The End of Dawn
A cold wind blew through the shallow layers of the cleared forest.
The moonlight in the dark sky was fading and the horizon beyond was beginning to turn white.
On a plain of black earth, after the storm had passed, Christo, disguised as the vampire Duke Godfred Salvatori, was confronted by an unexpected intruder.
"Why are you silent?"
Melvina thrusts her sword at him with a fighting will in her blue eyes.
He doesn't know whether she didn't see the fight that had just taken place or whether she had seen it and was challenging him like this, but it was a reckless act.
After thinking about what to answer, Christo decided to ask a simple question.
"How did you escape from inside the golden walls? I thought I had blocked it up to the ceiling......"
"The area beneath my feet was not turned into gold."
“Are you saying you dug a hole?”
"Not exactly."
Melvina slowly closed the gap.
"After I dug it, I pushed it up with my back and flipped the box over."
"Are you a big bear or something?"
"I'm human."
"Ah, I see……"
In Christo's mind, Melvina was a princess.
Pretty, ladylike, and frail...
(Huh?)
Frail...?
He is attacked by a sudden headache.
He can't seem to think of any episodes where she was that frail, or rather, frail at all.
"Please restore everyone in the [Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation]."
"Restore what?"
"Don't play dumb with me. You have turned so many people into gold. It's a devilish act!"
"That's a cruel thing to say to someone who saved your life."
"You ruthlessly turned the Band of Great Hawk into gold and killed them. Why did you help me and Ulrika-san? Who are you in the first place? Tell me your name!"
"Godfred Salvatori"
"If I remember correctly, Eltharion called you that earlier. I could only hear it faintly because it was underground."
Melvina's eyes twisted.
She lowered her sword slowly and suddenly stepped forward to stab Christo in the neck in a straight line.
Since he was able to read her movements, he used the devil's power of spatial teleportation to move backward.
"Tch, did I miss?"
"Are you a shrew?"
"That's disrespectful."
Melvina readies her sword and quickly closes the distance.
"I’m just a lady!"
"Kuh"
Christo held out the cane in his hand.
A red gemstone is embedded in the top of the cane.
"[Indestructible Black Iron]"
At the same time as he muttered, the red stone pulsated and a smelting reaction was generated from the ground.
As Melvina looked at him in alarm, countless black swords were generated around Christ.
Alchemy [Indestructible Black Iron]
A technique that uses a transmutation circle to create the so-called [Orichalcum].
Orichalcum is said to be an alloy containing copper, but orichalcum created through alchemy is not a fragile metal like copper. As its name suggests, it is a sturdy metal with a black color.
By mixing Orichalcum with titanium, it becomes even stronger and can easily crush dragon scales.
Also, by mixing it with nickel, it will be able to respond to brain waves and can be manipulated at will.
He doesn't have any titanium, but he does have some nickel that Laira shared with him.
When Christo opened his hands, the countless black swords spun around in a single sharp movement, all pointing at Melvina who was standing perfectly still.
Without panicking, Melvina unfastens the pouch on her waist.
" ᛉ ᚲ ᛊ . Deploy, [Northern Flame Wall]!"
"......! [Northern Flame Wall]. The lost magic of the great god of the north."
He squinted his eyes at the rune stones floating around Melvina.
It's a rune stone made from her blood.
While Christo left Melvina alone, she must have been diligently collecting stones and processing them. It was a magical tool, the fruit of an invisible effort.
"Godfred Salvatori"
Melvina also deployed three rune magic [Arrow of Light] while displaying a transparent fighting will.
"The great founder of alchemy. Or is it not the Grand Duke himself, known as a madman who lived for love? How dare you impersonate the name of a hero?"
"I am myself. I was resurrected from within the holy tree to take revenge."
"Late last month, the demon who was defeated by Kat Lou also mentioned Godfred’s name. Are you the same person?"
"No...... it's the wrong person."
"That's a lie."
Melvina said, watching Christo's mouth and eye movements.
"Are you saying that you are the enemy of my beloved brother Setanta Lou?"
"I don't like it when people start talking without permission. I know nothing about it."
"Fire through, [Arrow of Light]"
"[Immortal Gold]"
A ray of white light shot out, but it bounced off the golden wall that Christo had deployed and dissipated in all directions.
Christo's eyes distort as he points his black sword at Melvina, who rushes in at once.
"Don't you have any ears to listen?"
"Shh"
A needle is pulled out of its holder and thrown away.
It is coated with poisonous liquid.
Christo blocked them with [Indestructible Black Iron].
The black iron sword flew around Melvina and attacked her simultaneously from all directions.
"――――! The rune stones!"
(The weak points of the [Northern Flame Wall] are the three rune stones that distort space. If any of these are struck down or disrupted in their arrangement, the distortion of space will disappear.)
"It's over. [Indestructible Black Iron]."
The black sword, which had once been deflected cutting away the rune stones, changed direction once more and again surrounded Melvina from all directions as she tried to escape.
Again, an all-range attack.
It would be impossible for an ordinary warrior to deal with it.
"――――! Haaaaaaaaa!"
Melvina dodged it with a somersault and deflected it with her sword, but when she realized that it wasn't enough, she pulled out the sheath with her left hand and struck it away.
The sword flashes, the black orbit of the sheath, the girl's feet dancing gracefully in the air.
After a dance as beautiful as a performance, Melvina landed.
"......!"
The series of attacks and defenses takes less than a second.
A series of high-pitched metallic clangs sounded, and the black dirt bombarded by the sword that failed to catch the girl bounced off, creating a curtain of wet dirt. Melvina sheathed her sword, stooped low, and slowly circled Christo like a predator. It seems she intends to use the momentum of her sword draw to cut off both sides of his torso with a single blow.
Countless rune stones hovered around her again.
"Ah, I want to hear your name."
"Melvina Lou"
Melvina fires an [Arrow of Light].
Christ floated the sword of [Immortal Gold] and struck it away.
"You're a good one, Melvina. You have done very well."
"Are you trying to curry favor with me? If you don't shut your noisy mouth, I'll have it sewn up right now."
"I don't want to fight here any longer."
"You won't get away with this."
"Do you believe so"
Christo pulsated the Philosopher's Stone, creating a transmutation reaction in the hundreds of square meters of black earth behind him. Melvina's eyes were distorted by a tremendous purple flash.
Aiming for that moment, Christo flew behind her.
Wings sprout from his back.
Violet electricity connects the sky and the ground as he flies far into the night sky.
"――――! Wait!"
"If you can withstand this storm of black swords, then come after me."
"Tch, I won't let you escape...! I'll gouge out your heart, smash out your brain, and use it as a token for my brother. ――Oooooooooohhhhh!"
Creak*―― the muscles in Melvina's right arm swelled.
She was undaunted by the rain of flying black swords, but rather seemed to be thinking only of attacking.
With a devilish intent to kill on her beautiful, pretty face, she recoiled and threw the sword in her right hand.
The iron sword, which shot straight out with a booming and bizarre wind noise, was, however, repelled and redirected by the three [Undefeatable White Silver] swords deployed by Christo.
A few dozen centimeters next to Christo's ear, a deadly projectile attack passed straight through.
"――――!? Ha...?"
"Don't run away!"
Melvina roars, veins floating in her temples, as she strikes away the black sword with both arms.
The moment her arm is cut by a sword, she regenerates the wound and begins smashing the sword with her bare hands.
"Don't run away, you coward!"
"……...!"
"I will definitely cut off your head...!"
Melvina bared her fangs and glared at Setanta's avenger.
In her anger, she smashed ten of the black swords together, her bloodied face contorted as she howled like a ferocious beast.
"I am the one who will kill you! Remember that no matter where you run, there is no place of peace! Tonight, when you shove food into your mouth, when you go to bed and rest, I will be following you everywhere and at all times! Do not forget the wrath of this Melvina Lou for a single moment, until the moment of your death!"
The embodiment of beastliness.
Where has her usual graceful appearance gone?
The person on the ground now was a demon of revenge for the murder of her beloved relative.
With a tremendous sense of intimidation surging up from his back, Christo performs a series of spatial transfers and flees into the night sky.
"Melvina..."
As Christo soars high in the sky, he thinks back to his future wife, who looks like a demon.
He smiled even though his whole body was trembling strangely.
"Ah, that was cool! As expected of my goddess!?"
With white wings fluttering, Christo dashed across the dawn sky.
Christo dived into the sea of clouds and quickly removed his white beard and facial makeup.
Through the white haze, his disguise, burnt to ashes, was blown away.
By that time, Melvina's murderous intent had disappeared, and Christo was able to recover from his confused state of mind.
However, one worry crossed his calm mind.
I hope my true identity hasn't been revealed...
× × ×
Under the sky where Christo had disappeared, a female mage with black side-tail hair was humming a tune as she walked along the western edge of the shallow layer of forest.
Passing further west of the communal sauna of the pioneer village, she emerges onto the road.
The female mage―― Laira once again used a spell to seal the [Philosopher's Stone] on her staff and quickly removed the mud from the soles of her boots.
When everything was finished, she put the top of her staff on her right shoulder and started walking in a good mood.
"Fu, fuu, fun."
(Overall, the trip to the former Soderholm territory was a good one. I met Handsome-kun, and I met Handsome-kun, and I met Handsome-kun.)
All Handsome-kun.
But it can't be helped.
Because she was really happy.
"Fufufu."
Laira stroked her lower abdomen, which was giving off a sweet tingling sensation, with her left hand.
The lewd crest ――it has been given to her.
Now she really is Christopher's s*x slave.
"I look forward to our reunion."
Laira muttered and took out a test tube from her pocket.
Inside was a mass of white particles.
In the middle of the swamp.
This is the body tissue of a Holy Tree mutant collected from the remains of the god of the swamp.
"It seems you were able to successfully collect the mutant's controlling tissue."
A crow that was perched on a thin young tree growing beside the road flaps its wings and flies past Laira.
The crow's eyes were dyed a blood-red color.
"As requested. Also, I have collected tissue from the withered holy tree."
Laira said as she took out another test tube from her waist pouch.
Inside is a dark brown substance that at first glance looks like tree bark.
"As expected... the holy tree has withered."
A voice leaks from the crow's mouth.
"How far should I carry it?"
"Keep going west along the road. Don't get close to the Adventurer's Guild."
"Going in the southwest direction. Okay, okay."
"Laira Almqvist. You did a great job. It seems like the story about the Magic Association having one great agent wasn't a lie."
"Thank you"
"The reward will be transferred to your account right after this. Also, the ticket to the Holy Sword Academy...... that you requested will be yours."
"Seriously? Is it really possible for someone like me to go to a prestigious school attended by young ladies?"
"Isn’t that why you took this request?"
"That's true, but I never thought I'd actually be able to attend. Aha. Thank you, Piercarlo D'Alessio."
"……"
Laira stares at the crow, who suddenly becomes silent.
The crow landed on the female mage's shoulder and resumed speaking slowly.
"How was Christopher?"
"How?"
"Don't play dumb. You killed a few of my crows along the way, didn't you? What were you doing with Christo during that time?"
"Nothing in particular. Even if we were doing something, it's a scene I don't want you to see. You don't want me to see you having homosexual s*x with your blood servant, either."
"He's... my friend."
"Isn’t it a mistake to choose him as the man you’re aiming for next?"
"...You look like you want to die."
"Ah, I was just kidding. I'm sorry."
"Well, it's fine. Anything as long as you get the job done. But don't forget, you are my Bloody Maiden. You know what will happen if you betray me, right?"
"Of course"
"And keep your filthy hands off Christopher. He's mine."
"Yes, yes"
"Also, Yesterday and Tomorrow are heading that way. Give them the sample on the southwest road."
"Yes"
"Now... we can finally start planning."
Laira carefully put the test tube back into the pouch and asked with her usual expressionless expression, the corners of her mouth just curling up.
"How's the progress progress? Is Godfred going to be revived?"
"Add [His Excellency], you lowly being."
"Ah, sorry."
The crow continued.
"The Grand Duke is sleeping in the Kingdom of Yggdrasil. However, he will wake up at the final stage of the plan. First... we will cut down the damned holy tree in the capital."
Laira smiled, showing her white teeth.
"If the holy tree disappears, many people will die, right?"
"You won't die. You will become my flesh and blood and live inside me forever. Without the blessings of the holy tree, humans will be unable to stand against the spirits. ――The age of chaos will come."
"Aha. I like it. I'm thrilled."
"The only thing left to do is eliminate Leopoldo Salvatori, who is getting in the way. ――Laira, you can enjoy your vacation at the Holy Sword Academy for a while. When the time comes, I will contact you again."
"I understand."
The figure of the crow disappears as if melting into the darkness.
The warm morning sun began to hit Laira's back.
(Cut down the holy tree, huh?)
Laira looks down at the pouch silently.
If she hands over the contents to Piercarlo's messenger, his plan will take another step forward.
Humanity is headed for destruction.
Now then, I wonder what is it going to be―― the corners of her mouth lift up.
"…I wonder if the holy tree in the royal capital will wither."
The crow is gone, but she muttered to herself.
Laira thinks of the holy tree that was trying to survive in the swamp by parasitizing an ancient god.
(The holy tree in the swamp had no choice but to be parasitic on the god of the swamp. Then, what is the holy tree in the royal capital parasitic on?)
Spinning her staff and stepping happily.
At the end of the road, a woman with long hair that reached her ankles and a black-skinned vampire were standing quietly, toying with a rune stone.
× × ×
Three days after receiving a shocking death threat from Melvina, Christo returned to the pioneer village with Laranoa and the other swamp expedition team.
Since then――.
After leaving the shallows of the forest, Christo returned to the campsite at the entrance of the swamp and waited for Laranoa and the others, who had fallen asleep due to the shift in time, to wake up again.
Laranoa and the others were very surprised to find that some of their companions, including Laira, had disappeared, and they searched the surrounding area to try to recover their bodies, but in the end, they were unable to find them and decided to resume their exploration towards the center of the swamp.
Although Laira simply escaped, the other missing persons were swallowed whole by the swamp snake and died before Christo and Patricia could retrieve them.
Presumably, the time-stopping barrier was lifted for a limited period of time, during which time they stood in the privy or noticed something unusual and went out to explore the surrounding area.
Once outside of the rune barrier of Christo, when the time stopped again, they would be left unprotected and rolling in the swamp.
From the point of view of the large snake that roamed the swamp, it was a delicious snack that could easily be eaten.
After confirming that the god of the swamp had assimilated with the withered holy tree and died, Christo and the expedition team were forced to retreat after getting some samples and some of the [Wood Women] that were no longer moving.
After that, the trip proceeded without any major obstacles, but because there were so many abnormal situations and people went missing, the retreat was gradual and cautious. So in the end, by the time they left the forest, three days had passed.
"Christopher, Laranoa"
When they returned to the pioneer village and were being provided with a simple meal by the village women who had been waiting, Netzel came from the meadow with several guards.
When the fat Frontier Count arrived in front of the exhausted-looking expedition, he thanked them all, and then turned to Christo and Laranoa again.
"Your Excellency, I'm back now."
"I am extremely happy to see you. Regarding the god of the swamp, there is something I would like to share with you."
Christo began, but before he could do so, Netzel said, [First of all, please listen to me].
What he talked about was the outcome of the peace with Eltharion.
According to him, peace with Eltharion was once concluded.
However, due to the arbitrary actions of the new bishop and the [Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation], the peace agreement came to nothing, and a battle broke out in the forest.
Eltharion disappears, and the Band of Great Hawk is also destroyed.
Half of them turned gold and the other half went mad.
Commander Siegfried, Tiger, and the holy sword maidens died by turning into gold or becoming a holy tree.
Christo had most of the details, but he had been hiding in the swamp for a long time, so he listened to the whole story.
"Those damn mercenaries! What a barbaric act they did! It looks like they were pulling the strings behind the scenes!"
"Well, just before you said you were going to make peace, they didn’t look good."
"However, Your Excellency, even if the rumor spread that the attack was tricked, there would be no one to speak ill of it."
Laranoa says that ruthlessly.
"The one who died was a nameless elf who lived in the northern forest. Monsters are a nuisance, and though there is no one to praise them for their annihilation, there is no one to blame."
"Laranoa-sensei is right. The residents of the pioneer village who know Eltharion may think that he is a person without blood and tears, but..."
While saying this, Christ looked over at the village women who were handing out porridge to the adventurers in the meadow on the other side of the bank.
Of course, Ulrika was not there.
Ulrika's grandmother is nowhere to be seen.
"Your Excellency, what happened to the new bishop?"
"I sent him back, Laranoa. Along with a letter of protest. I never thought that such a barbarian would be sent from the center. It gives me chills to think that he will be in the bishop's seat. I need someone more gentle. I wrote a letter asking them to send it to us. I think Archbishop Eneko will understand.''
"Is that so?"
"Yeah"
"Netzel-sama, what kind of damage has the village suffered?"
"One person is dead and one is missing. Also, the missing person's grandmother hanged herself this morning."
"I see."
Christo closed his eyes.
Netzel let out a heavy sigh.
"She's the only herbalist in the village. The doctor has disappeared from this village. We must contact the Adventurer's Guild and ask them to send someone to the branch who is skilled in the art of medicine."
"I will do it"
"You should rest, Laranoa. You did your best. Thank you."
"But"
"If that's the case, even I can do it. I'll do it."
"Haa"
Netzel waves his hand in an exultant manner, and Laranoa looks at him and asks if it's okay.
If there was a picture that could express the relationship between these two people, it would be this one.
Christo looked around at the two with a slightly nervous look on his face.
"Netzel-sama, have Melvina and Patricia returned to the capital yet?"
"Umu. Yesterday, they returned home with your familiar. Accompanied by a shiny golden boat and a strange horse with horns."
"How was Melvina?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, no. As long as she looks the same as usual, that's fine. Hahaha..."
"――――? What, did you get into a fight?"
"No, it's not like that."
"I see. You have to get along with your wife. I... uh... I guess I'm fine. How did things go?"
He's concerned about Melvina's condition, but he is sure Patricia by her side is controlling her well. Christo decided to forget about his future wife for once.
Together with Laranoa, they reported the whole story of what they experienced in the swamp.
"So, the god of the swamp was a big tree that grew in the swamp?"
"Yes. I couldn't confirm any other god-like existence."
Laranoa continues.
"I think it's something like a giant version of the [Wood Woman], but I don't really know what it is. I think we should tell the Adventurer's Guild and ask them to organize a specialized investigation team."
"Okay. Let's do that too. Well, I'll make a note so I don't forget..."
"I couldn't get the earth magic. I'm sorry, Netzel-sama."
"It can't be helped if the god didn't exist. However, we had made plans in case we couldn't acquire magic. Duke Leopoldo Salvatori replied that he would send us a sample of a new type of wheat. I was able to get in touch with the inventor that Melvina-san contacted. From now on, we will continue to increase agricultural production without relying on magic.''
"Ha..."
As Christo politely kept his eyes down, Netzel turned to him with a smirk on his face.
When he looked up to see what was going on, Netzel proudly opened his mouth.
"That's your first failure, Christo."
"Ha...? I-Is that so?"
"Yes, it was. You're the first person to fail at doing everything as precisely as a golem."
"I'm sorry"
"You don't have to apologize. Everyone makes mistakes."
Netzel smiled happily and clapped Christo on the shoulder.
He handed him the bread and water bottle he had in his hand.
"Sometimes I get scared that you don't seem human. But seeing you fail like this makes me feel at ease. Hahaha, just think of it as some weird old man's nonsense."
"H-haa..."
"I'll continue to rely on you, Christopher. I'll leave the administrative seat open."
Christo had no intention of working for this fat man, although he did not know whether it was a solicitation or flattery. But that was the case, and when he nodded obediently, Netzel smiled even more broadly, perhaps feeling better about the situation. He is a simple man.
After that, Christo and Laranoa had a late dinner and went to bed early that day.
Looking up at the starry sky from the window of the guesthouse in the village, Christo thought about Eltharion and Ulrika, who were probably traveling somewhere by now.
It may not have been the ending he had hoped for, but they had gained some freedom.
Although he had taken everything from them, he hoped that their story would end happily.
(TN: Next arc is in Helson Territory, I'm looking forward to Gwendolyn's development xD)
Ok, so, Laira is who's "servant" or smth?
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