Ch.209208. We’re Fucked

# 208. We’re Fucked

A pattern.

A pattern of dozens of snakes devouring each other.

That pattern, proof of Bael’s dominance and the symbol of the Babylon Kingdom, was embedded in Solomon’s chest.

“How… is this possible?”

Solomon is not a low-level monster like a goblin or orc.

He’s a dragon, the strongest of monsters.

Moreover, among dragons, he’s the Dragon King, said to be the mightiest of all.

To successfully dominate someone like Solomon in such a short time…

This was clearly different from the Bael I knew.

“Quite an amusing expression you have there, little one. What do you think of my new toy?”

Behind Solomon, Bael was running his mouth.

But we couldn’t touch him.

“How… did you do this?”

“You underestimated me, understand?”

Of course, they couldn’t touch us either.

Bael might be fine, but the other executioners and mercenaries—and most importantly, Solomon—weren’t in great shape.

“This is truly unexpected…”

“That’s my line. I didn’t expect you to show up, though I don’t care about the others. This must be your first time seeing me—what do you think?”

“About what?”

Such an insufferably arrogant tone.

I wanted nothing more than to rush over and swing my sword at him.

Even in this moment, Bael was tossing out frivolous jokes.

“I’m the type who welcomes even humans as comrades if they have sufficient skill.”

“And?”

“How about joining my side?”

“You can still say that crap in this situation?”

When I asked that, Bael suddenly transformed into a serious face devoid of playfulness.

Then, pointing at Solomon, he said:

“That’s my line. You’re witnessing this scene and still choosing to side with humans?”

“Side with humans? I’ve never taken their side.”

I’m not on the humans’ side.

I’m only on her side.

It just appears that way because she happens to be human.

And likewise, if she were a demon, I would have appeared to be on the demons’ side.

“What nonsense is that?”

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t join your side even if I died and came back to life.”

“Don’t regret it later—it’s your decision.”

“Of course. But more importantly… have you finally put aside that pride of yours?”

The empty potions at Bael’s feet and the staff in his hand.

He looked almost human.

The one who always rejected and despised human methods was now appearing just like them.

“It couldn’t be helped. This was necessary.”

“You’re definitely… different.”

“Different how? You speak as if you know me well, arrogant brat.”

“I thought I knew you well… but I guess not.”

I really thought I knew him.

But I overlooked something.

I’m different from who I was then, she’s different from who she was, and Bael is different from who he was then.

“So you’re really making such a foolish choice?”

“Even if I joined you, I’d just end up as a toy like the one behind you.”

“Seems you do know me well after all.”

With those words, Bael turned around.

Solomon was guarding his back.

“If you don’t want to die, it would be better not to follow. Though of course, having seen this, you won’t be able to help yourselves.”

Solomon’s body was clearly covered in wounds.

Yet we weren’t making a move against them.

Bael was in relatively normal condition, and above all, this place was close to the Babylon Kingdom.

Of course, if not now, we might not get another chance, and we all knew it.

“If we let them go now, we’ll definitely regret it.”

“So what? You want to butt heads with us?”

“Something like that.”

I don’t know if it’s the right decision.

But at least it’s not the wrong one, and it’s a hundred, a thousand times better than just standing here doing nothing.

“If you won’t do it, I’ll do it alone.”

I prepared for battle.

I activated my skills and drew my sword.

Bael reacted.

“What? You really intend to fight? Alone at that?”

Of course, I had told them I would fight even if I had to do it alone.

But I wouldn’t be alone.

And as if to prove it, the Emperor moved first, and I followed behind him.

As the Emperor chased after Bael at frightening speed, Solomon swung his front paw at him.

—CRASH!!—

The Emperor caught that attack with his bare hands.

As expected of him.

The Emperor struck that paw.

But he couldn’t subdue it immediately, and he looked at me and said:

“Cover me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Emperor raised his fist again, I lifted my greatsword in rhythm with him.

Then, simultaneously, we struck that front paw.

—BOOM!!!—

Finally, a proper attack.

It was barely an effective hit, but it was enough to repel Solomon.

We left Solomon to the heroes and immediately rushed toward Bael.

But an invisible shield blocked our path.

A shield with no physical form, yet clearly present.

It was a shield of a different caliber than Briton’s.

“Amon…”

“How do you know my name?”

“Just get out of the way.”

I swung my sword at this interfering presence.

Normally, I wouldn’t be able to even scratch his shield, let alone pierce it, but he seemed to be struggling now.

However… my sword ultimately couldn’t reach him.

I instinctively stopped my attack and turned around.

The Emperor did the same.

—TZZZZZ! CRASH!!—

His unique skill, [Touch of Destruction].

He seemed to have quite a bit of magical power left.

Still, it was fortunate that neither of us was hit.

“Well done. You would have died if you’d been hit. But… what a shame.”

However…

That judgment seemed incorrect.

“…?”

The place where that beam originated.

There were clearly people there.

Bael and about a dozen others.

But when the beam passed, they vanished as if by magic.

And in their place, a brilliantly bright magic circle flaunted its existence.

“Ah…”

There had definitely been no teleportation magic circle visible until just now.

Yet they had constructed a teleportation spell capable of moving that many people.

‘They even took Solomon…’

Looking back, Solomon, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

In that brief moment, they had taken even Solomon with his enormous size.

The Emperor stared at the still-glowing magic circle and said:

“Impressive…”

He probably hadn’t known in advance.

He wouldn’t have known the power of the magic would be so great, nor that we would arrive so quickly.

He made that judgment in the midst of such a chaotic situation.

It was certainly admirable.

‘To channel that much magical power in such a short time…’

And of course, he hadn’t done it alone.

His subordinates who had been beside him—their magical power could also be felt from within that magic circle.

That fact seemed to prove that his subordinates, like him, were absolutely not people to be underestimated.

“Tonight’s sleep will be restless…”

At the very least, we wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably.

How could anyone sleep comfortably after something like this?

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not a big deal.”

The Emperor said it wasn’t a big deal.

But his expression as he said those words betrayed an indescribable displeasure.

“Is it really not a big deal? Your face is telling me it’s a very big deal.”

“Mindset is important, mindset.”

I know that.

But this wasn’t the time to say it’s not a big deal, even as a white lie.

‘This is getting much more dangerous than I thought…’

Honestly, I hadn’t felt this way until now.

I was anxious, true, but that was all.

The situation had been quite good—we had formed an alliance with the Persian Kingdom quite early, and the Emperor was still alive.

The positives far outweighed the negatives.

But now a negative had emerged.

And it was big enough to swallow all the positives we’d accumulated so far.

“This is really bad…”

Still, there must be a way out, and we will surely find that path.

And to do that, a positive mindset like this person’s was indeed necessary.

“In the end, whoever wins the big battle will have the last laugh. That dragon… we just need to kill it, right?”

“That’s true.”

Such wise words.

Even if the opponent has gained such an advantage, battles are ultimately unpredictable, and we just need to kill Solomon.

It sounds easy and simple when put into words, but in reality, it’s the most difficult thing.

But I thought, ‘With this person, it might actually be possible.’

Just like her in my previous life.

“You’re smiling in this situation?”

“Didn’t you just say mindset is important?”

“That’s that, but try to think a bit more seriously.”

I was thinking seriously.

I seriously thought it was possible, and I seriously smiled.

“Now that we’re in this situation, shouldn’t we rethink our strategy?”

“Strategy?”

“Yes. If we split our forces in two now, I think it could be disastrous.”

“Indeed…”

The Emperor nodded slowly.

Then, stroking his chin, he said:

“We’ll need to hold another meeting about that…”

“Yes…”

“You should participate too.”

“Me too?”

“Of course. You’re part of the Special Forces now, aren’t you?”

Though the results weren’t official yet, they were as good as confirmed, and his words just now made it a fait accompli.

“Yes, understood.”

“And about what happened today…”

“It’s top-secret so don’t tell anyone? Got it.”

“That too, but you should be the one to tell Ellie.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than her voice was heard.

Her voice, trembling with anxiety, was all the more audible.

“Is… everything okay?”

“Yes, but more importantly…”

I continued with a bright smile:

“We’re fucked.”