Sousetsuka

Guildmasters' Battles And, Finally On the Move

This chapter starts from Daijel's Guildmaster, Velgarando's POV.

Demons are burning down town of Daijel.
Each and every one of these demons is a power house matching Advanced Job, no, nearly Special Job holder level.
Ten-odd of those beings are invading this town, and that's the number we know.


"Don't try to defeat 'em!! Just focus on defending!!"

"You're up against Special Job-tier of monsters! You ain't gonna last a second!"

"M-Master! The demons are approaching the east gate too!"

"Dammitall! Keep the barrier up! Use all the scrolls and magic tools we have! Don't think about what happens after this battle, just focus on surviving this moment!"


I've been using my Abilities as a 'Commander' to boost our personnel's combat power and hold back the demons, but it ain't gonna last forever.
We're barely holding up, we likely won't last another hour, maybe even a few minutes.

Just how many demons they sent to this little backwater town!
Buildings and facilities get blown into smithereens every time those demons shoot their magic, meanwhile none of our attacks put a damn dent on 'em!


"Hurry up with the Remote Mana Ore Depth Charge! That stuff at least works on 'em!"

"F, finished setting up the unit in District A!"

"Bait and blow 'em all! Finish the set up at other districts while you're at it! Everyone's gonna die if you don't make it quick!"


The suspicious magic tools Kajikawa gave us worked surprisingly well, but we didn't have enough time to make a whole bunch.
Daijel woulda long been gone if not for this stuff. But they ain't gonna keep working indefinitely!

We coulda put up a good fight if only we got even just one Special Job holder with us, but they all got dispatched to bigger towns, we ain't got none here.
We don't have means to evacuate this town and get the people to another town, heck there ain't no safe town anywhere. The entire dang world's been turned into a battlefield.
...The world mite' be ending for real.


"Mana Ore Depth Charge, set off! ...It's no use, those demons have been injured but they're far from dead!"

"That's plenty enough! Shoot 'em with everything you got, magic, arrows, Farslashes, anything! Shoot! Shoot shoot shoot, don't give 'em time to relax! Just keep shooting!!"


I know how unreasonable I'm being with these orders, but we gotta use everything in our disposal to slow them down even for a second.
We've lost more than 30 soldiers, and adventurers already. The number is only gonna grow in all likelihood... Me included.


"Master! T, this spot is dangerous, please fall back!"

"Shut it! Coulda asked ya the same, why'd a receptionist be here at the frontline! Get back!"

"O-our defense line is going to collapse if we lose you, our only Commander! You must not die here, Master! I'm begging you, please retreat!!"


Neia got teary eyed from my yell, but she wouldn't stand down.
...This gal's usually the last thing from reliable, when'd she turn into a full fledged adult.

I ain't staying here by choice either.
But the effect of Commander's ability boost is higher the closer they are to their allies.
Meaning, me shouting out orders here is far more effective than getting all cozy in the back.

That mighta worked well enough against ordinary opponents, but it be nothing but a tickle against these demons.
I gotta leg it here in the frontline to squeeze out every last drop of my buff.

But even this powered up buff is nothing more than a slight assurance against these demons.
Dammit, y'all are dealing with an over sixty geezer! Gimme a damned break!


"T-they've broken through the last defensive line of the barrier!"

"They're going to smash through! What should we do, what can we do!"

"At least get civilians to safety with Teleport magic..."

"Fool, there ain't anybody who could do that handy stuff here! Where'd you wanna take 'em to anyway when erry town's like this!"

"B-but we have no means to oppose them once the barrier is breached! Everybody is going to die!"


We could have fought back if only there were one Special Job holder buffed with my Skill Abilities and support magic, but there ain't no point what if-ing this stuff.
Think! Think, think! What's the best way to get through this with the cards we got in hands...


The last defensive line got smashed through along with the sound of glass breaking.


"...Hmph, what irritating resistance. You vermin."


The demon who broke the barrier grumbled with a frown.
...It's the end.


Both the civilians and us could only fall into despair, powerless to even scream.







~~~~~~~~Lolimast POV~~~~~~~~~







"Run! Keep running! Run like your life depends on it!!"

"Ivran-chan! There's a demon at the fork ahead!"

"Ah geez, how are they so persistent!"


I've been frantically shielding the fleeing civilians from the demons' assault by cooperating with my stupid sister.
We're up against 20 Special Job-tier demons. What are we even supposed to do here.
That strongest couple can probably take care of them, but my stupid sister is the only Special Job holder at this town.

Well, we still have it better though.
Velga-managed Daijel doesn't even have a single Special Job holder and only a few Advanced Job. It won't surprise me if that town's fallen already.
It's like having to deal with 20 Gluttony Slimes. There's only despair.

I've been chugging Mana Recovery Potion to continually cast Spirit Magic and keep those demons in check, but I'm hitting my limit soon. My tummy's bulging out. Urp.


"Haa, today might very well be my last. Oh well, I've lived for three hundreds years already. I've had enough hahaha."

"Quit spouting that dumb crap, stupid sis! I've only been around for a hundred years, okay! Even I've still got mountains of things I wanna do, let alone all those short lived humans! Don't you give up on me, keep moving!"

"Okay okay... Phew, I can't stay weak hearted when my little sis is doing her very best now, can I? Sowwy Ivran-chan, I'll give you a hug later, so forgive me okay."

"Quit it, siscon. Gross. You can go ahead of me."

"Why so heartless!?"


...Hahaha, I see I'm still peppy enough to crack a joke. I can't believe myself.
Despite what I said, I'm thankful for my stupid sis... to Aina-ane.

While I was having that embarrassing thought to myself, a guild staff member contacted me in a huge panic.


"T-terrible news! Priest-sama was mind controlled by the demons and used that card again...!!"

"That, card? ...Eh, no way, you can't be serious now!!?"


Oy oy oy, are you for real. We're already at our wit's end here. Physically and mentally speaking.
We gave the new card Soarer-kun resealed to a different priest. There's no way that thing is gonna come out again, right...!?


"!! Ivran-chan! Don't go that way!!"

"Eh?"


Not a moment after Aina-ane shouted with a serious tone uncharacteristic of her, I saw a black tsunami coming straight toward me all while swallowing up the city in its path.


...Ah, not good. I'm dead.




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~~~Scarymast's POV~~~~~~~~~~







The left side of my vision is dyed black.
I can't see, anything... My left eye is no more huh.


"G, guildmaster! We can't go on anymore, we have to run!"

"Yeah, you go and run Naima. Lead as many civilians as you can to safety by yourself. You likely have a better chance surviving if you head for the Monster Prairie than any other town."

"You should go with us, Guildmaster! You can't fight anymore in your condition!"


I could only hear Naima's voice from one of my ears.
Looks like my left ear is done for as well... I'm kinda scared to look at a mirror.

I should have worked harder to better myself had I known it would come to this point.
I always believed an individual prowess means nothing before an army until this moment.
...This town's adventurers and soldiers cannot hope to stand against these demons.


I may be weaker than my prime day but I don't believe I can win against these demons even at my prime.
Each and every one of them is as strong as that white demon I saw at Continent 5 or even more perhaps. That's just unfair.


"Quite persistent are you. I give you my respect in spite of your utterly feeble strength."


The demon slowly walked up to me while laughing vulgarly.
...His hollow compliments annoy me to no end.


"Surely you jest. I have, not, lost, yet...!"

"So you are, at least your guts are anything but feeble... However."


The demon vanished from my vision before he finished talking.

Not good, I lost sight of him. Where is he coming from, I can't see my left, my blind spot...!


My body was hit by an intense impact like I just got rammed by a boar.
I saw the demon with one leg up as I was getting blown back into the wall. It was a kick as it seemed.

The back of my head and spine were hit hard as I crashed into the wall. I couldn't stop myself coughing up blood.
I felt a sharp pain from deep within my nose. A mixed mess of hot and cold sensations assaulted my whole body.

...I can't, move.


"Ga, ha...! Haaa, aa...!!"

"...What a sorry sight. All that bravado is meaningless without strength to back."

"You have fought well. I'll put an end to your struggle."


I could hear the demon making his way to me.
...I had experienced many close calls in my life before but never to the point where I could feel death so close like this.
The demon's footsteps sound like those of the reaper's... Which they are.


I wonder if Naima managed to escape with the people.
Forget about me. It's fine.
My only wish is them surviving through this...


"Oy, I see those humans escaping that way!"

"Isn't that a magic beast territory. Did they lose sight of directions from desperation."

"Searching and killing them all in that big area is going to be a pain. Exterminate them here and now!"


...S, top.
Please, stop it.

Please, I'm begging, nobody else die...!


"...Some...one..."

"Hmm, what, last word? Or perhaps you're gonna beg for your life now. Ha, and here I thought you were worthy of respect. You're nothing but a pitiful human."


I know how unsightly and pitiful I am I could die from shame, but I can't help but cling on something, anything.
Please, please...


Someone anyone will do, please help, us...!


"Now, meet your end. Worry not, you will be at peace soon."


The demon raised his arm to finish me off



before I saw his head vanishing from neck up.







『...Guru』


My consciousness fell into darkness right as I overheard the growling sound of a magic beast which felt intelligent somehow.







~~~~~~~~A certain Fierce God's POV~~~~~~~~







"W-what the hell is this thiiiiiiiiiiing!!?"

"T-True Demon Relea, agyaa!!!"


Brittle.
Weak.
Out of question.


"H, hold it!! What is your game here, we're"

『Guru.』

"Ogoaaaa!!"

"W, why is this thing siding with humanity when he's not even Tamed!?"


Even the slightest poke broke these rabble into pieces.
They are not unlike withered branch of fallen trees.


That is the last of the 'Reddened' bunch in this herd's dwelling.
According to Black Hair <<Kajikawa>>, there should be other dwellings under attack.
Truly a pupil who works his master hard. I shall not be satisfied unless he prepares twice the usual amount of meal.

I am done cleaning up the dwelling near my mountains, the dwelling where many human hatchlings live and another small dwelling nearby.
The next one is the dwelling with a huge herd and the village ahead of that one.

I am able to arrive at the next herd in a count of three.
You may pass to the afterlife, reddened bunch.


And, Black Hair (Kajikawa), come back soon. I am famished.

Previous Chapter 

635 Worrying, When You Worry, If You Worry

I thought to myself as I kept walking straight ahead. Did I make the best choice here.
I tried recalling what I did one by one.

Asking someone to do maintenance work on my katana isn't unreasonable. Neither is me agreeing to give my opinions to Makiru.

It's what came after that. The disciple guy broke the news about this state of emergency and then, I rushed to the scene instead of running away.
Did I really have to do that? Was that the best choice to make back then?

"Dunno what that gang of skeletons were planning to do but they were carrying weapons and all, they must be dungeon-borne monsters. Getting rid of them all up in one spot instead of having to look for them after they're scattered everywhere can't be a mistake."

Dongoro said it too. A similar incident happened around a hundred year ago which caused a lot of casualty.
Logically speaking, things wouldn't have gone differently this time around either so me springing into action must have minimized the amount of victim. The heap of white bones at that place is the end result.
I bet the soldiers who have been dispatched to that place are at their wit's end trying to figure out what happened.
They surely would have engaged those skeletons in battle if it weren't for me.

"I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Yup. I really, didn't."

But what about after that? What will become of me here locked in a dungeon?
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"I can't use carelessness as an excuse. Besides, I willfully poked my nose where it doesn't belong. Most people absolutely won't choose going in. I should have stayed around the entrance and made sure no more monsters come out instead."

I shouldn't have gone in this dungeon out of curiosity, haphazardly into the depth at that.
'It's just a straight road ahead. I could just use Acceleration if anything seems amiss', that thought led me to this stupid blunder.

"But still, who could have thought the exit would be blocked off and the insides would get turned upside down into a maze."

I proceeded through the corridor while grumbling. I haven't come across a single trap so far. I'm just keeping on keeping straight ahead.

To the right or straight? Straight of course.
To the left or straight? Straight of course.

And then I hit a standstill. A T junction.
Ahead of me is a wall, the only paths forward are to the left or right.

"Should I put an end here... Or not? Hmm, I'm not exactly obliged to play along with this dungeon, am I?"

If dungeons are left alone, the monsters produced inside will eventually break out and flood the surface.
It's adventurers' job to prevent or minimize damage from that by deleting these dungeons. 
I'm not an adventurer. But I can't just leave this be either.
It's just, this particular dungeon feels more manmade than a naturally occurring one.

"I mean the sudden shift into a maze stinks real bad. Guess I'd better take care of it before anyone falls victim. I mean I've come all this way."

Ha~, I let out a sigh before pulling myself together.
Nobody will help me clearing this dungeon even in this situation. The entrance's been sealed off.
I should be the only human in this dungeon. I don't think there's anybody else. Neither will there be more coming later.

"That sudden turn of event can't be a coincidence. The so called dungeon master... is probably around."

Screwing with me, I'm getting more and more annoyed inwardly.

"This dungeon is nothing but trouble anyway. Seeing as this dungeon master sent hostile weapon-brandishing skeletons out, they can't be decent, can they? Methink there's no real need to hold back."

I clenched my fist before my chest.

Previous Chapter 

Final Battle Start - Opening Salvo

"...."

"What's up, sit down."


I broke in the Demon King's Castle from the sky and made a dynamic window breaking entrance, so the first thing I did was a light greeting.
Next up, I fetched a table and two chairs from Item Screen before putting two lucky sets I bought from a burger joint on the table.


"I had a little party with Kira-san with these burgers once we got back to Japan, y'know. Geezer went off on his own so I bought some more and set 'em aside for him. Have at it."

"...I may be the reincarnated form of Souma Ryuta, yet I am not him. I see no reason to have a meal with you."

"Yeah but, geezer musta kicked the bucket already if you're his reincarnated form. I don't see an issue if you took it instead."

"Do you mean to befriend me. The very person who gouged out and crushed your heart."


Yeah, I'm not doing this by choice.
But what I need more than anything right now is time even a second longer, and I'd rather fake acting friendly like this than jumping straight into battle with this guy.


"Om nom, even junk food makes you think a lot of stuff when it comes from Japan, I tell you."

"I have no nostalgia over such a thing. My home land is this world, this very space."

"Heck, how long you planning to stand around like that. I look like a fool sitting pretty while chowing down in front of the Demon King himself."

"You in fact, do."


Oh shut it. He just had to throw a neat and composed punchline there.
I think he's getting more and more irritated, guess this is the limit of 'eating together' plan.

I chomped the rest of my hamburger and chowed down on fries and cola before standing up.
Taking his chair is a pain, I'll just leave it be.


"To begin with, pray tell how are you alive. I made sure to gouge out and crush your heart, which should be enough to kill you. You admitted as much during the fight against Kyuubi no Kitsune."

"I mean, the only reason I was there is because you almost took me out. I nearly died for real back then, didn't expect I'd come back alive myself."

"What...?"


Ah, this guy must have got the time lines mixed up.
Guess Demon King's Menu couldn't tell the difference. No wait, I guess it can't since I've got Analysis Filter on.


"I was wandering around on Floor 21 to escape detection from your eyes (Menu)."

"...What does that mean. What are you, meaning to say."

"I got back to Japan and then Parallecia after that escapade with Souma Ryuta, but I was already living in this world even before all that. That is to say, I had a run in with Demon King (you) before I met Souma Ryuta. You knew who I was, but I had no idea about you being Souma Ryuta and all."


I purposely made my explanation much more roundabout than necessary to get him think long and hard.
It must sound like a complete nonsense to outsiders.

He put his hand on his chin and got lost in thought for a while, but then his eyes opened wide and glared at me.
Oy oy, it hasn't even been a minute since you started. How about taking it slower?


"...I understand now. What a karmic twist of fate. To think the impetus that enabled your meeting with Souma Ryuta was me all along due to the reversed order of time. Truly befitting the question on which is first, chicken or egg."

"I'm impressed you got that with my explanation."

"Of course. Only you and me will get it."


Uh no, I'd definitely go 'What the hell you're on about' if I were asked to decipher that word salad.


...Ah, crap. He's reaching out for his sword. 
He's gonna go for it. Guy shifts gear quick.


"...Allow me to confirm one thing. I do not mind letting you off if you leave this world and go back to Japan where you shall spend the rest of your life at."

"I wouldn'tda be here now if I was the type who'd take that offer."

"I figured... Very well then, you may die."


Uwaa, his bloodlust is getting me all fizzly. Situation critical. No avoiding battle now.
But I'm gonna throw in my final bet to buy time.


"Hold it. Tell me one last thing before we get down to business."

"There is nothing more to talk."

"I've been answering your questions all this time yet you won't even give me one back? What a cheapskate king."

"...Pray tell what is it you wish you ask."


Oh, hook, line, sinker. This demon king is way too easy.
Now then, this has a chance of making thing worse but I just gotta ask him no matter what.


"Err, you won't mind, right?"

"Speak."



"Okay, then there's this note written by Souma Ryuta left at 'Febronia Duchy House'. I wanna ask about the content of that note."

"........What?"

"Did you model 'God Slaying Chainsaw' after a certain RPG's story? Also, I saw a pic of 'Heaven Piercing Drill Lance', this one's a reference to a certain anime too, am I right?"


Demon King stopped moving like he had been frozen over.
...Yeah, I'm not surprised.


"So there's a man who gave up his right as a heir to Febronia duchy after reading that note and getting moved so much he's been trying his hardest to make the content of that note into reality as a weapon smith. But every single drawing is an awfully chuuni weapon that'd kill its wielder long before their enemies, it's painful to look at in so many ways. What do you think about---"



GLANK!!! A loud dull sound reverberated in the Demon King Chamber.
It was produced from a clash between Demon King's sword and my great hammer, creating a sound and a shockwave powerful enough to probably kill ordinary humans.
Demon King has put on a loathsome smile like he's enraged beyond belief. What the hell kind of expression is that.


"I am not Souma Ryuta. Therefore, I care not of the content in a note he has left behind."

"...Is that the truth?"

"However, hearing your words has prompted someone deep inside me to keep iterating, 'Make him shut up even if you have to kill him, now!'. No hard feelings, die."


Oh crap! I knew this was a bad idea!
But I had to ask! This was one thing I just had to ask no matter what! No regret, no repent.

This tells me that Souma Ryuta is not completely gone inside him, but even that vestige is super eager to kill me now.
Ah geez, fine by me! You asked for it, you chuuni geezeeeeeeeeeeeer!!




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~~~Hero's POV~~~~~~~~~~~







It's, over.
There's nothing here. Nobody here anymore.
Save for me, Levia and Olivie in the wasteland of a dead planet.

<<I'm here too, you know.>>

Yup, okay. Sorry.
...How did it come to this.
If only I didn't let my guard down, if only I did better, this wouldn't have...!

<<It's not your fault Neora-san. The ones at fault are Demon King... and Kajikawa Hikaru who never said anything even though he knew this was gonna happen.>>

That's the thing. Why did Kajikawa-san stay silent about this chain of event?
He told me, 'I made my plan after receiving an intel from a trusted cooperator who could see the future on Floor 21'.


Did Kajikawa-san kept it to himself because he thought I was a nuisance?
Was I the only one who saw him as my best friend...?


<<...It's all in the past now. No matter how much you worry and regret it...>>


"U, uu...!"


Tears are finally falling down.
Levia and Olivie should be as much in despair as me yet I cried out ahead of them.


"Neora..."

"Neora-san..."


I detest Demon King and Kajikawa-san, but I feel mortified more than anything.

'Don't lose hope even if something goes awry in the middle of your fight with Demon King', he said.
'Please believe in me', he said.

Yet, this is what we got.


I believed in him, until the very end-----



<<Ne, Neora-san!!>>


...What is it now.
I'm tired already. I don't want to think about anything. Just, let me rest.

<<Oh forget about that! Map! Look at your Map! ...I can't believe it...! Why, how is he here...!?>>

No really, what's up with you.
Did you find an artifact left from before this world's end or something?


Eh, huh?



Why, is he, in this place?

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

634 If and When You Waver

It looked like an entrance to somewhere.
The spot that was dug out is connected to a dungeon wall with an arched entrance.
I peeked inside, the interior got neatly lined up brick walls, like it was manmade.
You don't get a proper entrance like this digging rocks with pickles.
There's a mastermind behind this. My intuition is convinced that this was part of some scheme.

"So you're telling me, I've got to get to the bottom of this huh... I have absolutely nothing to do with all this though, surely."

Even if I'm not obliged to stick my neck in this, I can't help but worry about it.
Maybe things will turn real bad if I back off here. Or the opposite.

But I lost to my curiosity and stepped inside the dungeon.
The interior is about 3 meter tall and 2 meter wide. The corridor is endlessly straight ahead.
It's long enough I can't see the end from where I stand.

"There's... no trap is it? But man, I'm poking my nose somewhere I don't belong instead of unwillingly getting dragged in one for once."

That realization only came after I took a step inside. I kept walking deeper into the dungeon to forget about it.
There really is no trap, no wall spears or anything popping up.
But I still can't see the end. I turn around thinking this space must be made with mana.

"Geh! The exit's been blocked off!? ...Am I trapped here? It can't be... A trap for intruders?"

I could still barely see the exit from where I stood so I immediately noticed the change.
It's been transformed into a wall as if there was nothing from the start.
Just when I was about to go back and break the wall, the dungeon shook.
Think it's around 4 in seismic intensity? I stopped moving to figure out what was going on.
I kept hearing sounds of something colliding and rubbing off against each other.
A wall got projected in front of me to clinch it. I wondered if the path ahead has been blocked off as well to seal me off completely. But then I turned around and got greeted with a crossroad that popped up out of nowhere.

"Oy oy, you can't be serious."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
This place seems to have been turned into a maze.

"...This would have activated by anyone who entered, not just me right? Since I went in without consulting anybody, they won't send a rescue party... Of course. I mean they don't even know that I'm here."

The survey team would only find a blocked off entrance before opting to leave it alone. There's no way they'll proactively attempt to destroy the wall either.
Nobody outside knows I'm in here therefore, I shouldn't expect rescue.

"Aah, is this a checkmate? But I'm still alive. Maybe I might as well clear this maze? What do~."

In for an inch, in for a mile. I might as well see it through the end.
That was the idea before I got stumped at the first barrier, the crossroad. Which way should I go.

"Hmm? I should pick the straight path ahead and walk to the end."

The situation is nothing like before. Yet I couldn't shake off the impression I got from it and chose to go straight ahead.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter 

Second Day Third Meeting

A small island surrounded by the five continents ruled by humans manifested, with  Demon King's Castle on it.
I can't Fast Travel with Map Screen since Demon King is present there.
We can apparently get there with Teleportation as long as it's not immediately in the Demon King's vicinity but nobody has set foot Sthere so this method is unusable too.

It's not exactly hard for me to fly my way there, but carrying this many people at once is a bit....
That's where we've got some wings handy. Good thing I secured that thing~.


"...Why do I have to..."

『...Pray tell why do I...』


Our alternative means of transportation to the Demon King's Castle is the White Dragon tamed by Souma Ranaia.
The both of them seem to be grumbling something but please understand that I'd like to save energy before the final battle.


"Oh don't give me that. All you need to do is carry us there one way."

"Well I do owe you for the matter with Black Dragon. I do not have issues helping you out..."

『Hmph, that foolish Black would have lived longer had he not bothered to involve himself with humans. Truly a fool.』

"Don't talk when nobody asked. Don't make a fool out of that stupid lizard, you. I'll serve you on the dining table."

『Ah yes, I'm very sorry, don't kill me please, like for realsies.』


White Dragon apologized while trembling after I warned him coldly... This guy sure has got some incredible mob moves.
He called Black Dragon 'Black', maybe they were acquaintances. I won't bother asking though.


"So uuuh, you and Almatina are one thing but are we even gonna move the needle against Demon King?"

"Not gonna lie, we're just gonna drag you you down..."


Baredo and Rasfin asked anxiously.
Well I mean, both of them may have reached the Advanced Job levels long ago, but I guess Demon King is still too much.
Them being anxious is understandable. Frankly, I don't expect anything from them, firepower-wise. Sorry to say.


"Ha! Get outta here if you're getting cold feet now. We're up against Demon King, ain't nobody gonna ridicule ya."

"I'm just as scared, but I'm gonna give my all even if it doesn't amount much."


Aizawa-kun is full of motivation while Radia-kun is eager to help despite his fear.
...I'm kinda, sorry about this.


"So, how are we gonna go about this?"

"How should we fight Demon King?"

"Aah, about that..."


Honestly speaking, there's no human alive that can stand against an opponent that manhandled Alma's Parents like they were babies.
Not even the next strongest person after me here, Alma.
After delivering the finishing blow to Black Dragon, her level went up enough to reach Special Job, her sword also evolved again, yet she's still helpless against Demon King.

That's why


"I'll go fight Demon King by myself. Everybody else is to stand by outside his castle."

"Eh...?"

"Wh, what are you planning to do!?"

『Pii?』


That might bring question why are they even here, but there's a proper reason for it.
Having those who can use Energy Control waiting outside will make the second half of the final battle against Demon King slightly easier.


Once I told them the strategy, Baredo and Rasfin looked relieved, Aizawa-kun and Radia-kun seemed dissatisfied, while Reina and Hiyoko made a worried look... Alma looks like she's about to cry as she stares me.


"...Is that all you need us to do after bringing us all the way to Demon King's castle."

"That's just way reckless. That thing's a monster that handily beat those two instructors, ain't it? You're gonna die, Kajikawa-san!"

"Hiyoko-chan and I should be able to absorb Demon King's magic and stuff, we can still be of use. It's better and safer if we all fight together from the start."

『Pii!』


Each of them voiced their opinion.
Yup, I get what they're trying to tell, and they're not wrong.


"Hikaru, are we, a nuisance...?"


Lastly, Alma sorrowfully asked me.
...I feel guilty even just looking at her face, but I gotta say what I gotta say.


"You are. I'll be brutally blunt here, it's gonna take less than a minute for Demon King to kill you all if you try to challenge him."

"..."

"I absolutely don't have the leeway to protect you all while dealing with Demon King. It's just much easier for me to go alone."


I'm sorry for laying it all out unfiltered, but it's the truth.
Forget Demon King, I might end up hitting them in a crossfire. I don't wanna commit a friendly kill.


"But that's for the first half of the fight. I'm gonna need your help, all of you for the second half... Alma's role is especially dangerous, forgive me."

"Hikaru's role is, much worse. That's why, I should..."

"You can't... Don't you worry a thing, I won't make a single fatal mistake in the first half, heck, I'm actually just trying to buy time. I won't do anything crazy."

"...I will die too if Hikaru is dead. So promise me you have to stay alive."


O, oou. This girl just demanded some real heavy vow out of me. This goes beyond Yandere.


"...Well I mean, if you're gonna go that far. Got it, I promise I'll stay alive no matter what happens."

"...Un."


I made a promise with no guarantee I could uphold while patting Alma's head.
...Oh craaap, it's hitting my nerve hard now that my survival is a matter of life and death for Alma too.


"Oh boy, I can't stop grinning looking at these two even though this is the moment before our final fight."

『Pi.』

"Is it just me or it's getting hot here..."

"...Tch."


On top of that, the peanut gallery are grinning ear from ear while watching us. I'mma beat y'all up.
Aizawa-kun was the only person who clicked his tongue in a bad mood... I have to settle the score with him one of these days.


"Oy, I see something by the sea, is that the castle we're looking for?"

"Hmm? ...Ah, yep, that's the thing alright."


I saw something after turning my sight at the direction Souma pointed at.
I buffed my vision to check and confirmed the existence of a white beautiful castle whose grandeur won't lose to any human-made castle.
...Eeh. It's purdy alright, but that doesn't have the feel of Demon King-ness to it. 
Yet Menu display shows it as 'Castle of Demon King', cementing it.


"My image of this castle is way more ominous though..."

"It's really pretty but it does feel off for what it's supposed to be."

"How do you imagine it's like, Kajikawa-san?"

"Super gloomy with grotesque-looking pulsing walls and floors like they're made of biological flesh. Somewhere you absolutely don't wanna go in to."

"Which one do you prefer if you have to enter, that one or this one?"

"This one, thank you very much."

"...What's up with this carefree exchange. We're heading off for the final battle, aren't we..."


Perish the thought, I'm jumpy as all heck right now. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it's gonna pop off when I think about having to fight that monster again.
The first half is nothing more than a survival battle, yet that's already at ultra hard difficulty. Give me a break.


Well then, I'm gonna go ahead and check it out, after which you can drop off everybody in a safe zone, White Dragon.
Once that's taken care of, you go and fight the rest of the demons with Souma.
Eh, you don't want to? Oh really now, guess we're having dragon steak for dinner today. Wonder which one tastes better, black or white.
Eh, you're actually gonna participate? Much appreciated.


Well then, time to get down.

...Ah, man, I'm scared stuffless...




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >



~~~~~~~~Demon King's POV~~~~~~~~~







『Pleaase forgive us. The human side is giving more resistance than anticipated, we're running behind the schedule.』

『Their army is moving uncharacteristically smooth as if they knew we were going to attack today. We have also confirmed the existence of non-standard magic tools deployed by humans.』

『Our side has also confirmed the sightings of Special Job holders who should have been dislocated along with Continent 3. It's hard to believe, but perhaps there were leaks...?』


Current generation demons offered their intel one after another.
Every single one brought unwelcoming news with them. They all are experiencing a harder time than anticipated.
I was under the belief that our sheer quantity and quality would have overrun humanity in no time. It appears I have miscalculated.


"I rescind my order to move in a group of five. Proceed in a group of 20. This may slow down the rate of our invasion to a degree, however, what we require now is certainty." 

『Affirmative.』

"I heard mentions of non-standard magic tools. Take them over and make use of them when given the opportunity. It should be possible to induce friendly fire with clever manipulation. Use your wisdom over brute force."

『By your will.』

"Those Special Job holders may be a thorn on our side, an insignificant one however. Spare no effort to eliminate even one Special Job holder. Focus on each of them even if it means taking resource away from other matters."

『Yes my liege.』


Wave tactics would collapse upon itself without minute commands such as this.
Conversely, precise positioning of our matchless army should guarantee the extinction event of humanity.

Their side may have displayed more resistance than anticipated yet I have not heard a single report that would indicate a reversal.
Nothing has changed. This match is all but assured for us.

And yet

What is this chill I feel.
My memory and experience as Souma Ryuta is telling me.
The unceasing alarm bell that heralds my downfall.


I have overlooked a thoroughly fatal something----



*CRASH* the window to this room loudly broke into pieces.
I immediately determined that someone broke through the window to enter this Chamber of Demon King.

A terrible chill went from the tip of my head to the verge of my toes when I saw the person entering, as if I had found myself in the middle of a blizzard.



"Yo, Spada geezer. Wait no, your real name's supposed to be Souma Ryuta, or Demon King now huh? Howdy."

".........You're........."


Everything clicked the moment I laid my eyes on this man.
It's him.
This man is the source of all the chill I experienced. The worst Joker of humanity capable of overturning everything. Such is what my soul and every cells of my being tell me.

I squeezed the name of this black haired Japanese man out of my trembling lips.


"Kajikawa Hikaru...!"

"Ou. My turn to surprise the stuff outta you, Demon King."

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

633 Labor, Mess, Leftover Heap of White Bones

The result was superb. The split skeleton crumbled down before turning transparent and vanishing altogether.

"Ah, that did the trick. Then... I guess I gotta do this to all of them to get their cores. Wonder how much will they fetch."

I mean the price of these skeleton cores. Dunno what's the market price but I can somehow tell it's a lot.
I took a biggish bag. To put the cores in. It's just your normal everyday bag. Nothing special about it.
Monster cores can't get in the magic bag. I learned how a dungeon core can't be stored inside a magic bag unless it's inside a specially made bag first from my time with 'White Fang' party. These cores probably fall under the same rule. Or rather, this one literally looks like a mini version of a dungeon core so it must be.

The army of Skeletons deemed me an enemy and rushed here all at once.
They're not at all sluggish. They may not be quite acrobatic but their swiftness made me wonder how they moved so well without muscles.
The very existence of these Skeletons are weird though. They maintain their forms through cores.
I can't even begin to imagine the mechanic behind their living-ness.
They're comprised of nothing but bones. They don't have anything to support them like puppets nor are they linked by muscles yet they're capable of great mobility.
Mana is some pretty terrifying stuff.

But I have no reason to play along.
And so I entered Acceleration and got ready.

(Now then, I need to take the cores out and then smash these bones. That's gonna take a while.)

It's just a blink in reality.
But that doesn't apply to me who moves normally in this state. There's no telling how long it's gonna take me to neutralize all these skeletons.

(I probably gotta have some break along the way. Let's think up ways to speed things up while I do this.)

Thus I began this tedious work starting with the bones in front of me.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
About 15 minutes after I started. I found out I need about six to seven seconds to deal with one skeleton.
First I cut up the ribs with a knife, takes the core out and then stuff it inside the bag.
Ad infinitum.
The skeleton dying from that loop is a bonus.
All is well if this method works at killing them. Otherwise, I just gotta smash them all later.
That may mean double the work but I can just go all out then.
Eventually I got to the last commander-looking big skeleton with its nice-looking equipment.

(It's the same old though. Welp, here goes. Oho, this one's a bit bigger.)

This skeleton was apparently special, its core was a bit bigger than the others.

(Let's set this one aside. Gonna be a pain to look if it gets mixed up.)

I kept it in my hand before putting some distance from the army of skeletons.
Then I undid Acceleration.

The skeletons started cackling like they were having a spasm where they stood.
Apparently losing cores isn't enough to kill them but neither can they maintain their form, hence they just crumble down the ground as bones like some sort of system error. Every single one of them.

I think as I gaze at the heap of bones.

"Ah, good thing these things never managed to run around all over this kingdom. Would have been a huge pain."

Melee, free-for-all, pandemonium. I might be stuck having to tour the entire kingdom if these skeletons ran off.
There would be more victims as well. How'd you deal with practically immortal enemies that only die once their cores are destroyed.
It's gonna take a lot of effort to do that against opponents that are actively trying to kill you. Casualty would have been enormous.

Gotta be thankful they stayed in this place.

"But, something feels off. Like it's manmade somehow. Something brewing behind the scene maybe? It stinks."

The intuition I sharpened in this world tells me there's more to this than meets the eye.
I walked up to the entrance of the dungeon where it all began.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

On To Final Battle

I lost reading on Hero-kun's position a little while after I got news about Demon King capturing him.
The fact that he has disappeared from this timeline means everything is going as planned.

Things might have gotten a little dicey if we couldn't beat Black Dragon before Hero-kun disappeared.
Don't think even Alma's parents could manage that thing.
Unless they could use Energy Control, me think.

Hmm, I see most folks are done with their fights too. Nice going.
Now people we're gonna leave behind won't die off by rampaging magic beasts even after I Fast Travel away the people I've marked.

So yeah, it's Fast Travel time. Our destination is the royal castle's remains on Continent 4.
I've collected my great hammer and Black Dragon's body, no worries there. GO.

The scenery instantly changed from the apocalyptic-looking terrain full of craters and magma from our battle with Black Dragon to the dreary ruins of a castle.
Everybody I have marked are all here too.


"...Huh?"

"Oo, oh...? ...Wha?"

"Eh, what's going on? Where, am I? Eh?"


Almost all of them are bewildered. Understandable.
Just when they finally got a breather after betting their life and winning against some monstrously powerful magic beasts, they experienced this.

Once I confirmed the presence of everybody I've marked, I walked up and spoke to the Anti-demon Army Commander-in-Chief and Alma's parents.


"...Seeing as we suddenly find ourselves on continent 4, it is safe to assume we are heading for the real final battle as you discussed with us beforehand, no?"

"Yes. Hero Neo Raifu was abducted much sooner than anticipated."

"Haa, no rest for the weary huh..."

"Our opponents are supposed to be an army of 30,000-strong Chief-class demons, right? ...Ufufu, that seems downright cute compared to Demon King."


Old commander braced himself, Alma Papa sighed while Alma Mama cracked a joke as they steeled themselves.
The other Special Job Holders started pressing me for answers after witnessing our exchange.


"H, hold it right there! What's the meaning of this!?"

"...I demand an explanation."

"Thirty thousand chief-class demons, what is this about!?"


Haa, figured it'd turn this way. Guess it's inevitable, we're the only people who are in the know here while they're all in the dark.
They're gonna keep interrupting my explanation at this rate. Gotta shut them up first.


Fshhhh.....
I put in my energy as I breathed in, then I released the air from my lungs.


"Calm doooooooooooooooooown!!!"


I made sure the volume was just below eardrum-splitting level.


"Yiii!?"

"Higyaa!?"


The people inching in covered their ears with their eyes wide open.


"...Excuse me. I understand each of you has something to say about this, but please for now lend me your ears. I'll explain everything in order."


They were willing to listen to me somehow despite their hurt ears.


As to what's happening right now.

First, Hero-kun has been abducted by Demon King, current whereabouts unknown.
I actually know where he is but telling that here is only gonna invite more confusion so I opt to gloss over it.

Next up, Continent 3 has been spatially dislocated by Demon King's magic.
I evacuated all the powerful people from the continent before the magic took effect in order to prepare for the upcoming battle.


"How did you teleport us? Is there even a magic capable of teleporting multiple targets separated by distance in one go?" 

"The only possible ability is Hero's 'Fast Travel'... Could you be the real hero?"


The red haired Special Job holder, Kyaranonno-san asked me. Hey, your face is too close. Also scary.
She's the elder sister of Fifraila of the girl trio and Leviara of the hero party, but isn't she way too overbearing compared to them? Kinda like Scarymast.
The fact that she knows about Hero's abilities means she's quite well informed.


"I'm not a Hero myself but I do have access to some of Hero's abilities due to some circumstances. It'd take too long to explain in detail so I hope you get the gist with the brief version."

"...I still need explanation but let's put that aside for now."

"That was the summary of what happened thus far. But the more important matter is what lies ahead."


There are two things we must do now.


First up is defending the world against the 30,000 Chief-class demons' invasion.
The other being the slaying of Demon King.

Failing any one means the end of humanity as we know it.
The scale seems too big to be true, but it's the reality we've been thrust in.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

"How did you find out about all that? It's as if you've always known everything about their plan."

"Yes, I have. From a certain reliable source."

"How do you back up the reliability of their intel?"


Right after Kyaranonno-san finished her sentence, a bell-like sound rang on a black phone-like thing.
Uwah, that surprised me! I'm telling you I hate the sounds of a ringing phone!
Kyaranonno-san fetched a comm magic device from her pouch. That's the source huh.


"Pardon, let me take this call... Hello, I'm in the middle of an important discussion...!?"


Just before she could probably say to call again later, somebody shouted from the other side of the device.


『It's an army of demons! We're being pushed back by unbelievably strong demons, each and every one of them! We're helpless against them, requesting immediate backup... U, uwaaaaa!!』


Psh, the comm magic device fell silent after the sound of a scream followed by a lost signal sound.
...They've started the invasion it seems like. Those demons sure act quick.


"...I cannot entirely take everything you say at a face value but it does seem like this is not the best of time to have an endless debate."

"I'm just glad we're on the same page now. I have been in touch with the king on each continent to prepare for this invasion, so matters like reorganization of forces should go smoothly."

"I have not been informed on that."

"We had to prepare through back channels and minimize the amount of people involved in order to avoid leaks to demon side."


Otherwise, there's no way they can immediately react to an invasion of all those powerful demons if they weren't told beforehand.
I asked Alma parents' assistance to get those kings prepare for this moment.

The kings had to be extremely careful laying out the groundwork as to not leak our plan to demons.
We also exterminated all the demons that were planted in every country army circles.
I was sure I'd go bald having to accommodate all that on top of dealing with Oni-sensei during a freaking war....


"Save all that annoying talk for later! Just tell us one thing! Where and who are we supposed to beat the crap out of!"


Jurou-san grew impatient and yelled out loud.
That's nice, make it simple for me too.


Special Job holders like Kyaranonno-san and Jurou-san are to fight the invading demons on every continent.
There's still plenty of forces from the national and anti-demon army left on each continent, they should regroup with them and try to last a whole day.
I distributed samples of Julian-made magic ore mines to each countries. Surely they managed to mass manufacture some in the meantime.


The individuals heading for Demon King Castle would be my party, Radia-kun, Aizawa-kun, Baredo and Rasfin.
Since the situation looks even more grim than I thought, I'll have Hyula-san and Ganan-san participate in the battle against invading demons instead.


"You're going to fight Demon King with that group? Do you have a chance with the Hero missing?"

"It's not just us, but yes, this composition has the best shot at it out of all the people here."


Kyaranonno-san's eyebrow twitched when I said that. Scary.


"...I see you are confident, but overt pride will only bring ruin upon oneself. Should we all not participate in the battle?"

"Ah, we're good. Or rather, there's no point in having more people. You're only gonna get yourself killed right away."

"Unlike you?"


...Ah geez, this is such a pain.
I get that I must sound like an overly confident novice speaking out of line. Which isn't entirely wrong.
But I don't see how these people can hold themselves off against a being capable of easily swatting off buffed Alma parents. Especially since they can't control their Mana and Energy.
But they should be more than a match against those invading demons. This is simply allocating the right people for the right job.


I buffed my Attributes with energy for a very brief moment.
The me now can reach 20,000 on Attributes values by quintupling them.
I know I look weak but having to do this every time someone like her shows up is getting tiring.

She seemingly sensed my buffed power and reflexively stiffened up without a word.


"...!?""

"I'll beat you up right here and now if that's what it takes to satisfy you. Come at me."


I don't want to act so pompous but we really don't have time.
Demon King has a Skill Ability that powers up all the demons he created but it's apparently unusable when he's engaged in battle. So having someone fight Demon King also helps softening the invasion.
Therefore, the slower we get to Demon King the harder the fight against those demons become.


"...Very well. We will resist with all our power but we cannot promise it will last forever. So please make a short work of Demon King."


Easy for you to say. We're up against Demon King here, y'know.
Also, I may have a peek on Demon King's status but it's not the whole thing.
His Status is partly bugged due to his Menu being just as bugged or something along that line.
Oh, and here's how it looks like.



Demon King (Souma Ryuta)

Lv201

State: Normal

【Attributes】

ＨＰ：５３４１１/５３４１１
ＭＰ：■■/■■
ＳＰ：■■/■■

ＳＴＲ：３０１００
ＡＴＫ：３０１００
ＤＥＦ：２９８００
ＡＧＩ：２９９７８
ＩＮＴ：２９９９１
ＤＥＸ：２８７３６
ＰＥＲ：２６８９０
ＲＥＳ：２３７８８
ＬＵＫ：０

【Skills】
Demon Lv10　■　■　■　■　■　……



That's all the info I got on him but even this is enough to send anyone spiraling in despair...
That absurd level is probably from his previous level before reincarnation added to his current level.

Only Demon King can have Demon Skill Lv10 and the Ability being a buff to all demons.
He should enter True Demon Release once he's locked in combat with us, which should undo that buff.


...Which means we're stuck to a fight against those Attributes multiplied by two huh. I might die for real this time...

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

632 Skeleton, Skeleton, Skeleton

And here I am before rows of neatly lined up skeletons which are neither marching nor moving randomly in all directions.
Each has got a sword and a shield on hands. Guess you could say they're the typical game-like Skeleton Soldiers?
And in the furthest back is a big skeleton double the size of a normal one wearing a nice looking armor. It looks like it's commanding the rest.
But that doesn't matter to me. I don't need to know the how and why when I can just deal with them all.

(Now then, if I recall right, monsters move outside a dungeon by expending their internal mana.)

Just like those goblins I saw near elven village back then. They dispersed into mana when they took fatal hits.
That must be applicable with these skeletons as well.
I drew the knife on my waist and cut the nearest skeleton in half.

That was when a weird blue glimmer caught my eyes. I looked for the source and found a 3mm small blue stone inside the skeleton's breastbone.

(...Is this a mana core? Are you telling me these things will keep reviving back?)

It's gonna be a pain if every single skeleton is like this.
Monsters like undead tend to have an immortal setting. Stuff like regenerating wounds or reanimating from getting smashed into smithereens.
There's a high chance of them reviving from dead if they have ways to refill their mana outside dungeons.

(There's around... 500 of these skeletons. Judging from their line of sight, their destination must be the square. Isn't that too plot convenient?)
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
I undid Acceleration and observed the skeleton to check on that hypothesis.
Every single skeletons turned their skulls toward me all at once.
It looked so eerie from where I stood. They made that move in a perfect unison without the slightest delay despite their number.

Then I observed the skeleton I cut. Sure enough, the wound I made regenerated.
Its blue stone shone all the while which confirmed my suspicion.

"Aah, I was kinda hoping I got it wrong ever so slightly at least. But nope, it's exactly what I think it is."

This means there's no end to them if I don't do something about their cores.

(Should I just crush them along with their cores? No wait, I'm sure these stuff fetch a lot. What a waste.)

I want to end this ruckus asap. I got nothing to do with it originally.
But there's no turning back time if some people fell victim. I am aware about my capability to end this problem. Not by choice.
It would fill me with regret later on if some people got hurt or died because I didn't bother sticking my nose into this mess.

(Wait, maybe it's usually impossible because these cores are inside the skeletons? Can't I just grab and pull them out?)

As someone who lacks common sense about this world, I always choose the path with the least resistance.
I'd save coming up with more complex plans for when they're needed. I entered Acceleration.

I shoved my hand in the abdomen of the skeleton I cut earlier and took the core out.

(Ah, there's no way I could have done this if this was a creature with flesh and blood.)

Afterward, I cut the skeleton with my knife from its head down once again.
Next up, I gotta undo Acceleration and observe the fate of this skeleton.

(If things go well, I'd profit off this while dealing with the problem... But all 500 of these skeletons?)

I let out a sigh when I think about the labor awaiting me if this experiment goes well.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

Just As Planned

This chapter starts from Hero's POV

Half of the katana's blade I swung at Demon King is gone.
It's not broken, it's still there, I just can't see it.

Upon a closer inspection, it's been stabbed into a gash in space.
What the heck is even a gash in space!? What the hell is going on here!?


"Well done. This shall proceed better than anticipated."

"What are you...!?"


Demon King's power shot up through the roof.
A black flower-like tattoo surfaced on his face.
Is this, True Demon Release...!?

Oh crap, he's still got me by my neck, he's gonna separate my head from my body.
No wait, won't that actually work just fine for me? I could just die for now and regroup after getting revived.


"U, waa!?"


Right after that thought crossed my mind, Demon King flung me away instead of breaking my neck.
I crashed hard into a wall, my back and head hurt so bad.

I turned my sight at Demon King while enduring the pain and saw him staring at the spatial gash with his hand on his chin.


"Fumu, I did not expect your power to open that by itself. The present day hero is quite a capable specimen as it turns out."

"What the hell you're going on about...! What's that spatial gash anyway!?"

"Do you truly believe you will get an answer out of me? Why don't you inquire your Menu."

Dammit, Menu! What's that gash! Why can't my attacks hit him!

<<A, an unknown magical formula confirmed! It's not of this world, it comes from a different dimension! I bet that's another power he brought back from Floor 21!>>

There it is again, another Floor 21-related power!
All we got are useless crap like a power to turn potatoes into sweet potatoes or sex change once a day, why does Demon King get all the good stuff!

<<Neora-san! Off yourself immediately and let yourself be resummoned!>>

Eh, wha, what are you saying now!?

<<Just do it! If you end up getting thrown into the space beyond that gash...!!>>


"I advise against that. Let the grace of revival takes effect and this world shall be condemned, forevermore."


! He read my conversation with Menu!


"At the point you died and be resummoned to the Hero Summoning Altar on Continent 3, I shall also cast the magic to spatially sever Continent 3."

"? ...What does that mean."

"Once that is done, Continent 3 will lose access from and to outside world for about a month. No ships, airships, any physical means nor Teleportation and Fast Travel will work."


...!!
This darned Demon King! He really prepared some real nasty crap!


"Continent 3 is where all the powerful people including Special Job holders have gathered, is it not? I do not believe humanity can withstand the full brunt of 'Current generation demons' with both the hero and those people absent."

"Current generation, demons...?"

"All the demons you humans have fought thus far are orphaned demons created by the previous generation Demon King. Common demons besides Chief-class are only around Lv 50-60. Meanwhile, the common demons I create are over Lv 80 at the very least. They are on par with previous generation chief-class demons."

"What about it!"


"As of present, the total amount of current generation demons that exist are about 30.000. Even one Chief-class demon wields enough power to destroy a city by themselves, do you believe humanity stands a chance against the entirety of them without their hero or Special Job holders? Would those people continue to fight once they find out the rest of humanity has gone extinct outside?"


...S, screw that to hell and back!!
How're we supposed to win against those! Forget a month, everybody's gonna die in half that!

Even if Special Job holders stayed behind, they would probably only last for a day or two against that many.
Has he been amassing that kind of overkill firepower bit by bit all this time!?


"Our previous generation comrades have done well. Thanks to all their unceasing actions, we have succeeded building this army with no considerable loss."

"J, just how far you thought ahead, how are you...!"

"There must have been a better and smarter method than relying purely on number and firepower, but I was incapable of coming up with such. Truly, I lament my lack of wisdom."


Demon King's strategy is super simple that's for sure. Brute forcing through sheer number and power while making sure the plan goes unobstructed.
But that's exactly why it's foolproof. Any setback could be dealt with by altering how he move those 30.000 strong Chief-class demons.
This strategy is foolhardy precisely because it's super simple.


"Well now, what shall you do, Hero-dono. Will you spend a month of peace alongside those few powerful people on Continent 3 and challenge me once again afterward, or perhaps---"

"I'mma beat the crap outta you here and now! All is well once you're dead!"


I look at Demon King with my katana at the ready.
That's the only way out. Humanity is done for if he's not taken care of here!


"Indeed, you possess no other choice. Straightforward, foolish and rightful choice."

"Screw youuu!!"


I take the iai stance and get ready to cast Master Skill 'Dimensional Blade'.
There's no dodging my iai slash with the effect of Longsword Skill. Add Dimensional Blade to cover the low reach and it's perfect.

I'm gonna take Demon King's head right here and now!


"...Fssh!!"


I pull the sheath and draw the katana.
The entire blade comes out of the sheath.

The sound of cutting wind echoed as my blade came out of its sheath and hit Demon King's neck---


A shrill metallic sound so loud I thought it ruptured my eardrum reverberated.


"Iigii!!?

"...!"


I couldn't hold back my scream at this murderously shrill sound.
The sound was produced from Demon King stopping my Dimensional Blade aimed at his neck with his own sword.
I couldn't hold myself from covering my ears due to the pain.


Even though that was the poorest of move I could make.


Demon King got in front me in less than 0.01s after my hands moved to my ears.

Blood seeped out of his ears, his eardrums must have ruptured.
Yet, he didn't flinch at all. Like he's used to this stuff.


"■■■■(Got you)."

"Owaa!?"


He grabbed and hurled me away once again as he uttered some sort of word.
I immediately activated Air Step to regain my balance but a dull pain ran through my abdomen just as I was about to take a step forward.


"Guee!"


An unbecoming scream escaped my mouth. A girl shouldn't make that sound. I'm a boy though.
Demon King had shot out a Mana Blade Farslash after throwing me.
A barrage of them at that! I can't dodge, gotta guard with Shield Art!


"Ugugagaaaa!!"

"...You almost made it, o Hero."


I narrowly managed to block the attack but I couldn't stop myself from getting flung since there was no foothold anywhere.
I heard Demon King's muttering like he was sure of his victory as he kept shooting Farslashes.
Think you won already huh!? This match ain't over---


<<Neora-san!! You can't let yourself be flung behind any further....>>


Menu displayed a huge red warning sign.
Behind? What's behind, me...!?


A gash, no, a big hole in space.
Behind me was a hole big enough to barely fit one person.

Isn't that the spot where I unleashed Dimensional Blade aimed at Demon King's neck...?
I think that was also the same spatial gash from earlier, but made bigger. Is he trying to shove me in there!?

I saw a wasteland on the other side of the big hole.
A completely barren land with absolutely zero grass anywhere to be seen.


My instinct and brain rang the biggest alarm bell. 

No. I must not go in there.


There's absolutely no going back from there in a way that goes beyond my comprehension.


"Farewell."

"Ga, aaaaaaaaa!!!"


But, Demon King mercilessly shot an unstopping barrage of magic and farslashes and blew me straight into the big hole.
I gotta go back, I must go back,


...A,aa...!!


The hole closed shut before I could make my way back.



The only one left here in this barren wasteland is a beaten up me.


<<W, we're done for. Why, why, how could, this...!!>>


What are you talking about! We can go back to his castle with Fast Travel now that Demon King isn't nearby... Oh right, you can't go to where Demon King is with Fast Travel.
Then we should head to another continent! Gotta hurry or 30.000 powerful demons will invade and...

<<...It can't be done. We can't go, anywhere from this place, no, this 'time period'. This is our final, stop.>>

W, what are you on about?
Where is this place anyway...!?

<<This is the end state of a dead planet. A planet of death with no humans, demons, nothing. You can't get revived either since you have been detached from the magic formula.>>

The end state, of a dead planet?



<<Yes. This place, this 'time period'... is dead Parallecia, hundreds of millions years in the future.>>




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~Demon King's POV~~~~~~~






"Ha, hahaha, hahahahaha....!"


I could not hold back my laughter.
It went well. Everything, perfectly.

The hero has been banished to the end time of this planet.
I have succeeded at erasing the Hero from this time period by perusing 'Time Loop Magic Formula' I brought from Floor 21.

Reshaping this formula into a usable form took immeasurably considerable efforts.
From specifying time period, coordinates of the destination, to usage limit and maintaining the open state. The issues to solve were endless.

The biggest problem being the enormous energy required to move time forward.
I could barely supply such amount of energy by activating True Demon Release and entering my Final Form.
There was even a possibility of me dying before I could send the hero away.
But due to him possessing a power beyond my calculation, I managed to open the hole with nothing more than a clash between his power and my True Demon Release.

With that much power and the grace of revival, he should eventually succeed in his quest to exterminate me even if the rest of humanity is no more.
But that is no longer a threat now that he has been banished from this world.


The match is set now that hero is off the stage.
Once Continent 3 is spatially severed, the current generation demons shall overrun the other continents. Then our victory is assured with the dead of the last Special Job holder.


That went well. Everything went well.
Everything has gone just as planned.


The time to remain in obscurity has passed. The world shall now usher in the age of demons.



～～～～～





<<Hero Neo Raifu's erasure by way of time slip has been confirmed.>>


...I see.

Menu, Fast Travel our group and the people I marked to another continent.
Gotta evacuate before we got confined in a severed space.

<<Affirmative.>>


Phew. Hero-kun, got sent away huh~. Far, far away~.







Just as planned.





...That kinda made me sound like a certain villainous protagonist with a note of death.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

631 Gotta Run Now

Someone barged in the room just before I could speak a word.

"Dongoro-san! We must get away now! Master Makiru too! T-t-they came out! Skeletons from the mine! Lots of them!"

The person saying that must be one of the disciples.
His urgency stopped me from vocalizing my idea.

"Oy, the heck you're on 'bout!? Speak clearly!"

The disciple gradually regained his composure and started explaining orderly.

Apparently the unit in charge of digging out minerals today hit a dungeon. A huge amount of skeletons flooded out of that dungeon while the diggers barely escaped with their life.
The disciple was on site for an errand by chance and instantly realized the ongoing situation. He rushed over here to notify his master to take shelter.
The emergency evacuation alarm should start blaring soon. They gotta run now before they get caught up in a crowd of people.

"Well I'll be damned. Ain't that the same thing happening a hundred years ago. It's real bad news!"

"We should leave as soon as we can. You too, Saito-san."

"Err? Are dungeon walls so easily broken just like that?"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Aa? What good is knowing that crap now. We gotta get outta this place. Ora! You go and tell the men!"

The disciple left the room to notify other disciples.
Followed by Dongoro and Makiru who then left the workshop.
Just when I also got out following them, an alarm sound could be heard deeper into the district.

"We gotta scram before we got caught in the flood of peeps! I ain't wanna be in there!"

Dongoro and Makiru were about to run. Meanwhile I stood still.

"What's the matter!? Is there anything you forgot to bring!?"

Makiru turned around and asked me. But I assured her there was no problem.

"Ah, you two can forget about me and go on ahead. Ah, but It'd be nice if you could answer my question. Are dungeon walls that fragile?"

"The hell kinda dumbarse question izzat. What's yer nerve made of!? Ah whatever! Ya see here! Dungeons got some real tough interiors. But the walls connecting them are easily smashed from outside. Dungeons are made of mana space. S'why nobody got a clue where a dungeon is connected to. Us dwarves been living in this mountain range for ages! Far as I know, this sorta stuff took place a few times in the past! Good enough for ya? We gonna leave now, you good yea?"

"Ah, thanks for the explanation. And yes, do go ahead. I'll go see the site for myself."

"Umm? By yourself? What are you planning to..."

I entered Acceleration without replying Makiru and started making my way to the accident site.

I stayed in Accelerated State as I looked for the source of this ruckus.
I should have asked where that place is, but it's too late to go back now. I made a beeline deeper in while surveying the surroundings.
All the people trying to escape in a hurry have stopped moving like they are mannequins.

(Well this is normal in Accelerated State. The way they all got this look of terror on their face reminds me of some certain famous horror manga...)

I figured those skeletons must be in the opposite direction of these people and headed there.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter 

Hero and Demon King

This chapter is from Hero's POV

『Welcome to the Castle of Demon King.』


The man saying that has long black hair, dark brown eyes and an exquisitely handsome face that somehow gives off the impression of being inorganic.
Those are the exact same features as a certain being Kajikawa-san told me.

An overwhelming presence not unlike a mountain with an invisibly tall summit and the bottomless depth of an ocean.
Those two instructors are real bad news. Kajikawa-san even more so.
Yet this man before me makes all of them seem insignificant.

There's no mistaking it, this man is...!


"Demon King...!"

"Indeed I am. You possess the insight to fathom my identity in one glance, I see."


...Anybody would.
If this man isn't the Demon King himself, just some random aide or something, I'd file a claim.


"Fumu, I did not foretell a female hero. You are likely the only---"

"No, I'm a man. You should know being a former hero and all, Heroic Fusion decides the end gender by the tallied ratio."

"...So it is. My apologies."


Do I really gotta go through this same old exchange even with Demon King himself. Give me a break already.
Ah, he's making an awkward face. The change of expression is real subtle, but I guess even this guy's got emotions.


"You are already aware that I am former hero reincarnate it seems. I surmise your Menu made the conjecture after finding out my Menu's interference, no?"

"Yeah. Let's be real, I'm disappointed in you, senpai... Why are you trying to destroy humanity."

"Foolish question. Demon Kings are an existence meant to be the harbinger of humanity's downfall. No inquiry necessary."

"Oh there sure is a huge one. I mean, I'm in the opinion that the job of saving the world doesn't have to fall squarely on heroes."


In fact, Menu told me that it's not like Demon Kings can only be defeated by Heroes.
They're just too impossibly strong to beat without an assortment of 'Brave Skills' including Heroic Fusion, it just ends up that way.
...Apparently Kajikawa-san is capable of defeating all previous generation Demon Kings on his own. That man is a monster alright.


"But like, you should have seen, felt and lived alongside the humans in this world as a former hero, no, a former human yourself. Do you really believe it's something you could so handily destroy?"

"...."

"This world's humans are no mob characters in a game. Each and every one of them is giving their all living to the fullest they could. Is being a Demon King a good enough reason to deny all that. Or maybe you're just acting that way as a necessary evil to regulate population?"


If it's the latter, his methods are super rough but there may be a point to it.
Too many mouth to feed is going to dry up resource which would eventually kill this planet. Like earth.
That doesn't mean I agree with that though.


"Did your past self lead a tragic life? Or is your sense of values got a complete 180 degree from becoming Demon King and now you think that human lives are worth nothing? If so, I'm just wasting my breath here. Get lost already, Demon King."


Thinking about how this person is the ringleader behind that gruesome war makes me all the angrier.
He's an enemy anyway, I might as well let it all out.


"...Nay, that is wrong."


Demon King quietly spoke up once I was done with my grumble.


"My past life, Souma Ryouta, cherished this world dearly. He loved humanity. So much so he wished to be reborn into this world once more. Those feelings remain within me to this very second, unabated."

"..."


Demon King thus spoke without any hesitation.
I could tell from his voice that he's not lying.
Then why, why is this man going up against the world as Demon King.


"I may be Demon King now but I am well aware how precious human life is. As someone who had lived an irreplaceable wonderful life as one man, I am more than familiar."

"Then, why are you---"


I was about to ask, 'Why are you trying to eradicate humanity', but I couldn't finish that sentence.
I can't talk nor breathe because the gentle face this Demon King has put on looks utterly repulsive to me.


"And that is precisely why I find it unforgivable. Those wonderful lives are built upon heaps of our, us demons' sacrifices"


"Wha..."

"Now that I am reborn as Demon King, I carry the perspective of a demon. I have made the vow to break this world's very system. I shall topple this world and its insistence to mark demons as a nemesis."


Even though his voice and face remained calm, hearing his word sent a chill down my spine.
It's not because his Attributes are higher than mine. I can feel sheer unimaginable hatred towards humanity in his voice.


"Hero and Demon King, swap their positions and so will the object they place values on. Hero (you) to humanity, and Demon King (me) to demons."

"...Even though you were a human once?"

"That is precisely how I  questioned everything pertaining demons. I may be the reincarnated form of Souma Ryuta, but my nature is ultimately that of Demon King. Consequently, I shall bring about humanity's demise with nary a speck of hesitation."


Demon King drew his sword.
A regal looking sword. It even exudes an air of nobility you'd think it was a sword for heroes.
That's all it took to make me feel like I was pricked by thousand needles all over my body.


"Demonkind shall rise to be the race that stands above all in this world, we shall take humanity's place. Once the last of human breathes their last, we shall live as we will. No more are we become tools of gods."

"So you're telling me this is a struggle for existence between humans and demons? The losers get to get stamped out of existence. Why bother with all that long winded crap then."

"All I did was answer an inquiry. For you and humanity, the soon to be loser and the exterminated."

"Oh wow you're so kind. Nobody asked for it tho'."


I drew my sword, 'Brave Blade' and got ready for combat.
There's no need for words anymore. All that's left is how a Hero and Demon King should...


"Perish, humans."

"Drop dead, demons."


Our swords clashed as we hurled curses at one another.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

"...."

"Gii...!!"


I realized one thing after that close call of a clash.
That one moment of interlocked blade was enough to draw myself a conclusion.


I can't win the way I am.


"Heroic Fusion never ceases to amaze indeed. To think you managed to hold yourself against me."

"You're welcome!"


Despite my outwardly flippant attitude, I'm absolutely getting driven to the corner right now.
I'm only barely matching him after doubling my stats with Energy Control while under Heroic Fusion state.

Merely a match is no good.
Demon King still got True Demon Release and his Final Form as his trump cards.

If me going all out is barely a match against his first form, there's no way I'd win against him at full power...!


"Haaaaaaaaa!!"

"!"


There's only one path to victory!
I'm gonna kill him before he can activate True Demon Release and Final Form.


I raised my Attributes tenfold with Energy Control for one moment in time!!


"Drop deaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!"


This should be enough to overwhelm Demon King. At least his First Form.
I can only keep up this much buffing for a few minutes. I gotta finish him off before time's up.
There's a slight time lag between the initial activation of True Demon Release and Form Shifting and the actual change. I'm not gonna give him a chance to finish his transformation!

I used the combination of 'Ground Shrink' and 'Mana Blade Gale' to raise my speed even further and swung my katana.


"Ka..."


My blade slipped through Demon King's neck.
This is the end---


"...Impressive. Simply magnificent. What was that?"


....Wha?


"You were but a mere match for me until that explosive burst of tremendous power for a brief instance."


His voice came from his headless body.
The same body went on to grab me by my neck.


"I did not foresaw that would be the moment 'Scapegoat Talisman' would come into play. It was one of the trump cards I had set up for unforeseen situations. Nay, I suppose this was exactly that time."

"You, bastaaard...!"

"I shan't pretend to know the price you paid to achieve that but such power is indeed sufficient to end me. And with that much power..."


Demon King's head regrew.


Dammit, I ain't done yet!
I'm gonna kill you dead this time!

I swung my sword at Demon King with his hand still grabbing my neck--



"It shall not be me who opens, it will be you."

"!?"


The entire blade of my katana disappeared as I swung it at Demon King.
That katana should be indestructible, how is it broken...!?

No, that's not it.
I can tell my katana still weighs the same. It's not broken, it's only gone invisible.


The moment I realized that, I noticed the space around my katana warping.
The space itself, has been, cut.

What, the hell is this...!?

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter 

630 Don't Ask That, Abbreviated

There's a shield in the room. All by itself. It's a round shield.
Around 60cm in diameter. A very ordinary looking round shield.

"To tell you the truth... I'm at an impasse. I cannot decide how should I decorate this shield."

Dongoro added to her.

"Tell ya what, errything this workshop produced came straight outta her head. My stuff's all curtly made. She's the one putting up all the flashy stuff on. Also, folks tend to look down on her just cause she's a woman, so the workshop got my name on it."

Dongoro confessed that this should have been Makiru's workshop instead.

(Uh, why'd you tell me something that crucial! How is it even my business, seriously!)

"I have pupils in this workshop. Those kids are, um how do I say it, very crafts-oriented. Oh I'm not saying that as a negative. They're all good kids who don't have a prejudice against me for being a woman. They're all tight-lipped, I'm sure they won't tell outsiders regarding this matter."

Not sure what you want me to do with all this information. I thought all I needed to do was to give my amateurish impression on her work before immediately exiting left.
Yet here I am listening to some deep topic I absolutely can't give a resolution to.

"My pupils put more importance on technical skill, they all believe in me... Everytime I give them difficult orders, they would go 'That's shiso for you!' for some reason..."

Are those pupils masochists or what? Also, they give the impression of being decoration fanatics.
Even hearing about them makes me want to put some distance. She's been enduring that kind of pressure all this time huh.
Apparently she's hit a roadblock as of late.

"Please, I would like to hear your opinion. Coming from someone that wields that beautiful weapon, katana, might give me a fresh new idea... Ah, do forgive me. I'm imposing so much..."

Being relied on by this girl is not a bad feeling, but this issue is not exactly simple for me either.
I'm not sure the stuff I have in mind would even be considered good design.
But there's no way I could just blurt out, 'No can do' now. That'd be heartless of me.

"...Hm? You have pupils? Err, I'm sorry for asking something personal, but Makiru... san? How old are you?"

"Eh? Ah, yes, I will be 21 this year. Is there, something wrong?"

(She was an aduuuult!? Who saw that coming!? She's older than mee!)

She looks like a dwarven little girl no matter how you look at her. Apparently female dwarfs all have red hair. With hers in pony tail, she doesn't look 21 at all.

The way she talked and behaved have always been adult-like. I got the wrong idea on my own. She's a young lady.

"Err um, yes, I would be glad to help."

I gave my okay to deceive myself away from the guilt of treating Makiru like a kid inwardly.

"Then, could you show me all the design you have drawn so far as a reference?"

And so, Makiru put all the sketches and drafts she had made on the table.
I look over them one by one. In an effort to buy time. For me to squeeze out an idea.
After about five minutes, I proceeded to speak about the idea that came to me while comparing her sketches.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Those Who Don't Want to Destroy - Those Who Wish to Protect

"Oh no, things are gonna get reaal ugly if we don't beat this stupid lizard asap."

"Why's that?"

"...Neora-kun might've gotten himself abducted by Demon King."

"Eeh..."

"Eh, wait, whaaaat!? What's going on!?"


That's my line. Isn't it too early for Demon King's Menu to get rebooted?
Don't tell me it made use of its experience from its first forced shut down to reboot itself quicker or something.
...Heck it might eventually overcome the forced shutdown altogether the more often that Menu got through them.

If that ever happens, anybody anywhere in the world is at risk of getting jumped by Demon King.
That's beyond impossible to deal with. It's checkmate.

Our schedule had always been a tight one but it's now lost all margin rooms.
I wish I could get more things done first but we don't have the luxury of time anymore.

I knew it would happen right after he defeated the Demon Chief, but I had no idea it would be really that instantaneous.
I thought we'd still have like 2, 3 days grace period considering the timing of Menu reboot.


I'm gonna defeat Black Dragon and raise my level to 90. That's the very last preparation I can do.


"Alma, Reina, Hiyoko. Just like I said, we gotta fast track the plan now that Neora-kun has been brought to Demon King's castle."

"So that means... What does that mean?"

"Whether it's the Demon King or us that lie defeated, everything ends today."

"F-for realsies..."

"...I see."

『Pii...』


Each of them voiced out their anxiety.
Same with me.

...I'd like to soak in this just-before-final-battle mood but there's something I must do now.


"Oh man, guess we hafta save dragon hamburger for later. I'd get the minced meat ready at least!"

『GUROOOOOO!!』


I held my great hammer aloft and faced down Black Dragon upfront.
He can't fly anymore under the pressure of Alma's Gravity Magic.
Now that he's lost his mobility and both our breaths and magic-based attacks don't work, This is now a contest of pure strength.


My great hammer is releasing black smoke and explosive flames from its holes.
Black Dragon's fangs and claws are glimmering with sinister lights.


"Daaaaaaaa!!"

『Gaaaaaaaa!!』


Black Dragon's claws and my hammer head clashed with the internal combustion engine's explosion as the signal.


"Gugigigigiiii!!"

『Guagagagagaaaaaaa!!!』


In just a second, dozens of sparks flew and filled the surrounding area with constant flashes.
Black Dragon's claws bent with each and every hit. His fangs broke apart while scattering fresh blood.

I don't know the exact value of my great hammer's attack power with its internal combustion engine in the play, but judging from the way Black Dragon's body gradually getting torn apart, it's probably reaching tens of thousands high.
Me adding weight just before it hit must contributes a lot as well. This should work plenty against Demon King I'm sure.


"Break!! Break! To pieces! Drop deaaaaaaad!!!"

『Gagwu...!! Gya, ga, aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!』


After hundreds of clashes, his steel crushing fangs and all matter rending claws are all gone.
This would have necessitated a full denture for human, but dragons can apparently grow their fangs back.


『Gigigigyagagaaa...! Kaaaaaa....!!』


Then how about breath, or so it seemed Black Dragon decided as he converged mana in his mouth.


I've been waiting for that, you darned lizard!!


"Almaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Haaaaaaaa!!"

『Gagyuba!!?』


I had made the arrangement to have Gravity Magic at maximum output the moment Black Dragon motioned a breath attack.
He looks like he's gonna get crushed under the full brunt of the sheer weight, it's now or never!


"Reina! Hiyoko!"

"Hiyoko-chan! Take everything, all of it!"

『GLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!』


Hiyoko grew to her biggest size yet helped with Reina's mana transfer and energy buff.
Her spur trampled on the entirety of Black Dragon, stopping it fully.
This gigantic size will only last for a few seconds, but that's more than enough time.


『Ga, gagakakakakaaa...!!』

"...This is the last one."


I kept spinning my great hammer linked with a chain made of mana and accelerated its momentum with the internal combustion engine's explosions.
This should look nothing more than a small, insignificant mallet to a dragon, but it has accumulated more than enough firepower to kill Black Dragon.

Think I opted this attack to kill Minimum Jormungandr back then.

Aiming it away from Hiyoko's spur, I put all my weight and swung it down Black Dragon!!



"DWOORYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"


『GA, A, AAAAAAAAAAAAA!! GABAHAAAA...!!!!』


My greatest strike yet with this new great hammer.
The sound of it cutting air was a reminiscence of a jet airplane.

Black Dragon's body got gouged out and popped.
A huge hole opened, scattering pieces of meat everywhere.


...That's a fatal wound. He can't even possibly move----


『Ga, ga, gagagabbabababababaaaaaaa!!!』

"W, what...!?"


Black Dragon's body started convulsing like crazy.
Its whole body started blinking light.

Eh, what's up with this 'I'm a bomb waiting to explode'-like effect.
Actually, Black Dragon's mana is swelling up like it's gonna burst open...!?

<<Tame Skill Ability 'Exploding Beast Ball', a Skill that causes a massive explosion by paying the tamed beast's life. The target's Attributes double while this Ability is active. It is estimated half of this continent will turn into a barren wasteland if a beast on the class of Dark Divine Dragon is the subject of this Ability.>>

It literally is a bomb! This is way cliched!
That blasted Demon Kiiiiing!! He went and prepared a stink bomb at the very eeeend!!


"W, what's happening now...!?"

"He's kinda, blinking, it looks kinda bad..."

"He's gonna blow himself up...! In a few seconds!"

"E, eeh!?"


What do!? What should I, what can I do!?

Finish it with my great hammer, ah crap, that strike sunk it deep in the ground, I can't pull it out!

Bare handed then, no his Attributes are way too high to make a dent!

Move him away with Fast Travel... That's only gonna cause destruction to wherever that place is! Would love to send it to K*ng Ka*, but I dunno anybody that handy.

.....
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

Yup, no dice. It's over.
I'll get us and people I marked to safety with Fast Travel.

What about the rest you ask?

No other choice than abandoning them. I really have none.


...This is the result of me giving my all. The worst, just the worst. I'm the worst incompetent.


『Gogogooooo.... Ooo, o, ooo, o, o...!!』

"...?"


Black Dragon stopped blinking just before I could use Fast Travel.
He's fuming smokes all over his body, the swelling mana is slipping out like a balloon.

Can I take it as a sign of an interrupted self-destruct...?
How come?


『...How ironic. To think I am only liberated at the verge of my life.』

"! You...!"


Black Dragon started talking like a normal dragon unlike his crazed growls earlier.
Did he come back to his sense now after all this time?

<<Black Dragon has successfully resisted the Tame Status due to his doubled Attribute values by way of 'Exploding Beast Ball'. However, there is a high chance of the forced control returning in due time.>>

So Demon King ended up digging his own grave with that stink bomb Skill?
Guess he never foresaw that. Dumbarse.

But we're saved thanks to it.
Black Dragon spoke with his fangless mouth while I was sighing in relief.


『Cast aside any notion of me surviving. There is no guarantee I regain my sense if I come under his control once again.』


...!
...Honestly, I didn't expect that.

My image of this stupid lizard is that of a selfish and spoiled bastard that pays zero attention to other people.
It's kinda surreal watching him offering his life for other sake.
...Reminds me again how naive I am.


"...Err, I'd love to do just that, but you might be able to break free once Demon King is defeated. Maybe do a dogeza and I might consider sparing your life---"

『Balderdash. Did you not hear a word I said. I might very well turn back into Demon King's puppet in the blink of an eye.』


Looks like there's really no room for error.
Even moment where he can talk normally like this is probably not for long.


『Further, I bear no reason to apologize to you. I told you before, you must snatch a victory over me if you wish to get an apology out of me.』

"Says the dragon who's barely able to lift his head off the ground."

『Fahaha. What you defeated was a foolish puppet under Demon King's control. I did not lose. As such, I bow my head to none.』


Alright, this guy is dead meat.
I was a fool for having a shred of mercy.


『Besides, your reason for your anger is because of me putting that lass over there in danger. This is between me and that lass, you bear no relation whatsoever.』

"I do... You prolly won't die in peace if I told you we're gonna beat Demon King's butt."

『Why would I? Do you mean to tell me I have a problem with Demon King's death?』

"...Didn't you know? Demon King is your owner, Souma Ryuta's--"

『Demon King, <<That>> is no Ryota. I hereby proclaim as the last individual who saw him off. He might have been reborn or possess his memory, but that thing is no Ryota. You bear no right to say otherwise!』


Black Dragon angrily denied me while coughing up blood and enduring the pain.
It's as if I'm looking at myself, being angry at Black Dragon for putting Alma in danger....


『Ah, I see. I get it now. This is why you are mad. Fahaha, it is all so simple once you understand.』


Black Dragon realized it too and laughed like he finally got it.
I feel like throwing up at the thought of him getting me.
...Not like I don't get him though.


『Now then, that's everything out of the way. Leave the final blow to that lass, and you watch.』

"Eh... Me?"

『Indeed. It was me who made you go through that life threatening experience at the prairie. All will be finally well if you settle the score with your own hands... Gwu.』


He grew a claw and made a cut on his own neck as he said that.
Cutting apart his scales and skin like he was drawing a mark.


"But, I'm no longer, angry about that."

『Do you now. Nevertheless, yo ought to cleave my neck. Or do you mean to let your spouse do the deed?』

"Spo...!?"


Alma turned beet red at Black Dragon's teasing word.
...Maybe I should just end him here and now.


『Lastly, o black haired male... Hikaru. You can not beat that Demon King with sheer strength. There is no winning against 'Infinite' no matter how great one's power is.』

"Wha? ...What are you going on about?"

『And yet, 'Infinite' is by no means 'Invincible'. The most trivial matter might very well be that Demon King's undoing. Squeeze out your entire head's worth of brain juice and think...!』


Black Dragon's body started blinking once again after he finished speaking.

Oh crap, has the countdown started once again!?


『Lass!! Quit blanking out! Go and cleave my neck!』

"!"

『Everybody you know will perish if you don't! All the people you love, those you cherish, every single one shall meet their demise by my hand! Cleave! Cleave me this instaaaaant!!!』

"Almaa!!"


I converted all my remaining mana into energy and buffed Alma with it.
Alma should be as strong as a buffed me now.


"...Good bye."


She muttered that before readying her sword.


Alma turned toward the cut Black Dragon made on himself and swung her sword-----


『Protect this world Ryota loved so dearly.』


I could've sworn that word came out of Black Dragon's head.



<<Level has reached a certain threshold. Upgrading Menu features.>>

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