“ORA ORA ORA ORA! Shave it all off!”
“FOOOOOOOO!”
With a series of explosive sounds, four discs burst, and four blocks of ice appear around the Fog Demon King. I tried various things, but freezing seems to be the most effective. Poison was ineffective. As a mercenary, one must not forget the spirit of fairness and honor.
“Ha-ha! How about that! It’s different from the time with the Kuronuri Demon King!”
What I’m doing is similar, but the difference between cheap fire pots, water bags, and military weapons is huge. The shaved Fog Demon King is now only about the same size as me. Well, if it’s only the face that’s as big as my whole body, it’s still huge.
“…Looks like it’s safe.”
And looking at the state of the Demon King, I secretly heave a sigh of relief. My biggest concern was whether the Demon King’s body would regenerate by absorbing the surrounding fog. If so, it would mean that all the fog filling the world was part of the Demon King, and I would have had to fight a losing battle.
Fortunately, the Demon King did not absorb the surrounding fog after the initial moment. Probably the fog that makes up its body and the fog that fills the world are separate things. All that’s left now is to shave off the remaining main body to the very end!
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“Bend! And plunge into the enemy!”
[Order received.]
I kick the ship’s wheel, dodge the now-smaller Fog Demon King’s breath, and charge straight at the Demon King.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“You won’t get me!”
Again, a breath is blown at me, and I throw a disc at it head-on. The red protrusion exploded in between me and the Demon King, and the Demon King’s breath was countered with intense flames. And through such flames, I continued to charge.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“It’s hot! But this is nothing!”
If I had countered with ice, I would have had to change my course to avoid the falling ice. But by enduring the burns and passing through the flames, the distance between me and the Demon King was now only twenty meters. I throw another disc with a red protrusion, and the lower half of the Fog Demon King evaporates and disappears.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“You’re too naive!”
The remaining fog is now only about the size of an ordinary human head. I dodge a white flash of light as a desperate attempt, and I throw a blue protruding disc at the Demon King.
“FOO――”
“…And…”
With a sharp crack, the last of the fog freezes and falls as ice. I sail right under it, and the ice with the Demon King inside lands in my arms.
“Haha, if there had been a hero who could use the ‘Sword of Light’ to clear the fog, it would have been an easy victory… Well, it doesn’t matter. I was worn down quite a bit… but this is the end.”
With a final clench of my hand, the ice shattered with a cracking sound. The Demon King’s power flowed in at that moment, and the surrounding fog slowly disappeared.
“Ah, it’s clearing up quickly, isn’t it? Is this the dawn of a new era of exploration?”
The sea, too deep and foggy for anyone to enter, will now be clear of fog, and it’s not hard to imagine a great commotion all over the world. Pirates like Rebecca and Pierre, who have their own ships and are not bound by authority, will probably rush to seek unknown worlds and treasures.
“Well, that’s their problem. Now, I’ll do what I have to do.”
I used the [Akashic Compass] to find the nearest land and head there. The surrounding fog has already cleared quite a bit, and the visibility is good, the weather is clear. I sail smoothly across the sea and arrive at a small island in about an hour.
The island, probably submerged in fog all the time, has no plants other than moss-like growth on the ground, and no animals or magical beasts, except for some small insects. But all I wanted was a place with solid ground, so this is perfect.
[Engine stop. Going ashore.]
[Thank you for using our services. We would like to propose regular maintenance—]
I quickly pack the ship, which was about to say something else, into the [Stranger’s Box] and as I set foot on the island, I check the sensation under my feet. After firming the slightly spongy ground, I take out the shining silver Sword of Hope.
“……Alright, I can do this.”
Holding the Silver Winged Sword, I check the power swelling within me and mutter to myself. It’s only gone from nine to ten, but there’s apparently a significant difference between one and two digits. Now, I can do it!
“Suuuuuuuu……fuuuuuuuu……”
First, I take a deep breath and then exhale softly and quietly. Closing my eyes and concentrating my consciousness, I let the Demon King’s power flow throughout my body.
Originally, if I had regained even one percent of my strength, I could handle something like the world’s barrier myself. However, my current body is nothing more than a fragile vessel created by God. If I were to exert the Demon King’s power at full strength, even just one percent, the vessel would easily shatter.
Of course, it doesn’t mean I would die. In that case, I would revive as “Demon King Of The End, Endroll” casually travel across the world while retrieving the remaining power, and in the end, the completely revived Demon King of The End would break the closed world and that would be the end.
But I don’t want that. I still want to travel with Tia, and for that, this fragile “human vessel” is essential. Therefore, I must carefully draw out my power.
Only the necessary amount, in the necessary place, at the necessary time. Slowly raising the sword… I open my eyes and swing it down at the same time.
“Take flight, Silver Winged Sword!”
Unlike before, I feel a hard resistance. The swung-down sword digs into an empty space and won’t move any further.
That, indeed, is the resistance of the world. If it were merely going to the past of the same world, it would be easy, and if it were to move to the lateral side of the same world axis, it would have been sufficient… However, going down to one of the spiraling worlds below is literally a movement of an entirely different dimension from what it has been until now
“Uoooooooooo!!!”
The last remaining feather on the Silver Winged Sword slowly burned away from the tip like it’s being consumed. Feeling a sense of urgency, the tip of the sword slowly tears through space…
Bishi!
A nasty noise, and a crack appears in the Silver Winged Sword. If it were a physical wound, it might be repairable by the [Master Smith,] but this sword, formed from the concept of “crossing worlds,” was not a real sword, so it can’t possibly be repaired.
“Just… a little… more!”
With strength and skill, wishes and thoughts, the Silver Winged Sword tore through the fabric of the world. But with only about half the usual cut, the wings finally burn out, and the Silver Winged Sword breaks.
Pakiin!
“Damn it, but—”
I dived headfirst into the imperfectly opened groove. Just as I managed to get through, I was hit with an intense falling sensation.
“The gap between worlds…!”
The Silver Winged Sword, which was nothing more than a concept to break the wall’s of horizontally aligned worlds, must have been insufficient to break the bottom of the worlds stacked vertically. If I continue like this, I’ll fall forever in this dark space without top or bottom, wearing down the flow of time.
But I did not panic. I called out once more to the Silver Winged Sword, with its lost wings and broken blade.
“Last job! I’m counting on you, partner!”
As if responding to my voice, the Silver Winged Sword turned into sparkling silver particles. They gather on my back, and eventually, the skeletal framework of a left wing is formed.
Of course, I can’t fly with just the framework. But that’s not a problem. The necessary feathers are within me from the start!
“Take flight, ‘Fate of the Jade Twin Jade’!”
All of the “Banishment Skills” are but a fraction of the Demon King’s power that has returned to me. Therefore, this is not just the power of my only banishment Skill. The wings that the Elf who came to meet me across worlds brought with her now give birth to jade feathers on my back.
If I flap it, my falling speed accelerates at once. Yes, it’s a fall. I can’t possibly fly freely with just one wing. I’m simply falling headlong towards my one unchanging goal.
Leaving behind countless worlds that shine like stars, I become a jade meteor slashing through the darkness. What awaits me is the world where I had messed up.
“Let’s gooooooooo!!!”
Without slowing down at all, I charge into that world. Blinded by a dazzling flash, as my consciousness returns, I twist my body to catch the deadly blow.
“Eh!?”
“Sorry, that’s the second time… Haa.”
With Burn’s surprised eyes wide open, I grabbed and stopped the holy sword with my bare hand, grinning.
“ORA ORA ORA ORA! Shave it all off!”
“FOOOOOOOO!”
With a series of explosive sounds, four discs burst, and four blocks of ice appear around the Fog Demon King. I tried various things, but freezing seems to be the most effective. Poison was ineffective. As a mercenary, one must not forget the spirit of fairness and honor.
“Ha-ha! How about that! It’s different from the time with the Kuronuri Demon King!”
What I’m doing is similar, but the difference between cheap fire pots, water bags, and military weapons is huge. The shaved Fog Demon King is now only about the same size as me. Well, if it’s only the face that’s as big as my whole body, it’s still huge.
“…Looks like it’s safe.”
And looking at the state of the Demon King, I secretly heave a sigh of relief. My biggest concern was whether the Demon King’s body would regenerate by absorbing the surrounding fog. If so, it would mean that all the fog filling the world was part of the Demon King, and I would have had to fight a losing battle.
Fortunately, the Demon King did not absorb the surrounding fog after the initial moment. Probably the fog that makes up its body and the fog that fills the world are separate things. All that’s left now is to shave off the remaining main body to the very end!
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“Bend! And plunge into the enemy!”
[Order received.]
I kick the ship’s wheel, dodge the now-smaller Fog Demon King’s breath, and charge straight at the Demon King.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“You won’t get me!”
Again, a breath is blown at me, and I throw a disc at it head-on. The red protrusion exploded in between me and the Demon King, and the Demon King’s breath was countered with intense flames. And through such flames, I continued to charge.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“It’s hot! But this is nothing!”
If I had countered with ice, I would have had to change my course to avoid the falling ice. But by enduring the burns and passing through the flames, the distance between me and the Demon King was now only twenty meters. I throw another disc with a red protrusion, and the lower half of the Fog Demon King evaporates and disappears.
“FOOOOOOOO!”
“You’re too naive!”
The remaining fog is now only about the size of an ordinary human head. I dodge a white flash of light as a desperate attempt, and I throw a blue protruding disc at the Demon King.
“FOO――”
“…And…”
With a sharp crack, the last of the fog freezes and falls as ice. I sail right under it, and the ice with the Demon King inside lands in my arms.
“Haha, if there had been a hero who could use the ‘Sword of Light’ to clear the fog, it would have been an easy victory… Well, it doesn’t matter. I was worn down quite a bit… but this is the end.”
With a final clench of my hand, the ice shattered with a cracking sound. The Demon King’s power flowed in at that moment, and the surrounding fog slowly disappeared.
“Ah, it’s clearing up quickly, isn’t it? Is this the dawn of a new era of exploration?”
The sea, too deep and foggy for anyone to enter, will now be clear of fog, and it’s not hard to imagine a great commotion all over the world. Pirates like Rebecca and Pierre, who have their own ships and are not bound by authority, will probably rush to seek unknown worlds and treasures.
“Well, that’s their problem. Now, I’ll do what I have to do.”
I used the [Akashic Compass] to find the nearest land and head there. The surrounding fog has already cleared quite a bit, and the visibility is good, the weather is clear. I sail smoothly across the sea and arrive at a small island in about an hour.
The island, probably submerged in fog all the time, has no plants other than moss-like growth on the ground, and no animals or magical beasts, except for some small insects. But all I wanted was a place with solid ground, so this is perfect.
[Engine stop. Going ashore.]
[Thank you for using our services. We would like to propose regular maintenance—]
I quickly pack the ship, which was about to say something else, into the [Stranger’s Box] and as I set foot on the island, I check the sensation under my feet. After firming the slightly spongy ground, I take out the shining silver Sword of Hope.
“……Alright, I can do this.”
Holding the Silver Winged Sword, I check the power swelling within me and mutter to myself. It’s only gone from nine to ten, but there’s apparently a significant difference between one and two digits. Now, I can do it!
“Suuuuuuuu……fuuuuuuuu……”
First, I take a deep breath and then exhale softly and quietly. Closing my eyes and concentrating my consciousness, I let the Demon King’s power flow throughout my body.
Originally, if I had regained even one percent of my strength, I could handle something like the world’s barrier myself. However, my current body is nothing more than a fragile vessel created by God. If I were to exert the Demon King’s power at full strength, even just one percent, the vessel would easily shatter.
Of course, it doesn’t mean I would die. In that case, I would revive as “Demon King Of The End, Endroll” casually travel across the world while retrieving the remaining power, and in the end, the completely revived Demon King of The End would break the closed world and that would be the end.
But I don’t want that. I still want to travel with Tia, and for that, this fragile “human vessel” is essential. Therefore, I must carefully draw out my power.
Only the necessary amount, in the necessary place, at the necessary time. Slowly raising the sword… I open my eyes and swing it down at the same time.
“Take flight, Silver Winged Sword!”
Unlike before, I feel a hard resistance. The swung-down sword digs into an empty space and won’t move any further.
That, indeed, is the resistance of the world. If it were merely going to the past of the same world, it would be easy, and if it were to move to the lateral side of the same world axis, it would have been sufficient… However, going down to one of the spiraling worlds below is literally a movement of an entirely different dimension from what it has been until now
“Uoooooooooo!!!”
The last remaining feather on the Silver Winged Sword slowly burned away from the tip like it’s being consumed. Feeling a sense of urgency, the tip of the sword slowly tears through space…
Bishi!
A nasty noise, and a crack appears in the Silver Winged Sword. If it were a physical wound, it might be repairable by the [Master Smith,] but this sword, formed from the concept of “crossing worlds,” was not a real sword, so it can’t possibly be repaired.
“Just… a little… more!”
With strength and skill, wishes and thoughts, the Silver Winged Sword tore through the fabric of the world. But with only about half the usual cut, the wings finally burn out, and the Silver Winged Sword breaks.
Pakiin!
“Damn it, but—”
I dived headfirst into the imperfectly opened groove. Just as I managed to get through, I was hit with an intense falling sensation.
“The gap between worlds…!”
The Silver Winged Sword, which was nothing more than a concept to break the wall’s of horizontally aligned worlds, must have been insufficient to break the bottom of the worlds stacked vertically. If I continue like this, I’ll fall forever in this dark space without top or bottom, wearing down the flow of time.
But I did not panic. I called out once more to the Silver Winged Sword, with its lost wings and broken blade.
“Last job! I’m counting on you, partner!”
As if responding to my voice, the Silver Winged Sword turned into sparkling silver particles. They gather on my back, and eventually, the skeletal framework of a left wing is formed.
Of course, I can’t fly with just the framework. But that’s not a problem. The necessary feathers are within me from the start!
“Take flight, ‘Fate of the Jade Twin Jade’!”
All of the “Banishment Skills” are but a fraction of the Demon King’s power that has returned to me. Therefore, this is not just the power of my only banishment Skill. The wings that the Elf who came to meet me across worlds brought with her now give birth to jade feathers on my back.
If I flap it, my falling speed accelerates at once. Yes, it’s a fall. I can’t possibly fly freely with just one wing. I’m simply falling headlong towards my one unchanging goal.
Leaving behind countless worlds that shine like stars, I become a jade meteor slashing through the darkness. What awaits me is the world where I had messed up.
“Let’s gooooooooo!!!”
Without slowing down at all, I charge into that world. Blinded by a dazzling flash, as my consciousness returns, I twist my body to catch the deadly blow.
“Eh!?”
“Sorry, that’s the second time… Haa.”
With Burn’s surprised eyes wide open, I grabbed and stopped the holy sword with my bare hand, grinning.
