Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Demon (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Everything started with that sudden error.
I couldn't retrieve the avatar because of some glitch I couldn't even explain, so after agonizing over it, I decided to push my real body to the brink.
In the end, I managed to take down the archmage in an instant, but...
Every step sent bones grinding out of place, the sensation vivid and unrelenting.
My hands trembled uncontrollably even at rest.
This was the first time breathing itself felt like such a chore.
An avatar was just an object, after all—it didn't respond to healing potions.
I had to endure this state for the remaining time.
"...Let's go."
Still, it had to be done.
There was no time for rest or preparation for what came next.
Helen deployed her magic circle.
She squeezed her eyes shut, focusing intently as she pushed her mana circuits to their limit.
Soon, the circle began to glow blue.
The space around us warped.
Two seconds later, I stood in Griffith territory.
"Ar... arrived..."
Helen staggered, drained from overusing her mana.
I wanted to support her, but I had no strength left for that.
"Wait here. I'll be back soon."
"...You're heading that way?"
Helen pinpointed the exact direction I was facing.
She must have sensed it too.
That terrifying aura lurking beyond.
"Don't die. I have questions for you."
"Got it."
I steadied my breathing.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could win in this condition.
I didn't need to see it to know.
That thing was a monster beyond even the archmage.
...Just what the hell was it?
Either way, I had no choice.
I dragged my broken legs forward.
"...?"
"Well, aren't you lucky."
The sight that greeted me left me speechless.
I'd expected something out of the ordinary, but...
"...What the hell are you?"
I never imagined it would be this bad.
"Who do you think I am?"
It was Roel's mouth doing the talking.
Roel's lips curling into a sneer.
Roel's foot grinding down on the fallen demon.
All of it—Roel.
The ground was littered with bodies.
Dozens of dead civilians, and Sitla out cold among them.
...Turnabout's fair play, huh.
Now I finally understood how the others must have felt.
"You're the Demon."
"Correct."
Out of thin air, a 'hand' burst forth.
It looked familiar.
The grotesque mouth on its palm.
"Humans are such fools. They assume a few repetitions mean it'll last forever. You're no different."
The only difference was...
"Isn't it fun? Just because it's been fine so far doesn't guarantee it'll stay that way."
"Ugh..."
"But I love that stupidity."
It was several times stronger than the thing I'd faced in my inner world.
I barely managed to defend, but the strain on my legs was unbearable.
I swatted the hand away and gasped for air.
"Tell me. Why'd you leave your post? Were you looking down on me for staying locked away?"
"I could ask you the same. Why show up now? The first nightmare would've been the easiest time to kill me."
The Demon's gaze pierced me.
The look screamed, you really don't know?
"Ah, I see."
It let out a sigh like something had just clicked.
The Demon drew its sword.
A murderous intent crashed over me like a tidal wave.
I could see my muscles contracting visibly.
It's coming.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as blade met blade.
The relentless barrage forced me to grit my teeth.
My already battered body was breaking down further.
"If that messenger isn't yours, no need to hold back, right?"
Clang!
Claaang!!
"We're both trapped here—why not just die quietly?"
My legs finally gave out.
One knee slammed into the ground.
Creeeak...
The overwhelming pressure bore down relentlessly.
"You can die right now."
Its babbling was grating.
But thanks to it, I pieced together what happened.
"Shut up."
"Strange. Weren't you the one who wanted to die?"
"Never."
"No, I can tell. You've been craving death."
"I get you're excited after so long out, but shut it when I say shut it."
I had no bandwidth for banter amid the mental strain.
Cleave
Mana exploded along the blade. The cleaving strike shot toward the Demon, but it dodged effortlessly.
Something felt off. Eerily so.
Mimic
I dashed at Sera's speed. Still, it didn't connect.
"Just hand over the body. That'd be better for you."
"You mocking me?"
It was like it knew every skill I'd pull out in advance...
Ah.
"I get it now."
"Hm?"
"No wonder you seemed so desperate."
All errors stem from unforeseen variables.
Just as you can't solve an unlearned math formula, the system is vulnerable to unlearned variables.
Another soul possessing Roel's body? Natural.
One soul shifting to an external vessel? Natural.
But one soul leaving while Roel's body gets possessed? Unnatural.
That was the issue.
The system detected another soul already, so it blocked retrieval.
That raises another fundamental question.
How did that Demon get out in the first place?
It seemed mysterious at first, but the answer wasn't hard.
Think about it—it was weird from the start.
A system possessing me wouldn't leave an 'existing soul' intact.
But the system isn't perfect.
Demons are transcendent beings, so finding a loophole wasn't tough.
It exploited that gap cleverly.
"You could get out all along, huh?"
"..."
"You just didn't."
It was never trapped to begin with.
It hid to evade the system.
The hand monsters are classified as 'nightmares,' so they don't trigger without emerging—but stepping out gets them expelled by the system.
If it stayed hidden on purpose, it makes sense.
"Kill me, and you won't even need to hide anymore."
Lying in wait, it noticed I vacated whenever I used the avatar.
Pretending it couldn't emerge to seize the perfect chance?
"Smarter than I thought."
The Demon mentioned the messenger.
That meant the system was visible to it too.
So it'd see this message as well.
[Emergency patch in progress.]
[Please wait just a moment!]
[^-^b]
Now I knew why it was rushing.
"A race against time, huh."
I didn't know what the patch would do yet.
But I had to bank on it.
"Think the messenger will save you?"
"I know it's not on my side. But it's not yours either."
According to the Demon, I could die right now.
Obviously, since I couldn't return to Roel's body immediately.
I'd survived as a 'wandering soul' solely thanks to the avatar.
Lose my vessel, and I'm done.
"..."
"..."
Tension hung thick in the air.
My body was wrecked, but holding out? I could manage that.
I gathered my focus.
Tensed every muscle in my body.
Bones twisted under the strain, but I bit my lip and endured.
Blood dripped from my fingertips.
Plip.
Me and the Demon.
We moved at the same instant.
Dozens of hands surrounded me from every direction.
They blocked all escape, swinging aura-clad blades wildly.
Flesh tore, muscles burst—I didn't even flinch.
Splat.
Splurt.
New wounds opened with every clash.
Without the avatar, I'd have blacked out ages ago.
Shlick.
My arm finally severed.
Dozens of hands clung to my body.
Crushing it with terrifying grip strength.
"Too bad. Should've run."
Thud!
My body pinned to the ground.
Pressure threatened to pulverize my skull.
Groooan...
Honestly, I knew I couldn't win.
Even at full strength, victory wasn't guaranteed—let alone in this state.
So...
This was a gamble now.
Crack!
[Avatar fully damaged.]
[Error occurred.]
[Unable to return.]
[......]
[......]
My mind began to fray.
So this was death.
Fine by me.
The system was still visible.
[Usable avatars remain.]
[Use one?]
What kind of question is that?
[Using avatar.]
Behind the Demon, I opened my eyes again.
"...What?!"
"Surprised?"
Sorry, Roel.
It's gonna hurt like hell when you wake up.
I clenched my fist.
Then slammed it full-force into the Demon's solar plexus.
"Guh...!!"
The Demon flew back with a pained groan.
Like a baseball smacked by a bat—blazing speed.
If it hit the wall like that—
[Patch complete.]
[Check the details!]
Game over.