93rd Episode
“When did the mana… return?”
The biggest change of all was the overwhelming black storm of mana swirling around her.
She is not the Lucy I knew. She was Rustica Asmodeus, the Demon King of Immortality.
The piercing pressure made my legs feel like jelly.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. If you die, the evil energy accumulates in my body, understand?”
In response to my stunned exclamation, Lucy grinned. It was an unsettling smile, all the more eerie given the shift in atmosphere.
Thud. Lucy took a step closer to me. Unconsciously, I took a step back, though I quickly regained my composure out of pride.
“Hero. Keep being obstinate. You’re my servant! The one destined to protect Rustica Asmodeus, the Demon King of Immortality! Stubbornness and arrogance are the privileges of the powerful!!”
Regardless of my actions, Lucy stood tall and declared with dignity.
Lucy walked confidently toward me, her voice drawing ever closer.
“And if you’re going to be stubborn, see it through to the end! I won’t forgive any whining now. Take responsibility for your choices—whether you’re devoured by evil energy or your mind shatters!”
Is this really the same Lucy who was scolded and punished a month ago?
Thinking about how she became so angry made me realize how pitiful I must look right now.
Immersed in that self-loathing, suddenly—
“Ugh…!”
I realized her cold lips had covered mine.
When I came to my senses, Lucy’s pale face loomed large wherever I looked.
And then, with a gurgle, I felt a torrent of thick, dark mana flood through me via her kiss.
[The Immortal Demon King Rustica Asmodeus has enacted a forced realignment of the fixed anchor of your regression.]
[The point of immortality regressed has been updated.]
[Date – Continental Year 1108, January 13, 02:44]
[Location – Markeuteuriseu. Upper region of the Plain of Promise, Western Gate of the small city of Kern.]
Still disoriented, I looked down at my notification panel while Lucy wore a mischievous smile.
Or was it just my imagination, but her pale, bloodless face seemed to flush slightly red.
“Alright. Any escape routes are sealed by me. There’s no more reason to hesitate, is there?”
“…”
“If deep thought is useless, then empty your head and just fight. That suits you. My crude guardian….”
At that moment, Lucy’s eyes swirled, and the transformation dissolved.
Her horns and wings shrunk, and the pitch-black mana evaporated as if washed away. Wisps of black embers floated in the air like fluttering butterflies.
And then—
“Ugh.”
At the same time, Lucy swayed and collapsed where she stood. Without thinking, I caught her.
Once nestled in my arms, Lucy let out a groan and muttered faintly.
“Ah, renewing the regression point was all I could manage… What a waste of my mana… Ugh, I feel terrible….”
What is this?
She put on a great show of arrogance, only to reveal that all she could muster was just enough power to reset the regression point.
I couldn’t help but chuckle foolishly at her groaning form.
“When will you conquer the world with this attitude? Should we start when my grandson is old enough to attend a Taekwondo dojo?”
“Shut up. Right now, I’ve got more interesting toys to play with… Mana can be gathered slowly.”
“… Is that so?”
“Yes.”
I need to be careful not to become boring to her.
At the same time I gave a wry smile, a low rumbling sound echoed in the ground—guguuguu. Over the horizon, a brilliant white light began to shine, casting a radiant glow.
The direction: the Plain of Promise.
The white explosion signaled the beginning of the summoning ritual for the Astarte fragments.
I clenched my fist once and gently placed Lucy down.
“If I get possessed by the evil energy and turn into a madman, stab me awake with your dagger.”
I told Lucy half-jokingly, my voice unnervingly hoarse.
Lying on the ground, Lucy grinned and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll tear your limbs to pieces and shake some sense into you.”
“… That’s the most reliable thing you’ve said so far. Damn.”
I immediately drew my twin swords and sprinted toward the western gate of Kern.
Hurtling forward, the landscape around me blurred with each leap.
“I’m off to work!!”
Lucy, left there, will soon be found by Zenon, who will take her to Seop Baek.
But Zenon won’t fight with me. We had previously agreed that he would protect Seop Baek, Lucy, and Gena in anticipation of any ambush.
Thus, stopping the indiscriminate terror attacks by the Resurrection Sect in Kern is entirely my responsibility.
“There’s no place to run.”
It’s strange. Was it because my life was so dark and bleak before?
Now that the master with crazy ideas has removed my escape routes, my mind feels strangely clear.
I can clearly see what I need to do now.
‘Focus on the fight!’
There’s no going back to prepare anymore.
It’s all about the battle from here on out. No borrowing strength from others.
Somehow, I need to defeat the Resurrection Sect and prevent the summoning of Astarte.
Somehow, with my own hands, I will greet the dawn of tomorrow.
“Chaaaaarge!!”
*
Running like a madman, I soon entered the center of Kern.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Why, why are you doing this?”
“Someone, help me! Save me!”
“Aaaaah!”
Already, massacres were happening all around.
Ordinary-looking individuals were indiscriminately killing bystanders, creating a living nightmare.
“Kyaaaah! No! Not my child! Rather, take me instead!!”
“Mom! Momaaaaaaa!”
Screams erupted from all around. The clash of weapons and shouting mixed with frantic footsteps, creating a nonstop cacophony.
“They, they’re crazy people killing others!”
“Guards! Call the guards!!”
I observed the current situation in Kern and deeply understood what Zenon had told me.
At first glance—just arriving—it seemed like ordinary residents of Kern had split into factions and were engaging in street brawls.
It looked this way for a simple reason:
‘They are incredibly… featureless.’
The Resurrection Sect members have no distinguishing traits.
On the surface, it was as if ordinary people were engaging in violent massacres in the middle of the city, making the scene feel particularly surreal.
But in a nauseating way, the severity hit home.
“These guys! Don’t underestimate me!”
“Damn it, I can’t just let this happen!”
Clash, Kaang!
Wherever the metallic sounds rang out, battles were unfolding. Brave heroes and residents were attempting to resist.
However, their cries of resistance soon unified into screams of terror.
“Kraaaah!”
“What, what are these guys?! What the heck are they?!”
The fight didn’t last long. In fact, calling it a fight would be embarrassing.
Regardless of age, gender, or strength, the blades of the Resurrection Sect members eventually pierced through all who resisted.
Puncture, crunch, snap! Spears and swords broke, limbs got severed—belonging to both the sect members and citizens.
The real difference emerged there.
“They’re… still charging even after their legs are cut off!”
“Monsters… they’re monsters! Aaaah!”
Even as their bodies were maimed and weapons shattered, the sect members showed no change in expression as they continued to kill.
If their weapons broke, they used their bare hands. If their legs were severed, they crawled. If their arms were cut off, they bit.
And if even their jaw was missing… they charged headfirst, ramming into targets.
Crack! Snap!
Blood droplets scattered everywhere. The disturbing sounds grew louder.
Without fail, broken weapons and body parts would fly through the air, asserting their presence.
“Help me! Save me!”
“Please… forgive me… Please, please spare my life!”
“Hiiiiikkkkk!!”
The proud shouts of resistance quickly turned into pitiful pleas for mercy.
However, uzizic… Mocking their pitiful state, sect members thrust their spears into the throats of citizens.
The faces of those begging for their lives shot upward into the air one after another.
“Aaah! Demons… demons incarnate!”
Judging from their behavior, those presumed to be members of the Resurrection Sect showed absolutely no mercy.
This is the biggest difference between ordinary people and the Resurrection Sect, and it’s also why the sect will inevitably win.
The zeal with which the sect members pursue murder gave me goosebumps just from witnessing it for a moment.
‘Alright, I understand.’
The first method to differentiate the sect members in the present situation came to me.
Those who murder without the slightest hesitation—they are members of the Resurrection Sect.
‘The Eye of Mimir!!’
Of course, that alone isn’t enough. Even after the first identification, we need a decisive method to confirm.
But I already had the means within me.
[Monster Info]
[Name: Cain Cocus]
[HP: 980/980 MP: 730/730]
[Strength: 124 Agility: 106 Intelligence: 33]
[Details: Warrior who defied the will of the lesser deities. Bring down the corrupt traitor with the hammer of death.]
For a moment, I widened my eyes in shock upon seeing the status window that appeared.
The marks showed the individuals weren’t warriors or civilians, but monsters.
Moreover, their detailed descriptions explicitly conveyed the hostility of the author.
“Since they turned their backs on the witch knight, they must really hate traitors, huh?”
It’s obvious the anger stems from the lesser deities who created this system. Understanding this, I smirked.
If you betray the lesser deities, whether you’re a warrior or a citizen, you’re treated as a ‘monster’ by the system and designated a public enemy of humanity.
This is significant. There’s a tremendous difference between when they’re treated as human and as monsters.
Grinning in satisfaction at this breakthrough insight,
‘Monsters drop experience points when defeated!’
There’s hope.
Perhaps… I could stop these guys on my own.
Not in this life, but if my assumptions are correct…
‘In the end, I’ll win!’
I immediately opened the Box of the Dead, grabbed a pen and paper I always carried, and scribbled down this groundbreaking discovery.
Closing the box, a short resonance sound and a sinister purple glow flitted by, then I let out a breath.
A sigh of accomplishment.
“Of course I am….”
I grinned ferociously, raising my dual blades, and immediately reached into my pocket for an ether vial, swallowing it in one go.
Kiiiing! My body gleamed with colorful light, emitting a faint vapor.
“This suits me better.”
I activated the Black Wings. Paft! My cloak split and transformed into giant crow wings.
Into the dark, starry night I ascended, the moonlight casting soft shadows on the ground. A few sect members noticed the shadow and looked up.
—Empty your head and just fight. That suits you.
Right. I agree with that.
Grinning to myself as I thought of Lucy, I charged forth recklessly to slaughter the sect members.
This once, emptying my head and just fighting was the best decision.
