Chapter 75 – Conclusion (3)

Conclusion

“Lightning… Is it a Rune Sword? Both the armor that blocks spells and the sword, you possess quite a lot of rare relics. But…”

The Demon King, trailing off, let out a smirk. Soon, he spoke while gently swaying the magic sword in his hand and the tentacles sprouting from his body.

“Even so, you are merely a swordsman holding a blade, Sir Veloc. Can you handle it? I am asking if you can block ten hands, no, dozens of hands, with just one hand.”

The bastard circled around Veloc with slow steps, as if toying with a trapped prey. Veloc did not reply at all.

His lips were tightly closed, drawing a straight line, and his eyebrows did not twitch at all. It was like looking at a stone statue. Someone might have thought he was frozen in fear. However, his eyes were not like that. Veiled in expressionless calm, his deeply sunken eyes grew blacker as time passed. Soon, the pupils within them began to flicker like fire.

What was contained in them was anger. The crowned monster mocking him in front of his eyes, the painful groans of his companions, the whore sitting haughtily on the throne with her chin resting on her hand as if she were someone important, and finally, this shitty world itself lit a fire in his heart. He gathered this emotion, which surged like resentment, into one. Then he muttered as if spitting it out.

“I can’t even estimate how much experience points I will gain after killing all of you. I hope you are worth at least that much.”

As if responding to his will, the lightning flowing along the blade grew even larger. The crackling sound filled the cavern, and his face even appeared yellowed. The Demon King tried to open his mouth to say something. It might have been a question about the incomprehensible words. Since Veloc was not interested, he just charged. Whether the bastard was the same, he suddenly swung his tentacles.

Bone joints mutated by demonic magic tightened like whips. Each possessed power surpassing a crossbow bolt and a speed twice as fast. Veloc took a giant step forward, maintaining his charging momentum. Soon, he spun his body once and swung the lightning sword.

A fierce wind pressure arose. A bright yellow spark followed. The smell of burning meat wafted. It was a phenomenon that occurred as the monster’s bones were severed and turned to ashes.

“Oho…”

Even after cutting off a bundle, there were still many tentacles. The Demon King shot out all his bone joints, imbuing them with his wicked will. It was like looking at a storm of whips. Veloc did not stop. If he avoided one, another would come. If he evaded that, yet another sinister hand would pursue him.

He swung his sword as if resisting waves. He struck down from top to bottom, and slashed up from bottom to top. Finally, he cut diagonally. At this moment, the body of the trained warrior shone. Under the armor, tendons bulged, forcing his shoulders and legs to move incessantly. Then, the rune-engraved greatsword drew a bright yellow arc, creating a storm. It was a storm of lightning. Soon, the two storms collided with each other.

The cracked and shattered flagstones rumbled. Bodily fluids and black blood spewed from the tentacles splattered everywhere. A few that he failed to block stabbed into his armor. However, they couldn’t pierce his steel-like skin and muscle, and were merely ground away by his sword.

In the end, what decorated the floor was the flesh and blood of the demon. A massive shadow fell over the trembling tentacles. His polished steel boots crushed the pure white bones with a crunch.

“You bastard…!”

The monster, whose body parts were severed here and there, making it even more hideous, growled. The leisurely appearance from earlier was nowhere to be found. It was like looking at a cornered prey. Veloc wiped the blood on his boots by scraping them against the floor and turned his head. His companions, enveloped in thick black smoke, trembled and panted. It was a groan of pain.

The demon sitting on the throne still showed no sign of moving. She merely watched this scene, her eyes shining. To be precise, she was staring intently at Veloc, licking her lips. ‘Crazy bitch. She seems to have something up her sleeve.’ ‘Wait. I’ll break your head.’ Keeping his guard up against the demon, he raised his sword. At that moment,

Krrreeeech!

A screech like metal scraping echoed loudly. It was the noise erupted by the crowned monster, whom it was difficult to even call a king anymore. The instant the sound of scratching the floor rattled, Veloc swung his sword. The lightning sword and the sinister magic sword clashed. Between the opposing blades, he saw the monster bending its body like a spider.

“Now that I have released the power stored in the sword… my muscular strength is twice as strong compared to earlier. But why…”

As if flustered, the monster’s brow contorted heavily.

“A monster that is only strong is easier to catch.”

Veloc, replying briefly, squeezed his grip on the sword tightly. Even in this situation, his wrists and shoulders moved minutely, dispersing the monster’s force. His dark eyes beneath the visor watched the monster.

There was no emotion like fear in them. An indifferent gaze, as if cleaning up trash on the side of the road. And the anger contained in it. Startled, the monster pulled back its sword and retreated. Thanks to that, Veloc’s greatsword split open its chest. Current flowed through its body with a crackle, and the crowned monster shrieked.

“I… I am the king. The king of this nation! Do you think I’d let you take my kingdom! I… I…!”

The Demon King swung his sword in desperation. Veloc kept his eyes on the movement of the monster’s shoulders and arms, and the trajectory of its sword. Then, parrying strike by strike, he left wounds on the monster’s body. The bones split open. His body, which had been massive like a giant’s, collapsed like a sandcastle. The eyeballs inside the white skull, which had been burning with madness, now only flickered faintly. He panted and said,

“Astaroth… help me. Save… save me!”

“Hmm… I don’t want to?”

“What?! You… you bitch! Have you forgotten our deal!”

The king, who had barely been holding out, shouted as if throwing up. However, the whore on the throne merely smiled faintly. Tapping her fingers, she spoke.

“I’ve thought about it carefully. The underworld magic power I was supposed to give you when you die—I don’t really have to give it to you, do I? Since such a great opportunity has come, why should I throw it away? Would you tell me?”

Veloc’s sword flashed. Despite his left arm flying off, the monster shouted once more.

“How foolish! Do you think you can stop this human alone?! You bitch, whose specialty is spells and dark arts?! That’s nonsense…”

The woman snorted.

“Foolish king. You don’t know my true strength. And… what do you think the authority of an archdemon is? I am confident. That handsome man will be mine. He will serve only me and wield that sword. If possible, I hope the sword between his legs is also majestic…”

Astaroth vulgarly licked her lips and shined her eyes. ‘Good grief, they’re putting on a show together.’ Inhaling, Veloc raised his sword. The spear-like blade flowing with lightning pointed directly at the chest of the battered monster.

The bastard tried to shout something while waving his remaining arm. Veloc had no interest in a madman’s last words. His body shot out like a flash of light. The greatsword that tore through the air split open the skull, and the red pupils lost their light. The crown fell onto the floor with a thud.

The monster who sacrificed his own people and sought to defy death. The mad king died just like that. All he left behind upon his death was a devastated kingdom, the experience points of a stranger from a foreign land, and the ridicule of the whore who had enticed him with her sweet talk. Sitting on the throne, she clapped her hands. Then, she spoke in a cold, sticky voice.

“Yes, young knight. Or should I call you the hero who slew the Demon King? A truly splendid skill… Can you see? I… am wet…”

She held her face with both arms and fiddled with her buttocks and breasts with the spider legs attached to her back. Even if a monster wearing a human guise behaved like that, it only increased the disgust.

Thus, he did not reply. He merely gripped his sword tightly and composed his stance. Soon, his body became a streak of lightning. A crack of thunder rumbled, and the greatsword split the throne. The slender body of the woman in between was also skewered whole.

“It pierces to the bone… No, my soul itself is being torn apart… What a damn dangerous sword. Judging by its power, it’s on par with a renowned holy sword… But if I hadn’t done this, I wouldn’t have been able to pierce the spell of that armor…”

Spewing blood, she gritted her teeth. The lightning penetrated her entire body and burned her flesh. It was a power that could turn even her protruding entrails into a handful of ash. However, she laughed even while coughing up blood. Quite pleasantly, at that.

Astaroth extended both arms and hugged Veloc’s neck. Instantly, he gasped. The demon’s mighty strength hidden within those slender wrists choked his throat. It was like a giant’s grip.

“Now. Come with me into the illusion. Into the fragment of the past that you enjoyed the most.”

Shouting loudly, her lips moved quickly. Judging by the way she poured out incomprehensible words without rest, it seemed to be some sort of spell. Against it, Veloc’s crest armor emitted light and resisted. However, it was useless in front of a spell that used the archdemon’s blood and torn soul as a medium. A crimson magic circle rose above the two, and a writhing darkness enveloped them.

His ears grew deaf, and his vision turned pitch black. Beginning with this, the senses of his nose, mouth, and body also sank beneath the surface of water, and nothing could be felt. His achromatic eyes now completely lost their light. Veloc drifted in the darkness like that.

Beside him, there was a woman. Her. The hotbed of corruption, the queen of delusion. The monster of the underworld who enjoyed breaking others’ minds and making them submit, licked her lips. It was worth casting the spell even while prepared to take damage. Look. Hadn’t such a splendid sword fallen into her hands? The demon spoke.

“Veloc. A splendid knight. How should I soothe you now? Should I break your spirit by showing you a nightmare of your hometown being trampled and burned? Or should I melt your will by summoning the people you liked and loved the most?”

The horned demon smiled pleasantly and turned her gaze. Beyond the black waves of darkness, a space misaligned like a broken glass window was visible. This man’s mental world had revealed itself.

Now all she had to do was manipulate the world inside his mind to her heart’s content and subdue his soul. The owner and the uninvited guest soon entered the world that was shaking and broken here and there. And the uninvited guest could not help but open her eyes wide in panic.

“What on earth… is this world?!”

A dreary city made of gray all around welcomed the stranger.

#

It was a shitty day.

‘I need to write cover letters and get certifications too.’

Why can’t humans live without working? Can’t we just do nothing and play and eat for the rest of our lives? Asking this unproductive question, I immediately opened the front door. A tiny house, about the size of a booger, inherited from my parents welcomed me. Although no warm temperature was felt since there was no one home, it was my precious shelter.

I opened my room door and plopped down on the chair. Then I let out a deep sigh.

Every part of my body aches. What with working and preparing for employment, I’d be busy even if I had ten bodies. I wanted to wash up and lie in bed right away… but still, I couldn’t give this up. Because today is Friday.

I smiled faintly and turned on my computer first. Then I tapped my phone to order delivery food as well.

“Where was I? If I remember correctly, the difficulty wasn’t easy.”

I moved the cursor to double-click the classic crest where a sword and shield crossed. Along with a loud background music, the opening screen slid past.

Within it, there was a man wearing black armor engraved with a bizarre crest, holding a giant greatsword. Without even waiting, I selected the character.

[Knight Veloc. Welcome to Adria’s Second Coming. Please save this continent.]

“Yes, it was definitely that name.”

Why does the name ring in my ears so strongly? Staring at the monitor as if possessed, I took a bite of the chicken that had just been delivered. Along with the savory aroma of oil, hot juice gushed out like crazy. The tender meat inside was also very well seasoned with salty marinade. ‘Yes, damn it. This is it. This taste that can’t even be compared to smelly jerky, watered-down beer, or a hodgepodge stew with all sorts of things thrown in! This is living!’

“Stew? Something is strange.”

A strange sense of incompatibility washed over me. I slightly turned my head to look behind me. A bed covered with a yellow blanket, gray wallpaper on the wall, and even a phone charger lying on the floor—all were highly familiar sights.

Was it just my imagination? I finished tearing the chicken leg and checked the monitor again. Whether I had saved after clearing a dungeon, the battle happened to be finished.

[Knight Veloc defeated the evil-stained Demon King.]

[Experience has increased by 52,000!]

[Level increased!]

“Nice.”

Cheering inwardly, I quickly pressed ESC to freeze the screen and opened the character status window.

Name: Veloc Heine

Class: Knight

Level: 21

Stats: Remaining Points 1

Strength: 17, Stamina: 5

Magic: 1, Holy Power: 1

Skills: Remaining Points 1

‘Knight’s Swordsmanship Max’ ‘Unquenchable Fighting Spirit Max’ ‘Sixth Sense Lv 3’ ‘Lightning Sword Lv 1’

“Pouring all points into strength with just a bit of stamina. I raised him so ignorantly. More than that, these stats are a bit different from what I know?”

I tilted my head and manipulated the character again. Beyond the ruined hall, three women fallen on the floor were visible.

From a black-haired woman wearing plate armor, a mage in a tattered robe, to an elf wearing tight-fitting leather armor. It was a diverse cast. ‘The character customization was done well.’ ‘Who are these friends?’ As I approached them, system windows popped up in a row.

[Adel’s erosion level has exceeded 50%.]

[Cara’s erosion level has exceeded 63%.]

[Isabel’s erosion level has exceeded 70%.]

[Danger! Danger! Sinister magical power is wrapping around your companions’ bodies. If the erosion level reaches 100%, they will lose their minds and become the demon’s minions. Quickly eliminate the source and correct this.]

“Companions? The source?”

Even though I played it, why can’t I remember it properly? It feels as if something has gone wrong… Just as my thoughts were deepening, screams were heard from outside.

-M-Monster!

-C-Call, call the police!

-Damn it, what on earth is that?!

No, it wasn’t just screams. The ground was also rumbling and shaking heavily. Utensils placed on the shelf fell with thuds, and dishes in the sink shattered noisily. It was an enormous earthquake. Although the computer monitor remaining clear in the midst of it was a bit strange, I had no time to pay attention to that now.

I quickly went outside to check the situation. Dark smog and an asphalt road. A bizarre creature was flying through the city that appeared entirely gray.

Dark red scales reflecting the neon lights, and giant membrane wings. A mouth and teeth large enough to easily swallow several people, and the ferociously open eyes of a reptile. ‘Damn. What is that?’

“A game?! A game, you say?! I am nothing but a mass of data inside a monitor?! Stop talking bullshit! Veloc! You lunatic! Show yourself right now!”

The dragon shouted in desperation and breathed fire. Instantly, I clutched my head, feeling an incomprehensible sense of déjà vu. A massive greatsword, monsters, blood and flesh, demons, shitty medieval nobles and citizens, bandits, and finally my companions… Thousands of images passed through my head like a panorama. The trembling of my body grew larger. These memories, what on earth…

At that moment, the head of the dragon floating in the air snapped around.

“Were you hiding there?! Veloc. No, you, unidentified existence. I have many things to ask you. If you don’t answer truthfully, I will burn you!”

The moment its vertically slit eyes met my gaze, my heart throbbed. Soon, the knight’s memories sunken in the abyss began to float to the surface. The memories that had been blurry as if fogged up fell into place like a puzzle. The trembling of my body also subsided like a lie.

He exhaled a long sigh. Then he shook his head and cursed inwardly. ‘Damn. It would have been better to live without knowing. Or at least come after I finished eating the chicken.’ Taking a step forward, he spoke.

“You are dead.”

In this place right now, the weak young man’s body was nowhere to be found. A warrior who fought evil spirits and demons without a single step back. A person who carved out his own path through death with a monster-like body and five senses. Only the knight who freely swung a greatsword the size of his own torso remained.