The powder rode the wind spirit and reached Hyran.
The green smoke and poisonous powder tangled together.
“Ghh… ugh!”
The green smoke squird several tis… then gradually began to fade in color.
“He’s taking shape again.”
Just as Xenia said, Hyran could no longer maintain his smoke form.
He returned to his original human appearance.
A face so ordinary you would forget it if you looked away.
“He’s completely wrecked.”
Neril spoke in a cold tone.
As I suspected, Hyran had already been pierced by the disintegration spear.
My hunch that part of his smoke had been severed had also been right, one of his legs was missing.
Thick, black ichor-like blood dripped from the wound.
He coughed up blood repeatedly.
He was clearly dying.
With trembling eyes, he spoke.
“Th-This poison… did you make it, Offense?”
“Yeah.”
“You are telling there’s a poison that can kill ?”
“I have been researching for a long ti. For soone like you, there’s no death more fitting than one by poison.”
Splurt.
He coughed up blood again and continued.
“Spare .”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re already dead. Even I can’t make an antidote for that poison.”
“I’m not asking for an antidote. I just want you to let escape.”
“That’s even more ridiculous.”
Offense shook his head, as if it wasn’t even worth listening to.
But Hyran had one last card up his sleeve.
Swish.
He pulled a vial from his coat.
That sa vial I had seen with the Eye of Omniscience… the Gem of Greed.
I let out a groan as I spoke.
“That’s the Gem of Greed.”
“Huh? That thing?”
“If he mixes it with the enemy’s blood and drinks it, he can steal their ability. The last ability they used, within the past 24 hours.”
“That’s basically sewage…”
Just then, Hyran spoke again.
“Watch this.”
He raised his left hand slightly above his right palm and spread it out.
The shadow cast by his left hand spread across the right palm.
He pushed the vial into the shadow… and pulled it back out.
“The last ability I used was shadow sorcery. And now… I will mix in my blood.”
He let his blood drip into the vial.
Then, with a desperate tone, he said,
“Do you understand what this ans? I will give this to you, Offense.”
“…”
“I’m offering to return your trump card. So please, take this and let go.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just kill you and take the vial?”
A perfectly reasonable suggestion and Hyran flinched.
It was the obvious line of thought, but maybe he was too panicked to think straight?
Just then…
Zzzzzk.
Space ripped open.
I shouted in alarm.
“It’s Idria! Everyone, stay sharp!”
My party instantly readied for battle like lightning.
But Idria’s full form didn’t erge.
Just like when she tried to steal the Gem of Corruption, she rely extended an arm out from the rift in space.
Drip, drip.
Her skin cracked.
Thick, black ichor seeped from the wounds.
“What the…? Why is she like that?”
Probably because of Trail, who’s her natural enemy, but Trail didn’t want to reveal himself yet, so I kept quiet.
Then Idria’s voice rang out.
“Who gave you permission to make such a deal, Sabach?”
“I–Idria, my lady!”
“The Gem of Greed is a treasure of unimaginable value. And you would barter it for your own life? You have overstepped your bounds.”
Hyran, looking literally at death’s door, shouted.
“Lady Idria, please, please save ! Use your spatial power to take with you!”
“I would… but Mide’s ability is far too terrifying. Do you think I could extract you from here when ti is being stopped?”
“Lady Idria…”
“Heh… I don’t want to lose another wrist again.”
I checked the distance between and Idria.
More than ten steps, for sure.
But what if I use Quick Sprint to close the gap?
‘Three seconds… no, two seconds should be enough to get within range.’
I whispered to Neril.
“Can you cast a flying spell?”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks to Adwin, I can manage basic flight magic. But why? Don’t tell …”
“Idria might let Hyran die, but she will definitely try to recover the Gem of Greed. But that would an Offense’s sorcery would be lost forever.”
I couldn’t let that happen.
Neril gulped and cast the flying spell on .
Then it happened…
“Arghhh! After everything I have done for you like a dog, this is what I get?!”
“Quiet. Just toss the Gem.”
“Eat shit. I would rather throw it to them than hand it to a bastard like you…!”
Whoosh!
Hyran hurled the gem with all his strength.
Toward us.
“What?!”
Xenia instinctively caught the Gem of Greed.
“Damn it!”
In that mont…
Though I’m not Bion, ti felt like it slowed.
I had never focused so intensely on a single thing.
Xenia had the Gem of Greed.
Idria would definitely try to retrieve it.
‘If that’s the case…’
That demon king might not be able to kill , but who’s to say she couldn’t kill my allies?
What if, while grabbing the gem, she also points a finger at Xenia?
Would Xenia die?
Crkkk.
Just as I thought, space split open right beside her.
Slowly. Very slowly.
Yet at the sa ti, lightning-fast.
Trail. Eye of Omniscience…
I wanted to shout it, but gave up imdiately.
‘Even Trail won’t make it in ti.’
I just knew.
I have to cut it.
Faster than “Ti-lock slash” with the Eye of Omniscience.
I had to avoid Xenia and cut Idria’s arm behind her.
“Haaah!”
Every nerve in my body lit up.
Faster than sound. Faster than light.
Cut What I Want to Cut!
My blade veered past Xenia without touching her.
Like a graceful fish in water, the arc of my sword curved toward Idria’s arm.
And I severed her wrist.
Thump.
I saw her hand tumble through the air.
The flow of ti around returned to normal.
My party mbers, frozen like a paused video, began to move again.
“Mide!”
“W–What happened just now?!”
“Hyung… wait, did you use that technique again? No? Then how are you fine? I an, it’s great, but still…”
“Ah! Everyone, look over there!”
Lisel pointed to a spot.
Where Hyran had been.
Idria was reaching out, trying to pull him into her space.
For a mont, it felt like I had been struck with a hamr.
“Damn it.”
At that mont, Idria closed the space and spoke.
“Why wasn’t there any backlash just now? Mide Mohan. You always ended up wrecked whenever you used that technique.”
“I have got sothing to ask, too. From the beginning, were you planning to rescue Hyran? Not to retrieve the Gem of Greed?”
“I have no intention of answering that.”
“Then I have no intention of answering either.”
Idria let out a quiet chuckle.
“Seriously, you just can’t let anyone get the last word, huh.”
She closed the space and disappeared.
The others bombarded with questions, but I was too focused on my conversation with Trail to answer them.
[There’s not much I can say. I didn’t sense a thing. I should have stopped ti with the Eye of Omniscience.]
‘It’s okay. It’s not your fault.’
[But still…]
‘Let’s find out what happened together. There’s definitely a new secret between Idria and Hyran now.’
[…Sigh. Fine.]
Idria appeared on the screen.
She was peering through a crack in space, watching this side of the situation.
This side… aning, the mont Hyran was hit by the poison that Offense created.
Idria spoke in a secret conversation with Hyran.
“Are you alright?”
—L-Lady Idria. I’m fine. Please don’t co this way!
“…”
—It’s been my greatest happiness to serve you all this ti…
“Don’t say such arrogant things. More importantly, listen to the plan I have hastily co up with.”
Idria quickly continued.
“I will pretend I’m abandoning you to retrieve the Gem of Greed.”
—What?
“I’m going to make Mide believe I value the gem more than you. That way, he will focus more on securing the gem.”
—Ah.
“Toss the gem toward them. I will pretend to retrieve it and use the distraction to get you out. It’s a clunky plan, but if I don’t do this, that technique will ss up again.”
So that’s what it was.
I was played.
Then Hyran asked:
—But wouldn’t you have to sacrifice your wrist again?
“Even for , it’s problematic if I keep losing my wrist. If Bion’s power controls ti, he’s probably reading my presence to ti his attacks. So I need to make sure Bion can’t detect .”
—Is that even possible?
“I already borrowed the power of my second finger. Don’t worry, it will work.”
The Second Finger of Lie!
Right.
If it’s that one’s power, bypassing Bion’s senses for a short while might be possible.
[Who the hell is that?]
‘Think of him like a support role in a party. Anyway, focus on the screen.’
Idria continued.
“If I’m lucky, I might even be able to kill one or two of Mide’s companions.”
—Lady Idria…
“Let’s begin. Think you can pull off the act?”
Hyran responded in a deeply moved voice.
—For you to go through all this trouble for soone as lowly as … I am unworthy.
“If you are unworthy, then make sure you survive.”
Idria’s tone turned surprisingly gentle.
—Because you are my beloved child.
Snap.
The vision ended.
Honestly, I was surprised.
I thought soone like the Demon King would naturally prioritize retrieving the Gem of Greed over saving Hyran.
But she valued saving him far more.
‘That’s really unexpected.’
So even a ruthless Demon King loves her own children?
Although… she seed to discard Ophelia pretty easily.
‘Wait. Now that I think about it…’
Ophelia had rejected her. The others had accepted her, she said.
Maybe whether you’re human or demon, you naturally care more about those who care about you.
At that mont…
I snapped back to find my companions huddled right in front of .
Neril asked first.
“Mide, there wasn’t any recoil this ti? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“You’re always the first to worry about my body.”
“E-Everyone else is too! I’m just asking on their behalf!”
Xenia giggled as she chid in.
“Technically, Neril always jumps in before the rest of us get the chance.”
“Quiet.”
“Anyway, are you really alright, Mide?”
I nodded. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelꜰire
“Yeah. This ti it was a bit different from the usual technique.”
“Huh?”
“I will explain later.”
“Okay. Oh! Right, I should have said this first. Thank you for saving .”
Xenia bowed her head, hands clasped.
Feeling a little awkward, I responded.
“It’s only natural to save a comrade in danger. If you get all emotional over sothing like this, how will you handle what’s coming?”
“Hehe. That’s so like you, Mide.”
“Anyway, what about the Gem of Greed?”
“It’s safe. Here.”
I took the bottle.
Up close, yep, looked exactly like sewage.
I tossed it to Offense.
“Drink it.”
“…”
“Just leave one drop. As long as one drop remains, it will refill.”
“How do you even know this stuff?”
“Quit stalling and drink it.”
Offense opened the lid with a deeply reluctant look.
Was it just my imagination?
It really slled like poop.
With a wary glance around, Offense muttered:
“You said saving a comrade in danger is obvious, right? Well, I’m in danger now.”
“You don’t need Shadow Sorcery then?”
“No, I an let’s share the pain. If we all take a sip, then all party mbers can use Shadow Sorcery.”
It made so sense, but I shook my head.
“Then you go first.”
“…”
“What if Neril drinks it first and it turns out to be single-use? What’s a mage gonna do with assassination skills?”
Offense had no coback and his face twisted.
That’s when Neril ford a hand seal.
“Huh?”
The next mont, Offense’s body froze.
Xenia calmly pinched his nose.
Adwin pried his mouth open.
Serein, smiling sweetly, poured the liquid into his mouth.
Gulp. Gulp.
Offense’s throat convulsed.
Whoa. Didn’t think he would actually drink it.
[You told him to. You monster.]
Serein shook the bottle.
“The poop color got lighter. Looks like Mide was right.”
“Yeah. Seems it was single-use.”
“Good thing Offense drank it first. That’s a relief.”
Lisel was covering her eyes, unable to watch the horror unfold.
“I-Is it over now?”
“Yeah. It’s okay. That was scary, huh?”
“No… It was gross.”
Offense was sprawled on the ground.
I asked,
“What did it taste like?”
“Like poop.”
Serein tilted her head.
“You must have tasted poop before, huh?”
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