Chapter 67
Episode 16: Rupture
With our aid efforts in Figan and Apikino now wrapped up, we began discussing which city to target next.
「Hey, Selen, what’s the next city like?」
「It’s called Sparon, a city surrounded by fortresses. It’s a critical defensive point for the royal capital. If we can bring down this fortress, the monarchy’s trust will surely plummet.」
Hearing Selen’s plan to “bring down a fortress city,” Slaine and the others exchanged uneasy glances.
「I just have to ask—what do you mean by ‘bring down’ the fortress city? We’re supposed to be providing aid to struggling cities, so this idea of toppling a fortress doesn’t make sense to me.」
「Yeah, I thought we were here for relief efforts too, so the idea of a siege had me a bit concerned.」
Following Slaine’s question, Cantera also voiced her discomfort with the term “bringing down the fortress.”
Since I hadn’t fully explained the details of our operations until now, Selen took this chance to explain everything to the three of them.
The plan was to use our summoned beasts to attack and destroy military facilities. Then, after the damage was done, the Saint would arrive to assist those in need. After hearing the full story—the cycle of destruction and relief—the three of them wore conflicted expressions. To put it plainly, it was a hypocritical tactic. (Sweats nervously…)
「This is the essence of what Celestia and I do. Judging from your expressions, I can tell you’re not convinced at all.」
「Of course not! To command your summoned beasts to attack people just so you can play the hero and come to the rescue… That’s inexcusable!」
Slaine’s emotional response was predictable. But both Selen and I were fully aware of what we were doing from the start, so there was no need to seek Slaine’s approval now.
So, I told them directly:
「As far as our activities go, we don’t need your approval. If you can’t understand that, you’re free to return to the Empire.」
Slaine stood up, raising his voice.
「I won’t overlook such hypocritical actions!」
Hearing this, I replied with a cold expression.
「So, you can turn a blind eye to the Empire’s invasion of the Leone Kingdom but won’t overlook what we’re doing? You’re just as hypocritical.」
「…」
Leaving the speechless three behind, Selen and I exited the room and set off for the next city.
–
Episode 17: The Battle of Sparon
After leaving the room, we aimed to move to Sparon, but then Selen took my hand and stopped me.
「I’m sorry, I know this isn’t the way you wanted to do things…」
「It’s okay! I’m fine with anything as long as it fulfills Mom’s wishes. Now, let’s head to Sparon!」
I knew that Selen, who suggested this method, was the one feeling the most pain over it. For me, Selen is the second most important person after Mom. As long as I have these two, I can overcome any hardship.
We boarded the carriage and left the city, but soon Slaine and the others blocked our path and stopped the carriage.
They were saying something to us, but instead of getting out of the carriage, I summoned a flying-type summoned beast. I had it grab the carriage and fly away straight toward Sparon.
「Selen, is it okay if we fight together from here on?」
「We should bear the burden ourselves.」
「Thank you.」
Afterward, we descended to the ground near Sparon and continued on the carriage. According to my sources from the 【Darkness】, the defensive walls were double-layered, and between the outer and inner walls was a moat. Since the residents lived inside the inner wall, only soldiers would be on the outer wall, allowing us to attack with summoned beasts without issue.
Before entering Sparon, I decided to summon the beasts to initiate the attack.
「Roha, destroy only the north gate and then return.」
「As you wish!」
Just as the summoned beasts were about to move, a powerful magical projectile struck them. I rushed in front of them to create a protective barrier with magic, but…
「I won’t let you! 〚Ice Wall〛」
The magical projectile shattered the ice wall and vanished, but I was injured by the flying shards in my abdomen.
「Ugh…」
「You are still alive after taking my 100% magical projectile? It’s impossible for Viktor; I’m Demise, one of the Four Demon Generals! Now, I will kill you!」
「I won’t lose… ugh… Summoned beasts, return!」
「Celestia-samaaa!」
I recalled the summoned beasts to protect myself from Demise. I attempted to channel magic into my eyes, but Demise fired another magical projectile, so I absorbed it using Gluttony.
「Are you serious? You absorbed my magical projectile! Physical attacks might be the way to go!」
Demise unsheathed his sword, switching from magical to physical attacks.
「This is a demon sword. Anything I cut will become food for the sword and disappear. I’ll chop off your limbs and use them as decorations!」
As he charged at me, a mist enveloped the area, obscuring my vision, and Selen pulled me away.
「Celestia, let’s move a little so I can heal you.」
「Thank you…」
After moving a short distance, Selen cast a healing spell, which mended my abdominal wound.
「What a hassle! Here I go!」
*Swish!*
Demise’s demon sword severed Selen’s left wrist, and blood splattered onto my face…
「Ah…!」
Seeing the agonized expression on Selen’s face shattered my resolve, and my eyes activated instinctively…
–
Episode 18: Demigod Transformation
Unconsciously, my Sacred Eye and Demon Eye activated.
From my left back, pure white wings emerged, while from the right, pitch-black wings appeared. My body transformed as well, with my left arm turning pure white and my right arm becoming pitch black.
Demise, witnessing this spectacle, spoke with amusement.
「Transforming, huh? You’re surely entertaining me (laugh). If I kill that girl, will it get even more interesting…」
Before he finished speaking, I erased Demise’s left wrist. He realized he had been attacked when the loss of his left wrist caused a surge of excruciating pain.
「Guh… What did you do?」
「You… will not be forgiven for hurting Selen… disappear.」
「Tch, you can’t be serious!」
Demise swung his demon sword in a panic, but I caught it with my left hand and shattered it. As Demise retreated, I swung my left arm toward him, and in that instant, a flash of light erupted, causing both of Demise’s legs to vanish, and he fell to the ground.
「What the hell! What’s happening here!?」
「You… will simply disappear…」
「Damn it, I can’t even fight back!」
Demise realized he couldn’t win and understood his own impending death.
I slowly approached Demise and crushed his head under my left foot with a sickening sound, causing him to vanish.
「I will not forgive… the demon kind… I will erase all of you…」
Even after defeating Demise, I did not return to my original form. Selen, enduring the pain in her left wrist, approached Celestia and embraced her.
「Celestia, I’ve already defeated the demons. My injury is fine, but I want you to return to the Celestia I love… please.」
「Selen… my beloved Selen!」
The moment I heard Selen’s voice, I regained my senses and returned to my original form.
「Selen, we need to heal your wound immediately!」
「But… healing magic doesn’t work on it…」
「What!? Parallel Thought Butler, investigate the cause!」
『Celestia-sama, Selen’s wound has become the nourishment for the demon sword and has vanished, so it cannot be restored.』
I conveyed to Selen that her lost wrist could not be returned.
「I see… there’s nothing we can do. If I was able to protect Celestia, then I won’t regret losing my wrist!」
「I’m sorry… it’s because I’m weak that this happened…」
「If you hadn’t been caught off guard, we would have won. More importantly, we still have three demon generals left, so we must stay alert.」
Selen gently embraced me as I cried and apologized.
Keeping in mind that the demon generals we would face next would come at us without mercy, I resolved to protect Selen and the summoned beasts at all costs.
Thanks for ALL the chapter