BAD END: The Mage (3)
While returning from the demon realm to the empire, Lily asked many questions. It seemed she had been the only one to undertake this rescue operation. Incidents had broken out in the human realm, and moving alone made it easier to push through the overwhelming numbers. That much was understandable. If anyone fell behind while traveling together, they would be isolated immediately. Rescuing one person quickly was preferable to creating two rescuers. Of course, even saving that single person had been difficult... but they had succeeded in the end.
Afterward, Lily also asked about his wounds, but he gave no answer. He clearly had no desire to speak of them. So she had no choice but to let the matter drop. She simply thought that a great deal must have happened...
Next, she asked what had occurred in the human realm during her absence. His expression grew heavy, yet he opened his mouth as though he intended to reply.
"Well..."
From what she heard, the Puppeteer had invaded the human realm. He slipped in amid the monster attacks and unleashed his ability at the heart of the city. The result was the deaths of over a thousand people. Those affected by his power stabbed one another or took their own lives...
Having said that much, Luke fell silent again, as if unwilling to continue.
They walked on in that manner until they finally left the demon realm behind. Not long after, they encountered her companions. Exhaustion clung to every pair of eyes. They all looked worn out, likely from dealing with the aftermath of the Puppeteer's rampage.
The party members were visibly startled at the sight of her and Luke. It was not only because Lily had returned, but because the hero's condition was dire. Though the wound on his back had healed cleanly with time, his left eye and the pinky and ring fingers on both hands never returned, no matter how long they waited. It was as though they had vanished forever.
Their reactions varied. Kamilla furrowed her brows, Adel widened her eyes, and Yulise...
"Ah, aah..."
She wept. As if she refused to believe what she was seeing. As if confronting the worst possible outcome. Endless tears streamed from her sapphire eyes. She seemed to feel the weight of everything upon witnessing the hero's injuries.
Luke quietly comforted her as he watched. He was fine. After all, he had returned like this. Though he had suffered minor injuries, he had gained considerable experience in return. Such half-hearted reassurances continued for a while. Yet Yulise's tears did not stop. Even knowing that parts of the hero's body could not regenerate, she kept casting divine magic over and over. Of course, the left eye that had disappeared forever showed no sign of healing. Yulise likely knew this as well. She simply did not want to accept it.
Lily observed the entire scene. It was a tragedy that would never have occurred if she had not been captured. Because she felt that every misfortune before her eyes was entirely her fault... she could not bring herself to speak for some time.
*
Though a grave accident and irreversible losses had occurred, they could not halt the subjugation. The only one capable of opposing the Demon King was the hero. They had no choice but to keep pressing forward without rest.
Fortunately, as Luke had said, this time they had not suffered losses alone. Though they had sacrificed much, they had gained many abilities in return. In exchange for losing one eye, he obtained Super Sense. In place of the pinky and ring fingers on both hands, he gained Dexterity. Additionally, by slaughtering countless monsters, he had leveled up significantly. Of course, Lily, who could not see the status window, would not know that... but at the very least, he had not grown weaker than before.
There was other good news as well.
"We've located the Puppeteer's base."
It was the hero who spoke. Apparently, he had extracted the information from a monster while rescuing Lily.
"Hmm? I thought he would never talk, even in death. You found it out more easily than expected."
"Yes. After a few sword thrusts, he confessed readily."
"......"
Some inhumane methods had been involved in the process, but since the target was not human to begin with, it hardly mattered.
Regardless, the crucial point was that they had discovered the Puppeteer's residence. Among all the Four Heavenly Kings, he was among the most difficult to locate. Unlike the others who remained settled in one place, the Puppeteer frequently invaded the human realm and thus faced constant risk of discovery. For that reason, he often relocated his base. Yet they had found it. That meant they now had a real chance to strike at his weakness.
"No need to delay. We should charge in immediately."
Luke said.
"Giving him more time will only benefit him. I'm also—cough—somewhat recovered now. Departing right away is the correct choice."
"......"
His left eye remained empty. Lily deliberately looked away from it.
The party members hesitated for a moment. Departing without proper preparations carried significant risk. They also could not be certain whether the hero was truly all right. Seeing his current state, he looked more pained than anyone. The occasional rough coughs only deepened their concern.
However, with no better alternative available, the party accepted his proposal.
*
Subjugating the Insect King took over half a year. He resided deep within the demon realm, and countless monsters blocked the path. Even the hero's party, composed of the continent's finest talents, required time to grow stronger. Thus, defeating the Insect King inevitably demanded a long campaign.
But the Puppeteer was different. Though his base was also deep in the demon realm, the journey there was far less arduous. The monsters encountered along the way were neither numerous nor particularly strong.
The hero's party, including Luke, reached the Puppeteer's residence in just one month.
Lily muttered quietly.
"It's smaller than I expected..."
His castle was modest in scale. Unlike the vast Insect Assembly Castle, which rivaled a small nation in size, the Puppeteer's residence could be taken in at a single glance. It was larger than a mansion, yet too shabby to truly be called a castle.
While Lily pondered this, Luke offered an explanation.
"He relocates whenever his residence is discovered. Building anything larger would only complicate the move."
She wondered how he always seemed to know such details. The question arose every time, but Lily decided to let it pass.
As they advanced deeper inside, a figure appeared.
"My, I never expected my residence to be discovered so quickly..."
It was a handsome man clad in a black suit, his hair a brilliant gold. His manner and speech carried a peculiar elegance. With his slender frame and flawless skin, he might have been mistaken for the son of a wealthy noble house.
Yet no one present lowered their guard.
"So, how was it? Did you enjoy the gift I prepared?"
The man before them was the one who had slaughtered thousands. One of the Four Heavenly Kings. The Puppeteer, Net. His charming appearance was nothing but a deception. Within lay a cruelty surpassing anyone else's...
The hero's party swiftly assumed battle stances. Luke and Kamilla drew their swords, Adel nocked an arrow, the Saintess gathered holy power, and Lily raised her magic. Today, they would bring down another great evil. Lily steeled her resolve.
But until this moment, they had not understood. Regardless of his outward appearance, he was one of the Four Heavenly Kings. The strength of one who had lived for hundreds of years was not to be underestimated.
*
Swish!
Luke's chest was torn open by Kamilla's sword. Bright red blood sprayed in all directions. Normally, he would have used that strange black magic to control the blood somehow, but this time the hero did not. Half of his body had already fallen under Net's control.
Even if he tried to activate a skill, half his own body interfered. The party fought desperately to disrupt Net's brainwashing, but the result was this. There was a limit to how much they could resist his ability, and in the end, they lost half of both Kamilla and the hero.
"Huhu, it's been a while since I've had such a difficult fight! Excellent! I'm quite enjoying this!"
Of course, the Puppeteer was far from unscathed. His body was covered in wounds, and blood streamed down his head. Without any self-healing skill, he was clearly gravely injured. Yet the party's condition was far worse. The moment they were brainwashed, those members became effectively combat-incapable.
To make matters worse, as time passed, even Adel began to fall under the brainwashing. The hero, of course, resisted. He attempted to break free even through self-harm, drawing up magic even as his blood vessels twisted. It was only today that Lily learned the hero possessed such an ability.
"I offer ten years of my lifespan."
"I offer my right thumb."
With each muttered word, something vanished from the hero's body. Yet at the same time, tremendous power overflowed. The brainwashing lifted, and lost magic surged forth. The sight was undeniably imposing... but it did not last. After two or three repetitions, the hero collapsed on his own. Though Lily had witnessed it only a few times, the reason was easy to guess. He had likely exhausted himself before he could offer more. Or he had reached a point where he could offer nothing else...
...Lily naturally realized that the reason lay with her.
After some time, the hero finally fell. Facing the Puppeteer's magic and ability while simultaneously contending with Adel and Kamilla had exceeded his limits. Once the hero collapsed, the party's disintegration was instantaneous. In a single moment, Yulise's head was severed, and Kamilla and Adel committed suicide as if putting on a show.
Thud! Splash!
Amid the blood spraying in every direction, only Lily remained.
"It was a difficult fight! But now only the two of us are left!"
The Puppeteer's frenzied gaze turned toward her.