Whoosh-!
“Uaaaaah!”
Blue flames burn hotter than red ones. Since I didn’t major in science, I don’t know the exact reason why. However, I feel like I’m about to understand this truth right now.
Because, damn it, this flame is burning my skin like kindling! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! It feels like I’m being torn apart alive by a savage beast!
“…What a sturdy body you have.”
“Shit… If you already knew I was sturdy, couldn’t you have gone easier on me?”
“For whose benefit?”
“Obviously for my benefit, haha. Are you seriously worried about you now?”
“Hmph, your mouth runs off even though you’re perforated.”
“Originally, jesters must be able to say anything. A society where even jesters who satirize the powerful have to shut their mouths is a dead society.”
“…You seem to be mistaken.”
While holding his sword enveloped in the fiery mass of Heavenly King Technique high above his head, Claire mutters quietly. Nothing exists in his hollow pupils except pure killing intent.
“You are not a brave pioneer. You’re nothing but an arrogant demon.”
After saying that, Claire swung down his sword.
Bang-!
“Demons! Why are you just standing there!”
However, Claire failed to cut me down. Langwang suddenly came flying in like a cannonball and shoved Claire aside with his shoulder.
Claire flew several meters as if he’d been hit with a bludgeon. The full-body ramming attack from our party’s heaviest and largest member, Langwang. Even an awakened hero like Claire wouldn’t be able to withstand such a direct hit and remain unscathed.
…Definitely should’ve been that way.
“Humans… why are humans helping demons?”
Staggering back up while maintaining his posture, Claire stood firm. Heroes really are heroes. Beings born with the ability to transcend common sense and correct fate.
“How dare you harm Lord! If you want to cut down Lord, come through me first!”
Sssshh-!
Rushing towards Claire, who stands tall like a pillar, at lightning speed is Sir Beatrix. Her Greatsword is enveloped in a black and white energy we haven’t seen yet.
Holy power and demonic energy. The holy power she cultivated devoutly after being chosen by the Lord during her time in the Holy Kingdom, and the demonic energy that has steadily grown since forming a contract with me two hundred years ago, both dominate the twin blades of her Greatsword.
Perhaps judging it dangerous to allow these two opposing forces, Hero Claire doesn’t passively receive them and counters with his sword.
Kkkaaak-!
“Hah!”
“Humans… how could they…”
Flames erupted between Claire and Beatrix. Surprisingly, it was an evenly matched battle.
It’s due to elemental advantages. Beatrix is a warrior wielding two types of energy. Moreover, since those two energies are polar opposites, it’s difficult for Claire, who only possesses Heavenly King Technique, to counter Beatrix’s dual blades.
Even if he manages to block the demonic energy, it’s hard for him to also block Beatrix’s white blade using the Heavenly King Technique which shares the same origin as holy power.
“Why would a human help demons! Have you sold your soul to the devil!”
“Selling souls? That makes the listening soul uncomfortable.”
“You’re not wrong, Lord.”
Beatrix relentlessly presses against Claire with blinding speed. Despite maintaining such fierce movements, there’s no trembling in her voice.
“However, I have no regrets. Since selling my soul to Lord, I have never regretted a single moment.”
“That’s quite a shameless line, isn’t it? Clerics would clutch their heads and groan if they heard that.”
“…This path I’ve chosen, I’ll proudly bear whatever consequences necessary.”
“Ah! Look out in front!”
Cornered, Claire swings his sword vertically with all his might. Beatrix hastily raises her Greatsword horizontally to block Claire’s strike.
Drdrdrk-…
No matter how advantageous the element, if the power gap is too wide, one will eventually become disadvantaged.
As the hero forcefully tries to smash down his sword, blood streams from the corner of Beatrix’s lips like a brook.
However, if the hero has strength, then we have numbers.
Actually, thinking about it, we also have a hostage.
“Yohan! Go assist Beatrix immediately!”
“Demons?”
“Hurry! I said tie down the hero’s legs!”
Claire, you’re still a rookie.
Having something to protect while letting anger cloud your judgment. You should’ve made something worth protecting like me.
Thoughts must be turned into immediate action. Upon receiving my command, Langwang instantly pounced on Claire without a second thought or question. Meanwhile, I sprinted full-speed towards the solution to this fight.
Kudangtangtang! Claire goes flying and tumbles awkwardly again. Still, he doesn’t seem to have taken serious damage as he wobbles back up.
“You… vile ones…!”
“Yohan! Grab the hero’s leg! I’ll cut off his upper body!”
“Guhm! Leave it to me!”
Langwang firmly restrains Claire’s ankle with his weighty strength. Though the blue flames consuming his entire body burn Langwang, he grits his teeth and endures.
With his upper body immobilized, Claire thrusts his sword directly at Beatrix. Both dark and white energy simultaneously charge at Claire. Claire blocks Beatrix’s sword with his own flaming sword.
The hero seems to be getting more and more accustomed to Heavenly King Technique. His momentum grows fiercer by the moment, enough to make beads of sweat form on the necks of Langwang and Beatrix who are restraining him.
Heroes’ perseverance deserves recognition. Suddenly, a line from a wandering bard’s song comes to mind.
Who are you swinging your sword at the edge of the world?
A common wanderer devoted to the Lord.
The original hero, Siegfried of Nibelungen. Definitely, that was a song commemorating him.
Watching Hero Claire reminds me of Nibelungen Siegfried. They resemble each other somewhere. Is it because they’re both heroes?
To accomplish vengeance for fallen comrades, resisting powerful enemies without giving up.
Though flesh was torn and intestines slashed, rising again through awakening when knees were supposed to buckle.
Fighting desperately and repeatedly until finally achieving victory with shining glory…
That’s, a legendary story!
“Hero! Look over here!”
Snap out of it, human lost in romantic illusions.
Being a wandering bard living and dying for romance is fine, but now is the time to distinguish reality.
The cliché repertoire where a hero realizes their lack of power in moments of crisis or comrades’ deaths, awakens magnificently, and achieves victory.
I think it’s too predictable.
“…! Caroline!!”
“Sir Beatrix! Yohan! That’s enough strength now! The fight is over!”
“Th…! C, Claire…!”
Claire raises his voice in rage. But he can’t easily approach me.
Because currently, one of Uriel’s previously subdued priest friends is held in my hand. Of course, with a magic staff dripping with demonic energy pressed against his neck.
Haven’t done a hostage situation in a while.
“Demons!! Let go of Caroline immediately!!”
“Hahaha, where’s that dog barking? Where in this world does someone release a weapon once they’ve gotten their hands on it?”
Clap-.
“Kyaaack!”
“You piece of shit!!! Stop immediately!!!”
“Would you stop if you were in your position, you idiot?”
I grab the hair of the virtuous maiden following the Lord and pull upwards. The girl floats off the ground. I flash a smile filled with malice. The hero curses profusely in fury from head to toe.
Being angry means he hasn’t fully grasped the situation yet. If he realized his current predicament, he shouldn’t be angry at me.
He should be groveling.
“Um, doing a hostage situation, but this magic staff filled with demonic energy seems too lethal, don’t you think, Hero?”
“Krrr…! I will surely devour you…!”
“Wow, sounds like you have a rag in your mouth. Is it because I’m not giving you visual stimulation?”
Spinning the magic staff half a turn, I cheerfully shout,
“Yahoo! Transform!”
Poom-!
Thus, the magic staff, originally about three handspans long, transforms into a small dagger. Don’t underestimate it just because it’s small. It’s sharp enough to puncture someone’s skin sufficiently.
I grip the dagger reverse-handed. The pupil of the priest wriggling in my grasp expands. Claire understands he shouldn’t recklessly move his foot and flails his free hand in the air.
There’s still some resistance left. Time to break it gently.
“Hero, drop your sword first. Then let’s talk.”
“T…! You wicked fiend! Don’t you realize that if I fall, Caroline dies too! Do you think I wouldn’t know that!”
“Uh? No, if you just surrender peacefully, I’ll release this kid?”
“…! Don’t lie! What benefit would you gain from it!”
“My mood improves. Actually, I’m a non-violent person. Really? Sometimes unavoidable killings happen, but usually, it’s better if we can resolve things without seeing each other’s blood, right?”
Claire’s hand holding the sword trembles. He must truly cherish the priest.
“Leader of the faithful, killing her…”
Uriel cautiously speaks to me. From the nuance, it seems he’s trying to stop me. As the Lord’s angel Uriel, he probably finds me taking a priest hostage distasteful.
But now isn’t the time to cater to others’ feelings.
“Shut up, Mr. Uriel.”
“…”
“Don’t you know? This is who I am originally. An evildoer who doesn’t care about means. If you dislike such a me, you can leave us.”
“….No, stopping the hero is our top priority right now…”
“I would’ve done this even if it wasn’t top priority. Why? Because this is the fastest and easiest way. Isn’t it ridiculous ethically? Stop joking. It’s much better than having Lady Beatrix or Yohan see blood.”
“…Understood. You’re right.”
After lightly dismissing Uriel’s attempt to stop me, I turn my gaze back to the hero. The hero is still conflicted.
“Hero, throw away your weapon. Now’s the time to cooperate nicely.”
“Krrr…! Caroline…! Exactly what do you expect me to do…!”
“C-Claire… because of me…”
“Ah, come on. You’re quite demanding. Looks like I have to show you then.”
The grace period ends here. Without hesitation, I stab down with the reverse-gripped dagger.
Kwadeuk-!
“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“…!!”
“Drop the sword-!”
Blood gushes from the thigh where the dagger was plunged. After pulling out the dagger, I bring it near the opposite thigh. Only now does the hero, who had more fear than before, hastily throw his sword towards me.
Jjeolgeuleung, the heavy iron sword clatters onto the floor. I nod slightly towards Langwang. In my grasp, the terrified priest pants irregularly.
“Mr. Yohan, bring the sword here.”
“Understood.”
“Mr. Yohan seems fine? Even after witnessing a hostage situation.”
“In the wild, I’ve seen many. Stupid beasts who care about means and methods died long ago.”
“The wild teaches good lessons, huh.”
Langwang takes hold of the sword. Now Claire has no weapon. Still, he has Heavenly King Technique as a countermeasure. Since we’ve seized the initiative, let’s push him all the way.
“Hero, kneel and bow your head.”
“…”
“Are you still resisting? Haven’t I already shown you the consequences of resisting? Was it insufficient?”
I tap the priest’s neck lightly with the bloody blade of the dagger. Realizing his earlier execution capability, Claire kneels convulsively and presses his forehead to the ground. It’s a humiliating posture.
“Well done. That’s a very nice pose. If you’d been this obedient from the start, there wouldn’t have been any bloodshed.”
“N-now…”
“What? Did you say something?”
“Now again… what should I do…? Should I declare defeat…?”
Biting his lips fiercely, Claire questions with a tone filled with hatred. His mental state seems significantly broken.
“Declare defeat? Where would you use that useless declaration?”
“…”
“Stop talking nonsense. Just stay quiet. If you misbehave, this dagger will crunch the delicate neck of the priest. And, Lady Beatrix?”
“Yes, Lord. Give your orders.”
“Have the hero’s wrists and ankles cut off.”
Quietly issuing the order, Beatrix nods as if showing her loyalty to me.
Fallen angels are called demons. In that sense, Beatrix is now a perfect demon. Demon Knight Beatrix Constantinople. Suits her well.
Uriel watches silently with an expressionless face, seemingly indifferent. Our gentle Mr. Uriel… looks like watching is difficult, tightly shutting his eyes. Well, rather than interfering, this is better.
“Eek…!”
“Still upset, Hero?”
Approaching Claire with her Greatsword slung over her shoulder, Beatrix walks closer. I joke around.
“I will surely grind you into pieces…!”
“You’re still not coming to your senses. Why create trouble by making something to protect? If you hadn’t made something to protect in the first place, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Do you… do you have not a single precious person?”
…Hmm, thinking about it, I also have someone to protect. I can’t abandon her who has devoted herself to the Saintess Maria.
“I spoke unnecessarily. Anyway, it’s meaningless now. Beatrix, quickly sever the hero’s wrist.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Beatrix lifts her Greatsword close to Claire. Once this falls, this tiresome battle will finally end.
Claire, despite having power, has to endure helplessly. Knowing his own future, he remains still with his head bowed to the ground because he loves the priest Caroline.
Finally, Beatrix’s sword fell.
Phooook-!
What followed was the sound of something being pierced. It was different in quality from the sound of wrists or ankles being severed.
Something went wrong. I lower my head toward the source of the sound.
“Caroline!!!”
“Ugh… Claire…”
Damn, my hands holding the dagger are covered in fresh, warm blood.
The priest of the hero party thrust her neck forward and impaled herself on my dagger just before Claire’s wrist was to be cut off.
“Claire! Caroline!! No!!”
“Claire… don’t give up… The hero mustn’t die…”
“Ah, why do you complicate easy paths so much, Priest?”
“Don’t kneel so easily… You’re a hero… I don’t want the hero to be in danger because of someone like me…”
The reason is clear.
She didn’t want to be a burden to the hero.
Just as Claire cared for the priest, Caroline also cared deeply for the hero.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Trying to save the priest belatedly is already too late. The dagger has pierced the artery, and blood spurts out like a fountain. There’s no way to save the priest unless Saintess Maria is brought here.
Everyone is confused by the sudden turn of events, but the conclusion is one.
“I’ll kill you! I’ll shred your flesh into pieces! I’ll tear your organs in all directions! I’ll make you suffer the most miserable death of anyone!!”
Now I have no hostages.
This simple but crucial fact hits me.
Kwaahaaa-!
Claire no longer has a sword. But even without a sword, he’s strong enough. Claire emits an overwhelming amount of energy that turns his hair completely white with murderous intent.
Beatrix, standing nearby, gets violently pushed back by the instantaneous burst of energy. Langwang barely catches her falling body.
“If it weren’t for you…! Caroline! At least Caroline…!!”
“He’s become a berserker. Looks like communication is impossible now.”
The game that was in easy mode has instantly switched to hard mode. Caroline, you foolish priest. Who would’ve thought you’d choose to die at the last moment?
If I were in her position, I probably would’ve done the same, but it’s given me a headache. We’ve lost our means to control the hero, and from now on, we’ll have to face the awakened Claire with sheer force alone.
“Haa, haa… L, Lord…”
“Demon, this knight’s condition isn’t good.”
“I know, I do too. Mr. Uriel, can you heal him a bit? Your abilities also use holy power, right?”
“Impossible (不可). My abilities are specialized only in destruction and annihilation. Healing someone is possible only for Archangel Raphael.”
“So we’re going to fight this monster while carrying a patient, huh? What should we do when I’m not in perfect condition either from the previous injuries?”
Moreover, Beatrix got injured from the recent impact. Worst case scenario. The last desperate act of a powerless priest has changed the game.
Creak-.
The fist-clenching Claire approaches us. Cold sweat trickles down my temples. While wondering how to respond properly to earn a good reputation, absurd thoughts pop into my mind despite being in mortal danger. I resent my brain for conjuring such pointless thoughts.
Creak-.
Another thing I resent. Aru, you little bastard. How did I raise you, leaving at such an important moment? Even though you just went through an awakening recently.
Come back when you do, and I’ll greet you as a corpse. Or rather, with the way Claire is now, there won’t be a corpse left, so I’ll welcome you as a skeleton. Regret deeply.
Kwaang-!
…Huh?
Something flies like the wind and strikes Claire. It’s moving so fast it’s hard to catch with the eye.
Claire slides across the floor. A cloud of dust rises, obstructing the view.
Gradually, as the dust settles, the vague outline of a girl appears.
“Kyungkyung! What have you done to the young demon!”
Pointed ears standing upright on her head and a thick mane of navy blue hair.
It’s Wolf King Aru.
*****
Thirty minutes ago.
Ssrek-.
“Kyung?”
The wolfman who seemed ready to take another step stops.
Her lowered gaze is fixed on a certain direction.
“Lord, why do you do this again?”
The old wolf asks again.
The girl’s blue irises tremble.
“I, I have to go.”
“Huh?”
“The young demon stuck it in my head. One of my hairs.”
“Lord, you’ve come this far. Where do you intend to go now? The great festival will begin soon.”
“Kyungkyung! I have a feeling! My hair is moving! The young demon is in danger!”
After shouting that, the girl tried to kick off from the cave floor to leave. If the old wolf hadn’t bitten her ankle to stop her, she would’ve rushed out.
“Kyaaak! Don’t hold me! The young demon is hurt!”
“Lord! Whatever the reason may be, this is an opportunity that comes only once a year! If not now, you’ll have to wait another whole year to receive the king’s power and authority!”
The girl kicks the old wolf with her leg. The frail-bodied old wolf is pushed back effortlessly.
In an instant, Wolf Girl Aru dashes to the entrance of the cave. Many wolves follow behind, trying to stop her, but Aru bares her fangs to repel their approach.
“Grrrr! More importantly, the young demon is more important!”
After that, Aru dashes out of the cave and disappears into the darkness of the forest.
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
