Chapter 95

"Damn it! What the hell? What the hell is that sword!?"

The Demon King's voice, which had been calm just a moment ago, was now filled with panic. But it was no wonder.

The Sword of Radiance, which now floated before my eyes, was something I knew all too well for its overpowered nature.

While it can only be used once every twenty-four in-game hours, the Sword of Radiance's strength and versatility surpass all other weapons.

In form, it is a sword, but it can be equipped by the "protagonist" regardless of their class, allowing the use of various arts such as sword, spear, and whip, and can even serve as a magic casting tool in place of a staff.

Moreover, its power is significantly boosted by the "average of the wielder's all abilities" rather than specific attributes like "Strength" or "Agility," ensuring that it remains powerful and relevant throughout the story, regardless of the build chosen.

And of course, it's more than just that.

"Brother!?"

Ignoring Resilia's surprised voice, I slowly got to my feet. I could feel the wounds, which should have been incurable due to the curse, gradually healing with each passing second.

This Sword of Radiance is a holy sword given to the hero by the Goddess of Salvation to defeat the darkness. Its mere presence dispels curses and exerts unparalleled power against monsters of darkness, especially the Demon King.

"...This is where it starts."

A surge of power welled up from deep within me. My soul, not my mind, was screaming that I could do anything now.

(Ah, really...)

A smile naturally formed on my lips, which had been tinged with despair just a few seconds ago. With a wry smile, I reached for the Sword of Radiance.

I don't know why the Sword of Radiance, which only the "Hero" can wield, is manifesting here. But the sword is here, and it is radiating unparalleled power to exorcise and heal.

This weapon, which a nearly dead "protagonist" used to repel the Demon King, could easily do the same for me, who is only level fifty.

My life as a mundane office worker has been nothing but a series of dramatic events.

A one-in-a-million comeback from a dire situation.

It's like... it's like...

--My outstretched hand stopped.

"Brother...?"

Resilia's voice, different from before, was filled with suspicion. I looked again at the glowing sword and my outstretched hand.

(...Huh?)

A sudden question rose in my mind.

--Did I want to be the "protagonist"?

But the moment of hesitation lasted only a split second.

In front of me was the Demon King, who was trying to take my life, and in my hand was the trump card that could defeat him. There was no reason to hesitate!

This time, with firm resolve, I reached for the floating sword...

"--You're an idiot!"

I forcefully knocked the sword away.

"What...?"

Everyone, even the enemy Bringle, was taken aback, and all eyes followed the light sword as it rolled and disappeared down the corridor.

"What? What are you...?"

The Demon King's eyes were filled with shock and a hint of fear at this incomprehensible action.

--I was aware that I was doing something foolish.

Indeed, if I had taken that sword, I would have recovered enough to move as the event dictated and could have dealt a blow to the Demon King.

Shaken by the unexpected power, the Demon King would have used a teleportation spell to retreat and report the existence of the Hero to other Demon Kings. We would have escaped the danger.

I knew this.

I knew this, but...

"But that would be boring, wouldn't it?"

Walking the path of a hero, admired by all and guided by fate, just isn't my style.

I don't need to be the main character of this world.

Even if I can't be the protagonist or a hero.

I just want to live a cunning, skillful, and free life in a corner of the world. That's all I need!

Yes, I...

"--I am not the 'protagonist'!"

With that declaration, I threw away the ring on my right hand.

The residual light from the discarded Level Stopper split the air, and I took a "Steel Sword" from my inventory and threw it into the air. The thrown sword instantly transformed into a "Box-shaped Monster"...

"What!?"

The surprise lasted only a moment. As Bringle's eyes widened in shock, I immediately cut down the mimic I had summoned.

The change came quickly. As the mimic disappeared, power surged through my body, and the persistent pain in my abdomen vanished instantly.

"Impossible! There's no way! That wound couldn't be healed..."

"I didn't 'heal' it. I just 'reached my maximum HP.'"

The wound inflicted by the Demon King can only be healed by the Sword of Radiance or over time.

However, leveling up resets a character's HP to its maximum, regardless of their current condition.

It's that simple.

"Well, I don't need this sword to deal with you anymore."

I put away the Metal King's Sword in my inventory and replaced the Level Stopper with a ring that boosts my Concentration to increase the power of my throws. I then transferred the knife from my left hand to my right and skillfully spun it around.

The Demon King's eyes were filled with a mad rage at the sight.

"Are you mocking me? You!"

"Enough talk. Come at me."

With a light taunt, Bringle's eyes filled with murderous intent, and he leaped at me with a speed that no human could match. It was indeed fast.

But...

"--Swift Sword."

In reality, it wasn't as fast as a human with the aid of Arts.

I activated my Arts, but instead of hitting Bringle, I simply moved behind him.

(I was completely caught up in the "event" just now.)

Reflecting quietly, I threw a newly drawn knife at Bringle's unprotected back.

"Where... Gah!!"

I threw three knives. The surprise attack hit all three, and the orichalcum knives, enhanced by the Swift Sword, left minor wounds on Bringle's back.

"...73, 66, 59"

Muttering the numbers as if to confirm, I threw more knives at the enraged Bringle. Two of the three knives hit, grazing his skin and leaving wounds.

"...53, 48"

I was dealing damage, but the Demon King's fighting spirit remained unbroken.

"Damn it! Stop moving around!"

As he charged at me, shouting, it was no longer a threat to me.

I readied new knives in both hands and...

"Parry!"

Calmly dodged the Demon King's wild attack and countered with both knives.

"Take that!"

The strike hit his neck, but it only left a small cut.

I discarded the used knives and dodged Bringle's next attack, throwing more knives.

"It doesn't work! I told you it doesn't work!"

Ignoring the cuts on his arm, he swung wildly, and I backstepped and threw more knives.

"Is that all you know how to do?"

One of the three knives grazed his skin, and one embedded in his arm, but he shook it off and charged at me like a rampaging bull.

But his attacks no longer hit me.

I easily dodged Bringle's knife and...

"...23, 21"

As we passed each other, I slashed him once with each knife.

As the battle dragged on, I became calmer, while Bringle's panic deepened.

"Why! Why can't I hit you!"

His flailing arms missed me by a wide margin.

Three more knives I threw hit his side.

"I am the Demon King! I can't be beaten by a human..."

His initial sharpness was gone, and the three knives I threw this time accurately hit his right arm.

"How... How can this be!"

The injured Demon King protected his right arm and switched to a knife in his left hand, but it was no match for me.

"This makes ten! Perfect!"

I casually dodged and countered with both hands, leaving a deep wound on the Demon King's remaining left hand.

Staggering, the Demon King clawed at his head,

"Damn it! Damn it all!!"

Suddenly, he roared to the sky and changed his behavior.

He stopped attacking, glared at me, and backed away.

"...I acknowledge you. I acknowledge you as a 'threat' and my 'enemy'."

The wild look in his eyes was replaced by a controlled rationality.

Though his glare was still filled with hatred, the Demon King was trying to control it.

"I will retreat. But don't misunderstand. I haven't lost to you. I will definitely return to kill you."

These were the lines from the "Encounter with the Demon King" event I had heard through the screen.

As if following a predetermined fate, he recited them like a scripted play.

Staggering from his injuries but with his fighting spirit unbroken, the Demon King glared at me and raised both arms above his head, casting a spell.

"--Enjoy your remaining life as much as you can until then. Return!!"

Bringle cast the spell with a parting line.

However...

"What! Why won't it work! Return! Return! Return!!"

He shouted in a near frenzy, but the spell wouldn't activate.

But it was only natural.

"Your stats are too low."

"What?"

Holding out the knife in my hand, I explained to Bringle, who looked as if he couldn't understand.

"Do you know what this knife is called? It's called the Goblin Slayer."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden!"

Ignoring Bringle's anger, I played with the knife in my hand.

"It has some mediocre effects, but one stands out. It excels when fighting a certain race. Can you guess which one?"

"Could it be..."

The "Weakest Demon King" in front of me trembled.

The Demon King is a monster evolved by an evil deity, the literal "King of Monsters" ruling over each race.

And the weakest existence in the green-skinned "Brave & Blade" world has only one answer.

"--It's the Goblin."

The moment I said it, the Demon King, the Goblin King Bringle, staggered.

"This knife increases damage to goblins and has another effect. Once per battle, it can permanently reduce a goblin's stats by 10%."

"Shut up!"

Bringle no longer tried to hide his shock. The Demon King's eyes, which had been calm at first, now clearly showed fear.

"Does 10% seem insignificant? But this effect stacks with multiple Goblin Slayers. One hit reduces it to 90%, two hits to 90% of 90%, which is 81%. Three hits to 73%, four to 66%, and five to 59%."

"Shut up! Shut up!"

Baring his teeth and spitting, Bringle roared.

Ignoring him, I looked around at the twenty-five knives scattered around and smirked.

"Then, how weak would a goblin be after being hit by this many knives?"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!"

The weight of the truth in those words was too much for the Demon King, who had lost everything, to bear.

"--You! You are! Ugh, Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh