◆ Avangarde Castle – Underground Research Facility ◆
“Where is everyone from Ikana Village?”
“I should have acted sooner. This is more bothersome than I imagined.”
I knew he wasn’t going to answer, but at this point, I was so irritated that I didn’t care about the plan anymore. My eyes, which were already lizard-like, widened even further, with patches of scales appearing here and there. The fact that they were purple made it all the more unsettling. As he moved the mouth still attached to his half-human head, Belmund muttered under his breath.
“This country belongs to that person. The king above is necessary for governance… After all, I have educated him because he stands at the top of this nation. I have never felt any affection. If any of the past kings were deemed truly useless, I would have buried them myself.”
“W-What are you saying?”
“That guy… Belmund is a monster who has lived for over a thousand years… A demon who long ago abandoned humanity and pledged loyalty to a certain individual…”
Sage Hast, having regained consciousness, began to speak while resting his head on Kurinka’s lap. If Kurinka’s healing had been even a moment slower, he would have died. It’s impressive that he managed to hold out against such a monster until we arrived. But with each spell he cast, he was drawing closer to death, something even Kurinka couldn’t prevent. If he died like this, Rash and Truppo would be heartbroken. I had to find a way to prevent that.
“What exactly are you?”
“That person once created an era of darkness. With tremendous violence and charisma, he attracted many and made them kneel. Even the right to survive was grasped by that person; with a mere shake of his head, it would vanish. Every life was held in the palm of that person’s hand.”
“That still doesn’t make sense to me.”
“At times, Rua-dono, I have grasped your abilities. Just like during the time of the King of Six-Six, your power is indeed remarkable. Perhaps that is why you think this way?”
Even in his monstrous state, Belmund continued to laugh. His once grotesque smile had become even more twisted, revealing the evil within him.
“Whatever comes, I can defeat it. You are even attempting to do so against me.”
“Yeah.”
“Indeed, but it is impossible. If that person awakens from his slumber, this land will be engulfed in darkness in the blink of an eye. As that old man said, I have lived long and witnessed many who were called heroes. Among them, of course, there were those who…”
I hesitated to ask what he meant. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of controlling the conversation, and besides, he would continue to talk on his own. It was time to start moving for the sake of the plan.
“Heroes with power equal to or greater than yours… The Hero. Everyone had absolute confidence in defeating that person. But what was the result? They knelt at that person’s feet… No, there weren’t even corpses left behind. Not a metaphor, but literally.”
Belmund spread his angular hands wide, as if to emphasize his point, gazing off into the distance with a look of pleasure. His face resembled that of someone intoxicated, and he turned back to me.
“I repeat, it is impossible. That person, feared as the strongest amidst calamity, was unfortunately sealed away by the detestable Hero… But such a seal cannot last forever. The time has come for that person to once again reign over this land.”
“Enough already, I get it. Then I’ll defeat both you and that person.”
“Your intelligence is surprisingly low. No, considering the cultural level of a backwater village, perhaps this is to be expected…”
I felt insulted. It’s true that I’m not very bright, but hearing it from someone like him made me furious. I wanted to take him down immediately, but for the sake of the plan, I had to hold back for now.
“Come at me from anywhere. After all, you and that person aren’t anything special, right?”
【Rua took 1023 damage! HP 41027/42050】
“Rua-chan?!”
That hit to my stomach was surprisingly strong. A blow from that monster’s hand sent me flying. No, it wasn’t so much that I was careless; I had intentionally let my guard down. Still, it was stronger than I expected.
“Ouch…”
“Oh, surprisingly light.”
The purple monster shot me a contemptuous glare as I crashed into the wall. It was as if to say, “This is what happens when you underestimate me.”
“Rua… Be careful… That one is likely even stronger than Zeech, perhaps even the Demon Lord…”
“To think you would speak so boldly with just one arm. I would appreciate it if you stopped boasting.”
I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but his raspy, low voice exuded absolute confidence. His face was no longer half-monster; it was entirely monstrous. His eyes were wide open, as if they might burst, his mouth was torn and jagged, and his teeth were unevenly arranged. His forked tongue flicked about, and his lower body resembled something incomprehensible—like a snake or an octopus. In any case, it was writhing.
“Ugh, that’s disgusting…”
“To not understand the magnificence of this body… It seems that children like you are unnecessary in this world that will be ruled by that person.”
“That person is the one who is unnecessary.”
“Silence.”
【Rua took 844 damage! HP 40183/42050】
“Ugh!”
This time, one of the writhing appendages jabbed sharply at me. As I crashed into the wall, the stone shattered as if it were being disintegrated. Once again, it hurt more than I expected. This was where the real battle began; I had to face this monster with everything I had. Yes, desperately.
“Such an attack…”
“Your legs are trembling, are they not?”
【Rua’s attack!】
“Too slow.”
This time, the writhing appendage thrust upward from beneath my chin, slamming me into the ceiling before I fell helplessly. The height of this room was surprisingly great, allowing me to observe Belmund’s grotesque face in detail as I fell. His tongue swayed from side to side as he brought one of the writhing appendages close to my neck.
“Rua-chan!”
“K-Kurinka… Run…”
“W-Why… would I… be able to…”
“This guy… is stronger than I thought…”
Belmund, with his mouth split wide, watched our exchange with a sneer. As he muttered “how tiresome,” he increased the number of writhing appendages, completely surrounding me. He thrust them into the ground like prison bars, ensuring I couldn’t escape.
“Did I not tell you? One should listen to adults.”
“So, what does that person want to do upon revival?”
“With the experiments conducted here as nourishment, the Kingdom of Avangarde will be reborn. A strong army born from the experiments! The mightiest nation that will not allow anyone to approach! There, that person will take their seat!”
Just a little more, just a little more. If I could flatter him and make him feel good, that would be enough.
“Yes! The great Lord Vandalsia, the King of Destruction, will sit upon the throne of this country! Once again, he will plunge this world into darkness!”
“Ugh!”
I messed up; I couldn’t help but react to the unexpectedly familiar name. No, calm down. Even if he calls himself the King of Destruction, he might not be the same one I defeated. No, he’s not even human, so he can’t be a different person. But that doesn’t matter right now. If the King of Destruction he speaks of is indeed the one I fought, then perhaps Belmund doesn’t know that I have already defeated him and that he is merely waiting for his revival. If I hadn’t defeated him back then, he would have revived.
“What… happened just now?”
I could guess how he took my outburst. Veins bulged all over his face, and his purple muscles swelled to twice their size. At the same time, the writhing appendages thickened, causing cracks to form in the stone floor beneath them. That meant his weight had increased significantly.
“How dare a smelly, country bumpkin laugh at the name of the great… the first King of Avangarde and the absolute destroyer?!”
With a swing of one of the writhing appendages, the stone bed exploded. The swirling dust seemed to guarantee the destructive power behind it, achieving a vanishing akin to Vandalsia’s Catastrophe.
“The first King of Avangarde… dabbled in Forbidden Arts. Such acts could provoke the wrath of the gods… The originally cruel king transformed not only his heart but also his body into that of a monster through these Forbidden Arts. Since then, the king’s inhumane rule has known no bounds, creating a dedicated Coliseum where siblings, lovers, and friends were made to kill each other… The Combat Tournament of this country is a remnant of that era. Isn’t that right, Prime Minister Belmund, who served the first King of Avangarde?”
“Indeed, as expected of the wise Sage Hast. You are well-informed. However, I would like to correct you on one point. I still serve him to this day.”
“Belmund… Why would someone like you be so devoted to Vandalsia?”
“Why…? There is no reason for envy. More importantly, I must find Aleid. Where has he disappeared to…? The Hero is the only one who could pose a threat to that person. I must deal with him swiftly…”
Listening to their words, I became convinced that what I had done was not wrong at all. Yet, at the same time, questions swirled within me. This wasn’t a new feeling, but why was it that, despite being the same species, we could be so different? There were good people like Kurinka and Lord Hast, yet there were also incomprehensible beings like Vandalsia.
When I asked why they acted that way, they would probably respond like Belmund does now. There’s no particular reason, which only makes it more confusing. What joy could there possibly be in causing suffering and killing others? Sure, when I first met him, he was human. But he was merely wearing a human guise; inside, he had long since transformed into a monster. And what was it that Vandalsia sought, even after losing his humanity?
“You don’t need to be a Hero; scum like you will inevitably be destroyed by something. It’s a certainty.”
“You seem to be mistaken. The Hero is not our enemy. On that day, the Hero and their companions confronted him… However, our King did not even rise from his throne, nor did he meet their gaze; he simply ended the encounter. Naturally, a King would not waste his time on mere commoners.”
“Yet, ultimately, it was the descendants of that Hero who sealed Vandalsia away, deep underground as a Calamity. The end of his cruel reign was surprisingly swift.”
“And he will be revived. This is not the end; it has been ongoing since that time. This time, this time, no one will be able to stop him.”
He spread his arms wide, as if to catch something falling from the sky, appearing to enter a world of his own.
“Lady Rua, when you spoke of the Abyss Cave before… I became certain that the seal on that cave had weakened enough for a child like you to infiltrate. Thanks to that, our plans have been moved ahead… Heh, heh, heh!”
Belmund’s mocking laughter grated on me. I hadn’t known that cave held such secrets back then, and indeed, I had managed to enter it without issue. I could only conclude that the seal had weakened to the point where even I could get in, just as Belmund said. But had I mentioned the King of Destruction? I might have mentioned training in the Abyss Cave, but I couldn’t recall the details. I was so nervous that I might not even remember what I had said.
“Heh, the chatter ends here. It’s time to wrap things up.”
Yes, it was indeed time. I thought it was enough to let him talk this much. He intended to thrust the Writhing Tentacle right in front of me and bring it down in one swift motion. It was both a way to finish me off and a sign that something tragic awaited him. Everything about this was absurd.
“Kurinka, it’s enough, right?”
“Yeah, everyone’s gathered.”
“What on earth is going on…?”
It was only natural for Lord Hast to be puzzled. After all, this was all an act for this moment.
“Yes, yes, I’ve heard enough.”
Tiferia appeared in the research facility, smiling triumphantly at Belmund. At the same time, the bewildered Adventurers followed her, trying to grasp the situation as they surveyed the area and Belmund.
“Is that the Prime Minister?!”
“Yes, that is the true identity of the one who has been corrupting this nation.”
Tiferia affirmed with a smile, while Kurinka coldly retorted. There was no sympathy in her words, only a clear intent to scorn.
“Is it true that there were human experiments?!”
“So the story we just heard…?”
“I can’t believe it! We have to take him down in one blow!”
“Hey, Donka, quiet down.”
The Adventurers, seemingly led by Tiferia, had been waiting silently at the entrance. It was thanks to her that such a large group could remain hidden without making a sound. The assurance of having her at the forefront and the persuasive power of her words meant that everyone would obediently follow her command to remain silent. I couldn’t do that. It was frustrating, but as an Adventurer, she was clearly on a different level than I was.
“W-What is this?! What on earth is going on?”
“I didn’t manage to gather everyone, but showing this research facility will convince you. Yes, it will.”
“Tiferia! Are you betraying us? You were serving the nation while knowing about these experiments!”
“What others say about me is no longer of any concern. You should worry more about your own position.”
Belmund looked out at the Adventurers as if they were something filthy. They must have found it hard to believe that the monster standing there was Belmund. Yet he spoke loudly of his own accord.
“Then let’s widen the space a bit.”
With a thrust towards the wall, Tiferia struck once, then twice. The impact shattered the narrow stone walls of the corridor into dust. It was as if she were breaking apart a large dessert, and soon light flooded into the dim research facility. Outside lay the castle corridor, with more Adventurers arriving one after another, and the soldiers who had confronted us at the castle walls. The gloomy research facility was now illuminated, exposing all the cruel instruments that had been used, centered around Belmund, the very root of it all. Everyone was captivated by the scene.
“Whoa! No way! This is unbelievable! It reeks of something terrible!”
“I always thought something was off. There were too many unresolved disappearance cases in the Royal Capital. No wonder they couldn’t find anyone, no matter how much they searched.”
“Oh, there’s Seigel and Gantetsu.”
I recognized Gantetsu, but Seigel was here too? I suddenly remembered leaving him behind in the Nation of Kashiram. I hoped he wasn’t angry.
“W-Wait! Is that the Prime Minister?! That’s a monster, isn’t it?!”
“The fact that even Kiki, ranked ninth, didn’t know about this… It must have been concealed from almost everyone.”
“W-Why am I being called ‘chan’ by a man I don’t even know?!”
“This is too much!”
Once again, poor Ord was consoled by Kou and Bun, familiar faces mixed with strangers, all looking down at this scene.
“Do you have any excuses to make?”
“Just a little more… It was supposed to be just a little more… until we welcomed him here… until the nation was built by him…”
“Oh dear, it seems you can’t even speak now?”
“You’ve done it now, Tiferia…! And you, over there, y-y-y…”
In his frustration, he struggled to articulate his words. This was what Seigel meant by his tongue not working properly. I remembered him telling me about it when he had been drinking. His tongue was indeed not working.
“You little brat!”
A roar filled with anger and humiliation reverberated through the room, enough to shake everyone present. The sheer volume made some drop their weapons, while others were left paralyzed in fear. It was clear that Belmund had the power to kill everyone here. But that moment was fleeting; after his shout, Belmund took a breath and calmed down.
“No, there’s no problem at all. It’s only natural that I possess the power to kill everyone here. I serve that being, after all. If I can’t handle mere rabble like this, what kind of story would that be?”
The movements of the Writhing Tentacle accelerated, and the bulging purple muscles seemed to flaunt their power.
“Yes, of course, you understand that yourself. Lady Rua, I have grasped the extent of your abilities from that earlier exchange.”
I was delighted that he had fallen right into my trap.
“Rua-chan, support me.”
“Sure, this is something Kurinka can handle without me.”
“Children are troublesome because they don’t know their limits; they think they can win if they just try hard enough. That’s something they learn as they grow up… but I suppose it’s not surprising.”
From my back and shoulders, something familiar began to sprout. Yes, those were the black horns that had also grown on the King of Destruction. I see, there was indeed a resemblance.
“You have made a grave mistake. Do you think you can fight while protecting those people?!”
【Destruction King’s Minister Belmund has appeared! HP 246900】
True to his words, Belmund increased the number of Writhing Tentacles and aimed them at the other Adventurers. He didn’t realize that I had anticipated this. I would take back what he had stolen from us, the precious things.
“I will protect everyone from Ikana Village and everyone here!”
My voice, powerful enough to rival Belmund’s, once again astonished the surrounding Adventurers.
I blew out a breath and took a taste.
Thinking about it, Gantetsu and Seigel still have a long way to go in terms of their spirit. They didn’t even notice that I had been holding back.
They were completely oblivious to the chaos at the entrance. Are they really the best of the best? Do they have confidence in their true abilities?
That wriggling thing gives me the creeps, so please, for the love of all that’s good, don’t let it touch me. Just thinking about it getting inside my clothes sends shivers down my spine!