CHAPTER 68
The Ex-Demon Lord and the Bright Side of Humanity, Part II
Under normal circumstances, it was no easy feat to condemn and execute royalty or a national leader. This was particularly the case if a given country was an absolute monarchy. Even in the democratic or socialist nations that protected the rights of the people, it was hard to actually set up a trial.
Back to the case of an absolute monarchy. The ruler only saw the chopping block upon a successful revolution… In a democracy, the trial could take forever as they collected evidence and prosecuted royalty—and they might not even find them guilty in an impeachment trial.
At any rate, it took time and energy to eliminate someone with social significance from society.
However…a papal inquisition largely bypassed all the usual channels. As leader of the United Creed, His Eminence’s words were law, and it was his duty to safeguard the world order in accordance to doctrine.
Since Lizer Bellphoenix was essentially the ruler of all humanity, it was understood that good and evil were his to decide. If he held an inquisition, the people would accept any outcome. It didn’t matter if the one on trial was a slave or the ruler of a nation. If His Eminence sentenced someone to capital punishment, he would follow through with no room for argument. That was the unbreakable command he had over his world.
And so…Valdr, the prime minister of Laville, was currently experiencing the worst form of agony.
Early morning. There wasn’t a cloud in the pale-blue sky. The sun filtered down on the earth. The temperature was neither hot nor cold. It was the perfect morning.
Under the sky, the public execution of Rosa, Queen of Laville, was being carried out.
Accompanied by Holy Knights, she trekked down the main avenue, slowly. She had taken on the appearance of a sinner—stripped of any attire befitting a ruler, donning the tatters of a prisoner. The golden hair that went down to her waist seemed dirty without any trace of its silken beauty.
At the end of the road, citizens awaited her procession…and cursed her out.
“Demonic minion!”
“Burn in hell!”
“How could you shelter enemies of the Great Demon Lord?! You should be ashamed!”
They didn’t just stop with seething glares and verbal abuse. Some of them pelted her with stones, laughing scornfully.
Even as blood trickled from the sharp stones that sliced her arms, legs, and head, Rosa stood proudly and continued to look forward. She faced the final stage set in the central plaza with those burning eyes.
It was a large trapezoidal platform with long stairs leading up to it. It had just hosted the peace treaty ceremony the day before.
“Hee-hee. Constructed to welcome peace, now serving as a place of judgment. How amusing.” Rosa laughed away the collective jeers as she ascended the stairs.
Prime Minister Valdr watched on with fear.
On the surface, he was a defender of societal justice who despised the criminal queen. On the inside…he was a loyal servant who wanted to cry out.
Why? Why is this happening to her…?!
They had forced her into tattered rags. The people were trying to stone her.
She was starting to bruise and bleed as she approached.
Valdr wanted to bite off his own tongue. Either that or…tear all the perpetrators of violence limb from limb. He was in a living hell.
Even so…his cruel assignment was just getting started.
The queen stepped on her place of execution. This was where the pope would read off sentencing at this point and denounce the offender.
However, the pope was nowhere to be seen. Only an archbishop stood in his place.
The prime minister didn’t know why. He didn’t want to find out. However, he did know this was a true nightmare…for it was Valdr himself who would have to take on the pope’s duties throughout this process.
Rosa in her current position meant Valdr was the ruler of their nation. As such, he had to protect the country—even if it meant blaming Rosa for everything, forcing her to bear the people’s hatred, and meting out punishment.
It was the only way they could keep Laville safe.
“Come, Sir Valdr. Right this way.”
The archbishop handed him a single sheepskin parchment. Valdr stood in front of Rosa as he held the record of her crimes.
“…Do not falter. Proceed as thou must,” she whispered.
He bit his lip, and a moment later…Valdr took the parchment in both hands and held it aloft as he read.
“Hear ye, Rosa von Volg de Laville! You have betrayed the Demon Lord, despite claiming to follow his ways! Your sins are too appalling to say aloud! There is no suitable punishment left besides death! Once thy soul passes on, it shall fall into the bowels of the earth and suffer in the eternal torment of holy flames!”
He was starting to feel sick. He wanted to disparage this stupid letter and rip it to shreds.
Valdr did his best to control these violent urges, skin beading with sweat as he made Rosa kneel before him.
“…Don’t mess up. I hate pain,” Rosa said, presenting her neck with a smile.
“Prime Minister. Here is your instrument.”
A Holy Knight standing nearby held out a double-edged sword.
The death sentence of this inquisition would be carried out by this black sword. The lethal instrument was made in the image of the sword the Demon Lord once wielded. The Evil Gods and demons whose heads fell to its blade only experienced a lifetime of torture in hell. For believers of the United Creed, such punishment was to be avoided at all costs.
“Go on, Prime Minister. Bring the hammer of justice down upon the criminal.”
At the archbishop’s insistence, Valdr held the sword above his head as he took ragged breaths.
“Haaah…! Haaah…!”
Drenched with sweat under the clear-blue sky, he looked down at Rosa. His hands seemed to shake as he gripped the sword hilt.
“Ggh…! Ugh…!”
He grunted involuntarily. For Valdr, Rosa’s death marked the end of his own life.
Maybe that was why visions of the past flashed through his mind like a flood.
He had watched over her since she was a baby. He vividly remembered her ascension ceremony after the previous ruler had passed on. Her dignified demeanor was more than just a stand-in, and her wisdom was unrivaled. She was noble, fair, and beautiful in both heart and mind. He believed from the very bottom of his heart that no greater monarch had ever been born. He wasn’t lying to her when he expressed that in the dungeon.
Valdr’s true ruler was Rosa and no other.
…Could he slay her by his own hand?
“Ggh…! Nghhh…!”
He couldn’t do it. There was no way he could go through with this.
“…Prime Minister. Thou dost not want to commit treason, correct?”
Treason?
Treason?
Valdr let out a sharp breath.
Treason meant turning one’s back on their ruler. For Valdr, Rosa was the only one who fit that role. The pope couldn’t hope to come close to her authority over him.
“I…!”
Two emotions were at war within him.
Loyalty and love for his queen.
Loyalty and love for his country.
Because he felt them both from the heart, he writhed in mental anguish, unable to reach a decision.
I must slay her for the sake of the nation… I had an entire night to steel myself…!
Old Valdr, the good and faithful servant.
The man, so experienced in the ways of the world, started to weep like a child.
Someone…! Anyone…!
The tears dripped down his face, wetting the back of Rosa’s neck.
Help…! Someone…! Save her…!
When was the last time he had prayed? He had always been so certain that all hardships in this world could only be overcome through his own volition.
He prayed to the heavens like a helpless infant.
Anyone…! Help me. I’m begging you, please, he pleaded from the bottom of his heart.
There was a blast in the distance. Smoke billowed in the air.
This incident triggered mass panic.
“What was that?!”
“I-I’ll go check…!”
Up on the execution platform, the archbishop and Holy Knights were in a frenzy.
“Gah?! A-another explosion…?!”
“It’s the Demon Lord! The prisoner must have incurred his wrath!”
Below the platform, the public was expressing open terror. Meanwhile, there was a chain reaction of explosions, which were…getting closer.
“Sigh. Dear me. Is this what it’s come to?” Rosa sighed as she looked off into the distance. “What an egregious misstep. I had given clear instructions to leave me behind. They understand nothing.”
A stern condemnation, but her face looked somewhat pleased. Rosa was thinking about a particular pair…which was a thought that Prime Minister Valdr shared.
Then, the old retainer focused on one person in particular.
He despised this person. He could hardly stand to stomach the individual who was a poor match for someone of his master’s esteem. Valdr would not be swayed on this matter.
However…there was only one individual who could save them from this predicament.
Valdr went against his principles, hid his embarrassment, and called out a certain name imploringly.
“Ard…Meteor…!”
The Queen’s Shadow had researched one matter in particular for us while preparations for the execution were still underway.
The position of the Holy Knights.
They seemed to be concentrated in a spiral around the execution platform in the central plaza. The formation was an impregnable fortress. Not even a single ant could get through their configuration.
The girl had declared, “Stealth will not be enough.”
For her, there was only one option if we wished to save the queen: Sneak toward the platform, manage to slip through the knights, and rescue Rosa. From there, we’d escape through an underground pathway. If that method was impossible, she thought that meant we were completely screwed.
“So what will you do?” she’d asked just as Ireena and I were about to leave the house and advance.
My reply?
“Nothing at all. All we have to do is pick up Her Majesty in broad daylight.”
It was moments before Rosa’s head hit the ground…
Ireena and I were parading boldly down the main avenue.
Since all the citizens were gathered around the platform, the town looked practically deserted. It was just me, Ireena, and…
“Hmph…! Stop, you two!”
…the Holy Knights on patrol.
One of the units noticed our presence and barked out in warning.
“It’s them…!”
“You’re under arrest!”
“They just waltzed right in…! Are they out of their minds…?!”
The unit of Holy Knights whipped themselves into a frenzy. One called out to another who appeared to be the captain.
“Should we call for backup?!”
“…There’s no need. We can handle this,” he assured, unsheathing the sword at his side. Following his example, the others simultaneously drew theirs.
“I bet you’ve gone bad, because you have some nerve strolling on these streets with no magic,” the captain scoffed, charging forward, and the rest of the Holy Knights hit the ground running.
“Capture them dead or alive! Show no mercy!”
“For His Eminence!!”
“RAAAAAH!”
I watched the men barrel toward us. “I’m unable to use magic with this barrier in effect. It seems like an unconditional rule…but…”
My voice was flat as the corner of my mouth twitched.
“Demon Lord knows that rules are made to be broken.”
I thrust my right palm out toward my foes. They couldn’t have guessed what was coming for them.
“What the hell is that going to do?!”
“This.”
An instant later, a crimson geometric pattern flashed in front of my right palm.
It was…magic.
“What?!”
In front of the Holy Knights was the impossible.
“I believe I should blow you all away. Wind Slash.”
A violent gust whipped around me, knocking the knights away with a loud roar. I could see they were shell-shocked as they were blasted away on impact.
How’s this even possible?
He shouldn’t be able to use magic.
They couldn’t say that out loud, of course.
I broke out in a grin. “As I said before, rules are made to be broken. Maybe it’s better if I say—”
“Ard Meteor makes the laws of the universe!” Ireena interrupted.
I smiled at her. “Well then, should we clear the way?”
“Yes sir!” She nodded violently. I responded in kind.
We launched ourselves off the ground, sprinting through the main drag as fast as the wind. The other knight units took notice obviously, but…
“Gaaaaaaaaah?!”
“B-backup! We need backup!”
They met the same fate as the group we had just taken care of.
Every time we would advance, we would be discovered by the enemy, whom we would annihilate to make progress once again.
“How the hell can they use magic?!”
“Shit! Call the elite forces! They’ll be able to use—Gah?!”
We took down each unit one by one, and they all said the same thing: “How can they use magic?”
The trick was pretty simple.
If I couldn’t use magic, all I needed to do was set the right conditions to allow it to happen.
Anti-magic techniques basically targeted a fixed area and sealed any use of spells within that range…which was a form of magic in itself.
That being the case, I took to my skills to analyze and control the spell. That way, I could overwrite it with one that allowed only Ireena and me to use magic. I was up late the previous night finding out everything I needed to know.
…If it had been crafted by any old magic user, I would have been done in seconds, but this one looked to be the work of a Heavenly King.
Lizer’s anti-magic barrier was rooted in the city itself. The entire holy nation of Megatholium was under one big spell. I realized this when we took in the entire city before the big incident.
There was something calculated about the shape and position of the buildings: The entire town was laid out like a magic circle.
This must have been Lizer’s design. It must have come to him before he even founded this nation.
…The man was as wily as ever. Even so, it wasn’t like it couldn’t be cracked. I wasn’t worried about that…
In fact, my anxieties were directed elsewhere at the moment…
“Ha-ha! Come at us! We aren’t scared of no Holy Knights!”
Namely, the mental state of my dear friend, Ireena.
She sported a warlike smile as she scattered the enemy…which wasn’t like her at all.
Staying true to her beliefs while going easy on her enemy was the Ireena way. But right now, there wasn’t an ounce of mercy left in her heart.
“Take that! There’s more where that came from!”
She mercilessly debilitated her targets, unleashing a stream of magic. If she didn’t focus on the battle in front of us, I was certain her heart would break.
There was no doubt about it. Ireena was desperate. She had lost everything and was now giving into despair.
…But I couldn’t say anything to her. This was fine. We’d keep pushing forward and take out anyone in our way. Then…I’d sacrifice myself and save Ireena.
“Hah! Done already?! You guys are nothing!”
“…Don’t let down your guard. They’re quick to provide reinforcements. That is proof we are nearing our goal. From here on, our enemy will be fighting to the death.”
“No sweat! I’ll blast ’em all away!”
Ireena remained true to her word. She hammered the enemy with magic without regard for her physical heath. Her eyes began to flood with tears, and her pearly whites set into a snarl.
The platform was a stone’s throw away…
“They’re here! The elite troops! The elite troops are here!!”
“Nice!”
The knights surged with excitement.
“…Hmph. The elite forces, huh?” I was thinking of Lizer’s army from my past life.
Sure enough…the gang looked just like them.
“…?! What’s with these guys…?! They creep me out…!” Ireena said gruffly as a frown creased across her brow.
Our new opponents—these elite troops—were a cut above the rest.
First of all, they were equipped differently. Their armor was bulkier than the average Holy Knight, and the blades were golden. You could tell they were skilled with a single glance.
But more than anything…
“I saw those gleaming blue eyes and seals carved into their chests. I knew the elite force had been enhanced.”
The irises of the knights were washed in blue glitter. They didn’t seem human. A peculiar symbol glowed on their chests.
This had to be Lizer’s doing. If I had to name this unusual power, I’d call it Override Control.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!”
Charging forward, the knights held their large unsheathed swords high over their heads, ready to swing down.
Their target was Ireena—not that she was slow enough to let them touch her. She flung herself out of the way, blasting them with magic in return.
“Mega Flare!”
A raging ball crashed into the enemy. The fiery heat only got their armor, but that must have made it hell on their skin inside. Even with psychic strength, there was no way they could continue the battle.
…Or so one would think.
“Gaaaaaah!”
“—gh?!”
The solider didn’t lose his intent to continue this battle, plunging his blade with a piercing shriek.
“Wh-what is up with this loser…?!”
“He’s not the only one.”
I faced the other elite knights as they closed in and hit them with random attack spells. Some got fire. Others got wind blades. Others were struck by clods of earth. Any normal person would have been down for the count.
“Grah-gah! Ge-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!”
“Gah-rah! Gah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
They got back up and kept right on fighting.
…This was Lizer’s special power. The power of Override Control. When he cast Buff, it gave birth to an unusual phenomenon.
One of them…was insanity.
While in effect, it induced a mental breakdown, turning the target into a doll who could only do Lizer’s bidding and nothing else. That explained why the knights soldiered on, even when they were in critical condition. If ordered to fight until they won, they’d try to tear the enemy’s throat out even if they lost everything from the head down.
Lizer had used to lead those new-and-improved forces out on the battlefield…to take down the Gods by combining his own powers with strengths of other people.
“Oh dear. I guess we’re in a pickle.”
I was aware that these knights were superpowered. If we wanted to take them down…we couldn’t afford to hold back.
“…This is a lot sooner than I expected.”
I thought I had a little more time. I wanted more time. I wanted to stay Ireena’s friend for even a second longer.
But we were out of time.
“Rosa’s head will be severed if I dally here. It looks like this is it,” I mumbled to myself.
I flashed Ireena a look. Even though she appeared petrified of the enemy, she was still facing them with a brave face.
…I wished I could see her smile one last time, but I was out of options.
I knew I would have to unleash my full power. I would throw away my identity as Ard Meteor.
All roads lead to despair.
I began to chant for the ace up my sleeve, my original technique. This time, there would be no holding back. I’d bring out my full power.
I would let the world know of the second coming of the Demon Lord.
I had no other choice. I would save Ireena, who had nothing left…and I would offer myself in exchange. It was the only path I could take. It was the only route I should go down.
“…Good-bye, Ireena,” I said, offering quiet words of parting.
The chanting went unheard. I cast aside all doubt…
“RAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
Before I could resume, I heard a familiar voice boom from the heavens. A girl had launched herself in front of me. Her crimson hair whipped around as she alighted and swung down her large sword on the elite forces.
“Grah?!” One knight gave a small cry as his helmet split open and fell.
“Heh-heh! Not to worry! Just blunt force with the dull side of my blade!” the girl announced, flashing her canines.
“S-Sylphy…?!” Ireena stared at her in wonder.
“Oh, please. The dull side? Your blade is double-sided! There’s no dull side, making your statement implausible, Miss Sylphy,” someone admonished.
“Don’t sweat the details! Read the room!” Sylphy waved her sword.
Coming up behind her, another girl looked beat.
I knew who that was.
“Ginny…?” My eyes grew as round as Ireena’s.
…Impossible. There was no way they could be here. Even if they used the quickest form of transportation, it would take a few days to get to Megatholium. This whole ordeal would have been over by the time they arrived.
…Ginny must have read my mind.
“Lady Verda paid a visit and informed us of your situation,” she explained. “She lent us her teleportation machine to get here as fast as possible.”
“So we took her up on her offer and whizzed over here!”
…In that case, it wasn’t so strange that they got here in time.
So that solved the logistical question.
But why…? Why did they come running?
They must have known the truth about Ireena. Then why were they here?
…It seemed Ireena was struggling the hardest with this question.
“Wh-why? Why did you…?!”
“Hmm? Why? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I—I… I’m a descendent of the Evil Gods… Sylphy… W-wouldn’t that mean I’m your nemesis…?”
Why come to the rescue of your mortal enemy?
Ireena looked at her, terrified of hearing the answer. Sylphy cocked her head like she was out of her mind.
“So? What’s the correlation here? It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a descendent of the Evil Gods. I care about—”
Sylphy shouldered her sword.
“Gi-gi-gi-gi-gi! Gaaaaaaaaah!” The elite force lowered their guard, coming in from all sides.
“Hey! I’m talking here!”
“I’m right behind you, Miss Sylphy!”
Sylphy brandished her sword with marked annoyance. Ginny thrust her spear nimbly.
The redhead’s special weapon was Demise-Argis, the holy sword. Anti-magic effects didn’t work on this legendary weapon. Ginny’s spear was no different. Her leather armor and blade were sorcerer’s equipment from the ancient era—pieces that I’d loaned to her. The inherent power in their armaments ensured they were operable even in a space that sealed away magic. Basically, between the two of them, they were as strong as an entire army.
“Like I was saying!” Sylphy shouted. “I don’t care if you’re a descendant of Evil Gods! I care about how you make me feel—how at ease I feel by your side!”
She took down one or two more knights during her speech.
“And I’m so comfortable next to you! You make me feel like I belong! It’s the only place where I have a sense of security in the modern world! I’m gonna protect you! I’m not gonna let anyone lay a hand on you!” Sylphy shouted in a show of intense emotion.
Ireena’s lips trembled. “Sylphy…!” Her eyes began to run over with tears.
“Blast ooooff.”
“Detonaaate.”
Two soft voices overlapped and became one…and a storm ravaged the area, carrying off half of the elite forces.
It wasn’t the work of magic—but a power of the ancient past.
I knew who possessed these abilities.
“Lumi, Lami…!”
The former spirit twins looked down on us from the roof of a nearby building, flashing toothy grins and waving at me.
“Daddy!”
“We’ve come to the rescue!”
“I-I’m here, too…!” added another familiar voice.
Purple lightning flashed across the sky, weaving a spiderweb that struck the elite knights. This could be considered a form of magic…but it wasn’t woven from runes. Overriding the anti-magic barrier was…a spell crafted in the demon language.
“Carmilla…!”
The caster was a young demon with ashen skin and pure-white hair.
“Why are you here…?” I found myself asking.
Carmilla conjured more spells, barking back at me. “Isn’t it obvious…?! To save our friends…!”
Friends, huh. Even after you know the truth?
“Basically. Oh, but Miss Ireena, don’t get it twisted: I’m here to assist Ard. I could care less about you. It’s nothing against your Evil Gods heritage. I wouldn’t care if you had the worst secrets in the world—”
“Ginny…”
“Nothing would make me hate you more than I already do! I never liked you anyway! Hee-hee-hee.” She gave a wicked grin and made no effort to mask her true feelings.
Ireena’s entire body shook with rage. “Hmph! Well! That makes two of us!”
Contrary to her barbed words, she was wearing a heartfelt smile, tears wet on her cheeks.
“And I’ll have you know! I don’t need your help! Ard and I are the dream team! We never asked for your support!”
Mean words coated in love. Ginny giggled.
“Hee-hee. It seems you’re back to your usual self. That is the Miss Ireena I know. You’re no tragic heroine. You look much better screeching like a little monkey.”
“Who do you think you’re calling a monkey?!”
“Oh, cut it out. Go on. Aren’t you trying to save Her Majesty? Take special care not to get in Ard’s way,” Ginny warned.
“As if I need you to tell me that! You donkey!”
Ireena grabbed my hand and yanked me forward upon concluding their usual catfight. I raced ahead as she pulled me along.
“Go get ’em!”
“Well, if Ard is with her, I doubt they’ll run into any issues.”
“See you later, Daddy!”
“We’ll take care of things here!”
“I…can be helpful…too…!”
Warmth spread in my chest as I listened to the voices behind me.
I realized I had stopped mid-chant and was no longer trying to activate my trump card.
“Hey, Ard.” As she gripped my hand, Ireena smiled softly at me.
“If I’m being honest, I didn’t believe in anyone. I was sure they would all reject me… I guess I’m stupid,” she admitted, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t lose anything…! I’m so mad at myself for doubting them…!”
Her expression was clear and bright—as if washing away her sorrow from the previous night. No trace of the violent facade from the fight lingered on her face. Now, she seemed brimming with hope, vitality, and courage.
“I thought they were all…”
Ireena’s words burned through me.
Ah. I see.
“Gaaaaah!”
My thoughts were interrupted by a ferocious roar. It was dripping with an intent to murder that made our skin crawl.
I grabbed Ireena by her delicate waist and launched ourselves to the side. Seconds later, a pillar of ice pierced the spot we’d just been standing on.
Apparently, the anti-magic seal had been lifted. When I looked in the direction of the attack, I found several elite knights. I frowned at the furious beasts before us.
“…It seems things may get tricky from here on out.”
These forces already had unusual endurance and strength. If magic was thrown into the mix…you might say they made the world’s best foot soldiers.
But even though we were up against that…Ireena roared back at them.
“Hah! These guys are nothing!”
Where was her despair from earlier? The only emotion in her face was pure courage.
“Bring it on! There’s no way I’ll lose…to the likes of you!”
I could feel some type of aura coming off every inch of Ireena’s body. It was like her feelings had been converted into energy.
“Haaaaaaaah!”
“Graaaaaaar!”
The herd of special forces came at us with a mighty roar. The battle was about to begin—
“Don’t just stand there.”
A single beast person stood before us in the shadows. She placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her side.
“Hah!”
She unsheathed her sword with a sharp cry. Her movements were so fluid, a sight to be seen. In under a second, her blade had come down more than a thousand times. I saw light flashing, and each of the knights’ armor was split in two.
“…Relax, I used the dull side of my sword.”
She really did…unlike a certain idiot. The blue light faded from the enemy’s eyes as they hit the ground.
There was only one woman who could pull off this amazing feat…
“L-Lady Olivia…!” Ireena gasped.
That’s right. It was my big sister, Olivia vel Vine herself. She sighed and put away her sword before turning toward us.
“…Hmph. Looks like I was right.” Olivia glared at me, knitting her brows. “You got a stupid idea stuck in your head, planning to go through with your senseless plan… I can’t even stand looking at you right now, Ard Meteor.”
Her eyes seemed to read my every emotion… She must have come because she understood everything…and knew she could stop her stupid little brother from running wild.
“I bet you were thinking of sacrificing yourself to save your friend, huh? Hmph. Every time you screw up, you keep begging for more. You’ve always been a slow learner.” Olivia shrugged. “And who’s going to be rescued by your desperate act of martyrdom, huh? I mean, who even needs saving? Hell, if anything…the only one who needs saving is you, Ard Meteor.”
I imagined Ireena was confused, seeing as she was standing there mute for a while now. Who could blame her? Olivia wasn’t talking to her close friend. Olivia…was basically scolding her annoying little brother.
“I imagine Lizer tricked his people. I bet they do his bidding. Ugh, that damn idiot. He’s too smart for his own good. He can’t let loose. Did he forget his old friend told him life was easier to live as carefree as Sylphy…?”
Lydia had told him that a long time ago.
She continued. “The world works in simple ways. Simpler than you’d think. I mean, look around you. Everyone serves as proof.”
There was something profound in her statement.
“Target sighted!”
“W-wait…! Isn’t that Lady Olivia…?!”
“Has she arrived to help us…?!”
The fresh supply of knights pressed forward in droves. They were all perplexed by Olivia’s presence.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m only here to lead my stupid students. I don’t give a crap about you guys.”
Her bold declaration really threw them for a loop.
“If you want to arrest them, go for it. However—I can’t say everyone is gonna be on board.” Olivia heaved out another sigh.
An unforeseen group of intruders appeared.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“We must protect Ireeeeeeena!”
“Show ’em what we got! Those long hours of training weren’t for nothing! Ireena Defense Force, attaaaaaaack!”
I saw all the boys in our class.
“Siiiiir Ard!”
“We’re here on behalf of Captain Ginny…to open the waaaaaaay!”
“Your harem is on the line here!”
Then I witnessed a group of all the girls in our class.
“Take this! Lightning Shot!”
Among them was…a blond girl launching attack magic—our classmate and the daughter of a duke, Veronica.
“Heh-heh! Booyah! First kill!” Veronica pumped her fist when it hit one of the knights.
That signaled the beginning of the real battle.
“Lead the way, Veronicaaaaa!”
“The Holy Knights are going doooown!”
“Marry me, Sir Aaaaard!”
A ferocious exchange of magic commenced. The knights let out a war cry that traveled down the main avenue, which had turned into a battlefield.
“You fools! Don’t you know what you’re doing?!”
“Siding with a descendant of the Evil Gods even though you are followers of the United Creed! Blasphemy!”
“We won’t show mercy just because you’re kids!”
The students weren’t the least bit daunted, proceeding to throw it right back at the knights.
“Shut it, assholes!”
“The United Creed, jerk wads? We’re zealots who worship Ireena, our real-life angel!”
“You expect us to give a damn about some Great Demon Lord we’ve never even seen or met?!”
“Isn’t life all about looking at hot girls?”
“I was saved by her presence! Ireena forever! Ireena! You’re the best!”
…Ireena and I were creeped out by the deep bellows from some of the guys.
“Hee-hee…!” Ireena finally let out a boisterous laugh as she watched them go all out for her. “Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Lady Olivia was right! No one needed any saving! I’m so happy with my life!”
Ireena’s whole face seemed to glow as she beamed at us.
“Whoa! Ireena is smiling!”
“Sir Ard! Please show us yours!”
“We don’t deserve it yet! That’s why he still looks so surly!”
“Ah, but even seeing his unimpressed face…is kind of addictive…!”
As they pushed back on the knights, our classmates seemed to let loose their strangest fantasies.
…Now that I surveyed the battlefield, I discovered our classmates weren’t the only ones fighting. There were students from other classes, and I was surprised to see even our nemesis class from the school festival joining in.
Whoa. Why did they show up?
“Ard Meteoooor! How are you feeling, asshole?! How does it feel to be saved by the underdogs?”
“We won’t lose to the likes of you!”
“Don’t get cocky just ’cause you got lucky once!”
They were really getting to me.
These people were my former enemies, haters, and people who should have been disillusioned by me when they found out the truth.
They were now all fighting to help me.
“Quit slacking and get a load of this! Giga Flare!”
An instant later, a fiery spire rose in the middle of the knights’ forces. The boy who took out more than half their numbers in a single attack looked over at me.
“Well, it’s not the same as the real deal…but cut me some slack,” he said, scratching his head awkwardly.
“E-Elrado?!” Ireena said, snapping her eyes open.
Elrado. The husky boy was among a large group of students.
“Even you…? Why?”
“Ah, how do I say this? I guess I owe you one? I was shitty toward you when we first met. I apologized to Ard at the school festival, right? So uh…I’m real sorry about before, Ireena.”
“What? Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m already over it.”
This was Ireena’s first time seeing his transformation, so it was only natural she’d be thrown off her game. Even I was the same way at the school festival.
…Elrado had no shortage of bombshells, it seemed.
“Yeah, uh, so. How do I put this? Well. I’ve been through it… And I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Ard… Not that I’m in love with you. Got that? It’s just…I was maaaaybe hoping we could be friends, since we’re so similar.”
Elrado’s eyes darted around as he broke into a cold sweat. “Forget it! Anyway! Now that you’ve got someone like me here, there isn’t anything to worry about! I’m outta here! Back to the battle!”
He forcefully cut off the conversation and jumped right back into the maelstrom.
“I-I’m kinda blown away right now. I think that might make it into the top three plot twists in my entire life,” Ireena said.
“…Seriously.”
I realized I had made a mistake. When I beat Elrado in the duel, I’d thought I could never be friends with that guy.
At the time, Elrado had discovered my power…and that obliterated his psyche.
He’d looked at me like…he was confronting the unknown, like he was cowering in front of an awful monster. I was convinced any chance of friendship with Elrado was long gone.
Well, I guess I’d decided that for us.
I had projected my own opinions on him—because humanity feared the unknown and refused to take us in. I’d thought everyone would push me away when they discovered the real me.
But I guess…I was wrong. Even if it left him shell-shocked to unveil my true identity…it seemed people could come around after healing their wounds…and accept what was different.
“Hmph. Looks like you finally get it.”
“L-Lady Olivia…”
She came out of nowhere and peered at me with her arms crossed. “People are ugly. Sometimes, that’s all we can see. But…that’s not the sum of who they are. You understand that now, right?”
“…Yes.”
I had been mistaken, fixating on the wrong path. How could I make the right choice when my vision was so narrow?
Maybe now…that I could see the right route…with the help of everyone else.
“Be responsibly stupid. Like Sylphy…and Lydia. Be dumb and believe in people, Ard Meteor. Those in this world will never betray you.”
I nodded very, very, very hard.
“If you get it, then hurry up and go. Get out there and do what you need to do.”
I obeyed my big sister and raced forward with Ireena.
“…Who would want to reunite with the real you after you only revealed yourself out of desperation?”
I chose not to hear the miffed voice and instead sprinted down the main road with gratitude toward my big sister.
Ireena and I arrived at the central plaza.
“Eek?!”
“It’s a pawn of the demons!”
“What are the knights doing?! H-hurry up and kill the monster!”
I couldn’t have cared less about the citizens’ jeers now. Neither did Ireena. In a sense, we had both become different people. We knew the dark side of humanity. We were more than familiar with its repulsiveness and selfishness.
However…that didn’t define them.
“Let’s go, Ireena.”
“Right! Hang on, Rosie!”
Bring on the taunts. I accepted their hatred, rushing forward with honest hearts.
Straight toward that long stretch of stairs.
We scattered the enemy.
“Your Majesty. We’ve come for you.”
“You don’t have to worry, Rosie! You’re safe now that we’re here!”
We had…arrived at our destination.
“Sigh. Goodness. I guess my wishes have not been upheld. My act has been all for naught… Well, I suppose ’tis for the better. This is apparent as I now look upon thy countenance.”
On her knees, Rosa smiled at us, looking pleased, even though she had just barely escaped execution.
“Ard Meteor! Ireena Litz de Olhyde! You are the most treacherous of traitors in the history of our nation! I, Prime Minister Valdr, shall bring the hammer of justice down upon you!” The veteran vassal shouted, glaring at us with bloodshot eyes.
…He couldn’t fool me. It was obviously all an act.
“Raaaaaah!” He rushed forward, black sword in hand.
It was just an act to protect the nation. And naturally…I was going to play along.
“It’s laughable to think you can exterminate evil with your sense of justice.”
“I will make your blood turn to rust on my swooord!”
He had the right spirit, but to be honest, his swordplay needed work.
His downward swing slogged through the air. I dodged it with ease and stepped forward.
Then I punched Valdr in the gut.
“Gweh?! How regrettable…! Archbishop… P-please, I leave the rest to you…” He continued his theatrics and fell to the ground.
However, he whispered in my ear on his way down. “I leave Her Majesty to you…!”
His voice was empty of any deceit. I was silent in crying out Leave it to me.
“N-ngh…! R-rotten traitors!”
A man in the prime of his life, the archbishop began chanting. I had no reason to sit there and wait for him to finish.
“Lightning Shot.”
“PGWAH?!”
My electric attack jolted the upper half of his body, and his eyes rolled back. He had fainted on the spot. There was no one left to stop us.
“Looks like this case is closed! Okay, Rosie, let’s head on home! With everyone!”
“Indeed… Hey, Valdr. Thou art awake, right? Hey. I’m not going to carry thee. Hey. Hey. Wake up.” The queen prodded his ribs with her foot.
Valdr seemed to be enjoying it somehow.
“Hmph. At any rate, it is as Ireena has said—”
Case closed.
…As if it would be so easy.
Nesting in my heart space is white darkness.
Someone started to raise their voice without warning.
Born, only to be shunned.
Live, only to be nothing.
Judging that this world lacks meaning.
Never to doubt my convictions.
That austere, baritone voice could only be his. And he…was casting a spell that only he could use.
But now…the white darkness has been dispelled.
And my heart burns bright.
Ireena, Rosa, and I all looked around in search of the enemy. But upon failing to find him…
I am a shield.
I am a fortress.
I am a cornerstone.
I am the protector of all light that has value.
I put considerable distance between myself and the others…
Yes.
That is my identity.
“—gh!! Up there!”
My head snapped up toward the heavens where I saw him, coming toward us with a heart brimming with fierce conviction.
A blank space who perished at his post—Cloverfield.
—Lizer Bellphoenix was on his way.
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