Episode 15. Defending the Underworld (3)
Peremus? Why…… ?
The moment Ariel mentioned the worst person second only to the Demon King, I was blown away.
My head is blank, no words come to mind. As if to deny reality, my thoughts completely stopped, and I stayed blank for a while.
“Prause?”
“Huh?”
“That expression… …. Did you know from the start?”
Huh? What are you talking about?
“I see. Prauss expected Peremus to move and said he would go see Orient.”
No. Not at all. Absolutely not. What is he misunderstanding?
Since Ariel has the skill to manage her expression, she may seem indifferent to Ariel, but right now, in her heart, she is fighting against each other. She said it was like hitting her head with a hammer.
I was awakened by Ariel’s stupid words. I immediately turned the accident circuit with my mouth covered.
The sudden appearance of Peremus.
I had to think about the cause of this.
This is outside the scope of what was expected. Since I was going to the border, I thought that I might encounter monsters or demons. However, I did not expect to encounter the final boss, Peremus.
No, I was right.
From the beginning, I had thought of leaving out the number of cases where I would meet Peremus.
Peremus was mortally wounded in a fight with Phasma.
It took time for that fatal wound to fully recover.
In the game, it was implemented as being perfectly healed in the year immediately before the Battle of the Demons…….
Could it be that you recovered much faster than in the game? If so how?
With the information in my head, I couldn’t figure out the cause.
Is this also a variable?
Variables were not something I could do. If the situation was completely different from what happened in the game, the prediction contrast was meaningless.
Then what I had to think about was, why did Peremus move?
As I was enumerating the number of cases related to demons, I finally realized that there was only one black dragon.
“Is it because of the black dragon?”
I managed to get Ariel out of her grasp, often taking a step ahead.
“Did you bring the Legion by any chance?”
Ariel immediately follows me. She asked her of her side by side with me.
“No. It looks like you came with one of the auxiliary demons.”
Two, including Peremus.
Since it is not a corps, I was able to relax for a moment.
I don’t know why the wound healed so quickly, but at least it’s safe to say that I’m not in a state to lead an army.
But it was too early to be relieved.
The key was whether the warriors could defeat Peremus, who had moved fast for 7 years.
It is true that the current heroes have grown much more than in the game, and two of them have signed a contract with the Spirit King. I expect it won’t be overpowering.
However, the situation was completely different from the time of the black dragon, so I couldn’t completely shake off my anxiety.
The difference between 2nd and 11th in the ranks seems negligible when you look at the numbers alone, but comparing their strength, it can be said to be the difference between heaven and earth.
In other words, it means that you can’t go over as smoothly as you did with the black dragon. The attack that worked on the black dragon wouldn’t work on him either.
“You’re a quick-tempered guy.”
Still, I can’t turn away.
Orient is what we absolutely need. Because she had to inject her power, a fragment of the World Tree, into Maria.
“What do you plan to do?”
Ariel asked cautiously. She can’t manage her expression at all, it seems to be because of her Phasma.
“What would you like me to do? Phasma.”
Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I asked the red ghost floating next to me. Ariel was taken aback. She seemed to forget the fact that Phasma and I were connected at the sudden appearance of Pheremus.
[…] … Prause, my friend. Don’t you know better than anyone what kind of humiliation I’ve been through.]
Yes, I know.
That the reason why this lover had no choice but to become pathetic was because of Peremus.
[I will not wish for anything else in the future. I want you to lend her body so I can kill Peremus. If you do that, I will support you until the moment I disappear.]
I thought it sounded like the words of a warrior who was prepared to risk her life.
But despite his will, my answer was no.
“Even if you borrow my body, you cannot kill Peremus.”
If you think about the possibility of winning against Peremus, the answer was right there. And that fight didn’t fit the purpose of raising a warrior through hardships.
The reason why I stabilized the empire and raised warriors so that they can safely fight the Manma War was to ensure that I would not step in.
When I had to kill the black dragon, I had to show it, but I was sure I could kill it.
But Peremus is a different story.
Even if the warriors and spirit kings work together, let alone stand alone, they will win. In the game, if you take a few hits and eat potions, you might be able to fight, but in reality, there was no flexibility in that kind of thing.
It was the reality of this world that even one hit would kill you.
However, there was no way he could allow a reckless challenge against the final boss, Peremus. There is only one coin.
Furthermore, 7 years early now, the growth of the hero was not perfect, and it seemed to collide.
Some of us might die if we had to fight Peremus.
It was best not to fight as much as possible.
But if a fight still breaks out, I’ll have no choice but to be prepared.
I want to farm other armor relics, but I don’t think I have time for that. The character of ‘that woman’.
“The battle is postponed until later. First, focus on rescuing Orient.”
[But…… !]
“If you die, there is no porridge or rice. Just like you died when your body exploded, don’t you want me to be like that too?”
I drove a wedge into Phasma, who was stubborn like a child. Ariel and Phasma opened their mouths at the same time. It was a face that was properly surprised by something.
[How do you know that my body exploded and died?]
“…… Prauss, how do you know that Phasma exploded and died?”
They asked me almost simultaneously. I realized later that I had made a mistake.
“Prause is…… How do you know that You weren’t even born then. I haven’t seen anyone receive information separately…… ?”
Ariel asked seriously. I turned my gaze the other way. I had no choice but to choose silence. Because I couldn’t say I saw it in the game.
“…… Player…… Is it Ra?”
It was a cautious question.
“Can you tell because you escaped causality? Is it possible to know the past by looking at the other person?”
“That’s only possible by God. I just…….”
I only did voyeurism. I just watched and listened as if I was passing on knowledge.
“…… Don’t pay attention to trifles. For now, go to the neighborhood where Orient is—”
Kwaaak!
Catch my arm going ahead and pull it. Due to the action, the center of the body was disturbed, and there was no choice but to be held in Ariel’s arms.
“What are you doing—!”
“How trivial that is!”
Holding my waist tightly, he pushed his face in and shouted. Ariel can’t contain her excitement. Her chest is pounding and she can’t control her breathing. I could feel her heart beating fast.
“Tell me. Prause…… ! How do you know that Perhaps Phasma was in the place where Peremus was fighting…… Was there?”
“I am in a hurry. Where is the time to be talking like this?”
This world is the worldview of the game I played, and you were that character. I couldn’t bear to say that, so for me, evasiveness was the limit.
“If you think about it, it was. You knew everything about coming to us and how I buried the equipment where Phasma died.”
“Master! Ariel!”
With Ariel’s continued questioning, the warriors find us and approach us in a hurry. Behind the warriors were Urca and Phoenix.
“What the hell are you…… What is identity? No, what the hell does the player that World Tree-sama told you mean?”
“Get away for now.”
Even though the party is watching, they won’t let go until the end. I can’t escape how much strength I’m giving to the hands that hold my waist and arms.
“Master, Ariel. What are you doing?”
Maria hinted. Her face was shocked by something.
“Ariel! What are you doing?!”
Arial’s gaze fell from me for the first time at Phoenix’s scream.
“I was trying to talk, but Prause kept running away, so I just caught him. Don’t get me wrong. All I have is Phasma—”
“Do you think I’m asking something like that?! Why are you wasting your time when you don’t know Orient will die! What are you doing when you have to go get it right away?!”
“… ….”
As Phoenix bursts into anger, the grip on my body loses some strength. I took advantage of the gap and pulled myself out.
I watched Ariel give her strength to the point that her fists trembled, then turned to her.
“Stop.”
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“… ….”
“You know Orient’s life and death are at stake, but I still have to listen.”
If you don’t tell me, you won’t move even one step. The hostility in his eyes was terrifying. Anyway, when I say Phasma work, my eyes go wide open.
I met Ariel’s eyes as I reprimanded myself for my slip of the tongue.
“…… We will talk when everything is over.”
I sighed and said reluctantly.
By that time, all the information I have will be useless. It wouldn’t hurt to reveal all the facts and break up with these people.
“Everything…… ?”
“It was after the Great War of Man and Horse was over. When the demon king dies and peace returns, ask me again. ‘Who are you?’ I will answer you then.”
After answering Ariel, I saw the warriors.
“So are you. If you have any questions about me after the Great War, I will answer all of them. Who I am, how did you know that you would awaken as warriors? Everything.”
I looked back and forth between Phasma and Ariel before taking another step. The two of them were looking at me silently, as if my answer was unexpected. It was as if he was trying to find out what the meaning of my answer was.
“So don’t ask anything now. I have no intention of answering even if you ask me.”
Turn around and take the first step.
“Let’s go.”
No matter what, Orient is the priority right now.
Please, be quiet. Orient.
I know what you think of Ariel.
* * *
A forest area at the southernmost tip of the border of the Empire.
This was once a place where beastmen and elves lived and spread out their villages. Although now, after the massacre, they have all been taken away and only wild animals live.
And an uninvited guest appeared in a place where the temperature is humid and high throughout the year.
It was Peremus with blue skin and Pero with a Pierrot mask.
“It’s quite hot here.”
Perro put his finger in the collar of his shirt and slightly disturbed it, then looked around. At that, Peremus’ brow wrinkled.
“What do you call a guy who doesn’t get hot? Are you pretending to be human?”
“hahahaha! Everyone will be surprised to see my face hidden behind a mask. Because my face is the face of a thousand.”
“… Ha, I didn’t come here to chat. Stay out of the way.”
“Yes?”
Perro, who answered naturally while maintaining a smile, is startled. Facing the rapidly rising pressure of mana, Pero unconsciously swallowed her saliva.
“I don’t have time, so I’ll do it quickly. If this whole forest is blown away, that spirit king will have no choice but to come out.”
“You are right. I’ll get rid of this hot place quickly.”
‘Hoo-hu-hu…’ … please run amok So that the hero can find us.’
“Then, lightly—!”
The atmosphere is being pulled by his fist. Even though he didn’t use wind magic, a phenomenon occurred where air rushed to his mighty arms.
“Suck!”
The moment Pheremus gathered his strength and stretched his fist forward, a huge wall rose from the ground.
Koo-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The land that soared even with a light fist was completely destroyed, and half of the forest area that had been formed for hundreds of years was blown away. It was a power that twisted even nature. He left a trail in the form of a cylinder and frowned.
“I was going to get rid of everything… …. What is this?”
“…… It seems to be the trick of the spirit king.”
“Yes… …. Then, as Maou-nim said, the Spirit King is here, right?”
The wind gathers in my fist once more.
The ground rose from the ground and raised his arm before he could stretch out once more.
Koo-goo-gu!
The pressure exerted through the fist dissipated the cloud. Peremus’s expression wrinkled and blood vessels appeared on his face.
“Ha, you motherf*cker… …. Let’s do this?!”
A squirrel watches from a tree as Peremus clenches his fist again. And through the eyes of the squirrel, a woman was watching him closely.
It was Orient’s special skill, the spirit king of the land who shared vision with animals.
In a dark space, close your eyes and feel the ground on which the two demons are standing.
“Peremus… ….”
A brown fairy outfit that differs only in color from Ariel.
Her long brown hair was rolled up and pinned up with her hairpin, and her figure was neat, yet somehow elegant.
“You can never get past this place.”
With murderous intent in Orient’s wide brown eyes, mana began to seep into the ground.