Chapter 171

✠

“My God……”

They failed to land an effective hit on Lilith.

As the three stiffened in shock.

Charurururu!

The chains of the handcuffs around Lilith’s wrists rattled.

Instead of being a device that restrained her, it became another weapon that extended to the three.

“Kgh!”

“Hmph!”

“Ugh!”

The chain wrapped around everyone’s necks and pulled them upwards. The tips of their toes groped for a floor to tread on, only to flail mid-air.

Lilith opened her mouth in a snarl.

“I’m tired of playing with you guys. So I’ll call it a day.”

“……”

“Alright, lowly humans, which of you will be the first to be beheaded by my scythe?”

“……”

“What? No volunteers? Then there is nothing we can do.”

The demon’s eyes, glowing with excitement, turned towards one person. Her choice was universal.

“After all, the healer is always first, right?”

“……!”

The face of Hilde, a skinny girl with pale platinum hair, turned ghastly white.

Lilith deliberately raised her scythe very slowly. It only took a moment for fear to flood Hilde’s eyes.

“I-I don’t want to……”

With a thick layer of water formed over both eyes, the scythe that casts a shadow over her head blurred.

‘Help. Help me, please.’

She didn’t want to die.

She desperately hoped that someone would save her.

So she called out the name of the person she always hoped would reach out to her, even if just once, even though she knew it would be futile.

“Sister Odellit……!”

Shwwwiiiii!

Lilith’s scythe fell like the blade of a guillotine.

“Ms. White Wizard!”

“Miss Hilde!”

But right then.

Ka-aaang-!

A heavy screech of metal shook the air.

“What the……!”

Lilith barely managed to hold on to her scythe as a tremendous backlash threw it back. The arrogant Succubus Queen’s face was stained with astonishment.

“You, you……!”

Lilith’s frightened voice rang out, stunned.

“How……”

Frintz and Raywin’s eyes bulged out.

“Huh……?”

The layer of tears in Hilde’s eyes broke and her vision cleared to reveal the back of someone’s head, pink hair flowing down a straight back.

The savior standing before Hilde opened her mouth, exuding a cold sense of intimidation.

“Starting with the healer? You really know your stuff.”

“……”

“I’m a healer too, so you can start with me.”

✠

A huge Grim Ripper Scythe and a snake-like whip-sword clashed violently.

Just as she tried to execute me, I began the process of hunting her down.

“The Vanquisher of Evil……!”

“Yes, why are you calling me? Sister.”

“You made my blood boil for the first time in a long time! This is the first time since Anaxia!”

“You know that? Everyone before you disappeared after saying those same words.”

I responded unimpressed and put my strength into both hands holding Serpens. A short spasm briefly passed from my wrist to my shoulder as I threw her scythe far away.

‘The strength alone is amazing.’

But the movement was just as big. I extended my left hand to Lilith’s unguarded stomach.

At this moment, my palm replaced the long-ranged bolt, and electricity that ran from my hand extended and touched Lilith’s abdomen.

“Divine Punishment.”

BZZZZZ!

It was a direct hit.

“Kuagh……!”

The body of the Succubus Queen was thrown away and stuck on the wall, scythe and all.

While I was leisurely waiting for the dust in my vision to settle, a voice rang out from my pendant.

“Divine Punishment is my main skill. I got the hang of it because I used it often.”

Since the last Battle of Hellkaion, I have practiced using divine power skills during close combat.

Shurururu.

I stretched out my whip sword, swinging it lightly like a whip, I approached Lilith.

“Sister, I have one question.”

“What is it, Vanquisher of Evil?”

Lilith got up from the rubble and answered reluctantly. It may be her intention to buy time, but it doesn’t matter. Because the gap is clear.

I took my time to ask my question.

“You are a succubus, right? Why are you not acting cute like usual?”

“It’s narrow-minded of you to assume that a succubus will always engage in lust or coquetry.”

“You don’t? Is the Queen any different?”

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

Lilith’s eyes flashed.

“That’s because it’s enough to act cute in front of Anaxia!”

Ta-kt!

The sound of her boots stomping on the floor was deafening.

When Lilith seemed to have had enough, she lunged at me. I parried her attack lightly. Then, as I was preparing to counterattack…….

“Wow.”

Agnes and I both let out an ecstatic gasp at the same time.

[ Warning. ‘Fatal Hypnotic Temptation’ is activated.]

“Hahaha, what do you say, Vanquisher of Evil, do you think you can attack me like this?”

Cornered, Lilith resorted to a trick.

Using the Succubus Queen’s power, she changed her appearance to someone I knew.

“Unbelievable.”

And the one Lilith is now mimicking is…….

“Bi-Lady Bianca?!”

Frintz shouted in panic from a distance.

Yes, the sly and cunning Lilith had taken on the form of Bianca Gillette, my friend from whom I had parted ways at the age of twelve.

And that too, not as a child, but as a grown-up version! It was a fatal situation. My arm holding the sword suddenly lost strength.

“Wow, is this what happens when our Bia grows up? It’s pretty……”

I’d heard that succubi were good at facial recognition, but they also had a knack for creating grown-up versions?

I was amazed at how they knew about Bianca’s adult form, which even I didn’t know about.

As I stood there in awe, a message from the gods popped up.

[‘The Eyes that Watch Over the Chaos of All Things’ says is a good copy, but is dissatisfied, saying that the real Bianca was prettier.]

[‘The Critic who adjusts the balance’ clicks his tongue, wondering what happens when you fall for the enemy’s trick.]

Lilith, who noticed that my fighting spirit had weakened, was elated.

With Bianca’s face.

“How is it? I’ve turned into the woman you want to protect the most. You can’t attack, right?”

“Ugh.”

Lilith’s scythe swoops down on me. I only reacted defensively.

“Hahaha! You can’t even aim your sword!”

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ is angry that such a typical cliche is being directed to the main character.]

[‘The Eyes that Watch Over the Chaos of All Things’ is satisfied that your true love and heroine is Bianca.]

[‘The Critic who adjusts the balance is baffled as to why you’re suddenly gobbling up sweet potatoes if you are a cider pass.]

[‘The Troubled Architect of the Tower of Trials’ beats his chest in frustration, saying that this is why you had to kill her before she mimicked the heroine.]

[‘The Spoiler Inspector’ disapproves of your uncharacteristic frustrating performance.]

“Hahaha! Vanquisher of Evil! In the end, you are just another mere human being with weaknesses!”

“Ugh.”

“Foolish one who is deceived by the reflection in your eyes! Die! Prove your friendship by dying!”

[‘The Eyes that Watch Over the Chaos of All Things’ raise their eyes, saying it is not friendship, but love.]

Lilith launched her body in the air threatening to land a heavy hit on me.

“Ellet!”

“Eli!”

I raised my sword amidst the urgent calls of Raywin and Frintz.

Kwaaangg!

A shock like an explosion struck my entire body.

I somehow managed to stop it and was currently lying on the floor taking on Lilith’s scythe.

Her bluish-black hair fell from above and brushed against my cheek.

“You are helpless, Vanquisher of Evil!”

That was when Lilith craned her neck and sneered at me.

“Okay, finished my appreciation.”

“……What?”

“Thank you for showing me our Bia. I will be especially polite towards you.”

“Huh?”

I declared while raising aura all over my body.

“Lilith, I’ll deal with you with my eyes closed.”

“……!”

There was no time for Lilith to respond.

Kwaaaaang!

I exploded my aura to shake Lilith off my body.

I closed my eyes and absorbed the sensations around me. The tip of my sword, which was slowly drawing an arc, was fixed in one direction.

“Found.”

I immediately dug into the place where Lilith was.

Kwang!

A dull sound rang in the air and a feeling of contact transmitted to my arm.

Even without sight, I can picture the scene in my mind.

The tip of the Serpens was blocked by the scythe.

I immediately let out a murmur from my lips.

“Divine Hymn.”

Divine power that strengthens the body permeated my limbs. I spun at a markedly increased speed and delivered my next blow.

My target: Lilith’s neck.

“Hic!”

It seemed like she barely dodged it.

I immediately took a step, caught up with her, and whispered in a soft tone.

“Can you please stop making weird noises with our Via’s voice?”

“……!”

A startled Lilith pulled away from me.

I had no intention of letting her go, so I jabbed a Divine Punishment into her abdomen once more.

“Cough!”

Taking advantage of Lilith’s stumble, I caught up to her in an instant and slashed with my sword exactly where Lilith was.

“Ugh!”

The sensation of slicing flesh passed through my fingertips. But it was shallow.

Immediately, I used aura to extend Serpens’ blade to slash the spot where Lilith had just dodged to.

Surururu!

The whip-sword snapped like a vicious snake, cutting into Lilith.

“Argh! Ho-How the hell!?”

Even with my eyes closed, I could picture Lilith’s expression.

“How is this possible!?”

“……”

“It’s no different than having your eyes open!”

The reason was simple.

“That’s because you are much weaker than me.”

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