Chapter 334: Evil God Subjugation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 334: Evil God Subjugation (1)
The enemy composition for the final act of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, 「Evil God Subjugation」, was as follows: the final boss, Nephid, the Evil God of Destruction; the mid-bosses, Angray Mainyu and the Apocalypse Dragon Azhi Dahåka; and the Evil God’s personal minions, the Black Flame.
Unusually, as seen previously in the Trial of Frost, the final boss led the charge from the front.
The Evil God could not be defeated without Ian. In other words, the core strategy relied on me pushing Nephid to her absolute limit, at which point Ian Fairytail would step in to decapitate the demon.
I remembered that once the battle reached Phase 2, the mid-boss levels jumped from Level 200 to being censored as ■■■. Each one was as powerful as the Abyss from the 「Alice Subjugation」.
Aside from me, the only human capable of inflicting meaningful damage on them was Ian, who could wield Divine Power—the ultimate weakness of all demons.
Even the Black Flame minions ranged from Level 180 to 190, and they would descend in swarms. Everyone present had to be prepared to face death.
Furthermore, Mephisto the Contractor would undoubtedly join the fray. We had to account for that demon as well.
“We must prepare for heavy casualties…” Emperor Carlos replied solemnly, stroking his chin.
I explained the situation in terms the others could grasp, obviously omitting any mention of game mechanics.
Gathered around me were the most influential figures from across the globe.
Carlos, the Emperor of Zelver.
Bianca, the Saintess of Bardio, and Pope Zion.
Miya, the Priestess of Horan, and their leader, Miro.
Even the true forms of the Elemental Kings from every nation were present.
The tension among the Royal Guards, standing in perfect formation, was palpable. Their leader, Jacule Calix, looked upon our gathering with a sense of profound awe and reverence.
The topic of discussion was, of course, the Evil God.
I had sensed the imminent resurrection of the Evil God, which had prompted this secret summit of world leaders.
Though it felt awkward to acknowledge, I now stood at the pinnacle of humanity, possessing authority that transcended any king. No one among mankind could defy me.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, everyone was more than willing to cooperate.
“So, in the end, the key is the Child of Light,” Jaul Dragoniac, the Lightning Sovereign, remarked as he studied the island map spread across the command table.
“Yeah. If we can’t protect Ian, it’s over. That will be our defeat.”
“Now we have to fight a being called a god… and we can’t even guarantee victory?”
As the Water Sovereign, Siren Silivian, shrugged and voiced her complaint, I nodded.
“If we lose, we all die anyway. But if we defeat the Evil God, the demons will be wiped out for good. The source of all demons is the Evil God, after all.”
I adjusted my glasses as I continued the briefing.
“Who would’ve thought the mystery of the demons' origin would be revealed like this… Truly, since your arrival, so much has changed. One day, perhaps we could make history together—even in bed…”
“Cut the vulgar nonsense.”
When the Water Sovereign closed her eyes and smirked suggestively while stroking her cheek, Erin Campbell, the Wind Sovereign, rebuked her with a frigid glare.
The Water Sovereign’s preferences leaned heavily toward young, inexperienced men. Ever since my true identity had been revealed, I seemed to have become her primary target. Only my strength and Erin’s constant warnings kept her from crossing the line.
“So, to sum it up, Senior Isaac will hold off the Evil God, and the rest of us will help Senior Ian take it down?”
[Are you sure you can handle the Evil God alone?]
Priestess Miya summarized the primary strategy, and beside her, Mae signaled her concern.
“The Evil God can easily destroy the world. If I don’t pin it down, we won’t be able to do anything; we’ll be wiped out instantly.”
In other words, if I didn’t keep the Evil God occupied, the devastation would be absolute.
“The bigger problem is all of you. While I’m fighting the Evil God, you’ll have to deal with Mephisto and two demons on the same level as the Starry Sky Demon that appeared last year—and you'll have to do it without my help. You’ll need to risk everything to support Ian while fending off the Black Flame army.”
I looked around at the leaders. A heavy, suffocating tension filled the room.
I removed my glasses, wiping the lenses with a dry cloth as I lowered my gaze.
“This is the strategy for now.”
“…”
I put my glasses back on.
“I know it’s selfish to ask, but please… try not to die.”
I hadn’t said much, but their eyes widened in surprise.
At this level of global politics, everything operated by the cold logic of power. And among them, I held total hegemony. It seemed that a single altruistic sentiment from someone as powerful as me carried immense weight.
“…We’ll do our best. You make sure you don’t die either.”
The Fire Sovereign, Andersen, closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.
One by one, the others nodded with determined expressions—except for Siren, who merely gave a twisted, playful smile.
*
In the peaceful lull before the storm, I moved with frantic purpose.
I guided Ian Fairytail through his training, helping him establish his Domain of Light under the guise of teaching him a "Domain Expansion" through an unknown power.
All the island’s residents, except for Monon, the owner of the secret shop, had been evacuated. I had personally verified the safety of the perimeter.
I sought out Noah Bartin. He had already become a powerhouse wielding iron mana. When I asked for his cooperation, he accepted without hesitation.
I issued orders to Düpfendorf and the forces of Wonderland. We had to muster every capable fighter we could find.
However, concentrating all our key forces on the island was a gamble. If the island were to sink, everyone would perish. Thus, we decided to disperse our forces strategically.
The countless connections I had forged since arriving in this world had finally converged into a single entity: the Evil God Slayers.
The wind was biting. The leaves had long since fallen, and the chill of the season had settled in deep.
I sat on the railing, gazing out at the sea. The pale winter sun was sinking below the horizon. My breath, warmed by my lungs, drifted into the air, briefly turning the dark atmosphere white.
Lowering my head, I looked down at the familiar streets, the aesthetic sculptures, and the buildings that had become a part of my life over time.
I was sitting on the rooftop of Bartos Hall, the heart of Märchen Academy’s First Campus.
I wore the clothes given to me by Monon and draped the Cloak of the Radiant Wolf over my shoulders. I finally felt like the true Ice Sovereign.
My condition was perfect. It felt like one of those rare days when everything aligned.
Behind me, a crimson magic circle that transcended space and time had appeared, scattering an unnatural, eerie light. It was the sign of the Evil God’s resurrection.
The island was silent. The air was heavy, and everyone gathered here held their breath.
The Düpfendorf legion and their elite soldiers.
The Paladins and soldiers of Wonderland.
The Elemental Kings and the strongest warriors from their respective nations.
Zelver’s Royal Guards and Imperial Knights, led by the Archwizard Charlotte and her wizard legion.
The Holy Knights of Bardio.
The warriors and sorcerers of Horan, alongside Priestess Miya.
Noah Bartin.
Michelle.
The women I loved.
The Stone Turtle Gormos, who would defend our rear.
And… Ian Fairytail, wielding the Luminous Sword.
All of them stood in formation, silently awaiting the end.
[Kyuu?]
“Hmm?”
The small golem, Eden, sitting next to me, let out a soft sound.
“No… I’m not really scared. It’s strange. I thought I would be.”
[Kyuu kyuu.]
“Maybe I’m just feeling a bit sentimental?”
I still couldn’t understand Eden’s literal words, but we shared emotions and intentions; language was no barrier between us.
Semester 2, Year 3. The end of the term.
My journey ends today.
I still didn’t know what destination awaited me after the battle with the Evil God.
[Today, everything you have been worried about will come to an end, Master.]
Hilde, in her human form, crossed her arms and leaned against the railing beside me. We watched the winter sun vanish from view.
“…Yeah.”
[Master.]
“Yes?”
[What do you want to do most once the Evil God is defeated?]
“What kind of question is that…?”
I let out a small, breathy laugh.
What do I want to do?
Indulging in naughty things with the girls I liked, being lazy, eating delicious food, traveling the world… there were plenty of things.
But the thing I truly wanted most was, unexpectedly, quite simple.
“Honestly… I just want to take a long nap without thinking about anything.”
Just a nap.
Lying in a corner of the Butterfly Garden, looking up at the sky, watching the thin clouds drift by until drowsiness set in. Then, closing my eyes and enjoying the gentle breeze as I drifted off to sleep.
I missed that kind of luxurious peace.
[That’s a simple wish.]
“Is it?”
Hilde and I exchanged smiles.
Soon, the winter sun sank completely, and dusk fully enveloped the island. A beautiful, deep blue sky filled my vision.
A thick tension gripped the academy, and the Evil God Slayers swallowed nervously.
Rumbleeee—!
Suddenly, it felt as though gravity itself had intensified. A staggering amount of mana pressed down on the academy.
It’s begun.
I stood up on the railing.
Turning toward the rooftop with my familiars, I saw crimson flames flare up, tracing the brilliant light of the magic circle. Gradually, the sky was dyed a vivid, bloody red.
The ordinary classroom buildings where we had taken lessons, the tall clock tower, the familiar streets—all were now bathed in an eerie red, as though the world itself were being engulfed in flames.
It was the color of the end.
The strange flames licked the structures along the edges of the rooftop, taking the shape of black insects. Soon, red mana surged from the resurrection circle etched into the roof.
BOOOOM!!!
With a deafening roar, a red pillar pierced the sky. I froze my feet to the railing, reinforcing the joints with ice to keep from being blown away.
At that moment, the Elemental Kings and the leaders of the Evil God Slayers activated amplification magic and roared, “Everyone!! Prepare for battle!!”
The sound of thousands of weapons being drawn echoed simultaneously.
Countless high-level magic circles, pre-calculated by elite wizards, lined the sky. Massive magic devices installed by renowned magic towers hummed to life, and from floating platforms, energy cannons charged with enormous mana aimed directly at Bartos Hall.
The Evil God Slayers. We were the most powerful force this world had ever seen.
On the rooftop of Bartos Hall, a thick darkness swirled and descended, rippling like a heavy sea. Countless glaring eyes emerged from within the gloom.
The center of the darkness rose from the red pillar of light, taking the form of a female demon. Darkness became her dress, rising slowly with her. The enormous hem of her dark gown descended like a veil, revealing a massive form large enough to cover the entirety of Bartos Hall.
“We finally meet.”
I smiled.
I could feel her gaze on me from within the pillar of light. I raised my right hand, and ice mana surged through it. I was ready.
FWOOSH!!!
Five massive pairs of fiery wings unfurled, creating a violent gale. The pillar of light condensed in the sky, forming a thin but wide disk.
An overwhelming mana, sharp enough to tear through my body like blades, surged toward me. Every hair on my body stood on end, but for some reason, I felt a rush of excitement.
The end of my relentless journey was finally here, filling my vision with crimson flames.
*
[The Evil God of Destruction, Nephid]
Lv: ■■■
Race: De■■■
Elements: Dark, Fire, Void
Danger: M■x■m■m
*
The Evil God Nephid.
The god of demons had arrived.