*
Humans are creatures that learn to fear.
Especially the wounds experienced in childhood linger larger, often causing problems even in adulthood.
Ariel, now facing the Demon King, felt her breath quicken.
Being perceptive, Ariel realized that Finn and Infinity were the same person.
The Demon King, who became a split personality, regretting the death of his younger sister.
That was the true identity of the Demon King of Might.
“I have to fight back.”
Before meeting Kainel, the village where she lived had burned down.
The forest with elves and the World Tree. The Demon King of Might, Finn, committed arson to gain a spatial dimension.
As a result, when a huge fire broke out, she escaped with her parents, but lost all her close friends.
Next, she settled in Labyrinth Village.
The blonde boy she met there was the embodiment of a true hero for her.
Before long, Ariel found herself harboring feelings for Kainel, trying hard to keep it a secret.
“…this time will be different. I will help Kainel.”
She clenched her fist, ensuring she wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.
She had barely become lovers with her childhood friend with the help of Licht.
She didn’t want to lose another precious person to the Demon King.
Ariel vowed to protect Kainel as she faced the purple-haired Demon King.
Now, she could no longer hide her feelings.
*
There was something nagging at me while listening to the Demon King’s words.
Hero of Conviction.
The newly emerged Demon King spoke of a hero that wasn’t about conviction or light but a different concept altogether.
It couldn’t be referring to me. In this world, there could be no overlapping named heroes.
I had even tried to name my Mind Sword similarly before and got turned down by the Celestial Demon.
Like the Saintess, these were individuals chosen by the gods.
Therefore, the chosen hero could be many, but their concepts are unique.
That was also the reason I thought of Infinity as a different entity from Finn.
But it turns out the hero of the prophecy wasn’t me, but Pina Grancia.
Surely, I had possessed another person’s body after receiving the beta tester email. I thought it must be me, no matter what.
Then, who left such a note in the Library of Truth?
“……It must have been another route’s Pina Grancia.”
Cold sweat trickled down my neck.
Looking at the giant that seemed to fill the black sky, I felt awe.
If Pina was the hero of the prophecy, everything I had previously missed would finally make sense.
The reason she became the Nameless Saintess.
Why the inability to complete the Grand Route would lead to death at the hands of the Demon King.
Everything that necessitated her being forgotten, losing her name, and having her power stripped away.
….What on earth is this prophecy?
“Three heroes and one mage… how interesting. It’s been ages since I’ve fought a hero after the war.”
The purple-haired Demon King looked down at us. Countless arms were visible behind him. The fully formed Cyclops had arms sprouting like a demon.
The gleaming metals seen at his hands and ankles were knuckles and anklets. That must be the Holy Sword.
“You dare look up at me, Hero of Conviction.”
“…!!”
Ku-guh-guh-guh─.
The air trembled as my body grew heavy like lead, and the muscles went slack, nearly causing me to drop my sword.
The power of Might I had experienced before. Even inside Kainel’s protective shield, I could barely move.
Kainel’s hand, which had planted the Holy Sword in the ground, trembled. The light hero was kneeling.
Infinity gathered his hands in front and squeezed the air, pulling it in a downward motion.
“Humans live their lives related to money. My sister was no different. What is money, anyway?”
Then a swirling hourglass shape began to form from his hands.
“Among them, there’s even a fool who thinks they can buy time.”
It looked ominous, and I pulled the memory embedded in the ground.
A rocky structure formed a layer over Kainel’s barrier.
“Cosmic Sand Glass.”
As Infinity chanted, the giant’s massive hand appeared over our group, and a black shadow fell upon us from the ceiling.
“Pina!! Ariel!! Use your protective magic fast!!”
As I shouted, my allies quickly layered a wall of fire and a glass dome.
A whirlwind stirred the air. The very space twisted and contorted. The view became a wobbly blur.
Everything except the ground we stood on and the dome hovering overhead began to crumble.
What kind of power is this? It’s one thing to create a spatial dimension through brute force. This was beyond common sense.
The dome peeled away like an eggshell.
First, Ariel’s flames died down, then Pina’s glass wall. Lastly, the rocks I made with my Mind Sword.
In the end, only Kainel’s barrier remained.
“..You’re holding up quite well. As expected, you’re not run-of-the-mill.”
Infinity briefly commented as he saw us withstand his attack. He gathered his hands, snapped his wrists, and resumed his assault.
Bang─!! Bang─!!
The Demon King slams his fists into Kainel’s barrier. Multiple fists strike simultaneously, trying to break through the shield.
What on earth should I do? Just as I was pondering this, I saw the Hero, whose Holy Sword was plunged into the ground, straining against the Demon King’s onslaught.
Yet, in Ariel’s eyes, there were flames of determination. They held each other tightly, in a struggle against the Demon King.
Had she grown strong facing off against the Demon King alone?
Last time, when she fought Infinity, she had just been protected. Now, she might have the chance.
“Ariel. Shoot your ultimate move at the giant’s eye.”
I urged the Flame Mage next to the Hero.
“What..?! Mr. Helmet, I don’t know about that!!”
“Right now, you’re the only one who can protect Kainel, Ariel. Think about what you’ve learned.”
Ariel shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her face. This wasn’t like running away when facing the Magic Hat.
“What I learned in the first class with Professor Dennis.”
“Magic is… defying the laws of the world…?”
“No, not that.”
Magic is influenced by imagery.
“Focus on the concept of shining and twist the spell. There’s another way besides fireworks.”
The stronger the heart, the stronger the imagery. The Mage’s desire to illuminate the world alongside the hero.
“….The Sun.”
That was precisely the Flame Mage I knew.
At her answer, I silently lifted the corners of my mouth. This should be enough of an explanation.
Finishing her words, she slowly gazed at the Demon King. A massive eye visible between the rain of fists.
That part definitely seemed to be a weak point. The areas that Kainel and I had dealt with were now even larger in recovery.
While she spread a magic circle toward the giant’s eye, her arms fell under the pressure of the power of Might.
“Ariel, don’t be afraid.”
Just then, Kainel offered her advice from the side.
Though it was only to endure the giant’s attacks, his weak appearance was still strong enough. His hands, gripping the Holy Sword, trembled as if not to show any weakness.
“No matter what happens, I will protect you.”
“Yeah, Kai..!”
Now, those words came from her lover and childhood friend. Hearing that, Ariel began to chant her spell.
“Solaris….”
Blue flames formed in her hands, and that fireball began to merge with a golden shine, growing into a massive clump.
“..Kainel.”
Solaris Kainel. An ultimate move named after the one it’s aimed at.
That was the reason I had initially avoided teaching magic to Ariel or Kainel. I couldn’t allow such a technical name to be sullied.
The growing blue sun was undeterred by the giant’s fists and shot straight forward.
It was now an ultimate move large enough to incinerate the giant completely.
“Th-this can’t be. Why… why is it not being blocked even with the power of the giant?”
Of course. That was because it wasn’t using someone else’s power like a giant. Magic is bringing one’s imagination into reality.
Realizing the danger, Infinity tried to block the sun with dozens of hands.
Ka-whaaaam─!
Ariel’s ultimate move melted the Cyclops’ hands away.
“You bastards!! I won’t let the prophecy be fulfilled!! Aaah─!”
The Demon King, sacrificing several of his arms, desperately shielded his eyes. Even combined, it seemed the weakness remained intact.
Gone was the majestic appearance from the air; now, he fell onto the ground, trying to rise with a broken body.
How am I supposed to defeat that Demon King? I lacked any means.
Infinity didn’t die from the Demon King Kill; he was still alive. Even if I cast it again, could it really end?
No. Now that I think about it, I had forgotten one technique from the White Lily.
“Pina, could you copy Kainel’s Holy Sword?”
This was my only option left. If I can’t fight alone, then two can do it.
“Licht.. what are you trying to do?”
Finally finding an opening. No matter how much Pina was the chosen hero, I didn’t want to drag her into this fight.
Destiny and prophecy, those were already sufficient with those who exist.
“….Okay.”
Pina nodded. She mirrored Kainel’s Holy Sword in glass.
Glass reflects things. If creating a clone is possible, then this should be as well.
“..Just don’t get hurt, Licht.”
With a transparent sword made of glass, Pina handed the copied Holy Sword to me.
“Kainel, I will also use the Holy Sword of Light, so watch and learn.”
“Licht. Who are you showing off to?”
Right, Kainel was always like this.
He despised those who flaunted their abilities despite having little to show for it.
“The plan is the same as earlier, Kainel.”
“Got it. Just don’t fight alone again.”
Seeing Kainel ready his sword to join the fight, I laughed, transforming into the Black Knight.
There wouldn’t be an enemy we couldn’t defeat if a Demon King and a hero fought together.
