Chapter 140

The death of the Heavenly Demon spread in an instant. It was said that he fought mysterious enemies, sealed a great technique to evacuate innocent people, and then fell victim to a cowardly trick.

And because of that news, all the comrades decided to gather in the capital.

Werner had not woken up since that day. Although the Heavenly Demon absorbed the side effects of the Great Magic, the side effects from its activation had accumulated in his body. On top of that, the wounds from other battles piled up, leaving him on the brink of death.

If it weren’t for Melissa, Glacia’s mother and my friend, arriving in time to heal him with her spells, he might have died. Thanks to the healing spell, Werner had regressed to the same appearance as when we first met and was now asleep.

“This idiot… Did he really use ‘Ars Magia’ with a body that couldn’t even handle ordinary Great Magic? And you just let him use it?”

“I didn’t have time to think about it. I thought it was better for all of us to die together…”

*Slap!*

Her hand struck my right cheek with a burning pain.

“Huh…?”

“You stupid blockhead! Do you even know what that magic is? It’s a magic that overlaps the Great Magic of each attribute, amplifies the rejection, and makes it explode! If the Heavenly Demon hadn’t absorbed that magic, he would’ve died instantly!”

I didn’t know. I thought it was just one of Werner’s Great Magics. Even if I had known…

“Did you want to die so badly that you didn’t stop him? Ugh… I really have nothing to say to you.”

“Is Werner going to be okay…?”

“For now, I’ve temporarily shrunk and simplified his body to amplify the healing effect and layered several healing spells. The rest is up to prayers to the gods… If Media had been fine, he’d have recovered in five minutes, but…”

Healing spells weren’t her specialty. If Media, who specialized in healing, detoxification, and curse removal, had been here, it would’ve been different. But she was currently unconscious for unknown reasons and sealed inside a special magic tool.

“The Black Round Table… I thought they were just some heretical group, but the more I think about it, they’re no ordinary organization. In terms of power, they surpass us.”

Melissa bit her nails. It was a habit she only showed when she was truly tense.

“The Heavenly Demon was one of our strongest. If they killed him… there must be someone far stronger than us.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that man was my father. I couldn’t say I was the daughter of the person who killed our comrade. No… that man is no longer my father. So… I won’t say it.

“No matter what anyone says, I’ll massacre the Black Round Table. I’ll kill anyone who tries to stop me. I’ll declare war with my clan.”

“Melissa…”

Melissa, who always maintained a calm and smiling demeanor, was now filled with rage, her pupils sharp.

“Try to keep a little rationality and think wisely. This isn’t something to solve lightly…”

“Rationality…?”

Melissa grabbed my collar. She even forgot to hide her fangs, which she usually kept concealed.

“They took the meaning of life from my comrade! They killed my comrade! And you’re telling me to stay rational? If you can stay rational after that, you’re the weird one!”

Melissa shook me by the collar.

“The youngest can no longer use the Great Magic he was so proud of! We can no longer hear the Heavenly Demon’s sermons! And you’re telling me to stay rational? If that’s what rationality is… then I’ll gladly be the biggest fool in the world.”

The situation was spiraling out of control.

“You’re really good at talking about rationality when a comrade has died. Thanks to you, I’ve made up my mind. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

She muttered something incomprehensible and disappeared into a blood-red mist.

—

Squar’s condition was terrible. Ever since she heard the news of the Heavenly Demon’s death, she hadn’t eaten, drunk, or even slept.

Her once-glossy hair had become dry, and her beautiful eyes were bloodshot, giving off an eerie vibe.

When I opened the door and entered, she looked at me and said,

“You’re the Heavenly Demon, right…?”

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had this tragic greeting.

“Unfortunately, it’s me.”

“Haha… Right…? Even the Heavenly Demon would have a hard time coming here if he were hurt… Right… So when will he get better…?”

“Squar… the Heavenly Demon is dead.”

Then Squar grabbed my collar. I don’t know why everyone’s so obsessed with grabbing my collar, but I had to calm her down.

“Calm down a little.”

“Aah… It’s my fault… It’s all my fault… Because of me…”

She was crying. The once dignified and enchanting beauty was crumbling.

“Don’t you want to hear the Heavenly Demon’s last words…?”

“Did he resent me…? Did he resent me for causing his death…?”

“He said he was happy to have a friend like you, and after hearing his last words, he begged you not to cry.”

“What…?”

The Heavenly Demon worried about Squar until the end. To him, Squar was the only friend he could confide in.

“That idiot… worried about me until the end…”

“So get up. Stop crying so pathetically.”

It was almost time for the leader’s meeting.

“Wash your face before we go to the strategy meeting.”

I took her to the bathroom and washed her face. I really don’t know who’s the older one here.

“Come on, cheer up~”

I think I’d have no trouble raising a child later. Being with this party’s comrades is no different from childcare.

—

In the grand meeting room,

I brought Squar, who had finished washing her face, into the meeting room.

The leader, sitting at the head of the table as usual, exuded an air of authority. The aura he radiated was on par with my father’s.

“Finally, everyone’s here. Well, not everyone.”

Werner, who was unconscious, Media, who was sealed in a magic tool, and… the Heavenly Demon, who had died… Quite a few comrades were missing from this gathering.

I sat Squar down next to Ricardo. In the tense atmosphere, Melissa and Melchior had resolute expressions.

“First, as you all know, the Heavenly Demon is dead.”

At the leader’s words, Squar raised her hand and spoke.

“Originally, this investigation was supposed to be handled by you and me. The Heavenly Demon and I were supposed to handle the additional search. So why did the Heavenly Demon suddenly take on that role…?”

Now that I thought about it, something felt off, so I also gave the leader a suspicious look. Ricardo seemed to feel the same way.

“Are you doubting me…? Well, there’s no need to carry unnecessary misunderstandings. The Heavenly Demon volunteered to take on the role.”

“Do you really expect us to believe that?”

“If you don’t believe it, there’s no point in asking. The Heavenly Demon asked me to switch roles because he had something he wanted to confirm. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

“Shut up! If you think about it, Werner’s condition is also your fault! And yet you act like you’ve done nothing wrong! Aren’t you sad about the Heavenly Demon’s death?!!”

“Sigh… ‘Not angry,’ huh…”

The leader slammed his hand on the meeting table. The table, which was at least 10 meters long, turned to dust and disappeared.

“Keep talking nonsense. And yes, it’s true that the child ended up like that because of me, and it’s regrettable. But the topic now is the Heavenly Demon. Why do you keep trying to steer the conversation toward emotional topics?”

“Psycho bastard…”

“…It’s too early to call me a psycho.”

The relationship between Squar and the leader was reaching its worst. And it wasn’t just them.

Melchior raised his hand and spoke in a voice filled with killing intent.

“According to the investigation, there are countries cooperating with the Black Round Table, and there are local nobles being used like pawns.”

Ricardo cautiously raised his hand and replied.

“Finding accomplices is important, but… what’s more important now is how to break through the current situation…”

“That’s what we’re discussing now. Obviously, it’s war. Anyone who’s even slightly sided with the Black Round Table will be massacred.”

“You crazy bastard! Don’t talk about war so lightly! Think about the chaos and aftermath it’ll bring! War isn’t some bandit hunt!!!!”

“Ah, right… I thought you’d like slaughter since you’re from the family that killed my mother and father based on circumstantial evidence… Guess not? But your children might be different.”

“You son of a bitch!!!”

The Heavenly Demon, Werner, and Media, who always mediated these stupid fights, were gone, and now the relationship between these two was also reaching its worst.

“Melissa, try to calm them down.”

“Why?”

I couldn’t understand her genuine confusion. If this continues, disaster is certain. She couldn’t possibly not know that.

“The vampire clan is also planning to join the war. We need to clean up the Black Round Table and the bugs cooperating with them.”

“Melissa!”

“Why fight? Should we continue the fight we left unfinished last time?”

The leader, who had been silently watching the fight, sighed and spoke.

“It seems we’ve reached a conclusion. We can’t understand each other.”

He stood up and delivered a cold conclusion.

“Starting today, I want to disband this party.”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Squar also stood up in shock. One of the party’s goals was to find a way to heal Media. Disbanding the party would mean…

“We’re giving up on Saint Media.”