Chapter 13 - Shadowy Struggle

"...Good, so it was here after all."

I muttered to myself as I rummaged through the box and picked up a cylindrical metal object that felt similar to iron.

"...They said drinking this restores vitality, right?"

According to our ancestor's words left in the Prophecy Book, this cylindrical object—one of the Easter eggs hidden in the box—was a tonic from the 'developers' who created the world: a caffeine drink.

In the game, drinking the beverage inside restored life force continuously for a few minutes. If I combined it with my Blessing of the Stars, which maximized life force recovery, I should be able to hold out somewhat in this chaotic situation.

...That said, the Blessing of the Stars isn't cutting it anymore. Have I already hit my limit?

As the successor to our ancestor, the Star Hero, I could use his Hero's Power and Blessing of the Stars.

The Hero's Power drew from life force as its source, allowing me to transfer it to others or burn it for explosive strength.

The Blessing of the Stars activated automatically when life force bottomed out, rapidly restoring the depleted energy.

At first glance, they seemed like cheat skills with no risks, but reality was different.

Using them once or twice caused no issues, but repeated use strained the body and shaved off lifespan.

Normally, when life force depleted, you rested slowly, absorbing mana and nutrients—but forcing it back in naturally led to backlash.

Of course, I'd already been pouring life force into Kania nonstop, so my body was worn out.

No wonder I couldn't exert full power, and my lifespan had taken a hit.

Whatever. I was fated to go down with the Demon King anyway.

"...Ugh, what the hell is this."

I sliced the can open with my knife, took a sip, and grimaced at the fizzy taste.

Vowing to seize the Domination Stone no matter what, I forced the rest down. My body heated up, vitality surging through me.

"...Phew, that's better."

Having pumped a ton of life force into Kania that morning and gotten battered fighting the Succubus Queen, I confirmed my body had recovered somewhat. I pressed forward, cleaving through the darkness blanketing the auction house.

With a hiss, the dark energy sensed my movement and lunged at me—but I swatted it away like a fly.

The reason I could dispel such darkness, which would knock out ordinary people on contact so easily, was my Star Mana.

Passed down through the direct bloodline of the Starlight family from the previous hero, Star Mana shared the 'light attribute' with the imperial family's Solar Mana, my fiancée's Moonlight family's Moon Mana, and the Sun God Church saintess's Divine Power.

Thus, these four guardian powers of the Sunrise Empire excelled at repelling foul, sinister energies.

"Hah!!"

Clana thrust her hand upward with a shout, and dazzling, radiant power spread around her, vigorously driving back the black aura.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Solar Mana she'd just used burned enemies with blinding destructive force—but its sheer power sometimes wounded the caster and lacked friend-foe distinction.

"...Sun God, grant strength to this humble lamb."

Perloché closed her eyes in prayer, and white energy unfurled in all directions, repelling the darkness.

Her Divine Power specialized in blessings, healing wounds, and exorcising evil—making it a natural counter to black magic.

"...Urk."

Meanwhile, Kania staggered silently toward the Domination Stone, her black magic the power the Sunrise Empire feared most.

As evident from the symbols—the sun for the imperial family, moon for the founding merit Moonlight Duke, and star for the founding merit Starlight Duke—the Sunrise Empire worshipped radiant light.

Black magic, symbolizing darkness that corrupted everything to its hue, was inevitably rejected.

"...Got it."

Watching the heroines push through the darkness toward the stone, I grabbed the Domination Stone first and flashed a triumphant smile.

I'd started earliest, so I got it first. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Obvious, even to an idiot.

...But why hasn't the Demon King's forces shown up?

It nagged at me that they hadn't raided yet. Had Kania's black magic created a variable, making them abandon entry? Or had killing the Succubus Queen thrown things off?

...No, that's not important now. I need to grab this stone and escape before the heroines arrive...

"...Guh!!"

As I gripped the stone and turned, the princess gathered Solar Mana in her leg for propulsion and launched a flying kick. I went flying into the wall.

"...Who the hell are you?"

"...Urgh."

"Answer me. Now."

I slammed into the wall and slumped. She approached coldly.

"...You're not in the scenario. Why are you here?"

"........."

"If you won't talk, I'll have to make you hurt, Irregular."

While gauging her combat power with my info scan skill, she gathered Solar Mana at her fingertip, aiming at me.

"...Where should I fire first? Arm? Leg? Eye? Wherever it hits, the pain will be excruciating. So spill it."

I stared at her blankly, then gathered Star Mana in my throat, distorting my voice as much as possible.

"...Below."

"Pardon?"

"...Look below you."

Perplexed, she glanced down—and froze.

She'd concentrated so much Solar Mana in her legs that her lower body had vanished, underwear and all.

"...Kyaa!?"

She stared blankly, then screamed, covering herself and collapsing. Seizing the moment, I bolted for the exit.

"W-Wait! Stop right there!!"

Still on the ground, she fired Solar Mana-infused blasts wildly from her fingers.

"...Hup!"

I dodged frantically, then deflected a frontal shot with my sword—right at the saintess blocking my path.

A massive white shield appeared before her, and the princess's attack collided with a boom before vanishing.

"...Useless. All attacks are powerless before me."

She clasped her hands in prayer, and white shields encircled me.

"...You're trapped. Give up."

The shields sealed every gap. She smirked triumphantly, raising her hand.

"Holy Sun God, lend your power to this humble servant to annihilate the evil before me."

She chanted her ultimate move.

"The sacred wave shall cleanse your sins."

A grand purification ritual, counter to all evil except the irregular Demon King.

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prayed silently as the eye-searing light wave hit me dead-on.

"Demon King's minion. Reflect on your sins in hell and live in atonement."

"...Me, a Demon King's minion?"

"...Huh?"

I focused Star Mana in my throat and grumbled curtly. She looked dumbfounded.

"H-How are you, a Demon King's minion, fine after my Divine Power...?"

".............."

Prolonged speech risked straining my throat or reverting my voice, so I answered inwardly.

...I'm not a minion; I'm the hero. Why would purification affect me?

Her ultimate targeted the wicked, not the just. I only lost vision briefly to the brightness.

With the auction house shrouded in Kania's darkness, the main heroines couldn't distinguish me clearly anyway—no real damage.

I grimaced, swung my sword powerfully, and the encircling shields shattered.

She stared blankly, then smiled.

"I see. This is a trial."

"...........?"

"A trial from the Sun God for me, who once doubted His existence: overcome hardship with my own strength."

"..............."

"The grand purification failing, the unbreakable shield breaking—it's His will: grow beyond reliance on powers."

The shield broke because I'm stronger...

I wanted to retort but stayed silent to hide my voice. She raised her fist dramatically.

"Come at me, then. Demon King's minion."

For some reason, she'd labeled me a minion and struck a ridiculous battle pose. I nearly laughed and asked why, but...

"The Solar God's Blessing shall be with me."

Remembering her Solar God's Blessing, I turned and fled.

Crazy bitch. 'Fight with your own power'? That's from the Sun God too!

"D-Don't run!"

She chased. Desperate not to die here, I sprinted faster.

"...Stop! Irregular!"

The princess blocked ahead.

"...What's that?"

"D-Don't look below!"

She'd fashioned makeshift pants from blinding Solar Mana around her legs and privates, approaching with golden aura from her hand.

"...Damn it."

Princess in glow-pants ahead, saintess ready to tear me apart behind—I sweated coldly when...

"...Huh?"

"Kyaa!?"

Suddenly, both women screamed, looking around wildly.

"W-What's this? Why is my Solar Mana...?"

"D-Divine Power...? Why...?"

".....?"

Perplexed, they extended arms, maxing out their powers to envelop themselves. Staring blankly, I froze at the voice behind me.

"...Frey Raon Starlight, what the hell are you doing here?"

"...Guh?"

The eccentric collector from earlier whispered my name questioningly.

"...W-Who!?"

"It's me. Yukarius, the Demon King's confidant."

"...Ah."

Hearing his introduction, I knelt instantly.

"Frey Raon Starlight greets the great Demon King confidant, Grand Demon Yukarius."

"...Haha, Grand Demon? Flattery. Don't overhype me."

"But aren't you perfect for the next executive slot?"

"Ahem, you flatter better than hell's demons sometimes."

I fawned at the demon with his mature face, mask discarded, while scanning him.

One of the Demon King's confidants, specializing in mental manipulation and hypnosis, he was my intermediary, pretending alliance with the Demon King.

Why was he here now?

"...Lord Yukarius, what brings you here?"

"Well, I was ordered to investigate the back-alley incident."

"...Investigate?"

"Yeah. Seems the Succubus Queen got taken out."

"......!"

Caught off-guard inwardly, I averted my eyes. He clapped my shoulder heartily.

"Don't worry! The Demon King's army won't crumble over one death! The raid unit's investigating her spot anyway—they'll find the culprit soon!"

"Ah... That's a relief... Haha..."

"But why are you here?"

"...Pardon?"

He gripped my shoulder hard, tilting his head slyly.

"...And straining to buy the 'Domination Stone' for the Demon King?"

"Ah, that..."

"Hearing 'brat' from a brat like you was refreshing. Thanks for that experience."

"S-Sorry!"

I knelt hastily before his frowning face.

"Truth is, I got info on the Domination Stone from the Information Guild recently...!"

"...Info only the Demon King's army knows?"

"It matched exactly what you explained last time! And it was up for auction today?"

"...So?"

"S-So I planned to buy it with my own funds and offer it to the Demon King! Never imagined my rival was you, Lord Yukarius!"

He stared piercingly, then asked again.

"...You're immune to my illusions, right?"

"...But your disguise skills are masterful! I totally fell for it!"

"...Hmm, true. I see."

Stroking his chin beard, he grinned.

"You really are good at flattery..."

"Y-Yes..."

"...I like that!"

He glanced at Clana and Perloché, lost in his mental magic's darkness illusion, flailing wildly.

"...Princess and saintess. Funny combo, huh?"

"Y-Yeah...? Haha..."

"I'd love to kill or kidnap them... but it'd derail the Demon King's plan. Gotta hold back."

"...Yes."

"Disappointed?"

"N-No!"

Sweating bullets, I replied. He smirked slyly.

"...If you want, I could tweak the illusion to let you have them now."

"............."

Nearly glaring, I feigned terror instead.

"I-If caught, my life's over!"

"Haha, true... Getting caught with them would doom three generations! But a man's no man with such a small heart?"

Patting my back laughing, he suddenly grabbed my arm, leading me.

"...Speaking of, I've prepared women you could have without issue."

"..........!"

There stood Isolet, blankly gripping her sword, and Kania kneeling before her, gasping.

"...These two attacked me out of nowhere, so I hypnotized the swordswoman to go after the wild black mage."

"..........."

"Tuned out briefly... but looks like it's settled?"

"Is the magic on the swordswoman your favorite one?"

"Yep, the Slave Seal you know well. She's my eternal slave unless I die."

Licking his lips greedily, he continued.

"...I hate black mages, so take her. Want the Slave Seal too?"

"..........."

"Then I'll enjoy a bit..."

"......Gaaah."

I drew my sword and beheaded Yukarius as he leered at Isolet. His head rolled grotesquely; I spat coldly at it.

"...Enjoy your fun with the Succubus Queen in the underworld."

Demons went to the purgatory underworld on death, not hell—so I wished him cozy torment with her, sheathed my sword, and approached Kania slowly.

"...W-Who are you?"

"..........."

Having blanketed the auction in darkness and fought Isolet, Kania was critical without immediate life force—voice trembling, she questioned me as I neared.

...She'll be depleted for a while.

Reaching to share my partially restored life force from the drink...

"...B-Behind you!"

Her urgent cry made me turn, freezing in horror.

"...Die!"

Isolet, brainwashing unbroken despite Yukarius's death, had sneaked up sword drawn.

"...Kuh!"

In that desperate moment, I...

"....Eek!"

...chose to pull Kania into a tight embrace.

Shielding Kania from Isolet's blade while infusing life force, immense pain erupted in my back. I squeezed my eyes shut, muttering inwardly.

Fuck... this... game...

Everything was starting to piss me off.