In a dark cave, there’s a room with a single girl and a fanatic.

However, hidden in the darkness, bathed in light, there’s also a boy.

“Wh-where did he go!? What’s happening!? Come out!!”

Phu Yen frantically scans the surroundings.

However, he can’t discern the figure of Kai, whom he was fighting just a moment ago.

He was visible, was visible until that moment, but then he suddenly vanished from his sight as if he had melted away.

It was an uncannily similar situation to when he himself entraps his targets.

Indeed, Kai has the power to obstruct recognition.

But that power should be ineffective against opponents weaker than himself.

Even though it should be impossible…

“Impossible… It can’t be!!”

Phu Yen’s shouts echo off the cold walls.

Something glowing, created by that supposedly incompetent girl.

Did she perhaps create a special piece of equipment?

Something even surpassing his own magic power?

If that’s the case…

“S-stop it!! Stop it!!”

Phu Yen swings his sword blindly.

He had never realized that not being able to see could inspire such terror.

His entire body, his eyes, his back, his legs, all tremble in the fear of not knowing when he will be struck.

“Come out! Where are you!?”

The composed Phu Yen from just a moment ago is nowhere to be found.

In his terror of not knowing when he will be struck, he swings his sword.

But there’s no way he can hit anything with just that.

And then…

“Your…”

Kai isn’t lenient enough to overlook that.

“…loss.”

“Gahh!?”

Right after that, Kai appears beneath the flank of Phu Yen, who had swung his sword recklessly. In front of Phu Yen’s eyes, he thrusts a pure white sword into his chest.

Piercing through his heart, breaking through the flesh without any chance for defense, Phu Yen collapses weakly, blood spilling from his mouth.

Kai doesn’t hesitate at all.

It was Kai’s first time killing, but if he hadn’t killed, he would’ve been killed.

It was a life-or-death struggle, and a single misstep could have meant his own death.

If that’s the case, he can’t afford to hesitate.

“I told you; you’ll lose… Well, thanks to her power.”

“Why… Why is this…”

Kai pulls out his sword, wiping off the blood.

Phu Yen weakly kneels, then collapses to the ground from his back, dropping his sword.

Blood spews from his mouth, and his eyes stare blankly at the sky.

“…”

Kai merely looks down at him from above.

He watches the dying figure desperately trying to draw in oxygen.

He listens to the sound of struggling breaths.

By now, Phu Yen’s life is merely a candle in the wind, Kai holds the solid sensation of having killed.

Slowly but surely, the sensation of having killed someone for the first time circulates through Kai’s body.

“Why… What is…”

Phu Yen, on the verge of death, opens his mouth.

Coughing up blood, he desperately strings together words.

“It’s her power. Creating an artifact. I surpassed you with that power.”

(To be precise, only with intelligence)

The reason for Kai’s victory is the artifact created by Aya.

That power only amplified the reflection rate of Kai’s intelligence and enhanced the effect of the mirage.

“Creating an artifact… how did you know that woman had such power?”

“I told you; I can see it.”

Phu Yen looks into Kai’s eyes.

And then he realizes, the golden glow in the depths of those eyes, blazing like fire.

With an expression of surprise, his eyes widen, and he looks at Kai.

“I see, so that’s what it is. Divine favor… that’s what kind of power it is. I wanted to report this to him… what a dangerous power.”

“Right, I gained this power. Tell me too, what is that God? Why do you hate God? What is your purpose?”

“Why hate… We must annihilate God. That is his lifelong wish. A method to destroy the existing world. And I… I must eliminate the Cubes created by the God who whimsically took away the one I loved. That’s my reason to live.”

“What are you…”

Kai grimaces at his words and the expression on Phu Yen’s face.

He thought he was just evil, but it seemed Phu Yen had his own justice.

And then Kai realizes.

The face of Phu Yen, who had a demonic expression just a moment ago, now looked gentle and devout, like a priest.

It wasn’t a mistake or an illusion, his face was truly at peace.

“Heh, you’re still naive, showing such a face to a dying enemy… it’s fine, I’ve been released from the control of God.”

Kai lifts the collapsing Phu Yen, for some reason feeling like he’s about to shed tears.

Just a while ago, he couldn’t comprehend Phu Yen’s words, but now, Phu Yen’s expression was incredibly peaceful.

Checking the status, what was once a state of fanaticism has disappeared and is now replaced by the word ‘dead’.

It seemed that Phu Yen was being controlled somehow.

Yet, from the words that followed, Kai realized that even though Phu Yen was controlled, his sense of justice remained the same.

“Only that person can save the world. I hope that one day, you, a Knight of God, will realize… Amachi-san. It’s informal, but I hope your future belongs only to you, and also…”

Phu Yen clutches the cross necklace hanging from his neck upside down.

He makes the sign of the cross towards Kai.

“…I wish for a future where mankind alone owns its destiny…”

This was a gesture associated with devil worship known as the inverted cross.

Nevertheless, this gesture was as devout as a priests’, and the face that had been so twisted until now was extremely peaceful.

And then, Phu Yen slowly closed his eyes.

“Hey, there are still things I want to ask you! Hey! Hey…”

But there was no response, and Phu Yen drew his final breath just like that.

◇Kai’s perspective

“What was all that…”

I mutter weakly.

This sense of victory is too bitter, too unpleasant.

The guilt of having killed a person and the peaceful face of the man who should’ve been the worst are seared into my mind.

Maybe he was actually a good person.

After he killed so many, nearly getting killed by him, and yet, that dead man’s face was kind enough to make me think that.

I shake my head, trying to forget.

Until the end, I didn’t fully understand what this being who called himself Phu Yen was saying.

But for now, I have to deal with this situation.

I stare at the crimson jewel in my hand.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Type: Item (Artifact)

Title: The Crimson Dragon’s Intellect

Attainment Difficulty: S

Effect：+25% Intelligence Reflection Rate

Explanation:

An item using a crimson dragon’s magic stone and transformed into an artifact.

Nevertheless, due to being an unfinished item, it is unstable.

Time Until Breakdown: 00:00:03

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Three seconds later, the jewel cracks with a click.

Apparently, there’s a time limit.

I’d like to speculate, but there’s no time for that now, because I’m about to lose consciousness.

I put the item in my pocket and headed towards Ryuenji-san.

“I know there’s a lot we need to discuss, but let’s get outside first. I’m about to lose consciousness. I’ll take down the boss in a moment.”

I’m clutching my left arm. The gash on my shoulder is slowly changing color as it bleeds.

“My… my leg…”

I look at Ryuenji-san’s leg.

She’s on her knees, her trembling legs unable to support her enough to stand up.

I don’t have the energy to wait until she can stand.

I kneel down in front of Ryuenji-san.

“Please hold on to me.”

“Eh!?”

“My left arm won’t move because of the wound Phu Yen inflicted. Can you hold on to me, Ryuenji-san? I think I can carry you with just my right hand. Can your arm move?”

“Eh!? Well, it can move, but… Eh!?”

Ryuenji-san’s face is turning red as she panics.

However, we can’t afford to be talking about that now.

If I lose consciousness, she alone won’t be able to conquer the dungeon.

That’s why I urge Ryuenji-san to press against me.

I unintentionally become stern due to the lack of time.

Because losing consciousness here would be equivalent to causing Ryuenji-san’s death.

This is a C-Rank dungeon, not a place where ordinary people can survive.

So,

“Hurry up.”

“O-okay…”

Ryuenji-san, groaning, seemed to give up and clung to me.

Then, I lift her up.

“…Hold on tighter. You’re about to fall.”

“Umm… okay…”

I feel a bit guilty, but I can’t afford to think about that now.

I put away my sword, lift Ryuenji-san up with my right hand and hold her butt.

“Eek!?”

“Please bear with it. Anyway…”

“What is it!?”

“You’re light.”

“!!??”

(Also, her silky hair smells good…)

As a healthy man, it can’t be helped that I would take a sniff.

Ryuenji-san, her face and ears turning red, curls up on my chest.

Although she’s groaning, I stand up without paying any mind.

I ran towards the boss room with her in my arms, open the door, and put her down.

“BUUUMOOOOO!!!”

“I don’t have time for you.”

“BUUUMOOO!?”

I kill the boss in five seconds.

In front of my magic power and Mirage, the C-Rank boss couldn’t even recognize what was happening before it died.

I kneel down on the spot, then lie down and close my eyes.

To be honest, I was at my limit, losing too much blood.

I somehow endured by sheer willpower, but I was so anemic I felt like throwing up, and my shoulder was already numb.

“Haha, why does this always happen to me?”

“Amachi-san!!”

I hear Miss Ryuuzenji calling out to me, but we’re wrapped in particles of light and transported outside.

I lose consciousness as if falling asleep.

The victor of the fierce battle was Kai.

The one defeated was Phu Yen Wen, the bishop of the God-Destruction cult, an enemy of the world.

But this victory was merely the beginning of a great disaster that would soon strike Japan.

But for now, all Kai does is sleep.

As always, after surviving a deadly battle.

Afterword

With that said, for now, we’ll stop here. I’m thinking of catching up to the most recent episodes by publishing two per day. I apologize for the wait.

As of now, I’ve finished revising about 70 chapters, which seems like a good pace.

First, I apologize for the many revisions.

Although this is a free web novel, I have reflected on my greatly insincere attitude towards the readers. As the author, I chose to revise with the intention of finishing it somehow for the people who have been supporting me, rather than ending the web version and only going for publication.

Even so, it can’t be helped if some readers drift away.

Unless I fall ill, I intend to continue publishing until the conclusion, so I hope for your continued support.

See you again in the Temple of Eternity arc!

※Basically, the battle scenes have changed significantly.

Apart from the battle scenes, the basic flow hasn’t changed, so please feel free to skip or re-read anything you notice has changed and enjoy.