To be honest, the current situation is completely unexpected.
In a place where so many elven dignitaries have gathered, and in one of the busiest downtown areas of Pangrave.
How could we have known that One Who Devours the Twilight would suddenly appear?
“To think of the day when Lemon and Apple would actually say the right thing.”
I was flustered, but I didn’t hesitate to make a judgment. It wasn’t that difficult of a problem.
Tuberose partnered with One Who Devours the Twilight and did something to Eve. And now her true colors had been revealed.
So what should we do now? The answer is simple.
“Miss Lydia! Please! Leave this side to Shadow!”
“Yeah.”
Perhaps thinking of my safety as the top priority, Lydia, who was immediately blocking the front, charged forward as is.The aura resembling flames rising from her body was far more ferocious than when I faced Minotauros.
However, as if they had their own plans, those bastards moved as if they had been waiting.
“Kyahh!”
“Madam President! Why…!”
She takes an elf from the surroundings hostage. It wasn’t a distinguished guest who often carries defensive magical tools because of having lots of money. It was the poor employee who met the wrong boss.
How could ordinary people with almost no combat power, regardless of gender, oppose heretics who decided to cause trouble?
In an instant, three or four people have been grabbed and used as shields.
“Chit.”
Just like when we first met, Lydia is too weak against hostages. And this fact is too widely known.
If One Who Devours the Twilight used hostages as a shield to inflict more victims, they would have proceeded ruthlessly…
If we create a standoff like now, they won’t be able to move easily.
This is Lydia’s noble advantage, but it is also her weakness.
…But aren’t companions here to solve such problems?
“Benny!”
“I know!”
Benny, wearing a slightly more provocative dress than usual, with her back revealed in a deep opening and her body lines blatantly exposed.
Defying the direction of the light, her shadow stretches unnaturally toward those One Who Devour the Twilight.
Following that, what emerges is a mass of flesh one might fear to see in a dream. It was Shadow.
-Kuhhoeng!
With an oppressive roar, Shadow surges from the shadows. Its movement was graceful like a dolphin emerging from the water, but the result was horrific.
Ugh!
“Ahhhhh!”
One of the girls holding a hostage had her arm ripped off by Shadow’s sharp teeth just as it was. The tendrils extending from the amorphous flesh become dozens of arms, overwhelming the other heretics.
Reflexively throwing the hostages aside and dodging the tendrils, that brief gap was enough for Lydia to take advantage of.
“Heup!”
With a short yell of exertion, a slashing strike extends. Instead of the usual greatsword, a thin rapier is shot at an invisible speed.
Just like pulling a gun’s trigger, every time a flame-like aura erupts, a part of the body of the One Who Devours the Twilight also explodes.
Most of them had their shoulders or upper bodies blown away, perhaps due to the hostages, but some had their heads shattered by the rapier that flew through a small gap.
Hostages frantically fleeing in panic, and dignitaries who were late to implement countermeasures.
Since it was the banquet hall, they didn’t carry proper weapons, but all sorts of accessories adorning their bodies sparkled, each emanating its own unique energy.
Some had gained special powers simply by the soul of a craftsman being imbued within them, while others wielded artifacts engraved with magic from the outset, and there even some who borrowed the power of embedded spirits.
With equipment magic capable of exerting power equivalent to a second floor adventurer even without combat abilities, their gear was impressive. However, things didn’t proceed so easily.
“Fellow countrymen, could you please stay still for now?”
Behind One Who Devours the Twilight, Tuberose who had been hiding and watching all this spectacle, began to glow a yellow-green color.
It was a slightly unsettling color, different from the bright light green emitted by Basilieus or the Eye of Truth possessed by Eve.
At the same time, the faint sense of unease I felt began to amplify.
To me, it’s just a suspicious energy, but maybe it’s different for the elves.
Suddenly, from behind the grand seat I was sitting on, the hiding Lemon and Apple shouted, making creaking noises.
“Sir, Jonah! This is dangerous…!”
“My body. Doesn’t. Move well.”
The two of them creaked like broken tin dolls. Now that I think about it, others were in similar trouble.
Lydia’s movements had clearly slowed down, and Benny was continuously chanting something, but her eyes were severely distorted. As for Shadow, its flesh was crumbling and regenerating repeatedly.
At least I could still move, while the other elves were almost as stiff as logs.
I don’t know why, but those eyes seem to be operating differently from the Eye of Truth.
It seems that I’m the only one completely intact.
Now that I see it, the Unicorn Dagger I had reflexively drawn was emitting a subtle light, even though it wasn’t in the process of determining virginity.
The purifying power contained in the Unicorn Horn was likely dispelling Tuberose’s power.
First, to prevent the light from escaping, I stealthily hid the Unicorn Dagger between my clothes.
Meanwhile, somehow after finishing her chanting, Benny’s finger pointed to a person who seemed like the leader of One Who Devours the Twilight.
“…Die, you crazy bitches! Rotten Flesh!”
A red beam of light burst forth from Benny’s index finger. Even though we were allies, the aura felt ominous and dangerous.
But the heretic’s leader was just staring at the fast-flying laser with an indifferent expression.
“Even something like a failure has great momentum.”
With that single word, a bright red barrier of flames wrapped around her body. The moment I saw it, I immediately knew. It wasn’t just ordinary flames, but a part of the sun.
Although it was said to be made of magic, the heretic burned the laser, which clearly had the form of light, just as it was.
It’s an impossible thing. That’s why it must be called a miracle.
But Benny’s magic wasn’t over yet. What could be the reason for preparing such an extensive incantation in such an urgent situation?
Benny acknowledged and accepted Shadow. The connection between them had grown that much stronger.
If each was a part of the other, it shouldn’t be impossible to cast magic from Shadow, and not just Benny.
-Kyaaaak!
Shadow, who was confronting another One Who Devours the Twilight in a place where Lydia’s sword could not reach, began to swell rapidly, and red beams fired from the mouths that sprouted all over its body.
A Mentee-class heretic who was struck orthodoxly had her body rotting while still alive, ultimately leaving only bones before dying.
Then, about six of these beams bent at unnatural angles, aiming at the figure who appeared to be the leader from all directions. However.
“…Not bad for a failure.”
The flames enveloping her entire body intensified and took the shape of long, extended wings.
A form resembling a bird made of fire. It was one of the carefully crafted settings, and I recognized it immediately upon seeing it.
“Wings of the Phoenix?!”
A Power that represents the Sun God’s mastery of both martial and magical arts. Among the dead god’s abilities, which inherently lack potential for growth, it stands out as one of the most powerful.
While I had established that it was to be taken by the enemy… Of all places it would appear.
While lamenting inwardly, the wings made of flames block and burn the beams emanating from Shadow in all directions.
At the same time, a burning sword falling from the void pierces through Shadow’s body.
-Kieeek!
Flames that burn Shadow’s entire body. The firepower was impressive, but it wasn’t enough to surpass Shadow’s regenerative abilities.
…The problem is that carrying those flames has half-sealed Shadow’s regeneration.
Perhaps knowing this, another Mentee-class heretic charged toward Shadow.
“Ha ha! I’ve been short on test subjects lately, but now I can get a test subject that doesn’t break down!”
A girl extends her fist with a hearty laugh. Surprisingly, her fist was made of steel.
Since divine power is being felt, it can’t be a prosthetic arm. Then, what remains is one of the God of Earth’s universal powers, Iron Arm of the Great God.
A power that temporarily transforms one’s arms into steel, allowing them to exert tremendous strength.
Boom!
Shadow, who was struck by this, is instantly incapacitated. Normally, as if reversing time, it should have returned in an instant…but now, the speed is too slow to allow for additional strikes.
Boom!
Iron Arm strikes again at the remaining part of Shadow. Eventually, having given up on complete regeneration, Shadow transferred its consciousness to one of the larger fragments among the scattered pieces.
-Kreung….
A body size that has clearly shrunk compared to earlier. Since it was certain that Shadow would be completely neutralized if this continued, Lydia, who had been steadily eliminating Mentee-class heretics, let out a sigh and stepped in between, as if to protect Shadow.
“Anyway, things never end easily.”
“I don’t know what kind of bitch you are, but I’ll blow you away too!!”
The highly excited girl charged foolishly like a female gorilla.
Iron Arm rushed forward, propelled by wind pressure. As if she were countering it, Lydia had already wrapped her aura around the greatsword she drew.
Whooong!
A collision sound almost like an explosion.
Shadow, collecting the scattered burning flesh, crawled back to where Lydia had been just a moment ago.
Various magical tools automatically activated to protect the immobilized honored guests. And Mentee-class heretics used every possible means to break through them.
Shadow was in the middle of fighting, using the fire bonded to her body in reverse to burn the enemy’s body.
Tuberose, who had dropped a bomb in the banquet hall and was casually sipping wine, spoke up.
“Don’t worry too much. Even if there are unexpected guests, how could I have anything against my own kind? So, please don’t resist and give yourself up quietly. Safety will be guaranteed by Mentor Tania here.”
The leader-like Mentor fending off the magic that Benny was firing with burning wings. Tuberose spoke, and the girl named Tania nodded her head.
“We just need to retrieve the power of the World Tree. It would be better if we could concurrently eliminate those who continuously disrupt the Goddess’s plan, but.”
A statement demanding surrender.
At first glance, it might sound sweet. But there is no one here who doesn’t know that this is a trap.
Without anyone to trust, would you trust One Who Devours the Twilight?
Even if she was a traitor, did she want to remain a good mother to her daughter? Rosemary was not affected by Tuberose’s paralysis effect.
She was frozen in place just because she was too surprised until now.
“Mother…why…”
At her daughter’s panicked voice, Tuberose gave a gentle smile.
“My daughter. You are the successor who will inherit everything of mine. You may not understand it now. But when the time comes, you will surely understand me as your mother. Perhaps you might make the same choice. Are we not mother and daughter?”
“Ah, no! That can’t be! This…this is wrong!”
Rosemary gritted her teeth and stood up. The magical tools she had prepared to face Minotauros all began to shine as various spells floated into the air.
“…There’s no helping it. Just go to sleep and wake up.”
As Tuberose’s eyes emitted a greenish-yellow light once again, Rosemary froze just like the others.
Passing by her immobilized daughter and moving to the seat of honor, Tuberose headed toward me.
Her objective is probably me. More specifically, just as Eve did, it must be because I was the one who holds the power of the World Tree.
Now I roughly understand why Eve fell to darkness.
Certainly, she went to Tuberose for help because her romantic front with the protagonist wasn’t going well…
She was betrayed just like that.
If someone I have trusted and tried to protect betrays me, I think even I would succumb to darkness.
…If that’s the case, then Eve is still alive.
Succumbing to darkness is ultimately something that requires one to be alive, isn’t it.
Twiddling with the hilt of the dagger hidden between the folds of my clothes, I take a moment to gather my thoughts.
Lemon and Apple, who belatedly realized that the purpose of Tuberose was me, wriggled and spoke from behind the throne.
“Sir Jonah…run….”
“Here we…!”
“……”
No, how dare those gals who can’t even speak properly or stand up tell me to leave it to them and run away.
Thinking that Lemon and Apple are a bit dumb, but their nature isn’t bad, I chuckled to myself. However, only inside.
Because outwardly, I had to pretend to be paralyzed like the others.
Meanwhile, Tuberose, who finally arrived right before the front seat, gave a grimy smile.
“I’ll give you some advice in advance. Don’t be stubborn for no reason and answer the questions. After all, your death is inevitable, so even if you die, shouldn’t you die without pain?”
“What the hell, you crazy bitch! Can’t you see me?!”
As she blocked the leader of One Who Devours the Twilight, Tania’s hot wind with magic made of flesh and bones, Benny pushed her body in front of me.
Benny was still pouring all her attention into Tania and firing magic, but…the two were evenly matched.
No, even though their power was somewhat similar, Benny was being heavily outmatched in compatibility, so she was slightly at a disadvantage.
Anyway, Tuberose, knowing well that Benny was all talk and didn’t really have the strength to actually protect me, started to laugh at Benny and began to ascend to the higher seat.
“Why not try blocking wherever you can?”
“Ei…!”
It was the moment when Benny, finally preparing for an unfamiliar hand-to-hand combat, raised one leg.
“Yeah. If you can block it, try to block it.”
She smirked and pulled up the corner of her lips, unraveling the things she had prepared in advance.
Roots extending from the giant tree that merged with the chair she was sitting on grabbed Tuberose’s ankles, and the branches that extended long above fixed her forearms.
“How?!”
I swung the hidden Unicorn Dagger at Tuberose, who had become defenseless in an instant.
l aimed for the neck to cut off the air in one swift strike, but.
Clang!
Along with the sound of breaking glass, the Dagger stopped a few centimeters away from the nape of her neck.
“Tsk.”
“Well, being the president of the Cradle Trading Company who is flush with money, she probably did have some defenses.”
A shield was created by a magical artifact that automatically activated upon detecting the wearer’s danger. Somehow, I managed to peel off two layers, but was only able to crack the last layer, not completely break it.
“Huh, huuh. That was a good attempt, but it seems luck is not on my side.”
Although they said they had bottled Basilieus’s power, perhaps because it’s essentially just an ordinary ornamental tree.
When Tuberose exerted force, the roots and branches, unable to withstand it, began to peel away little by little.
Towards her cheerful smile, I also grinned.
“Eh. It’s a pity to end it here, isn’t it?”
Instead of forcibly extracting the Unicorn Dagger, which was hard to retrieve due to being embedded between the layers of the shield, I completely released it and took out a Wrist Crossbow from my Subspace Ring.
“There’s still one shot left.”
I skillfully mounted it on my wrist, and after the simplified loading achieved through the last few breakthroughs, the string was pulled.
Tung! Tung! Tung!
Three arrows were fired in quick succession, accompanied by a low resonance.
The first arrow penetrated the crack created by the dagger, and the second arrow spread it open to break the last shield.
And the last third arrow.
Thunk!
“Gah!”
Immediately lodged itself into Tuberose’s neck.
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