30 seconds
For the most part, Hazen is a sadist. The first year Asch self-proclaimed as an adorable disciple, he experienced being suddenly pushed into a ravine from behind. The reason for that is a lion pushes its cub into a bottomless valley1 yada yada yada. After that, he received arduous training in the name of discipline whenever something happened until he became immortal and banished.
“Haa……haa……Hazen-sensei. I am relieved that you are the same as you have always been when I was your disciple, after banishment, and even after death”
Asch, he laughs while running out of breath. That strong front of his was already, a painfully exhausted smile.
“You are the same as always as well, only exceptionally good at running away”
“Sensei just likes inflicting pain, right?”
Hazen has no choice but to execute Lloyd’s orders loyally, but a certain degree of freedom is permitted in fighting. That, is because it’s dangerous if his actions end up restricted due to the order. As long as he has the will to『fight』, it doesn’t matter if he erases him in an instant or he fights slowly and half-heartedly.
Asch looks for a way to win somehow, but it takes all he has to dodge the consecutive Magic that doesn’t even give him any time to chant. He can’t find any room to retaliate.
“……I thought you’d do slightly better. But you sure didn’t grow at all”
“Haa……haa……it’s because Se, Sensei banished me, right”
“Of course I did. I taught you, right? That if there is life, there is death. I reminded you that much”
“……”
Hazen could by no means forgive a Dark Magician who violated the taboo. It’s because Hazen himself, had had high hopes for his talent more than anybody. He was planning to have the man called Asch＝Dahl succeed his everything after all.
“……and yet, you made the worst decision that you must never have. Abandoning the joys of living, you’re akin to something that’s perpetually dying”
“Haa……haa……haa……I don’t want to hear it from someone who got reduced to becoming his disciple’s puppet”
Even though he’s out of breath, the ill-natured Magician’s sarcasm is going strong.
“……don’t worry. I’ll put you into a millennium prison. For future of this world”
Hazen started chanting again, and Asch looked up at the sky reflexively.
At that moment, there was a whoosh from the skies.
“Yoーuーworst teacher―――――――――!”
The ones that came down were, Lily and the Demon Berzelius that was holding onto her back.
“Haa……haa……why are you?”
“Where did you stash Cis!? Quickly say”
Lily grabs the Dark Magician’s collars and glares at him.
“……you broke Mira’s Magic huh. Very well done”
“Something like that doesn’t matter! Tell me Cis’ locat――”
“!? You fool, dodge”
“Kyaa!”
Asch grabs Lily’s shoulder and barely avoids Hazen’s Magic.
“Quickly get away from here! Cis is……up ahead”
He said and pointed at the Saint・Lizabeth church.
“……”
“What’s wrong? You want to save Cis, right?”
“Didn’t you……leave that girl to die?”
“……my calculation got messed up. Variously. Now then, Mira is over there as well. If it’s you and her, then you can save Cis……hurry up and go”
He’s the Dark Magician that would hand over Cis without hesitation depending on the situation, but all will be lost at this rate. Those were the words he spewed honestly, upon reflecting on his own lack of strength. ‘If he can, at least, be even of a little help to her’, were his true unadulterated feelings.
Lily remained silent for a bit, but before long, she shakes her head greatly, turns to Hazen, and takes her stance.
“……no!”
“What are you saying……are you an idiot? You’re going to save Cis, right? You don’t have the time to be bothering with such a worst teacher, right?”
“……”
“Lily-kun. I doubt you can defeat Hazen-sensei even if you were to fight here. No matter what miracle transpires. However, if it’s me, I can buy some time at least. The chances are higher if you and Mira saved Cis in the meantime”
“……I don’t want to”
“Cut it out. I’m logically――”Shut uuuuuuuuuuuup!””
Lily shouts at Asch.
“Wha……”
“Why is that the only thing you can say!? You can’t say anything else. Hey, Asch＝Dahl. You are a human, right? Humans, rather than something like thinking logically, they act emotionally, right?”
“……”
“The reason for me to stay here and fight with the worst teacher like you? I don’t know something like that. You are, always mean and arrogant, narcissistic……I really haate you! But, I don’t want to! I don’t want to abandon you here. I mean, I don’t want to! Humans, they do what they want to do! Isn’t that so, Asch＝Dahl!?”
――Asch＝Dahl, I want to be by your side.
Aah, you did, say that huh.
“……good grief, you’re the same as always”
“What’s that! We have a very shallow relationship of about a month, right!?”
“Guu……since a month ago, I can’t see any improvement in your character”
“Mind your own business, you worst teacher!”
Asch suddenly breaks into a gentle smile at those words and points both hands to the ground.
“……30 seconds”
“What!?”
“Just buy me 30 seconds. Hazen-sensei is the strongest Magician in history. In any case, it’s probably impossible for someone like you”
“Gugu……I, I’ll do it. Don’t come crying afterwards”
While looking at Lily who shouts that, the Dark Magician smiled again, took his eyes away from Hazen for the first time, and shut his eyes.
- It’s a story where a lion pushes its newborn cubs into a deep ravine, and raises only the high vitality cubs that crawled back. It means deliberately giving the ones they actually have deep love a trial and making them improve.
