Ch.21470. Cursed Causality (3)

“As expected, it’s turned into a mess.”

At the moment when Lutesia, the current Demon Lord, transferred near the World Tree, Zora had already reached the vicinity of the sanctuary and altar, as if to make a point.

While she idly fiddled with her butterfly-shaped hairpin of red and blue resting on a silver flower.

“Not yet.”

A red-haired elf with a long scar around her right eye joined shortly after.

“But it won’t be long, right?”

“……”

They had known all along that the enemy would disrupt their attention with minor invasions.

The problem was that these incursions were spread throughout Ardisus, the elven country… making it difficult to consolidate their forces.

That’s why the guardians of each district were tied down.

As a result, the central region was now in a much more precarious situation than before.

Unlike other countries, their nation didn’t have elite military forces stationed as imperial guards.

In that sense, while the Guardian Mirrors represented the queen and central military power, the guardians who had reached the pinnacle of these mirrors were the protectors of each region.

These guardians were the ones who could gain limited command authority in their respective regions if the central government faced problems.

“You’re Remira, right?”

“Yes.”

As Zora opened her hand, vines like tree branches intertwined from her black-gloved grasp, forming a staff-like shape.

“This will probably help. Kariel said she’d lend it willingly, so use it well.”

“That human?”

Remira blinked her fully open left eye as she accepted it.

Ordinarily, Remira herself should have joined the others in dealing with the invaders.

…But Kariel had given her a warning.

If you leave your post, the gap will be more easily pierced than if you stood guard.

If not for that request, she wouldn’t be standing here waiting idly.

Still… was this an unexpected late gift?

“You can shape it freely, so use it well. Let me demonstrate…”

Zora continued her explanation.

As she demonstrated by splitting it in half, then further dividing it into multiple branches shooting in all directions like a spectacular display.

Remira blinked in surprise at the strange sight.

While manipulating wood was a specialty of her people, the wood elves.

This was… somewhat different.

It didn’t feel like a weapon at all.

“So what exactly is this thing for?”

“Just know that it’s a weapon that’s like the natural enemy of our approaching opponent.”

“Is that so?”

Though it was a strangely unreliable, bizarre weapon, Remira accepted it.

As commotion continued in the distance, an alien presence and aura were steadily approaching.

“Will your kinfolk be alright?”

“…This is hardly the time to worry about that.”

If they couldn’t hold the line, the outcome was obvious.

And that would apply to them as well, standing guard here.

Everyone was doing their best in their roles, but it was hard to predict how things would unfold.

The current Demon Lord had emerged and was invading—that was the situation.

It was far too late to notify foreign countries and request help or reinforcements from allies.

…And their kin weren’t the type to meekly ask for help anyway.

Many would rather die than receive help, or simply perish.

…In a sense, they had brought this upon themselves.

Still, it was a justifiable pride.

For a long time, they had never allowed external invasions.

It was their kin who boasted that even the golden beast had given up its invasion.

“Despite having sufficient defenses against magical transfers, this happens.”

“It must be magic we don’t know about, or something that isn’t magic but similar, or something entirely different from magic. That’s roughly how we should take it, right?”

“…Is that a magician’s perspective?”

“The privilege of considering something impossible to explain or understand belongs to the ignorant and benighted.”

It was getting closer.

A piercing killing intent and rage.

Resentment and frustration.

An ominous aura, like a flood of emotions—irritation and profound resignation—all mixed together, seemingly consuming even the atmosphere.

Just breathing made one’s consciousness sink into a profound despair beyond fear or terror.

“…Hard to adapt to this.”

“It’s difficult to face with a clear mind.”

Zora’s expression was either one of familiarity or complete indifference.

Her face clearly showed her intention: I won’t get involved and will step back, it’s not my problem!

From the beginning, the elves had allowed the vampire to enter but prohibited intervention.

Clink! Clink!

The sound of iron shoes striking the dry ground.

Trampling the earth made of leaves, branches, and soil, the figure finally appeared, climbing the uphill path through the trees.

A black figure.

Entirely black.

Between that darkness, pale skin and a sickly complexion.

And faintly visible strands of red hair.

“Never thought I’d face a Demon Lord at my age.”

At Remira’s lament, Zora chimed in beside her.

“But if you overcome this, won’t it be something to boast about?”

“…I didn’t hone my strength for fame or bragging rights.”

As Remira gripped the staff-like object with both hands,

it suddenly transformed into a sword.

“I’ve sought strength to prevent situations where I couldn’t act because I lacked power.”

Despite the considerable distance, the Demon Lord clad in black armor—

For some reason, when Remira raised her wooden sword and pointed it, the Demon Lord who noticed it stopped in place as if rooted to the ground.

“……”

And following behind the Demon Lord, a small human girl had somehow appeared, clinging near the Demon Lord’s thigh, openly staring at Remira and Zora.

====

Hundreds of chains forged from black flames enveloped the entire world.

It took less than a second or two.

And the way they constricted around my entire body was even more intense.

But.

“I knew it!”

A black spear thrust toward my chest.

I deflected it with my sword and moved my body away.

“I knew!”

It pursued me with consecutive strikes, and as I responded, the chains attacked like snakes or centipedes with minds of their own.

I quickly tore through space to teleport behind him, but he predicted it perfectly.

‘He’s experienced all of this before.’

I respond with swordplay and skillfully avoid the chains.

Short-range teleportation isn’t a problem even if used multiple times. Overusing it would erode my mind and consciousness in the abyss… but that was still better than dying or sustaining serious injuries.

“Your senses have surpassed their limits. Is this danger detection some kind of ability? It’s like you’re predicting the future and preparing for it. Isn’t it embarrassing to have such a perfect talent for someone who only knows how to run away?”

“……”

Why would I be embarrassed?

“What? Are you getting angry because your attacks aren’t working?”

“What a stupid question. Wouldn’t anyone get irritated when vermin that should be dead keeps struggling to survive?”

“Your standards are just too high.”

I readjusted my sword with a spin.

Grate.

With the sword resting on my left shoulder, I widened my stance slightly.

The length and width of the sword naturally expanded a bit as well.

He sneered at this.

“You’re making yourself slower when you should be responding faster?”

“That’s exactly what you want, isn’t it.”

I’ve roughly figured out what power or ability he’s using.

And understanding his power is essentially the same as understanding his essence.

“You really were a war god.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now? Is that supposed to be news?”

“No. It’s exactly as you say.”

War god.

But the current him is somewhat different from that.

Same words, but slightly different meaning.

“Is this what you became after being killed by that precious brother of yours?”

“Lack imagination? Or are you just now realizing it?”

“……”

Even if someone is called a great hero.

Even then, he is still human.

Even if he is half-human and half-divine by blood.

Nevertheless, he is still bound within the category of humans and created beings.

But that madman was not.

“A god playing the role of a created being… you’re furious because you can’t use your full power, aren’t you?”

“Wouldn’t you be irritated if vermin started acting up? That’s exactly how I feel right now.”

What he’s wielding is closer to divine authority than an ability.

And that authority manifests as divine objects and divine power.

And its source and origin is probably…

“Ares (Άρης).”

At the same time, he was also Mars.

“I believe the Irenis Order doesn’t recognize that status.”

“If they put the devil’s yoke on me, they should give me the devil’s crown. The difference is that I wanted to wear a helmet, not a crown.”

He snorted and exclaimed.

“That was my rightful choice! That person would have been even more pleased. I became the strongest sword of the pagans! And isn’t it our order’s way to absorb and incorporate even that?”

“…As a devil?”

“Angels and devils are just playing roles, aren’t they? I could never be an angel, and I wouldn’t accept such a thing even if offered. I’m not an idiot.”

He’s truly brazen.

His self-conviction is so firm beyond mere confidence… if I let my guard down even slightly, I’d be completely overwhelmed by his presence.

…He’s completely different from me.

“So what? Stalling for time only hurts you, so shall we just keep flapping our gums?”

“Think from your position. If you had foreseen this situation, would you have designed this predicament to be disadvantageous to yourself?”

“You’re taking too long to say you’ve prepared a response. Stupid bastard.”

He makes a spitting gesture.

“But even though that woman is also stupid, we both know she’s a formidable opponent with no equal, right?”

“Let me tell you one thing: I couldn’t defeat her in the previous attack.”

“Oh really? Good for you?”

“…Then who defeated her and forced her to return to the demon realm?”

“……”

At that point, he fell silent, standing with his back straightened.

“From what I observed, none of your forces seemed capable of that? Don’t tell me it was one of those nobodies following you. I’ve assessed them all.”

“…It seems you don’t really know everything. Or have you also prepared countermeasures for that?”

“So it comes down to whose confidence is correct?”

“It seems your side isn’t fully prepared either.”

When I pointedly aimed at his forehead and smirked, he returned the same contemptuous smile.

“Then we’ll see who was right by waiting.”

He pointed his sword and said.

“And if I kill you in the meantime, all the better.”

“Your time and my time have completely different meanings.”

“You talk well. Do you think stalling for time will give you some miraculous way to reverse the situation?”

“I might have something.”

I narrow my stance and advance toward him.

“If I understand the essence and origin of your power, countering it is simple.”

That power he displayed.

The divine authority of Ares or Mars, or that divine power derived from it, those divine objects.

It’s probably a countermeasure he devised after remembering the humiliation he suffered when facing a version of me that the current me doesn’t know.

However, he doesn’t know.

The essence of what I wield.

Its nature and origin.

“Let me ask you one thing. What is mana?”

“Are you insane? What nonsense are you—”

“And what are divine power, divine objects, and divine authority?”

As I thrust my body toward him, he also charges at me.

Sword and spear.

Dozens of chains spewing black flames.

They surge toward me like massive waves in a storm, threatening to engulf my small, diminutive form like a calamity.

“……”

And all of those things.

In an instant, they vanish, crumble, evaporate, and scatter away.

“??”

Eleven.

Hendeka.

Dominatur Peccata.

The one excluded from perfection.

The one that exceeds ten.

It is unnecessary excess.

It is also the impurity of perfection.

Therefore, this is sin and evil.

Someone who dreamed of this.

…Defined the entire world as overflowing sin.

And that is… mana.

In some worlds, aura.

In some worlds, chakra.

In some worlds, ki.

In some worlds, light.

There are many other terms it can be called.

Even those types number in the tens, hundreds, thousands.

In the world, fire and water are merely phenomena that constitute the world.

Rocks and pebbles, though so varied in kind, are ultimately grouped and defined under the collective term “stone.”

But those who see deeply, who know intimately, realized early on that they are not one and the same.

Mana is like that too.

Some stones become gold, iron, bronze.

Some stones become neither this nor that.

Even those all have their uses at certain times and points.

At least without transcending eras, we don’t know yet. Not yet.

But clearly, there is definite meaning and value inherent in them.

“Damn it all—”

The massive black greatsword I had been holding had completely lost its form.

All that remained was a small, sleek blade that could be held in one hand.

Like a human silhouette split in half and rejoined, it glowed with a green light.

This was a steel sword made from green iron ore found only in Ardisus.

Light and elastic, it showed exceptional value in facing lightly armored opponents rather than heavily armored ones.

Essentially the foundation of elven close-combat weaponry.

“You bastard?!”

The double-edged sword pierced and sliced into his chest.

Thunk!

Did I inflate the size of my sword because I lacked thought?

Every action has a hidden purpose and meaning.

Every process must have meaning to fulfill its purpose.

…Isn’t this the victory formula that you, once called the war god, always demonstrated in warfare?

Is it arrogance that has blinded you?

Is it power that has deafened you?

Or.

…Is even this part of your plan?

I do not let my guard down.

Therefore.

I twisted the embedded sword.

All the sensations—flesh and muscle, bone splitting, scraping, grinding, crushing, tearing—transmitted in detail through both my hands.

“Such tricks—!”

He reaches for my face.

But.

After twisting the sword again and withdrawing it, I immediately retreat.

“——.”

From his body shrouded in blackness, black smoke was pouring out unhindered like from a stove’s chimney flue.