Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ruby
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Have You Finished Biting?
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Crackle!
'Why is this suddenly...?'
The Black Thunder Ring, which hadn't budged until now, suddenly had electricity flowing through it.
I could feel it instinctively.
That I could now draw out the ring's power.
That I could emit black thunder anytime I wanted if I set my mind to it.
'I was just about to try other methods since the damn thing wouldn't die...'
The demon beast was bizarrely hard with its exoskeleton to that extent.
Even though I had hit it enough that I thought it would surely die, it was still alive like that, so what more could be said.
Rather, I was the one getting tired from hitting it.
My left arm was still fine even now, but other parts were gradually getting tired.
Especially the left side of my ribs seemed to be pulling quite a bit.
Beyond the ability itself, I was realizing that basic physical strength was indeed necessary.
Of course, aside from that, honestly it was a surprisingly impressive level of durability.
To the extent that I wondered if there had ever been a demon beast like this.
But with this Black Thunder Ring?
I was confident it would definitely work.
'After all, the reason that demon beast was trapped in that place was because of this ring's power.'
To that creature, this black thunder would probably be its natural enemy.
Just then, the demon beast kicked off the ground and flew up, opening its maw wide and flying toward me.
'Let me stick it in its mouth and zap it once!'
Even if the outside was sturdy, what about the inside?
I lowered my head and stretched out my left arm straight.
And.
"Gueok?"
I thrust my hand deep into its uvula.
The demon beast also had a bewildered expression.
It came charging with its teeth bared, but I was probably the first one to come straight in like this.
Moreover.
Crunch! Crunch!
Even though it was trying to bite and tear, my arm remained unharmed.
"Have you finished biting?"
Now it was my turn.
'Like this... is it?'
The moment I concentrated my mind.
Crackle crackle crackle crackle!
"Ugegegegegek! Ugek!"
Black-tinted lightning thoroughly stirred up the demon beast's insides.
It struggled desperately to break free, but couldn't even touch me due to the paralyzing effect of the electric attack.
It seemed like there was a burning smell coming from somewhere.
I didn't stop there.
"You seemed to be very hungry, so eat your fill!"
Zzap! Zzap!
The sound of thunder wrapped around my body.
Sparks flew along the surrounding fog.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Uuugh!"
Klaus covered his eyes with his arms and lay flat on the ground from the lightning bolts flying in all directions.
It was a situation where he should have evacuated far away, but his physical condition wasn't as good as expected.
Then.
"Sir Klaus!"
"Ah, Albert?"
"Yes! It's me! Let's get out of here first!"
"I, I think we should."
Albert stuck close to Klaus's side and pulled him out.
Diaz also clung to his other side to help.
Klaus asked as he escaped the receding lightning storm.
"Who is that?"
"He's called Sir Rohan, who newly became a member of the Seven Knights!"
"Seven Knights? That can't be. Right now the Seven Knights already have six members... don't tell me he's really the seventh knight?"
Klaus looked back with surprised eyes.
"To think I'd meet the seventh knight..."
Klaus, being a member of the Seven Knights, was one of the people who knew the internal affairs of the knight order better than anyone.
The appointment rights that the five kingdoms each held.
And one appointment right that the Arlem Order held.
Those six seats always existed filled.
But just one seat.
The appointment right that Gauriel held had never once been exercised.
However, since Gauriel himself was such an enigmatic person, various theories circulated among the knights belonging to the knight order.
The theory that he actually had no appointment authority, and it was just a ceremonial position to elevate someone called Gauriel.
The theory that it was a vacant seat created to provide checks and balances in case one of the five kingdoms became excessively large.
The theory that it was a ceremonial seat created to honor some knight from the original Seven Knights who had died.
And so on.
'Whatever rumor it was, most of them suggested that the seventh knight's position didn't actually exist...'
It seemed that wasn't actually the case.
This would be quite a significant issue even among the knights of the Seven Knights.
And that combat power.
Honestly, it was absurd to the point of being ridiculous.
Klaus was seeing for the first time in his life a human who could unleash such overwhelming firepower with bare fists.
'He had a sword hanging at his side too... is it confidence that he can win without even using it?'
And he was actually winning.
Plus that lightning storm.
He was doubting his own eyes, wondering if it was something a human could do.
Klaus asked Albert who was supporting him.
"Where did you find such a mythical-seeming human?"
Albert just shrugged his shoulders.
"How would I know?"
At that moment.
Zzap!
Lightning stronger than any lightning shown before seemed to rage, then.
Rumble! Crash! Crash crash crash crash!
Lightning struck from the sky along with thunder.
"Uwak!"
"Kuuuk!"
"Uuuuuk!"
It was as if the angry sky was roaring in fury.
Watching him, Klaus muttered quietly.
"This is completely... like the god of thunder himself..."
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Bishop Laron of the Siforeο Archdiocese personally led troops and spurred his horse toward the direction where the fog was gathered.
"The cavalry moves first! The advance guard buys time, and the main force attacks! Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
A unified response like a single voice rang out.
Even while answering, they whipped their horses without losing formation.
The moment they got quite close to their destination.
Rumble... Crash!
A sound like thunder striking from the ground could be heard.
Though Bishop Laron had experienced all kinds of hardships over the long years, today seemed to bring up some kind of fear.
'What on earth is happening...'
However, not forgetting his position, he never expressed that anxiety outwardly.
He let out a resounding voice without a trace of wavering.
"The fog still remains! That surely means Sir Klaus is alive! Do not fear!"
Under his command, the paladins' morale gradually rose.
Bishop Laron stretched his hand forward.
"Vanguard first! Enter!"
"Charge!"
"Don't forget that God's protection is with us!"
They had already been informed that their opponent was an ancient demon beast.
Therefore, the paladins also entered the fog with desperate resolve.
Clatter! Clatter!
Dense fog where they couldn't see an inch ahead.
The paladins groped through their memories of Siforeο's terrain and galloped without slowing down.
The horses also seemed accustomed, galloping while avoiding various obstacles.
However, those sparks continuously extending from the center of the fog.
Even the war horses hesitated and stepped back from that alone.
Eventually, the paladins had to abandon their horses and advance on foot.
Step by step.
The closer they got, the more the blue flashes within the fog chilled their hearts.
But they didn't stop.
They continued to advance.
Finally.
"Keeeek!"
The demon beast's sound could be heard.
The paladins reached out their hands, signaling each other's positions.
Tap tap.
The signal to charge spread quickly among the paladins.
They kept their mouths tightly shut and rushed toward the center secretly and swiftly.
Clank clank! Clank clank!
Only the sound of armor clashing.
And the pounding of their own hearts could be heard.
All the paladins' eyes widened.
One leap.
That was all the distance left to their target.
But at that moment.
Rumble! Crash! Crash crash crash crash!
Suddenly thunder seemed to sound, then.
Lightning struck from the sky.
"Aaaaak!"
"Kuuk!"
"Uk! Uguk!"
Because they were too close, the shockwave completely covered their entire bodies.
The paladins rolled on the ground like autumn leaves in the wind.
It wasn't because they were weak.
It was because the wave was too strong.
As proof, even Klaus's fog was scattering.
In the place where the fog cleared.
One man stood tall.
And the demon beast was devouring nearly half of that man's arm!
The paladins hastily readjusted their grip on their swords and stood up.
At this rate, it seemed like the man would be devoured.
But...
"It's well cooked."
The man's voice sounded familiar from somewhere.
Someone among the paladins made a sound.
"R-Sir Rohan?"
"...!"
Only then did Bishop Laron also recognize the man before his eyes.
As that someone had said, it really was Rohan.
However, what was truly surprising came next.
Without even glancing this way, Rohan.
Lightly shook his left arm as if shaking off water.
Then the demon beast that had been biting his left arm fell powerlessly with a thud.
Looking closely, smoke was rising from the demon beast's body.
Along with that, a burning smell stung their noses.
Even the area around where Rohan was standing was blackened and charred.
Only Rohan stood there unharmed in that place alone.
Bishop Laron looked up at him in a daze.
"What... how..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At the Siforeο Archdiocese, they recovered the demon beast's corpse and began investigation.
Of course, it was already too damaged, so there seemed to be limits to obtaining significant information.
Nevertheless, the priests of the archdiocese never gave up.
They were unparalleled experts when it came to demons and demon beasts.
With near-fanatical determination, they persisted to the end and continued their investigation.
And finally.
One young priest's eyes flashed.
"Th-this is..."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Father. Look here. These wounds. Haven't we definitely seen them in the old books?"
"Hmm... where have I seen this?"
"Please wait just a moment!"
The young priest quickly ran out and returned with a book.
The other priests tilted their heads at seeing it.
That book wasn't an old text about demonology.
It was a fairy tale book that had been circulating since long before this Siforeο archdiocese was established.
The young priest opened it and read.
"The monster with long limbs and a big mouth that opened simultaneously left and right, up and down, was imprisoned in an eternal prison by the god of thunder. And the villagers lived happily ever after for a long, long time."
"N-no way..."
"Yes! I'm certain. This fairy tale, it seems it wasn't made up!"
"Th-th-then... isn't there other content? Other content about the demon beast."
"Just a moment. I'll look for it."
The young priest urgently flipped through the book pages and scanned them.
And simultaneously compared the contents with other ancient texts to find clues.
They gradually began to learn about the identity of this demon beast that had been burned to death before their eyes.
Ancient demon beast.
An ancient demon noble stripped of rank, an escapee from the twisted abyss.
"...Demon Archduke. Arcbiton..."
"..."
"..."
The priests who had learned the creature's identity froze and couldn't move for a while.
Because they had faced the reality of such a terrifying being.
One of them muttered in a half-dazed state.
"If this is Demon Archduke Arcbiton... then Sir Rohan who killed this is..."
And that fact was soon conveyed to Archbishop Tebenon.