Chapter 63
PUXe2hZ“It’s been a long time since I breathed the air of the middle world.”POV
LITE2GUWhat… what is this?Knr9NB
9F2“Refreshing.”7RZEPf
ZBXA dream?sxv
c7f“But it seems there are worms ruining my fun.”dObZ
EN9r925Why right now…?AKW
v4u0y1“Still, today I’m in a good mood, so I’ll grant mercy even to insects. Enjoy your last five minutes of life.”bojbZN
tmkkWSHas Andromalius been summoned?74m
w2k‘What do I do?’615Z3
2TEb5sWhat do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?h4E3b
Gn03XMy mind is blank.O1J
yCMDxhA demon summoned just while I was setting the traps. I never even imagined that possibility existed.zBgDa
CYGC7Can we win?S2ay
MDh‘What if Aint isn’t here?’yEZk8
EB4HThe core of all Fernan’s plans was Aint Armian.JNTUN
FkBf6The nemesis of demons. The direct heir of the Armian family.te3Ch7
eSdqYThe hero of prophecy who absorbed everything the First Emperor left prepared.m0CCOI
jnsAnd yet, he wasn’t here.o48pSc
jdkD5And Andromalius’s aura far surpassed anything Fernan had ever imagined.9qTP8
KVIo‘Could it be that what I saw in the prophecy was only a fragment…?’Sz8RM
qzrPsk3It wasn’t the same Andromalius that had appeared in the book’s vision.XN5
OJVIt was even more horrifying, denser, more terrifying. His body trembled uncontrollably.dCn
uzvrriBHe felt that no plan, no preparation, would be of any use.6aiMME8
Moanhw“…What are you?”eV3
IeFAt that moment, the one who broke the silence wasn’t Andromalius, nor Fernan, nor Aria.YoseE
VmA3bIt was Luina Bercheff.70wB
4ntThe woman who dreamed of being the noblest and strongest of knights stepped forward without hesitation before the demon.Ciq
KvkrbH“Are you speaking to me?”gdd
Ksa“Who else would I be speaking to?”FFJ
OZVbmmIt wasn’t that she felt no fear. Her eyes and sword trembled. And still, the edge of her determination pointed straight at Andromalius.tyisPgo
xnd“…I see. I suppose you’re right.”J8qRzK8
yLPKyQPfh. Andromalius let out a chuckle.7Hf
Fi0Pfhuhuhuhu. And that chuckle turned into laughter. Though he was only laughing, the air vibrated as if the world itself were shaking.QHtfPxV
6srFoz“Gh…!”Tm6WZ
O4kK7“Kyaa!”vqPNh
G8uUAYyFernan and Aria immediately covered their ears. Luina frowned but did not lose her stance.F7t27U
m0O“Ah, forgive me. It’s just that it’s been so long since a mere insignificant insect spoke to me, it was refreshing.”ajWY
XDhaHowever.Q4a
vM6eZ“I have never given permission to such a lowly creature to question me.”CfDpxqu
jIib3The smile disappeared from Andromalius’s face.jfvjP
Pcyp“You are a worm that does not know its place.”wtG6
g0efX─!Zjsj
MQHHhDJ“Gh…!”YJo4B
9hxaIt was only a snap of the fingers. A single thread of cursed energy.IAfsPn
OqzAnd still, Luina was pushed back several steps. Her aura cracked, and her sword trembled.HBHh3
6hQ“Luina!”Cgh4Ee
15Z“Senior!”Wql0in
nhXEfAt her desperate struggle, Fernan felt ashamed of his own cowardice.AEm9R
sdT2IGS‘Damn it…!’OGE0
et5LzAYHe was frozen, doing nothing. It was shameful, an absolute humiliation.4qvBFr6
XHgo‘More than demons, what I fear is losing my money. Dying without spending what I’ve earned terrifies me. My fortune vanishing is the true horror!’G6tQic
vdBTyPqAnd was he going to cower before a mere demon? He had done all this to stop it, hadn’t he?ejoSU1k
ydzYes, he had to be cautious, but there was no reason to let fear dominate him.PQK
mu3gzBw“Aria, prepare to fight.”wDAwo
Os0v“…Yes. We can’t just sit and die. I’ve put on a shameful display.”hNbd
c1FNFernan and Aria raised their staffs with effort, swallowing their fear.l3exrH
82QARBut to Andromalius, they were nothing but irrelevant presences. Playing with his hands, he muttered,PdS
gCGzN8J“Hmph. Is this all? Tch. I suppose rushing caused more wear than I expected. But even so, it’s enough to exterminate these vermin.”ftCswK
NpKX8jALet’s see.oI8wDgN
Xfh“If I kill all the humans within the seal’s perimeter, then I can do as I please, right?”4os
NmoqAndromalius’s eyes swept over all those present.08L6NCB
C0YF7nqTwo humans, one elf.WxcPABg
IcUzLxIAnd then.AG8e8Zc
amWeU8“It’s you.”dSm8BWZ
DyHwAt a short distance, a presence approached that had been unpleasantly brushing against his senses from before.meez
oiAMYA human and a useless companion.7FM
0H2n3“Armian.”UBHVam
DO4LXAndromalius extended his black hand. A burst of cursed energy, incomparably more intense than the previous one, shot out in a straight line.T810l
Gg2G────!mFwHI
vJmmWhite light and black darkness clashed. The shockwave expanded violently.LHoyT
R6bFThe ground trembled, the trees split, and dust rose as if the world itself were collapsing.dDBjQ
T8ifBJ6“…It’s Aint.”hy6Kc
bqs32And seeing that figure, Fernan’s eyes filled with life once more.WtE2oe
0iPHis assumption that the demon wouldn’t be summoned before Aint’s arrival hadn’t been wrong.rKZ5w
g0harThat meant there was still hope. That meant they could defeat the demon.TbVG
5b2kirBecause that was the original story.EGBfS
hBuEven if some things had changed, Fernan had prepared more thoroughly than ever.tQblMb4
LW7“Luina!”0iCCRN
qxGpp“Yes!”q0wLo
j6r“Go. Go to Aint and help him. Andromalius’s main target is him. If Aint dies, we all die!”s5gNy6
AK5X“But then you…”LgwN
UIlcz“Run!”t1ENWGI
OGWvvU“Understood!”Moj
3jT8DvTLuina dashed off.mGMPcC
mHzm“Aria, you too!”bgOL
TAO1cx“And you, senior?”aeTN
vfs6“I have something to do.”Nrln
IES“Something to do?”cUId
Vz01U“Yes. I never thought I’d have to use it so soon, but…”38Go
2HZ4VgIf I installed the traps, then now it’s time to activate them.MkvWR
xwv5a***zaRgV
NDd1C4Z— This makes no sense…!mrb
399AIt was never easy to summon a demon from hell to the middle world. To pierce the dimensional barrier required an equivalent price—an immense amount of mana or life force.cEs
NKniXldAnd to gather those elements, traces inevitably had to remain. But there were no signs anywhere indicating a demonic summoning.9NuP
gdpcoUOr perhaps they simply hadn’t noticed.s7Ms
WLZc— How is it possible that such an important object was used as a catalyst to summon a demon?!6hoF
a8l— There must have been signs!xZ8Z7Ye
tPxDespite Gardner’s desperate cry, the situation had already unfolded.3nVzah
J64gU“W-wait… Aint…!”C2YbEG
PuV0NThe moment he saw the demon, Aint left his fear behind and advanced. It was instinct. The natural rejection that the Armians felt toward demons.b4aVN1
nyypThe luminous energy of the Armian family cursed and abhorred demonic mana with visceral rage.677K8Js
OU1T50Following that impulse, Aint drew his sword and swung.eL4
KBf────!Wlsm
kit6CGThe clash against demonic mana made Aint roll across the ground. The impact shook his entire body, making it crackle.5sV
XP7It was stronger than any enemy he had faced so far.aa2oq
QHLwBwrEven the corrupt ones he had fought recently could not compare.v9CD2L
bcaU5“Cursed blood.”Fxk
V9SflqADespite the distance, the demon and Aint locked eyes. Those abyssal eyes froze his skin. His whole body trembled.hgmrgeB
4u6“You are insignificant.”0ZDNuj
STTAA low voice, but clear, shook his eardrums.WBuPmi
BAQe70w‘Can I win? Really? This isn’t even comparable to that corrupt one!’bC90hf
5jxaThe abyss between them was made evident with a single strike. It was an overwhelming difference he couldn’t ignore.7WCsf
jEnHis body trembled like a leaf in the wind.oWA6Z8
8eipq— Calm yourself, Aint!umnUYd
CSv0AAt that instant, his sword began to shine.4g2
IoLpl— This was completely unexpected, but that doesn’t mean you must lose.6ePmzO
JT4Zj4The light pushed back the darkness, dispersing the crushing pressure.ScB7FN4
tOk— You are an Armian. An existence feared by demons.uo1I
Xk2aC— The one who should be trembling with fear isn’t you, but that demon!y7v
etSUA comforting warmth wrapped around him. His ragged breathing steadied.Pxsi
tPU“…Can I win?”wJAIV
ux763z— It isn’t about whether you can or not.Q3l4
ciL21— You must.4lBXUtw
LM0If he lost, there would be no future. For the peace of the continent, for his own life, Aint had to cut off the demon’s head and survive.FxC
QsC— Have you already forgotten your resolve?u3IIFq
jBD— You’ve always fought against enemies stronger than you. And still, you’re alive!RiKT
3LnVI— I’ll help you. Cut off that damned demon’s head and prove to the world that the Armians still stand!0CbpyT2
Su0rAint gripped his sword tightly.xl6FSFX
4sVGardner was right. This wasn’t a matter of whether he could win. It was a battle he had to win at all costs.3jDBIG
P3cK3xRunning was not an option.w2FI8yV
mLqxlP— How repugnant… and even more so.Kt7WIxh
10P5The demonic mana grew denser. Aint also activated his aura. A radiant light clashed against the darkness.YECewA
U2yxba— As expected, Armians should not exist in this world.ia2Oyu
zeoBgfsAnd in that moment—gpzbjp
T96mg─!3IPQRf
oca6U4──!ECkv5Tt
M7ST─!pmYO0
tGRmThe magic circles activated. A storm of mana erupted. Lightning, flames, ice, and spears of earth rained down on Andromalius.q35t
AIkH“What nonsense.”qFWrg
E1ULuNothing seemed to reach him.EYNBO
Z179Or so they thought.JrW33
N1i9Y“…Guh?”Hj1i
J58tHrAndromalius let out a muffled cry. Thick smoke rose from his body.7Mt
eusc“What is that? Is it breaking down the demonic mana?”xrP
K3QHdSomething hidden within the spells was disintegrating the mana and causing real damage.eD2F
ZJOyoQW“…Who was it?”P2DcOpJ
bvssc“Aint!”PqSQWW
IM1A voice called to him.a0OfyB
QxGGE“Luina? Aria?”r8sT
GJNRBH“Hello, Aint! I see Verian is here too!”jUp4it0
PEOo“What are you doing here? What’s happening…?”e4S2C
y98“It’s a long story, no time for explanations.”Id5qVv
a3oryM5Luina stood beside him, and Aria raised her staff from behind.AUan
vDQI5“Right now, the priority is that demon called Andromalius.”kxLU6O
bLTFqZ“You’re right.”38Gb
e16vRN— Not bad. With them, especially with Luina Bercheff, you’ll have valuable support.GFa
x3N0yjAint felt relieved. It was different from bearing it all alone.3wU3gu
IzZ“Let’s strike before he regains his composure.”MUJHAx
Ivh“That spell was yours? Did you cast it?”XTpb
epsF“It was Fernan.”YvjJD
Jqc“Fernan is here too?”g1i
aJh1w7SAint, slightly late, remembered that Verian had come to look for Fernan.LWv2v
2ZVnHB“Damn you…!”0LmUi
uN97WeBut the conversation didn’t last.Hw1mPDL
fRnogRumble!GbM0WeL
qO3d34A stone wall collapsed in an instant. No one needed an explanation to know what that meant.PCiHd9
oFJjnXo“Fernan is in danger!”ncqo
XAwQ“Go now and save your sponsor!”CCET
b05Aint activated his aura, shining brightly thanks to the First Emperor’s sword.Z6k7
8WwL5fuHe became a ray of light and crossed the distance like a wild steed. There was no time to test strength. It was all or nothing from the start.Qeayu
RWT5Thanks to Fernan, the demon’s weak points were visible.KZLWh2f
PJm──!aL3j
k7MewThe sword and the hand clashed. Demonic mana exploded, and luminous aura flew in all directions.oHX
OjbThe impact was far more manageable than the first. Whether because of Gardner or Fernan, it didn’t matter.815r
wON8MlkAint delivered his next slash directly onto Andromalius.IPQiAX
38KS─!GJxkP
Q79KiThe demon’s body was hurled to the ground. The earth shook and rocks flew.VWDL
D2dYAint spun in the air and struck downward.NlQTu
U6r─!bWah
rXcxQBA great explosion rocked the battlefield. Immediately, he unleashed more strikes.NOqz5Pz
K33g“It’s always such vile, unbearable energy!”OIr4LP
mVvxZLBut Andromalius was still unscathed. Covered in dense darkness, he roared furiously.8RKB
bWyp─!4f9uyP
fXsRAint was repelled harder than ever. The demon lunged at him.fAs
qBU6cAThough still staggering, Aint raised his sword. Fists fell like waterfalls.yeSb
wKOCgNI“That sword…! That damned sword! Just as foul and disgusting as before! It should be erased from this world!”IY3Fv2
3WZThe divinity of his sword gnawed at the demonic mana. That was the only thing allowing him to endure.NBJ3
ha9thBut there were limits.ZMw
bfma9Blood escaped from his mouth.ERW7CM
VpbAt that moment.lr0XdO
yyeA─!v8ohgp
DLIAnother sword intervened, stabbing into the demon’s back. Andromalius roared. Black blood stained the blade’s tip.G0Zrf1
XebXj“Damn filth…!”S3Cda
XkW“What demonic vocabulary.”9oNA00u
9aMCSYThe owner of the sword, Luina, panted.j7lT9B
YVGFwoosh! The hidden elven wind struck the demon, forcing him against the ground.AhKbL6
3gJ0Clang! Her sword clashed against the demon’s hand.dHD
738Crack! Her blade slid along his arm and cut his chest.RJhx
2l9VrUaOr so she thought.sFM5
Qd0vuQ─!2Cw5bb
gC7dXBA small shadow blocked Luina’s sword. A black serpent, coiled around Andromalius’s right arm.8NSkl
v4Gm“Very well. I admit I underestimated you.”UPAYRl
KnTA murderous energy filled the air.inSUBo
hfrkECY“To have to exert myself against insects… In hell, I never would have suffered this humiliation.”3bfKWdp
k69erCrack. His face twisted with fury.2poS
nL0Hn“Rejoice. I’ll grant you a death that will not exactly be death.”Hwxlnn
s6YvbWhoosh!hx8k
24Wn53A storm of blades fell. Another knight, overcoming fear, rushed with a strike.6W0GaLD
Y5VIsO“Insolent insects who dare interrupt me…!”UwM
BkKAVerian was thrown into the air, screaming.JdskBo
QMhIy“Well done, Aria, Verian!”2H7CMg
GvbBThe two knights attacked in succession. Sword against hand. Sword against serpent.X8Y9pE
Gn8Light against darkness. Aura against demonic mana.inQ
Lcf1AADAint and Luina coordinated like veteran battle companions.hbJh
jYxtoElThey covered each other’s backs, striking the demon’s openings. The wind reinforced their power.cU8TLMJ
lxP8DvBut Andromalius wasn’t easily defeated.x3NLW3
XfC2“How dare you…!”qzS
W0rBThe demon opened his mouth and spewed a torrent of mana.VPb
Gt7Pr4A direct shot at Aint. Though blocked, it pushed him back.H6n9fT
1nyThe serpent followed, trying to bind him.4OITZcV
6k53lLuina, attacking from the rear, was forced to twist her body grotesquely to divert her sword.gPK
uCjufCrack. Her muscles tore as she shifted her strike, plunging the blade into the demon’s side.CJ8h
purY2nq“Damn…!”Kk5wK
cK4j3YClang!iSVehRY
3OnyGLIA punch crushed her armor and sent her flying.M6m
uJa“Pathetic.”bDlH
s5gRjAThe wind tried to restrain the demon, but a snap unleashed blazing mana orbs.VEzEyO
UF8HcExplosions. Aria’s scream echoed among them.Vv710yu
9igAsL5“Cursed Armian blood. There is no one left to aid you.”UawcXn
1jwhThe serpent returned to the demon’s right arm. A spear of mana fell upon Aint.Y0Nvs
eg9nAnd with it, another punch.v8s
B5idr“I have waited so long for this moment…”ihsHse
TqdBefore that overwhelming power, the light of aura faded.RpR3Kdc
3IUYO“This is the moment I erase the cursed lineage.”axTU
44wbfXThe aura shattered, the armor torn to pieces.AH2Uy
NcXxf8“Let that wretch spit blood from the beyond. At last, after a thousand years, the victors will be us.”u9Pq9
ga8z“I won’t let you!”3UF
vwzV6“You won’t?”Y7OKM5u
IzgGRumble!0AeABq
5dZBuAint staggered.UYCxu
qzSB“Do you truly think you can defeat me with just that sword?”C4a
KsxRspThud!N06jh
ukvThe demon’s foot crushed him.ZkgN
ZSJs“Perhaps, had we waited longer, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat you this way.”hicjuA
mhBqSBut everything was already decided.eh1dV
WvHybT“From now on, I will exterminate all who bear the name Armian…”Z87uef
3Jtp──!F81VV
lU55cAndromalius was hurled through the air.vXAI
odEv“How stubborn you are.”ryW0B9
76VvSHe rolled across the ground, then stood.H39
EVeHRcI“I value your resolve. To have those eyes, even before me.”OZ0pTVJ
DmBQs4With shattered armor and blood streaming from his body, he admired Aint’s gaze.m4tI
Mf7dt“Aint Armian.”L1Im
yNk48dgIt was Luina.lVIA1y
ILgMWith a pale face, she stood in his path.cnOI
VtSuoV“I’ll distract him. Find an opening and drive your sword into his heart.”4648O5v
ar1bThe demon was strong. But not invincible.aJIT
Q3cB“My sword managed to wound him.”SdGxt7
Chy5VM4Twice, even.Uj7blb1
EGApz“Then yours will harm him even more.”Z2dRX
HK0vwAn Armian’s weapon was the natural enemy of demons.OfW8zX
yWX“I’ll hold him back. You strike his weakness.”zz3I
28dPThat was the only way to win. And Aint was more suited than she.FhjE5
UiSYc“I should…!”d3qzm
eACHAint’s eyes trembled.b1n
zmYDoK2Anyone could see Luina wasn’t in condition. Distracting the demon was basically a death sentence.7V8M
8ruWI“Forget your personal emotions. If we keep going like this, we’ll all die.”FcOynV7
gBHDefeat the demon or die. There was no other choice.3BZ5jWO
QcrL3“And I am a knight. Even if now I have no lord to serve.”XjCGRB2
wpQ0This Empire, this world, were her lord.gPH8WtV
ndDA knight.AIq9Q4
qjSpohI“Does not flee, leaving her lord behind.”WbaooLZ
kQNzShe would not allow the Empire to fall to a demon.3Zw8
T7nA knight.XCl
r1zvCpw“Does not die after her lord.”y7O
BiLs2If the Empire fell, living was meaningless. She would do whatever it took to protect it.cbxmA
poTgELdThat was.kwUA
Rw1UF0“My knight’s code.”FiX4cz
OqBI5And this was the only way to protect the Empire. Luina gripped her sword tightly.wGwQya
oyyNBQ“Remember this, Aint.”Ft9v
faNY8There would be only one chance.6kFzA
54VCHWaLuina prepared to charge Andromalius.28MDmI
z5kUZR“No.”dDfAF
RhkgcwSomeone suddenly stopped her.gWfPO
llQB“I won’t allow you to do this, Luina.”h92
uCQWith what right?o5buR
zLaCP5“Fernan?”HsUhQ9
ngTOFernan’s eyes gleamed.5MFkuZb
hRtTLT“Do you have any idea everything I did to get here?”Bsms7t
BfemcAll he sacrificed, all the money he spent.DERC
V5gyVDid you really think I would let everything happen just as the prophecy said?rD4xvbk
okxM“Look closely, Luina.”Kkf
UtMVJxCrack! The space tore open.RNy
uc92zL“This is…”0022kK9
laEdA massive hand emerged.PAXinL
HKjThen shoulders, torso, legs.9DqC
y9KzMt“An Ego Golem!”bsR
n79gA colossal steel giant, with its master mounted on its shoulder, entered the scene.5Ua
tyb1GWOOOOOH!suDgH
J5vMlThe golem roared.GkUIlr
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