68 – 31. The Third Secret (1)
“Using the holy sword? That’s impossible! That guy!”
Leviathan couldn’t comprehend the current situation.
Isn’t it so? Isn’t it absurd for Ian to use the holy sword?
Even though he was a demon living in Astelgia, constantly seeking opportunities and lurking around the Imperial forces, he wasn’t unaware of the information about their military strength.
On the contrary, it was the opposite. After all, information was a crucial factor in determining victory or defeat in war, and the elite Seven Devils sent their subordinates to the middle realms or used mines to gather all sorts of information.
Among that information, there was also information about Ian.
“They said he couldn’t wield the sword. They told me he had received a curse and was forbidden by his master!”
When he was active in the hero party, he demonstrated incredible skills worthy of the next Sword Saint.
But now, there was information that he could no longer wield a sword.
If it’s a jumble of information like gossip, I won’t believe it. It was solid information that had been cross-verified through investigators.
“Moreover, I heard that curse was engraved by the Millerus family themselves? And you defeated it?”
I wondered. How did he manage to overcome the curse of the renowned sorcerer family known even to demons?
Amidst rising doubts, Leviathan constantly shifted his gaze. He could see it.
*Crackle!*
“What are you up to?”
It was Ian’s hand firmly gripping the hilt of a sword, paying the price for defying the curse.
It was a terrifying sight. But what he bore on his shoulders was not all there was to it.
“Hmmm….”
“Do you… have any idea what you’re doing?”
Blood seeping out as if ready to burst from his tightly closed mouth. Its meaning was simple.
“Using the Holy Sword without qualification! Ignorant fool!”
Ian was also enduring the consequences of wielding the Holy Sword.
Being naturally aligned with darkness, he was the antithesis of the Holy Sword, which was of light attribute.
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No matter how much he demonstrated actions closer to a knight than Ariel herself, the fact remained that he was unqualified.
That was why.
“Do you not know that one must endure pain?”
The reason she could not understand Ian’s actions.
“How can you do such a thing if you know about it?”
What she had not expected among her thoughts was that he would directly use the Holy Sword.
Once captivated by the power of the Holy Sword and consumed by jealousy, she had even tried to take Elysion from the empire.
If she succeeded… it wouldn’t just be a dream to end this long and arduous fight.
If the empire lost Elysion, they would be weak against the demons, and the residents of Astelgia, who had spent their lives in darkness, would be able to face the sun on land that was no longer gloomy and damp.
After making up her mind, she clenched her teeth, devised a plan, and challenged countless times.
She actually had opportunities to kill knights and steal their swords, and she had come close to achieving her goal many times. Unfortunately, Elysion never fell into her hands.
The reason? It was simple.
“Even just holding it, I felt like my entire body would twist and burst.”
Because the Holy Sword rejected those who were not chosen.
Unable to withstand even a mere ten seconds against the furious demon King of Wrath, who was among the few that could be counted as powerful in the Demon Realm, she was easily defeated.
Did they expect a human or something similar to endure such side effects?
‘How can she be so stupid…’
Even in the midst of agony, she thought Ian was truly reckless.
Holding onto something that not even a demon could withstand, what kind of confidence did he have to do so?
I don’t know.
Why does he do such things… What if they had chosen a direction that saved them both, there would be no need to endure pain.
With eyes full of doubt, Leviathan looked at Ian and made a judgement.
‘Arrogance. Maybe there’s some truth to your words. Humans, truly an unpredictable species.’
At least she didn’t understand Ian’s actions,
At that moment, Leviathan gave up on reading his thoughts.
Instead, she only thought of the result.
‘Fine. Let’s see who wins. Whether despicable mortal like you can last long or I come out on top! Let’s see!’
She had lived her whole life under scrutiny.
Even when she gained fame in Astalgia, the label of incompetence haunted her.
It didn’t end even when she ascended to the seat of a demon king.
Of the seven great demons, only Asmodeus was a similar opponent, the rest were all just monsters.
But Leviathan did not give up, even if she harbored jealousy.
Because she knew that powerlessness cannot be the measure of strength.
Surviving to the end! That’s what strength is!
She never forgot her conviction. As she ascended to the seat of a demon king, she would prove that she would not change or be wrong.
For that… the reason to endure the current pain was sufficient.
“Cough!”
“Hoo….”
A painful groan came from her mouth. Even after being pierced by the Holy Sword due to her attribute, she felt no pain. But Leviathan, who was possessed, received the pain entirely.
She felt like she might lose consciousness any moment, but Leviathan endured and counted inwardly.
‘Just 10 more seconds. I can endure for just 10 more seconds!’
If she endured until the time when even the furious demon king would give up, it would be victory.
She endured by thinking only of that, even though she wanted to give up.
Time that felt like eternity. She thought that when she opened her eyes, the pain would be gone.
Finally, as 10 seconds ended and she opened her eyes, she could see.
“Hah. Enduring it would be meaningless. So, hurry up and die.”
“Whoa, how!”
This is the figure of Ian who endured the pain without mercy.
“I thought if I opened my eyes, I would see Ian with a pale face, bleeding.”
How did he endure? How can he pretend to be okay?
But that’s not it.
“There’s no change in his expression…”
Leviathan examined Ian closely, wondering if there was a hidden strength he had missed.
She could tell.
“Come to think of it, the intense energy that was around him a moment ago has disappeared.”
The overpowering energy that wouldn’t yield, even when facing her magic, had suddenly disappeared.
No, it hadn’t disappeared.
“No way… is he using that!”
Is he suppressing the power of the Holy Sword using that tremendous energy?
“No way. In order to make that possible…”
You would at least need the power to rival that of a divine being, right? How can he, just a mere human, do it?
“Just a moment. Then what I saw earlier…”
Was it the power of a divine being? Was Ian Volcano truly chosen by the gods?
“This is bad!”
In a completely unexpected situation, Leviathan’s pupils trembled.
If he can use the power of a divine being to suppress the side effects of the Holy Sword, his endurance becomes meaningless.
She can’t stay like this. She needs to quickly draw her blade.
Leviathan tried to pull out her sword, but then.
“Aren’t you done? By the way, it’s already too late.”
Swish!
Ian gave more strength to the sword he was holding and slashed across.
A terrible sound of flesh being cut reverberated, but there was no problem with Ariel’s body. The only one who suffered was Leviathan.
“Ah… Aah!”
Leviathan clutched her abdomen. In front of her, Ian inserted the Holy Sword into the ground and looked at his right hand.
It was a burnt hand, a result of the hatred of the blade and the injury from using the Holy Sword.
“It’s worse than I expected.”
In Leviathan, it may look like he was easily enduring the power of the Holy Sword, but that wasn’t the case.
The attack was left to the Holy Sword, while the divine power was transferred to the hand holding the hilt.
And that’s not all. Throughout the time the sword was being plunged, injuries were healed using the power of instant regeneration.
Even though I did my best, it is certain that the amount of injury was largely due to the side effects of Elysion.
Every time I moved my hand, a dizzying pain surged, but I couldn’t stop.
I can’t let go of the opportunity I’ve gained just because it hurts.
Clank!
Ian grabbed the Holy Sword again. Having all but exhausted the divine power, this was the only weapon that could kill Leviathan.
“Hoo.”
Taking a deep breath, Ian closed his eyes, then swung the sword.
He didn’t think about how to swing it. There would be no use putting thought into it without any expertise with the sword.
‘Now, let’s focus on the senses.’
Instead, isn’t there a talent in this body? Ian Volkanoft’s talent, which was called the next sword saint before he was possessed.
Even if it hasn’t been used for a few months, the path of effort he has walked so far does not disappear.
Moreover, he had countless mock battles with Alex Volkanoft. The saying “seeing is believing” is not for nothing. Even though he didn’t use a sword at that time, the experience of facing the swordsmanship used by a master-level expert would guide him.
Ian believed firmly in that.
Thanks to that.
Squish!
Shing!
“Scream!”
What he was certain of is that the sword he is wielding now will never miss.
The sensation that feels like cutting something is transmitted through the handle to the nerves.
Ian continued to swing the sword without opening his eyes.
Whoosh!
The scene continued, as if the word “ferocity” suited it perfectly.
The fierce gust subsided. It was 5 minutes later.
When Ian opened his eyes at the sight of the ceased screams, he could see.
“I, I…”
With a groan, the dispersing magic floated into the air from Ariel’s body, who was now kneeling on the ground.
Its meaning was simple.
[The owner of the abyss aiming for you has disappeared!]
[Emergency quest completed!]
Leviathan. It was the demise of the blinded Demon King consumed by jealousy.
***
“Ugh… damn it.”
After Leviathan’s annihilation, Ian vomited up the accumulated blood.
He had tried to minimize the side effects by utilizing divine power, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought.
“Well… what can I do about it?”
If only he had been stabbed without displaying his swordsmanship so carelessly…
Just plunging it in for about 10 seconds was enough to burn his hand. He should be satisfied with it ending here.
“I guess I can’t use rapid regeneration…”
Neltalion, who was wriggling on the ground in the form of a slime.
Although she had grown in the form of a young child, due to excessive use of divine power, she regressed back to her previous form.
“Using too much power must have temporarily caused this appearance. It’s not degeneration.”
His hand suffered severe burns, and his speed was no longer normal. Even Neltalion had reverted to the form of a slime.
It was undoubtedly a reckless act, but in that situation, it was the best option. He was confident that even if he went back to the past, he would make the same choice.
“If it fails, of course, it’s my fault, but it’s not that.”
Wouldn’t it be enough to kill Leviathan and save Ariel?
Seeing her breathing, Ariel didn’t seem to have any problems with her health. Even if there were some, she would recover and get up on her own after being stabbed and slashed with the Holy Sword.
It was the moment when he sat down on the floor, ready to sigh.
“But… why aren’t all the mages disappearing in this region?”
Surely Leviathan had already lost its life and vanished, right?
Out of curiosity, he checked the status screen, but there was nothing particularly unusual.
“The notification of completing the quest is also showing normally.”
He succeeded in dealing with the existence of the abyss. Doesn’t that mean Leviathan disappeared?
Then, it should be normal for the mages to disappear too.
Sometimes, due to the vastness of the opponent’s magic, they slowly vanish, but…
“Leviathan isn’t like that. It has already consumed a lot of magic.”
Wasn’t it a guy who used so much of it that it even depleted his vitality?
The most surprising thing is that not only the mages who rule the world are disappearing, but it’s also getting thicker.
“What the hell is going on? Why aren’t they reappearing?”
It was the moment when Ian was preparing for caution about the strange phenomenon.
Ding!
[Confirming the third compensation secret!]
[You can meet someone who knows the truth!]
“What?”
The status window began to rise quickly.
Can I meet them? Is it different from being able to see past situations as before?
“A mortal who has wandered through eternal time….”
“What?”
A solemn voice spread from behind.
To confirm the identity of the voice, Ian turned his head and could see it.
“You are….”
“I knew you have faced limitations, but did you ultimately blind yourself and cut your wounds? It’s really pitiful.”
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Someone with a completely different caliber than the beings he had met before.
Just being in the same space made his breath stop, and he felt his whole body hair straighten.
In that moment, he instinctively realized who the author was. Someone with such power wasn’t many.
[A presence of the abyss is appearing in front of you.]
“…Belphagor.”
It was the moment when the indolent demon king, Belphagor revealed himself, who may be as powerful as the demons.