Chapter 115
Chapter 115.
The Flame Angel's sword blazing with pure white flames.
The sword's momentum, with the wing's power condensed to its limit.
Even the giant bronze statue, Nero, seemed to find it threatening.
[Golden Palace, protect me...!]
His urgent voice echoed from above.
Ku-ku-kung...!
Then the ground shook.
The Golden Palace began to disintegrate.
The sculptures and artworks that had been inside the palace.
And all the golden decorations started flying toward this direction.
'He's trying to go into even more defensive mode here.'
He doesn't seem particularly outstanding at attacking.
But he appears to have quite a lot of defensive measures.
I can't give him more time like this.
Swish.
Lee Ganghan raised his sword.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword
One Sword Breaks Heaven
Puk!
The sword pierced straight through the golden barrier.
But perhaps because the size difference was overwhelming.
Even though Lee Ganghan's sword had pierced the barrier, it couldn't reach the bronze statue inside.
[Haha! What's this? Is that all you've got...?]
Seeing that the sword couldn't even reach his feet.
Nero's voice carried a sense of relief.
Compared to the threatening power contained in the Flame Angel's sword.
The actual attack his opponent delivered wasn't impressive, so he looked relieved.
But.
Hwa-reul-reul-reuk...!
Making his relief meaningless.
Inside the pierced barrier, pure white flames rapidly surged upward.
[Ugh, uaaaaah...!]
In contrast to the barrier that looked fine on the outside.
A hell of fire unfolded inside.
The pure white flames spread instantly, completely devouring the giant bronze statue.
Nero's form was soon consumed by fire and became invisible.
[You applied One Sword Breaks Heaven splendidly.]
"I thought this would be good for pouring overflowing power into the barrier."
[It was a good idea. The enemy hiding behind the protective shield has been completely neutralized.]
Thuk, Thuk.
The components of the Golden Palace that had been flying toward Nero also fell.
The thick golden barrier had long since disappeared.
When I was first cut off by the barrier at the entrance, I thought today's strategy wouldn't be easy.
'I'll end this more easily than expected.'
Once I got inside, I subdued Nero with just one One Sword Breaks Heaven.
Of course, this was all thanks to the 'Flame Angel's Wing Feather'.
Without this, it would have taken forever just to pierce the portal's barrier.
As Lee Ganghan glanced at the brilliantly burning wing.
[Ugh... I think I'll live... I really thought the sword would break...]
"Are you okay now?"
[Yes... Master, no, Heavenly Demon Lord...]
Being conscious of the Divine Maiden ghost.
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword, who called Lee Ganghan Heavenly Demon Lord instead of master disciple.
[But... the wing's energy, could you perhaps put it in gently...? If you put it in little by little, I think I could use it to repair the sword...]
Made a suggestion to Lee Ganghan to use the wing's power for sword repair.
"I'll give it a try."
The Flame Angel's wing had a time limit anyway.
I need to use it all up before it ends.
"Transmit your power weakly enough to repair the sword."
When Lee Ganghan spoke to the wing.
Hwa-reul-reuk...!
Part of the fire wing split slightly.
And transmitted firepower to the sword.
[Ah... this is it... This is just right...]
"Is there anything else I need to help with?"
[Leave it to me... I'll make this sword... into my ideal type... Hehe...]
Even though it's a child's voice.
Somehow what he's saying sounds sinister.
As the Spirit of Heavenly Sword got all excited like that.
Swish.
The Divine Maiden ghost approached near the sword.
[It's not your sword. Do it properly. Got it?]
[Ah, I got it... If I repair it, it's good for both of us... Don't interfere with this...!]
[I'm watching.]
[Ah, really... Hmph, you ruined the mood...]
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword immediately cowered at the Divine Maiden ghost's warning.
But he seemed to be doing his best in sword repair.
'Oh... the cracks are disappearing in real time.'
The Flame Angel's sword that had cracks so bad it seemed unusable.
Was gradually being repaired.
This might rise even higher from A+ grade if done well.
Lee Ganghan looked at the recovering sword with satisfaction.
Swish.
He turned his gaze toward Nero.
"He's still burning."
When I triggered all the firepower inside the barrier with One Sword Breaks Heaven.
I thought he wouldn't last long and would melt quickly.
But Nero was still burning vigorously.
[The size has definitely gotten smaller. It seems like regeneration and destruction are repeating inside... But he won't be able to keep holding out forever.]
"Hmm."
[Since we're repairing the sword anyway, wouldn't it be fine to just watch like this?]
"Right. Since this is the last time for the wing, I need to use it to the fullest."
It would be awkward to attack more from here.
Let's wait a bit.
Lee Ganghan thought so and looked around.
What caught his eye were the debris that had flown over when the Golden Palace disintegrated.
'But somehow it seems like there are only valuable items here.'
It was called the Golden Palace.
But that wasn't actually a building made of real gold.
So if the building had disintegrated, pillars, walls, and such.
Things that formed the palace's foundation should have flown over too.
But what he saw around him were.
Golden ornaments, artworks, sculptures, and such.
Items perfect for making a fortune.
'I need to loot these.'
I'm already branded as the leader of thieves by Nero anyway.
Since I'm called that, I should play along.
Lee Ganghan opened Ten Thousand Demon Battle and summoned the goblin horde.
"Long live the Heavenly Demon! Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!"
The goblin chief immediately bowed deeply with a resounding voice.
[Hmm. This monster, he did that last time too, and I like him. He maintains proper etiquette toward Heavenly Demon Lord.]
At the Divine Maiden ghost's comment.
The goblin chief who glanced at her bowed 90 degrees.
"Thank you for the praise!"
The goblin chief was a perfect example of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
Seeing him bow like that.
Did he recognize that the Divine Maiden ghost was an extraordinary being?
[Hoho. Good manners too. Unlike someone else.]
Then the Divine Maiden ghost glanced toward the sword.
[Ah, come on... I'm working here... Don't bother me...]
[When did I ever bother you?]
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword's plea could be heard from inside the sword.
'The goblin gets good treatment while the spirit gets mistreated.'
Just looking at their appearances, it should be the opposite.
Lee Ganghan chuckled and said to the goblin chief.
"You see the items here?"
"Ooh... How are there only valuable items gathered here!"
"Yeah. Loot them all. You guys can take some for yourselves while you're at it."
"Woooah!!! Understood!!!"
The goblin chief became more high-tension than usual at the suggestion to take some for themselves.
"Let's go, everyone!!!"
"Kikik, Kikik!!! Understood, Chief!!!"
The goblins excitedly followed the goblin chief.
They began looting the fallen items all at once.
[Thie... ves... bastards...]
Then Nero's voice echoed from inside the fire pit.
"Yeah. This thief bastard will put them to good use."
Lee Ganghan continued the work without batting an eye.
About 10 minutes passed like that.
The different race viewers started jeering, asking how long this would continue.
***
'The different race viewers have returned to their old ways.'
The viewers who had been completely intimidated when the Smiling Face Demon was actively operating.
After he disappeared, they started posting chats again.
Now they had returned to their original arrogant and haughty attitude.
Still.
'They're not saying they'll leave like before.'
Is it because this channel had the Smiling Face Demon appear?
Before, chats saying they'd leave because it was boring would have poured in by now.
Now they were just jeering while watching obediently.
Lee Ganghan looked at the chat window briefly, then slowly opened his mouth.
"Nero, I thought you wouldn't last long, but you're holding out quite well."
[That's right. His size isn't decreasing anymore in that state.]
As the Divine Maiden said.
Nero, who had been overwhelming Lee Ganghan in size but then suddenly shrunk.
It was now about 5 meters tall and continued burning without further reduction.
"Hmm... If this continues, I'll have to attack once more."
[Won't you loot a bit more?]
"What if the stay time ends like this?"
[Ah. Right.]
The B2 battlefield was almost cleared.
But if the stay time was exceeded and I returned to reality.
I'd have to start from the beginning again, right?
'Then Nero would lock the door even stronger.'
The Flame Angel's Wing Feather was all used up too.
Piercing the protective shield wouldn't be as easy as before.
Rather than dragging out time by looting more, it's right to finish it off for sure now.
When Lee Ganghan was about to attack more.
"Heavenly Demon Lord!!! I found a peculiar item!"
The goblin chief came running from afar.
"A peculiar item?"
"Yes! This musical instrument..."
The instrument the chief showed was.
A small harp made of pure gold.
"Unlike other items, this one didn't go into the inventory!"
"Really?"
"Yes. And I felt a strange power from it, so I brought it!"
It doesn't go into the chief's inventory?
Lee Ganghan received the small harp from him.
Then.
[No... don't... my lyre...!]
Nero's scream could be heard from the fire pit behind.
Ah this wasn't a harp but a lyre?
[Playing the lyre strings in front of 100,000 spectators... that was my last wish...!]
"What 100,000."
Was that why he kept telling me to gather an audience?
Lee Ganghan frowned after hearing the emperor's words about acting like an artist.
How much of a detour did I take because of that damn audience.
'Well... it was beneficial in the end.'
If Nero hadn't thrown a tantrum about not gathering an audience.
I wouldn't have seen the Smiling Face Demon.
And the different race viewers wouldn't have talked about canceling the 'occupation reservation'.
In that sense, Nero's demand to gather an audience worked out well.
'But that's that.'
What's annoying is still annoying.
Lee Ganghan gripped the lyre tightly.
Then the instrument crumpled like paper.
At the same time.
[Huh? Nero's size decreased!]
The Divine Maiden ghost pointed toward Nero's direction as if it was fascinating.
The Nero statue that wouldn't shrink from 5 meters.
Just when I destroyed the lyre, it weakened?
'Hoho.'
This instrument, could it be.
Was it the factor that allowed Nero to hold out so long?
Kneading, Kneading.
As Lee Ganghan crushed the instrument this way and that.
Shu-u-u-u...
Nero's size gradually became smaller.
[Stop, stop it... Not that! Please leave that alone...!]
Nero reacted convulsively to this.
His size had already become similar to Lee Ganghan's height.
If I break the lyre like this.
I could make Nero disappear?
But before that.
"Then let me ask you one question."
[...What is it?]
Since I had a hostage(?) captured.
Lee Ganghan decided to resolve his doubts.
"Why are you among the Seven Deadly Sins?"
[Me...?]
"Yeah. A tyrant like you is common in human history."
[Ty, tyrant...! I only died unjustly because of rebels! Most citizens loved me!!! They all highly appreciated my artistic nature!]
Artistic nature.
Weren't they just amazed seeing an emperor play an instrument?
Still, Lee Ganghan didn't bother to refute this.
"Right. I understand, artist emperor."
He acknowledged Nero as an artist emperor for now.
That wasn't the important part anyway.
[Ahem. Right. You at least have minimum discernment!]
"So, why was the artist emperor summoned as the Jester of Pride among the Seven Deadly Sins?"
[That's...]
When Nero didn't answer immediately and trailed off.
Crack.
Lee Ganghan tore off part of the lyre.
Shu-u-u-u...
Now Nero had shrunk to about half of Lee Ganghan's size.
[I, I'll tell you! I'll tell you!]
"Quickly."
[I, I am... a being who blossomed a certain 'possibility'!]
"You blossomed... a possibility?"
This is... the complete opposite of Columbus's case?
Lee Ganghan frowned after hearing Nero's words.