Chapter 80

“Hey, what’re you blabbering about? Just listening quietly for a moment, and it’s all over the place without any context.”

I pull up the goblin by its hand to help it stand while the hero standing nearby butts into our conversation with a low tone.

“Monsters are evil. It’s only natural to exterminate such impure beings.”

“Hero dude, aren’t you being too reckless? If our sensitive goblin gets hurt, it’s not like you can take responsibility, right?”

“I’m strong, but that doesn’t mean I want to kill this goblin. If all powerful ones acted however they pleased, the world would be utter chaos.”

“Didn’t know? The world’s already chaotic! Ever since good and evil were defined, the world’s been nothing but chaos!”

…huh? Do I really not know this? Probably no one understands monsters better than me.

“You think goblins are hostile to every race? Do goblins destroy forests and break trees like humans do? Just admit it. You decided to attack them because goblins annoy you. Why do you act like you’re the absolute standard of good and evil?”

The hero Claire falls silent. At least as a hero, he seems to have some pride in being noble.

Well then, it works for me. It’s easier to confuse righteous humans like him compared to third-rate cowards who use evil as an escape.

“What? An embodiment of evil? Isn’t that delusional? Goblins are just a species with strong greed and lust. You define them as evil simply because their blades point towards humans.”

“There is no one who does not know that goblins are an ugly race.”

“Ugly? What makes something ugly? Tell me, oh righteous hero.”

“Killing other lives without hesitation, using them as food—it’s understandable. We harm other lives to survive too. However, goblins instinctively commit rape. A species that rapes unwilling individuals for their own pleasure—how could they not be disgusting?”

“Rape? Puahaha! So you’re saying rape is a dirty deed now?”

“Isn’t it?”

“No! Yes! Rape is dirty and disgusting! For some, it might even be a greater sin than murder! But still…”

Humans like heroes overlook too much.

Their belief that they are right blocks their view of the world.

“That’s according to human standards.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me give you an example. Seals, you know them, right? Those cute animals that live in water. Turns out seals are just as lustful as goblins. But due to the polygamous system, male seals excluded from mating struggle to mate with female seals. Guess what they do?”

“…”

“They rape penguins. Penguins, you know, those waddling adorable little creatures. Even though they’re different species, seals rape penguins. Is it because they’re evil? Are seals a cursed race from birth, committing such filthy acts?”

“That…”

“If seals were truly a dirty race, shouldn’t humans have labeled them evil long ago based on doctrine? Yet, how is it? Humans wave at seals and penguins, finding them cute, and some even keep seals as pets, showering them with love. Pet seals show affection and loyalty in return.”

“Seals and goblins… aren’t they different?”

“Right! They’re different! Seals do it to penguins, but goblins do it to humans! That’s why they’re considered wicked in your eyes! But not to someone like me, a demon! The way you humans look at seals and penguins is the same way I look at goblins and humans! That’s why we fight! Because our ideologies differ!”

The hero fails to respond. Is he deep in thought? This was a pretty straightforward explanation, though.

“The goblins somehow end up harming humans, right? Sure, that could happen. But let’s flip it around—have you humans ever helped goblins? Oh! Maybe with sexual relief!”

“Then let’s look at other animals. Has the human species ever done anything beneficial for livestock or plants? Haven’t you always just exploited them for farming and then killed them when they’re used up, eating them as meat?”

“Huh? So humans are evil then? Since they’ve caused harm to almost all animals and plants! Clearly evil, yet why doesn’t the hero’s sword turn against humans? Is there discrimination even among evils?”

“Unpleasant? It’s normal; right now, I’m negating your very existence. Heroes are supposed to be purely good and just, but hey, when did justice become selective hypocrisy? Roughly speaking.”

Having a blast jabbering away, I notice the goblin has slipped far behind. Though I worried it’d just stand beside me and cause trouble, it’s quite perceptive. The more I see, the more I like it.

“…So.”

After silently listening to my entire speech, the hero finally speaks. His calm tone shows no wavering. Tried to mentally crush him, but no luck. He’s tougher than I thought.

“What’s your point?”

“…It’s simple.”

“Get to the point. What do you want from me?”

“Stop pretending to be some saintly role-player and just admit you’re carrying out orders from the empire to massacre goblins. No one criticizes that, after all. Who cares if weak and insignificant goblins get wiped out by mighty humans?”

“Do you know the order came from the empire? Your true identity becomes more intriguing by the second.”

Definitely, that’s a hero.

A chosen one by the Supreme God. If the Saintess is the sole chosen nun among nuns, then the Hero is the uniquely chosen warrior among warriors. In other words, the strongest-willed warrior on the continent.

Yeah, that’s probably why he managed to grow stronger and conquer all the monsters in the southern part of Demon Forest.

“I am human. As a human, I side with humanity, which is why I exterminate goblins. Is there a problem with that? Is it wrong for humans to follow their sense of justice and goodness?”

“…Guess you leave me speechless, haha.”

Even Uriel, the Archangel, would’ve collapsed just from hearing this much chatter. Still, this is a hero. Back in the day, if the hero had fallen apart from just this much talk, he wouldn’t have been able to face off with the Demon King 200 years later. Frey Dr. Siegfried, that frail coward, is an exception.

“Haaah!”

BOOM!

Turning my head at the loud yell and explosion sound, Beatrix’s sword clashes fiercely with the Grand Knight’s blade.

They weren’t the only ones fighting. Langwang battles the mage and archer of the hero party, protecting their vital spots while steadily advancing. And where’s Uriel, who boasted he could fight too? Hmm?

“Your divine power is impressively pure. But using divine power here in Demon Forest must be quite burdensome, right?”

“Wha, th, who exactly are you…?”

“I’m the being you’ve read countless times in the holy scriptures. Even if I tell you, you’d still be clueless.”

You’d think Uriel would be content being a mere bug, but surprisingly, he’s facing off against the priest of the hero party in a battle of divine powers. Pure white energy flashes between the two figures. White birds and virginal wings flutter, showing off white feathers.

Uriel’s white wings spread wide for the first time in ages. His aura is immense, though nowhere near his prime, but it flourishes thanks to the affection from Langwang’s growth back in the past.

“Ah, white wings…? How come an angel blocks our path…!?”

“Don’t automatically assume that opposing good means evil. Everyone has their own sense of justice and life. Why do you think blocking you automatically makes me evil?”

“Muuu…! Kueeck…!”

“I once went through a phase like yours too.”

Who’d have thought Uriel had such a twist? Pride swells in my heart. This must be what it feels like to raise a child.

…Damn it, what kind of kid takes two hundred years to grow up to just this level? Suddenly, I feel aggrieved.

“Well, anyway.”

To quell this irritation, I need to vent a bit—on our esteemed hero.

“No plans to back down, huh?”

“Just now, you introduced yourself as a demon. I don’t see why humans should avoid fighting demons.”

“You caught that again?”

The hero’s sword slowly traces a half-circle. The golden glow on the blade looks menacing. My hair stands on end.

Light Energy. Fundamentally different from divine power. Only usable by heroes and the emperor, the energy of the sun. While it warmly illuminates all things, sometimes it scorches everything with extreme yang energy, emerging from the tip of the hero’s sword.

Ziiip.

In response, I draw a card. The card I drew is the Diamond 5. The hardest thing in the world, yet small enough to fit in a palm—a shield.

I pinch it between my index and middle fingers. To block the impending massive attack.

Sssshh.

The hero’s sword halts diagonally. Then, as it slashes downward in a slash line, it creates an illusion that the air itself twists.

“Heavenly Strike.”

The sky-splitting sword strike descends on me like a thunderbolt. The energy may seem trivial, but it’s still formidable.

But I already know the counter. Fought someone from your great-grand generation.

The sword cutting through the air dazzles the eyes. Think of it as a feint. The moment you see the distorted air and flee out of fear, the second hidden attack from the caster will flash and slice through the opponent.

Just like now.

Shuaaak!

The hero’s sword spins once through the air and heads straight for my side. I don’t dodge. Instead, I close in on the hero, using my side to block his arm where the strike lacks full force.

Of course, the side is a vulnerable spot, so I feel the impact. But fighting is ultimately about trading flesh for bones. The slight pain I feel now will soon lay the groundwork for inflicting a deeper wound on the hero.

“Where to!”

“Ugh!?”

Matching the hero’s movements, I approach him and use the slanted surface of the Diamond 5 card to deflect the sword’s trajectory. With the force misdirected, the hero’s sword flies off into the air. Losing balance, the hero leans heavily on me.

Not missing this chance, I draw the Spade Ace card and stab downward. The sharp spear aimed at the hero’s wide-open eye.

“Haahaaa!”

The hero shouts without panicking. The powerful cry resonates, making my eardrums ring—it’s more than just yelling.

Kwaahaaa!

A golden beam shoots out from the blonde hero’s mouth, knocking my arm holding the spear aside. It’s so hot that the cloth covering my arm burns away instantly, even without fire. My skin turns black and scorched.

Thanks to that, the spear’s direction shifts. Instead of piercing the hero’s eye, it grazes his temple, leaving a long diagonal cut on his pristine face. Bright, bloody streaks appear.

After exchanging blows once, both the hero and I leap back simultaneously. We create distance to regroup.

“Good defense. Anyway, since the hero’s useless anyway, why did the empire train you so well?”

“…You use peculiar weapons.”

Though brief, I could foresee it. Likely, the hero realized it too.

This fight won’t be easy.

—

Above the girl’s head are animal ears. When the ears twitch, the girl listens intently to the sounds.

Swoosh.

A group emerges from the bushes. They’re not humans, goblins, or demons. These are beasts walking on four legs.

“Coom, come out.”

The girl with wolf ears, Langwang (Wolf King), mutters quietly. The slouching wolves finally stand before their king.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah?”

The lead wolf, the largest and most maned old wolf, speaks for the others.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How do you know? Coom?”

“Tonight, the fattest moon of the year appears only once. It’s the only day Your Majesty can inherit strength and authority.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I guarantee it.”

All the wolves bow to Langwang. Whether gray-maned or black-maned, there’s no discrimination.

Langwang is that kind of existence. She encompasses all beings united under the wolf species, representing and ruling them as the sole sovereign. If two Langwangs existed under one sky, they would inevitably clash to determine superiority.

That’s the king of a species.

“Your Majesty, please follow us. We’ll guide you to where you’ll gain strength.”

“Understood.”

“Grrr! Howl-!”

“Howl! Howl-!”

The wolves, now with their rightful king, joyfully howl. It’s a day of celebration for them.

While receiving the wolves’ expectations, the wolf-girl Aru strides forward.

Strictly speaking, Aru isn’t the king yet. Not until she undergoes the coronation ceremony under the full moon. All kings must complete the “species succession ritual” to wield royal powers, like dominating their kind.

Aru is currently heading to perform that ritual.

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