episode_0018

With fierce eyes flashing, I dashed forward.

Sweeping my sword surrounded by a menacing aura swiftly to kill Baltan, the demon and lieutenant of the Demon King right in front of me.

The blade extended at a speed that reached Baltan’s neck area but…

It only sliced through empty air.

No sensation of cutting through anything was felt.

As if Baltan was never there to begin with, his figure vanished, reappearing a little distance away.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Weren’t we having a good conversation? Why suddenly rush at me like this?”

“I never had any intention of engaging in conversation from the start.”

“Really? That’s quite sad.”

He gazed at me with eyes full of genuine pity.

I impulsively wanted to gouge out those eyes, sending my sword swinging, but once again, his form disappeared and reappeared.

“It’s futile. This place is my domain from the beginning. Even if you’re a valiant warrior, it’s hard to escape without using divine power, right? I don’t know why you don’t use divine power.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he casually remarked, “It’s really a shame. Not coming in? Why exactly? It’s incomprehensible no matter how much I think about it. Could it be because of human children?”

Silent, I glared at him, and then he seemed to realize, clapping his hands and exaggerating his actions.

“Really!? Wow… I never thought it could be because of human children. No wonder you rushed in when I mentioned using children as weapons. If that’s the reason, you should have said so earlier. I wouldn’t have touched them.”

His confident speech made my grip on the sword tighten even more.

Although he expressed regret, there was clearly a sense of delight in his eyes.

‘The offer made to me must not be false.’

Demons are demons.

Beholding my current heated state, akin to how they unscrupulously target humans, seemed to amuse them.

“I despise you vile creatures.”

“If you consider us vile, aren’t humans the same?”

“That might be true.”

Even though rumors may not be true, portraying myself as a hero through deceitful truths was no different from disgusting hypocrisy, regardless of what others said.

But at least…

“I don’t engage in senseless acts like you do. Even if it’s hypocritical, it sets me apart from you.”

I don’t stoop to despicable deeds like demons do.

Baltan burst into loud laughter at my words.

As if finding my words incredibly amusing.

He continued to laugh.

“Hahaha! I’ve heard a lot of nonsense in my life, but this takes the cake. You claim not to engage in senseless acts, but what is your sense? Ultimately, it’s nothing more than the order or morality created by humans. Do you not find it ridiculous to impose that on demons? Moreover, shouting about morals while failing to uphold them is a trait of humans. Isn’t it ironic to preach about morals and yet fail to abide by them?”

His momentarily chilling demeanor.

I do not entirely dismiss his words as nonsense.

In fact, most of what he said was accurate.

Humans, more than anyone else, proclaim morals but are a species that disregards them, and ultimately, even the concept of morals is constructed within human standards. Therefore, imposing such morals on demons was quite a ludicrous act.

However, what needs to be understood here is that demons invade and kill humans without any reason.

Whether his words were right or wrong, in the end, vilifying humans based on the invaders who attack and annihilate humans without any reason was truly absurd.

Suddenly, bandits invaded the village where you were living well, calling you trash, raping women, and killing children. Even if the standard of morality does not apply to demons, how can one not impose morality on demons who kill humans, even if they can communicate and avoid shedding blood?

Ultimately, even if the concept of morality is made from a human perspective, there exists the option of reconciliation at its end. Yet, the sight of demons not taking that path, despite having the same choice, disgusted me.

Of course, setting aside such matters, there is no wrong in just talking.

“That statement wasn’t entirely wrong, but your ignorance about why you are disgusting makes it even more repulsive.”

“Disgusting, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we be thankful instead? Decreasing the number of humans who have become the center of the world due to their sheer numbers. Honestly, having humans as the center of this world only causes problems. They are filled with greed, simply living arrogantly just because they received the choice of God. How sickening is that?”

Belltan gestured as if vomiting.

Fundamentally, he harbored a deep hatred towards humans.

If he was a demon, it could be expected, but…

“I don’t understand you. You don’t understand me either. And if we don’t understand each other, we both know how it will end.”

Clash of opinions.

Placed in a relationship where they do not understand each other and cannot reconcile, the ultimate conclusion is inevitably a fight.

I assumed a fighting stance.

In response, Belltan pressed his forehead, sighing deeply.

“Sigh… I thought you would be different. Why do you side with those truly trash-like humans? I can’t understand.”

Belltan raised his hand.

Then, hundreds of Belltans appeared all around.

Hundreds of Belltans simultaneously opened their mouths towards me.

“You die here.”

“As you wish.”

Facing the surrounding Belltans, I struck the ground with force, wielding my sword.

***

A space surrounded by darkness like a wall.

Eilen looked at the children who had become weapons around her with a cold gaze.

“The insect-like demons…”

Alive yet not alive.

That was the state of the children.

How could such a horrific act be committed?

Truly, a feeling of nausea overwhelmed her.

“I’m sorry.”

Eilen offered an apology to the children.

Regardless of the reasons or circumstances, being in a position where these children had to be killed.

It could be considered unforgivable, but Eilen deemed her master’s command more important.

“Instead, it won’t be painful.”

A white divine light enveloped Eilen’s sword.

The white light illuminated the surroundings, and the children turned into weapons hesitated to approach the divine light, sensing the pain.

An untainted pure white divine light.

Upon reaching the point where she could draw out the divine light, one realizes the essence of purity.

Reaching a level where one can aim for something and define oneself.

If one fully comprehends the essence of purity, they can reach the transcendent realm of a Sword Master, capable of cutting through the heavens with just a display of will.

She was still at a level of grasping the essence of purity.

Yet, even at that level, she gained power that could already be considered surpassing the limits of the human race.

Eilen’s divine light gradually expanded in size, filling the surroundings.

As the children turned weapons distanced themselves further,

Eilen, looking at them, took a step forward and swung the pure white divine light horizontally.

A radiant light extended, spreading in all directions.

The light that clearly spread out was a form of attack, yet within it existed something warm and comforting.

The children, turned into weapons, burst into tears and smiled upon seeing the light.

As the forms of the children gradually disappeared, a brilliant smile bloomed on their faces.

Eileen witnessed the smiles of the children.

Their smiles were stained with relief and gratitude.

Just before their bodies turned to ash,

the children bowed their heads to Eileen with their remaining strength and said,

“[Thank you.]”

Rather than replying to their gratitude verbally, Eileen simply nodded her head softly.

She thought this would resonate more with their hearts.

Upon her nod, the children smiled even brighter.

With that, the children vanished from sight.

“May you rest peacefully there.”

So they could sleep soundly even in God’s embrace.

After offering a prayer, she intended to head towards where Caliel was.

However,

“You shouldn’t go so easily.”

An elegant yet resolute voice rang out,

followed by the resonance of a mighty magic.

“Mongma.”

Eileen quickly realized who the owner of the voice was.

A succubus known for stealing men’s vitality, a Mongma who freely roamed dreams.

While succubi were not inherently powerful, the story changed when it came to high-ranking succubi.

And sensing the aura of the succubus that had just appeared,

“Are you the Queen of the Succubi, Mongma?”

Her level of power was intense enough to be considered the queen of succubi.

And as if reading her thoughts accurately,

“Oh my. You caught on right away?”

The Queen of Mongma revealed herself and spoke in a bewitching voice.

In response, Eileen narrowed her eyes.

“As if bugs like you reveal themselves easily.”

“Bugs? Where do you find a bug as beautiful as me?”

Without engaging in banter, Eileen pointed her sword at her.

The Queen of Mongma displayed a sensual smile and said,

“My name is Sheryl. Some call me the Queen of Mongma. So, shall we get along well, Paladin?”

Darkness spread around her,

while light extended around Eileen.

Soon, as they rushed towards each other, light and darkness clashed.