Ch.388Retreating NPC. (1)

From Ponia to Aigram, it takes at least a year. From the Empire to Aigram, even with a fast carriage crossing borders, about 6 months. From Neti, it’s a 2-month journey by carriage. The reason I’m suddenly mentioning these distances that nobody cares about is…

“Yeah, I must be crazy to believe in a demon. Luxuria, from now on, try not to talk about distances. No, just don’t mention distances at all—only directions, seriously.”

“But why?! It’s really close—!”

“Are you stupid because you’re a demon, or a demon because you’re stupid? If we had to come all the way to Aigram’s mainland, it would have been faster if Ira had set up a teleportation magic circle from Neti in the first place.”

“Yeah. Everyone’s exhausted because of my stupid sister.”

“Eek! B-but you all praised me when I said Avaritia was alive!!”

“Huff! Huff! Insane! Miho, did you really cover this distance in just a week before?!”

“Hm~ Is Chikuyo-san lacking in stamina~? I’m completely fine. Hehe!”

“Y-yeah. Well, I collapsed halfway and Jack carried me…”

“‘Carried you?!!'”

As Gorg explained, ridiculously enough, they ran all the way to Aigram’s mainland because Luxuria said it had gotten closer from Neti. Of course, compared to before, my level and stats—and those of my companions—were incomparable, so we arrived in just 3 days of running. Ira, were you dizzy or tired? Did you get motion sickness while I carried you?

“Nope! I’m fine!”

“Um, excuse me. I’m not fine though. Could you… carry me too…?”

Chikuyo waggles her tail and glances at me repeatedly, making me smile awkwardly without realizing it. Haha, I see. You’re tired? Well then.

“Gorg.”

“Yes. [Gigantification]”

“Eh?!! W-wait—?!!”

Sorry, but my hands are full with Ira right now, and honestly, I’m a bit tired too. Gorg grows to about 5 meters tall, places all of us on her palms and shoulders, and starts running at a fairly quick pace. As she runs and our view rises…

“Brother, will we never be able to eat that ice cream from Aigram again?”

“I don’t know. Avaritia, if Aigram’s market is still alive, it might recover somehow…”

“…This is terrible.”

“That market, from what I saw, was quite a powerful demon. That Pope person must be incredibly strong.”

“Hmph! Miho, don’t get weak! We’ve gotten stronger in Ponia too! If anyone becomes our enemy, we’ll show them an overwhelming victory this time!!”

In the distance, beyond the horizon, we can see what used to be Aigram’s city walls, now visible in a half-destroyed state. Ira speaks with concern, and everyone else speaks seriously, certain that a battle awaits us. I hope that Pope bastard gave up on Avaritia and left. If he hasn’t…

‘…Episode 7 will be skipped here.’

I no longer care about the threats made by that lunatic calling itself the will of the world.

I don’t care what happens to a world where Ira and my women’s safety isn’t guaranteed.

*

“Stop! Don’t go any closer!”

-BOOM!!

At Luxuria’s urgent voice, the 5-meter-tall Gorg came to a sudden halt, creating a shockwave strong enough to shake the debris of Aigram’s collapsed walls right in front of us.

“What’s wrong with you, idiot.”

“I-idiot?!! A person…! No! A demon was just trying to help you?!!”

“Anyway, what’s going on? Why so suddenly…”

“Brother, near those walls, there’s dense demonic energy everywhere.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

“””Eh?”””

As Ira, who was nestled in my arms, spoke while Luxuria was fluttering her wings and protesting against Gorg calling her an idiot, everyone tilted their heads in confusion. Even Miho and Chikuyo sniffed the air, but they clearly couldn’t detect anything. Hmm, I can’t see anything either, and there’s no “demonic energy danger” warning in my status window. Gorg, you don’t sense anything either, right?

[…Not at all. Not detecting anything. Perhaps it’s some kind of demonic energy residue that only Lady Ira and the idiot can sense?]

“That Avaritia guy must have been in a huge hurry. He devoured this entire area with his power. It’s an incredible amount of demonic energy, so much that he probably doesn’t even realize how weakened he’s become.”

“…Don’t tell me he has that disgusting ability related to greed?”

“Indeed, at the Ponia border, we couldn’t sense any demonic energy until we were almost defeated by Greed. Luxuria, is this something similar?”

As Chikuyo and Miho asked, seeming to have some idea, Luxuria—sitting cross-legged in mid-air with an imperious attitude reminiscent of Avaritia—held her chin and shook her head.

“No, as far as I know, he didn’t have this kind of ability. Well, like with Greed, there might be activation methods for other powers that I’m unaware of. Releasing this much demonic energy at once, while weakening himself to the point where he’d die if I ambushed him right now… As a fellow Sin, it seems like he’s attempting suicide.”

After saying that, Luxuria moved her wings and began circling around Aigram’s gate, checking something. Hmm, then I’ll…

‘Radar activated.’

[Human Radar: Consumes 1 mana to detect everything within 10km for 1 minute.]

[Number of humans within 10km: 53]

[-Occupation Adventurer- Level: 221.]

[-Occupation Adventurer- Lev…]

Using my detection skill after a while, I find that there’s not a single person near Aigram territory, with the closest humans about 5km away. Most are adventurers with high levels, probably white and gold-rank adventurers hired from Ponia for information gathering. Some are below level 50, suggesting they even called red and blue ranks due to the shortage of people. Of course, compared to a few years ago, the average level has risen incredibly, but they’re too weak to be considered combat-ready in the current situation. Moreover…

[-Occupation Adventurer- Level: 42 (Deceased)]

[-Occupation Guard- Level: 76 (Deceased)]

[-Occupation Blacksmith- Level: 16 (Deceased)]

[-Occupation Cook- Level: 9 (Deceased)]

.

.

.

‘The number of casualties in Aigram is too high to count.’

The number of corpses detected by the radar is abnormal. If those adventurers have already checked Aigram and are returning while gathering information, they’re probably retreating without proper investigation due to the intense demonic energy Luxuria mentioned. The Church, no, that damn Pope—why did he crawl out of his seat and cause trouble?

While waiting for Luxuria to finish her inspection and completing my own reconnaissance with the radar…

“Hmm. We can break through. There’s definitely a massive amount of demonic energy scattered around, but it feels more like it was scattered due to lack of control rather than for some specific purpose. What should we do? He’s here—should I call him out now?”

“There are no human presences nearby. The Pope has either retreated after being defeated by the market’s power, or is watching the situation from afar.”

Gorg’s statement supported Luxuria’s words. Alright, let’s call him out immediately.

-WHOOSH!!!

“Got it~♡ Come out, Avaritia!! I’ll interrogate you for daring to hide while taking my form~!!!”

I wasn’t particularly planning to interrogate him about that?

Perhaps happy to finally show off her power, Luxuria spread her wings wide and began dispersing dark demonic energy, eventually covering the entire area where Aigram stood with her energy.

-CRACK! CRACKLE!

“Nnngh!!! Come ouuuut~!!!”

Taking a stance like she was in a tug-of-war, she began pulling her demonic energy skyward, and from the previously normal ground of Aigram, a pitch-black—no, a viscous demonic energy that could be described as black slime—began to be pulled up. Wait, I know this. Is it oil? Could it be oil?!

“…B-brother.”

“Yes, Ira?”

“It’s creepy…!”

“…What tremendous demonic energy. Is this the full power of the Seven Deadly Sins?”

“Ugh! The, the smell…!!”

“This is too much for beastfolk!!”

Everyone had different reactions to the oil-like demonic energy, but unfortunately, since I had no magical power, I couldn’t understand what they were talking about and just held the trembling Ira in my arms. After about 2-3 minutes of Luxuria’s oil(?) tug-of-war…

“Eek! D-damn it!!! Y-you!! Luxuria!! You’re with Pride now?!! Did you join that crazy Superbia bastard?!!”

“Who~!! Would join that annoying bastard!! Come out properly~?!!”

“Eek!! Y-you crazy woman, I-I’m coming out so stop pulling!!! M-my demonic energy!! My already depleted demonic energy is being torn apart…!!”

The ground began to undulate tremendously, and instead of the expected oil eruption, demonic energy began to flow across the ground like bathwater overflowing. A voice that I, Gorg, Rey, and Miho recognized started to be heard. Well, they said he was weakened, but his voice sounds healthy enough. At this rate, we could probably tell the surrounding towns and cities to cooperate in restoring Aigram—

-SPLASH!!!

“Eek?!!”

“”””?!!””””

The sluggishly flowing demonic energy suddenly surged upward, and a black-painted doll flew toward Luxuria, who was pulling the energy from the sky, radiating tremendous killing intent. While everyone was startled and frozen, I naturally passed Ira to Gorg beside me and leaped into the sky…

-CLANG!!!

“Ugh?!!”

“Huh?”

“Eeeek!?!”

I swung a kick intending to blow off the opponent’s head, but my kick was deflected by the hammer the opponent swung first. The opponent was pushed back and landed on the ground. Luxuria barely caught me as I began to fall, flapping her wings frantically and retreating toward where our companions were.

“…Eh? Devil-san?”

“Oh? You…!!”

“Kyaaa?!! W-why is he!! Why is he here again?!!”

[-Occupation Adventurer Guild Master- Level: 622. Name: Devil. (Status: Demonic Energy Poisoning.)]

The angelic adventurer Devil-san, covered in dark demonic energy. And Avaritia, screaming with his body dyed black with blood as if he’d been stabbed in seventy vital points, and the people emerging from the black liquid behind him—we couldn’t help but widen our eyes at the sight.