LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 196 – Performance Competition (6)
“The wicked invaders… They truly reveal their true colors.”
The one who shot the fleeing ones appears to be the commander. But more bothersome than that is the special bullets they fired.
It’s a slowly spreading aftereffect of magical technology. No, that power is definitely provided by Razak.
“Don’t try to confuse us! Just shoot!”
At the shout from one of them, they poured another pathetic attack filled with weak magic at me.
It’s a level of attack that barely tickles, and I can’t help but laugh. As far as I know, this religious area doesn’t have any magical girls, but it looks like they somehow managed to survive in this era where monsters are rampant.
I wonder if a Smalillian like that would have lasted even a month if they appeared here.
“And I clearly warned you. You’re going to be torn to pieces by my hands if you don’t burn.”
My quaking shadow surged forth, splitting the air and ground. Countless blades that an ordinary person wouldn’t even dare to react to sliced through their bodies in a single strike.
There’s nothing more to see. I turned my body toward the underground where Razak’s traces remained before the corpses of those who bled out hit the ground.
[I arrived first.]
“Don’t you see that I’m the one who finished this?!”
Inevitably, it had to end up like this. With Michael’s intrusion, I dodged him and smashed through walls and floors, heading straight down.
[…Who are you?]
That was when I encountered someone who was there. Amidst the thick dust, a small figure draped in black cloth stood with pumping Razak’s biological materials behind her.
“Wait. That girl is a magical girl.”
And before I could freeze, Ren recognized the identity of the opponent first and sighed.
“What are you talking about? You said there were no magical girls in this area.”
“You never know. Although it was agreed to withdraw from here, there might be companies that attempted secretly.”
Thinking back, I never had any expectations from fairies in the first place. Indeed, I could sense the unrefined magical girl’s unique magic from the opponent.
“I don’t know who you are, but it’d be better if you step aside.”
“Are you judgment? The judgment that has come to this land…”
“What?”
“The judgment that has descended upon this land…”
She slowly removed the black cloth covering her body. Including her splendid attire, she looked like a typical magical girl with the appearance of a local girl.
“I know who you are, Takilas. I’m a magical girl as well.”
“And yet, you’re quite calm. I’ve come down and wiped out those above according to my notorious reputation. It’s funny that they allowed magical girls; why have you allied with them?”
I slightly raised my guard. The unnamed magical girl had eyes that exhibited a life abandoned, a state of transcendence.
Indeed, no one in this world is without a backstory.
“I didn’t ally with them. I… had no choice.”
Biting her lip, she confessed her circumstances. Hearing that was heartbreaking. Her parents were on the verge of being killed by terrorists, and the mascot that approached her lured her into making a contract in her time of crisis.
The terrorists who took her parents hostage didn’t treat her like the existing magical girls; instead, they used her as their weapon.
“Criminals chanting the names of gods and deceiving people. But they were not true believers, and the god they called upon… wasn’t a real god.”
“Then go save your parents. I might have to cause some chaos here a little longer, during which that chaos may help you.”
I clicked my tongue as I tried to send her off. I had to accumulate some results anyway; it felt a bit ambiguous to end things here.
“I can’t save them now. They are already…”
[Foolish words, step aside.]
However, one who had a worse temperament than I did didn’t give me much time.
[Even if the god you believe in exists in your world, the god of heaven does not heed the cries of the weeping. There are those in this world who are more desperate, sorrowful, and angry than you.]
“You…!”
[If you wish for a miracle, move and prove it. If you say it’s likely to fail, too inefficient, or too difficult to do, then your only solution is to fade away and die with such a small vessel. Ultimately, you are the master of your own life.]
She flared up at Michael’s words, but Michael didn’t even blink. After all, he was truly a being in a position to be worshipped. It stung, but the chances of his words being true were high.
“Ha, I know. In the end, the biggest problem is that my power was insufficient. If I had enough power, I could have killed everyone like you, Takilas.”
However, the angry girl soon chuckled, glancing back. I sensed what was about to happen from there and moved my shadow.
“Ahhh!”
[You think I wouldn’t notice your sinister intent?]
Michael’s flames burst forth almost simultaneously. My shadow and Michael’s flames instantly shattered and burned the fragments of Razak behind her.
“It’s already… too late.”
But at this moment, she was above us.
Having swallowed the fragments we had prepared before our arrival, she fused with Razak’s power and transformed into a corrupted magical girl rampaging with rage and hatred.
“Foolish.”
I shot out my magic, my face wrinkling.
With overwhelming power as if about to explode, she was sliced in half by my shadow’s blades and fell to the floor along with the ceiling and walls behind her.
*
“You all seem to be busy running around. Has Takilas completely passed this on to you?”
“Sa, Sandalphon!”
At that moment, somewhere in the Middle East, a deeply rooted terrorist organization that had been a thorn in the world for many years was defeated in a sudden attack.
The ones left on the battlefield were also moving without rest.
Shia and Rene flinched as they saw Sandalphon descend nearby, wings fluttering.
“Although we are competitors, we’re not enemies that need to be killed, right?”
In response to their attitude, Sandalphon shrugged off as if he didn’t care, at which point the two began to loosen their guards somewhat.
“I assume you know since Takilas must have informed you? Why Takilas and Michael went so far away.”
“Razak’s machinations. We must find him and stop him.”
“Ah, that’s correct.”
In response to Rene’s stern face, he smiled lightly and nodded.
“However, I’d like to discuss something a little more… discreet right now.”
And at that moment, Sandalphon raised his power and instantly generated a kind of reverse field that enveloped the area. It blocked both radio and sound waves, creating a separated space.
Rene and Shia, fearing he was attacking them, quickly prepared for combat, but Sandalphon merely plopped down on the ruined car hood.
“I want no one to have the results that Razak possesses.”
“Excuse…?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to spare or release him. I want a third party to take him out, so that none of us can reap the benefits.”
Despite his relaxed posture, the words coming from Sandalphon were quite shocking. Both of them were at a loss for words from the surprise.
“If one side manages to capture Razak, the balance of this competition would collapse too quickly.”
“It sounds like you want this contest to last longer than usual.”
“That’s right. Didn’t I mention it? I’m more serious about this contest than anyone else.”
Sandalphon, with a smile, did not deny Rene’s tense words.
“Earthlings may not know, but you do. What the great war signifies. It’s a terrible disaster that turns everything upside down. The demon races called it fate, while we called it a holy war. But is that true? Those who actively supported the war, when I came here, my thoughts changed.”
Sandalphon revealed his true feelings, how he had felt and experienced that transformation.
“Is it for Earth alone? No, it isn’t. Just like Asmael-sama, I love my homeland the most. Therefore, I came to believe that the great war is wrong.”
“If, if that’s the case, please allow the contest to be put on hold. The Demon King! The great war was never something he intended to start from the beginning!”
“That’s impossible. There are a few who were as radical as I once was, but there are still angels who desire war making up the majority of the factions.”
But he shook his head at Rene’s cry. All this change was only possible because he had come to this place with a physical body. Convincing the other angels who hadn’t experienced that would be impossible.
“So, there is only one answer. This contest must continue, forever, endlessly.”
“…!”
“It may be selfish, but I like it here. I want to stay longer. Because I can feel things I haven’t felt in ages, things I no longer even remember. So how about the Demon King? Doesn’t Demon King Takilas dislike living here? You must know since you’re the Demon King’s lover.”
“I, I’m not… No, it’s true, but that’s…”
As Sandalphon tilted his head, Rene’s face turned red, and she hastily shook her head. But at the same time, she couldn’t deny his words.
The Demon King desires life in this place.
Rene had seen entirely how Takilas enjoyed this life, having put down his duties and responsibilities.