The battle in the capital was also heading towards its climax.

"Mana Overload."

"..."

"Rampage of Destruction."

Darbab, who was firing explosive magic at the Apostle of Benevolence from the sky, let out a cold sigh and continued to cast spells without rest.

"Blaze call."

"Keuk..."

"Blaze call."

"...Kuaaaaaak!!"

"Blaze call."

"Magician...!!!"

"Blaze call."

A cloud of dust was rising thickly.

By the time Darbab's bombardment magic faltered, an arrow coming through the dust was flying towards Darbab, who was floating in the air.

Fast.

The moment Darbab's posture faltered, the Apostle of Benevolence, who quickly drew a bow from the wreckage of the collapsed building, pulled the bowstring to its limit and began to aim at Darbab, who was pouring on the offensive.

"ⲧⲱϣ ⲛ̀Ⲫⲁⲓ (Divine Archer). Τόξον τοῦ Δένδρου τοῦ Κόσμο (Arrow of the World Tree)."

It was the speed of light.

The Apostle of Benevolence, who had finished preparing to snipe at a speed that could not be captured by the eye, released her hand from the bowstring.

The moment the arrow, which was approaching so fast that space distorted, was about to pierce Darbab's body.

"[Space Cut]"

The arrow, which was flying like light, disappeared in the black magic created by Elishia and returned to nothingness.

"...Grind."

The Apostle of Benevolence's hostile gaze turned to Elishia.

"Τολμᾶν... (How dare you...)"

She had never for a moment thought that a fellow apostle would be a traitor.

When she pulls the bowstring with anger, it disappears.

"[Space Cut]"

When she fired an arrow to shoot down the magician, it disappeared into thin air, and conversely, when she tried to fire an arrow to punish the traitor, the magician who was pouring on the offensive from the sky cast a gravity spell and pressed down on her body.

-Grind...

Facing two opponents when one was already a handful, the Apostle of Benevolence let out a dry sigh and steeled her resolve.

"Βρωμεροί ἄνθρωποι (Filthy humans...)"

No matter how much more power she consumed, nothing would change.

Too much time had been lost.

The operation had failed.

In a situation where it wouldn't be strange for the imperial army to rush in at any moment, the Apostle of Benevolence made a decision.

Rather.

"Ἀπόθανε ⲁⲃⲱⲧ. (Just die.)"

She thought that dying together here would be a way to deal even a small blow to the filthy humans.

The Apostle of Benevolence bit her lip and said with anger.

"Iron Maiden."

Behind the Apostle of Benevolence, who was filled with killing intent, a giant iron statue began to form.

Iron Maiden.

A torture device called the 'Iron Maiden'.

It was a horrific torture device used in vampire hunting during the age of blood.

-Rumble

Inside the wide-open statue, there was enough space for a giant to enter, and within that space, countless iron spikes were set up sharply.

The Apostle of Benevolence, who let out a laugh of resignation, opened her mouth with a blood-boiling voice.

"ⲕⲣⲓⲥⲓ ⲛ̀ⲁⲙⲁⲣⲧⲓⲁ. (Judgment of Sin.)"

The moment the curse came out of the Apostle of Benevolence's mouth.

-Clatter.

Numerous spiked chains from inside the statue began to move, rooted in the ground.

-Clank...

-Clatter Clank!

As the chains, which were embedded in the ground as if to overturn it, began to be pulled taut.

The chains wrapped around the Apostle of Benevolence's hands began to bleed and gradually take on a chilly air.

"I am the fifth princess of Eliheim, who protects the forest of the World Tree, and a warrior who has taken up a sword to punish the hateful humans."

"..."

"Serenada."

The bowstring is pulled taut.

As if to prove that no one would be left here, the bowstring was pulled taut, preventing any magic from approaching.

"Ἀφανίσαι αὐτούς, ὥσπερ ἕντομα... (Exterminate them, like insects...)"

That magician, who is called the king of nobles.

"That looks dangerous."

That traitor.

"Saint-nim... yes, I understand."

Everyone must have their own hidden weapons, so she decided to end all of this by dying together before they could draw their weapons.

It was an abandoned life anyway.

If she hadn't left the forest, curious about the world outside the fence, it wouldn't have turned out like this.

She wouldn't have had to go through those hellish days of being captured by humans, being treated worse than a person, and not clinging to the title of princess, but having to struggle to live as a living being.

Now.

-Grip.

She had no more regrets, as she could finally put an end to her life of tiresome hatred.

However.

-Elf?

Only one regret remained in her mind.

-Wow... what a find.

-ἄνθρωπος..? (Human?)

-Should I take her and raise her? No, I don't think I can raise her.

The one who had first shown her the fun of the world she was so curious about, and the one who had given her a dream.

Even though the child was already dead.

The robe the Apostle of Benevolence was wearing began to be stripped away by the storm created by the swirling wind.

A large burn scar on her left eye.

The brand of a slave on her collarbone began to be revealed without concealment.

-Grip.

"Μισῶ. ⲁⲛⲧⲱⲡⲉ. (I hate you. Human.)"

Now she could finally meet that child.

She didn't know if she could go to heaven after doing so many bad things.

-Clatter...!!!!

The door of the statue closes.

The chains dig into her arms as if to cut them off, and a strange strength begins to enter her arms, which feel like they will snap at any moment.

Yes, if she uses this technique, she will be sucked into that statue. Because she has unreasonably used a power without a price.

But it's okay.

It was her fate to die anyway.

"δόρυ τοῦ ἀφανισμοῦ (Spear of Annihilation.)"

The moment the arrow, steeped in thick black magic, was about to go forward.

-Clang.

With the sound of something breaking in Elishia's hand, a red light began to cast over the battlefield.

And in that moment.

-Swish.

With a sharp cutting sound, the Apostle of Benevolence dropped her bow. The feeling of liberation she felt as the chains that held her were cut was.

-Click.

Truly unpleasant.

-Clack.

It's wrapping around her.

The sound of the footsteps of the one who had cut off her final, life-risking attack begins to sound ominous.

With a 'clank' sound, she feels the traitor restraining her body.

The worst.

To the point where she wants to choose death herself.

----------------------------------------

-Click

"Eui...?"

-Clack.

"Where is this?"

-Click.

"This... hoeeeeeeeeek?!"

My wish to make a cool entrance was not fulfilled, thanks to the young lady who was screaming in shock at the destroyed mansion.

The young lady began to sob.

Looking back and forth between the wreckage of the collapsed mansion and my face, she opened her lips with an expression on the verge of tears.

"Ricardo..."

"Yes."

"The... the... the... the... house!!!!"

"Ta-da~! It's all collapsed."

"Don't laugh!!!!"

The young lady shrieked and began to curse her life.

"Are we beggars...?"

"Not we, but you, young lady."

"Then... am I a beggar now?"

"You've always been a beggar."

"Heeheehee... Ricardo, you can't even get your salary now...?"

"I think it's been 4 years since I've worked without pay."

"...Sniffle."

I thought she would really cry if I teased her anymore, so I smiled slightly and told the young lady the truth. That all of this was planned by Darbab, who dreamed of reconstruction.

"I'm just kidding. It was planned by the family head."

"It's not a joke!!!"

The young lady in my arms pointed her finger at the fallen flag of Desmunt and let out her resentment.

"This and that are all broken! We're ruined!"

"Haha!"

"What should I do... Where are my daddy and mommy... Eek!!!"

The young lady, who was hit on the head, raised her head and looked at Rosanna.

"Not mommy, but mother."

"...Sniffle. Mommy..."

"You're going to get in trouble."

"Mo...ther."

"Good."

'Sniff,' the young lady sniffled and reached out her hands to Rosanna, hugging her.

Rosanna, who easily lifted the young lady with her slender woman's body, smiled slightly and asked me.

How I got here.

"Ah... about that."

I was able to come thanks to the item I had given Elishia before.

-Because Elishia-nim has 'that'.

I had prepared a scroll that could use teleportation magic through Hans in advance, in case she was revealed to be a traitor at the meeting.

Thanks to that, I was also able to prevent the Apostle of Benevolence from taking everyone down with her.

"Mommy's boobies..."

"Tsk."

"Eek!!!"

Rosanna hit the young lady on the head once more and expressed her gratitude with a faint smile.

"As expected, our Ricardo is competent."

"You flatter me."

"I wish you would just take Olivia with you like this."

"...Pardon?"

The young lady, who was sniffling, wiped her nose with her hand, rubbed it on me, and expressed her confusion.

"Take me?"

"Mommy said to take Olivia to a place where they feed you well."

"Hehe... I like it."

I, who had unintentionally received my mother-in-law's permission, gave a troubled smile and moved my steps.

I thought it was about time to go.

I slowly walked towards the Apostle of Benevolence, who was bound by Elishia's magic, and erased the smile that had been on my lips.

"Thank you for coming, Saint-nim."

"No, not at all. We just finished our work as well."

"If the Saint-nim hadn't come, many would have died. I, the family head, and the members of the family could have been saved, but without the Saint-nim, everyone else would have died."

I approached with a faint smile.

"ⲁⲩⲱⲧⲉ... (Kill me...)"

An elf.

It was certainly the second time I had met an elf in this world. I had saved an elf who was being sold to a slave trader in the past.

It was so long ago that I couldn't remember the elf's face... In the first place, I didn't know anything about the elf race itself, so I had no idea what she would look like now.

I didn't know how old an elf, whose life expectancy is much higher than a human's, had to be to become an adult, and in the first place, this elf and I would have no connection.

The elf was bowing her head to hide her face.

She seemed to have no intention of raising her head, as if she was ashamed of the scar on her face, and especially the scar on her collarbone, she seemed to want to hide it so much that she was pulling her robe with her teeth.

I don't know any more because she's a character who didn't appear in the novel. What stories this elf is hiding.

"Haa..."

I looked at the elf and said.

"Are you insane? (Ἐμαίνεσο?)"

In polished Elvish.

I had studied Elvish thinking that I might meet a beautiful elf on the street someday, but I didn't know I would use it like this.

"You almost died, you."

"A man. Back then."

"...You have a good memory."

"How did you do it. That man."

"Who are you talking about."

The elf spoke to me in clumsy imperial language.

"The Apostle of Integrity."

Ah.

"I killed him."

"..."

"I was trying to extract information, but he was weaker than I thought."

"...."

"So I'm trying to set up a witness."

I looked at the elf and said.

"If you don't mind, could you pick out someone with a loose tongue?"

"...What did you say?"

I looked at the elf and asked again.

"I would appreciate it if you could pick out someone among the fainted followers who would spill secrets without being tortured. Preferably someone with the rank of an archbishop."

Her brow furrowed at the human's strange request, which was different from the death she had expected. And it was suspicious that he could speak Elvish.

"Kill me."

"...Oh."

"Kill me. Rather."

"You seem to have an affection for the heretics."

"It's a promise. At the very least."

"It doesn't seem like a group where you can build camaraderie."

I waved my hand lightly.

"The prohibition has been lifted."

"...!"

"To be honest, I think they would kill you immediately if I sent you to the empire... so I needed a worker."

"..."

"For now."

I let out a lazy breath and said.

"I won't send you to prison."

"It's a trick. What."

I looked at the vast plains and said.

"You have to compensate."

"...What."

"From the looks of it, you seem to have your reasons, so I will be lenient and sentence you to confinement. With a prohibition, of course..."

"I'd rather die."

"Hmm?"

A life that was going to die anyway.

She could just commit suicide.

"I know the location of the Eliheim Kingdom, you know."

"...!!!"

"You'll have to... repay, right?"

It was an elf who had incurred an unexpected debt.

-Crack!!

"Eek?"

-Gulp...!

At the same time.

Olivia, watching Ricardo being swallowed by the giant monster's mouth from the window, clenched her fists and began to pound on the window.

-Tap tap tap tap...

"Eeeek..."

-Tap tap tap tap tap...

"Eeeeeeeeek!!!"

Olivia wanted to go out.

She was worried that something might have happened to Ricardo, who had suddenly disappeared.

-Thud thud thud thud thud.

Wanting to go out immediately, Olivia was pounding on the window, a protest that wasn't quite a protest.

"Eeeek..."

-Mooooooooo...

-Bear.

Tang-tang-i and Gom-tang-i, who were protecting Olivia by her side, had worried expressions as they pulled Olivia away from the window.

-Mooooooong...

-Go go go go...

Because their master had ordered them to protect the mistress.

"Eeeek..."

Olivia, pulled away from the window by her pets, looked at the black barrier where Ricardo had disappeared with eyes full of worry.

"..."

Please, let nothing have happened.

After Ricardo started fighting the bad guys, red lightning had obscured her vision, and she hadn't been able to see anything.

When she tried to check if he was hurt, lightning would strike.

-Eeeek...

When she wanted to see if Ricardo was winning, black hands would cover him, and she couldn't see anything.

Just as she was about to be able to see...

-Craaaack...!!

Olivia was worried at the sight of Ricardo disappearing into the giant mouth.

-Staaaaare...

Olivia, who was staring blankly out the window, looked at Gom-tang-i and asked.

"Bear!"

-Bear?

"Give me a ride."

-Bear bear...

To take her outside.

-Bear bear bear...

Gom-tang-i shook its head and refused Olivia's request.

Of course.

"Eeeeeeeeek!!!"

Olivia's stubbornness was unbeatable.

----------------------------------------

The situation returns to the apostle's pocket dimension.

-Step.

In a space of pitch-black darkness, where each other's faces were strangely clearly visible, the Apostle of Integrity stood with a small smile and opened his lips.

"This is my pocket dimension, Greed (貪心)."

"..."

"It is a place that represents my greedy heart, and a banquet hall that has devoured all the strong."

The Apostle of Integrity's lips were filled with a triumphant smile.

As if boasting that everyone who entered this place had died, he was rambling on about the abilities this space held.

"The strongest shield hero, 'Inul,' who blocked your sword, died here."

"..."

"The former Sword Master of the Empire, Duke Velian, also died here."

"I was under the impression that Duke Velian died during a beast subjugation."

"...Died? Kuhaha... Ah, so that's how the story spread in the Empire."

The Apostle of Integrity felt a thrill, a greedy smile on his face.

"I originally intended to kill the kraken, but he was there."

"..."

"He was nursing the kraken that I had injured in our battle."

"..."

"He was a foolish fellow. He said he had received a promise from the kraken that it would leave the western sea if he healed its wounds.... Keuha... I don't know what meaning there is in the promise of a speechless beast to risk one's life for it, but..."

"..."

"Well, since the kraken has protected the west since that day, I suppose it has effectively prevented the cult's invasion."

So there was such a story hidden behind it.

No wonder.

I recalled the memory of when I subjugated Tang-tang-i, and I could remember its strange behavior, as if it were protecting the western sea.

-You must go.

-Moooooooooo!!!

-You'll die if you don't go.

-Mooooooong...

I felt a little sad at the fact that the reason it hadn't left, despite the vast and wide sea nearby, was because of a promise to the head of the Velian family who had saved its life.

And yet.

I felt disgusted.

The fact that he had injured my pet was something I, as a dog lover... no, a moon-lover, could not tolerate.

"Still, the head of the Velian family was a delicacy of the highest quality, so I have no regrets. Since that day, the kraken has grown so large that I can't contain it in this space, so I gave up... but I thought it was a decent exchange."

"So you're saying you killed the head of the Velian family?"

"What other reason could there be? When there's a delicious prey like a Sword Master, where is the reason to refuse?"

"..."

"Just like you are standing before me."

I let out a long sigh, looked up at the ceiling of the space created by the Apostle of Integrity, and asked in a cold voice.

"This space... how much force can it withstand?"

"...Hmm?"

"A meteor?"

"...What are you thinking."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd answer my question. I'm not a person with that much time."

The Apostle of Integrity couldn't understand.

He thought he was mad, maintaining his composure after hearing that he had killed many strong people in this space.

"Why are you so calm?"

"Ah..."

"Or are you just pretending to be calm?"

"I wonder."

The man, who was testing the floor with the sword in his hand, scratched his head once and said with a small smile.

"Isn't it because you're easy?"

"Ha..."

A dry laugh escaped him.

"Kuhahaha!!!"

He had seen countless faces filled with fear in his life. The face of someone begging to be spared, saying they had a child. The face of someone who had been full of bravado, drunk on their own strength, but despaired when it was broken. He had seen countless such faces.

But.

"You must be mad."

He had never seen a face like that before.

The fearless gaze, standing before the execution block, was truly...

"Very... to my liking."

He wanted to crush it.

In this space, he was invincible.

It was a space where he could reign like a god, unless it was someone as strong as an apostle or a divine knight.

Because he could change the heavens and the earth.

And control bodies as he pleased.

But.

"What are you laughing at? It's making me uncomfortable."

That man did not lose his composure even in this desperate situation.

The man said.

"It was hard to control myself because there were eyes watching."

That it was hard to hold back.

As if he had been waiting to be drawn into this space, he was sneering with a relaxed expression.

"I thought there would be at least one."

The man, who was approaching, loosening the grip on his sword, took a calm breath and said.

"I thought you would have a space of your own."

"Are you saying that knowing you will die if you enter that space?"

"Die? I'm perfectly alive."

"From now on, you will die. You will be powerless, and you will taste the abilities I have stolen one by one, and you will meet a miserable end."

"..."

"The poison of the cockatrice. The frigid breath of the ice bear. The abilities of the many strong individuals and monsters I have killed."

"Why do you talk so much?"

"..."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd shut your mouth."

"...Insolent."

The Apostle of Integrity reached out and began to pull down the ceiling within the black curtain.

It moves.

He can see his body, full of arrogance, floating up and approaching him.

Why is this weak person putting on such a brave front?

-Grip...

He couldn't understand.

But.

-Slice.

After he heard something being cut, he couldn't feel any sensation in his hand.

"What did you do."

"I just cut the flow."

"Cut the flow?"

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

'Crack,' the man, who had cracked his neck, began to approach, exuding a chilling aura. He was approaching the god of this space without fear, trampling on the thick floor.

"Are you bluffing, or are you mad? Even at this moment, your body should be gnawed away by greed..."

"Is that so?"

The man shrugged and smiled as if it were nothing.

"I don't know."

"..."

"Because I feel fine."

"You feel fine...?"

Pfft.

"Kuhahaha!!!"

The Apostle of Integrity thought.

That this man had finally gone mad.

Right, his thoughts were correct.

He had held on with all his might, so it wasn't strange for him to lose his mind.

However.

"If you're going to provoke me like that, you won't die a peaceful death."

"A little..."

"Speak. Who is the traitor..."

The man swung his sword in the air before he could finish his words. And at that moment, he shut his mouth at the temperature of the hot blood he felt on his cheek.

"What did you do."

The Apostle of Integrity couldn't understand what was happening in this situation. Because the only one who could cut him in this space would be someone with the strength of a Sword Master.

And even then, they would have to approach him directly and inflict physical damage to injure him.

Just as the question of why he could cut him without any restrictions was beginning to rise.

The Apostle of Integrity was able to reach a conclusion.

"Did you hide your strength?"

"...Isn't that obvious?"

"For what purpose did you hide your strength?"

"Didn't I say there was someone watching? The person who should only see the best things in the world was watching from beyond the window, and I didn't think it was polite to show a bloody battlefield."

"..."

"It was hard because she said she wouldn't draw the curtains no matter what. She said she would go on a hunger strike if I tried to cover the window with magic..."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Yes, it seems you're not as great as I thought."

The apostle looked at Ricardo with trembling eyes and spoke.

"It seems you've forgotten, but you were attacked by me."

"The poison? I've detoxified it."

"..."

"And without those hands, how would I cover the cruel scenes?"

"..."

"I've already killed a lot, so it would have been a big problem without those hands."

"...I will kill you."

The Apostle of Integrity began to move, sculpting his stolen abilities into the optimal combination.

The aura of the head of the Velian family, which had pierced through everything.

The poison of the Ancient Species Arcadia.

The bestialization he had stolen from the chief of the beast-kin tribe, and the abilities he had stolen from many strong individuals, he gathered the power into the optimal combination for his fists.

But.

"Mr. Caliburn."

"...Who are you talking to?"

"I think you can release the limit on your blessing now."

"Who with...!"

-Thump...

The apostle couldn't understand.

The sound he heard in that fleeting moment was like a scream.

His red eyes looked like those of a grim reaper.

The man said.

"You said this space can withstand any impact."

"..."

"Then.."

[Limit Break tests the limits of 'Caliburn'.]

"Please take care of me."

The man's red eyes were shining more coldly than ever before.

----------------------------------------

As the battle between Ricardo and the Apostle of Integrity was reaching its climax.

-Beep-bok.

"Eeeek!!"

Olivia, who had escaped from the mansion, was scratching at the black barrier with her finger and pressing the button on her hat.

-Beep-bok.

"Eeeek...!!"

Because she thought something had happened to Ricardo.

"...Saint-nim."

"You!"

"Yes..."

"Bring me Ricardo!"

"That is..."

Hans was at a loss, looking at Olivia with trembling eyes. And for good reason.

"..."

Because there was nothing left on the battlefield.

Not the Archbishop who had charged at them as if to kill them.

Not the cultist soldiers who had unleashed countless offensives. The magnificent sight of them all fallen as a handful of corpses was created by none other than the villainess named Olivia, so Hans was at a loss, his eyes trembling.

It was then.

Just as the princess's eyes were turning a deep purple once again, a crack began to form in the barrier created by the apostle.

-Crack...

Ricardo, who had plunged his sword into the apostle's body, had a flustered expression when he saw Olivia's face beyond the crumbling barrier.

"Young lady...?"

-Boop.

"Eeeek!!"

-Boop.

Oh dear..

Olivia pressed the button on her hat and said.

"I pressed it!!!"

"...Haha."

"Why didn't you come out!!!"

"I apologize."

The Hamel mansion was safe.

The fallen Apostle of Integrity looked at Ricardo with trembling eyes and said.

"Monster..."

He had seen a god.