Chapter 209
"The strongest body? Ain?"
Ottbo's eyes went round at the shocking words.
But perhaps thanks to all the experience up until now, his body reacted before his mind did.
He instinctively fastened his armored controller.
"......"
Srettle Magus's gaze had turned infinitely cold.
'Who's behind this?'
How did this boy, Luca Traverse, know her true identity?
Srettle Magus quickly drew a magical tool, trying to subdue Luca Traverse.
At that moment—
Fwoosh!
No sooner had the wind risen than a blade was suddenly at her head.
At the same time, the magic concealing her form was sliced apart.
Tsss—
"!"
Scales, horns, and reptilian pupils.
Seeing the features of the dragonborn emerge on Srettle Magus, Ottbo's eyes opened wide.
'H-he was right.'
Ottbo had thought Luca Traverse was just spouting nonsense.
But faced with Srettle Magus's real, revealed identity, he could only stay silent.
"You... what exactly are you?"
Srettle Magus looked at the blade that had grazed her head.
It was no ordinary blade.
"Lu-Luca. That's..."
Ottbo, too, stared wide-eyed at the light dyeing his sword.
A blade of dark green, a little darker than his own hair color.
A will-imbued ether blade.
'Is it thanks to indirectly experiencing transcendence?'
Luca Traverse wore his usual composed expression, but was somewhat surprised inside.
He'd occasionally managed to tinge his ether blade a different color—but never to use it so perfectly as this. That alone amazed even himself.
'If I have this kind of power, then all the more...'
Luca Traverse's gaze grew sharper.
"My identity doesn't matter. The important thing is that you and I each have something the other needs."
Srettle Magus, not backing down, met his eyes as she spoke.
"I understand that what you need is the perfect body I possess. But what do you hold that I need?"
Luca Traverse fell silent for a moment before replying slowly.
"The way to transfer a spirit to another body."
"...!"
For an instant, Srettle Magus's eyes clouded.
"You... How do you know about that...?"
Srettle Magus wondered how Luca Traverse had learned about her little sister.
But soon she realized that's not what mattered most.
The fact that he knew she was making a perfect body implied he possessed an information network beyond her imagination.
'Unless, that is, Eltima Cross...'
The suspicion flitted through her mind—but she dismissed it quickly.
That wasn't the important thing now.
What mattered was—
"Is it really possible?"
"If I show you this spirit moved into that perfect body, won't that prove it?"
"You? Into the perfect body? Why would you?"
Srettle Magus wore a puzzled expression.
Just by demonstrating the will-imbued ether blade, she could tell he was a Grandmaster-level swordsman, one who had mastered the harmony of body and spirit.
Someone like that shouldn't need the body she'd crafted.
Luca Traverse fell silent.
And then, with his characteristic dull tone, he spoke.
"When two people need something from each other, is there a reason to ask why?"
"... That's true."
Just as she had her reasons, he must have his as well.
Srettle Magus pondered for a moment.
'This body was made for Manago. But I can always make a new one—no, the second one will be even better. All I need is to learn the method for transferring spirits...'
Her deliberation didn't last long.
Srettle Magus let out a small sigh and spoke.
"Fine. But the body isn't finished yet."
"It isn't finished?"
"The form is done, but... there isn't enough power to move it."
At the mention of power, Luca Traverse frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Just... what I said, really...?"
Srettle Magus, not sure what Luca Traverse was failing to understand, wore a disgruntled expression.
Luca Traverse responded, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"What do you mean, lacking power? What do you need—a devil stone?"
"I've made a body that could be said to be Master-level, or perhaps even Grandmaster-level. It stands to reason you can't run something like that with a demon stone powered by ordinary drive magic."
So saying, Srettle Magus turned her head slightly.
"To be honest, I'm not sure if the thing I designed has been properly constructed. In theory, I believe I made a perfect body, but I've never done a test run. Normal drive magic simply won't operate it. Luckily, since Ottbo succeeded in restoring ancient drive magic, if I can make a demon stone that's fueled by vitality instead of magic power, I plan to do a performance test then..."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Make it short."
Luca Traverse cut her off.
This kind of discussion wasn't his forte either.
"Um... in short, she doesn't have an energy source capable of supplying Grandmaster-level vitality, so she can't activate the body."
That was Ottbo, kindly explaining at his level.
Luca Traverse gave Ottbo a sidelong glance and then spoke to Srettle Magus.
"So, as long as you have a power source, you'll be set?"
"For starters... yes?"
At her answer, Luca Traverse closed his eyes briefly, then opened them slowly and held something out.
"Will this do?"
"This is...?"
A heart studded with golden cogs.
A divine relic gained from defeating the Devil of Hunger.
* * *
"The Devil of Wisdom... has perished...?"
Demonz was in turmoil.
They'd confirmed the Devil of Wisdom, Agreas, who had guided them, had vanished.
Everyone was shocked that the one who always provided answers had disappeared.
"If that's the case... what do we do now...?"
Members of Demonz were adrift.
Especially Menteoga, chosen by Agreas to lead Demonz, was deeply shaken.
'She... died...?'
Agreas, who had always given them mysterious strategies and guidance.
Her absence filled Menteoga with despair.
"Well, what a sorry bunch of misfits you all are."
"!"
Then, someone they'd never seen before appeared before them.
Jet-black hair.
Neither tall nor short, with an androgynous build.
A gentle yet stately, old-fashioned impression.
Their attire was rather elegant.
But what was most striking was the dense devilish power radiating from their body.
Demonz's members were bewildered, but Menteoga sensed something familiar in that devilish power.
"You... Are you one of the three great devils...?"
"Ha ha. That's right. I'm the Devil of Life."
"!"
Everyone's eyes widened at the words 'Devil of Life'.
"By the way, what was Agreas doing, telling us to lie low, only to get herself killed? And so badly damaged she couldn't even resurrect."
The Devil of Life briefly wore a gruff expression, then broke into a broad smile.
"Still, now that there's no one left to stop us, we're free to run wild."
At this, menteoga swallowed hard.
"By 'run wild' you mean...?"
"She wanted us to wait until humans had grown sufficiently strong. But I believe there's now enough vitality gathered for all of us to resurrect. So it's time for what we've all been waiting for."
"What we've been waiting for...?"
Menteoga looked uneasy at his answer.
The Devil of Life smirked at Menteoga and gazed off somewhere.
"But the other one is probably off doing things his own way again. I can't stop that guy with strength, either—what a headache~."
* * *
"With this, the Migna Kingdom's royal family is clean as well."
"Thank you for all your hard work!"
Eltima and Zeritz were traveling the continent, checking if the leadership of multiple nations had been corrupted by Demonz.
After finishing the purification of the Lamata Empire, they headed to the Migna Kingdom in the south.
There, they discovered and successfully eliminated a member of Demonz who was slowly corrupting the ruling class.
"We still have a long way to go, but compared to when we were at the academy, it really feels like we're working for the continent."
"Ha ha! Indeed! I can't remember the last time I fought so exhilarated!"
"Hehe. I suppose the field really suits me after all."
As she said this, Eltima wiped the blood off her feathered spear.
At her and Zeritz's feet, black blood and twisted corpses were piled up.
"We owe all of this to that boy."
"You mean... that arrogant brat, Luca Traverse?"
"Hehe. Are you still sulking about that?"
Zeritz harbored a dislike for Luca after he'd rejected Eltima's offer.
He pursed his lips in a pout.
"He refused the honor of working alongside Lady Eltima."
"Is walking a path of thorns really an honor? It's more of a penance."
"To me, it's an honor! Always!"
Zeritz thrust out his chest with pride.
Eltima smiled faintly as she watched him.
― Lady Saint! Someday I'll become strong enough to walk alongside you!
― Hehe. The path I walk is a thorny one, you know. It's too difficult for a boy like you.
― I don't care! Even if the path is hard, if I can walk with you, lady Saint... it will be an honor!
Memories from long ago came rushing back.
She recalled the time, back when she was still a saint, when she'd saved a young boy who almost died to a demonic beast.
'That small boy has grown so much.'
At once wistful, she shook her head as she watched Zeritz, who was still spouting off just like that child from long ago.
"Let's forget the rudeness of the ignorant youth and set off on another adventure..."
"Come to think of it, these past few months have been quite tough, haven't they?"
"Not at all! Not when I'm with you, lady Saint! Look—I'm perfectly fine! Ha ha!"
At Eltima's words, Zeritz was startled and even jumped in place to prove his well-being.
Eltima gave a gentle smile at the sight.
"Why not take about a week off as a reward for all your hard work? Apparently, migna Kingdom has a famous hot spring."
"Wh-what? A hot spring?"
Zeritz was flustered by the unexpected suggestion.
Eltima shrugged her shoulders.
"Even the gods wouldn't want their young lamb always walking a blood-drenched path. Sometimes, washing the blood from your fur in water would be a blessing."
"B-but... that's..."
Zeritz, uncertain what to do.
Though over fifty, his face blushed as if he were still the boy she'd rescued.
Eltima quietly chuckled.
"Or does Zeritz not want to go to the hot springs with me?"
"No! I mean—yes! Well, not that I don't want to... Actually, I'd love to, but..."
Zeritz was utterly flustered, caught between yes and no.
Eltima laughed again, then took his arm.
"Then it's decided!"
"... Yes!"
With Eltima smiling serenely and Zeritz nearly leaping for joy, suddenly, something appeared before them.
"!"
The moment the being appeared, Eltima and Zeritz instantly unleashed their energies and assumed a battle stance.
Divine power burst forth, followed by an invincible will-imbued ether blade.
The sudden intruder remained unfazed, even in the face of divine might and the ether blade.
"So you two are the strongest of this era."
Raven-black hair blazing as if aflame.
A height over two meters, larger even than Zeritz.
And a jet-black, perfectly trained body that exuded an almost unnatural aura.
"You..."
Eltima's eyes were filled with hostility.
The devilish power emanating from this figure was the strongest she had ever felt.
"My name is Vandello."
Revealing his name, he raised a fist dyed pitch black by devilish power.
"I am the Devil of Power."