"Could that be... Was it eaten by a demon...!"

"What, what? The tiger turned black!"

Listening to the Archmage's groan, I wiped away a bit more blood. Panic? Astonishment? Unfortunately, I felt no such emotions.

Because from the moment Biryuho ate the corpse of the Great Demon, or from the point the Great Demon was defeated more easily than expected, I had considered this might happen.

Of course, it's the standard rule that high-ranking enemies like a Great Demon don't die easily. Until you see the corpse burned or purified with your own two eyes, it's the standard rule to consider there is a possibility of resurrection.

It's even more so if someone eats that corpse. It would be nerve-wracking even if an ally ate it, but someone who isn't even an ally ate it? That makes it an absolute certainty.

["This time for sure, I will take you as my companion on the road to the afterlife."]

However, regardless of my resolve, I couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. Even if that guy hadn't resurrected, I already had more than enough opponents.

"Do you think that's possible for a mere demon!"

"Be careful, Inquisitor!"

"This time too, you will be the only one to meet your death!"

Perhaps the only fortunate thing was that the Inquisitor was fine. It meant there was no need to waste energy setting up a combat environment like last time.

"I don't know what it is, but if it's alive, that's enough! Kuhat! The Berserker will definitely catch it this time!"

The Berserker, realizing there was still something left to fight, was also excited. Honestly, it made me wonder if those two couldn't just fight it like this.

It makes sense since the Berserker is human, so she wouldn't be damaged by divine power, and she has good endurance, making her a good match with the Inquisitor.

Compared to that, I... let alone compatibility, my body condition was what it was right now.

"Cough."

"Do not get up!"

But, that wouldn't work, right? There was no way my concept would just sit back and watch when the demon we thought we had caught was perfectly alive.

"Step aside."

Still, the bleeding had stopped a lot compared to earlier. Thanks to the Archmage treating me for a brief moment, my HP had also recovered a bit.

So it was right to move.

I shook off the Archmage's hand and stood up.

"Why don't you just stay down? The Berserker is going to catch it anyway!"

"Not even worth addressing."

Hmm, good. My body isn't swaying when I stand. There's a slight dizziness, but compared to the ringing in my ears I usually hear, it's about the same.

If so, there's no problem. I readjusted my grip on my sword.

"It's coming!"

"Damn it...!"

Right on cue, the mishmash of Moby Dick and Biryuho, hereafter referred to as Moby-ho, also initiated its attack. It was an attack aimed exactly this way, or more specifically, at me.

"Where do you think you're going!"

The Inquisitor became enraged and stirred up a wave of divine power, but unfortunately, Moby-ho was one step faster.

It had wrapped its own body in vines made of water and shot forward like a cannonball.

The thing that burst through the surging cluster of light rushed this way. The Archmage didn't even have time to protect himself.

The Archmage instinctively curled up his body and covered his head with his arms.

"Tahat!"

Fortunately, as the Berserker, who hated having her prey stolen, stepped in first, his safety was guaranteed.

The Berserker's halberd swung around like a windmill under her strong muscles, and soon struck the approaching Moby-ho powerfully.

The angle of Moby-ho's body twisted, and it bounced off in another direction. I couldn't tell if it hadn't prepared for this situation, or if it had been launched at a speed it couldn't control itself.

Moby-ho slid to the other side and urgently dug its feet into the ground to come to a stop.

That was exactly the timing I stepped in.

"Ugh, you!"

The Berserker is good and all, but she doesn't seem to learn well. Hasn't she already experienced a few times before that if she strikes first, I land the follow-up hit?

Well, it's her own business, so it's not something for me to worry about.

Listening to her astonishment, I aimed at Moby-ho, who had stopped on the other side. A pitch-black sword strike cleaved through the vines that had turned green and slashed Moby-ho's afterimage.

Moby-ho, appearing a short distance away, fluttered the fins that rippled like ornaments on its back. This time as well, it had failed to land gracefully, leaving a long trail on the ground.

"The bug has returned as a rat."

["The body of a beast cub with nothing but plump fat isn't bad for a vessel. It's laughable that such a good body could only be used in such a pathetic way, though."]

I don't know about that. It might have been clumsy near the beginning, but from the middle onwards, I also had quite a hard time. Even if it couldn't use all of its physical capabilities, adding its ability combinations made it a pretty damn good usage, didn't it?

Do you have the confidence to do any better than that?

That would be troublesome.

With those thoughts, I kicked off the ground. In fact, since I kicked off at the exact same time as starting that Q&A, I was already right in front of Moby-ho by this point.

CLANG!

My blade and Moby-ho's fingernails clashed. They weren't a beast's claws, but human fingernails.

As its entire body was dyed pitch-black, the hand, which had also lost the distinction between fingernails and fingers, was just sharp like a bird's talon.

Having been slightly cut, black blood formed lightly on the blade and flowed down.

"Hrya!"

CLASH!

Immediately after, it struck away the Berserker's halberd with its other hand. A sound like metal clashing against metal rang out. The hand, without a single scratch left on it, immediately brought its index and middle fingers together.

BANG!

A stream of water shot out from its fingertips, sniping the Berserker. She tried to dodge, but because of the vines grabbing her ankle, she had to sacrifice her shoulder.

A round mark was left on the Berserker's shoulder.

CRASH!

Then, was I just playing around during that time? That wasn't it.

The moment I judged my longsword was blocked, I retrieved it and attempted a combo attack.

However, Moby-ho extended vines towards me at the same time it kept the Berserker in check. The branches that poured out from the floor like spears aimed precisely at my heart, so I couldn't even resolve to take a hit to land one.

After my sword cut the branches, I tore through the vines with the strength of my ankles and retreated backwards. It was an action in preparation for a follow-up attack, but fortunately, no such thing came.

On the other hand, the Berserker, as if resolved to trade blows, ripped away the stems with just the strength of her feet and continued to attempt an attack, but... she retreated backwards along with a loud roar.

It was because Moby-ho—who I observed to have a somewhat delayed reaction after exchanging a few clashes—had used a knockback attack.

Anyway, having been pushed back and now standing on the same line as me, the Berserker glared at Moby-ho.

["Even though it is not the King's Domain, the body's movements are free. Manipulating demonic energy is still uncomfortable, but the fact that it doesn't take demonic energy to maintain the body is quite sweet. Wrath, I understand why you only use the creations of the foreign god as vessels. Even if the senses are different, if there is an advantage like this, it is worth using as a vessel."]

Even though that gaze was unusually severe, Moby-ho remained calm.

Rather than relaxed, well. Its excited tone, as if intoxicated by something, really bothered me. So did its expression, which had become easier to read as it changed from a beast into the form of a Cutie.

Its flushed face announced its abnormality.

"What are you... talking about!"

The Berserker wasn't one to just stand by and watch. She lunged forward first. I lost the timing.

["You lowly trash!"]

Moby-ho, who had been somewhat spacing out, instantly put on a serious face and spewed out demonic energy. It was a good thing I didn't jump in together. I almost got swept away and sent tumbling by the pulsing wave of demonic energy.

["Piss off, this is not a fight for you to interfere in!"]

"With words like that..."

["This is a fight between me and Wrath!"]

"...!"

But what was it talking about right now?

No matter how serious of an expression it makes, what's not allowed is not allowed. To arbitrarily rename someone else's character. I'm going to permanently fix your name as Moby-ho too.

"... Tch."

However, apart from my bewilderment, those words seemed to have quite a bit of meaning to the Berserker. Even though she put on an extremely disgruntled face, she lowered her weapon and stepped back.

Why in the world. Those words slipped out naturally. No, seriously, why?

"You, why are you coming back?"

I wasn't the only one experiencing bewilderment. The Archmage, who had been casting buffs from behind, was also dumbfounded.

It was understandable. Aside from a damage dealer throwing the game, he had just finished chanting the Haste magic. Blood pressure is bound to rise when someone throws the game after you've gone through the trouble of buffing them.

"It is a battle of warriors. A Norda warrior does not interfere in a fair duel between two people."

"I-I don't think that's something that should come up right now."

"Then, when should it come up?"

E-Exactly... It made me wonder if that thing could even be considered a warrior, but it was also a bit ambiguous to say it definitely wasn't a warrior.

It made sense; the problem was its origin as a demon, but it wasn't like it had acted cowardly...?

... Probably not? The one who acted really cheaply was Biryuho, who took a hostage, while that guy... that guy... Wait, that guy also did something to DeB! Does that not count?

Or does anything go as long as it's a duel, even if it's not a warrior? I don't know the standards.

I tried to gauge the Berserker's standards, but soon gave up. At first glance, simple people are the ones whose inner thoughts are the hardest to understand.

So what I needed to do wasn't to look at her in dismay, but to face Moby-ho alone.

"You, even so...!"

"Watch, Mage. Or do you not believe? In the victory of our comrade?"

"No, that's not what I mean..."

"What is going on?!"

In truth, this might be more comfortable. The Berserker and I didn't synergize well, and the Inquisitor's attacks dealt damage to me too.

["Now, the stage is set. Come, Wrath."]

"Do not dirty my ears with your lowly language and words."

Hmm, come to think of it, it wasn't just at the level of 'might be more comfortable,' it was an absolute win. Since I always hunted boss mobs alone anyway, I didn't particularly need anyone else's help.

"Die, demon."

Therefore, I ignored the conversation between the Berserker, the Archmage, and the Inquisitor, and clashed with Moby-ho.

GRIND. My blade and the opponent's fingernails engaged in a slight test of strength.

Then Moby-ho stepped one pace closer and thrust out its clenched right hand. The fingernails, gathered like an awl, lightly scratched my cheek.

SLASH!

But Moby-ho wasn't the only one who could attack empty-handed. Infusing my fingernails with demonic energy, I clawed upwards from below.

Moby-ho swiftly retreated. It was something I had already expected. Although I didn't really know why it was staggering so much when the attack hadn't even reached it.

While feeling a sense of incongruity, I thrust my sword forward in time with Moby-ho's movements.

The continuously generating magic spears also plummeted down, targeting every possible avenue the opponent could use to escape.

RUMBLE!

Moby-ho also didn't just stand there and take it.

It frowned slightly, and rather than dodging with its body directly, it shot vines up from the floor.

As a precursor, a part of the floor had heaved, so avoiding it wasn't difficult.

My body stepped around, avoiding the branches that sprouted up in spirals.

["Die!"]

Immediately following, ice spears that formed in the air poured down on me. Rather than being thrown in a straight line, they seemed to have a slight homing function, flying in arcs.

Fortunately, my speed was faster, and I could smash them with my longsword, so it wasn't a big problem. It was just slightly annoying.

CLANG, CLATTER.

Anyway, the ice, shattered by metal, turned into fragments and scattered in all directions.

The branches that grew from the floor didn't disappear over time, becoming quite meaningful obstacles.

Thus, instead of hastily lunging at Moby-ho, I ran around in a circle, cutting the thorns and observing Moby-ho.

It was standing slightly crooked, continuing to shoot out only ranged attacks without moving.

From my perspective, knowing that charging in together with these ranged attacks was more powerful, it was a puzzling attitude.

SSSSS.

However, that puzzle was also soon solved.

It was because the guy's body, which had been dyed pitch-black, occasionally turned white, revealing its inside. Seeing Moby-ho's brow furrow every time that happened, I suspected it was trying to stop Biryuho from waking up again.

CLANG!

On top of that, this bastard was a bit clumsy in close combat. I thought it was strange from the point where it had noticeably staggered earlier, or how it couldn't move cleanly, and how its reactions were delayed overall, but it really just couldn't use its body well.

I figured maybe it hadn't adapted because it wasn't its original body... but whatever the reason, if the guy was sloppy, that was enough for me.

["Fall back!"]

Even more so if it proved it by using knockbacks this frequently.

I was hit by a massive stream of water and pushed back. Since it wasn't ordinary water, my body was torn rather than soaked.

They were at the level of scratches, but seeing as it tore through my clothes and bandages and left hundreds of wounds on my skin, the word 'torn' probably wasn't entirely wrong.

But would I stop here?

As if I would.

To drive the fight into close combat, I kicked off the ground again the moment I was pushed back.

["Kuk!"]

Moby-ho, having read my blatant intentions, urgently prepared its next skill.

Water surged from beneath Moby-ho's feet and began to cover the surrounding ground as if overflowing.

CRACK, CRACK, CRACK. The streams of water pouring in like waves smoothly froze in stages with a clear sound. If I landed on that, my balance would collapse.

"Pathetic."

At that point, I realized the reason the thorns hadn't disappeared.

This was given to me to use as footholds at a time like this.

SLASH!

Even if that wasn't the actual intention, I understood it that way for now.

Thus, even if the power became terrible, I shot out sword energy as widely as possible. The upper parts of the spiral thorns were cut off in chunks, taking on a form that was fine to step on.

My body ascended onto them.

["You are nothing but a clown!"]

I don't know about that. I don't remember ever seeing a clown dressed so drearily.

I rushed at Moby-ho, stepping on the footholds that weren't really footholds. Lumps of ice were endlessly generated and aimed at me, but it didn't matter. I could crush them without magic power.

CREAK.

Then, confirming the sound coming from the longsword, I threw the sword. It was with the mindset of finishing this before the longsword broke.

The sword, thoroughly saturated with magic power, flew like a spear.

["It will not work!"]

Contrary to its words, it must have felt threatened.

Moby-ho temporarily stopped the ice spears it had been continuously generating and focused on blocking the sword. Vines grew in an instant and formed a shield.

CRASH!

The blade lodged deeply into the shield.

At the same time, my hand grabbed and pulled out the two-handed sword on my back.

Boiling magic power was injected into the silver blade, spewing out three sharp branches.

The wooden vine shield shattered into three pieces. Moby-ho, seen beyond it, was lying flat on its stomach, uncharacteristically.

It was the most efficient way to dodge, but it was unexpected.

I didn't think it would dodge like that, if only out of pride.

["Die."]

However, unexpected or not, a failure in prediction always demands a price in a fight.

The moment I confirmed the opponent charging like a wild beast, I made a judgment. I couldn't dodge this.

SHATTER!

But even if I couldn't dodge, that didn't mean giving up. The moment my decision was made, I abandoned the two-handed sword and grabbed a piece of the shattered shield that was about to fall downwards. It was the longsword I had thrown earlier.

The thing lifted along with the shield piece got wedged between me and Moby-ho, blocking a portion of its attack. Of course, even so, my left shoulder was grabbed, and its fingernails dug straight in.

A slight pain and the message 「Poison!」 popped up at the same time.

["Foolish."]

In addition, the vines lodged in the longsword suddenly extended new branches and began to bind my body.

"Demon Knight!"

"Do not go out. The fight is not over yet."

From behind, the Inquisitor's urgent voice and the Berserker's voice stopping her could be heard.

["Die!"]

What should I do about this. It had grown too thick to break by enhancing my body with magic power.

Yet, to perform Ground Crash, there was no space. The principle of it was condensing magic power into the blade, then instantly injecting that condensed magic power into the earth to spread it to the surroundings...

Wait, didn't that mean I ultimately didn't need space?

If so, was I an idiot? To apply everything else but not apply this?

Strictly speaking, spreading spiral magic power to the surroundings was also an application of this... but I couldn't erase the feeling of having become a bit of a fool.

With a sense of dejection, I poured magic power into the blade I was still holding. Then, the moment the magic power gathered to a certain extent, I detonated it.

That whole process took exactly two seconds. It was exactly the point when Moby-ho surrounded the area with hundreds of ice spears and fired them at me.

"Things like this."

Blades of magic power poured out from the sword blade, followed by my arm, upper body, and legs, tearing apart the clothes around my sleeves and the entirety of the wisteria vines. It was as if a biting gale of blades was blowing with me at the center.

"Will not work."

Moreover, they weren't satisfied with just my clothing and wood fragments.

Their next target became the hundreds of ice spears being shot at me. CRUMBLE. Like entering a grinder, all the ice spears shattered into pieces.

["...!"]

"D-Demon Knight!"

"See, didn't the Berserker say he would be fine."

Thousands, tens of thousands of ice fragments fluttered in the air, turning the world into a pure white snowfield. The chill they harbored temporarily froze my breath white.

And in the midst of that, I pierced through the ice powder and slammed the longsword down in a long arc. Breaker. The astonished Moby-ho swung its arm in a similar manner.

SLASH!

I didn't cut it completely, but I slashed it, cutting halfway through its forearm.

Unclean black blood splattered on the floor.

["You shouldn't even have flames!"]

Yeah, I don't need them.

I kept the comical tone in my thoughts and reached my arm into the empty air below. The reason I deliberately used Breaker was to ring the earth, using the impact to pop the two-handed sword up into the air.

Of course, it didn't pop up that high due to its weight, but that much was fully covered by my waist, which had lowered from slamming the sword down, and my outstretched arm.

CLANG!

My right hand grabbed the hilt and urgently pulled it up. I had no intention of swinging it properly; it was a substitute for a shield.

The blade, blocking my front diagonally, stood in the way of Moby-ho's fingernails.

Is it my turn again with this? I fired a Bombard to the front with my longsword, then maintained it as is and swept the front.

My magic power was now truly at its tail end, but at the point where I could count the newly generated ice spears with my eyes, and at the point where a part of its body revealed its white core, I had a hunch.

That guy is at its limit now too.

["Not yet, it's not the end yet...!"]

"It is the end."

A beam and a blade. Something somewhere between the two soundlessly cut through most of what Moby Dick and Biryuho had summoned.

Moby-ho barely managed to dodge, and some things were outside the path and weren't destroyed, but this was a decent harvest.

The white portion of Moby-ho finally took over half of its face, summoning out the original owner.

["I, Biryuho, am not yet—!"]

The ice spears I hadn't managed to eliminate grazed past the nape of my neck, my side, and my thigh, but this couldn't stop me.

Looking at Biryuho's desperate face, I moved my sword again in the opposite direction from what I had just swung.

Moby Dick, or perhaps Biryuho, changed its form into a tiger as if throwing a final fit and lunged at me, but it was already too late.

"Apologize with your death."

SLASH!

The slash cleaved the giant tiger. The blade, having reached its limit, shattered to pieces, breaking apart from the tip like it was disintegrating, instead of snapping cleanly as usual.

THUD!

Now, all that remained was a sword hilt with its blade gone, and the corpse of a tiger divided into a head and a torso.

"To everything you toyed with."

Cough.

At the same time, the blood I had been barely holding back forced my knees to buckle.