Old Man Isekai - Chapter 10
Guided by Maya, we moved through the forest and quickly located the knights. There, we saw the sight of Yuno and the others, bound with ropes.
"Dai, what should we do?" Maya whispered.
I clenched my teeth before answering.
"We rescue them. But the real problem is what comes after... even if we escape, we don't know enough about this world. First, let's put ourselves in a position of strength, then we'll try to persuade the knights."
"Right, makes sense," Maya nodded calmly, but my chest was tight with anxiety.
"But, if persuasion fails..." I trailed off as the worst-case scenario flashed through my mind. I might have to kill them.
(I’ve never killed a person before. Can I actually do it?)
A moment of hesitation turned into a bead of cold sweat rolling down my cheek. (For the record, I've made girls faint from sex plenty of times, but this is different.) We held our breath and crept closer until their voices became clear.
"Hey! What's the plan? If we go back like this, there’ll be hell to pay..."
"Exactly... we let the demons escape, and now we're holding the Heroes captive..."
"I know! Shut up! You guys think of something too!"
Voices mixed with impatience and irritation echoed through the night woods.
(It looks like they're stuck here because they can't bring themselves to report that they let the demons go and captured Yuno's group... That means the royal castle doesn't know I released the demons yet. But if I go back with these knights now, my betrayal will definitely come to light.)
Sweat soaked my palms as I gripped my spear. Run or fight—the time to decide had come.
"...A-alright, let's do this."
At my trembling voice, Maya asked quietly,
"Are you sure? Dai, you've never killed anyone, right?"
My throat felt parched. I had to be ready to take a life.
"...It's to survive. Maya, are you okay?"
Maya looked down for a moment before staring straight back at me.
"I went through a lot on my path to becoming a Sage. I'm not exactly 'used to it,' but... I'm prepared."
Her words solidified my own resolve.
"Understood. Also, can you restrain all of them at once?"
Maya gripped her smartphone tight and closed her eyes.
"Yeah, with my skills, I can hold them for five minutes."
"Got it. Thank you."
The plan was simple. Maya would use her magic to restrain the five knights simultaneously, giving me an opening to untie Yuno and the others. Once they were free, we would negotiate.
(If persuasion fails... we’ll have to fight.)
My heart hammered against my ribs. Cold sweat ran down my back. Still, I had to move forward. I exchanged a glance with Maya and took a deep breath.
"Alright... now!"
"Right! [Mana Augmentation]—and, [Bind]!"
As Maya activated her skill, a dim light enveloped her and the air crackled with static. Immediately, several black, vine-like chains erupted from the ground, lashing around the knights' limbs.
"W-what is this?! I can't move!"
"Magic?!"
The knights screamed and struggled desperately, but Maya’s magic was enhanced for these five minutes. It wouldn't be broken easily. I sprinted forward toward Yuno.
"Yuno! Are you okay?!"
Still bound, Yuno looked up, relief flooding his face.
"Dai! You’re safe! Everyone else is okay too."
"Lord Dai, thank goodness..." Aria replied tearfully. Sharon and Iris appeared unharmed as well.
"We were so worried," Sharon added.
"I wanted to go use my Resurrection skill on you, but I couldn't move..." (True, Sharon’s skill has a time limit.)
"Is this all of the knights?"
"Yes!"
I cut Yuno's ropes, my voice straining with urgency.
"Yuno! Help me get the others free!"
But in that instant—
"So, you were alive!"
A roar erupted from behind. I spun around to see Miguel charging with his sword drawn.
(...I knew he’d show up!)
Miguel had used his own magic to dispel Maya’s restraint.
(His personality is the worst, but he’s captain-class for a reason. This won't be easy.)
I immediately leveled my spear and caught Miguel’s blade. The shriek of metal on metal rang through the forest.
"Miguel! Stop this! Let’s let bygones be bygones regarding yesterday!"
I tried desperately to reason with him, but Miguel’s eyes burned with hatred.
"Stop? Never! I’ll kill you and make sure you take the fall for everything!"
Miguel swung his sword relentlessly. I parried with the shaft of my spear, closed the distance, and threw a kick. But Miguel saw it coming, dodged, and raised his blade again.
"Dammit...!"
I backed off to reset. Sweat stung my eyes. Then, Yuno's voice called out from behind.
"Dai! The girls are free!"
"Got it!"
(Good, now that they’re mobile, maybe Miguel will listen.)
Or so I thought. A sharp whistle of wind followed. Miguel leveled his sword and lunged straight at me. The moment I saw the look in his eyes, I knew.
(...This guy. Persuasion is impossible.)
Miguel intended to kill me. That was his only "solution." I gripped my spear tighter and gritted my teeth.
"Crap! Miguel, I’m telling you to stop! I won't be responsible for what happens next!"
"Shut up! Die!"
Miguel’s sword came down in a sharp arc. I desperately parried and pushed back. Sparks flew with every clash. Then, I noticed something.
(...He looks terrible.)
Miguel’s movements were sluggish. He probably hadn't rested at all since last night. Compared to him, I felt refreshed and sharp after my "deep sleep" with Maya.
Gradually, Miguel’s swordsmanship grew sloppy, his swings becoming too wide—driven by pure emotion and full of openings.
"Damn you! Damn you! DAMN YOU!"
I didn't miss the opening. Channeling mana into my spear, I blew his sword aside in one heavy strike. I swung the spear in an arc and prepared to thrust it through his chest.
"Dai! Don't!" Maya’s sharp voice rang out.
"!!"
My spear stopped. A few centimeters more and I would have skewered him.
"Why stop me?" I asked, gasping for air.
"Because, Dai... you can't kill someone."
"Our friends' lives are on the line! I can do it!"
"...Your hands are shaking, and your face is white as a sheet."
"That’s... that..."
I was speechless. I hadn't realized until she said it. My hands were trembling, and my throat was bone-dry. Deep down, I hadn't truly found the "resolve to kill."
I was terrified of taking a life. That was the truth.
(...How could I kill anyone like this?)
I lowered my spear. Suppressing my shaking voice, I stared at Miguel once more. "You know it too. Killing each other here won't solve anything."
Right. I wasn't here to fight; I was here to save Yuno and the others. I had to try one last time. "Let's just forget about all this! I don't want to be a killer..."
(I wanted to believe the knights weren't truly bad people.)
But Miguel simply picked up his sword and pointed it at me again in silence. There was no hesitation in his eyes.
"I see... so it's no use..."
The moment I muttered those words, Yuno stepped in front of me.
"Dai, let me take over."
"Yuno, wait—"
Before I could stop him, Miguel sneered.
"Hmph! Pathetic! If you don't have the stomach for killing, don't pick up a weapon in the first place. You're going to have to slaughter plenty of demons from here on out!"
"Shut up..." Yuno muttered.
In the next heartbeat, Yuno's hand blurred.
Flash.
It happened in a split second. Miguel’s head flew into the air as if in slow motion. A spray of blood scattered into the night air.
"..."
I couldn't even make a sound. In that silence, Maya’s skill hit its limit, and the other knights were freed. They charged at us, consumed by rage.
"RAAAAAUGH!!"
Yuno, Aria, and Iris’s magical beasts launched a counterattack. Flashes of magic crossed paths with the sound of clashing steel. One by one, the knights fell, bleeding out onto the forest floor.
I could do nothing but watch.
Silence eventually returned, leaving only the unmoving bodies of the knights on the ground. Yuno took a small breath, and Maya stood there, dazed.
"We managed somehow. Thank you, both of you." Yuno's voice sounded strangely distant.
"..."
"Dai? What’s wrong?"
I bit my lip. My chest felt heavy, almost suffocating.
"...I'm sorry. I didn't have the resolve to kill, I betrayed everyone on my own... and I put you all in danger..."
My voice shook. I could only bow my head deeply to them. Yuno placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"It was dangerous, sure. But... you were cool, Dai. Risking your life to save a child, regardless of whether they're a friend or foe... not everyone can do that."
Aria nodded as well.
"It's true, Lord Dai. Being able to act instantly to save someone—that is far more incredible than being able to kill."
Their words slowly warmed my chest.
"Yuno... Aria..."
Unable to help myself, I pulled them both into a hug.
"Eek! ❤️"
"Oh! ❤️"
Yuno's face turned bright red as he shyly rested his hands on my back. Aria looked surprised for a moment but then met my gaze with a look of deep sincerity.
"Thank you, both of you... Next time, I'll be ready!"
Yuno gave a small nod, and Aria smiled softly.
"Yes, let's work hard together next time."
Then—
"Hey, Dai? Don't you think that’s enough?" Maya was looking at me with half-lidded, judging eyes.
"You’re making them uncomfortable, so let go already!"
"I... I wouldn't mind a little longer..." Aria whispered.
"Me too... I'm fine..." Yuno added in a tiny voice.
Maya laughed a bit mischievously and whispered, "Really? But Dai is smelling your bodies, and you haven't even had a bath yet, have you?"
In an instant— ""NO!! NOT THAT!!""
The two of them leaped away from me simultaneously. I stood there blinking, confused by the sudden change, while Maya gave a meaningful smirk.
"I knew it. These two are suspicious too..."
Despite the awkward atmosphere, we buried the knights. As the battlefield grew quiet, I felt my heart steady slightly.
However, we needed to get back to the royal castle fast. We knew nothing about the demons, the inner workings of this world, or our own true positions. It was too dangerous to stay in the dark.
As we prepared to board the carriage, Maya leaned in close to me. Close enough that our shoulders brushed, she whispered in a tiny, wavering voice.
"Hey, Dai... the night we get back, can I come to your room?"
Her voice was trembling, mixed with hesitation. "What’s wrong?" I asked.
Maya averted her eyes for a second before slowly meeting mine again, her cheeks flushed. "...Our first time was outside... so, um... I want to... overwrite it in a proper bed..."
The last part was barely a breath. My heart thudded in my chest. I never expected Maya to ask for something so honestly. I couldn't even find my voice immediately.
"Maya, are you... really sure?" My voice was awkwardly stiff.
Surprised by my reaction, she pursed her lips and gave a small, quiet nod with her eyes downcast. "Yeah... if it’s okay with you, Dai..."
My self-control was hanging by a thread. "...I understand. Then... next time, we'll do it properly, in my room..."
When I answered, Maya gave a shy, relieved smile. "Yeah... I'll be there. ❤️❤️❤️"
Neither of us said anything more, sitting in silence side-by-side. The heat where our shoulders touched was all I could think about.
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