Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 124

Chapter 124: I’ll Protect You Until 84 Years Old Chapter 124: I’ll Protect You Until 84 Years Old When I was struck by Vaelgorath’s ultimate attack, [Annihilation Loops], the pain was beyond comprehension.

Dying dozens of times over-it was like being dragged into the depths of hell itself.

My mind fractured.

My soul shattered.

I was losing my grip on reality.

Just as I teetered on the brink of destruction, ready to surrender, something resurfaced within me.

A fleeting memory, rising from the depths of my endless deaths.

“This is… the 84th time…” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.

The moment I uttered that number, something clicked in my mind.

A long-forgotten memory, locked away in the distant past, began to replay in vivid detail.

It was a memory from my time on Earth.

I was eleven years old then, a sixth grader.

That night, my father came home.

A man who had long since lost any right to call himself family.

Even after his affair had been exposed, he shamelessly barged in as if nothing had happened.

And then, just like always, the violence began.

He struck my mother.

He struck my sister, Takahiro Nana.

The house was a battlefield.

The air was filled with the sound of breaking dishes, of shouts and sobs.

My older brother, Naki, and I cowered upstairs, hidden away as Nana had instructed.

We clung to each other, listening helplessly as the chaos raged on below.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, silence.

The door creaked open.

A dim light from the hallway spilled into the darkened room, revealing Nana standing there.

Her figure was backlit by the glow, creating a hazy, almost unreal silhouette.

Naki and I stared at her in confusion, our bodies still trembling with fear.

Slowly, she extended her hand toward us.

“It’s okay now, Naki.

Nao.

Everything’s okay.” Her voice was warm.

Gentle.

But when I rushed forward and embraced her, I felt it-her body was still shaking.

“Nana… your cheek…” I choked out.

The bruise on her face was already swelling.

Naki clung to her as well, his voice quivering.

“What happened?

You’re hurt… What about Mom?” “I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Don’t worry.

Father’s gone.

Let’s go check on Mom, okay?” Even as she spoke, her legs wobbled beneath her.

Even as she tried to reassure us, the pain in her eyes was undeniable.

We followed her downstairs, where we found our mother slumped on the floor.

Her face was swollen, her eyes red from tears.

She looked up at us and immediately tried to wipe them away, forcing a smile that only made my chest tighten.

“I’m sorry… Naki, Nao… I’m so sorry for making you go through this…” Her voice cracked with guilt as she turned to Nana.

“And you… Nana… I’m so sorry… I let this happen to you…” That was all it took.

The three of us lunged forward, wrapping our arms around her as if our embrace could somehow mend everything that had broken.

We sobbed.

And sobbed.

Until we had no more tears left to cry.

That was the night I first questioned my fate.

Why was my family like this?

Why couldn’t we have been normal?

Why did happiness seem like a luxury reserved for others?

That night, something dark took root in my heart.

A seed of hatred.

A festering resentment.

I hated my father.

I despised him for ruining our lives.

For weeks, I drifted through life, unable to shake the bitterness.

No matter what I did, the anger wouldn’t leave me.

Then, one evening, Nana found me sitting alone in my room, lost in thought.

Without a word, she grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

“Come with me, Nao,” she said, a bright smile on her face.

We walked to a small hill by the river, a place where the grass stretched endlessly under the open sky.

“This is my secret spot,” she said as she patted the ground beside her.

“It’s the best place to watch the sunset.

I always come here when I’m feeling down.” I hesitated, but then sat beside her.

A warm breeze brushed against my skin.

The sky was painted in brilliant hues of orange and gold, the sunlight reflecting off the rippling water below.

For the first time in weeks, I felt… calm.

Then Nana turned to me.

“You’ve been sulking a lot lately, huh?” “I’m not sulking,” I muttered, averting my eyes.

“Haha!

So stubborn!” She laughed, ruffling my hair.

“Hey!

Don’t treat me like a kid!” I protested, pouting.

“But you are a kid, Nao!

You should act like one!” She grinned, playfully messing up my hair even more.

Then her expression softened.

“Nao… Our family might be a mess.

We might be poor.

And yeah, Dad’s the worst.

But you know what?

We still have each other.” Her hands clenched into fists, as if pushing back painful memories.

But her voice remained steady.

“There are people out there who have it even worse than us.

People with no one left.

No family.

No home.

But we… we have Mom.

We have Naki.

And we have each other.” I looked up at her.

She was still a kid herself, yet she spoke with such certainty, such strength.

“So don’t overthink it, okay?” She smiled, her eyes shimmering in the fading light.

“You’re still a kid.

Play with your friends.

Laugh.

Leave the hard stuff to me.

Because I’m your big sister!” She flexed her arm, pretending to show off muscles she didn’t have.

I chuckled.

“That’s a pretty weak pose, you know.” “Hey!

You’re supposed to be touched, not criticize me!” she huffed.

Then, after a pause, she murmured, “I’ll always protect you, Nao… Maybe even until I’m 84 years old.” “Eighty-four?

That’s… oddly specific,” I raised an eyebrow.

“Haha, well, I heard the average lifespan in Japan is about 84 years.

So I figured that’s how long I’ll watch over you.” She beamed.

“Even if I get married someday, I’ll still stay by your side until you and Naki are fully independent!

I’ll take Mom’s place when the time comes, so don’t be sad, okay?” Her words struck something deep within me.

Before I knew it, my vision blurred.

My chest tightened.

And then- I threw my arms around her, sobbing into her shoulder.

I thought that would be the turning point-the moment Nana overcame her trauma.

But I was wrong.

Her smile didn’t last.

After our parents divorced, Nana steeled herself, determined to pursue higher education.

She threw herself into her studies, desperately trying to push past her trauma.

But then… something happened.

Something that made it even worse.

Even after she entered the workforce, she could never escape the chains of her past.

In the end, she gave up.

She became unable to leave the house.

Unable to meet men.

Trapped in a world of fear and isolation.

Watching her like that broke me.

That was the moment I decided-I would take her place.

I would be the one to work.

To earn money.

I would carry her burden.

I would never forget that resolve.

Even if I couldn’t live until 84, I would make sure Nana did.

No, she would live even longer!

She would have the peaceful, happy old age she deserved!

That was all I wanted.

I refused to let her suffer anymore.

I refused to let her be consumed by her trauma.

And that’s why- I have to finish this damn main quest!

I have to pass this final exam by defeating Vaelgorath!

Then, I will take the Hero’s Trial head-on!

I cannot die here!!!

Suddenly, a notification appeared before my eyes: [Skill: Power of Incarnation-Activated!] In an instant, clarity returned to my mind.

The soul-destroying effects of [Annihilation Loops] began to fade.

I could finally think again, though my mental fatigue still weighed heavily on me.

Fortunately, Envi had taken control of my body, fighting in my stead.

“Envi!

I’ll find a way to defeat Vaelgorath.

Just hold him off until I’m ready!” I commanded through my thoughts.

“Hah!

You lazy princess!

I was going to do that anyway!

Hell, maybe I’ll take him down before you even figure it out!

HAHAHA!” Envi, as annoying as always, still followed my orders.

But I knew-behind his usual arrogance, he just wanted to protect me.

Fine then.

Time to focus.

I have to find a way to defeat Vaelgorath!

The battle between Envi and Vaelgorath raged on, both exchanging devastating attacks.

Then- Another notification appeared.

This time, it shocked even me and Envi.

[Skill ???

in Kagegiri-Activated!] [KAGEGIRI IS EVOLVING!] [ENTERING SECOND STAGE!

UNLOCKING NEW SKILLS!] [NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: Yami no Shōgun (Dark Shogun)] “What the-?!” Envi gasped.

Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of Dark Magic erupted, swallowing Envi whole.

His broken armor shattered-only to reform into something new.

A sleek, jet-black samurai-like armor, pulsating with raw dark energy.

From his back, shadows coiled and flickered like living flames.

[Yami no Shōgun]-a transformation that boosted VIT, STR, and AGI by 50%, while doubling Dark Magic damage.

On top of that, it granted a whole set of new abilities.

“Nao… this is…!” Envi’s voice trembled with awe.

“This is the true power of Kagegiri,” I muttered.

“It’s a Legendary-class weapon.

I always knew it had a hidden skill, but… I never imagined it could evolve like this.” Envi’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

“HAHAHA!

Now this is a damn good surprise!” He cracked his knuckles and turned his burning gaze toward Vaelgorath.

“At least that damn Canis dropped something useful for once!” His eyes gleamed with a predatory light.

“With this power… we just might be able to kill that bastard!” And with that- Envi charged.

A new battle had begun.

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