Chapter 7 Part 3 - Second Coming

TL: Xean || ED: Chaos || PR: Riciel

It was a magic circle, created by the blood of a demon who had inflicted a fatal wound on his companion.

It was an object used in a ritual.

On the outer edge of the circle, there were many demons on their knees, praying to an unknown being.

And in the center of the ritual circle, there were two beings that looked like sacrifices.

“You… what are you doing…?”

I shockingly asked without thinking. Because one of the sacrifices was Galesciano.

“Haha…!”, Galesciano was smiling wickedly.

“What am I doing? Well, guess what? If there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that I’m selling my soul to the demons. Just to kill you, Theo.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Sharon muttered, unable to understand. Meanwhile, Erza was pointing to the other sacrifice.

“Theo, what is that?”

I’m sure you’ve seen it.

The other sacrifice exists next to Galesciano. The one-winged demon 《Suicide》.

It was an odd-numbered species that Rumina-san told me to watch out for. What was the reason why I should be careful? I think she said something about “Rebirth”.

“This is… I see. So that’s what she was talking about…”

The instructor looked up to the heavens as if she had figured it all out. While being dazed, the instructor continued.

“This is a Rite of Rebirth ceremony. It is the worst of all Demonic rituals.”

“The Rite of Rebirth…?”

“Yes, Theo-kun. I’ve heard of it. The one-winged demon 《Suicide》 is nothing more than a small fish with no strength on its own. However, if it is offered as a ritual sacrifice along with a human being, it can reincarnate a once dead demon into an awakened state.”

“Reincarnate dead demons into an awakened state…?”

How is that even possible?

But it was consistent with Rumina-san’s testimony.

The 《Suicide》 will bring something back to life. A horrible existence.

“Don’t tell me that’s…”

I could guess. What the instructor was afraid of.

“Apparently, only demons that have died in the area while the ritual is in progress can be reincarnated… and the strongest of them will be given priority.”

“That is…”

Agaliarept, the 13th Polaris General.

Before his death, he said this to the instructor as she was about to finish him off.

“My death here is but a prelude to the fierce destruction that is to come. Remember that. I will rise again. I will rise again to kill you humans…”

Was this all that was supposed to happen from the beginning? Was everything as planned…?

“Now despair. It’s time for the killing to begin…!”

“No! We have to stop the ritual!”

Galesciano shouted while the instructor hurriedly gave the order.

It was bad news if Agaliarept were to be resurrected in an awakened state. He could hunt us down. But he’s not yet awakened. I had to do something.

“…!”

I readied my aim. I didn’t know what to do to interfere with the ritual, but if Galesciano is essential as a living substitute, then killing him might stop the ritual. With that in mind, I tried to shoot Galesciano.

“It’s too late.”

An enormous light. The ritual circle suddenly glowed, engulfing everything around it in white light.

“Kuh…!”

I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t do anything. While the instructor was probably helpless to do anything about it, I sensed the presence of an unpleasant presence ahead.

“Ah… I’m finally back?”

A voice leaked out. The light was clearing.

When my vision returned to normal, there was no Suicide, Galesciano, nor the demons at the outer edge of the magic circle who had been kneeling in prayer.

Instead, there was a demon spreading its wings, its count approaching 100.

At first glance, it looked like a human youth, with his dark skin and black robes. However, the two horns on his forehead and the large number of feathers on his back denied that he was human.

“Hou~, isn’t this a surprise? There’s the little boy who wounded me and the woman who killed me.”

The 13th Polaris General Agaliarept flew at us, trying to seize me and Instructor Miya.

Agaliarept had taken not only the sacrifices of Suicide and Galesciano, but also all the demons present. In doing so, he was able to double his power from 50 to 100 wings. He was now on a whole other level.

“Run, Theo-kun!”

The instructor desperately pleaded for me to escape.

“Theo-kun, you’re only going to get yourself killed! You have to run!”

“But that’s…”

“Turn around and tell the South Branch about this! Can you do that?”

“Doing something like that…!”

Turn back and escape danger, leaving Instructor Miya here with Sharon and Erza? There is no way I can do that. I don’t remember being such a coward.

“Hi, Hiii…!”

One of the South Branch’s personnel began to run away because of fear. They could clearly see the difference in strength. He was definitely an enemy at a different level. So he chose to run away. But…

“Little one, do not think that you can escape me.”

As soon as he snapped his index finger, a small magic circle was projected into the air. And right after that.

A bunch of black lights appeared from the magic circle and hit the South Branch personnel.

“Gah…”

The place where he was pierced was fatal. There was now a huge hole in the middle of his chest. The next thing I knew, he was spurting out blood and falling to the ground. He had drawn his last breath.

“Quickly… go back, Theo-kun! Report this to the South Branch!”

Instructor Miya slashed at Agaliarept while her companions were catching their breath. She was probably trying to draw attention to herself.

Sharon and Erza also read her intentions and began to join in the attack.

However, I didn’t move. It’s not due to being crippled. I simply don’t want to leave this place. I don’t think I can leave. I can’t leave the instructor in this deadly place.

“Hey! If you won’t go, I’ll go! Please let me go!”

Another member of the South Branch said and ran off. The rest of the team followed him, thinking it was unfair. I guess they wanted to escape. While I thought they were pathetic, I couldn’t help but curse the way they were clinging to life.

There were only the four of us here now. Will the reinforcements requested by those who have just fled arrive? Will we even last that long?

“Theo-kun, why…?”

Instructor Miya continued to attack Agaliarept. At the same time, Agaliarept easily dodged the attacks from all three parties, including Sharon and Erza.

“Why didn’t you run away!?”

“There is no way I could have escaped!”

I raised my sniper rifle. I aimed at the Agaliarept and fired. When he dodged, I immediately fired a second shot. Even though he kept dodging, I continued to do the same.

“I dream of destroying demons! Someone with such a dream can’t just run away from a demon in front of him!”

“What good is that if it kills you!”

“From my point of view, running away, just to live, makes no sense!” [PR: Note, not a fact nor wisdom.]

The bullets didn’t hit him at all. The instructor’s attacks were also not connecting. Agaliarept seemed to be playing around, not fighting back at all. But I still won’t stop sniping.

“I have to destroy demons! I can’t just run away! And I have to get my strength back and erase your guilt!”

It all started when this guy in front of me targeted Instructor Miya. I shielded the instructor and took the magic attack instead which left me in a weakened state. I still believe it was the right thing to do. But I regret the guilt I put on her because of it.

I don’t know how we got to this point, but if Agaliarept is back, I can’t run away. And while there’s no proof, no evidence, I feel like there’s a light at the end of this fight.

“Isn’t that enough?”

It seemed that he had enough fun. Immediately after that, an enormous pressure pulsated from Agaliarept’s body.

The tremendous shockwave repelled all of our attacks, sending us flying away.

I flew through the air like a scattered leaf, rolled on the ground, and finally stopped. As I held back the pain, I looked around and saw that Sharon and Erza had also fallen to the ground and were not moving.

“This… can’t be…”

A short distance away from me, the instructor was struggling to get up. Then, Agaliarept approached the instructor.

“Why do you try to resist? You already know you can’t win.”

Those were the words of an arrogant, self-important person confident of their superiority.

“From now on, the human territory will be occupied by the demons. I can’t take over all of it, but if I take over a country or two at least, I’m sure that person will be pleased.”

He directed a bizarre smile at the instructor.