Chapter 435
For now, the number of demons I've taken down is ten.
Considering the rarity of the Cup of Apostasy, this is already an abnormal number, but they were all around Class 3 demons.
"Phew, does this mean we can rest easy for now?"
"......"
The annihilation of the demons lurking at the campsite—in itself, it could be said to have ended without issue.
It was a simple job of shoving the holy water Bishop Trades diligently produced into the demons' mouths, but something feels off.
"It's too easy."
"We've taken down this many demons. No matter how persistent the Heretic Church is, surely they've exhausted their combat strength?"
"You think the Heretic Church, which is ten times more stubborn than stubborn kitchen grease, would give up this easily?"
"I think I'm starting to understand your impression of the Heretic Church, Lord Liberta, but they did use that many Cups of Apostasy."
I can understand the sentiment that defeating this many demons means the Heretic Church's strength has bottomed out.
However, my intuition tells me there's still more combat power lurking.
"By normal logic, perhaps. Bishop Trades, do you believe that what we call 'common sense' applies to those Heretic Church fanatics?"
"...When you put it that way."
The Heretic Church has a reputation for being insane in everything they do, not just their faith.
Bishop Trades responded to my remark with a wry smile and asked what specific concerns I had.
"I feel like there's a special-grade bomb sleeping somewhere. The kind of guy who's annoyingly sharp and overflowing with motivation."
"That's oddly specific. Do you know something?"
Leaning the morning star I'd just been using to pound demons on my shoulder, I swayed it back and forth while thinking about what I might be overlooking.
Bishop Trades recognizes me as an apostle of the Goddess of Wisdom, so he doesn't question the source of my knowledge.
So we continue the conversation, but—
"Did it just shake a little?"
Right at that moment, the ground trembles.
"Yes, it shook. Additionally, I heard an explosion."
I heard the explosion too.
Clearly an artificial explosion.
More specifically, a magical explosion.
"Reporting! An explosion has been confirmed on the mountainside! The mountain path has collapsed, making descent impossible!"
"What!? Any casualties!?"
"Currently confirming. However, we've lost contact with the third platoon."
So the goal is to cut off交通 between the foot and the divine mountain.
An act based on the assumption that they can manage if reinforcements are cut off.
I know now—the main event has arrived.
"Either combat has started, or there's another reason... Regardless, we can't leave this unattended."
"Yes. The fifth and sixth platoons will guard here; the rest will head to the site."
"Yes, sir!"
Following Bishop Trades' instructions, the knights split up and head towards the scene.
His judgment isn't wrong.
"Bishop Trades, you head to the scene via the main path for relief. I'll take a different route."
But I can't imagine them obediently climbing the mountain path.
Heretic Church followers have such扭曲 personalities that calling them just "twisted" isn't enough.
Considering that personality, it's hard to imagine them engaging the enemy group head-on.
"Do you have something in mind?"
"Just going to slap some sense into those扭曲 bastards."
"...Understood. I'll leave that to you."
Leaving injured people at the attack site, then striking the enemy forces who rushed to the scene while they're engaged in rescue operations to increase casualties—they'd do that kind of thing.
When I said I'd act separately, Bishop Trades momentarily looked puzzled, but quickly recovered and showed understanding.
Then he led the knights towards the mountain path, the descent route.
"Well then."
As for what I do—I head into the mountain without hesitation.
Into the densely wooded mountain, without even animal trails.
With poor visibility, it's a forced march where one wrong directional sense means certain disaster.
But the sense of direction honed by my country grandfather accurately points me the right way.
Using skills, maintaining silence, I march through the mountain.
"Found you."
Midway, at a position overlooking the mountain path, I spot a particularly large shadow lurking in the mountain.
That existence is aberrant.
Four hands, six legs, compound eyes.
A demon with an appearance that screams brutality.
"Ahh, it's Greed, huh."
Seeing those features, I can't help but sigh.
The characteristic of Greed is a tendency towards multiple arms and legs.
According to the developers' character designers, it's meant to image a demon that wants everything, anything.
Seriously, I've been thinking since the trial, but what's up with my luck recently?
"Well, I'll fight anyway."
On top of that, there are two demons.
A small-statured existence lurking, as if hiding in the shadow of the many-armed, many-legged demon.
At first glance, it looks like a small fry, but—
If I'm taking one down, it'll be the small one first.
"Excuse me for coming from the side!"
"!?"
Stealth is the most basic fundamental for an assassin.
Silently approaching without being noticed, I swing the morning star full force at the small-statured body.
Due to its small size, its body is easily blown away, and in that moment, its face is revealed.
"As I thought, it's Lust."
Although its face is distorted from the direct morning star hit, it has that childlike appearance and pink eyes.
The Alluring Evil Eye that pierces male units.
An evil eye that isn't much of a threat if there's a level difference, but its effect is just making the opponent feel favorability.
It doesn't have effects like controlling people's minds, but if it acts as a hostage, the favorability increase effects stack, making it extremely troublesome to attack.
"Ah, Lust!? Who are you!? Where from!?"
"From the forest."
On top of that, Lust demons are often good actors.
They often completely disguise themselves as children or transform into weak women, and in the game, they'd be witnessed by NPCs unaware of the situation, leading to players being socially ostracized.
They act more as debuffers than direct fighters, so it's better to take them out quickly.
Their combat abilities aren't particularly high, so defeating them with a surprise attack like this is easy.
"Tch! How did you know we were here!!"
From the feedback, I crushed its head—a critical hit, dealing massive damage to the Lust demon.
But one blow wasn't enough to finish it.
Holding its deformed face, it gets up, eyes filled with hatred.
A high-pitched voice matching its childlike appearance, but the words it releases are tainted with negative emotions.
"People with扭曲d personalities like you wouldn't think of fighting fair and square. You're the type to tilt your head and ask, 'Cowardice? What's that, is it tasty?'"
"What are you talking about?"
I wanted to rush and finish it, but the Greed demon covered it, preventing me from pursuing.
"Hey, you still mobile?"
"Obviously!"
The Lust demon replies to the Greed demon's question, its voice mixed with hatred.
Two demons—an ordinary person would flee, but—
I unhesitatingly sprinkle the holy water I brought on my morning star, temporarily imbuing it with light attribute, and enter combat stance.
The fact that I managed to blind one eye of the Lust demon already made the surprise attack worthwhile.
I dash straight forward.
"Ha! Challenging me head-on, are you stupid!?"
The特性 of Greed, as its name implies, is desiring everything.
At first glance, it looks like a physical attacker using its increased limbs.
But its true essence is different.
"Demon's Usurpation!"
The特性 of the Greed demon is to steal.
It steals the opponent's equipment, weakening them.
Entering close range, the moment I step into the morning star's striking distance, this skill is activated.
Its target is probably the morning star I'm holding, but—
"Shadow Clone."
For me, who has a skill to divert the skill's target, this is meaningless.
Before it activates, if I shift its awareness towards the shadow, the skill misfires.
"First hit."
Matching the demon's movement, which likely anticipated counterattacking with the stolen weapon, I slam the morning star into the knee of its front leg as I pass by.
"Gugya!?"
The power of a blow delivered with Class 8 stats beautifully shatters the Greed demon's knee.
"Greed!? Damn it! Look into my eyes!"
"Who would, idiot."
Trying to cover for Greed, who is enduring the intense pain and counterattacking, the Lust demon uses its small body to get in front of me and tries to peer into my eyes. But having mastered anti-evil eye combat techniques, I instantly widen my field of vision to an overhead view.
This way, I can avoid the evil eye without meeting its gaze.
Just how many times do you think I've fought demons like you?
I can reflexively grab some dirt and throw it in its face to blind it.
"My eyes!?"
"Here, boom."
"Guh!?"
Eye blinding, followed by a morning star to the stomach.
A blow worthy of a center-field hit.
"Damn it! Now for sure—"
"Mirage Phenomenon."
As Greed, compensating for its injured knee with other legs, lunges at me, I split into four clones to intercept.
"Here, thanks for the meal."
"GUGYAAAAAAAAA!?"
This time, I shatter all four knees at once, completely robbing it of mobility.
"And then—"
The Greed demon, with its knees destroyed, writhes in agony.
It'll take time for the blown-away Lust demon to return.
"Home run swing!"
Greed, bent forward from the pain, is in just the right position. I swing the morning star full force into its face.
The iron rule with tall enemies: lower them first, then send them flying.
I feel a crushing sensation in my hands, and white fragments scatter into my vision.
"You demon!!"
"Coming from you, a demon?"
As the Greed demon keels over, eyes rolling back, the Lust demon dives in, attacking with sharply extended claws. But don't think you can beat me with such linear movements.
The opponent is focused on the morning star, not watching my feet.
"Guhoh!?"
I sidestep the lunging Lust demon and drive my knee into its solar plexus.
With that momentum, the doubled-over Lust demon, I kick it straight up.
Aiming at the Lust demon, barely able to move from the pain, I properly take my swinging stance.
"Batter up!"
Waiting for it to come to just the right position, I time it perfectly, step in, add rotation from my hips, and drive the blow home.
"—And he hits!"
A decisive blow.
Crushing something that shouldn't be crushed, cleanly breaking its neck, I claim the Lust demon's life.
"L-Lust!?"
At that moment, Greed regains consciousness.
Seriously, demons and their high durability are such a pain.
I still have to fight the demon responsible for the explosion.
"Thanks for looking away."
"Eh?"
Closing the distance instantly with Aerial Step, I swing again into the face of the Greed demon, surprised by my sudden appearance.
The sound of its neck snapping echoes, and its massive body floats in the air before being blown away.
"And, done."
Two demons, estimated Class 6, I'd say.
"Now, next."
Taking out that combat power is significant, but these probably aren't the main event.
Both Greed and Lust have debuffer-oriented combat styles.
The one who caused the explosion is still out there.
The sin capable of causing an explosion, leaning towards a mage type, would be—
"Whoa."
Just as I'm imagining who might come, a spear of fire flies towards me.
"Don't dodge, boy."
"That's an unreasonable request. Also, don't use fire in the mountains! What if you start a wildfire?"
"I couldn't care less what happens to this polluted mountain."
A Flame Lance, a fire spell.
Looking in the direction the magic came from, I see a red-skinned demon emerging from deep in the forest, leading a horde of minions.
Its tone, its bearing as it stands proudly with its trained body—there's no mistake.
The Demon of Pride has appeared.