Chapter 491
Chapter 491
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 491
Chapter Title: Demon Slaying
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The muscle-bound, six-eyed demon calling itself Andromalius looked like a total fucking beast at first glance.
You could tell just from its chiseled muscles and towering height.
Above all, those bull-like horns jutting from both sides of its head were goddamn intimidating. Height-wise, it had to be around three meters tall? It radiated danger from every angle.
And it had clearly implied it was in charge of managing the gate. Bastards who handled shit like that were always natural-born serial killers—psycho fucks through and through. Science could prove it.
Anyway, pondering gates was the paladins' job, not mine. All I wanted was to bail, head home, stretch out, and crash.
"Bakkrel, bro! We're fucking screwed! That thing looks insanely strong!"
"You...! You've got a filthy mouth on you!"
"The bastard looks even filthier, fuck!"
Bakkrel was a reasonable guy.
If we kicked off the escape plan now, we had a solid shot at getting away without a fight. When the odds sucked, running was the smart play.
This wasn't cowardice by any stretch.
"Captain Bakkrel...! I judge this too much for us as well! This is a divine trial from Verde himself! It's our sacred duty to see it through no matter what, so we must retreat, form a subjugation force, and return! With our current strength, we can't take down that wicked demon!"
Paladin Dodalkan spat it out too.
These guys were violent maniacs at heart, but in battle, they were cooler-headed than anyone. They'd sized it up in seconds and called it unwinnable.
Anger had to be used right.
Blind rage always led to death, and dead men couldn't stand here as paladins. They'd survived by making those calls.
"It feels so fucking evil!! That ain't normal! You feel it too, right, Bakkrel bro?!"
I backed Dodalkan up, yelling again.
"This wicked aura! Oh, Verde...! Of course I feel it!"
"Let's fucking bolt, hurry! We gotta link up with the lord and bring soldiers to take it down!"
"Your brother's right! Captain Bakkrel, decide!"
"Got it! We're executing the escape plan immediately!"
Yes!
Bakkrel and Dodalkan bolted down the hill after their quick call.
"Claudy! Us too!"
"Hm... Might still be a bit much for Katt to handle?"
"I'd fight damn near anything, but not that! To take on something like that, I'd need to double my power, ma'am!"
I scooped Claudy under my arm and ran.
Claudy loved slaughtering the strong, so she'd wanna fight, but that demon was way too alien.
It wasn't that I didn't trust Claudy—this was just unavoidable.
"Hee hee, true. Katt's got to get even stronger. Yeah. Good. Judging the gap with your opponent is a true warrior's virtue."
"Spot on—you're too pretty!"
And so we descended the hill.
The bastard had asked what we'd done to it. It'd probably check the situation and follow. We needed more distance!
"B-blackie, what was up there?!"
"Fucking huge demon!"
"Knew it! What now?!"
"Run!"
Winia stomped her feet in panic.
Time to bail, then!
"Leaving such a massive threat unchecked will endanger the world! We have to fight!"
Then one priest stepped up, blocking Captain Bakkrel.
This crazy fuck!
"Priest Ramelin, I understand your intent, but I judge it impossible with our power alone!"
"Captain Bakkrel! We won't know without trying!"
"That's valid too. But valid words don't solve shit! As captain, I say we retreat and form a subjugation force! Step aside!"
Of course, not everyone was on board with retreating. Some felt the evil aura and burned with righteous fury, insisting we fight.
"It'll be too late then! It'll flee, build power, and threaten the world! No chance later— we block it now, when we can!"
Priest Ramelin drew his mace, roaring fiercely. What a frustrating asshole!
"Priest! If you ain't seen it, shut up! That's fucking overkill!"
"Have you lost your nerve too, brother?!"
"Who wouldn't be scared of that? Fuck, let's go already!"
—BOOM!
As we argued with Priest Ramelin, a earth-shaking thud echoed from behind.
"Do the seeds of the gods flee before Andromalius? Strange. Strange things have causes. Explain it. Did you use the gate?"
Andromalius loomed on the hilltop, looking down at us. Shit, knew it'd happen. Those kinds moved fast as hell.
Escape was fucked?
"Blackie, fuck, that thing!"
Winia freaked, hiding behind Claudy.
"Th-that's...!"
"A demon!"
"Evil aura!"
Everyone stared up at the demon. Andromalius's six eyes blazed red, darkness swirling behind it.
"N-no way...!"
Even Ramelin, fired up to fight, was stunned. Folks who hadn't seen it always yapped the loudest.
"Captain Bakkrel... looks like retreat's off the table."
Dodalkan, who'd pushed retreat moments ago, now aimed his sword at the demon.
Yeah, spot on.
Run when you can, but if escape's impossible, fight and overcome.
That was competence.
Adapting flexibly to time and circumstance was key to survival.
"Brother... sorry. Can't guarantee your safety from here on. But don't worry—we'll hold it. You run."
"Bakkrel bro...!"
"Go to the city and tell the church what's happening!"
Bakkrel ripped the insignia from his armor and handed it to me. Tears nearly welled up.
"With that, they'll believe you and send forces! Go!"
He was a good man.
Best to follow his lead here.
But.
"Claudy, Winia."
No running.
"Wanna bail?"
I asked them straight.
"Hell yeah!"
"Dunno? What about you, Katt?"
Winia bounced like it was obvious; Claudy gazed at me soulfully.
"Me."
Truth was, I'd made the report.
Sure, for selfish gain, but it was really a noble, holy service to save humanity from demon threats.
Someone had to do it.
These Brass Celestial Society folks had trusted me completely, followed without doubt, and come to slay demons.
They were true paragons, and Captain Bakkrel offered to die so we could escape.
—Run alone?
No way I'd allow that.
That was fusion Confucianism.
"Bakkrel bro. Escape's toast. Scared as hell, but we gotta go all out now. No splitting forces."
"You...!"
I pinned the insignia back on his armor.
No guarantee we could've run anyway.
Not just friendship or trust—pure survival math said no bailing.
Would Andromalius even let us?
A big, ripped fucker like that might bypass the paladins, pick us off one by one. Basic tactics.
That'd be game over.
Lower strength and morale? Screwed. Who leaves a messenger alive? Not happening. Bail, and we'd face three-on-one odds.
Better to fight together here.
"Gonna help?!"
"Embarrassing to say, but we're decent with blades."
"Thanks! Huge help! You're a true faithful brother!"
Bakkrel beamed. But his joy shifted to a cool warrior's gaze.
"Still dangerous. Follow my command. Even against a demon way above us, I'll protect you."
"Thanks, Bakkrel bro."
Plus, it might listen to reason.
"Blackie, you're nuts, for real! Run when you can!"
Winia flipped out watching.
Run when possible, sure.
But warrior instinct and experience screamed: running now meant getting picked off.
"Winia. No guarantee we can run. Look at those legs. It bypasses paladins, chases us—three-on-one. Better fight together here."
"That? Blackie, can't you tell? No way!"
I patted her head.
"Me, you, paladins, Claudy together? We can do it. Trust me. Running now fucks us. Gotta fight. You know it."
"Ugh, seriously...! What if you die?!"
"Won't. Don't worry."
Yeah, fight to survive.
"Right, Claudy? I ain't dying here."
"Hee hee hee, obviously. Katt's not dying here. I can tell."
Claudy was raring to go.
Anyway, we formed up under Bakkrel's lead, prepping for battle.
Andromalius just stood on the hill, watching—scouting or sizing us up, who knew.
"Ready to answer Andromalius's question now?"
This fucker... waited?
Gentler demon than expected.
Maybe it'd talk.
"...!"
Bakkrel opened his mouth to shout.
"Andromalius!"
"You?"
I blocked him and stepped forward, yelling.
"We'll answer! We're not involved with that demon gate! Just humans who heard about it and came to scout!"
Paladins jawing with a demon? No good. Better me. Bakkrel'd probably foam at the mouth cursing it.
I glanced back.
—Nod, nod.
He nodded slowly.
Stick to facts.
"...Scouting, you say."
It listened, fixing those eyes on me.
"Strange. Andromalius sensed an uncontrolled gate and sought the truth at once. But manifesting here met interference—a clear attack. Someone attacked the gate."
Fuck, situation's barreling straight to hell.
Basically, Andromalius hadn't known about the gate till we wrecked it—then it sensed and came to check.
That black orb? Probably its summoning ritual. We disrupted its arrival trying to destroy it.
But shit, does it not know we attacked right now?