Chapter: 166
[The Witch of Arrogance…]
Somewhere, a low female voice resonated in the underground passage, filled with nostalgia.
It was just a simple mumble, yet upon hearing that voice, an overwhelming weight pressed down, compelling one to cast their eyes downwards.
Could it be that this was the voice of a woman who once held everything in this world?
The voice of Lucifer, flowing from the pitch-black sword in Yoon Si-woo’s hand, created an atmosphere that even Freede found herself listening quietly.
[It’s not a title held in such high regard, but… the fact that someone is impersonating that name doesn’t feel pleasant at all.]
However, the moment Lucifer mentioned “impersonation,” Freede trembled slightly and shouted in rage.
“How dare you… impersonate me! Are you saying I’m impersonating the Witch of Arrogance? The name refers to the strongest being! I, Freede, am the strongest! Thus, I am the Witch of Arrogance! Who do you think you are to call me an imposter?!”
[Hmph, so you’re Freede. I thought you were just a foolish beast with beast ears, but it turns out you’re not just stupid, but truly pathetic. Try thinking a bit. Who would be unhappy about being impersonated?]
Lucifer replied to Freede’s outburst with a voice full of mockery.
[You’re too ignorant to even recognize the true owner of the name standing before you.]
“Don’t call me that!!!”
In that moment, enraged at the condescending remark, Freede charged at Yoon Si-woo, raising her claws towards him.
She saw the boy lifting his sword as if to block her attack, and a frenzied grin spread across her face.
She had the ability to cut through anything.
No matter how tough or normally unbreakable it was, as long as her claws made contact, everything would be equally ripped apart.
Of course, defense was completely useless.
“Die!!!”
With that annoying chatter, Freede was determined to tear the boy and his irritating sword apart.
But—
Kakakak—
“Ugh?!”
Accompanied by the sound of something being grated, Freede’s claws bounced off Yoon Si-woo’s sword.
Freede stared at her claws in disbelief.
Her claws, which should cut through everything, found themselves somewhat injured upon colliding with the sword.
In this bewildering situation where her attack was blocked for the very first time, Freede hurriedly stepped back, her expression one of shock.
“This can’t be! How could I be blocked?!”
Yoon Si-woo, after clashing with Freede, hardened his expression and muttered towards his sword.
“…Lucy, that guy’s ability…”
[…Yes. What you’re thinking is correct. To be honest, I’m quite shocked as well… but it’s not like there’s nothing to take note of.]
Both sides, the attacker and the defender, were in a state of confusion.
However, Freede, who was more shocked, murmured in a trembling voice.
“My attack being blocked… it can’t be real! It’s impossible!!!”
[…How amusing. I should have expected that from a beast-like creature.]
Mumbling, Lucifer asked the shouting Freede.
[You there, is it really that strange for your attack to be blocked?]
“…It’s impossible! My attack getting blocked!”
[It’s understandable. After all, you possess the ability to cut through anything.]
“Exactly! So why…?!”
As Freede shouted in reply, she suddenly noticed something odd and ceased speaking.
That sword, how did it know she had such an ability without her mentioning it…?
Seeing Freede glaring suspiciously, Lucy chuckled and said.
[What’s wrong? Are you curious how I know about your abilities?]
“You little…”
[Well, if I clashed with it, it would be obvious.]
With that,
[I also possess the same ability.]
This time, Yoon Si-woo wielded Lucifer, aiming it at Freede.
“Ugh…!”
As Freede barely blocked the sword with her claws, a sound of shock left her lips.
She could see the sword gradually pushing into the claws that were meant to block it.
To anyone watching, it was clear she was being overwhelmed.
Yet, undeterred by Freede’s predicament, Lucifer began reminiscing about past memories.
[They are called demonic beasts. Those born from the energy a witch spills.]
How many years has it been?
[I instinctively knew I could create such things. However, I didn’t care much for it. I never liked carelessly spilling energy around.]
It was during the days when she was called the strongest.
[However, it’s a lonelier position than I expected. Being the strongest.]
She had achieved her goals, both for herself and for an unnamed swordsman.
She was satisfied with it and had no regrets.
It’s just that it felt quite lonely not having someone to share that achievement with.
[So, just once, I deliberately spilled energy to create those demonic beasts.]
She did something she wouldn’t normally do.
That was truly unlike her.
[But it didn’t help at all. I’ve never been the type to seek solace from such things.]
And it had been a foolish act.
She thought maybe having something by her side would lessen the loneliness, but the emptiness in her heart could only be filled by that man.
[So I left it alone without caring, and one day, it simply vanished. I thought it would manage well on its own.]
Lucifer looked at Freede and said,
[I never expected to see you again in such a form, in such a place.]
Freede shouted towards Lucifer in confusion.
“What nonsense are you spouting! I don’t know you! You mean nothing to me!!!”
[The name Freede, did you give it to yourself?]
“Of course! It’s a name I chose myself! I wanted to be the proudest of all, so I am Freede!”
As Freede shouted, Lucifer whispered.
[Certainly, in the beginning, it was in the form of a lion.]
And at those words, Freede involuntarily gasped.
That was certainly a memory of her past that nobody should have known.
Once upon a time, when Freede wasn’t Freede yet.
She was a lion and the king of beasts.
All the animals in the forest were beneath her.
Then one day, she discovered creatures that walked on two legs.
She didn’t tolerate those who arrogantly disturbed the forest without her permission.
However, that two-legged creature was somehow strong enough to challenge her.
Thus, she became intrigued by them, eventually realizing she had taken on a similar appearance to them.
That’s how she transformed into the form she had now.
[How you ended up like that, I don’t know. But in a way, it fits perfectly with the title of the demonic beast of arrogance. Humans are without a doubt the most arrogant animals in the world. But looking at those ears, it seems like some traces of that time still remain.]
“Stop talking nonsense that you don’t understand!!”
As Freede shouted, she shrugged off the sword and distanced herself.
Even as she moved, the memories of her past replayed incessantly in her mind.
In the past, she ruled over all the humans in a village she attacked.
Amidst it, she heard that the strongest being in the world was called the Witch of Arrogance.
Thus, she named herself Freede, vowing to become the strongest being, the Witch of Arrogance.
However, all those deeds were surely acts of her own will.
She was not a mere demonic beast produced by a witch, but a complete existence.
Therefore, Freede was a witch.
She had to be a witch.
“I am not some demonic beast, I am a witch!!!!”
Freede shouted as she charged at the boy with all her might once again.
[It seems like you still haven’t realized the truth.]
Yet, that attack didn’t even leave a scratch on the sword that defended against it.
[The abilities of the demonic beasts all originate from the witch.]
As if to demonstrate the gap in power, only Freede’s attacking claws were whittled down.
[It’s only natural that you can’t surpass me with mere abilities.]
“Damn it-!!!!”
Realizing that made Freede scream.
Isn’t this just admitting that she is a demonic beast?
But that would mean wholly denying the life she has lived.
That was something that could never be allowed.
Thus, Freede refused to back down and charged in.
“Don’t make me laugh!! Don’t be ridiculous!!”
[…How unfortunate.]
And to Freede, Lucifer coldly murmured with pity.
[In any case, because I’ve created you, if we’d met elsewhere, perhaps you would have had a chance.]
Behind him stood a girl, looking at them while missing her limbs.
And knowing that her enraged master would never stop seeking vengeance for her.
[Since you’ve turned her into that, you’ll have to die.]
Thus, Lucifer felt pity for Freede.
Like watching a moth flying towards a flame.
“AAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Freede charged in.
It was a battle with no chance of victory, solely to protect her pride.
At that moment, the black energy enveloping the boy’s sword suddenly disappeared.
Upon seeing it, Freede could tell.
For some unknown reason, that sword was no longer wielding the ability to cut everything.
A flicker of hope rose in Freede’s eyes.
If the ability had been nullified, then the moment her claws touched that sword, it would be cut.
“If it’s just that sword!!! I am the Witch of Arrogance!!!!!!!”
Filled with ecstasy, she cried out and swung her claws.
And in that moment,
[Do you think I was called the strongest with just such a ability?]
Freede could see.
[In my youth, with just one sword, I could confront entire armies.]
He could see the boy’s unwavering eyes staring at her without a hint of fear even amidst that attack.
[Si-woo is a genius recognized by me, my disciple. There’s no way you could measure up to him with just your single ability.]
And beyond that, she saw her own severed arms flying away.
“…Huh?”
Her vision rapidly lowered.
In that flash, Freede finally realized that the moment she attacked, the boy had severed her limbs.
He could have simply ended her life with a swift death, but why?
At that moment of doubt, she caught sight of a girl at her new eye level, looking at her.
Could it be because of this girl, she didn’t measure up to those foes she fought against?
Holding grudges, Freede glared at the boy.
And in that sight, cold, emotionless eyes of the boy looked down at her arrogantly.
Freede’s memory of a woman watching her with similar eyes resurfaced.
It was a memory from the distant past that had even slipped her own mind.
Perhaps becoming like this, yearning desperately for strength,
Simply wanting to become someone as strong and arrogant as herself.
[The one who called herself the Witch of Arrogance.]
However, that existence—
[You have no right to be arrogant, as you’re just a person who has been intoxicated by a trifling power without honing any skills.]
Merely coldly, brutally.
Thus, it denied her.
*
Thud, Freede’s body, now limbless, was thrown to the ground.
Perhaps it was Yoon Si-woo who had struck her down, but having not clearly seen what transpired, I could only chuckle at the sight.
How strong—really.
As expected of the protagonist.
Is this how easily he defeats an opponent I struggled against?
But it made sense.
The power Yoon Si-woo had unleashed was essentially his ultimate technique, one he had not used until the very end.
The power of the Witch of Arrogance, Lucifer, was that formidable.
In that sense, Freede, who lay there defeated, had bad luck indeed.
Considering the stories I had heard, Freede was probably a demonic beast created by Lucifer.
It made sense for a demonic beast to take on the witch who had birthed it.
But I felt no sense of pity whatsoever.
The culprit behind ruining the family of my friend, this city.
And bringing me to this state, in fact, I found some satisfaction in seeing her downfall.
As Yoon Si-woo aimed the knife at Freede’s heart to deliver the finishing blow.
Freede, looking at him with an expression of grievance, murmured,
“…Why? Why has it come to this…? I was surely the Witch of Arrogance… What kind of sword is that, that sword…?”
But Yoon Si-woo seemed unwilling to respond, keeping his lips sealed tight.
Looking as if she wished for someone to answer, Freede’s gaze shifted toward me.
Her face was so pitiful that I decided to provide her with the answer she desperately sought.
So, I lifted my prosthetic arm with difficulty, raised my middle finger, and mumbled internally.
What sword it is.
It’s the Holy Sword, you idiot.
In that very moment, Yoon Si-woo’s sword pierced Freede’s heart.
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