A Furious Shuna

—

“What nonsense are you spouting? And why does your voice sound leaky? Like you lost a tooth?”

She raised her hand, the flame flickering, leaning closer to scrutinize Will’s expression.

And then, she saw it…

Will’s eyes, devoid of light, even with the flame inches away. His lips, bloodless and grey.

If before, Shuna thought of Will as a burning stone, radiating warmth towards everyone but impenetrable…

Now, he felt like a cold, shattered rock.

He couldn’t respond with that same “passion,” but through the cracks, the fragments, the broken shell, she could see the “sincerity” he’d kept hidden.

Though he looked utterly pathetic, Shuna felt an unexpected sense of… a deep, desperate will to live, emanating from him.

Shuna understood.

Those three women, through repeated blows, by denying his will and stealing his hope, had smashed this rock. Now, perhaps, the ruthless war for the pieces would begin.

“I’m not. I’m serious.”

“When Eir comes back, she’ll probably start preparing to cut off my pinky finger. Without it, I’ll lose half my grip strength…”

“I won’t be able to hold a staff or a sword properly.”

“After that, maybe my whole hand? Cut off my tongue? My ears? Maimed limbs?”

“See? I can say all these things she might do to me, and… I don’t care anymore.”

“…”

Shuna bit her lip.

She didn’t like this version of Will at all. An unnameable strangeness, a despair so unlike his usual self.

“Because…”

“Because I realized… whether fate can be changed or not, I’ve been played. In the end, I can’t even subdue the ones I raised with my current strength. I’ve failed completely here…”

“No… not just here. Before this, I also…”

“…”

Shuna wanted to speak, but the words caught. She just watched him—his voice calm, low, yet utterly lucid. Analyzing his situation perfectly. Not rambling.

Right. Even now, he still had that familiar “Will” about him.

“But… maybe their love… maybe it makes things a little better. I think… I really did leave myself this one gift.”

“The heroines who love me.”

“So, just being kept here, living out the rest of my life like this… it’s… okay, right?”

“…”

Shuna remained silent.

She’d heard the word—heroine. The last page of his Quest System, written with that wild, desperate look.

“Anyway… I’m sorry.”

“You really did save me many times… Every time, you came back…”

“But this time… I really gave up. It’s better this way.”

“The future I promised you… I don’t think I can deliver it now…”

“Leave. You’re the ‘protagonist.’ There are more exciting stories for you.”

The firelight cast deep shadows over his forehead, plunging into his eyes. This wasn’t him. The Will who thought things through, who pushed through pressure, who always bounced back… that was him.

But this wasn’t strange. This Will was just… more human. Despairing in repeated failures, sinking in the deep water from which he was saved only to be drowned again. Choosing the easier path—lying down, losing himself, letting others do as they wished.

Shuna sighed, extinguishing the flame.

Will lifted his head, looking into the darkness. He strained to hear Shuna’s footsteps, hoping she would leave. She always broke through obstacles to find him, always showed him that she wouldn’t abandon him. Was it because he’d become like the “best friend” from the original story?

Will couldn’t quite recall what exactly that best friend said or did in the original work—Shu’s background was complex, a mystery until the end. But whatever that person did, it shaped Shu’s entire state in the original story—his paranoia, his self-isolation, his caution—all stemmed from his dead friend.

But… Will had always resisted meeting and interacting with this “protagonist.” Even after many chances, after Shuna hinted countless times, after she rescued him over and over.

It wasn’t “Shu” or “Shuna” he rejected. He admired her sharp mind, her cautious yet daring dungeon exploration.

He rejected…

The very idea of a “protagonist” existing in this world.

Crack.

But the sound wasn’t her boots on moss, retreating into the dark.

It was a small flame igniting beside him, attached to a lamp he thought was just for decoration.

And light returned.

“Alright, I’m good now.”

Shuna took a few steps, then perched on the armrest of his chair.

“Even if she comes back, I can escape. But first… I want to hear it from you. What part do I play in the ‘future’ you saw? Why do you reject me so much?” She saw Will, and seemed even happier than if she were rescuing him.

“…”

Will didn’t speak, just looked at her, illuminated by the weak light.

“Basically, this new weapon—you could say you gave it to me. It’s shapeless, a dagger normally, but it can change form. Like the shadow guards in Dungeon 10.” Shuna spun the dagger happily. In the span of seconds, it shifted forms: slingshot, longblade, even a tiny pistol.

“Maybe because it’s made of shadow, I can ‘phase’ through anything covered in darkness. Thin walls? No problem. Good thing it’s night—plenty of shadows.”

“I see…” He sighed.

Right. Shuna was the “protagonist.” No matter what, she always got out, always got the best rewards, always stayed ahead.

“About Eir. The Hysterm estate is under some kind of barrier. Weird temperature, weird humidity.”

“I got in thanks to the Rimefrost Phalanx stuff you showed me. Helped me figure out how to slip past.”

“But she’d notice an intruder. To trick her, I tore up my coat—my scent—and scattered it in the forest. She won’t guess the phasing trick. Didn’t want another fight. Save it for later.”

Optimistic. Daring. Unstoppable.

“So, like you said, let’s escape, regroup, and then teach them all a lesson!” She took his hand, ready to pull him up. Just like at the palace.

She expected him to be eager.

“Oh, right, almost forgot. That stone you were researching? New leads! Out of here, we ditch them, and there’s cool stuff waiting for us in the dungeons!”

“Come on. I know a great place to hide out.”

“Hey, Dungeon 0’s floor Treya trapped me on? Super interesting stuff. I’ll tell you all about it once we’re out—”

…

She chattered on, planning their escape. But Will had changed.

“Wait… Will… are you… off?” Shuna’s hand tightened on his. It felt limp. Like the arm of a stuffed ape.

“Let go.”

“…What?”

“Me… following you… there’s no point anymore.”

“What are you talking about?” Shuna’s hand trembled.

“I… gave up. Being kept here… it’s fine.”