Volume 6 Chapter 30 Obsession And The Great Pirate's Exit
Brave Rangella had fallen.
The hero who once defeated the Demon Lord and saved the world was the first to be taken out.
It shocked everyone—especially the nobles attending the World Conference.
Although the event had already begun to fade into recent memory, the echoes of Ashton Duke Lecoitenides's rampage still lingered. A special meeting had been held at a hidden location under the authority of the World Conference.
There, Rangella had stood tall—her sheer presence overwhelming all others. Her aura alone had pushed back the room, a display of undeniable strength.
Rangella was the symbol of power among the "ordinary nobles"—those who held little strength themselves and feared provoking the truly strong.
And yet, someone like Masamitsu had defeated her with a single blow.
How terrifying must he be, to take down a legend so easily?
"...If Rangella had kept fighting, the backlash alone might've taken out four or five people," someone muttered.
"For a moment, I even froze up. That was the full might of the Brave who felled the Demon Lord... and to cut her down so cleanly, I should've done more research on Moonlight Nine," another said.
"Well, Masamitsu is special in a lot of ways."
Sumeragi, known as the God of Iron-Cutting, stood facing Sword-Eyed Cain. The clash between them paused.
"Masamitsu is special, huh?"
"He's a superhuman—someone who's pulled entire organizations back from the brink more than once. Every group has its good times and crises. The calm days you can handle with procedures... but when emergencies hit, that's when people like him shine."
"You'd understand that if you were the commander of a Knight Order," said Cain. "But let's be honest: most problems can be solved with a sword and some good old intimidation."
"Masamitsu excels at both. But that kind of strength requires more than skill—it needs passion."
"Passion?"
"Yes. For us, intimidation and mastery of the sword both rely on controlling magical power. And magical power isn't something that just obeys you. It bends to emotion and image. You need conviction to wield it with authority."
"...And Masamitsu still carries that kind of passion?"
"Exactly. He's obsessed—with something. But let's put that aside for now."
Sumeragi raised his blade again.
"...Speaking of obsessions, you seem quite curious about the Demon Lord."
"A single human living among us for fifteen years without incident... It's not something you see every age."
"That's true."
"No matter what status you hold, it's a mystery worth pondering. Earlier I said some things can be resolved through swordplay and intimidation—but the Demon Lord is different. His skill, Absolute Domination, doesn't hurt anyone. He just makes them submit."
"Hm."
"If power like that truly exists... wouldn't anyone at least wonder about it?"
"...I suppose so."
The Demon Lord's power was absolute.
And here stood a man with overwhelming strength.
Technically, Rangella and the others had defeated the Demon Lord once before. But now, they were stronger than ever. And yet, Masamitsu had taken Rangella down without breaking a sweat.
Masamitsu belonged to a group called Moonlight Nine. It was hard to believe that even they had remained untouched by the influence of the Demon Lord, who had spread chaos for over a decade.
If the world couldn't fix it, maybe someone like Masamitsu could've done something.
But he hadn't.
When Horace heard that Masamitsu would join the Blood Duel Cup, a troubling thought crossed his mind: Is it really okay for him to step into the spotlight?
Masamitsu's very existence might carry historical weight.
Maybe he avoided fighting the Demon Lord to stay in the shadows. Or maybe he simply chose not to act.
One thing was certain—the Demon Lord's influence, especially over men, was dangerously powerful.
And anyone standing at the top would be tempted to use such a force.
"...That being said, I get it now. You—and your brother—are both interested in the Demon Lord."
Sumeragi gave a knowing smile.
"Me and Abel? Well, it doesn't seem like we have any plans to say anything more, so I guess we'll just have to talk with our swords."
Cain gave no answer. He simply drew his blade and charged.
* * *
...Elsewhere.
"...What do you think of your disciple losing?"
"If Rangella had kept going at that pace, you wouldn't have walked away unscathed either, Garboros."
"True... But they're stronger now than when they defeated the Demon Lord. What's going on?"
"Huh?"
"You didn't know? She traveled to the ocean kingdom of Abystal recently."
"I didn't expect the Five-Star Pirates' captain to know Rangella."
"That story goes back to a few months after I met you. Back then, she wielded ice like a blade. Now... her strength is like an ice dragon. You must've noticed something."
"...I can't say I haven't."
"I figured. Either way, if Rangella had pushed the fight further, she wouldn't have come out unharmed."
"That's true."
Horace let out a breath.
"In the end, it means you can't handle someone like Rangella easily, Garboros."
"...Tch."
There was a glint in Horace's eyes.
A heartbeat later, a flash of light struck Garboros.
Releasing a wave of immense magical energy, the great pirate vanished from the battlefield.
Notes:
• Ran - A silver-haired, busty, and beautiful young girl with a dominating spirit. She is one of the 'Four Source Maidens' and is deeply affected by her mother's disappearance.
• Masamitsu - Known as the Holy Knight. Member of the 'Moonlight Nine'. His appearance is not described. He expresses concern about Horace being in the spotlight, indicating a friendly or cautious relationship.
• Sumeragi - One of the Five Divine Gods, known as the 'God of Iron-Slicing.' He introduces himself with a pleasant smile and seems to have a purpose in meeting Horace.
• Cain - A 14-year-old beautiful boy with short, light purple hair. Newly appointed Commander of the Diamante Kingdom Knight Order. Highly talented and efficient, tasked with managing the 'Forest of Souls' dungeon and participating in the Blood Duel Cup. Twin brother of Abel.
• Abel - Cain's twin brother. Works in the castle and serves as the dungeon management supervisor. His role allows Cain to focus on his duties without worry.
• Garboros - Known as the Royal Table. Captain of the Captain of the Five-Star Pirates. His appearance is not described, but he is known for his immense strength, capable of taking down powerful sea monsters alone. He is primarily interested in gourmet food and has little regard for honor or material possessions. His relationship with Horace is one of acquaintance, and he participates in the Blood Duel Cup seemingly for the experience.
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