Chapter 187

CHAPTER 111 The Ex–Demon Lord and the Ultimate Ordeal (Part III) On the first day of our school field trip, a midsummer day I shall never forget, we were on our way to Kingsglaive, the royal capital of the ancient world. By the hand of a being who called themselves a god, Ireena, Ginny, and I were sent to the ancient world. We were tasked with fixing the problem that destroyed that era. At the time, we all suspected that the Demon Lord Varvatos—the other me—had something to do with it. But in actuality, while another version of myself orchestrated that ordeal…it wasn’t Varvatos. It was the man standing before Olivia and me now, Disaster Rogue. Everyone present looked stunned. Olivia, Elzard, Alvarto and I—even Mephisto. All eyes went to that man. He wore a tattered school uniform. His face and stature were perfect matches for mine. There were only two differences, the strands of silver in his hair and the hideous scar on his face. While gaping at Disaster Rogue, the question came out almost unconsciously. “Why…? What are you doing here?!” We’d clashed in the ancient world. After accepting defeat, Rogue had returned to his world, the one where everything ended. So why was he here? “After you defeated me…I changed the way I confronted the past,” Rogue said, tracing the scar that ran along his face with a finger. “Something happened when I went back to my world. I’m not sure whether it was a dream or reality, but Lydia appeared. And this is what she said to me: “‘You cannot change the past. However, that is no excuse to give up on resisting the present you face now.’” That really did sound like something Lydia would say. “When we met, you said I just wanted to be saved, and that’s why I’d tried to use Lydia. And…you were right. Death was my only path to salvation. I wanted her to make it happen for me. The thought consumed me. But…” Some other feeling had taken root in him after speaking with Lydia. Rogue put that new emotion into words. “I want to see that future I couldn’t bring about last time. I want to see my friends smile just once more. That’s why…” His eyes went to Olivia, and then he shot a malicious glare at Mephisto. “…I came back to save everyone. In other words…I’ve come here to destroy you, Mephisto Yuu Phegor.” Tremendous fighting spirit burst from Rogue. In the blink of an eye, he was standing before Mephisto. I had no idea how he managed it. Either he’d moved at a speed invisible to the naked eye or he’d cast a spell too quickly for me to register. In either case… …Rogue had grown far more powerful since my last encounter with him. “I worried that all the maddening loneliness I felt over the eons might make me come to think fondly of a bastard like you.” Rogue struck Mephisto before the devil could respond. Mephisto flew into the air, arcing through the sky before landing on the ground. As he watched Mephisto writhe on the stone road, Rogue said, “Honestly, it’s a relief that I still hate you.” His stoic tone terrified me. He’s powerful. Too powerful. Elzard and Alvarto were probably thinking the same thing. They watched him, awestruck. “You…” “Are you really Ard Meteor?” He kept his gaze fixed upon Mephisto but answered them. “No. I abandoned that name long ago.” His voice was calm yet filled with conviction, “Now I am Disaster Rogue.” He’d used the same name when I met him in the ancient world, but it carried a different meaning now. There was a clear glimmer of trust in Rogue’s eyes. Olivia broke her deadlock with me and charged at Rogue. “Die!!!” To her corrupted brain, he was merely another hated enemy who threatened her little brother. This is bad. I don’t care how powerful Rogue is… No, actually, his power is exactly what makes this so dangerous. “I imagine the Bangle of Devouring will work well on him.” Mephisto grinned. He’s right. That bangle sucks all the power from living things in its vicinity, making it the wielder’s own. As such, it doesn’t matter how powerful the enemy is, the bangle will turn the tables. Surely, Rogue knows about that. And yet he didn’t seem troubled. He welcomed Olivia’s approach. “Haaah!!!” Rogue didn’t flinch in the face of Olivia’s attack, but not because he couldn’t move. He chose not to. Olivia’s blade struck his shoulder. Then it stopped. Everyone was dumbstruck. Rogue just sighed and said, “Why are you so shocked? Do you honestly think I didn’t have a trick up my sleeve?” That’s right. He’s another version of me from a desolate future. Knowing what he knows, there’s no way he showed up empty-handed. “I neutralized the bangle’s powers with a Jamming spell. It’s nothing more than a piece of jewelry now.” The claim felt suspect to me, and Mephisto shared that sentiment. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you ensure that no one, not even you, would know how to use it?” “Yeah,” Rogue answered. “After I finished making the Bangle of Devouring, I erased all memories relating to its forging. It seemed the optimal solution after considering all possibilities.” “And you cast an unlockable spell on the bangle, too, right?” “I did.” “So despite knowing nothing about how it’s used, you could still cast a Jamming spell on it?” “Is there a problem?” Rogue’s calm tone made me dizzy. Jamming only worked if the user knew the technique behind the targeted magic object or the spell itself. The more complicated the creation, the more challenging it was to jam it. It’d be a challenge to think of anything more complex than the Bangle of Devouring. Even if Rogue knew how to use it, the Jamming spell would’ve been impossibly difficult to pull off. How had he done it? “It’s not an incredible feat, really. Anyone can do it, given enough time,” Rogue explained calmly, despite his claim being absurd. “Spells boil down to one element, an arrangement of magic words. Jamming spells are no different. Which means you need only try every possible combination to find the right one.” This is crazy. Is this guy really me? Am I really capable of that sort of thing? I stared at him blankly. “All the combinations of magic words… The total’s practically infinite…” “Yeah, I know.” “Let’s say you did try out each combination, you still wouldn’t know which one was correct…” “That’s why I memorized every possible arrangement. The moment I arrived in this world, I cast all the ones I thought it might be. There were about six sextillion.” …This is impossible. I was speechless, and it seemed everyone else was no different. Even Mephisto had fallen silent. Rogue was the only one of us who kept his cool. “Oh, it took a stupid amount of time. Plus, I needed to learn the spell to travel to this world and strengthen myself to make the trip. And when you include the effort required for deducing the bangle Jamming spell, I think it took…6,845,268,703,948,929,756,258,235,697,752 years.” Is this guy really me? Like, really? He makes unbelievable claims like he’s discussing the weather. Rogue’s attention went to Mephisto, “You should be happy. This time, you will get that despair of the unexpected that you’ve been craving.” All for this. He spent an eternity’s worth of time in hell working on this. Any ordinary person subjected to such torture would have lost their dedication long ago. Mephisto’s cheeks flushed, and he smiled like a young maiden in love as he squealed, “Beautiful! You really are the best, my sweetheart!” He was overjoyed. He was enamored. He was enthralled. Awash in Rogue’s ultimate bloodlust, the devil beamed. This sudden change of plans had him radiating vigor. “Well, this changes everything. Now we can—” He likely meant to say “Now we can play to our hearts’ content.” But before he could… “I will never so much as humor the request of a bastard like you.” …a black stake pounded through Mephisto’s body, immediately after Rogue’s quip. Its sharp point plunged into the ground, pinning the devil. Mephisto’s eyes shot wide, and Rogue growled, “Now you’re going to get Olivia back for me.” Imposing one’s will on Mephisto should’ve been impossible, yet Rogue had managed it somehow. “Gee…I wasn’t expecting this.” There was joy in the devil’s eyes. “I can’t use my powers or connect with my true body at the academy. Heh-heh… I think this might be the first time in my life I’ve ever tasted such powerlessness.” The cheer in his beautiful features cut a stark contrast with his mortal peril. The glitter of Mephisto’s smile made it clear that his words were genuine, though. “The rest of this is up to you,” Rogue said. With that, Olivia was blasted away from Rogue by a gust of wind. This was his way of telling me he’d laid out all the pieces for me. Olivia landed and quickly reassumed a battle stance, targeting me this time. “Show me, Ard Meteor,” Rogue called. “Show me the future I envisioned. The ending I couldn’t attain.” His voice and expression made his feelings clear. He was no longer Ard Meteor. “Ard. It’s your job to go to build the future that I couldn’t.” I accepted the will of this failure-turned-survivor to heart. “Come with me. Let’s overcome the impossible together.” My message was meant for Rogue and Olivia both. “Hmph!!!” After a sharp exhale, I charged in. Olivia prepared to meet my attack, her expression warped with anguish. I closed the gap between us in an instant, and my black sword locked with hers. The Bangle of Devouring really has been neutralized… I didn’t feel my powers draining. That I could hold my own in a fight against her was proof of that. While we stared at each other from across our blades, I entreated her, “Remember, Olivia. Remember our relationship. Our bond. Our precious memories together.” I gripped the hilt of my sword harder, and she pushed back in return. Realizing she would lose a contest of strength, Olivia weakened her grip, broke away, and went for my side. She’s trying to make this a contest of skill. Well, bring it on. That’s exactly what I was waiting for. A thousand words won’t move her. “Two hearts communicate much more through the sword.” Olivia herself had told me as much long ago. I threw my entire being into my blade, the vessel of our conversation. Olivia vel Vine had reached the upper limit of confusion. She knew her duty. There was no cause to hesitate. And yet… “Ngh…!” Her body felt heavy. Her arm gripping her sword felt heavy. Her heart felt heavy. “Die!” she cried. Olivia knew she was acting strangely. Her way of fighting wasn’t effective at all. Ordinarily, she would’ve relied entirely on her blade. Yet somehow, she could wield a weapon of the Ten Calamities, thanks to her little brother’s powers. The magnificent abilities of her deceased brethren were available to her, and she ought to use them to save her beloved little brother. What was stopping her? Why did she resist the idea? Olivia didn’t understand. While she was lost in confusion… …the enemy answered for her. “It’s not that you can’t. It’s that deep in your heart, you know that you shouldn’t. You loved your comrades as if they were your kin, and using their powers would be a mistake. Your true consciousness is surely screaming that to you.” The enemy lunged at her. It was a wild movement, which made it easy to judge. If she dodged it faintly, then used the momentum to slash back at him, his head would fly. Olivia could already picture it. Clearly, it was the best option. And yet… …before she could get her limbs to move, she felt a pang in her heart, a sensation that dulled her reaction. Ultimately, she was unable to cut down her enemy. “Tsk!” Parrying her opponent’s blade away from hers, Olivia jumped backward. At seeing her retreat, Olivia’s enemy said, “When I was little, you taught me how to swordfight.” Then he vanished. “When you trained me in offensive slashes, you called me weak and kicked my butt whenever I fell back—just like this.” A pain shot through Olivia’s bottom, and she lost her balance. He’s going to kill me. She knew this was the end. Yet, to her surprise, the enemy didn’t follow through. He forfeited his golden opportunity, choosing to stare at her instead. Are you mocking me? Ordinarily, Olivia would have screamed the words, but she couldn’t. Not to this opponent. Not to this foe. “Nnn…!” She couldn’t manage a single word. “I guess today’s my lucky day. Consider this payback for my childhood.” With a little laugh, Olivia’s enemy lunged at her. She took a defensive stance, but her opponent vanished again. “Your flank defenses are weak.” This time, the kick hit her side, breaking her stance. And just as before, the enemy didn’t follow up with a fatal blow. The pattern repeated over and over. “You telegraph your moves. Your solar plexus is wide open,” he scolded, punching Olivia below the chest. “Don’t obsess over your upper body. Your legs are sitting ducks now.” A foot struck her shin. “This is boring.” His fist slammed into her face. “You bastard!” Olivia was fuming. Anger burned and boiled inside her. However, that feeling did little to stop her opponent. This almost feels like…like the infantile irritation I knew as a little kid, when I was beating up my annoying little brother. Why do I feel this childish emotion…for an enemy? “Are you mad? Listen, Olivia. You were much more ruthless with me when I was a boy. You’d bash my head any chance you got. What did I ever do to you?” Olivia’s enemy shot her a cold look, and something snapped in her mind. “I was just trying to beat some sense into you, you snot-nosed idiot!” For an instant, everything stopped. What…did I just say? Why did I say that? And why did I use words that were clearly not meant for an enemy? That’s the thing a person says…when scolding a younger brother. “Just beating some sense into me, huh? Couldn’t you have been a little gentler? See, that’s why men never approach you. If you don’t fix your rotten personality, you’ll be an old spinster.” Olivia flushed with rage, and her feet moved almost on their own. “I’ll have you know, I had droves of men flocking to me!!!” These words, too, flew out almost unbidden. Suddenly, Olivia’s sword attacks were clean and beautiful, without a hint of hesitation. “Male vassals and servants don’t count, Olivia.” “Well, sorry I don’t meet your standards!” Now she was screaming. As her enemy jumped around to evade, she let it all out. “I had hordes of suitors, starting with the Ten Calamities! I just turned them down so I wouldn’t hurt your feelings! I’m not destined to be an old spinster!!!” “…Uh-huh, okay. Got it. Sorry for ruining your life, I guess.” “How dare you pity meeeeeee!!!!” She was furious. She hated him. And yet…she couldn’t muster the desire to kill him. “And by the way! Are you really one to talk?! I never saw a single lady on your arm!” “Um, excuse me? There were several.” With every stroke of her weapon… “Then tell me their names!!! I want names!” “Freya, Listel, Athena…” “The first and second ones are sorry excuses for women! And as for the third, she was just a product of your pathetic, hopeless romantic fantasy—” “You take that back!!! Athena was real!!!” With every word exchanged… She was changing. Olivia’s true self flowed back into her. Memories returned. And then… “You big idiot!” “You ignorant moron!” …they punched each other in the cheek and flew backward. The enemy soared toward his comrades and Olivia hit the ground by Mephisto. “Gee, that fight looks pretty brutal, Big Sis.” That voice. The sound of it in her brain… “Ungh…!” …hurt. Olivia’s head felt like it was splitting open. “Gg—ahh!” Everything began to fade. A version of herself was changing. Recollections surfaced from a place buried deep. And at the end of it all, Olivia vel Vine… Olivia hung her head. She was utterly spent and beyond exhaustion. The devil grinned at her. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Rogue crossed his arms and heaved an annoyed sigh. “To think you freed a part of her in such a short period …” Unfortunately, Mephisto had put Olivia back under his control already. With a vile smile still on his face, he crooned, “Now, let’s try that one more time for me, okay?” His tone all but bragged that he’d corrupted Olivia again. “You annoying little monster…!” I shouted. “What’s your move, Ard Meteor?” Elzard asked. “Want us to join in?” Elzard and Alvarto hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet. Rogue and I had an idea, though. “Come on, Big Sis, make it quick.” Alvarto and Elzard braced themselves for combat. In contrast, Rogue and I stayed perfectly still and kept our gazes locked on our big sister. “Call my name…one more time,” Olivia said. Mephisto didn’t seem to find the plea especially suspect. “Big Si—” Before the devil could get the words out, Olivia’s head snapped up. “My real little brother never called me that.” She whirled around and swiped her demon blade across Mephisto’s neck. It was an unexpected shock to Elzard and Alvarto, and to Mephisto, whose head had been sent flying. I was the only exception—we were the only exception. “That’s my Olivia. My Dear Sister.” With smiles on our faces, we welcomed her return. “Wow… Today truly is a wonderful day. All these unexpected surprises, just for me…,” Mephisto said cheerily, even as his head rolled on the ground. Even in defeat—or perhaps because of it—the little bastard was overjoyed. Rogue and I stood shoulder to shoulder, eyeing our enemy. “It’s safe to assume we’ve won your little game, right?” “We returned someone you corrupted to normal, without using magic. We achieved the impossible using the power of our bond. We proved it to you.” That was it. That was where all of this began. “Remember what you said back at the academy?” I asked. “You claimed that there were no genuine living beings but you and me in this world.” Mephisto could alter anyone else as he liked; thus, he didn’t consider them to be alive. And if everything around him was lifeless, then he was alone in the universe. And he claimed the same was true of me. His assertion was that love and friendship could only be achieved between transcendent beings because we were unable to corrupt or control each other. That’s why we could create a loving friendship together. I’d been unable to refute this since that first attack at the academy. I’d wanted to show Mephisto that my bonds with my friends were genuine, but I’d failed. I’d been unable to restore my friends and accepted the fate that came from that. But then Elzard rescued me, and Alvarto joined us. And now my convictions are strong. “I was right, my bonds with all my friends are real.” Olivia, back to her true self at last, was the proof. No amount of complaining on Mephisto’s part would change that. “We win, Mephisto Yuu Phegor,” I declared. Hearing this, the devil said, “No, no, no. This is only one instance. It could’ve been a fluke.” He sounded flippant and dismissive. “I mean, I never said this was a competition… I didn’t, right? Yeah, even if I did say that, I don’t remember. So anyway, the farewell game is back on!” Mephisto cackled like a petulant child. I’d expected this response, so it didn’t bother me at all. But Mephisto’s existence still disgusted me. Rogue and I exchanged glances. “Fine. We’ll see you back at school.” “I’m sure you’ll leave all sorts of traps for us along the way.” “But that’s no problem for us in the slightest. We’ll ride this winning streak and crush you until there’s nothing left.” And as a rehearsal for that moment, Rogue and I both raised a foot. “Ha-ha-ha! Well, as a masochist, that actually makes me quite—” But before the devil could finish, Rogue and I crushed his head under our boots.