NOVEL NEXT It was definitely not a bad situation.
I wouldn’t say it was advantageous, but at least there was some back-and-forth in the battle with Cheon Ha-rang.
Sure, they had been at a disadvantage until now, but with Anna and Bell arriving like saviors at the last moment, the future was anyone’s guess.
Right… that must have been the case.
“Master, am I very late?”
If this kid hadn’t shown up unannounced.
“Hmm… it seems you arrived just in time.”
“Ah.”
As she stared at the huge sword blocking her path, Camilla couldn’t help but frown in frustration.
“This really is hopeless.”
What on earth is happening here?
Just as a glimmer of hope began to form, another disaster appeared to mock them.
Cheon Ha-rang. Even when this monster was solo, the battle was unfavorable.
“…this damn swordsman.”
The monster’s disciple appears out of nowhere?
‘Why now of all times?’
This is a tragicomedy if I’ve ever seen one.
“…What the.”
However, even as the situation looked dire, surrendering was not an option.
“Gah!”
Camilla placed her feet on her great sword that’s obstructing her and kicked it backward, sending Nameless flying away.
Then, Anna and Lucius launched an assault, not on Cheon Ha-rang, but on Nameless.
“…Tch.”
“Hey, be careful.”
“Thank you.”
Easily dodging the attack aimed at him, Harang calmly commented, as a stormy silence filled the moment between the two groups.
‘So… what now?’
This thought crossed everyone’s mind, not just Camilla’s.
How do we stop her?
To interpret the current situation, given Nameless’s appearance, using physical force to halt her was out of the question.
If they clashed, one of the two groups would undoubtedly lose their lives.
The odds favored them being the ones to bite the bullet, and even if it was the other way around, that outcome wasn’t what the hero’s party desired.
‘We should avoid fighting in this standoff, if at all possible.’
That was overly optimistic, but it was certainly the best course of action.
Then, what about another method?
‘Should we appeal to her emotions?’
Could they stop Cheon Ha-rang through feelings rather than force?
Her nature was clearly one of good.
She must be uncomfortable with what she’s doing. But.
‘This is nonsense.’
In fact, it was downright absurd.
If persuasion had worked, they wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Since it didn’t work, here they were!
‘Another way…’
They have to find a different approach.
With a hope that ‘perhaps someone else might have a brilliant idea,’ Camilla scanned her surroundings.
“…”
Perhaps they were all equally stumped, as only dismal gazes were exchanged.
‘No answer in sight.’
Camilla couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
Then the path of least resistance popped into her mind.
‘Should I just give up?’
Hadn’t they put in enough effort by now?
If they gave up here, there wouldn’t be anyone left to throw stones at them.
But was there truly no other option?
Were they really going to just sit and watch Cheon Ha-rang, for better or for worse, commit murder against a being called a god in this world? A divine slaying?
What would happen then?
There had never been a time without a god, so they couldn’t tell if the world would continue because of its existence—or simply fade away.
Even if it did continue, what kind of gaze would the remaining world cast upon Cheon Ha-rang?
Or would she even remain here? Would it truly lead to an irrevocable outcome?
‘…This is annoying.’
The more her thoughts spiraled, the more she craved to escape from this situation comfortably.
Initially, their team didn’t know the true goal of her mission, so this frustration grew.
It would have been nice if she just told them directly, but Cheon Ha-rang seemed to distrust them, not sharing anything about herself.
Then, when the silence went on for quite a while, and a headache began to surface.
Was it the discomfort from this silence?
“Nameless.”
Or was it that time was running out, as Cheon Ha-rang took a step back and spoke.
“Can you hold on for a moment?”
“Yes, Master.”
Responding to his master’s question, Nameless raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
“I can hold on for at least half a moment.”
“…Alright, I’m sorry but I need your help.”
“My sky-like Master must not carry guilt for this foolish disciple.”
“Pfft… alright.”
After a quick reply, Cheon Ha-rang stepped back, and in her place, Cheon Mu-myeong stood forward.
At that moment, determination sparkled in Camilla’s eyes.
‘A moment, about 15 minutes, huh?’
Ah. A flicker of hope had ignited.
Why? Was Cheon Ha-rang stepping away from this spot because she was truly stressed?
Someone with that kind of power, scared? The one who wants to handle everything herself?
Leaving her disciple behind and retreating like that?
‘No way.’
As this thought crossed her mind, a smile crept onto Camilla’s face.
“Old lady, there’s not much time left, huh?”
“…”
Although she received no answer, the silence itself confirmed it.
While the exact reason was unclear, Cheon Ha-rang was clearly running out of time.
If she had to guess, it was about the sphere that was escaping her grasp, but even if that weren’t the case, she likely wanted to prevent unnecessary variables from arising.
‘Alright.’
As this thought fully formed, smiles began to appear on the faces of the entire party, not just Camilla’s.
A small chance had emerged to stop her.
While it was a slim probability, it was a chance nonetheless.
How could they not rejoice?
‘If we just keep that old lady away from getting there…!’
However, to do that, there was one wall they had to overcome.
“I’ll take you on since the Master is busy.”
That wall had just stepped in front of them, adding:
“Here I come.”
And as Nameless finished speaking, with a boom! he leaped toward Lucius, his movements rough against the ground.
For just a moment, he was fast enough to disappear from the party’s line of sight.
An ordinary person would have been torn in half by that one move, but Lucius was also a hero known for overcoming numerous trials.
He was no mere observer, either.
Creeeak! The radiant light of the holy sword clashed against the gloomy blade of Nameless.
Bang! Nameless’s sword swept down the face of the holy sword and lodged itself into the ground.
For just a moment, an impact trembled through Lucius’s hand, causing his brow to furrow.
Immediately, Nameless gritted his teeth and swung the blade toward Lucius’s wrist.
Normally, his master would have chastised him for such a precarious stance.
“Ugh…!”
However, this was enough of a threat.
From the beginning, Nameless’s goal was to keep anyone from reaching his master, Cheon Ha-rang.
He didn’t need to defeat them; simply drawing their attention was enough to achieve his aim.
And to prove this point.
Bang!
Camilla, noticing Lucius was in danger, hurled her great sword toward Nameless.
“Hey, dumbass. Stop dragging it out and come at me already!”
An obvious provocation, Nameless narrowed his eyes. Then, without hesitation.
“Ugh!”
With a stealthy approach toward his master, Anna swung her sword and calmly added:
“Nobody is allowed to reach the Master.”
“…Tch, things never go easily.”
*
God. More precisely, it was before that damned creature shrouded in the sphere.
Just one step forward.
Just one step away, and it would all be over.
They’d be liberated from the irritating curse, from the nightmare that had lingered for eons.
They could finally achieve true freedom.
“…Is this really the end?”
A question suddenly arose in his mind.
If things went as intended, by killing this god, he would complete the Divine Slaying Sword Technique and elevate his rank, finally attaining ascension…
‘Is this truly what I want?’
Is returning to that place with this body genuinely desirable to me?
Like always running away like a bug. Is this something I truly desire to do?
“…I really don’t know.”
Just one step away.
His thoughts tangled, feeling like he was spiraling into madness.
Was there truly no other way?
Could it not have been possible for everyone to laugh and share in the happiness instead of me making sacrifices?
Was I really just going to be the final boss of this story, resulting in the hero defeated by the Demon King, leading to the world’s destruction?
…Was my disciple, the one I dearly love, to be pushed to the brink?
“Ha…”
Bubbling up from all the questions was an uncontrollable laughter.
I really am just a coward at heart. Excessively timid, hesitating until the very last moment.
Truly, infuriatingly so, I have not changed at all.
Alright. I’ve made up my mind.
In the end, I won’t hesitate; I’ll just do what I want.
“That’s all that matters. Yes.”
Immediately after, the sword plunged down.
Light exploded forth.