episode_0030

The battle was truly fierce.

The ash-colored giant that swallowed ‘Paradise’ whole was truly invincible.

No matter how strong the attacks unleashed by the temporary alliance were, the ash-colored giant remained unfazed.

Squeezing out their magic and aura to the limit to launch attacks, one had no choice but to grit their teeth and evade the giant’s attacks, no matter how light they seemed.

Had they finally grown weary of this grim cycle?

The grand elf dodged the giant’s massive arm with difficulty and questioned me as if blaming me.

“Witch, is there any good method?”

“Is there? If there were, I would have used it already! I’m also out of sharp tricks!”

“…Damn it!”

Though a voice filled with anger could be heard, unfortunately, there was truly no way to defeat that ash-colored giant.

It was a monster that didn’t even appear in the original work to begin with.

The reason I had been able to find solutions so far was simply because I knew the original setting.

But when such an unknown entity suddenly pops up like this…

“It’s hopeless.”

I can only say that there really is ‘no solution.’

Damn it, author.

If you’re going to do a remake, at least do it properly.

Even if almost all the supporting characters have gathered, what’s the point of raising the difficulty to such insane levels?

And they’re not just any other characters fighting together; they’re the main villains from the later part of the original work, the ‘Elophs.’

Is it reasonable to be losing to a mid-game final boss?

As I sighed dejectedly while looking up at the sky, the attacks from the ash-colored giant ceased, and the leader revealed herself once again.

“Oh my, where did that confident attitude from earlier go? Hehe, it’s really impressive to see you just sighing like that.”

“…”

“If you treat Lady Poneria as an enemy, is that what happens? Well, the trial ends here. How about it, are you ready to devote yourself to the sect now?”

“I still don’t want to.”

If I wouldn’t die by devoting myself, honestly, I would have thrown myself into the cult without hesitation.

Perhaps by now, I would have been performing some fanatic Method acting, exclaiming, ‘Oh… great Lady Poneria!’

But if I devoted myself, I would die.

Instead, I would become fodder for summoning demons and die even more painfully.

Wouldn’t it be better to just get crushed by that ash-colored giant cleanly?

With a wry smile, I firmly replied, and blood vessels popped on the leader’s face.

Does she dislike unwavering determination?

Erasing her smile, she coldly commanded the ash-colored giant once again.

“Sadoshi, please send those foolish individuals to Lady Poneria’s side.”

Kwaaaaah -!

The ash-colored giant let out a powerful roar and began to attack more aggressively than before.

Seeing this, the dwarf, Stroheim, with a determined face, fumbled something out of his bag.

“Hoo, I tried not to use this.”

“…What is that, Stroheim?”

Looking at Stroheim with a gaze filled with suspicion and unease, he burst into a hearty laugh and explained the nature of the projectile.

“Ah… this is an item called a ‘core.’ It’s a remarkable weapon that derives the most perfect solution when a problem arises.”

“…”

“Haha! The tribe said it’s still in the experimental stage and it’s too early to use it, but where else would be a better place for experiments! Isn’t that right, benefactor!!!”

You crazy bastard, stop it.

Otherwise, we’ll all end up dead, damn it.

The battlefield was urgent.

There was no time for idle chatter, but if we didn’t stop this, bigger problems would arise.

Aiming the muzzle loader at Stroheim’s soft beard, I whispered like a threat.

“If you don’t put that away, you know that precious beard you cherish will disappear.”

“Hahaha!!! It doesn’t matter! If I can witness a perfect explosion, isn’t sacrificing a goatee a small price to pay!!!”

“…Are you really going to do that?”

The first negotiation ended in failure.

I immediately blurted out the next negotiation condition.

“Yeongam, I know how to cure Yeongam’s undergarment.”

“…”

“After all, Yeongam, we can always see the perfect explosion later, right? Just bear with it for a moment, you’ll get both the undergarment and the perfect explosion! That should be enough…”

“No.”

Interrupting me, Stroheim shook his head, his imposing figure emptying as he opened his mouth.

“I was able to see a better realm of science and technology by giving up the undergarment! The undergarment is now irrelevant!!!”

“That insane dwarf…!”

“I!!! Want to see a perfect explosion right now!!! Even if it means defying an ally like you can’t stop…!”

I swung Kotas’s frying pan and struck Stroheim’s head.

Crash – !

It was autumn.

—–

Aksin, the leader of the Poneria sect.

Nephilim.

She was not pleased with the current situation.

“Why is no one submitting?”

Among those who had experienced the power of demons she had seen so far, none were like these individuals.

Usually, they either went mad or submitted to become ‘disciples’ and serve as excellent nourishment for the demons.

Having never seen anyone deviate from this pattern, how could they withstand the power of the ‘apostles’ without yielding?

She muttered anxiously while nibbling on her nails.

“It’s okay… It’s okay… The power of the ‘apostles’ is infinite anyway.”

An apostle of Poneria who descended after devouring a piece of paradise.

Having sacrificed countless lives, she believed she could easily defeat these repulsive beings before her.

Moreover.

“They are formidable individuals, so their worth as sacrifices will be significant.”

Since they resisted the ‘apostles’ to such an extent, using them as sacrifices would further empower the arrival of Poneria.

With a face filled with exhilaration, the leader commanded the ashen giant.

“Oh apostles, show your true intentions! Quickly judge those impious ones!”

And.

“Leave some for the witch. I want to see this contemptible one’s arrogant face crumble.”

Those who dared to refuse to serve Poneria.

Those who resisted until the end.

I will personally show them the dreadful destruction that awaits.

Although the battlefield became more chaotic, strangely, unlike others, the witch continued to smile.

…Could it be delusion?

Even though the tide had completely turned, why could she still smile?

Lost in thought after entrusting everything to the ‘apostles’.

What could the witch do in this situation?

Escaping from here due to Poneria’s power was impossible.

Poneria’s aura covering the battlefield would interfere with space-time.

Can she defeat the ‘apostles’?

Not likely.

As seen in front of her, most of the troops were already exhausted from battling the apostles.

If even the witch’s feeble magic couldn’t leave a scratch, can there be any chance of success?

The leader shook her head.

It’s all just bluff.

The last struggle of a pitiful phantom who still hasn’t let go of their lofty pride.

“How pitiful.”

If only they had obediently become ‘disciples,’ they might have lived a little longer.

Why hasten their own deaths by not letting go of their arrogance?

Thud – !

“Ahaha…!”

A heavy blow snapped the leader back to reality.

Finally, a successful hit.

Unfortunately, the being struck by the apostle’s fist was not one of the witches but one of the elves.

“Ah… Ugh…!”

The elf became incapacitated in an instant upon being hit.

Smooth.

One by one, they all eventually become nourishment for consciousness.

“Are you planning to fight until the end? It’s getting boring. Why not just surrender?”

The leader, Nephilim, yawned at the sight of those foolish enough to stand against the malevolent forces.

Watching those who faced an unbeatable enemy and felt despair was momentarily enjoyable.

However, their relentless resistance, seeming unbreakable yet unyielding, only served to frustrate her.

One must eventually break if they persist until the end.

What did she see that made her grit her teeth and endure this long?

Just as the leader began to wonder, the unwelcome voice of the witch pierced her ears.

“Why surrender? You can definitely win.”

“You speak after causing wounds? While others might not know, I don’t think you have the right to say that.”

“Well, I haven’t really hit you properly. I never imagined you’d be so tough all over.”

“Hmph, of course I’m tough. With this toughness, I plan to tear you apart.”

“If you poke me with that, wouldn’t ‘crush’ be a more fitting description than ‘tear’? Somehow, it feels bigger than my body.”

With a cheeky joke, the witch once again directed a surge of magic towards the leader.

Crack!

As before, the magical blast hit the disciple’s body.

However, this time, the outcome was quite different.

Kwaaaaah!

The magic penetrated deep into the disciple’s skin.

Feeling threatened, the disciple immediately struck the spot where the witch stood with his palm, reducing it to a barely recognizable state.

“…That was a close call.”

An event that unfolded in the blink of an eye.

With a surprised expression, the leader gazed at the place where the witch had been and took a deep breath.

“I wasn’t joking when I said that follower was getting complacent.”

Never did she expect such a mischievous move from him.

Breathing a sigh of relief, the leader wore a victorious smile.

“It’s a shame. I really wanted to see that arrogant face turn desperate.”

Then, perhaps due to being too relaxed, she let slip words that should never have left her lips.

“By the way, we definitely took care of them, right?”