Ch.178178. The Second Trial

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< System Message >

[ The spell-maintaining host has been subdued. ]

[ ‘Event: Sweet Play’ is forcibly canceled! ]

[ The mental space is collapsing! ]

< System Message >

[ You have directly witnessed the defeat of a ‘Demon’. ]

[ The ‘Fallen Heaven Seal’ automatically records the target’s weaknesses and attack methods. ]

[ You can now unlock the ‘Subjugation Method’ for the ‘White Demon’! ]

Such messages continued to flow one after another.

The space begins to collapse.

This was a space maintained by the White Demon’s power in the first place. Now that he’s been pulverized by Grey, there’s no way this mental world could remain intact.

But that’s one thing, and…

‘…What?’

My eyes widen at the message window that appears before me.

Everything else is fine, but it’s because of what’s written in the last line.

‘Subjugation Method?’

If I organize the feeling conveyed by the sentence…

It seems like I can now “clash” with demons through the Fallen Heaven Seal.

I can already “borrow” their power and “imitate” it as closely as possible.

But subjugation?

“…”

I don’t know how this is possible, but I’m certain it’s not a bad thing.

In the original work, there were only three things that could be described as “subjugating” demons.

Other demons, a Lightbearer fully charged with divine power, and Elia after completing her final growth and equipped with the holy sword.

Even then, unless it was the Grey Demon or Elia, they could only achieve parity at best, not superiority, which is the comedy of it all.

“…”

Come to think of it, even Elia doesn’t make sense.

How?

How can her maximum potential be equal to ‘something like this’?

Thinking that, I look at the Grey Demon who has come before me, standing stiffly and smiling brightly.

He’s going all out—shaking hands, patting my head, making a huge fuss.

As always, he has the appearance of an innocent child.

“…”

I barely manage to shift my gaze to look at the White Demon behind him, who is shattered into pieces while barely maintaining his “form.”

Of course.

Having just witnessed how easily this guy destroyed another demon, it’s hard to just look at him and think he’s cute.

Just like how a person can’t simply find a tiger cute when it’s being playful.

“…”

But.

Even if I’m a human facing a tiger with my bare hands, I can clearly feel that he is “genuinely” concerned about me.

As I receive that “affection” embedded in his gaze, I naturally get that feeling.

As I’m thinking this, he opens his mouth.

[…Have you been well?]

“…”

Suddenly.

I notice something strange.

The noise that always accompanied his voice seems reduced.

Slightly, but his voice sounds “cleaner.”

“…Huh?”

The moment I realize this, I find I can move my body to some extent.

As if I’ve developed some “resistance” to the Grey Demon’s abilities.

[You look surprised.]

Seeing my trembling eyes, he chuckles and says that.

He floats toward me as if gravity doesn’t apply to him and strokes my chest.

The part where the Fallen Heaven Seal is located.

[…It’s because of this. Just now, you absorbed the ‘knowledge’ about White.]

“…”

[The seal grows as you meet more of us. Your ‘resistance’ will continue to increase too.]

After saying that, he makes a fist and thrusts it forward with a “pwasha” sound effect.

It’s an uncharacteristic martial arts straight punch.

[Next time White bothers you, you can fight back.]

“…”

[Just in case, I’ll give you this too.]

With those words, another window appears before me.

[No one but Darwood will be able to use this ability.]

< System Message >

[ ‘Synthesis’ function has been added to the ‘Fallen Heaven Seal’! ]

[ You can synthesize demonic energy accumulated in the seal to produce additional effects! ]

“…”

My pupils narrow.

Clearly.

It appeared in sync with what he was saying.

This guy has shown this behavior several times before, but the Grey Demon seems to see through all the system windows that only appear to me.

Sometimes it even feels like he can “manipulate” them at will.

“…”

Of course, separate from that…

‘…Synthesize demonic energy?’

The concept itself is insanely powerful.

The scale is so enormous that I can’t even gauge how broken this ability might be.

“…I’ll gratefully accept it.”

When I express my gratitude, Grey smiles broadly and hugs me tightly.

Since we’re essentially spirit bodies in a mental world, I don’t feel any physical force, but the gesture is so loving it feels like a parent caring for their child.

“…”

So.

Now, relying on his mercy, there’s one thing I need to handle.

At least the atmosphere doesn’t suggest he’ll kill me immediately for doing this.

I detach myself from the Grey Demon and take a few steps.

Over there is the White Demon, barely maintaining his form after being destroyed by Grey.

“…Later.”

I address the White Demon, who continues to crackle and fizz after taking such a heavy beating.

“Show me everything.”

[…?]

“I mean Yuria’s past that you wanted to show me. Right now the timing just doesn’t work, so I acted roughly.”

I sigh and continue speaking to the White Demon, whose eyes have widened slightly.

This guy wouldn’t have tried to show me Yuria’s past without a reason.

He must have had something in mind.

I can’t guess what it is, but he must have wanted to “convey” something by showing it to me.

It’s just that right now, given the situation, I can’t meet those expectations.

Outside, the hero selection event linked to the main quest is in full swing. If that goes wrong, the entire scenario will head straight for destruction.

“Then, I’ll listen to anything you have to say.”

But, conversely.

If it’s not like that, I’ll respect this guy’s intentions.

If my thinking is correct…

The ‘Demons’ are beings that should be treated as preciously as I treat the ‘Vessel.’

I have no intention of ignoring their emotions and thoughts.

[…]

As I’m saying this to the White Demon, who is still staring at me with wide eyes, the Grey Demon floats back in front of me.

His mouth is twitching. He looks extremely displeased.

[…Other than me. You don’t need. To be that nice. To other colors.]

“…Let’s just get along. Get along.”

[More than with me?]

“…Not that much.”

I inwardly break into a cold sweat as I respond to the Grey Demon, who is puffing his cheeks.

I might die if I don’t answer like this right now.

Originally, this guy…

He probably hasn’t guessed that I’m seriously planning to bring ALL the demons together.

“…”

But, how do I actually do that?

In the long term, I need to keep this from him while establishing connections with others if I want to survive, right?

What am I going to do…?

‘…Ah, I don’t know.’

Inwardly, I’m crying at the thought of such a disastrous future, but outwardly, I just smile at the Grey Demon.

Future problems are future problems.

When the time comes, I’ll figure something out, either by dying or fainting. That’s how I’ve survived so far.

-I love you.

While I’m thinking this.

As always, the Grey Demon cups my face with both hands and speaks.

The voice he makes when we part is perfectly clean.

As if he wants to convey this one thing above all else.

-See you again later.

-Then, I’ll take you. To the end of the world.

-Just the two of us, forever.

These are sentences I remember.

Each time we part, a little more gets added to the end.

This time.

-Let’s walk to the end of this repeating ‘story’.

It was a sentence with a very clear goal.

-So.

-Until we meet again, don’t die, okay?

With those words.

My consciousness was rapidly pulled away.

●

“…You’re quite persistent.”

Those words fell on Elia, who was gasping for breath.

She was clearly holding up remarkably well, armed with just a dagger and wearing simple clothes without any equipment.

Of course, in other words…

Even with the “Eye of Truth” that she had awakened through Authority’s teachings, she was barely hanging on.

‘…I thought I might be able to take down one or two of them if I played it right.’

That was the initial plan—to intimidate the opponent, then somehow escape with Darwood in tow.

But.

The opponent’s skill was too good for that to work.

The more they fought, the clearer it became.

These people were skilled enough to be considered core military assets in any country.

In the Empire, they would be just below the Imperial Guard, at the “Knight Order” level.

“…”

And the person commanding such people was undoubtedly a force equivalent to the Imperial Guard.

A group filled with monsters that even the Tristan Dukedom, the continent’s greatest swordsmanship family, would yield to.

Compared to them, this man’s skills were not inferior in the least.

“But it seems you’ve reached your limit now.”

Indeed, that was true.

She was at her limit just defending. Minor injuries had accumulated all over her body. It was a miracle she had avoided serious wounds until now.

“I don’t know what value you found in that man to go this far. But you’re destined to die here. You were more foolish than I thought, Elia Krisanax.”

“…Ah, that’s largely my fault.”

It truly was her fault.

“If I hadn’t thought about spending the rest of my life with the professor, I wouldn’t have gone this far. If I hadn’t dreamed of a harmonious married life where we’d have enough children to form a sports team, I wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.”

“…”

“If I hadn’t lived a life of being used by that crazy womanizer who seduces other women as easily as breathing…! I wouldn’t have been asked to help clean up the messes he creates with women…! And despite all that, instead of growing to hate him, I wouldn’t have acted like a fool, happy that he was relying on me…!”

“…”

“It’s my fault for falling for such trash first! Really!”

When Elia poured out these words with a voice full of resentment, her opponent looked at her with an expression that suggested he was momentarily at a loss for words.

“…You have quite a complicated history.”

His voice contained an uncharacteristic hint of sympathy.

Of course, that was separate from their duty.

They were professionals. They had to complete their assigned task.

“Let’s finish this.”

With those words.

The man’s sword rushed toward Elia.

‘-Danger…!’

With her injured body, she couldn’t react to such speed.

This time, she wouldn’t be able to avoid a serious wound.

-!

-!!!

With a sound like an explosion, the man’s body flew dozens of meters backward after being hit by someone’s fist.

“…!”

“…!”

The people nearby raised their weapons with astonished expressions.

Creating such a scene with bare-handed combat was something unheard of even for these battle-hardened veterans.

But for someone, this was a scene they had witnessed repeatedly.

A person who becomes this dramatically powerful in moments of crisis…

As far as Elia knew, there was only one such person.

“…Professor?”

She called out to the other person in a dazed voice.

He had been standing behind her, blankly watching all this, but suddenly, what was this?

“…”

And as Elia met his gaze, she instinctively realized.

This person.

He’s back.

Completely. Back to that slightly annoying Darwood.

“Y-y-you’ve come to your senses?”

“…Yes. Just now.”

Damn it.

Damn it all.

‘…It’s good that he’s back, but I’m really curious about how it happened…!’

But right now, there was something more urgent.

Elia, with a completely reddened face, stammered out her words.

“D-d-did you, j-j-just now, th-th-that, h-h-hear…!”

“…What are you talking about?”

“…”

Judging by his expression, it seems he didn’t hear.

That’s a relief.

A real relief…!

She had just felt a crisis worse than a life-threatening situation…!

“…I don’t know what the situation is, but.”

While Elia was dwelling on these thoughts, Darwood expressionlessly scanned the surroundings.

Several skilled combatants. And one extremely powerful battle priest who commanded them.

“This is perfect.”

“…What is?”

“I’ve got something new, and I wanted to try it out.”

With those words.

A fierce demonic energy, mixed with grey and white, erupted from Darwood’s chest.

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