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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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The demon realm’s invasion toward the continent continued.
Whether it was because they were frightened by Yuma’s existence, or because they completely revised their strategy, there were no more invasions into the Astes Empire.
There was no clear reward for hunting the Demon Lord Bephalon.
It seemed to have reached the maximum achievement reward possible.
In the end, to grow physically beyond this point, one had to break free from being an ordinary person.
There was a reward item for the achievement.
[Dimensional Movement Pearl]
A holy relic that could traverse other worlds.
That small, silver spherical holy relic fell before Yuma’s eyes, just like when the [Golden Rule Sprout] was given as a reward.
It wasn’t a pearl that could move anywhere as its name suggested.
It was easier to think of it as having power similar to a Return Artifact.
If you set the ‘return coordinates’ to the Astes Empire in the middle realm, it had the power to return there from the demon realm.
There were two dimensional movement orbs in total.
Originally, not knowing what might happen, and thinking that bringing too many people would only become variables, the plan was to bring just one close guard, Bell.
With only two orbs available, that became the only option anyway.
One week into the demon realm’s invasion of the continent.
What was clear was that the demon realm’s attitude had changed drastically from the first day.
On the first day, Demon Lord Bephalon died at Yuma’s hands.
On the third day, Demon Lord Meld, who had proudly appeared aiming to conquer the Dwarf Kingdom, also died at Yuma’s hands.
And after that, no more Demon Lords appeared.
Only armies of demons led by 1st-rank demons poured out.
It was clear they had given up their ambition to devour the continent.
Not sending any more Demon Lords showed their intention to minimize unnecessary losses.
The ongoing invasion of 1st and 2nd-rank demons seemed to reflect a strong will to at least get their money’s worth for opening the demon realm’s gate.
The Griffin Ethan had Yuma and Cloney riding on it.
Cloney had been traBelling with Yuma throughout the week of demon realm invasion, helping to save various parts of the continent.
It was very effective to have Cloney, a mage class who could perform both offensive and support roles, take on the support role.
Bell, the blue-haired sword saint, was helping the dwarven village next to the elves’ neighborhood.
The elves had managed to repel the invasion of first-rank demons and one Demon Lord with their own capabilities.
The place Yuma was heading to now was the Lycanthrope clan’s Baukalak Kingdom.
An urgent request had come in.
Having used quite a lot of troops to drive out Second Prince Semut, they were struggling considerably to drive away the demons.
Shrrieeeek!
Cloney held tightly onto the rope to avoid falling off Griffin Ethan’s body.
And with her golden eyes, she gazed at Yuma’s back.
“…You said you had business in the demon realm.”
Yuma nodded.
“Yes, I have business there.”
Two days ago, Yuma had gathered everyone and told them about having business in the demon realm.
“You said you would go with Sister Bell, right?”
And the one chosen to accompany on that journey was Bell.
“Yes.”
A reliable sword position.
From Yuma’s perspective, they needed someone who could launch preemptive attacks when it wasn’t appropriate to use Absolute Counter.
Bell would sufficiently fulfill that sword role.
When Bell was in danger, Yuma could shield her.
After all, Yuma had Balmung’s defensive magic and parrying.
Cloney slowly opened her lips.
“Sister Bell seems amazing in many ways. Right?”
Cloney whispered to Yuma.
“She said she would soon overcome another wall.”
There was a wall before Bell.
It wasn’t an insurmountable wall.
Rather, it was a wall on the verge of slowly crumbling.
Bell was breaking it down slowly and very steadily.
As Cloney said, she would soon surpass the wall of Master and reach the realm of transcendence called Grand Master.
However, Yuma sensed an inexplicable inferiority complex in this seemingly normal context.
Cloney’s inferiority complex toward Bell.
And quite belatedly realized.
That it was an inferiority complex about choosing Bell, not herself, as a companion for the demon realm journey.
“It’s not because you’re lacking that I’m taking Bell. I’m taking Bell because the swordsman position is appropriate for the escort role.”
Yuma continued.
“You don’t need to whip yourself. Everyone can see you’re growing at a rapid pace, Cloney.”
Fifteen.
Cloney is only fifteen years old.
Because Cloney acts unusually mature for her age, everyone tends to forget her age.
It wouldn’t be strange for her to do nothing and act spoiled at this age.
5th Circle at fifteen.
It was a growth rate and level that would astound anyone.
“So there’s no need to rush, Cloney.”
Griffin Ethan’s speed slowly decreased. Cloney buried her face in Yuma’s back before her.
“…I understand, Lord Yuma.”
Cloney acted briefly in a way befitting her age of fifteen, then lifted her head from the back.
Cloney and Yuma’s eyes caught sight of the battle between the Lycanthropes and demons unfolding in the Baukalak Kingdom.
Kwararung!
The Lycanthropes’ hands were covered in powerful qi.
And the same was true for the demons.
Jjeoeoeng!
Fierce sonic booms continued to occur as power clashed with power everywhere.
Cloney stepped forward, her red robe fluttering.
Kiiiing!!
Red energy burst forth from Belmet, a giant bat-type flying demon beast in the air.
Cloney’s black hair and red robe shook violently.
Her right hand and staff moved quickly.
The staff swiftly drew circles and stars.
Hwaaak!
A defensive barrier spread widely like an aurora, gliding through the air.
Kwaaaaaang!!
The defensive barrier shook violently.
The Lycanthrope clan’s great warriors moved forward with huge shields, using the opening Cloney had created.
Yuma raised their sword.
They deflected the demon energy spreading thickly from Balmung.
A landscape dotted with numerous stone monuments. Intense light piercing through those monuments.
The huge head of the giant octopus demon beast that had been enjoying attacking the Lycanthropes’ weakness at long range was instantly crushed.
And soon after, it evaporated from the world without leaving a trace.
Dust spread thickly.
All the Lycanthropes’ gazes turned toward Yuma who had saved them.
“Thank you for coming, War God.”
Walking out from among those Lycanthropes was the Crown Prince of the Baukalak Kingdom, the next emperor.
Crown Prince Berkan approached Yuma, his gray mane fluttering.
The gazes of thousands of Lycanthropes could be felt.
“Yuma, you always bring salvation to this continent.”
Berkan’s gaze had become excessiBelly heated.
More than just seeing the savior of his clan – it felt like seeing the savior of the continent.
The reverent gazes of thousands, showing a reverence that shouldn’t appear in the eyes of Lycanthropes who consider themselves the most superior and dignified beings in this world, were directed at Yuma.
When the Crown Prince, First Prince Berkan, spoke like that, even those who hadn’t thought that way before had their reverence for Yuma installed.
Yuma opened their mouth to deny Berkan’s words, then closed it again.
The reason Yuma was blocking the demon invasion of this continent as much as possible wasn’t for the Astes Empire – it was because demons establishing themselves anywhere else on the continent could potentially become a threat to the Astes Empire in the future.
Yet ultimately, these actions taken to reduce the threat to the Astes Empire to zero…
Were no different from actions that saved the continent itself.
However, they couldn’t openly act as a savior either.
“Stop with the unnecessary talk. Guard your home well, Berkan.”
Berkan grinned, making a crescent moon with his mouth that was itself like a wolf’s maw.
“I have never in my life dared to kneel before another race. Because a wolf’s knee is so noble.”
…Not again?
A powerful anxiety swept through Yuma’s mind.
The images of numerous beings who had knelt before began floating in their mind.
Casiella from when she was the Dawn Revolution Commander, now Yuma’s first Knight Commander.
And the Imperial armies of Southern Front Margrave Tornel.
And the warriors of the barbarian nation Pineon who were overwhelmed by Yuma and forced to kneel on that battlefield.
Kung
Berkan bent his right knee.
When the future king kneeled, there was no Lycanthrope there who dared to keep their back straight and just stand still.
Kung─
Kung─!
Thousands of Lycanthropes knelt in unison.
Ridge.
And kneeling Lycanthropes could be seen on the ridge behind that one too.
Berkan slowly raised his right hand.
“All Lycanthropes of our kingdom, Baukalak, acknowledge you, Grand Duke Yuma of the Astes Empire.”
All the Lycanthropes bowed their heads.
“We pledge to grant any one request of yours, just once. Oh benefactor of our kingdom.”
And so Yuma had to receive another baptism of worship.
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Bell’s blue hair fluttered like a lion’s mane.
And sharp light flowed in her pink eyes.
The land Bell was currently standing on was the elves’ holy ground.
It was the Third Holy Ground of Albheim, the center of the continent where the Race Council had been held.
They had thought they’d driven out all the demons and were at peace when an unexpected invasion by three first-rank demons led to the elves making an emergency rescue request, something they had never done before.
And since Yuma had headed to the Lycanthrope kingdom of Baukalak, Bell and Luke, the head of the White Night clan who had remained in the Empire, along with the remaining clan warriors had come out to provide support.
The White Night’s sword energy shone brilliantly among the elves.
Flames rose from Luke’s huge greatsword.
One strike.
Luke’s horizontal slash swept away the bodies of about a dozen devil-type demons.
Kwak!
Bell strongly stomped the ground.
Bell’s body shot out like lightning.
Body strengthening qi and sword energy rose up.
The demon before her eyes had four arms, two on each side.
And in those four hands were held four swords.
Even the pupils in its red face numbered four.
The demon with no mouth ruthlessly thrust its four swords toward Bell.
Ka-ang!!!!
Ultra-high-speed sword paths rushed toward each other’s necks and were blocked by each other’s swords.
Kagaggang!!
The purple-blue sword energy that had risen from the demon’s sword was crushed along with sparks of friction.
Bell closed the gap with the demon without hesitation.
She blocked all of the dozens of sword paths stretching out coldly.
Sonic booms and shockwaves rang out messily.
Sseogek!!!!
A red sword wound burst out on the demon’s flank.
Chwaaak!
Sharp sword energy sparks flew from Bell’s armor.
A streak of light flowed from Bell’s sharp gaze.
She doesn’t dodge.
Each other’s sword paths.
The sword battle.
That cold tug-of-war doesn’t stop.
Bell was certain.
That the demon swordsman before her eyes was a Grand Master-level demon.
‘Therefore.’
She must surpass this one.
The demon’s arms bent strangely. It was like a whip bending and striking down with circular sword strikes.
Bell moved her feet.
Footwork.
What she inherited from Yuma wasn’t just swordsmanship.
Everything needed to wield a sword.
She inherited all of that.
The demon continued its powerful sword paths.
Learning.
Bell learned all of the demon’s destructive and eerie sword paths.
Sseogenk!
And she comprehends them.
The strangely bent arm shot up into the air.
The demon’s pupils shook chaotically.
The remaining three arms.
And three swords shone coldly toward Bell.
Bell shot her body out again.
All her senses were on high alert.
Her eyes were looking slightly beyond the sword paths before her, not at them directly.
Transcendence.
Her senses transcend something.
Bell’s eyes shone brilliantly.
Sseogek!
Another of the demon’s arms was cut off.
Now the demon’s arms were finally balanced with one on each side.
Even the weight of the sword has no meaning.
Arms have no meaning.
Just cutting.
Bell remembered only that cold sensation.
She poured out all the swordsmanship she had learned from Yuma.
The slash Bell shot out cut through the trajectory of sword energy the demon had already unleashed.
Sseogeogeok!
The demon’s four eyes widened in shock.
A sword strike cutting diagonally across the upper body.
─Ha.
Winter’s chill burst from Bell’s mouth.
Her body felt like it was floating.
The mana rooted in her dantian accelerated its revolution.
The qi that had taken root throughout her entire body thickened.
And took root more intricately.
Small branches extended to her fingertips.
Smoke flowed from Bell’s body.
As if she was shedding something.
The wall that had been cracked.
Completely crumbled.
And.
Tak.
Bell’s right foot touched the world beyond that wall.
The demon’s sword strikes rushing in drawing a diagonal cross.
Jjeojek.
A blue sword strike that completely devoured those sword strikes themselves grazed the demon’s neck.
The demon’s head rolled on the ground.
“Ha.”
Bell lowered her sword limply and looked up at the blue sky.
Grand Master.
She had reached the ultimate peak that the human race could attain.
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