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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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He chased them away, then approached me, grinning.
“If this happens again… No, I’ll be around.”
“Thank you…”
He said he’d check on me regularly, despite our classes being in different buildings. He had a demonic side, but his heart was kind. He had been harsh with those seniors, but he did it for me. I was confused again.
“I don’t know your situation.”
“Huh?”
His sudden words startled me.
“You warmed up to me, then distanced yourself, but not completely, always hovering nearby. I don’t understand why, but… it’s your choice.”
“I… I’m sorry…”
He had noticed. I had distanced myself, afraid of getting too close, afraid of seeing him change, of missing the signs.
“Don’t apologize. I don’t know what you think of me, but my feelings haven’t changed.”
He cared about me, yet I still doubted him. His earnest gaze was painful.
“If you’re having trouble, tell me. I’ll help if I can. If you can’t, that’s fine too…”
“Thank you…”
His kind words felt like a punch to the gut.
What… what should I do…?
I bit my lip hard.
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I was still conflicted about Atlas. No proof, only suspicion. I couldn’t judge him based on that. I had to focus on what I knew.
“This is… the place, right?”
I stood before a cave near the deep forest, dressed differently than usual: sturdy leather pants, a chainmail-reinforced white leather vest, and a red coat. Concealed beneath the coat were two silver automatic pistols in holsters, and a thick silver greatsword, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
Now is the time. The Devil’s Church is making its move. They won’t be prepared.
…Alright.
Tonight, I hunted demons. My companion had warned me about the Devil’s Church’s plan to unleash chaos during the upcoming dungeon exploration exercise. They had been preparing for some time, using a hidden cave near the deep forest. I had to stop them.
I had fought the Devil’s Church many times since meeting my companion. I lacked his burning hatred for demons, but I understood the threat. He couldn’t tolerate their existence, their influence in this world. He provided information, and I acted, eliminating the threat. It wasn’t forced servitude. I had seen firsthand the devastation caused by the Devil’s Church. Someone had to stop them, and my companion knew how. Their ultimate goal was to summon powerful demons, turning this world into a living hell.
This… this is about saving the world.
The cave was unguarded, a simple, hidden entrance. But my companion guided me, his vision unhindered by their disguises. We passed through a hidden passage, and I felt a chilling presence, a dark, oppressive energy filling the air. Demonic energy.
It’s… suffocating…!
Such potent demonic energy… Are we too late?
My heart pounded. This level of demonic energy suggested a summoned demon or a powerful demon contractor. I had faced demon contractors before, but it was always terrifying. This time, it could be a demon itself.
Demon…
The image of the demon from my childhood flashed in my mind. I steadied my trembling hands. I was afraid, but I had killed demons and their contractors before. My blessed greatsword, inscribed with holy scriptures, and my pistols, loaded with special bullets, were designed for this very purpose. Demons could be killed. I just had to stay calm.
The demonic energy intensified as I ventured deeper. The narrow passage opened into a large chamber, filled with a dark, swirling mist. I could barely see. A pentagram, drawn in blood, was etched onto the floor. A summoning circle.
That’s it!
A figure stood in the center of the circle, covered in blood. Surrounding him were bodies in black robes. Had he killed them all? Or were they sacrifices? Perhaps both.
The mist obscured his face. Slowly, it began to dissipate, revealing the figure. He held a black sword. He seemed… short. His golden hair, a familiar shade, became visible. His face came into focus.
“Huh…?”
Snap out of it!
I stared, speechless, unable to comprehend what I was seeing.
Atlas…?
Atlas, covered in blood, stood in the center of the summoning circle, surrounded by demonic energy.
My hands, which had steadied, began to tremble again. I couldn’t believe it.
This is bad! He’s become a demon! If he just made the pact, he won’t be fully transformed yet! Kill him now!
N-no… Atlas… why…?
Had he… become a demon? Made a pact? I didn’t want to believe it. I remembered his smile from this morning, his kind words, his offer to help. He was the first to befriend me in this strange, hostile place.
Remember what I said? He’d do anything to grow taller! The demon probably offered him that!
‘Just you wait. I’ll be as tall as Russell one day.’
My companion’s words echoed in my mind. Atlas was obsessed with height, with growth. His obsession made him vulnerable.
My hands tightened around my pistols. I had killed demons before, but this was different. He looked like Atlas, sounded like Atlas. I wanted to run, to pretend I hadn’t seen anything.
If you let him live, countless people will die! He’s a skilled killer, without a shred of remorse, and now he’s a demon! We could exploit his weakness before, but that might not work anymore!
I… I…!
Remember your oath, Amy Parker!
His words triggered a flashback, the tragedy in my territory. I couldn’t let innocent people die. My trembling stopped.
-Bang! Bang, bang!
My pistols fired. Holy silver bullets, blessed and soaked in holy water. Silver wasn’t as effective as rare metals, but it was still potent against demons. Combined with holy water, a single bullet could destroy a lesser demon.
But none of them hit. He deflected them all with a black longsword. I hadn’t expected a demon to be felled by a few bullets.
“…Amy?”
He spoke, his voice and face unchanged, the same Atlas I had seen this morning.
“…!!!”
I couldn’t speak. Speaking would weaken my resolve. I emptied my pistols, firing specialized anti-demon rounds.
“Whoa! Amy, it’s me! Atlas! What are you doing? This isn’t funny!”
He dodged every bullet, his movements inhumanly fast. He was a demon, but he moved like Atlas. And it was his voice, his face, that tormented me the most.
You’re… not Atlas…!
I bit my lip, hard.
Don’t… speak with his voice…!
I holstered my pistols, drawing my greatsword. The heavy blade, inscribed with holy scriptures, swung towards him, towards Atlas… no, towards the demon wearing his face.
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is… is she Dante from Devil May Cry?