Why should I have to go through this?
　I have lived for Master Elfiszak.
　Ever since that day when you saved my life in the burning city, and ever since then.

　I joined the Demon King's Army for him.
　It was for him that I disciplined myself, trained my body and learned magic.
　I made up for every deficiency for that man who was still the Fourth Heavenly King at the time.

　I also killed Gregoria, who was an eyesore.
　And I killed Thor and all the others.
　And I sealed Master Elfiszak into the darkness of nothingness.
　And joining Ortegia as the Fourth Heavenly King.
　All of it, all of it, was for him.

　If I've done so much for him, why doesn't he do things the way I want them to be done?
　The ideal Elfiszak wouldn't have hurt me.
　He wouldn't refuse me.

　There is only one way to stop the world's conflict.
　Demons must control the imperfect humans and subhumans.
　There is no way I can have peace with the dusters who killed my parents, burned my city, and murdered so many of my people.


　Master Elfiszak could never hold such ideals in his heart.
　There is no way that he can hold such ideals.
　Because Master Elfiszak is my ideal.
　He must do what I think he should do, come up with a better plan than I do, and surpass everything else.
　It would be strange if it wasn't.

　It was Thor and the others who drove Master Elfiszak mad.
　Berdia, the scum dragon who learned such a clever little trick as humanization.
　A brave man who calls that man "Elfie" or some other casual term for a human.

　It's their fault.
　They drove Master Elfiszark mad.

　They cannot forgive.
　Master Elfiszak is mine!
　He needs me.

I'm the only one who needs to be by his side!

◆

　The explosive smoke clears.

"Ugh. ...... Ah.

　Gracia was still alive while eating the ashlar blast.
　Her military uniform was burned up here and there, and the bare skin that peeked out was burned to a crisp.
　The two horns that had grown out of his side of his head, one side had been broken off from the middle by the impact of the explosion.

''Yu......-ruza, no. Forgive me, no.

　Coughing and vomiting blood, Gracia glares at Berdia.
　Despite her full wounds, the madness has not disappeared from her bloodshot eyes.
　But that's all.
　With her scarred body, she can't even use magic, and can only crawl on the ground while muttering resentment.

　At that time, the door that should have been closed by the wards opened.
　From outside, Iori, who had finished the battle, came inside.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

'This one's taken care of for now. But you can't stay long. Reinforcements will be coming soon.
Yeah, okay.

　To Iori and Elfiszak, who are exchanging words, Gracia's expression becomes more distorted.

It's a good thing that you are a brave person ...... Verdia. Because of you ...... you guys ...... you guys.
............

　Iori looked at Gracia, who was moaning and pounding the floor with her fists, and Iori looked at her more pityingly.
　Berdia's eyes narrowed uncomfortably as she stared at Gracia silently.
　Unable to tolerate their gazes, Gracia scratched her head skinily.

'............'

　Wordlessly, Elfiszak approached Gracia.
　Raising her face and looking at Elfiszak's face, Gracia said as she spat out blood.

'I am ...... me, for you. I've done so much for you ....... Why ......
............
"I will not forgive you. I will not forgive you, Verdia, my hero... ...... I will kill you all.

　Gracia shouted, putting the blame on Iori and Berdia, even after this period.
　Flipping through her clothes with her burning hands, Gracia pulls out a bottle of ashes.
　She slams the bottle on the floor and scatters the ashes inside it across the room.

"'Turn, withered puppet (Brass Femy Doll),'"

　With a chant, the ashes took shape.
　Instead of their living forms like Thor and the others, what appeared were countless skeletons.
　Bones of various species, including humans, sub-humans, demons, and monsters, appear as puppets in front of Gracia.

''Ha...... how do you like it, Elfiszak-sama. Until now, the army of wreckage I have built up ....... With this, I'll kill the brave men and women who seduce you with this .......

　To the bones that were clattering and trying to move, Elfiszak turned his reddened eyes to them.

''--"Demon Eyes, Douchouetsu."

　Immediately after, with a snap, the bones stop moving.
　Gracia is upset and gives them instructions, but they don't follow them.

Why aren't they moving? If you are dust, at least try to be useful to me ......!
'--Tuning graft. It's one of the powers that came back with the regaining of the torso.
......!

　You know that, don't you?　Elfiszak muttered.

'It is ....... Taking the ...... initiative of others' magic, the magic eye .......'
...... Gracia. In the past, you wouldn't have used messy magic to take away the initiative.

　Immediately after saying that, Elfiszak shook his head, 'No,' he said.

'Is that even my assumption? I couldn't see you like you couldn't see me.

　He didn't understand any of his men who were closest to him.
　That is nothing more than Elfiszak's unknown, as the Demon King.

'For that one point, I must apologize as Elfiszak Van Gildegard. I did not look at you properly. Forgive me, Gracia.

　As if to regret it, right after he apologized.
　Elfiszak's expression changed drastically.
　She stared at Gracia with her twin eyes burned with hatred, and her mouth was twisted with rage.

''Hee.''

　Seeing that fearless expression, Gracia screamed.

''Wha...... I am ...... here, am I going to die ......?''
Yes. You're going to die in here.

　Elfiszak told her ruthlessly.
　Gracia's face paled as she realized her death and trembled with a wince.

''Why shouldn't I be ...... killed!　Why, Elfiszak-sama!
''Because you killed my people!
It's ......
"I loved them all. I loved my friends. I was more than happy to walk among them. And then you trampled on it.

　He trampled on everything he had built up with his friends for the sole purpose of his own desires.
　That's something I will never forgive.

You are the one who imposed your selfish ideals on me!　You have betrayed me, Gracia!
----
'Whoever killed my friends swore to avenge them. That's ...... even if it's my friends!

　Thirty years ago, in the Demon King's Castle, he swore that.
　In the darkness without sound and light, it was hatred that kept Elfiszak sane.
　His mission as a Demon King, and revenge - he had endured thirty years to fulfill it.

'For such ...... reasons ...... I am ......'

　Gracia dismisses Elfiszak's words as "such a reason" as he spits blood.
　Gracia couldn't accept Elfiszak's words, which were so far from her own ideals.

''I wasn't ...... useful to you, Elfiszak-sama?

　There is a momentary pause in the question.　
　It is Elfiszak's weakness.
　To say goodbye to weakness, Elfiszak said.

...... That's right. You are a distraction to my ideals.
----

　Gracia exclaimed to Elfiszak, who refused to do so.

''Oh no ...... that's not .......''

　Gracia winces, sobbing, burying her face in the ground.

　It was over.
　Watching beside her, that was the moment when Iori thought that.

''--I understand. If my death is for His own good, then let's respectfully accept death!

　Gracia looked up with a bang.
　The one floating on her face was a smile.

''If I can be of service to Elfiszak-sama in any way, it will be the joy of all time!　Fu, fufu!　This Gracia, I have always decided that the end of my life will be at the hands of my loved ones!

　He was willing to die for Elfiszak, he was willing to die for Elfiszak.
　With her mouth, which had killed her friends and sealed Elfiszak, Gracia said.

'...... That's disgusting.'

　Words are understood, but they can't communicate with each other.
　Iori couldn't help but mutter at Gracia's thoughts, which were all one-sided.
　When that also no longer falls on deaf ears, Gracia closes in on Elfiszak.

''If you can hang it in Elfiszak-sama's hands, I'm eagerly awaiting it!
''............''
Now, with fingers as beautiful as white fish!　With eyes like jewels!　With those white, shiny feet!　With that moist, pale, light pink mouth of yours!　End this Gracia!　Come on, come on!

　Gracia shouted, joyfully.
　But Elfiszak didn't move.
　He looked at Gracia with cold eyes and quietly opened his mouth.

'Until now, I was thinking. What do I have to do to get revenge on you?
......?
I thought about killing them as brutally as Iori did.

　There are plenty of ways to do it.
　I've seen vengeance targets who have suffered and died before.
　It doesn't take a lot of time, but it's still easy to make them suffer.

But ...... it's not.

　But such revenge was denied by Elfiszak.

'Vengeance against you is not.

　Leaving Gracia unable to understand the meaning of those words, Elfiszak's eyes flashed red.
　Instantly, the army of wreckage, which had been silent until then, turned back to Gracia in unison.

''What ......?''

　Shortly after Gracia gave a shrill, drawn-out voice.

'Do it .......'

　With Elfiszak's command, the wreckage rushed into Gracia all at once.

''What?　Ku, don't come!　Stop ......!

　Using what little magical power he had left, Gracia blows away the approaching wreckage.
　With a dry sound, the bones scattered with a caracara and returned to ashes in the blink of an eye.

　But they were outnumbered.
　Eventually, one of the bones grabbed Gracia's arm.
　With a dull cracking sound, Gracia's arm snaps in a different direction.

''Ah......gaaaaah!''

　Gracia screams out in pain.
　But the wreckage does not stop.
　You're going to be able to find out more about this.

"Stop, don't touch me!

　Some have snapped Gracia's legs.
　Some cracked Gracia's fingers.
　Some removed Gracia's fingernails.
　Some split Gracia's skin.

"Higi....... Aagh!

　In the blink of an eye, Gracia's entire body turns red.
　While screaming in anguish, she looks at Elfiszak as if clinging to him.

"Eru, Fiszakusama, why, what?
It's revenge for you. I'm going to end up there, Gracia.

　Elfiszak tells her quietly.
　It wasn't long before Gracia's eyes widened in despair.

Yeah, you can go to ....... What's the matter with you?

　The bones caught her hair and Gracia was lifted by her neck.
　With a buzz, her dark green hair is torn off.
　Gracia cries out, moaning at the pain of her scalp twitching.

''If you don't ...... die, I'll use your hand!
' -- I refuse. I will not touch you.

　Elfiszak kicked off that plea.
　He looked down at Gracia, who was shaken up, and did not even change his expression.

''This ...... such ...... these bones are going to kill me ......?

　Gracia shuddered as she looked at the wreckage surrounding herself.

'These ...... weaklings ......?　Just overrun by me, the fools ......?

　I have killed hundreds of people in my life.
　Elfiszak's useless fools, those who stood in his way.
　I have easily dispatched them and collected their ashes to be used after death.

　Are those people going to kill you ......?

Aaaaahhhh.

　Gracia exclaims.

'I don't like ...... that!

　How could I ever be this miserable?
　You won't be killed by the hand of the Lord, you will be killed by the puppet you've been mocking.

''No!　Ughhhh!　Let me go, let me go, eeee!

　He cried out like a spoiled child and jittered around, but the wreckage would not let Gracia go.
　On the contrary, the blame for Gracia's death is growing even stronger.

'It's not fair!　Thor and the others are aaaaah!　I was buried by Elfiszak-sama's hand!　Why me alone!

　The wreckage snapped off one of the remaining horns.
　I was proud of the fact that I had two horns, just like Elfiszak.
　And to have that broken by these wreckage.

''Gong, etc., it's not unfair to you!　That's not fair, that's not fair!　At the very least, it's Elfiszak's fault.
I don't care. I don't know, so go ahead and die.

　The skin is stripped away, exposing the bones of Gracia's arms.
　The surrounding bones are stripped of Gracia's flesh little by little, as if to avenge a grudge.

''Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!　Elfiszak-sama shouldn't have this kind of ludicrousness in his waddling!''

　Gracia screams out, realizing the death she cannot escape.
　It's impossible.
　How did this happen?

This is a lie, a lie, a lie, a lie, a lie, a lie!　Lies, lies, lies, lies, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!　Stop, oh, oh!

　A finger of bone is buried in Gracia's face.
　You will be able to see that the flesh of your cheek is being torn off with a buzzing sound.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one.　I don't like it!　Elfiszak-sama aaaaah!　Help me!
''............''
Ouch, ouch, ouch!

　A bone gouged out Gracia's one eye.

Geeeeeeeeeeeee?

　Gracia screams like a beast as the eye is taken out of her and she screams like a beast.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
　The reflection in one eye is the face of the Lord with a cold expression.

''Does it hurt, Gracia?''
"Ouch, that's all right, that's all right, that's all right, that's all right!
Same thing. We all felt the pain. Even Gregoria, the woman you killed. Abel, Faye, Musubel, Thor. They were in pain and they were in ...... pain and they were so sorry!
'So yeah!　Aizura defiled the Elfiszak-sama!

　To Gracia's exclamation, Elfiszak shouted back.

''Then ......!　If you thought so, why didn't you tell me!　If you had just said one ...... word of complaint, this wouldn't have happened!　Everyone and ...... you would have been able to avoid dying!

　Gracia continues to scream at Elfie, who shakes and shouts in a trembling voice.

You are my ideal!　You are my ideal!　You're supposed to be able to praise him for killing Aizura!　It's their fault!　Brave man, Verdia!　You lot!
............
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!　Pull me out of here!　When Master Elfiszak wrecked the peddle that day, he did it for you!　I'm doing this for your sake!　Master Elfiszak wouldn't do this!　He won't hurt me!　You are my dream!　Help me!

　Elfi quietly tells Gracia, who is writhing in agony.

''- Don't impose your ideals on me.

　Then Elfie turns his back to Gracia.

'Ah ...... ah.'

　I can't have them kill me at the hands of Elfiszak.
　On the contrary, I can't have them see me die.
　Understanding this, Gracia cries out.

''I don't want to!

　The wreckage rushes more violently to the screaming Gracia.

''Hii, oh no!

　The bones of the whole body are crushed and the skin of the whole body is peeled off again.
　The raw nails were ripped off, exposing pink flesh.



　She screamed with a face stained with tears, snot and drool, but Elfis didn't look back.
　Bones put their fingers in both ears.
　It stirs my eardrums and the sound dies away.

'Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!'

　Bones thrust their fingers into both noses, into both ears, into my mouth.

'Abaaaaaah!'

　He peels off his eyelids and gouges at his remaining eyeballs.
　The sound of squishy flesh being gouged out echoes for a while.



　Finally.
　A clinging decapitation echoed through the air.

◆

　--The ashes are falling.

　The effects of the magic have disappeared and the wreckage has returned to its original form.
　They would no longer be disturbed in their sleep.

　In the center of the ashes, a red pool of blood was spread out in the middle of the ashes.
　There was the remnants of a woman whose blood had been shed, skin removed, and nerves pulled out - leaving only bones.
　The skeleton's eyes were wide open, mouth wide open, and deathly despair plastered on its face.

'No need to stay long. Let's get out of here.

　Elfiszak turns away and begins to walk away without looking at the wreckage.
　Berdia follows in silence.

'You don't see it?'
I'm not looking.

　Elfiszak answers Iori's question immediately.
　I'm sure that Elfiszak never once looked at Gracia's body.

"Not interested, either.

　Without looking back, Elfiszak left the room.
　Iori followed her in silence, too.

　A breeze blows in through the hole in the canopy.
　The ashes danced in the sky and blew through the room.

　The Lord he had respected, the brave man he had hated, and the dragon he had despised had left.
　The ashes of the wreckage they had despised also disappeared on the wind.
　The men in his entourage who had been guarding the fort also lost their men.

　Inside the room where everything had disappeared.

　Gracia's wreckage was the only thing lying around.