『§†ヾ†□∮‡‡￠――――』
“——【Rock Blast】——”
The demon resembling a white maid—Colette—emitted chaotic miasma from her mouth, which Carla countered with countless stone shots.
Dooooom!!
The shockwave from the collision mowed down evacuees and knights alike, even destroying the outer walls of the venue. Amidst the screams and death throes of those showered in rubble and debris, they moved the battlefield outside the castle.
“Carla!”
Count Leicester, the head court magician who had been protecting the royal family with wind magic, gnashed his teeth at his daughter’s actions that were spreading the damage. Clara, protected by the Royal Knights and Elvan, trembled at the sound coming from the direction of the city.
“I can… hear a song.”
『――――――――――――――――――――――！！！』
Colette, floating in the sky above the Royal Capital, amplified her voice across a wide area.
A melody from the demon realm that humans couldn’t even comprehend. The people of the Royal Capital, like Clara, trembled at the sound of her song, but there were also those who were captivated by it.
Temple Knights of the Holy Church, devout believers… those who had once been bewitched by the Saint’s appearance and still believed in her, and nobles who had been deeply involved in trying to exploit her, stopped in their tracks, gazing up at Colette floating in the sky with expressions as if they were in a “dream”—and then, the abnormality began.
“……Ugh… aaaaaaahhhhhhh!”
Groans of agony escaped from those individuals, foam bubbling from their mouths. As those around them rushed to the side of their neighbors who had suddenly begun to suffer, those individuals began to attack other humans with yellowish, clouded eyes.
The power of the Nightmare deepens the more one believes. Those who had been captivated by the Saint’s bewitchment and approached her with various intentions had fallen into the trap of the “demon” at her side, their minds deeply entangled in a “nightmare.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Whether some semblance of their original selves remained, the heart-wrenching cries of those who had laid their hands on their wives, husbands, parents, and children echoed.
Colette, bathed in the harvested “negative” emotions, wore an ecstatic smile, and the Mana emanating from her entire body overflowed as if it had increased.
【Nightmare Colette】【Race: Greater Demon】【Difficulty Rank 6】
【Mana Capacity: 4721/4812】
【Overall Combat Strength: 5193/5293】
“——【Flare Brid】——”
But at that moment, dozens of fireballs rained down like a storm upon those who were screaming, and the remnants of the believers sank into the flames that burned the city.
“Black-haired… woman!”
“Fufu.”
Colette let out a voice of resentment, which Carla mocked. As they both amplified their Mana, an even more fiercely burning giant of flames appeared, as if breaking through the buildings that had begun to burn.
“Ugoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
【Amor】【Race:――】
【Mana Capacity: 608/630】【HP:――/――】
【Overall Combat Strength: 3856】
【Super Regeneration】【Confusion】
Burned by Carla’s flames, the maddened giant of Worms rampaged while scattering flames, and the remains of Amor, having found one of his hated enemies, let out a cry of madness.
“Caaaaarlaaaaaaa!!”
Amor grabbed a massive piece of rubble and hurled it at Carla, who was dancing in the night sky. Carla coldly looked down at it, and the stone shot she fired pierced and shattered the rubble.
Just as Amor began to climb a building to launch a direct attack, and leaped from the rooftop—
“Gaaaaaaaah!!”
A jet-black whirlwind blew through, and a single strike from a massive claw sent Amor’s giant body flying.
【Nero】【Race: Kuaal】【Mystic Beast Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 312/330】【HP: 520/520】
【Overall Combat Strength: 2541 (Body Enhancement in progress: 3210)】
“Beasttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt”
“Gaaaaaaaah!”
Nero and Amor, the Worm giant, chasing after their escaped prey, collided while roaring, collapsing several buildings and further spreading the ravages of war.
The screams of people could be heard from afar. The cries of people fleeing in panic. And even from here, it was clear that fires had broken out in the Royal Capital.
“Aaaaliciaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The “Licia” that had been glimpsed for a moment disappeared, and once again, that woman attacked with erratic movements.
Clang!
I dodged the fist swung with terrifying speed and slashed at her defenseless arm, but the strike that I had put all my strength into, intending to break bone, was stopped by bone. I received a blow from the arm swung haphazardly with my Dagger, and was blown away.
“Tch!”
I took distance, rotating like an acrobat while greatly flourishing the hem of my dress.
“Kyahahahaaaaaaa!”
That woman immediately pursued. I also tried to regain my posture, but that woman’s speed exceeded my expectations.
Her fighting style was erratic, but her physical abilities far surpassed the limits of the human body. It was already a movement that a human couldn’t possibly make. At that rate, her body should be collapsing just from moving, but the parasitizing Worms were probably repairing it at the same time.
The wounds I had already inflicted were also being filled in by Worms. Probably, like Amor, “Licia” would disappear the moment everything but the Magic Stone was replaced.
“Alicia-sama, we will assist you!”
But at that moment, perhaps because the evacuation of the general public was mostly complete, some of the knights rushed over.
“Don’t approach carelessly!”
Common sense doesn’t work on that woman who has lost her mind. But the knights, as a matter of course, tried to neutralize her, who had been a Saint. But—
“Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Gah!?”
That woman conversely struck the shield that a knight had struck at her, and the knight, who had been blown away with such force that his right arm and shield were crushed, was slammed into the floor.
That woman attacked the knight, trying to follow up with another strike. But, in that instant, I regained my posture and shot out like an arrow, holding my Black Dagger.
“——【Critical Edge】——”
“What!?”
I unleashed a Combat Art with a single, sure-kill strike. Even if she didn’t know the technique of the Combat Art, that woman’s face twisted as she realized that the strike was aimed at the Magic Stone in her heart.
——Gakin!
“——Tch!”
But that woman showed a movement impossible for a human, and managed to deflect the aim of the Combat Art. Because of that, my strike didn’t land a critical hit and was blocked by Worms and bone as a normal attack.
If I crushed the Magic Stone in her heart, that woman should disappear. But, just like when I tried to crush it with a stone before and couldn’t, there was a risk that it couldn’t be destroyed with a normal attack, so I used a Combat Art, but aiming at a small Magic Stone wasn’t easy.
But, perhaps even such a strike had grazed the Magic Stone slightly, as that woman’s condition changed.
“——Aaaah… gaaaaaah… gaaaaah… gaaaaah… gaaaaah…”
Her entire body began to tremble violently, and as she spewed blood as if her flesh was tearing apart, Worms burst out and wrapped around her entire body, forming the upper half of a woman made of Worms, clinging to Licia’s body.
“Aliciaaa…”
The Worms even formed hair, and the aggregate of Worms that had become that woman’s face called my name.
“Y-you monster!”
The knights, facing that woman who had already become inhuman, pointed their weapons as if to protect me, who had just used a Combat Art.
“Don’t get in my waaaaaay!”
“Kyahahahahaha!”
In response, the Worm woman and Licia’s face wore the same expression, and attacked the knights with four arms. The knights also blocked with their shields and slashed with swords and spears, but their weapons, not anticipating such a monster, were not the large ones used on the battlefield.
“Guoh!”
The knights’ swinging blades didn’t penetrate the surface of the Worms, and they were defeated, unable to completely block with their shields.
Thud!!
But, a ball-shaped Pendulum, taking advantage of that momentary gap, struck Licia’s temple, scattering blood as it blew her away.
“Fall back! That thing isn’t normal!”
I launched the Pendulum, and used its thread to entangle and pull the knights away from that woman.
“……Aliciaaaaa!!”
Even with a blow that would instantly kill a human, that woman didn’t stop. The blood-soaked Licia’s face glared at me with just her eyeballs, and attacked me without chasing after the knights.
“…………”
My right arm has a buildup of Mana heat from the previous Combat Art, but my left arm can still move. Both legs have the long hem of the dress, but because I released the slit on the right side, it doesn’t hinder my movement that much.
Right now, which is the main body, the Worms or Licia? Where is that woman’s Magic Stone?
But, either way is fine. I had been conserving it in preparation for the battle with Carla, but I’ll stop worrying about remaining strength.
That woman and Licia, I’ll kill them both for you, as promised.
“——【Dancing Ripper】——”
A full-powered four-hit combo unleashed with just my left arm, but I forcibly gathered the mana that should have gone to my right arm into my legs using Mana Control, unleashing another four-hit combo with the blades on the tips of my toes.
The hem of my black dress spread out like a peacock’s tail, and the unorthodox eight-hit combo tore apart Licia and the Worm’s body, blowing them away with each strike, smashing through the still-intact stained-glass windows and sending them flying outside the castle.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
The final kick sliced Licia’s neck halfway through, and the Worm’s body, screaming, detached from Licia and flew towards the demon as if fleeing.
Thud!
Licia’s remaining, torn body slammed into the courtyard, and I, my skirt fluttering, landed silently beside it.
“…It got away?”
Is that the woman’s main body? But with only the Magic Stone and the Worm’s body remaining, she shouldn’t have much power left. I won’t let her escape.
“…Hah…”
A small cough stopped my feet as I was about to head back to the battlefield.
Licia… she’s still alive? Any normal person would be dead by now. The fact that she’s alive must be due to the lingering effects of the Worm.
There’s no way to help her now. Blood is flowing endlessly from her entire body, and the clinging Worm that was keeping her alive has withered and dried up as if abandoned by that woman.
“…Anything you want to say?”
For some reason… when I spoke to her one last time, Licia’s eyes opened slightly, and her lips moved as if smiling faintly.
“…I’m so tired… I’m sleepy.”
Perhaps she’s no longer in pain, and her memories are confused. Licia’s face is serene, her voice gentle. I felt something like Miasma, not Mana, around her heart, as if her soul was still bound to the demon as proof of her sin.
“…I was dreaming… Hey… can you believe it? I… played the prince of this country… like a fiddle… Amazing, right…?”
“Yeah…”
When I agreed, Licia trembled slightly and slowly closed her eyes.
“…Ah… that was fun…”
“…………”
What a selfish woman to the very end. I averted my gaze from Licia, who had stopped moving, turned my eyes to the next battlefield, and started walking without looking back.
If there’s an afterlife, wait for me…
“I’ll kill that woman and the demon, I promise.”
Licia’s end was like this. She wasn’t at the mercy of fate, but like Aria and Elena, it was the result of the path she chose herself. That’s why there are no grudges.
Elena: “Aria! (How indecent!)”
Next time, Aria heads to the burning city.