Ch.180180. Holy Grail Transport

Tap, tap, tap, tap!

The sound of Deia and Elenoa Luden Griffin’s footsteps echoed behind me. Despite their footsteps growing more distant, the demons ahead didn’t show the slightest movement.

They weren’t letting the two go.

They were simply being leisurely, confident that no matter where they went, they’d remain in the palm of their hands.

“Hoo.”

I need to think calmly.

Even though they’re Greater Demons, they don’t possess the overwhelming strength like Magan just now.

Magan had become drastically stronger due to the banquet setting, and we were able to win because we broke through that.

The Greater Demons in front of me probably don’t have power equal to or greater than Magan at the banquet.

‘Perhaps slightly above or below the current Aria Rius.’

There must be differences in strength even among Greater Demons, so that’s probably about right.

“It’s impressive that you reduced Magan to this state at the banquet.”

“Haha, maybe he just got too fat to move?”

“…”

Still, there are three Greater Demons here.

Valkyria of Strife and Feiren of Worship were casually chatting with each other.

But Dune, the Greater Demon of Pride, stood right in front of me, staring down at me.

His three black pupils were fixed precisely on me, his thoughts unreadable.

“Human.”

“…”

“Proud human who comforts the continent.”

The moment his heavy words were uttered, the gazes of the other two Greater Demons, who had been chatting over Magan, pierced into me.

Their expressions hardened, seemingly recognizing the gravity of the situation. The previously relaxed atmosphere vanished, replaced by tension.

“Would you show me your conviction?”

A bizarre question.

Vellica calmly explained the meaning behind it.

[He’s asking for a one-on-one fight. Don’t accept it.]

“…”

[It’s exactly like Magan’s banquet. The moment you acknowledge it as a duel of pride, he’ll become several times stronger than now.]

I swallow hard and take a deep breath.

I maintain my silence in response to the question that had descended like a sentence.

Crack!

Spider legs sprouted from my back again.

Though fewer and smaller than when I first fought Magan, they quickly stabbed into the ground and propelled me backward, creating distance between me and the demons.

“Hmm.”

Dune, accepting my refusal, stroked his chin with a disappointed expression.

The other Greater Demons approached Dune’s side and asked with ominous expressions.

“He’s just a human. Is he really strong enough for you to stake your pride on?”

“Haven’t you set your standards too low because it’s been a while?”

“Both of you, get your heads straight.”

Dune coldly rebuked the two arrogant demons. His ram-like legs scraped the floor.

“This human broke through Magan’s banquet. You’re all being too careless because it’s been a while since we fought.”

“Ugh.”

“Ah, so serious.”

Valkyria wore an expression of having been hit right on the mark, but Feiren shook his head while playing with one of his tails.

“He’s just someone who’s lost all his strength. I heard there’s a Saintess, but she’s just a girl with a small vessel.”

Valkyria sneered at Feiren’s words.

“Feiren says that because he’s never met the previous Saintess.”

Just then, Learic, Darius Verdi, and Lucia Saint finished their battle with the secretary and the mind-controlled hero from another country.

Though they claimed victory, the condition of the three was terrible, showing how much they had struggled.

The three approached me, catching their breath.

Learic, leaning on his staff, asked me.

“Are those Greater Demons too?”

“Yes, all three of them.”

“Ha, so this is where Learic meets his end.”

Despite his words, the flame of struggle for life still burned in Learic’s eyes.

“Deus… no, Shinwoo Kim.”

Darius approached me from behind Learic. He too was in bad shape, but his hand still gripped his sword firmly.

I wasn’t sure how to respond, but he suddenly embraced me.

“…!”

“The legs on your back make hugging uncomfortable.”

Making a trivial joke, his large hand gently cupped the back of my head as he pressed his cheek against mine.

“When we get back, let’s have a beer while watching the night scenery of Norsweden, brother.”

Pat, pat.

Darius stroked my head and slowly pulled away. His reddened eyes were accompanied by a warm smile.

I didn’t answer separately.

I just nodded, imagining that future together.

“I’ll do my best.”

Saintess Lucia, steeling her resolve, clasped her hands as if in prayer. She was the ultimate weakness of demons and the most effective weapon against them.

Thinking of this again, I emphasized to Learic and Darius.

“Protect Lucia at all costs.”

Lucia had fainted helplessly when ambushed by Magan, but with us as her shield, she should be able to fully exert her power.

* * *

“Argh, what are these things now!”

Findenai, who had just buried her axe in the head of an onrushing monster, spat out curses in frustration.

Just moments ago, they had been dealing with Republic of Clark soldiers blocking their path.

Now, suddenly, they were chopping off the heads of monsters flying in through broken corridor windows.

After seeing the banquet hall collapse, Findenai, Aria Rius, and Erika Bright had rushed toward it urgently.

They had wasted considerable time due to the republic’s soldiers appearing intermittently.

Especially, beheading one of the republic’s three superhumans had taken quite some time.

“This situation seems pretty serious.”

Aria, peering out the window to check the building opposite where the banquet hall was, clicked her tongue.

“Judging by the turbulent and chaotic mana, it seems like there are more Greater Demons… probably not just one.”

“More Greater Demons?”

Erika, holding the box containing the Holy Grail, was handling butterfly-shaped spirits and dealing with most of the monsters.

Her magic shone as the brightest light within the dark nature of this place.

‘If there are this many, have three come? What on earth is happening with the Republic of Clark?’

Aria was as confused as the others by the continuous emergence of secrets unknown in the first cycle.

Learning that a Greater Demon was the president was shocking enough, but she never imagined other Greater Demons would join in.

‘Greater Demons cooperating with each other?’

Demons lived with a mindset somewhat different from humans. They lived based on their unique desires, which is why they liked humans.

Humans were valuable resources that satisfied most of their needs.

‘The Republic of Clark wasn’t just serving as Magan’s dining table.’

Realizing that the Greater Demons were satisfying their desires through the Republic of Clark for various reasons, Aria tightened her grip on her greatsword.

Though it was now a name she had abandoned, her nature had always been righteous enough to bear the name of a hero.

It was hard for her to overlook their eccentricities, using the republic as a fence and humans as livestock.

“I have no choice.”

The monsters pouring in felt like they were grabbing at her ankles, so Aria gripped her greatsword with both hands and looked up.

“I’ll clear a path…!”

Just as Aria’s intense mana swirled like a gust of wind and wrapped around her greatsword.

“Findenai!”

Bang! Bang!

A woman’s cry and gunshots echoed from the opposite building through the window.

“Deia!”

Recognizing Deia’s call immediately, Findenai urgently stretched her neck out the window.

Through the window of the opposite building, she could see Deia firing her gun and Elenoa handling magic.

“Damn it!”

Seeing the two unable to handle the pouring monsters, Findenai became as urgent as if her feet were on fire, but there was no way to cross over.

The path through the corridor was still blocked by monsters. It was too far to climb across windows, and there were too many flying monsters.

“Do you have the box?!”

Even in her urgent situation, Deia checked if Findenai had the box containing the Holy Grail.

Erika lifted the box she was holding to show it.

“Throw it over here!”

The Holy Grail would be the greatest weapon for Deus Verdi fighting against the Greater Demons.

If Saintess Lucia were to hold it, it would surely show tremendous efficiency.

Deia understood the true meaning behind Deus’s instruction to find the others and had left the banquet hall to find the Holy Grail.

“That lady is being ridiculous! How am I supposed to throw it over?!”

“Figure it out yourself!”

“It’s a royal command!”

Findenai shouted irritably, but the situation on the other side was equally urgent, with Deia and Elenoa insistently pushing together.

“You think a royal command makes everything possible?!”

Despite bursting out in anger, Findenai was still trying to find a solution. But the answer came from Aria beside her.

“I’ll clear a path for you.”

Aria, adjusting her grip on her greatsword, pointed it toward the wall in the direction of the building where Deia and Elenoa were.

Since both already knew she was no ordinary girl.

Erika cast a protective spell around the three of them. The pouring monsters clung to it, making it seem like it would break at any moment.

But it could create a brief opening for Aria to swing her sword with full force.

“If there are no monsters in the middle, I can use magic to send you over there.”

Erika handed the box containing the Holy Grail to Findenai and immediately prepared her magic.

Findenai, suddenly about to be magically sent over, wore an incredulous expression but hooked her axe to her waist and took the box.

“If I fall to my death, I’m going straight to the master to complain!”

Grumbling but taking position right behind Aria.

As Erika’s protective magic was almost fading, Aria’s lowered greatsword drew a large arc as it thrust forward.

Kwang!

The blade wave, filled with overwhelming mass and mana, mercilessly destroyed the wall and slaughtered the flying monsters.

“Princess!”

“Kyaak!”

The blade wave was so powerful that it pierced through to the outer wall of the building where Deia and Elenoa were.

It could have been a dangerous situation, but at least a path was opened.

Findenai entrusted herself to the golden mana swirling around her.

The mana tickled her feet before lifting her body with a whooshing sound.

“Ooooh!”

Findenai’s exclamation of experiencing flight for the first time echoed through the republic’s sky.

“Uh! Uh! Ya!”

Having traveled about halfway, Findenai began to slow down and gradually descend due to Erika’s depleted mana from the intense battle.

Panicking, she firmly gripped the box with both hands while her feet flailed in the air.

“It’s okay.”

With Erika’s breathless reassurance in her ear, a giant golden butterfly appeared beneath Findenai’s feet, carrying her the rest of the way.

“Whew.”

Findenai, having narrowly escaped death, sighed in relief but immediately placed the box on the ground and drew her axe.

Monsters began pouring into the space that had been cleared by Aria’s blade wave.

“Take the box! I’ll clear the path to the banquet hall!”

With her shout, Findenai charged forward recklessly.

She was getting injured from the many monsters she hurled herself at, but Elenoa followed right behind her, supporting her with magic.

Behind them, Deia clutched the box and ran after them.