CHAPTER 349: RESOLUTION (2)

0% Again and again, I proved that my specs and Skills, when combined, could get me to land a solid on even the strongest fighters.

“—Hmm, haven’t felt that in a while. Spicy.”

“...”

That was why seeing the Prophet just brush off a direct hit from me like it was nothing... Kinda left me speechless.

Sure, some people had survived my blows before, but no one had ever tanked it without even reacting.

This wasn’t a matter of the differences between our raw specs or combat skills either, it was something else.

Rather, it felt... Familiar... Like she’d known me well. Too well, actually.

Like she had been with me through life-or-death battles countless times.

“—No, not like that, idiot.”

“...What?”

“You got quite the temper, and I’m no saint either. We were married with kids and lived together for a long time, you think we never fought during that time?”

“...”

“After doing it more than once or twice, I can predict all~ your movements~ that’s what I’m saying.”

“...”

The fuck did she just say? Did that mean me in her world was throwing hands at her every time we argued?

[...Wait, doesn’t that mean she was swinging knives at her husband too?]

“...”

I suddenly felt a strong urge to stay single.

Especially after I noticed how Iliya and Eleanor looked like they were about to jump the punk after hearing those words.

“...Need any help?”

“I thought you’d never ask!”

Anyway, at least both of them—who had been on the receiving end of the beatdown—were getting their fighting spirit back.

Since there had never been a losing battle after I jumped in, they probably saw this as a turning point for counterattack.

Well, I hated to burst their bubble, but...

“We can’t win.”

“...”

“...”

Their faces dropped instantly.

I was just telling the truth, okay?

Didn’t they see what happened just now?

Even with my perfectly timed sneak attack, I couldn’t land a decent hit. This chick’s combat prowess was simply off the fucking chart.

The three of us together ain’t gonna cut it.

And above all...

“She’s not the only enemy here.”

“What are you—”

Before Eleanor could finish her words...

A familiar voice cut in.

—I humbly beseech thee

—I humbly beseech thee

【May thou simply be pure】

At that voice, her face instantly hardened.

I was split in half back then, so my memory was quite fuzzy, but I definitely remember Eleanor getting utterly demolished without even being able to breathe by this guy, so yeah, that was an understandable reaction.

And then...

-...

“...Hmph.”

I let out a snort as I watched the Fallen’s Seal, which was always glowing, momentarily lost its light.

“It’s just a temporary bind, Boss.”

“That’s enough. Did you finish everything?”

“Of course. We have 10 minutes.”

I looked back and forth between the Prophet and Talker, who were having a little chat.

Figured he’d pop around at about now.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

My sudden question didn’t just surprise Iliya and Eleanor, but also the two infront of me, who belatedly turned to me with questioning gazes.

Well, I gotta ask this, you know...

“You, what’s your goal?”

As I asked that and pointed my finger at Talker—Spinning Fire Wheel...

“Huh? Me? My goal?”

“Yeah, you’re the only one I haven’t heard from.”

The Prophet clearly wanted the extermination of the Devils, but I had no clue what this shithead cooperating with her wanted.

No one had ever explained this fucker’s motive.

But the answer that he replied with a chuckle, was surprisingly simple.

“Nothing special, I’m just doing it ‘cuz I can.”

“...”

“The greatest wish of sorcerers is to leave the biggest mark on the world. In that sense—”

Spinning Fire Wheel glanced at the Prophet and ran his hand through his hair.

“—-Helping to wipe out all the Devils would be quite the achievement in itself, don’t you think?”

“So, you’re saying that everything you’ve done is just because ‘you could do it’?”

“Yep. No need to complicate things. When it comes to me, just think, ‘Ah, that’s just how this guy is’—that’s enough.”

Yeah, that sounded about right.

Doing something without complex motives or circumstances, he was that kind of guy alright.

“But why do you ask?”

“Honestly, I’m not that curious, but I gotta ask it for someone else.”

I wasn’t lying when I said that.

“—Anyway, that’s what he said, Valkasus.”

Because there was someone who wanted to hear why his kingdom was destroyed by the motherfucker.

“No need to go easy on him.”

With that, I took off the Soul Linker.

[...See you in a bit.]

‘What’s with that sad tone?’

I could feel Caliban’s presence fading.

Even though I chided him like it was nothing...

This little bracelet—especially Caliban inside it—was practically an extension of me.

After taking it off, it just felt extremely off. It was as if a part of me was missing.

“Hey, catch.”

I tossed the bracelet to Iliya.

“Uh, Teach...?”

“Put it on and work together with Eleanor to handle that monster.”

“...”

“You can do it. There’s someone to guide you inside.”

You guys were family. Surely he could do at least that much.

Iliya looked back and forth between the Soul Linker and me with a hardened expression.

What I was trying to say here was crystal clear.

From now on...

I was gonna 1v1 the Prophet.

Without any tricks, without even the Fallen’s Seal.

“...Win.”

“Yeah.”

But the fact that she didn’t complain and just raised her sword at Spinning Fire Wheel showed how far we’ve come from working together.

Same went for Eleanor.

“Seems like they trust you alot.”

“Wouldn’t have made it this far if they didn’t.”

The Prophet chuckled and nodded.

She seemed to get it.

As if she’d been through it herself.

“—Well, I respect that decision.”

For the first time, I could feel ‘power’ stirring from within her.

Mana. Highly refined mana, to be exact.

The pure, almost holy mana of the ‘Hero’ began to stir from her body.

“—Shall we move somewhere else?”

And with that...

...Our surrounding environment changed drastically.

●

“This isn’t your first time near the Void Zone, right?”

She was right.

I came here twice: a long time ago when I encountered the Purifier, Viscount Riverback, and when I was kidnapped to the Devil Worshippers’s base.

But...

“Spinning Fire Wheel might be useless at a lot of things, but he’s good at what he does. He even took down the barrier from a Seraph-class angel.”

Going here like this...

Being in this place without any barriers whatsoever, it was my first time.

Magical storm that could flay you alive, unstable ground due to long exposure to said storm, Demonic Aura so dense that it felt like it could pollute my very soul, the ground that pulsing and spreading like Pandemonium, eroding everything around it.

It was truly a living hell.

“—Those Devils... Just by descending with their main bodies, the world turned like this. It’s utterly disgusting.”

“...”

“In that sense, my desire to erase them all isn’t all that strange, is it?”

“Yes.”

I calmly replied.

It was true, I understood her completely.

Especially considering what she’d been through.

But...

“—Still, I can’t let that happen.”

I didn’t know what they were planning, but they mentioned 10 minutes.

Ten minutes until whatever the hell Spinning Fire Wheel had prepared, whatever ‘thing’ she had set up to exterminate the Devils, would trigger.

I had to end this before then.

Not bothering to say any other words, I took a stance.

Thanks to Talker, the Fallen’s Seal was useless. All I had were my Skills and the combat experience that was burned to my body.

Seeing this, the Prophet chuckled.

“...I didn’t expect this.”

“What is?”

“You’re usually the type to rely on every trick in the book, attaching all sorts of things to yourself before going in. I didn’t think you’d go for such a straightforward approach.”

She was right.

This wasn’t my style. Usually, I’d only fight when I knew I’d win.

But...

“You’re my opponent.”

“...”

“You have a lot of things to get off your chest, don’t you?”

I didn’t know what she had gone through, or how much emotional baggage she was carrying.

That was why, the least I could do for her...

...Was to face her with sincerity.

“They said you can only truly know someone when you mingle bodies with each other. Consider this my respect.”

“...Pervert.”

“...What the hell are you on about?”

“You’re not any better. Suddenly sprouting that suggestive line while we’re in this situation...”

“Guess we’re peas in the same pot then. That’s probably why we got married.”

“You and your big mouth...”

The Prophet grumbled as she raised her swords.

Although the atmosphere around her might seem friendly...

The killing intent emanating from her was definitely that of someone facing an enemy.

“—Well then... Shall we?”

Resolution.

The final gateway for me to live and breathe in this world. This one was the only one I had to go through left.