Chapter 84 Signals (10)
A huge sword that is launched in the form of a sword.
It was too late to dodge, and the crossfire was literally coming from all directions to block.
Belphegor has only one choice.
“Hmph!”
The auror is wrapped around the entire body and is armed like armor.
An Auror weapon created by one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Its strength far surpasses that of steel.
Quaaa-!!
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!!”
The opponents are the hammer of God and the sword of legend.
Even if it was wielded by a human hand, it is nothing compared to steel.
But Belphegor endures. Gritting his teeth, he burned the aura and applied it to himself.
The devil of sloth is the antithesis of patience; he just stays where he is while the other seven sins run amok, trying to inflict their own sins.
Because it is sloth.
Indolence comparable to death is being alone until the moment of death.
‘… … at last.’
While Belphegor was withstanding the sword energy coming from all directions.
Frondier’s hand dropped heavily.
The weapons embroidered in the air disappeared, and Menosorpo’s magic circle also slowly disappeared.
‘Am I exhausted?’
Excalibur’s true value comes from amplifying the user’s mana.
Even such a simple ability is worthy of being called a legend when its effects become enormous.
Frontier has defeated many enemies with Excalibur so far. Heldre, Korra in a runaway state, and even fragments of Helheim.
The stronger the enemy he faces, the more mana he consumes.
Excalibur Alpha is a monster that sucks the user’s mana.
The amount of mana given was given in return, but there was no reason to save mana for Belphegor, who he was dealing with this time.
… … so that.
If Belphegor can withstand this blow.
“Ugh… … . Ugh… … .”
As long as the name of the Seven Deadly Sins is not damaged even after being caught in the crossfire of the sword technique ‘Jeong’.
“Frondier… … .”
“… … .”
All the power of the sword energy was exhausted, smoke rising from Belphegor’s entire body, wounds on his body, and clothes stained with blood.
However, Belphegor does not collapse.
“I have no choice but to admit it.”
“… … .”
“You are the strongest human I have ever seen.”
Belphegor shakes off his arm as if the flowing blood is bothersome.
“And he’s the most annoying one.”
Frondier smiled at those words.
Unlike other times, that smile was half pretentious.
‘I’m grateful you acknowledged it, though.’
What should I do?
Frondier has not reached the pinnacle of technology like Ajie or Elin, nor is his magic skill as high as Elodie.
The type of person who uses their brains to make sure they hit the target in order to wield a weapon that doesn’t fit the duplicating fountain.
So most of the fight was about whether it was a hit or not.
But even after hitting a target, the fight doesn’t end.
“… … “Hoo.”
Belphegor’s eyes shine.
“It looks like it’s empty.”
“… … !”
Belphegor noticed it right away. In fact, it’s hard not to notice. All the weapons and magic circles flying around have disappeared, and the owner, Frondier, is barely able to open his dying eyes. Once you notice it, you can even see Frontier’s slowly trembling fingertips.
“Frondier. “Killing you now would be easy for me.”
“… … .”
Frontier doesn’t respond at all.
“But before that.”
But on the contrary, Belphegor’s murderous spirit gradually subsides.
“To you who do not even realize what you are yet, I will ask you again.”
“What.”
“Why do you side with the empire?”
Belphegor asked and stretched out his hand. His staff, which could no longer be held by the black cloth, returned to his hand.
“Why are you asking something so obvious? Mangot is my enemy, and the empire is my home. “Anyone will stop it.”
“That doesn’t answer. Frontier, if you were a person who wanted to save your life, you wouldn’t ask questions like this.”
Belphegor’s staff is held out to Frondier.
“You came to this earth alone. I walked into the most dangerous place, heading for the dead. For the empire. That’s something only a guy who doesn’t value his life would do. “The reason they were buying time by conserving their strength against me was because they were waiting for all of the shepherds of Mangot to be confirmed by the empire’s sight.”
Frontier waited until he endured the deadly sin of sloth.
That is to confirm the locations of all the shepherds in Mangot. And above all, it is best to check it with a human who shares the same line of sight with Malia.
That’s why Frontier waited. The time of conflict between Zodiac, Aster and Cybel, Selena and May, the Knights of Roach, and Cape Man and Constell.
“In chess, the loneliest thing is not the horse, but the person controlling the piece.”
Belphegor spoke as if he could see through Frondier’s intentions.
“You moved for the victory of the empire. In order to minimize the damage, I made that choice, even though it was a risky gamble. “Why is that?”
“… … ?”
Frontier’s eyes shake for a moment.
The question is difficult to understand. Frontier is on the side of the Empire. He moved for victory in order to be on the side of the empire. To do this, you must be able to take risky gambles sometimes.
What is the problem with the development of this logic, and why does Belphegor have doubts?
“If you don’t understand this question, let me ask it again.”
Belphegor shakes his head once.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Why do you want to choose ‘the one with the most people alive’?”
“… … what?”
“Why do you want to continue human tragedy?”
At those words, Frondier’s eyes slowly open.
Belphegor’s brow furrowed at that sight.
“Frondier, with that level of ingenuity, you stand in a position where even gods can be kept in check.”
Belphegor’s gaze turns cold.
“You don’t get away with just being oblivious or avoiding your gaze.”
“… … !”
“I am a sloth. “The devil of the Seven Deadly Sins, the one who stands at the antithesis of God.”
Belphegor is the devil of sloth.
Naturally, the devil is in conflict with God.
So the devil does not do what God wants.
“Even if you don’t know exactly, you may have guessed. “No matter what path you’ve taken, when you reach a level like yours, you’ll know it even if you don’t like it.”
“What do you mean?”
“By that point, playing around is boring, Frondier.”
Belphegor sighed and closed his eyes briefly.
“Tell me the truth about this world.”
“… … !”
“I am the devil. Because it is a devil, there is only malice. To me, destroying humans is just an evil act. I will grow by eating the souls that will be accumulated from countless corpses. “I have no intention of denying that.”
Belphegor was said to be a soul-eating demon, but his eyes showed no interest at all.
“But wouldn’t it be ‘good intentions’ for you? Frondier, yes, I will not ask whether you are really Frondier or not. But you should know. You would have seen clearly how this world works. “He must have been observing what God had done to humans.”
Belphegor’s words contain so many omissions and leaps that it is difficult to understand them.
… … It’s going to be difficult.
For some reason, Frondier had already begun to understand Belphegor’s words, and his eyes were constantly shaking as if to prove it.
“Frondier, do you want humans to continue living?”
This moment when Belphegor asks Frondier a question,
It is much more unbearable than when he gave us the mortal sin of ‘sloth’.
“Do you really believe that is human happiness?”
* * *
Astor Evans cut off the head of the last cow.
Coo!
He stepped on the body of the cow whose head had been blown off, and took a deep breath to clear his disturbed breathing.
“… … okay! The barrier… … !”
When dealing with the Minotaur, I was almost in a trance, so I had no time to worry about the defenses.
Since all the Minotaurs’ eyes were on him, I don’t think the barrier would have already been breached… … .
“uh?”
Beyond that, the wall was extremely sound.
The number of monsters outside was greatly reduced, and even they could not even touch the barrier and were killed by arrows or stones.
“The Minotaur is dead, do you think the monsters would want to build a barrier?”
Meanwhile, Nimew approached him.
“How about the sword?”
“Ah, thank you. It was a really good sword. “I’ll give it back to you.”
“huh? “No, wait!”
Aster lifted Excalibur with both hands and politely held it out to Nimue.
As soon as Nimue took it, Aster’s legs became weak and he sat down.
“Huh?”
“you idiot! “That’s because you carelessly let go of the sword!”
Nimue quickly handed the sword back to Aster.
“Excalibur makes the user’s mana close to infinite, but it does not replenish physical strength or mental strength. It’s easy to mistake yourself for thinking you’re in peak condition thanks to your mana that never dries up, but your body has already been through enough abuse. “If you let go of Excalibur now, your exhausted body will suddenly recoil.”
Only then did Aster realize that his hands, no, his entire body was shaking.
“Well, I see.”
“And since I gave Excalibur to you, don’t think about giving it back.”
“… … .”
At those words, Aster looked at the Excalibur that was handed back to him for a moment.
“… … “This was Excalibur, right?”
“I really understand now!”
Only then did Aster look around at Excalibur in amazement. Those eyes are bright like those of a child.
Ha, Nimue sighed and waved her hand lightly.
“What?”
Aster sat down and felt his body lightly float.
When he looked down, he saw a pool of water rising beneath him, leading him in a certain direction like a wave.
I touched the clothes that came in contact with water without realizing it, but they didn’t get wet. It was an amazing thing.
“It’s like that for the time being. Excalibur also helps the user recover their own mana. “In a little while, your mana will return to normal, and then your body will feel better.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Please pass on your gratitude to everyone you meet from now on. “I’m just doing what he asked.”
“Someone to meet?”
As Nimue leads Aster through the waves, she looks towards the forest in front.
“Yes, the Archmage also has something to say to you.”
* * *
Aster didn’t recognize Excalibur, so of course he didn’t recognize Merlin either.
Of course, after hearing Nimue’s explanation and learning that it was Merlin, his eyes widened again.
Somehow, Nimue seemed more surprised than when she found out about Excalibur, and felt slightly flattered.
“Then these people.”
Aster looked around.
The people of Mangot tied up with tree trunks. Among them, there was also a Notker that Aster fought before the Minotaur.
“They are in custody. “It’s not me who decides whether they live or die.”
“okay.”
“Right now, there are more important issues than what to do with them.”
Merlin’s old eyes turned to Aster.
There was somehow no warmth or coldness there, and Aster felt a little creeped out.
“Aster Evans, the hero of mankind. “You must have known your role a long time ago.”
“… … That was arrogance. “Right now, my friend Frontier is better.”
“no.”
Merlin shook his head.
“Frondier is not a hero. He can’t be a hero.”
“… … Why? “If this war is won, Frontier will play the biggest role than anyone else.”
“Of course it is. I am not saying this because of his strength or disposition. Frontier de Roach is strong. It is also just. “I’m not denying that.”
However, Merlin smiled and opened his hands. The mana that gathered on his hands swelled like mist and floated above them like balloons.
“A hero is someone who leads the most people.”
A person was drawn on the balloon created by Merlin. The figure was a blond man, looking brave and just, standing holding a sword. He resembled Aster Evans in some way.
“Please remember. “It’s like King Arthur.”
“… … !”
“King Arthur walked the right path more than anyone else, but what was more important was that countless people followed him. For a hero, the influence of being supported by the absolute majority is more important than the individual’s abilities. “You can only be called a hero if you lead a huge trend that will change the fate of humanity.”
‘Hero’ is a word Aster has heard since he was young.
Many people praised him for having what it takes to be a hero.
In fact, being a hero is a painful thing.
The fate of having to carry many people on one’s back and walk down a path where no one can provide the right answer.
So most people actually praised Aster, encouraged him, and sang songs to him as if he was already a hero, but most of them were more like pushing back and avoiding responsibility.
In this continent where elements of destruction are scattered here and there, the existence of a ‘hero’ is absolutely necessary, but no one is willing to do it.
The idea that Aster will become a hero is closer to a ‘wish’ than a ‘belief’.
But in that space, there was only Frontier.
He was more convinced than anyone else that Aster Evans had the qualifications to be a hero.
“Frondier helped you become a hero.”
“… … !”
To allow Aster to grow, we distance ourselves from him and use it as an opportunity to grow without hindering him.
He encounters Excalibur before him and gives it to Merlin.
Now Aster knows the whole process.
“Do you know chess?”
“Chess, chess?”
“In chess, there are pieces called ‘pawns.’”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And the pawn, when it gets to the edge of enemy territory, funny things happen.”
Aster’s eyes opened at those words.
promotion.
When a pawn arrives at the end of the enemy line, it is promoted to one of the pieces other than the king and pawn.
“He is not a hero, but more of a pawn who raises heroes. “It’s just the most powerful phone in the world.”
Frontier is literally the end of enemy territory.
The time has come for someone to become a hero.
“Now it’s your turn to help Frontier.”
“… … Me, now?”
“Now Frontier is fighting the devil. He will face a big crisis. Without help from anyone, you will be thrown into questions that you will have to figure out on your own. The fight against the devil is not a contest of strength. “It’s a conflict for existence.”
“… … “If this is a question you have to figure out yourself, how can I help Frontier?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how.”
In some ways, Merlin’s words were irresponsible.
However, Aster did not follow suit and thought deeply.
Merlin had already said all he could say. Aster knows it.
──The hint is all within him… … .
─Aster, I have a favor to ask.
-You are the only one who can lead those guys.
─I couldn’t be there for those guys when it was important. It was like that when Constell was attacked and during the school trip. I couldn’t look around because of my own greed.
─It’s too much for me.
“… … !”
Aster raised his head.
When he heard that from Frontier and arrived at the wall, he was in doubt.
Now that everyone has fallen, who will lead?
What is the meaning of the position of leader in a scattered situation?
Now Aster realized why Frontier said that.
“… … “I can’t do it alone.”
Hearing that murmur and seeing Aster’s eyes full of confidence.
Merlin grins.
“Let’s go north of the wall. “It’s not far from here.”
“You said you couldn’t tell me how!”
“Oh my, I told you so. Please forget it.”
Merlin’s sly words.
Aster smiles, greets him and Nimue, and runs off.
Although the battle had just ended, he ran at an incredible speed. Even with Excalibur, it was an amazing recovery.
Looking behind him, Merlin looked relieved as if he had accomplished everything.
“Don’t worry.”
I send quiet support to Aster, who is still a boy.
“Frondier is already calling you.”