Something I hadn’t quite expected happened to me.

The ability of my clone———– it has surpassed my original self.

Was it caused by the excessive intake of black-purple orbs?

But my attention immediately turned to something else.

(Where are the other scums……?)

There are only two presences here.

Even though a little while ago, in Wormungandr’s sight, I confirmed the figures of the others.

(At that time……)

Those idiots who had all gathered together were definitely in the same space.

And yet, now there’s not even a trace of them, not even a presence.

In this case, the labyrinthification has backfired.

At first, I wanted to prevent the enemies from regrouping.

On that point, turning the city into a labyrinth was correct.

But on the other hand, it makes it harder to sense presences far away.

(Given its original purpose…… since this labyrinth emphasizes the randomness of encounters, that’s only natural but……)

I tried to find the silver-haired Forbidden Race member.

The key to this battle is the Forbidden Curses———- the Forbidden Race.

Both I and my clone already have been granted with <Dispel Bubble>.

(T/N: Goddess’ Spell Breaker / Dispel Bubble)

Therefore, for the time being, I can ignore that filthy fly’s Abnormal State Skill.

(Rather, that Skill which <Dispel Bubble> wasn’t effective against……)

Asagi Ikusaba’s Inherent Skill.

That was the truly dangerous power.

It was a power that, astonishingly, could not be stopped by <Dispel Bubble>.

As a result, Wormungandr, who dealt with it, was useful in that sense.

It was also prudent of me to have sent out a clone to that place.

My cautious stance paid off overwhelmingly.

(……Where will they come from? Even though the place is a labyrinth————)

There isn’t only one corridor that leads to this space.

They might launch a surprise attack from the second-floor area.

They might even burst out from a side door.

Having my clone keep watch over my back, I smiled.

[Nevertheless———– how long has it been, Mimori-san?]

I sniffed, letting tears well up.

[Uuu, I’m moved! To think you overcame that harsh trial and actually returned to me…… ah, no, no, it’s fine, you know? You escaped the Disposal Ruins splendidly, so as promised I will give you your freedom. So……]

I put on a smile, turned my palm upward, and extended my hand forward.

[From here on, please, be my guest♪]

I let out a little chuckle.

[But…… really, you must have had such a hard time♪ Driven by vengeance, flitting about everywhere and spreading your filthy wingbeats…… Fufu, what sort of hardships did you endure to get this far? Well, I don’t want to hear about it♪]

I smiled brightly.

[I…… love the pointless efforts of humans♪ Your journey was so selfish, meaningless, and wasteful. Moreover…… Umm, don’t you feel embarrassed at all? Opting directly for revenge these days…… you’re not a child. In the first place, weren’t you discarded because of your own fault……? Right? It’s nothing but the result of personal responsibility, yet you inflate this victim mentality inside you and, in the end, take out your frustration on others with unreasonable rage…… honestly, spare me from that……]

Letting out a sigh, I slowly shake my head.

[Dragging so many people into your selfishness…… Aren’t you, in a roundabout way, just stupid? Do you even know the concept of shame? Ahh~~ so childish…… From an adult’s viewpoint, it’s almost pitiful how immature you are. I’m the one suffering from your misplaced revenge, you know? Haahh…… Playing like you’re the victim, but have you ever even once considered how harmful you are……? Ah, that’s my personal opinion, so just accept it quietly, okay? You trying to argue is just disgusting. If you have any opinions, digest them inside yourself. The very fact you think you have the right to speak is annoying. Also, don’t assume everyone will hang on your every word.]

My eyes narrowing slightly, I tilted my head a little.

[Ara? Are you maybe angry~~? Hey? Angry at God, perhaps? Do you hate me? Fufufu…… If you want to hate someone, you should resent the filthy parents who bore you. Ufufu~~…… Ahh~~ you’re Seras Ashrain, right? It’s actually surprisingly our first time meeting in person, isn’t it~~♪ How wonderful♪ Nice to meet you~~ I’m Goddess Vysis♪ I’m God~~ Worship me~~]

[……………………]

Seras gives no response; she stares at me in a battle-ready stance.

[Ara ara~~? Could it be you’re angry too? Ehh, that’s troublesome…… Wasn’t it Bakuos who invaded the Kingdom of Neia? Even though neither I nor Alion have anything to do with that~~ How mean~~]

Even though it was but a tiny movement……

Seras bites the corner of her thin lip.

(……Fufu.) Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet

So I can at least provoke some reaction.

(My oh my…… She’s desperately suppressing her emotions so as not to react, that’s adorably pathetic. Though it seemed she reacted more to what I said to Mimori———- this lust-struck, ugly elf. However……)

I flick my gaze toward the Fly King floating in the dim gloom.

(The Fly King’s legend…… the later-stage attire that appears near the end……)

I consider whether to feel things out and send out a clone.

[……………………]

From the Ars fight and the Wormungandr fight, I estimated the approximate range of the Forbidden Curse.

(Estimating conservatively……)

The Forbidden Curse’s range is roughly a little over 20 reters (meters).

If I keep that spacing in mind and move accordingly, there should be no problem.

(Fortunately, in this place……)

It’s easy to maintain the spacing equal to the range.

If I don’t divert my attention, I can probably respond to ambushes from shadows.

At this distance, presence detection should work.

If they approach, I’ll know.

(As for his Abnormal State Skill, it’s about 20 reters———- or slightly less…… No, however, maybe he didn’t reveal all his cards. For example, that Skill that froze Ars……)

Different Skills may have different ranges.

(Tsk…… Freaking Asagi. I have a feeling that vixen didn’t tell me every single one of Mimori’s Skill details…… No, maybe I should forget the info about Mimori’s Abnormal State Skill that I got from her for now……)

There’s even a possibility she mixed in lies.

More to the point, how much did Mimori actually trust Asagi?

If that man had anticipated Asagi’s betrayal, then———

(Asagi could have been fed false information by Mimori, which I would indirectly learn……)

————They might be planning something that uses that false info.

Right.

I must not fight on the opponent’s terms.

I should trust only the information my own eyes, thoughts, and senses give me.

Everything else———- distrust.

(Also, in any case, as long as the Forbidden Curse doesn’t get through, the Abnormal State Skill can be neutralized…… I don’t need to waste cognitive bandwidth on his Abnormal State Skill right now. So what I should be most wary of is, after all, the Forbidden Curse……)

I spread my hands.

My right arm had already been reshaped into a blade.

[Miiiimoooooriiii-saaan!? I’m saying let’s talk~~? Are you really such a mannerless scum~~? Oiiiii~~? Caaaaan youuuuu heeeeeear meeeee~~?]

[……………………]

(———, ……Tsk)

Touka Mimori.

(Still not returning a single word……? This insolent brat……)

There must be intense hatred directed at me.

Without that abnormal obsession, he couldn’t have undertaken such a revenge trip.

He’s finally reunited with the “me” he sought so desperately————

(I’d expect him to spit out words of misplaced determination…… a trashy litany of grievances, vile curses like dust——– or even a long howl, of course…… so why is he so calm……?)

He was all talk and swagger in the Ars fight and the Wormungandr fight.

He certainly did have the posture of a strong person.

(……What is he thinking?)

There’s no sign he intends to move from that spot.

Mimori……

Why is he so silent?

<Author’s Notes>

The next chapter will be updated tomorrow, September 19th (Friday), around 9:00 PM.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep