Chapter 18

"Um... that..."

Iris, who impulsively helped Shu, was met with astonished gazes from the holy knights. In the Demon God religion, monsters are the ultimate evil. They define humans as good and monsters as evil, leaving no room for compromise.

Of course, there are criminals among humans, but the religion teaches that they can be saved if they repent. However, no matter how much intelligence or reason a monster possesses, it is still considered evil.

That is why Iris, who protected the root of evil, the monster, was met with condemning gazes.

"Do you have an explanation that we can accept?"

"…Shu is my master."

"Is that supposed to be a reason!"

Zamus's shout, filled with anger, made Iris shudder. Iris herself did not understand why she impulsively helped Shu.

Rationally, she knew that she should defeat Shu, who is a monster.

However, emotionally, she wanted to help Shu.

No, she wanted to continue learning magic from Shu. Deep down, she wanted to spend her days off in Ildana, listening to his complaints.

"I don't want Shu to die..."

However, this statement only angered Zamus.

"Fool! This monster is evil! It must die! And this monster has killed six of our comrades. It is unforgivable.

Don't you think it would be a betrayal to the comrades who died if we let this one go here!"

"…! That… is…"

Iris understood.

The holy knights who were killed were also her colleagues, and she had worked with them on missions. She did feel something about their deaths.

However, she still wanted to prioritize Shu.

The female holy knight, perhaps suspicious of Iris's behavior, suddenly asked:

"Hey, Iris. I know it's unlikely, but were you in love with that monster?"

"……………………Huh?"

This question not only startled Iris but also Shu, who had been healing his wounds while the holy knights were arguing.

Iris, in particular, was startled.

(W-Was I in love with Shu…? Huh? It's a lie… right?)

She was startled by the question, and she also realized that she couldn't deny it. Until now, she had only seen Shu as her master, so she hadn't noticed.

However, upon reflection, she might have been in love with Shu.

She realized this.

(I like Shu…?)

She had been saved by Shu when attacked by a monster, taught the nuances of magic, and spent her days off with him. Despite all this, Shu had never shown any ulterior motives towards her.

Given that she was often looked at with ulterior motives, Shu was someone she could trust.

Upon being pointed out, and removing the "master" filter, she realized that she liked Shu.

(My face is red)

(Oh, this is serious)

(It's a lie… Iris being in love with a monster)

(Oh, how young)

(She must really like him)

The holy knights, seeing Iris suddenly blush, sent her a warm gaze.

However, this was a different matter.

"Is that your answer, Iris?"

"…Zamus. I—"

"It's enough. This is a sin of rebellion against the God of El Magia. You are no longer a holy knight. At the very least, if you had kept it to yourself and not interfered with the chance to slay that monster, there might have been a way to save you.

We will kill the spirit Shu. To prevent further interference, you will be restrained. The heresy trial will be held when we return to Ildana."

Although they felt a little sorry for her, the other holy knights agreed with Zamus. There was no room for leniency for the sin of protecting a monster, especially when committed by a holy knight with a high position in the Demon God religion. Iris seemed to understand this, as she sat down on the spot.

No, it was also because she couldn't reconcile her feelings.

In truth, she was the most confused.

"Capture her, Zacks."

"Understood."

Zamus ordered a nearby holy knight to tie up Iris.

However, there was one person who couldn't accept this.

Of course, it was Shu Arkwright.

(I can't let Iris be made a criminal because of me)

There was a sufficient opening.

Thus, Shu had the time to think.

In an instant, a massive magic circle was drawn on the ground, encompassing all the holy knights. Of course, the holy knights noticed, but they couldn't stop or escape, as they were all focused on Iris.

Zamus tried to give an order, but it was too late.

"Everyone, run—"

(《Slash Air Domain》)

Before they could even scream, all the holy knights except Zamus and Iris were killed. A vast amount of magic power accumulated in Shu, and his magic power began to rise rapidly.

During this time, Shu materialized and remained on the spot.

"Ugh…"

The amount of accumulated magic power was too much, even for Shu, who was taken aback. He had taken the magic power from the A-rank equivalent magic armors he had defeated. It was inevitable.

However, Zamus, who had just lost his comrades in an instant, was different.

"You bastard!"

He thrust his halberd with a speed that was almost invisible.

However, Shu used an acceleration magic circle to reverse the vector and deflect the impact. Zamus dropped his halberd but, undeterred, converted both his arms into water and attacked.

Shu used a movement magic to slide and avoid, standing next to Iris.

"Iris! Kill that monster! It will be your penance to the God of El Magia. That monster is evil, having killed eighteen holy knights! Understand, Iris Silverblade!"

Zamus was a devout follower of the Demon God religion. While holy knights don't necessarily have to be devout, given that magic armors are considered blessings from the God of El Magia, in regions where the Demon God religion is prevalent, the more powerful the magic armor, the more devout they tend to be.

Zamus was one of them, and he saw Shu as an unforgivable evil.

However, Iris was different.

During her time as a magic armor candidate, she was called a failure. She became a top-tier magic armor and a holy knight thanks to Shu.

While she believed in the Demon God religion, her dependence on Shu was stronger.

"…I can't, Zamus."

"What?"

"I've realized it. I… I must be in love with Shu…"

Iris turned to Shu, who was standing next to her, and said it clearly. Shu was taken aback but still met her gaze firmly.

(Iris...)

Shu, of course, did not have romantic feelings for Iris. He saw her as a troublesome little sister. Considering that he was a monster and she was a human, it would be normal to reject her.

However, Iris had already said she liked monsters.

After five years of being with Shu, she had come to this conclusion. To a normal follower of the Demon God religion, this was unforgivable.

"That's enough, Iris Silverblade. You are a great sinner who has rebelled against the god. I will personally erase you from this world. Along with the evil monster that deceived us humans!"

Zamus, who had enhanced his body, attacked. Shu used a movement magic to carry Iris and avoid the attack, which manipulated inertia, placing no burden on Iris as they moved at high speed.

"Shu!"

"Stay quiet, Iris. I'll take care of that holy knight. He's the one who wiped out the village's monsters while I was captured."

While Shu was fighting and captured, the village's monsters were all killed. A few managed to escape, but nearly a thousand monsters were all killed.

To Shu, the village's boss, the holy knights were nothing but mass murderers.

"For the first time in this life, I've felt something."

While he had the knowledge of his past life as Takahiro Shu, it lacked identity. It was just knowledge without emotion or memory.

However, Shu Arkwright had lived in this world and gradually grown.

This growth was not just in power but also in spirit.

He had gained a certain level of rationality from the start due to his knowledge, but his core identity was not formed. This identity was formed through his life as the village's boss and his interactions with Iris.

To Shu, the monsters were beings to be protected.

They were like family.

Of course, he knew that if he took their lives, he could be killed in return. However, he was not going to let this massacre go unpunished.

Moreover, Zamus was now threatening to kill Iris as well.

"I'll kill you with my own hands. If you're going to take from me, I'll take everything from you."

At that moment, he completely absorbed the accumulated magic power. The vast amount of magic power from fourteen holy knights propelled Shu to a new stage.

"Don't pretend to be human, you monster!"

Zamus transformed his entire body into water and attacked. Like a slime, his body flowed unpredictably, trying to crush Shu. Water whips shot out from his entire body, aiming to kill both Shu and Iris simultaneously.

Shu had no means of defense.

If he dodged, Iris would be hurt.

While she wouldn't die due to her immortal magic armor, Shu had no intention of letting her be hurt.

"‘Death’"

Shu reached out to Zamus and whispered this word.

In that instant, all life force was drained as magic power, and Zamus died instantly. His water magic armor was dispelled, and his dead body, losing momentum, rolled to the ground. It passed between Shu and Iris and finally stopped at a dilapidated hut in the distance.

"Death Spirit... That's my new race. ‘Life Drain’ has evolved into ‘Death’."

Shu turned his consciousness inward to understand himself. The power of ‘Death’ he used unconsciously was overwhelming, capable of instantly killing a living being.

This overwhelming power even surprised Iris.

"Shu... That...?"

"Hmm?"

Upon closer inspection, Shu was enveloped in overflowing magic power. It was dyed black, emitting a sinister aura, as if he were surrounded by a black aura.

Shu vaguely understood this.

"This seems to be the state where my ‘Death’ power resides in my magic power. It appears to have the power to kill all phenomena."

"Huh? A concept residing in magic power...?"

"What's wrong, Iris?"

Iris knew about this.

Monsters can use magic as a special ability. In Shu's case, as a spirit-type, he had the ability to ‘Life Drain,’ which converts life force into magic power and absorbs it—or absorbs magic power directly.

However, there is a phenomenon called awakening, separate from the usual evolution through magic power accumulation. Monsters that gain this power are called ‘Kings’ and are treated specially among monsters.

In the Demon God religion, these ‘Kings’ are considered the most abhorrent beings.

"…That power, that is… magic…"

"I see. The advanced form of magic, the power I have reached—"

—Death Magic

This was the power Shu gained upon awakening as a ‘King’.

The protagonist's ability has been revealed.

It is Death Magic.

Furthermore, this completes the four special abilities.

Magic: The innate ability of awakened monsters

Magic: The innate ability of monsters

Magic: The technology of applying magic power to physical phenomena

Magic Armor: The innate power residing in chosen individuals