Glorious Vanity (SI LitRPG)

Darkness. No, that wasn't true.

Although Freyr's vision was covered in darkness, there was a single spot of color within it. A young man standing in the midst of all-consuming shadows, bearing the brunt of it with his own body.

A horrific sight. While his shield shone a golden hue and tried to stave off the attack, it couldn't. The shield remained unbroken and the attack split apart, stopped by the man's body.

The absolute end.

Freyr knew it as true as she knew her own name. The shadows spilling forth and the creature that was its source were both enforcers of 'Fate.' The embodiment of a destiny to end her journey and the mechanisms through which to achieve that end.

It was something that even herself, as an Aesir and now with an item that could deny Fate itself, would have trouble resisting, let alone daring to overcome.

But he did just that.

Instead of trying to run away and abandoning the goal. Instead of leaving it to her in order to try and find a solution, that man moved his weak body to deny the fate before him and protect her who didn't need to be protected.

...Foolish. There wasn't any other word for it. Such an act could only be called one done by a fool with no sense of regard for their own safety.

But how could she call him that?

-Look. The cursed flames tore apart his skin and blackened his bones. His flesh dissolved to reveal pure white that quickly cracked and splintered. His body trembled beneath the weight of the attack and looked like a tattered leaf caught in a hurricane.

But he persevered.

No, he didn't just persevere.

Facing an end that even a goddess couldn't overcome, he staked his life on the line and bore his very soul to resist it.

The shadowy flames vanished, leaving him standing there.

He had won.

...No. He didn't.

Freyr remembered now.

A body more corpse than man. One that became enveloped in golden light as he used his very existence as fuel before crumbling away. His blood, running down her arms and blade as he gave her a path forward.

*static*

The surroundings distorted. Freyr stepped back, staring in shock at the blade in her hands. As she did, she saw another place.

A brown-haired swordsman leering down at her as she was paralyzed by a pink mist. In the distance, Gale's body collapsed on the ground in a puddle of blood, and then Aqua's scream echoing from somewhere she couldn't see.

Hollowness and emptiness in her heart at a sudden betrayal, and then a soft whisper.

*Why are you protecting them?*

A sweet and seductive voice.

*Look. Mankind is this type of beast. Mortals are creatures of greed and desire. The Chosen are no different.*

...Right.

She had seen it for herself, didn't she?

And she could remember it. Those lecherous gazes, the reckless greed in hunting the Shade, people like that John Doe...

*Yes. And Babel provides a way for them to gain power, enough to crush anyone they desire. Something like this... should be destroyed, shouldn't it? Along with those selfish Chosen.*

*Static*

Yes.

That was right.

*And not just Babel... Those gods that stole what you desired, the ones who let you fall. Should they not be destroyed as well?*

...Yes.

The ones who cared only for their own power and ignored those in need. Those who watched her set out on her journey but refused to aid her, calling her foolish and naive.

Such ambivalent beings-!

[My apologies, Miss Valhalla. It appears that an unexpected phenomenon has occurred.]

A slightly artifical female voice echoed.

*What? A Manas?*

A soft *click* echoed, like the sound of someone snapping a case shut. Afterwards, that artificial female voice echoed again. [I thought it was Vain's fault that so many anomalies were occurring in the system, but it appears that an annoying add-on followed a regressor back to the past and snuck into the gap Vain created within your heart.]

With those words, Freyr realized that she was dreaming. And when she did, the surroundings distorted to reveal a starry void. In it, a glowing woman stood in front of her, surrounded by a flurry of messages.

Standing across from her, a dark shadowy being wavered, emanating malice.

*You...! I know not what you are, but she already belongs to me. This may be the past, but her pledge transcends time itself. Fate may have shifted, but it will not change. Babel WILL fall. And she WILL be mine.*

[What an arrogant bastard.] The glowing woman shook her head and then swept out her right hand. When she did, a flurry of glowing messages appeared in front of her. [...Vain's going to do something stupid if he learns about you, so I might as well handle it before he does.]

The dark being swelled up. *A lowly Manas dares to stand in my way?*

[Hm. 'Manas'... I don't know what that is, but you should be careful about assuming. To borrow some words from my user's memories, 'it makes an ass out of you and me.']

*What?*

The glowing woman turned back and waved at Freyr. While her features were obscured by the bright light, Freyr could make out a smile on her face. [Good night, Miss Valhalla. I'm afraid I'll have to delete this record from your memory, but rest assured that the situation will be resolved appropriately.]

Wait! Just what is going on?

[System Message: The Administrative Protocol ***** has detected an anomaly. Beginning purge.]

*My Authority... is being unraveled? What is this sorcery?!*

[Like I said, assuming. And pardon me, Miss Valhalla. I will be borrowing these.]

[Heaven's Veil lends its powers to ***** to defy your fate!]

[Volsunga lends its powers to ***** to sever your fate!]

*Those items...?! No! This is not how the story unfolds! This is not the fate I have inscribed!*

[To quote some words from my user's memories again... 'Sucks to suck.' Now, politely disappear before my user or some of those that owe him favors decide to overturn the storyboard entirely.]

*You-!*

White light erupted in the surroundings, blinding Freyr's vision.

And then she woke up.

-V-

Freyr blinked and slowly looked around.

She was lying in a bed, wearing only her dress. Her sword, Volsunga, remained sheathed at her left side and she could feel [Heaven's Veil] sitting on her chest, letting off a comfortable warmth.

Freyr blinked again, trying to recall what happened. For some reason, she felt as if she was forgetting something important. Confused, she sat up and looked around... and then saw Vain asleep on a chair nearby.

When she did, memories came rushing back.

His story about what happened after the fight. Learning about his situation, and then...

Freyr turned a deep red and then quickly glanced down at her clothes.

They were clean and completely free from the drink that Vain offered her. Not only that, but she couldn't feel that stickiness in her hair and on her face from the spilled liquid.

She paused at that realization and then stared at Vain with a soft smile.

He was fast asleep with his shield resting on his chest. While normally giving off the air of someone who had control of the situation, like that he truly looked like the defenseless mortal he was.

...The defenseless mortal who continued to protect and take care of her even though it would only lead trouble his way.

Freyr felt her heart race at that thought and then let out a sigh. "You reckless man."

She got out of the bed and took a look around. From the darkness beyond the glass windows that she could see, it was still late at night. While she *could* use the time to explore their accommodations and gather information, seeing Vain so defenseless, she decided against it. Instead, Freyr walked over to the chair and then lightly poked Vain's cheek. "Vain," she whispered. "Are you awake?"

He didn't respond, only shifting slightly. It seemed that the day's events had taken a larger toll on him than even he anticipated.

Of course, that was to be expected.

A young man taken from his home by an unknown god without a hint of what his situation was before being tossed into a battlefield. And then after that, going out of his way to care for and protect her, even performing that miracle...

Freyr shook her head and then stared at Vain's sleeping form. When she did, she got mad. "You should think about yourself more, Vain."

Perhaps because... No. Undoubtedly because he didn't want to cause a misunderstanding or discomfort, he had chosen to sleep on such an uncomfortable piece of furniture while allowing Freyr to sleep on the luxurious bed alone.

"I will not allow it." Freyr nodded to herself and then lifted Vain up, hugging him close to her body.

When she did, Freyr thought that he would stir. But he didn't move, completely unaware to the world in his slumber.

Realizing that only made Freyr want to scold him about his recklessness. But she held it back. Instead, she carried him over to the bed and laid him down.

Almost immediately, Vain let out a content sigh and shifted to make himself comfortable, pulling the blanket to cover his body and turning to the side.

Seeing that, Freyr shook her head and said, "You should have just slept here to begin with, Vain." She sighed and started to move back to the chair to rest there. But before she did, she found herself staring at the bed.

It was large, more than enough for two people to sleep in.

Freyr hesitated. "...It would be a waste of such a large bed to have only one of us use it..."

Right. Since Lord Lucifer provided such comfortable accommodations, it would be rude to ignore them.

With that as her justification, Freyr shyly slipped into the bed next to Vain.

Her heart pounded in her chest and she glanced at Vain, afraid that he would hear it and wake up. But he didn't, completely oblivious.

Seeing that made Freyr want to laugh, but she suppressed it. Instead, she lightly tousled his hair and said, "Only you would rest so deeply in such a situation. Are you that tired... Or do you trust me so?"

She didn't know the reason, but she hoped it was the latter. And if it wasn't... she would work hard to make it become the reason.

After staring a moment longer at Vain's face, Freyr closed her eyes and went to sleep. At the edge of slumber, she felt like something was missing and subconsciously reached out to grab it before pulling it close to her body. When she did, she let out a warm smile and slipped back into a deep and comfortable sleep.