Chapter 54

In the boundless expanse of space.

Faced with the blue knight, a threat that should not exist, Helian stood there in shock.

The blue knight remained motionless, showing no signs of new movement. However, this immobility was due to the fact that the other side was not moving. The red eyes visible through the slits exuded clear hostility, and if the other side made any move to advance or retreat, the blue knight would immediately attack.

Leve also imposed immobility on herself, her eyes, free of any negligence, fixed on the blue knight. If the blue knight made even the slightest move, she would immediately take action. Conversely, until the blue knight moved, she would maintain her immobility. She simply waited for instructions from her master.

Thus, all the decisions in this situation were entrusted to Helian alone. As long as Helian did not make a decision and move, both sides would continue to remain motionless indefinitely.

And what Helian thought of was the self-questioning of the current situation, which she had lost count of.

(Why did it come to this?)

Even so, she had tried to make meticulous plans.

She had tried to set a clear course amidst the endless stream of work, faced her shortcomings without turning away, and resolved to make efforts to maintain the role of "King of Demons" until the day she could return.

She had no confidence that she could proudly say this was the best plan.

But she had thought through it as much as she could, agonized over how to make things work, and despite feeling crushed by the overwhelming responsibility, she had planned within the limited time and bravely set out on her journey abroad.

Yet, reality was so merciless.

The carefully crafted plan began to go awry even before reaching the destination, and she ended up getting involved with a powerful figure she should not have had to deal with.

Even as she tried to correct the course, she got caught up in the chaos of a labyrinth rampage on the second day of her arrival, and was completely targeted.

Furthermore, due to her own choices, she was forced to participate in a labyrinth exploration, which led to her being isolated and now facing a myth-level threat in an unknown place.

"......"

The situation was too cruel.

It felt as if she was completely cursed.

Things did not go according to plan, and one difficulty after another forced her to make choices.

Yet, despite all her efforts, nothing bore fruit.

Moreover, the situation pushed her to make choices without regard for her circumstances.

It felt as if her fate was being toyed with.

The irrationality was relentless.

Nothing went as she wished.

It was too unreasonable!

"......So what?"

A strange sound, "Gajiri," accompanied a shift in consciousness.

The image etched in her mind resembled a gun's trigger.

The force of pressing a button was like pulling a trigger.

The transformation of consciousness was instantaneous.

Mizaki Tsukasa put on a mask and stood there as the King of Demons.

"......Ah, right. The fact that this world is unreasonable—"

She had known this all along.

Because reality is ultimately like that.

The real world always forces abrupt and unreasonable choices.

No matter how meticulously one plans their life, the gears are always out of alignment, and experiences that go according to plan are few and far between.

That's why Mizaki Tsukasa was captivated by virtual reality.

A world where effort is always rewarded with equivalent experience points, a gentle world where success is guaranteed. She was immersed in the perfect sandbox constructed of numbers, spending most of her youth there. She continued to be engrossed in the dream-like second world.

However, this is now reality.

Not a convenient fantasy made of zeros and ones, but a cruel and undeniable reality.

"Power Virtual Window: Unlock"

Mizaki Tsukasa should have already been aware of this undeniable fact.

At the "Place of Beginnings" where she finally arrived after much suffering.

Encouraged by a noble pair of sisters.

And she should have acknowledged it.

This world is, without a doubt, real.

"Secret Art Activation Target: Moon Wolf"

Then, why give up here?

This is the result of her own choice.

If so, she must take responsibility for the consequences.

Choice and responsibility are inherently such things.

It's not a special case but a basic human principle.

"Additional Settings: Execute. Permission Check Procedure: Skip"

So, don't bow your head.

Face forward without averting your eyes.

How can you run away from the result of your own choice?

Everything, all of it, was decided by you—!

"Secret Art Activation Declaration: 'Blessing of the Red Moon'!!"

With the declaration, something precious was taken from her body.

The drained vitality was devoured by the mechanism and converted into the fuel to activate the secret art, being absorbed by her first subordinate.

Simultaneously, pain assaulted her. But she did not show a pained expression. With the mask fully in place, such a pitiful display was out of the question.

She was about to face the battle—no, she was about to be thrown into the battlefield by her own hand. It would not be the image of the King of Demons to groan in pain before the battle even began.

"......Master Helian?"

Leve, unsure of how to interpret the activation of the secret art, voiced her confusion.

"There's no running, Leve. I don't care what that thing is, but if it stands in our way, we will destroy it."

"But, but, we are completely cut off from Galdy and Ceres. Engaging in a direct battle with a myth-level threat in this situation..."

Yes, they were indeed cut off.

The chariot and the monk were already lost.

The situation was dire, with a significant loss of subordinates.

It could be called a desperate situation.

But,

"You are still here. None other than Leve=Flakius is here.

--Then, what reason is there to run?"

The sound of a gasp beside her.

Ignoring it, Helian took a step forward.

--Ah, right. I still have Leve.

The first subordinate, the only one she decided to trust with her heart on the day she experienced death.

Then, why show a pitiful and fearful face just because a myth-level enemy has appeared?

"In the name of the King of Demons, Helian=Edda=Elshinock.

I, Alkymaira, command Leve=Flakius."

She extended her right arm straight.

At the end of her raised right hand, the mysterious blue knight.

An unknown myth-level threat.

The enemy was powerful.

She had only one subordinate left.

But the one left to her was her most trusted first subordinate!

Then, do not fear.

Bare your teeth and show your might.

Shout without any hesitation.

There is only one word to shout—!!

"---Destroy it!!"

---

And the first subordinate heard the king's command.

How to express the shock at that moment.

She felt an overwhelming surge of emotion.

...She had always been anxious.

She had spent countless sleepless nights, bearing the burden of her sin alone.

She had agonized over how to regain trust.

She had feared being abandoned.

But the king told her there was no need to run.

Facing an unknown myth-level threat, with only herself left as a fighting force.

Even so, he said there was no need to run as long as she was there.

--It felt like he said, "I trust you."

It might have been a misunderstanding.

It might have been just self-flattery.

But, indeed, she felt that way.

"Gur, ru..."

A sound escaped from the Moon Wolf's throat.

The rumbling sound, starting with "ru," eventually became a continuous sound.

"Uru, ru...!"

Her hands trembled with passion and then formed hard fists like steel.

The breath that escaped through the gaps of her clenched teeth was like scorching heat.

The outpouring of her inner emotions filled her with exaltation.

An irresistible impulse coursed through her body via her bloodstream.

"Rururururuuuuuu—"

The heat and sound overflowed.

There was no longer any reason to hold back.

The Moon Wolf surrendered to the surging impulse.

The rising passion transformed into a crimson roar and burst forth—

"Ruuuuuuuuuuuuu—N!!"

--The Moon Wolf's roar.

The scream ascended to a skill and activated.

The loud roar that announced the start of battle.

The cry that shook the air gave the Moon Wolf strength, enhancing her basic combat abilities.

Thus, filled with fighting spirit, the Moon Wolf, entrusted with the king's command, transformed into a spear and charged at the blue knight.

--The myth-level duel began.

*The next chapter will be posted at 23:00 today.*