Isekai Losers!

Vol 2. Ch. 26: Resolution

"So?" Lynn asked. "How'd the fight go?"

Right, Lynn. This is a problem. How do I even tell her that I literally let the Goblin Queen run? 

"To be honest, I kind of got overwhelmed and ran away." Ivan lied.

"Bull. You wouldn't run away." Lynn stated, looking down at Ivan with a pitiful gaze.

Aw! Does she really think so? I didn't expect Lynn to hold me in such high regards!

"Hehe, busted..." Ivan smiled nonchalantly.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you turned tail and ran, not one bit." Lynn continued. "But I believe that you have enough decency to run to someone first and ask for help before saving your butt only."

"You can be so ruthless..." Ivan muttered.

"In any case, you've won, haven't you? Where's the Queen? And the doctor?"

"I, uhh, well..." Ivan panicked, stuttering.

Lynn raised an eyebrow as she followed the boy's eyes with her own.

"Haa... fine. There's no making it past you. I actually... let the queen run."

"..."

Lynn blinked. Twice.

"Come again?"

"I let Henrietta run with the Doctor. But she promised she'll change her ways."

"..."

Lynn stared at Ivan, her expression devoid of meaningful emotion.

"..."

"Perhaps I should kill you right here."

"Stop!" Ivan crossed his arms, slipping slightly on the roof as he did.

"Ah!" he clumsily grabbed a wooden beam, stabilizing himself. 

"L-Lynn! I had a good reason! Please, at least let me explain myself!"

The girl sighed, looking to the side.

"...Fine. Please, explain why you made the biggest mistake of your life."

And so, I told her about the conversation between the doctor and the queen after I cut her arm off, well, at least the part I heard. I told her about the doctor being ready to die alongside the queen when I threatened the Queen. I told Lynn about the information I've received from Henrietta, her connection to the man shrouded in black, his extensive knowledge and powers and apparent foresight ability. I told Lynn how I felt the genuine honesty in the Queen's voice.

"So, that's how it happened?"

"Word for word, it's the truth." Ivan nodded at Lynn's question.

"Had it been the queen on her own... I don't think I could believe that she'd change, ever. I would set out to hunt her down this instant." Lynn claimed. "But the Doctor... Doctor Goblin lost Ovro because of the Queen. I don't think the Doctor would simpy switch sides after that."

"Right? Right??" Ivan nodded along like a pup, feeling reassured as Lynn justified his actions.

"He's a good judge of character and has a way with words. Perhaps he really brought out the good in her, a good no one else saw."

"Right? Right??"

"Stop that." Lynn demanded, silencing the boy. "In any case... I cannot agree with letting a criminal go just like that. You should've cut her other arm off, too. But it's all said and done."

"That's brutal, Lynn."

"And deserved." she added. "That way, she couldn't be a threat to anyone else. Whatever... I'm just glad we got some useful intel out of her."

"Speaking of intel..." Ivan remembered. "I was almost killed by the queen, actually. Just before she could, I got a sudden surge of power and then I actually began kicking her butt! And when I say surge, I'm not talking an adrenaline rush. I felt like I was on top of the world!"

"Interesting..." the girl raised an eyebrow.

"It's also how I learned this." 

Ivan jumped up, drawing his sword. With one swing, it began glowing green, and the blade's reach extended way past the house itself as an air projectile.

"Preety groovy, no?" Ivan sheathed his blade with a proud smile before turning to the girl.

He was surprised to see her eyes show surprise. She seemed caught off-guard by Ivan's display.

"How did you learn that?" asked the girl, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"Oh? Well it's actually a skill of that eastern clown who ripped me off for all my money in exchange for teaching me the skill, which he never did. I couldn't master whirlwind on my own no matter how hard I tried. Anywho, when the power boost activated I started throwing whirlwind around like a madman! And the skill stuck around after the boost ended!" the boy proclaimed excitedly.

"And this boost... How did it occur, exactly?"

"Right!..." Ivan stopped talking as images flashed before his eyes.

"Well... it's a bit of a blur really... But..." Ivan thought about it.

"...I think I talked to my past life."

"Hm?"

"In, like, my head." Ivan added. "I think a voice talked to me in my head. He explained to me that I'm going to receive a huge burst of power and unlock my true potential, or something along those lines. He called it the Skyburst."

"Perhaps you hit your head a bit too hard during the fight."

"I would agree with you, but I did get the power boost!" the boy reasoned. "And now I know a skill! And I think he said that every skyborn receives a freebie. When you're in mortal danger you'll probably go wild like that as well."

"Skyburst, huh...? We should probably ask Gabriel or Barny if they know anything about it." Lynn suggested.

"Barny?" Ivan asked. "Didn't he run?"

"He came back." the girl clarified. "With quite the flashy spell, too. He cast the same lightning rain spell that Lan did, except his was bigger."

"I see... So he finally reveals himself as the wizard that he always was..." Ivan muttered to himself.

"And you reveal yourself as a jackass." Lynn sighed. "We almost got killed because your team couldn't do their task with you absent. We would all be dead had it not been for Barny."

"Oh..." Ivan yelped. "Well... in hindsight, you probably would still be alive due to Skyburst and---"

"Oh, shut up." Lynn spoke. "Back on topic. I don't think anyone will have any understanding when they hear that you've let the Queen go. Perhaps not even Gabriel, but we have to share the information the Queen gave us with him, at least. Regarding the Skyburst ability, we'll ask anyone who might know something."