Ch.177177. Deus Ex Machina (2)

“…Mmm…”

Elia looked around with a pained expression.

She understood the concept of the second trial well enough.

A battle royale survival in dangerous terrain.

It couldn’t be more obvious when they were given only a simple bundle of survival tools at the start and immediately thrown into an area teeming with magical beasts.

In that sense, the current situation definitely didn’t make sense according to her common knowledge.

“…Where did you all get those from?”

When Elia asked with a perplexed voice, one of the men surrounding her answered by twirling the longsword in his hand.

“…”

No.

This was supposed to be a survival with just your bare hands.

Yet here were people fully armed with weapons clearly brought with the sole intention of killing her.

From any perspective, these people were clearly not “legitimately” part of the hero selection process.

Was this what Lana had confidently predicted would happen?

“…”

After seeing the longsword reflecting sunlight and the well-equipped armor, Elia looked down at herself.

Cloth boots. Cloth pants. Cloth top.

Compared to her opponents’ equipment, which looked ready for immediate deployment to a battlefield, her outfit resembled comfortable work clothes for farming.

If someone could insert people like this into the hero selection process, they must have immense power, and people deployed by such individuals wouldn’t be just anyone.

Even for someone like her, facing opponents with such skills while wearing only these clothes would be life-threatening.

“Excuse me, could you at least tell me why you’re doing this?”

“You’re not the target, Elia Krisanax.”

“…What?”

“I’ll spare you if you step aside now.”

The man who said this pointed his sword at Darwood, who still looked like his soul had left his body.

“Our target is that man. Stay quiet and step aside, and we’ll spare your life. The backlash for harming a hero candidate would be no joke.”

“…”

So they’re targeting Darwood.

Elia nodded with a serious expression.

Good. Knowing their objective makes it easier to deduce who they’re affiliated with.

Targeting Darwood… The possible candidates…

“…”

After thinking for a moment, Elia spoke with an even more serious expression.

“…Where are you from…?”

“…”

“I just realized there might be quite a few people who want to kill the professor, so if you could give me a hint about where you’re from—”

“…Final warning. Step aside right now and hand that man over.”

Ah, they’re from the Holy Empire.

Elia nodded in understanding as she observed the combat blessing imbued in their equipment.

They were likely people influenced by Archbishop Luminol.

Makes sense—after what he did to his daughter, it would be stranger if someone didn’t want him dead.

“…Sigh.”

Elia sighed as she pulled out a short dagger that had been tucked among the tool bundle.

The blade was blunt, clearly not meant for combat. At best, it might barely handle leather work or cutting meat—practically junk.

“…What are you doing?”

Someone asked when they saw her draw it.

But the next moment—

-!

That person’s body shot straight up vertically.

It was because Elia had instantly approached and thrust the dagger upward from below.

If not for the difference in equipment quality, it would have been a blow powerful enough to cause unconsciousness.

Seeing their comrade float up and then slam back down to the ground, the rest of the group frowned and spoke.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

Instead of answering, Elia glanced behind her.

She carefully examined Darwood’s condition.

He was someone whose eyes usually sparkled with alertness in combat situations, but right now, confusion seemed more prominent.

“…”

As expected, there’s still no sign of him “coming back.”

Without her help, he would surely die.

“…Has she lost her mind?”

Meanwhile, another comment flew from the front.

“Even as a hero candidate, it’s impossible to face all these people with such meager equipment. Do you want to die that badly?”

“I don’t want to die, of course.”

Elia twirled the dagger and grinned.

“But isn’t the professor worth risking my life for?”

“…”

The group sighed and drew their swords. Blessings manifested in their equipment.

“…It’s your choice.”

They were clearly combat priests of at least high rank. Opponents who obviously possessed capabilities exceeding Elia’s.

Adding their subordinates around them, fighting here would be suicidal. The chances of winning approached zero.

“Die here, Elia Krisanax.”

“…Sigh.”

But.

Instead of running away, again.

Elia just sighed once more and scratched her head.

What a troublesome situation.

This is all because of Darwood’s lack of good fortune with people.

And.

“It’s my fault for falling for him first.”

It’s her fault too.

Then, Elia and the armed personnel violently clashed.

●

“…Elnore?”

Seeing the person who suddenly appeared in the black space, those words naturally flowed out.

[…You.]

I wasn’t the only one surprised—the White Demon’s eyes trembled upon seeing Elnore, who was emanating gray energy from her entire body.

Then, the demon’s teeth ground together.

[In my and my companion’s sanctuary… the vessel of that damned one—]

My expression twisted at those words.

‘…Sanctuary?’

I’ve never heard anything about that.

The word itself sounds extremely ominous.

“…”

Ah, I see.

I understand now.

‘…You never intended to let me leave from the beginning.’

A bitter smile forms on my lips at this realization.

All those cumbersome restrictions about roles were just to give himself “control.”

If I had followed the role all along, he would have manipulated something to trap me in this world forever. To stay with him eternally.

If I broke the role, he would try to seize ownership of my soul by invoking those restrictions, as he just did.

Either way, I’m trapped in a hellish dilemma where I’d be bound to this being.

And.

It seems I’m not the only one who realized this, as Elnore, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth.

“…Sanctuary?”

Those red eyes glowed fiercely.

She was clearly quite angry.

“You, from the beginning.”

And, in the following sentence.

Her voice tears.

[You were planning to have this person all to yourself?]

“…”

No.

The moment I hear that voice filled with noise, I realize.

The one speaking now is not Elnore.

It’s another being speaking through Elnore’s “body.”

[Gray…!]

And as soon as Elnore’s demeanor changed like that, rage surged in the White Demon’s eyes.

[How dare you show your shameless face…! In my space…!]

Though the atmosphere wasn’t exactly cordial before.

Now, it’s as if they’re mortal enemies.

Following those words, white energy flickered throughout the space.

The pitch-black space instantly turns completely white. Evidence that the White Demon is using full power.

[I’ll kill you–!!]

A demon’s magical energy is always threatening, but the power the White Demon is emitting in this mental world is special. In terms of sheer pressure, it feels like it exceeds the level of magical energy the Gray Demon wielded in the material world.

“…”

There must definitely be some history between these two.

This level of hatred is incomprehensible without such background.

While I’m thinking this, white magical energy rushes toward Elnore all at once.

But.

-!!

-!

-…

At once.

That magical energy stops.

The white magical energy that touches the gray magical energy completely halts. As if “time” itself has frozen.

[…!]

At this sight, the White Demon’s expression slightly distorts.

[…]

And simultaneously.

Time freezes.

The surrounding space’s color gradually becomes “infected,” changing from pitch-black darkness to gray.

It means the White Demon is losing control.

‘…Is this right?’

Even I watch in astonishment.

All demons are top-tier beings regardless of dimension, so they can certainly exercise their powers in someone else’s mental world.

But the White Demon is at the forefront among demons in the “mental-related” category.

For such a being to be overpowered in a world where it should have absolute dominion?

-…

-…!

As the gray energy creeps out, this already desolate space begins to completely stop.

Elnore, who was being possessed by the Gray Demon, myself, and even the White Demon.

The White Demon can still move somewhat, probably because it belongs to the same hierarchy of demons, but Elnore as the vessel and even I, who possess the Tacheon seal, are frozen without exception.

[…Haaa…]

And, something descends from above.

With a soft sigh.

Someone lands gently on the floor.

A “crown” resembling a halo worn on the head.

The Gray Demon.

The ruler of Pandemonium.

Among them, the strongest.

[Because of you… because of you my companion, because of you-!]

As soon as the Gray Demon appeared, the White Demon cried out such sentences.

[I know.]

Immediately, such an answer came back.

[You must hate me. I know you think it’s my fault that this man will die later.]

“…”

I couldn’t ignore what was being said.

‘I’m going to die?’

Later?

“…”

What do you mean, Gray Demon?

While I’m thinking this.

[Even so.]

The Gray Demon’s pupils stretched horizontally.

Compared to the innocent appearance it usually showed me, this expression is chillingly different.

Malice.

An expression condensed with dark emotions toward the opponent.

With such an expression, the Gray Demon instantly reached the White Demon.

“…!”

This is the first time since seeing this being that I’ve witnessed an expression so full of malice that it truly deserves to be called a “demon.”

In the instant that a suffocating sensation overwhelms me, the Gray Demon extends both hands toward the White Demon.

[This man.]

And, as soon as they touch.

The White Demon is “torn apart.”

As if put through a shredder. In an instant.

The entire form of the White Demon becomes blurry and static, like a video with interference.

Its mouth opens. Probably to let out a scream of pain.

But before it could, the Gray Demon grabbed the head—the only intact part of the White Demon’s shredded body.

[Is mine.]

Then, it slammed the head to the floor.

Like a full-swing smash, clearly an action meant to “destroy.”

Again, the White Demon’s form becomes static. Its expression contorts in terrible agony.

[Is mine.]

Ignoring this, ferocity settles in the Gray Demon’s red-glowing pupils. It lifts the White Demon’s head again.

Again, it slams the head to the floor.

Again.

And again.

Continuously.

As if trying to completely kill the opponent.

With a crash, the floor breaks. White fragments fly in all directions.

Everything vibrates as if an earthquake has occurred. Despite this, the hostility the Gray Demon is emitting shows no signs of subsiding.

As if demanding payment for daring to touch what belongs to it.

[Don’t touch.]

With a crackling sound.

The space shatters. Along with the White Demon’s remaining body, the surrounding magical energy scatters like breaking glass.

“…”

Hey.

Even if they’re both demons.

What’s with this overwhelming difference in power?

This is far more powerful than what’s established for the Gray Demon in the setting.

As if.

As if transcending even the hierarchy among demons, exerting power almost comparable to a transcendent being.

‘…How?’

I don’t know what it went through to become this strong.

But for now.

“…”

Gray Demon is terrifying.

I sincerely thought so.

●