Near Noibranz Royal Capital
As I rushed over to Formas, who lay defeated and in a pitiful state, it was clear that Ai and the others had completely broken free from his control. With Doomneat no longer in this world, it was only natural. Yet, Ai seemed to show a hint of pity for Formas.
“…Believing in someone like him was the Demon Sword’s fault. However, if we had possessed a stronger will, perhaps we could have saved him.”
“You’re so kind, big sister… I’m just furious.”
I understood Ai’s feelings, but I couldn’t see any way to save Formas. He was a hopeless case, yet I didn’t feel the urge to kill him. There was pity, yes, but compared to the Demon Lord Army, his misdeeds paled in comparison. After all, Formas had only come this far out of resentment towards us. He hadn’t killed that many people. I hoped.
“That’s the end of that man.”
“If Kurinka is satisfied, then I’m fine with it too. But are we just going to leave him like this?”
“Yeah. If it’s him, he can survive even naked. The people of Noibranz will probably take him in.”
“I see. He was a rich man who looked down on others, so now he can live in poverty.”
Perhaps now he would be the one looked down upon. That would be fine by me. But…
“But what if he comes back seeking revenge? What about you, Ai?”
“When that time comes, I’ll just have to become strong enough not to lose.”
“If he comes back, I’ll kill him for sure.”
“Wow, kill… heh, heh.”
I should have answered like Ai, peacefully. Maybe my true feelings slipped out there. If he comes back, I think I would kill him a few times. I would make sure to inflict thorough pain so that he would never dare approach us again, and just for good measure, I would set him in despair with Disballade.
“Lua-chan, why do you have such an evil look on your face?”
“I’m not! I was just thinking about how many times I would kill Formas if he attacked us again…”
“…I wouldn’t want to do that either, and more than anything, Ai and the others are scared.”
It’s true. They weren’t just scared; they were terrified to their core. They were probably swallowing hard, thinking they might be killed too. I might have gotten a bit carried away, thanks to Kurinka’s power.
“W-Well, putting aside that Formas for now, Kurinka, the real show is about to begin, right?”
“That’s right. Hey, listen, Ai. About your levels—”
“It seems we have guests.”
Aboro pretended not to know, even though he clearly did. It was like a mirage on a hot day, something akin to a heat haze. Until it took a clear shape, I couldn’t tell who it was.
“Kurinka, those people with the umbrella-like hats are…?”
“They’re wearing Uzei Religion outfits…”
There were five of them in total, and the one in the center was probably Ryoho. His face was hidden by the umbrella hat, but I could tell. The confident smile he wore suggested he had brought something to the table that gave him an edge over us. We had long since deduced that the Uzei Religion was responsible for the Special Operations Unit’s abnormal levels. It was only natural that those people would be at that level too. With that flickering, it was clear they possessed skills we were unaware of.
“Long time no see, both of you. Today, we have come because we could no longer stand by and watch the outrageous behavior of our followers.”
“W-Wait a minute! You said to act according to our hearts!”
“That’s right! I just followed Enkal’s words, so please let us go!”
“Are you still saying that?!”
The desperate pleas from Enkal and Shim were laced with fear. I knew Ryoho and the others were a greater threat than the Special Operations Unit, but their level of fear was strange. The way Enkal and Shim argued and blamed each other only made it clear that something terrifying was about to happen.
“Enkal and Shim, is it? Despite the ample time I took to preach to you, it seems you have not understood at all.”
“We listened for ten hours without food or water! There’s no way we didn’t understand!”
“Heard…?”
“N-No! You spoke to us!”
“Then you should have understood.”
It was an amusing exchange, but trying to converse with this person was futile. We knew all too well that the Uzei Religion was always right and would not acknowledge anything else. They were the type to try to make even what they wouldn’t acknowledge into a part of the Uzei Religion.
“It is not special that you have received the blessings of the Divine Being. This was, in a sense, a trial. ‘Act according to your heart’—that is indeed true. However, you were driven by your own desires, and as a result… you have strayed far from the teachings.”
“What the hell… so you were deceiving us from the start…?”
“If you had properly understood the teachings, this situation would not have arisen. The time for selection has come.”
“Wait! I truly believe in the Uzei Religion… g-gah! Is it… okay to… kill people… gack!”
“A tainted soul is a sin; it must be sent to the heavens.”
As Ryoho raised one hand in front of his face and began to chant something, Enkal coughed up blood. It wasn’t just Enkal; Shim and Argil were also starting to bleed from their mouths, pressing their hands against them.
“Lua, I… I… g-gah!”
“Ahh, ugh…!”
“Ai, Mai! Kurinka… this is just like what happened with Lester!”
A moment’s hesitation could be fatal. Why had we secluded ourselves in the Abyss Cave to train relentlessly? It wasn’t to instill the fear of death in the Special Operations Unit. That was merely a byproduct. What we truly wanted to achieve was right here, in this moment.
“I won’t let anyone die!”
The purifying light I had shown on the Ghost Ship spread wide enough to illuminate the Royal Capital. Kurinka’s white robe billowed from the magical energy overflowing from her, yet not a single pebble on the ground moved. It wasn’t just a display of violent magic; Kurinka was acting solely to save.
“Oh… What is this?”
“Just because the Uzei Religion is right… no, just because Madias is right doesn’t mean everything will go as they wish, Ryoho.”
“I see, regeneration, is it? A power even the Divine Being abhors… but it is futile.”
Though everyone’s suffering eased, they were still gasping and desperately curling up. It was true that at this rate, it might be difficult. Kurinka had done her best, but it was still tough for her to stand against Madias’s power alone.
“The power of the Divine Being surpasses even regeneration. Regeneration can make the impossible possible, but it is not everything. The power of the Divine Being… ‘miracles’ can make everything possible.”
“Miracles… you don’t mean…”
“Ahhh, it hurts! It hurts so much! My body is… tearing apart!”
Enkal trembled, drooling and shaking, blood starting to flow from his joints. This was just like what happened with Lester. The power of Madias was enough to repel even Kurinka’s regeneration.
“This is a miracle.”
A miracle, the power to bring about things that shouldn’t happen or are hard to happen. If Madias could freely invoke that, then even I might not stand a chance. If that were truly the case…
“But I’m here.”
I plunged Disballade into the ground, unleashing a gust of wind around me, just like when Aboro had appeared. Not only did it sweep away small stones, but it also engulfed the fallen and suffering Special Operations Unit, creating a force that kept everything at bay. Naturally, Ai and the others were caught up in it, but that was fine.
Ryoho and the others, mistaking it for an attack, stood there calmly, wearing smug grins. I wanted to tell them that it wasn’t an attack, but I ignored them. What I wanted to achieve was to deliver “destruction.” Surely, this gust of wind wouldn’t kill anyone or cause any destruction.
“If Madias’s power is to obstruct ‘regeneration’… then I will ‘destroy’ it.”
The wind ceased, and the surroundings fell silent. The silence meant that I could no longer hear anyone’s groans. Though blood flowed from their bodies, nothing more happened.
“Kurinka, once more.”
“…Angel Recover.”
With the finishing touch of the wide-area healing spell, Angel Recover, I restored the Special Operations Unit’s bodies to their original state. Yes, their original state. A gentle light enveloped them, and they felt as if they were being relaxed from the core of their bodies, regaining their strength. As expected of Kurinka. The Special Operations Unit, who had been so unruly, now sat on the ground like well-trained pets, completely subdued.
“Enkal, how do you feel?”
“My body… feels heavy…”
“Yeah. You returned to your original level with that. Don’t hold a grudge against me.”
“…What good would holding a grudge do?”
This person no longer had any fighting spirit. The other members looked dazed, still basking in the afterglow of the healing magic. It wasn’t just the effects of Kurinka’s healing magic or regeneration. They had grown stronger, yet they couldn’t match Aboro or me, and worse, their lives had been saved. At this point, anyone would lose the will to fight.
“This shouldn’t… be happening…”
“Ryoho, that wasn’t so much the power of Madias… It was more that you ignored the Level Cap, causing your body to be unable to withstand it and nearly collapse. It looked like your power for a moment, though.”
“I was supposed to have received the decision of selection from Lord Zeda… How could this happen… Ahhh!”
“Ryoho-sensei!”
The other four rushed to support Ryoho, who was in a state of near frenzy. It seemed that this was far beyond what he had anticipated. The fact that the power he believed in, Madias, was surpassed by us felt like a loss for Kurinka, akin to her defeat. No, perhaps I should refrain from making that comparison.
“Ryoho, I don’t intend to deny what you believe in. But what do you plan to make people believe through such underhanded methods?”
“It is the will of the Divine Being! Therefore, everything is just!”
“Madias, huh? If that god is indeed correct, then we will move believing in ourselves.”
“If you continue to threaten human lives and livelihoods…”
Kurinka and I stood side by side, holding hands. The gaze we directed at the five, including Ryoho, was the same as one we would have for an enemy we were about to fight. In other words…
“We will defeat Madias.”
Our voices perfectly overlapped. The phrasing of “we will defeat” instead of “we will try to defeat” might have been Kurinka’s consideration. Our resolve was already set. We had witnessed the same things up to this point. While our thoughts and intentions might have differed, the conclusion we reached was the same. It was not just about destruction and rebirth, nor merely the completion of techniques. We might as well be one in spirit.
“Destruction and rebirth… It must not be! It goes against reason and defies the Divine Being! Your great sins will surely be purified one day! It will happen in the heavens, at the feet of the Divine Being! There will be… nothing left! Just watch! You will soon understand… the righteousness of that being!”
The figures of Ryoho and the others began to fade away slowly. Just like when they arrived, they shimmered like heat haze before shrinking and completely disappearing. I wondered what kind of skill that was. Now that I think about it, Rulud had done something similar while fighting Branburm. If that’s the case, we need to be cautious.
“…It seems they’ve left. They weren’t foolish enough to challenge us to a fight.”
“Well, Aboro is here too.”
“Don’t rely on him. That little pest is of no use. And what about you? You let them escape so easily.”
“Even if we defeated Ryoho and the others… For that person, losing Madias would be the greatest pain. They were in such a frenzy earlier, and I wonder what would happen if we were to defeat that god.”
“A living corpse or a choice of death. This isn’t just about those humans. I ask you, do you intend to proceed with that in mind?”
Aboro must have known what I would say. Yet, he deliberately waited for me to respond. I would have struggled with this a while ago. Madias isn’t inherently evil like Vandalsia. The meaning of defeating him…
“I will defeat him.”
“I see.”
It was a brief exchange that was all too obvious. Even if someone were to suffer misfortune, if we did nothing, we would be the ones to suffer. Just like Ai and the others, who would be caught up in it. Even Pablo’s shop has competitors, and perhaps one of them might lose and end up in misfortune. Yet, that person continues to do what they want. The Circus Troupe, no matter how tough it gets, keeps pushing forward. I already know. It’s perhaps the very essence of being an Adventurer, the greatest joy.
“A salute to those who have saved our nation twice!”
The captain of the Dragon Knights, Rudred, expressed his gratitude to us against the backdrop of his unit. Yes, bringing joy to others. This is the greatest reward. Whether it was someone who helped find a lost pet or saved a life, the feeling of gratitude is the same. Even if they were once our enemies, I felt we could understand each other a little better through this. Whether it’s cooking a meal and hearing it’s delicious or performing and bringing joy.
Ultimately, the rewards gained are the same, whether one is an Adventurer or a chef. Without that, I might not have become an Adventurer at all. It’s different from the time when I merely wished to become one out of admiration. Now, I have something clearly defined.
“I don’t expect monetary rewards, but that alone is sufficient.”
“There are injured people here, yet you came out just for us. That alone makes me happy…”
“I feel like I’ve learned a little too.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Well then… we must eliminate the immediate threat.”
Aboro diverted my question, staring in one direction. Far beyond that point lies the Holy Nation of Uzei. Here, the Uzei Religion has caused yet another incident. It was the Special Operations Unit that challenged Noibranz, but it was the Uzei Religion that empowered them. Madias. In other words, we’ve angered someone we absolutely cannot afford to make an enemy of.
“Uze… You should have quietly pretended to be the Hero.”
Just clenching his fist seemed to generate a pressure as if even the air was trembling. Even the Special Operations Unit, who were not the target of his anger, couldn’t tear their eyes away from Aboro. They were paralyzed by fear, unable to move, their minds blank.
That was just a glimpse of Aboro’s “Demonic Wrath,” and it was terrifying. I suspect he has rarely shown his true strength even against heroes. Just facing someone like him is a testament to how incredibly strong those heroes must be, both in spirit and body.
“I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Aboro left a parting remark to Rudred and kicked off the ground, soaring into the sky. Even his departure was fierce. Rudred remained in a salute, expressing gratitude not just to me but also to Aboro.
“Shin… Shooting Girl… No, Rua.”
“…Argil?”
“I thank you.”
His voice sounded small and hurried, then he slumped down and fell silent. I couldn’t tell if it was fear that rendered him speechless or if he was genuinely grateful. The other members reluctantly stood up, bowing their heads.
“I understand now… You and that monster are on a different stage than us… It’s not just about levels; it’s a fundamental difference… Forgive me for my numerous rudenesses… I beg you…”
“That’s fine, really…”
It felt as if he was pleading for his life. The once boisterous Enkal was now in tears, sniffling. At this point, I couldn’t help but respond coldly.
“Rua-san, Kurinka-san. Words cannot express how much I owe you both. I will never forget the pain I felt earlier…”
“We really can’t do anything more for you… But if something happens, please call out to us, okay? We will absolutely do our best to help.”
“Thank you. Just hearing you say that makes it worth it. You three and the others from the Special Operations Unit… It might sound strange coming from me, but I believe there are wonderful things beyond just becoming stronger…”
Of course, no one answered. I didn’t think anything I said would have any effect, and this was their problem now. Watching the sinking Special Operations Unit, I was convinced once again. Who was it that elevated the Special Operations Unit and ordered them to attack Noibranz?
“Kurinka, let’s go clean up. We will reclaim Avangarde.”
“Okay!”
How many times have we opposed the Kingdom of Avangarde now? It doesn’t matter if we turn the nation against us. Those without any convictions, who toy with the nation itself, will be made to relinquish the title of the world’s strongest. From now on, I will be the world’s strongest.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Don’t kill Shin either.