episode_0182

[Ian. I know what I’m seeing. come. If you don’t come, I will kill everyone here and then leave.]

The devil himself pointed me out.

Currently, all of humanity’s elite are gathered near the Demon King’s Castle.

Judging from the chaotic scene, it appears that everyone was caught in the explosion and fell down.

A person can be seen crushed by a pile of collapsed castle walls, and a person can also be seen trying to get up from the pile.

[I won’t wait long.]

As if those words were the end, the Demon King looked away.

I didn’t look anywhere in particular.

It looks as if its gaze is fixed on a random place, as if it is staring into space, or as if it is a malfunctioning machine.

I got up from my seat.

“Ian… .”

Mercy grabbed her hand, but she would know.

That there is no choice.

“Mercy.”

“… … .”

“Do you know what my purpose is?”

Mercy nodded her head with tears streaming down her face.

“Yes. So don’t worry.”

I scanned the audience.

Emperor Julian, commander-in-chief of the imperial army.

Johannes the Holy, and several of the principal cardinals.

And, royal or military representatives from other sponsoring countries, etc.

As I was about to go out, Mercy urgently kissed me.

I feel like déjà vu.

“Ian. I definitely, definitely have to come back… . Because I still have a lot to say. At that time, I will also tell you the meaning of this kiss… .”

There is a lot to be responsible for.

Vivian, Helena, Lucia, and even Kati, who were lying at that scene.

I joked to reassure him.

“If you don’t come back, you’ll be in big trouble.”

With those last words, he left the command room.

*

──────

◆Goal

-Death of the Demon King

◆In case of failure

-You die and the world perishes.

◆Compensation

-secret

◆Time limit

-secret

──────

It’s always unlucky to see it.

The time limit and rewards are secret.

I focused on the top row.

The goal: the death of the Demon King.

In the end, I guess I should do it with my own hands.

There is no confidence.

I’m not even sure.

There is a possibility, perhaps.

That is, if everything reported in the lost journal is true and my reasoning is correct.

I’m not afraid.

I’m not scared of the possibility that I might die.

It was always like this.

The fights I’ve been through have always been bad, full of danger, and the chances of winning are only slim.

Still, we fought.

I did it not because I could, but because I had to.

In the end, he died in the end, but in other words, it means that he won all the battles he had experienced up to that point.

Neither victory nor defeat is guaranteed.

Just fulfill your unavoidable duty.

*

The scene was more messed up than it looked on screen.

South. Vivian is seen standing up from the wall pile.

She stumbled.

Next to him lies Sylvia, unconscious, with the back of her robe torn.

“Ian… . Please tell me I heard wrong. No… ?”

“It will be right.”

“Oh, no… . How can Ian, if I wait just a little bit… .”

“Please rest.”

Vivian seemed to have difficulty even standing.

The fatigue of the battle has not yet completely disappeared.

That’s natural.

After sweeping the entire demon world, he fought against the Reaper and even blocked the ensuing general offensive.

I was even injured and couldn’t even get proper rest.

The wound on my collarbone, where the ice flower had bloomed, has not yet completely healed.

Not only Vivian, but the other three would also be in a similar state.

“Ian… .”

“I won’t die that easily. You know.”

“Definitely… . You must live. Did you know… ?”

Vivian takes my hand with a trembling hand.

“If you wait a little while, I will recover quickly… .”

You won’t recover soon.

The battle that started last day barely ended this morning.

The flow of the entire body transmitted from the hand is also extremely precarious.

Still, I couldn’t point that out.

“I will keep this in mind.”

Vivian hugged me once and then carefully backed away.

It seemed like he finally realized that he couldn’t stop it.

I headed east and looked down into the pit.

It is so far that the depth cannot be measured.

At the center stands a man in gray armor.

The man in gray armor quietly followed my movements with his eyes.

Is it worth waiting this long?

“Ian… .”

Lucia greeted me with a frown.

This side was lying down and couldn’t move.

Was it crushed by a pile of castle walls?

Kylie must have taken it aside and sat down, panting.

“I can’t do it… . I-I’m a little more… .”

“It’s okay. Instead, this and this.”

I took out Lucia’s necklace and two rings.

Mugu’s Tomb.

Additionally, there is an adaptive ring that transforms the armor to fit the wearer’s body and a ring that allows the armor to be put on and removed without touching it.

“I’ll borrow it.”

“Ian. Are you serious… ?”

Kylie asked with a trembling voice.

“Then would I have come to steal?”

“… Me, me, even now. No, I’ll go first and save time… .”

“You look like you have a hard time standing up.”

“… … .”

“Luciana, please take care.”

Kylie couldn’t answer any more.

Lucia didn’t catch me either.

He just fell face down and bit his teeth, shaking his clenched fist as if he was angry.

“I barely got here… .”

I crouched down in front of her and held her shaking fist.

“You helped me come this far, didn’t I? That’s all.”

“Ian… .”

Lucia held my hand tightly.

“You must never die… .”

Instead of answering, he nodded.

Let go of your hand and walk north.

“Helena.”

“Ian… . It’s not possible. You can’t go on like this… . Please wait… .”

Helena prayed earnestly.

It’s a face that looks like it’s going to cry at any moment.

“Am I still the god of Helena?”

“… yes. Still is, and always will be, forever.”

“Then.”

I extended a hand to Helena.

“Please pray.”

“… … .”

Helena’s face turned blue, her lips trembled, and she closed them tightly as if trying to stop crying.

She ended up grabbing my hand with both hands and pressing it to her forehead.

As always, like praying.

I watched that face with its eyebrows furrowed.

“… It’s too long.”

“It’s difficult to send it to you… .”

“I will be back.”

“… … .”

Helena opened her eyes and deeply kissed the back of my hand.

“You promised… . God never breaks a mantra… .”

“My shoulders are heavy.”

As if she didn’t want to fall, Helena’s fingertips clung to each other just barely, and then barely came off.

“Ian… .”

Aria approached.

“… Are you really trying to fight that thing? With the devil… .”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. really… .”

“Please protect Helena and rescue others as soon as she recovers. And Helena, you’d better make the sun go down now. Focus on your own recovery.”

Helena just nodded without saying a word.

Head west.

“Master.”

“Kathi.”

“No.”

“Something’s not working.”

“We cannot send it to you. You can’t go. please please… . I will never send it to you… . You can’t go on like this… .”

Kati cried and pleaded.

I can’t avoid the explosion, my body is a mess after being crushed by the fortress, and it’s pitiful to see him trying to stop me somehow.

“Please, master… . Just think again, no, I’d rather go. Please, don’t do this to me, please… .”

He said he would stop it, but he lost strength and ended up hugging it.

Kati’s body trembles.

It’s not just because I got hurt.

I’m shaking because I’m scared.

“Please… .”

“Why are you crying?”

I hugged Katy and stroked her head with one hand.

“For me, without my master… What should I do… . Rather, I would rather… .”

“Yumma.”

I lightly pinched Kati’s cheek.

“Aren’t you so sure that I’m going to die?”

“… … .”

“I’m not going to die. I’m going to kill you.”

“But… .”

“Don’t worry. If it’s really dangerous, you know.”

He showed me the ring of subordination in front of me.

“You must use it if it is dangerous. As soon as I recover a little, I will go help you right away… . You must never, ever die… .”

“I promise.”

As always, I know that most promises are not kept.

Still, I promise that for Katy’s sake.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

“You have to win.”

“… That’s how it should be.”

“And… .”

Kati hugged my neck and kissed me deeply.

The blood and dirt mixed together, giving it a fishy and bitter taste.

I can’t push it away.

I know very well what my death means to Katy.

I awkwardly accepted Kathi, unable to actively accept it or push it away.

With heavy breathing, something slippery slipped past my lips.

A bleak landscape and a man in faded armor waiting for me.

An embarrassing sound and touch that did not suit this situation filled my mouth.

Kati clung to me tenaciously, entangling her tongue as if she were going to devour me or be swallowed by me.

After a long time, Kati looked up and her face was covered in tears.

“… I love you.”

I answered, wiping away the tears.

“… I know.”

This is the best answer I can give right now.

I don’t know what will happen after that.

You will find out when you kill that demon lord and come up.

Kati’s warmth slowly faded away.

“That, Ian.”

Beatrice spoke.

… It’s a bit embarrassing to think that I was watching.

“I will help you. a little bit… wait. I’ll recover somehow soon.”

She hesitated and spoke as if she was breathing hard.

“I haven’t even properly apologized to you yet… . I know that’s selfish. Also, an apology should not be one-sided. still… . Ai, I’m so stupid I don’t know what to say, so please don’t die. It’s not because of me, there are already too many reasons why you shouldn’t die.”

Beatrice’s gaze was directed at Katy, who was shaking her head and shedding tears.

I said, stroking the back of Kati’s head once.

“I’m surprised because it’s the most correct thing I’ve heard from you.”

“… Sorry.”

“It is done. Keep a close eye on this guy so he doesn’t jump in. … I’ll go, Katy.”

“Yes. master… .”

The greeting is over.

The gray man still waited for me.

An inverted dome-shaped pit.

I step into a place darker than the dawn sky just before sunrise.

Feet slide along a gentle slope.

-Chijijiji… .

The cross-section of the solid rocky ground was clean, so it glided smoothly and slowly without getting caught in anything.

Slowly, the small gray man gets closer.

To be considered a demon king, he does not have a ferocious appearance or intimidating horns.

The faded armor has many scratches.

Likewise, the shabby cloak gives him a rather shabby appearance.

The pitching is also ordinary.

He just appears to be a knight, mercenary, and warrior who has been around for countless years.

He stares at me silently.

-Chi profit… .

The sliding stopped.

The center of the pit is somewhat flat.

Jerk, jerk.

take heavy steps

Can you win or not?

From now on, erase the possibility of winning or losing from your mind.

Only the possibility of winning should be calculated.

It’s not enough to just focus on that.

My life has always been like that.

After taking off the cloak, he summons the armor he usually wears from the Tomb of Mugu and puts it on.

Faded gray armor flies out and fills the body.

Feet, legs, hands, arms, shoulders, torso.

Finally, to the head.

He turns his shabby cloak over his armor and wraps it inside out.

A narrow gap in vision obscured by a helmet.

A man wearing faded gray armor summoned a sword.

There is no need to talk to the person you want to kill.

It’s not the time for conversation, and there’s no intention of engaging in conversation.

So, just take up arms.

I also summoned a sword from Mugu’s tomb.

Like a mirror, like a shadow.

We rushed at each other.