Please Kill Me
Bersia's eyes widened slightly at the light streaming from Rubel's eyes.
In eyes that were always filled with emptiness and nihilism,
a strange surprise was harbored.
This was because the appearance Rubel was showing now was one Bersia had never seen throughout all her regressions.
'......Perhaps.'
Bersia gripped her sword tightly.
A sword strike followed.
With a chilling sound that tore through the air, Bersia's sword aimed for Rubel.
If it were the original Rubel, it would have been an unblockable attack.
Kaaang!!
That is, if it were the original Rubel.
"......."
Brilliant golden magic was rising from Rubel's entire body.
His hair, which had turned platinum blonde, fluttered in the shockwave created by the clashing swords.
A shockwave spread throughout the entire Holy Nation.
Despite this, Rubel stood his ground, unyielding.
"Now, I can finally take it."
With swords crossed, Rubel took a step forward.
At the same time, Bersia's feet were pushed back.
She had been pushed back by force.
'......Is it finally time?'
In a world shrouded in darkness, looking at Rubel, who shone like the sun,
Bersia was certain that this would be her last regression.
'Finally... can I die by Rubel's hand?'
Therefore, Bersia decided to fight with all her might.
After all, this story had to end with a happy ending.
Not a bad ending where the wounded fought each other,
but a happy ending where the Hero finally vanquished the Demon King and achieved his goal.
Only then,
Rubel would live happily.
"It seems your self-esteem has risen too high just because you blocked one sword strike. My Hero-isiyeo."
From the ground where Bersia stood, dark red magic surged.
"If you're going to give it your all,"
Black wings pierced through her skin.
Then darkness enveloped Bersia's head, soon transforming into the shape of a crown.
"then it's only right that I do the same."
Bersia said, gazing at Rubel with blood-red eyes.
"Come. My Hero-isiyeo."
At Bersia's words, Rubel charged.
The distance closed in an instant.
At a close distance where a single step would bring them within reach, Bersia and Rubel began to swing their swords at each other.
Kang! Kang! Kaaang!!
Neither side yielding, a fierce exchange of blows continued.
Light and darkness clashed without cease.
Rubel swung his sword with all the life and magic he had accumulated until now.
However, Bersia was also giving her all.
With a history of walking a hellish path stained with the blood of the Demon Race, she countered Rubel.
"Hwaaaaaa!!"
In pain as if his body were burning away, Rubel let out a scream-like sound.
The desire to stop immediately dominated his mind.
'......I must.'
Rubel gritted his teeth and increased the speed of his sword swings.
Knowing what terrible consequences would follow if he failed,
he had made a desperate resolve.
Kagagagak!!
Physical abilities pushed to their absolute limit.
This soon caused Bersia to be pushed back little by little.
And soon,
Bersia's skin was cut by Rubel's sword.
With a stinging sensation, red blood flowed.
Even though she was wounded, a small smile, almost imperceptible to Rubel, appeared on Bersia's lips.
'......You're doing well. My Hero-nim.'
Just a little more.
'If you keep going like this.'
If he advanced just a little more, surely,
'Please kill me.'
Because he would be able to kill her.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa——!!!
Flesh was torn, and blood splattered into the air.
One wing was severed, and rolled on the ground.
Nevertheless, the relentless hacking at each other continued.
Soon, Rubel's blade pierced Bersia's shoulder.
"——!!"
Blood spurted towards the sky.
From her shoulder, which had gone limp from the previous attack, the embedded sword was swung once more,
It flew, aiming for Bersia's neck.
At that moment, Bersia sensed the end.
Like this, finally,
thinking that she could die by Rubel's hand,
She closed her eyes.
However, even after waiting, there was no pain.
Just before her neck could be severed, Rubel's movements had stopped as if time itself had frozen.
"......Rubel?"
Rubel, whose body was rigid, gave no answer.
Instead, a voice came from behind Rubel.
"You shouldn't die like that yet."
As soon as she heard the voice, Bersia's face twisted into a fierce grimace.
Even Bersia, who usually maintained an expressionless face without showing her emotions....
She could not control her emotions at all towards the person behind Rubel.
"You're still very useful, Bersia."
The culprit behind all this tragedy.
"......Pope!"
"Even after a long time, your face is still the same."
The Pope said with a benevolent smile.
"Is it because of 'Regression'?"
Bersia, with a face like a demon, charged at the Pope.
However, Bersia's hand did not reach the Pope.
This was because a transparent barrier was protecting the Pope from Bersia.
"Don't you know that even after trying countless times, you still can't touch me?"
"I'll kill you...!"
"Try to kill me. Of course... if you can."
Bersia, whose rage had reached its peak, let out a ragged breath.
However, she did not swing her sword.
Because she knew it would be a meaningless action anyway.
"Keuk......."
"Precepts are truly good. They even make the Demon King's attacks ineffective."
I shall not suffer harm from evil.
The characters engraved on the Pope's body glowed brightly, protecting him.
Precept.
A power granted in proportion to the weight of the restriction, by imposing a strong restriction upon oneself.
If one could impose a fitting restriction with a Precept....
it was a powerful force capable of twisting even the laws of the world.
"Even if I can't now... I will kill you somehow, you bastard."
"Oh really? I think I'll kill you before that happens."
As the Pope gestured, an immeasurable, overwhelming magic crushed Bersia.
"Kkeu-heuk——!!"
"Bersia. Unfortunately, no matter how many times you regress, you cannot defeat me. Rubel finally seems to be able to reach you, but...."
"Don't you dare utter Rubel's name with that filthy mouth!!"
Ppudeuk.
Overcoming the pain as if her bones were cracking throughout her body, Bersia struggled to her feet.
At this, the Pope let out a satisfied laugh.
"You truly are the greatest Demon King I've ever created. I didn't think you'd be able to get up after that."
Bersia wanted to ask the god who created this world,
what exactly was defined as good,
and what was defined as evil.
And why was such a person... standing in the position of good.
"It would be a waste to kill such a Demon King already."
"Pope——!!"
"Go back and recover for a bit. I'll keep Rubel with me for a while."
Bersia, realizing something was wrong, immediately reached out to Rubel, but
in an instant, the scenery before her eyes shifted, and Rubel disappeared.
Demon King's Castle.
She had returned to the place that bound Bersia.
***
"Eugh, heuh, euh......."
He opened his eyes to the intense pain that covered his entire body.
As he slowly opened his eyes, a clean white ceiling came into his blurry vision.
'......A white ceiling?'
For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming, but....
Judging by the pain enveloping his body, it definitely didn't seem like a dream.
Then where was he?
As he tried to sit up to survey his surroundings and understand the situation,
a familiar face was beside him.
"Rubel-gun."
"Pope-nim......!"
"Don't get up. Your abdominal wound is quite severe."
At Pope-nim's words, he lowered his head, and saw a bandage wrapped around his abdomen, soaked in blood.
'......Is that so?'
Had he failed to reach her again?
"...I apologize."
"What is there for Rubel-gun to apologize for?"
"It's because of my weakness... I still haven't been able to kill the Demon King."
"No. It's because the Demon King is too strong. Don't blame yourself too much."
Pope-nim, with a benevolent smile, handed him a pill and water.
"Take this. The pain will subside a bit."
"Thank you."
As he swallowed the pill with cold water, he finally felt a little better.
Of course... blood was still flowing, though.
"...Do you happen to know what happened to me?"
"Rubel-gun's intervention was successful. The Demon King's side also returned with considerable damage."
"Is that... so?"
"Yes. You did well."
His last memory was blurry, so he didn't remember it well, but it was a relief.
If he hadn't been able to stop Bersia here....
All the people of the Holy Nation would have died.
He had done well.
It was clearly a good thing....
Yet, a corner of his heart ached.
Even more than the wound on his abdomen.
"...Pope-nim."
"Yes, Rubel-gun."
"Would you perhaps allow me to enter the Forbidden Archives?"
It was something his old self would never have said.
However, there was something he needed to know.
What Bersia's true identity was.
What had happened during the time he couldn't remember.
He needed to know.
Judging by Bersia's appearance, it seemed that her goal wasn't simply to die by his hand.
"Hmm......."
Pope-nim seemed to ponder for a moment.
Since it was a place containing books forbidden by law in the Holy Nation, it was understandable....
"Understood. I will permit entry to the Forbidden Archives."
......Unexpectedly, Pope-nim readily granted permission to enter the Forbidden Archives.
"Thank you, Pope-nim."
"Yes. I hope you find what you're looking for."