Chapter 55

“How many enemies are there?”

“Well? Penelope said it’s probably over 2000.”

“And our numbers?”

“Just you and me. What’s there to count?”

“We’ll win with plenty to spare.”

Only two people set out to defeat the elite special forces of the Demon King’s army.

Anyone who heard about it would have screamed, “Are you insane?” But the two stood against that army without a hint of fear.

“They’re coming, huh.”

Raul, seeing the elite troops charging with a massive cloud of dust, casually began to touch the ground.

“Hmm… This spot should do.”

Finding the right position, Raul slammed the ground with a powerful impact.

“What, what’s this…! An earthquake…?”

The ground suddenly began to shake, causing the Demon King’s elite special forces to lose their balance.

And then, the sharp Sword of Four Forms flew towards their hearts. No one could dodge it in their unbalanced state.

The Sword of Four Forms, tracing its trajectory, took the lives of countless soldiers. Those lucky enough to be outside its path regained their balance and charged at Layla.

They aimed to take advantage of the moment when the extended blade of the Sword of Four Forms was being retracted. It wasn’t a bad decision, considering they were trained by the Demon King himself, but…

“Exploiting an opening isn’t a bad move… But I’m not foolish enough to leave myself defenseless.”

They were blown apart by Raul, who stood in their way. Unlike his weakened state now, the Raul of the past could kill most enemies with just a touch.

Among the demons, Raul was known as the Giant Hunter or the Slaughterer, feared by all. Together with Layla, they turned the tide of many battles on the frontlines.

The two were invincible together. No one, except the Demon King, could stand against them.

Unstoppable attacks, impenetrable defense, unavoidable strikes, and countless methods of attack. Only the Demon King could defeat this combination.

“Truly, these enemies were too weak.”

“Arrogance is poison in war. Got it, my other half? Without me, you’d be in danger immediately.”

“…… I was the one covering you. If anything, it’s the opposite.”

“Listening to you now, one would think you fought alone? I killed more enemies, you know?”

“I could have annihilated this many enemies alone. With you, that fact might be a bit unclear.”

“Oh, I see. My other half wanted to die so badly. If you wanted to see harmony so quickly, you should have said so!”

The two even fought on top of the enemies’ corpses.

Yet, they enjoyed the fight. Moving their bodies while looking at each other’s faces was their happiness and the meaning of their lives.

Every move meant to attack each other held more meaning than a kiss between lovers.

It was a time so joyful that even Raul smiled brightly, and Layla’s expression was one of ecstasy.

Of course, Camilla, who came to pick them up after the mission, was not pleased with the scene.

“… You bad man. A bad man who doesn’t even look back.”

Camilla was jealous of their bond. But knowing well what their relationship was, she also supported them from behind.

It was an indescribably complex relationship, but she was confident her feelings for Raul were no less.

If Raul ever decided to take a mistress, she would step forward without hesitation, so deep and painful were her feelings.

A few days later.

The four heroes, forcibly dragged into the strategy meeting room, still half-asleep, began to listen to Penelope’s briefing while yawning.

“With the vampire command center gone, the enemy is likely in disarray.”

The bandages on Penelope’s ankles proved that fact without filter.

As the yawning stopped, Penelope sighed and continued.

“Hey, this isn’t the time for storytelling. Can you just focus? If the atmosphere gets too tense, it’ll be harder to talk.”

Penelope seemed not to care much about what had happened to her and went on.

“And the Demon Queen’s anniversary is approaching. As you know, the Demon King always visits her grave on that day, no matter what. We’ll use that opportunity.”

Using the mourning of a loved one felt wrong, but the enemy was a demon who had slaughtered countless humans.

No matter the reason, slaughter was slaughter. For survival, they couldn’t afford to be picky about methods, even if it seemed cowardly.

There was no longer any guilt in their hearts. The guilt of taking lives could be easily killed off, as Layla had taught them.

Layla, skilled in acting, taught everyone how to kill their emotions. Sadness, anger, guilt—feel them later, she said. Just kill and bury them for now.

“… I know it’s cowardly. But we’re not in a position to argue about that, are we?”

They had managed to gain some momentum, but the Demon King and his lieutenants were monsters.

They could be overturned at any moment, so they had to strike while they had the advantage.

“First, His Majesty, Camilla, and I will attack the main base where the dark elves, orcs, balrogs, and beastmen are gathered.”

“And Raul and Layla. You two will block the reinforcements coming from the western fortress to aid the main base.”

The first prince, looking at the map, glared at Penelope as if to say, “Are you insane?”

According to Penelope’s strategy, Raul and Layla would face reinforcements consisting of trolls, ogres, harpies, and the dragon race.

The first three were manageable, but the dragon race was no ordinary foe. Even the Demon King had struggled to subdue them.

“The dragon race isn’t an easy enemy.”

Raul’s expression visibly hardened at the mention of the dragon race.

The Dragon Queen, for some inexplicable reason, had fallen for Raul and was eagerly pursuing him to make him her mate.

“I know. But… but…”

Penelope, with a more resolute face than ever, squeezed out her words.

“We can’t miss this chance… You know how much of a monster the Demon King is… We can’t let this opportunity slip…”

All five of them had challenged the Demon King before and been utterly defeated, so they couldn’t press Penelope further.

“Even so, the Demon King isn’t a fool. That monster might sense the commotion at the main base and rush over in an instant. Then we’re done for, right?”

“Don’t worry about that. Master has agreed to buy us some time.”

“That dog… no, Master should be able to handle it. No one knows the Demon King’s sword better than Master.”

Layla also disliked the Minister of War immensely but trusted his skills. Though she treated him as lower than a cockroach.

“One last question… I can handle blocking the reinforcements led by the dragon race. My abilities are specialized against them.”

But Raul pointed at the map and asked.

“But given the location, the Queen of Succubi and her succubi will also come to aid the dragon race. If she launches a surprise attack with her illusion skills and soul manipulation…”

Raul couldn’t finish his sentence.

He knew all too well how horrifying the outcome would be, so he couldn’t bring himself to voice that grim assumption.

“Don’t worry about that. The elite forces of our giant allies will block them.”

“… Honestly, I don’t trust them at all.”

“I understand, Raul. They tend to prioritize their own safety. But not trusting allies too much is also a path to defeat.”

Raul still seemed dissatisfied with the plan.

Seeing Raul’s discontent, Penelope cautiously spoke up.

“Raul, Layla. If you two are against this plan… I’ll call it off. This war’s victory means less to me than you two.”

It was such an unexpected statement that everyone, including Raul and Layla, was stunned.

“You two are my treasures.”

“… Then we’ll have to live up to that expectation.”

Layla stood up and forcibly pulled Raul, who was sitting with a sullen expression, to his feet.

“I still don’t like this plan.”

“I’m heading to the battlefield… Are you planning to send your other half alone?”

“I have no choice. I’ll go.”

The two were inseparable.

They fought together whenever possible, sat at the same table eating the same food, and even rode the same horse when marching.

They wore clothes of the same color, rested together, and slept in the same bed, holding each other.

Their relationship was beyond what words like “lovers” could describe.

“Layla, as expected. The most mature and broad-minded among us.”

Hearing Penelope’s praise, Raul looked at Penelope and Camilla’s chests with a somewhat pitiful expression.

“Raul, why are you looking at us like that?”

“Perhaps you two…”

Raul’s words were cut off as Asel and Layla tried to stop him, but it was too late.

“Are you still not mature enough?”

That day, Raul realized the saying that people see their life flash before their eyes before death was true.

If Layla and Asel hadn’t stopped him, Raul would have lost his heart and neck that day.

Raul always missed those days.

The days when all he had to worry about was the day’s events.

The days when Layla was alive and breathing.

The days when he could be wholly himself.

He missed them desperately.

And Rosie could only watch the phantom of Raul and Layla, arm in arm, having lost all words.

The two were smiling.

Brighter than ever.

Happier than ever.

More genuine than ever.

“Sister…”

Rosie wanted to hold onto Layla.

Knowing the outcome of that plan.

Knowing what would happen to Layla in the end.

Knowing what actions Raul would take in the end.

Knowing even fragments of it, she wanted to hold onto her sister.

But no one could hold onto the phantoms of the past.

Not even Raul could hold onto her phantom.