The expression of the being that looked upon me twisted in a flash, its displeasure spreading across its mocking smile.
Had it recognized Tiamata?
Grrr!
From the wall of darkness blocking the entrance, it wasn't a blade that emerged, but a wave.
Only then did we realize that the being had not been putting forth its full strength, but simply toying with us.
With that, we became certain.
Today, death would come for Sabiolin Tana.
"Huff!"
-Boom! Crash!
A wave could not be stopped by a sword.
She did not use a sword.
However, she managed to negate the surrounding darkness by releasing an immense magical power from the barrier of magic that enveloped her.
-Grrrr!
The shock was enough to crack the palace floor, and witnessing it from close by, I was at my wit's end, unrelated to the current situation.
The darkness was dispelled with the mere release of her pure magical power.
Was it possible for such a monstrous grandmaster, transcending the limits of humans, to wield an S+ rank of magical power?
The strength she displayed in her worst condition was unbelievable.
Darkness surged from all directions. Although Charlotte, who was blocking our path, was right in front of us, I turned my body towards the intense sensation of danger I felt from behind.
The darkness bore down on me.
While maximizing my physical enhancements.
I trusted.
I might not be able to do as much as Sabiolin Tana, but.
I believed I could do it.
No.
It was more than just belief.
I had already succeeded once.
The second time should naturally be easier.
With extreme exhilaration coursing through my body, I parried the incoming dark blades with Tiamata.
-Clang!
"Ugh!"
I had no time to marvel at the fact that I didn't spit blood.
The force imbued in it was so tremendous that it felt like my hand would be torn apart.
-Bang! Crash! Boom!
Sabiolin Tana approached Charlotte, descending the stairs little by little.
Did this battle have any meaning?
Would we be able to subdue Charlotte before we melted away into the darkness?
There was no guarantee that just because we had done it before, it would be possible now. Charlotte was focusing her attack on Sabiolin Tana rather than me.
All I had to do was stay alive.
As long as I didn't interfere with Tana. The moment she had to worry about me, everything would be over.
-Shriek!
-Screech!
"Argh!"
It was fortunate that Tiamata could effectively counter this darkness. If it had been an ordinary sword, it would have been either cut or passed by the dark blades.
This was not swordsmanship. I had never learned to fight against such a thing.
However, in a fight, you can't choose your opponent.
Even if you don't know the way, you must do it.
I had no choice but to focus on responding to the attacks directed at me while keeping an eye on them.
-Rumble! Roar!
It was hard to believe that this was a human fight, as Sabiolin Tana charged at Charlotte like a monster, leaping and bounding.
As the waves of darkness pressed in, she repelled them with a surge of magical power, scattering the blades with a single stroke of her sword.
I couldn't even guess what she could do in her best condition.
In a flash, Sabiolin Tana charged toward Charlotte, attempting to seize her.
Whoosh –
Yet, she merely vanished, melting into the darkness.
"Damn it…!"
She reappeared twenty paces to Tana's right.
Around Charlotte, shadowy spears materialized like lances.
Bang! Bang! Bang! –
Once again, Tana charged in.
Though she tried to break through the storm of spears and subdue Charlotte, the latter disappeared into the darkness just before contact.
Tana was like a spear that could pierce anything, but the shield she needed to penetrate didn't permit any hits.
She needed to be faster then. Capture Charlotte before she could melt away.
However, Sabiolin Tana, who was already giving her all, couldn't become any faster.
To be quicker, she needed to reach out not with her hand but with her sword.
Soon, it was inevitable that Charlotte would have to be killed.
The only choice left for Sabiolin Tana, who wanted to subdue Charlotte, was to be killed by the being controlling the darkness after a drawn-out battle.
I was already on the verge of being cornered, just from fending off the shadowy blades that surged towards me.
I couldn't help Sabiolin Tana, and even if I tried to, I would only put her in more danger.
"Ugh!"
It wasn't just the unfavorable condition that was the problem.
I could see her right shoulder dyed in blood.
Come to think of it, she had been wielding her sword, Tempesta, with her left hand until now.
Her right hand had been completely unusable, but as the situation grew dire, she started swinging the sword with both hands.
Could she be right-handed?
If so, a right-handed person had been using a sword with only their left hand until now.
Of course, there were many cases of using a sword with both hands, but having one arm disabled meant a reduction in combat power by half, if not more.
Therefore, Sabiolin Tana, who even used her injured right arm, had undoubtedly torn open a wound that hadn't healed properly.
Gritting her teeth, the whites of Tana's eyes were tinged with blood.
"Heh… hehe… hehe… hihi…"
Charlotte was laughing.
She was delighted to see Tana reaching her limit.
After that, three times.
Tana succeeded in getting close to Charlotte by mobilizing her injured right arm.
But, in a moment of intense struggle, she reached out with her hand instead of her sword.
Three times she could have killed Charlotte, but three times she attempted to subdue her instead.
Crash!
"Ugh!"
As a result, her right arm was completely shattered by the shadowy blade, and she slammed into the wall.
Thud!
As she hit the wall, I could clearly see cracks spreading like a spiderweb where she had collided.
"Ugh… ack!"
Thump!
She coughed up blood and collapsed onto the floor.
Could it be?
Was she dead?
I couldn't tell.
Even if she wasn't dead yet, she would die if things continued like this.
Swish!
The final blow, a shadowy spear, was launched toward Sabiolin Tana.
I must…
Block it.
No.
I will block it.
Swoosh!
Reacting to my desperate wish, my body transcended its limits for a moment, sweeping away the shadowy spear that was charging toward Sabiolin Tana.
I stood in front of the fallen woman, blocking her path.
The entity gazed at me with a chilling smile as it faced my obstruction.
I couldn't tell if it understood my words or not.
Was it a lifeform born from pure malice?
It possessed only the intent to kill, with no ability for conversation or communication.
Sabiolin Tana had lost consciousness.
Charlotte had said that when her powers went berserk, she would lose her memories from that period.
There was no reason to hesitate now.
From this moment on, I had anticipated a certain extent of what would happen.
Even in the worst condition, if there was an entity capable of pushing the strongest being in the world to the brink like this, there could be only one.
The ancient Demon King, Vallie.
I used the Ring of Sarkegaar.
"As the rightful ruler of Darkland and the emissary of the demon world, I ask you."
I returned to Vallie's form and stared at the entity.
"Who are you?"
Unfortunately, the reaction I had hoped for did not come.
"Hehehehehehe…"
It simply let out a deep, low laugh, just like before.
Was it not the Demon King?
Or was it just a remnant, a residue close to the traces of the Demon King? I gripped Tiamata tightly, looking at the being that was merely a fragment of the madness once possessed by the Demon King.
Though I didn't expect much from it, my demonic control ability wouldn't work either. I couldn't tell whether my power was too weak or, even as a remnant, it was an Archdemon immune to such influence.
The result was the same.
Whether I revealed myself as Vallie or not, there was no option to avoid the fight.
I returned to Reinhardt's form.
I did not want to fight in Vallie's form.
I spoke to it.
"If you are not the Demon King, not recognizing your king is your sin… and if you are the Demon King, then not recognizing your own child is a sin as well."
"Heh, heh. Hehe. Haha. Hmph."
The entity, increasingly consumed by madness, prepared a wave of darkness.
"What angers me the most is that you, of all things, have entered Charlotte's body and caused this chaos."
Uuuuung
Tiamata cried out.
It was a bizarre sensation, as if the sword itself was howling.
"So, whatever you are, you've angered me and must face the consequences."
A barrage of dark spears rushed toward me.
Tiamata's condition was far from normal.
It seemed possible now.
I thrust Tiamata towards the oncoming storm of dark spears.
Flash!
A brilliant light, centered on Tiamata, filled the Spring Palace in an instant.
Divine Magic, Sanctuary.
"Aaaargh!"
I successfully manifested the magic Olivia Lanze had planted within me.
For some time now, I had been engaged in this endeavor.
I shared Tiamata with Olivia Lanze. So, I called upon Olivia and spoke with her about it.
About Tiamata.
"It's about Tiamata."
"Mhm. What about it?"
"Honestly, isn't it useless?"
"It's still a sacred relic… Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"What is this about? This is not even a divine entity itself, but merely an artifact created by a deity. And I didn't say that the relic is useless."
"Then what is useless?"
"Perhaps I should say it doesn't suit me well."
Olivia understood what I meant.
"Hmm… that's true, among the relics, Tiamata and Alicion have always been used by the Order. Reinhardt, you are the first to become the Champion of Tu'an without being a priest, aren't you?"
"Exactly. I don't know how to use divine power, yet this is a divine power amplifier. What am I supposed to do with it?"
"But don't you handle the sword itself well? Of course, there is a story that if you harm innocent lives with Tiamata, you will face the judgment of Tu'an."
"That's just a superstition."
No matter how it turns into a dark relic, it's useless to do anything with the innocent blood.
"Well, how can you call the official doctrine of the Tu'an Order a superstition?"
"If it's not true, it's superstition. You know enough by now, don't you?"
"You really don't hold back… Anyway, the problem is this."
Although Tiamata is a very powerful relic, it is fundamentally a tool for priests or paladins, so in my hands, it's nothing more than a well-handled sword.
It's not a valuable item like Lament or Alsebringer, even if I don't have divine power.
Olivia stared at me as if to ask what I wanted to do about it.
"So, you and I share this artifact, right?"
"Heh, it feels great like we're co-owning property…"
"…Why are you bringing that up?"
"Isn't it? It's not co-owning property, but a soul bond, so you and I are soul companions, aren't we? We've already… come this far…"
"Please restrain yourself!"
"You always get angry! I hate you! Even if you always treat me coldly, don't you find it cute how I keep following you as soon as you call me?"
"Shut up and just listen to me."
"What is it?"
What I wanted from Olivia, whose character seemed to be growing more and more, was that.
"Tiamata is, in a sense, a divine power amplifier."
"Indeed, it contains an immense amount of divine power, whether in the form of Tu'an or Kier."
"Can't I use that?"
"Hmm?"
Olivia tilted her head.
"So, you're asking if you can utilize the divine power that is inherent in the sword itself?"
"Yes."
"That's a creative idea. Then, you should first join the Tu'an Order, shouldn't you? People will love it. 'The Champion has come of his own accord!' they will say."
"You know that's not what I mean."
I cannot use divine power. However, the relic I possess is an item that allows those with divine power to maximize their power. Tiamata in my hand is a well-handled sword, and an even better-handled sword against the undead.
But in the hands of a paladin, it turns an already human-tank-like paladin into a human slaughter weapon.
I want to draw out more power from Tiamata.
So, I asked Olivia Lanze for help.
"Can't you imbue Tiamata with power, Senior, and allow me to activate and use it when needed?"
"Hmm… Such a concept isn't entirely unheard of. There are magical tools and artifacts that have divine magic imbued in them, which can be used by non-believers."
"Are there?"
"Yes, but I don't know if that would apply to a holy relic as well. And it only refers to very minor miracles, not large-scale ones or powerful divine magic."
"But this situation is unique. There's only one object, but two owners. And two soul bindings."
As much as I hate to admit it, Olivia and I share the same object, albeit not connected by the soul.
I wanted to know if it was possible for me to wield the influence Olivia has on Tiamata.
"I don't know. We'll have to try. But why?"
"There's no harm in knowing how to use the relic more effectively, right? You never know when or where something might happen."
"Hmm… You're planning to do something bad again, aren't you?"
"No, who said that?"
"That's right. Even if you don't have any thoughts now, you'll surely use it for something bad later."
Yes.
There was an intention back then.
It wasn't meant to be used like this now.
When there was trouble with the vampires of the Vampire Council, powerful divine power would be helpful.
It was a plan to threaten the vampires, and I couldn't even tell Olivia my true intentions.
Under such intentions, I asked Olivia to inscribe divine magic on Tiamata and continued to practice using it.
Naturally, it didn't work well.
Without inscribing a new divine talent, it was impossible. The divine power, built upon faith and prayer, didn't suit me – not just because I was the Demon King, but because of who I am. I have enough faith in myself without believing in something else.
But now, for some reason, I had a conviction that it could work.
Tiamata weeps.
That feeling, as if the sword had awakened, gave me confidence.
Now, I believed I could do it.
"Kiaaaak! Kyaak!"
-Grrrrrr!
In the midst of a scene where the light of the sanctuary and the remnants of the Demon King clashed fiercely, writhing in darkness, I clenched Tiamata in my hand.
The Holy Sword Tiamata.
It responded to my will, emitting divine power.
I watched the white letters on Tiamata's ivory blade shine with radiance.
'Purify the world with wrath.'
Suddenly, I realized as I saw those words.
Wrath.
Tiamata reacts to wrath.
My rage against that wretched thing that dares to consume Charlotte's soul was drawing out Tiamata's power.
-Grrr! Grrr! Grrr!
It was in pain, spreading both hands and pushing towards me.
"Kuh… ugh!"
-Grrrr!
It was merely a clash of intangible forces – light and darkness.
But it felt as though we were locked in a struggle, pushing against each other.
As it pushed me back, I had no choice but to retreat a step, as if being repelled by a counterforce.
Rumble!
Light and darkness collided, creating a thunderous noise. As the light and darkness clashed, they began to push each other back.
It is the strongest sword for the undead.
However, the light emanating from Tiamata itself was a definite countermeasure against the being that moved through darkness and attacked using darkness.
The scattered rays of light that clashed effectively blocked its movement.
I had to push it back and suppress it.
After blocking its surroundings with light, I had to subdue it.
Although it wasn't the power I had planted for this purpose, I had no choice but to use it now.
Drawing out the light from the sword, I tried to walk step by step towards the being of darkness that was desperately trying to push me back.
With all my might, I took a step forward, and it retreated a step.
Corner it against a wall, bind it with light, and render it unconscious.
Rumble! Rumble! Crash!
The fierce mingling of light and darkness was like a mixture of fire and lightning.
The darkness retreated little by little as I advanced.
Could it be that it could swallow the light of a magical lamp, but not the light based on divine power?
Roar!
I screamed in the midst of a world-shattering noise.
"Release Charlotte!"
"Aaaargh!"
The being let out a painful scream every time I took a step forward.
It was definitely being affected.
Whether it was the divine power or the light that had an answer, the being was in agony.
"Kyaaargh! Kack!"
Emitting an inhuman wail, the darkness surrounding the area of light tried to engulf and consume it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Olivia Lanze's power.
Amplified through Tiamata as a medium, it not only defended against the attacks of darkness emitted by the unidentified being, but also effectively pushed back the surrounding darkness.
The light was scattered.
Beyond the sanctuary pouring out of the sword, the light intertwined with the darkness like a snake, burning the darkness and being consumed by it in turn.
It was a bizarre sight of white and black flames burning.
It was a chaotic scene where beasts of light and darkness tangled together, hard to believe even when seen with one's own eyes.
"Ugh!"
However, the darkness did not retreat easily.
The materialized darkness pushed back the materialized light, and as a result, seemed to push me back, holding the light.
It was a strange sensation, as if Tiamata itself had collided with the repulsive force of a powerful magnet.
Kyaah!
The being screamed with all its might, trying to push me back. It reached out for me, and I was in the midst of desperately pushing my arm forward to break through.
My strength was waning.
Rumble!
Still far away.
Groan!
And the opponent's strength was greater than mine.
I was being pushed back.
At this moment, when I was losing in terms of strength, I had to focus all my energy on not retreating rather than advancing.
"Damn… I don't want to rely on a crutch again…!"
I tightened my grip on Tiamata.
I added more strength.
I added all the strength I possessed.
Though I have reached my limit, somehow I must muster the strength.
I cannot guarantee that I won't cough up blood.
But I believe I won't.
I hope that by doing so, I can restore Charlotte.
I do it.
I enhance my magical power.
Relying on the strength of physical and magical enhancements at their peak, I push forward to dispel the darkness.
I must push forward.
Grrr!
With an intense feeling of exhilaration, as if every cell in my body is awakening from their extremities.
Hmmm!
Not only the divine magic but also the protection of Olivia Lanze imbued in Tiamata strengthens my body.
Squish. Squeeze!
With the intense muscle enhancements, every muscle, every fiber seems to scream as they surpass their limits.
I believe.
I will take a step forward.
Thud!
Despite merely taking one step, a thunderous noise shook the entire palace.
My body does not crumble as the divine power granted by Olivia Lanze fortifies it. The muscle fibers break and heal in real-time, and I feel my magical circuits boiling as if on fire.
The steps I must take number more than thirty.
It isn't difficult.
I simply need to walk; that's all there is to it.
Nothing could be easier.
It's just that each step feels a bit heavier.
Thud!
Twenty-nine steps remain.
Rumble!
In the fierce battle between darkness and light, the power truly originating from me is not much.
Excluding magical enhancements and supernatural abilities, all power is borrowed.
No, even that is not my power; it too is borrowed.
There is only one thing I can do.
Take a step, enduring the pain of my fragile body.
Overcome the agony.
Not lose consciousness.
Take a step.
Keep walking.
That is all there is to it.
I have borrowed everything.
Nothing is truly mine.
Everything is borrowed assets.
Wielding unjust power with borrowed strength, I must at least be formidable.
"Grr… Ah… Ugh!"
"Hee, hee hee hee! Hah hah! Hee hee hee hah!"
Whether it is madness or terror, the dark being screams.
I continue to believe.
I will not fall.
I will take a step.
If I can reduce these steps to twenty-eight.
I can survive tonight.
Even if I cannot predict the future, I can save today's Charlotte.
If tomorrow is dangerous too?
Then I will save her tomorrow.
And the day after, and the day after that.
I will keep going, day by day.
For Charlotte, for the life I saved, beyond survival…
Something more.
I will let her live a life.
I will gift her that.
Crossing the boundaries of suggestion.
Crossing the boundaries of faith.
I will drive away the darkness that covers where spring should be.
I will restore what rightfully belongs here.
You, who love flowers.
I will bring you back.
Just as I once saved you.
This time too.
And the next time.
And the time after that. Continually.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
Thud!
One step.
Thud!
Two steps.
Roar!
In a single stride, I take three steps forward.
Crack!
Shriek! Caw! Screech!
Ignoring the pain of bones breaking and rejoining.
Believe you feel it, and you do.
Believe you don't feel it, and you won't.
Self-suggestion.
I aim to surpass even that power.
Blood from my eyes clouds my vision.
Still, I do not close my eyes.
Thump!
With each step forward, I face something, its expression turning from astonishment to horror – the remnants of the Demon King.
But at the same time, I face Charlotte.
I walk towards her.
Thump!
Rumble!
After multiple steps, I manage to bring the entity within my grasp.
“Screeeech!”
Its abyss-like black hair flutters wildly in the light, and its torn red pupils fill with horror and astonishment.
It is right before me.
Unable to escape, it struggles just as much as I do.
In the midst of a tension that makes my entire body feel exposed to cutting winds, I reach out and grip its throat.
My right hand's fingernails break and the bones twist as I grip Charlotte's throat.
Rumble!
“Gr…uh…! Ugh…!”
Self-suggestion works only for me.
Believe that, and it applies only to me.
I must surpass that stage.
Not just for me, but for others as well.
“Disappear…!”
“Heh, heh, heh, heh! Hic! Hic! Heeek!”
It is not enough to believe to apply my power to others.
I must declare it.
Not a power that comes from believing, but a power that comes from declaring it will be so.
I want it.
I want it, and I will have it.
“Disappear from Charlotte's body!”
[Self-suggestion Rank increases.]
[Self-suggestion A Rank achieved.]
[Derived ability emerges]
[Awakening of Word Spirit]
Flash!
My words…
Moved the world.
In the darkness.
In the rain-filled night.
Rumble
Charlotte realized she was being held by someone in the darkness.
“Uh… Wh-who…?”
“…Awake, are you?”
Though she could not see clearly, Charlotte knew it was Reinhardt's voice.
“Rein…hardt? Reinhardt?”
“…Yes.”
His cracked voice made it clear that the situation was not ordinary. Why hadn't he returned? Why was she in the palace hall and not her bedroom?
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Charlotte could see.
The fallen chandelier, the palace in disarray as if a giant beast had rampaged through it.
And then.
His face bloodied and wounded, it was a wonder he was still alive.
Reinhardt's face appeared.
Despite his grievous injuries that made it surprising he was conscious, Reinhardt had laid Charlotte down using his knee as a pillow.
She could not understand the situation.
She did not know why he hadn't returned.
Charlotte vaguely realized.
“Did I… hurt you…?”
In the end, I had lost my reason once again, and under the influence of a strange power, I hurt Reinhardt.
If it weren't for me, such a thing would never have happened.
As despair and guilt welled up inside her, Charlotte was on the verge of tears.
Swoosh
“No.”
Reinhardt, his hand injured to the point of exposing the bones, trembled as he gently brushed back his hair.
“It's not that you hurt me…”
As Reinhardt brushed his hair, he looked down.
“I saved you…”
Charlotte could not understand what he meant.
“Just remember it that way…”
Although it was true that she had hurt him, Reinhardt only insisted that she remember the more important fact.
“What… what happened? Reinhardt, what happened? What happened to us?”
Charlotte wanted an explanation, but Reinhardt was not in a condition to provide one.
“I'm sorry… for throwing away the flower.”
Reinhardt made an entirely unexpected apology.
What did it matter at this point?
Instead of expressing gratitude for saving her, he suddenly apologized.
“If I accepted it… in that situation, with that meaning… it would feel like the last gift I received from you… and I didn't want that…”
Please think of me.
The flower with such meaning.
Reinhardt knew that.
He knew that the seemingly insignificant flower was a farewell gift.
“That's why… I threw it away…”
To reject the subtle farewell gesture Charlotte offered.
Reinhardt had thrown that flower away.
With those final words, Reinhardt lost consciousness.