--The game is almost over.

　I thought as I looked at the scene before me.
　The demons were almost completely destroyed. The few remaining demons had already found no chance of victory, and disobeyed Nahat's orders and fled.
　The only one left on the battlefield is Nahat, the general.

"Sieghu ......!

　He was staring straight at me with bloodshot eyes. The vindictiveness is pouring out of him. He was completely possessed by his rage.
　I don't know how much hatred I can muster to make such an expression.
　...... I don't think Nahat is thinking about many people anymore. The only thing on his mind is that he wants to kill me.

He's in too much trouble. ....... He's completely out of his mind.
　Haruna muttered with a frightened expression.

"...... You guys should stay back.
　I reached out my hand to control the others.
I'm the one Nacht wants. I'm the one Nacht wants, so don't mess with me.

　I stepped in front of Nacht as his friends looked on anxiously.
　A few meters away from him.

"Zeke ......!
"Nahat. You want to kill me, don't you? Then let's go toe to toe. Then we'll get out of your way.
"...... is what I want.

　His mouth twisted into a gaping maw.
　Nahat's eyes glittered with murderous intent.
　The odds are already stacked against us.
　Even if you beat me, it won't change the outcome of the battle.


　I guess he doesn't care about the big picture of this battle, or the demon tribe's longing to destroy the Orb of Light.
　He just wants to kill me. That's the only thing that's driving him.

"Ggaaaaaaah!

　Nahato came at me with a yell.
　He was much faster than when he was human.
　One moment he's kicking the ground, and the next he's leaping into my path with impunity.
　He swung his muscular arms as thick as logs.
　I bent down and ducked. The space where my head had been earlier was swept away with a roar. If an ordinary person had taken it, his head would have been flung off.

　--It seems that your physical abilities have been enhanced to an unusual degree. If you take it seriously, your body might be blown away.

　One after another, Nacht would unleash attacks where a single blow could be fatal.
　I fended them off with my shield.

"Zeke!　You can't beat me by just standing there!　Hahaha!　So you're just a scarecrow after all!

　Nahato shouted vigorously as he unleashed a fierce attack.
　We've known each other a long time, but we've never faced each other directly. It's the first time we've fought each other to the death.

　--I wasn't on the defensive. I was timing it. I've already seen through your attack!

　Nahato's right arm... and the shield goes up to meet it.
　Perfect parry.

I'm not sure what to do.

　You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the following article.
　I sliced through its torso with my sword.

"Hahaha ......!



　It was a blow that should have ended the fight.
　But Nacht held on without falling to the ground.

It's no wonder you became a demon. You have a very strong body. I couldn't finish him off with a single blow.

　But he must have been able to wound him pretty badly.
　Purple blood was dripping from Nacht's wounds.
　...... So. He's completely turned into a demon now, hasn't he?

It's true that you're much more physically capable than you were when you were human. I'm not sure what to make of that.

　When he was a swordsman, Nahat had skill. He had a lot of work to do. But it was easy to read the movements of someone who had lost it.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'll turn you into charcoal!

　The magic bullet flew with a roar.
　This is the first time that I've ever seen such a thing. It's as if he's going to use them all up.
　There's no time to dodge, and you're hit by the magic bullets.
　The impact caused an explosion.
　It's so powerful that it blows up the whole area.

"Hahahahahaha!　You see!　This is my power!　No one can stop me!　I'm much stronger than you!

　Nahato, convinced of his victory, looked up to the heavens and smiled broadly. But that smile receded as the smoke cleared.



"What the ......?

　When the smoke cleared, my figure reappeared in his vision. Seeing that it was unharmed, Nacht's eyes widened to the point of spilling out.

"Who's stronger than who?
"Mm, unharmed, ......?　That's ridiculous!　That's impossible!　It's not possible!　What the hell did you do to me?
I didn't do anything. I just took it.
d*mn it, ......!　You're bluffing!　Of course I'm bluffing!

　It's a bluff, of course!" I shouted to myself, and Nacht fired off another magic bullet. I catch it with my open right palm.
　With a sound of ......, the magic bullet disappeared.

Nahat. Your attack won't get through to me.
"Aaahhhh!

　He screamed like a half-crazed maniac and ran towards me. He concentrated all his magic power into his right arm. He swung wide.
　I decided to take it. I hold my sword and intercept.
　Our bodies cross each other.
　The shouting ceased and silence fell over the battlefield.

　At the same time as I wiped the blood from my sword, Nahato's body shook unsteadily. With a muffled groan, I saw him fall to the ground.

　I stood in front of Nahato and muttered to myself as I thrust the tip of my sword at him.

I've won.


"Ugh. ......!

　Nahat looked up at me resentfully.

"Not yet ......!　It's not over ......!　If you admit defeat here, you'll be admitting what the townspeople told you: ......!
"What the city said to you?
They said we were only doing well because of Zeke. ......!　That he alone had the Red Lotus Fang. ......!

　He should have been dead by now.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. Even as he crawled on the ground. It's a terrible obsession.
　Nahato must have been very upset about what the people in the city had said to him. But he's mistaken.

"Nahat. That's not true.
　I said.
"It wasn't just me that made the Red Lotus Fang work. It's because of you guys. Haruna and Irene. And ...... Nahat. It's because you fought so hard as the swords of the party that this has come to pass.

　And," he continued.

It's because of your hard work that I've been able to train so hard to protect you.

　I couldn't have grown on my own.
　Haruna, Irene. And Nahat.
　It's because I wanted to protect my friends who were fighting for their lives and didn't want to lose them that I was able to endure the bloody training.

You've got to be kidding me. ....... Don't mess with me. ......!
　Nahat hit the ground and shouted as he grunted.


"All you have to do is look down on me!　Just like I've been doing to you!　And don't try to talk to me as if you're my equal at ......!
"We're equals. We are.
　I tell Nahat.
"No matter how far you've fallen, you've always been one of us.
Stop it, ......!　Don't look at me like that!　You know what?　That's what I've always hated about you!

　That's when it happened.
　That's when Nahato's body turned to ashes. Nahato's body began to turn to ashes. All the while, he continued to spit out his vengeance against me.

"And the way he never talks back no matter how much I curse you!　The fact that you don't take credit for anything!　The way you accept everything!　I hated all of it so much I wanted to kill you!

　I just accepted Nahato's words in silence.
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

"...... Zeke!

　There was only one or two more words left to say. It was at this point that Nacht suddenly stopped speaking.
　He stared at my face. He looked at me.

"...... I'm sorry for everything.
Oh.
　I muttered.
I forgive you.

　I'm sorry." Nahat's mouth dropped a little as he accepted this.



"...... I hate that about you the most.
Oh.

　At that moment, he was not a demon, but a human being. I could feel the face of Nahat when he first met me.
　When he completely disappeared, there was nothing left behind.
　I slowly looked back behind me.
　There were my comrades from the 5th squad and the guards waiting to greet me.
　Seira and Spinoza, Fam and the guards. Haruna and Irene. I could see the Knights and Eleanor on the stone walls surrounding the city.
　I seared the memories of my old comrades into my mind and stepped out to meet my current comrades.