novel
| ← Ch.201 | Ch.203 → |
Part 1
Diablo floated up with Flight Magic.
He approached the Demon King castle from the sky.
Black snakes grew out from windows on the castle. They wriggled about.
Since Modinalaam had opened the gate, he thought that he was being invited in but......
Things weren't that easy.
The black snakes came attacking one after another.
「Do not, get in my way! 《Explosion》!!」
Diablo fired his magic. Since he had seen them fight against the Demonic Beings, he had a grasp of the black snakes' individual strength.
Each and every one was generally about as strong as a large-sized Demonic Being.
They couldn't be defeated with low level magic, but he was able to wrench open a gap to advance through.
If he were to use powerful magic, he would certainly be able to blow them away with a single attack.
However, that sort of large magic also had large openings. In a situation where he was constantly receiving attacks from all directions, prioritizing evasion and finishing with the minimum attacks needed was part of the basics.
His feeling of wanting to save Rem was strong.
Receiving everyone's support, there was a boiling feeling deep in his chest.
However, contrary to his vigorous assault, Diablo's head was rapidly growing colder.
He had an entire grasp of the countless, hectically moving black snakes, and would fire magic at the most efficient place.
At times he would circumvent, at other times he would push through......
「I'm through!」
Diablo disinterestedly cut through as if he were doing work, and broke through the defensive net of black snakes.
Modinalaam was a shadow of his former self.
He arrived at the imitation Demon King castle.
An especially large black snake blocked the way as if it were the gatekeeper.
Its oral cavity that looked like it could swallow even a giant whole, let alone a person of the Races, made a sound and opened. It was lined with teeth that were like swords.
GAaaaah!!
Diablo swung his Magic Staff, the 《Tonnerre Empereur》.
「Scatter away! 《Flare Burst》!!」
From the inside of the black snake's mouth, to the inside of its body, there was a series of explosions.
It ruptured from the inside.
Just like how when Demonic Beings died, the black snake turned into particles of light, and vanished.
──It had so-so strength.
Rose and Krum would have been able to win against it without a problem. Maybe even Lamnites.
However, for Shera and Edelgart, it might have been too much in a one-on-one fight. For Sylvie, it was unknown. It was doubtful for Galford as well since he had just recovered from being seriously injured.
If the soldiers and the Adventurers were to fight, there probably would have been a considerable amount of victims, is the guess that he made.
Impatience was taboo.
Even so, I need to stop Modinalaam before this Demon King castle gets close to Faltra City, is what Diablo thought.
He passed through the thrown open gate.
He walked into the imitation Demon King castle.
The air was cloudy.
There was a bloody smell like the exhaled breath of a beast.
This imitation Demon King castle was a shadow of Modinalaam's former self.
In other words, Diablo had done something like entering the inside of his opponent's body.
「《Light》」
Going a few steps ahead, he casted Light Magic.
It illuminated the surroundings.
The perfectly level corridor continued on further inside. Curtains were hung on the curt walls.
There was no way there were any windows.
In that case, were they hiding something?
The curtains swayed.
Wind?
That wasn't it.
From the other side of the turned up curtains, a rhinoceros beetle bigger than a person came rushing out.
Diablo fired magic on reflex.
It was almost automatic.
He had a habit of pressing the shortcut key at the same time when he was surprised, but in this other world, it was represented as making the chant for the magic.
「《Explosion》!!」
The rhinoceros beetle was blown away.
That also turned into particles of light and vanished.
──So he's kept Demonic Beasts in his body.
If it were a simple capturing of a dungeon, he would have advanced while scattering magic as a diversion.
However, Diablo cautiously walked while hurrying on ahead.
It was so that Rem wouldn't get rolled up in his magic.
He kicked open a door that was at the depths of the corridor.
It was a spacious room.
Inside, a shadow moved.
「《Light》!!」
What the Light Magic that Diablo fired had shined on was──
Grrrr......
It had the head and body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and snake for a tail.
Diablo clicked his tongue.
「A Chimera huh. You're keeping quite a troublesome fellow, aren't you. 」
This Demonic Beast possessed a barrier that nullifies magic. On top of that, its defense against physical attacks was also high.
It was a monster that he would want to avoid battle with if possible.
However, when being chased by a Chimera, it would turn into an even more troublesome situation.
Diablo transformed the 《Tonnerre Empereur》 into a sword.
「Hmph...... Very well. Although I leveled up as a Warrior-type, I have yet to test it out in actual combat. This is a good chance to try it. 」
Time was precious. He went all out from the start.
The Chimera howled.
It leapt at him.
Diablo readied his Magic Sword.
「《Heat Sonic》!!」
Suddenly, it was hit with eight successive Martial Arts. That attack was increased sevenfold due to the Magic Sword.
The tough Chimera easily turned into particles of light.
Diablo gazed at the Magic Sword that he held in his own hands.
──To think that I could defeat a Chimera this easily!
In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, it was a monster that had given him a hard time multiple times. And yet.
That being said, in exchange for that immense offensive ability, he consumed an enormous amount of SP.
Unlike MP, it would automatically recover if given some time but......
「Mu...... ?」
From the depths of the spacious room, *hitari, hitari*, the sound of feet treading on the floor could be heard.
Diablo made a wry smile.
──Well, there were a lot of black snakes as well after all.
Several Chimeras appeared as if to surround him.
Grrrrr, grrr, grrr......
Diablo tightly grasped his sword.
「I'm in a rush, so I don't have the time to play with all of you. Come at me all at once! I'll tear you all limb from limb!」
Part 2
He recovered both his HP and MP with potions.
However, the fatigue that accumulated in his core made Diablo's arms and legs heavy.
──How could I of all people have a decline in concentration in the last boss's dungeon?
Was it due to him using his own body, causing his nerves to wear out?
Was it because, unlike the game, his life was truly at risk?
Due to having successive fights against formidable enemies, which he had never experienced up until now, his senses were worn down.
Again, a door opened.
Was he being lead?
──Is it a trap?
Even if it was, he had no choice but to continue on.
The ceiling became high enough that he had to look up at it.
It wasn't like the cramped corridors and the only horizontally wide room that appeared up until now. He felt that he walked too much and wondered if he came outside.
The ceiling had become dome-shaped, and at the center, there was a crystal that sprouted out upside down. That crystal shined and illuminated this place.
Directly below the crystal──
There was a bluish-white throne.
The cold air hung in the air, reaching as far as where Diablo was. That, was a throne of ice.
「Rem. 」
She was sitting on the throne of ice.
The horns on her head, the wings on her back, and the blade-like nails were already gone. Even her attire had returned to normal, and the dark gray 《Slavery Collar》 was fixed on her neck.
Her eyes turned his way.
Diablo felt relieved at the fact that she was alive.
He called out to her once more.
「Rem. 」
「...... Diablo. 」
Her light colored lips weakly moved.
He had the urge of wanting to rush over to her, but he was instead worried about how there wasn't anything there to obstruct him.
He was reminded of a mouse catcher that placed cheese at the back. Rem was the cheese, and Diablo was the mouse.
She didn't move.
That was only natural.
He had given her the command "do not move" in the earlier battle. Before rescinding that order, there was something that needed to be asked.
「Where is Modinalaam?」
「...... He is, no longer within me. 」
Is that true?
If it were Rem, she surely wouldn't lie.
However, there was also the possibility that Modinalaam was manipulating her, and telling a lie.
She spoke with a depressed voice.
「...... Please leave me behind. 」
At first, he thought that he misheard her.
「Wh, what are you saying, Rem? Don't joke around with me. 」
「...... No, it is no joke. I, am too...... useless. Even though I am an Adventurer, I have been a bother to you many times. 」
「Do not say something so foolish. I merely did the things that I wanted to do. I had no intention of saving you. I am a Demon King, you know? That is a serious misunderstanding!」
Diablo had strongly said that, but just how much of it got through.
Rem groaned looking pained.
「Uuu...... On top of me being useless...... I had nearly taken the life of my benefactor Celes...... 」
「I was asked by that Celes to safely bring you back. You should say the things that you want to say to the person herself. After we return to town. 」
「...... Even Shera...... Someone like me is. 」
「What foolishness are you talking about. 」
Even though they were close enough to have make that cafe promise.
Rem squeezed out her voice.
「I, I mean...... Diablo, didn't you choose Shera. 」
「Choose!?」
「...... Becoming the Elven King...... with Shera...... th, the marriage...... !!」
He had involuntarily been taken aback.
He didn't think that he would told that in a place like this. No, it was probably because it was this kind of situation that it was brought up.
Should he bring Rem back to town even if he had to drag her along?
Could she be said to have been saved with that?
Diablo took a deep breath.
He made a dry gulp.
「Ahー...... Rem...... I understand what you want to say. First, let me make a correction. I, came to save you. It has no relation to you being useless or not. 」
「...... 」
With a frightened looking face, she waited for his continued words.
Diablo took a certain item out from his pouch.
It was a silver ring.
Rem opened her eyes wide.
Diablo's heart was beating even harder than it did in any battle that happened today.
「Y, you should...... take this. No, please take th...... No, seeing as how I am a Demon King. 」
It was probably a bit impossible for something like handing over a ring while still in his Demon King roleplay.
However, he felt like high-handedly forcing it on her felt like it would give a different impression.
In Diablo's own way of thinking, after making the decision that it would be best to hand one over to Rem as well, he had expressly taken it from his treasury. Since the respective MMORPG Cross Reverie event was couple-exclusive, there were two rings that he had obtained.
「Eei! Rem! Take this!」
「...... I'm so happy. 」
Tears came to Rem's eyes.
「Eh? Really?」
Since she had received it so easily and with pleasure, Diablo was surprised.
He steadily became embarrassed.
Rem shook her head sideways.
「...... But...... as I thought, I can't go. There is no way I can prove that Modinalaam is not within me. 」
「Mu. 」
Even Diablo felt the danger of that.
It wouldn't end with just him. What if the Rem that he brought back to Faltra City was actually Modinalaam?
It would not affect just one town, but the existence of the Races.
──No, is this where I should take the ring in my hand and say "I believe in you", walk until I'm right in front of her, and place the ring on her hand?
He shook his head sideways.
──Isn't that a flag for the Bad End where I would get pierced through the heart!?
Getting washed away by romanticism and giving up on thinking and taking a dangerous action, he wouldn't allow that as a Gamer!
To continue onto the death episode without any proof, Diablo was unable to do that.
Prioritizing emotion was shameful laziness.
Not to mention, the lives of a great number of people were resting on his back. Defeating Modinalaam who had turned into the Demon King castle was just as important as saving Rem.
He considered the matter carefully.
「.................. 」
Since Modinalaam had peeked into Rem's memories, he would be able to perfectly answer any question Diablo could ask.
A question that he couldn't answer, would be one that Rem also wouldn't know.
"Prove that the Demon King is not within yourself"
──Would that be impossible? It was the devil's proof. Being unable to prove something that doesn't exist was common sense in my original world (unfortunately, where were also people that didn't understand that though...... )
Urging her to prove her own innocence would be the same as that scumbag Holy Knight.
Could he be certain if he touched Rem and inspected her magical power?
However, if Modinalaam was lurking within her, it would be exceedingly dangerous. If he were to be attacked from a distance where his hand could reach, he had no way of defending against it.
Right now, was the one talking to him, Rem herself? Or was Modinalaam manipulating her?
Going *Ha!*, Diablo came to a realization. After his bit of insight, he deepened his thoughts as if following a fine thread. Even after examining various angles, he was certain of it.
Just in case, he made a confirmation.
「Rem, if you could prove your innocence, would you obediently come back?」
「...... If I could...... But I believe that is impossible. 」
Her voice was depressed.
*Niyari* Diablo curved his lips.
With all of his might, he swung one hand.
「Very well! Rem Galeu...... I shall allow you, to call your Summoned Beasts!」
She opened her eyes wide.
「...... You are not commanding me to call it out, but allowing me...... is that it?」
「Umu. I have partially undone the earlier command of "do not move". If you are the real one, you should be able to call them forth. If Modinalaam is doing manipulation, then you cannot. He would be able to use Chemical Elemental Magic though. 」
The Rem when she was manipulated had attacked Celes with Chemical Elemental Magic.
Both Chemical Elemental Magic and Summoning Techniques were similar magic. Unless the caster's will is there, then the summoning cannot happen.
If a person is controlling their body, even if the summon crystal is broken, the Summoned Beast won't be called forth.
Rem stood up from the throne of ice.
「...... As expected of you, Diablo. 」
Rem took the crystal of a Summoned Beast out from her pouch.
She held it out.
「In the name of Rem Galeu, I command you──Come forth! 《Iron Golem》!!」
She threw it on the floor.
The blue crystal broke into pieces, and the air swirled. A white smoke wrapped around it, and then dispersed.
A huge, brusque dark gray statue stood next to her.
She caressed the Iron Golem.
「...... I, am Rem. 」
「So it would seem...... I remove all commands. 」
The prohibition of the 《Slavery Choker》 vanished.
As if trying to harden the floor by stepping on it, she slowly walked over.
She had a nervous expression.
「...... Diablo...... Your words from earlier, can I trust them?」
「I am the true Demon King that came from another world! I do not speak lies!」
At this late point in time, there was no way he could say "on second thought, it really is embarrassing so forget it".
Rem, who had come up to being right before him, held out her left hand.
「...... 」
Her fingers trembled.
That probably showed just how high-strung her emotions were.
Diablo also needed to hold his nervousness down.
With his left hand, he supported her left hand. Taking the Marriage Ring he held in his right hand, he placed it on her left ring finger.
Part 3
*Don!* A loud sound was made from the ceiling.
In a hurry, Diablo brought Rem close as if hugging her, and moved out of the way.
Together with rubble, a large black build came falling.
A black goat head.
Its body was like that of a gorilla.
It screamed.
「DIーAAAーBuuuーLooooooー!!」
「Modinalaam!!」
So it was just as Krum had guessed. He felt more insanity than intelligence from his opponent's voice.
Despite knowing that he would be extinguished by tomorrow, he absorbed his subordinate Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts, and changed his form into this imitation Demon King castle.
「Gihyaーhaー!!」
「《Insanity》 huh. 」
Diablo readied his Magic Staff.
However, the situation was not favorable.
The changing effect of 《Customize Bomb》, although it was as he expected, did not reach this far.
Since Modinalaam had accumulated a large amount of magical power, he was close to full power. If Diablo were to fight upfront in close combat, it would be dangerous with even just a graze.
On top of that, he would have to fight while protecting Rem......
──Can I win?
No, I have no choice but to win!
It's because this fake Demon King castle won't stop unless I defeat him here!
Diablo recovered his HP and MP with potions. Even so, he felt sleepiness due to his excessive exhaustion.
「Rem, you won't say that you are useless, right?」
「That is...... 」
「Listen to me carefully──A person who has neither strong ability, talent, nor confidence, should not run away from hard work. Struggling until death is what true incompetence is after all!」
She was dumbfounded.
And then, smiling, she nodded.
「...... Yes. To begin with, I have a personality that is bad at giving up. 」
「Yosh, do not get out from behind me, got it?」
「...... Diablo, I don't have any positive proof but, there is something I want to try. Do you have an 《Elixir》?」
「Naturally I do, but what about it?」
Diablo took out an 《Elixir》.
It was called the secret medicine of God. Even serious wounds of being on the verge of death could be healed in an instant, even MP would be completely restored, and any and all Bad Statuses would be cured.
Rem didn't look like she was carrying any serious injuries.
She pointed at the enemy.
「...... Please use it on Modinalaam. 」
「What did you say!?」
「Gyo!?」
The goat head made its eyes go round. *Gaku gaku* His body trembled.
Rem gave an explanation.
「...... When Modinalaam entered me, and peeked into my memories...... It felt like I also caught a glimpse at his memories. Within that, there was a memory of being afraid of 《Elixirs》. 」
「Being afraid of 《Elixirs》 you say? What would be the reason for that!?」
「...... Since 《Insanity》 is a Bad Status, it would be purged by the 《Elixir》. 」
「What, did you say!?」
To think that Modinalaam had that sort of weakness!
Countless Players had fought against Modinalaam in the MMORPG Cross Reverie.
However, it seemed that there wasn't anyone whimsical enough to use an 《Elixir》, which was super rare even in the game, on a Demon King.
At the very least, that sort of information wasn't on the walkthrough site.
Diablo held an 《Elixir》 in his left hand, and slowly filled the distance with the enemy.
「Hmph...... How interesting. Why don't we test that out!」
However, he didn't even need to wait to see the result.
Modinalaam backed away.
It was clear that he feared it.
Turning his back to the exit of the dome-shaped room, the goat-headed gorilla went *gya gya* and made a fuss like a zoo animal.
Diablo spoke.
「I will show you no opportunity. I will give you no mercy. I will definitely kill you, in this place!」
「Uu...... uu...... uu...... 」
「Modinalaam, vanish from here!」
「Gyoe, gyoe, gyoe!」
*Gashan!* A mechanical sound resounded in the dome-shaped room.
Something that seemed like a symbol was engraved into the goat head's forehead.
「What!?」
He had nothing but a bad premonition about it.
Rem spoke with a pensive look on her face.
「Those are numbers from the language of the ancient time...... If I remember correctly, 9, 8, 7...... 」
The engraved symbol changed little by little. Those were numbers, and they decreased at about a second in between changes.
No matter how he thought about it, it was a countdown.
「Bastard!」
The goat head's mouth disgustingly raised both of its ends.
「Th, th, thou, shalt be destroyed, together with me...... Gyaha! Gyahahahahahahahahaha!!」
「Ahh, sorry but...... I know that pattern. 」
Diablo held Rem close with his right hand.
「Hya!?」
The number on Modinalaam's forehead decreased even more.
From his body, a flash was released.
Part 4
In front of Fortress City Faltra's west gate──
Shera fired an arrow.
「Teyaah!」
It made a direct hit on a black snake.
Making a *Bomu!* sound, the black snake scattered away.
「Umu umu, you are pretty good, aren't you, Shera!」
Krum nodded looking satisfied.
Before this fight, Shera's bow was strengthened even more by Krum. Even her clothes and boots.
Now, it could be called the "complete Demon King Equipment set".
Thanks to that, the place that Shera and Krum were at was holding out.
On the other hand──
Rose the Magimatic Maid crushed several black snakes alone.
However, her magical power that felt insufficient from the start finally reached the bottom.
「I will complete the task I was entrusted with by Master...... even if this body breaks down!」
In contrast, no matter how many she destroyed and destroyed and destroyed, the number of black snakes continuously increased.
Galford's sword and Lamnites's Magi Gun were also making war results.
However, the places of the other people were on the verge of being breached.
The soldiers were swallowed up by the black snakes. The Adventurers were squashed. Countless screams were raised.
Celestine, who was surrounded by Magicians, raised her voice.
「Please hang in there! Just a bit more! I am sure that Diablo-san will stop that castle!」
A temporary peace of mind──Those words that seemed like that, to think that they would be realized!
While shedding blood from her head, Edelgart glared at the castle.
「Ah...... Light?」
An explosion spilled out.
From inside of it, a flash of light came pouring out. From the windows that were the source of the black snakes, flames gushed out.
Before long, the entire castle was swallowed up by a dark red explosion.
The people were dumbfounded, and gazed at the gigantic fireball that appeared on the earth.
Shera raised a voice that sounded like a scream.
「Diablo!? Hey, what about Diablo!? Where is Rem!?」
There was no one that could answer that question.
The fire spread to even the black snakes, and one after another, gigantic burnt corpses fell to the ground. The sounds *jyuu jyuu, bachi bachi* were made, and they turned to ash.
After that, they turned into particles of light and ascended to the sky.
The flames became smaller.
Krum pointed her finger at the spot the castle was at before.
「Look!」
Part 5
Modinalaam, who had turned into just his upper body, was stretched out at the bottom of the center of the explosion.
His lower body was extinguished.
Even the remaining portion started to crumble, and it was only a matter of time before all of him would vanish.
「.................. 」
In a place a bit apart from him, there was a sphere.
It was a black ball.
*Shuru* The cloth that took the form of a sphere transformed into a mantle.
「Puha!」
The one who breathed out, was Rem.
Diablo had a similar suffocating experience, but in order to maintain his Demon Kingliness, he endured it.
「Fuuuー...... 」
「...... Are you alright, Diablo?」
「Same to you, Rem, how are you?」
「...... Nn」
She expressed a smile.
Modinalaam, who was stretched out on the ground, chattered his teeth.
「Why!? Why? W...... hy?」
Diablo held up his mantle.
「It is called the 《Curtain of Dusk》. Its effect is Damage Cut for a few seconds. It protects the user from any and all attacks. 」
In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, it said that 『the effect target is all party members』, but from how it felt after using it, he felt that three people was the limit.
Rem was impressed.
「...... To have that sort of mantle...... It must be a tremendously rare article. 」
「No, 《Curtain of Dusk》 is an SR-class item. Wouldn't you be able to find it if you searched?」
The effect was strong, but its abilities were moderate.
Although it has Damage Cut, since it only for a short two to five seconds, situations where it was useful were limited.
It was only when he was fighting against an unimaginably strong opponent like a Demon King did Diablo equip it.
──In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, it could be used once every three minutes, but how would it be in this other world?
Diablo stood next to the collapsed Modinalaam.
He had an 《Elixir》 in hand.
It seemed like Modinalaam no longer had the strength resist remaining but......
「It would be troublesome if you enter inside of Rem again. You should just disappear. 」
「Wait...... That shall restore, me...... Is that fine?」
「You are terrible at bluffing, Modinalaam. You should have said those kinds of words before you blew yourself up. 」
Diablo dumped out the contents of the tube.
It were as if he had poured boiling water on an ice sculpture.
「AH! AH! AH! Vanishing! I am vanishing! AH...... GYAAAAAAAH!!」
His muddied scream resounded through the plains.
The Great Demon King Modinalam was extinguished.
Diablo tossed the emptied potion tube into the depression had no longer had anything within it.
It lodged itself into the burnt ground.
It couldn't be a substitute for a gravestone but......
When he turned around, he met eyes with Rem.
She caressed the ring finger of her left hand. A plain, silver ring was placed on it.
「...... Um, Diablo...... Is it really alright, for me to have this?」
「U, umu. 」
After hearing that once again, he felt embarrassed.
「...... I would like for you to put it into words though. 」
She easily said something so difficult.
Ugogo.
「Ahー, uhー. 」
Diablo got close, and placed his hands on Rem's shoulders.
「In, in other words...... you see...... 」
「...... Yes. 」
The young girl with a small height close her eyes while keeping her chin raised.
*Furu furu* Her panther ears quivered.
──Eh? Eh?
He involuntarily froze up.
What is up with this situation!? What should I do!?
At that moment, Shera's voice could be heard from the direction of the town.
「Diablo～!! Rem～!!」
Their names being called, they sent their gazes that way.
It wasn't just Shera, he could see Krum, Rose, and the others running over.
Rem answered.
「Sheraー!! Krumー!!」
Diablo folded his arms, and magnanimously nodded.
──Ahh, it's finally over.
Rem expressed a smile, and waved her tail.
「Diablo!」
「Mu?」
「...... I, am really bad at giving up! So please prepare yourself!」
| ← Ch. 201 | Ch. 203 → |