“Big brother! Big brother!”
“Yugo! Are you okay?!”
“Yeah! Are you two all right?”
Watching the two of them rush headlong toward Yugo, Marcos sighed inwardly, wondering if anyone was going to spare a thought for him.
Well, it was only natural, he supposed. Reflecting on his own reputation as a nuisance, he accepted his lot in life—only for Fee’s voice to ring out in a near-scream.
“Brother, your hands! They’re in shreds…!”
Startled by the cry, Marcos turned his gaze toward Yugo. The young man had deactivated Blaster, revealing two hands that were now a bloody mess.
During the battle, Yugo had repeatedly thrown full-power punches against the hard, thorn-covered carapace of the crab. The price for such reckless force was plain to see. Fee took hold of Yugo’s mangled hands, his face contorted as if he were the one about to burst into tears.
I’ll gladly trade a hand or two if that’s what it takes. It’s a bargain compared to the lives of these children…
The words Yugo had spat at the Crab Kaijin had been no hollow boast. Even with his skin split and the pain vibrating deep into his bones, Yugo had fought with everything he had to protect the children.
“Yugo, let me see! I can use basic Recovery Magic. I’ll treat you!”
“Thanks, Melt. That’d be a huge help. But don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks.”
“There isn’t a person alive who wouldn’t worry after seeing you covered in this much blood! Honestly, you’re unbelievable…!”
“…Blaster’s specs aren’t keeping pace with him anymore. I have to do something about this…”
Marcos felt a sudden pang of envy.
He thought Yugo was incredibly blessed to have a friend who fretted over his injuries and a younger brother who immediately looked for technical solutions to prevent him from suffering again.
At the same time, Marcos understood that these bonds were things Yugo had forged and nurtured himself. After a self-deprecating sigh, he muttered under his breath.
“I really can’t compete with him, can I…?”
Deep down, he had probably known it for a long time. Whether it was the moment of his defeat in their Duel or the desperate struggle against the Magic Armor Beast in the tunnel, every time he witnessed Yugo’s feats, he felt that gap.
He hadn't been able to admit to the messy swirl of respect and jealousy he felt, and that was how he had ended up here. But now that he had finally acknowledged Yugo, Marcos felt more refreshed than he expected. A faint smile played across his lips.
This doesn’t feel half bad, actually…
As he smiled, he noticed a scarred, bloodied hand being extended toward him. He looked up to find Yugo grinning back at him.
“We did it, Marcos! It’s our victory!”
Before he knew it, the children who had been watching the battle from afar were flocking toward them.
Their faces, which had been stained with tears and anxiety just moments ago, were now bright with smiles. They looked up at him with pure admiration, calling him cool and brave. Marcos felt a swell of pride that he couldn't quite put into words.
“…Yeah. You’re right. This battle is our victory.”
Completely forgetting about the "competition" regarding their nearly non-existent Request, Marcos took Yugo’s hand. They stood there as victors, acknowledging one another.
After Yugo helped him to his feet, they shared a firm handshake. It was a silent expression of gratitude. Through this battle, Marcos had completely re-evaluated both the man before him and himself.
Yugo was strong. Far stronger than he was.
But that didn't mean Marcos was worthless. At the very least, he believed there was something within him that made him worthy of taking this man’s hand.
Someday, he wanted to be the kind of man who could hold his head high, admit his own weaknesses, and find true strength. With that resolve, Marcos felt his Trust deepen for the man he had once called "trash," but now considered "not a bad guy."
After the handshake lingered for a moment, Yugo suddenly remembered something. He looked toward the spot where the man had been sent flying.
“Right, now we just have to haul that bastard in. Even if he’s unconscious, it’ll be a nightmare if he wakes up and goes on another rampage.”
“I agree. We should also confiscate that mysterious Magic Item he pulled from his—!”
Marcos turned to follow Yugo’s gaze, only for the words to die in his throat as a jolt of shock hit him.
The man who had definitely been blown away by Yugo’s final strike… was gone.
There were skid marks on the dirt. There was a clear indentation where a body had hit the ground.
But the scene lacked everything else. There were no footprints leading away, no bloodstains from his wounds—nothing. It was as if he had simply ceased to exist. Marcos, Yugo, and the others stared at the empty patch of grass in disbelief.
“Impossible… I didn't hear a single sound! Where could he have possibly gone?!”
“I don’t know. Dammit! I messed up right at the finish line…!”
They had let their guard down, there was no denying that. But a man who had been rendered unconscious and suffered such grievous injuries should not have been able to vanish without a trace.
Though they had protected the children and defeated the monster, the failure to secure the culprit left a bitter taste in Yugo’s mouth. Trembling with frustration and clenching his battered fists, he stood his ground, waiting for the Security Force that the staff had summoned to arrive.