Chapter 190

CHAPTER 112 Intersection of the Ex–Demon Lord and the Scholar God If a being of absolute power existed in this world… …he could transcend all creation and control all other beings at will. If such a being existed… …could friendship ever be born between such a powerful being and the weak? Could the bonds that took root between them ever be called genuine? The curtain rose on the final chapter at this question. Mephisto Yuu Phegor, my nemesis and eternal enemy. The most powerful and most malicious of the Evil Gods. He hurled his question at me. Mephisto had turned all my friends into enemies, and it broke my heart. He hounded and tormented me until the moment his words broke me, and I accepted defeat. But just before I gave in, a faint burst of light flipped the situation on its head. “Remember what you told me once? ‘Don’t insult my friends,’ you said. Well, right back at ya. You shouldn’t care what anyone else says or does, as long as the friendship in your heart is genuine. Can you seriously not understand something that simple? You moron!” Elzard, the Frenzied King of Dragons. Long ago, we were sworn enemies who tried to kill each other, but she’d come to my rescue. However, she wasn’t my only savior. “Was this all part of your calculations, too, Ard Meteor?” Alvarto Egzex. The man of unrivaled might who’d served in the Demon Lord’s army when he was at his most powerful. The two of them had evaded Mephisto’s Corruption spell and joined me, and I vowed to myself that I would take down the Evil God and liberate everyone else. Along the way, we rescued Olivia, who’d been made his puppet… …and we showed that devil. We proved to him that our bond was genuine. No matter how he tried to corrupt it, the friendship etched in our souls would never be destroyed. And now… …I’d just given him a second show of proof. “Nnh… A…………Ard? Is that…you…?” Ginny Fin de Salvan. Mephisto’s spell had also corrupted her. She was sent to us as an assassin, but things didn’t go according to that devil’s plan. Her spirit responded to my words and the feelings within them. In the tumult of the battle, she’d regained her sanity. “Ard…what did I do…to you?!” Ginny’s eyes grew wet with tears. She was overwhelmed with intense guilt over her actions. I rested my hands on her shoulders, and with a smile, I said, “It was all our enemy’s doing. Don’t blame yourself, Ginny.” “A-Ard…” I couldn’t stand to see my friend cry, especially if it was because of an enemy. Perhaps sensing this, Ginny wiped her tears and nodded. “Well…that’s one hurdle cleared,” Olivia muttered, folding her arms. She wore her usual sour expression, but I sensed she was deeply relieved. Her tail peacefully swayed back and forth. “I need to apologize to you, too, Lady Olivia. I’m so sorry for what I did!” As Ginny rushed to get the words out, Olivia merely gave her a slight shake of her head. “Um, Ginny? Girrrlie? Where’s my apology?” Elzard asked, eyes narrowed in a glare. “You kind of blasted me out of the sky. Feel any remorse for that?” The grudge really ran deep. I felt the malice oozing from her. However, Ginny only gave Elzard a dubious look, not saying anything. “Huh? What? Why are you looking at me like that? Want me to gouge those eyes out?” “Leave it, lizard brain,” Alvarto interjected with a sigh. “From Ginny Salvan’s perspective, you are still an enemy. Nobody would apologize to a foe. After all you’ve done, you’d think that much would be obvious. I suppose that’s the reptilian brain for you.” “Um, excuse me, but didn’t you orchestrate all of that? Disguising myself as Jessica, kidnapping Ireena, and the fight that followed—you told me to do all that stuff, didn’t you?” “Certainly. But you were the one who did it. So you completely deserve this. Yet you’re so petty that you would try to put all the blame on me. Unfortunately, even my spelling that out for you won’t make a difference. Once a lizard, always a lizard. Explaining anything to a lizard with no concept of morality is a fool’s errand.” “HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! You’re dead.” Elzard swung at Alvarto, who gracefully moved out of the way. As the man who resembled me watched the two, he muttered softly “What a harmonious pair…seriously.” He was Disaster Rogue. Ginny’s face filled with confusion upon seeing the man who was my exact replica. It was an understandable reaction to have, but we didn’t have time to explain it to her at length.