Someone put his hands together in prayer, and the people beside him followed suit ― and soon almost everyone on the city walls had their hands together as they looked to the sky.
It felt like they were at worship.
…This is mythology…
Neia did not know how much time had passed, but eventually ― there was a commotion among the people.
Before everyone’s eyes, one of the shapes in the sky fell towards the east ― and then it vanished.
The battle was over.
As everyone watched closely, the remaining shape slowly descended. Neia’s vision was better than most, and so she saw it first. It shocked her so much that she had to press her hand over her mouth.
When the others saw the crimson fire, the city walls were silent. However, nobody tried to flee. Everyone who had seen the battle knew that there was no point in running.
With a flap of his fiery wings, the victor (Jaldabaoth) showed himself.
Though he was the victor in name, he was a tragic sight.
His entire body was covered in electrical scorch marks. Half his face seemed to have been crushed, and his deep wounds oozed fresh blood. Perhaps it was due to its temperature, but the blood sizzled as it touched the city walls, and the sound did not stop for a moment.
No words could have described the intensity of their battle better than the way he looked now.
“No way…”
A weighty, yet somewhat pained voice echoed across the city walls, as though to wipe away Neia’s muttering.
“…What a mighty opponent. One of the strongest I faced since Momon. I underestimated him. How foolish. Leading the demihumans nearly became meaningless. However ― yes, however, he is dead.”
Neia could not believe this. Therefore, she cried out:
“You’re lying!”
Jaldabaoth turned his intact eye toward Neia, but she did not budge despite being bathed in the gaze of a creature from a completely different order of life. The intense emotions within her heart left no room for fear to enter.
“I am not lying.”
“His Majesty is very bad at jokes… so you’re lying, right?”
“I am not lying.”
The words Jaldabaoth had repeated hit Neia hard enough to shatter her soul.
The world seemed to shake under her feet.
Neia instantly understood why the Sorcerer King had lost to Jaldabaoth. There was no need to even think about it.
It was simply because this country lacked Blue Rose’s Evileye and Darkness’s Nabe, the two magic casters who could hold the maid demons at bay.
No, there was another reason apart from that.
“If that undead had been in top condition, I might have been defeated instead. But to think he actually expended his mana for the sake of humans like you ― truly, he was a fool who did not know his priorities. For that, I thank you.”
I knew it! I knew it, weakness truly is a sin!
Neia was absolutely certain that she was correct.
“For that I shall reward you. The reward shall be your lives.”
“…What do you mean?”
Jaldabaoth snorted in delight at the question from an unknown source.
“I’m saying that I will spare you. At least, for now.”
Someone sighed in relief, but Neia was furious.
“Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit! It’s all a pack of lies! Everything you say is a lie! Who would believe what a devil says!?”
“It seems you are unable to accept reality. Are you mad, human? Pitiful.” Jaldabaoth pointed to Neia. “Disapp… I see,” and then he immediately withdrew the finger.
“What’s wrong, Jaldabaoth!”
“You intend to provoke me and thus prove I am lying?…Is losing your life worth that much? I cannot understand it, but it seems to be the case.”
Neia’s teeth creaked as she clenched them.
Jaldabaoth had to be lying.
He had to be a liar, the kind who would tell a ridiculous lie like the Sorcerer King was dead.
“I will not allow it. Your lives have been saved. Now then, I will return for now. I must recover from these wounds. During that time, you may weep your tears of despair.”
As Jaldabaoth was about to take off with a flap of his wings, Neia’s hands moved with a mind of their own.
She readied her bow ― and let loose a shot.
She had fired from directly behind him, without giving any warning of her intentions.
However, Jaldabaoth immediately turned and seized the arrow. Despite his terrible wounds, he was still very agile.
Jaldabaoth turned to face Neia, and then his eyes went to Neia’s bow, the Ultimate Shootingstar Super. After that, his wrath-twisted feature changed slightly.
“Ohh!? Ah! What an incredible weapon this is! I haven’t seen a weapon like this in so long! That was close, it almost finished me off!”
Jaldabaoth gesticulated wildly with his limbs as he said that. He seemed composed, but also quite anxious.
“What kind of weapon is this!? How was it made?”
“As if I’d tell you!”
What on earth is he thinking? Neia’s mind boiled over with scorching hate.
How could she tell this liar what she had learned from the Sorcerer King?
“How could I tell a liar like you!?”
“Muu, ah, don’t, don’t tell me, was it made by runecraft?”
Naia’s heart lurched for a moment as he hit the nail on the head. Although she had managed to calm down a little, as her broken heart recalled the compassionate figure of the Sorcerer King once more, her anger reawakened.
“You’re wrong!”
Neia screamed like she cared for nothing else, and Jaldabaoth groaned. Taking that as an opening, Neia fired again.
Her next target was his feet, which were hard for the hands to reach.
This time, Jaldabaoth frantically moved his feet to avoid the arrow.
He’s wary of it! Maybe this bow could―!
There could only be one reason why Jaldabaoth had so desperately evaded her shot when he had been indifferent to being stabbed in the back by the holy sword. What else could it be, if not that this bow could harm him?
A wave of regret assaulted Neia as her eyes filled with tears.
She realized that she should have joined that battle, even if she would have perished swiftly. If she could have hit him with the Ultimate Shootingstar Super, then she should have taken part, even if it was just to be a shield. If she had, then maybe―
Neia launched another arrow.
Jaldabaoth moved his head. The arrow missed and flew off to parts unknown.
“Hit, damn you!”
She fired again.
And again.
But none of her shots found their mark. Despite his size and his severe wounds, Jaldabaoth had still evaded Neia’s attacks with startling ease.
“Rune―”
“―Shut up!”
Neia fired another arrow to shut Jaldabaoth up.
However, it too missed.
Why? Why isn’t anyone attacking?
She could understand their inability to strike Jaldabaoth because he was airborne. However, even so, how could they simply let the lying demon who had killed the most merciful Sorcerer King go free?
“..Muu. Well, eh, I guess it can’t be helped… no? 「Greater Teleportation」.”
Jaldabaoth suddenly vanished.
“Get back here!!!”
Neia looked around.
All she saw were the wide-eyed faces of people who were shocked by what Neia had done. Jaldabaoth was nowhere in sight.
“Motherfucker! He ran away!”
“Calm down!” Remedios shouted.
The angry cry of a mighty being could exert a pressure of its own, and normally it would have brought Neia back to her senses or even made her freeze up. However, it did little more than annoy Neia right now.