◆ Glare’s Mansion, Second Floor, Room ◆
The battle between Rash and Juo was nearing its conclusion in just two or three minutes. For some reason, Juo seemed capable of seeing through Illusion Magic, rendering its effects useless. However, manipulating corpses to create a “Dead Copy” was akin to an illusion, so it wasn’t surprising that he was well-versed in that field.
“Hah… Hah… Honestly, there’s no way I could have a fair fight in this condition.”
“I’ll at least listen to your excuses. Your magical power is decent, and your sense is passable. I just can’t fathom how someone like you ended up sitting at the same table as Zeech.”
“Are you trying to insult me to hurt my pride and throw me off balance? Unfortunately, I’m quite used to that sort of thing. Want to spit on me while you’re at it? It’s quite refreshing, you know?”
“You really are disgusting…”
Though he was boasting, the truth was that Rash wasn’t completely dominating the fight. His robe, imbued with considerable magical power, was tattered, and Juo was far better at defending against magic. It was as if he had experience, and it wasn’t that he lacked talent. Moreover, Juo was already out of breath after just a few minutes. The modifications to his body were clearly affecting his ability to move more than he had anticipated. If he had a proper body and lived a normal life, he could have risen to become quite an exceptional mage. But there was no point in dwelling on that now.
“Rash is really strong…”
“Have you changed your mind?”
“Yeah.”
I was feeling a bit giddy, but the match was still ongoing. Just as I was getting distracted, Juo began to chant a spell. However, he quickly stopped when a visitor knocked on the door and entered—a person no one in the room could handle.
“Good day to you, my princess.”
A tall man clad in a white tuxedo entered. He had the same blonde hair as me, and his features—eyes, nose, and mouth—were all impeccably arranged. In other words, he was handsome; any ordinary girl would surely fall in love with him. Unlike the other Evil Nobility, his skin tone matched ours, and unless told, one wouldn’t guess he had ties to Vandalsia. The only certainty beyond his striking appearance was that he was far stronger than Brandark. While Brandark might still consider fighting, I felt no inclination to do so against him. That was why his insane declaration of “my princess” seemed to fade into the background.
“You are…?”
“I’m your fiancé, Alcist. Oh, seeing you up close really highlights your potential. But you’re still just a rough diamond. Ah, don’t worry; I’ll make sure to coordinate everything properly. Just relax. After all, I’m a man whom women all over the Royal Capital are vying for. I know it sounds conceited, but, ahaha, I truly understand how to bring out your charm to its fullest. But first, we need to purify your body. Oh, and I won’t be joining you for that. That’s something for the wedding night; it’s what a gentleman would do.”
“Um, what are you talking about?”
“After the purification, you should take it easy. Whatever you do, you need to prepare your heart. I’ll handle the preparations for the ceremony, so you don’t have to worry about anything. By then, I’ll have your outfit ready. Wedding dresses come in many styles, and I’ll have a custom one made for you, so you can rest easy. What? You feel bad about me doing all this? What are you saying… This is for the woman who will become my partner. I’ll do everything I can, so you really don’t have to worry.”
“I’m marrying Lua-chan, so I won’t be marrying you.”
“Then let’s move to another room. This one is originally a guest room, so it’s a bit cramped. I’ll present you with the finest suite, my princess.”
“Are you even listening?”
What is this guy? Why won’t he listen? Why am I supposed to be marrying him? And when I mentioned marrying Lua-chan, Rutna-chan looked at me suspiciously. It’s surprising enough that I’m getting married at my age, and normally, one would expect a male partner, especially with the honorific. This is giving me a headache. If they look down on me, I’d be incredibly sad, and I don’t know what to do.
“That girl hasn’t made up her mind yet, brother.”
“Brandark.”
I clearly heard Brandark’s voice as he entered without knocking. He would listen when it came to family matters, including his siblings. He turned to face Brandark, engaging with him. This was different from just being a strange person. Even with Rash and Rutna-chan present, he seemed completely unfazed, as if he couldn’t see them from the start.
“Anyone would think long and hard about marrying a handsome guy like you, especially if he’s from the Nation of Vandalsia. They’d wonder if they’re good enough or if they could be of any help.”
“I see your point.”
“That’s why I think she needs a push. If we create that opportunity, things will go smoothly.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, as expected of Brandark. Do you have any plans?”
“How about this, brother?”
I, of course, rejected this horrifying proposal. But I had no right to refuse, nor any means to escape. I had never wished to be stronger than I did at that moment. I had tried not to think about it, but now I couldn’t help but think that if Lua-chan were here, she could easily defeat these two.
“Hey! What do you think you’re trying to make my sister do?!”
Rash unleashed a fierce Blaze Shot aimed at Alcist. It was reckless, especially with Brandark present. Perhaps the blood rushed to his head; right after firing the Blaze Shot, he began chanting again, determined to strike hard. However, the fireball struck the wall of the mansion instead. Normally, it would be a mid-level spell capable of incinerating not just the wall but the room next door, yet it only scorched it slightly. The blackened and dirty wall bore witness to the attack’s outcome. The more pressing issue was that Alcist hadn’t even attempted to dodge. The Blaze Shot passed through him as if he were nothing.
“Hey, hey, hey, boy, what are you doing? The material here is all mithril. This is the result of humans mining it.”
“No way! Do you have any idea how much of that is needed? No, more importantly, why…?”
With a light exhale, Alcist finally turned his gaze to Rash. But surprisingly, he looked shocked, as if he had just realized Rash was there.
“Where did you come from? This is troublesome; you’ve dirtied my wall.”
“Uh, I, um… I’ve been here from the start… Guh?!”
Alcist’s fist struck Rash’s small body right in the solar plexus. As Rash fell to the floor, his face turning a sickly shade of blue, Alcist looked down at him coldly.
“To trample into someone’s home and dirty it—this is unacceptable, don’t you think? Your parents must be quite foolish to raise a child without the qualifications to be a parent. Honestly, don’t despair when I’m about to build a new family with my fiancée. I want at least ten children, and I won’t allow a poorly raised child like you to be one of them. Unlike your indifferent parents, I’m focused on the bigger picture of family. Do you understand? At this point, our mindsets are worlds apart. I can’t even help you with your upbringing, nor do I intend to. Oh, and don’t start coughing up blood!”
“Stop it, you perverted bastard!”
“Um! Please forgive him!”
I shouted to stop Alcist, who was about to deliver another kick. He paused mid-kick, listening to my voice. Rutna-chan tried to grab Alcist’s arm, but it slipped right through, nearly causing her to fall. I didn’t know what to do against this unfathomable presence, but I had no choice but to act this way.
“Why is that, my fiancée?”
“B-because I like the kind Alcist-sama!”
To protect Rash’s dignity while also stopping Alcist, this was my only option. I would never casually use the word “like.” Not even as a tactic. If this didn’t stop him, I’d have to think of something else.
“I see, my apologies, fiancée. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
The chill that ran through me when he embraced me was overwhelming, and I felt like trembling. But I had to endure it.
“Hehehe, how pitiful. With so many scary people around, I think I’ll take my leave for now.”
“Hey, Necromancer, I don’t know what you’re plotting, but remember, you can’t do anything.”
“Ah, I’ll remember.”
Even Juо seemed to have no choice but to retreat in the face of these two vicious evil nobles. He deftly dodged Brandark’s provocation and quietly vanished. What was he plotting? Nothing at all. The only things driving him were his resentment towards this world and the curse he bore. My feelings for him were likely secondary compared to those two motivations. In a way, he was more frightening than the two evil nobles present.
“Shall we head out right away?”
As Alcist pulled me closer, I walked alongside him to fulfill Brandark’s suggestion. I was certain I would regret this. Alcist, who seemed to underestimate Lua-chan, likely didn’t even realize her existence. He would definitely come to regret it. The Lua-chan I believed in was not someone to be trifled with.
“What’s wrong, fiancée?”
In the end, it seemed I had no choice but to rely on Lua-chan. With a hint of disappointment, I could only look up at Alcist’s handsome face.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Arena ◆
[You have defeated the Destruction King’s Minister, Parack! HP 0/23900]
As soon as the match began, everyone underwent End, transforming into monsters before my eyes, reminding me of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Demon Lord Army. Garlyle and the others had perished, but those ministers managed to complete their transformation properly. My beloved parents and the villagers had been caught up in experiments that claimed the lives of countless others. All for something like this. It was then that I realized I had just slain one of the ministers. The two remaining nobles finally noticed the absence of one of their own. Wait, were there really only two left?
“W-What?! Hotts was taken out in one blow… Did my negotiation skills fail?”
“Negotiation appeals to the opponent’s psyche… If you’re instantly killed, there’s nothing you can do.”
“That’s why she’s the Flash Strike Girl. How infuriating!”
One minister resembled a pig-human, while the other looked like a Golem made of clay. Despite their appearances, they were engaging in conversation. Even the Demon Lords had struggled with such power, yet these two transformed so easily. I wondered how they felt about it. I glanced at the Demon Lord, but his expression remained as emotionless as ever.
“Why do you two hold a grudge against me?”
[Hotts, the Destruction King’s Minister, uses Vertical Slash! Lua dodges gracefully!]
A large lizard suddenly appeared, swinging its claws from behind. It had shown no signs of presence until now; where had it come from? I remembered—there were still three opponents left. This was the same one that had ambushed Elmera, yet I had completely forgotten about it until it revealed itself.
“You dodged at such close range?!”
“That was close. I almost forgot there was one more.”
“Even with Parack’s ability to blend into the environment…”
I suspected that it wasn’t just about blending in like a chameleon; it also made the opponent forget about him. It felt a bit off, but it had to be right.
“That chameleon-like uncle is impressive. No wonder Elmera got ambushed.”
“I-I blended in using my power… Just like the patterns and cracks on the floor, I push myself out of the opponent’s awareness! That’s my ability!”
“I see.”
“Hmph! Such a weak reaction?”
“Well, there were much scarier monsters in the Abyss Cave…”
Finally, after his lengthy explanation, I felt a bit clearer. Parack’s bulging eyes were clearly agitated. And Vandalsia kept chuckling, which was infuriating. What was so funny?
“What will you do, Kamran? This is far too disadvantageous.”
“Clearing personal grudges is no easy task…”
“What are you saying?! Because of this brat, I— I—”
“What have I done to you, uncles?”
“That’s obvious! How much I’ve suffered because of you, the one responsible for national defense, Kamran! I was saved by a single girl, and now I have nowhere to stand! The defenses of this country only need the Flash Strike Girl; I’m just a pig warming a chair, and I’m ridiculed for it! Do you understand the pain and humiliation of that?!”
I was left speechless by his sudden outburst. I recalled how several times the kingdom’s envoys had tried to recruit me. It was as if I had fought with the King and parted ways, yet they persistently visited Maison. Normally, I would have been imprisoned for treason, but as Klinika had said, they were afraid of us. I had known for a while that if we got serious, we could bring the country to ruin, and the surrounding evaluations were quite something.
“You ignored my envoys time and time again, you brat! There’s no choice left but to make you the cornerstone of national defense!”
“I-I don’t know anything about that…”
I hadn’t done anything. I was just nervously wondering if I had done something wrong, and instead of disappointment, anger began to rise within me. Did they really want to kill me, even after turning into these clay Golems?
“You are also a source of my troubles, the Environment Minister Hotts.”
“What now…?”
The lizard uncle walked on two legs, patting along. I thought it was impressive how he switched from four-legged to bipedal movement.
“I was originally opposed to the adventurer policy set forth by the King. I dedicated myself to protecting nature, not just in the Royal Capital but also in the forests… You, no, you adventurers destroy nature! Under the guise of hunting, you drive even endangered species to extinction, not just monsters but animals too! Not just harmful beasts! You’re no different from termites!”
“B-But Klinika said that protected monsters and animals shouldn’t be hunted. I haven’t hunted anything.”
“Violators are never-ending! Adventurers are all utterly devoid of education! No matter how much you strengthen the penalties, it’s meaningless! And the high-ranked adventurers with achievements are overlooked by that foolish king because they’re valuable to the country! That old fool!”
“That’s not my fault!”
“Shut up! Just being an adventurer is a sin!”
[Hotts, the Destruction King’s Minister, uses My Protect!]
As the lizard’s form vanished, I almost forgot about the very opponent I had been speaking to. If I could forget even after being attacked right in front of me, that was quite a skill.
[Hotts, the Destruction King’s Minister, uses Vertical Slash! Lua dodges gracefully!]
The lizard from the Abyss Cave attacked while disappearing, but it seemed I had to reveal myself to retaliate. That made it easy to counterattack.
[Lua’s attack! Dealt 5,927,499 damage to Hotts, the Destruction King’s Minister!
You have defeated Hotts, the Destruction King’s Minister! HP 0/17,200]
“The one who attacked Elmera was someone else, right? That one had tentacles.”
“W-Why can you dodge…?!”
The spirit of the clay Golem and the pig-human was fading. When asked why, I could only say that I was able to react. If they were getting scared, they should just stop, but now the pig-human was shaking its massive body and charging at me.
“Consumption! 100,000 gold!”
[Zenigeban, the Destruction King’s Minister, uses Gold Crush! Lua dodges gracefully!]
The speed that belied his hefty body was explosive, shattering the arena floor. In an instant, the battleground was on the verge of collapse, riddled with cracks. But if this round platform broke, I would fall into the bottomless pit surrounding it. Was that really okay?
“Ugh! Even 100,000 gold can be dodged?!”
“What grudge do you have against me, uncle?”
“I bet 1 billion gold on Tiferia winning the Combat Tournament! And because of you, I lost a fortune! What will you do about it?!”
“B-Betting…?”
Seigel also liked to gamble, didn’t he? If you won, you could earn a lot of money, but if you lost, you would suffer significant losses. I couldn’t understand what was so fun about it, but adults seemed to love gambling.
“I’ve heard rumors for a long time that Zenigeban has been embezzling part of the taxes earned through hard work. Since he became the Finance Minister, the accounts have never added up, and there are all sorts of unexplained expenses! Confess!”
“What does a filthy little soldier know?! I’m the one sweating and working hard! I’m the one who’s sleepless, worrying about financial management and fund allocation, and yet you lot keep whining about how I should allocate funds or how the dividends are wrong! You should have given me some return for all your complaints! Zenigeban, ha ha ha ha!”
“It’s too horrible to even look at… I can’t apologize enough as a fellow citizen…”
I managed to get Ritta to confess, but now she’s feeling down. It seems that the adult world is tougher than she expected. Still, there was no need for her to turn into that pig-human. If work was hard, she could have consulted someone; there must have been plenty of options. If it were me, I would have turned to Kurinka, and if it were Shin, he would have sought help from the Demon Lord. Surely, there had to be at least one person she could rely on.
“Kamran! Let’s settle this once and for all!”
“Bring it on! Hmmm!”
The Weapon Festival of Kamran, the Destruction King’s Minister!
From the body of the Clay Golem, a club as long as four adults emerges. Zenigeban pulls it out, and I expect him to swing it mightily.
“Kamran can produce weapons with his entire body! When I wield that weapon, this is what happens! Consumption! Ten million gold!”
The spikes on the club are unleashed, causing explosions in all directions. It was a storm of violence that could destroy not just the arena, but the entire town.
Rua’s Attack!
I obliterate the pig-human and the club, the shockwave crashing into the Clay Golem. Not a single piece of clay remains from the weapon that was supposed to emerge from its body.
You dealt 5,403,844 damage to Kamran, the Destruction King’s Minister!
You have defeated Kamran, the Destruction King’s Minister! HP 0/26,000
You dealt 5,714,927 damage to Zenigeban, the Destruction King’s Minister!
You have defeated Zenigeban, the Destruction King’s Minister! HP 0/20,900
All that remains is the floor where Kamran and Zenigeban once stood, now carved into a gash. The opposing wall bears the marks of the slashes, gouged deeply. Thanks to Zenigeban’s earlier attack, the ground is already shaky. Parts of it are crumbling, and stones tumble down into the dark abyss below.
“Ahh! Oh no, I’m falling!”
“Behind you! Run back!”
“W-What a monster! That’s not a human!”
Above the gouged walls, the audience seats are filled with monsters. They shove each other aside, desperately trying to escape further inside.
“Where did those two go?!”
“Can’t you tell? They were blown away in a single strike…!”
“I never heard that a human brat could be this strong!”
“That killing intent… Why is something like that lurking among humans…?”
I feel like this isn’t the first time I’ve been called a monster. No matter how many times I hear it, I can’t get used to it, even if the one saying it is a monster.
“Exactly! With that kind of power, you could easily dominate humans!”
“If you don’t like someone, you could just kill them!”
“No… Are you really a human?!”
Their tone has shifted from insults to something closer to desperation, as if they’re on the verge of tears. Though their voices are loud, there’s an underlying weakness to them.
“Fufu, I’m indeed curious. Why do you waste such power?”
“Shut up, don’t compare me to the King of Destruction.”
As always, he looks down at me, resting his elbows on the chair. Glare beside him glares fiercely, making me wonder if she’ll be the next to fight.
“Hmmm. I never thought you could defeat Rua, but those four were rare examples among the candidates who could draw out their potential… Especially Zenigeban, who should be able to nullify attacks from those with lesser power. It’s quite perplexing.”
Belmund strokes his chin, tilting his head in confusion. Even Belmund seems unaware of the Divine Nature. The true horror of Zenigeban’s power lies in its inability to be fully unleashed; that is the essence of “destruction.” I don’t even understand the limits of what can be destroyed and what cannot. Sometimes I wonder if I even deserve to hold such power.
“Next card.”
“Huh?”
“I won’t say it twice.”
“Y-Yes!”
The large-mouthed demon, who hadn’t spoken until now, finally regains his senses at Vandalsia’s urging.
“The next execution card is… Executioners Dodomes and Garibo! The sinner is Rua!”
“M-Me?!”
“Why me?!”
The executioners among the audience turn pale and confused. Just moments ago, they would have eagerly come to kill me. But now, they seem utterly terrified, ready to flee at any moment. The monster with a head resembling a slug and the stout, spiky-headed creature with brown skin are both looking around in a panic.
“Didn’t you hear? Come out!”
“…Yes.”
“And I will also announce the cards for the next thousand battles. Rua, you will fight without rest. If you cause too much destruction, the ground itself will vanish, so be careful… Fufu.”
This is it. My intuition was right. Vandalsia intended to corner me from the very beginning. Those two monsters are no match for me; I’m confident I could take them down the moment the fight begins. But a thousand battles? If I fight that long, I might let my guard down. Plus, with this crumbling ground, if it breaks, I’ll fall straight down.
“Vandalsia… Are you really that afraid of me?”
“Don’t try to provoke me. You have no choice but to fight.”
“…Fine, I’ll do it.”
“However, I possess a sliver of mercy. If you survive until the 999th battle, I will prepare a reward for you on the 1000th. How about it? Doesn’t that motivate you a bit?”
“You’re really infuriating! You’re weaker than me!”
Just as Vandalsia said, I’m not good at provoking others. The more I get angry, the more he laughs. Everything is going just as he planned.
“Lord Daigami…”
For some reason, I find myself looking at Lord Daigami. Am I really in such a dire situation that I’m seeking help from the divine being who is merely observing from his seated position? A thousand battles; I’ll probably be fighting from night until morning.
“It’s way easier than when I was in the Abyss Cave.”
This isn’t bravado or anything. Back then, I fought without sleep, unable to find a place to rest. Compared to that, a thousand battles seem trivial.
“If I rebel here, I’ll just be killed by that being. So, I might as well go all in!”
“Me too! I’m in!”
Dodomes and Garibo, who have just emerged, are in a reckless state. It’s unfortunate for them, but I’ll finish this quickly.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The troubles of the old men are truly serious.
Day in and day out, they work, stress mounts, and before they know it,
Life’s end approaches, and the days go unrewarded.
If it weren’t for Rua, they wouldn’t have strayed from the path.
Rua has unknowingly caused destruction everywhere.
The Divine Nature of Destruction is fearsome.
Just kidding.
I can understand selling one’s soul to a demon for a hundred pieces of gold.
But why challenge Rua?
Well, if they didn’t know about the Divine Nature of Destruction,
They might have thought they could win with the power of a pig.
Pigs are dangerous.
However, time and again, they’ve saved the kingdom from crises and cut down monsters.
I can’t comprehend the thought of challenging that monster.
And then, the execution.
Shin sleeps, definitely sleeps.
Stay strong, Shin! But still, sleep. Puhihi.
So cold.