Side: ???
I drifted within an unbearably long slumber.
I couldn't gather my thoughts enough to remember who I was... or where this place was.
Even so, I understood one thing.
I had remained within this endless haze for a very, very long time.
"Let's get along from now on."
Yes...
I have seen this smiling face countless times...
I cannot remember her name.
However, I know for certain that the woman in front of me is someone I can truly open my heart to, someone precious to me.
"Un. Today was tough too, wasn't it? Let's get some rest and prepare for tomorrow. After all, we've only just begun."
It is a scene I have watched repeat over and over in this slumber. She was aiming for something grand, and I was helping her achieve it.
"We did it!! This takes us another huge step forward. It's all thanks to everyone, thank you so much!!"
She must have accomplished something great. She looks so incredibly happy... And that made me very happy too.
"...Nice to meet you."
"""N-Nice to meet you."""
""P-Please take care of us.""
One day, she brought along members of her own race and asked to live together with them.
...? Am I a different race from her?
Well, she looked happy, so I didn't really mind.
"Perfect. With this sword..."
And then, the sad times arrived.
She forged a certain sword. I couldn't remember exactly what made it so extraordinary.
But once it was completed... The people of her race whom she'd brought became overwhelmingly stronger.
Thud.
As a result...
She was struck down by those very people.
She never moved again.
"Ah... a-ah, I guess I didn't make it. I'm... sorry. Leaving you guys... behind... but... those girls..."
We have no way of knowing what she wanted to say at the very end.
But everyone who had lived alongside her until now became filled with a deep, burning rage.
...I was one of them.
That is why we plotted revenge against humans.
Against the very people who killed her, despite everything she had done to help them.
After that, we used the power she left behind and went up to the surface to kill the humans—those betrayers.
And after many long battles, we finally encountered that traitor.
"...So it's you."
The women said, pointing the sword she had given them right at us.
"...I do not expect forgiveness at this point. Nor do I believe I was wrong."
"...You are the last one."
"The ones falling into hell... are probably us. Since this is how it all turned out."
"But it's too late to turn back now. Since we betrayed her and cut her away, we have a duty to push through our own path until the very end."
They were rambling about something, but none of that mattered to me. I simply could not forgive them.
"Let's go, Demon King!!"
And so I fought them.
I didn't like it.
I killed more than half with my own hands, but none of them showed faces of regret or fear.
Somehow, they accepted their end with a feeling of "it can't be helped" and "It's a little sad."
"Take thissssss!! Rrrrghhhhh!!"
Letting my guard down while looking at that traitor's face was my mistake. The surviving betrayers used that exact moment to launch a fierce counterattack, leaving my body completely battered.
"There!!"
I let my guard down when I saw the traitor's face like that.
The surviving traitor launched a fierce attack at that moment, and I was left in tatters.
"...It's over."
A voice declared, and the sword she made was swung downward.
I tried to move my body, but it wouldn't budge.
...Damn it, in the end, I couldn't even avenge her...
'—Let's get along from now on.'
When I open my eyes, I see her smile again.
It feels like something sad happened. Or like it's about to happen.
But what can I, trapped in this slumber, possibly do?
Am I forced to watch her death over and over, trapped in this miserable loop where I can't even get revenge?
No... I've had more than enough of this.
I failed to protect you. That is why I decided to wipe out the people who killed you.
If you aren't coming back... no, humans shouldn't be allowed to live at all. They are the ones who caused such a foolish thing. They brought this on themselves. Let them completely perish.
If they refuse, I will personally return them to the dirt.
"GWRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
I shook off the slumber and roared.
I cannot accept an ending like this.
At the very least... at the very least, I will be the one to avenge her!!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion echoed all around.
"...What is the meaning of this?"
I push my body up. The dirt covering my body slides down to the ground.
"No, the source of the explosion was... me."
Looking around, the ground is deeply gouged out, centering perfectly on the spot where I stand.
"But I was defeated by those bandit women who called themselves heroes... No, I used magic to escape at the very last second, didn't I?"
Yes, the moment that sword was coming down, I used magic to blind them and fled.
I thought they would pursue me, but they didn't. However, my wounds were deep, and healing them required an astronomical amount of magical energy. In this state, it was impossible to defeat the surviving bandit women.
"Right. I buried myself deep underground. Knowing foolish humans, a massive conflict would surely break out soon. I planned to absorb the magical energy born from that strife and resurrect!!"
On this continent where mana is depleted, a powerful monster like me cannot exist without a supply of magical energy from a dungeon. But conversely, as long as a supply of mana is provided, I can move.
"Have I finally returned? This time, I will bring judgment upon those bandit women."
Muttering that to myself, I tightly grip the precious sword she left behind.
But where exactly am I?
My consciousness was fading at the time, so I don't remember where I fled to. For now, I should return to a dungeon and gather information. This time, I will completely wipe out humanity.
Clatter, clink clink...
Stones come tumbling down from above. This isn't from the impact of the explosion. It's the sound of someone intentionally dropping them.
"What the? A sudden explosion? Man, and here I am needing to rush right to Seraria's side..."
"Now, now, calm down, Yuki-san. For now, we have to investigate."
"...This is the first time spreading mana to claim territory has caused something like this."
"...Everyone, please stay alert. We don't know what will happen..."
It's humans.
In that case...
"There is no need to worry. You people can just die right here."
Consider this a celebration for my resurrection. I will blow them away with everything I have.
Channelling my magical energy into the blade, I swung her keepsake—the weapon those bandit women called a holy sword—with absolute maximum power.
* * *
I was staring intently at the clock. It even tracked down to the seconds, which honestly just made things worse... I had no idea three hours could feel this incredibly long.
I wonder if Seraria is doing okay... Milly hasn't called back, so I guess everything is still fine for now.
But still, but still...
"Yuki-san, pacing around like that isn't going to help."
"...Un. Just like Riel said. No word from Milly yet, so it's still fine."
Riel and Kaya were trying to comfort me, but my mind just wouldn't settle.
Actually, everyone on the scene was telling me the exact same thing.
"...I wonder what he'll be like when the baby is actually born."
"But this side of Yuki-san is cool too!!"
"...Well, let's take some photos and videos."
Jessica and Ria smiled as they happily recorded me.
Normally I'd have complained... But I just didn't have the energy.
Man, Lilishe had assured me the birth would be safe, but I haven't actually seen it, and even back on Earth, people can still die if things go wrong after delivery.
I need to get back fast and cast my recovery magic on her... Calm down, she hasn't even given birth yet.
While I was worrying myself sick, we kept monitoring the enemy army, but in the end, they didn't make any moves.
『Reporting in. The main enemy force appears to have immediately retreated into the dungeon layout. We could not verify the Magic Sword users visually. They were likely unable to channel magic due to the skill-sealing effect.』
『Reporting. The enemy's main force immediately retreated into the dungeon. The Magic Sword wielders were not sighted. Presumably they were unable to use magic due to the skill-sealing effect.』
"Supply raid unit reporting. As planned, we've dropped nearly half of them into the dungeon and successfully drove the remainder away."
The reports came in with zero issues.
Well, the slime army had sealed their skills, while anything they could use to climb out was dissolved. A handful managed to climb through sheer physical ability... Only to be kicked back down by the goblins waiting above.
And finally.
The long-awaited three hours passed.
"Alright! Let's hurry back to Weed! Goblin units will continue standing watch on a rotating schedule!"
"...Please issue the orders before declaring we're leaving."
"Jessica, I can't help it! I'm worried! I just can't—"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
"Huh?"
"That sounded like an explosion."
An explosion went off about 200 meters behind us, kicking up a massive cloud of dirt.
"So waiting the full three hours was the right decision after all. As expected of you, Yuki."
Jessica praised me. But I wasn't happy in the slightest.
But we couldn't just ignore it, so we went to check things out.
Ahhh, seriously, why now!? Is destiny seriously trying to get in the way of me seeing Seraria!?
"God... I curse you."
『Hey, I have absolutely nothing to do with this!!』
"If you're watching, that just makes it worse."
『I-It's just a coincidence!!』
Dammit. She really was peeping.
While figuring out what kind of payback would be most effective, I looked down into the blast site.
From what I could see, there weren't any fragments from an explosive device scattered around.
"What the? A sudden explosion? Man, and here I am needing to rush right to Seraria's side..."
The complaints naturally slipped out of my mouth.
What even caused this? Can we just say a gas pocket exploded and call it a day?
"Now, now, calm down, Yuki-san. For now, we have to investigate."
"...This is the first time spreading mana to claim territory has caused something like this."
"...Everyone, please stay alert. We don't know what will happen..."
As we huddled around the edge of the crater talking, a voice echoed from the blast site.
"There is no need to worry. You people can just die right here."
Then, a headless knight clad in magnificent armor—a good deal larger than a normal human—emerged from the smoke and swung its sword.
"So you're the cause of all this!! You're in my way—go to sleep!!"
I reached out and crushed the incoming weird sword with my bare hands.
Wait.... Didn't this thing feel kinda similar to a Magic Sword?
Well, whatever. I completely stopped thinking and threw a punch with just enough force to knock it unconscious.
"I-Impossible...!"
"Shut up. Stop delivering defeated-villain lines and just fall already."
Since it didn't have a head, I just smacked its shoulder to deliver the finishing blow.
"""Uwaa, poor thing."""
Everyone's stares hurt...
But it couldn't be helped.
I had to get back to Seararia as quickly as possible!!
"Wait for me, Seraria!!"
I started running, not wanting to waste even a second getting in the vehicle.
"Um, Yuki-san. If you use the ring, you can get back instantly, right?""
Can't be helped.
I was panicking, after all!!
