Ch.210210. Quick Battle (3)

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In the deepest part of the Church headquarters.

The Pope’s private chamber.

In this place where no one except a select few of his closest confidants could enter, the Pope spoke with a gentle smile.

“Everything is going according to plan.”

Across from him sat a masked woman with her legs crossed.

“As scheduled—the Red Demon’s rampage, the terraforming of the surrounding area, and even the movements of the ‘key’—everything is flowing as expected.”

The Pope continued speaking calmly as he watched the images through the crystal orb embedded in the center of the table.

Inside it, scenes near the pillar of fire caused by the Red Demon were playing in real-time.

“I suppose that half-baked Drakhan from the Empire and ‘Lionheart’ are also targeting that area…”

They’re probably watching these same images along with us.

Those targeting that man are not just one or two.

“But undoubtedly, we will be the ones to make the most ‘useful’ application of him.”

Especially.

For the “Paradise Plan” he was designing, the existence of that man who could control all demons was essential.

There’s a reason he’s called the “Key to the World.”

“Well, I agree that whoever makes the first move stands to gain the most.”

As the Pope stared intently at Darwood in the crystal orb, the oracle spoke up in a disinterested tone.

“He sure has a fate of being loved by many dark-hearted humans, doesn’t he?”

“…”

Though it was an indirect insult implying the Pope himself had a black heart, he merely snorted without adding any further comment.

“…But.”

Something else was bothering him more.

“What’s wrong with your leader since earlier?”

The Pope’s exasperated voice flew toward the Talker.

Once again, the Luminary showed no reaction and just stared blankly at the ceiling.

He clearly showed no interest in anything the Pope was saying.

As if he was sulking about something, as if he truly couldn’t care less.

“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s just sulking because he got rejected.”

“…What?”

“He asked that man over there on a date, and he’s in a bad mood because he was turned down.”

“…”

The Pope momentarily lost his words as he stared at them.

She was making excuses that would only come from a teenage girl.

Even the Luminary, who had been silent until now, seemed to find it ridiculous and finally opened his mouth.

“…Stop talking nonsense, Talker.”

“You’re not denying it though.”

“…”

As the Luminary fell silent again, the Pope looked back and forth between the Talker and the Luminary with disbelief.

Really?

The leader of the Cultists of the Demon?

“…Ignore that.”

The Luminary continued in a curt voice.

True to the Talker’s words, he still wasn’t denying it.

“As you said, everything has gone as expected so far. All that remains is for that man to subdue the Red Demon.”

He continued.

“When the Fallen Angel’s Seal devours the demonic energy of all except the Brown Demon, that’s when the real game begins.”

Except for the Tribal Union, which had completely settled on supporting that side, from that point on, the game would truly begin about who would “possess” that man.

After all, Darwood Campbell, having consumed the demonic energy of all demons once, would undoubtedly become a unique existence across the entire continent.

“…Even if just once.”

The Luminary’s gaze fixed on the seal glowing on Darwood Campbell’s chest.

“He will become the human closest to omnipotence.”

That value is undoubtedly irreplaceable.

Both that value and its “danger.”

Though he himself probably doesn’t fully realize it.

“…But, I wonder.”

The Pope’s eyes narrowed.

“Can he really resolve the current situation?”

The vessel with three fragments combined is rampaging spectacularly, and the entire world is changing in real-time due to its demonic energy.

If left alone, it would truly transform the entire material world into something identical to Pandemonium.

As the hero candidate just demonstrated, demonic energy is billowing out at such levels that even fairly powerful beings struggle to approach.

From the Red Demon’s vessel at the center, demonic energy was pouring out that could blind one just by looking at it.

“…To think it’s this powerful even though it’s not the Grey Demon.”

The Pope uttered those words with a slightly trembling voice.

A demon that hasn’t even contacted its main body. And among them, not even the strongest, just one of the seven demons. Moreover, one that hasn’t even regained its “true form,” still taking human shape.

Yet even one such being has this much power.

‘In other words.’

The fact that it’s not taking hostile actions despite other humans being nearby must mean it’s confident that none of them pose any threat.

And he’s supposed to face that and win?

“He’ll win.”

However.

The Luminary gave such a definitive answer.

With an air that left no room for reconsideration.

“He’ll find a way. He’ll survive this time too.”

His eyes then gleamed maliciously with a sunken expression.

“The things that can truly kill that man are limited. And the red one isn’t among them.”

“…”

As the Pope frowned at the confident statement, he suddenly caught sight of Darwood pulling something out in the image.

“…A breastplate?”

The Pope muttered, looking at the equipment Darwood held in his hand.

If he searched his memory, it was something used by certain people who were once in the Empire.

Guardians, was it?

“Anyone who has ‘killed’ a vessel even once gains quite special abilities.”

To the Pope’s muttering, the Luminary added another comment.

“A Guardian who has once entered the Crimson Night state should be able to create a special situation.”

“…A special situation?”

“You should recognize it, shouldn’t you?”

The Luminary continued with a smirk.

“That’s an object treated as a holy relic with a soul sealed inside. It must have some special effect, right?”

“…Still.”

The Pope said with a slightly furrowed brow.

“To properly use a holy relic, you’d need a priest with verified abilities.”

And in the current situation, any human in the Holy Empire with such capabilities would certainly not approach that area under the Pope’s orders.

After all, a “scramble” among the hegemonic nations centered around that man is about to intensify. It would be better to conserve every bit of manpower.

If so, that’s just a white elephant. Something that absolutely cannot be used—

“I wonder.”

The Luminary responded with a smirk.

“He doesn’t seem like the type of man who would bring something like that without preparing for its use, does he?”

At that moment.

Two other voices echoed through the crystal orb in succession.

[Wahahahaha! Mr. Darwood, this is a major crisis, isn’t it!]

[Ch-child?! Step back, it’s dangerous!]

The Pope’s expression twisted violently as he identified the owners of those voices.

“…Archbishop Luminol?”

●

“…Here we go again.”

“I agree.”

In response to Elia and Elnore’s mutterings that sounded like groans, Lana tilted her head and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, you haven’t seen much of this, have you?”

Elia answered while brushing back her hair.

“…You’re probably not used to seeing that person acting like this.”

“…”

“Whenever something happens, he’s just dying to do crazy things like this. That guy.”

“…I can hear you.”

She’s talking about me like I’m some eccentric lunatic.

With that thought, I grumbled, but…

“Then deny it.”

Instead, a growling-like response came back.

“…”

“I do like you, teacher, but this is something I can’t deny. Can you even function in daily life, really?”

“…We only have one chance. We need to execute this without mistakes.”

“See that? Look at him. He changes the subject when it’s unfavorable.”

Ignoring Elia’s jab, I speak with a serious expression to Riru, who is preparing to ‘throw’ me.

“You’re confident, right?”

“…It’s just throwing you in there. There’s no question of confidence or not.”

Riru replied with an expression suggesting an oncoming headache.

What I’ve asked of her is to throw me precisely so I can reach Faynol inside that pillar of fire.

Ah, what a shame. If only I had my catapult from Elphante, I wouldn’t need to do this—

“There’s that crazy-thinking expression again…”

“…Archbishop Luminol. Please activate the ‘holy relic’ at the exact timing as we agreed.”

Deliberately changing the subject from the flying criticism, Archbishop Luminol replied with a twitching expression.

“…Understood.”

“If we succeed, as promised, I won’t tell your daughter that you’re a human scum—”

“I get that part.”

Archbishop Luminol cut me off urgently, then frowned as he looked to the side.

“…How are you planning to stop that thing?”

Over there.

Something burning bright red to the point of hurting one’s eyes was situated inside the pillar of fire.

An overwhelming presence that silenced everything around it just by pulsating in place.

And even while exuding such a presence, the demonic energy emanating from its body continued to grow.

“…I don’t even feel like we can fight it.”

Elia muttered, her hand holding the holy sword trembling slightly.

“Are demons really this powerful?”

“Still, I’m going to stop it.”

I answer with a slight smile, and Archbishop Luminol frowns even more deeply and asks.

“…So, how?”

“I told you.”

While gesturing to ready Riru, I answer simply.

“By eating it.”

Then.

I snap my fingers.

It was a pre-arranged “signal,” and in response, Riru threw me forcefully.

As my body shoots out like an arrow, I slowly observe Faynol’s reaction.

The red-tinged irises that had been fixed on the sky regardless of what was happening around him.

For the first time, they look at “me.”

“…”

Then, a wave of hostility that makes my whole body shiver washes over me.

The guy who had shown no reaction until now moved his arm for the first time to point at me.

He doesn’t know what I’m trying to do, but he seems to have vaguely realized it could be harmful to him.

Massive flames spread out explosively around him.

The movement still feels more like he’s trying to push me away rather than burn me.

As expected.

This guy is gentler than I thought.

“…”

Yes.

That’s the only way to describe it.

For someone who supposedly caused the Crimson Night, the Empire’s worst calamity, his actions so far have been far too gentle.

And that’s exactly what I’m trying to exploit.

“Valkarsus.”

[Understood.]

And if he’s only trying to push me away like this, rather than actively trying to “burn” me.

Valkarsus’s alchemy alone should be enough to deal with it.

The alchemical marks engraved on my body glow. A formula that can temporarily neutralize even demonic energy if it enters the effect range activates.

Thanks to this, the flames surging toward me momentarily stop. This means I can approach his body without losing much of the physical energy Riru used to throw me.

“…”

I reach the front of Faynol, whose expression twists slightly.

I grab onto his arm as if “clinging” to it.

He narrows his eyes slightly and twists his hand a bit.

Though I broke through this guy’s action once with alchemy, that honestly has no meaning in the current situation.

From his perspective, it probably feels like a fly flew in, he tried to shoo it away, but it landed firmly on his arm. That’s the level of difference between us.

Even approaching this close, I have no means to harm him.

However.

A person who feels discomfort at a fly landing on their arm might immediately try to squash it to death.

“…Shit.”

Seeing the flames beginning to surge around with a menacing aura, I mutter in a voice tinged with crisis.

There’s not much time. I need to do what I came to do quickly.

I fiddle with the lion breastplate securely held in my arms.

The goal is to drive this into Faynol’s “heart.”

The action I must take to do that is…

“…”

I open my mouth wide.

And.

“Chomp.”

I bite down on Faynol’s arm extended toward me.

Like biting into meat. As if trying to tear it off.

“…No way.”

Elia said in a voice of disbelief.

“So that’s what you meant by eating?”

“…”

A silence that seemed to agree with his muttering spread around.

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