chapter_0157

An emergency had been declared at the fortress, located at the border between the human world and the demon world.

“Everyone, take up your weapons! We don’t know what’s coming our way!”

The sky beyond the demon world had split in two, with black energy devouring the crimson heavens, only to be pierced by a dazzling golden dawn.

Naturally, the frontline commanders, soldiers, and healers panicked. They had no idea what this light and darkness signified.

“Commander! Look at the sky!”

“What in the world is that?!”

When the fragmented sky began to pour down, they were struck with awe. As the broken spaces overlapped with their world, they witnessed the collapse of everything in between, feeling a terror that defied description.

“Archmage! What do your detection spells show?!”

“I’m already casting them, but I can’t see a damn thing!”

The Archmage, known as Jeok, was also at a loss. They were using high-tier detection spells capable of covering the entire imperial capital, yet nothing was showing up.

This meant that the light and darkness staining the skies were emanating from a source far beyond the capital’s radius. Jeok didn’t even want to imagine what kind of power could do that, let alone who could wield it.

“Let’s get out of here! We’ll end up as piles of bones if we stay!”

“Agreed! Everyone, retreat! Take only the bare minimum of supplies and equipment! Focus on preserving your lives and avoid unnecessary deaths! We can retake the fortress later!”

Fortunately, Jeok’s judgment was swift, and the commander wasn’t a complete fool. The soldiers in the fortress quickly evacuated, taking only essential food and weapons with them.

However, they overlooked two crucial facts.

One, the sky-spanning light and darkness were witnessed not only at the fortresses and castles on the front lines but also at the very edges of the empire, opposite to where the battle was taking place.

And two, not only the demons but even the lowly beasts and monsters were fleeing from the destructive force, seeking to escape the impending doom.

.

.

.

“……”

The light faded, leaving behind a silence. I checked the blade that had been pressed against my throat, stopping just short of drawing blood.

In contrast, the Holy Lance had completely pierced through Dullahan, its tip protruding from his back. Even as black energy seeped out of the Demon Sword, his body was consumed by light.

I put strength into my arm and pulled out the lance. Dullahan’s arm slowly slid down, his knees buckling as he fell to his knees.

The tip of the Demon Sword touched the ground with a soft thud. His hand, now fused with the hilt, still held the sword, but with the blade bent, it was no longer usable.

“Did… I lose…?”

Dullahan muttered softly. His breathing was still labored, but it was no longer the strained voice from before. He seemed to have regained some control from the Demon Sword’s influence.

“Yes, you lost.”

I maintained a calm demeanor, suppressing the trembling in my left arm and the blood flowing from my left eye and ear due to the strain of drawing upon my memories.

It wouldn’t do to lose my composure now.

Dullahan glanced at the Demon Sword, which had once bound him and continued to do so, before turning his attention to the sword in his right hand, which he held by his own will, unlike the left hand that was fused with the Demon Sword. He laid the sword horizontally on his thigh.

“Now I understand… When the Demon King disappeared… the sun that crossed the sky… it wasn’t the hero’s doing, but yours…”

He was referring to the time when he faced Astaroth. Although the events that transpired were due to a trauma that had temporarily unhinged me, I couldn’t deny that a similar phenomenon had occurred.

I nodded in response, and Dullahan, as if he had expected as much, spoke.

“……So it was.”

His left arm twitched, and the Demon Sword seemed ready to lash out on its own again. I raised the Holy Lance, ready to suppress it, but the twitching subsided. Dullahan looked down at his left arm with a forlorn expression.

“You still remember my request, right… It’s time to fulfill my wish… Mira Crate… End this dishonor… Kill me…”

“I understand.”

I raised the Holy Lance, aiming at Dullahan’s chest, which was still smoldering from the aftermath of our battle. Countless impurities had been purified, and countless evils had been burned by the light that had gathered from the faith and will of innumerable people.

Just then—

Kwaduddeuk! Kwak!

Tendrils of demonic energy burst forth from the Demon Sword, wrapping around Dullahan’s left hand and squeezing with all their might, causing his armor to creak and contort.

Once again, the power of the Demon God surged, and the already unstable ground was engulfed by the black energy, turning darker by the second. The tendrils didn’t stop at his left arm but continued to spread across his entire body.

Dullahan rose to his feet, not of his own volition but seemingly controlled by the Demon Sword. His right arm, not yet consumed by the tendrils, desperately struck at his own body.

It was a futile effort. The wound inflicted by the Holy Lance had healed, and his body, against his will, assumed a battle-ready stance.

Just as I was about to summon the dawn once more by delving into my memories—

“How much more humiliation do you intend to heap upon me…!”

Kwajijik!

Dullahan stabbed himself with the Demon Sword. The power of the Demon God exploded from the wound, and black mist enveloped his body, but he kept the sword embedded in his chest, refusing to pull it out.

Instead, he roared with all his might.

“Kill me…! Now…! I won’t last long…!”

I didn’t bother with trivial questions like what would happen to him. He had already accepted his death, and honoring his wish was the way to uphold his honor.

The twilight descended upon the fading sky, and once again, light rose to fill the heavens. The Demon Sword desperately tried to break free from Dullahan’s left arm, but his will was stronger.

He stood there, impaled by his own sword, until just before the Holy Lance could strike him down. Then, he lifted his head, as if to take in every last bit of the light that was about to consume him.

And then, the twilight fell.

“……”

As the radiant sky slowly dimmed, the Demon Sword lay on the ground, its blade shattered in half.

This was the end of the sword that had changed hands multiple times since it left Elysier’s possession, plunging the demon world into chaos.

“It doesn’t… hurt…”

And there stood Dullahan, his appearance even more battered than before, yet he remained standing, his armor charred by the light.

I soon realized why he hadn’t died from the Holy Lance’s strike.

The Holy Lance was a weapon that had taken form from the faith and will of countless people, but since it resided within me, my perception and will were the most important factors.

To me, as long as something wasn’t evil, twisted, or impure, the Holy Lance was merely a warm light. Astaroth had been annihilated, but Elysier and Nika had survived, and so had Dullahan.

That meant that, subconsciously, I didn’t perceive Dullahan as something that needed to be eradicated.

“I don’t know the reason… but…”

Dullahan muttered as he looked down at his hand, which was missing half of its fingers. Despite the lack of pain, his body, still that of a demon, was beyond repair. The rate of collapse was accelerating.

Even though his mind was recognized as noble, his physical body was still that of a demon.

His body had been shattered by the Demon Sword, struck by the Holy Lance, forcibly raised by the Demon Sword, struck again by the Holy Lance, and now the Demon Sword itself was broken. It was only natural that his armor couldn’t hold up any longer.

In fact, it was a miracle that he hadn’t died instantly.

“Mira Crate…”

Dullahan, his body increasingly consumed by light, struggled to speak.

“If you have met the Demon King and beheld her majesty… answer me… Did the Demon King… appreciate my loyalty…? Was my devotion… not in vain…?”

Even if I hadn’t heard anything, I would have lied and said yes. But I had heard something. I paused for a moment before nodding.

“I once told the Demon King about you. How you continued to search for her even after she disappeared, never wavering in your loyalty.”

“And… what… did she say…?”

“She said it was just like you.”

Just three words, but they carried a lot of meaning. It meant that the Demon King, as the First Legion Commander, expected Dullahan to search for her in the demon world.

It was an answer that implied trust in his loyalty.

“Just like me… Indeed… What a relief… My devotion… was not in vain…”

The pauses between his words grew longer. Dullahan, who had been bowing his head, now raised it. The rate at which his body was disintegrating was accelerating.

“My lord… I… as a knight… ask of you… Please forgive… this dishonor… of breaking before my master…”

His body was soon enveloped by light and disappeared. The golden light that lingered in the air for a while eventually faded away.

I looked around. The ghostly cavalry, which had appeared at some point, had also vanished, following their master into nothingness. And finally, the ghostly horse, without a rider, let out a short whinny before disappearing as well.

I picked up Dullahan’s sword, which lay on the ground. Like the ghostly cavalry, this sword should have disappeared as well. But for some reason, it remained in the world.

“……I guess it’s fine to grant your last request.”

I created a sheath with magic and strapped the sword to my waist. I intended to ask Elysier about its disposal.

“Now, it’s just you left.”

My gaze turned to the broken Demon Sword.

Even though it was broken in half, its power remained intact.