Chapter 88 "The Dead"

　I - Rick - slash after Iger, who is still reeling from the amputation of his arm.

　Iger seems to have recovered from the shock of the surprise attack, and continues to avoid my slashes.

　Seeing this, I calmly observe his movements and swing my sword.

　My thoughts, which until a moment ago had been dominated by anger, are surprisingly clear.

Thanks to the "treatment" given to me by the man called Roe, my wounds have not only healed, but I'm even feeling better.

　I was no longer human, and the only thoughts I had left were anger and the desire to kill.

　I was so driven by this that I attacked Heretilt...or Void...but just as I was about to take the next step, I was intercepted. It was Iger.

　His "magic eye" blocked my movement and took out the most important thing that supports my existence.

Thanks to this, I was in a state of waiting to die, but then Roe appeared.

With an indifferent look in his eyes, he told me, "I'll make you stand up again."

I have to admit that for some reason, he looked like the devil to me at that moment. And then he asked me for a price.

　When I heard that, all I could think about was the everyday life I used to have.

Sania, Angie, Refia, the instructor, and Gervas for that matter.

　And I was angry at Void and Iger for taking it away from me.

　They are alive and well, and I'm going to die like this?

　How is that possible? Even if I die the same way, at the very least, I will have to take those two with me.

　I was easily prepared for that. I'm fine. Take whatever you can from me.

Sensing this, Roe gave me a thin smile and gave me the "treatment."

　I can't remember why exactly he did this to me, but I noticed that my body was almost human, and the anger and desire to kill that had made me lose control of my body was gone.

　Not gone, but in a way that I could control.

Then I was given armor and a sword from wherever he brought it from. I had a feeling I had seen them somewhere before, but they looked usable, so I gratefully decided to borrow them.

　A holy knight who appeared before I knew it helped me put on the armor, and I was ready to go.

I followed Roe, who had gone ahead of me, and headed for Void and the others.

When I found Roe, he had already made contact with Iger, so I made a preemptive cut at him.

　The aim is the arm that blocked my movement earlier, without it, at least I won't be blocked unreasonably. I poured magic power into the armor and activated the "function."

　According to the holy knight named Iqbal who brought this "White Rain Armor," it is possible to block one's own presence by pouring magic power into it. It is only the presence that is concealed, not the disappearance of the figure.

　That's enough.

I swung the other sword I borrowed.

　The "Nureha Sword" is a sword that has been designed for speed and power to the utmost limit.

It has two abilities: the user does not feel the weight of the item in his or her possession, and the sword's strength and sharpness are increased by absorbing the user's magical power.

　This allows the sword to achieve unparalleled speed for a two-handed sword, and the weight of the armor can be ignored.

　And with my physical abilities greatly improved by becoming a demon, the surprise attack was a complete success.

　In fact, Iger's arm was cut off because he couldn't react until I got in between the two of them.

It's a little satisfying to see his surprised face, but not quite enough.

　Wait for me, Heretilt, or Void.

　I'm going to torture him to death, and then I'm going to tear you to pieces.

"I don't know who you are, but you're moving pretty good. I thought I knew everyone in this town beyond Temple Knights, but I don't remember you."

　Iger seems to be keeping his distance and keeping an eye on my movements.

　Still, hearing this guy's voice makes me uncomfortable, though not enough to lose my cool.

　"And that equipment, it belongs to Comrade Void, doesn't it?"

　Oh, I didn't know that. No wonder it's so easy to use.

It was the exclusive equipment of the Cathedral knight.

　Ha ha. I wonder what kind of face Void would make if I used this to tear him to pieces.

　My heart is filled with a black joy. While savoring it, I concentrate on Iger in front of me.

Oddly enough, the skin on his body was writhing unnaturally, and his severed arm had stopped bleeding, but I didn't care.

Frankly, I welcome the hard death. It's going to be plenty of fun.

I'm going to hurt you slowly after I remove your limbs, okay?

I'm going to give you the same pain that Refia and the others experienced.

I will use my sword and armor to the fullest and slash at you. First, I'll strike from the top.

I'll start with the annoying arm.

Iger clicks his tongue and dodges. That's a good reaction.

　The sword swung down and changed its trajectory to a sideways cleave, and there was a faint response. I snatches it.

[Magic Eye: Blind Gaze]

Just as I was about to make a follow-up attack, my vision was tinged with darkness.

　I've already seen that. Activate magic. [Storm III]

A wind so strong that it is impossible for anyone to stand still is created around me.

This magic has no offensive power... but you can't keep your hands up for me, can you?

　My vision returns.

I didn't know that at the time because I got hit from out of sight, but I'm hearing it from Roe.

I heard that if he doesn't have his hand outstretched to his opponent at all times, he can't use his "magic eye" or something like that.

I stepped toward Iger, who was greatly disoriented. In doing so, I manipulate the wind to push myself and accelerate.

Iger's mouth twitches as he is unable to react to my speed, which is suddenly accelerated by the following wind.

　First, I cut off the remaining arm. The severed arm flutters in the air.

Iger is about to say something, but before he can open his mouth, I flash the sword horizontally.

The sword sinks into his body without any resistance and cuts both sides of his body.　

His upper body, losing both arms, spins around in mid-air and falls with a sticky, wet sound.

　I burn the dropped arm with my magic, just in case.

　...The end?

　He may not be dead, but it will be difficult to continue the battle.

Now, after this, I'll hurt him carefully and make him tell me where Void is....

　"Keh...keh...kuhihi. It's a wonderful power. If it had been me just a moment ago, I would have died easily. But you know what? I've succeeded in making a contract with Aquiel, so I won't die from this much."

Iger's upper body floated silently, and his wounds began to bubble and his arms and lower body grew out as if to pierce through them.

　The change did not end there, as his entire body was covered with a black outer shell like armor.

　After being completely covered, Iger's three eyeballs fall out as if pushed out.

　The hollow eye sockets are filled with black material, and the head is transformed into a black, smooth stone.

　Finally, the changed head makes a creaking sound and becomes a four-legged demon-like head, with four slits where the eyes would have been, and a black shiny eyeball appears.

　Iger exhaled an euphoric "huh" and turned his gaze toward me.

　"How am I? How do you see me, now that I am connected to him, now that I have become his servant?"

　As he says this, he lifts one hand lightly and snaps his fingers, and a small magic circle appears in his hand, from which the hilt of his sword protrudes.

　Iger slowly grabs it and pulls it out.

　"Now let's continue, shall we?"

　As soon as he finishes, Iger's figure fades away.

　I put up my sword to block the slash from the cleave, and then immediately turn to counterattack.

　The reaction speed seems to have greatly improved with the change in appearance, and he blocked all of my slashes.

　I tried to push through and cut further. Iger blocked all of them without a hitch.

　In the blink of an eye, we exchanged nearly 20 slashes, but neither of us was able to land a decisive blow, perhaps because our abilities were so close to each other.

　"Our physical abilities are almost equal, you in strength and me in skill. I am becoming more and more interested in you that you are able to fight with me like this without a problem. It is painful that I lost my magic eye."

　The leeway was aggravating. I contorted my expression in my masked face.

　But I can't just linger on like this. I had to break him somehow....

　Suddenly, Iger swung his sword widely, then moved away.

　"Looks like it's started."

As he mutters this, the surroundings grow dimmer.

　Looking at the sky, a black cloud-like object covers the city, and small lights appear here and there.

　"This is...?"

　I muttered to myself.

　"Oh? That voice is ...... ah, the little catalyst. I'm surprised you're still alive after having your heart ripped out. Perhaps the Apostle Lord is doing something ......... right. You have been blessed."

　Iger stares at me after that, muttering, "I see, I see."

"You bastard! What easy blessing you have received from Lord Apostle!"

　Suddenly, he revealed his anger and slashed at me.　　

　'You little brat, you little brat, you little brat! You little bastard!"

I was a little surprised by the swordplay, but I kept my composure and continued to fend off the attack.

　The anger made the attack itself more violent, but the movement became messy.

I waited until there was an opening and slashed ...... back.

I slashed diagonally through the torso from below, but the response was weak.

　It was quite hard as it looked, and the blade did not pass through.

Iger, perhaps surprised that he was cut back, held the spot where he had been cut and stepped back.

"Hmmm...hmmm. I guess what happened to you got me a little excited."

　As he says this, Iger's wound is healing up.

　"...kid...you said your name was Rick. I'm going to give you the punishment you deserve."

　Iger snapped his fingers and four magic circles appeared at his feet, and something came out without a sound...

　"Wha...!?"

　I involuntarily let out a voice.

The three people who came out were Refia, Sania, and the instructor, and from the remaining one, for some reason, a mass of light just came out.

Aside from the instructor, the only thing that came out was a corpse, since Refia and Sania are dead.

　Refia and Sania were holding their own severed heads, and the instructor was...in a terrible state.

Her face and hands were missing. It was difficult to find any part of her body that was unscathed, and she was barely distinguishable by her hair and physique.

　...instructor...why...?

"Ah, you didn't know that this woman was dead? What an idiot..."

As he said this, Iger grabbed the instructor's head and jerked it from left to right.

"I don't know the details, but I heard that she went directly to Comrade Void to question him and was easily killed. I can only say that it was foolish of her to go directly to him, when she could have just investigated the matter in a way that nobody would have known."

　Seeing Iger's big smile, I impulsively burst into an emotional outburst and was about to go in... but I stopped myself.

　Because for some reason, my heart suddenly went cold. The anger was not gone, but the emotion was forcefully suppressed.

　I try to breathe despite the discomfort of the sensation.

　"Oh? I thought you were going to butt in, but you're surprisingly calm. Or are you just being heartless?"

　He says something, but I ignore it.

　"Then let's change hands."

Refia and Sania hold their fine swords and daggers respectively with one hand gripping the hair on their necks.

The instructor lowers herself, holding the hilt of her sword in her mouth, wondering where she got it from.

　"Do it."

Iger's voice came at the same time as the three attacked.