Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: 57-3. The Hero Confronts the Demon King.
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Humans are creatures that learn fear.
Especially wounds from childhood leave deep scars, often causing problems even into adulthood.
Ariel, now facing the Demon King, felt her breathing quicken.
The quick-witted Ariel realized that Pine and Infinity were the same person.
The Demon King, who had regretted her little sister's death and eventually developed a split personality.
That was the true identity of the Demon King of Might.
'I have to fight back.'
Before Ariel met Kainel, the village where she lived had burned down.
The forest home to the elves and the World Tree. Pine, the Demon King of Might, had set it ablaze to obtain a subspace.
During the massive fire that followed, her parents and she escaped, but she lost everyone she was close to.
The next settlement was in Labyrinth Village.
The blond boy she met there was a true hero in her eyes.
Before she knew it, Ariel had fallen for Kainel, desperately trying to hide her feelings.
'..This time is different. I'll help Kainel.'
Her hand clenched into a fist. A vow not to repeat the same mistake.
She had finally become childhood friends and lovers with his help from Licht.
She didn't want to lose another precious person to the Demon King.
Gazing at the purple-haired Demon King, Ariel vowed to protect Kainel.
She no longer hid her heart.
As I listened to the Demon King's words, something nagged at me.
Hero of Devotion.
The hero the new Demon King referred to wasn't one of conviction or light, but something else entirely.
It couldn't be about me. No other hero with that title could exist in this world.
Even when I tried naming my mind sword something similar before, the Heavenly Demon shot it down.
Like the Saintess, a figure chosen by the gods.
Thus, while there could be multiple chosen heroes, their concepts were unique.
That was why I saw Infinity as separate from Pine even after seeing her.
But the hero in the prophecy was Pine Granasia, not me.
I had clearly possessed this body after receiving the beta tester email. No matter what anyone said, it had to be me.
Then, the writing left in the Library of Truth must have been...
'......From Pine Granasia of another route.'
Cold sweat trickled down my nape.
Awe filled me as I gazed at the colossal giant that seemed to fill the black sky.
If Pine was the hero of the prophecy, it explained everything I'd overlooked.
Why she became the Nameless Saintess.
Why failing to complete the Grand Route meant death by the Demon King.
Being forgotten by others, losing her name, having her power stolen—it all fit.
....What the hell is this prophecy?
"Three heroes and one mage... intriguing. How long has it been since I last fought a hero after the war?"
The purple-haired Demon King looked down at us. Countless arms visible behind him. The completed Cyclops had multiplied its arms like an asura.
Glinting metal on his hands and ankles—knuckles and anklets. Those must be the holy swords.
"To look up at me... bold indeed, Hero of Conviction."
"...!!"
Kugugugugu—.
The air vibrated, my body growing heavy as lead, muscles weakening until I nearly dropped my sword.
The authority of might I'd experienced before. Even inside Kainel's barrier, I could barely move.
Kainel's hands trembled as he thrust his holy sword into the ground. The Light Hero on his knees.
Infinity clasped his hands together, squeezing the air above and below like wringing it out.
"Humans live lives tied to money. My little sister was no different. Over some petty coins."
A vortex shaped like an hourglass formed in his hands.
"Some fools even think they can buy time with money."
It looked ominous no matter how I saw it, so I yanked the golem embedded in the ground.
A rocky terrain overlaid Kainel's barrier.
「Cosmic Sand Glass.」
The moment Infinity chanted, the giant's massive hand descended toward our footing, a black shadow draping the ceiling above.
"Pine!! Ariel!! Hurry and cast defensive spells!!"
The moment I shouted, my comrades layered a firewall and glass dome over the barrier.
The vortex whipped through the air. The subspace itself twisted and warped. Vision distorted in squiggles.
Everything except our footing and the hemispherical barrier began to crumble.
What kind of power was this? Creating a subspace with raw strength was one thing—this defied common sense.
The barrier peeled away layer by layer, like an eggshell shedding.
Ariel's flames died first, then Pine's glass wall. Finally, the rocks from my mind sword.
Only Kainel's barrier remained.
"..Holding up well, huh. Not your average lot after all."
Infinity gave a curt assessment, seeing us block his attack. He cracked his wrists with clasped hands, launching another assault.
Bam—!! Bam—!!
The Demon King hammered Kainel's barrier with fists. Multiple fists slamming down at once to shatter it.
How the hell do we beat this? As I pondered desperately.
I saw the hero enduring by thrusting his Light Holy Sword into the ground, and the mage trembling at the Demon King's attacks.
But flames burned in Ariel's eyes. Clinging tightly to Kainel, enduring together.
Had she grown watching the hero stand alone against the Demon King?
Last time against Infinity, she only needed protecting. Maybe now she could do it.
"Ariel. Fire your ultimate at the giant's eye."
I told the Blazing Flame Mage guarding the hero's side.
"Wha..?! Helmet, I don't know how!!"
"You're the only one who can protect Kainel right now, Ariel. Think back to what you learned."
Ariel shook her head fiercely, tears streaming. Different from fleeing against Magic Hat in the future.
"What Professor Dennis taught in your first class."
"Magic... ignores the laws of physics..?"
"No, not that."
Magic is influenced by the heart's image.
"Focus on the concept of shining and twist the spell formula. Beyond fireworks, there's one more."
The stronger the heart, the stronger the image. The mage's wish to light the world like the hero.
"....The sun."
That was the Blazing Flame Mage I knew.
At Ariel's answer, I silently lifted the corner of my mouth. That should suffice.
She slowly looked up at the Demon King. Through the barrage of fists, a massive eye gleamed.
No matter what, that seemed the weak point. The part Kainel and I damaged had regrown larger.
She unfolded her magic circle toward the giant's eye, but the authority of might forced her arm down.
"Ariel. Don't be afraid."
Then Kainel advised her from the side.
Barely holding off the giant's attacks himself. Did he have strength left? His sword-gripping hand trembled, yet he acted strong.
"No matter what, I'll protect you."
"Yeah, Kai..!"
Words from her lover and childhood friend. Hearing them, Ariel began chanting her spell.
"Solaris...."
A blue flame formed in her hand, merging with golden radiance into a massive orb.
"..Kainel."
Solaris Kainel. An ultimate named after her opponent.
That was why I initially refused to teach Ariel or Kainel magic. Couldn't ruin such technique names.
The growing blue sun flew straight at the giant, undimmed by its fists.
Now large enough to incinerate the giant entirely.
"Th-this can't be. Why won't even the giant's power block it?!"
Of course. Unlike you borrowing a giant or others' power, magic manifests one's heart into reality.
Sensing danger, Infinity tried blocking the sun with dozens of hands.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Ariel's ultimate melted the Cyclops's hands with immense heat.
"You damned bastards!! I won't let the prophecy come true—!!"
The Demon King sacrificed several arms to protect his eye. Even fused, the weakness remained.
Gone was its majestic hover; now it crashed to the ground, struggling to rise with its broken form.
How do we defeat that Demon King? I had no means left.
Infinity survived Demon King Slayer. Could recasting end it?
No. Thinking back, I missed one of Baekmulryeon's techniques.
"Pine, can you duplicate Kainel's holy sword as is?"
This was my last option. If one couldn't win alone, two could.
"Licht.. what are you planning?"
The opening we barely created. Even if Pine was the chosen hero, I hated dragging her into this fight.
Destiny, prophecy—those were enough with the people already here.
"....Got it."
Pine nodded. She replicated Kainel's holy sword in glass.
Glass reflects things. If she could create clones, this was possible too.
"..Don't get hurt. Licht."
A transparent sword with a glassy interior. Pine handed me the copy, speaking softly.
"Kainel, I'll use the Light Holy Sword too. Watch and learn."
"Licht. Who's the one bluffing now?"
Yeah, that's Kainel.
The hero who hated pretentious no-names the most.
"Same plan as before. Kainel."
"Fine. Just don't fight alone again."
I shifted to Black Knight form, smiling as Kainel raised his sword to fight alongside.
No enemy could stand against a Demon King and hero together.