1041. It’s so easy.
“to?”
Kreis turned around. There, a man being supported by Saxon was looking at him.
He was a man resembling a bear shapeshifter, a member of the Order of the Mad Knights, and someone with pale yellow eyes.
His cheeks were gaunt from exhaustion, and bandages were tightly wrapped around one arm, his face, his chest, and his stomach. He also felt as though his body had shrunk slightly compared to usual.
Of course, all Kreis could see right now was who his opponent was.
“Audin!”
Kreis shouted in surprise.
“I guess I can’t do it a second time. I have no talent for acting.”
Theresa, looking pale, muttered. It was actually quite convincing for something like that. She had deliberately played a prank. Since she wasn’t the type to play such tricks, everyone fell for it completely.
“That crazy bear bastard, yeah, let’s just die here.”
Rem’s irritation soared because he failed to see through the prank Audin had pulled in an instant. He also felt a sense of relief that the bear had survived, which made him feel spiteful as well.
Ragnar silently drew Sunrise beside him. Whether he was tired or not, it was the same: he could not forgive the bastard who had done such a thing.
“If you’re not really going to kill him, leave him alone.”
Enkrid stopped the two. No matter how he looked at it, Audin was not in a state to fight.
There was no need to look closely. It was obvious. He had pushed himself to the point of shrinking in size. Had he lost some muscle? Just how much had he pushed himself?
“Wildcat, what are you?”
When Rem spoke in disbelief, the wild cat Saxon replied.
We met on the way.
It was a question asking why I helped with the prank, but there was no way I would get a decent answer even if I asked any further.
“To say ‘stop joking’—so you wanted to dismiss it as a joke. Brother Barbarian, yes, I accept your sentiment.”
“……Weren’t you originally a noble? Judging by the fact that I feel like splitting your head open for no reason, I think I deserve to be punished.”
Rem spat on his palm and gripped the axe. He looked exactly like an executioner specializing in slicing people’s throats.
Well, his appearance was so free-spirited and rough that it was hard to believe he actually worked in executions, though.
“Did you ask who did that, Lazy Brother? So you did it to get revenge.”
Ragnar did not release his grip on the Sunrise. Even if the captain blocked him, it seemed like there would be a gap to land a blow.
He didn’t need to kill him; he just needed to beat him unconscious.
Rem and Ragnar’s eyes grew fierce. Audin threw out a playful remark, then straightened up while looking at Encred. Saxen, who had been supporting him, stepped aside.
Brother Captain.
Audin called out to Enkrid. Clouds briefly obscured the midday sun. Shades appeared here and there amidst the warm sunlight. Yet, the warmth and brilliance of the sun remained unchanged.
It was a clear summer afternoon. With no rain, the sky was blue, and the fluffy clouds were a beautiful sight.
If nothing unusual happened, it was the perfect day to lie down in the breezy shade and take a nap.
Enkrid also looked at Audin. Who would have to fight to leave this sturdy friend in such a mess?
Fighting with more than half your life on the line.
You’d have to fight and win with the help of the goddess of fortune to make it like this.
The evil world has diminished a little.
Encred’s eyebrows twitched. He didn’t understand what was being said at once.
I also helped a little with your dream, brother.
Audin continued speaking.
Come to think of it, that was my dream too.
It was true.
“What have you done?”
Encred asked, and Theresa answered instead.
I killed the devil.
The term “demon” does not refer only to those in the Demon Realm.
Various threats still exist on the continent; a recent example is the One-Killer that threatened the City of Fairies, which was a branch of the demons. The Balrog is no exception.
Now then, who is the demon Teresa just mentioned?
The prince of the mirror, the promiser of abundance and devotee of gold, has gone to the Lord.
It means that one of the axes forming the demon mirror has been broken.
“……What are you crazy people talking about? When I asked for the location of the Promiser of Abundance, I meant to observe, avoid danger, and assess the forces under that bastard’s command, not to capture and kill him. So what did you do? What if you had died doing that? You two are insane.”
When flustered, Crys became as talkative as he is now. He couldn’t laugh just because he had killed a demon, for he was the one who had sent those two there.
As always, even though he had received the best possible outcome, he first thought of the worst possible outcome that hadn’t even happened.
“Kreis, Audin won. Catch your breath.”
Encred’s single remark pulled Krys out of the abyss of despair. Krys caught his breath.
“Phew, that’s true.”
“Think about the future. The past is not your responsibility, and the choice was made by Audin, not you.”
Because that was his usual way of thinking, Encred’s words were uninhibited and clear.
May I ask what happened?
Audin’s answer was as clear as Enkrid’s just moments ago.
“I sent him to the Lord with love and mercy. Although he went denying the entire situation instead of laughing, he will ultimately repent of his sins.”
If he doesn’t do that, the god of war that Audin believes in will beat him to death.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes. I’m glad I could be of help, and I’m also happy to have fulfilled a childhood dream.”
“Is that so? Still, you’ll tell me the details, right?”
“I’ll tell you later. I need to rest now.”
With those words, Audin said nothing more. He fainted while standing, smiling.
Theresa also slumped to the floor. Although she had made it this far in one go, she had nearly fainted several times along the way.
Still, she had returned to the Border Guard, the place she now called home, and her captain had returned as well.
“Lawford, Pell, support him. Call Anne.”
Everyone moved at Encred’s words, but Saxen spoke to Encred with calm, settled eyes.
“Tell me if you need the heads of other devils.”
“Gah, if that bear did it, it wouldn’t have been that hard. How many were left? I’ll just go get two.”
Rem jumped in, not wanting to be outdone.
I will cut three.
Ragnar finished it off.
To some, the name “demon” is an object of fear and terror, a song of despair and pessimism.
But not to them. Now, it is merely an object whose head must be snatched off for someone.
In reality, it could hardly be an easy task. Yet, there was not a shred of fear in their words.
“Demon? What is that? Can’t we just kill it and bring it back?”
That was the impression they seemed to be making.
“Do I not have a share?”
A fairy with eyes that light up at the sight of a devil came down from the tree.
“My Enki, if you wish, I will bring you as much as you want.”
Encreed looked up at the sky. With the clear, high sky, clouds, and even sunshine, it was a truly beautiful day.
Are you leaving me out? I’m going to do it too.
Feldo is speaking, too.
“You must not forget me. My duty now is to be with you.”
Temares quietly adds a remark.
“Wouldn’t Sinar dislike it if you said that? When I was young, I once dreamed of what it would be like to go to the Demon Realm and fight. I guess that was my dream, Captain.”
After Roford spoke to Temares and revealed his will to the captain, he looked at Dunbakel, who was just about to be the last one. Dunbakel looked at him while lying on the floor scratching his belly.
“What?”
“……That bastard’s gotten his act together again while I was away.”
Rem muttered.
He didn’t like the fact that everyone was killing demons, and he didn’t like that the bear killed one, but he didn’t like the beastman lying there the most.
You’re going to get hit.
Dunbakel, who had been ostracized for tormenting Ragnar, let out a cry of joy.
“Ah, why the hell are you being such a jerk!”
She ran off, and Rem placed his hand on the throwing axe stuck in his right hip.
“If you run, wings will grow on your back. I will personally attach the axe wings.”
“You’re a real crazy barbarian.”
Instead of fleeing, Dunbakel placed his hand on the grip of his scimitar.
Watching this, Enkrid smirked. With that, he stood on the opposite side of Rem, with Dunbakel at the center.
“We’ve seen Ragnar, and seeing Audin like that, let’s see the skills of the remaining people. You go first, Dunbakel.”
“……Wait, even the captain is acting like this?”
She finished the transformation, her hair standing on end in joy.
Do you think I’d just take it?
And then they got hit. They got beaten heartily. Since it wasn’t raining, dust was flying everywhere. It was only natural, considering they were being guarded and attacked by both Rem and Encred. Watching this, Roford and Pell thought of other things to do besides training, but neither of them could leave their posts.
If they were going to get beaten anyway, it was better to get it early.
“next.”
Encred spoke after half-killing Dunbakel. Next was Fel. He had decided the order to abruptly close the distance and swing his sword before Roford could say a word.
That was typical of Fel. Roford waited. He actually saw the first two getting hit as an opportunity. He observed, formulated tactics, and looked for a gap or chance.
He didn’t know if it would be effective, but that was the best he could come up with.
* * *
Audin had a dream while unconscious.
“Audin, do you know what is more dangerous and terrifying than monsters and beasts?”
It was a story my father told me when I was young.
It is a demonic realm and a devil.
It was a time when I had honed my martial arts and established myself as a battle priest. I had not yet become an Inquisitor, nor had I witnessed the darkness of the Order. It was back
then that I had harbored such thoughts. It was courage inflated during my youthful recklessness, so it could be called sheer bravado.
I will kill the devil.
Audin was superior to anyone. Body, mind, skill, and divinity—everything.
It meant he had every right to be so reckless. At that moment, Audin set a goal.
Protect the child with this fist.
I said I would kill the devil.
As is often the case in dreams, the past came to mind, and then suddenly the time and place changed. The surroundings changed and then stopped. It was when I killed the Promiser of Abundance.
“Declaring it a sanctuary?”
It is a skill that one must go beyond being an apostle of the God of War and receive the love of God to even attempt.
The Promiser of Abundance denied the existence of Audin.
“Where do you get off pulling such a ridiculous stunt?”
He fought using rage as his weapon. Dark brown tree trunks rose from all directions and snatched Audin away, and pitch-black lightning struck from the sky.
Black rain also fell from the dreary gray sky. It was rain that fell only where the devil stood.
“You blocked the sky? Then how will you stop the flowing water?”
From where the Promiser of Abundance stood, the collected rainwater became a stream and flowed to the place Audin called a sanctuary.
The black, murky filth reached Audin’s sanctuary and seeped into the ground. Where he stood, a fresh scent of earth suddenly wafted from the spot, and the ground softened, replacing the foul smell emanating from the black water.
“Just accept it without blocking it. It’s so easy, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about, you crazy bastard? A mere bastard of a bystander!”
He let out a furious scream and poured out his full power.
Thousands of gray spears flew in, and he suddenly approached and swung his fists. Audin held his ground, blocking the attacks with faith in his white Holy Armor.
Teresa did not stop singing, shielding the children inside the sanctuary.
Finally, Audin’s love shattered his jaw and his mercy burst his head, but a new head grew, like a tree branching out from beneath the neck.
“I do not die. I am the very symbol of immortality!”
“No, that is not it. You stupid demon bastard. You are not immortal; you simply hid your core beneath you a moment ago. Now that I look at it, you have discarded your body and left only your core.”
“……Yes, that is correct. I am the parent of all the Holy Land Cults and will become their god. A physical body is unnecessary.”
“That is not it. You must have given up because having a body makes you age, and you cannot prevent that aging process.”
The devil did not acknowledge those words. He fought for two days without sleeping. The devil fought only with Audin until the very end. He did not target Teresa or take the child hostage.
I heard later that
“What difference does killing a few of those kids make? Above all, I will not die. Did you think your divine infiltration destroyed my core? No, I will ascend to the heavens you so desperately desire, curse the onlookers, and return!”
And he died. Audin poured out all of his white divinity to infiltrate and shatter his core.
To be precise, he imbued the divinity into every place within his reach, starting from the ground the demon had stepped upon. It would have been impossible without the divinity that ceaselessly surged forth by declaring it a sanctuary.
Usuke.
This was Usuke that Audin found.
“Lord, here comes another one.”
Audin ended the fight with a prayer.
The scene changed again. This time, a child was seen leaning against a small tree. He was a child with large eyes and hair tinged with blue. Had he grown up well, he would have become a handsome young man comparable to Enkrid or Crys. His name was Fildin, a child who died after having his divinity exploited in the name of a saint. He was the child Audin failed to protect.
“I protected it with that fist. Remember?”
Whom did he protect? The subject is missing.
The demon is the Legion’s enemy, but was it a fight for the Holy Emperor? Was it a fight for the Captain? Or was it for himself?
No. Having seen it, he could have avoided it and waited for next time, but Audin fought. He fought for the children destined to be sacrificed because he saw them.
Although their numbers were not even ten, he did not turn away from them.
Waking from his sleep, Audin opened his eyes and saw the large man who had guarded his side all night. As Audin woke, the man—no, the child—also lifted his head. His half-closed eyes widened.
“Oh, he’s awake. You’re awake, sir!”
The giant child let out a loud shout.
