Inheriting the Novel

Beginnings (2)

Boom! Boom-boom!

The ground shook as the dungeon's collapse began to accelerate.

This was because, with the core of Vinshad—the Calamity of Labytrinth—broken, it could no longer maintain the form of an island.

"Huff, huff..."

I caught my breath, staring at Decline as he crumbled away into dust.

The sword path I had just used was still vivid in my mind.

'It was a close call.'

He was by no means an easy opponent.

If I hadn't managed to instantly learn that new technique, I would have really struggled.

[Real combat is the greatest teacher after all. Especially fights with the strong are like that.]

Grancesia was right.

I always grew a step stronger in real combat.

Thanks to that, my life had been in danger more than once, but because of it I was able to reach this level so quickly... So, I guess it's not a problem.

"Clay, you really are amazing. Every time I look away, you grow stronger in a flash."

Having finished her battle with the other demonkin, Riya came over and spoke, but I could only give a wry smile.

'That's not something she should be saying.'

To be honest, there were many reasons I was able to grow stronger.

I had Grancesia, who could be called a teacher second to none, and thanks to her, I could use the Eye of Insight.

On top of that, thanks to Maria, I could use all 24 hours of the day without wasting any time, and with all sorts of fortuitous encounters piled on, I was able to grow this much.

'What exactly did she do in the empire?'

I had confirmed a few times before that Riya had gotten stronger, but this time, during her fight with the demonkin, I could truly see just how much.

It wasn't just Dragon Tongue.

Her prowess with magic had soared to a level incomparable with before.

'Almost 8th class... right?'

[With dragon's blood, learning magic becomes as easy as breathing... but still, that's amazing.]

'Wow.'

Riya was at 6th class before.

But during the few months she spent in the empire, she'd returned as an 8th class.

Does that even make sense?

[There's a reason they say that genius and madness are only separated by a hair's breadth. I think she walks that line perfectly.]

For once, I could only agree with Grancesia.

8th class is close to the upper limit that ordinary mages can attain.

In Swordsmanship, it would be like a top-rank Swordmaster.

"Anyway, you're not hurt, right?"

"Yes. I'm totally fine."

I figured as much. I asked out of courtesy, that's all.

I hadn't been able to watch closely because I was fighting Decline, but Riya's battle with the demonkin had looked more like a massacre than a fight.

I could clearly see what happens when an 8th-class mage uses Dragon Tongue and has the physical prowess of a dragon.

"Anyway, we should hurry and get out of here."

The Demonic Energy, which I assumed belonged to the Demon King, was still some distance away.

If we moved now, riding on Mersaya...

"Riya?"

I trailed off, suddenly noticing that something was wrong.

Despite my words, Riya, Monet, and Maria showed no reaction at all.

They only stared at me in silence, completely still.

As if time itself had stopped.

"... What the?"

And it wasn't just them who had stopped.

Vinshad, which had been collapsing, had also gone quiet and halted.

In that moment, I noticed that even the stones falling from the sky had stopped in midair.

"Grancesia?"

There was no response from Grancesia either.

She must also have been affected by this bizarre phenomenon.

Only I was unaffected by this strange event.

"What on earth is this sorcery?"

The world had stopped.

Everywhere I looked, a frozen world unfolded before my eyes.

I was the only one moving.

'The Demonic Energy is getting closer and closer.'

Which meant there was only one thing to deduce.

The one causing this bizarre phenomenon was flying this way right now.

There was nothing I could do but grip Genova tightly.

I couldn't abandon my companions, and besides, it was clear my opponent would arrive before I could escape Vinshad.

Boom!

Something crashed down through Vinshad's ceiling at that moment.

"I was right after all."

A man with ash-gray hair and brown skin.

Tall and dashing, just a glance was enough to tell he wasn't a normal human.

"The wielder of the sword is not affected by Velus' power?"

One of the upper-rank races: the demonkin.

He stood at the very peak of even them.

==

〈Zard Dendaros〉

Age: 258

Gender: Male

Role in Story: Demon King, eighth Calamity (antagonist)

Abilities: Black Sky Tyrant Sword (10 stars), ......, ......, foresight, Calamityfication

Special Traits: Ruler of the demon realm, the Eighth Calamity.

A Demon King who will use any means necessary for the sake of the demon realm.

He awakens as a Demon Calamity, and watches for the time when Setram is destroyed and the gods' power wanes to invade the ground.

However, due to misjudging the power of the Seven Swords Under Heaven and Fabian, he is ultimately defeated.

Currently, he is postponing his plans to prepare for incidents arising from the altered future.

He possesses two of the Seven Swords Under Heaven, and with their power suppresses the existence of outsiders in this world.

==

'The Demon King... as expected!'

His profile was truly dazzling.

He had so many abilities, including a ridiculous one—foresight.

'Is that the reason the Demon King acts differently from the original story?'

Since I substituted for Fabian's path, the future he saw must have changed.

Naturally, his behavior would also be different from the original.

'But what does it mean that he's suppressing the existence of outsiders in this world?'

That wasn't the only thing that bothered me.

What about this 'incident' that's supposed to occur because of the changed future...?

"Do you know who I am, sword's master?"

"Of course. If you're a demonkin with that level of power... you must be the Demon King."

He gave a low laugh at my answer.

"Doesn't seem like you're just making wild guesses. Well, seeing as you're the chosen sword's master, I suppose it's only natural."

I found his demeanor puzzling.

He certainly didn't seem to be here to fight me and take the sword.

"Are you curious as to why I came here?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. If it's you, I would have thought—"

"You thought I'd kill you and recover the sword? Well, that did cross my mind."

He shrugged, glancing around.

All around us lay the corpses of the demonkin we'd just defeated.

"But at this level, I thought it'd be good to test your potential."

"Potential?"

"Human. Not long ago, you were nothing but weak. I know it—I've known since the incident where you defeated Veil in the war against the Kainzel kingdom."

He'd known about me for that long...?

"Don't be so on your guard. It was just something I knew. After that, I didn't particularly care."

"Why not?"

"You were too weak."

"......"

"Frankly, I didn't think you were the sword's master. At the time you defeated Veil, you were too feeble, and I never imagined you'd grow so strong."

So he just knew about Veil's defeat but didn't take it seriously.

"Then you got tangled with us at Eintban, again and again, and by that point, I couldn't help but take an interest. You were a threat to my plans, so I even considered killing you. However..."

He trailed off at that point.

And I noticed his gaze linger on and fall away from my right hand.

"... I just didn't see the need. I was too preoccupied thinking about the existences that would appear in the future."

"What kind of existence is going to appear in the future?"

When I asked, he just shook his head, still smiling.

"That's a secret. I can't tell you yet. It's an important bargaining chip."

"A bargaining chip?"

"Yes. Of course... I'll have to confirm if you're the right one to make a deal with, and whether you're worth gambling on."

He said that while fixing me with a direct gaze.

"I have two of the Seven Swords Under Heaven."

The Demon King spread his hands left and right as he spoke.

Immediately, two swords appeared, drawn to his hands.

"The Time Sword Velus and the Sealblade Sylphin. I don't need to explain what they do, right?"

"... Yeah."

Just as I expected, the Sealblade Sylphin was in the Demon King's hand. But for the Time Sword Velus to also be with him...

'So it really was Velus' power that stopped time.'

And Sylphin must be the reason I couldn't use the space sword.

If it's the Sealblade's power, that would be easy enough.

"What do you mean by a deal?"

"I'll tell you in the demon realm. For now, I just came to say hello."

What was even the point of that?

If it was something to trade, couldn't we just end it here?

When I looked at him with that thought, he slowly shook his head.

"This is a matter that concerns the future of the demon realm, so I have to be careful. From here on, defeat Setram, reach the demon realm, and prove your worth. Then I'll seriously consider making a deal with you."

At that moment, demonic Energy flowed from his body, wrapping tightly around me.

The power in his aura was clearly several levels above mine.

However...

"Why should I?"

I just had to laugh.

"... What?"

"Why do I have to prove my worth to you?"

Our conversation had made it clear to me.

He couldn't kill me right now.

His top priority was the demon realm. From what he'd said, I'd somehow be useful to the demon realm in the future.

If he acted as described in his profile, he absolutely couldn't kill me now.

Even more so if my speculation about the Eye of Shimosha was right.

"I'll go to the demon realm anyway, whether you ask me or not. I'm coming to take both of those swords."

Just not yet.

Right now, I have no way to defeat him, nor am I prepared.

And besides, dealing with Setram takes priority.

"Got it?"

"......"

The Demon King's face hardened.

And I couldn't help but be amused at that look.

'Maria said it.'

Merchants live by courage.

And for negotiations, you must face your counterpart as an equal.

No matter how scared, never show it.

"... Fine. I look forward to it. I only came to greet you today anyway."

So polite.

I wanted to say that, but I didn't want to provoke him unnecessarily, so I simply watched him in silence.

"Oh, right. Let me give you some good news."

"Good news?"

"From now on, the demonkin are withdrawing from Setram."

He said this, meeting my eyes.

"At least for a while."

So, they won't interfere for now, and I should use this time to deal with Setram.

I slowly nodded.

"Well, thanks for that."

"You're one arrogant guy."

He said that, but didn't dare touch me.

After fixing me with a displeased glare, the Demon King vanished in an instant, just as suddenly as he had appeared.

And a moment later, time began flowing again.

"Clay?"

As I stood there blankly, Riya spoke to me, maybe wondering why I was acting strange.

Judging by her reaction, she had no idea someone had just come and gone here.

'Velus is broken-level.'

[Huh? What's broken? Wait, I can't feel the Demonic Energy anymore?]

'The Demon King was just here.'

[... What?]

Of course Grancesia was utterly shocked.

For her, the Demonic Energy she'd felt just a moment ago had suddenly disappeared.

[Is such an ability even possible?]

All the Seven Swords Under Heaven had been overpowered, but the Time Sword was truly beyond imagination.

Honestly, with things as they were now, I couldn't think of any way to win.

'The calamity of the devil...'

But from his attitude, he didn't feel like an enemy I absolutely had to defeat.

He was still listed as an "antagonist" in the profile, but that could change at any point from now on.

Through foresight, what had he seen, and why was he trying to negotiate with me?

'... I'll find out when I go to the demon realm.'

For now, dealing with Setram came first.

With the demonkin not interfering, this was the perfect opportunity to bring Setram down.