I Was Reincarnated as the Weakest Monster, but I’ll Use My ‘Return from Death’ Skill to Become the Strongest! Even as the Weakest Monster, I Want to Get Stronger, Take Human Form, and Build a Harem… But Why Do Only Yandere Non-Human Girls Keep Showing Up? - Chapter 2.12

Even if it meant mutual destruction—

I was going to kill it.

With that resolve, I launched my swords at the Minotaur.

My blade sliced through its thick neck—

And in return, its halberd swung down, aiming to cleave me in two.

“Riel!”

At that moment—

Ren suddenly appeared in front of me.

“Wha—huh?”

In an instant, the expected outcome changed.

“Gah!”

“Ooooooooohhhhhh…!”

The halberd that should have struck me—

Instead, tore through Ren.

And my sword—

“Ren!?”

Just as planned, my blade severed the Minotaur’s neck.

It collapsed, lifeless.

But I couldn’t care less.

That wasn’t what mattered.

I rushed to Ren.

She lay motionless on the ground, her body drenched in bl00d.

The wound was fatal—one glance was enough to see that.

I dropped to my knees beside her.

“Why… why did you do that!?”

It didn’t make sense.

How?

Why?

I held her trembling form, desperate for an answer.

“I… I’m glad.”

Even as her strength faded, Ren reached out toward me.

A faint smile crossed her lips.

She spoke her final words.

“Ren!”

The next moment—

Her outstretched hand fell limp.

Her eyes lost their light.

“…Damn it.”

Ren had just died—

Right before my eyes.

So now it was my turn to be the one left behind?

Like hell.

“It should have been me.”

If I had died—

That would have been enough.

No one else would have had to suffer.

No one else would have had to endure this pain.

Why did she do this?

“…”

Frustration, grief, and regret weighed on me.

I held Ren’s lifeless body in my arms.

I don’t know how long I stayed there.

“…I have to go.”

Eventually, I forced myself to stand.

Bl00d loss had drained my strength.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

My breaths were heavy.

My legs wobbled as I dragged myself forward.

But I kept moving.

Toward the black shadow.

To give meaning to this loop.

To ensure that Ren would never die again.