Ch.5454. Don’t Even Hold Hands

# The Eight-Foot Demon

Though the demon had a deformed body like an eight-foot ghost, it still resembled a human form.

Because of this, all its attack patterns were judged by human standards, though its elongated body made distinctions difficult.

Well… in the end, it just flails around, so there’s no need to categorize it much. I’ll just dodge everything except the patterns I can parry.

I just needed to watch out for those random kicks it throws in between attacks.

“Gyagyagyagyagyagyagya!”

“Ludion! Are you okay?!”

For some reason, Celia’s concern came flying in.

She usually doesn’t worry no matter what I’m fighting. She should already know my record of defeating demons.

It seems like her illusion about me has been shattered since I got injured once.

I have nothing to say. I’m sorry for making you worry.

But this much is nothing. I can handle it easily.

“Whoosh. Whoosh whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Missed me!”

“Stop joking around and take this seriously!”

CRASH-

So. I deliberately acted carefree to show I was fine, but what I got in return was a brutal spell.

Something suddenly flew in and punched a hole in the demon’s stomach.

…Wow. I should stop joking around.

More importantly, Celia’s attacks are effective.

Well, since she broke through the Empress’s protective magic, this demon’s durability might not be much.

“GYAGYAGYAGYAGYAGYAGYA-!!!”

Whether it was in pain or anger, the creature charged at me recklessly while assaulting my eardrums.

“Eek! I’m sorry, Ludion! I didn’t know it would get so agitated!”

“Most things can’t get agitated when there’s a hole in their stomach. They’d just die.”

“T-that’s not what I meant!”

Celia fidgeted anxiously as if she’d done something wrong, but it didn’t really matter to me.

‘Judging by how something keeps dripping from the hole in its stomach every time it screams, it must be using abdominal breathing.’

I was relaxed enough to think such thoughts.

Compared to the hardcore dodging challenge I experienced recently, this was child’s play.

Even as I was thinking this, the demon’s attacks continued.

Though its flailing limbs looked somewhat ungraceful, their destructive power lived up to the name “demon.”

Floor, walls, pillars. Whatever it hit was easily reduced to powder.

Which means even a graze would be fatal.

Since I didn’t want to experience my body crumbling, I dodged everything without letting my guard down.

That was the best option since it wasn’t using patterns I could parry.

Then, the demon’s movements became ominous.

Even a nameless demon is a special monster. It has unique patterns, and this one was about to use its embrace attack.

A normal embrace is a pattern seen occasionally, but this one’s embrace was somewhat special.

It had a gimmick that pulled all targets within range into its arms.

It seemed that was still effective here, as I could see the danger zone as soon as the embrace motion began.

Of course, I’d noticed it from the motion and had already dodged.

Do you think I don’t know all demon patterns by heart? I can dodge this as easily as breathing!

Besides, I knew that during the embrace, which has a very long motion, it becomes defenseless.

So if Celia could hit it with magic during that time…

BOOM!!!

“Gyak!”

…The demon suddenly got hit by something and was sent flying into the wall.

Glancing back, I saw Celia glaring fiercely at the flying demon.

“What were you trying to embrace? Absolutely not.”

Is that what’s important, Celia?

Well, she did well, but…

I decided to just let it go without saying anything.

“Before it gets up, hit it with a big one.”

“Yes!”

With that spirited response, several of the countless magic circles laid out began to glow.

They quickly gathered in front of Celia, combined, and were reborn as a highly geometric magic circle.

It took less than a second to do all that.

Wow, that’s fast.

The dozens of magic circles she had spread out before the battle definitely paid off.

At a glance, it might seem like she did it for show, but mages are slaves to efficiency.

Style? No, they just prepare in advance, like laying out ingredients before cooking.

The reason she was able to quickly respond and blast away the demon that tried to embrace me was probably because she was prepared.

Anyway. Another spell descended upon the demon sprawled on the floor.

It must have been a cutting spell, as the demon’s head was cleanly severed.

That wouldn’t kill it, but with its head detached, the demon was temporarily immobilized and ultimately met its end after being pummeled by Celia’s magic without any resistance.

Watching the demon’s final moments as it turned to smoke and disappeared, I looked at Celia with a wistful expression.

“You’re cruel, Celia.”

“There you go again with the weird comments. Just praise me instead.”

“Alright…”

Afterward, I gave her plenty of praise as she wanted.

She deserves praise for handling it without needing the Imperial Knights’ help.

It was embarrassing for me, who had posed as her protector, telling her to stay put because it was dangerous.

Later, the Imperial Knights who arrived late were shocked when Celia told them they were too slow, and they left to train their agility. Meanwhile, Celia and I went to the Emperor’s room to explain what had happened. Despite breaking the magic stone, which was like a family heirloom, Celia somehow explained everything well, and we managed to get through it.

They couldn’t say much since a demon had emerged from inside.

They might even be considering giving us a reward. That’s how dangerous demons are.

While I’m practically invincible with just dodging and parrying, and Celia is growing at an incredible rate beyond imagination, allowing us to defeat it quite easily, demons are normally a national crisis the moment they appear.

Finding and dealing with one in advance would make us heroes.

But I don’t need anything like that. I’d refuse even if offered.

A hero? Such a grand title doesn’t suit a commoner like me.

Being called a hero doesn’t increase my stats anyway.

I don’t want anything else either. I don’t lack anything, and being too greedy would only make me stand out more.

Just forgiving me for breaking the magic stone is enough.

So I wasn’t paying much attention to whatever they were discussing or seriously contemplating, when…

“Celia. Isn’t it about time for you to get engaged?”

“Why bring that up suddenly… Oh, um… I suppose it is…”

The conversation suddenly took a strange turn.

“You have someone in mind, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Someone I know. Someone who’s here right now.”

“That’s… right.”

“This father gives his permission. Damn. I never thought the day would come when I’d have to say this myself…”

“Eeeek!! Why are you saying this here?!”

Celia got excited and started hitting my arm.

Um. Excuse me, but perhaps you’d like to hear my opinion?

It seems they don’t want to hear it.

“After you graduate from the academy. Not before then. Don’t cross the line.”

“Ah. Um… okay.”

“Why are you hesitating? Don’t tell me you’ve already…”

“No! We haven’t done anything yet!”

“Yet?”

“…”

“…”

Suddenly they both fell silent and started staring at me.

What are you looking at me for?

They seemed to realize that staring at me was pointless, as they quickly looked away.

“To think my daughter would be so promiscuous. I’m too worried. I take back what I just said.”

“D-Dad!!”

“Don’t even hold hands.”

“Stop being so unreasonable!”

As I watched them bickering, the Emperor suddenly looked at me and called my name.

“Ludion.”

“Yes.”

“…Damn this bastard. Were you that desperate to steal my daughter? Why are you so eager to impress me?”

Why are you talking among yourselves and reaching conclusions on your own… I had no such intention at all.

The Emperor sighed deeply and then dropped the subject without continuing.

The next moment, the Emperor’s eyes sharpened.

“I won’t ask how you knew about this incident. But I would like you to answer just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You won’t betray Celia… or more importantly, humanity, will you?”

“No, I won’t.”

“…Ha, your answer was so immediate that I feel embarrassed for asking.”

Well, this is a world where good and evil are clearly defined from the start.

There’s absolutely no reason for me to side with demons, and even less reason to betray humanity.

“I’m a man overflowing with love for humanity.”

“…”

But as I tried to express that, it came out a bit twisted and I ended up saying something nonsensical.

An awkward silence fell because of my unnecessary comment.

Feeling embarrassed, I stayed quiet, and the Emperor looked at me for a moment before turning to Celia and asking:

“…Celia. Do you really like such a man?”

“I sometimes wonder that myself. But he’s overflowing with love for humanity, isn’t he?”

“True. If he loves humanity, that’s reassuring.”

This is why every word is so important.

I’m clearly a great man who found and dealt with a danger to the Imperial family in advance, yet all I get is teasing.

I decided to stay quiet since arguing wouldn’t get me anywhere.

That evening, unlike yesterday, it was decided that we would eat separately.

There was the broken magic stone incident, and they had family matters to discuss.

I was fine with it. I could have personal time right after dinner.

After enjoying the service provided to guest rooms, I reopened the path to the secret space.

No one would be looking for me now. Even if they did, I had told Celia separately, so she would somehow smooth things over.

“I think I can finish everything today.”

Apart from the grand result of preventing the apocalypse, the content volume is quite meager. If I go in now and push hard, I can finish before midnight.

With that thought, I went inside, and a moment later.

[This action may attract their attention. Are you sure you want to proceed?]

A message I had never seen before greeted me.