DSB 142

“It’s not over yet.”

Biakin said firmly. Victory would change everything. The subjects discovered a demon in the imperial palace? So what? Memories could be manipulated.

And once Lebel’s power was in his hands, everything would be resolved. He had witnessed that unreal power with his own eyes, and that made it all the more tempting.

More importantly, Lebel seemed to have orchestrated this entire situation without straining himself.

“…Haha, so you’re threatening me with Yutis’s life after all. That really is the last way you can survive.”

His words didn’t stray from expectation.

“I told you back then. Go ahead.”

Yutis was fighting well against Norman, who was using magic, by making use of his altered form. His experience battling various demonic beasts seemed to be helping.

“I won’t do anything. Even without me stepping in, victory will come on its own.”

“What are you all doing?! Go kill that monster!”

“Hah, but that thing…”

The imperial knights hesitated. Was following Biakin’s order truly the right thing to do in this situation? They weren’t sure. Besides, even setting that aside, they had absolutely no courage to get involved in that fight.

What human could possibly intervene in a battle between a monster and a demon? Moreover, how could a human possibly handle a fight taking place in the air?

“You must have seen it too. That is the young master transformed into a monster. If that isn’t a demon, then what is it?”

As Biakin bellowed and tried to shove the knights forward, a telepathic voice echoed in Lebel’s mind from afar.

“To you fools, I must show the true face of the one you believed in and followed.”

It would be better to clearly show that the North, that Yutis, had defeated evil.

[Pass this on to Yutis.]

Unlike a dragon’s body, human bodies don’t heal wounds automatically, so he had prepared sturdy armor as well.

After receiving the holy sword, Yutis returned to his original form. The battle with Norman had consumed the accumulated demonic energy within his body, and holding the holy sword restricted the demonic energy’s influence over him.

Lebel adjusted the timing accordingly, allowing the sun to slowly reveal itself.

Yutis’s silver hair shone brilliantly, like sand grains. The holy sword he held in his hand also gently glowed.

That light stood in stark contrast to the black-winged demon before them.

At that moment, dead humans crawling out of the darkness began attacking the citizens. As the people were thrown into chaos, his appearance was like a ray of salvation.

They had forgotten that Yutis was an enemy, believing without a doubt he was a hero come to save them.

“He… he’s going to save us!”

They believed the world had grown dark because of demons and the beings unrecognizable as human, and that the sun had reappeared because of Yutis wielding the holy sword.

“Huh? But that huge thing fighting the demon earlier… could it be…?”

“He spread his wings and flew in to save us! He was just as pure white too!”

Evil is black, good is white. That perception naturally cast Yutis as good.

Merick, who had briefly stepped away, reappeared. Lebel murmured softly when he saw him.

“You arrived early.”

“It seems the human they call the lord of that side wrapped things up nicely.”

Biakin, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, muttered.

“That unit…?”

“Human soldiers, demonic beasts, and even Norman are all trapped here. Did you truly believe you could stop it? Even knowing who is there? Ah, yes. Karon asked me to pass this along.”

Merick tossed the artifact Norman had used to subdue Karon at Biakin’s feet. The long spears lay scattered, all of them shattered.

“If you just stand here stunned, it’ll be too late to turn back.”

Merick spoke as if he were offering a small favor to the human. Biakin clenched his fists and turned away. Merick withdrew his attention from the defeated man.

“Won’t you be joining the fight, Lord Lebel?”

“My husband wants to fight. I’ll watch him. He’s doing well enough.”

“But he won’t be able to avoid getting hurt. Wasn’t that what you disliked?”

“I don’t like it either, but people will be even more enthusiastic about it. They’ll think he’s risking his life to protect them.”

Even though it’s for me.

“You’re putting a lot of effort into this.”

“Humans seem to place quite a bit of importance on what they see. I have to play along.”

The dead humans currently attacking the people were ones Merick had secretly set aside. Though prepared by Norman, they now moved by Merick’s power and thus ignored his commands.

Originally stationed at the imperial palace, many had connections to those living in the capital. Humans who recognized them were horrified and despairing.

Even while struggling against Norman, Yutis couldn’t ignore those in danger. He fought while protecting them. The more he did so, the more people looked at him with respect.

From Lebel’s perspective, it was foolish, but what could he do? That was just who he was.

“The more desperate the situation, the brighter the light shines. Witnessing that moment fills the heart with awe.”

“…That’s how Lord Lebel was to us. So I suppose that’s why he must have longed for you so desperately.”

“What shines is never easily obtained.”

“You’re right.”

Lebel watched Yutis fight in silence. He tried not to intervene, but he could see Yutis growing increasingly exhausted.

He was trying to protect humans even while facing Norman’s fierce attacks. He had set the stage, but he didn’t have to strain himself to protect humans.

“Yutis is at a significant disadvantage numerically.”

“Should we bring the northern army? It looks like the other side is considering it too.”

Merick spoke while glancing at the spot where Biakin had hurriedly left.

“No, it’s fine. Those things have served their purpose now. We should eliminate them.”

“I will…”

“I’ll do it. They’re trapped here because of me. I need to set them free.”

The sky rippled, and fireballs began falling from the once-blue expanse. People panicked, they tried to flee, but it was already too close.

But the fire that hit the ground didn’t burn people, it only consumed its designated targets.

“Wh-what? They… they’re burning…”

The ones engulfed in the scorching flames were the dead human who had been harming people. The flames consumed every evil soul.

The strangely blue hue of the flames was of no consequence to them.

“Does that level of power make it seem like a god is with Yutis?”

“Of course. Isn’t Lord Lebel himself with him?”

He was a demon, not a god, but he could fabricate anything. Purple symbolized demons, so he tried expressing it a little differently.

The people, momentarily forgetting their panic, sighed in relief and collapsed where they stood.

“Over there is ending too.”

With the obstruction cleared, Yutis’s victory was within reach.

A dark aura erupted from Norman’s fingertips and poured toward Yutis, but he parried it, holding his holy sword high.

“Merick, could you bring Father or Father-in-law? We need to tidy up here too, so it’d be best to bring some knights.”

“There are quite a few people to gather, so it might take some time.”

Lebel silently extended his hand. Merick’s eyes sparkled as he took it. He handed Merick an orb made of demonic energy.

“You should be able to return quickly now, right?”

“I will meet your expectations.”

Merick bowed and vanished.

Boom!

At that moment, a loud sound rang out. It was the collision and explosion of Yutis’s sword aura and Norman’s demonic energy. Every time the two clashed, the surroundings shattered.

“Stop resisting and just die…!”

Norman tried to gather his demonic energy again to fire a blast, but it scattered into the air before a sphere could even form. His demonic energy had run dry from his reckless attacks.

Yutis didn’t miss the opening. He took advantage of the debris scattered below from Norman’s demonic energy. He stepped on the rubble, jumped high and swung his sword.

Norman soared skyward to evade the attack. However, his depleted demonic energy left him unable to properly maintain his defensive barrier. His offensive was equally compromised.

“Damn it…! Humans! I must kill humans to replenish my demonic energy! “

Norman searched for humans worthy of replenishing his demonic energy. As befitted the empire’s capital, humans swarmed everywhere, they were prey scattered across the land.

Those watching the fight flinched and shuddered when Norman’s gaze turned their way.

“If I kill those…!”

“I won’t just stand by and watch….”

At that moment, something wrapped around Yutis’s foot, chains coiled tightly around his ankle, and Yutis turned around. There stood Biakin.

“You… magic….”

“Haha! Well done, human! Wait, hold onto that, and I’ll be right…!”

“If you have time to talk, just kill him quickly!”

Norman flew toward a person, aiming to fill his demonic energy. Yutis pulled his leg with all his might, but the chains didn’t break, as if it held Biakin’s last desperate struggle.

He couldn’t miss this moment now that Norman’s demonic energy was depleted. More importantly, Norman was about to harm innocent humans.

“Are you just going to stand by and watch a demon harm the people?!”

“If it means killing you, then absolutely.”

Yutis clenched the holy sword tightly, his expression grim. He could immediately tell that Lebel was watching him from nearby.

He trusted me and left it to me. I can’t disappoint him any further.

He took a deep breath. An unusual aura enveloped Yutis. A silver sword aura slowly began to envelop the holy sword’s blade.