Chapter 164: Succubus Queen (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Succubus Queen (6)
This was the first time since absorbing Ruin Crasio's essence that he had found a display of swordsmanship beautiful.
Most sword styles couldn't compare to his own, and even the exceptional ones weren't necessarily superior—they simply pursued a different path.
But what Cloud had just shown him was different.
It was on another level entirely from any swordsmanship he had ever seen.
That's what Mars thought as he watched the breath weapon split in two.
“Go now. And don't forget what I told you before.”
Cloud's words snapped Mars out of his reverie.
“R-Right. Got it. Thanks!”
Shaking himself back to reality, Mars shot off toward the forest where the Succubus Queen had fled.
“And where do you think you’re going!”
Thud. Terseus’s massive foreleg slammed down, blocking the path to the forest. It then swept across the ground, swinging straight for Mars.
The paw, as large as a full-grown ogre, kicked up a fierce wind that blasted Mars with dirt and pebbles.
The dust cloud obscured his vision, and by the time he realized what was happening, Terseus’s paw was right in front of his face.
I can’t dodge it.
The moment Mars gritted his teeth to brace for the impact—
CRASH—!
With a dull thud, Terseus’s paw was sent flying in the opposite direction.
What just happened?
As Mars stared in confusion, the dust settled to reveal Frillite, greatsword in hand.
She turned to him and asked, “Are you alright, boy?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I’m fine. Thank…”
“Then get ready to break your fall.”
Mars didn’t even have a chance to question her. She grabbed him by the collar and hurled him in a straight line into the forest. He flew so fast he couldn't even scream, and it was only after tumbling across the ground dozens of times that he managed to get back on his feet.
“Ughhh…”
Pushing himself up, Mars let out a pained groan but still bowed his head toward Frillite.
It was a rather absurd way to help, but she had helped him nonetheless.
He saw Frillite nod, then turned and resumed his pursuit of the Succubus Queen in earnest.
Watching his retreating back, Frillite let out a small smirk.
“A young man who’s bold in love. Not bad.”
She then glanced sideways at Cloud.
“I wish someone I know would learn from him.”
“I’ll consider it once this is all over. More importantly, right or left?”
“I’ll take the left.”
“Then I’ll take the right.”
The moment their conversation ended, the two of them charged toward Terseus, who had begun summoning his minions.
*
He hadn’t been running through the forest for long.
A horde of monsters blocked his path.
—Kyaaaak!
—Grrrr…
—Awooo!!
Just how many had she enthralled?
There were dozens of monsters in sight alone.
It was just like that day.
An uncountable number of monsters had invaded his village and attacked the people. While the beasts tore his father and mother apart with their sharp fangs, Mars could do nothing.
He could only watch in terror as his parents died, crying.
He was just a little kid, powerless to protect the ones he loved.
“Out of my way.”
A dark, savage mana erupted from Mars. His hair began to turn black from the roots, and an ebony aura enveloped his sword.
—Grrrrrr…!!!
Despite the oppressive energy weighing down on them, the monsters, thoroughly enthralled by the Succubus Queen, did not back down. They threatened Mars with their fangs and claws.
Staring at those sharp fangs and claws, Mars felt no fear, unlike when he was a child.
He didn’t feel even a shred of dread.
He took a step forward.
That was the signal. The monsters charged at Mars all at once.
As the fangs of a monster rushed toward him, a thought suddenly crossed Mars’s mind.
I wonder how scared Father and Mother were.
His parents were only human.
They feared death and hated pain.
They weren't strong enough to defeat monsters.
And yet, they had stood in the monsters’ way.
To protect their precious son.
To protect the person who meant everything to them.
‘Someone precious…’
Mars moved his sword.
The dire wolf that had been charging him head-on, jaws agape, was split vertically in two. He threw himself through the gap between the wolf’s bisected halves. Two large monkeys swung their massive fists at him.
Mars swung his sword.
Both fists were minced into pieces before they could even reach him.
—Uooong!!!
Hearing the screams of the two one-handed monkeys, Mars pressed forward without rest.
‘Isabelle.’
He had first met her when they were very young. Too shy, he had hidden behind his parents, but Isabelle had taken his hand and led him out.
Unlike the introverted him, she was lively and full of laughter, the center of attention among the village children.
Even though she had plenty of other friends, she never forgot to look out for him.
…Even after that day, after the monster invasion had left him an orphan.
The other children who had lost their parents left the village, sent to orphanages or temples.
Mars stayed.
He couldn't bring himself to leave his parents' graves behind.
The villagers didn't like Mars. It was only natural. In a village where everyone was struggling to get by, an orphan was hardly a welcome sight.
They never said it outright, but he could feel it in their attitudes and the way they spoke.
He pretended it didn't bother him, but it hurt every time.
And the one who comforted him was Isabelle.
On days when he couldn't work and didn't get any food, she would bring him things like boiled potatoes. She visited him every day so he wouldn't be lonely.
‘Isabelle…’
Honestly, the sight of her having a secret tryst with the baron's son still came to mind from time to time. Even if there were no feelings involved, the shock he’d felt that day hadn't just disappeared.
No, it was more accurate to call it an inferiority complex than shock.
He had realized something while traveling.
The world was full of people far more exceptional than him.
People who were more handsome, more eloquent, richer, taller, stronger, of higher status, and so on.
They were everywhere.
With so many people like that out there, he couldn't help but overthink Isabelle's affection.
Isn't there someone out there who's a better match for her than me?
Will a day come when she leaves me for another man?
Christina had done just that, which was why Mars found it difficult to accept Isabelle's love.
He had been heartbroken when Christina betrayed him; if Isabelle did the same, he knew he wouldn't be able to bear it.
He would completely fall apart.
But still…
—So you finally caught up. I had a feeling you would, one way or another.
The Succubus Queen, floating in the air, covered her mouth and giggled vulgarly.
—Congratulations. You caught me, just like you wanted. So, what are you going to do now? What can you possibly do in that pathetic state?
As she said, Mars was a mess. Having cut his way through countless monsters, he was soaked in blood, and his breathing was ragged. Blood was still flowing from his cuts and gashes.
Mars looked at the Succubus Queen wearing Isabelle’s face.
‘But… I never wanted this to happen.’
I didn't want you to be unhappy.
I wanted you to be happy.
‘Because…’
You’re precious to me.
Mars withdrew his mana. The black aura swirling around him scattered and vanished.
—What’s this? Giving up now? Or are you going to appeal to my emotions and beg me to at least return this girl?
The Succubus Queen’s taunts didn't reach his ears. He focused on his own sword and the one Cloud had shown him.
Ruin Crasio's essence presented him with a path. It interpreted Cloud's swordsmanship on its own terms and urged him on, as if it were the only right answer.
Just as Mars, tempted, was about to follow that path, Cloud's voice stopped him.
—Don't ignore your talent, your potential.
—Don't run away.
—When you see a wall, smash into it. Keep going until the wall breaks.
“…”
Mars closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He recalled the sword Cloud had shown him. The sword that had split the breath weapon. What was it? Was it merely a sword that cut fire? Had Cloud stopped him just to show him that?
His thoughts raced.
Desperation and longing.
Dominated by these two emotions, he felt surprisingly calm.
Mars tightened his grip on his sword.
Ruin Crasio's essence screamed at him not to, that its way was closer to the truth of that sword, but he couldn't hear it.
Mars swung his sword.
His talent blossomed.
This newly awakened talent created a miracle.
He had grasped a fragment of a realm he should have never been able to reach.
Swish—
Mars’s sword cut through empty air.
It severed the cord connecting Isabelle to the Succubus Queen.
—Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!!!!
The Succubus Queen's spirit form shrieked in agony as it was violently ejected from Isabelle's body.
The tattoo on her forehead and the wings on her back turned to ash and disappeared.
Isabelle began to fall.
Mars dropped his sword and kicked off the ground, running.
‘Please, please, please…!’
Don't be late.
Don't miss her.
He pushed his already broken legs to their limit. Thanks to that, just before Isabelle hit the ground, he managed to dive and catch her in the nick of time.
Mars immediately checked to see if she was hurt. Thanks to his catch, Isabelle was unharmed.
“Thank… goodness…”
Tears dripped onto Isabelle’s face.
Feeling the wetness on her cheeks, Isabelle’s eyes fluttered open.
“Mars…?”
She was confused to see Mars as soon as she woke up.
But that lasted only a moment.
“Y-your face, what happened!?”
Besides his wounds, blood was pouring from every orifice—his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
Toward the horrified Isabelle, Mars smiled.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? What do you mean it’s nothing! Wh-what do I do? A potion… I should have a potion…!”
Isabelle frantically patted herself down.
Mars took her hand and met her gaze. The intensity of his action startled her.
“M-Mars? What’s with you all of a sudden—”
“Isabelle.”
A yearning gaze that the blood couldn't hide.
Despite the critical situation, Isabelle felt her heart pound.
“Y-Yes!”
“I like you… No, I love you. More than anything in the world.”
“..!!!”
Isabelle covered her mouth with both hands. Flustered, she didn't know what to do, her eyes darting around.
“I-I’m really happy to hear that, but… in a situation like this…”
“I felt like if I didn’t say it now, I never would.”
“…Huh?”
His tone was gentle, his voice soft.
Despite that, a sense of dread welled up inside her.
Her stalled thoughts began to turn again.
Where am I?
Why is Mars so injured?
As she began to look around, the savage glint of monsters’ eyes came into view. At first, there were only one or two, but their numbers steadily grew.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Isabelle immediately tried to get up.
“Mars, I think it’s dangerous here. Let’s run, now!”
She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up. But instead of rising, Mars collapsed limply.
Her pupils widened.
“Mars…?”
Wheeze… wheeze…
His breathing had grown faint at some point. He struggled to speak.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can make it.”
The price for grasping a fragment of that sublime realm.
It was by no means a light one.