Because Girard was relieved as he felt sorry for the person concerned, Shin was slightly touched.
“Is that so? That’s right. At least it’s a good thing to me.”
“Girard?”
Girard’s mood changed. The sensation that Shin felt, pricking his skin, it was the aura that Girard wore.
“Now let’s get down to the main point. Shin, I must tell you something.”
“…..What is it?”
Anticipation appeared in Shin’s mind. However, he calmly asked again, without showing it on his face.
“I am going to die soon. It’s not long now. Perhaps, I won’t last for even one more month.”
“What do you mean?”
At the least, the Girard who was before his eyes didn’t seem like he was going to die in about a month’s time. Rather, his body, with which it wouldn’t be strange if he stayed alive for several more decades, unleashed a suitable presence.
“I’ve felt an uncomfortable feeling for several weeks now, and I was convinced when I read Schnee’s message. Inside me, the stopped time has started moving again.”
“As if it was waiting for Shin to return.”
Schnee also added.
“If God exists in this world, it might have granted my wish.”
“Wish?”
It might be the content of the main point. Girard looked straight at Shin, and opened his mouth.
“It’s a match, Shin. You…me, I want to fight against you.”
“Girard…You…”
In the situation where his life span has shortened considerably, he asked for a match.
Even if Girard didn’t say everything, Shin understood well what Girard wanted to say.
(You want to die in a battle?)
Girard was a warrior. Not as a job, but as a way of life.
For this reason, he couldn’t help but think about it. More importantly, it was a fight against Shin who was the strongest warrior at the same time.
He never had a duel in the game era, a one on one duel with Shin, that is.
How far could he reach with his fists and skills against a transcended person? Not as a Beast King, and not as a support character either. Just as a warrior, he wanted to challenge the summit.
“It’s my last wish. Can you accept it?”
Girard’s eyes conveyed that there was no way more suited to burn the last of his lifeforce. Unaffected by old age, his fighting spirit was still burning brightly; there was no option for Shin to decline.
For example, if comrades who walked together before wished it, even if it lead down a path that would continue until death, it was Shin’s duty to accept his challenge.
For the role of the opponent who gives glory to the end of the first Beast King, there was no person that fit the role better than Shin.
“…I understand. I accept your challenge.”
He looked back into Girard’s eyes and agreed.
There were no grim emotions in the eyes of these two people.
As if it was expected to happen in the near future, such a sensation was shared.
“…………”
As the two resolved themselves to face each other, Schnee was quietly watching them.
To Girard, who had revealed all his feelings, she felt it was enviable.
“By the way, have you talked about your decision to Wolfgang, Van, and Rajim?”
Girard’s existence as the first Beast King was huge. If he died, then the influence his death would have on the surroundings was immeasurable.
“I have told them about my shortening life span, but not yet about the duel. Nonetheless, I have no intentions of concealing it. I will talk to them after this. Well, Van and Rajim seem to be aware of my wish though.”
Saying his confidants’ names, Girard laughed.
They probably pretended not to see through and so on; it seemed like they had really followed Girard for a long time.
“Are they your fellow comrades-in-arms?”
“Yes, after Shin disappeared, it was a relationship built on continuously fighting together.”
Girard probably felt nostalgic for the old days, as he talked while at the same time being boastful in some respects.
“Elephant and turtle. There are one or two kinds amongst the Beasts with long lives, huh? I guess it’s possible to live for more than 500 years.”