Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Midnight Circus (4)
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Clang!
Even amid their relentless combined assault, my feet never retreated a single step.
No, I was actually pushing them back, standing alone against them.
Even though I'd thought... this fight wouldn't be easy.
Slash!
"Grraaah...!"
I was gradually taking control of the battle.
Drip, drip...
Of course, I wasn't completely unscathed either.
It was impossible to block every attack coming from all directions.
Thanks to the ones I couldn't deflect, my body was covered in wounds large and small.
"..."
Even as sharp claws tore into my flesh and demonic energy burrowed into the gashes, unleashing waves of excruciating agony.
My swordsmanship toward it showed not a hint of hesitation.
"...Get up."
The one I'd slashed deeply with my strike lay collapsed on the ground, letting out pained groans.
Its body was etched with deep wounds that wouldn't fade easily.
On top of that, the savage aura infused in them was shredding the areas apart.
"Damn it, damn it! Damn it!!!"
Just moments ago, its face had been full of vigor, but now it twisted in rage.
The voice that always deceived its foes trembled uncontrollably.
"Already... this can't be happening. I still have so much more to show."
"What... the hell are you?!"
Thud, thud.
Before I knew it, it had risen and was tending to its wounds.
I approached it step by step.
Swoosh!
Even as one targeted my back with swift magic.
Slash,
I simply cut it down without so much as a glance.
"Kahaaaah!"
Even when it split into four in an instant, attacking from all sides.
Stab!
Eye of Truth easily pinpointed its real body.
Slash!
I twisted my sword deep in its side diagonally and yanked it out roughly.
It recoiled in extreme pain.
"Did you think I was lying?"
I'd had countless chances to end this fight.
No matter how powerful its attacks, they meant nothing to me after enduring them endlessly.
Even attempts to hide among clones and evade.
Before Eye of Truth, it was just pathetic flailing.
Plus, using clones seemed to drain it heavily—its movements had visibly slowed.
My strikes kept leaving more wounds on its body.
'Still... not enough.'
Even after cornering it dozens more times.
I had no intention of ending the fight yet.
Every attack aimed solely for pain, not fatal blows.
If I'd inflicted a major wound, I'd even kindly give it time to heal.
"...Hurry and recover. It's not over yet."
Even now, I was giving it a chance to expel the aura gnawing at its side.
With its vast mana reserves, it could manage.
Thus, the nearly three-meter-tall brute knelt on one knee, glaring up at me.
I looked down at its fury-filled face.
"Why won't you just kill me?! This is enough already! How long are you going to toy with me?!"
"..."
"It hurts, it hurts so much! You think I don't know you're deliberately dragging this out? Your damn aura is killing me with pain!"
Even in this state, it lashed out at me in anger.
Grip...!
Complaining about mere pain like this, begging for mercy.
Yet it had mercilessly unleashed magic on the battered Estelle.
Just imagining that fueled my urge to kill it right then.
But I barely suppressed it and spoke, gazing at it.
"I'm the type who always keeps my promises."
"Kihihit, what the hell are you on about?!"
"From now on... you'll experience hell."
Despite my vow to inflict even greater suffering.
It scoffed dismissively and suddenly let out a bizarre laugh.
Then it abruptly recalled all the demonic energy healing its wounds.
The unexpelled aura burrowed deeper, driving it toward death.
"Kihit, kihihit! Enjoy it while you can. I'll return someday! Hell? Kihihit! Fine, I'll make you experience hell!"
Its rage-filled face vanished, replaced by mocking sneer.
...It seemed to finally admit it couldn't beat me.
Realizing further fighting would only bring pain, it chose death itself.
"...Pathetic."
Unlike other beings, for demons, death was merely an escape.
As long as their essence didn't vanish, they'd reappear somewhere in the world.
And over time, they'd grow far stronger than before.
"Yeah, that girl over there must mean a lot to you, huh? Kihihit! Right, I wonder what face you'd make if I killed you and that girl's child right in front of you!? Kihihihihit!"
Of course, regaining full power would take ages.
By then, the Demon King would be defeated, and peace restored.
Still, I wanted no loose ends.
Whoosh!
Considering the pain Estelle endured.
I had no desire to grant it an easy end.
"I wonder how long you can keep that smile."
To this demon who always deceived for pleasure.
I planned to teach it fear for the first time.
I dumped all my saved free stat points into mana and vitality.
Boom!
I concentrated the surging aura into my blade.
'...Lea’s gonna chew me out big time.'
It was a technique I hadn’t wanted to use until I advanced my realm.
But with Arien—who wielded the holy sword that could obliterate demons—absent.
To sever its origin, I had no choice but to unleash Slash once more.
Crack, craaack!
The blade developed fine cracks from the overflowing aura.
'You’ve really... been through a lot.'
From the entrance exam to now.
Despite its unworthy master handling it so roughly.
I was just grateful to the sword that endured silently.
"Ki, kihihit. Even that won’t erase me! Pointless struggle!"
Ignoring its taunts of futility.
Grrrrrind!
I simply drew forth all my power to prepare the Slash.
"O-Okay, fine! It was just a joke! Can’t a guy mess around? I swear I won’t show up again until you die! I really mean it!"
"Hoo..."
Sensing something ominous in my state, it flipped attitudes instantly.
[After escaping this situation, it is planning to devise a way to kill you somehow.]
True to its title as the Demon of Deception, its words were lies to the end.
"...There. Now you look better."
"W-Wait a sec!"
"...No. This is the end for you."
Realizing its existence might truly vanish, its expression shifted.
Not the usual mask of falsehoods.
Genuine, heartfelt terror spilling out.
...The demon's one truth amid endless lies.
And so, the demon that lived deceiving others.
"Please, spare...!"
Slash—!
Met a wretched, pathetic end.
Craaaack!
"He, heuek...!"
As Rowen's Slash cleaved the demon and left its mark.
A girl watched secretly from hiding.
'W-What is this...?!'
A sight unbelievable even with her own eyes.
Karin, hidden behind the curtain, couldn't close her mouth.
'That person... no matter how I look, it's Rowen...!'
During the forest keeper subjugation battle, the beast had suddenly gone berserk.
While healing injured students, she'd joined the professors, hero, and others to subdue it.
"He said he had business..."
Amid the fierce battle, she'd sensed immense demonic energy.
She'd cloaked herself in holy power and hurried toward it.
There, the male student she'd met earlier faced off against a grotesque, unidentified demon.
"But... this doesn't make sense."
Rowen's skill, as she'd sensed, wasn't bad—but far from exceptional.
Yet the foe was a dangerous demon even she, a saintess, couldn't ignore...
He'd overwhelmed it from start to finish, ultimately erasing it completely.
"Maybe... he was hiding his power...?"
That final Slash was undoubtedly beyond even the hero.
Not just bisecting the demon, but cleanly collapsing the cave behind it.
Unlike the innocent, cute impression he'd shown her, he was an undeniable powerhouse.
'But... what gain is there in hiding such strength?'
If he could fool the academy professors' senses and even her saintess sight.
There was no reason to hide and enroll.
She couldn't fathom what goal drove such a powerhouse to endure this obscurity.
"...Hik! No way...!"
Before midterms, visiting the church, she'd prayed to the Heavenly God.
The God who never gave revelations unless fates shifted had spoken.
—"My daughter, the one who holds fate in his hands is in danger. You must help that man."
She hadn't understood then... but seeing him eradicate the demon like it awaited him, it clicked.
"The great demons reviving... and the newly emerged Demon King's Army...!"
In this darkest hour, as demons gathered strength from the shadows.
The Heavenly God, deeming her and the hero insufficient, had sent another hero.
Rowen, catching his breath below, had surely hidden his power to enter the academy and protect this era's hopeful students.
"Huek...!"
Suddenly, Rowen turned, looking her way.
As if knowing she'd watched, his face stern.
—" ...Shh."
Placing a finger to his lips, as if urging silence.
Karin could only nod mutely.
.....
Groooar...
Confirming the Demon of Deception's total erasure, pain crashed over me.
Tension released, shoving aside agony hit all at once.
The pain was so intense I couldn't even grimace.
Nothing... happened...!
Striking a pose reminiscent of that green-haired swordsman.
I stared at the distant entrance, lost in thought.
'Gotta escape quick.'
With professors handling the berserk forest keeper and inquisitors mobilizing.
I needed to get Estelle out now.
"Hmm, was that curtain always there...?"
It stuck out awkwardly, feeling suspicious.
"Eh, probably just my imagination."
Even focusing my eyes, no real difference.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
The grueling midterms had finally ended.