Xenia swallowed hard.
Ophelia, no… Teranaim slowly opened her mouth.
Her voice cracked, fragile and worn, just like her aged appearance.
“Xenia.”
“…”
“Xenia. It’s me. Ophelia.”
“…”
“Help me. Please… Don’t let the Hero kill me.”
The plea was desperate, but Xenia replied without hesitation.
“Mr. Mide won’t kill you. I don’t even need to stop him.”“…”
“You’re the one who should surrender. That’s the only way I’ll have anything to say in your defense.”
This girl.
I hadn’t expected her to stand so firmly on my side.
Feeling oddly moved, I glanced at Xenia.
Then Ophelia spoke again.
No, it wasn’t Ophelia’s voice anymore.
“…So it’s no use after all.”
Idria!
She must be linked directly to her subordinate’s body.
Idria kept talking.
“Fine. Then allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Teranaim…”
“Shut up!”
I clenched my teeth.
“Teranaim? Isn’t that the spirit word for ‘friend’?”
“Oh?”
“I’m not talking to you, Ophelia. I’m speaking to you, Idria, you bitch.”
“…”
“You turned Xenia’s friend into this and then gave her the name ‘friend’ in spirit tongue? I’m sick to death of your lies and deceit.”
Idria was watching.
She was listening.
Even before the regression, she had used her subordinates to communicate with us.
And though it was indirect, this was the first time since my return that I was speaking to Idria.
I let out all the rage I’d been holding back.
“How many more people do you have to toy with before you’re satisfied? Why don’t you just die quickly at my hands, like all the other Demon Kings before you?”
“…So you figured out I can connect to my own fingers.”
This time, it wasn’t the cracked old voice, but a smooth, soft, almost lazy one.
It’s Idria!
Even without being told, my party members seemed to realize, that was Idria.
Clang. Tap.
Everyone drew their weapons and faced her.
Idria, speaking through Teranaim, asked:
“How did you know? This is the first time I have shown one of my subordinates to the world.”
I didn’t answer her question.
Instead, I said coldly:
“Demon King, unloved and isolated by the world, where are you hiding right now?”
“…”
“Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you as fast as I can. I’ll even bring a gift.”
“Hm. I will have to ask my roommate. There’s someone who might have a seizure just seeing you.”
“Kaeld?”
“Yes. It’s not time for us to meet yet. But we can have plenty of indirect conversations like this. I have had many questions for you anyway.”
Ssshhk.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Teranaim’s feet stirred.
Then moments later, it erupted.
KUGWAGWANG!
Several buildings nearby collapsed like paper.
“Waaah!”
“It’s a monster!”
“What the hell is that grotesque thing…”
But the ground hadn’t exploded.
A massive bug that had been lying dormant underground had simply risen.
‘That bug…!’
It was a completely different class from the swarms of bugs Teranaim commanded.
I remembered Teranaim sitting atop that creature, looking down at us before regression.
Helnaim.
Kuuung. Kung.
The bug planted its eight legs firmly on the ground.
Even that alone made us feel like the earth was rising beneath our feet.
“It’s…It’s bigger than a building!”
“Everyone, get ready. That thing won’t go down easy.”
Just as I said that.
From Helnaim’s shoulder, I heard Teranaim’s voice, no, Idria’s voice:
“Mide. Come.”
“What?”
“I request an audience. Just the two of us.”
“Can’t I kill the bug first, and then go?”
“Are you worried your precious party members can’t handle a single bug? Then perhaps your companions are more pathetic than I thought.”
That pissed me off.
Idria, clearly believing I would follow, flew to the sky.
Just then, Neril tapped me on the back.
“Go. We’ll kill this thing and catch up.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“That’s my line.”
“…”
“This is the first time the Demon King Idria has shown herself to us. We have to use this chance to learn as much as we can.”
Neril was right.
But Helnaim was the king of bugs who tormented us even before regression.
Could they really handle it without me…?
As I thought that far, I suddenly realized how arrogant I’d become.
‘Why did I think they couldn’t?’
My party members were all hero-class.
They were elite among elites, second to none, even compared to past Hero’s parties.
I firmed up my resolve and said:
“Neril. Cast a flying spell on me.”
“Already did.”
“Thanks. Thank you, all of you.”
The party members chuckled.
“Glad I finally get to earn my keep.”
“Mr. Mide, you be careful. We will kill this thing and come help right after.”
“Take good care of Ophelia.”
“I summoned Lepia’s soul. Her compatibility with you is still good, right?”
“Should we bet on who finishes first?”
Smiling faintly, I pulled the Gem of Desolation from my pocket.
I tossed it to Neril and said:
“A token of encouragement.”
“You should be the one to keep this, since you’re facing the Demon King.”
“Even if Idria is borrowing Ophelia’s body, the real Demon King hasn’t descended. She can’t use more power than she granted.”
“But still…”
“It’s fine. A Hero beats a Demon King. I’m not about to lose to her subordinate.”
Neril smiled faintly and gripped the jewel.
“Got it. I’ll put it to good use.”
“Yeah.”
I stepped into the air.
As if climbing invisible stairs, I rose steadily into the sky.
From behind me, I heard Neril’s voice:
“Everyone, listen up. I’ve got a plan.”
Idria was waiting a good distance away from where the bug king stood.
She spoke.
“Shall we introduce ourselves properly?”
“A real introduction should be face to face. Use your precious space authority to show me your true body.”
“That would be troublesome. There’s Bion Kunze to consider and it seems you have grown absurdly strong as well.”
“I didn’t think the Demon King would be such a coward. If you’re this scared now, what will you do when the oracle descends?”
“Kukuk.”
Idria laughed coldly.
Then she said something that made me doubt my ears.
“Mide, to encourage you to give up, I’ll share a special secret.”
“What is it?”
“There will be no oracle.”
For a moment, it felt as if all the light in the world went out.
The Demon King spoke again, clearly and slowly, as if making sure I heard:
“There is no oracle. Therefore, you will never become a Hero.”
“What…”
“So give up now. You have done well enough.”
“Cut the nonsense!”
There was an oracle before regression.
That Demon King was just trying to deceive me with lies, true to her name.
But seeing my reaction, Idria calmly continued her explanation.
“You must have heard from Bion Kunze. I am a very special Demon King. And Bion Kunze is a very special Hero.”
“…”
“And because we are so special, our battle must remain entirely secret.”
I couldn’t understand what she meant.
Idria kept speaking.
“I resurrect, even after death. Because lies have filled the world from the beginning until now.”
“I heard that already.”
“Now imagine, what if my fight with Bion became known to the world? The Demon King was definitely defeated, yet she returned not long after? That’s never happened before, has it?”
“…”
“Wouldn’t people start thinking something’s wrong?”
What the hell is she talking about?
“And what does that have to do with there being no oracle?”
“If a Hero chosen by divine oracle failed to kill the Demon King, wouldn’t that be a blow to their dignity?”
“To whose dignity?”
“To the one who gave the oracle.”
My heart felt like it stopped.
‘The Celestial God?’
My emotions, usually calm, began to churn violently.
“So you’re saying… the Celestial God won’t deliver an oracle just to protect their pride?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“That’s why Bion was born as a Hero. Because sending a grand oracle would have been too flashy.”
…
I couldn’t make sense of it.
If it’s the Celestial God, shouldn’t they be doing everything possible for the sake of humanity?
Withholding an oracle to protect their image?
That’s complete nonsense.
‘Trail. Is any of that true?’
[At the very least, it’s true that I’m a Hero who doesn’t need an oracle.]
‘…’
[But don’t worry. Even if they don’t give one for me, they will definitely give one for you. After all, you said an oracle was delivered before regression.]
I kept my expression in check and cautiously asked:
‘Idria says the Celestial God won’t give an oracle to a Hero who can kill a resurrecting Demon King, because it would hurt their pride.’
[That’s Idria’s delusion. The Celestial God isn’t like that. If they were that petty and shallow, then everything I have done until now…]
‘…’
[…Sigh. Sorry, I got emotional. But don’t listen to her. Have you forgotten her title?]
The Demon King of Lies.
But why?
This time, I had the gut feeling she might be telling the truth.
I spoke.
‘Before regression, the oracle was definitely given. But it was given to Kaeld. Isn’t that strange, now that I think about it? Why him?’
[At the time, Kaeld had the most fame and recognition.]
‘…’
[Mide. Are you listening to me?]
Hmm.
No.
I stayed silent for a while.
Then asked Idria:
“So you’re saying there really is no oracle?”
“Yes. You really are deaf, aren’t you?”
I shook my head and asked again:
“You are not trying to send out a fake oracle, are you?”
Idria’s expression stiffened.
Bullseye.
I kept going.
“You can fake a Hero’s sword, a Demon King’s Gem, even a human body.”
“…”
“So why not a fake oracle too? That’s what this is, right? You were planning to cap off your ‘Kaeld the Hero’ scam with a fake oracle.”
“You, you… What are you…”
“I was wondering why Kaeld hadn’t shown up yet. I guess he’s busy prepping for your little oracle performance.”
Idria stayed silent.
Meanwhile, Trail shouted in disbelief:
[A fake oracle? Then the oracle from before regression was fake too? Are you saying the Celestial God never actually gave it?!]
‘Calm down, Trail.’
[…]
‘I get how you feel. But let’s hear what Idria says first.’
At last, Idria opened her mouth.
“You really are a bizarre creature.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“I was trying to make you give up, but now it’s backfired. I should never have asked for this conversation.”
“…”
“I will take my leave. But I’ll leave Teranaim behind. She may not be able to kill you, but she can still drag your reputation through the mud.”
Before disappearing, Idria looked past me and continued:
“Bion, you take care too.”
“…”
“Speaking like this through subordinates doesn’t affect me at all. I’ll come visit again.”
Her tone shifted slightly compared to when she spoke to me.
Odd as it sounds, there was something almost… friendly in it.
Bion responded directly in my head:
[Tell her to get lost.]
“He says to get lost.”
Idria chuckled.
“You have never changed. So cold.”
Fsssshhh.
I saw something, black mist drain from Teranaim’s body.
And I had to work to calm the storm of confusion inside me.
Then, slowly, light returned to Teranaim’s, no, the aged Ophelia’s eyes.
Right. Questions could wait.
For now, there was someone who needed saving.
I raised my sword.
“Miss Ophelia. Can you hear me?”
“…”
“Xenia told me you used to say some really embarrassing things when you were younger.”
“…”
“I’m curious how you stack up against Adwin. Once you’re human again, would you mind showing me sometime?”
Ophelia’s eyes trembled.
She tried to say something.
But the power of Idria had turned her into a puppet, her mouth could no longer form words.
Only pained groans and tearful whimpers escaped.
“Kh… Hrrrk…”
Ophelia. I’m sorry for what happened before the regression.
For not realizing who you were.
For failing to stop Xenia from killing you.
‘As an apology.’
I took my stance.
“I will cut the filthy chains of Idria from you.”
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