Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Last Battle
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The original rules of Forsaken Hollow were simple.
When a participant in the arena could no longer move, or their very existence was extinguished, it was considered a loss, and the fight continued until only one person remained.
However,
"...Magnificent. Your magic truly is remarkable."
Even though the victor had already been determined, the final battle remained. The obsidian knight on horseback was approaching me, who had defeated all opponents.
One of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings,
The Death Knight said to be absolutely unkillable,
The First Hero and the one who brutally murdered my parents.
"I do believe I was right to spare you. Don't you feel the same?"
"You talk nonsense so well."
Dullahan was adjusting his helmet before me, preparing for the upcoming battle.
As he gripped his sword and shield, still stained with blood that wouldn't wash away, blue flames seemed to flicker within the eye slits of his visor.
"If I had killed you that day as the Demon King commanded, I would have missed this spectacle. Look, so many have gathered and are shouting to witness our fight."
With a voice as cold and murky as a blade held to the throat, Dullahan gestured, looking around.
Just as he said, the sight of countless demons and monsters, raising their voices in anticipation of us killing each other, was visible.
These madmen who even considered people fighting for their lives as mere entertainment. Seeing beings whose values and thoughts differed so drastically from ordinary humans, I almost felt sick.
I couldn't understand why this was called a spectacle.
Had his brain been eaten by maggots when he became a Death Knight?
"...I was relieved to find you are ultimately just a human like me. An ordinary human who can stab a precious person to death with a sword to survive."
Seeing Dullahan chuckling, apparently thinking I had killed Gragtar, I struggled to suppress the scorn rising from within.
I wanted to say, 'He's actually alive, you idiot,' but I feared all the opportunities I'd barely gained would be wasted if I spoke. So, I just frowned deeply, showing my displeasure.
"Gragtar sacrificed himself to kill you. He's no different from someone who begged the Demon King just to survive alone."
"...How utterly foolish. You too will realize, when you actually meet the Demon King, that your life is worth less than a mayfly's."
"Oh, really? I think I'd rather bite my tongue and die on the spot. While using a self-destruct spell, of course. Dying alone seems too unfair."
Truthfully, I had little greed for life itself.
Ever since I was young, I'd often been called a madman who would do anything to save others.
"All talk, I see. Perhaps you weren't properly educated by your parents?"
"Thanks to whom? You fucking bastard."
Dullahan showed an unpleasant expression, bringing up the topic like this even though he was the one who cruelly murdered my parents.
He was a vile and wicked creature, unbelievable as the First Hero. No wonder the Heavenly God Lumina might have been displeased about Victoria and me being connected.
"...Raise your weapon, young man. This will be your final battle, the terminus of your long journey."
"My only weapon is my fist."
I said, tightening the bandage wrapped around my hand once more. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of my nose, but I resolved to ignore it.
This was just one of Victoria's tricks to draw my attention to herself.
If I succeeded in killing Dullahan and achieving revenge, perhaps I could lay down the burden that had been tormenting my heart all this time.
Then, I might be able to tell Victoria my true feelings.
"You intend to fight me, a Weaponmaster who can wield every weapon in this world, with mere fists?"
"Yeah, I think this will help me vent my anger a bit more."
I smiled, looking at my comrades cheering for me from afar.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Watching the match between Dullahan and Astal, the Hero Kyle felt uneasy. His trembling hands wouldn't stay still, so he kept tapping the armrest of his chair.
The reason was because he had realized the sword Dullahan held was the Holy Sword bestowed by the chief god, Odin.
"...In this match, Astal has almost no chance of winning."
For the first time, Kyle voiced a pessimistic outcome.
Originally, a Holy Sword is a weapon imbued with demon-destroying, darkness-rending purifying energy. For it to be dyed that black, it meant countless slaughters had tarnished its light beyond measure.
"...Why do you think that?"
At Kyle's words, Victoria glared at him with colder eyes than ever before.
She was already dissatisfied that he was making such ominous remarks while the man she loved was fighting the Demon King's Heavenly King alone.
"For a Holy Sword to turn that obsidian black, one must have fallen so far as to eclipse the grace bestowed by the chief god Odin."
"Is that trivial fact really important? Lord Astal is someone who has achieved victory every time. A hero who survived even against the Endless Dream, Bellamora. This time, he will surely..."
"That time, we were all together. But now he's fighting alone.... I think the opponent is just too wicked."
The Hero Kyle was someone who had shouted hope even while crossing the line of death in the Demon Realm. But now, hearing the countless sobs contained within the Holy Sword, he tightly closed his eyes.
As if resonating, his own fire-formed Holy Sword trembled, conveying the voices of the people within.
- Please, please.... At least my child.... Sieg...
- Why, why did you kill the Saint? Sieghardt, have you gone mad...?! You're now...
- Sa, save me.... I don't want to die yet...!!
A fear that made the whole body tremble and stopped the breath.
Hearing the true name of Dullahan, the First Hero, Kyle's face instantly turned pale as he felt what kind of existence the Demon King was.
The screams and death throes he heard when he killed his comrades echoed, and the Saint's final struggle, curling her body to protect the child in her womb, flickered before him.
"The opponent is the First Hero who killed even his comrades to survive. Well, Astal also defeated all other participants to reach the finals..."
Barely suppressing the nausea rising from within, he told Victoria the information he had uncovered.
The fact that Dullahan's original name was Sieghardt, and that he had offered not only his comrades but also the child of the First Saint to the Demon King to survive.
However,
"...Lord Astal is different from that trash. I'm sure he evacuated that orc friend somewhere."
"How do you know that?"
"A woman's intuition. The person I love is the kindest person in this world."
Even after hearing such facts, Victoria smiled confidently as she spoke.
Because she had felt the scent she had smeared on him to mark him as hers disappear momentarily.
He must have instantly crossed space and stopped by the Holy Kingdom of Aurelium. Otherwise, it would be difficult to erase the traces left by a dragon.
Now, Victoria could predict what the person she liked was thinking and doing even with her eyes closed.
"Moreover, if Lord Astal were truly about to die, I would jump down right now and crush that foolish undead's helmet."
Victoria clasped her hands to offer a prayer to the Heavenly God, pouting her lips because she hated the fact that she couldn't provide decisive help to Astal.
- [Daughter, the opponent is the First Hero, Sieghardt, said to be the strongest among all heroes throughout history. Aren't you worried even against such an opponent?]
"...It doesn't matter if the opponent is the First Hero or the First Hero's grandfather. I want to crush anyone who torments my love."
Then, the voice of the Heavenly God Lumina was heard, but Victoria muttered as if it were no problem at all.
Summoning a large hammer right beside her, she gripped it tightly, suppressing her anger. An immense killing intent emanated from her expression.
"......"
"Victoria, you've changed..."
"Well, who in their right mind could calmly send their beloved lover into an arena like this? If anything, Lady Victoria's reaction is the natural one."
Seeing such a Victoria, the other comrades couldn't help but shiver with a chilling cold.
They knew she was suppressing her desire to kill Dullahan immediately, showing consideration so Astal could avenge his parents.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "And finally, the last special match of this arena begins! Our ruler! Our eternal gladiator! One of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings─! The Death Knight, Lord Dullahan─!"
Listening to the Siren's voice introducing the two of us before the battle began, I clenched my teeth hard.
Dullahan, mounted once more on his black horse, seemed to be contemplating which weapon to attack me with first as he drew numerous siege weapons behind him.
"And his opponent is─! The one who killed all competitors in the arena and rose to the top.... The Mad Mage─!!"
Before the Siren's words even finished, I wrapped acceleration magic around my entire body like a spool and shot forward with instantaneous speed.
"Astal Kaisaros?!"
*BAM─!*
Before Dullahan could even react, my fist was buried in his face.