The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me
Chapter 359: The Fourth Trial

"..."

Ruby knelt amidst the devastated cabin with a pale expression.

After a moment of silence, she finally fixed her gaze on the letter.

Hero, you were under Frey's control. We couldn't bear to watch that sight. So, when you momentarily disappeared from the cabin, we attacked Frey.

"What..."

Ruby's eyes began to dim upon reading the letter.

If this letter was true, did it mean that an attack occurred when she left this place?

If it was true, she couldn't bear it, as this meant that this was her fault again.

So it must be false.

Desperately, she sent demonic energy out around her, thinking it might be one of Frey's pranks, but there were no life forms detected.

Just a few fish swimming by the riverside.

As a result, Frey was subdued and detained by us. It turned out that the anonymous report that Frey had actually lost his powers was true.

Realizing this, Ruby suddenly stood up with a blank expression.

Currently, we plan to interrogate Frey to replace out how he subdued you and the method of mind control that prevents you from resisting him.

"No, no..."

Cold sweat began to trickle down her face.

In case of unforeseen circumstances, the entire Hero Party was dispatched to subdue Frey, so they might not be able to come out to meet you. Instead, we will provide you with the coordinates of our current location, so if you come, we will protect you immediately...

"No, no, no!"

Ruby started to run towards the exit of the cabin, screaming.

"Frey! No! Nooo!"

The button mushrooms that Ruby had painstakingly chosen and negotiated for tens of minutes were trampled under her feet.

"Is this my fault? Is this my fault again?"

But without even acknowledging that Ruby opened the door and rushed outside, and began to cast teleportation magic in panic.

- Fizz!

"Ugh!"

However, soon tears of blood flowed from her eyes as she collapsed.

Using teleportation magic required a high concentration, so it was only natural that she failed to cast it in a state of great panic.

- Zzt, zzt! Zzzt!

"Uh, uh..."

She tried several times afterward, but her mind couldn’t focus at all, and eventually, blood began to flow from her body due to the strain.

"I had to go as fast as possible... hurry."

Unfazed by the damage to her body, she calculated the coordinates, and soon she looked up at the sky.

- Whoosh...!

She unfolded her wings.

“I can get there in 10 minutes. Frey, hang in there.”

Fortunately, the Hero Party's temporary residence was not far from here.

If she flew as fast as possible, she might be able to prevent a disaster.

"...It doesn't matter."

For a moment, Ruby thought about what would happen if her identity were exposed, but she quickly shook her head.

Frey, who barely survived soul annihilation by a miracle, was in danger.

If he died, wasn’t it all over anyway?

- Flutter...!

With that thought in mind, Ruby soared into the sky, her hand tightly clenched to the letter sent by Vener.

"I can stop it. I can stop it. I can stop it."

Luckily, the wind was blowing towards where the Hero Party was located.

She estimated she could arrive within 5 to 6 minutes.

"I can stop it..."

She kept reassuring herself with a forced smile. However, her expression soon stiffened when she remembered the state of the cabin.

"..."

She just remembered that the blood in the cabin had already dried up.

- Wobble...!

Ruby's body, flying at high speed, began to wobble in mid-air.

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A few minutes later, at the temporary residence of the Hero Party.

"Huh? What's that over there?"

"Wha-what is that?"

Alice and Arianne, who were sitting around the residence for a break, looked up at the sky with puzzled expressions.

The glimmering dot from the sky was getting bigger and bigger.

"Is that... coming this way?"

"Uh, uh?"

The moment the two girls realized that it was heading towards them…

- Boom!!!

"Aah!"

"A-Are we under attack!?"

The dot crashed in front of them at a terrifying speed.

"Cough, cough..."

"B-Be careful. It could be one of Frey's minions..."

The two girls were dazed momentarily and covered in dust. They hesitated for a moment before assuming a combat stance.

"..."

"Huh?"

"Hero?"

But the figure emerging from the dust cloud was none other than Ruby.

"Ho-how did this..."

"Where's Frey?"

"What?"

Approaching Ruby with a bewildered expression, the two girls listened to Ruby's murderous words filled with killing intent before answering with a confused expression.

"Uh, well... right now, Ms. Vener..."

"He's in the basement..."

- Step, Step, Step...!

"Hero! Where are you going!? It's dangerous!!"

Upon hearing the word 'basement', Ruby urgently rushed inside.

"Ms. Ruby...?"

"W-what's happening?"

"You came?"

Then, the children who had been sitting in the conference room stood up and began to look at Ruby.

"Ho-how do you get to the basement?"

"What?"

"How do you get to the basement!!"

As Ruby screamed at the children, they began to exchange glances with each other.

"Ms. Ruby, please calm down."

"You seem very tired, why don't you rest..."

Gradually, their eyes softened as they looked at her.

It seemed they still thought that Frey was in control of her.

"Frey is currently being interrogated by Ms. Vener. So..."

"...Since when?"

"Uh, well..."

As she looked at them, Ruby felt her heart boil with rage.

"Since yesterday dawn, right after we successfully subdued Frey..."

"No, noooo!!"

Upon hearing those words, she cried out in despair.

"Stop it!! Tell her to stop it right now!!"

"As expected... there's a problem."

"Is it black magic?"

"At least we need to subdue..."

Seeing the frantic Ruby, the students began to approach her cautiously.

"..."

Ruby’s gaze gradually turned cold as she looked at the approaching student.

- Crack, crackle...

At the same time, her mind also grew colder.

Right now, Ruby has only one thing to do.

- BOOOOM!!!!

"Aaaah!"

"What’s happening...!"

With a cold expression, Ruby slammed the ground with all her might.

- Crack...! crack, crack...!!

The surrounding ground shook as if struck by an earthquake, and cracks began to form on the solid floor.

- Whooossh...!

Finally, the makeshift basement was revealed.

"..."

As Ruby was about to leap into it, she slowly looked back.

"...!?"

The children were staring at her with blank expressions.

“Frey… I’ll be there soon… Hang in there…”

Ruby flared her killing intent as if daring the students to follow her before hurriedly jumping into the basement.

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"You're persistent, Frey."

"..."

When I came to my senses, I found myself tied tightly to a chair in a basement, being tortured by Vener.

"Give up. That sigma of slavery you put on me last time was lifted by a Cloud Kingdom sorcerer. I'll have the children do it sequentially too."

The way I was tied up was exactly the same as when I put her in the underground prison last time. Did she remember it so she could repay the favor?

- Twist...!

"...!"

When I was lost in my thoughts, Vener ruthlessly twisted the knife stuck into my side.

Yet, strangely, I didn’t feel any pain.

Kania’s recently developed pain nullification magic came to mind.

But come to think of it, haven't I not felt pain for a long time?

Of course, now I almost guessed the reason, but still.

After this incident, I think I had to do some consultation with Kania.

"All this time, you vehemently denied everything with indignation, claiming you really didn't know. Yet, you remain silent now?"

Well, I really didn't know anything before.

After being devoured by Ferloche and subjected to interrogation about my plan, I've temporarily regained my memory with her permission.

So that was the situation.

To complete this plan, I needed to regain my memory at this moment.

Anyway, when would Ruby arrive? My body felt like it was reaching its limit.

- Squeak...!

As I thought about this, the door behind me opened.

Could it be Ruby?

"Brother..."

Damn it.

Of all times.

"..."

My younger sister, Aria momentarily looked at me blankly.

"...Brother, you know that's what you deserve, right?"

Her expression immediately changed to a cold one and walked away.

However, I noticed a glimpse of 'fear' in her expression for a moment.

She was afraid of me.

It was kind of sad.

"If you had just listened to my advice, none of these things would have happened. Why did you do such scary things anyway?"

That said, I tried to exclude Aria from the plan.

Should have revised the plan a bit more.

"Of course, that's that, but, Vener, this is too much, isn't it?"

"What do you mean by that? This is Frey we’re talking about."

"I'd rather interrogate him myself. You can leave now."

"I don't want to. I’m the highest decision-maker here."

"Are you asking for a fight?"

I sat quietly in my seat, breaking into a cold sweat as I watched the two argue.

Then, I sighed quietly and opened my mouth.

"I'm sorry."

"...?"

Then, the two women shifted their gaze towards me and tilted their heads.

"Just..."

Because I didn't have the strength to say the next words, I closed my eyes quietly and muttered to myself.

A new possibility has opened up... I guess there's no other way.

Until a few days ago, the plan was going smoothly, except for being devoured by Ferloche for a few days.

But then, unexpectedly, a new possibility arose.

I didn't expect such a sudden quest would pop up.

I was still pondering whether to accept it or not.

Well, I'll decide when the time comes.

Now, it's time to welcome her.

- BOOM!!!

"...!!!"

Suddenly, the door behind me burst open and someone rushed in.

"Frey!!!"

It seems like the time has come.

We've prepared thoroughly, even with Ferloche's help.

A single happy ending.

For the 'true ending'.

The time has come to enter a scenario we've never entered before.

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"Ru-Ruby?"

"Hero."

As Ruby smashed through the basement door and rushed in, Aria and Vener stared at her with blank expressions.

"Fr-Frey. I found you..."

However, Ruby was walking, her gaze fixed solely on Frey.

"Fre–"

However, she stopped suddenly, her eyes becoming vacant.

- Blink, blink, blink...

Frey's ring was flashing incessantly.

It seemed like it would turn off in a few minutes.

"Hero, it's dangerous here..."

- Grasp...!

"...Uh?"

Watching quietly, Ruby reached out and grabbed Vener, who was reaching out to her.

"Frey, who did this to you?"

"Disgustingly, he kept shouting your name and fought until the end. Of course, he fainted from exerting all his strength during the battle, so we were able to bring him here.”

"...The knife stuck in his side?"

"We were interrogating him. Hero, by the way, we need to check for the charm magi–-"

With that, she couldn't see Vener in the room anymore.

"Huuuuek!?"

Grabbing her arm with vacant eyes, Ruby threw her with enough force to fling her into the corridor outside the basement.

- Thud...! BOOM!!!

"The system probably protected her..."

Still muttering with vacant eyes as she watched her roll down the corridor and hit the wall, Ruby then turned her gaze to Aria.

"...E-Everyone! It's dangerous!"

She was already heading towards the children who were trying to enter the basement.

- Thud...!

Seeing this, Ruby kneeled on the floor and started crawling towards Frey.

"Frey, I'm here."

"Hehe, Ruby."

Frey replied with a small smile and a soft voice.

"No, no, don't. Don't speak. Don't exert yourself. Just listen."

As the ring was about to go off, Ruby hugged him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Frey, consume my soul. It might stabilize yours."

Then, Ruby offered him a bead mixed with red and silver.

“...What would happen if I recovered from eating that?”

"Of course, if you recover, you will come back to life. So hurry-"

"But then, you'll die right?"

"...What?"

Hearing this, Ruby made a puzzled expression instead of handing him the bead.

"In the end, the Hero will perish along with the Demon King. It's the last verse of the prophecy."

Frey looked directly into her eyes.

"T-That's right. So let's die together, Frey. Consume my soul, recover, and then live happily ever

after. And in the end… we will perish together."

"No."

"...?"

Frey responded with a stern expression, then he smiled and whispered.

"Ruby, I recovered... my memories."

"M-Memories?"

“Yeah, the memories I had with you.”

“...!!!”

Ruby's eyes widened at his words.

Then, Frey closed his eyes and continued.

"Memories of us meeting for the first time, going to the academy together, our first night, and how you got corrupted in my place.”

"F-Frey."

“When you were attacked and disappeared in front of me… Do you remember how I kept shouting your name? Funny, isn't it?"

Ruby's eyes began to fill with tears hotter than ever before as Frey chuckled.

"Don't... don't leave me!"

As tears streamed down Ruby's cheeks and wet Frey's knees, she desperately shouted.

She desperately shouted as her tears soaked Frey’s knees.

"If you won't consume my soul willingly, I'll force you. You'll definitely–"

"When I recover and be the Hero again, you'll eventually be killed by me."

"Isn't that obvious? I'm the Demon King!! It's natural for you to kill me!!!"

"No, it's not."

With a gentle smile, Frey met Ruby's eyes.

"I've gone through countless regressions just to save you. It's the worst ending if you die without living for even a few years."

"But, but... I've already rejected the Purification Quest!!"

Ruby wailed and cried out.

"I'm sorry, Frey... If only I had accepted it... I ruined everything like a fool... I, I..."

"What if there's a way?"

"What?"

"There's a very simple way."

Ruby’s expression turned blank upon hearing Frey’s words.

"I'll become the Demon King in your stead."

"...What?"

Ruby let out a stunned voice.

“Do you know what is floating in front of me right now?”

"...No way."

"As expected, you're smart. You're truly my lover."

"Stop."

Realizing what would happen next, Ruby paled and grabbed Frey's hand.

[Sudden Quest - Corruption]

[Reward: Everything]

"If you failed the Purification Quest, I'll just accept the Corruption Quest. Right?"

"Stop. Stop it. Don't."

Desperately, Ruby shook Frey's body with a frantic expression.

She wanted to knock him out if possible, but if she did, Frey's soul would be extinguished, so Ruby could only plead with him.

"While it says the reward is everything... I only need one thing."

"I told you not to. Frey, do you want me to get angry? Do you want to see the wrath of the Demon King!?"

"You need to live happily, Ruby."

Saying so, Frey shed tears and gently caressed Ruby's cheek.

"I-I'll try to replace a way to bring back the Purification quest! I'll negotiate with the Demon God...!"

"If I'm corrupted and become the Demon King, you'll become the Hero and kill me. It'll be very easy for you."

"No!!! Stop it!!!"

"That's the only solution to break this vicious cycle of sad ending."

"Stoppp!!!"

Despite Ruby's desperate cries, Frey eventually made his decision.

[Accept]

"I love you forever, Ruby."

"Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!"

Ruby screamed to the heavens and completely lost her mind when she saw Frey close his eyes after professing his love for her one last time.

[Retry checkpoint designated]

At the same time, the system window began to appear automatically.

[Error: Owner of the unique ability [Retry] not found]

[Initiating eligible candidate search...]

Under the numerous lines written in the air, only one sentence appeared at the very bottom.

[The Fourth Ordeal begins.]

At that moment, the sky began to darken.