Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Explanation (1)
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Demian looked down at the Demon Sword's corpse.
Was it right to even call it a corpse? It looked more like a porcelain jar filled with ashes that had shattered.
Erebos's corrosion had only affected the exterior. The contents being like that was most likely due to the Demon Sword's influence.
After all, a body fused with a Demon Sword couldn't possibly retain human organs.
At that moment, Erebos's energy rapidly dissipated, and the corrosion around them came to a halt.
"Time's up."
Erebos was down to so little remaining mass now that its operational time was extremely short.
On top of that, the recovery time to regain its strength was incredibly long. He probably wouldn't be able to use Erebos for a while.
"Ah."
The Erebos at the tip of the spear plopped off. The wire binding it had corroded and snapped.
It wasn't just the wire. The part of the spear where Erebos had touched had worn away completely.
"It's useful, but these drawbacks are a pain."
The only reason it had held up during the fight was because Demian had protected it with his magic power.
Since Demian had earned Erebos's recognition, he was immune to its corrosion. Objects infused with his magic power could also resist it to some degree.
Demian cut away the corroded section from the spear, wrapped Erebos back up with new wire, then dismissed the summon, reverting it to a tattoo.
After that, he approached the Demon Sword's corpse and prodded the pile of ashes with his toe, as if searching for something. A small stone popped out.
A rugged little pebble.
It was the Demon Sword's core.
A Demon Sword was essentially a devil's avatar. Thus, its core was brimming with the devil's power.
Demon Sword cores were incredibly valuable to black mages. To Demian, however, they were pretty useless.
"I'll hand it over to the Church."
The next biggest fans of these things after black mages were the Church.
Unlike the black mages, the Church used the cores to research ways to resist the devils' power and develop countermeasures.
Bringing this one would surely net him a hefty reward.
"I was planning to visit the Church anyway. Perfect timing."
Demian had earned the right to enter the Church's secret archives as a reward for protecting the subjugation force from the corpse puppets.
He'd been planning to head there soon anyway, and he intended to hand over the Demon Sword core then.
"Might as well get this fixed while I'm at it."
Demian examined the damaged Holy Sword as he spoke.
It had been badly wrecked in the fight with the Demon Sword, and all its holy power was gone.
It had been a weapon he quite liked, so it was disappointing.
"You did well. Rest for now."
Demian carefully stored the Holy Sword in his subspace.
The enemy was down, but Demian Haksen's work wasn't over yet.
Now it was time to really rack his brains.
"How am I going to explain all this."
Demian looked around. Buildings smashed to pieces from the battle's aftermath filled his view.
And it wasn't just smashed—they were dotted with traces of Erebos's corrosion everywhere.
No one would see this as a normal battlefield. It was highly suspicious.
The biggest issue was how to explain defeating Alexander Apple.
Alexander Apple had been high-class while wielding the Demon Sword, even if temporarily.
On top of that, he'd proven his strength by defeating Liam Bluegreen in front of everyone.
For a known middle-class like Demian Haksen to take him down?
"Even I think it doesn't make sense."
The Apple Kingdom might buy it, but the Church absolutely wouldn't let it slide.
Whether out of good intentions or bad, they'd suspect Demian and interrogate him until they got the answer they wanted.
The silver lining was that thanks to the barrier, outsiders had no idea what had gone on inside.
"If I say Alexander Apple took internal injuries from Liam Bluegreen, which accelerated the Demon Sword's curse and caused him to self-destruct, that should suffice."
During Liam Bluegreen's fight with Alexander Apple, he'd landed several powerful blows.
Of course, they hadn't done much damage. The Demon Sword had made Alexander Apple's body far too sturdy.
So Demian planned to claim that Alexander Apple had actually suffered severe internal injuries but hadn't shown it outwardly.
"It's a bit of a stretch, but..."
It was a hastily made-up story, but everyone would believe Demian Haksen.
As always, claims that defied common sense were hard to accept.
This version was far more plausible than a middle-class beating a high-class with a Demon Sword.
"I'll say the corrosion traces are from the Demon Sword's power too."
The Demon Sword's real ability was creating thorny vines, but that was fine. He could just call it another power.
"Now to clean up and head out."
Next, Demian gathered the surrounding black magic power and stored it in his bracelet.
The high concentration of black magic power the Demon Sword had carried filled the bracelet to the brim.
Even then, a ton was left over. Regrettable, but he had to let it go.
Once he'd gathered everything worth taking, Demian dispelled the barrier.
The barrier, filled with rifts, collapsed in an instant.
* * *
The people who had fled outside watched the royal castle with bated breath.
The top floor of the castle was shrouded in an unknown black barrier. Demian Haksen and Alexander Apple were trapped inside it.
"Has the reinforcements not arrived yet?"
The king spoke in an urgent tone.
The moment he'd seen Liam Bluegreen fall, the king had called for the kingdom's other high-class members and requested aid from the Church.
He'd used up a precious magic artifact passed down through generations to contact them, but he didn't regret it one bit.
The situation had been that dire.
"Father, at this rate, Sir Demian might die!"
Oliver Apple shouted with a worried face. The king clenched his fist in helpless frustration.
From the king's perspective, Demian Haksen wasn't just the man who'd reformed his son—he was a hero who'd uncovered the plot.
And not just that. He was a rare talent with exceptional ability and skill.
They couldn't lose someone like that so pointlessly.
"Demian..."
Michael Ryanbloom gazed at the barrier with regret.
If he'd been there, he could have helped Demian.
"You all are worrying over nothing."
Michael whipped his head around at the voice beside him.
Veronica Sanchez was munching on an apple from who-knows-where.
"Why are you so relaxed? You abandoned him and ran!"
"I didn't abandon him—he told me to. He said to run away with that old man."
Veronica Sanchez pointed at Liam Bluegreen lying on the ground.
Liam Bluegreen's wounds were so severe that he was out cold after treatment.
"Even so, how could you actually leave him behind!"
"You're worrying for nothing. That guy's never gonna die."
"How can you be so sure!"
"Because he promised me. He said he absolutely won't die until he dies by my hand."
Veronica Sanchez spoke with utter conviction. Michael stared at her in disbelief.
"The barrier is collapsing!"
Someone shouted then, and everyone looked at the barrier.
As it vanished, only a half-destroyed building remained. The people swallowed hard, staring at it.
"...Demian?"
But something was off. The only one standing was Demian Haksen. Alexander Apple was nowhere in sight.
Michael bolted straight toward Demian, crossing the distance in a flash.
"Oh, it's Michael."
Demian raised a hand as he spoke. Michael nearly burst into tears at the sight.
"W-what happened? Where's Alexander Apple?"
Demian pointed at the ground. Michael's gaze naturally followed.
Something strange lay on the floor. Something vaguely human-shaped, shattered like pottery.
"No way..."
Michael's face filled with disbelief.
"Did you... defeat Alexander Apple?"
"Nah, he just self-destructed over there."
Michael's jaw dropped.
Self-destruct or not, Alexander Apple was dead, and Demian was alive. That fact hadn't changed.
"Demian! You're incredible! Seriously... this is insanely amazing!"
"I told you, he just self-destructed. It's not that big a deal."
He'd held out with mere middle-class power until a high-class with a Demon Sword self-destructed.
If that wasn't impressive, what was?
"See? I knew you were alive!"
Veronica Sanchez arrived next. She hugged Demian's neck from behind.
"I believed you'd make it! You promised you wouldn't die until I ki— Kyaa!"
Demian twisted Veronica Sanchez's finger. She screamed and had no choice but to let go.
"What the hell!"
"Where'd you get that nonsense? When did I ever say I'd let you kill me?"
It was as Demian spoke in exasperation that a group of people came up the stairs.
The king, Oliver Apple, and the nobles.
"No way... you're really alive!"
"Sir Demian! We were so worried!"
The king and Oliver Apple rushed over with incredulous expressions.
"What happened? Where's Alexander?"
Demian silently pointed at the corpse again. The king startled at the sight of Alexander Apple's remains.
"This... is really him?"
"The price of using the Demon Sword."
"I see... I've heard of that. Demon Swords lead their wielders to ruin."
The king slowly knelt before Alexander Apple.
"You fool..."
The king stayed there for a long time.
A single gust of wind blew through. Black ashes scattered into the sky.