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Chapter 303 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (25) / Even If You Are The Strongest In The World (Part 3)

303 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (25) / Even If You Are The Strongest In The World (Part 3)

I jet out Magical Energy from my wings and rush to her.

Then, I get down on one knee.

「My Demon King.」

「… Lemegeton.」

Even without a mask… In front of this person, in front of the great benefactor who hired me… I should act as a subordinate.

「There is one thing I would like to ask your permission for.」

「…Speak.」

「Your grandfather is the strongest Demon King in this world. His time on the throne solidified the authority of the “Impregnable Demon King Castle”.」

「Oh, I know, I definitely know…! And this is where I take my leave. The ruler of the dungeon that can never be conquered, being defeated… This will ruin the dungeon’s reputation as “Impregnable”.」

「That’s my point exactly.」

「What?」

「After you leave this stage, and once the strongest Demon King in this world also leaves this stage, there may be people who will doubt the name of “Impregnable”.」

In other words…

「Despite that, do I still have your permission to defeat your grandfather?」

I deliberately make a troubled face as I ask her.

「…P-pfff. Hahaha!」

Our Demon King seemed confused at first but soon burst into laughter.

「Ahahahaha! You idiot. If the Dungeon Boss on the 10th floor defeats the strongest Demon King in this world, the authority of our castle will not only not fall, but it will rise to the heavens.」

That’s because those who arrive at the 10th floor will then be met by someone who has slain a Demon King.

I smile so as to look confident.

「Then please, entrust that duty to me.」

Our Demon King is strong. She is probably the strongest in the world for her age.

She already possesses the ability to defeat even a highly-ranked Spirit Contractor.

There’s no doubt about her ability, even from the fact that he has come this far.

Even so, she’s still young. She’s a person who can become as strong as she wants, but here and today, her strength wasn’t mature enough to help her defeat Master.

What a frightening and reliable superior.

「Ah, my dear Monster, my loyal subject, my Chief of Staff, our Hero among Monsters… Your Demon King commands…」

「Yes. I’ll do anything…」

With a face that could both smile and cry at any time, my Demon King Lucifa presents me with her Magical Energy.

「Defeat the strongest Demon King.」

「Certainly.」

And then, the figure of my Demon King also disappeared into magic particles.

As I stand up, I see the three “Heroes” right next to me.

「If it weren’t for my experience in the Raid with you guys, I would’ve plunged myself in there alone.」

The “Storm Hero” Aerial is laughing.

He has lost his right arm.

In the final battle of the Raid, Aerial had a complete change from being a mere mediator and started a solo invasion.

We managed to defeat him, but not without the side of the Demon King’s Castle taking a considerable amount of damage.

But results are what matter. Aerial must have assimilated the experience of losing.

That’s why he chose to join us here instead of attacking Master alone.

「… Actually, I kind of wanted to defeat the enemy all by myself, but it seems that today is not my day. Maybe it’s your day, Lem.」

The “Water Hero” Wraith had hit Master at close range with his “Grief’s Ice Prison”.

As a result, he was able to defend against Master’s counterattack at close range and lost the left half of his body.

The magic particles flowing out of the rest of his body are proof that it will not be long before it collapses completely.

Under different circumstances, it would’ve been Wraith who fought to the death against his father, the “Unyielding Hero” Altreed.

There would have been many other occasions where he could have had much greater active participation in this battle.

He is also young and overwhelmingly powerful, just like our Demon King.

I think that this time around, he used that power to help his allies win.

That must have happened as a result of choosing the best option for each given situation.

That says a great deal about his flexibility.

「I understand the situation. We don’t have much time left.」

The “Flame Hero” Fenix has also been hit by Master’s Esoteric Art up close.

His body is full of cracks, and it wouldn’t be strange if it crumbled away at any moment.

「I lost to Lucifer in the Raid a long time ago. We can’t afford to lose to the same enemy over and over again. At the very least, this time we have to win as a team.」

Even though you would’ve liked to defeat him yourselves.

Your Spirits surely regret that as well.

Still, each of you smile, and entrust me with your Magical Energy.

「Here.」

I receive Aerial’s Magical Energy.

『If only you could choose how to win, huh? Right now, I’m either going to die like this, or I’ll entrust it to my partner and then die. Even the Spirits know. I don’t want my beloved son of man to be the one who loses.』

「I’ll give you my Magical Energy, so go win this. After that, I’ll let you join my party as a way to say thanks.」

Wraith laughs mischievously.

But his shoulders were trembling with frustration.

「Thank you.」

I receive Wraith’s Magical Energy.

Fenix comes up last.

「My friend, my lifelong rival… my strength is with you.」

This guy is never going to change, no matter what.

Even when others made fun of me, who used to pretend to be a bully in the countryside, saying that my awakening as a Black Sorcerer had cut my future short…

Just a lifelong friend that for some reason or other has never drifted away from me.

「Yeah, I’ll take it.」

I receive Fenix’s Magical Energy.

I accept the last of the Magical Energies of the three Four Great Spirit Contractors.

Their bodies then became magic particles and melted away into the landscape.

The strongest Demon King in this world is reflected in my red eyes.

「Were you waiting for me, Master?」

「Do you take me for someone who would take his enemy by surprise?」

I see, that kind of behavior wouldn’t suit someone who is the strongest in the world.

The strongest creatures are those who prove themselves by fighting their enemies head-on.

He wouldn’t interrupt these last few moments his enemy was having with everyone just because he was taking too long.

He would turn a blind eye to that, and instead try to see how much stronger his enemy had become.

Because being stronger than that is what it means to be the strongest in the world.

「– Saraquel.」

『I’m so glad that you suddenly started to call me al lot.』

— I’ll activate another Esoteric Art.

『…Huh~? If you don’t say it properly, I won’t understand… If you don’t say “Saraquel, I want to become one with you” in a somewhat low voice, I might not understand…』

Please don’t make sexual-harassment-ish remarks at a time like this.

I now realize that, whether she’s being serious or just joking, she’s going to keep on playing around like that.

『It’s a good idea, but have you forgotten the first time the that Shotacon’s Idol, the Water Spirit Contractor, used it? Your Avatar will explode right away… Though I figure it’s useless to tell you that right now…』

Certainly, even the genius Wraith suffered serious damage to his body when he used that Esoteric Spirit Art in his battle with Bennu, and immediately collapsed.

Even Fenix needed some time to learn.

But that’s not an issue.

Now that it’s partially free from Master’s Secret Art, as well as carrying a Spirit’s blessing, my body is already about to crumble away.

What kind of danger would yet another thing that will make my body disappear add to my situation?

『But I can’t let you assimilate with a mystery. That’s why, for a little while, I’ll change into something that’s perfect for you.』

And so I activate the Esoteric Art that can only be used by a Spirit Contractor.

That is, the ability to assimilate with a Spirit.

This is the only thing in the world that even Master can’t use.

Because it is the ability to transform one’s own existence by interacting with a being other than oneself.

This is the only territory that Master cannot set his foot into.

My wings are filled with Magical Energy.

I deliver a heavy blow to Master’s face.

「–」

Master is blown away, and his own wings start jetting Magical Energy out in midair.

He immediately regained his posture and stared at me.

This is the battlefield we arrived at with everyone’s power.

Three Demon Kings, three Heroes, a new partner, the Original Dungeon, the core of the Demon King’s Castle, and the Magical Energy earned through my own efforts…

The “Perfect Horn Armor” made with the horn of the strongest Demon King in this world, the partial undoing of the Secret Art that came along with it, the “All-Seeing Eye”…

And the Esoteric Art that is shared by all Spirits — “Assimilation”.

Right now, I possess a Magical Energy that is no less than my teacher’s — I’m a living being made of Black Sorcery itself.

I cannot be touched, and my enemies’ attacks will pass right through me.

Furthermore, whenever Master touches me, it will be the same as coming in contact with my Black Sorcery.

If he doesn’t use “Resist”, he’ll be hit by my Black Sorcery, but if he does, he’ll lose a huge amount of Magical Energy.

Whenever Master responds with his condensed Magical Energy, I offset it with condensed Magical Energy of my own.

That leaves room for only close-range combat, but that now phases right through me.

「Today, right here, I will defeat you.」

「You sure bark a lot, kid.」

I’ve seen Master smile.

The day you officially recognized me as your disciple…

Back then, when you caressed my head with a gentle voice that I was not expecting from someone like you…

You looked like you were smiling, Master.

But this time it’s different.

This is a belligerent smile, like that of a beast finding its prey, of a battle enthusiast finding a worthy rival…

A smile directed at your enemy.

That makes me very happy.

Master.

Even if you are the strongest in the world…

I…