Chapter 99

In the depths of the forest, Koushin was running.

Cutting down the holy swords that attacked him along the way without hesitation, he headed only towards the light ahead.

Finally, he reached an open space.

"Did you set up that barrier?"

"Hmm... Do not ask me such questions so lightly."

The man with white hair said, turning around.

He was tall, and his wide cloak was quite impressive.

Moreover, it was clear that the space surrounding them was under his control.

"Humans are always like this. They believe they are at the top. What arrogance, the pinnacle of the world is not you humans. It is our god, Claireasil, and—me."

The man looked up at the sky and spread his hands.

His attitude suggested that he believed every word he had just spoken to be true.

However, Koushin faced him with a dignified attitude, not backing down.

"... Whether or not you're at the top of the world doesn't matter to me. I will defeat you. That's all."

"You are a presumptuous human—punishment is necessary."

With his hands still spread, the man floated into the air.

"I am one of the Seven Holy Swords! The Sword of Pride, Lucifer! The one who governs pride!"

"My name is Koushin... a mere high school student."

◆◆◆

Yūhi was running through a rugged rock field.

Surrounded by black flames, he destroyed anything that approached him in an instant.

At the end of his run, he found a man with long black hair.

His forehead was deeply furrowed, and his eyes were sharp.

He wore clothes primarily in red and black, and in his hand, he held a sinister double-edged sword.

"Are you the key to the barrier?"

"Shut up. Think for yourself before asking others."

The man, who looked irritated, directed his sharp gaze at Yūhi.

However, it did not make Yūhi flinch.

"Whatever. I'm just going to kill you."

"Yeah, you're so annoying... I can't stand it..."

Yūhi and the man both got into fighting stances.

The emotion on both their faces was one: anger.

"I am one of the Seven Holy Swords, the Sword of Wrath, Satan. I will hear your name."

"You have no name to give. You're going to die here anyway, right?"

"... I will definitely kill you."

◆◆◆

"I'm so hungry, I'm so hungry."

"...What is that? That..."

"It's dangerous..."

In front of Shironeko and Mineko, there was a girl with "arms" reaching out to the surrounding holy swords, devouring their flesh with the "mouths" on her palms.

Her arms were like tentacles, and the mouths on her palms made her shape look distorted.

"Ah, it's a human, I haven't eaten one in a while... Should I eat you?"

"Here it comes."

"Yes!"

The arms stretched out.

The two of them avoided it by splitting to the left and right, escaping unharmed.

However, the trees behind them were bitten off and turned into a barren field.

"... We can't touch that."

"There's no way we can survive..."

"Ah, I haven't eaten a tree in a while. It's delicious."

The girl, having forgotten about the two of them, started devouring the trees.

Before they knew it, the forest's trees had disappeared, and a vast open space had formed.

"But, I want to eat humans too... right? Can I eat you? I won't hold back."

"It won't be delicious."

"That's not the issue..."

Though the conversation lacked tension, their expressions were serious.

They calmly avoided the arms that returned to target them again.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

"I'm so hungry."

◆◆◆

"Wow, I have to fight this guy? The other holy swords are so lucky, I can't enjoy anything with this."

"...Are you the key to this barrier?"

"Yeah?"

In front of Elka stood a boy.

The boy looked at Elka with round eyes and sighed.

"You're just a grunt, right? Among the humans who attacked, you're the weakest, I can tell right away."

"Wh-where am I weak...?"

"Your eyes are too cloudy. You're not looking at me. Your mind is elsewhere."

The boy scratched his head resentfully.

"Even though it's clear I'm your opponent, why aren't you looking at me? I'm jealous."

"Shut up! I can fight."

"Then prove it. Show me that you can fight a little."

"!"

In an instant, the boy moved in front of Elka's eyes.

In the past, she might have been able to see it coming.

But with the current Elka, she couldn't even catch it.

"I am the Sword of Envy, Leviathan. The sword that will kill you."

Leviathan clapped his hands once.

The moment his hands met, the shockwave sent Elka flying.

◆◆◆

"Hey! If I knock you out, will that barrier disappear?"

"...What a hassle. I don't want to do this."

"You're a lazy guy, aren't you?"

At the place Roa headed, there was a man lying on the ground.

The man looked at Roa lazily.

Eventually, he stood up with a slouched posture and readied the sword he summoned.

"It's a hassle, but it's for Lord Claireasil... Let's get this over with. If you kill me, the barrier will be lifted."

"Huh, you're quick to talk. Let's do it then."

On one side, a perpetually lazy man.

On the other, a fierce and combative girl.

Two extremely contrasting individuals faced each other.

"I am Roa Leona, daughter of the Beast King."

"One of the Seven Holy Swords, the Sword of Sloth, Belphegor. Ah... Even saying my name is a hassle."