Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Battle Commences
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Won’t that demon just run away on its own?”
I stared at Nameless, who delivered his opinion with a chilling smile, and my eyes widened to the point where I wondered if they could get any bigger.
No, what the hell was that supposed to mean? That it’d run away once we beat it half to death?
Since when had Nameless grown so violent…?
I swear to the heavens—no, to myself—that I never raised him to be like that.
…Or did I?
After blinking for a long while, I realized my stray thoughts had dragged on too long. I shook my head roughly and opened my mouth.
“…Are you saying we should side with the Hero?”
In truth, that thought had been circling my mind ever since I heard Nameless speak.
Back when Nameless sparred with Lucius, he’d subtly shown that he took a liking to him. And recalling what Nameless had told me…
Didn’t it seem like he wouldn’t care if that demon died?
However, contrary to my expectations, Nameless tilted his head as if he truly couldn’t comprehend my words.
“Pardon? When did I say that?”
“...Didn’t you just say it?”
I made an incredulous face. Why couldn’t Nameless even remember what he’d just said?
…His condition is more serious than I thought.
As I furrowed my brow slightly and was about to open my mouth to discuss details further.
“Lady Heaven Cleaver, Lord Heavenly Nameless, we’re heading in.”
“Yes.”
“...”
Right on cue, Lucius approached us. As he quickened his pace, he spoke up.
…His timing was utterly terrible. I let out a small sigh and followed behind Lucius.
…
-Lily's comrade.
The regular sound of dripping water echoed, tapping at the ears of the slumbering man.
-Drip, drip, drip.
The wounded man, lying on the uneven stone floor, opened his eyes with some effort and looked around.
…Someone was approaching.
In the dark, damp cave, the man’s pupils gleamed coldly.
As if there was something he had to do, he pushed himself up from his lying position and swung his battered arm through the empty air.
As the man swung his arm, a line began to trace through the previously empty space, following its path. Soon, it formed a single pattern.
An ominous blood-red hue. Unknowable characters and an inverted cross. Everything about it screamed heresy.
If the church had seen what the man was drawing, they would have branded it as heresy and hunted him down without mercy, but the man paid no heed to such things. Without glancing around for watchful eyes.
With a tense expression, as if chased by something, he sweated profusely and continued drawing the magic circle.
Thus, the completed magic circle.
The man seemed satisfied, as he slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and nodded.
“This should be enough…”
To buy enough time to escape.
Not long ago, he had spent a long time in this filthy cave recovering the mana depleted from single-handedly facing an entire knight squad.
However, the density of mana in the air differed between the Demon Realm and the human world. Naturally, his recovery had been slow.
“…I just needed a little more time.”
But then these bugs had to show up… The man added curtly, continuously furrowing his brow as he heightened his senses.
In his position, he had every right to feel aggrieved.
At his comrade Lily’s request, he would have stayed quietly in the Demon Realm otherwise. But because Lily couldn’t use spatial translocation, he’d lingered unnecessarily in the human world, leading to this mess.
Biting his lip, the man nodded firmly as if resolving himself.
As one of the few demons in the Demon King’s Army who could use spatial translocation magic, he couldn’t afford to waste time in a place like this.
Letting out a short sigh, the man closed his eyes briefly and began sensing the presences drawing near.
Four presences. Considering the size of the knight squad he’d faced before, they were manageable.
“…Damn, why can’t I sense it?”
But among those four, one presence was so faint it stood out.
Even ignoring that one, the others didn’t seem easy. With the last one completely unreadable, the man’s anxiety only grew.
Not that he could just flee now that his position was pinpointed. Aside from spatial translocation, he had no other means of escape.
So he’d have to fight them, absorb mana in the process, and escape midway…
…If only Lily were here, he could have clung to her and flown away together.
Where the hell was that gloomy woman when he needed her?
Still, giving up wasn’t an option.
“Hoo…”
Steeling himself with a short breath, the man nodded and continued drawing the magic circle. He’d need to make full preparations.
…
-Heaven Cleaver.
A familiar energy was gradually drawing closer to me. The more it did, the less I could control the cold sweat beading on my forehead.
It was because I hadn’t been able to properly discuss with Nameless, leaving me unable to predict how he’d act.
…According to Nameless, he hadn’t said we should side with the Hero. But if I asked whether he’d clearly meant to side with the Demon King.
…No, that wasn’t it either.
Of course, I had told Nameless to stay neutral, but when he spouted something like that at a crucial moment, my head throbbed.
Anyway.
Though I hadn’t talked it over with Nameless, I had decided on my own course of action.
First, hide my presence as much as possible so that horned demon wouldn’t find me.
That way, I could avoid any mishaps if the demon tried to act like it knew me… It was a decision after some deliberation.
Second, I wouldn’t intervene in the fight.
I’d come here under the pretext of helping Lucius, sure.
But would I really help that Hero blessed by those damn gods?
If anything, I wanted them to suffer a major setback. Sure, that’d mean breaking my promise to Lucius, but…
If I stepped in only when his life was truly in danger, it wouldn’t count as deceiving him, right?
I’d even prepared an excuse. One that used Nameless’s reckless claim that we should go all out.
Something like, “I want my disciple to gain experience; protecting Nameless is my top priority.” That should work.
“Heh heh heh.”
Even I was startled by how devious my own thinking was. I crookedly lifted one corner of my mouth into a very, very wicked smile.
Wondering at my expression, Nameless tilted his head slightly.
“Master? What’s wrong?”
I let out a deep sigh and covered my face.
“…Just let it slide.”
“Yes.”
Really. Not only did he fail to help set the mood on his own, he even ruined it.
Disciple fail.
I nodded.
…
How long had it been since we started moving through the cave?
A thick, unpleasant stench began to waft toward us.
It was just ahead.
Lucius and Elia sensed it too, hardening their expressions as they spoke.
“The Lord Heavenly Nameless and I will take the lead. Lady Heaven Cleaver, could you protect Saintess Elia in case of emergencies?”
“Mm, sure.”
I’d originally planned to hang back with Nameless, but I couldn’t refuse a request like that.
I nodded.
Hearing our conversation, Elia wore a guilt-ridden expression and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry… I can’t be much help in combat…”
“Saintess, it’s fine.”
At Elia’s demeanor, Lucius gave a small smile and shook his head.
“Once our battle ends, won’t the Saintess handle the aftermath for us?”
“That’s true, but…”
“That’s enough.”
Lucius firmly cut off Elia as she tried to say more, gripping his sword tighter.
What a touching scene. Watching it, Nameless and I exchanged glances for a moment.
…Hmm, should I say something?
The mood called for some encouragement, but I had no idea what to say.
I’d never experienced a situation like this before, so in a way, it was only natural.
As I mumbled to myself, Nameless smirked, approached me, and bowed his head.
“I’ll handle it quickly and return.”
“Mm, alright.”
Unlike Lucius and Elia’s exchange earlier, ours was utterly mundane.
For some reason, it made me chuckle. Smiling, I patted Nameless’s shoulder.
“Still, don’t ‘handle’ it permanently. It’s probably someone important.”
“…Yes.”
As Nameless moved away from me, he muttered softly.
‘Important to Master…’
For some reason, it felt like Nameless might ruin everything, sending a wave of unease through my body.