Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 296

Chapter 296. Delusion (1)

The vision that had blinked white gradually began to darken. A sense of buoyancy wrapped around my entire body, and I couldn't move at all.

'This feels unpleasant.'

My consciousness was clear.

There was sothing discomforting about having a perfectly aware consciousness but unable to move my body.

However, the discomfort didn't last long. As if rising above the surface of water, my mind returned to reality.

"Kuugh...."

My vision ca back.

It was the devastated audience chamber from a mont ago. As my sight returned, an intense pain was the first thing to greet .

Had I been attacked?

No, upon examining my body, there were no injuries. Specifically, there were no wounds that could be called 'fatal'.

'Then what about Eulsis?'

I surveyed the audience chamber. The ti spent talking with 'Milena' had not been short.

During that ti, if Eulsis had targeted my body, there was no way I would be this intact.

'Huh?'

Looking around, I found Eulsis. He was writhing on the floor, his entire body curled up.

― Kiiek... Kek!

Eulsis continued to squirm in pain, and the formidable demonic energy that had surrounded him a mont ago was fading as if it were a lie.

In fact, his 'weakening' was occurring in real-ti.

Eulsis's demonic energy, which had sharpened as he had fully mastered the 'Demon God's Horn', began to fall to a tri-horned. No, even below that.

'... Was this what Milena ant when she said not to worry?'

I could feel the weakening of the power from all the 'Horns of the Demon God' gathered here.

Of course, being the 'Demon God's Horn', it would eventually contain demonic energy again given ti.

'But not for now.'

In other words, 'The Demon King is finished.'

Eulsis, who relied more on the demonic energy contained in the 'Demon God's Horn' than his own combat power, had no ans of resistance left.

― Kyaaak, kraaak!

Screaming in agony, Eulsis looked at .

Even language had faded, and all that was left of what could be called 'humanity' was a scant bit of the body and face.

I didn't know what Milena had done to the 'Demon God's Horn', but thanks to her, it seed not difficult to subdue Eulsis.

'From the start.'

The fact that the Trait 〈True Vessel〉 sensitively reacted to the 'Demon God's Horn' was likely thanks to Milena's prior intervention.

"Hoo."

Catching my breath, I picked up the Moonstone Sword that had fallen beside

and rose from the spot.

― Keeek...!

Seeing

stand up, Eulsis began to back away. It seed he realized there was sothing wrong with his body because there was no sense of fighting spirit about him.

I reached out my hand just in case, to seize the 'Demon God's Horn' as I had before.

===

?? The trait, 〈True Vessel〉 has reached its limits.

?? The 〈True Vessel〉 trait can no longer be used.

===

The system window popped up, and nothing happened.

===

?? The Demon King has lost all power.

?? The 〈New Sword Saint〉 trait can no longer be used.

===

Once again, words popped up. While I was not quite like the 'Demon King', I also felt power draining from my body.

With the Demon King gone, this world no longer needed a 'Sword Saint'. Hence, it was natural for the trait to vanish as well.

'Surprisingly?'

Looking at the gradually disappearing words, I turned my gaze to the sword I held.

My hands were covered in wounds.

Yet, the sword I held, despite the disappearance of the 'New Sword Saint' trait and supposed to be weakening, I felt more adept at wielding it than ever before.

That was probably because,

'The wall has disappeared.'

To suppress the instincts of 'Yulian', I had been using my 'rationality' to the fullest until now.

owever, upon reflecting on Milena's words, I had a thought.

'Was that really necessary?'

It was necessary to curb the insane tendency to kill people indiscriminately.

But, not all instincts should be denied.

I am who I am. 'Yulian' is also .

Clench──!

When I applied force to the hand gripping the Moonstone Sword, the sword's blade began to emit a gentle glow.

Of all the colors I had seen in aura, it was the closest to moonlight.

― Kyaaaah!

Upon seeing that light, Eulsis assud a stance as if to lunge at .

But, I was certain that such an attack wouldn't co to pass. The 'Color of Negativity' visible above his head was too vivid.

"It's ti to put an end to this."

Uttering these words with a sigh, I took a step forward.

Even though the demons created by the 'Demon God's Horn' still remained, with their leader's power lost, they lacked any form of control.

"I don't know what has happened, but it seems to be an opportunity."

Watching the hesitant demons, Kaldrach spoke while staunching his wounds.

With his words left behind, I continued advancing toward Eulsis. The closer I got, the more he retreated until the wall of the audience chamber blocked his back.

― Krrr...

The Demon King, no, not a Demon King anymore.

Anyway, he was weak.

By ending his life, the chaos in the palace could be quelled.

"Die quickly...!"

Clang──!

A loud noise resounded from the window of the audience chamber.

A window made of stained glass, installed high so as not to allow for the Emperor's assassination.

That window shattered to pieces as soone entered.

"Y-you crazy woman...! Is that the only way to fight in the North!?"

The one who ca in after breaking the window was Abigail.

Covered in wounds and tattered clothing, her appearance caked with dirt was nothing short of a ss.

Having always dressed elegantly with the Emperor's favor, her current appearance was quite a spectacle.

"Damn, damn woman! Annoying...."

Abigail, who was expressing frustration, barely lifted herself up and looked around.

Observing the events within the audience chamber, her expression began to darken.

"Prince Eulsis?"

Seeing Eulsis cornered against the wall, Abigail was flustered.

Though a large wound marked her leg, she sprang up and rushed toward Eulsis.

"What are you doing?"

"Let

go, you bastard!"

Kaldrach grabbed Abigail's nape, restraining her.

Then he looked over at .

What are you doing, he seed to ask, not Abigail, but it was aid at .

"Abigail must live as a conspirator to be flipped in this incident, but Eulsis. He must die."

'Must die.'

Those words carried various emotions but also carried the grand objective to quell the 'demons' causing chaos in the palace at any mont.

"Prince Eulsis! Prince Eulsis! Flee, quickly! Quickly!"

"Stop dragging it out, hurry."

Kaldrach spoke with the tone of a villain, pressing a bloodstained sword against Abigail's throat.

― Kraaah!

Witnessing this, Eulsis scread.

Although the 'Color of Negativity' still lood over his head, he seed intent on attacking now, starting to tense the muscles in his legs.

"What a tearjerker of a scene."

At that mont, a third-party voice interjected.

Right behind Kaldrach.

Startled, Kaldrach instinctively reacted, but the assailant's blade found his chest.

"Kuugh...!"

Kaldrach, coughing up blood. Glancing down at the blade lodged in his chest, he slowly turned his head backward.

There stood Kikubad, sporting a smile amidst his abundant wrinkles.

"Ki-Kikubad...!"

"Tsk click, best not to move. You're already in a heavily bleeding state, aren't you?"

"Shut up...!"

"Well, you seem to have no hope of survival, anyhow."

Thunk──!

Kikubad kicked Kaldrach from behind. With the blade withdrawn, blood started overflowing from Kaldrach's chest.

And thus, he fell to the ground.

"Oho, you didn't die instantly? The Iron Blood Prince, truly a stubborn one."

Kikubad said, sneering. Then, Kikubad looked at Abigail.

"What are you standing there blankly for? Tend to Eulsis."

Kikubad spoke sharply to Abigail, who was trembling with fear. Hearing those words, Abigail began running towards Eulsis.

She glanced at

in passing, flinching, but I stepped aside for her.

"Is it okay? To allow treatnt."

"Even with treatnt, the Demon King will not reerge. The demons will cease to appear as well."

"You speak with certainty. Hmm."

Kikubad stroked his chin.

"Actually, I felt the sa way. Yet, even so, keeping him alive ensures that demons stall for ti before the palace troops can storm in."

"For what?"

When I asked, Kikubad muttered.

"Of course, to have a one-on-one duel with you."

"Ridiculous."

With my last words, Kikubad kicked off the ground, closing the distance between us.

His blade and my Moonstone Sword clashed, igniting sparks in the air.

***

As the blades clashed, Kikubad stepped forward. Enormous confidence in his skills.

He thought it would pose no difficulty to push Yulian back, based on that belief.

'Huh?'

However, Yulian didn't budge. Thanks to prior experience, Kikubad was aware of his capabilities.

When blades et, by slightly twisting the balance of weight, one can disrupt the opponent's equilibrium.

Although Kikubad was adept at such tactics, Yulian didn't flinch now.

"Uh!?"

Rather, Yulian drew the weight balance toward himself.

Kikubad staggered, losing his balance, and as he stepped back, Yulian's Moonstone Sword swiftly advanced.

The blade glanced over his eyebrows. If he had been a mont slower, it might have cut his eyes.

"You!"

Stepping back to regain his balance, Kikubad glared at Yulian.

The usual smiling face of Yulian. However, Kikubad felt that face seed 'expressionless'.

Bewildered by his detached manner, Kikubad was taken aback.

'What on earth happened in such a short ti?'

With just two exchanges, Kikubad realized. That Yulian had beco an insurmountable wall with his current skills.

'How...?'

He questioned himself. What occurred in the blink of an eye?

He wanted to know.

He wanted to find out.

For that purpose, Kikubad resolved to ntally unsettle Yulian.

"Sohow, your swordsmanship resembles the Black Knight's."

Back when he had encountered the 'Black Knight' at the mansion, Kikubad had sensed the resemblance of his swordsmanship to that of the 'Sword Saint'.

With Yulian also wielding the 'Sword Saint's' techniques, the aning was apparent.

'The fact that the face is hidden indicates a wish not to be discovered.'

Kikubad thought. That he held a weakness of Yulian in his grasp──.

"Uhh!?"

Kikubad, seeing Yulian suddenly charge, hastily raised his sword.

Clang──!

Barely managing to block Yulian's swing as close as possible, Kikubad felt his muscles scream in protest.

Overwhelming strength.

His elderly body lacked the vigor to fully withstand it.

"Ku, kuugh...!"

"Did you think that knowing this secret would change anything?"

As their swords t, Kikubad slowly raised his head. The 'Black Knight's' mask ca into view.

"Contrarily, no one who has discerned this secret has ever lived to spread it."

Clacky's Corner:

Damn, Yulian spitting bars. But Pintel and Rim Hashar knows though.

P. S.

4 chapters left.