Ch.154Demon Lord’s Army First Corps Commander – 4

The Borderline Between the Human and Demon Realms. An unexpected emergency had been declared at the fortress of this strategic location.

“Everyone, take up arms! We don’t know what might come crashing in!”

The sky beyond the demon realm split in two, with black energy tearing apart the red sky and seeming to suck it in. Now, brilliant golden light was rising through the pitch-black darkness.

Naturally, the frontline commanders, soldiers, and the summoned healers couldn’t help but panic. They had no idea what this light and darkness could be.

“Commander! The sky!”

“What in the world is that?!”

They were struck with terror when fragmented space began pouring down between the split sky, and felt indescribable fear watching worlds collide and collapse as they overlapped with the broken space.

“Red Tower Master! What about the detection magic?!”

“I’m already doing it without you telling me! But I can’t see anything!”

Even the Red Tower Master staying at the fortress was going mad. He was using detection magic of such high rank that it could cover the entire imperial capital, yet nothing was being detected.

This meant that the light and darkness were emanating from far beyond the diameter of the imperial capital. He didn’t even want to imagine what that power could be, or who could possibly wield such might.

“Let’s get out of here first! No point in staying and risking not even having bones to collect!”

“Agreed! Everyone retreat! Take only essential equipment and abandon the rest! Focus only on preserving your lives and don’t die meaningless deaths! We can reclaim the fortress later!”

Fortunately, the Red Tower Master’s judgment was swift, and even more fortunately, the commander wasn’t a complete fool. The soldiers stationed at the fortress quickly evacuated, taking only minimal food and weapons.

But they failed to notice two things.

One was that the light and darkness coloring the entire sky had been witnessed not only from all the frontline fortresses and castles but even from the opposite edge of the empire.

The other was that not just demons, but even mere demon beasts were frantically fleeing from that horrific destructive power.

“……”

With silence, the light faded. I checked the blade pressed against my neck. The demon sword had stopped just short of truly cutting me, leaving only a slight scratch.

In contrast, my light spear had completely pierced through Durahan’s body, protruding from his back. Black energy was still desperately leaking from the demon sword, but it couldn’t prevent his body from being consumed by light.

I applied force to my arm and pulled out the spear. Durahan’s arm slowly dropped. His knees buckled, and his body collapsed, kneeling before me.

The tip of the demon sword touched the ground with a thud. His palm, half-fused with the sword’s hilt, still gripped the weapon, but with its point lowered, he could no longer fight.

“Have I… lost…?”

Durahan muttered softly. His voice was still intermittent but no longer strained as before. He seemed to have somewhat broken free from the demon sword’s influence.

“Yes. You’ve lost.”

I spoke, forcing myself to maintain composure. I suppressed the sensation of my trembling left arm and left eye—aftereffects of drawing upon distant memories—as well as the blood trickling from my ears.

It wouldn’t have been respectful otherwise.

Durahan glanced at the demon sword that once bound him and still did, then laid the sword in his right hand—which unlike his left was still under his control—horizontally across his thigh.

“Now I understand… When the Demon King disappeared… the sun that crossed the sky… it wasn’t the hero but your power…”

He must be referring to when I faced Astaroth. Though it happened because I was half-mad with trauma, I couldn’t deny that a similar phenomenon had occurred then.

I nodded in response. Durahan seemed to have suspected as much, as he spoke as if confirming what he already knew.

“…I see.”

His left arm twitched. Thinking the demon sword might act on its own again, I gripped my light spear. But the movement soon subsided. Durahan looked down at his left arm dejectedly.

“You still remember my request… It’s time to fulfill my wish… Mira Crate… so I won’t suffer such dishonor any longer… kill me…”

“Understood.”

I raised my light spear. The light that had purified countless negations and burned countless evils aimed at Durahan’s chest, which was still being consumed by the aftereffects of my attack.

That’s when it happened.

—CRACK! CRUNCH!

Tentacle-like demonic energy surged from the demon sword, wrapping around Durahan’s left hand. Then it squeezed with all its might, as if trying to crush his arm. His armor crumpled with a terrible sound.

The demonic divine energy swirled again. The already devastated ground began turning black under its influence. The tentacles didn’t stop at consuming his left arm but gradually spread throughout his entire body.

Durahan rose to his feet. It wasn’t by his own will but as if being forcibly controlled by the demon sword. His right arm, not yet ensnared by the tentacles, was desperately pounding his own body.

It was futile. His chest, which had been pierced by the light spear, returned to normal, and his body assumed a battle stance regardless of his will.

As I was about to summon the dawn light again by drawing upon my past memories:

“How much more… humiliation will you inflict upon me…!”

—CRACK!

Durahan thrust the demon sword into his own chest. Demonic divine energy exploded from the wound. Black mist enveloped his body, but Durahan didn’t withdraw the sword he had plunged in.

Instead, he shouted thunderously:

“Kill me…! Quickly…! I cannot hold out much longer…!”

I didn’t ask petty questions like what would happen to him. He had already resigned himself to death. If that was what he wanted, granting it was the path to honor his dignity.

As the dawn light faded, twilight descended upon the sky. Light filled the heavens once more. The demon sword desperately tried to escape, tearing at his left arm, but Durahan’s will was far stronger.

He maintained his self-stabbing posture with all his might, then lifted his head just before the light spear came down—as if trying to capture every bit of the light coming toward him.

Then, twilight descended.

“……”

When the brightly burning sky gradually dimmed again, the demon sword lay on the ground.

With its blade broken in half.

This was the end of the sword that had thrown the demon realm into chaos, changing owners multiple times since leaving Elisciere’s possession.

“It doesn’t… hurt…”

And there was Durahan, looking even more wretched than before but still alive. Despite his armor being completely consumed by light, he stood firmly on both legs.

I briefly wondered how he had survived a direct hit from the light spear, but soon realized why.

The light spear was a weapon formed from countless human faiths and wills, but since it was bestowed upon me, my perception and will were most important.

If I didn’t perceive something as evil, corrupt, or impure, the spear would be nothing more than a warm light. Just as Astaroth was annihilated while Elisciere and Nika remained unharmed.

This meant that subconsciously, I hadn’t recognized Durahan as someone who needed to be eliminated.

“I don’t understand why…”

Durahan was muttering as he looked down at his hand, half of its fingers gone. But regardless of whether it hurt or not, his consumed body was beyond help. The rate of collapse was accelerating.

Though his spirit might be recognized as noble, his body was still that of a demon.

His body was shattered from wielding the demon sword, then directly hit by the light spear, then forcibly animated by the demon sword, then hit by the light spear again, and now the demon sword was broken—it was no wonder his armor couldn’t hold out any longer.

It was a miracle he wasn’t dead already.

“Mira Crate…”

Durahan looked at his body, increasingly enveloped in light, and spoke with difficulty.

“If you have found the Demon King and beheld his countenance… answer me… Did the Demon King… appreciate my loyalty…? Was my devotion… not in vain…?”

Even if I had heard nothing, this was a question I would have answered affirmatively out of mercy. But I had actually heard something. After a moment’s pause, I nodded.

“I once told the Demon King about you. That even after his disappearance, you never lost your loyalty and continued searching throughout the demon realm.”

“I… see… And what… did the Demon King… say…?”

“He said it was just like you.”

‘Just like you.’ Though only three words, they contained profound meaning. It implied that the Demon King had expected the First Legion Commander would naturally search for him throughout the demon realm.

It was an answer that would be impossible without trust in Durahan’s loyalty.

“Just like… me…? How fortunate… Truly… joyous… That my devotion… was not in vain…”

The pauses between his words grew longer. He who had been hanging his helmeted head low raised it. His body was disintegrating at an accelerating pace.

“My lord… As a knight… this dishonor of breaking before my master… please… for… give…”

His body then vanished, enveloped in light. The golden light that lingered in the air for a moment melted away without a trace.

I looked around. The ghost cavalry that had appeared at some point followed their master, disappearing like mist. Finally, a riderless ghost horse behind me let out a short whinny before vanishing.

I picked up Durahan’s sword that remained alone on the ground. Like the ghost cavalry, this too should have disappeared. Yet for some reason, it alone remained in this world.

“…Right. I suppose I can grant one last request.”

I created a scabbard with magic and attached his sword to my waist. I planned to ask Elisciere about how to properly dispose of it.

“Now only you remain.”

My gaze turned toward the broken demon sword.

Though split in half, its power remained intact.