Now, there weren’t many cultists or monsters left. But they hadn’t disappeared;
they’d just beco a platform for their god.
Leaning on Elisha, I lifted my head.
In the distance, I saw a large arm. Despite its unusual size, it was slender and so white that it seed beautiful at first glance.
The problem was that this arm, with just a drop of blood, had blocked my most powerful attack, Punishnt.
[Hmm. That was quite sharp.]
A voice both cozy and seductive, compelling one to face their inner desires regardless of gender.
The identity of that voice was so obvious that it was hard to believe.
“…Grotesque Proliferation?”
[You recognize ? Correct. Though I only have an arm for now.]
Only an arm for now… huh?
Currently, the Grotesque Proliferation had extended one arm outside their seal. Given a bit more ti, the rest of their body would erge.
An ominous situation. The won who had been casting spells from a distance to avoid interfering with each other, and Helena, who was fighting at the front, hurriedly gathered around .
It was an instinctive move, like finding the most important person in a dangerous situation. I, too, was no different in seeking out my won first.
Elisha, who had been supporting , asked with a trembling voice.
“That… What is that…?”
The eyes of the party mbers converged on . They weren’t asking out of ignorance. It was more like they couldn’t believe what they were seeing and hoped I would deny it.
The Grotesque Proliferation had succeeded in their gamble. By sacrificing most of their followers, they had tilted the scales of the battlefield back in their favor.
Calming my shaking breath, I looked at the arm of the Grotesque Proliferation.
Their re presence seed to warp reality. This was no avatar like Solari uses;
it was the true body of a god.
At my current level, I couldn’t possibly affect it;
at least a Sword Master or Archmage would be needed to inflict any real damage.
They extended their slender, lily-white fingers, pointing directly at .
[Child. I have now beco stronger than you. This is your last chance. My offer is still valid… What will you do?]
“……”
[Just so you know, don’t make wait too long.]
Unlike before, I couldn’t answer imdiately. There was no way I could easily refuse.
Because I knew that with this answer, not just my fate, but perhaps the fate of my won, might be decided.
In fact, declaring that I would fight, despite how powerful the Grotesque Proliferation was, was simple. Fighting itself wasn’t scary.
Punishnt managed to inflict a small wound, so there might be a way.
But… but then…
What if I lose?
I might beco a forced apostle, corrupted by the Evil God’s divine power, but I wouldn’t die.
But what about the others?
Carla? She probably wouldn’t die either. But the Grotesque Proliferation, recognizing Carla’s potential, wouldn’t leave her be.
They would ruin Carla by any ans, turning her into sothing akin to a high priest, a mockery for having forsaken them.
Then what about the others?
Plainly speaking, from the Grotesque Proliferation’s perspective, there was no need to keep the others alive.
Given their nature, they might not kill them instantly but would certainly use them until they died. They might even make , unable to disobey their commands, do it.
So that I would break down faster, becoming an obedient apostle offering the world to them.
I wasn’t afraid of fighting. I wasn’t despairing over the situation. Death is frightening, but it’s sothing I’d prepared for.
But the horrific future my won might face was terrifying.
So terrifying that I’d even considered accepting her offer.
“I…”
As I hesitated to speak, unable to continue…
Squish.
Carla grabbed my hand and whispered in a low voice.
“Master, I’m okay.”
“Huh?”
“I’m okay. I was able to et you and get this far, and I’ve been happy, but… my life was supposed to be destroyed long ago.”
“Carla…”
“No matter what choice you make, I will follow. If you fight, I will fight until the end. If you surrender, I will kneel with you. So, please do what you want to do, Master.”
“……”
Right. I knew Carla would say this. She had always affird and followed everything I did.
Which made it even harder for to do as I pleased.
Because I knew my shoulders bore not only my own life but Carla’s as well.
But was this attitude not to her liking? Elisha, who had been supporting my shoulder, suddenly frowned and grabbed my collar.
Then, with a slightly angry voice, she spoke.
“You… Are you hesitating because of us? Did what Carla said sound like she was pushing the responsibility onto you?”
“Well…”
“If so, let correct one misunderstanding.”
She brought her face so close that our foreheads almost touched, staring directly into my eyes.
“We are not your burden.”
“What?”
“We are not your burden. Neither I nor anyone else wants to be a burden to you. We follow you of our own will, not asking you to take responsibility for us.”
“…Ah.”
As I stood there, dumbfounded, replaying her words in my mind, Elisha, having let go of my collar, softened her expression and placed her hand on my chest.
“Didn’t I tell you? I want to be the best. But there’s no need for to be the best. If you beco the best, then I beco the best as well.”
“You did. Yeah, I rember.”
“Why do you think that?”
“…Because I’m your master, Elisha?”
Elisha chuckled at my cautious guess and shook her head.
“No. That’s part of it, but… more precisely, because you are my partner, my pride.”
“Pride…?”
“Yes, pride. You are my treasure, my pride. When you’re happy, I’m happy, and your glory makes feel proud as if it were my own. Isn’t it the sa for you? Am I not your pride?”
“……”
For a mont, I was speechless. I hadn’t thought of it that way before.
But I understood what she ant. When Elisha is happy, I’m happy;
when she’s sad, I’m sad.
Elisha—no, not just Elisha, but all the won here.
Feeling like I’d just been hit in the back of the head, I looked around at everyone.
Carla, Elisha, Iris, Faye, Iona, Helena, Solari.
All of them were my pride, my treasures.
To the point where I would never tolerate anyone trying to tarnish them.
With that thought, the clouds in my mind cleared, and what I had to do beca clear.
“Hey, can I ask for one unreasonable favor?”
“If it’s your command, Master, just say the word.”
“Hmph! Have you ever asked for a normal favor?”
“Master, I might look like this, but I’m quite your senior. Lean on at least once.”
“I’m Junior’s exclusive alchemist, you know? If you make an unreasonable request, fulfilling it is my job.”
“Right, right. Even if you haven’t been coming to class lately, Yandel is still a student, and I’m a professor, right?”
“Brother, if I’m with you, I can walk into hellfire with a smile.”
“I’ve finally t my husband after so long. I won’t let you go until we’ve had a son and two daughters and lived happily ever after!”
With so many people, even one sentence from each took quite a bit of ti. But it was incredibly enjoyable. I felt happy knowing that there were so many won here that I couldn’t embrace them all with both arms.
Maybe that was why I asked with a smile on my face without even realizing it.
“Put your lives on the line for .”
After confirming each woman nodding silently, I nodded too.
“Thank you.”
Now, all that was left was for to stake everything I had.
I turned around to face the Grotesque Proliferation again.
[Is your conversation over? I didn’t eavesdrop on purpose as a courtesy, so I hope it’s a good answer.]
“Yes.”
Standing straight with my shoulders squared, I asked boldly.
“I don’t listen to those weaker than … Do you know what cos next?”
[Hmm. To be honest, I’m not particularly curious. But since you brought it up, I’ll ask. What cos next?]
“The one who gave birth to you!”
[…?]
“Your mom, you dumbass.”1
[…]
After a beat, the Grotesque Proliferation, understanding my words, pointed a finger at , letting out a sigh.
[…I see. That’s unfortunate.]
Their voice turned cold and sharp. At the sa ti, a pink beam shot from their pale fingertips.
Rumbleeee…
The barrier was now trembling as if it might break any second. Despite having blocked it, the shock made the ground shake, and as we scrambled to retreat, Elisha shouted in disbelief.
“You talk so seriously and then run away?!”
“Ha! It’s a strategic retreat, a strategic retreat! We’re going to et the Circulating Life!”
If the Grotesque Proliferation had put most of their divine power and followers on the scales… shouldn’t I put sothing of equal value?
I just needed a little help in the process.
“Help , Mom!!!”
Really… I an it!
ED/N: A setup for a Korean internet insult joke. He is baiting the Grotesque Proliferation into asking a question, only to hit them with an offensive punchline.
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