Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Variable (4)
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Is's holy power continued to swell in size.
He had already grown noticeably stronger after absorbing the holy power of Ruin, the hero. But confronted with the unexpected threats of the undead dragon and Mocking Deception, he craved even more power.
As if the goddess herself had answered his plea.
-Roar!
His massive reserves of holy power ignited fiercely, unstable enough to see at a glance.
Standing before such an Is was Mocking Deception.
He had completely forgotten about Ariana clutched in his left hand, his eyes locked solely on Is.
"Impressive! A pinnacle of irrationality, growing several times stronger in a crisis! If this were a world from a novel, you'd be beyond reproach as the protagonist!"
-Clap clap clap clap clap.
He showered applause and praise without restraint. Meanwhile, in the mental world, Ariana watched the chaotic scene unfold outside.
Her vision was hazy, like it was shrouded in smoke, but she focused intently even so, quickly assessing Is's condition.
'Stop it right now! Is!!'
The holy power whipped around wildly, as if it might burst at any moment.
It was an amount far beyond Is's limits.
'Your vessel can't handle it!'
It was only natural that water overflowing from a vessel that couldn't contain it would spill out.
He was in a dire crisis where the slightest mistake could kill him.
And the reason was none other than...
'...me.'
Because Ariana, the one he was protecting, had been helplessly captured by Mocking Deception.
The moment she was taken, Is had embraced power beyond his limits.
'Is...'
Wishing he would abandon her instead, Ariana closed her eyes in the mental space.
She couldn't bear to watch him suffer.
But at that moment.
"Saintess, you may not be able to see this, but I hope my voice reaches you."
Ariana's eyes snapped open in shock at Is's words, staring at him. In the process, her dazed head turned slightly.
Seeing that, Is was convinced she was watching.
He assumed his stance and declared toward Ariana.
"I will save you—the purest woman of all—even if it costs me everything. Just wait a little longer."
The way he said it wasn't his usual solemn demeanor; it was impossibly tender, as if speaking to someone precious.
Her hazy vision hid his expression, but his voice alone let Ariana understand.
'Is...'
He had said it that way to spare her any guilt.
'...So warm.'
His consideration carried a warmth different from holy power.
'Is, compared to a hero like Ruin, you're the one I...'
It was a warmth sufficient to define her feelings.
***
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Whirr.
The shotel spun rapidly, kicking up a small wave of holy power.
"To give everything for the purest woman and ask her to wait just a bit—Sir Is, who knew you had such a sweet side!"
"The Saintess deserves to meet her love in the future, marry, and live happily. I won't let trash like you ruin that..."
-Boom!
"...happen!"
Mid-sentence, he kicked off the ground in a surprise charge.
Mocking Deception twisted slightly to dodge.
Is wasn't about to let that happen.
He spun the shotel fast, then swung it horizontally using the momentum.
-Whoosh!
The holy power gathered in the shotel exploded outward in a massive wave.
It looked just like sword aura.
Thanks to the overflowing holy power, he could pull off such a feat without a proper technique.
Mocking Deception hadn't anticipated it either and took the hit squarely. The moment the holy power touched him, he was blasted away.
-Thud!
He smashed into the building wall at high speed.
This distanced him from both Ariana and Adel.
"Cough! Haha! That's another surprise!"
Ariana beside him was unaffected as the Saintess, but Mocking Deception was badly hurt—blood trickled from the mask's mouth.
"In that case, guess I'll have to get a little 'serious' myself."
-Gooooh...!
"...!"
An immense aura of death erupted from Mocking Deception.
How many people had he killed to amass that much death energy?
They might not be related to me, but the thought that I could have ended up the same made my grip tighten on the shotel.
'I was just lucky the goddess answered. Those people...'
What must it feel like to stand powerless before an overwhelming monster?
Unlike me, who only despaired at goblins, they faced a real monster...
And in the end, they empowered the black mage, their souls extinguished one by one in his grasp.
Ariana must have cried the moment she saw him.
Blame herself for failing to protect them.
'No, she's probably watching from inside already.'
She might be crying right now.
"...Mocking Deception, your very existence is poison to our Saintess."
"Hahaha, you say the most hurtful things so casually."
"No qualms about wounding others, yet so strict with yourself."
"That's because it scratches them just right!"
Spouting such garbage without a care, Mocking Deception raised his right hand.
Positioned to snap his fingers.
I hurled the shotel at his hand like a boomerang.
But suddenly, he brought his head toward the shotel.
Before it hit, a voice came from right behind me.
"You fell for it."
"I know."
"Hm?!"
Mocking Deception had been feigning leisure to deceive me.
I thrust my hand forward, and holy power linked me to the shotel, yanking it back at high speed.
"What?!"
"Just pulled it with holy power."
-Whoosh!
I swung the returning shotel in a surprise attack, landing another hit on Mocking Deception.
That made twice.
"Looks like I can't treat you like an ordinary holy knight."
Mocking Deception's aura shifted.
His death energy more than doubled.
At that moment, black blood dripped from his mask.
"Cough cough! You're only the third to make me go all out."
Ignoring his words, I charged with my shield forward.
"...Cough!"
Blood burst from my mouth too, but the blazing holy power evaporated it instantly.
A fight where we were both dying.
Pain like my body was tearing apart already coursed through me, but I could endure this much.
Because if I collapsed here, unimaginable horrors awaited Ariana.
Since he was a black mage, he might steal her soul and turn her into a puppet, use her body for dark magic materials, or grotesquely modify her into a flesh golem.
I couldn't let that future happen, so I prepared a single, all-out strike.
Dragging this out would only lead to my collapse and losing her.
"Hahaha! A one-shot battle! Fine by me! It's only polite to match you!"
True to his twisted nature, Mocking Deception prepared his own full-power strike.
-Hummm...!
-Gooooh...!
My holy power and his death energy swelled once more.
I spun my shotel while he extended both hands downward.
"Brain-melting hallucination."
"Return to light (회광반조)!!"
The moment Mocking Deception's hands touched the ground, black energy raced along the floor toward me, and the holy power enveloping my body turned gray.
Like right before death, or... like me.
The death energy surging from the ground pierced upward to impale me.
I raised the shotel and swung.
-Claaaang!
It sounded like metal clashing, but it was really death energy versus holy power.
Mocking Deception attacked from afar, while I met it head-on with my shotel—seemingly disadvantageous.
"Hraaaaaah!"
But bit by bit, the death energy was pushed back.
One step, another—my feet advanced.
If it kept this way, victory was mine.
At that instant, Mocking Deception let out a creepy laugh.
"Uhihahahaha! Amazing! To overcome the power I gained slaughtering countless people with mere goddess-granted strength! What an unfair god! Looks like I need some help too!"
"!!"
Keeping his left hand in place, he raised only his right and snapped his fingers.
-Snap.
"Raising Death! Lend me aid with the dragon's flesh—"
"[I'm fucked too! Dragon body's been wrecked twice already!]" "Hm? What was that—"
"[That hero bastard stabbed my reverse scale! Didn't I say it was stupid?! It's all fucked because of you!!]"