Chapter 404: Last Words

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While mo

Seras was amplifying her ability to catch sounds slightly using the power of the Wind Spirits as she moved.

However, as a frontline fighter, Seras needed to remain vigilant of her surroundings.

Her role was to handle defense in case of an ambush by Vysis or her Divine Servants.

Thus, the one tasked with acting as a sensor was Pigimaru.

Focusing solely on being a sensor without considering combat, Pigimaru heightened its sensitivity.

For that reason, Pigimaru was the first to notice.

Because of this early detection, we had enough time, albeit brief, to prepare before Eve arrived.

We waited in a position not visible from the passage and launched a skill at the edge of its range.

Ideally, I would have liked to use .

That would have been better for aiming to incapacitate in one strike.

However, given the unknown combat capabilities of the enemy, I judged that the shorter range of posed too much risk.

I also couldn't help worry about Munin.

Having her being too close to the enemy was dangerous.

Conversely, being too far from Seras and me was equally risky.

Thus, we decided to initiate the attack from a position where Seras could stay relatively close to Munin.

▽

The Forbidden Curse unleashed by Munin.

When it had been used on Kirihara Takuto in the past, a sound resounded.

It sounded like something bursting.

That must have been the sound of being destroyed.

The Forbidden Curse materialized, forming into a semi-transparent chain that eroded the Divine Servant with the appearance of a white knight.

But this time———— there was no sound.

Considering the possibility of them being enchanted, we still opted to use the Forbidden Curse but……

As Loqierra had anticipated, hadn't been casted.

[—————-

[ " Oi!? What is———- " ]

————Crack,

Paralysis effect———- successful.

[ !]

From the gaps in Ars' armor, a fountain of red blood gushed out vigorously.

Amidst it all, Ars was pointing at Seras.

I was already moving on to my next action.

At this range, I might as well———-

[ ! ……]

[ " ! ? My vision…… has been taken away!? I can’t…… see anything!? Kuh…… Stay calm…… Remember what Master taught me…… Don’t rely solely on sight…… The wind…… the wind…… The presence of life…… The "form"…… will guide me! Stay calm…… me! " ] �

Even while spewing blood———– he's still moving.

He hasn’t succumbed to death.

I can hear a voice from the darkness within his helmet……

He’s speaking while spurting blood.

Probably why his words are so fragmented.

……Or

The blood.

Is it…… flowing backward inside his body?

[…… !]

Ars’ white body began turning purple.

Bubbles indicating poison appeared on his body as well.

After this…… Will the continued damage be enough to take him

[………

Still, around Ars, those blade-like tentacles were moving.

As if to protect him.

Those must be——— the "blade whips" Eve mentioned earlier huh……

[ ! ]

Ars dropped to one knee on the ground.

However, the blade whips……

[……What is this?]

Their speed and intensity were rapidly increasing.

Clearly.

His blood———- continues to gush out.

It’s probably because Ars is forcing himself to move.

Blood gushes out of his body…… then flows back into his body again……

He should still be poisoned, but……

Is…… the damage getting through?

It’s impossible to guess from his expression.

It’s hard to tell exactly what “state” Ars is in right now.

If Loqierra's intel is correct.

Even Seras’s truth detection might not work effectively against him.

Most of all…

[…

Should I trust in the efficacy of and wait for him to die?

I'm not quite sure…… if the poison is contributing to the damage.

Before I knew it, the bubbles from the poison were gone.

The discoloration on his body seemed to be fadin

……What do I do?

Should Seras use her Origin Regalia to finish this in one blow?

Should I get closer myself…… and try to put him to sleep with ……

[Touka!]

Eve's voice.

[There is something I need to tell you!]

I kept my eyes on Ars and listened to Eve’s words.

Eve summarized the key points of the information she had gathered while fighting Ars.

During that time, Ars remained kneeling in place without moving.

But the blade whips extended and attacked.

Eve interjected to say its range had increased compared to their last fight.

While Seras deflected the blade whips, I finished hearing the information.

[……I see.]

[Of course, that’s assuming my theory is correct.]

[No…… judging from Ars’ behavior, it doesn’t seem wrong…… It’s probably better to act based on that assumption.]

In other words.

Using Origin Regalia could be a gamble.

Earlier, Ars pointed at Seras and said———-

"Found you."

That phrase carried a distinctly strong sense of “will”.

If that meant "he found the target Vysis instructed him to seek"……

Wouldn't he have pointed at Munin or me instead?

If that’s the case, then it means……

He found "the one he wants to fight".

According to Eve's theory, this interpretation seems highly likely.

Looking at it the other way……

It could also mean "he has encountered the perfect prey to trigger further evolution".

In that sense……

[Using Origin Regalia here might provoke even more undesirable evolution.]

Eve said.

[……On the other hand, do you think it’s worth taking the chance to finish him off with the Origin Regalia?]

[Honestly…… I don’t know. I thought maybe we could tear him into pieces…… but I can't be sure.]

[If Seras uses Origin Regalia, it's highly likely she'd cut him to pieces…… it could also make him completely unbeatable.]

[If we’re doing it, I’ll join in too.]

That voice came from Gio Shadowblade, who seemed to have regrouped with Eve.

Noticing something, I spoke.

[……Gio, the equipment that Divine Servant is using———-]

[We’ll deal with that later.]

Gio cut me off and continued.

[We can’t check that until we kill him first.]

[———–Got it. If you’re joining, Gio…… you and Eve protect Munin.]

In this case……

If Seras moves to finish him, I should approach as backup too.

That’s why I asked the two of them to guard Munin.

There’s also the possibility of reinforcements arriving through other passages.

I confirmed something with Gio first.

[Are your injuries okay?]

[With Eve’s support, I’m good enough to deflect the blade whips.]

[———-I see.]

Eve and Gio moved to guard Munin.

If our conversation had been heard by

[ " Even if…… I kill humans…… I won't gain…… Soul Power…… What are you saying, Vysis…… They're still alive…… Those I've killed…… Even without Soul Power…… They're still living…… inside me! They're still alive! In my heart! Don't——— Don't insult them! The dead…… the warriors who fell by my hand! ……Huh? I'm crazy? Me……? " ]

……There doesn't seem to be any notable reaction.

The content of the words doesn't seem to have any significant meaning in the current situation either.

It seems difficult to apply a truth judgment to this.

[…

Ars isn't just affected by .

He's also had , , and layered on him.

And yet……

Now, it’s no longer just the blade whips.

Ars himself……

[ " Just with techniques…… I want to fight…… With the Soul Power…… With the Goddess' Blessing…… I've become too strong…… but if we're fighting with just techniques——— with just skills…… If it's justjustjustskillskillskillskillskillskill, under the same conditions…… I can fifififight…… A battle above blades——— is one——— itititit shall be! " ]

He stood up.

———–What the heck is this?

The blood in his body……

At first, it seemed like it was spurting out———- then it immediately flowed backward.

As though it were being played in reverse.

Moreover, not just the bubbles, even the discoloration on his body had nearly returned to white.

This……

Is he healing beyond the damage inflicted by the poison?

His white armor———– thick veins like leaf veins were visible all over his body.

Blood spurted most violently from Ars' thigh.

Probably due to the influence of , he was trying to charge forward.

And that spurted blood…… like a reversed spray, it also returned to his body……

I suppose I should test it out huh.

[Seras.]

[Understood.]

Seras……

She understands everything without needing further instructions.

As soon as I move, Seras understands everything.

She steps forward———- and I follow her back.

She still hasn't used her Origin Regalia yet.

With just the Blade of Light, for now, she can still manage———-

Seras closes in on Ars.

Ars' sword, swung with arms that are twitching unnaturally from the spurting blood and the reverse flow.

Seras’s Blade of Light deflects it in the midst of a diagonal strike.

Ars——— now brimming with brutal intent, is in a completely battle-ready state.

The Skill no longer seems to mean anything against him.

The blade whips surrounding us, aiming to encircle me and Seras……

I gave up on evading.

The range of Ars' six blade whips now.

With the speed of Seras Ashrain’s single sword……

It surpassed all of them.

[ ————–

[ " Good…… nigh——–"…… "——–Good morning! Today is also a good "Good nigh "Good mo "Good ni "Good mo "Good mo "Good ni" "Good "Nigh "Goodmomomomomogoodnininininininin

[……

This guy……

Is he repeating sleeping and waking up?

Eve had mentioned it earlier.

His seemingly infinite regeneration.

[Touka-dono……]

[———- ……Take some distance.]

[Yes!]

With Seras intercepting Ars' attacks, we took distance.

Ars was staggering.

But even in this unsteady state, he……

[The gap…… is narrowed.]

Or ra

[ " Everyoneoneoneoneone's deadeadeadeadeadead———– I———- I killedkilledkilledkilledkilledkilledkilled them———— whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy thathathathat look on youryouryouryour face, Vysiiiiiiiiiiis————–? Whowhowhowhowho———- amamamam I———– WHO AM I!? " ]

As if he was straight out of a badly done clay anima

Or perhaps……

From an anime with scenes missing, making it a distorted animation……

Ars began to move.

His body started twisting———- yet moving with a seamless precision, he began closing in.

It seemed as though his form was gradually deviating from a human shape.

Asymmetrical horns began to sprout from his body.

And then——– his mouth.

The lower half of his helmet opened like flower petals, revealing his mouth.

Red gums and golden teeth.

The inside of the mouth was filled with darkness.

[ " Vysi…… Vysisisis……! I—— I——– I’m scared——–Before I knew it——— I’ve killed——– too many——– Killkillkill me——- please——- kill me! " ]

……It seems that it wasn’t just my imagination after all.

Since I casted earlier, that feeling had been lingering inside me.

And now…… it felt as though that sensation had become definitive.

This thing is dangerous.

He's unlike the Human-Faceds……

Civit……

The Heroes……

Even that sh*tty Goddess.

I couldn't place him the same as any of them————- and that unsettles me.

"Evolution"

Eve had said that this follower was evolving through battle.

……Ars' words don't seem to make sense as "conversation".

But based on the content, could it be……

Was he once a hero that even Vysis couldn’t handle……?

A former Hero who begged Vysis to "kill him"?

———–It's quite clear now.

This one is likely not something that can be reasoned through.

My instincts are telling me……

If I let this thing "evolve" further…… something catastrophic will ha

[Seras.]

I called out to Seras, who had been watching Ars while maintaining her battle stance.

[Yes.]

As expected, I still want her to conserve her Origin Regalia.

I felt even more strongly about it during this battle.

I’ve realized just how necessary Seras’s "sword" is for handling my Abnormal State Skills.

I must avoid her being completely exhausted here at all costs.

There certainly is Sogou Ayaka, who is a close-range fighter of equal rank as her here.

However———– no one else can adapt to me like Seras can.

[I'm counting on you.]

[I understand!]

With my step forward, Seras understood everything.

At the same time———- Ars closed in.

His movements, once like a distorted clay animation……

———-were now becoming more "coherent".

He was evolving further.

I felt a sharp determination coming from Seras’s back.

Seras spoke briefly.

[I'm sorry——— I will use it just a bit.]

[……I leave that to you.]

Seras activated her Origin Regalia, but only from the elbows down.

Ars' blade whips——- now more ominous and faster.

And even under the effect of five Abnormal State Skills, Ars spoke.

[ " I will become strongstrongstrongeeeeeeer " I will winwinwinwinwin this fight " Vysisisisisisi " I won't lololololose " This will be easyyyyyy " Peacepeacepeacepeacepeace " I will definitelylylylylylyly save youuuuuuuuuu " Killkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkill ■■■■

He took a definite stance.

[              I w■l ki■ you

———————This distance, created for me by Sera

[ ————–

I deactivated all my other skills———- and casted .

[ "———————- "

……Crack…… Snap…… Crunch…….

Ars' body began to freeze.

The movement of the blade whips also came to a halt.

……Evolution, huh.

The gradual development of something.

In other words———– It's an act that needs "development".

But has the power to "stop" things from moving.

…………Well, I could come up with all sorts of explanations.

But hone

This was the only method that came to my mind.

If Seras used her complete Origin Regalia, we might be able to deal with him.

But I’m not even sure if this Ars actually has that core Eve spoke of.

And while I don’t fully understand the logic of it all……

It seemed that, over time, my Abnormal State Skills had become nearly ineffective against him.

Even if I used now, I can't see a clear path to victory by myself.

The evolving monster———– Divine Servant Ars.

So the last thing that came to mind was a skill that would "stop" him.

Development, evolution———- A skill that stops everything.

The first test subject bug.

Kirihara Takuto.

There was only one slot left in the limit of three targets for this skill.

For my Abnormal State Skill ————— that was my last shot.

[……………

Seras and I maintained some distance, keeping ourselves in a battle-ready stance.

Ars' feet…… had stopped.

The lower half of his body was already frozen.

……Slow.

Compared to the bug and Kirihara, the freezing speed is clearly slower.

Is this guy also "adapting"——— evolving to counter ?

……What now?

No…… as usual———- I'll have to come up with the next move somehow.

[No matter how it turns out…… there must be a way.]

I kept my thoughts active.

Always think.

Think of the next move.

[ " I give you…… my thanks…… Vy…… sis…… I am…… too dangerous…… I…… Ars Monroy…… should disappear…… from this world…… An existence…… that should be erased…… " ]

Ars reached out toward us.

As though trying to grab something.

I, along with Seras, continued to stare at Ars, still in battle stance.

And———– I continued thinking.

Should we retreat now or not……

Perhaps

……Crack, snap……

The ice spread, encroaching on the white Divine Servant.

[ " Hey, Vysis, last question…… Can I ask something? " ]

Ars said.

[ " If the two of us fought———– who would be stronger? " ]

With those last words, Ars———

[—

Was completely encased in ice……

And then, fell silent.

At that moment, Eve spoke up.

[……Is it over?]

[Status Open.]

I brought up the skill menu.

The number of 's target limit displayed was .

This meant———– had indeed worked on Ars.

[Doesn't seem like…… he's gonna be moving anymore.]

It took a while for it to fully take effect, but now Ars was in the same state as the bug and Kirihara.

[There’s still a chance he might start moving again…… but for now, assuming it worked, we have to move forward. Ideally, we’d toss him somewhere and make sure he can't do anything if he comes back to life…… but within this labyrinth and us being this close by, there doesn't seem to be a convenient place like that……]

While he's in this state, the skill likely renders any attack ineffective.

That had already been confirmed during tests with the bug.

If attacks had been able to break the target, it would have freed up a slot in the skill's target limit.

I tried every destructive method I could think of, but none succeeded.

Gio, staring at the frozen Ars, spoke.

[In short, we just leave this guy here, right?]

[Exactly.]

[Touka.]

Eve stepped in front of me.

[Once again…… thank you. I owe you.]

[Without the information Eve gathered beforehand, I might have had Seras use her complete Origin Regalia. Considering Ars' characteristics, that would have likely been a pointless waste of energy. In that sense, your——— your and Gio's contributions were invaluable.]

[Fufu…… You’re as smooth-talking as ever.]

[Pigii!

[You've been a great help too, Pigimaru.]

[Speaking of contributions, I was also protected by Eve-san and everyone, right?]

Munin joined the conversation with a light chuckle, her hand covering her mouth.

She was as good as ever at diffusing tension.

……Though her shoulders trembling slightly betrayed how frightened she must have been.

[Thank you as well, Gio-san.]

[Well…… you’re a comrade from the Faraway Country after all.]

Munin smiled warmly.

[Yes, comrades.]

Gio glanced at Ars and Armia's equipment that had been frozen along with him.

[……For now, let’s head for the castle.]

Looking toward the castle, he spoke.

[Whether Armia’s alive or dead…… We can’t know right now. Sometimes, people you think are alive turn out to be dead. Other times, those you thought dead are still alive. For now, it’s anyone’s guess. That said———– she chose this, knowing the risks. Even if she’s dead, that’s the path she decided to take. But if she is dead……]

Gio tightened his grip on his sword.

[Then we have to make sure we stop that damned goddess’s schemes, or she’ll never rest in peace.]

As Armia became the topic, Munin’s previously cheerful expression darkened.

Seras looked at Gio with a hint of sorrow.

[Gio-dono…]

[I appreciate the concern but…… now’s not the time to worry about whether Armia’s alive or dead.]

And so, Gio said:

[Let's see this through the end———- Fly King.]

[……—

Leaving the frozen Ars behind, we exited the room.

This is totally unrelated to the chapter's title, but this marks the final update and Author's Notes of 2024.

Thank you all for your support this year.

This year felt especially significant for , with the anime broadcast being a major highlight.

Thanks to the anime, the light novel volumes 6 – 12, and the manga volumes 8 – 11 have been reprinted. This means that all light novel volumes were reprinted before and after the anime aired (apparently, digital sales in July exceeded 1000% compared to pre-anime broadcast figures). The manga volumes were also repeatedly reprinted before and after the anime aired, leading to strong sales in both physical and digital formats. I am truly grateful for this. Thank you so much to everyone who made purchases.

While there were such wonderful developments, this year was also filled with many challenges and uncertainties.

However, I feel that it is thanks to your continued support and encouragement that I’ve been able to keep writing despite the struggles. I am deeply grateful for the heartfelt comments, the rating points, and all the ways you’ve supported me. (Many of you have thoroughly engaged with the story, left warm comments, or shared reports of purchasing the books. All of these have been a great source of motivation. Thank you for your support.)

Although the challenges never seem to end, I will keep moving forward, even if it means navigating through uncertainties.

I believe the final arc will be concluded next year.

Thank you all once again for your support this year.

I wish you all a Happy New Year.