Chapter 78 - Escape

'Well—.'

A tiny blade of grass sprouted amid the unbroken gray. It grew into a bush, then thickened into a tree.

Countless leaves fell from that tree. Each became another blade of grass, then a bush, then a tree.

Soon, a forest stood there.

'Quite a spectacle.'

Galahad narrowed his eyes. He could sense no mana. It felt as though he had entered a tiger's den to escape a fox.

Still, the Demon that called itself “the exalted one” clearly wanted something from him.

The Emperor's death.

A clear objective made someone predictable. It was a dangerous objective, but better than knowing nothing at all.

'And that one?'

Galahad checked on the ruler. Its formerly composed face was twisted. The emotion written across it...

'It's afraid.'

An upper-echelon Demon, afraid.

The thick undergrowth parted, and the creature appeared.

It had four legs like a deer, all of them the long, pale legs of a woman. Its face was that of a beautiful woman with a holy countenance and a faint smile.

It looked more deserving of the name angel than Demon.

The four-legged Demon's eyes shifted toward Adrianna, who was panting. Her pure white aura had gone beyond burning; it surged as though exploding. The four-legged Demon's appearance seemed to be the cause.

It seemed to have already exceeded what Adrianna could withstand. Yet its nature would not relent. It blazed all the more fiercely, as though she herself were fuel.

'You could tone down your authority.'

The four-legged Demon looked at Galahad. His vision flickered.

Suddenly, he was falling down a thousand-fathom precipice. As though that were not enough, passing eagles latched onto him and pecked at his flesh.

Galahad merely clicked his tongue.

“Didn't I tell you? This sort of thing doesn't work.”

His vision warped. He was back in the forest.

[“You are mad.”]

Galahad clicked his tongue at the blunt assessment.

Just then, the ruler twirled its club. A faint sneer crossed its face.

“A thing that belongs in the pit dares enter my territory?”

It leered at the four-legged Demon, its voice trembling faintly.

'The pit?'

Galahad's eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar term.

Most of the Demons he had captured had defenses against mental interference. Demons were the natural enemies of Mages, a terrible matchup. Few Mages could cast spells on them, so those defenses could hardly have been meant for Mages.

'Does this pit mean some sort of exile?'

He committed the new clue to memory.

'This isn't easy.'

Was it because there were two upper-echelon Demons here? He could not even breathe freely. All around him was silent, as though the world itself were watching its step.

The four-legged Demon turned its gaze toward the ruler. The ruler shuddered slightly, then thrust out its golden club, its expression hardening.

“What's here is only an illusion anyway. What can you do?”

Sneering, it swept the golden club in a great arc.

The bushes split and the trees shattered. Gray filled the gaps. Spreading like rot, it slowly ate away at the forest.

Soon, half the forest was gone.

[“Correct. I am not here.”]

A voice as gentle as a nap on a warm day tickled his mind. The four-legged Demon's mouth did not move.

“Then get the hell out, you crownless thing.”

The ruler waved its golden club again. It seemed very fond of that club.

The gray spread farther, pushing back more of the forest.

'Is it being pushed back?'

Galahad squinted up at the four-legged Demon.

It tilted its head. Green leaves spread from its hair.

[“But...”]

The fresh scent of grass wafted through the air again.

[“Are you here?”]

“What—”

The ruler's words trailed away. Its eyes went completely unfocused and its head slumped. Its breathing grew rougher, its shoulders trembling slightly.

'It is rather brutal.'

It must have died dozens of times in there. Galahad felt a little sympathy.

The four-legged Demon's legs moved gracefully, advancing one at a time as though maintaining a delicate balance.

[“I will ask again.”]

As it drew closer, the ruler's trembling worsened. Its knees buckled. Its eyes turned red, and a long stream of blood spilled from its mouth.

[“Are you here?”]

The four-legged Demon looked quietly down at it.

Just before its knees touched the ground as if in worship, the ruler stopped.

It chewed at its mouth, then spat something out. A red lump of flesh. It had bitten off its own lip and spat it out.

Focus returned to its eyes.

It slowly opened its mouth. Blood poured through the great chunk missing from its lip.

'A shame.'

Galahad clicked his tongue.

“This is my territory.”

Leaning on its golden club, the ruler rose. Its presence was fiercer than before.

The four-legged Demon took a step back.

[“This child is my servant.”]

The four-legged Demon spoke while looking at Galahad. A servant? That was rather hurtful. He narrowed his eyes.

“Something coveted by a wretch cast into the pit? I simply must add it to my collection.”

The ruler stroked its golden club, its voice thick with desire.

'Popularity has its drawbacks.'

Under both Demons' gazes, Galahad clicked his tongue.

The ruler's presence grew increasingly savage. There was something ominous in the way it looked at him. The four-legged Demon's appearance seemed to have provoked it further.

Looking at Galahad, the four-legged Demon opened its mouth for the first time.

[“Kill the Emperor.”]

He could feel that this was more than a simple command.

Galahad nodded.

The ruler swung its golden club. The forest scattered again. Gray tore into green. The Demons took a step forward.

A sense of danger surged through him.

The four-legged Demon looked at the ruler and moved its mouth.

[“Where are you?”]

The forest was gone. Only the ruler's movements stopped dead. Its eyes turned red.

It stood frozen, not even blinking. The four-legged Demon fell silent as well.

Galahad grasped the situation.

'Holding it in place is all it can do.'

The ruler was an upper-echelon Demon whose mere appearance had sent Adrianna's power out of control and made Galahad's hair stand on end.

To bind such a Demon through mental interference...

'Impressive.'

Still, a problem remained.

“Can't you do something about the others?”

The city's Demons and humans were beginning to stir. Hostile eyes turned toward Galahad.

The four-legged Demon did not answer.

Clicking his tongue, Galahad checked on Adrianna first. Her ridiculous helmet lay off to the side.

She was in poor shape. Her pure white aura now raged as though fuel had been poured over it. Blue veins stood out all over her face.

With the four-legged Demon appearing after the ruler, she seemed unable to control her power.

The solution was simple. She only needed to suppress her power entirely.

Adrianna must have known that, yet she refused. The reason she persisted while her own body burned was obvious.

'A sense of responsibility to protect us, no doubt.'

What a foolish woman.

Clicking his tongue, Galahad stood before her.

“Withdraw your aura.”

Eyes reddened by burst capillaries stared back at him, filled with stubbornness beyond reason.

“Do you intend to swing that once and die? That power is still beyond you.”

Adrianna blinked.

'Words won't get through to her.'

There was no time to persuade her. Galahad clicked his tongue and strode forward.

“...!”

Adrianna's eyes widened.

He took another step without stopping. Pure white aura swirled right before his face.

The instant it touched him, he would melt. He would surely turn to dust like the Demons cut down by her sword.

But Galahad was certain she would not let that happen.

He took another step.

Adrianna let out a small breath. Blood ran from her mouth, as though she had bitten her lip. The aura shrank a little.

Galahad stepped forward again.

Pure white aura brushed past him. His bangs scattered into dust.

The aura abruptly vanished. Sweat covered Adrianna's face.

“You really do have lovely skin.”

“Are you mad?!”

For the first time, Adrianna raised her voice.

“Why would you do something so reckless?!”

“I trusted you. Didn't you trust me as well?”

Adrianna opened and closed her mouth. She looked furious enough to swear, but as though she knew no swear words.

Galahad picked up the fallen helmet and handed it to her.

“We have no time. See to the others.”

He headed straight for the ruler.

The ruler remained frozen with its club extended.

Its appearance was rather comical: a child wearing a crown larger than its head and holding a golden club. Yet even subdued, its presence was intense enough to sting his skin.

Only its eyes moved, following Galahad.

Galahad snapped his fingers for a moment, considering whether to try killing it.

Then he shook his head. It would wake immediately.

Having finished his calculations, he took an empty canteen from inside his coat and wiped its mouth clean.

The ruler watched him, seemingly curious about what he was doing.

Galahad smiled.

“Hmm. Could you put a little pressure on your lip?”

He held the canteen under its chin, taking the utmost care not to touch it.

Blood dripped from the ruler's torn lip into the canteen. Its pupils trembled slightly.

Little by little, the canteen filled with blood.

While he collected the blood, a commotion rose behind him. Demons and humans were climbing the stairs with naked hostility. Though the stairs were so narrow that some fell off, they charged on.

“A pity.”

As Galahad put away the canteen, he noticed the golden club. It was well worn from handling, as though the ruler treasured it dearly. The ruler held it by the end.

'A tug should pull it free.'

After studying it briefly, Galahad gave it a gentle pull. The golden club slipped right out.

The ruler's body shook violently. Its pupils dilated, then contracted.

A vicious grinding of teeth rang out.

“I'll—”

The ruler's mouth moved ever so slightly. Probably some sort of threat.

“I'm sorry, but quite a few people are after me already. There's a rather long queue.”

Galahad gave the golden club and canteen a wave, then turned away without a second thought.

Everyone except Gwen was awake, perhaps thanks to Adrianna.

“Rookie? I passed out? I was holding my sword, and... Huh? Something horrifying... What was it?”

Gilberton rubbed his head, muttering uneasily.

“That was a good nap.”

Damian stretched happily. Tom gathered up the unconscious Gwen.

“Now, let's go.”

Galahad shook the canteen. There was not much inside, only enough for a single sip.

That should suffice.

BOOM!

The wall crumbled with a heavy crash.

A tightly packed mass of Demons and humans charged toward them. It was a truly horrifying sight.

The leading Demon opened its maw wide. Galahad sent a sharp Ice Spike into it. The Demon fell backward, spewing blood, and three more pushed into its place.

It was a dreadful tidal wave of Demons.

“Oh, and if you're caught, you're it.”

Galahad spoke with perfect ease.

* * *

“Whew...”

Adrianna pulled her sword free, exhaling hot breath. The Demon with a hole through its chest screamed in agony.

Dust spread. The Demon collapsed, and another filled its place as though it had been waiting.

Her power's demon-burning nature raged more fiercely than ever. Even suppressing it was difficult.

It was because of the upper-echelon Demons she had faced. The one called the ruler had been bad enough, but...

'What in the world was that Demon?'

The Demon that appeared afterward was no ordinary upper-echelon Demon. The instant she faced it, she had lost control of her power's nature.

Its mana-burning nature had begun burning Adrianna herself, gaining still more force.

Without Galahad, it would have consumed her.

Her uncontrolled aura suddenly flared. Her arm felt as hot as though it were on fire. Adrianna hastily swept her sword.

A long line of pure white cut across the pursuing horde.

Nearly ten Demons and humans vanished into dust.

She almost dropped her sword. Gritting her teeth, she desperately suppressed her power's nature. The aura barely sputtered out.

“This way.”

A calm voice reached her. Galahad was at the front.

Gilberton held the left, the little boy named Damian the right, and Adrianna the rear.

Galahad led them. A Mage at the front—it was an absurd formation.

But the others were in terrible condition. Gilberton, whose aura Damian had devoured, had yet to recover it fully, while Adrianna could not control hers.

That was why Galahad was leading.

Even if it was Galahad, putting a Mage at the front was unthinkable. She could not accept it, but he had firmly declared it an order.

Just then...

“Kyaaaagh!”

Demons dropped from above. They looked closer to demon-beasts than Demons.

Galahad snapped his fingers upward. Sparks flew, and a dazzling lightning blossom bloomed in an instant, streaking toward them.

The Demons convulsed violently, their eyes briefly losing focus.

THUD!

The Demons hit the ground and faltered. It lasted only an instant, but to Adrianna, it was ample time.

Their heads flew into the air. Thick ash sprayed like blood.

Meanwhile, Galahad drove an Ice Spike into the shoulder of a Demon blocking their path. It staggered, and this time Gilberton took its head off.

It was astonishingly efficient.

'... This is a Mage?'

She said nothing more about who should lead.

Demons and humans poured in from every direction. If they slowed even slightly, those behind would surely catch them.

There was no more conversation. Only ragged breathing, Demons' screams, and cheers.

Nothing but drab gray and enemies on every side. It felt as though the entire city were pursuing them.

They could not even tell where the roads were.

They simply ran, watching Galahad's back.

How long had they been running?

“Rear guard, move into the center. Damian and Gilberton, spread out more to fill the gap.”

The blunt order came from the front.

No one questioned it.

“Have you settled down a little?”

Galahad looked at Adrianna as he asked.

“Yes. I'm all right.”

“Gather enough strength for one great swing.”

Adrianna nodded.

Just then, a massive gate appeared in the distance. It was the gate through which they had entered the city.

Numerous Demons and demon-beasts surrounded it, ranging from the enormous many-headed beast they had seen on arrival to neatly dressed Demons.

All shared one thing: they were looking their way with open hostility.

“Sir Gilberton and Damian, hold the rear.”

Galahad gave the order as though he had expected this.

“Gilberton, the knight!”

“Just Damian.”

Their positions shifted again. Adrianna stepped forward, gripping her sword tightly.

“You'll have to deal with those.”

“Yes. I can manage.”

Adrianna nodded and adjusted her grip. She had recovered a little while running. Her power's nature still blazed fiercely, but she could manage one attack somehow.

No, she had to.

She adjusted her grip again.

Then Galahad whispered beside her.

“Don't think of cutting them.”

Adrianna concentrated without asking questions.

“Imagine burning them away.”

Burn, rather than cut?

She could not understand.

So she did not try to.

“Yes.”

She simply trusted him.

* * *

'Will this work?'

Galahad watched Adrianna through narrowed eyes.

He had explained what he had discovered about the nature of her power. His own understanding was uncertain, so there had been little he could explain.

He was far from convinced.

Even if she dealt with only half of them, he should be able to force his way through the rest somehow.

Then Adrianna's aura blazed up.

She seemed to have been consumed by it again. Just as he was about to step forward, she swung her sword.

A thick blaze of white spread in its wake.

Adrianna's swordsmanship was honest and noble.

But the sword she wielded now held no order.

It was closer to fire than swordsmanship.

A fierce fire that would not stop until it had burned everything.

Pure white fire swallowed the Demons and demon-beasts around the gate. With each one it consumed, it only grew larger.

The Demons were firewood. Excellent, thoroughly dried firewood.

Only after devouring every Demon did the fire disappear.

Nothing but dust remained where more than thirty Demons had stood.

'Absurd.'

Even if Galahad had explained what he had learned about her power's nature, to put it into practice so immediately...

'She actually did it.'

As expected of the sword that would burn the Demon King.

“I think I might fall for you.”

Adrianna let out a ragged breath. Her ridiculous helmet rattled, disheveled blond hair visible beneath it.

Her normally unshakable stance faltered. She seemed to have reached her limit.

She leaned on her sword, and Galahad moved to support her.

“Are you all right?”

Her helmet rattled as she nodded, seemingly without even the strength to speak.

Behind them, Gilberton swung his sword. With Gwen on his back, Tom swept his shield from side to side, driving Demons back. Damian's ash-gray aura cut them down.

At last, they reached the gate.

Galahad pushed Adrianna through. Damian followed, then Tom carrying Gwen.

Gilberton, the last to pass through, pushed hard against the gate. His feet slipped, as though he had no strength left.

“What sort of knight can barely muster any strength?”

Clicking his tongue, Galahad joined him.

“I'll help too.”

Tom came up beside them.

Sword in hand, Damian cut down the Demons forcing their way through the gap. Red blood sprayed everywhere.

The chaos continued for a while.

At last...

THUD!

The gate shut fast.

“A narrow success.”

Galahad smiled, wiping his forehead.

“What is that?”

At Gilberton's question, Adrianna turned her head.

Something familiar was in Galahad's hand: a long golden club.

'Where have I seen that before...?'

Adrianna narrowed her eyes, then realized what it was.

The club the ruler had been holding.

Why had he brought that with him?

No, when in the world had he—

“Oh, a collector's item.”

Galahad waved the golden club and laughed heartily.

Adrianna coughed three times in a row.