Ch.282Side Story: The World After the End of the War

“Disgustingly revolting.”

“Heh heh. For once, we’re in agreement.”

The Red Tower Master muttered, and the Black Tower Master chuckled softly in agreement.

The two were working with other Grand Mages to clean up the aftermath of a recent dungeon break. Fortunately, they had been assigned to the most contaminated area—near the monster’s corpse.

Naturally, higher contamination meant greater danger, something ordinary people wouldn’t understand. But these two were Tower Masters. Moreover, they were members of the Mage Association, known for being obsessed with magic.

They wouldn’t miss the opportunity to study a never-before-seen magical beast’s corpse up close.

“I’ll have to throw away these clothes later. The smell won’t come out.”

“I believe I’ll have to do the same.”

Of course, scholarly enthusiasm and disgust were separate matters. The Red Tower Master wrinkled his face after smelling his clothes.

It was even worse considering that right in front of them lay a magical beast with about a third of its upper body evaporated, and despite being dead for over 12 hours, purple blood mixed with flesh was still flowing from bodily fluids that hadn’t congealed.

Originally, the Saint and Lord Mira had planned to purify the battle’s aftermath as well, but the Tower Masters unanimously persuaded them to change their minds, arguing that preserving research materials would help reduce future damage.

As a result, they had only taken measures to prevent the contamination from spreading before leaving. Thanks to that, they had gained over a week of precious time.

“Watch where you step. Last time, someone slipped and half their body dissolved. Without healing magic, they would have died on the spot.”

The Black Tower Master cautioned as he watched the Red Tower Master floating in the air, scooping up the flesh-mixed fluids. The Red Tower Master barely acknowledged the warning.

“Do I look like one of your Black Tower brats? Even apprentice mages in our Red Tower don’t make such amateur mistakes.”

“Heh heh heh… At least they’re not like certain red folks who flee three times faster than everyone else.”

The Black Tower Master countered without backing down.

“……”

“……”

Both frowned at each other, but that was all. The exchange didn’t escalate into an emotional conflict. Their conversation was merely a desperate measure to overcome their fear.

After all, it was Mira who had defeated this monster, not them. A terrifying thought grew within them: what would have happened to the Empire if this creature had appeared when he wasn’t around?

The Sword Saint might have killed it, but with one roar, it could have wiped out all the mages who formed the Empire’s core, leaving no one to stop the contamination or continue magical research.

That would have been a horrific outcome.

“…Someday, we’ll be able to create magic that can stop creatures like this.”

“Shouldn’t we finish developing status ailment dispel magic first?”

“I know. That’s why I’m working hard.”

The Red Tower Master, having disintegrated some burnt debris, pulled out a new stick from his inner pocket and lit it.

It looked like a cigarette but wasn’t. It was just something that emitted smoke and flames because someone of the Red Tower Master’s stature needed something like this to set the mood. It wasn’t harmful to the body.

“You need to work harder than you are now.”

“I am doing so.”

The conversation died. The two silently resumed decomposing and studying the fluids and flesh.

“By the way, Lord Mira praised me recently. Said my achievements were outstanding. What have you been doing all this time, Red Tower Master?”

“……”

Of course, quietly cleaning up wasn’t in either of their natures.

After the official announcement of the ceasefire with the demon race, the most noticeable change we felt was the revision of the academy curriculum.

Since there was no longer a need to prepare for combat with demons, that content was minimized, and gate lectures took its place. Rosaria filled in the basics of the gate lectures.

There were two main reasons why the demon combat curriculum was reduced to a minimum rather than completely eliminated.

First, people still felt anxious, and second, the monsters emerging from gates still retained the characteristics of demons and magical beasts.

It’s no wonder demons feel something akin to the uncanny valley when they encounter monsters from the gates.

“How’s the Royal Guard taking it?”

“There was quite a bit of opposition internally… but the Sword Saint personally persuaded them. After that, everyone seemed to accept it.”

The Sword Saint took charge of convincing the Royal Guard.

Declaring that he would completely resolve this world’s affairs before returning, the Sword Saint summoned all Royal Guards and persuaded them, saying he had personally met the Succubus Queen and that she could be trusted.

Following the Emperor’s declaration of ceasefire and the Sword Saint’s endorsement, the Royal Guard finally relented.

—Since I did the persuading, give me some paid leave.

—…Haven’t you adapted a bit too well?

Then, returning as A-rank Hunter Kang Ra-hye, he demanded paid leave.

Laura burst into laughter upon hearing this and gave him a 3,650-day paid leave voucher that could be used anytime. The Sword Saint nodded with satisfaction and returned to Earth first.

However, even after all this, people’s anxiety couldn’t be completely allayed.

That was natural. After a war spanning hundreds of years, tensions couldn’t be released in an instant just because the Emperor and Demon King declared a ceasefire and frontline troops withdrew.

It was Nika who somewhat relieved the tension pervading the Empire. The new Demon King appeared personally and presented evidence of peace.

“The Demon King is dead. I killed it and usurped the throne. And I will not repeat its foolish mistakes.”

The evidence of peace referred to here was Elisiere’s severed head. There was no need to question its authenticity. If someone had falsely claimed to be the Demon King, the real one would have appeared and cut off their head.

Moreover, Erestica, who was once under the Demon King, along with the Saint and the Hero, confirmed that the head indeed belonged to the Demon King. No one in the Empire could dispute the words of those three.

“…This feels strange.”

“What does it matter? It’s not even your real head.”

Elisiere looked glumly at the fake head modeled after herself.

The Demon King’s head was preserved with magic and displayed in the Empire’s capital as a monument symbolizing peace between humans and demons. Countless crowds flocked to see it.

We were watching from a distance. Elisiere kept muttering something while alternately looking at her fake head and me beside her.

“Still awake? That’s good.”

And that night, she came to find me.

“…What’s going on?”

“Something you should know well.”

Elisiere was wearing a translucent negligee. It barely covered the undersides and sides of her breasts, making no attempt to hide the tips which were fully exposed. The translucent fabric below fluttered like a curtain, and her panties, little more than strings, had holes in places meant to be covered. Dressed in such an outrageous outfit, Elisiere appeared in my room and closed the door.

It was fortunate Priscilla wasn’t beside me. If she had been there seeking warmth, she would have been furious at the sight.

“In this situation, the only thing I can think of that I should know is… that kind of thing.”

“You’ve guessed correctly.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden. Rather, don’t you think this is long overdue? Something that should have happened much sooner.”

“I feel like there’s more to it than just that.”

Elisiere hesitated momentarily at my words, then smiled somewhat dangerously.

“You know me too well.”

She then slowly approached me, pulled my right hand, and made me grip her neck. This was mild compared to her usual extreme sexual desires, so I somewhat naturally gripped her throat.

As her throat gradually constricted, Elisiere’s breathing became labored.

“Aren’t you… curious why I came to you specifically today…?”

“Yes, was there a special reason?”

An even more dangerous smile appeared on her increasingly red face.

“It’s because… I was aroused by seeing my severed head on display.”

“…What?”

This time, even I had to question her.

I know Elisiere’s sexual preferences are extremely twisted in that direction. Normal people don’t ask to have their wombs crushed with fists or find pleasure in being choked to the brink of death.

But I never expected her to say something like that. While I stood dumbfounded, Elisiere kept my hand on her neck and took my other hand, guiding it to her plump lower abdomen exposed between the wide-open negligee.

My palm touched the soft, bare skin. She pressed firmly on the back of my hand. An ordinary person would have winced in pain from just this much pressure, but not Elisiere.

“Looking at my severed head, I imagined you destroying me completely. I imagined you severing the tendons in my arms and legs, twisting my joints, breaking my bones, trampling me until my entire body was distorted, all while leaving terrible marks of violence all over my body. As I imagined this… I simply couldn’t control myself.”

Her twisted smile grew even stronger.

“Look. Can’t you feel it even through my lower abdomen? My womb, desperate for destruction. This is a sweet privilege granted only to you. For no one but you could ever hurt me. Now, please…”

“……”

I hesitated briefly before tightening my grip on Elisiere’s neck. I wouldn’t go as far as she described, but I could at least fulfill her underlying desire.

As an ominous cracking sound came from her neck, an expression of pleasure washed over Elisiere’s face.