Ch.9933. The Sky Came Crashing Down.

She was overwhelmingly superior to any enemy she had ever faced before.

To begin with, the concept of an “opponent” presupposes that at least minimal resistance is possible.

Humans cannot fight against wind and rain.

They cannot oppose storms, and in the face of extreme heat or cold, all they can do is endure.

That’s what this situation was like.

However, at this moment, an exception was granted.

As the holy sword emitted light.

Even the freezing cold and frost storm, like nature’s fury, momentarily subsided.

And simultaneously.

“Why are you all playing without me?!”

Shouting as if calling out to a friend.

She appeared, cutting through the freezing gale.

Ases.

“That’s quite the skill you have! You’ve been hiding this? How shameless!”

Surprisingly.

Her sword, which split the freezing cold and biting wind with a human body, was incredibly powerful to an absurd degree.

“…Why are you holding that?”

“Huh?”

As Venus belatedly joined, she swallowed a hollow laugh in disbelief, looking at what was glowing in Leo’s hand.

“Not that one, but why did it go to you?”

“Well… Lady Riel told me to draw it.”

“What?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Hahaha—!”

Slicing through ice pillars before her eyes, deflecting all the hail and ice fragments carried by the wind.

And if that wasn’t enough, Ases was advancing as if running forward, looking abnormal from any perspective.

“That crazy woman’s gone completely wild.”

“H-how is that even possible?”

It wasn’t just Leo’s question.

“That bloodline is famous for hunting dragons and even mixing blood with them since ancient times.”

And on top of that, they received blessings from the ancient indigenous spirits residing in their domain.

“Though she would be among those who rejected the blessing and received a curse instead.”

What she was given in exchange for abandoning her duty and rejecting responsibility.

The girl who had the most brilliant future ahead of her, but who threw a tantrum saying she didn’t want a brilliant future prepared by others.

She was abandoned by her country.

But because she was naturally gifted and a genius.

Wherever she went, she created her own position and always took her fair share.

There was no match for her among her peers.

And that would be the same at this moment.

“But that’s impressive only by human standards and common sense.”

When a being beyond that emerges, the story changes.

No sooner had Venus finished speaking than her body was thrown as if kicked by something.

Yet Ases managed to control her body, rolling while maintaining her center of gravity and attempting a breakfall to get up.

Even as she was still being dragged across the ground by the remaining force, the way she held onto her center suggested she was quite accustomed to such treatment.

“What are you going to do?”

“……”

“If you’re just going to die anyway, hand that over first. Then I’ll personally use it to stab that woman to death.”

“I… can’t do that.”

“Tch.”

Venus clicked her tongue and drew her sword.

“Let’s deal with that first, then we can talk.”

The battle unfolded fiercely.

Strangely, Ases seemed familiar with this type of combat, showing impossible responses.

She also responded extremely appropriately to magical-like fierce attacks.

And the strength of Leo and his companions, who had begun to properly wield the holy sword, was not something to be dismissed lightly.

All of them were heroes who had overcome all sorts of adversities.

But.

No matter how much an ant struggles, an ant is still an ant.

Although a pack of wolves might be able to oppose a bear.

That’s only possible with a minimum level of weight class, reserves, and fighting power.

But who ultimately decides that?

-…

The Demon Lord watched the situation with a bland expression.

For some, it might be an intensely fierce scene, an experience where lives were at stake in real-time.

But to her, everything was someone else’s business.

So.

Only when Kariel opened his eyes there.

Did a slight change appear in her emotionless expression.

With a slight curl of her lips.

She briefly explained part of the truth and the current situation.

Even now.

At this moment, someone was rolling on the ground.

Someone was seriously contemplating whether to amputate an arm that was about to freeze and suffer frostbite.

And someone else was smiling with a sword in hand, with eyes full of madness, even as an ice spear pierced their thigh and their entire body was freezing.

No matter how brilliant and noble the light of the holy sword was.

Since it was neither magic based on magical power, nor sorcery, nor trickery.

The holy sword could not provide any countermeasure.

Helplessness. Powerlessness.

Perhaps the one most shaken was Leo himself.

Nevertheless, seeing his companions crumbling around him, he willingly steeled his heart.

Perhaps.

If only he died, everyone else would be safe.

But. Even so, Leo could not easily give up on himself.

…Even the holy sword had emphasized that.

And of course, Leo had not the slightest intention of giving up.

“……”

And.

The same was true for Mines.

Perhaps with this outcome, she and her younger brother, Rui, would gain freedom.

But.

…Where exactly could someone who killed the hero belong?

In the end, those who would accept her despite their dislike were extremely limited.

The reason for letting Bargo go?

Besides not wanting to harm an unnecessary life, there was also the reason that they might be entangled somehow later. That was also a reason.

She would now be known to the world as the Demon Lord.

Despite suppressing it until the very end, she had finally revealed it.

It had now become a fate she could no longer avoid.

Who would leave someone with such power like herself alone?

She cursed herself for being moderately intelligent.

If only she hadn’t known, she wouldn’t have had to agonize and suffer over such problems.

“Aaaaargh!”

Suddenly.

The holy sword in Leo’s hand began to emit a violent light.

The intense light eventually shot up as if piercing the sky.

And in an instant, it dispelled all the domains she had created.

‘That is….’

Dangerous.

Just a moment ago, it had seemed so pitiful, as if it could be crushed at any time.

What on earth had made him like this?

“……”

She followed Leo’s gaze.

Despite his own body being in tatters.

Had he become enraged seeing the safety of his companions?

And had the holy sword responded to that?

In the end, rather than seeking revenge to cut her down.

He had begun to put forth his anger to protect.

At that fact, she felt miserable again.

Why did it have to be like this?

If only he had been overwhelming, and she had been inevitably defeated by his hand.

…If it had inevitably turned out that way.

That would have been better.

‘But.’

That couldn’t be.

Following her gesture, the freezing wind grew stronger.

It swelled like a tornado… like the pillar of light before her eyes, eventually reaching the sky beyond.

Even the pillar of light looked utterly insignificant in comparison.

It doesn’t subside.

It doesn’t diminish.

Rather, it grows more intense.

‘Perhaps.’

I might lose.

But I must survive.

No matter how deep the sin.

…What sin does that child have?

No, was being born itself a sin?

I don’t know.

Nevertheless, the world is cruel and harsh.

In the end, someone’s will and wishes, no matter how strong.

Are easily broken, scattered, damaged.

And trampled upon.

“Ruiness—!!”

“……”

I introduced myself as Mines.

Did he already forget that?

The fact that she felt sad about this part, what had become of her?

Following her gesture, the massive storm tilted toward Leo, who was holding up the holy sword, and his companions.

And to counter that, Leo took a deep breath.

……

——?

‘Why—.’

Why are you there—?

Someone who shouldn’t be there was standing there.

The jet-black boy with a long sword in his right hand.

Eventually.

Drawing another sword from his waist with his left hand.

In the center of the swirling light and storm.

All of it.

—Along with the swords.

He received it with his bare body.

‘Why?’

-Why go to such lengths?

‘Why are you there?’

It wasn’t just Mines’ question.

Leo had noticed it belatedly.

But he had already swung the holy sword.

Above all.

The one who seemed most unable to accept this situation.

With bewildered eyes.

Was the golden girl herself.

That is, the Demon Lord.

……

Just a few minutes ago.

This kid, who had always volunteered for pain and hardship on behalf of others, had now come to face the cruelty of reality.

The death of someone he knew.

The helplessness of having to watch it powerlessly.

All of this would become the driving force for his growth in the future.

Someone else might collapse from this.

But this one is different.

Though his life was unfortunate and difficult.

Nevertheless, this guy was still a flower placed in a greenhouse.

No matter how much he struggled in dreams.

After all, that wasn’t reality.

So, by experiencing the cruelty of reality, overcoming it, and moving forward.

He would become even stronger.

Yes.

That’s how it should have unfolded.

He shouldn’t even be able to move in the first place?

Humans, no matter how strong their will.

What’s impossible is impossible.

What’s impossible is absolutely impossible.

But why—.

Did you stand up?

In this environment where even standing is difficult.

How are you able to walk?

When even grasping a straw is arduous.

How can you hold those heavy swords?

-What are you trying to do?

I don’t understand the reason.

What are you trying to do now?

The situation is already beyond your control. It’s all over.

That woman Mines will retreat on her own once she kills Leo?

Or even if Leo miraculously killed Mines, that woman, it would have been to your credit, and no harm would have come to you.

-Are you listening to me?

…

What do those eyes see?

What do those eyes seek?

I don’t understand the reason.

Why did you draw your sword? Why did you stand up?

Your physical condition is at its worst.

Right now, just being alive is like a miracle.

With just one step, he was practically inviting death.

With just that much exertion, he could die at any moment.

No, is it even possible to walk in such a physical state?

Even setting all that aside.

In this situation where even those with healthy bodies can barely stand, in this biting wind and cold… how can you move forward?

A few seconds, tens of seconds.

Yet the guy managed to walk forward.

And at the place he arrived.

For some reason, he just stood there for a while.

As if waiting for something.

Eventually, a moment of silence fell as if both sides were about to deliver a final blow.

No, can this situation even be called silence?

On one side, a frost storm was soaring to the sky, completely freezing the area and utterly devastating it.

The surroundings were relatively intact only because the boy named Leo was shielding the area with the holy sword.

But this crazy Kariel is outside even that sanctuary.

With his bare body.

But… how can he stand?

Why is he fine?

No, can that even be called fine?

-This is.

Not what I expected.

I too have common sense.

There’s a clear difference between recklessness and boldness.

Although I may have demanded things that seem terrible and impossible by human standards.

That was all in dreams, not reality.

That is, it was possible because it was virtual.

In reality, I would have just watched, and even if I pushed him, I never told him to throw himself into recklessness.

Like now.

To face a situation where death is certain, to confront it.

I never said such things.

-No… wait.

Surely not.

…Is he not standing there to protect that holy sword kid?

The positioning seemed odd for that.

And why…

Why draw two swords?

As if targeting both sides.

-…

At this point, even I can only follow the scene before my eyes rather than think.

And so.

The full force from both sides converged in an instant.

No, this should be seen as a collision.

And at that point of collision.

Kariel, who had been standing weakly.

Raised his swords.

Toward both sides.

It was as if.

…He was trying to support the collapsing sky.

With just a person’s hands.

With those small hands.

So reckless, so foolish.

That it was unbearable… to watch.