The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody - Volume 6.5 - Chapter 1

The Demon Lord’s Rescue Log: Courage Turned Cowardice

Never Regret Evil If It Means Justice for Someone Else

Aside from the tiniest of countries, virtually all territories had areas that were geographically remote…and it wasn’t unusual to find something almost haunting about them…

One such area was Evergrace, located in the south of the Laville Empire of Sorcery.

Ominous mist hung over Evergrace on any given day, and it crawled with monsters for reasons unknown. Any normal person knew to stay far away from this area, though it made the perfect spot for adventurers to grind, and many stepped up to the challenge.

All of this meant there was a long list of casualties. Even now, there was a group about to become another name on the list.

“Daaaaaammit!”

“Why is this happening to us…?!”

“I don’t have much more magic left!”

Enough experience and confidence made adventurers a little too comfortable assuming the role of the hunter. They never imagined that they would become the hunted. That was exactly why adventurers often got their asses handed to them…causing some to lose everything.

“N-no…! I—I don’t want to die here…! I’ve got a wife and daughter…!”

An army of drooling monsters loomed over them. The situation was dire. Only one fate awaited them, even if they tried to resist.

We’re all going to die. They accepted their destiny, giving up hope…

“Someone seems to be in trouble.”

A pleasant voice cut through the dense mist. A moment later—something detonated.

The monsters cornering the adventurers went up in flames, burning under a beam of light.

It was instantaneous. In seconds, the horde of beasts had become little more than charred remains strewn along the ground. With no idea what just happened, the adventurers were visibly shaken.

“That was close,” called out a melodious voice. A boy and girl stepped out from the mist.

They were stunning. The elven girl was beautiful, typical for her species…but the boy? He must have been human, but something about him was so bewitching, captivating all who chanced upon him.

As the adventurers gaped at him…the boy at the center of their gazes spoke to them.

“We’re on our way to Nephilim Village. Can we get there by traveling down this road?”

One of the adventurers timidly nodded before asking, “Wh-who in the world are you?”

“No one worth mentioning,” said the boy with a smile, turning to leave after bowing elegantly. The girl strolled by his side with light footsteps.

As they watched the two depart, one of the adventurers quietly broke the silence.

“Could those be…the children of our great heroes…?!”

“I-it’s gotta be them.”

“Ard and Ireena, if I remember correctly.”

“Rumor has it they saved some country and defeated the Frenzied King of Dragons…”

Did they just stumble across some people larger than life? They couldn’t mask their excitement, though one among them was relatively composed.

“For argument’s sake, let’s just say they are the children of our heroes. Why were they out here in the middle of nowhere? Aren’t they students? Y’know, at prep school?”

“…According to rumor, they’re part of an organization called the Queen’s Shadow.”

The Queen’s Shadow.

The alias of a covert group under the direct command of the queen. It was basically an urban legend. It wasn’t widely known, and even those familiar with the name didn’t think it actually existed. However…

“If students from a fancy school are coming out to the boonies for somethin’ besides extracurricular activities… We can narrow it down to one possibility.”

“That they’re normal students who secretly work for the Queen’s Shadow?”

“I dunno what business they’ve got in that village, but…”

“I doubt we’ll ever run into ’em again.”

Those two were destined to go down in history. The adventurers continued to stare at Ard and Ireena until they disappeared into the fog.

Nephilim Village. An ancient, remote hamlet concealed in mist since days of yore.

There was a story about this land that its inhabitants called home…and it involved a repulsive long-standing tradition.

Beneath the mansion owned by the Orlands, the family that led the village, the ritual was playing out once again on this day.

“N-nghh…!”

“Ha-ha. You look like you’re in so much pain. Nice. Nice… Why don’t I gouge out that shoulder of yours next?”

A woman’s and a man’s voices bounced off the stone walls of a space lit in candlelight.

The man’s voice was coarse and crude, slightly shrill to match his hideous face, and he seemed drunk off the task at hand.

It was torture. The man was brutalizing the unresisting girl before him.

“Keh-keh-keh-keh-keh…! This is a very important part of the ceremony, my sister. You do realize your big brother doesn’t find any satisfaction in hurting you, right?”

His words were in stark opposition to his vulgar behavior. The son of the village leader, Vespa, had madness in his eyes. The whip in his hand spared no quarter. Each time he lashed the helpless girl—his little sister, Carmilla—he gave a disgusting chuckle.

“You should be honored, Carmilla. I’m so jealous of you.”

Blood dripped down her pale skin. Carmilla continued to accept the blows. Even as pliers and other instruments mangled her skin, her eyes housed no fear or despair. In fact, there was a sense of pride reflected in them.

Vespa kept tearing off her skin for a while longer before stopping.

“Let’s see. What next?” He turned to the side, examining the torture devices hanging on the cellar wall, and smirked. “Okay. This one.”

It was a long needle. He took it off the wall and then approached Carmilla, grabbing her slender arm.

“This is really going to hurt, but hang in there, Carmilla.”

“Yes…Brother…”

Vespa gripped the needle, aiming it for one of her fingernails…

“Some detestable hobby you have.”

A third party’s voice entered the room.

“Huh? Who the hell are—?” Vespa began to turn toward the direction of the voice…

“Whaaaaat do you think you’re dooooing?!”

Heavy footsteps followed the enraged scream. A moment later, a foot crunched into Vespa’s face, and his fleshy body went flying a few merels forward.

Then the person delivering the kick—Ireena—sprinted over to the wounded girl.

“Are you okay?! Y-you must be in so much pain! Don’t worry! Ard can heal these—”

“…Please…don’t…way…”

“Huh?” Ireena tilted her head.

Carmilla kept her gaze down for a few more seconds before looking up at Ireena.

“Please don’t get in our way…!” cried out the girl, radiating annoyance. “We’re…carrying out the will of the late Demon Lord…! We’ve been handed the duty…by an angel of sorts to…protect this world from those Evil Gods…! So I beg you not to interfere…!”

Ireena was bewildered by Carmilla’s hostility, but Ard remained calm.

“Didn’t we go over this earlier? This is a tradition passed down through the generations…and it’s considered a great honor to participate in it.”

Ard launched into the details of the village.

“Nephilim Village is where the Demon Lord sealed away an Evil God. Its inhabitants perform sacrificial ceremonies: Someone from the village elder’s family—from the Orland family—is chosen to replenish the magic in the seal keeping the Evil God at bay. It’s believed that, otherwise, the Evil God will raise to prominence once again…” Ard finished his explanation and sighed. “I understand the gist of it. So what purpose does this torture serve?”

The question was directed at Vespa.

Ireena’s kick must have really done a number on him, because he stayed on the ground, rubbing his face and moaning. He didn’t intend on answering.

Carmilla spoke for him in a weak voice. “Our father taught us that I would make a better sacrifice if I experienced pain each day…”

“Yeah? Well, well, well… Must be part of the spell. I guess that nearly proves it.”

No one could hear Ard whispering under his breath.

Carmilla couldn’t have cared less about anything he had to say. After all, she had but her one goal.

“We’re protecting the world. That’s our duty. Please don’t interfere.”

“Sh-she’s right!” Vespa shouted, echoing her after he finally stopped groaning. “S-scram!”

“Whazzat?!”

Vespa quickly shrunk in on himself when Ireena power-flexed.

“Eek! Wh-what do you want?! Wh-what are you doing here?! M-my dad won’t excuse this type of behavior!” shouted Vespa fearfully.

Ard seemed serene. “I’m Ard Meteor. And this is Ireena Olhyde, the daughter of a baron. I’m an average student attending school in the royal capital…but on occasion, the queen hoists the most unreasonable demands on us. That’s why we’re here today.”

“A-an order from the queen…?! N-no one told me about this!”

“Maybe not, but your father should know. He’s agreed to let us reside in the village until the ceremony is over and act as we please.”

“Nnnnngh…! B-but…Dad never said you could interrupt us, I bet! I mean, this is part of the ceremony!”

“…Well, that’s true.” Ard frowned.

“Then get out! You’re in our way! And take the madwoman with you—”

“Who are you calling a madwoman?!”

A foot landed square on Vespa’s face. Blood sprayed from his nose.

Ireena looked ready to come at him again as he toppled to the ground for a second time, but Ard grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Leave him be, Ireena. Like he said, we’re in the way. Let’s go.”

“B-but…!” Ireena looked at Carmilla and hesitated.

The other girl refused to say what Ireena was hoping to hear. In fact, Carmilla glared at Ireena, who bowed her head in dejection and silently left the room with Ard.

“Hah. Hah. W-well, let’s pick up where we left off.”

“Yes…Brother…”

In the cellar unfolded a scene that would make anyone want to avert their eyes—

The hallway of the underground cellar was dark. On the other side of the door, they could hear the glee in the voice of a foul man and a young girl in distress.

“…Ngh! I can’t stand it…!” Ireena shouted, closing her fingers to make a tight fist and gritting her teeth. Tears pooled in her doe eyes, anger visible. It was difficult for someone with such a savior complex and a heart so pure to accept this tradition.

“…That’s why I suggested it would be best if you didn’t accompany me.”

She didn’t respond. After a while, she looked at him imploringly.

“Isn’t there anything we can do…?”

Ireena wanted him to fix the situation—to save that poor girl.

Ard responded with a smile. “Ireena. That’s why I’m here.”

The session—torture borne by the sacrificial lamb—came to an end.

“Good work today. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.” Her half brother—born from a different mother—smirked and left the cellar.

As if to replace him, her female attendants filed into the room. Each held a small box containing bandages, potions, and other healing items.

“We will tend to you, Lady Carmilla.”

“Okay… Thank you for doing this every day…”

They slathered salves on her wounds before bandaging them. These moments were accompanied by shooting pain, but Carmilla was resigned to her duty as the sacrifice.

After the maids treated her, they escorted her back to her room. She might be tortured on the daily, but that didn’t mean she was of low status. In fact, she was one of the biggest names in the village and treated with great respect.

Carmilla was set up in a larger room than the village leader—Gelmann Orland—himself, and it was decorated expensively. Ever since she’d become the sacrifice, she was waited on hand and foot, whether she liked it or not. She believed this was her family’s way of expressing love; Carmilla knew her father and brother adored her.

So this didn’t torment her. Even the physical pain that almost made her pass out every day was something that made her proud.

“……Phew.” She collapsed on the bed and moaned into the perfect softness. “Three more days.”

Three more days until the ceremony. Then Carmilla would fulfill her role. She would protect this world. To that end, she was willing to offer up her life.

She wasn’t going to die. In fact, her life would finally start.

“Soon… I’ll be able to see you, Mother…” Like a daydreaming maiden, Carmilla blushed.

“You’ll see your mother?”

A voice came out of nowhere. When she turned to face its source! Carmilla saw Ard Meteor. The slender man stood before her with grace, which enhanced his beauty and gave him an aristocratic air.

At the end of the day, Carmilla was just an innocent young girl. A handsome face would be her undoing. Hence why she didn’t call for help, even with an unfamiliar man in her room.

“…You show up in the most unexpected places. Like a phantom. Or a god.”

Ard Meteor didn’t respond to that. Instead, he repeated himself. “What do you mean, you’ll be able to see your mother?”

She knew this wasn’t a topic to be broached with a boy she hardly knew, but Ard Meteor was just so mysterious, and…she found herself desperately wanting to answer his question.

Is this love?

She had a feeling it was something else.

…At any rate, Carmilla responded, “My mother…was also a sacrifice…”

“I know. Gelmann’s third wife, if I remember. She was offered soon after you were born.”

“That’s right… I didn’t get to spend much time with her…but I love her.”

If she had stopped talking then, this might have been a moving tale, but her next words would make anyone spiral into madness.

“That’s why…I want to hurry things along and sacrifice myself… If I do, I can see Mother again… Sacrifices live happily forever inside the seal… I’m so excited… I wonder what we’ll talk about…and what we’ll do…”

This was what her father told her. Becoming the sacrifice was more than just an honor; she’d be granted eternal bliss with her mother.

“…I see. I understand perfectly now.”

So why did Ard Meteor look somehow melancholy? Carmilla didn’t have a clue.

I mean, look at me. I’m so blessed.

Three days passed. A mist once again cloaked Nephilim Village. It was morning, but the overcast sky blocked out the sun, and the dense fog made things look dim enough to dampen anyone’s mood… The eyes of the villagers, however, were frenzied. They lined up on either side of the main road cutting through the village and arranged themselves on a flower-lined path.

Walking down the procession was the sacrifice, Carmilla. Her luxurious robe, heavy ornamentation, and natural grace brought out her beauty. She was like a bride on her wedding day.

Carmilla blushed slightly and progressed toward the plaza with a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes. Vespa watched from the sidelines, thinking to himself.

Ah… What a shame. If this wasn’t the final ceremony, Carmilla would have been my bride.

To fulfill a certain objective, incest had been committed by the Orlands for generations. Carmilla’s mother was their father’s younger sister.

Oh… If only my sister were all mine…! Impure emotions were the source of his yearning for Carmilla, but he would never be able to put his desires first.

After all, Vespa lived a miserable existence, just another family member brainwashed by tradition. The sacrifice was the priority here. And now…he had to perform a critical duty. Vespa glanced beside him…toward Ard Meteor and Ireena Litz de Olhyde. The young man observed Carmilla approach the plaza, but…the girl seemed rather down.

That’s strange. I was sure she’d cause a scene.

Vespa wasn’t completely convinced, but he pushed the thought from his mind out of ignorance. At any rate, he had to focus on the task at hand. Everything else would sort itself out.

Carmilla arrived at the plaza—a large open space. A special-class circle was drawn, lines stretched over the ground and glowing a poisonous purple.

Next to her was her father, Gelmann—a revolting middle-aged man who closely resembled his son. He glanced at Vespa. This was their signal.

“All right! Pass out the cursed liquor!” Vespa ordered a servant standing at attention nearby.

Cursed liquor was a magic item that temporarily boosted the magic of its drinker. The ceremony would be complete when each member of the village transferred magic into the circle, which was why all participants were made to drink it.

The magic item was passed among the villagers, and…

“Y-you have some, too.”

Next in line were Ireena and Ard.

“Y-you can observe, but i-if you’re going to be here, you have to drink.”

In actuality, there was no such obligation, but it would pose problems if they didn’t. Vespa was being quite insistent.

“Hmm. Very well.” Ard stared at the glass of liquor in his hands and narrowed his eyes.

Don’t tell me…this guy noticed…?! Vespa broke out in a sweat. What kind of beating would his father give him if he couldn’t get Ard to drink this? He didn’t even want to think about it.

“This does seem strong. I should be fine, but it won’t be good for Ireena’s body. I hope you’ll allow that I’m the only one to consume it.”

“Yeah, I’m a bit of a lightweight.”

Oh. That’s the reason? Vespa relaxed. His job was to get Ard to drink. He didn’t care about Ireena.

Vespa offered an amiable smile. “I-it’s no problem. W-well, bottoms up.”

He urged Ard—and without the slightest bit of hesitation, Ard Meteor downed the cursed liquor.

A moment later…

“…!” Ard crumpled to the ground.

Vespa broke into a huge grin. “Hee-hee! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! I got you good! Serves you right, idiot!”

With volcanic emotion, Vespa whipped out a small dagger from his breast pocket—and mercilessly speared Ard Meteor in the chest.

As the ceremony proceeded, Carmilla started to sense something heavy hanging in the air. Did something happen behind her? Curious, she turned her head to look, and—

“My daughter. Focus on the ceremony before you. What could be more important?”

Just as Carmilla was about to glance behind her, the gravity of her father’s voice stung her heart like a whip.

He was right. What could possibly be more important? From this point forward, she would become a cornerstone of peace and achieve eternal happiness.

She would join her beloved mother.

“Open. Open. With the thunderous applause of the mortal body. Open, Gate.”

Her father chanted the spell. His expression held a mad frenzy. He had a sense of duty to protect the world. Carmilla accepted and questioned it no further.

…As the chanting concluded, the special-class circle on the ground grew noticeably brighter. An instant later, something slowly emerged from within it.

A dusky boulder of mass. Indescribably disgusting, like all evil in the world had been rolled into one. It eventually transformed into a skull that stared at Carmilla.

“Eek…!” Fear seized her heart.

Gelmann held his daughter’s frail shoulders tight. “Go on, Carmilla. Approach it. If you do…all your dreams will come true.”

She gasped. “Mother…!”

Carmilla balled her hands into fists and fought off her terror, stepping forward with confidence and heading straight toward the disturbing skull.

Now my dream will come true, she told herself with conviction.

…Perhaps the thing sensed the sincerity of her wish. Grah-grah, poured from its mouth like laughter…

As Carmilla sensed the threatening air…semiclear white smoke began to curl up from the surface of the black skull. Not just one or two strands; misty streams jetted out of it as if trying to escape.

Finally…the white mist shifted into humanoid chests and heads.

“Help meeeeeeeeeeeee.”

“It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!”

“I can’t take it anymore!”

Set free from the fog was an unbearable onslaught of agony, all desperate to escape the skull, but they could stretch no farther away than their upper bodies. This sight alone was shocking, but…then Carmilla spotted someone among the ghastly figures.

“Mother…?!” Carmilla cried out involuntary.

The woman had the same golden hair as Carmilla, and there was a nostalgic air about her. Her beauty, however, was masked by agony and sorrow, expression horribly tragic.

“What is this…?!” Her eyes went wide, unable to process the situation.

Her father called out behind her. “My daughter. I ask for your forgiveness,” Gelmann said in a heartfelt, apologetic tone. “I’ve never liked lying. But to fulfill my duty, I must bend my morals. And so I kept stretching the truth.”

“You lied to me…?!”

“That’s correct, Carmilla. I lied to you twice. The first was when I told you that we seal away the Evil God for the good of humanity. We’re not lower life-forms like humans. We’re demons…and we’ve been steadily weakening the seal of our master.”

Carmilla froze in shock, but her father paid no mind to her state.

“Among the demons, the Orlands are of high noble ranking. After all, our family is the offspring of our supreme master. That’s why we have married within the bloodline for generations—to prevent our blood from diluting.” Her father’s face was as ugly as a frog, and he gave a disgusting smile. “Legend in our family states that we will save our master. Souls are required to break the seal. That’s where we come in. Our family—with our master’s blood coursing through our bodies—provides ideal human sacrifices.”

Gelmann spoke with pride, but his shoulders slumped after a beat, and his smile darkened. “But I digress. I’m supposed to apologize… Let me confess my second lie. You see, Carmilla, I said becoming a sacrifice would bring you happiness…but that isn’t true.”

“…What?” Her mind went blank.

Carmilla’s father cared little for her feelings. “When I said you’ll meet your mother by becoming a sacrifice, I was not lying. However…”

Her father was ready to reveal the truth.

“Anything beyond that is false.”

All her convictions, all that kept her heart going, all her hopes…were dashed instantly.

“Those offered to our master are not granted eternal happiness… They experience a perpetual hell.”

…She had no words. Carmilla felt like she had slipped out of her body. She couldn’t form a single thought, not even about the sort of expression that she was making.

“Ah, Carmilla… I’m sorry, Carmilla… I’ve lied to my family once again. I’ve brought sorrow to those I love. Ah, but…”

As Gelmann hung his head, he began to tremble. His face shot up toward the sky.

“It feels so incrediblllle! I hate lying—but there’s just nothing better than the look of those on the brink of despair! This is why I can never stop doing thiiiiiiis!”

But in that very next instant…a tentacle shot out from the skull’s eye socket and twisted around her leg.

“Ah!”

It dragged her along the ground. The tentacle was slowly shrinking back inside…and the skull’s open mouth was waiting at the end to devour her. Almost ironically, the horrendous sight that was about to swallow her brought Carmilla back to her senses.

“N-nooooo!” Carmilla thrashed her upper body in desperation, half wild with fear.

Her nails clawed at the ground, and she frantically struggled to escape the thing. But it was useless. The tentacle dragged her delicate body toward its mouth.

She was helpless. No one could stop it. No one could save her. Though she understood this…Carmilla couldn’t stop herself from screaming.

“Someone help me…!”

As if mocking her screams, the skull let out a grah-grah. Carmilla’s body approached its gaping maw—

“You have no idea how to treat a lady.”

A placid voice cut through the air, and the very next instant…the black skull in front of her was washed out by a bright flash of light and heat.

There was an explosion, and a torrent of energy enveloped Carmilla. However, oddly enough, the scorching flames caused no harm—only the tentacle wrapped around her slender leg was burned away.

“Aaaah!” Carmilla fell back onto the ground.

Ow! What happened? Just as she thought this…

“E-eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!”

A piglike squeal rang out. Hurried footsteps followed.

It was her older brother, Vespa. His face twisted into an ugly mask of fear as he raced over to his father and clung to him, but…

“You idiot! You failed!”

“Gah?!”

Gelmann knocked his son to the ground. Tears welled in Vespa’s eyes as he rubbed his stinging cheek.

“I—I did everything I was supposed to! I—I thought the murder was successful! B-but the dead are aliiiiiive!” Vespa shouted in despair, jerking his finger at someone.

In front of him was Ard Meteor, smiling with a bright-red stain on his chest.

“I did exactly what you said, Dad! I made him drink the poisoned liquor! I stabbed him in the heart! B-but…he’s still alive!”

His teeth clattering together, Vespa was the personification of terror.

Ard chuckled. “No, no, I died. However…” His crimson eyes blazed. “You can’t destroy this body by killing me once.”

His lips curled up like a half-moon. It was bone-chilling. Anyone would freeze like a frog under the sharp gaze of a snake.

Ard Meteor continued eloquently, “The fact is, I sensed this might be the case when the queen briefed me. I thought there was a possibility that you might be good people who were being tricked. That was why I allowed you to do as you pleased to ascertain whether you were good or evil. All that to say…”

Ard Meteor cut himself off there, and his dreadful smile intensified.

“I can now punish you without holding back.”

Another blast detonated. The villagers lining the path to the plaza were assaulted by light, then sent flying in every direction.

“The people of the village are all demons—but fear not. I do not take the lives of the insignificant, except…”

After all the demons were wiped out, Ard Meteor pointed at Gelmann and Vespa in declaration.

“Deceiving an innocent girl, harming her, and sending her into the depths of despair is a heavy crime. One that I will duly punish.”

The boy’s crimson eyes pierced through the two men. Vespa couldn’t hold back his screams. As Gelmann’s forehead broke out in a sweat, he clenched his fists and said…

“This isn’t over yet…! As long as…! As long as I offer up the sacrifice!”

He looked at Carmilla in a way only a man at the end of his rope could. He began to race toward her, but…

“As if! You think I’ll let you?!” Flames shot out from the sidelines.

“Ngh?!” Gelmann dodged them, nearly avoiding disaster. However, in that moment of weakness…

“We’re gonna crush your plan!”

It was Ireena Litz de Olhyde. Silver hair fluttering behind her, the elven girl rushed forward and embraced Carmilla, sprinting off with the delicate girl in her arms before settling next to Ard.

“Checkmate. Cease resisting. It’s futile,” Ard Meteor stated.

Gelmann gritted his teeth. The man was on the verge of total failure, yet his expression said he refused to accept it. He screamed at Ard with bloodshot eyes.

“Y-you’re dirty, pathetic—a lower life-form! How dare you call our master an Evil God, look down upon them, and shamelessly strut upon this earth?! Even you once thrived under the rule of our master!”

“…Thrived? Tell me you’re joking. In the glory days of the Evil Gods, humanity was enslaved by demons, and we were no more than toys to them. How many tears did humans shed? How much suffering did we endure?”

“That…was humanity in its finest hour! Living as our slaves and dying like dirty dishrags! That’s what humanity is meant to be! It’s this world’s destiny!!”

“…Dear me. Demons are always the same. Millennia may pass, and you never change,” Ard murmured with a sigh.

Gelmann didn’t hear him. He was completely off in his own world, and a tinge of madness slowly began to creep into his expression.

“Our supreme masters reign at the pinnacle, and demons support them from below! We use humanity for the advancement of civilization! If it’s to create an ideal world, these lives won’t be wasted!” Gelmann approached Vespa and grabbed him by the nape of the neck. “Our work remains unfinished! The Orlands wish to revive our master! And I will fulfill that duty!”

Something ominous flashed in Gelmann’s eyes, which darted from side to side, as he ran, dragging Vespa behind him.

“D-Dad?! Wh-what are you doing?!”

“Offering ourselves to our master!”

“What?!”

“We haven’t prepared like Carmilla! Our souls aren’t good enough on our own! But it’s better than nothing!”

“H-hold on! N-no! I don’t want to be a sacrifiiiice!”

Gelmann pressed forward, forcing Vespa—kicking and screaming—to join him.

“I won’t allow that.” Ard wasn’t about to let this happen. He cast a magic attack without chanting. A circle manifested before him, crackling with purple lightning.

Just as the attack was about to strike Gelmann from behind…black tentacles once again shot out of the skull’s eye socket and fully wrapped around Gelmann and Vespa. The lightning was obstructed and scattered in all directions after failing to fulfill its purpose.

“For our master! For the second coooooming!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The skull swallowed up the screaming pair.

“…Now we have more problems.” Ard gave a weary sigh.

Next to him, Ireena still clung on to Carmilla… The trio looked upon the ghastly scene. The misty white tendrils of sacrificed souls vanished, sucked back into the skull. Voices cried out in agony. The figure of Carmilla’s mother was among them…

Before Carmilla could spare a thought for her mother’s tragedy—the skull began to generate flesh. As if turning back time, the skull started to revert to a human form…though it stopped when red skin stretched over its face, eyeballs rolling inside its sockets.

“AH-GAH-GAH-GAH. GAH-GEG-GAH, OH-GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Now a looming face with visible muscles and sinew, the horrific monster let out a roar.

It was here that Carmilla broke out in a sweat.

“So the Evil God has revived in an incomplete form, huh.” Ard Meteor looked at Ireena and Carmilla, seemingly fine. “Please step back as far as possible.”

“Okay! Go get ’em, Ard!” Ireena beamed at him.

He turned his back on them, striding forward—straight toward the monstrosity.

“GAH-GAH-GAH-GAH! GAH! GAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The beast let out a scream. It seemed to hold a grudge against Ard.

“…You used to pride yourself on your beauty. Look at you now. Hmph, pathetic. I guess it’s fitting, in a way, considering your true nature.”

Ard spoke to the monster…but neither Ireena nor Carmilla could hear him.

“As long as I’m around, I won’t let you do as you please,” Ard said. “I’ll protect this world…in the Champion’s stead.”

Verbal shots fired. The battle began—

—It didn’t take long, though it seemed to last an eternity to the spectators.

Ard Meteor was the one in control of this death match.

The incomplete form of the resurrected Evil God—in all its repulsive glory—was engulfed by Ard’s barrage of magic. If not a trace was left behind…Carmilla’s heart would have been at ease. A white mass of souls, however, appeared where the Evil God once stood…then broke into individual spirits ascending into the heavens.

They were the poor souls sacrificed and trapped within the Evil God. Each one had a look of sweet release upon their face…

Carmilla spotted someone. “Mother!”

She squirmed out of Ireena’s arms and dropped to the ground before dashing ahead. The girl reached out for her mother’s soul, now rising into the sky.

“Wait! Please…don’t leave me!”

Her mother responded to Carmilla’s anguished cry. She had a look of sorrow coloring her face—even though all she wanted was to joyfully reunite with her daughter and hold her in her arms. But she knew it was impossible. She struggled to reach for her daughter’s outstretched hand, but she couldn’t defy the laws of earth that pulled her away.

The dead were sent to the other side. That was unnegotiable.

“Carmilla…!” All she could do was call out her daughter’s name before vanishing.

“Ah…” In utter despair, Carmilla fell back as the truth hit her. She looked up at the sky as if in search of her mother’s shadow. That was the only thing she could do.

“…Carmilla.”

A boy called out next to her. Ard Meteor.

She faced him and spoke partly out of impulse. “…Kill me.”

He said nothing.

Was he shocked? Or did his expression signify something else?

It didn’t matter. Nothing did anymore.

Carmilla spilled her heart to him. “Please, kill me. I don’t want to live.”

“…I can’t do that.”

Carmilla’s lips trembled, and she glared at him. “Why? Why do you think I should keep living? After all that I’ve lost? What’s there to live for? …I believed I was born as a sacrifice to protect the world. But this is my reality. I’m not even human… So what’s the reason for someone like me to keep living in this world?!”

It was the first time she’d ever lost control of her emotions. Anger, misery, and sorrow streamed out of her—but Ard Meteor refused to comply with her wish.

“…Carmilla. It’s unfortunate that you couldn’t speak with your mother. I bet she would tell you to live if you could. She would have said she wants you to lead a happy life.”

“How…?! How would you know?!” Tears pooled in Carmilla’s eyes as she lashed out in anger. Existing in this world for a second longer felt unbearable. If this boy wouldn’t do her the favor, maybe she could bite off her own tongue.

Just as this thought crossed her mind…

“Okay, Carmilla. Let’s confirm what your mother thinks.”

“…What?” She couldn’t understand what he was saying. It only added to her confused state.

In that next instant…a large magic circle unfurled beneath her feet. It wasn’t just Carmilla—golden circles opened out under Ard and Ireena, too.

For just a moment, the circles glowed noticeably brighter, then—

“Since you couldn’t grab hold of her hand, we’ll visit a place where you still can.”

As soon as Carmilla heard Ard, everything around her changed. Her surroundings shifted from a destroyed village to a mysterious space—a dark-red background like blood stretched on forever. White souls soared through the disquieting atmosphere.

“I-is this…?!”

“The other side. Well, just a section of it…but your mother is here… I would have liked to resurrect her, but I’m afraid that’s impossible. You’ll be able to talk to her, though.”

Ard raised his left hand. Another magic circle opened up in front of his palm…and a few seconds later, a single white soul came forward. Carmilla was immediately paralyzed with fear.

“Mother…?!” Carmilla asked on instinct.

As if to respond…the spirit took on the form of her mother.

“Carmilla…!”

“M-Mother!”

She flew toward her mother’s arms, but souls had no physical bodies, so they were unable to touch each other…and Carmilla’s petite frame passed right through her. It felt like her heart was getting gorged out from the pain—

“Mother…! I can’t take it anymore…! I want to be with you…! I want to die…!”

Carmilla’s eyes overflowed with tears, and her mother looked pained for a moment before adopting a stern expression.

“I won’t allow it. If you kill yourself, I’ll disown you.”

“What…?!” Carmilla felt like she’d been pushed off a cliff.

As she stood there in mute astonishment, her mother continued, face severe. “I understand how you feel… I felt the same way. That’s exactly why…I want you to find true happiness. I want you to be happy and take pride in your life. After all…”

Her mother’s face softened into a smile. “You’re my beloved daughter.”

Carmilla couldn’t stop herself from crying. Tears fell of their own accord.

“…I’m afraid we’re out of time,” Ard announced, and her mother’s smile disappeared.

They were back in the ruined village.

“…Well, Carmilla? What will you do? If you choose death against your mother’s wishes, I vow that I will deliver you to the other side with a painless end.”

His tone was fluid and cold. If she chose death here, he would assist her with no qualms.

…The truth was, she didn’t know what to do. Her voice seemed to shake.

“Living in this world…is a non-option… I’m a demon… I’ll never be able to live a full life… Besides, I’ll have to live it…all alone.”

“No. You won’t be by yourself,” Ard argued.

Next to him, Ireena puffed out her chest and chimed in, “That’s right! You won’t be alone! You’ll have us!” She offered an innocent smile lacking any uncertainty, selfishness, or hostility.

“But I’m…a demon…!”

“Who cares? Y’know, I… I’m a descendent of the Evil Gods! In a way, I’m just like you!”

It must have taken a great deal of courage for Ireena to make her confession. Revealing her secret was proof that she would do everything in her power to save Carmilla.

Ard Meteor felt the same way.

“Carmilla, you asked what point there was in living… Let’s search for that answer. Together.”

He held out his hand. Carmilla’s lips trembled as she stared at it. Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind.

“I want you to find true happiness. I want you to be happy and take pride in your life. After all… You’re my beloved daughter.”

Carmilla closed her eyes. Mother, I…

It would probably be easier to choose death now, but she’d never be able to face her mother if she did.

All people were destined to die and arrive in the afterlife. Carmilla didn’t know if she’d be able to meet her mother there. But if they did reunite, she wanted to tell her something with her head held high.

She wanted to tell her mother that she’d had a happy life.

And that might just save her mother, too—liberate the woman who had been tricked into living and dying as a sacrifice.

Carmilla had one choice to make…

“…I’ll do my best for the time being.”

She took the hand held out to her. Housed in her eyes were sorrow and resolve.

Maybe that was why…the corners of Ard Meteor’s mouth turned upward.

It was a smile brimming with as much love and compassion as a holy mother—