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Chapter 289: Time of Awakening

(It hurts…)

In the warehouse deep within the fortress, Liliana was dozing off.

Materials lay scattered around as if struck directly by a tornado. Liliana herself was covered in blood. The wind magic unleashed by Emelgias had rampaged through the fortress, tearing through everything, including Liliana’s everyday clothing.

Leila and Barbara deflected with dragon scales, and Alex nullified it with protective spells. But Liliana could do nothing, left to bear it in helplessness. She didn’t know how to deal with attack magic. Because she was a dog.

Even so, the fact that Alex and the others were not overly worried was likely because they understood that such magic could not possibly kill Liliana.

In fact, the wounds on Liliana lying on the floor were healing. Because she was a dog?

No, that’s not it.

The truth is, she is a High Elf, a Saint.

“………”

Liliana was lying there with her eyes closed. Being carved up all over was not painful for her. She knew of far worse horrors—knew? Really? I don’t know.

I don’t want to know.

(I’m sleepy…)

Liliana only dozed there. She wished to fall asleep this way and wake up to find herself nestled in a warm bed, with Alex smiling gently and stroking her. How she wished for that.

She didn’t want to wake up.

So she remained in silence, pretending not to hear the roars and sounds of swords clashing coming from outside the room—

‘…I understand.’

Suddenly, she felt the gentle sensation of being held by someone.

‘It’s frightening, isn’t it? How I wish I could stay this way, knowing nothing…’

A hand stroked her head. It felt strangely familiar, as if she knew it, even though it seemed like someone else’s.

“…kuun.”

Liliana actually understood.

She couldn’t remain like this forever.

It had been like this for a while now. Whether taking a nap, eating, or relaxing with Alex.

In a corner of her heart, something akin to impatience simmered. War, Forest Elves, Holy Great Tree Alliance—such words lingered in her mind.

She knew. The time was approaching when she had to step forward.

But if she did—what would happen to her now—

‘It’s okay.’

Gentle words.

‘You won’t disappear. Because there’s no change in who I am.’

Tenderly, her head was stroked.

‘I’m scared too. There are things I don’t want to face, and it’s painful. But if I’m with you, I feel like I can do my best…’

Liliana opened her eyes.

‘…Will you come with me?’

The blonde High Elf smiled cheerfully, trying her best to put on a brave face.

“—Woof!”

I have to go.

That thought crossed her mind.

‘Thank you—’

The two melted together, becoming one.

…This was the first time since Liliana escaped from the Night Elf Prison that she’d had her body so severely damaged.

The blades of wind had, of course, sliced through her limbs too.

So, the restraints that confined Liliana’s limbs were also—

Clink, clink—the sound of metal pieces falling to the floor.

“It was a fun—dream.”

She raised her hands in front of herself.

Brand new hands, completely free of sunburn.

She gripped them tightly. It’s okay. It’s not scary. Right?

“—Woof!”

I have to go.

Liliana El Del Milfluer—

Stood up on two legs.

†††

In battle, no matter how many eyes or heads you have, it’s never enough. A single soldier in formation might focus on the enemy right in front of them, but that’s not the case for higher-ranked fighters.

So, I didn’t think Emelgias was particularly careless when he had to take his eyes off me for just a moment to check behind him.

But still, a gap is a gap.

I lunged in. Targeting the nearby female demon. She didn’t have much magic power, but I aimed to kill her before I was drained any further.

“—”

Emelgias, realizing the dragons had been neutralized, naturally sensed my approach. He threw a glance at the female demon, but I wouldn’t allow that—

“[Thou shalt not steal!]”

Established.

I filled my magic power to its maximum. Emelgias was now able to resist the forbidden magic, but that didn’t mean he could always nullify it. To resist, he needed to focus enough to create a sufficient gap—

“Tsk!”

Emelgias clicked his tongue, but he took an unexpected action. He picked up the female demon in his arms and dashed towards the fortress door. Was he trying to escape now!?

“[Thou shalt not flee!]”

Antedeixis established. Emelgias’s feet slowed as if tangled in spider silk. Yet, using the dazzling Bondage, he intended to forcibly break away—!

“Young Master!”

The female demon screamed as a warning in his arms.

In that moment, several things happened at once.

A sharp sound echoed. Barbara, who had been waiting outside the fortress, launched a thrust.

A strong wind howled. Emelgias accelerated, using the functions of Bondage to shake off the forbidden magic.

“[Restful Cloak]!!”

Then the female demon raised a cloak of dark magic to shield herself and Emelgias.

Barbara’s sword, misaligned from its original target, pierced the female demon’s neck through the cloak of darkness. It smashed through Emelgias’s bone armor and was stopped by the snake-like Bondage.

“Guh… Ooo!”

The female demon, now a face of fury, grabbed the sword with her bare hands, biting the blade into her throat while tackling Barbara.

“Young Master!”

“—You bastard, ooo!”

In desperation, Emelgias thrust a spear.

Straight through the female demon’s back.

He pierced Barbara with her as well. With the chest armor crushed, Barbara crumbled, spilling out the internal magic stones.

“Young Master… are you safe…”

Emelgias was shouting something at the blood-soaked smiling female demon.

But from behind, I swung Adamas down at her neck.

“—[Restful Cloak]”

Emelgias uttered.

The dark magical cloak billowed out.

Ignoring it, I swung my sword, slashing where a head should be. But there was no resistance.

“[Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!]”

A gale. A fierce wind blew in from outside the fortress. Both Barbara and the lifeless female demon were blown away. I stabbed Adamas into the floor to avoid being swept away.

The dark cloak writhed ominously. In this moment, had it stolen bloodline magic? Fortunately, the increase in magic power was not great, but if my memory serves me right, that [Restful Cloak] was one that Gelmados from Reiju Territory had also used, granting resistance to magic.

Flap! The sound of wings.

“—Gaaah!”

Leila landed before the fortress, uncontested by the wind as she unleashed her breath. The [Restful Cloak] shone white hot, but—

“[Shut up!]”

A grating voice.

“[Scatter, Lizard!]”

Countless blades of wind attacked Leila. Wrapped in light magic, she deflected them all with her dragon scales, but—

“What a drag dragons are. Born with such strong bodies, with scales and wings to boot!”

—That bastard! Antedeixis!

“[Thou shalt not steal!!]”

The forbidden magic rushed forth like a wave, but the dark cloak coiled around the magic power like a serpent, causing the curse to slide off—

“[Offer it up!]”

“[…No!]”

Leila strained to resist with all her might, but suddenly she crumbled like a sandcastle.

“Ugh…”

For some reason, Leila, now in human form, was slammed to the ground.

“Eh… no way…”

Dumbfounded, Leila stared at her human hands. The sparkling silver magic she had shed absorbed into the dark cloak—

“[Ku ku. Haha! Hahahahaha!]”

Emelgias appeared through the dark cloak, laughing maniacally.

No—he raised his head.

His neck was long. The bruises that resembled scales had transformed into real scales. Not only did he have horns on the sides of his head, but twisted horns had grown on his forehead. As he extended his forked tongue, Emelgias laughed—his expression was one unthinkable for a sane being.

“[Aah—everything is envious. Everyone is so blessed. Then I should be even more blessed! There shouldn’t be anyone more blessed than me!!!]”

Shouting gibberish, the dark cloak began to change shape. Almost like wings. And from his exposed body, a long, serpentine tail extended, coiling around.

A snake—no, close to a dragon.

Emelgias had transformed into a monstrous being that was not even demonic.

But this magic power—what is this? It’s undoubtedly formidable, but the contours are vague. It’s not just his appearance that’s changed; even his very essence, his way of being—

‘It’s akin to a devil’s.’

Antedeixis remarked with a hint of pity.

‘He’s either twisted too much of his powers or has had his soul worn down. He seems to have become completely unusable as a vessel. Look, no matter how much magic power he steals, it leaks out from the moment he gains it. He can no longer hold onto it.’

Emelgias was radiating intense waves of magic power, but this seemed more like diffusion than intimidation—

‘He’s like a devil who has lost their contractor. But he’s neither devil nor demon—a half-baked monster. If he were a true devil, he would wither and perish within days…’

With a great inhale like a giant beast, Emelgias drew magic power from the surrounding building materials. The stone-manipulation magic of the Korvto Tribe that constructed the fortress lost its potency and began crumbling to dust. Although Emelgias’s presence swelled again, the nature of his magic power grew even more unstable—

And then, the monster glared at me with resentment.

“[Jealous… Why are you special!? You have everything I desire! I won’t forgive you… I won’t forgive you! I will make you mine! It’s mine! All of it is mine!!]”

With a flourish of his wings, Emelgias roared.

“[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!]”

Screaming, he charged at me.

Those wings, they’re not just for show; they can really fly. He was blindingly fast, but his movement was straightforward and predictable. I parried with Adamas, deflecting his thrust and as he stumbled, I kicked up at his torso.

“Gwoah!”

Emelgias was slammed into the ceiling, glaring at me, but I expected his tail now, didn’t I?

Rolling to evade, I swept my sword to slice off the tip of his tail.

“Ggaaarrr!”

With his increased size, there were more parts to slice.

“Ha ha…”

I laughed. It was delightfully amusing.

“[…What’s so funny!?]”

Emelgias shouted as he thrust his spear.

“Just thought I could finally have a decent fight.”

As I deflected his spear with Adamas, I answered light-heartedly.

This guy had been trying to ambush me all this time, but he’d only been in a evasive stance before.

But finally, he was serious.

Now we could kill each other properly.

“Stealing the magic power of your subordinates, robbing the spells of your aides, and even taking the dragon scales and wings—now you’re really ready to fight me head-on?”

I snickered at the deformed Emelgias before me.

Everyone’s blessed? Don’t talk nonsense. You had magic power, status, and even contracts with devils from birth.

Do you have any idea how much I struggled in my past life without magic? You’re quite impressive in terms of power now, but compared to the feeling of despair fighting against a Demon Lord in my past life, you’re but a snot.

I was genuinely grateful he came at me like this. With those wings, the worst-case scenario is him escaping with my information.

“No matter how well you dress up, no matter how much magic power you gain—”

I parried his spear sharply.

“—your true nature will never change.”

Provocation. May your intent to kill boil over.

“[…Shut up!!!]”

Fuming, Emelgias thrust his spear with blinding speed, but I just barely dodged it and slammed Adamas into him. Some of the scales from his arm were peeled away, and blue blood splattered.

“[You bastard!!]”

As if he felt no pain, Emelgias only rampaged with fury, swinging his spear wildly.

Simultaneously, malignant magic power coiled around me.

“‘[Thou shalt not steal!]’”

It barely held any meaning, but while using the forbidden magic, I resisted. Since he had made me the target of his intense jealousy, he couldn’t fully resist, and I felt just a little—like a thin layer of skin being peeled away from me.

However, since he was leaking magic power from the moment he gained it, the gap between us wasn’t that significant.

Who would wither away first?—or could I kill him before that happened.

That was the wager.

“[Uoooooo—!!!]”

Still, with constant maledictions released, along with ambushes from his tail and wings, and coupled with his brute strength, I couldn’t let my guard down.

With nearly all allies and enemies wiped out, I devoted myself completely to watching Emelgias’s movements.

—What he truly sought wasn’t strength.

While clashing with this wretched monster, I felt that truth.

I had provoked him by saying, “your nature won’t change,” but that was probably true. What he needed wasn’t magic power, but something more—some kind of spirit.

No matter how much he trained, how much power he stole, or how many victories he achieved, his essence remained unchanged. This had been true in the past and would continue into the future. He would never obtain what he truly desired, no matter how far he reached—

But that was the same for me.

Now I sought power, but only to defeat the Demon Lord. What I truly sought was a world where humans could live in peace, and to put it another way—

—A tranquil village scene. Dad. Mom. Claire smiling and waving at me.

“Am I the fortunate one?”

Give me a break.

“You’re the one who took everything away, aren’t you!!!”

That bastard has to die.

In response to my feelings, Adamas quaked—

As I shoved it into Emelgias, I slashed his scaled arm.

 

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