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Patron Shoutout to Kevin~
Chapter 20: The Sage Crushes the Will of the Hero
ăI landed beside the Hero, and without pausing, I attacked with magic.\năIt was ten consecutive shots of the miasma spears.
âShâŚShit!â
ăThe Hero maneuvered the holy sword in all directions.\năHe severed the spears, making the miasma disperse.\năThus, he successfully defended, without getting injured even once.
âHmâŚâ
ăI silently observed his figure and movements.\năHis swordsmanship was refined.\năConsidering his age, his skills were in the realm of a genius.\năIf he continued to study for another five years or so, he would no doubt become a great swordsman. However, it was an unlikely future.\năHis life ends tonight.
ăThe sword he was using was just an ordinary magical weapon.\nHoly light seemed to have been bestowed upon it.\năIt was probably an ability he acquired when he awakened as a Hero.
It has powerful strength for crushing evil. It specializes in killing the undead.
ăA fatal wound from that holy sword could damage my soul.\năIt might interfere with my resurrection.\năHe is an opponent that I cannot underestimate, even with my immortal powers.\năHis ability clearly showed that he was specifically chosen to kill the Demon Lord that was me.
ââŚâŚâ
ăThe Hero looked at me with the holy sword in his arms.\năIt seemed as if he wanted to say something.\năBased on his actions up to this point, I thought he was going to attack me without a word.\năEventually, the Hero opened his mouth uneasily.
âWhy are you doing thisâŚ?â
ăHearing the question the Hero had raised, I understood his state of mind, albeit vaguely.\năHe was not buying for time through conversation.\năHe wanted to know why I was slaughtering everything around me.
ăHis doubts were perfectly natural.\năI could have attacked him without answering, but since he had taken the trouble to ask, I decided to answer him.\năI believed it was a necessary action for me as well.\năI wanted to hear what the Hero of this generation had to say.
ăOnce I lowered my sword, I answered the Heroâs question.
âItâs because Iâm the Demon Lord.â
âMy family died because of you. I was forced to kill my sister who had turned into a ghoulâŚ!â
âI see.â
ăMy actions had created countless tragedies within the kingdom.\năThe undead army had continued to attack human neighborhoods, and there were times when I myself used magic to eradicate them.\năThe casualties must be enormous.\năI carried an irreparable number of sins.
ăI was well aware of that.\năI had done this with the understanding that it would happen.\năTherefore, I was unmoved by the accusations.\năI was here, knowing all my evils.
ăThe Hero was stunned to see me unconcerned.\năThen, he let out a dry laugh.
âHahaha, your heart doesnât hurt. âŚAs expected of the Demon Lord.â
ăThe Hero suddenly cast his eyes downward.\năWhen he looked up, his eyes were filled with an intense killing intent.\năThe brilliance of the holy sword increased.\năThe Hero pointed the tip of his sword at me.
âI am a Hero. I will defeat you in accordance with my fate.â
ăThe Hero declared in a resolute manner.\năIt was a face that had thrown away the slightest hesitation.\năHis appearance made me feel nostalgic.\năIt made me feel as if I was looking at a reflection of my past self.
ââŚâŚâ
ăI reached for the keepsake sword.\năI wrapped my fingers around the hilt and pulled it out in one go.\năTaking the same stance as her, I confronted the Hero of the Holy Sword.
ăThe silence continued as we kept our distance from each other.\năA clamor could be heard from behind.\năThe humans in the fortress and the Demon Lordâs army must be engaged in battle.\năI canât divide my consciousness in that direction.\năJust a momentary distraction would be fatal.
âHah!â
ăIt was the Hero who made the first move.\năHe approached in the blink of an eye from a crouching position.\năI sensed the activation of magical power.\năHe seemed to be using high-level physical enhancement.
ăI quickly deployed my magic.\năBlack ivy sprouted from the ground and wriggled to restrain the Hero.
âHow annoying!ââ
ăThe Hero took a small leap.\năWith minimal movement, he cut away the ivy.\năHe kicked off the ground and accelerated further.\nThe distance between us was instantly reduced as I entered the range for his holy sword.
Heâs improving during the fightâŚ
ăCompared to the first time we were first facing each other, his reaction speed had clearly increased.\năHe was a Hero, after all.\năIt was an irrational justice loved by the world.
ăBut I cannot afford to be defeated.\năIf I perish here, the tragedy will repeat again.\năThe conflict between humans would intensify.
ăIn a world without the Demon Lord, this Hero would also be overpowered.\năThe people who feel threatened by his great power would surely plan to get rid of him.\năThis was the end that I and that person I once followed met.
ăAnd even if that doesnât happen, he would be used as a convenient weapon for senseless slaughter.\năThe holy sword would be wielded in a war against a hostile nation.\năEither way, pools of blood would be spilled.\năIt will be done by the work of none other than humans.
ăSuch a future was undesirable.\năI wanted to change that somehow.\năI donât care even if itâs a distorted picture.\năI wanted humans to join hands with each other, even if it meant becoming the worldâs evil known as the Demon Lord.\năYou canât talk about peace with just your ideals.
âItâs over, Demon Lord!â
ăThe Hero released a slash with his holy sword.\năIt was a trajectory that cut across my body.\năIf I donât do anything at this point, the holy sword will destroy the Demon Lord of this generation.
Of course, I wonât let that happen.
ăI focused my consciousness.\năAs I stared at the movement of the slashing Hero, I could grasp even the smallest details of his behavior.\năAt the same time, I intuitively understood how I should deal with it.\năThe swordsmanship of the previous Hero dwelling in my soul taught me.
ăI turned my wrist and moved it to meet the blade of the approaching holy sword.\năOur swords clashed with each other.\năSparks flew along with a shrill sound.
ăThe slash of the holy sword did not hit my body.\năIt was stopped by the keepsake sword at a hairâs breadth.
âWhaâŚtâŚ?â
ăThe shocked Hero tried to push through with force.\năHowever, the holy sword did not budge any further.\năThe crossed swords only made a scraping sound.
âItâs useless.â
ăI swung my sword and parried the holy sword.\năWary of pursuit, the Hero jumped backward.
ăThere was a red line on his cheek.\năA slight amount of blood seeped from it.\năMy blade had grazed him.
ââŚâŚ!â\năThe Hero wiped his cheek with the back of his hand to check the bleeding.\năHe gasped with a wooden expression.
ăIt carried a fear of the Demon Lord.\năEven for a moment, he thought that he was no match for me.\năHe was reminded of his own death with it.\năHe realized that just because he was the Hero didnât mean he would be absolutely victorious.
âYou must be afraid. Donât be ashamed. Itâs an emotion we all have.â
ăI leisurely held the keepsake sword.\năI raised my other hand above my head.
ăHundreds of stakes of miasma emerged as the surrounding space shook.\năFloating in the air, they surrounded the Hero from all directions.\năAll the pointed edges were aimed at him.
âWhaâŚâ
ăAt this, even the Hero was speechless.\năHe frowned as he endured the pain.\năIf he gave in to despair, death awaited him.\năEven if he knew that it was difficult to muster his heart.
ăThe human mind was a fragile thing.\năI myself was the same.\năThe reason I didnât die along the way on the journey to defeat the Demon Lord was probably because she was next to me.
ăThe Hero before me was alone.\năThere was no one to come to his aid.\năRather, in the fortress behind him, the soldiers would be waiting for the Hero to save them.
ăAs the sun sank below the horizon, I told the Hero.
ââI am the Demon Lord. I will teach you true despair.â
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-black-background-color has-black-color is-style-wide">\nHasrâs Dumb Announcement Corner: Yes yes I know this chapter is long overdue and yadda yadda, but we got a new series on the site! Check out Tensei Saki de Suterareta no de, Mofumofu Tachi to Oryouri Shimasu Kuromaruâs TLing that one, so go support her and enjoy some mofumofu!
Also this is the last chappie Separatio edited for us. I need more editors for this series so if youâre confident with your englishing skills, head on over to Recruitment and try your luck!
<s>Finally, I might maybe do another release today, fingers crossed I can pull it off.</s> Okay thereâs definitely another release in an hour or so and maybe even a third release thatâll conclude the arc.