I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 17

Lucia’s arms trembled with the backlash as she deflected the sword.

Yet, she didn’t show it and stepped closer to the Abyss Knight, saying,

“I’ll release your amusement, so come at me, not that woman.”

As if it understood her words, the tip of the Abyss Knight’s sword turned from the fallen woman to Lucia.

“Just go. The child is waiting for you.”

“Y-Yes…!”

“Due to the binding, you might not hold out for long, so run as far as you can.”

The woman nodded and quickly began to flee.

And almost simultaneously—

KAAANG—!

Lucia’s sword clashed with the Abyss Knight’s.

It seemed like a balanced situation with neither side gaining the upper hand.

However, the reality was unfolding much more unfavorably for her.

‘If only I could use my magical power…’

Because her magical power was controlled, her physical endurance was dropping.

Just sharing a blow made her arm ache as if it had shattered.

Moreover, with the shackles on, any unorthodox movements were impossible.

In other words, she had to confront a top-tier monster using only conventional methods.

If just one of those conditions were lifted, she felt she could handle the opponent, but right now, she was merely stalling for time.

Of course, there was a way to avoid thinking of others and just take the Abyss Knight’s blow.

If she permitted her body to be struck by that sword without magical protection, she could finally welcome the death she longed for.

But this was not the time.

Behind her, there were townspeople fleeing from the entity in front of her, including the child and family she had seen earlier.

“Ha… If things had gone as expected, I could’ve met my end at your sword… ”

Lucia hadn’t originally intended to step out of the carriage.

She didn’t want to attract attention by stepping out and getting her identity revealed, and she also harbored hatred towards the humans that indiscriminately slaughtered demons, wanting to avoid helping.

Until she saw a child crying out for their fallen mother.

“You just had to touch on that unpleasant memory of mine.”

In the child, Lucia saw her past self.

The powerless version of herself, with no strength to do anything but call out the names of her loved ones.

She knew how overwhelming the sadness and helplessness of that time was.

It was something too much for one person to bear, and even though it was a long time ago, it remained deeply embedded in her heart.

Thus, this time she decided it would be different.

She would change the future so that the child wouldn’t cry for their loved ones but instead smile.

After all, her own life held little significance.

“Touching my trauma is quite the offense. So, as payback, I will take your life.”

To hide the unfavorable situation, Lucia forced a calm smile as she swung her sword.

KAANG! KANG!

The storm of relentless sword strikes.

Lucia attacked the Abyss Knight, swinging her sword like crazy.

But without magical power infused, her attacks couldn’t inflict any meaningful damage.

Thinking that the sword wouldn’t pierce the armor anyway, she quickly altered her attack to aim for the Abyss Knight’s neck.

However, the opponent was also a top-tier monster.

The sword swung for the neck was deflected by the Abyss Knight’s blade.

“Ugh…!”

With her sword bouncing off, Lucia lost her balance.

Seizing the opportunity, the Abyss Knight slashed at her.

SCHWACK!

The blade left a shallow cut on Lucia’s side.

A trickle of blood flowed from the wound.

If she hadn’t twisted her body at the last moment, the attack would have split her in two at the waist.

Barely avoiding the blow, Lucia swung her sword toward the neck again.

The sensation in her abdomen was dulled.

It was because the Abyss Knight had quickly bent backward, dodging her sword.

“Tsk.”

Lucia grimaced at the pressure of the shackles on her wrist.

‘At this rate, I won’t last much longer…’

Fighting while being forced to use only conventional methods, it seemed the Abyss Knight was beginning to anticipate her next moves.

And if she continued to fight without treating the wound on her waist, it would probably open up more, spilling even more blood.

As she fought, contemplating what to do.

Caught off-guard by a blade entering from her blind side, she allowed an opening.

SCHWACK-!

“Ugh…!”

The sword deeply penetrated her abdomen.

Red blood gushed out as Lucia collapsed to the ground.

[■■■■■■■■···.]

The Abyss Knight muttered something in an unknown language, then walked past her, gazing in the direction the townspeople had fled.

‘…I can’t let this happen.’

If she sent that monster after them now, the townspeople would be quickly caught and exterminated.

Lucia clutched her bleeding wound, staggering to stand up.

“What are you trying to do, leaving when it’s not over?”

With a labored breath, she continued,

“I’m not dead yet. So this fight isn’t over either.”

She aimed her sword once more at the Abyss Knight.

At that moment, a pattern on her back emitted a black light.

Simultaneously, the shackles controlling her magical power began to tremble violently.

She was forcibly trying to draw forth her magical power to break the shackles.

“Uhhhhh…!!”

An excruciating sensation coursed through her body, as if every cell was being crushed, but Lucia gritted her teeth and tried to shatter the shackles.

If she didn’t, it would lead to the death of many.

After a moment of intense trembling—

CLANG!

The shackles, unable to contain her magical energy, shattered with a clear ringing sound.

“Hah, hah…”

Finally releasing her magical power, Lucia spat out the blood pooling in her mouth and fully rose to her feet.

It felt entirely different from before.

With a concentration of magical power that couldn’t be compared, the Abyss Knight hesitated momentarily.

But that paused moment didn’t last long; it judged that she was still in poor condition and swung its sword at her.

And moments later.

CLANG-!

The Abyss Knight’s blade shattered into pieces as if it had been smashed apart.

All from Lucia simply swinging her sword once.

“If you thought such small wounds could secure your victory, you might be underestimating me.”

With a bitter smile on her lips, she swung her sword once more.

As her sword stroke severed the Abyss Knight’s right arm, blood splattered from the wound and soaked the ground.

[■■■■■■■■!!!]

The Abyss Knight uttered an incomprehensible language.

However, judging by the sound and its actions attempting to distance itself from her, it sounded like a scream.

Lucia swung her sword again.

This time, both its legs were cut off, and a sound seemingly resembling an agonized scream echoed along the roadside once more.

“Now it’s quiet. Shut up.”

As Lucia quietly watched the scene, she drove her sword into its helm.

Then the Abyss Knight’s body trembled before finally going still.

“Huuh…”

Lucia exhaled a long sigh.

And she collapsed right there.

She had bled too much.

Her consciousness flickered, and her vision began to darken.

“…To fall from such wounds. I’ve become quite weak.”

Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult.

Am I going to die like this?

If so, it might not be a bad ending.

She had sacrificed her life to change the unpleasant memories and to alter that child’s future.

As she contemplated, on the brink of closing her eyes,

She felt the pain in her abdomen lessening slightly.

“Why are you dying here?”

Turning her head to the familiar voice, she saw a human face.

It was Evan.

Had he rushed here? He was sweating profusely as he applied herbs to her wound.

“…I could’ve died.”

Lucia muttered as if regretting.

“You can’t die here.”

“I know. It’s for my comrade’s revenge.”

Evan nodded.

Then there was a moment of silence.

He kept twitching his lips before finally speaking.

“…Still, thank you.”

“For what?”

“I heard on my way here. You saved a child’s mother…”

“You don’t need to thank me. I merely killed that monster because it reminded me of unpleasant memories.”

“Nevertheless, thanks to you killing that monster, the people could survive. I want to express my gratitude for that.”

“…Thanking your enemy?”

Lucia chuckled softly.

“If you’re thankful, do you plan on torturing me any less?”

“…Yes. I won’t torture you for the time being.”

At his unexpected answer, her eyes widened slightly.

Evan continued, observing her reaction.

“I’ve seriously pondered over what you said for a week. There were some odd parts, and I started thinking you might not be a villain. So, I want to uncover your truth. Whether Lucia von Astraea is genuinely a villain or not.”

His golden eyes, reminiscent of the sun, shone brighter than they had in the past three years.

“So until it’s proven you are indeed a villain, I won’t torture you.”

Hearing this, Lucia remained silent for a while, seemingly contemplating before finally speaking.

“…Can I trust your words?”

“I will trust your words as much as I can. So, you should trust mine just as much.”

Evan extended his hand toward her.

Lucia gazed at that hand for a moment before taking it, smiling.

“Alright.”

Beyond the clasped hands of the two, the sun was rising.

Dawn was arriving, signaling the end of the darkness that had spread in the early morning.