Chapter 183

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

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My consciousness is hazy.

Ellie.

Is the girl standing there really her? If this is true, how long has it been since we last met?

But why… why is she here of all places?

Random thoughts wildly swirl in my mind.

-AHHHHH! YOU?! YOU! MY… MY WARNING… AND YOU IGNORED IT! HOW… HOW DID YOU EVEN FOLLOW ME HERE?! HOW DID YOU GET HERE?! BY WHAT MEANS?! WHYYYYYYYY!!!

Leaning on Ellie’s arm, I gaze at the current Demon King standing far away, overwhelmed by numerous doubts.

What in the world happened…

The pure white flames clinging to the Demon King’s body seem to perplex her like a wild beast biting its own tail.

“But more importantly… well done for not losing me.”

My right hand gripping the broken sword.

Ellie placing her hand over mine, gazes somewhere wistfully while letting out a deep sigh.

“NOOOO! HEY! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?! YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE ABOUT TO DIE OVER HERE?!”

And then…

With an atmosphere-ruining racket, Zora slides over to my vicinity.

“Well, let’s start with emergency measures first.”

Zora, who once used a rock she had seen before, presses it against my chest.

“I entrust this to you.”

“Eh… eh?”

While Zora stands there bewildered, she turns her back to me and rises, heading towards the Demon King.

Her snow-white hair and the surrounding white flames trail behind her like a long, elegant curtain, fluttering gracefully.

“What did you get yourself into that made you disappear for weeks and cause such chaos?”

“…”

Weeks?

“Didn’t you know? You’ve been missing from inside the building for way over two weeks! Two whole weeks. Don’t even try to say anything.”

Zora throws a fit.

Given her lack of composure, something must have happened, and she must have endured some hardships.

“How… did this happen?”

“What? Me? Or that sister over there?”

…That sister?

“Let’s focus on recovery first. What did you do to end up in such a near-death state? Explaining will take time, so don’t bother talking now. We’ll set aside time later.”

Though she isn’t rambling aimlessly, her rapid speech gives that impression.

Still, one thing is certain: my breathing has become slightly smoother.

“But… didn’t I tell you last time? There are no extras left. Even though I managed to make some in the meantime, now there’s only this one left.”

“…”

I attempt to force myself to sit up.

Though my body won’t obey, Zora supports me, allowing me to barely raise my upper body.

“…”

When I turn my vision with greater ease this time, I see it in the distance.

Heeba.

Her body pierced by the Demon King’s cruel attack, she hangs limply like fruit dangling from a tree branch, in a pitiful state.

“Why? Who is… this person? How did they end up like this? Do you know them?”

“…”

Ahriman.

Quit staying silent and explain already. You saw everything, didn’t you?

-That woman? She just couldn’t grasp the situation, decided not to run away, and instead rushed in headfirst, resulting in this mess. It’s her own fault, isn’t it?

“…”

-Why? Are you still upset that I didn’t help you? But wasn’t it your doing that got me into this state? I did what I could. This whole debacle happened because you started unnecessary trouble. How many times did I tell you to trust me?

“…”

One thing is certain.

Ahriman and Athena are neither identical nor equal.

This realization became crystal clear during this incident.

It resonated even more deeply within me.

If Ahriman and Athena were of the same kind…

…there would be no reason for Jeupse to consider her his daughter, leave her alone, or favor her. He might as well have killed her instantly without any issue.

“How… did you get here?”

“You’re asking too soon. Though this isn’t the time to talk about it.”

Ellie swings her sword adorned with flames.

As the sword traces its path, flames race along and collide directly with the Demon King’s torso.

“…?”

Could she really be hit this easily?

‘No.’

Something’s off.

However, it’s nothing particularly extraordinary.

This is…

The fruit of effort.

And when considering that this result stems from the efforts of someone talented and extraordinary…

It stands as proof of those efforts.

-CRRAAAAGH!!!!

The Demon King swings her arms.

Black flames erupt due to her movement, and black branches sprout from the ground.

And everything…

Is being violently swept away by Ellie flying through the air—right now.

Her techniques are divine. They’ve reached a level where calling them godly wouldn’t be an exaggeration, truly remarkable.

Yet, the essence of the sword she wields…

Surprisingly, it’s all familiar to me.

‘Imperial Sword.’

Even though she throws herself into battle using the Imperial Sword without any preparatory movements or formalities,

this is its practical application in combat.

Without ceremony or parade-like gestures, every strike and swing contains all the necessary elements.

Things I couldn’t perceive before are now clearly visible.

Moreover, the white flames encircling her.

Like the sun dominating the afternoon sky, these radiant white lights protect Ellie, filtering out any malevolent intent directed at her.

BOOM!

The Demon King’s body, struck by the sword, doesn’t get cut but is instead slammed like a blunt weapon. With both hands, she forcefully swings the sword downward, driving it into the ground.

The crust of the earth shatters, and white and black flames intertwine like snakes coiling around each other, creating a fierce storm.

The essence of this storm is fire and heat.

The heated air suddenly bursts outward, delivering its scorching heat even to us standing far away.

“…”

Was she always this strong?

Her movements are extraordinary, free of any redundancy.

There’s no hesitation, no delay.

Her straightforward swordplay is paradoxically unpredictable.

The core lies in her constantly mobile entire body.

When her lower body halts, her knees, hips, and waist compensate.

Even her upper body moves along optimal paths and efficiencies, ensuring she can assume any posture and deliver precise strikes in desired forms. It’s practically an ability.

She isn’t being dragged by her swings; every moment of her attacks remains under complete control.

Switching between slashing and thrusting, recovering mid-strike to counterattack, deflect, or parry—all fluid motions.

Faster and more agile than flowing water, yet still devoid of excess.

“I was waiting outside for you the whole time. What else could I do? I couldn’t possibly fight the gatekeeper giant, could I?”

While observing the intense clash between Ellie and the Demon King,

Zora’s words naturally catch my attention.

“That’s when she arrived. Incredible, wasn’t she? To ensure your safety, she fought the awakened gatekeeper giant head-on for over half a day and somehow neutralized it. We took advantage of that opportunity to enter, though it wasn’t easy.”

Zora speaks lightly,

but given my own experiences sneaking in quietly and avoiding detection, I know her account isn’t trivial.

Most importantly, unlike me, she and Ellie didn’t have the luxury of evading major challenges.

“She took down everything. And while searching for you, she seemed to be looking for something else too. For two days, she hardly slept… emerging from that building just now. Yeah, she basically ransacked the temple.”

Zora says this,

mentioning how they narrowly escaped death multiple times.

Casually, almost jokingly, but this narrative transcends mere anecdotes—it might very well be the tale of overcoming extreme trials and tribulations.

Perhaps it’s another fragment of a grand and small myth born from overcoming adversity.

“And then we reached some tomb inside. And there… that sister was lying in a corner, a skeletal corpse holding something. The moment she grabbed it… well, this happened.”

“…”

Though unclear, there’s definitely a connection.

And what that connection is…

“I’m fine, so go check on her over there.”

“More important question—who exactly is she? Ah, right. That’s irrelevant now. Got it.”

Zora departs, and I rise awkwardly once more, focusing ahead.

Just then, Ellie switches the sword to her left hand. Suddenly, wooden branches gather on her right hand, forming a long shape.

“Hmm?”

The previous Demon King appears silently beside me, arms crossed.

She mutters an odd name upon seeing this.

“A nightingale? At this point?”

“…”

What is this that elicits such a reaction?

Ellie launches the wooden spear created from the branches like a javelin.

“What the hell!”

The Demon King casually bats the incoming spear away with her hand.

Unexpectedly, the spear struck by her hand doesn’t just break but fractures into dozens of smaller branches.

These individual branches behave like arrows, hurtling straight toward the Demon King’s body.

Much like the tentacles of a specific monster, yet driven by clear intent, they pummel her armored figure, unleashing an attack that cannot be taken lightly.

“What the—?!”

Unbelievable—could those branches actually pierce through her supposedly invincible black armor?

But that’s not all.

This was merely a prelude to her next move.

Ellie rushes forward wielding her white-flame-covered sword.

Her sword strike eventually cleaves through the unguarded Demon King’s torso.

-!!!!!!

A storm of white flames sweeps through the surroundings.

Its power is so immense that even the sky seems to bleach white.

-!!!!!

There’s no scream.

The king of pain doesn’t cry out in agony.

But the attack undoubtedly connected.

The Demon King is visibly suffering, struggling to maintain her stance.

-This kind of strength… hidden?! Then why did you just stand there taking it earlier?!

The Demon King expresses her confusion.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ellie mercilessly continues slicing through her body.

Had she been an ordinary living creature,

she would have been split in two from the previous attack.

Strangely, despite her torso and upper body being cleanly bisected by the sword’s passage,

the Demon King not only survives but merely winces in pain.

-Khhh!

In fact, she looks especially displeased with the wooden branches embedded in her body, her face contorted in fury.

“This ends here.”

Facing the Demon King, who has fallen to one knee after repeatedly enduring attacks,

Ellie points her sword, declaring the end.

“Whoever you think you are, feel free.”

Shivering, the Demon King struggles to rise.

Dark crimson energy, flames, and radiance emanate from her surroundings.

However, unrelated to that,

a pitch-black darkness envelops her shoulder from behind.

-Aaaahhh!

The petite red-haired, red-eyed girl trembles softly, making a woeful expression.

-That’s right. Nothing has ended. Nothing. Nothing at all.

She repeats her monologue as if insane.

-There’s no turning back. Nothing. Nothing at all! Sniff!

Somehow, a straight sword materializes in her clasped hands before her chest.

This dark entity resembling a sword,

like a sinister wave of darkness formed into metallic pitch-blackness.

Only…

“That’s…?”

It feels familiar.

Something’s different, yes.

Seemingly new, yet unmistakably familiar.

It began with Para.

Then Bettyta, Grate, and Fortes—it seems similar but…

Paviarm.

The chopping motion.

Necata.

Thrusting.

And Punita.

An upward slash.

Amazingly, all seven techniques advance repeatedly through forward and backward motions.

Every movement focuses solely on attacking and dismantling the opponent’s defenses rather than guarding or countering.

Compared to what I learned, an additional form exists,

but it’s not a sword technique.

‘Pace.’

Forward movement.

But there’s no retreat in this.

A march risking everything.

An all-in advancement.

“This is…”

Ellie’s blue eyes glimmer with interest.

Though she skillfully counters, as the Demon King begins actively utilizing her abilities, Ellie’s relentless assault starts faltering, facing an impregnable fortress.

And watching this, the Golden Girl, also the previous Demon King, exclaims excitedly:

-Sacrificing oneself to kill the enemy. The resolve to annihilate. Excellent! No retreat, only forward. Abandoning harmony for destruction, discarding control for aggression. Is this the fruit of obsession? Or foolish stubbornness? No, it’s desperation. Yes, I see it now. Is this your answer? To me, it’s quite clear! HahahaHA!

“…”

The Golden Girl.

And the former Demon King.

Does she truly perceive the composition and essence of this spectacle?

I can somewhat see it too.

Everything familiar to my eyes.

And if asked to mimic it,

I’m confident I could replicate it immediately.

With a little practice, training, adaptation,

it would happen swiftly.

-KIIIIEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHH!

However,

due to the peculiar wooden spear in Ellie’s hand,

the Demon King appears unusually weak against it.

Unlike before, the thrown projectile doesn’t connect.

Instead, it veers off as if instinctively avoiding her body.

Thus, Ellie, wielding a sword in one hand and the wooden spear in the other,

charges recklessly, overwhelming her adversary with dazzling sword-spear techniques.

Allowing her waist to be exposed in exchange for piercing the Demon King’s forearm with the wooden spear,

Ellie emits not a single groan, whereas the Demon King, despite her title as the Queen of Pain, writhes in great agony and distress, desperately flailing.

It almost seems like this wooden spear is the Demon King’s natural nemesis.

-The branch that killed the God of Light. So, does it affect the lineage of Radiance too? Perhaps preparations were made beforehand in case Louelde became an enemy. The Emperor of Berke Empire isn’t to be underestimated. How did they acquire this? Or did that damn old man foresee this situation and strategically provide it? Ah, analyzing it this way, it aligns perfectly with fulfilling the contract with Heeba. Everything fits.

“Are you aware of what this is?”

-A fraudulent god concocted this contraption to kill an annoying deity. Originally… it was nothing remarkable, not even a proper weapon. But since it accidentally killed the God of Light, it gained special properties. And speaking of which, the substance the current Demon King embedded into their body is also the fraudulent god’s masterpiece. What bad luck indeed.

“…”

-It’ll end soon.

Oddly enough, despite Ellie’s continuous exertion, her breathing remains completely steady.

Meanwhile, the Demon King’s condition appears extremely precarious.

Using her sword planted in the ground to barely stand,

with the cursed wooden branch still embedded in her body, she pants heavily—a stark contrast to her previously overwhelming presence.

-YOUUUUUU! Y-Y-YOU!

“If you wish to converse, bring your subordinates.”

Ellie’s sword scrapes across the black armor.

-!!!!

Biting her teeth tightly, the Demon King faces Ellie’s extended hand, which plunges directly into her chest.

Normally, without any cuts or gaps, penetration should be impossible—but…

…as if unbound by matter or physics, Ellie’s hand blatantly sinks into the Demon King’s chest.

-Eeeehh! Diiiiil!

The Demon King grabs onto Ellie’s arms.

Crimson branches and black flames erupt from her body, burning even herself as if trying to pierce and consume everything.

I witnessed this before… based on self-destruction, damaging and breaking her own body…

extreme aggression verging on berserk.

Though labeled an “attack,” it’s more embarrassing to call it that.

For someone, however, it’s the most lethal and appropriate retaliation and assault.

But…

the white flames block everything instantaneously.

Not only that, the wooden spear wrapped around Ellie’s right arm expands momentarily, nullifying the incoming crimson branches entirely.

-Khhh!

“Hand this over and leave.”

From the Demon King’s chest emerges a scorched staff.

Ellie grips it and pulls forcefully.

Instantly, Ellie’s eyes dart upward.

Quickly withdrawing her body, the scorched staff splits in half.

-…It’s not over. No, it’s not. It hasn’t ended.

The Demon King, grimacing painfully and gritting her teeth, glares intensely at Ellie.

Her silhouette gradually sinks into the crimson space forming beneath her feet, much like being swallowed by a swamp.

“Haa.”

Ellie, who was about to chase after her immediately,

pauses perhaps due to the ominous shadow hovering near the Demon King’s head.

In the end,

despite successfully cornering the Demon King, she escapes anticlimactically.

“…”

Is it over?

The situation resolved in an unimaginable form.

Or thinking that means something has gone terribly wrong.

“Carriel.”

Ellie.

She looks this way, and for some reason, she raises the wooden spear in her right hand high above her head, extending it backward.

This gesture feels like…

as if she’s about to throw it at me at any moment.

Am I imagining things?

“It’ll hurt a bit.”

“??”