Immortal Demon King Atrophelatophe.
This demon king was famous.
She first began to appear in history around the time of the Second Human-Demon War.
As one of the Five Great Demon Kings, daughter of the undying Necroslaclos, she became the vanguard of the Demon Race.
Though low in intelligence, she possessed extraordinarily high combat power and durability, and was feared by people as a cruel and merciless demon king.
But perhaps due to her low intelligence, her supply lines were cut off and her subordinates were wiped out.
She was captured by the human race and sealed away.
She was revived before the Laplace Campaign.
Revived by the hands of Laplace, the Demon God, she rose to prominence as one of his demon kings. And after the Laplace Campaign, it is said she was defeated by Karlmann, the North God, and fell under his command.
According to one account, Karlmann, the North God, and Demon King Atrophe had a child together, who became Karlmann II, the North God.
According to another account, it is said that Karlmann, the North God, personally taught his swordsmanship to Demon King Atrophe.
Furthermore, according to yet another account, it is said that it was Demon King Atrophe who taught swordsmanship to Karlmann II, the North God.
In other words, Atrophe possessed:
A hundred battles' worth of experience, sword techniques passed directly down from the first North God, and an immortal body.
It was utterly hopeless.
---
Before me stood Atrophe.
Surrounding us were the Black Armored Knights.
Our escape routes were cut off, and Atrophe had her sword at the ready, her expression full of enthusiasm.
"Come, all four of you may attack at once."
Atrophe had not charged in.
She held her stance and watched us, gauging our condition.
Her eyes were dead serious.
With her power, she could probably have trampled us flat.
"...This time, I won't be caught off guard. I have an excellent memory."
She said this while her blazing eyes alternated between me and Zanoba.
She was on guard.
Against Zanoba's superhuman strength and my lightning strikes.
Demon King or not, not all of our attacks could be evaded.
But she didn't appear to be injured.
The head that had been smashed to pieces by Zanoba's fist had completely regenerated.
"Come, try me. This time, I'll deflect everything you throw."
She seemed confident.
This time, I felt like the attacks would be deflected.
In this world's swordsmanship, there exist techniques to reflect magic back.
I didn't know much about the North God Style, but she was a demon king after all. I had a feeling she could deflect magic at my level.
My demon eye was active, but could it make a difference when I could only see one second ahead against someone like her?
What should I do?
...First, I needed to create an opening.
But if I created an opening, then what?
Did my magic even work against her?
Even my maximum-level Rock Cannonball hadn't killed the unguarded Bardigardie.
And Atrophe was on guard.
If she defended, then no matter what magic I used...
"Rudeus."
Elinarise suddenly whispered in my ear.
"At the very least, let's get Cliff to the Teleportation Magic Circle."
At those words, I looked at Cliff.
Cliff was glaring at Atrophe with determined eyes.
But his legs were trembling.
He didn't seem like he'd be any help in a fight.
"If you take tea, grass, and a memo—three things—then Nanahoshi will definitely be saved."
"Right."
She was right.
Yes. That was the reason we came here.
To save Nanahoshi. That was the goal.
If there was a goal, then accomplishing it should be the priority.
The top priority, but...
Even so, I wanted to go home alive.
Losing here wouldn't mean death, but being unable to see my family for ten years—that was something I couldn't accept.
"Requesting reinforcements is also an option. Pergius has his own history with Atrophe, so he would surely help us."
Pergius and his twelve familiars.
That was true. He might indeed help.
After all, he was the hero who had sealed Laplace.
He had been so arrogant about it too, so he could surely fight Atrophe as well.
"Alright then, let's go with that approach... Can you convince Cliff?"
"I'll make it happen."
Elinarise retreated to Cliff's side.
The plan was for me, Zanoba, and Elinarise to create a breakthrough.
Cliff would dash through it and reach the Teleportation Magic Circle.
Cliff would convince Pergius, and in the meantime, we would hold out...
Could we do it?
Could we hold out long enough?
And could Cliff actually convince Pergius?
While Cliff was struggling to persuade him, would we lose and be forced into some contract or another?
Even so, if Cliff came back, Nanahoshi would be saved.
I wanted to save her.
That was the purpose.
But I also wanted to go home.
Ugh, damn it. Going in circles.
Calm down.
First, immobilize Atrophe somehow, even temporarily.
In that window, scatter the surrounding Black Armored Knights with magic and let Cliff escape.
If circumstances allowed, we could also flee to the Teleportation Magic Circle.
Alright.
Let's go with this.
I couldn't defeat Atrophe, but the surrounding Black Armored Knights were a different matter.
This time, I was serious.
I'd go in intending to wipe them all out.
I could do it.
I could do this.
Let's do it. I'll do it.
Kill them.
Even if it meant killing everyone here, I was going home. Yes.
Good, I could do this.
This time, it wasn't just words.
"Do not worry, Master. I, Zanoba, will hold down Demon King Atrophe even at the cost of my own life."
Zanoba was composed.
He was calm.
Dependable.
In moments like these, why was he so manly?
Was this some kind of dramatic production?
If I were a woman, it wouldn't be strange to fall for him.
(But can we actually escape? My legs aren't that fast, and I have luggage...)
(I and Rudeus will handle pursuing enemies. Cliff, don't look back, don't think about anything, just count your steps—one, two—and keep running. Don't trip.)
(Shouldn't I join the fight too...)
(Even the four of us fighting together can't win. Going to call for reinforcements is a perfectly valid form of combat.)
(Right... yeah, I understand...)
I could hear Cliff's voices.
From here to the entrance of the Teleportation Magic Circle—about thirty steps.
Not close, not far.
But a distance that could be covered at a full sprint.
"I've convinced him."
After a moment, Elinarise returned.
I looked at Cliff.
He nodded with a serious expression.
The face of a man driven by duty.
Not the face of someone running away alone.
Going to call for reinforcements was also a form of combat...
I envied Elinarise's way with words.
"I and Zanoba will create an opening against Atrophe together.
At that moment, Rudeus, you handle the surrounding Black Armored Knights."
"Right."
The planning was done.
I turned to face Atrophe.
She was still in her sword stance, watching us imperiously.
"Have you figured out your chances of beating me?"
There were no enemies behind her.
Thirty steps. On a slope, with poor footing.
Could Cliff make it through without tripping?
No—he had to make it through.
"Zanoba, Elinarise, I'll open with magic first."
"Understood."
I raised my staff toward Atrophe.
What I would use was the same as always—Rock Cannonball.
For single-target damage, a King-class spell like Lightning Flash would be better, but at this range, it would catch all of us in the blast.
I wanted to avoid the idiotic outcome of wiping us all out with my own magic.
"Phew..."
I took a deep breath and poured mana into my staff.
Atrophe didn't move.
She knew I could use magic chantless, yet she showed no intention of stopping my actions.
That was convenient, but...
Atrophe deflected the Rock Cannonball with her sword.
Through my demon eye, I could clearly see Atrophe deflecting my magic.
It was no good. I'd heard my Rock Cannonballs were a pretty high level, but they were apparently useless against Atrophe.
Then, lightning strikes?
The magic she'd be most wary of...
"Master. I will absolutely back you up, so please trust me."
"...Zanoba."
Dependable words.
...I'd steel myself too.
"Alright, let's go!"
I launched the Rock Cannonball, fully charged.
The projectile screamed as it flew toward Atrophe.
"I can see through it!"
Atrophe moved, leaving an afterimage.
She shifted her arm just slightly, adjusting the position of her sword.
But in that instant, her blade met the Rock Cannonball, and a tremendous shower of sparks erupted.
The Rock Cannonball was deflected and slammed into the rocky slope far behind Atrophe, sending up a huge cloud of dust and debris.
It was no good after all.
"Uoooooaaaaah!!"
The next instant, Zanoba hurled something at Atrophe.
"Unyaahhh!?"
The thing screamed as it flew toward Atrophe.
Atrophe grinned with delight and raised her sword to intercept.
"I can see th—huh?"
Atrophe was about to slice the thrown object with her sword but stopped her motion.
Immediately after, the projectile struck Atrophe square in the face.
"Abuah!?"
"Ugoh!?"
Stuck to Atrophe's face was...
Kishrika, who had been sitting on Zanoba's shoulder.
"Argh! Stench! You bastard, at least take a bath!"
"I didn't exactly choose to—uuuuyaaaah!?"
Atrophe grabbed Kishrika and hurled them high into the sky.
Kishrika went flying out of the encirclement and landed with a splat.
"Really, what kind of thing do you people throw at me... huh!?"
Atrophe let out an exasperated voice.
At that moment.
Zanoba had clenched his fists and closed in on Atrophe's guard.
Elinarise shadowed him like his silhouette.
Damn—I had been too mesmerized to move.
"So you enter my guard? I like your spirit!"
"Uoooooahh!"
Zanoba threw his punch.
A fist with hair-raising power cut through the air and hurtled toward Atrophe.
Atrophe raised her bracer to block it casually—
"Whoa!?"
She couldn't deflect it.
With a tremendous boom, Atrophe stamped her feet.
Her bracer was crushed into a grotesque shape.
Zanoba pressed the attack.
A massive step forward, and a fist aimed at Atrophe's torso—
"Too slow!"
In an unnatural stance, Atrophe swung her greatsword.
A sickening clang rang out as Atrophe's legs buckled,
But the momentum didn't vanish, and the sword crashed into Zanoba's torso.
"Gu... ughhh..."
Zanoba's face contorted in pain, and he dropped to one knee.
I had never seen that expression on Zanoba before.
The Zanoba who didn't even feel itchy when hit by my Rock Cannonball.
In a single blow...
Atrophe gazed down at him and snorted with contempt.
"You have quite the sturdy body... but remember this. There is no absolute defense. My husband Karlmann showed—"
"Hah!"
"Mmph!"
Mid-sentence.
Using Zanoba's back as a springboard, Elinarise leaped at her.
A slashing blow with centrifugal force struck Atrophe's neck—the exposed skin—with precision.
But the slash bounced off with a sharp ping.
Not the sound human skin would make.
A defense through fighting spirit?
"Not yet!"
Elinarise didn't let up.
She held her shield up while stepping forward and thrusting.
An invisible shockwave flew from her sword and slammed into Atrophe.
But Atrophe didn't budge.
As if a grain of sand had blown into her eye on a gentle breeze, she merely furrowed her brow in displeasure.
"Your sword is pathetically weak! Listen—this is how it's done!"
Atrophe lowered her greatsword to her waist and swept it horizontally.
Elinarise tried to evade with a backstep—
"Nn!"
She hastily raised her shield.
A split second later, a bone-rattling impact echoed, and Elinarise was spun vertically.
She tumbled across the rocky ground and sprang to her feet like a cat.
In her eyes, I saw sheer terror.
"But your footwork is decent. If you trained under me, you could become halfway de—"
"Uooooaaahh!"
Just as Atrophe was about to say something, Zanoba got back up.
He sprang to his feet, threw both arms wide, and lunged at Atrophe.
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
And hugged her head-on.
He locked Atrophe's arms tight against her body and lifted her off the ground.
"Hmph! You dare embrace me, you shameless—gubf!"
When Zanoba squeezed with his vice-like grip, black blood began dribbling from Atrophe's mouth.
So grappling techniques worked on her!?
No—she was the Immortal Demon King. I should assume any damage was temporary.
"Master! Now!"
"...!"
At Zanoba's words, I understood the situation.
Atrophe was restrained.
This was the chance.
"Cliff, now! Run!"
I poured every last bit of mana into my staff.
The magic I would use was an area attack.
I intended to take out all the surrounding Black Armored Knights at once.
"Got it!"
Cliff started running, and the surrounding Black Armored Knights snapped to attention, drawing their swords.
But they were too slow.
"Frost Nova!"
A wave of freezing cold burst from my staff.
The mass of ice crackled across the ground as it reached the Black Armored Knights encircling us in a ring.
"What!?"
"Mmph!?"
Panicked, the Black Armored Knights began freezing solid from the feet up.
Got them...!
A perfect surprise attack.
There was no way they could deflect this.
And just as I thought that.
A voice rang out.
"...by which, imbue the body with explosive flame—Burning Place!"
From a single man, scorching heat exploded outward as if to incinerate the surrounding area.
As if in direct opposition to my Frost Nova.
The man who cast the spell and the two Black Armored Knights flanking him were unfreezing, steam rising from their bodies.
It was Moore.
That old warrior had begun his incantation the instant I raised my staff, and had cast Resist with a time delay.
Even so, what incredible mana and incantation speed!
I hadn't gone easy on him at all...
But thanks to Moore's magic, only he and the two beside him were unfrozen.
The rest were turning into ice sculptures.
I had won by sheer mana difference.
And I had finally killed someone...
"You freeze our Black Armored Knights... what immense power! Everyone, chant Burning Place!"
"Yes! Spirits of fire that fill heaven and earth—"
Moore shouted to those around him, and incantations began from within the frozen ranks.
They weren't dead.
Nobody was dead.
Those armor.
Those armor had resistance to ice magic.
Damn it.
Did I use the wrong magic!?
"Mmph!"
Cliff slipped past Atrophe's side.
"Moore, don't let him escape!"
"Yes!"
At Atrophe's command, Moore moved.
A moment later, the Black Armored Knights unfrozen by Moore's magic also started running.
Just then, Elinarise slid in front of two of the Black Armored Knights.
She drew her sword and held them in check.
"Rudeus! Get him!"
Moore didn't look back, chasing after Cliff.
Cliff was carrying a huge load plus a potted plant.
Moore was wearing armor but was fast.
In about seven more steps, he would catch Cliff.
I aimed my staff at Moore.
"Rock Cannonball!"
Moore is chanting Earth Wall to block the Rock Cannonball.
I could make it. I was in time.
I poured as much mana as I could into my staff and fired.
"The earth's—gh!"
Moore was running and turned his hand toward me, trying to incant.
But the laser-like Rock Cannonball pierced his arm, sending it flying off along with the armor.
Reduced to one arm, Moore stumbled—but didn't stop.
"Spirits of ice, grant me your power—Ice Barrier!"
Moore's magic shrouded his surroundings in mist.
He was laying down smoke to dodge my fire.
Even so, his incantations were so short.
Was he abbreviating incantations like Roxy did!?
"Wind Blast!"
Wind erupted from my staff and blew the mist away.
I tried to blow Moore away too, but he didn't seem to feel it at all as he continued toward Cliff.
Did that armor reduce wind-element attacks too?
No—it might not just be water and wind. I should assume other elements were reduced as well.
What should I do?
He'd catch up in six more steps.
I needed to take him out in one hit—if he dodged, Cliff would—
That was when my Foresight Eye caught it.
Moore is running and beginning to chant a spell.
"O spirits that fill the dead earth!
Answer my call and strike down that one—"
"Disturb Magic!"
What I hastily cast was a spell I had practiced countless times at home.
The spell I had practiced with Sylphie.
It hit Moore's spell without the slightest deviation and scattered it.
"Impossible!
Disturb Magic!?"
Moore stared at his own hand in disbelief.
But he didn't stop.
Five more steps.
I followed up, casting a spell with my left hand to block his path.
I should stick with what I was practiced in.
No matter how skilled the opponent, the tactics I had cultivated couldn't fail. I had run this kind of simulation before.
"Mud Swamp!"
A massive mud swamp erupted between Moore and Cliff.
Moore nearly stepped into the high-viscosity bog—
"Mmph... Uncertain God!
Answer my call, pierce the sky from the earth!
Earth Lance!"
Moore immediately cast a spell at his own feet.
A spear of earth, as thick as a man could embrace, erupted from the ground.
Moore ran along the diagonally protruding spear and in an instant vaulted over the mud swamp.
Moore's feet didn't stop.
Four more steps.
I was being countered.
My spells were being resisted.
This was beyond what I had planned.
"Rudeus, Cliff—hurry!"
"I know!"
Elinarise's shout.
I glanced over—she was fighting the two Black Armored Knights on Moore's flanks.
Two against one.
The Black Armored Knights weren't actively attacking, but she was struggling just to hold them.
"Argh, let go, you shameless brute! Don't hug me! At least throw punches!"
"I won't let go even if I die!"
Zanoba was still clinging to Atrophe, having taken a headbutt to the forehead, blood streaming down his face, but holding on.
I had to do something.
The other Black Armored Knights were also starting to thaw from their armor.
Steam rose around the area, everything faintly white with mist.
"Damn..."
What should I do?
How could I stop Moore?
He was strong. His experience in magical combat was on a completely different level from mine.
Simple magic would be countered.
Should I use something more powerful to blow him away?
No good. No matter how powerful, I couldn't use anything with a wide area that might catch Cliff, and with Moore's reaction speed plus that armor...
"...!"
That was when I noticed my feet were wet.
It was from the earlier Frost Nova.
The frozen enemies had cast Burning Place to thaw out, leaving the entire area waterlogged.
Moore, who had unfrozen first, was no exception.
Of course, there were puddles around Elinarise's and my feet too.
That spell had been new to Atrophe too.
Which meant Moore might never have seen it either.
But what if I used that here?
Me, Elinarise, and Zanoba would all be caught in it.
Only Cliff would be unaffected.
Cliff was outside the range.
He wouldn't be caught.
The instant I made that judgment, I didn't hesitate.
"Thunderbolt!"
I released a lightning strike with just barely enough mana to avoid electrocuting myself to death.
A bolt of purple lightning shot toward Moore in an instant.
A tremendous crack split the air as a massive discharge erupted.
The purple lightning swept indiscriminately around the area and struck the ground.
The wet ground easily conducted the electricity outward—transmitting it to everyone soaked in water.
"Gyaaaaa!"
"Guuaahh!"
"Uoooaahhh!"
The Black Armored Knights collapsed with smoke rising from their bodies.
Elinarise. Zanoba. Atrophe.
Those who had been partially thawed.
And Moore.
And me.
"Uguaaaaaah!"
A tremendous shock ran through my own body.
My spine arched back, every joint in my body seemed to bend and snap in reverse.
I hadn't put in enough mana to kill.
So I knew I wouldn't die.
But my vision went black, and my consciousness flew away.
■■■■
When I came to, I was lying on the ground.
I couldn't have been unconscious for more than two seconds.
My body was numb and wouldn't move.
My vision was intact.
What happened?
Cliff?
I raised my head and saw Moore kneeling on one knee.
Smoke was rising from the gaps in his armor as he aimed his remaining palm toward Cliff.
He was muttering something... an incantation.
Disturb Magic.
No—he wouldn't make it in time.
I sent mana to my left arm.
Even if my real body was paralyzed, my prosthetic hand still worked.
I opened the prosthetic left hand and aimed the palm at Moore.
"Wind Bind!"
"Devour, Arm!"
The whiplike wind blade Moore released vanished in an instant.
"What!?"
Moore snapped his gaze toward me.
His expression was hidden under his helmet, but he was probably in shock.
Serves you right.
Cliff didn't look back.
Three more steps to the entrance of the Teleportation Magic Circle.
No one could chase him now.
No one could catch him.
Not even Atrophe, who was still paralyzed.
But her eyes were wide open, and she was staring at me with the eyes of a tiger.
"So you did it. Using such strange magic."
"..."
"But I'm looking forward to it. Having you as my subordinate will be delightful... hehehe, I've been wanting a magician like you. I'll take good care of you, hehehe..."
I met Atrophe's savage grin without looking away.
Was this the end?
An immortal race would recover faster than I could.
I couldn't run anymore.
I couldn't even resist.
Zanoba had passed out.
He was still clinging to Atrophe but looked ready to slide off at any moment.
He seemed to have low pain tolerance.
The lightning must have knocked him out easily.
Elinarise was trying to stand, her body shaking violently.
Her damage shouldn't have been that different from mine, yet she was still trying to fight.
Elinarise hadn't given up.
I shouldn't give up either.
That white-haired coach had said so too.
I could do it too.
If I tried, I could do it.
Come on.
Let's go home.
I was going home.
When I got home... yeah, I'd do naughty things with Sylphie.
I'd do them with Roxy too.
I'd hold Lucy in my arms.
I'd teach Norn magic, not just swordsmanship.
I was looking forward to eating rice cooked by Aisha.
Lillia—she'd gone through so much for me...
Mom's memories would surely return, and when they did, we'd all go visit Dad's grave together.
And we'd go on living happily as before.
Fun, fun days in another world.
Yes, that's what I'd do.
Let's go with that.
...Alright. I could do this.
Move.
If I could just move my arm, I could still use magic.
My staff—where had my staff gone?
I was no good without it.
Found it.
It had been under me.
Sorry, Aquahertia—it must have been heavy.
Alright, I could do this. I'd hold on until help arrived.
That was all.
I didn't need to win.
Cliff, I'm counting on you.
I know you hate Pergius, but please—I'm begging you.
Please convince him skillfully.
Even if it can't happen immediately, please make sure he sends help within a year. Please.
"Huh?"
At Elinarise's soundless voice, I raised my head.
I followed her line of sight.
There was Cliff.
He had just reached the entrance to the underground dungeon.
And had run into a Black Armored Knight emerging from it...
A Black Armored Knight was coming out of the entrance.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
...There were enemies inside too?
"Ahhh..."
Why hadn't I thought of that?
If there was a hole in front of me, Atrophe would surely have had it checked, even if it was her.
"Damn..."
A dark feeling sprouted in my chest.
The kind that made you want to scream, that drained all your strength—a familiar sensation.
Despair.
I would never see Sylphie again, or Roxy again.
I would spend my entire life as that idiotic demon king's subordinate, training my body.
I felt my body go limp.
Despair was taking hold of my entire being.
That was when it happened.
A voice of shock was heard.
"What... did you say?"
That voice wasn't mine.
Not Elinarise's.
Not Zanoba's.
Not Moore's, either.
It was Atrophe.
She was looking toward Cliff when she spoke.
"Ah, Lady Atrophe..."
A Black Armored Knight was pushing past Cliff, stumbling as it emerged onto the slope.
Something was wrong.
"Um, beyond the magic circle, Perg—"
The next instant.
The Black Armored Knight split vertically in two.
Cut cleanly in half, armor and all.
And on the other side of that severed body.
A figure revealed himself.
Gleaming silver hair.
Golden, slit-pupiled eyes.
His white clothes were spattered with splashes of blood.
"Immortal Demon King Atrophelatophe, I see."
He spoke fluent Demon God Language as he emerged from the entrance.
"I didn't expect to find you here... but I suppose I should have considered the possibility, given that there's a Teleportation Magic Circle connected to Licarice."
Behind him, more members of his party filed out.
Almanfi the Radiant, Silvaril the Void.
I couldn't tell which was which among the rest.
Six in total.
"Your filthy soldiers have defiled my fortress."
So that was it.
Atrophe had arrived here before us.
She had already found the entrance to the Teleportation Magic Circle.
She had ordered her soldiers to explore beyond.
And the soldiers, upon finding the Teleportation Magic Circle, would naturally step inside.
That was how they had come out.
The Aerial Fortress had been infiltrated by the Demon Race.
"Peeeergiuuuuus!"
Atrophe screamed.
Pergius Dola.
The Dragon King was there.
---
The moment Atrophe saw Pergius, her aura changed.
She was no longer the kind who enjoyed fighting.
Her killing intent increased to a level incomparable to before.
She bared her fangs at Pergius like a predator who had found its parents' killer.
"Pergius, youuuu!"
Atrophe twisted her paralyzed body and pushed Zanoba off.
Zanoba went limp and slid to the ground.
Atrophe turned toward Pergius, flapping the wings on her back.
She crouched low, preparing to leap, but her knees buckled with a clatter.
"Ha-ha!"
Pergius saw this and laughed with amusement.
"Oh my, things have become quite entertaining, Atrophelatophe. Did you let your guard down again? Wasn't letting your guard down a family tradition of you Immortal Demon Kings?"
"Are these minions of yours?! You used such petty tricks just to kill me... What about your pact with Karlmann!?"
Pergius looked down at Atrophe, still laughing.
Atrophe's voice was composed entirely of fury.
Moore tried to stagger toward Atrophe but couldn't reach her.
The only ones who could move freely on the battlefield were Pergius's group and Cliff.
Pergius watched Atrophe like a tiger who had found its perfect prey.
"Don't misunderstand. They simply asked for my help in saving their friend—that is all."
"You lieee! Ukaaaaaah!"
"I'll keep my promise with Karlmann. He is my best friend, after all."
"Even if Karlmann is your friend, I still hate youuu!"
"...I also despise fools like you who can't be reasoned with."
With that, Pergius turned his palms upward and raised both hands.
Atrophe's expression changed.
"You... you don't mean..."
Without answering Atrophe's question, Pergius spoke.
"That dragon lived only by loyalty.
Both its claws were long, sharp, and could never close into fists."
The opening lines felt like something I had heard before.
"When that dragon's rage peaked, fists could not be clenched.
Claws would break, fangs would fall out, but it would come to understand—how the dragon that had gripped so tightly to loyalty felt when it chose to let go!"
He spoke as if savoring each word.
And with every word he uttered, I could feel the surrounding mana being drawn toward Pergius.
"The third dragon to die.
The dragon general with the sharpest eyes, clad in silver-white scales.
In the name of Pergius, the Dragon King, I summon—"
Before I knew it, two gates had appeared flanking Atrophe on either side, as if to sandwich all of us in between.
Each gate was engraved with an intricate dragon motif.
An ornately decorated silver-white door.
An ornately decorated golden door.
They emerged as if growing from the ground.
"Open, Rear Dragon Gate."
"Come forth, Front Dragon Gate."
At Pergius's murmur, the doors swung open.
Wind blew.
From the right gate to the left gate.
But it wasn't wind.
Something like a current was flowing between them.
But I knew.
This summoning magic was designed to absorb mana.
I could feel mana being stripped from the surface of my body, layer by layer.
It was different from Orsted.
My mana, my physical energy—it was being drained far faster than during that encounter.
"L-Lady Atrophe, please flee..."
Moore, who had been crawling toward us, collapsed.
Atrophe's legs trembled as she glared at Pergius.
"Pergiusss!"
Her body appeared slightly smaller than before.
Perhaps those gates had stripped away her fighting spirit.
"Are you breaking the pact!?"
"I'm not breaking it. I'm simply taking advantage of such a rare, once-in-a-millennium opportunity."
Pergius raised his right hand.
The hand turned white.
Before long, it began to glow, and a blinding white light filled the surrounding area.
"Dragon King Hand Blade—One Cut."
Pergius's hand came down.
A blade of light flew straight at Atrophe and passed through.
"Remember this, Pergiusss!"
Atrophe's body stiffened.
Then, after a split-second delay, she was hurled backward.
Split cleanly in half vertically, she flew through the air and vanished from my sight in an instant.
"Hmph, she won't die anyway."
Pergius murmured this, then turned on his heel as if he had lost interest.
"Silvaril. Collect the four of them and give them treatment."
"What about the other soldiers?"
"Leave them."
"There's also someone who looks like Demon Emperor Kishrika."
When Silvaril said this, I caught a glimpse at the edge of my vision of Kishrika lying face-down.
They must have gotten caught in the lightning without me noticing.
Sorry about that.
"Leave them."
"Yes, sir."
So Kishrika would be spared too.
Good.
"Phew..."
I let out a breath of relief as I watched Silvaril and the others approach.
...We had been saved.
---
After that.
We were carried inside the fortress by Pergius's subordinates.
Everyone except Cliff was carried on someone's shoulder.
During the transport, Cliff seemed to be talking with Kishrika.
When I looked, Kishrika was laughing as usual before disappearing somewhere.
I wished they'd stay somewhere more visible next time... but oh well.
After everyone had teleported through, Silvaril deactivated the Teleportation Magic Circle.
There was no longer a path to the Demon Continent.
I'd have to visit Roxy's parents another time.
Wounded by the electrocution, we were taken to the medical room.
Cliff took charge of treatment.
He had volunteered of his own accord.
Cliff said, "I've never seen burns like these..." as he used Healing Magic to cleanly heal our electrical injuries.
He told me the burns had penetrated deep into the muscle—not life-threatening, but quite serious.
He said that if left untreated, they could cause lasting damage.
But without hitting that hard, I might not have been able to incapacitate the Immortal Demon King.
Cliff was especially careful in treating Elinarise's injuries.
He must have thought it would be terrible if she were left with scars.
Elinarise seemed quite taken by Cliff, because the moment treatment was finished, she carried him off somewhere and vanished.
Zanoba was still unconscious.
This time, he had saved us.
I couldn't thank him enough.
Friendship was priceless, but failing to express gratitude would diminish it.
When he woke up, I'd make sure to properly thank him.
After my treatment was done and I could move again, I went to find Sylphie.
Sylphie was lying in bed reading a book, but when she saw me enter, she raised her head and tilted it quizzically.
Without answering her unspoken question, I silently slipped under the covers and hugged her.
Sylphie let out a small shriek.
Somewhat of a shriek of protest.
With a heavy heart, I held her body tightly.
Having her body there felt more important than anything.
Atrophe's laughter still echoed in my ears.
The despair of being paralyzed still lingered in my heart.
I probably wouldn't have died in that fight.
Atrophe had been holding back, and the Black Armored Knights hadn't attacked us aggressively.
Even the spell Moore was about to cast wasn't something lethal.
But I had been terrified.
If Pergius hadn't come...
If I had been captured by Atrophe and forced into some contract...
I wouldn't have been able to hold Sylphie like this.
I might never have seen Lucy grow up.
I would never again see Roxy, or Norn, or Aisha, or anyone...
That was what scared me.
It scared me so much I couldn't stop trembling.
Then, suddenly, my head was stroked.
Sylphie's hand was gently running through my hair.
Her fingers were slender, warm, and soft.
Sylphie smiled and hugged me back.
No explanation was needed.
She just held me.
That was enough.
In Sylphie's arms, I finally relaxed and fell into sleep.