Chapter 508: The Awakened Myth

The left wing of the human army. The demon army was crammed from the front and back by the giant Caria’s powerful march and the troops brought in by Leu, and it no longer maintained the appearance of an army.

A single swing of Caria’s dark scarlet sword caused screams to erupt, and those who had retained their ferocious nature were the first to die.

Those whose instincts were awakened by cowardice ran about the road in disarray, finding the slightest opening to escape, or turning into flesh and blood to stain the ground.

It wasn’t a battle. There were simply those who crushed others, and those who were crushed.

If we looked at this as a battle between armies, then it would be a crushing victory for humanity. The demon army was slashed away like a broom sweeping away dust.

The word “victory” appeared in the soldiers’ eyes along with ferocity. Even smiles began to form in their faces.

The first to notice this was Caria, their commander.

「…What’s this? 」

Caria felt a strange tightness in her throat. A chill had turned solid and was sticking to her whole body. The enemy had already scattered, and the armies of Leu and Caria had even joined forces. The victory of the left wing was decisive. There was nothing to fear.

But even so, Caria couldn’t stop feeling uneasy. Her fingertips were trembling.

「Lady Caria, what’s wrong? You’re sweating so much. 」

「…Sweating? 」

She hadn’t noticed until her lieutenant said so. Sweat was dripping down her forehead like a waterfall. And yet her insides were surprisingly cold. Heat was being taken away with each drop of sweat.

Caria had never felt anything like this before. No, it wasn’t true. Yes, she felt it before. Caria gripped the handle of the dark scarlet sword in both hands.

…The Great Temple of Flimslat. The Gold-haired Woman. The Divine Spirit Altius.

All she could think of was a presence that made it seem as if the world had fallen. Caria turned her head in an instant. She wasn’t sure she was still standing.

「Ah, ah, ah… It’s no good. Oh no. Well, I can see that you have noticed. You’re very sensitive, huh. That’s good. One step, two steps? Or maybe it’s too late. It can’t be helped now. No one has realized they were too late until it’s too late. 」

It was a voice that pierced those around them and yet had a strange beauty. Caria knew immediately who it belonged to. It was close to Leu’s voice, but it was a completely different voice.

The Jewel Bar Agathos, a magical devilish being with crimson-dyed hair, approached Caria’s feet and continued speaking.

「I was hoping to get rid of those magical devilish beings and take back Filaret. But something happened. No one can stop him now. Well, unless Altia shows up. I miss her now. I miss her so much I feel sick. 」

Agathos was always talking at length, but today she seemed to be talking faster than usual. She wasn’t calm at all.

Her firm expression spoke more eloquently than words.

Caria and Agathos both looked at the huge mountain enshrined in the depths of the Bolvat Royal Palace.

There was something there. No, saying “something” was just a cover-up and a consolation. They already knew what it was.

「…The Great Demon Vrilligant. 」

The words spilled out into the air without either of them saying it. The presence of a frightening mythical monster was beginning to emerge from there.

—

The bronze dragon Shadraput moved her body in the sky after seeing the melting sunlight. The poisonous ideal world had vanished, and only a single dragon was there. There was no sign of a magical devilish being at all.

In an instant, Shadraput snorted. Then, she distorted her tongue softly in her mouth.

The dense, demonic scent was so strong it almost numbed her nose. It wasn’t something that could be experienced in this age where magic was scarce.

Something had happened, and there was only one possible explanation.

Suddenly, Shadraput turned her gaze and saw him on the road. The demon army had been scattered, and the human army seemed to be in the middle of reorganizing.

Alone, he was looking at the palace and the mountain behind it.

「…Wow. That was quick. Did you enjoy it? You were truly old friends. 」

Lugis spoke without looking back at Shadraput.

Shadraput had no idea how much he had heard from Junelva and how much he had guessed. But in any case, Shadraput knew that his attention was now directed not at herself, but at that thing.

「…A scary dragon has awakened. I’ll run away now. Won’t you run too? 」

Lugis answered that question while pulling back the demonic sword from his shoulder. He didn’t seem particularly nervous.

「Hmm, well. I’ll go. 」

Shadraput almost sighed. Lugis had become a little more demonic since turning into a magical devilish being, but his core was completely unchanged.

Facing Vrilligant was like rolling a blank dice. There was no way to win, and no matter what side landed on it, the result would be the same. Lugis was willing to take on the challenge, but there was no hope for him.

In the end, he was still a fool. Shadraput said the following words.

「Isn’t Vrilligant the bearer of myth? He’s not an opponent that can be dealt with just because you have an Original Text. If he wants you to die, then you’ll die. 」

Shadraput thought that her words were useless. Even Lugis knew that there was no victory, that’s why he had no choice but to leave.

It was a completely foolish thing to face Vrilligant. Shadraput, for whom perfection was everything, could never understand those who faced the strongest opponent alive. It was the most despicable act.

Lugis continued without looking at her.

「…Hey, hey. Give me a break, Shad. You really thought I’d take on a fight I couldn’t win? 」

「…Huh? 」

Shadraput inadvertently let out a stunning voice. Even after a few seconds had passed, she still couldn’t fully comprehend what Lugis had said.

Winning, what? Vrilligant? That’s senseless.

Lugis turned around and smiled while Shadraput was having this conversation in her mind. The demonic sword undulated, lightly stroking the hollow space.

「It’s easy, isn’t it? A dragon that missed its way into the graveyard. I already know how to kill it. 」

Shadraput wondered if he was serious. She looked at Lugis without thinking with her red hair fluttering. That was a bad idea, she thought.

Lugis’ crimson eyes looked at Shadraput straight on. It was a strong gaze that was hard to believe coming from a brand-new magical devilish being.

「Please go with me, Shad. You don’t want him to live, do you? If so, let’s kill him. Just come with me. 」

Those were familiar words, yes words she had heard before.

In Shadraput’s long life, only two beings, including Lugis, had ever claimed to be able to kill Vrilligant. The first to speak was a human.

A human like glorious gold.

…You just have to guide me. I’ll kill the evil dragon.

And with that, “she” certainly accomplished it.

Shadraput thought that she might have felt the same way back then. After some hesitation, she stuck out both wings from her back and moved her lips.

「…Okay, I’ll do it but if I just drop you from above. I don’t want to get close to it. 」

「That’s fine. I’ll do the rest. That should be enough. 」

Indeed. There was great danger, but if Vrilligant died as a result, then it was a price that couldn’t be held in both hands. And even if the magical devilish being Lugis died as a result.

For Shadraput, it was just one less person who could kill her. That wasn’t a bad thing.

「Then, we should catch him. We’ll get there in an instant. 」

Shadraput said those words with her arms spread out. She could almost hear the roar of the dragon with its eyes open.

For the first time in a long time, Shadraput was approaching that monster with its eyes open. She had never believed in Lugis, but she was still in the mood to roll the dice.

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