1089. How can it still be like this?
“you.”
Rem speaks. The dead demon’s head had turned to black ash, and the same was true of the three daggers Saxon had plunged into it.
The ash quickly vanished upon meeting the rainwater.
The demon was dead, leaving almost no trace behind; essentially, only the killer and those who witnessed it remained.
“You’ve worked hard, Captain. In the end, the three of us—Ester, myself, and you—joined forces to capture the second demon.”
No matter what Rem said, Saxen spoke nonchalantly. He spoke in a gentle tone and lightly brushed his hand away with a clack.
Then, he stood beside the captain. His positioning was clever.
He stood side-by-side with Encred, who was at the very front. Esther stood immediately behind him, followed by Rem and Ragnar behind them, and finally Sinar and Dunbakel at the very back.
It was as if this was the ranking that had influenced this battle.
That bastard.
The corners of Rem’s eyebrows rose even higher. That was simply unforgivable.
Hadn’t all the secret arts and spells prepared just moments ago to kill the demon become useless?
Saxen reacted to Rem’s words, which were filled with rage. When he turned around, Saxen was grinning broadly. Encred felt as though he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
Had he ever known Saxen could smile like this?
“Ah, right. Good job taking care of the subordinates, Rem.”
He said it with such a smiling face. It wasn’t a barbarian, but his name was Rem. His tone was as if he were addressing a subordinate. He called him by his name precisely to give off that impression.
“If I kill that, does that make me a swordsman who killed an assassin who killed a demon?”
“Was Rem the only one angry?” Ragnar, who had been watching, spoke in a deeply serious tone.
Encred considered stopping them but decided against it. Now was the time to reflect on the fight with the demon just moments ago. So, before he could forget, he had clearly imprinted a few scenes in his mind.
He might have been the one who died in the final battle. The shattered blade of a shortsword had grazed his neck, and when he felt it with his hand, a little blood stained it.
As the mass of clouds adorning the overcast sky vanished, the rain stopped, and sunlight seeped in, Encred quietly fell into thought.
The three remaining behind argued only with words. Looking at the results, it seemed they had overwhelmed the fight itself, but it was true that everyone had expended an excessive amount of energy. Whether
it was Will or stamina, nothing could be as fine as it was at the beginning after pouring it all out like this.
Rem had used the least amount of energy, but instead, she had expended more mental energy because she was focused on getting involved somewhere along the way.
You killed the devil.
As Sinar spoke quietly, Encreed gathered his thoughts and turned around.
The blue halo, a trace of Esther’s touch, had vanished before he knew it, and now he saw that the witch’s face had turned dizzyingly pale.
The spell world had taken a blow as the price for crushing and killing all the omens of resurrection prepared by the demon.
It doesn’t look good.
As Encred spoke while wiping the blood off his sword and gathering his things, Esther nodded. The witch who nodded took a few steps forward. Encred walked
past her and approached the spot where the demon had died, picking up a small gem hidden among the ashes.
It looked like black onyx, but it was an object filled with an aura that awakened a sense of foreboding, possessing a very peculiar atmosphere from which a faint yellow light emanated.
It is the remnant left behind as the devil’s wish shattered. To me, it is a precious object.
Esther spoke without being asked.
Take it.
Encred spoke with great concern for her. Even though her complexion was visibly pale, her eyes were sparkling.
It seemed she had sensed the gem and was anticipating how to handle it.
Would that small gem be expensive enough to buy several fortresses?
Probably. But Esther wanted it. He didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret.
“……I need a jewel too. Here, here, here feels empty.”
Sinar approached from the side and pointed to my neck, ear, and wrist.
I know a decent jeweler in Border Guard, so I’ll introduce you.
Encred retorted.
You’ve become a sly snake.
Sinar answered with a deflated sound. Esther smiled slightly and stood up, but briefly lost her balance as if feeling dizzy.
Sinar and Enkrid grabbed her arm at the same time.
Let go.
At Sinar’s words, Encred let go of his hand. Esther did not show any particular disappointment.
Instead, she looked at Encred for a moment and thanked the fairy.
“thanks.”
Well, it was time to head back now.
Everyone, including Sinar, had expected a surprise attack by another demon lord of the Demon Realm while things were still going on, but that hadn’t happened.
Had that happened, it would have been the start of another tough battle, but they had secretly anticipated it.
Well, if it didn’t happen, they could just wash their hands of it and walk away.
“Let’s quit. Let’s stop. The next one is mine.”
Rem shouted loudly. If a demon were watching nearby, it would have been expected to attack if it dared to see him as prey, but there was still no sign of it.
“Who decides?”
Ragnar rebutted that remark. Their eyes met. It was the same scene as usual.
“Okay, let’s see what happens when the time comes.”
I saw what Rem had said and Ragnar had placed at my feet. He had put something in his cloak and carried it on his back.
“What is that?”
Everyone was actually secretly curious about it. Ragnar thought for a moment and answered.
“booty.”
Rem’s eyes widened slightly. What did this bastard just say?
Wow.
It naturally elicits an exclamation of admiration. This was a genuine expression of respect.
“A trophy? You’ve really grown up. It feels like just yesterday you were that lazy bum who would get lost at the drop of a hat and cry and whine.”
It’s true. Ragnar had never taken any spoils of war. Unable to bear the sincere praise, Ragnar swung Sunrise.
Whoa!
The moment the flames adorned the sky, the axe named Wilderness did not allow the sunrise to fall completely.
It had stopped the blade by snatching it at the part beneath it that was good for hooking. With the sword and the axe as the boundary, gray eyes and red eyes met within the distance of life and death.
“What, you want to settle this right here?”
As Rem asked, the look in his eyes wasn’t just playfulness. It was mixed with fighting spirit and a competitive drive.
Ragnar had just effortlessly taken down a tough knight. He had been stabbed in the stomach, but that wasn’t a fatal wound. Right, Ragnar had improved.
It certainly seemed like he had overwhelmed him right after returning from the previous Empire.
Demon or not, should I just stand by and watch this bastard climb on top of me?
Rem had no intention of doing so. Aside from the Captain, no one dared to sit on his head. He was already dying of rage at what that sly wildcat bastard had just done.
You are now under my blade.
Ragnar responded. His tone was composed and calm, yet naturally, emotion was mixed in.
A fighting spirit seethed, and a sense of momentum slowly reared its head. Though invisible to the eye, one side resembled a gray army, while the other looked like a mad swordsman whose nature was suited to single-handedly cutting down an army.
That was the form of intimidation the two had amplified. If left unchecked, both would cross a certain line.
That this was a hellish realm watched by demons? That did not matter to them.
That a great battle was coming up? That, too, was irrelevant right now. Their blood was heated.
There were times when they could not suppress this boiling fighting spirit, and now was that time.
Encred watched the two of them.
How many times had Rem and Ragnar clashed like this?
It hadn’t exceeded three. Their intensity was completely different from their usual bickering.
Had they fought seriously even once out of those three times, one of them would not be here today.
Encred watched the two of them for a moment.
How can it still be like this?
Isn’t it about time they stopped fighting amongst themselves?
There are moments when they act maturely and hold back, but it’s just that right now isn’t the time.
“Not a chance. Do you expect fire and oil to be placed in one place and leisurely mix?”
Sinar read Encred’s true intentions while supporting Esther. It was a keen insight.
Encred could now hold the two by force, albeit for a brief moment. However, doing so was not easy in his current physical condition, and knowing an easier path, he had walked in that direction.
Thus, he thrust his body abruptly between them.
He did so without any defensive posture, not even armor. It
was just before the heat radiating from the sunrise formed a blade, and the youthful gray light in the wilderness was letting something flow downward in the form of a thin line, like an unraveled ball of yarn.
“Uh.”
“Ugh.”
Both of them hastily sheathed their weapons. It was because of the guy who had entered completely defenseless.
“……Mr. [Name], didn’t I tell you a long time ago? That if you get involved at a time like this, it won’t just end with a slight injury? I think I said you’d lose an arm or a leg, or even die, right?”
Rem speaks as he disperses the power gathered in the axe, accompanied by a motion of shaking the axe aimlessly in the air.
It was too reckless.
Ragnar also quietly parted his lips and spoke. Encred nodded, asking if that was so.
Neither of them were children. They no longer stirred up unnecessary fighting spirits. Nor were they the type to hold grudges.
In a way, one might call them quite carefree people; it was only natural that things turned out this way because Encred was there.
Let’s go back.
In any case, the fight was over. The strike operation by the small elite force that killed the demon was a success.
Furthermore, the armor Ragnar had taken was a truly valuable item.
The Father of the Dead had sent a few of his subordinates to retrieve the armor, but naturally, they failed.
Although there were many eyes watching among the demon’s subordinates, no one stepped forward. To be honest, it was doubtful whether it was even possible to stop them without his own lord stepping forward.
Encred leisurely led his party and walked about three or four steps when a beastman shouted from behind.
“Hey, hey, you crazy bastards. You have to take me with you. I really don’t even have the strength to walk.”
Dunbakel had exceeded his limit. Sinar lightly supported Esther and turned around.
Should he have to lift that beastman himself? There was no need. He was already supporting the witch, after all.
Saxon walked on, completely ignoring him. He merely muttered lightly every three steps.
So this is what it feels like to kill a devil.
Like this.
There was no need to repeat that it pricked Rem and Ragnar’s nerves like needles.
Even though the two had been throwing a tantrum and exuding such a fierce aura just moments ago, Saxon teased them without hesitation.
In any case, the name “madman” suited them quite well.
Ragnar picked up his trophy. It meant he had no hands left. As the group hesitated, Saxon added a remark.
“He will recover his stamina in half a day and come back on his own. He could also serve the role of blocking any devil minions attacking from behind. All things considered, it is best to leave him behind.”
It seemed like he was revealing a truly serious tactical perspective, but of course, it was no different from the barking of a dog with a human face.
Enkrid limped on one leg. Eventually, Rem stepped forward. Grumbling, he lifted Dunbakel and slung it over his shoulder.
“Even if you don’t give me a pretty hug, couldn’t you at least carry me on your back? This makes my head spin.”
Dunbakel grumbled. It was understandable, given that the blood was rushing to his head as it dropped.
Wasn’t his lower and upper body positioned downwards relative to Rem’s shoulders?
“Hey, I’m just going to explain this once: unless you’re practically dying, no one can ride on my back. The only woman who can ride on my back is Ayul. Understand?”
Contrary to appearances, Rem is a devoted husband. He cared deeply for his wife.
Ah, really.
Dunbakel nodded, asking if that was so. It seemed he had his own standards, so I let it be.
Seiki, the Ragged Saint, Finn, and the others had already disappeared. The rumor of the Saintess that had shaken the world vanished in an instant.
Instead, another rumor spread.
It was the story that the curtain had risen on the Great Holy War, or the War against the Demon Realm.
A few minstrels sang an old song. It was a song that had spread in two forms: the Knight of the End and the Knight of the Apocalypse.
“I heard the Order of the Mad Knights killed the Demon of the Mirror World, and this time they
really set their minds to it.” “So, are you saying they fought worthy of the name ‘Demon Slayer’?”
“Erasing the Mirror World?”
“Is it the Holy War?”
“Isn’t it the Mad War? It looks like a fight started by the Order of the Mad Knights.”
Whether known or unknown, the rumor spread far and wide, extending beyond the entire continent to the empire, and even reached the King of the East, who was indifferent to worldly affairs except for exploration.
“Wow, you really live like a crazy person.”
Anu simply chuckled. After all, the news was that Enkrid was living well, just as that bastard had wished.
So, he would simply devote himself to what he had to do and what he wanted to do.
A pack of mantises is coming, Captain.
One of the subordinates approaches and says.
Why are there so many people ganging up on me just to explore a single historic site?
Anu was just living his own life.
* * *
Encred did not hold a strategy meeting as soon as he returned.
I still have various preparations left to do.
Following Crys’s advice, Encreed got a good rest.
Rumors were circulating that monsters were gathering in the Demon Realm, and the epithets “Demon Slayer” and “Knight of the End” were spreading as well.
Hearing the title “Knight of the End” filled Encreed with renewed emotion.
Hadn’t his beginning been that very song?
He was just in the middle of taking off and organizing his armor and cloak one by one in his room. It was early evening. He was planning to attend a light banquet after washing up.
I came to give the fairy clothes.
Sinar entered through the half-open door. He was a fairy who frequently visited the room.
There was nothing particularly surprising about it. As summer passed and the sun set a little earlier, the moon was faintly visible through the window. Today was an exceptionally clear day. To use a fairy expression, it was a day filled with vital energy.
The sky was cloudless, and the air was pleasantly cool.
