CH 161

“E-E-E-E-EDDD!!!???? Did you come out of that giant’s belly?”

As soon as I returned to this world, I turned my face towards a bizarre voice that I heard nearby, and there I saw Gastor, with eyes wide open in astonishment.

“Hmm? Oo, If it isn’t Gastor. Why are you here?”

“That’s my line! What the hell is going on? You just came out of a giant’s belly and …… you’re really alive!?”

“Of course I’m alive. Whoa!?”

As I grinned at Gastor’s foolish expression, Tia, who was holding onto me, suddenly stumbled. I quickly jumped out of her arms and supported her body to prevent her from falling.

“Are you okay, Tia? or rather, How reckless did you get?”

My consciousness was only clear up to the point where I was eaten by the Demon King that day. So I don’t know why I now exist here as me, but I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Tia to make that happen.

“Hehehe …… I think I tried a little too hard.”

“You really did…”

Tia chuckled as she sat there, and I patted her head with a wry smile. Ah, just seeing this face is well worth coming back to the endless hell.

“Oi Ed! If you’re safe, get your ass over here and start fighting! We ain’t even got a chance to get out of here!”

“That’s right! At least give me time to escape with Tia-chan in my arms!”

“Thomason and Jonathan! Ah, it certainly looks like a rather difficult situation.”

As protests rose from the sidelines, I looked around again. For some reason, this area seemed to be a small blank space, but there were an incredible number of monsters crowded around us. It seemed that Gastor and the others were desperately trying to hold them back…

“I don’t know how you’re keeping it up.”

“I don’t know what it is, but sometimes attack magic comes flying from the town! It’s more serious than that, I’m at my limit! Come on—

“Yeah yeah, Leave it to me”

Seeing Gastor and the others panicking, I put my hand on my waist…just as I grabbed nothing but air, Tia handed me a sword.

“Here you go. I got it back from Amelia.”

“Oh, thank you! Just perfect!”

“Hey, Ed. I’m sorry, but I think I might be at my limit. Do you mind if I take a little break?”

“Sure. Go ahead and rest up”

“Yes, I will. Then, please.”

As she said this, Tia’s eyes closed as she sat down. What I sensed from her eyes was her complete trust. Even in the midst of countless demonic beasts, I did not feel in the slightest that I could not protect Tia. I would not be a man if I did not respond to this.

I readied my [Dawnbreaker], which Tia had given me. The solid response I got back was enough to accept my full power.

“Y’all look quite excited but that ends here. Now I—–“

“Watch out! Ed, they’re coming from behind!”

A monster darted past Gastor and lunged at me as I crouched down, but it was no longer a threat to me.

“You’re a little strong, aren’t you?”

A flash. [Dawnbreaker] swung horizontally leaving behind a trail of black line. Then, in the blink of an eye, the life of the demonic beast in the path of that line came to an end.

“…………………Huh?”

With a clattering sound, the thrashing beast fell to the ground motionless. Although I missed a few due to being crouched or in mid-jump, with just one swing, almost all of the beasts in this area were now lifeless.

(T/N: …….)

“…..O-Oi Oi Oi. The heck? Ed, what are you—“

“Ed, behind you!”

“Hmm?”

Amidst the surprised voices, a warning was shouted out and I turned around to see black shards gathering behind me, forming a humanoid shape. Black miasma was blowing out from the gaps between the shards, giving off the impression that it was moving by sheer force.

“He’s also… I don’t know the circumstances, but you’ve become quite clumsy, Maou-sama?”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

“Can’t even speak anymore? Whatever.”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

The Demon King’s fist, with cracks, came barreling down on me. Due to its size and reach, it was impossible to avoid it, but there was no need to avoid it in the first place.

Bachin!

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

“Haha! What’s the matter, big fella? Is that all you got?”

The [Dawn Breaker], imbued with a golden glow like the dawn, repelled the Demon King’s fist with a flashy sound and light. It was only natural. The power that dwelled in this blade was the Demon King’s natural enemy. If he were in perfect condition, he might be able to do something but with a broken fist like this, there was no way he could do anything. 

“At least I’ll show you some mercy. I’ll end this with a single blow,”

With my sword poised high above my head, I poured everything I had into the [Dawnbreaker]. The blackness of night, deeper than darkness, and the gold of morning, more dazzling than light, nestled together, the blade of the sword reaching so high that the broken Demon King howled in fright at its brilliance.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“Announcing the end in the never-ending night, and the beginning with the rising sun! Behold, The Strike Of Unrivaled Might!”

With all my might, I took a powerful step forward and swung down the sword that would pave the way to a new era. The blade ripped through time and space, splitting the Demon King’s body, which was only about 30 meters long, in half.

“Wooo… oooo…”

The separated fragments tried to connect with each other again through the black miasma. But no matter how much they huddled together, they were never connected again.

“You understand, don’t you? Separated by the power of the hero, ended by the power of the Demon King. There is no place for you in this world, neither in the past nor in the future. To my sword, which has awakened to the true dawn…”

“O…… o…… oooo………..”

The body of the Demon King turns into glistening black sand and disappears into the sky. It will eventually pass through a small hole that opened in the world and enter the <White World> completely disappearing from this world.

It has become a history engraved in the very foundation of this world, and no matter how the world repeats itself thereafter, the Demon King will never return here again. In other words–

“There is nothing that cannot be cut off in all existence.”

(T/N: “万象一切、断てぬ物無し！” is a powerful mantra in Buddhism. It expresses the idea that everything is impermanent and subject to change, and that through mindfulness and insight, one can overcome all obstacles and achieve enlightenment.

With these words, I sheathed the [Dawnbreaker], and all the threats that existed here vanished. I let out a short breath, and Gastor and the others came rushing toward me.

“Ooooi! Ed, what the hell did you just do?

“I mean, why are you even alive!? You’re alive… right?”

“Okay Ed. You’re tired, aren’t you? Leave the sleeping Tia-chan to me…Oww!?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Of course it’s my role to carry Tia! Or rather, Tia … Tia?”

“……Funn”

“Are you kidding me? Sleeping soundly in this situation!?”

I thought she was just resting lightly, but then I heard a peaceful sleeping sound coming out of Tia’s mouth. She seemed to be sleeping quite seriously as she did not wake up even when I lightly shook her shoulder.

Wait, is this not a joke? Do I really have to carry her? Well, if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it as much as needed…

“Hey, Ed-kun!”

“Whoa!?”

Carrying an unconscious person on my back was a difficult thing to do. AAs I pondered over what to do, a very cheerful…yet icy voice pierced through my back.

“A-Amelia-san?”

“Correct. I rushed here from town, but it looks ….like you’re safe. I’m relieved. I want to sincerely congratulate you on your survival.”

“T-thank you very much,…….”

I smile wryly in response to Amelia’s praise…. despite her smiling and kind words, her eyes do not seem to reflect it.

“So. I’d like to ask you a few questions, Ed-kun, if you don’t mind.”

“A-are you talking about me!? If you want an entertaining story, I think Gastor’s failed attempts over there would be better…”

“No, no, no, I’d really like to hear your story. About a lot of things …… yes, a lot of things.”

Amelia’s gaze slowly moves from side to side as she says that. Oh, yes. That makes sense. After all, I had slain thousands of demonic beasts with a single blow, and cut down the Demon King… or rather, a huge demonic beast from Amelia’s perspective, with a shining sword. Of course she would want to know the details. I understand that, but…

“Ah, ahahahaha… um, ah, look! I have to take Tia with me…”

“Mumnyamna… Ah, Ed. Good morning?”

“Why are you getting up now!?”

Amelia’s smile deepened even more when she saw Tia waking up with perfect timing.

“It seems that Tia-kun is awake as well, so I guess that means you two are going to tell me your story together?”

“……………………”

“Is that okay?”

“….., uh, yes.”

I respond to Amelia’s admiration with a very suspicious grin. It seems that even my killer blow couldn’t completely break free from the world’s entanglements… darn it.