Struggle for Supremacy (5)
Struggle for Supremacy (5)
In Sephemo, it's never specifically described how the protagonist becomes stronger.
They just naturally grow more powerful as the story progresses.
In this world too, Melanie was growing stronger over time without any particular training.
Perhaps that was just part of her character setting - having that kind of talent.
Melanie couldn't properly gauge how strong she had become.
As a result, she failed to control her magic's power and unintentionally committed murder.
"They're definitely dead. No need to check properly. Well done."
Hilda spoke while looking at the meat fragments that were too pitiful to even call a corpse.
[Did you decide to stomp out the seed of evil before it could even sprout? Impressive.]
'Tch...'
Luxuria noticed Melanie's panic and was mocking her.
Preemptively executing a villain because you know they'll cause bigger trouble later contradicted Melanie's previous behavior.
But to say it was just emotional agitation would be an understatement - Melanie's heart was shaking too violently.
"Everyone! Thank you so much! No matter what we tried, we couldn't catch them!"
Lieutenant Ellin came running while waving his hand.
Originally, Professor Jerahl was supposed to kidnap someone while escaping, but since he was dead, that wouldn't happen.
"Squad Leader! There's been a demonkin attack at the city hall!"
"What?! Then we need to send support immediately..."
"Already sent! They say all the demonkin that appeared have been eliminated!"
"Squad Leader! Professor Jerahl's followers who were trying to attack the supply warehouse..."
"Squad Leader! Those outside the city..."
With victory reports suddenly coming from everywhere, even Ellin receiving them couldn't simply rejoice and seemed flustered.
[What in the world is going on?]
'......Jerahl was conducting diversionary tactics. While everyone's attention was focused on Jerahl, his followers and demonkin were carrying out diversionary operations to kidnap the mayor and cut off Smalion's supplies. But since Jerahl died here, it failed.'
[That old man you just killed was that capable?]
'He didn't seem that way no matter how you looked at him, but since everyone got caught up in it, it was strange......'
When playing Sephemo, due to poor direction and insufficient description, it just looked like Jerahl's running speed was too fast so nobody could catch him and everyone just got defeated.
And seeing it in this world, that was actually the situation.
[......I felt a <distortion>.]
'Huh?'
[I felt it when I saw that succubus bitch too. It was too faint so I overlooked it, but I get a similar feeling from that old man.]
Luxuria felt a Distortion regarding elements that had changed after the Sephemo Story Renewal.
But Salome and Professor Jerahl were characters who didn't differ much before and after the renewal.
So she thought there was nothing to feel Distortion about......
'Could it be that the scenario writer was being interfered with even before the renewal......? And the result was that absurd escape ability and development where we just get unfairly screwed over......?'
[Explain it in terms I can understand.]
'Ah, it's nothing......'
Ever since being with the Goddess, even trying to organize her thoughts alone wasn't easy.
* * *
Melanie was anxiously gnawing at her nails in their quarters.
Hilda approached and grabbed Melanie's wrist.
"Do you plan to serve me with those ragged nails? Stop it."
"Ah, okay......"
"Thanks to you killing Professor Jerahl, things seem to have worked out well. What are you worried about?"
"......That's the problem......"
The city's atmosphere was too peaceful.
Since Jerahl had died, there no longer seemed to be any threat to the city.
Originally, at this point, Professor Jerahl's evil deeds that should have occurred weren't just one or two things, and the city should have fallen into complete chaos.
Even after defeating the Demon God in this episode, Jerahl doesn't die but survives and successfully escapes.
He continues to appear in multiple episodes after that, hindering the protagonist's journey until the very end.
He wasn't even a popular character, but they kept reusing him over and over until it became sickening.
As if mocking the users, the developers even promoted him as a charismatic villain.
But now all those events suddenly weren't happening.
Since such a significant figure had disappeared, she couldn't predict what would happen going forward.
That kept Melanie's mind from settling.
"Ahem ahem, Melanie, it's my turn today. You're prepared, right?"
"Umm......"
Pia approached, shyly blushing slightly.
She seemed excited at the thought of ravaging Melanie with her dazzling <swordsmanship> and claiming her.
But when the sex slave bitch answered distractedly while lost in other thoughts, the male who felt disrespected became slightly annoyed.
Pia placed her hand on Melanie's shoulder and made her turn to look at her.
"Hey, Melanie?"
"Huh?"
Melanie's anxious eyes fixed on Pia.
"When someone speaks to you, you should look at them and answer..."
"......Spear Technique."
"Huh?"
"Pia, you suddenly started using a spear. What's the reason?"
"Uh, um...... well......?"
Pia, who had been about to get angry, instead seemed to have something she was guilty about and avoided Melanie's gaze.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Lili went to open it.
"Were you resting well? I came to discuss various things regarding your compensation."
It was Lieutenant Ellin.
She was holding a heavy pouch filled with gold coins.
Melanie looked back and forth between the pouch and Ellin with a bewildered expression.
"Isn't it too early for payment? The Demon God threat still remains..."
"Ah, that's what I came to tell you. Your work is finished now."
"What?"
"We've detected movement from an entity presumed to be the Demon God. It's currently moving in the completely opposite direction from here."
"Th-then shouldn't we pursue...?"
At Melanie's question, Ellin shook his head.
"The Mayor and Guard Corps Commander have decided to abandon pursuit. Since the Demon God isn't directly threatening the city. Our duty is to protect the city. The capital hasn't even sent an Extermination Force."
"B-but Jerahl was the Demon God's Chosen One, so doesn't that mean the Demon God directly threatened the city?"
"Actually, that was just Jerahl's own claim, and there's no evidence that he was truly the Chosen One."
Melanie felt despair at the realization that what she had feared was happening.
Originally, due to Professor Jerahl's schemes, the mayor should have been kidnapped and the commander killed, creating a strong atmosphere that they had to fight to the end.
For revenge for those who died, and to prevent the Demon God from creating such sacrifices again.
That's why they end up pursuing the Demon God who had lost interest in the city.
But since nothing had happened, that didn't occur either.
"Then thank you for your hard work. You're welcome to stay in these quarters as long as you wish. All lodging expenses will be covered by the city."
Ellin handed the money pouch to Melanie, bowed to express gratitude, and left the room.
Melanie just stood there dumbfounded.
She should have developed a deeper friendship with Ellin after fighting alongside him multiple times.
But since no proper battles had occurred, they remained just employer and mercenary.
The story that should have progressed urgently was progressing urgently in a different sense.
[You bitch, weren't you supposed to face Gula this time? What happens if we just leave Gula alone?]
The Demon God of Avarice, Gula.
That was the name of the final enemy she was supposed to face in this episode.
But since the city had abandoned pursuit, as a mercenary hired by the city, she no longer had justification to confront the Demon God.
'That, I, I don't really know either......?'
[You useless bitch...! We need to contact Gula somehow! It's certain he'll cause major trouble if left alone!]
[I agree. Among us, he's particularly exceptional in pure destructive capability. But his thinking is just as simple-minded as his power. If left to act freely, he'll cause unpredictable accidents.]
[Exactly! That's not what we want either!]
Even Avaritia unusually offered an opinion.
She was already confused enough to die, and with two Demon Gods arguing in her head, she couldn't gather her thoughts.
"Melanie, what are you thinking about? The job's done, so we should have our match now, right?"
"Hehe. Maybe Melanie doesn't want to do it with Pia?"
"Wh-what...?! That's...!"
"Eek?!"
As Lili stirred trouble, Pia with an angry expression grabbed Melanie's arm.
And threw her onto the large bed, pinning her down.
"Wh-why are you doing this suddenly?!"
"You never look at me properly, Melanie! Do I have to treat you roughly like this for you to...!"
Pia's face, which had been contorted in anger, became distorted in a different way.
With flushed cheeks and a vulgar smile, Pia grabbed Melanie's chest.
"Aha...? Maybe you wanted me to treat you like this all along, and you've been provoking me? You perverted demon bitch♥"
"What? Wait, no way! When did I ever say... Kyaaah?!♡"