◆ Near the Border of the Kingdom of Normitz, Negesta ◆
It appeared suddenly. Without any warning, dark clouds covered the sky, calling forth a thunderstorm. The heavens roared, and lightning struck down. Before the whims of the sky, the power of humans was but a fleeting thing.
“Battalion Commander Libre… I report the damage situation…”
After thirty long years, he had never lost his smile, as if he were reveling in the springtime of this world since taking the position of battalion commander. Among the few in the nation, only seven held the title of battalion commander, and he was entrusted with a significant portion of the military might of Noibranz. He was one of those most likely to catch the king’s eye. How could he not smile? Thanks to this, he had been bestowed with the dubious honor of the “Black Smile,” a title whose significance he could hardly comprehend.
“The squads and companies are nearly annihilated… The casualties are…”
“This must be some mistake… Yes, this is a natural calamity! Just like the fleets of the invading nation that attacked Azuma, which were swallowed by the waves just before landing! Lightning roared and struck down enemy ships one after another! Listen, this is not my responsibility! Do you have any idea how much I have served the king until now? Surely, the king understands!”
“Battalion Commander Libre, that is not a natural calamity… It is unmistakably…”
“It has obscured the light that illuminates this land, covering the sky! My elite forces have turned to scorched earth! If this is not a natural calamity, then what is it?!”
After striking down his elite forces, that calamity moved eastward as if nothing had happened. The next target of that calamity would likely be the Kingdom of Avangarde, or perhaps the Nation of Vandalsia.
It had wings, summoning a typhoon with its flaps, reshaping the earth with its tail. The released crimson light seemed to mock the power and civilization that humanity had cultivated. The Servants born from decades of selective breeding, weapons stronger than orichalcum, honed skills, and bodies—all of it evaporated in mere seconds. The souls of Noibranz, numbering in the thousands, could not even be contained by the term “great army.”
“This was our pride! Our way of life! No calamity has the right to take that from us!”
“Dragon…”
What dragon? I say it is a calamity. It is a disaster in the form of a dragon. Yes, a disaster that is never satisfied, no matter how many times it destroys the world. I can sense it; the fall of the Nation of Vandalsia is imminent.
“It’s over… Everything is over! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
“B-Battalion Commander Libre! Please, stay calm…”
“It will all perish! Everything will perish! Hahaha!”
I found myself impressed at how I could laugh like this.
◆ Arena of the Kingdom of Avangarde ◆
“W-What’s going on…? The execution hasn’t been carried out, has it? Shitakka, what do you think?”
“The Avangarde Royal Guard is an elite force, handpicked for their skills. I’ve heard they possess abilities that surpass even Captain Kirkton. However, due to their role as guards, they have limited opportunities for real combat. This is merely the result of Garlyle and the others’ overconfidence.”
“…So what are you saying? That the executioner is inferior to the criminal?”
“N-No! That’s not what I mean!”
Under the glare of the large demon, Shitakka was sweating profusely. I wanted to help him, but if I moved carelessly, the hostages would be in danger. And Ritta, as Shitakka said, was right; this was indeed a result of Garlyle and the others’ negligence. They would surely come at us with full force next time, and that would be bad.
“Hahaha! Hyahahahaha!”
“Quite a remarkable strength for a girl.”
“Anton, Nikil. The other three, take her down with all your might.”
“No, no, Captain Garlyle. Let me handle this girl alone.”
“There’s no need for that, Tristan. We can finish this quickly.”
Seven of them, including Garlyle. As Shitakka said, most of them had skills equal to or greater than Captain Kirkton. If all of them came at Ritta, she wouldn’t stand a chance, so in a way, this was a relief.
“If she realizes that she can’t even defeat me alone, it will only deepen her despair. We can execute her afterward at our leisure.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
“Just hurry up and do something! If you’re going to show us something boring, I might as well take over as the executioner, Garlyle!”
The jeers were directed not only at us but also at Garlyle and the others. They had no sense of camaraderie, and I wondered why Garlyle and the others didn’t realize they were being used. Like Ritta, I truly didn’t understand why they had turned traitor.
“That’s the thing. Normally, we should be the ones sparring with you, but we’ve long since become subjects of the Nation of Vandalsia. Don’t take it personally.”
“You’ve abandoned not just your country but humanity itself. Why?”
“There is no future for Avangarde. Just think about it. What has that nation done in the face of the Demon Lord Army’s invasion, or the King of Six-Six covering the sky, or the repeated invasions? They couldn’t even protect their own country, resorting to hiring rogues under the guise of training Adventurers. In the end, a child known as the Flash Strike Girl has gained achievements and is hailed as a hero. Even when the Comet Wolf Brigade infiltrated, the soldiers were powerless. You should realize this, both you and the foolish masses.”
With both hands gripping his spear, Tristan spoke as if spitting out his words. His spear looked considerably heavier than the one Ritta wielded.
“Avangarde… there is no future for humanity. I am convinced that only a select few monsters will survive. Weak humans will vanish from history. Look at the angel floating above that castle; it is witnessing the end of humanity’s era.”
“By ‘select few monsters,’ do you mean Ria as well?”
“Huh? Of course.”
“You really don’t understand anything, do you?!”
Ritta thrust the tip of her spear into the hard floor. Such strength! It was clear she had never neglected her training.
“Those I know and admire… they all have hearts! They possess kindness! I do not wish for a future created by heartless monsters!”
“You think a little girl like you can say that?!”
Tristan’s preemptive strike unleashed a gust of wind with just a single thrust, showcasing his incredible strength. Ritta barely dodged at the last moment and counterattacked with a sweeping motion, but Tristan’s agility was impressive. Despite wielding such a heavy spear, he evaded with minimal movement, merely shifting his body.
“You call me a child?!”
Another thrust came, fast but manageable for Ritta to evade. It was undoubtedly powerful, but it seemed to leave significant openings before and after the attack. However, conversely, it meant that Ritta had to dodge with all her might. If Ritta couldn’t land a hit, eventually that one strike would connect. It would be a battle of endurance, and that was dangerous; even if she could defeat Tristan, there were still six others.
“Tristan’s spear skill, ‘Wave Cannon,’ surpasses my own. And at the same time, it serves as a decoy. Dodging a skill of such power restricts your movements. Tristan’s true strength lies in exploiting that.”
“Even in a mock battle, we would rather not face Deputy Commander Tristan. Even with a mock spear, how many times have we nearly died from that one strike?”
“The Wave Cannon has significant openings before and after… but believing that is also a trap.”
When one of the guards said this, Tristan caught Ritta right after the Wave Cannon. He quickly pulled back his spear and swung it, and Ritta had no room to evade. She had to use her spear as a shield against the impact of that heavy blow, which numbed her arm, and she gritted her teeth in desperation.
“See that?”
“But to block that strike, Ritta, that girl…”
“Hmph, it was just luck! Look, she’s pulling back and maintaining her distance!”
After several exchanges, the Wave Cannon was unleashed once more. Ritta tried to escape sideways, but the sweeping strike followed. Tristan was aiming for that, and Ritta didn’t have infinite stamina. I wondered what she would do, and just then, Ritta didn’t move sideways but leaped upward.
“W-What?!”
Ritta must have been watching the Wave Cannon closely. She observed the movements just before it was unleashed, the speed. In fact, she jumped just before the Wave Cannon was released. Such a move could only be executed with perfect timing. Caught off guard, Tristan, who was in the midst of unleashing the Wave Cannon, could do nothing. After jumping, she stomped down hard on his spear, flowing into a single strike. In an instant, Tristan’s spear was rendered useless, and he was left defenseless as she pierced his abdomen.
“Ugh…!”
“Please… don’t take it the wrong way.”
Ritta spoke coldly and mercilessly, her resolve evident. She showed no mercy, even though her opponent was once a soldier from her own country. She quietly looked down at Tristan, who fell forward, releasing his spear.
“Y-you’re dodging the Wave Cannon?! That’s absurd…”
“You were only dodging left and right, so I didn’t think you’d do that. It’s because you’ve been slacking off in both combat and training, Senior.”
“Don’t get cocky, you little brat!”
Without hesitation, Garlyle raised his great sword. It was a two-handed sword, similar to the Bastard Sword I used before. Just like me, Garlyle wielded it with one hand. Given his toned muscles, I could somewhat imagine his strength. His range was short, but his speed surpassed Tristan’s. Even Ritta wouldn’t dare to take that on with a spear.
“This is Garlyle’s Sword Quicken! That swordsmanship is said to be the best in the country, second only to Tiferia’s divine technique!”
“With his exceptional strength and instantaneous reflexes, even the hero Eeks would be envious of such talent!”
“Really? I think Eeks is faster, though.”
I blurted that out as soon as Eeks’s name was mentioned. Perhaps they heard me, as the royal guards shot me fierce glares. But honestly, I thought it was better to worry about Garlyle. At first glance, it seemed like Garlyle was on the offensive, but Ritta was clearly luring him in. Utilizing the reach of her spear, she was waiting for the right moment to jump in, just like when she took down Tristan.
“Do you think the same trick will work on me again, you fool?!”
Only Garlyle and the others thought that way. It was only natural for Garlyle, who was on guard against Ritta jumping, to neglect his footing. Suddenly, Ritta slid in, catching him off guard. She thrust her spear into the ground, using it as a springboard to dive right into Garlyle’s legs.
“Whoa!”
With a foolish shout, Garlyle fell, unable to get back up immediately. With heavy armor and a hefty sword, it was hard to recover once the situation turned against him. Ritta, from her low position after the slide, kicked off the floor and used her spear as leverage to stand up. There was no hesitation from her; she pierced her spear through Garlyle’s right hand.
“Yaaahhh!”
“Now you can’t fight anymore.”
It was a breathtaking battle for me as well. Not only was Ritta’s strategy to bait her opponent impressive, but her strength and agility were astounding. Even if Garlyle was careless, it would still take considerable power to break the balance of his heavy armor and sword. This was the result of her daily training.
I felt a surge of joy. Ritta, who had been mocked as a failure among the soldiers, was now overwhelming a seasoned swordsman. I had been useless at first too, but now I was different. Ritta was different as well. I was genuinely happy.
“G-Garlyle, Captain!”
“This can’t be! Why, why am I in this situation?! By a mere low-ranking soldier?!”
“I only let go of this spear when I’m asleep. Morning, noon, and night. Even while eating, I keep my senses sharp by holding onto it. A soldier who can’t protect their country in times of need is unworthy. That’s just common sense, isn’t it?”
I wondered if she even held it while taking a bath, but now wasn’t the time to voice that thought. Ritta’s extraordinary effort had surpassed her natural talent.
But the real challenge was just beginning. If all of them came at her, she wouldn’t stand a chance. Even without Garlyle and Tristan, there were still five left. On that round platform, there was nowhere to escape, and if they all attacked at once…
“You little brat!”
“Take this!”
Ritta’s response to the five blades aimed at her was yet another surprise. She held her spear with both hands and began to spin, whirling the blade at high speed to keep the five at bay.
“Do you think you can defeat us with such childish tricks?! How long do you plan to keep that up?!”
“This is my skill… the ‘Bizarre Spin’! It was named by Irene because it looks so strange!”
“D-don’t come any closer!”
“W-we have skills too! Ranged skills!”
“At this distance, it would hit the downed Vice Captain Tristan!”
The five, unable to approach, spread out to find an opportunity to attack, but at that moment, Ritta charged forward while still spinning. With a bottomless pit behind her, their escape routes were limited, restricting their movements.
“How long are you going to keep this up?! When’s the execution?!”
“I can’t watch this anymore! I’ll take care of it!”
“Not yet…”
Just as the audience of monsters leaned forward in anticipation, Garlyle, clutching his wounded hand, managed to stand up. Ritta, still spinning, noticed Garlyle’s revival and took a step back.
“This is not something to showcase to a low-ranking soldier, but… you all, don’t hold back.”
“Captain Garlyle, are you really going to use that?”
“Yes, we will show you the power we have been granted.”
Garlyle’s skin began to turn green. The other soldiers transformed as well, their eyes bulging and fangs protruding from their mouths. The veins in their arms bulged, breaking the gauntlets they wore, growing even larger.
“W-what is this…?”
“I told you, low-ranking soldier. Weak humans cannot survive in this world. So what do you do? The answer is simple: you abandon your humanity. Behold, this is the power that leads the age, the movement of humans—Ugh!”
Garlyle and the others were acting strangely. I thought they were all turning into monsters, but one soldier’s arm had swollen so much he could no longer support it. Another soldier’s skin began to melt into a gooey substance. One soldier, on all fours, was becoming a monster, his joints bending in unnatural directions, rendering him immobile.
“W-what’s happening… I can’t… breathe…”
Garlyle and Tristan had indeed grown larger, but their faces were becoming buried in the bulging muscles of their bodies. They finally collapsed, turning into grotesque masses of flesh, no longer resembling humans.
“This can’t be! I was supposed to gain power…!”
“G-Garlyle! What is happening?!”
“Belmund, what is this?!”
“It’s a failure. It seems you were incompatible with the monster cells. Now, all that remains is to decay.”
Belmund looked down at Garlyle and the others, loudly delivering his conclusion. It was an experiment that turned even the villagers of Ikana into mindless monsters. Many of the Demon Lord’s allies had perished as well.
I didn’t know how to witness the abrupt end of Garlyle and the others. Even if it was their own doing, I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for them.
“The meaning of End is twofold. One is the end of humanity, and the other is the end of life.”
Before I knew it, the Demon Lord had come to my side. He gazed disinterestedly at the royal guards, most of whom were already dead.
“This isn’t what we agreed upon… Belmund… Vandalsia… how could you…”
Those were Garlyle’s last words. Every royal guard present vanished without a trace. I would never forget that white sphere. The Catastrophe of Vandalsia. The strongest magic that erases anything. Vandalsia used it while sitting, resting his chin on his hand. The round stage he coldly looked down upon was now empty, save for Ritta.
“Hey, human! Explain, explain!”
“Uh! W-well, does this mean Ritta won?”
“The iron rule of the public execution Coliseum… a sinner who is not judged is deemed innocent… which means that human is innocent.”
“I-is that so?”
“How ridiculous!”
“What part of this is a public execution?!”
The audience of monsters was furious, ready to pounce. Ritta looked flustered, unsure of what to do, still standing there.
“Ritta, come here.”
“Y-yes!”
While I pulled Ritta’s hand, I realized something. That guy, Vandalsia, hadn’t been watching the fight at all. In fact, he had been staring at me the entire time. The gaze I thought was directed at Ritta was actually focused on me, observing me with an expressionless face, as if I were some rare specimen.
“Read the next card.”
Vandalsia’s calm command suggested that the public execution had only just begun. And it was clearly directed at me.
“Lord Daigami, this is bad. He definitely has something planned…”
I finally understood why Lord Daigami had been so quiet. The angel I caught a glimpse of was no longer looking down at the castle town.
“Don’t worry about that.”
The expression on Lord Daigami’s face was one of deep wrinkles, as if he had donned a mask, transforming into something monstrous. His mouth was torn wide, and his beast-like eyes were fixed directly on us.
“Now, let me announce the next card.”
Was he looking at me like Vandalsia? Or perhaps…
◆ Shin Report ◆
No, that useless coward has really grown this much. Next time, I’ll present my special maron to them. It smells a bit sour, but it should be fine.
What on earth have these idiots been doing all this time? If they hadn’t slacked off on their training, it wouldn’t have come to this. Instead of relying on those I don’t understand and powers I can’t grasp, they should have taken their training seriously. Well, choosing to side with someone powerful while following Bandalshia was already a foolish decision.
That said, most humans are in despair, so I suppose it can’t be helped.
That angel is angry. Surely, Shin and the others must have done something to provoke her. Maybe they weren’t behaving or wasted food.
Yeah, it really does smell sour.