516 55th Statement of Fun Day




 Her silver eyes were numb with agitation, and the hair on her head tilted. Silver hair hung in the air, casting a shadow on Kalia's cheek. Her gaze was fixed on the gears that were just waiting to be destroyed.

It's too late is the word of a coward. I don't know what you're talking about, but it's a silly play on words.

 Even as she said this, Kalia couldn't take her gaze off Lovell. His breath was hot and rushing up his throat.

 On the other hand, Lovell showed a strange calmness, even though he was now waiting for his physical death. The amber eyes loosen with tenderness.

I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who'd like to know more about this.

 He was not surprised anymore that he had given a slight laugh. He accepted it as natural.

 He already knew what to call the slight burning in his heart area. His lips rippled.

He ...... saw it. That's why he's here now. ....... Ironic, isn't it? Kalia.

 Yes, once upon a time, Lugis met one of his own destinies. That's why he's here now. And because of him, I too have learned to feel. If this is not irony, what is it?

 Laboure laughed. It was neither mockery nor self-mockery, but high spirits.

 Kalia's eyes twisted dubiously, and she raised her black scarlet. This, Rabur knew, was the fate of his death.

 I don't care. The wheels have begun to turn. No one can stop it now. Because it's in him too.

 Vriligant's resurrection, his existence, all will come to an end as the wheel moves.

Let me give you some advice: ...... Caria ...... Vardnik.

 A mechanical doll named Lovell spoke the name that Kalia had abandoned. His face is filled with a smile of sincere relief and compassion. Love this whole world, said Lovell.

Only ...... humans can save him. Demons are not made ...... to save anyone, they are destined ...... to do so. Immediate, give up.

 Lovell could see the black scarlet filling his vision. He could not see Kalia's face.

 But now Lovell could imagine what Kalia's face looked like. She would probably bite her lip and kill herself.

 Lovell closed his single eyelid. In the midst of a moment that lasts less than a second, he thinks.

 I'm just a mechanism to make the play work. I've done my part well. There is nothing more to be done.

 But as soon as Vriligant's roar pierced my ears, I saw his image behind my eyelids. Shaken by emotion, Lovell briefly fingered the wheel.

 --Emotion is too lovely, too crazy. I hate you, Oufru.

 The moment he muttered to his former human and kindred, Lovell's skull crushed. The gear-crowned demon's body was completely destroyed by the giant.

 Despite being the victor, the silver-haired giant's cheeks were drawn in grief, and his eyes were distorted as he bit his lip.

'...... You idiot. Fool! Destiny is the word he hates the most. Idiot.

 Kalia said, as if spitting it out, as if letting it spill out. I'm not sure what to say.


 It's a myth.


 I'm not sure if this is a myth. I bit my back teeth while thinking about such trivial things in my head. Blood oozed out just from that.

 I can't stand it. In front of me is a huge demon dragon. All we have is a single sword and an army of gemstone mages. The difference in strength between us is overwhelming.

 The left side that was just grazed by the roar is dripping blood in an interesting way, and the left eye is half blind. I no longer had time to feel the pain, only the numbness.

 But I'm still lucky. If it weren't for Agathos' jewel, I would have been blown to pieces by now.

"So, are you still alive? You're still alive, aren't you? You talked so much to me. If you were dead, I'd feed you to the dogs. So what? I'd say he's dying. Not Vriligant, of course, but us.

 Agathos' voice echoed loudly in my ears.

 Agathos' voice echoed noisily in my ears. He must have been speaking through some of the gems. There were a few blurred lines, but he just wanted to complain to me.



 What? You still have more time than you think.

 He grasped the magic sword in both hands and narrowed his eyes. In the distance, I see the real sun about to surrender itself to the mountains. Twilight is covering the land.

"Don't be so sure, Agathos. Only the gods can do what they want. We have to do what we can.

 In that sense, as demons, we should be subordinate to Vriligant or retreat.

 A demon can never triumph over a great demon. That's the way it is, that's the way it is.

 --But if providence is absolute, then what do we call what they've done?

 The mastighios, the soldiers, the humans... The soldiers, the humans... faced down a demon disaster and won. I'd call that a victory.

 They used their wits and bravery to make the demon disaster their enemy. How hard and great that was. Humans are no longer demonic cattle.

 Now I have to learn from them. And they called me a hero. Then I should be their hero. I owe it to them.

 I drive my ankles, turn my hips, release my wrists and swing my sword down. In a moment, the distance was soundlessly drained of life, and Vriligant's flesh was consumed.

 Avoiding the location of the heart, he slashes only around it. Several slashes. There was a definite feeling of having gutted the flesh and blood. Undoubtedly, his internal organs were wounded.

 But retribution came soon after. That's what it means to avenge a dragon.

 --A roar that could no longer be called a sound. At the same time, an overwhelming presence loomed.

 It was a stake of epic proportions. Vriligant's claws shattered the rock face and gouged through the air. The hollow sobbed, unable to endure being robbed of its form again and again.

 Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the jewel of Agathos raining down heat rays. In Vriligant's eyes, in his throat, in his scales.

 But none of it made the slightest bit of sense. It might inflict a few wounds, but they were never fatal.

 I kicked at the jewels in the air and twisted to escape the roar. But his aim was so precise that it no longer mattered.

 The stake struck him in the stomach. I could feel my bones shattering from the impact that shook the sky. One of the claws was big enough to gouge out most of my internal organs.

 The moment before I was slammed into the ground felt like an eternity. I couldn't breathe, my blood couldn't flow, my magic was cut off. I could see fluid spewing out of my mouth like a fountain.

 This is the second time I've had a hole in my stomach. Where did I get it before?

...... It's awful, it's awful. Are you alive or are you dead? I'd be happier if he was still alive anyway. What do you say? Or are you so disgusting that you don't even have the energy to speak?

 Agathos' voice sounds muffled, is it because my ears are failing? Or is Agathos nearing the end of his rope?

 I breathe in. Pain shot through everything from my fingertips to my eyes.

"A dragon is a terrible thing, Agathos.

 That's all I said.

 A dragon. Just great, just pure plunder. His very body is a mythical armor, his source. He takes everything. I could feel the magic being sucked out of me even as I was doing this.

 So I shouldn't have gotten close. It would only hasten his death.

 He stopped breathing and let his nerves pass through his hands to the magic sword that was stuck in his hands. Then, without breathing, he thrust it into Vriliganth's claws.

 My whole body creaked and my spine screamed. It was only natural, since I was stimulating the claws that had pierced my body.

 But it's better than dying like this.

 The moment I slash away the claw, the jewel of Agathos dredges me up.

 A moment later, a massive sound. The place where I was just a moment ago has been crushed by Vriligant's huge body.

"Agathos-- hey, Agathos. Hey, Agathos. Can you hear me, boulder girl?

I can hear you. Oh, no, maybe it's a will or something. I don't want to hear any of that nonsense. I'd rather hear hopeful words anyway. I'm not in the mood for whining or complaining or anything like that. It's okay if I do.



 He was as selfish as ever. I thought I'd heard him say that before.

 His cheeks twisted and lifted as he said.

"I get it now. Close combat. It's the only way we can win. Cover me, I'm full.

"Good. Looks like it's only your head that's crazy. I'm glad you're not. I was ready to die if you started talking about retreating here.

 Forcibly pull out the claws in the belly. My organs are a mess and blood and flesh are spilling out of me. The fact that I'm still alive is proof that I'm no longer a person.

 The only thing holding me together is my magic. If I lose it, I will die as a matter of course. And yet I have to fight that dragon in close combat. It's the worst.

 What? It's business as usual then. He said with a smile.

"Tell me a joke. I'm always normal. It's crazy to run from a game you can win. The only enemy I have is someone who talks about justice. Not him.

 Agathos didn't answer. Only the magic sword was trembling in my hand.