Extra's Path To No Harem-Chapter 208: The Last Bomb [2]

I quickly checked the time.

Eight minutes.

Only eight minutes remained until detonation.

My heartbeat thudded violently in my ears as the reality settled in. There was no time left to think of clever solutions or safer alternatives.

Then... there was only one option left.

I knew it was reckless. Insane, even.

But there was no other choice.

If I hesitated—even for a moment—everyone here would die.

"Anna!! Throw me the bomb!"

"What? B–but—!"

"Hurry!!"

My voice came out sharper than I intended, but there was no room for gentleness now. I could see the fear in her eyes, see her instinct screaming that this was wrong.

I understood that fear.

But understanding it wouldn’t save lives.

If we stayed here, none of us would survive.

"...Alright."

Clenching her teeth, Anna nodded firmly. In the next instant, the heavy metal sphere was flying toward me. I caught it against my chest, the cold surface sending a chill straight through my arms.

No turning back now.

Without another word, I spun around and bolted for the stairs.

Upward.

Toward the top of the spire.

My legs burned as I ran, boots slamming against stone steps that seemed to stretch endlessly above me. Each breath came out ragged, my lungs screaming in protest, but I forced myself onward.

Seven minutes.

Six.

Finally, I burst through the narrow doorway at the top, staggering into the open air.

Wind whipped against my face as I looked out from the spire, my heart pounding harder than ever.

Below me, the city spread out in every direction—dense rows of buildings packed tightly together, rooftops overlapping like scales. Homes. Shops. Streets full of people who had no idea how close they were to death.

There was nowhere to throw it.

No empty field. No river wide enough. No place far enough away.

My fingers tightened around the bomb as its faint ticking echoed in my head, louder than the wind.

"...Damn it."

Casualties would be inevitable if this continued.

That thought alone was enough to make my chest tighten.

"...So this is how it ends," I muttered.

I tilted my head back and looked up at the sky.

It was absurdly clear—pristine, even. Not a single cloud in sight. The kind of sky people admired on peaceful days, not one meant to witness destruction.

As the light slowly dimmed and dusk crept in, I checked the remaining time.

One minute.

No room for hesitation.

I hurriedly equipped Furion and poured every last drop of mana I had into it.

WOOONG—

The device responded instantly, emitting a deep, pleasant resonance that vibrated straight through my bones.

At the same time, agony tore through my arm.

It felt like my muscles were being twisted apart, like my bones were on the verge of snapping. My vision blurred, and sweat poured down my face.

But I couldn’t stop.

Not now.

Gritting my teeth, I endured the pain and continued forcing mana into Furion.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Then—

Using Furion’s ability, I hurled the bomb high into the sky.

"AAAAAAAHH!!!"

The bomb shot upward at terrifying speed, tearing through the air like a comet.

KWAAAAAAANG!!!!

A deafening explosion echoed across the heavens.

The blast bloomed mid-air, scattering blinding light in all directions before dissolving into sparks that vanished against the darkening sky.

At the same time, the shockwave slammed into the ground beneath me.

Crack—

The floor collapsed.

My body dropped violently.

THUD!

"Ugh...!"

Pain exploded through me the moment I hit the ground. It felt like every bone in my body had shattered at once. I couldn’t even scream—my lungs refused to cooperate.

"Louis! Are you okay?!?"

Through my fading vision, I saw Anna rushing toward me, her face drained of color. She knelt beside me, her hands trembling as she checked me over.

Her touch was gentle—almost too gentle—fingers brushing through my hair as if afraid I’d break apart if she moved too roughly.

"...Idiot," she whispered, her voice tight.

I wanted to laugh. Or say something witty. Or reassure her.

But my lips wouldn’t move.

My consciousness was slipping, sinking into something heavy and warm.

At least... it worked.

All the bombs were gone.

No more explosions. No more needless deaths.

That was enough.

I’ll leave the rest... to Anna.

As my vision dimmed completely, I vaguely caught sight of Signut sprinting toward us in the distance, shouting something I couldn’t quite hear.

Then—

Everything went dark.

----

Darkness swallowed Louis whole.

The world faded out—not with noise, not with pain—but with an odd sense of relief, as if he’d finally been allowed to rest.

---

"...Louis."

Anna knelt beside him, both hands gripping his shoulders.

"Louis—hey. Open your eyes."

No response.

His chest was still rising and falling—shallow, uneven, but alive. That alone kept her from panicking completely.

But her hands were shaking.

"...You absolute idiot," she whispered again, her voice cracking this time.

Behind her, heavy footsteps approached.

Slow.

Measured.

Oppressive.

Anna didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

The pressure alone told her.

"Move away from him."

Signut’s voice was low—dangerously calm, like the stillness before a storm.

Anna gently laid Louis down, then stood up.

She turned.

Signut was there, sword lowered but still humming with residual mana. His blue aura hadn’t fully dissipated yet, flickering violently around his body. His eyes were locked onto Louis—no, burning into him.

"...You," Signut said, jaw clenched.

Anna stepped forward, placing herself directly between them.

"If you take another step," she said quietly, "I’ll stop you."

Signut froze.

For a moment, disbelief flashed across his face.

"...You’re protecting him?"

Anna didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

His grip tightened around the sword hilt. The stone beneath his feet cracked slightly.

"He endangered you."

"He provoked me."

"He stole—"

"That’s enough," Anna cut in sharply.

The sudden firmness in her voice made even Signut pause.

"You think he did this for fun?" she continued. "You think he enjoyed carrying that bomb? Throwing himself off a spire?"

Her voice trembled—but she didn’t back down.

"He chose to die so others wouldn’t."

Silence fell between them.

Signut’s breathing was heavy. His gaze flicked back to Louis’s unconscious form—bloodied, broken, barely breathing.

"...He kissed you," Signut muttered.

Anna’s eyes narrowed.

"I kissed him," she corrected.

That hit harder than any blade.

Signut’s expression cracked—just slightly.

"...Why," he asked hoarsely. "Why would you do that?"

Anna exhaled slowly.

"Because I knew you’d hesitate," she said. "Because I trusted you wouldn’t strike if I was in the way."

"And because..."

She glanced back at Louis, her expression softening despite herself.

"...he was ready to die. And someone like that shouldn’t face it alone."

Signut’s sword trembled.

For several long seconds, he said nothing.

Then—

He slowly lowered his blade.

The blue aura surrounding him finally dispersed, fading into the air like mist.

"...Tch," he clicked his tongue, turning his head away.

"You’re infuriating," he muttered.

Anna didn’t relax yet. "Are you done?"

"...For now."

Signut took a step back. Then another.

"But understand this," he said, eyes sharp once more. "If he ever puts you in danger again—"

"I’ll decide that," Anna said immediately.

Their gazes clashed.

Then Signut looked away.

"...Hmph."

He sheathed his sword with a sharp motion.

Imperial Knights were already arriving in the distance—shouts, footsteps, orders being barked. The crisis was ending.

Signut glanced once more at Louis.

"...That fool," he said quietly.

Anna knelt back down beside Louis, brushing his hair away from his face.

"Yes," she agreed softly.

"But he’s my fool."

Signut didn’t reply.

He simply turned and walked away—leaving Anna alone beside the boy who had just saved the city.