Chapter 81
Chapter 81
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Son, At This Rate!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Realizing that the gods of this world were truly "gods," Anima grew curious about what exactly these demons were.
Soon after raiding the hideout of some demon worshippers, Anima shook the blood from his hands.
"Anima, weren't you against killing?"
"After seeing what these bastards did?"
"So you do kill under certain conditions."
Aretia narrowed her eyes at the sight of those brutally sacrificed by the demon worshippers.
"...Even among the few, the absolute few end up like this."
"Aretia, you're being surprisingly sentimental right now."
"Guess I can't help it as a demonkin."
"Do you see demonkin as part of that few?"
"More or less. Anyway, why'd we come here?"
"Curious about these demons."
"Why those idiots and morons?"
Anima found it odd that Aretia spoke with unusually strong conviction.
After hearing a brief explanation about demons, Anima reached a conclusion.
"They really are idiots and morons."
"You think so too?"
"The reason they challenged the current gods was just because they coveted their position or couldn't control their own desires?"
"Yeah, let's see... One of the most famous demon tales is when one lusted after the heavenly god Ilusia and attacked her."
"Why would they do that...?"
"How should we know the minds of idiots and morons? Anyway, they're so pathetic it's hard to call them transcendent beings."
"But for transcendent beings to have empty heads like that feels off."
"Maybe it's only natural. These beings transcended in the distant past."
"Hm?"
"Surely you don't think the world was this ordered back then? And I told you—gods didn't used to grant power or divinity."
Anima thought to himself.
The gods had wanted transcendent beings like themselves to emerge.
Originally, they hadn't intervened in the mortal realm.
But why did they start intervening after transcendent beings like demons appeared?
There was only one answer.
"...Freedom turned into indulgence."
"That's one of the gods' mistakes. They trusted their children too much. Back then, human sacrifice for power was seen as completely normal—something considered the worst atrocity in this era was just natural."
"So that's how these twisted transcendent beings were born? And now I get why demons blindly hate the gods."
"Because the gods took away their 'freedom' to do whatever they wanted in the mortal realm."
"Truly morons."
"Agreed. By the way, seems like we have guests outside."
"I was thinking there were fewer people than the size of this hideout suggested."
And so Anima and Aretia stepped out of the demon worshippers' hideout.
*******************
As soon as the two emerged, a crowd of black-robed figures greeted them.
Their apparent leader stepped forward and immediately spoke.
"Rude intruders, what brings you here? This place is ours..."
"Hold on."
"""......?"""
"Too much boring, pretentious talk so far. Let's get straight to the point."
Smoke billowed from Anima's body as he entered combat stance, startling the demon worshippers' leader, Metis.
"W-wait a second!"
"Why so flustered? You came here to fight us anyway, right?"
"That's not it! Do you think we'd come here just to commit suicide?!"
"Oh, Anima. Looks like these demon worshippers are pretty self-aware."
The demon worshippers desperately signaled they didn't want to fight, so Anima relaxed his stance a bit.
"Speak quickly. And as I said, no boring pretentious talk."
"Ahem... We'll get right to why we approached you. We want an alliance."
"An alliance?"
"Yes, one that..."
"What a pointless reason. Come at me now."
"No!! Let us talk!"
Afterward, Aretia felt a bit sorry for the demon worshippers being dragged around by Anima.
But Metis managed to get his full pitch out eventually.
"Anima, being born from the abyss's depths. You're an artificial lifeform without a soul. Doesn't this world disgust you? Join us, and you can face true life."
"True life..."
"Yes! True life! Join us, cast off the artificial, and be reborn as a living, breathing being with a soul!"
"...So, if I join you, I'll really get that true life?"
"I promise! It's a give-and-take worth trading this world for. So, what's your answer?!"
Hearing the demon worshippers' offer to shed his current form and transform into something new, Anima thought it over.
And his response was!
"But I refuse."
"What?!"
"One of my favorite things, as Anima, is telling 'no' to fools who think they're ahead of me!"
Of course it was NO!
Anima slowly walked toward the murmuring demon worshippers.
"Your premise is wrong from the start. Why would a strong one hate the weak? I just pity all who live in this world."
"Such arrogance—!"
"And you're followers of those idiots and morons. The idea that I'd join you is comedy gold."
Though mocked by Anima, the demon worshippers quickly offered another angle.
"The false rulers of this world imprisoned your master in a dungeon! They treated an innocent being like a death row inmate! And you still won't join us?!"
"That's truly regrettable. But in the end, it wasn't so bad."
"Not so bad?!"
"Father thinks where he is isn't a death row cell—it's paradise itself. One he can shape as he pleases. So don't the gods seem like they sent Father to paradise? Plus his bonds with uncle and the challengers. The gods must have foreseen all that."
"Wha...?"
Hearing Anima's words, Aretia suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
Who could know Balak's current state was just a lucky coincidence from someone's meddling!
Knowing that 'truth,' Aretia slowly backed away to keep Anima from noticing her condition.
Anyway, after rejecting all their boring, pretentious proposals.
Having been scratched by Anima's insults to their worshipped beings, the demon worshippers' mood grew hostile.
"You're arrogant and conceited! And a mere doll dares mock true gods!"
"Call it confidence. Also, do you even know why the gods leave your 'demons' alone?"
"Of course, because the true gods fear them—!!"
"They just leave them as experience fodder for the next generation. In other words... prey. And the world needs a dumpster for trash like you."
Finally unable to hold back at Anima's words demoting them and their demons below rabbits, the demon worshippers snapped.
"Doll, you'll pay for those words."
"I'm grateful instead. Thanks to you, I see exactly what demons are. And here's my thanks in return."
As Anima raised his hand, something appeared from the sky and landed in his grasp.
Countless spells poured from the demon worshippers toward Anima as he prepared to act, but it was too late.
"Transform"
[ Transform ]
Anima attached the insect-like thing to his belt, a magic barrier forming as something adhered to his body.
The sky-filling spells were blocked by the barrier.
Anima emerged in a new form, clad in heavy armor.
"Quickly smash this blasphemer!!!"
"""Raaagh!!!"""
Metis, sensing unease at Anima's changed form, ordered a full assault.
But Anima's transformation wasn't over.
Like a larva pupating into an adult insect, his form shifted once more.
[ CAST OFF ]
Bwooom!!
"Wh-what is this light!!"
"Gyaaah!"
A massive flash repelled the charging demon worshippers, and a voice echoed in the air again.
[ CHANGE BEETLE ]
The demon worshippers reset their battle stances, but Anima's transformation was complete.
He flung his cape back, pink petals swirling.
His full form was revealed.
Everyone gasped at Anima's appearance.
The demon worshippers staggered, dizzy from the tremendous magical surge emanating from him.
Aretia was speechless at Anima's true form.
He slowly touched a button on his belt and spoke.
[ CLOCK UP ]
"Disgusting evil"
[ ONE! ]
"is using the ignorant who know nothing."
[ TWO! ]
"is using others solely for your own gain."
[ THREE! ]
"And you lot are the blackest evil of all—unaware you're the 'evil' itself."
Anima pointed at the demon worshippers without pressing the final button.
"Ready? I am."
Vreeeeem!!
For the demon worshippers, it was beyond comprehension, but Anima's time accelerated.
****************
Amid the ferocious magical surge from Anima, the demon worshippers swiftly assumed defensive positions.
But in an instant, light trails appeared, Anima's silhouette tracing thin arcs in the air three, four times.
All they could feel was air resistance like tearing flesh.
Black robes tangled and ripped like lightning, wrists gripping weapons severed and frozen midair.
"Where'd he go?!"
"Damn it!! C-can't see him!!"
"Gyaaah!!"
Invisible pressure cracked the ground, and in one breath, three more lost consciousness.
Behind the battered worshippers, a grotesque giant black iron golem materialized before Metis, who had hastily completed his spell.
"Block him!!"
"Groooarrr!!"
Thud thud thud!!
The golem sensed Anima and swung at his predicted path.
But their tech levels were worlds apart.
Anima easily dodged the fist, stomping down on the golem's chestplate.
The sturdy black iron shattered like glass, and by the time fragments scattered, he was on the other side.
Before the remaining worshippers could scream, pink petals brushed Metis's bloodshot vision.
[ Rider Kick ]
Anima pressed the final button, a red halo connecting his calf to his foot.
The airborne pink petals were sucked into the halo.
Sensing his end, Metis grimaced and closed his eyes—Anima's eyes narrowed.
"—In the end, no one was ready."
The fate of those who don't face death head-on was sealed.
Anima slowly drew one leg back for balance, his cape billowing like waves as he launched straight upward.
Delayed air rushed in with debris and dust, but he was already past the storm.
Snap!
With a finger snap, distorted time returned to normal, collapse sounds, dust, and blood stench spreading at once.
All that remained: blood pooling on cracked ground, the fallen giant golem, and Anima standing alone at the center.
"Uh... um... uh..."
"Time is the ultimate power, isn't it? Right, Aretia?"
"Why are you this strong?!"
"My pride and joy. Anyway... I found something intriguing on these guys. Can you check it out?"
"You looted them already...?"
"Our time flows differently."
"O-okay..."
While delivering the Rider Kick to Metis's chest, Anima had snatched his odd necklace.
Now Aretia dispelled the magic on the necklace with its central orb.
The orb suddenly expanded massively, and a small boy burst out.
His emaciated body bore wounds from beatings and starvation.
But his face was the opposite.
The reason being!
"O... ooooh..."
Arms crossed, cape fluttering, Anima's eyes sparkled with awe.