"Camilla!"
"I know!"
Camilla, who was faced with a wizard superior to her, opened her mouth and focused her magic power into her wand.
"Winter's Gale!"
The humid and hot underground waterway dried up. No, that's not all. A gust of wind blew and the temperature dropped all at once.
The water dragon that was trying to swallow Sloan and us behind him turned into an ice statue with its mouth wide open. It was amazing that it was able to freeze something so large in midair, but it was even more amazing that it was able to aim at the party without causing any damage.
[Wonderful. Magic…. Huh?!]
"Tsk."
Elisa, who had been holding her breath until now, launched a fatal blow at Lich from the darkness. It was so fast that even I couldn't detect it.
But the fatal surprise attack was blocked by the barrier that Richie had set up in advance. However, the bastard seemed surprised and stepped back slightly, spreading out his hands.
[This little bastard is so cunning!]
Richie spread his mental waves and distorted the trajectory of the arrow that came flying in late due to the time difference. It was so strong that even Sloan, who jumped in in an instant, staggered.
[Flames of the Underworld! Come to me!]
"That guy…. He knows underworld magic too?!"
"Riley!"
"Yes, no!"
The dark culvert suddenly brightened. Whoa! It felt as if the sun had been poured into this space.
I staggered and saw the light pouring down ahead. It was… fire. An overwhelming flame that engulfed the entire wide passage.
But only the light did not cause any heat, but only tormented our eyes. Thanks to Riley.
"Lord, protect the little lamb that praises your name."
A priest who kneels on both knees and begs the Goddess for power can create a powerful protective barrier. It is on a different level of thickness than Camilla's mana barrier.
"S, what about Sloan?"
"No need to worry about him! Alright, I've got all my magic… Air Purge!"
Just as the wick of a candle was blown out, the flames that seemed to engulf the underground waterway disappeared in an instant, leaving behind only smoke. Only now, with my vision restored, could I see what had happened to Sloan.
She stood with her sword planted in the ground…. Dark burns were engraved on her skin, but her unique beauty could not be hidden.
[You little rascal! Are you even a hatchling?]
"Cluck! Cluck!"
Instead of answering, Sloan spat out black smoke from his mouth, took a step forward, and then swung his sword to strike Richie's neck.
The powerful sword strike unfortunately split the air. He teleported back again.
'You still have no intention of using your own magic?'
At this point, it's probably time to use it. Surely the strong magic isn't unique magic?
There's nothing we can do. If we keep fighting like this, that Lich will kill Sloan.
Of course, that won't happen. If that woman's body falls into the hands of Lichtes, that would be a disaster in its own right. Maybe weak demon lords like me would be purged.
'Rich, can you hear me?'
[Oh, I hear you. Great One!]
'From now on, I will attack too. This is an order.'
Lich, who is bound by the rules of hierarchy, seems to welcome those words. After all, it is a monster's instinct to want to kill those who are weaker than it.
[Great One, I am sorry, but…]
'It doesn't matter. If you can fight back, do it.'
[All right.]
When we actually got into the fight, Richie seemed to get serious. He gathered all his magic power to attack me with all his heart.
Before that, I went forward with the stealth. Richie shouted as if he knew it would happen when I disappeared from near Riley.
[You little thief!]
Sloan heard those words and turned around. At that moment, his body flew backwards! Was it an invisible magic?
"Watch out! It's an air gun!"
"Air, is that magic?"
Are you compressing air and shooting it? How many magic spells do you know? I hid and threw myself into the waterway that was just starting to rise.
A hot sensation envelopes my body. Ugh! Is it boiling water? But no matter how weak I am, I can endure this much.
'That bastard Lichtes. He really has created a terrible monster. He's too strong to have been created to take over a city like this!'
You did a great job sending that incredibly capable guy. It must have taken a lot of materials to make him. He could probably be an adjutant of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Anyway, he didn't disappoint my expectations and used different magic.
[Freeze.]
As the flames were quickly extinguished, a cold air rushed into the entire culvert. Even the hot water I was soaking in became cold.
The moment I came out of the water, the next attack came flying in. How annoying.
"I'll pierce your brain."
Paaat—! Elisa's arrow flew through the air again. Richie raised his hand and used a still spell, but the speed did not decrease at all.
[You're being annoying again!]
Eventually, Richie had to use another magic to block the arrow, apparently using the air bullet to deflect its trajectory.
It's clear from the sight of Sloan, who has recovered, falling over again.
[I must deal with you first. My loyal subordinates! Come here!]
—Kkiiik!
Perhaps he thought Elisa was the most annoying enemy. Using his necromancy, Lich summoned skeleton warriors. And they were right behind us.
They had no muscle mass and almost no strength. But there were a considerable number of them. Camilla would be able to handle them.
[Wizard! Where are you looking!]
Richie immediately created a few spells to keep Camilla at bay, while also distributing them to keep Sloan at bay.
'If you just look at the situation, that guy has the advantage.'
He immediately created the appropriate magic and confronted them. He left Riley, who had no offensive means, alone and kept Sloan and Camilla in check.
I also threw a dagger at the back of his head, but he reacted before I could, blocked it with magic, and even counterattacked.
Just as I was about to step back, wondering what to do, I heard a creepy laugh.
"Keuhihihihihihihi!"
Sloan's body was in a terrible state. His armor was also dented by the repeated magic attacks, and blood was gushing from his head.
It was a serious injury to anyone who saw it. She raised the holy sword with one hand and shouted.
"Camilla! Please do it!"
"Huh? Yeah! Heavy sword!"
Jiiing-! The white holy sword is covered in magic. That…. Did they increase the weight of the sword?
Here, it gets faster and adds weight to the hat plate? What the heck.
Suddenly Sloan stepped forward, slowly this time.
[That's it.]
Bam! Sloan's advance has come to a halt. He was so focused on attacking that he didn't see the magic in Richie's hand.
The bastard created several ice picks and poked holes into Sloan's body. Bam! He twisted his body just before impact, so he avoided getting fatally injured.
'The side is pierced. The thigh is also pierced. If I leave it like that, my internal organs will spill out. And it's also in an area where many important blood vessels pass through… .'
If it were a normal person, he would have rolled around on the floor in excruciating pain. And then died. Even if it was Sloan, his injuries were serious.
In addition, ice is spreading out from the hole. Is it Ice Paracide? It is a magic created by Lichtes. It is a terrible magic that grows by using the blood and flesh of the opponent.
"Back off! Valley needs to buy time!"
That's stupid. Sloan's expression right now is not one of despair or pain, but of joy. In other words, she is enjoying this situation.
"This is the best. This is what it feels like to die… . My insides feel like they're going to fall out. My thighs are getting cold too."
[…It looks like your head is gone because you lost too much blood. This time, I'll freeze your brain. Hard.]
"A little more… !"
Sloan's holy sword emitted even greater light. Now it seemed to be a concept, not a weapon. Its power was not yet visible, but… No matter how you looked at it, it was 'the end' in the form of a sword.
The intuition that I have developed throughout my life tells me so. That is dangerous.
'It's practically no different from a magic sword.'
This fight is over. Richie should have just taken the head off with that attack. Of course, I don't know if that's possible.
[First, let me twist that arm.]
Kkwaaaa …
"Ahaha!"
Even though all his bones, including his joints, were broken, the warrior did not groan. He just smiled.
Sloan staggered and stabbed straight ahead with his sword. Richie laughed at this and did not teleport like before.
Idiot. Sloan stabbed her with his sword without hesitation. Richie poured his magic on her, but it was no use.
[Are you going to stab me with your sword when I'm already dying?]
…misjudgment. If that guy teleported, Sloan lost. For sure.
[With your strength, you can't…. Kyaak?! Aaaaah! Why!]
He probably hit the mana bear on the body. And several times. But the holy sword dug into the lich's ribs. For a skeleton without muscle, a stabbing attack is definitely ineffective.
[Huh?]
That's a sound for the weak. The blade broke Richie's ribs and tore through his spine.
Lich, who had no nerves and therefore no concept of pain, shivered. The holy light emanating from the holy sword itself was causing him mental pain.
[Not yet! I![
"Aha. If you stab me with this sword… . Even guys like you are in pain. I learned a thing. "
[Yes, you bitch…]
"Well, bye now. It was fun. I don't think I'll ever see a toy like you again."
The warrior's next blow was not with a sword. She slammed her head into the lich's head, crushing his eye sockets. The lich trembled, waving his bony hands in the air, but it was a small and meaningless protest.
"You're not dead yet?"
Crunch…! The warrior's teeth dug into the bastard's cervical spine. Lich struggled, his teeth chattering, but soon his eyes went out. He was dead.
It's absurd. How could such a strong man die from carelessness? But Sloan really did look like he was going to die. What if it was now?
'No. If I do that, Camilla will catch me and kill me.'
I should have fought alongside that Lich and waited for an opening. But I was too busy taking care of myself to do that. Damn it!
[Sorry, I failed…]
The final thought flowed into me. The soul must be burning in real time. The Holy Sword does not even allow reincarnation to the wicked.
'No, you worked hard. You lost foolishly because you let your guard down. Now, rest. I'll tell your master that you were brave.'
[Earth, earth, earth… glory… .]
'okay.'
Richie couldn't continue speaking. Even at the moment of his death, he wouldn't know why he lost.
I think that's enough. The warrior has advanced one step further. In other words, the blade pointed at us has become sharper.
"It's fun."
The warrior with flailing arms looked at me with a pure childlike laugh.
"Am I a full-fledged adventurer now? That goblin just got caught up and died, "
That's right. Now, Sloan's lowest rank as an adventurer is 'Bronze'.
***
The Adventurer's Guild was turned upside down. They had sent a detachment of goblins to capture them, but they ended up capturing and killing powerful undead.
"This guy is… Isn't he the evil wizard, Hailihin, who destroyed the ancient empire a thousand years ago?"
"Hmm. That's true. This staff is the symbol of the Imperial Wizard. This is the first time I've heard of him becoming a lich."
The guild leaders were discussing the current situation, each sharing their opinions.
"There must be a reason why Richie came here. If he's the Demon Lord who deals with the undead… . Gulum, ranked 21st, would be a strong candidate."
"44th place Haran cannot be ruled out either. That bastard has already destroyed six cities."
These guys still don't know their true identity. Is it because of the long war? There are various stories because of the information cutoff. They are all wrong.
"Anyway, I understand that the Demon King is targeting this city. This is a big deal. Huh… ."
"Ugh!"
You're talking nonsense while being scared. I can't help but laugh. I'm glad to see my fellow countrymen doing their best.
"Ahem!"
Sloan placed his hands on his hips proudly, drawing attention to himself. His large chest heaved.
She quickly got up, shaking off all those wounds. Even with Riley's amazing healing abilities, she would need to recuperate for a few days. She ate several kilos of meat as soon as she got here to heal herself…
"This body has been defeated, that's it!"
"Your name is…."
"Sloan, it's Sloan. Well, you've all heard of me! I'm a famous warrior these days, right?"
"Oh. Is that so."
Hmm? Why don't they recognize Sloan? His expression just changed a little strangely. It's like they're looking at a crazy person.
Something is strange. Sloan's name itself is unknown. I, the Demon Lord, know him better than those guys.
No matter how much information is cut off, word of mouth will spread.
'You humans…'
I guess he's up to something weird. As soon as he heard Sloan's name, his face changed color.
'Then let's find out.'
Why is the warrior who will become my sword being ignored? I don't want to see bandits rushing to take my life every time I travel.
'You'll probably know if you just pull out some fingernails.'
The night was awaited.