episode_0022

After briefly seeing my party members, I was on my way to Gartos for my original mission.

From now on, I should start the mission I originally intended.

“Gartos seems to be moving faster than I thought?”

However, I couldn’t help but think that this situation might be unexpected.

I was not unaware of Jax’s forces and Gartos’s forces.

Having played the game countless times, I could predict the outcome if the two were to fight.

But if Jax is currently winning against Gartos…

“There seems to be something.”

It leads me to the conclusion that either Jax has become stronger than I thought or Gartos is weaker than I anticipated.

Among these, it may be more likely that Jax has become stronger rather than Gartos being weak.

“Things aren’t going as smoothly without Ronan.”

Is it natural if it’s supposed to be natural?

As Jax took over what Ronan should have done, he must have become stronger in some way.

He might have trained, or perhaps he obtained incredibly powerful equipment.

“I wonder how this will turn out…”

Still, I don’t think I will lose.

I have become much stronger than the previous Ronan.

And above all, Jax is not a hero who utilizes [Divine Power] well.

I decide to postpone my thoughts and consider that delaying as much as possible might be the right thing to do.

[Liri, how is the situation now?]

“Um… Gartos seems to be on the verge of defeat.”

“Oh really? Can you try to hold him off a bit?”

“M-me?”

Although I told Liri to stop Jax, she didn’t seem too enthusiastic about blocking him.

As she is currently, it was clear that she was not an easy opponent.

“I’ll make sure to reward you.”

“Ah… Okay…! I’ll do my best. If it’s your command…!!!”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. Hehe.”

Nevertheless, I have to do what needs to be done.

I will arrive shortly anyway.

Just a little delay in time should suffice.

“Let’s hurry.”

I quickly set off towards where Gartos and Liri are.

To arrive on time, I need to pick up the pace.

# # #

“…”

Given the title of Four Demon Kings, Gartos is no ordinary demon.

Despite losing his head and being unable to exert his full power, he was the second strongest among the demon king’s Four Demon Kings.

“What? He doesn’t seem like much for a Demon King?”

However, even such Gartos could not help but be overwhelmed by the hero Jax.

While Gartos was clearly exhausted, the battle between him and Jax had already been decided.

“…”

There are probably many reasons why this situation has come about.

Gartos’s lack of a head, the fact that this place is a sanctuary where demons cannot use their power properly, and the fact that the hero Jax wears an artifact called [Holy Relic].

Various reasons combined to create this outcome.

“It’s almost over now.”

“…”

But unfair or not, the result is the result.

In war, there is no such thing as fair play.

Completely drained of strength, Gartos eventually dropped his sword.

At the moment when Jax’s sword was about to pierce Gartos’s heart…

Gartos tried to accept everything and embrace death.

Boom!

Fortunately, there was a savior.

Watching from afar, Liri attempted to ambush Jax with magic.

“This won’t work, will it?”

However, unfortunately, her attack did not land effectively.

Despite being a powerful magic, Jax’s hero artifact was strong enough to block Liri’s attack.

‘Where does he get those kinds of armor?’

Though inwardly lamenting the unreasonable defensive capabilities, Liri couldn’t help but marvel at them.

However, I couldn’t just stand by in this situation.

“…”

“Gartos, please take a break for now.”

Liri stood in front of Gartos and Jax.

As Ronan had asked her to stall for time, she had to somehow delay the time.

“What? Another demon?”

Jax saw a new demon standing before him.

At first, he thought he would just deal with any demon appropriately…

“Is this considerably my type?”

It felt too regrettable to act on that thought.

Jax scanned Liri up and down.

“How about coming to me?”

Liri’s appearance was quite beautiful.

Liri’s appearance was significant enough to rival the members of the Hero Party as the most beautiful in the empire Jax belonged to.

It wouldn’t be strange if it appealed to Jax, who appreciated diversity.

“I can handle it well?”

Jax started showing interest in Liri by flicking his tongue.

Even if she was a demon, it didn’t matter if she was pretty, right?

He confidently proposed scouting to Liri.

“Thank you for showing interest in me, but…”

In response to Jax’s proposal, Liri smiled brightly and replied.

“Sorry, but you are too lacking for me to serve.”

The reply was a rejection.

“There are already people serving me.”

Jax might be quite close to Liri’s ideal type.

With a reserved nature and considerable skill, Jax met many of the conditions Liri sought.

However, that didn’t mean Jax was appealing to her.

“Essentially, you lack kindness. Also, you don’t seem strong.”

Since Liri had quite strict criteria for the men she considered, she wasn’t interested in other men after meeting a man who perfectly matched her conditions like Ronan.

“What do you mean I’m not strong?”

“It’s exactly what it means.”

“Do you really think I’m not strong?”

“At least you don’t meet my standards.”

Liri’s firm rejection and her somewhat condescending attitude.

Naturally, one could get angry hearing such words.

“You’re arrogant.”

Therefore, although Jax briefly looked angry, he soon chuckled and gripped his sword again.

Clang!!!

“It seems like some education is needed before making a scouting proposal.”

“Ugh…”

If someone rejects your proposal, you just need to show them clearly what happens when they reject it.

Jax’s sword pointed towards Liri. She could have dodged the attack, but it was really close.

“There’s no need for me to receive education from a man like you. Fireball!!!”

“Hmph. That’s something I know.”

While trying to dodge and counterattack, she cast a spell, but once again, her magic was easily blocked by the hero’s armor.

‘The matchup is really unfavorable…’

A deceptive armor that nullified all kinds of magic.

The matchup with Liri, who mainly used magic in combat, was terrible.

‘Maybe it’s because it’s a sanctuary that I can’t use my strength properly.’

Also, the debuffs from the sanctuary were significant.

She felt sluggish and took a long time to gather mana.

“Just reconsider, okay?”

But that was Liri’s situation, and Jax had no reason to understand her circumstances.

Jax leaped once again to attack Liri.

This time, Liri tried to dodge, but the lightning-fast strike left her with no chance to avoid it.

“Am I quite sweet when it comes to women?”

“Eek.”

In the end, Liri fell to the ground.

Stepping on Liri’s head, Jax spoke.

“Let me say it one last time. Come to me.”

Pointing his sword at Liri’s neck.

If she refused, he demonstrated through action what it meant to reject him.

“Go to hell.”

Despite that, Liri’s response was still a rejection.

Raising her middle finger to Jax.

“What a shame.”

Jax sighed as he watched Liri, seeming regretful, but he couldn’t afford to be more sentimental.

This was a battlefield, not relaxed enough to take the reluctant demons by force.

“Goodbye.”

Jax tried to strike Liri’s neck.

“Ugh…!”

But just as Jax’s blade was about to touch Liri’s neck, he had to urgently stop himself from killing her due to the incoming attack.

Who dared to appear as his opponent?

Jax looked at where the attack came from and immediately put on a delighted expression.

The person in Jax’s eyes was none other than Ronan, whom he had longed to meet.

“Well, I didn’t expect to meet you here. Nice to see you. Hey.”

“It’s disgusting to see you happy.”

“Stop that. Weren’t we friends despite everything?”

“How could someone much weaker than me be my friend? If you’re talking about reconciliation, I might consider it.”

“Hahaha.”

While seemingly enjoying the conversation, Jax felt his anger boiling inside.

Thinking of the humiliations suffered at the banquet with Ronan, he was losing sleep over it even now.

“Have you converted to a demon now? I didn’t see that coming, you’re really going all out.”

“Are you the only one who will do it?”

Jax vowed to kill him if they met again.

To Jax, who had resolved to kill Ronan upon meeting him as an enemy turned demon, Ronan’s appearance was nothing short of a joy.

“Ronan. I was already eager to kill you. Thanks for becoming a demon.”

Jax properly fixed his sword, rearranged his martial arts, and prepared for battle.

Today, he would definitely kill Ronan.

“I’ll make sure to kill you this time.”

And as he vowed to exact revenge this time, he attacked Ronan.

“If you can, give it a try.”

Ronan smirked at Jax and retaliated against the attack.