Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 180

Chapter 180. Breaking Fingers (4)

It felt like my body was sinking.

Cold, heavy, and dark.

A pitch-black space where not even an inch ahead can be seen.

In a situation where I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed... I felt sothing faintly.

Black, sticky...

That alien feeling was so distinct and deeply dark that nothing else could be recalled.

As I felt it more, it seed like my mind was being worn away.

Pain spreading widely throughout my body.

Simultaneously, a sickening feeling as if sothing was kneading my brain.

The mont that unpleasantness enveloped my entire body, I instinctively realized what this "darkness" was.

'Demon God Barbatos.'

The root of all evil existing in 〈Kill the Demon King〉.

The Demon God, who left behind only residual thoughts after death, had personally co to see 'Yulian', who possesses the 〈Demon King's Vessel〉 Trait.

Was it to ensure the safety of a vessel that can beco a 'Demon King'?

'No.'

The Demon God's 'residual thoughts' before

didn't co just to check my condition.

Chomp──!

What erged from the black sphere was a pale, grotesque hand.

It was similar to that of a 'demon', and it began to squeeze my neck with intent.

With the intention of killing .

'Gah, gaahhh...!'

Damn it.

The system interfered so much during the battle with Claude.

Why is it trying to kill a 'Demon King's Vessel' trait possessor, like Yulian, so intensely?

'Am I feared?'

Maybe.

Right now, I am soone borrowing 'Yulian's' body.

Whether or not the Demon God understands who I am, the guy and I can resonate with each other, so.

'He must know.'

The existence known as 'Yi Shihu', unknown to others.

A being possessing an anomaly capable of shattering his own 'Boundless' vessel and other vessels simultaneously.

Sotis I pondered.

Why did I enter 〈Kill the Demon King〉 and possess Yulian, causing this chaos?

And what is the system that appears whimsically from ti to ti?

Demon God Barbatos.

'Yes, perhaps... Or perhaps sothing created by the Demon God's residual thoughts...'

Also, the interference in the battle against Claude, in that desperate mont.

'Because I might break all your vessel.'

... That's the reason, isn't it?

The bastard was afraid.

Afraid of a scenario where all vessels are shattered, and he can no longer be resurrected.

'Don't worry.'

According to your expectations.

'I will break them all.'

The residual thoughts of 'Demon God Barbatos' that were choking my neck.

As if reading my thoughts, the color of 'Fear' began to appear over what seed to be its head.

Seeing that assured .

Why this thing was so anxious to kill .

Claude also possesses the 〈Demon King's Vessel〉 Trait.

If 'vessels' collide, one of them is bound to break first.

'Argh, argggh.......'

Did I make a mistake?

Perhaps I provoked it too much.

Though the purple flickered continually, the grip of the 'Demon' hand grew stronger.

Wait, hold on!

Upon reconsideration, maybe breaking them halfway is the course...!

Crack──!

At that mont, cracks began to appear in the Demon's 'hand'.

Shaaa─!

A small golden light grew larger and approached the residual thought.

The mont it touched the light, the hand that was choking my neck began to shatter.

'What's this?'

A different alien sensation from the 'Demon's hand.'

Yet, sowhat familiar energy was felt.

'... Milena?'

Yulian's mother.

Before, I had sensed her energy through relics and rembrances from her, and I felt it in that 'golden' light.

And then, as though it had done its job, it started to scatter.

Huh? It seems like I'm hearing sothing.

- 'I'm sorry, Yulian. This is the only way for you to live.'

===

?? The Trait, 〈Demon King's Vessel〉 has disappeared.

?? A new Trait 〈True Vessel〉 has been acquired.

===

I almost responded to the lingering voice saying 'I am not Yulian.'

As my view blinked out, the dark scenery of the archipelago ca into sight.

Shwoooosh──!

Rain was falling.

The cold touch of the rain began to hit my body, and simultaneously, I felt my body temperature plumt rapidly.

"Huh, huh... Ugh."

It wasn't because of the rain.

It felt like all the blood had drained from my body.

Due to excessive bleeding, my body was dying, hence the cold was felt.

Damn it all...!

I cursed silently, starting to chew over my flickering mories one by one.

***

"Say it again. You damned bastard."

In Karina's eyes, fierce anger began to ignite.

Seeing that, Claude inwardly clicked his tongue.

'Still young. Or perhaps, befitting the youngest knight commander?'

The youngest commander in the history of the 'Branded Knights', a group comprised only of troubleso knights.

He'd heard the rumors.

Skill-wise, there were no issues, but they were ones flawed in moral areas.

A knight order composed of such individuals was the 'Branded Knights'.

And the leader of that order was this young girl.

"I said what I said. The guy died by my hand."

"Bullshit!"

Spewing curses, Karina drew the sword from her waist.

The distance between them was... At least 6 ters, but Karina swung her drawn sword.

Tick, tick, tick!

With chanical sounds, the sword extended.

Her sword, which elongated like a whip, flicked its fangs like a snake, lunging at Claude.

'A Whip Sword!?'

This is troubleso.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Claude deflected the Whip Sword that lunged at him.

Clang──!

As his 'Dark Star Iron Sword' rebounded the Whip Sword, sparks flew mid-air. He knew that closing the gap with Karina would gain him an advantageous position, but.

'She must be aware of the disadvantage.'

Claude didn't unnecessarily rush at the gap Karina showed.

"Sorry, but I'm busy right now. I shall cut off your breath next ti we et."

Exposing unabashed disdain for the knight, Claude took a step back.

Imdiately, Dantes, who was trembling beside him, revealed himself.

"What the hell, are you running away? Fight like a man!"

"Follow . The secret path is safe."

"Hey! Can't you hear !?"

Just as Karina was about to swing the Whip Sword once more, a centipede with a tallic, thick shell ambushed her from behind.

"Oh, you're...!"

Karina, who had swung the Whip Sword to attack Claude, retracted it and avoided the centipede's attack.

Watching her, Claude spoke indifferently.

"Locust, clean up and follow."

"... Yes, boss."

Rustle, rustle.

Leaving behind Karina, who was trembling with fury as she glared at him, Claude led Dantes away.

The current priority was to guide Dantes to the Federation.

At the sa ti, he needed to carve a path for his asylum to the Federation.

There was no reason to get bogged down here unnecessarily.

"W-where is... this?"

"It's a cetery on the outskirts of the archipelago. Consider yourself lucky; without , you might have been buried here."

Since life and death were at stake, there were no formalities.

Shwoooosh──!

Drenched and contorted in pouring rain, Dantes's expression crumpled and turned pale.

The thick darkness seed welcoming neither to them nor to the rain.

Claude, attempting to lighten the mood, tossed an indifferent joke, but Dantes only quivered his lips without much reaction.

Eyes soaked with fear.

The cause of which was unknown, but there was no reason to inquire.

"Shall we? Did you prepare a ans to travel to the Federation?"

"Y-yes... South of the archipelago... I've arranged a carriage there."

"Well then, let's head that way. I can collect my reward for this endeavor in that carriage, right?"

"Yes, indeed. As long as we make it safely..."

Dantes, speaking in a weary tone, started making his way through the rain with Claude following close behind.

As they descended from the cetery and passed through the slums heading south, Dantes suddenly halted.

"What's wrong all of a sudden?"

"... Lazlot."

Lazlot?

As an incomprehensible na ca from Dantes's mouth, Claude expressed skepticism.

From the sound of it, it seed like a person's na.

Looking closely, a boy not yet an adult stood under a streetlight through the rain.

Seeming to lure them.

"We can't let him go!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Lazlot, if that perceptive guy is here, he might know roughly what's happening. If a report reaches the High Pontiff now..."

The High Pontiff? Is this about the Dawn Society?

If that's the case, that boy is likely affiliated with the Dawn Society.

"He's escaping!"

With Dantes's urgent voice, the boy nad 'Lazlot' ducked into a nearby alley.

We must catch him!

Shouting that, Dantes swiftly dashed towards where Lazlot fled.

'...... Tsk.'

In the continuously pouring rain and chilling weather, Claude felt an inexplicable sense of unease creep up.

Confronting Yulian had gone well, but sothing kept being off.

Like the world's flow was misplaced.

As if he shouldn't be here.

Feeling as if he was defying so great fate, Claude's mind grew complicated.

'What did I miss?'

You didn't miss anything.

The duplicitous knights.

The nobles who enforced such customs.

And the royal family.

Sohow, destabilizing them is what needs to be done now.

'...... Even if it ans killing a child like during the royal incident?'

Just as a doubt surfaced in his mind, his random thoughts were washed away rapidly as though rinsed by the rain.

'What now?'

Placing his hand on the hilt at his waist, Claude chased after Dantes and Lazlot.

Clacky's Corner:

It seems author-nim got tired of writing the whole title of the ga, so he used abbreviation 〈??·??·??〉 instead of 〈???????? ?????? ????????〉.

〈??·??·??〉 -〉 Kill the Demon King

〈???????? ?????? ????????〉 -〉 Let's Kill the Demon King Now

Also, I hope Lazlot doesn't die here. I don't like unnecessary deaths. :(