(The world… I can see it so clearly.) (Eugene)
It was a strange sensation.
What I saw hasn't changed.
And yet, it felt as though eyes had grown on my back; my surroundings flowed naturally into my mind.
From the movement of clouds in the sky to the crawling of insects on the ground, an overwhelming amount of information streamed through my thoughts.
There was a bizarre sense of omnipotence.
Powerful, yet murky, mana swirled throughout my body.
Even when I Mana Linked with Sumire or Anemoi, I never felt this much power.
Right now, it felt like I could blow away a massive monster with a single swing of my hand.
"So this is…what it means to become a Demon Lord." (Eugene)
I muttered to myself.
"You've become quite handsome, Eugene."
A hand lightly tapped my shoulder.
It was Eri -the one who had turned me into a Demon Lord.
"Thanks, Eri. I'll use this power to challenge the Trial of the Gods." (Eugene)
"You're welcome. Since we're at it, maybe I should join Loki-sama's faction too, just to match you." (Eri)
She said it casually.
"Eri, which god do you follow right now?" (Eugene)
I just learned that becoming a Demon Lord required making a deal with a Demon God.
But I never heard that Eri worshipped any god of Hell.
"I'm unaffiliated. Freelance." (Eri)
"Is that…okay?" (Eugene)
"I fell because serving gods was a pain. Why would I serve someone again just because I became a Demon Lord?!" (Eri)
— "An unaffiliated Demon Lord inevitably ends up weaker, but it seems Eri-kun prioritized freedom over power." (Loki)
The Demon God's voice echoed.
"But still, since Eugene is here, maybe I'll join Loki-sama after all…" (Eri)
Before she could finish…
— "Erinyes. You are not permitted to approach that woman any further."
Suddenly, the air froze under an overwhelming pressure.
The source was Angel Mariel-san…or rather, the Goddess possessing her.
Mariel-san's eyes shone with mystical rainbow light, and merely meeting her gaze made my body stiffen.
"Eek!"
Anemoi fell onto her butt.
Principal Uther, Rosalie-san, the First Knight, even the Red Dragon, turned toward us in shock.
"Ah…haha. N-No way, Freyja-sama. I was joking. Just joking☆" (Eri)
Eri's face twitched.
That was a rare sight.
— "You are my Erinyes. Do not ever forget that."
The pressure faded.
"Haa… haa…"
The angel who had hosted the Goddess dropped to her knees.
"Are you alright?" (Eugene)
When I called out…
"She descended so suddenly…it surprised me…" (Mariel)
The tone was Mariel-san's again.
— "You're really loved by the Wood Goddess, Freyja." (Loki)
The Demon God spoke to Eri with mild sympathy.
"Y-Yeah… Please forget what I said earlier… Alright! Eugene, let's hurry and finish off the Red Dragon!" (Eri)
Regaining composure, Eri snapped her spear toward the dragon.
"Demon God-sama, I'll pray to you every day from now on. In return, grant me the power to overcome the Trial of the Gods." (Claude)
Claude was making a wish to the Demon God.
Wait, is that okay!? He's the prince of the Dragon Kingdom!
"H-Hey, Claude." (Eugene)
"If you're quitting being human, I can't just stand by." (Claude)
He grinned.
— "I like that. Offering faith to a Demon God whose name has been forgotten? Very well, Claude Percival-kun. I grant you the power of a warrior who serves a Demon God. But do not neglect your prayers." (Loki)
Black mana began swirling around Claude as well.
'Hey, the Demon God's name has been forgotten, and yet why has it been coming up so often for a while now?' (Airi)
Airi whispered in my ear.
"…Don't question that." (Eugene)
"Everyone's getting stronger. If I worship the Demon God too, would I get power?" (Airi)
I froze.
Apparently, so did the Demon God.
— "If the next Empress of the South Continent's largest nation starts worshipping me, that would attract way too much attention. Specifically from Althena-kun…" (Loki)
"Airi. You're troubling the Demon God. Don't be selfish." (Eugene)
"Why am I the bad one here!?" (Airi)
As we argued…
"This is getting interesting." (Rosalie)
Rosalie-san landed with a thud, wrapped in crimson mana.
"We should decide it with the next strike." (Uther)
Principal Uther joined us.
"Then I'll use my trump card. XXXXXXXX, Great Fire Spirit, Salamander!" (Rosalie)
An explosive surge of mana appeared beside Rosalie-san.
"Eek!"
Anemoi screamed.
"Incredible, Rosalie-kun. You've finally reached the point of commanding a Salamander." (Uther)
"Well, she doesn't listen to me at all, though." (Rosalie)
Principal Uther's impressed expression vanished.
"Everyone, keep your distance from Rosalie-kun." (Uther)
He himself stepped back.
"Now then… I shall bring out my trump card as well. Let's see… any suitable magic tool…" (Uther)
Countless magic circles appeared around Principal Uther.
Magic swords, staffs, even unfamiliar weapons, floated from them.
"…Where did you get an AK-47?" (Eri)
Eri pointed at one.
"Oh! As expected of Erinyes-dono. Very knowledgeable. It's a replicated weapon once possessed by someone transferred from Earth—" (Uther)
"It won't work on the Red Dragon. Pick something else." (Eri)
"…Hmph." (Uther)
He reluctantly put away the AK-47 in the magic circle.
Looks like he wanted to talk about it.
"Oh! I managed to summon this? It's usually in use somewhere, so I didn't have my hopes up about it though." (Uther)
He drew a simple-looking magic sword.
The air shifted.
I instinctively leapt back from where I stood.
Looking over, Eri and Claude had done the same.
In Principal Uther's hand was a single magic sword, shining gold.
At a glance, it looked like an ordinary magic sword…yet just looking at it filled me with unease.
"That weirdo… What a Holy Sword he has summoned… It's one of the highest-ranking Holy Swords of demon-slaying, isn't it…" (Eri)
Sweat trickled down Eri's cheek.
"Eri, that sword is…" (Eugene)
Just as I was about to ask its name…
— "The Sword of the Lady of the Lake, Excalibur… I had my doubts…but it appears to be genuine." (Loki)
The Demon God answered.
"What fortunate luck. To think that at this very moment, the owner of a Holy Sword that is constantly active in some world's crisis happened to be vacant." (Uther)
Principal Uther gazed at the golden, faintly gleaming magic sword with delight.
— "What are you talking about? This very moment is a 'world crisis,' isn't it? However, Uther-kun. You may be a knowledgeable Yithian, but you are not a Hero. Without being a Hero, you cannot fully draw out the Holy Sword's power." (Loki)
"Hmm… Indeed, that is correct." (Uther)
Principal Uther stroked his beard, thinking for a moment, then began a quiet chant.
—Rise from the ashes, children of the dungeon.
Raise your torches and follow my light.
The world may tremble, the kingdom may fall,
Yet I shall overcome it all.
I am the shield that guards against the storm,
The Holy Sword in human form.
Believe in my voice, believe in my flame.
Make me a hero in name, and grant this body sacred power…
Bwoom!!!!
In the next instant, a blinding light illuminated the area.
The magic sword in Principal Uther's hand began to shine like the sun.
— "Ahahaha! Pretending to be a Hero and deceiving the Holy Sword! What an amusing spell. You're just like a con artist." (Loki)
"I researched it in preparation for just such an occasion." (Uther)
Principal Uther readied his sword with a mischievous grin.
"King Uther…" (Sara)
"As expected of him…" (Claire)
Sara and First Knight Claire-san looked baffled.
"Eugy-kun! Look!" (Sumire)
"Sumire?" (EUgene)
I turned toward the Red Dragon Sumire was pointing at.
The Red Dragon, which had been lying on the ground recovering its strength, shifted into a battle stance.
An ominous purple mist gathered around it.
"Oh my, the Red Dragon seems motivated too." (Eri)
Eri twirled her spear with interest.
"Shall we begin?" (Rosalie)
Rosalie-san, who had been standing apart looking slightly bored, sprang into the air with a sharp "Tan!"
Bwooooo!!
A massive crimson pillar of fire erupted around Rosalie-san.
"Alright! Me too!" (Sumire)
A towering pillar of flames rose around Sumire as well as if stirred by the same fire attribute.
"Holy Sword Magic…" (Sara)
Several blades of light floated around Sara.
"Fairy Dance…" (Claire)
A green vortex of shining light rose around Claire-san.
Guooooooo!!
Claude's Dragon God Spear glowed red, black mana enveloping the area.
Likewise, the Dungeon Master, Airi, and the Twelve Knights readied their weapons.
In the distance, President Media prayed toward us.
"If we can't finish it with this, we lose." (Eri)
Eri spun her long spear swiftly, then steadied it.
I drew the God Katana in my hand, and the other White Divine Sword, from their sheaths.
Then I held them in both hands.
"Dual wielding? Eugene, can you do that?" (Eri)
Eri asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Right now, I can." (Eugene)
They fit in my hands as if I'd wielded them for ten years.
"Now then, this is the final battle." (Uther)
Principal Uther raised the dazzling magic sword high.
"Light." (Uther)
The moment he shouted, countless flashes from the sky converged upon his blade.
Wrapped in blinding radiance, Principal Uther swung down a massive blade of light.
"Sever." (Uther)
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The Red Dragon's furious roar echoed as one of its heads fell.
Then everyone charged at the Red Dragon at once.
The one spearheading the charge was, as expected, Rosalie-san.
A crimson meteor pierced the Divine Beast's neck.
The shockwaves of the following attacks overlapped, obscuring everything from view.
The Red Dragon did not take it silently. Its massive body shook, the ground trembled, black tempests raged, and pools of magma formed at our feet.
(…[Sky Walk].) (Eugene)
As a swordsman, I had to get close to strike.
Before me loomed the mountain-like body of the Red Dragon.
There, for the first time, I unleashed my Secret Technique.
God Katana and Divine Sword.
The technique released by wielding both…
"Twin Heavenly Resonance Style: Secret Technique – [Cerberus]!!" (Eugene)
The first Divine Beast I ever challenged.
A secret technique bearing its name.
Three crossing arcs of black and white slashes were unleashed simultaneously.
Like the fangs of a three-headed Divine Beast tearing through a throat.
(That's one down…) (Eugene)
I felt the impact.
I wanted to take two heads if possible…but I couldn't confirm it, and pulled away from the Red Dragon to avoid being caught in the continuing assaults.
"........."
After the attacks…
Dust filled the air, concealing the Red Dragon.
Yet faintly, its massive silhouette remained visible.
It hadn't fallen.
(Was it not enough…?) (Eugene)
For a fleeting moment, a bad premonition crossed my mind.
—The challengers' victory!!
The joyful announcement of Angel Mariel-san rang out loudly.