Chapter 263
“…….”
Thud, the man’s body fell helplessly to the floor.
The hands of specters from hell hesitated, deferring to Aillet, unable to immediately drag away his body.
For a while, Aillet remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
What spurred her was a voice from behind.
“What a pathetic farce.”
“…….”
“Aillet, come to me.”
“…….”
“Aillet?”
Her grip on Holy Scythe Librilly tightened. Aillet slowly turned around.
Facing Reed directly, she swept away her disheveled hair.
“I am.”
Her re-exposed eyes were sharply focused. She continued, spitting out the words.
“I’m going crazy because of you two, Tesillid Argent.”
✠His consciousness, which had been adrift in darkness, gradually rose to the surface. The blocked sensations of his body began to show signs of regaining their functions.
Had the mental barrier Reed shattered finally been restored?
He hoped his body hadn’t caused any trouble against its master’s will.
Even with a hazy mind, this was his fervent wish.
Finally, one of his five senses reconnected.
It was a little strange. Usually, when one regains consciousness and wakes up, aren’t sight or hearing the first senses to return?
But what he felt first was….
‘…Sweetness?’
It was taste.
Something small and round rolled on his tongue.
[
He’d seen that item name somewhere, but what was it again?
The system fed him information for his hazy mind.
[
The true identity of the candy was a consumable item obtained after defeating the Explosive Singer King Cavalensha.
Its frenzy-calming effect seemed to be effective even against Demonization, awakening his consciousness.
Though temporary.
It was exactly the right prescription for his current state. The problem was, he had no memory of eating this candy himself.
The candy wouldn’t have just entered his mouth on its own. As he pondered this, his sight and hearing returned all at once.
Thus, the scene he encountered as soon as he regained his senses was….
“Aillet, thank you for coming to me….”
“……!”
It was Tesillid, impaled by Holy Scythe Librilly and falling to the floor.
The ‘thud’ deafened his ears more than any roar. His haziness vanished in an instant, but his mind felt even more distant.
His painstakingly restored Mental Barrier swayed.
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ shouts that he is still alive!]
[‘Architect of the Skyscraper of Trials’ advises that immediate emergency measures are needed.]
[‘Scathing Critic of Balance’ warns that using a divine power skill in a Demon King state could cause your body to explode.]
[‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ informs you that they are currently searching for a way to return your state to normal.]
He barely managed to hold onto the thread of reason. But there was no time to regain his composure.
Immediately, a presence stirred his unstable mind.
“What a pathetic farce.”
“…….”
“Aillet, come to me.”
“…….”
“Aillet?”
She gritted her teeth at the voice of another Tesillid. The candy, softer than her molars, shattered with a crunch.
She slowly turned around and looked directly into Reed’s eyes.
“I’m going crazy because of you two, Tesillid Argent.”
Keeping Reed’s surprised gaze fixed, she reached out a hand towards Tesillid behind her.
Without hesitation, she immediately invoked divine power. It was merely activating a basic healing skill.
However, at that moment, demonic energy twisted and churned throughout her body, as if refusing to allow divine power. Her insides instantly turned into a pulp.
[‘Scathing Critic of Balance’ screamed, asking what she was doing!]
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ dissuaded her, saying it was enough and to stop!]
Forcing down the blood welling up in her throat, she retracted the divine power.
“……What kind of situation is this?”
Doubt was in the man’s low, subdued voice. She answered him.
Not with words, but with actions.
Swish!
Grasping Holy Scythe Librilly with both hands, she charged towards Reed. The scythe’s blade struck where he had been by a hair’s breadth.
[
The muscles in her arms pulsed. She controlled the inertia with overwhelming force and lifted Holy Scythe Librilly upwards.
As if guided to its target, the scythe blade chased Reed upwards and slashed.
The tips of his long black hair were severed, scattering like ashes on the battlefield wind.
“…….”
Only then did Reed extend his right hand. A black demonic sword formed at his fingertips.
Thwack!
The demonic sword and demonic scythe clashed, emitting a dull clang. Before the vibration subsided, they exchanged blows multiple times.
Reed feigned admiration.
“My preparations for solitude were worth it. You’ve certainly become stronger, Aillet.”
“Indeed. I feel so strong that I might just be able to defeat you.”
“You’re too eager. It’s alright. I’ll take responsibility and calm you down.”
As divine power skills had to be sealed, she couldn’t use Divine Inviolability or Holy Chant.
It was a moment when she had to face him with only neutral aura skills that had no backlash.
[
While her will had faded, specters had inexplicably been born from her shadow.
The worm-like writhing things stirred a fundamental discomfort. But she had to use everything she could.
“King’s Order. Attack.”
[
The army of evil seemed unleashed, rushing towards Reed.
At that moment, demonic energy shimmered like a haze from Reed’s shoulders.
“Oh, Aillet. Did you forget? Who I am.”
He was the Chaos Evil God. It was only natural that he held absolute superiority in demonic energy.
The power of world annihilation poured from his body, instantly destroying her army.
It was an unpleasant skill that had activated regardless of her will anyway.
It was difficult to deal with, so having it eliminated actually brought a sense of relief.
Her repayment, as expected, would be conveyed through action rather than words.
Holy Scythe Librilly swept splendidly across the front, tracing a round arc.
Matching the moment Reed deftly dodged, she rotated Holy Scythe Librilly ninety degrees. Holding it so the long axis became the main weapon, she lunged at him.
Instantly, Reed inserted his demonic sword into the gap, twisted the point of attack, and deflected it. Then he lay the blade horizontally and counter-attacked.
She once again gripped the scythe as her main weapon and parried his attack.
Clang!
“…….”
“…….”
Amidst the clang of steel that seemed to resonate with her heart.
Their gazes met as their respective black hairs fluttered. Time seemed to slow.
The distortion of sensation didn’t last long. Again, the demonic sword and demonic scythe ceaselessly intertwined.
At one point, as the seemingly endless exchange of blows continued.
“Ah.”
“…….”
“This is fun.”
“…….”
It was likely not a mistake to hear that as him saying it had finally become a worthwhile fight.
She suddenly gritted her teeth at a realization that flashed through her mind.
His sword resembled him. The years he had walked the path of chivalry were so long that even now, in his fallen state, knightly formality and dignity resided within his swordsmanship.
He didn’t even have battle intent or malice. As a gentleman and a knight, he focused more on exchanging blows than on victory or defeat.
This was closer to a sword dance than a duel.
This observation precisely pierced his psyche.
“I wouldn’t mind dancing with you until our hearts burst.”
“Suit yourself.”
She decided to indulge his wishes.
[
[
All her abilities surged almost explosively, her technique reaching its peak.
The ground caved in with every step she took, and formidable heat scattered through the air wherever her aura brushed past.
Displaying absolute martial prowess, she began to press upon the heart he had spoken of wanting to burst.
In response, Reed also abandoned his composure and entered the fray. His unwavering sword blocked her momentum.
The candy that had been rolling on her tongue was now just a sharp fragment.
The moment she put a new candy into her mouth without a moment to spare, Reed relentlessly pressed his attack.
Continuing the confrontation, he muttered.
“A trophy from defeating Cavalensha, I see.”
“You’re slow to catch on.”
“You don’t have many of those, do you? How many are left? Four? Three?”
“…….”
“It seems insufficient to end the match. What a shame.”
That was right. The effect of the Nerve Stabilizer Lozenge was temporary.
Once she consumed all three remaining, she would lose her reason again and be completely engulfed by Inferinos’s power.
If so, there was only one thing she could trust.
‘Voice-Spirit!’
[‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ is currently searching for a way to prevent its follower’s corruption.]
Not yet, it seemed.
Then, the cunning demon’s whisper was heard.
“You’re destined to come to me anyway.”
“…….”
“I’m the only one who can accept you, now that you’ve become a Demon King.”
“…….”
“Hm? Aillet.”
It was something she would have ignored if it were anyone else, but because it was Reed, she retorted.
“It’s the opposite. If anyone’s accepting anyone, it’s me accepting you!”
She swung Holy Scythe Librilly as if to lash out at him with all her emotions.
At that moment, a tingling sensation causing momentary paralysis swept through her entire body.
Something bad was happening to her body again.
[
Privilege for Possessors