A few minutes earlier, on the ground.

Crunch!

The magic that had bound Helnaim shattered.

Neril quickly formed hand signs like lightning, preparing her Disintegration magic.

But Helnaim, as if venting all its pent-up rage from being restrained, leapt into the air like a flea.

“Damn, how can it jump that high?!”

Offense aimed the dagger laced with neurotoxin at the creature.

But the monster hopped from rooftop to rooftop, constantly changing position.

Screeeeech!

And every time it landed, it spat some sort of green liquid from its mouth.

No one knew what it was, but it clearly wasn’t something you wanted to get hit by.

“Seniv! Mebenari!”

Just then, Lisel shouted.

The green liquid slammed repeatedly into something invisible.

Splash! Splash!

With each impact, water splashed everywhere.

“What did you do?”

“The water spirits blocked it.”

“Ah… so they’re dead now. Sorry.”

“What? Why are you killing them off on your own? I just had them change their form into water, that’s all.”

Neril didn’t really get it, but nodded like she did.

“Anyway, with it moving around like that, can you really land a hit with the dagger?”

It was directed at Offense, but he didn’t reply.

Instead, a white sigil lit up on Adwin’s arm.

It was boosting Offense’s concentration to the limit.

‘That bug always closes in on us just a bit when it attacks.’

Its green liquid must have a range limit.

If so, then the roof it will use for the next attack will probably be…

His eyes locked on a red roof two blocks away.

That spot offered the shortest distance and the best angle for attacking them.

The bug jumped.

It was about the size of a three-story building…

‘That’s close enough. If only I could focus like this all the time.’

Whoosh!

Offense threw the dagger.

Helnaim instinctively shut its eyelid.

But—

“Venatel!”

At Lisel’s shout, its eye was forcefully pried open.

Thunk!

Screeeeech!

The creature tried to thrash.

But its entire body went numb and refused to move.

It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing it from the inside.

As it writhed in agony, Neril shouted,

“Disintegrate!”

An invisible spear flew toward Helnaim.

Paralyzed by the neurotoxin, it couldn’t dodge the Disintegration magic.

SSSSHHHHH!

From where the spear struck, the bug began dissolving.

Normally, Helnaim was set to self-destruct as a last resort.

But the Disintegration left no time for that, everything simply vanished.

With one final scream, Helnaim disappeared completely.

As if it had never existed at all.

“Whew. That went better than expected.”

“You were amazing, as always.”

“You were surprisingly good, too.”

“Not sure if I should say thanks to that.”

Adwin and Lisel walked over.

Lisel wiped her brow and said,

“Offense, you were surprisingly good.”

“Did you all agree to say that?”

“But why does it feel like it’s gotten darker?”

Adwin looked up at the sky.

Something was indeed blocking the sun.

To be precise, a giant figure.

“Wh-What is that?! I was too distracted with Helnaim to notice.”

“It’s Mide.”

“I meant, what is that giant?!”

“How can you see the giant but not Mide? He’s right there, fighting it alone.”

“I thought your eyesight was terrible so how can you see that?”

Lisel spoke up…

“Shouldn’t we help?”

“No need. Look.”

Mide was using some outlandish technique.

It wasn’t unfamiliar to Neril.

A sword barrier.

But this wasn’t the same as what she had seen before.

The speed and number of strikes were on a whole other level.

“Mide really is incredible. Even now, I’m surprised.”

“Feels like he gets stronger every time we watch him.”

“So cool.”

“What?”

“Did I say something?”

At that moment, Mide shattered the giant’s hammer with an unbelievable technique.

The giant split open its chest.

From this angle it was hard to see, but Mide appeared to be lowering his sword and talking to someone.

Neril tilted her head.

“He looks… startled?”

“Wait, you can see that? Incredible.”

“I should go check.”

Just then, Xenia and Serein’s voices rang out in unison.

“Thus we proclaim before You: manifest the divine providence that returns all things to where they belong! Except for Ophelia and Mide, please!”

“If you touch them too, I will kill you.”

What kind of prayer was that?

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the Grand Purification rain down.

The one surprised this time was Lepia.

[That’s Grand Purification. Someone’s casting it on this land!]

‘Not just someone, but my companions. Xenia and Serein.’

[Ah… how unfortunate.]

I tilted my head.

‘Unfortunate?’

[Grand Purification always demands a price. Even Otix, who was in my party, couldn’t cast it lightly.]

‘It’s fine. We have accounted for that.’

[Huh?]

‘Neril refined the Demon King’s Gem into something new. We now call it the “Branch of Corruption.”’

The Branch of Corruption, developed after intensive research by Neril and Beyond, changes the nature of things.

Even a spell that must demand a price can be turned into one that doesn’t.

‘I didn’t get to see it in action back at Hasphil, since I was fighting Kaeld at the time.’

I hadn’t realized purification could be this beautiful.

[You really are something else, Mide.]

‘Hm?’

[You created that miraculous item just to stop your companions from paying the price. I couldn’t bring myself to do the same for Otix.]

‘There was no Demon King’s Gem in your time, Lepia. And it was Neril who both researched and crafted it. I only watched.’

[Hehe. But I bet Neril did it because you wanted it. You are already a far greater Hero than I ever was.]

I scratched my head.

The light of purification reached the giant.

Then, as if it had all been a lie, the giant began to vanish.

Screeeech… screeeee…

It staggered forward.

But before it could even fall to the ground, it faded into black smoke and disappeared.

‘Wait, hold on. That light mustn’t touch Ophelia.’

But it was just a needless worry.

As if it knew my concern, the light elegantly avoided Ophelia.

It avoided me too.

Most likely, Neril wanted to ensure the fake Hero’s sword I carried wouldn’t be melted by the purification.

‘Neril… You are amazing. You really are the best.’

To take initiative without even being told.

I was sure the one who came up with the Grand Purification plan had also been Neril.

[How can you be so sure?]

‘Who else could be so precise and wise? It has to be Neril. She’s truly the Saint of Compulsion.’ For more chapters visit novel·fire·net

[Heh. You have come far. Didn’t you used to call her “old lady”?]

‘Who would say something so rude?’

I turned to Ophelia.

Since the purification hadn’t touched her, she still wore the face of an old woman.

But in her wide, round eyes, I saw the faint remnants of her original self.

“H-Huh?”

“You’re back. The Purification severed your link to the Demon King.”

Of course, once the purification ended, Idria could try tampering with her body again.

That would mean another wave of bug disasters.

‘Guess there’s no avoiding it. We will have to keep her somewhere else for now.’

But no need to bring up such gloomy matters here.

Ophelia asked…

“What… what happened?”

“Your friend put in quite a bit of effort.”

“Xenia?”

“Yes.”

For some reason, I thought I heard Serein yelling “Me too!” in the distance, but I casually ignored it.

“Now, it’s all over… is what I’d like to say, but honestly, it’s not.”

“Judging by how wrinkly my hands are, I figured as much.”

“Don’t worry too much. I plan to defeat the Demon King and return your soul to its original body. And luckily, we have got an excellent necromancer in the party.”

Her eyes trembled slightly.

“Do you really think it will go that smoothly?”

“Not if I were alone. But with the party members who have fought so hard down there, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

“…Yeah. You’re right. With your group…”

“Then could you go ahead and faint for me?”

Ophelia gave a gentle smile and closed her eyes.

I lightly struck the back of her neck.

Thud.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, she collapsed into my arms.

I held her and descended to the ground.

Everything down there was already over.

There were traces of Helnaim’s rampage and some injured people here and there, but the disaster Idria had intended to unleash never occurred.

[The townspeople look unharmed too.]

‘Yeah. The Grand Purification must have killed the worms inside their heads.’

Still, my party really is amazing.

Before the regression, we struggled not only against Teranaim but also Helnaim.

But judging by the cheerful faces waving at me from below, this time must not have been so hard.

Compared to before the regression, everyone’s become incomparably stronger.

That’s when Lepia spoke.

[What a wonderful party. I can see that they trust you, and you trust them too.]

‘Isn’t that just how a hero’s party should be? I’m sure it was the same for you.’

[Heh. Maybe not in skill, but in that at least, I won’t admit defeat.]

‘You are not behind in skill either.’

[You are good at jokes now too.]

Lepia’s voice lowered slightly.

[I heard everything the Demon King said. About the Celestial God not sending an oracle, and about the identity of the soul beside you.]

‘……’

[May I call you Sir Bion?]

Trail immediately responded.

[Please call me Trail. And the Celestial God will send an oracle to Mide.]

[Doesn’t seem like Mide believes that, though. Great senior.]

[……]

[I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. Just… right now, please listen to your partner more than the Celestial God.]

Trail stayed silent for a long while.

My heart was beating wildly.

Even when I was face-to-face with the Demon King, I wasn’t this nervous.

I must really want something from him.

The recognition of this guy, Trail.

Eventually, Trail spoke.

[Sigh… well, if it’s Mide saying it, I can’t not believe him. Damn it.]

I usually keep a straight face, but this time, the corner of my mouth twitched.

Lepia spoke in a soft, warm voice.

[Feeling good, are you, Mide?]

‘N-No, ahem.’

[This world seems to be full of secrets I never imagined. The road ahead will be rough.]

‘I will be fine, as long as I have my party. And… this guy too.’

This time, Trail let out a faint cough.

Lepia spoke gently.

[I will ask Adwin to return me now. Suddenly, I really miss my old companions.]

Lepia’s voice faded.

At the same time, cheers rang out from the territory, loud enough to shake the earth.

“Wooooah! It’s the Hero!”

“The Hero took down that giant!”

“The Hero is greater than Lord Kaeld…!”

“Shut up, read the room!”

“Sob… Hero… Thank you so much.”

That kind of thing.

Thud.

After landing on the ground, I handed Ophelia over to Xenia.

Tears welled up in Xenia’s eyes as she held her friend close.

“Ophelia…”

“She’s just unconscious. You should worry about yourself first.”

Their faces were red with heat, likely a side effect from the purification ritual.

Even if the Corrupted Branch prevented the usual cost of Purification, it still put a massive strain on the body.

But Xenia shook her head firmly.

“We are fine. It’s our second time now, so we’re getting used to it.”

“I’m not fine, though.”

“Serein says she’s fine too. Mr. Mide, what do we do now?”

“So this is how Offense always feels. I need to reflect.”

I thought for a moment, then replied.

“We will stick to the original plan. Let’s head back to the count’s estate. I should at least meet with David.”

But Xenia shook her head.

“There’s something you need to do first.”

“Huh?”

“Go over there. You need to claim your fame.”

“Hey. In this situation…”

“Mr. Mide.”

Xenia cut me off, firm and clear.

“I have to see you truly become a Hero.”

“……”

“That’s the only way we’ll defeat the Demon King and free Ophelia from her power.”

My nose stung with emotion.

Pat.

Neril gave me a light smack on the back.

“Yeah, go on. Hurry up.”

“…No. I’m not going.”

“Mide.”

“I mean I’m not going alone. All of you, come with me.”

The party’s eyes widened.

I dragged them along toward the townspeople.

As I got closer, the cheers grew deafening.

“It’s the Hero!”

“Hero, we’re so sorry!”

“What Mide has done is a miracle. Even greater than Lord Kaeld!”

Whoosh.

I raised my hand.

The noise vanished like magic.

And then I shouted.

“Everyone, Dronoar territory has suffered many nightmares.”

“……”

“But now, you no longer have to worry. The nightmare is over, and a new morning has come.”

“Ooooh…”

“I will go and slay the Demon King, so that nothing like this ever happens again!”

Murmur murmur.

The people exchanged looks and whispered among themselves.

As I watched them, I gathered my thoughts.

There was one thing I now understood.

The oracle will not descend.

More precisely, a fake oracle will descend.

And that oracle will be tailored to Idria’s narrative which will be full of lies.

So, I have two tasks.

One: Reveal the Demon King’s true name, and expose Kaeld as his puppet.

I need to build up defenses before Idria’s fake oracle arrives.

And the other…

I need to receive the real oracle.

Even if I have to grab the Celestial God by the collar and force it down.

Read advance chapter on Patreon. Click here.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep