Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: 28-1. If One Must Live, Then Love (必生則愛)
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Dennis had already taken several bullets from Head. Blood was gushing out of his abdomen in streams.
"...Still, you're not quite what you used to be."
"As expected, my calculations can't be wrong! Dennis!!"
To take down the Demon King, the other Ten Heroes needed to assemble. But without Dennis, they were vulnerable to Head's ignorance,
and there was no sign of the battle-renowned Emperor Locke or the Northern Duke. The situation was nothing like the war, and besides, he had things to protect.
"Look at you now. No allies, nothing but things to safeguard!"
The students behind the blue-haired professor were shielded by a rotating 3D Magic Circle. It spun like a gyroscope, forming a barrier to protect lives.
"Professor, you're hurt bad! Kainel... what do we do..!"
"I wanted to rush out and help, but no dice."
The moment Kainel touched the 3D Magic Circle, it repelled him like raging rapids. The Light Hero hadn't fully matured as a hero yet.
He couldn't dispel the Ten Heroes' circle and charge out, and if he tried to aid the professor, he might just get in the way.
"...Besides, this isn't like with Magic Hat."
Watching the scene outside, he felt an uncanny disconnect. The previous Demon King had toyed with them like playthings for amusement,
but...
"Dennis, I can't kill you just yet. According to the prophecy ahead, you survive and must save as many lives as possible!"
This time, it wasn't a game. Just as Licht had said before, no clone or fake—this Demon King fought strictly according to his plan.
"You speak like you know the future. But if so, why did you fall...?"
Dennis smirked to rattle him. Surprisingly, Head wore his emotions plainly.
"You ignorant fool who can't even see your own path...!! How dare you...!"
A twitch—veins bulged at Head's temple. The trigger pulled instantly, gunshots ringing out several times. The staggering Professor Dennis summoned magic circles with both hands,
"Not keeping your cool, are you, Head."
overlapping golden and blue ones in front to block the bullets. The 3D Magic Circle was already in use protecting the students from Head's tricks,
"But victory's just a matter of time for me. That hero called Licht won't be getting up!!"
and reckless teleportation risked having spatial coordinates reverse-traced by his omniscience, leading to disaster. Just moments ago, his own corridor had been dispelled by that holy sword.
Gazing at the red revolver, he pondered, 'Maybe the Dragon Slayer's dragon-killing power could make it possible.'
"...Waiting for Drake!"
"As expected of the Demon King of Omniscience. You saw through it."
It was then. As if piercing his innermost thoughts, the Demon King addressed the man whose eyes flashed white.
"The Dragon Slayer won't show in this fight, Dennis!!"
His suit torn, skin scraped, Head adjusted his clothes with a twisted grin. He'd deliberately avoided headshots to force them into rescue efforts.
"You think it's all in the palm of your hand? Head."
The Ten Heroes with their ultimates could succeed in preventing academy students from dying at the hands of the Hero Cult,
"Exactly—I've tested it plenty! I'm making the right choices!"
but at the cost of no one coming to Dennis's aid. A warrior slashing down the surrounding cultists with his sword lacked too much to use magic and rush here.
"...This world flows just as my prophecy dictates. Fate can't be altered!!"
He threw his arms wide, letting out a triumphant shout. It was slightly off from what he knew, but no disasters like Emperor Locke or Asha Aureus arriving.
"Head. What exactly is this prophecy you've been going on about?"
"You think I'll tell you? That empty head of yours would explode trying to comprehend it!"
His monocle flashed, reflecting light. The Demon King of Omniscience smiled faintly. He kept his gun trained on the blue-haired man, forcing him to protect the students behind.
"...Don't you think this is a little cowardly, Demon King."
Dennis kept blocking the incoming bullets while preparing another move. Water pressure could slice diamonds at its peak.
Water, soft as it was, could cleave the hardest minerals when pushed to extremes.
As he chanted, multiple magic circles appeared behind Head. Massive water streams spiraled like drills, launching in unison toward the Demon King's heart.
A house-sized spell, hard to dodge. Any other foe would've failed to notice and taken heavy damage.
But his opponent was the Demon King of Omniscience, not mere Truth.
"Think I wouldn't know about this."
Head whipped around, dispelling the rapidly approaching technique with a barrage of bullets. The Screwdriver melted away like ice the instant bullets hit.
With omniscience granting all information, he could predict upcoming skills, always holding the edge in info warfare.
"No gaps in my abilities!! Dennis!"
Compounded by the authority of ignorance, a formidable enemy. No matter Dennis's favorable matchup,
"This doesn't work either."
he was alone. Unlike the war, no other Ten Heroes fought alongside him now. Decades had passed since the armistice.
Nearly twenty years gone. Some died, some faded from memory, some took on duties.
Seeing even his barrage of magic circles neutralized by the revolver filled him with despair. Did overriding concepts trump piercing them?
"Urk...!"
"Finally landed a solid hit. Yes. Time's up."
Dennis took another bullet. His arm twisted unnaturally. This time, Head had crippled his right arm to stop more circles.
"You won't die, Dennis. Your lifespan in the Book of Life and Death is still plenty long."
Watching the man clutch his arm in agony, Head finally adopted a leisurely air.
He pulled a book from his pocket and checked the inscribed text.
"...As expected, this 'Licht' is a first sighting. No, Lee Soo-hyun seems his real name—should I call him that?"
He muttered toward the student lying behind the professor, clad in the Black Knight helmet.
"This boy's the one who taught Dennis the 3D Magic Circle and got Nex wielding the Phoenix Cradle right away. And moreover..."
Right beside him, Pine Granasia—Emperor Locke's daughter—clung to Licht's hand, praying desperately.
"A hero who pierced both my omniscience and ignorance, able to dispel them."
As far as Head knew, no such future existed. The princess was a key figure in the prophecy, targeted by the Demon King's side.
He'd verified it countless times, deliberated endlessly. Never dreamed of such an unforeseen action.
"...I've changed my mind. Time to kill him for certain."
Even for a hero, this singularity was unprecedented.
Partial resistances made sense, but omniscience's info couldn't err.
He himself had been blocked by Magic Hat's lies, blind to whatever fight she'd had with this Licht.
A perfect ability, a near-perfect bundle of variables.
Judgment from the Demon King: he could even break free of the trauma set by the Apostle of Gluttony.
"Those who defy the prophecy must be culled."
Head stepped forward. Dennis activated a magic circle with his remaining arm, blocking his path.
"Stay... away from my... students... Head..!"
His ultimate, the 3D Magic Circle, was already protecting the students.
Teleport magic disabled, corridor shattered—Professor Dennis had no moves left.
"Still resisting? Then I'll take a leg, Dennis."
Yet his will burned fierce. Summoned by the goddess Akasha of wisdom to fill the void of a fallen hero,
in this moment, fiercer than any.
"Same old trick? How many times must I say it won't work..."
"It's different, Head."
Sacrificing himself like a true hero. This time, not behind Head—but behind himself.
"Dennis, trying to drill through me and take me with you?"
"Yeah, you said 'I won't die.' If we do this..!"
His final choice to protect the students.
"...Pointless effort. Surprising, but."
Even that, the Demon King had foreseen—no flinch as he fired at Dennis's leg. The magic circle dissolved into water droplets.
"Ugh..!"
"Now you'll be quiet..."
Thud. He stared down at the blue-haired man sprawled on the ground, clicking his tongue in mock pity.
"The authority of ignorance strengthens with bullets—erased the chant's record itself just now."
Crunch, crunch. Footsteps on sand drew closer to the students watching the fight from the 3D Magic Circle.
"Demon King!! As expected, the former Demon King will win─."
With Dennis down, the toad-like man's restraints snapped. The Apostle of Gluttony teared up, thrilled his superior had come to save him,
"Quiet, Metus."
but a single gunshot answered. A hole in the apostle's head—he crumpled, bleeding like Dennis.
"Kuhak..?"
Even his final death rattle was brief. Whether his subordinate lived or died meant nothing to Head.
All Hero Cultists gathered here were lives meant to be expended fulfilling the prophecy.
"Now, the hero called Licht is dealt with."
He knew that when trapped in trauma, the victim's death followed the caster's. Omniscience demanded it.
"...Finally, time to neutralize Pine Granasia."
Bang—from the Demon King's hand.
"Memory loss and rampaging with power would be dangerous. Opportunity's now."
A single bullet fired from the revolver, straight toward the heart of the crystal knight who appeared to kneel in prayer.