25 – Captured All by Herself – 6

“The tutorial Demon King has been captured.”

The fairy, who had visited after a long time, said so as she wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and the chocolate cream on her mouth.

The chocolate éclair, completed through the Soul Cooking skill, was a masterpiece where, the moment one took a bite, along with the crisp feeling of biting into the choux pastry, one felt their wounded soul being comforted by the chocolate cream rushing warmly and sweetly into their mouth; the fairy had also just barely come to her senses after taking a bite of it, crying out for her mom and dad while weeping loudly.

It was no wonder the group looked at her with pleased expressions.

Once one realized the fact that even this rude and annoying fairy had a childhood when she only looked for her parents, it was truly strange that, for some reason, one could not bring themselves to hate her that much.

“Hey, I said the tutorial Demon King was captured! Don’t look at me with such pleased expressions!”

The fairy, who could do nothing but yell even when angry at him since it had been a long time since Gi-jun became stronger than herself, shouted while trembling all over.

Lucy, the Spirit of Light, who did not hesitate to return to her human form and consume his spiritual power if it meant eating even one more of Gi-jun’s dishes, picked up another éclair and handed it to the fairy.

—Yes, yes. Do you want to have one more of this for now?

“Thank you for the food!”

The fairy, who devoured another éclair while still politely thanking them despite being furious, continued.

“The ones who defeated the Demon King are, of course, the four-person party including the Hero Ye-min. In addition to the party that directly killed the Demon King, dozens of others who dealt valid blows will receive reward titles, and among them, the man named Choi Kang was strangely strong. Why wasn’t he seen during the first round…?”

“Didn’t you kill him?”

At the Demon King’s razor-sharp question, the fairy denied it with a small chuckle.

“Oh, no way. The authority to kill given to a tutorial fairy is only one. In the first round, all I did was kill a punk-like guy who was talking nonsense and trying to hit me. Their impressions were completely different, so could it really be that person?”

Perhaps because she had eaten the soul-soothing éclair, the fairy’s way of speaking was also a bit gentle today.

“Anyway, after defeating the Demon King, they received the notification of the end of the tutorial and a brief guide to the continent of Leta from another fairy. And just like those who passed the tutorial always did, they were granted ten days of leeway.”

“Got it?” the fairy emphasized.

“It means this place will also end in ten days. If there is still something to do, wrap it up. And make sure to put the three items you will take with you in your inventory.”

“Ah…”

“I suppose so.”

—Ah, ugh…

Even though it was news he had fully expected, Gi-jun groaned and closed his eyes.

The Demon King nodded readily as if she understood, and Lucy hesitated, looking forward to Leta while also warily reading the Demon King’s mood for no reason.

The fairy, who had declared the end of the tutorial, breathed a sigh of relief as if she had completed her mission, and then added an additional report, saying, “Ah…”

“And about the Back Dungeon, it was eventually discovered.”

“How?”

“Who?”

The Demon King and Gi-jun reacted at the same time.

The fairy said with a sigh.

“The Hero Ye-min. After hearing the talk about the tutorial and the ten-day grace period, she suddenly began to run wild on the spot as if she had gone mad.”

“Why did she do that?”

“I think I know, though.”

The fairy gazed intently at Gi-jun, shrugged her shoulders, and continued.

“They submerged the entire Demon King’s castle like that, but lo and behold, wasn’t there a single place that didn’t sink and held out? The Hero Ye-min approached it with her party members, and surprisingly, because the ruins’ opening trigger was Charm, ta-da.”

Hearing up to that point, the Demon King objected.

“Wait a minute. The opening trigger is Spiritual Power.”

“We also thought so after hearing that it was discovered over there. But it wasn’t; they had set the trigger differently every time, just in case rumors about the ruins spread to other dimensions. Of course, every single one of them was a tricky stat like Spiritual Power, though.”

“Charm… certainly Min-i…”

Gi-jun nodded as he recalled Ye-min, who had been with him during the first round.

She was, of course, the owner of brilliant talent, but no one could deny the fact that the most brilliant thing she possessed was none other than her appearance.

Since falling here, he had made an effort not to think deeply about her, but perhaps her Charm had been Uncommon or higher ever since she entered the Other World.

She was a girl so beautiful that even he, who already knew her, was sometimes startled.

Therefore, he remembered that he had to firmly steel his own mind when dealing with her.

“…Hmm.”

“Huh?”

When the Demon King hummed, Gi-jun tilted his head.

Seeing her narrowing eyes, the fairy hurriedly continued.

“Anyway, right after it was discovered and everyone was given a Legendary-grade title, the higher-ups hurriedly intervened and restricted the title’s effects. Originally, the title itself was indeed granted on a party level, but it was set so that only the very first person would receive the dungeon exploration effect of that title.”

“Ah, that’s a bit of a shame.”

At the words Gi-jun had carelessly let slip, the fairy opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Why is it a shame? You can lord it over them with an ability only you possess. You could probably get whatever you want. It’s funny for me to say this, but that is a power that would make the Heroes of any other civilization, not just Earth, revere you as their master. It’s absolute power.”

“How does gloominess ooze from every word you say? Do you want to eat another éclair?”

“Are you perhaps thinking that my personality is completely rotten? Besides, using that éclair like some kind of medicine… Well, I’ll eat it for now.”

The fairy, who had not yet realized that her way of speaking had already become quite softened, devoured the éclair frantically and spoke with a happy face, as if fully cured.

“Originally, if you enter those ruins after ‘properly’ clearing the tutorial, you receive a positive modifier where time flows differently between the outside and the inside. Since all four of them grew unbelievably strong in the second round, they will be able to clear the ruins and come out within the designated period.”

“Ah, I was about to ask about that. That’s a relief.”

He had worried that if there were only ten days of leeway left, they wouldn’t be able to clear the ruins even if they found them, but thinking about it, since it was a ruins that could only be entered after clearing it in the first place, it was only natural that some measures were in place.

Granted, he lacked the support of a skilled thief and magician, but hadn’t it taken Gi-jun as long as four years to clear those ruins?

Of course, since he had trained at every single moment, no time was spent in vain, but he couldn’t help but think that it might have been nice to borrow the Demon King’s power even just a little.

The fairy, who ended up laughing at the sight of him being genuinely relieved, cleared her throat and said.

“You are a rather kind Hero. I’ll put in a good word with my kin in Leta, so if you ever need help, bring some desserts.”

“Are your people in Leta too?!”

“Fufu, though we will be rivals on equal footing by then, not friendly guides. We aren’t acting as NPC tutorial fairies just because we’re nice. It’s a weak race’s way of earning points.”

No, it was something like that?!

Gi-jun looked back at the Demon King in surprise, but she shook her head blankly.

“I don’t have any kin.”

“No, right… yeah.”

He had wanted to ask if she would be there, though.

While Gi-jun, realizing that he still had not let go of the hope he thought he had long since abandoned, let out a sigh, the fairy quietly backed away, sensing the atmosphere that was rapidly turning heavy.

“Well, since I’ve told you everything I had to say, I’ll be going now. Thanks for the éclair.”

“Right. Goodbye, Tinker Bell.”

“Seriously, I told you that sounds like an insult too.”

The fairy giggled and vanished from the spot.

While Lucy, who was unfamiliar with and unaccustomed to the fairy’s innocent-looking face, let out a quiet sigh of relief, the Demon King stood up smoothly and spoke.

Before he knew it, she was keeping some distance from Gi-jun.

“Then let us get ready too.”

“…Demon King.”

Anguish seeped from Gi-jun’s voice.

After hesitating for a moment, the Demon King shook her head and spoke, distancing herself from him once again.

“It is about time we had a proper fight, right?”

—…Huh?

Lucy tilted her head at the Demon King’s calm and cold voice.

—What do you mean by a proper fight?

“It means that since it is the last time, we should put our lives on the line and have a showdown.”

—Ack?!

Startled, Lucy flew up into the sky.

—What do you mean! You’ll die if you do that!

“What foolish words are you saying, spirit?”

The Demon King sneered at her.

“I am the Demon King, and he is the Hero. So it is only natural for us to kill each other.”

—But you’re not like that! The tutorial is already over, and we’re all going to Leta now…

“They killed the Demon King.”

The Demon King no longer looked at Lucy.

“Hero, are you planning to cross over to Leta without even properly clearing the tutorial?”

—Wait a second, no, I really don’t understand… Are you planning to die?

“…”

While Lucy spat out words randomly in her confusion,

Gi-jun, who had known since a certain day a few years ago that such a moment would come, picked up his weapons while wearing a pained expression.

It was not because he wanted to kill a friend with whom he had shared joys and sorrows for ten years… a person who meant even more than that to him.

It was because he knew her determination.

—Contractor!

Still, if possible, he wanted a few more days.

If ten days remained, he wanted to spend nine of them laughing together.

But if that time would only make her suffer more,

Yes, better now.

Gritting his teeth, Gi-jun stood up and spoke.

“Lucy, let’s fight.”

—…If that is what the contractor says.

Perhaps sensing something in Gi-jun’s changed attitude, Lucy also replied with a stiff face and entered his embrace.

The light mana and spiritual power rushing freely through his body became Salutaris, the Savior’s Will, enveloping his entire body.

Since his body had already transformed into the divine metal Adamant, it would never weaken as long as his own will did not break.

As the spirit, who had regained power reaching the legendary realm, resonated with his massive spiritual power equivalent to her own and lent her strength,

the two shields containing that very light roared, becoming the Moonlight Fangs.

He had already taken off the Shock Absorber.

Because if he clashed with her full power, it would shatter without even having time to absorb the shock.

“Fufu.”

It was at the sight of Gi-jun facing her as soon as the battle began, armed with multiple Legendary skills and exuding a majesty that made it impossible to believe he had a Rare-grade race and class.

The Demon King, who ultimately could not overcome her pride despite trying, let out a satisfied chuckle.

“No matter who baked it, it turned into a truly wonderful cake.”

“Even though you didn’t believe me.”

“Understand me, I was just too strong.”

With a face much paler than when they had first met ten years ago, the Demon King smiled.

The poison she had steadily consumed for several years.

The cooking containing the light that burned away the darkness.

The power of that warm soul that rejected all that was evil.

It had successfully scraped away the Demon King’s evil.

“Let’s fight. Come at me with all you’ve got.”

“…Prepare yourself.”

Crying, the Hero swung his fangs.

The Demon King smiled and offered her own body.

“You cannot kill me with just that! I’m telling you to move faster and more boldly… Urgh!”

“You too…! What kind of Demon King uses such weak magic!”

Dozens of dark arrows, spears, and swords covering all directions shot out every time the Demon King moved, attempting to pierce the Hero.

The Hero rushed toward the Demon King, parrying, deflecting, or shattering them with the two shining fangs in both hands.

“Just being sturdy is useless—clash against me harder!”

“Damn ittt!”

The powerful fists pouring down as he approached cut through the light enveloping his entire body and injured his flesh, which had turned into divine metal.

Instead of ignoring the attacks that could not be parried even with his fangs, the Hero imbued the shields with the power of divine metal and swung them.

He blocked and struck.

He deflected and struck.

Relentlessly, like a wolf hunting its prey.

Even if he was hit dozens of times, he could win if he bit a decisive vital spot.

Just as he had stood against her on the first day they met as enemies, never yielding despite the irresistible magic power.

With his eyes burning with venom, he thrust his two shields like a madman.

—Ah, seriously—! I really can’t understand why you’re crying while fighting, honestly!

Shouting in an irritated voice, the spirit tore apart the veil of darkness with a spear of light she had fashioned in a brief moment.

She protected him from the fatal attacks targeting the Hero, and conversely, made a fatal gap appear in the Demon King.

Her combat power, which had grown by an absurd margin as her grade rose, finally reached the point of creating dozens of chains of light.

They bound the Demon King’s attacks, bound the Demon King’s shadow, and bound the Demon King’s arms.

She extended the chains until the bubbling darkness could no longer cover the light.

“Ugh, ah?!”

—Boom!

And at some point,

the Demon King’s attack failed to hit the Hero,

the spirit’s chains skillfully bound the Demon King,

and the moment the Hero thrust his shield at an exquisite timing to strike the Demon King’s face,

the Demon King’s chest was forced back, exposing a fatal opening.

Without missing that moment, a massive fang of light that had merged into one plunged down.

A clean pierce.

It was a blow that took her life.

“…Ah.”

Splat, the pitch-black blood spurting from the Demon King’s chest drenched Gi-jun’s face and shield, before being oxidized by the light mana filling the air in the next instant.

“We make a great pair, don’t we?”

Gi-jun also nodded weakly.

“Indeed.”

“Cough… why are you crying? It’s not like I’m really dying.”

The Demon King teased Gi-jun in an infinitely light tone.

“Did you perhaps misunderstand? Are you stupid? This isn’t even my real body. It’s just an NPC vessel. While it can fully display the power of my main body, its expiration date is on the shorter side, so it was originally reaching its limit around this time… Ah.”

When Gi-jun’s tears did not stop, the Demon King ended up smiling bitterly in the end.

“Even though I said there is no reason to cry.”

“Just… just.”

Gi-jun knew that he would kick his blankets furiously when recalling this moment later, but

since he had decided to stop keeping his mouth shut and failing to say what he wanted just because he was warily reading others’ reactions, he confessed his true feelings honestly.

“I guess it’s just because I’m a bit sad that things are ending like this with you.”

“Pahahahaha! What is that? It’s not like we’re a couple!”

As the Demon King burst into loud laughter, the blood that was already spurting with fierce momentum splattered even harder.

Her persistent life force showed she was not the Demon King for nothing.

Something like black tentacles squirmed and tried to crawl out from inside the wound, but vanished when the Demon King clicked her tongue.

It meant that she had not even revealed her true strength in the end.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. If I really use this properly, I lose my reason and run wild, okay? My face turns into a monster’s too. It’s not that I didn’t use it to go easy on you, but, ah, how should I put it, I mean…”

The Demon King added with a cute smile.

“Because I wanted to part ways with a pretty face.”

“Right, you are pretty.”

“More than that girl named Ye-min?”

“Of course.”

Smiling while wondering if she had actually been concerned about that, he firmly nodded his head so she wouldn’t misunderstand.

“You are the prettiest.”

“Good… that’s enough then.”

The Demon King wore a triumphant smile, looking at someone other than Gi-jun.

Only then did Gi-jun realize that Lucy was also in this place, but surely she would understand him at a time like this.

He wanted to believe so.

“Well, I should head off now.”

Even while dying, she was maintaining a lively voice.

Did she want to part ways in such a perfect manner?

“Ah, congratulations on clearing the tutorial.”

“Demon King.”

“Bice.”

Gi-jun widened his eyes.

The Demon King narrowed her eyes and spoke.

“My nickname. Say it.”

“Bice.”

“Good.”

She nodded with satisfaction, and then,

“Jun, see you next time.”

After calling his name, she gently closed her eyes.

Even while Gi-jun stared blankly at her, her body was enveloped in a shroud of light and faded away.

To him, who was sinking into sorrow, system messages showing reality appeared in droves, as if telling him not to think of foolish things.

—Having defeated an overwhelmingly strong enemy, your level has significantly…

—In the midst of a fierce battle that will remain in legend, your class [Dancer of Light] has surpassed its limit and grown…

—You fought and won against an enemy who reached the legendary realm, drenching the fangs of light in their blood. The [Moonlight Fangs] skill has grown significantly…

—The soul-shaking bloody battle reawakens your amazing potential that had faded long ago. [Dexterity] has surpassed its limit…

—Your [Light Mana] is circulating throughout your body, carrying the status of having defeated a legend…

—Having defeated an overwhelmingly strong enemy, your level has significantly…

—In the midst of a fierce battle that will remain in legend, your class [Dancer of Light] has surpassed its limit and grown…

—You fought and won against an enemy who reached the legendary realm, drenching the fangs of light in their blood. The [Moonlight Fangs] skill has grown significantly…

—The soul-shaking bloody battle reawakens your amazing potential that had faded long ago. [Dexterity] has surpassed its limit…

—Your [Light Mana] is circulating throughout your body, carrying the status of having defeated a legend…

All kinds of possibilities that could not have existed and that he hadn’t even dared to hope for, if not for having faced the Demon King, were newly blossoming.

If the Demon King had intended all of this,

she was truly…

—Your Charm has defeated a legend and opens a new legendary chapter. The Charm (U) stat has surpassed its limit and grown to Legendary grade. Charm (L) has become 1.

—You have achieved victory against a boss-class enemy you could never win against! The Unique-grade title [Limit Transcender] has grown to Legendary grade! Due to the title’s effect, you obtain a ‘dramatically’ positive modifier when facing enemies of a higher grade than yourself. It becomes ‘highly’ easy to surpass all kinds of limits.

—The effect of the Legendary-grade title [The Last Hero] is fully activated. All stats increase by 20, and all abilities are enhanced by 30% when facing boss monsters of the dark/evil attribute.

—Your Charm has defeated a legend and opens a new legendary chapter. The Charm (U) stat has surpassed its limit and grown to Legendary grade. Charm (L) has become 1.

—You have achieved victory against a boss-class enemy you could never win against! The Unique-grade title [Limit Transcender] has grown to Legendary grade! Due to the title’s effect, you obtain a ‘dramatically’ positive modifier when facing enemies of a higher grade than yourself. It becomes ‘highly’ easy to surpass all kinds of limits.

—The effect of the Legendary-grade title [The Last Hero] is fully activated. All stats increase by 20, and all abilities are enhanced by 30% when facing boss monsters of the dark/evil attribute.

Gi-jun closed his eyes tightly.

It was because he hated himself so much for understanding why the Demon King had sacrificed herself for him upon seeing the system messages.

—Thud

“Huh?”

Just then, something left behind after the Demon King died was caught in his hand.

It was similar to something Gi-jun knew well, so he pondered for a moment, and finally realized the fact that it was similar to the smartphone he had used when he was on Earth twenty-five years ago.

As if possessed by the familiar grip, he turned on the screen, and as if it had just been activated, all kinds of registration congratulatory messages flew in.

There were several icons on the screen like smartphone apps, and besides calls or messages, there were apps that clearly seemed to be intended to assist activities in the Other World, such as minimap recording, Leta points, and sending distress signals, which flustered him even more.

—Letok!

This message notification sound was annoying.

Gi-jun felt a chill for some reason as he opened the message he had just received.

As if they were already registered, a message sent by—yes, the very person he had expected, who possessed a cute nickname—had arrived.

[Bice♥ (Tutorial Channel): Looks like it dropped safely! If you don’t have this, you really can’t contact me, so make sure to take it to Leta! Promise with Bice!]

[Bice♥ (Tutorial Channel): I’ve slotted a finished battery in here. I’ll enclose the one remaining battery, so don’t forget to slot it into the Shock Absorber. Got it?]

“Ah, seriously!”

—Contractor?! What on earth is that, what is that from earlier?!

Gi-jun was about to throw it, unable to hold back his surging anger, but… he held it in out of worry that it might actually break.

The end of the long, long tutorial was rather anticlimactic in that way.