Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat-Chapter 376: Lucifer

"Lucifel, I have something to tell you."

The man, whom she had reunited with after 25 years, spoke.

"I'm going to die soon."

Hearing those words, Lucifel was stunned and cried out in shock.

“Dying... you’re dying? What are you talking about?!”

It was hard for her to believe. While the man wasn’t young by human standards, he wasn’t so old that he should be on death’s door. She was about to dismiss it as a cruel joke when her eyes caught sight of the collapsed ceiling of the cave.

It was the mark left by their swords when they clashed.

And with that, the joy of their reunion faded, replaced by an unsettling feeling.

Lucifel, suddenly realizing something, turned to the man and asked.

“...What have you done?”

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

She glanced again at the ceiling, at the marks left by their fight. The man’s sword, after 25 years, had grown to match her own.

But that shouldn’t have been possible.

Because the man she knew, though a dedicated swordsman, had talent that could only be considered average at best.

Even with 25 years to train, there was no way he could have reached such heights through ordinary means. That’s why Lucifel asked him what had happened.

The man gave her a sheepish smile and answered.

"I overdid it a little."

He explained that among the treasures he had found, there were swords with special abilities.

One of them was the Holy Sword of Resilience, which restored the user’s body at the cost of their lifespan.

The moment she heard this, Lucifel understood.

He must have trained so relentlessly, pushing his body to the limit—perhaps beyond what any normal human could survive.

To reach such a level, with his limited talent, he had no other choice.

But despite the toll it must have taken, the man showed no regret. If anything, he seemed content with his choice, and Lucifel couldn’t bring herself to be angry.

She had known this about him from the start.

With a weary heart, Lucifel asked,

“...So, did you come to say goodbye before you die?”

“...Something like that, but I have one more thing.”

The man, standing before Lucifel, who was clearly shaken, drew a softly glowing blue sword.

“The name of this sword is the Holy Sword of Desire. It has the power to grant one wish—though nothing too grand.”

The moment he said that, Lucifel realized why he had come to see her.

“...You’re not asking me to make a wish, are you?”

“...Yes. Do you have one?”

The man nodded slowly, and Lucifel bit her lip.

There had always been only one thing she truly desired.

If only she could have spent her life with him, that would have been enough.

But now, after all this time, after he was about to die, he was asking if she had a wish?

The man had come out of kindness, yet all Lucifel could feel was bitterness. She was caught between laughter and tears as she replied.

“...I’m fine. If there were a wish to make, it should be for you. Why not use it to extend your remaining life? Or perhaps, wish to achieve what you always wanted—to become the strongest. You’ve always wanted that more than anything, haven’t you?”

At her words, the man gave a bitter smile and responded.

“That would be meaningless. What would it matter if I used a power that wasn’t my own to achieve my dream? And besides... neither of those wishes would work.”

“Why not?”

“...Because the price for making a wish is the user’s life.”

Lucifel’s eyes widened.

The price for a wish... is the user’s life?

So, he had intended to sacrifice his life to grant her wish?

Just like before, he was willing to do it again?

Lucifel wanted to grab him by the collar and scream, asking who would want such a thing.

But she couldn’t.

“...Ugh.”

Because his body suddenly crumpled.

“...! Are you alright?!”

Catching him as he collapsed, Lucifel laid him gently on her lap.

She asked if he was alright, but somehow, she already knew.

His time was running out.

The man seemed to sense it too. He gazed up at Lucifel, who was looking down at him with concern, and spoke softly.

“...Lucifel. As you know, I abandoned everything except the sword. I chased my dream until the end, so I don’t regret it, but... it wasn’t a life fit for a human.”

“......”

“But now that I’m close to death, I find myself thinking of ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you.”

The man, his gaze meeting Lucifel’s, smiled gently—so unlike the man she had known for so long.

“...At some point in my life, you became a part of it. The conversations we had, the days I taught you the sword, the meals we shared... they turned my life, which had abandoned everything human, into something that felt human again. Looking back, those memories make me smile, and for that, I’m grateful.”

He extended his hand, brushing a tear from Lucifel’s cheek as she realized she had started crying.

“...I wanted to repay that kindness. That’s why I came. So, do you have a wish?”

“...A wish.”

In his touch, Lucifel could feel his deep affection for her.

He was clumsy and awkward in expressing it, but his feelings were genuine.

So Lucifel let go of her bitterness and told him her wish honestly.

“If you’re reborn in another life...”

If reincarnation was real, and one day he was reborn...

Stay by my side. Don’t leave me. Live with me, as family.

That was what she wanted to say.

“...Another life, huh.”

But it seemed her words had stirred something in him.

Hearing her wish, the man muttered softly,

“...If there really is another life, I wonder if I’ll be able to become stronger than anyone then.”

“...Pfft.”

Despite her tears, Lucifel couldn’t help but laugh.

Even as he lay there dying, his thoughts still lingered on the dream he couldn’t achieve. It was so like him.

Seeing Lucifel laugh, the man, slightly embarrassed, smiled back and muttered.

“...No, thinking about it now, that would be impossible.”

“Impossible? Why?”

“Well, because even if I’m reborn, I have a feeling you’ll still be alive.”

Lucifel didn’t deny it.

The 25 years they had spent apart—while he had aged, she had remained the same.

She knew in her heart that she was someone who could live on indefinitely, so she waited for him to continue.

“As long as you’re alive, there’s no way I’ll ever be stronger than you.”

He spoke as if accepting this reality, but then added with a smile.

“...But even so, if I’m reborn, I’ll still strive to be the strongest.”

“...Haha, yes, you probably will.”

The fire in his heart, his passion—it would surely carry over to his next life.

Lucifel, laughing, nodded in agreement.

He was frustratingly unchanging.

And yet, she had no regrets about loving him.

After all, he had made her life, which was destined to be lonely, feel more human.

Lucifel grasped the hand that had been caressing her cheek and held it tightly.

She wanted to stay like this forever, but she could feel the strength leaving his hand.

The moment of farewell was drawing near.

Lucifel spoke to him.

“...It’s true that as long as I live, you won’t be able to become the strongest. I’m too strong for that. So, let’s do this.”

Lucifel had wanted to be like family to him.

But he was someone who lived and died by the sword, and he would likely be the same in his next life.

So she changed her wish.

“...Wish to turn me into a sword. I want to be your sword. That way, in your next life, I won’t hinder your path, and I can help you.”

The man looked at her.

Her wish to become a sword—it seemed absurd.

He silently asked if she was serious, but Lucifel nodded.

For someone who had valued his sword above all else, this was her way of wanting to be the most important thing in his life.

Her heartfelt confession was something he couldn’t refuse, and so, with a soft laugh, he whispered,

“...Let’s meet again, Lucifel.”

At that moment, the man’s body, resting on her lap, began to dissolve into light.

The Holy Sword of Desire, glowing with blue light, guided his essence toward Lucifel.

As the light enveloped her, Lucifel felt a power wrap around her body.

It was a force she could have resisted if she wanted to, but instead, she accepted it and answered him.

“...I’ll wait for you.”

And so, as she wished, she became a sword, waiting for the day they would reunite.

At the time, the sword had used all its remaining power to turn her into a sword, leaving no energy for anything else, like ensuring a future reincarnation.

That reunion, it turned out, was a miracle born purely from the strength of their bond.