episode_0056

0.

It hasn’t been long since I set foot on the land of the Demons.

The journey to defeat the Demon King has only just begun.

“…….Pathetic……”

“Human, you speak…?”

But the ant demon that was despising us right before our eyes was not the first demon that would appear.

It has the dignity to appear in the final chapter, not as a crisis for a heroic narrative.

Was I being complacent?

no.

This is a disaster we cannot prepare for.

“You, what the hell are you…? Why, why did you attack us in a place like this…?”

Altina, the one who was the most sane among us, stepped forward and asked a question.

It is an action to buy a little time, and it is the same as risking one’s life to open one’s mouth.

Masu opened his mouth without showing any caution to Altina, who was acting calm even in the face of fear of death.

“…….Nakir.”

It was a short answer, but only I could guess the identity.

Nakir.

“Ma, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King…?”

He is not the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings introduced in the prologue of the original novel, that is, the novel I read before becoming possessed.

He is the strongest.

“……Yes, that’s it……”

Although he only speaks human language little by little without moving an inch, the sense of crisis spreads sharply throughout the surroundings.

A murderous aura as intense as the one I had received from Instructor Tachibesus lingers in my body.

“Why, why is one of those Four Heavenly Kings here? Isn’t it your duty to assist the Demon King in the Demon King’s Castle?”

But even in the midst of all this, Altina’s mouth did not stop.

To create an opening, however small, to prepare a counterattack.

In front of the fallen warrior party, I receive the murderous intent of that demon with my whole body.

“…..Shut up, hit…..!!!!!!!”

“Crouwoop!!!!”

The claws swung at a speed too fast for the eyes to follow and grabbed Altina’s neck.

A very shallow gash remained on his neck, bleeding profusely.

“Haa, haa, haak, haak Kwaaak!!!!!”

I could only watch helplessly as Altina struggled.

Uncontrollable anger and fear well up in me, and my breathing becomes rapid.

In that state, clenching my fist was the only movement I was allowed to make.

“……Don’t say that name……!!!”

-Pfft!!!

“Kaaa …

Altina rolled on the ground, groaning in pain.

When I saw that sight, I ignored the pain and turned around to run towards Altina.

“……Dead, uh!!!!!!!!!!”

Nakir’s claws covered my eyes.

Then time began to flow very slowly, so slowly that I could almost feel its flow.

The surrounding space is filled with silence, and you can see drops of blood falling, small stones rolling around, and sand blowing away under the pressure of the wind.

It is said that this fleeting moment before death is a time to find a way to live from past memories.

From that moment on, I searched through my past memories one by one, as if trying to find a way to survive in a still space.

‘Why did we lose?’

I asked a question into the empty space, filled with resentment about what had brought about this situation.

Just like a simple question can have many answers.

Appropriate answers spring up like spreading branches.

‘Because you couldn’t protect the rear?’

I think of Aperiel lying behind me.

A surprise attack from the side during the march.

Mr. Aperiel used survival magic to prevent instant death, but was rendered powerless after the separation and third strikes continued.

‘Then is it because of the surprise attack?’

Nakir simply approached the warrior party, making no sound like an ant, then spread his wings like a predator and made a surprise attack from the side in an instant.

We didn’t think about preparing for this kind of surprise attack.

It was such a surprise attack that even Altina didn’t notice.

but.

‘If we had confronted them head on, would we have won?’

On the battlefield, there is no time to make excuses, whether it is a surprise attack or carelessness.

But would we have won even if this surprise attack had not occurred?

no.

‘Because I was weak.’

Because I am weak.

It’s clearly my fault.

As a warrior of the warrior party, I am becoming a burden rather than carrying the burden.

Because I am in a position where I have someone I want to protect and am being protected.

Even as I admitted my own mistakes, my inner self screamed.

‘I couldn’t even use my power as a usurper.’

‘If you continue on your journey just a little longer, you can become stronger than anyone else.’

‘From the very beginning of the journey, the absurd thing of meeting the strongest person happened.’

‘I’m the main character and warrior of this novel anyway, so I guess things will work out somehow.’

‘If you follow the cliché, you’ll get a happy ending someday.’

A weak nature triggers a defense mechanism.

You tell yourself the same consoling nonsense that you were just unlucky.

He shouts that if it had been like usual, if it had been a cliché development, he would never have lost.

Whenever I want to throw away the burden I have to bear as a warrior, my own excuse whispers.

As the whispering continued.

The more I tried to figure out how to live from my past memories, the more what emerged was not a way to win, but a swamp-like feeling of helplessness.

I felt like my body was slipping away from that thick sense of helplessness.

‘…died.’

When you throw away your life, your body falls apart like a soulless doll.

The claws that were already covering my face were slashing at my head as if they were going to split it open. I guess it wouldn’t be wrong to say that I was already dead.

Just before closing my eyes, gripped by the fear of death.

Nakir’s glossy exoskeleton is a shade of orange rather than pitch black.

So, the blazing sunset was reflected.

-Kaaa …

The strong shock wave generated by the clash of iron and steel pushed away the heavily settled air.

And when the noise died down, Nakir let out a word of confusion.

“…………What…..”

“Kang…..!!!!!!!”

Altina came between me and Nakir, shouting.

Blocking the giant claws that were crushing her with her beloved Cloman.

-Kki, kkiieek…!!

There was a twisting sound of iron, and a change in the deadlock between the blades.

The claws that seemed ready to cut off the claws and take their lives at any moment were gradually pushed back.

“Euuugugugugug….!!!!!”

This evil spirit Altina’s whole body was covered in a turquoise aura like a mist.

The yellow aura wavered and swayed dangerously, as if it would go out at any moment like a candle before a typhoon.

But the energy never went out.

Rather, the speed at which the claws are pushed out has increased.

-Chaeaeaeaaeng!!!!

“………..ugh.”

“Kaaa …

The sound spreads elegantly through the air.

Altina eventually pushed Nakir’s claws away.

After pushing the claws away, a sunset-colored trace of sword energy remained on the remaining sword, like a wound carved into the air.

“Ah, Altina…? How is this…?”

In a situation where the entire warrior party was rushing in and it seemed like defeat was imminent, Altina succeeded in striking with a single blow.

I woke up in a situation where I didn’t know English and looked at Altina.

“…To live, you must die.”

Altina was burning.

No, it looked like it was burning.

The sunset-like energy grows darker and darker, blazing like a torch.

He pricked up his ears to see if he heard what I said.

“Hee.”

He didn’t answer, just glanced at me and smiled for a moment.

“……Dead, uh…….!!!!”

But Nakir swung his claws at Altina once again.

-Taaang!!!

“Kaaa …

“……What…….!?”

After Altina’s sharp shout, Chloe’s blow was blocked so easily.

Strangely enough, Altina is strong now.

-Bang! BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Kang!! Kang!! Kang!! Kang!!”

“……Fox, you bitch……!”

A power never before seen.

And he skillfully defends against Nakir’s attacks with his blazing fire and sword.

-Kagagagagak!!!!

Now, in addition to defense, we also continue to attack.

Because the claw that was engulfed in black energy left a deep wound on the exoskeleton of the shoulder area where it passed.

“Die, die, die, die……!!!!!!”

-Kaduk, kaduk, kaduk, kaduk…

“……Ugh…..!”

He attacks Nakir as if he is possessed by madness.

Even though the claws cut hair, grazed tails, and left deep red gashes on white skin.

The offensive continued without any sign of stopping.

“Me, I have to help too….!!”

When he saw Altina desperately hunting Nakir, he tried to stand up, holding his sword like a cane.

-Tsk tsk.

My posture collapsed with a creepy feeling as if something was breaking.

“Ewww…!!!!”

A scream was emitted.

A fear of death that I had never felt before.

And as if to support that fear, the pain from the wounds left on my body surges and my feet tremble.

“Die!!!!!”

-Quaddududduk!

“…….Kwak……!!”

As I looked ahead, unable to stand or sit down, Altina successfully struck Nakir.

However, as if it was still not enough, they continued to move around Nakir and launch one-sided attacks.

hunt.

She was dealing with Nakir as if she were really hunting, just like her hunter fox status.

“Ugh…!”

However, the one who continued the overwhelming offensive was Altina, who clenched her teeth as if she was anxious.

-Hwa-reuk!

A roaring sound was heard, and the river and the blackness changed to a darker sunset color.

Altina’s canines grew a bit longer and her ears stood out a bit more.

And as my physical abilities improved, I moved a little faster and more powerfully.

“Kaaa …

-Crackle!

“……Kaaaahhh!!!!”

This time, Altina’s claw pierced the exoskeleton.

“What, what is it…?”

Not all attacks from the warrior party were valid hits.

I realized that things were going strangely.

One wonders why Altina has become so strong and gained the power to overwhelm Nakir.

“Please……!!!!”

At that moment, Altina’s pitiful cry was heard.

A cry so desperate that it is hard to see anyone in a superior position.

-Quadduck!!!

“Keeek!!!”

“Die, die, die!!!! Kaaa!!!!”

Altina kept swinging her claws at Nakir, her eyes filling with tears.

As Nakir switches to the defensive and makes Altina’s attack weak, Altina continues her offensive anxiously.

‘no.’

Instinct sounded the alarm.

Something is going wrong.

Somehow, I managed to drag my broken leg towards Altina.

-Paaaak!!!

“……..Gap……!!!!!”

As Altina grew impatient, Nakir managed to find an opening and inserted his claws.

A powerful attack that could have taken a life with just one blow.

-Whoooosh!

But Altina’s spirit flared up once again.

The river that was first seen was yellow, like the beginning of a sunset.

The second river that was seen was orange like the peak of sunset.

But the river surrounding Altina that was visible now was a vivid red like the sunset nearing dusk.

“Kaaa …

-Quadduk…!

“………..Uh, how……..?”

Altina ignored Nakir’s claws with her might and crushed one of his legs with her fangs.

Was Nakir confused after seeing Altina’s counterattack?

“….sigh.”

-Bam.

The leg that had been spat out of the mouth fell in front of Altina and made a dull sound.

And Altina said in a chewing tone.

“More, please?”

“…!!!!!!”

Then Nakir spread his wings and fled, as if he felt fear of death.

Altina, who was watching Nakir run away, disappeared from sight.

“Keuhk…!”

He groaned and collapsed.

I approached Altina, enduring the pain of a broken leg.

“….hee, heehee….”

Altina looked at me, struggling to suppress a smile.

“This, now………”

That smile wasn’t one of happiness.

Rather, it was a paradoxical expression of emotion that felt like concentrated sadness and regret.

“I won once…….”

“…”

I felt relieved when I saw Altina spouting childish words.

Because it was just a word from everyday life, it felt like a signal that Altina and our warrior party would somehow overcome the crisis and be safe from now on.

“I’m sorry….. I’m weak, I’m sorry……”

“…..Hey. You’re strong….”

He hugged Altina and shed tears for a while.

In Altina’s body, a sunset-colored aura that seemed to melt the apocalyptic atmosphere was flickering like embers.