Chapter 112: Poor-quality article.
by fnovelpia
“Then what do we do about those?”
Korea’s Pride pointed at the Black Knights, who walked forward imposingly.
Right.
What should we do about them?
The answer was simple.
Just take them down as they come.
“At this level, I can handle one alone, right? Each of us takes one,”
Orc, Battle mage, and I stepped forward.
“They do seem weaker than the originals.”
Still, it’s not like we can’t handle them.
We returnees are strong.
The Orc’s powerful punch tore through the air, shaking the heavens and earth.
Battle mage’s spear struck like Gungnir.
And my scythe, which reaps death.
“They can’t even speak. Clearly, they’re not as sharp.”
“For the rest, just have the short knight use the Aegis shield from the back.”
Three Black Knights had appeared from the front.
There’s no rule saying more won’t come from behind.
Or the Demon King might jump in.
So, the support team needs to put that short knight to use.
Wasn’t it called the strongest shield?
Perfect for a knight.
Honestly, I don’t know how a body that small functions as a shield, though.
“Hey, don’t give my shield weird names.”
“It’s cool, though.”
“Fine. From now on, my shield is Aegis!”
Yeah, yeah.
Aegis sounds nice, doesn’t it?
But… something feels off.
“Hey, Saintess, the number of Black Knights is increasing over there.”
“I see that.”
Was the Demon King trying to completely disgrace his own elite guards?
He didn’t just summon a few—he brought out dozens of Black Knights.
Oh, poor Black Knights.
There’s no helping it now.
The original Black Knight, seemingly overwhelmed, just hung his head in silence.
He probably lost the will to fight in this state.
Not that it matters, since the Cheonma is in charge.
“Saintess! My charm doesn’t work on them!”
Behind me, Korea’s Pride was struggling against the Black Knights’ attacks.
“As if such a cheap charm would work!”
No matter how defeated they are, these guys have lived solely for their master.
Even if they got an upgrade, there’s no way they’d fall for a mere succubus’s charm.
“But I’m Korea’s Pride!”
“Even if they’re copies, they’re still strong.”
These guys wouldn’t fall for a succubus’s temptation.
They’re the type who spent their entire lives devoted to the Demon King, ignoring women altogether.
Makes you wonder if they were… you know.
“Then what do you expect me to do? How do I fight him?”
“You have the Aegis shield, don’t you?”
Slash!
I cut down more Black Knights and spoke.
“What can that tiny thing even do?”
“Just try using it!”
Now’s not the time to argue.
“Damn succubus. And Saintess, stop treating me like an object!”
Wow, even the shield talks back now.
“You’re into that sort of thing, aren’t you, pervert?”
“I am NOT a pervert!”
You totally are.
A shorty with a big weapon, eyeing my body—definitely a massive pervert.
“If you don’t like it, don’t use it. Just don’t expect me to help.”
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
Fwoosh!
A massive light erupted from behind.
A radiant barrier formed around the short knight.
“Oh, shit! What is this? I was already struggling to dodge, and now this crazy—”
“At least you’re alive.”
What the hell just happened?
Turning around, I saw that the Black Knights had attacked the support team all at once.
The succubus and the mermaid had gathered around the short knight, holding the so-called “Aegis.”
Outside the barrier, Black Knights kept swinging their swords, but their attacks weren’t getting through.
So this is the shield of the gods. Seems like the goddess gave him a useful ability.
Kaaah!
Black Knights swarmed from all sides.
Hmm.
This won’t do.
They’re underestimating me too much.
Looks like it’s time to use my ultimate move.
“Pixie, what’s the safest route right now?”
“There isn’t one. This is the only way.”
I see.
So I have no choice but to break through the front.
That’s not a problem.
“So we just have to destroy all these Black Knights head-on?”
“Looks like it.”
I scanned the surroundings.
“No, this won’t work. I can’t just rely on brute force.”
Looks like it’s time to use something new.
Once, in the Tower of Ruin, I obtained the Scales of Truth.
That relic had transformed into my unique ability when I became an angel.
I summoned a single scale.
A pure white scale sat in my hand.
I infused my power—my divine energy—into it.
The eerie scale trembled violently as if screaming, then darkened completely.
A symbol of the scythe-wielding Goddess Kanora appeared on it.
Yes.
This is…
“The Scales of Death.”
A scale that judges life and death.
It once distinguished truth from lies, but now it serves a different purpose.
This black scale, glowing with a violet light, now follows only my command.
It no longer weighs truth and falsehood.
It delivers the judgment of life and death.
I muttered as I watched the Black Knights charging toward me, covering my field of vision.
“Guilty? Innocent?”
Would the scales tilt toward life or death?
As I observed quietly, the scales began to tremble violently.
Right.
This just means I can decide however I want.
“Hmm, then I’ll make the judgment. These guys have been bothering me. So, death. All the copy Black Knights—death.”
Just in case the gods were listening, I spoke as politely as possible.
The right plate of the scales sank as if something heavy was pressing down on it.
And then, all at once, the Black Knights pouring in from all directions screamed and collapsed.
Even the ones in the back, who had been hit by the Mermaid’s bubble beams, sprawled out like worms stuck to hot cement on a summer day.
“Yeah. Yeah. This is it.”
As the Black Knights fell, black masses floated up.
Yeah.
That must be the souls of the copies.
Souls that probably tasted bland.
The souls gradually shrank and landed on the right plate of the scales.
“And then, they were naturally absorbed into the scales. That’s how it works.”
Before I knew it, the souls had been completely absorbed by the scales.
And where do the souls absorbed into these scales go?
They become offerings to the goddess, of course.
—As expected of my devout follower. I never thought you’d use the scales like this.
Heh.
Even though I look like this, I do take care of my goddess.
My dear, sweet goddess.
Who else would take care of her if not me?
I could hear the goddess chuckling slyly.
Her happiness is my happiness.
That was something ingrained into me, like a form of brainwashing, ever since I became an angel.
—That’s just how it is when you become an angel.
Well, for the privilege of coveting my goddess’s body, this level of risk is acceptable.
Besides, she made me look even better, so it’s a fair trade.
—And it’s not just me. You can absorb souls too.
Oh? Really?
Maybe I should take the soul of the next guy who picks a fight with me.
“Wow. That girl is seriously broken.”
The pixie, who had been hiding behind the shota”s shield, sounded completely dumbfounded.
“That’s the power of an angel saint, after all.”
“Haven’t you surpassed the realm of an angel at this point?”
Life works that way.
Sometimes you surpass the limits of an angel.
Sometimes you surpass the limits of a human.
Meanwhile, our dear Defeated One stood there in a daze.
He probably never imagined his copies would be wiped out like this.
But this is the inevitable result of following the Demon King.
“W-what is happening…?”
“I already told you. You’re a loser. That’s why the Demon King used your soul to mass-produce copies of you.”
This was bound to happen.
The Demon King really is something else.
He doesn’t even trust his own subordinates.
“Ah… So the Demon King never trusted me…? Sniff…”
Again, that’s only natural.
I wouldn’t trust something like this either.
Crying about it just makes him look even more pathetic.
Just act like a true loser and go kill yourself already!
…is what I wanted to say, but I doubt that would sound appropriate coming from an angel saint.
So, as usual, I simply laughed at him with one hand covering my mouth.
“Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic. If I were you, I’d just kill myself. Why are you still alive? Tsk, tsk. Aren’t you going to do it? Even the scales don’t want a loser like you~”
Even the summoned scales trembled slightly.
He really was loyal to the Demon King until the very end.
“Saint, mocking a defeated opponent is… ahem.”
The Cheonma cleared his throat, probably hoping I’d stop.
Mocking the loser is the winner’s natural right.
Respecting the defeated is pure stupidity.
As a victor, it is only natural to trample and ridicule the loser.
There’s no need for unnecessary kindness.
This is what happens when you serve under someone like the Demon King. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic!
“Honestly, wasn’t he a guy who couldn’t even block a simple strike?”
“Hmm… but at least he tried his best to block it in his own way.”
“Not that it mattered.”
Glancing at him, I could tell—he looked like he wanted to die.
“I have no reason to live anymore.”
“That’s true. I don’t know why you’re trying to sound all dramatic about it, though. If our Cheonma’s weakest attack left you in that state, then yeah, dying would be the better option.”
Right?
Wouldn’t you agree?
“Saint… No. The Cheonma who defeated me.”
“Speak.”
“The victor has the right to take the life of the defeated. Take my head.”
Oh.
The Black Knight had finally accepted his defeat.
After realizing the Demon King never trusted him and knowing that he had performed terribly in battle, he decided it was better to die.
Honestly, if I were him, I’d just kill myself too.
—Actually, I was thinking of doing much more than just touching my devotee’s body the next time we meet.
The goddess fell silent.
It’s too late for that now.
Just as I serve my goddess, she should give me something in return, right?
—Uh… Sorry. Just drop it.
“Fine.”
“But it is still unfair! My master, whom I have faithfully served—”
Slash.
Before he could finish his sentence, his head was severed by a single stroke of the Cheonma’s blade.
See?
That’s why you should have spoken faster.
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