Ch.22072. Legend and Legend (3)

From within the erosion zone, Delica, who was positioned behind the Demon Lord Lutesia.

She saw them.

‘Idelia. Marez.’

That heavy yet sharp spear technique reminded her of seeing the woman in her prime.

And that bizarre blunt weapon.

All the money he earned, he poured into that one thing… that foolish fellow.

What actually killed him was the shower of arrows that rushed toward him as he knelt defenseless.

What good is treasuring a weapon when your body is unprotected?

‘You too….’

Her eyes closed involuntarily.

The emotion welling up was nothing like anger.

It was lamentation and sighing.

Resignation and despair.

Even though she had never expected or anticipated it, Delica couldn’t help but be shaken by the sight.

Just as when touching an intact thorn with bare hands, one’s hand, skin, and flesh tear open with wounds without realizing it.

She felt a rippling, churning wave piercing deep within her chest.

“……”

Also.

She couldn’t help but realize that her joining had been the most irresponsible and worst possible form.

“Lute…sia.”

Delica’s face, as she struggled to rise, was in terrible condition, covered with dried blood.

Lutesia, who turned her head with effort to respond, involuntarily contorted her expression.

Delica grabbed Lutesia’s defenseless arm.

Cold.

As if touching a block of ice.

Bearing that coldness, Delica lifted her head with difficulty and urged a commitment.

“We have nowhere else to retreat. So…”

-……

If I can assist you even in this form.

“Then… don’t hesitate at all.”

-!!

A breath like a groan.

Seeing her shake her head roughly… it was distressing in many ways.

It wasn’t unpleasant.

It wasn’t irritating either.

Just… sad and pitiful.

…and all the more infuriating about the ways of the world.

“Remember. By any means necessary… we must achieve our goal.”

With those final words, Lutesia struggled to lift Delica, who had collapsed again.

-……

Everyone feels resentment and bitterness.

Our world feeds on such things and eats away at all of us.

Devouring each other, even consuming ourselves.

Being destroyed, perishing, vanishing, annihilated… that is our fate.

“Even if… a false… deity… you were once…”

After gently laying down Delica, who was muttering as if in a dream, Lutesia once again faced her enemies.

As the queen raised the staff in her hand, a brilliant light resembling verdant foliage seeped into the earth.

Then vegetation began to grow, seemingly possessing its own will, instantly starting to drive away the demonic realm’s creatures.

Some trees intertwined, growing like artificial dolls or golems, actively sweeping away the demons as if they had their own will.

…Even while watching this overwhelming sight, there was no particular emotion in Lutesia’s gaze.

‘If it was this impressive, she should have used it earlier.’

If she was saving it, there must be a reason.

Perhaps limitations on frequency or conditions for use.

But if she could use such power repeatedly, the tide of battle would quickly turn.

‘……’

And then he turned in her direction.

A youth resembling pitch darkness.

A man who appeared to be not much different in age from herself began approaching in her direction.

The battlefield that had suddenly formed was truly the epitome of chaos.

The area near the World Tree had few trees, with a jumble of plains, hills, and undulating terrain.

As one approached the World Tree, the slope increased, then leveled out again after a certain point.

In other words, she was positioned between a hill and a plain.

And behind her, her temporary subordinates were working hard to contaminate the World Tree.

And that white giant, who had appeared from who knows where, was interfering with that operation.

…And the woman who seemed to be assisting him.

A woman who handled abilities far more formidable than either magic or spirit arts.

…It was unpleasant in a way how completely different her responses and skills were from when she had seen her before.

‘That’s not all.’

That strange wooden weapon was equally troublesome.

If that weapon returned to its original owner’s hands…

The situation would become even more serious.

But the original owner? The other woman who had first displayed it wasn’t showing herself.

…Perhaps she wasn’t even here.

Just as her own condition had been at its worst, that woman hadn’t looked to be in good shape either.

Perhaps it had been a final desperate act before death.

…In that sense, the fact that the man was temporarily handling what appeared to be that flashy woman’s ability also raised some suspicion.

‘Did she transfer her power?’

The assessment was complete.

Though the time she maintained her sanity through pain was brief, that moment was extremely necessary for her.

‘If that’s the case.’

If I finish him off, there will be no one to stop me or us.

The hateful bloodline of radiance.

…Why is there one more when there should have been only two?

Lueld.

And Elimion.

Even those two were monsters who made resistance impossible.

Why is there someone with a completely different disposition among them?

It makes no sense.

‘How far will you go to interfere with us…!’

Above all, the ability? Technique? Authority?

It’s too malicious.

‘But since he has half of Lævateinn…’

If I can get my hands on that, victory will ultimately be ours.

Even if I die miserably, am defeated, and rot away.

If I can just get that.

…Then I can burn the world.

Just as I once burned the mythical world, erasing the world in an instant.

But erasing alone is not enough.

Because then life will be conceived again.

Civilization will grow, and absurdity will continue.

Persistently.

‘I must… erase and destroy completely.’

That’s why it’s destruction.

That’s why it’s annihilation.

All I wanted was just that.

…Why do you all interfere with us?!

====

After finally passing through my allies, I stepped into the ominous erosion zone.

This place is temporarily, but essentially, the demon realm itself.

Ordinary people would experience reduced bodily functions just by staying here.

In severe cases, they would struggle to maintain balance as if they had ingested deadly poison.

Just as the air, environment, and mana of the middle world act as poison to them.

“……”

However.

This doesn’t apply to me.

I’m not one who benefits much from mana in the first place.

If that’s the first reason why the demon realm environment doesn’t burden me much.

The second would be…

For the same reason as Grandeus.

‘Peccata.’

Dominatur Peccata is a technique that allows me to exclude all mana from a certain area.

More precisely, it absorbs mana and then reverses that absorbed power to help empty the entire world.

Such infinite repetition compresses that area into a definite non-interference space.

However, this was impossible for Grandeus, who lacked a physical body.

Therefore, he focused on handling it freely, limited to the range he could reach.

…And now.

I too have reached the point where this is possible.

Not simply neutralizing and nullifying the opponent’s mana or its flow by contact to reverse-utilize it.

Rather, such effects have simply become meaningless to my body.

In a way, this might be the highest state achievable with the Grandeus swordsmanship that was originally handled with a physical body.

At this point, it’s closer to an innate ability than swordsmanship.

If it develops further, it could rightfully be called an authority.

…Like Dominatur Peccata.

“……”

Although I received Heva from Elhermina, there are still clear limitations.

It’s already miraculous that I can handle this when I’m not the rightful owner.

Seeing that the usual constraints of inheritance don’t apply… I guess Heva, which has become the demon lord’s legacy itself, is making some allowances.

But that’s just depleting what she accumulated in her storehouse without giving anything in return.

That’s why Hevatein, even though it’s just half, is important.

…Because it allows me to borrow Heva’s authority without constraints, costs, or burdens, albeit conditionally.

-So persistent. How can you be this persistent? Why are you all so…

The current Demon Lord mutters with hatred.

-When you know nothing.

“…Have you spoken before?”

At my words, the fierce aura subsides momentarily.

More precisely, perhaps she’s surprised.

-What…?

“Is my response so surprising?”

Confusion and silence mix to create a strange stillness.

-…You understand my words?

“You speak as if not understanding would be normal.”

I knew from the beginning.

It’s just that she wasn’t in her right mind, so there was no opportunity for dialogue or communication.

-Why… no, no. So you’re the World Tree’s… Yes. That’s what it was.

“……”

I wish she’d refrain from talking about things only she understands.

-You, what I want is very simple. Half of Lævateinn, hand it over. Then I’ll withdraw everything and go back. I was never interested in invading the middle world in the first place.

“…For someone who says that, rumors of your rampages in various places are quite widespread.”

-That was my personal grudge.

“But that grudge is from another world, not this one. The people here must feel like they’ve been struck by lightning out of the blue, right?”

-……

The conversation continues.

It’s absurd, but at least we’re talking.

‘This is clearly different from before.’

It seems that even that woman’s reason functions in the demon realm.

She wasn’t in good condition in the middle world, but perhaps the demon realm environment is an exception.

-You too are of the radiant bloodline that I hate.

This feels a bit unfair.

“It may seem that way, but unfortunately, my circumstances differ from theirs.”

-How? In what way?

“Except for being born of the same bloodline, they and I are distinctly separate individuals, and depending on the situation, we could even be enemies. Yes, that’s our relationship.”

-…Why?

“Why? Why indeed…”

Yes, why did it turn out this way?

A trick of fate?

Misaligned causality?

An innocent destiny?

Either way, it’s not my concern.

“There are several reasons why a child might come to hate their parents. Let’s leave it at that.”

-Hate? Hate? Who exactly are you…

“Isn’t this strange though?”

At first, I wondered if I should even mention it.

But knowing that communication is possible… perhaps I wanted to probe a bit.

“You haven’t figured out why your wounds from Mistilteinn haven’t healed yet?”

-Mistil…teinn?

The current Demon Lord half-opens her red eyes in contemplation.

Then suddenly, she frowns.

-Baldr… another name for our legion commander. That which brought his growth to death… Yes. Mistletoe. So that’s what it was?

“…?”

Our legion commander?

Wait? Wasn’t that guy Ares, Mars?

‘Since Baldr is also a war god… I suppose it’s not impossible.’

But for someone like that, his condition didn’t seem to match with that side.

When he was Ares, things seemed to make more sense.

Moreover, Baldr is also known as the god of light.

…If you match that with the grand title “bloodline of radiance,” it fits perfectly.

“I just fought with that person, but it seems he’s also called Baldr?”

-It’s one of his many names. More precisely, he stole their divinity and made it his own.

“……”

Is it okay to talk about this so easily?

While I was feeling a bit perplexed, the Demon Lord spoke again.

-So, you asked? Mistilteinn… why I was injured by it… why the wound hasn’t healed yet. Is that what you asked? Or were you trying to convey something to me by asking in that way?

“We who are called the bloodline of radiance can be seen as descendants of the war gods if we look far back.”

Verethragna.

And before that, it was probably another name.

And after that, yet another name.

“And as you said, if Baldr is also part of that… then what killed him, his natural enemy and worst match, is precisely Mistilteinn.”

-What does that have to do with my wounds not healing…

In the middle of speaking.

Her expression distorts strangely.

As if to say it couldn’t be.

‘She didn’t know?’

I learned this from Elhermina.

But that person… she still didn’t know this fact? Why?

-Are you trying to say that you and I are of the same bloodline? And that’s why I’m so powerless against that?

“……”

I.

I had glimpsed, albeit vaguely, what could have happened had I taken the wrong path on my journey.

And I, who was bound to Alesia, eventually lost both Alesia…

And the woman before me.

But those memories are partial and severely faint and dim.

I can only make rough guesses at best.

-……

Moreover.

Surprisingly, she seemed shocked, but she didn’t blindly deny the truth or stubbornly refuse to accept it.

In other words, the current her seemed… incomparably more cold and rational than when she was raging before.

-Then… I lost my father to my own kin. And my father was killed by his own kin.

“……”

-It’s so absurd that I can’t even laugh. Yes. The truth is always regrettable. And… and…

The Demon Lord shook her head vigorously.

As if skipping a step, she asked one question.

-So, who is my mother?

“……”

-My father is of the radiant bloodline, I inherited that bloodline, and my father was killed by the radiant bloodline. I heard from Delica. That this isn’t the past I knew. But even so… there must be unchanging facts.

You, yes, you.

-Are you… perhaps trying to say that you might have been my father?

“……”

-I’ve realized something even more ridiculous. Then my one and only legion commander… might also have been someone who could have been my father?

She’s saying those words, but.

Both she and I know a fact better than anyone.

Her father, Kariel.

And me, who is here now.

And her one and only legion commander, another Kariel.

They are all separate entities.

Though they share the same parents, the same name, and the same bloodline.

We have lived completely different lives.

And the gap between those differences, that chasm.

Is nothing less than the world itself.

-As I thought… Yes. As I thought, this world is wrong. It’s terribly, terribly wrong.

That’s right. So a world like this…

-Should never have existed.

“……”

Also.

I know.

Her misfortune, her misery, her despair and frustration.

In the end.

Despite being driven to contract with the Golden Demon Lord.

She died without being able to fulfill it.

My powerless self in that world.

The greatest victim and byproduct of my failure was none other than her.

Because she.

In that unfortunate world, would have been the one and only existence I cherished most.

The contract was fulfilled.

In the worst possible form.

And this is.

The cruelest warning about another future I would face if I cannot fulfill the contract.