I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 57

With Minerva’s intervention and the aid of the Magical Power recovery potion, Lucia was now fully capable of using her magical energy, a condition more than enough to turn the tide of battle.

A seemingly impregnable barrier strengthened several times by Divine Artifact.

A continuous onslaught that easily slashed through even Rank 1 Monsters.

Before that, Surt was unable to mount a proper counterattack and crumbled under the assault.

Not only was his physical regeneration failing to keep up with the damage, but even if he managed to regenerate and attempted a strike, penetrating the barrier was impossible, making it utterly futile.

In a sense, this was to be expected.

“Thinking back, there were many adverse conditions when we faced that monster last time.”

Slash!

The giant’s body, severed beyond counting, was struck once more by Lucia’s sword.

“Back then, my sword was not so great, and we were in water… but now it’s different.”

Lucia approached the half-sliced giant.

Holding the sword in reverse grip, she aimed for Surt’s head.

“You’ve had truly bad luck. You’ve angered me, and you couldn’t kill me earlier.”

[Graaaaaahhh…!]

“Shut up.”

Fwoosh-!

Lucia plunged her sword into Surt’s eye.

A liquid that looked like lava flowed down.

“Didn’t I tell you I would make you pay for that earlier?”

She withdrew the sword and stabbed it into the opposite eye.

[Uuuaaarrr…!]

“Making me angry is a grave sin. And trying to kill someone dear to me is even worse!”

As her grip tightened, the sword burrowed deeper.

Amidst the giant’s agonizing screams, Lucia spoke.

“Killing you is impossible, but I’ll give you a pain worse than death.”

The sword sliced through the neck.

Arms, shoulders, waist, legs, face…

Every part of his body was cut and severed, repeatedly regenerating.

Pain.

Surt was feeling pain right now.

Also, he was experiencing an emotion he had never felt before.

Fear.

The giant, stained with rage towards the world, felt fear.

From the woman in front of him swinging a sword.

…I must flee.

If he didn’t run now, he would surely suffer a pain worse than death, as the woman said.

And just as Surt turned his body to escape Terra,

Lucia’s sword pierced through his hand.

“Dare to try to flee?”

With the predatory gaze of one who wouldn’t let go of their prey, Lucia met the giant’s eyes.

“You still have a long way to go before you pay in full.”

A gaze that seemed to convey that she could repeat this as many times as necessary.

Surt was horrified and tried to escape from Lucia by cutting off his own hand with the sword.

However, she would not simply allow that.

Slash!

With a clean cutting sound, her sword severed his arms and legs that were trying to run away.

“I told you, you still have a long way to go.”

Lucia’s sword became imbued with an even stronger magical energy.

“Looks like I’ll have to show you one more time.”

Lucia poured all her magical energy into the sword, as if she were being sincere.

It soon struck Surt’s chest, piercing through his heart.

[Grrrrraaaaahhh!]

Surt writhed in agony, screaming as the horrifying pain overwhelmed him.

The power imbued within the sword felt like it was setting his heart ablaze with each passing second.

As Lucia looked at the suffering Surt,

“Chloe, I’ve prepared to activate the power.”

Minerva approached her.

“…Tsk. Have you already done everything?”

“You’ve damaged him enough to say he’s been subdued.”

Minerva glanced at Surt, who was now slowly recovering from injury, and said.

“What a pity. I haven’t finished torturing him yet.”

“I understand your feelings, as I lost my father to Surt. However, our greatest objective is the protection of Terra.”

“I know well. I’m just disappointed.”

Surt, seemingly understanding their exchange, smiled bitterly.

It meant he would be freed from pain.

“But there are ways to inflict pain that don’t require my hands.”

Lucia created a sword with her magical power and stabbed it into Surt’s neck.

Suddenly, a pain similar to what he felt earlier crashed down on the giant.

[Uuee, uuuuuaaarrr…!!!]

The Power of Doom clad on the sword.

The seal had the property of freezing the state of the objects within that time, so if sealed as is, it would be able to continuously inflict pain without the need to expend more magical energy.

“This should be enough.”

After inserting such a sword into every part of his body, Lucia bore a satisfied expression.

“Now, I will seal it.”

A barrier created from Minerva’s fingertips began to grow.

Then, dozens of barriers spread out like a net.

Soon, Surt’s body was completely enveloped by the barrier.

<Power of Protection - The Sanctuary of Immortality>

Within the barrier that Minerva had deployed, time was completely halted.

Seeing Surt’s magical power faintly lingering showed that he was still alive.

Now, that giant would have to live on, feeling endless pain within this frozen time.

“Now, he’s completely sealed. It would take about ten thousand years for him to escape on his own.”

“Ten thousand years in pain, then?”

“Yes, unless a significant variable occurs.”

As she said that, Minerva bowed her head to Lucia.

“Thank you, Lady Chloe. Even though this disaster was called upon by you, I appreciate you fighting to protect Terra.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s largely our fault for this situation, so there’s no need to be so grateful.”

“There are many people who cause problems and try to evade responsibility. But you and Evan have fought with everything you have. If I were alone, it would have been impossible. I express my gratitude for that.”

Minerva continuously bowed her head in appreciation, and Lucia gently tapped her shoulder.

“But no matter what, the one who truly saved Terra is you, Minerva. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have obtained Aegis… and thus, we couldn’t have fought like this.”

She bore a smile on her lips.

“…Yes, thank you for saying that.”

“Right. By the way, has Evan woken up?”

“He hasn’t woken yet, so I moved him to a safe place before you arrived.”

“Tsk. You tell me to take care of myself, but you keep falling unconscious…”

Lucia clicked her tongue as she spoke.

However, unlike her words, a faint smile still lingered on her face.

“…Lady Chloe, may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“It seems like you care quite a lot for Evan… what is your relationship with him?”

At Minerva’s question, Lucia’s body flinched slightly.

“…Did it seem that way?”

“From what I saw, you poured your magical energy into protecting Evan with the resolve to risk your life. If your magical recovery had been delayed just a little longer, you would surely have lost your life.”

That part was indeed true.

If someone had to die, she hoped that Evan would live.

She had gathered her magical energy to create a barrier for Evan, risking her own life.

“People who sacrifice themselves for others are rare. But it doesn’t seem like he is family…”

“It’s because I like him.”

With a slightly flushed face, Lucia replied.

“I like that gentle him so very much.”

Minerva nodded as if she understood to some extent.

“I see. I don’t fully grasp it, but I can tell what you feel for Evan.”

“Keep it a secret from Evan. It’s for the best.”

“Is it because you are the previous Demon King?”

Flinch.

Lucia’s body trembled greatly at the mention.

“…How long have you known?”

“I suspected it when I first saw you, and I was certain after I heard Evan’s story.”

Minerva came closer, sliding her hand into her robe.

“Even though I am a mechanical being, I possess emotions; thus, magic meant to disrupt perception doesn’t affect me. So I can see your horns.”

“Is that where you deduced it?”

“Yes. During the last Apostle’s journey, it was recorded that the demon race had nearly gone extinct.”

“In that case, what gave you certainty?”

“Among the stories Evan told me was one about the 11 gods. If that’s the case, there must have been 11 Apostles; the remaining Apostles must be from the demon realm.”

Those words were hauntingly accurate.

Deciding she had nothing left to hide, Lucia confirmed there was no one around and took off her robe.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“One of the reasons I initially declined your proposal was due to my wariness of you. You were the Demon King who killed six of the previous Apostles. I even devised a plan to stop you if necessary.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Indeed. I observed your actions.”

Minerva nodded and continued speaking.

“Lucia von Astraea, I am considering changing my mind.”

“Changing your mind about what?”

She handed over Aegis, which she held in her hand.

What it meant was crystal clear.

“I hope you, along with Evan, will correct this world. Gather all the Divine Artifacts and head to Silvestra.”