How long had it been since it had entered the behemoth's body?

　The number of power techniques he had unleashed had already exceeded double digits. However, even after being stirred up inside his body to this extent, the behemoths still didn't stop moving.

　As expected of an illusory species. If it were an ordinary battalion master, his jaw could have run out.

　If the power runs out, the protective shield that protects the body will also disappear. If that happens, it will be dissolved by the gastric juice flowing through the behemoth's body and absorbed as nutrients. In the past, there were probably many people who wanted to take down behemoths like I did and ended up doing so.

　However, the source of my power is the Dragon Heart. There's no need to worry about my power running out.

　I have plenty of energy to spare. If two-digit power moves aren't enough, then I'll shower them with three-digit power moves--that's when the thought came to me.

　The influx of souls. While I was slaying the behemoths, I was able to eat a certain amount of souls, but this time, the influx of souls was completely different.

　It was clear that the souls flowing in like a raging wave were the ones that announced the behemoth's death.

　The souls that flowed in were like the water in the River Kale, never ending, filling every inch of my body. The sheer pleasure of it all naturally brought a smile of ecstasy to my face.

　My body shudders. I'm going to level up.

　Once, twice, three times.............................and it's not over yet. The level that hadn't been able to rise since I defeated the demon gods in the demon island was rising like an interesting thing.

　Aside from the first bombardment, I haven't had any struggles, which seems to be a bit too much, but the behemoth has probably lived dozens of times as long as I have, or hundreds of times as long as I have, depending on the case. I don't know if illusory species have a level, but for that many years, I have defeated an existence that has reigned as the champion of the desert.

　If you think about it that way, this level up is not unfair. And no matter the reasoning, this kind of good fortune won't go unpunished once in a while. After all, I've had a lot of trouble with levels!



　After that, I ate an entire grain of rice from the behemoth's soul, and I waited for the lingering effects of the level-up to pass before I went outside.

　I used my Power Technique to blast the behemoth's body from the inside out, and the power of the level-up was reflected in the power of the technique, allowing me to slash it in an interesting way. Also, the behemoth's death seems to have altered his flesh considerably, making it easier to cut. This was probably one of the reasons why it was easier to escape.

　I succeeded in getting out of the house unexpectedly easily, and I prepared myself for the demons to attack me immediately. However, they were swarming around the carcass of a behemoth in a single-minded effort, not even looking at us. They were so engrossed in the feast in front of them that they didn't seem to give a d*mn about my existence.

　Fortunately, I'm able to build a foothold in the air and move into the sky.

　There, I looked down at the swarm of demons that swarmed below me once again.

　The behemoths were dead and their flesh and blood would no longer regenerate. The demons that had lost their endless sustenance would devour the carcasses of the behemoths and then scatter across the desert in search of new food.

　Before that happens, I'm going to round them up here. It was when I raised my heart-suit with this thought that I heard a strange sound.

　-- a strange sound shook his earlobe.

　The sound was carved out with a constant rhythmic clap-clap-clap-clap-clap, no matter how I heard it. I was floating in the air, and the applause was falling from further up....

　I reflexively looked up at the sky, and a cool voice jumped into my ears.


''Brilliant, is all I can say. I didn't expect a human to defeat a divine beast.


　Against the backdrop of a huge moon in the night sky, a figure claps his hands with an expression of admiration on his face.

　The face looking down at me is that of a boy. His body is also small in stature, and if we were to talk about his appearance alone, he would be twelve or three years old. However, the fact that this boy is not the same as his appearance is evident from his pointy ears and sallow skin.

　He is a dark elf like Wisteria.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the help of a few of your friends. This is probably an appeal to show that it has no harmful intent.

　Of course, I won't let my guard down by doing that. I opened my mouth, looking sharply at my opponent.


"Andra's elves, right?

'No. I don't belong to Andorra, and I'm not an elf. I may have been once, but now, you know.


　I raised an eyebrow at the other's meaningful response, and the boy smiled when he saw it.


'Excuse me. It's a bad habit of mine to say thoughtless things. Let me say my name out of respect for the Divine Beast Killer (Holy Slayer). My name is Lascaris. King of the Imperium and host of the Night Meeting. I'm not sure what that means, but it's probably easier for you to understand it as Sharamon's comrade.

"....chief advisor to the Immortal King...


　I search my memory, paying attention to my opponent's every move.

　Laskaris. This is the dark elf that Cardinal Sairala mentioned in Belka, the saint-killer. I've never heard of him as the king of the Imperium, but I believe he was ranked first in line of succession at an evening party. Naturally, he's stronger than the third-ranked Sharamon.

　In fact, even though I was lacking in concentration right after the battle with Behemoth, I didn't see any sign of Lascaris. If they wanted to, they could have taken me by surprise as much as they wanted.

　The fact that they dared to overlook this opportunity suggests that they are not here to avenge Sharamon's death, but that doesn't mean they can't be careful.

　As I was thinking about this, Lascaris continued to speak.


You are right. I'm a monster that is beyond the pale of life," he said. But even though I am a monster, I still have respect for others. I'm not saying that I don't have a grudge against you for defeating Sharamon, but I wouldn't do something so sneaky as to take advantage of an opportunity after fighting a divine beast.


　His voice was unexpectedly serious. You could call it sincere.

　Of course, that attitude could have been a lie, but I don't think there was any point in deceiving me by missing out on the first opportunity. I guess it's true that I'm not going to fight here.

　I'm sure you're not going to be able to find out what the reason is for showing up in front of me, but Lascaris' mouth moves faster than I can say that question.


The divine beast that you defeated was one of the reasons why the Golden Empire (Imperium) was destroyed. I can give you the gold of the Golden Empire (Imperium) if you wish. Or would you rather have the knowledge?　I can tell you what once happened here and how it has led to the present. It has a lot to do with the truth of the battle three hundred years ago.

Hmm. I guess it's true what they say, that talking in a suggestive manner is a bad habit.

Ha, that's a simple point of fact. I won't deny that it was a bit of a waste.


　As he said this, Lascaris took his gaze off me and looked at the fallen behemoth and the demons swarming around it.


'It's just that whatever we're going to talk about, we've got to get rid of that thing first. Now that we've lost our mother, most of them will starve to death if we leave them alone, but this place is too close to Andorra.


　As soon as he said this, the Immortal King unleashed his mighty magic and began to chant.

　His words are so smooth and dense that they are frightening. The chanting of Lascaris echoes in my brain as if it were invading my hearing.


　--You have betrayed me (Eli Eli Urs). I shall betray you too (Eli Urs).

　--The swarming things, the devouring wings, come on, here comes the Emperor of Insects

　--When they are scattered, they are winged insects; when they gather, they are high priests; the clouds of darkness cover heaven and earth.

　--Thou who eats everything. The one who knows not the fullness, and therefore does not know the fullness, and therefore does not stop

　--The fertile land has been flattened and the waves have been drunk for ten thousand miles.


"'The Unstoppable Wingbeats are the roars of hunger--the Locust Emperor.'


　The beautiful chanting, similar to a hymn sung in church, ends.

　But the place remains quiet and still. For a moment, the word "dud" flashed through my mind.

　Of course, it couldn't be.

　The light in my field of vision was shading. I looked up at the sky in search of the reason for this and realized belatedly that the moon had disappeared.


　--The moon was gone.


　The huge moon that had been shining brightly in the night sky was now hidden behind the clouds.

　The moment I realized that the clouds were made up of countless locusts, a strong chill ran down my spine.

　This is the "Sirokotei", the erosion magic method that Sharamon used in the past. I had heard about it from Lunamaria and Miroslav.

　But the magic that Sharamon used and the magic that's unfolding in front of me now are different in scale. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to find a solution to this problem.

　The clouds moved in front of my eyes as I couldn't help but be astonished and horrified. Countless locusts poured down like rain on the ground. Each and every one of them was impregnated with a magical power that could create a huge hole in the earth.


　A flash of light shines in your eyes, a deafening roar.

　In the next moment, a tremendous shock shakes the Catalan Desert. The afterglow of the swollen explosion reminded me of a giant sun.