The Death Mage Who Doesn’t Want a Fourth Time Chapter 185

Note from the translator:

I made a translating error at the end of the last chapter; the woman who appears in the burning forest is a Colossus, not a t.i.tan. My apologies.

Yoshi

The Colossus woman approached Cuatro, kicking aside the fleeing monsters and burning trees at her feet.

She was awe-inspiring, beautiful, and there was an aura of divinity around her entire body. If one didn’t notice her size and the fact that the ground trembled with each step she took… no, even if they did, they would a.s.sume that she was a G.o.ddess.

“I am the Moon Giant Deeana. I am one of the children of Zerno, the Colossus G.o.d. I presume that you are the holy son of Vida, the new champion, and these are your companions?” the Colossus asked, standing on the edge of the burning forest.

Her tone was gentle, but Oniwaka, Kanako, Doug, Melissa and Cuatro shrank back, feeling overwhelmed.

But Vandalieu seemed very delighted at the fact that the Colossus had called him “champion” instead of “Demon King.”

“Yes! I am that ‘champion!’ My name is Vandalieu! The champion!” he shouted, leaning out from Cuatro’s deck.

He had even repeated the word ‘champion’ for emphasis.

“I can hear you even if you talk normally. You don’t have to lean out of the boat and scream at me. It’s dangerous, so stop that,” said Deeana, warning Vandalieu so that he wouldn’t fall into the poisonous sea, and then she cleared her throat and began speaking in her previous majestic tone once more. “I have heard news of you from Schneider and his companions, who are loyal disciples of Vida. We welcome you here from the bottom of our hearts.”

After Kanako, Doug and Melissa had returned to Talosheim with Legion, Vandalieu, having equipped Leo and Cuatro, was sitting in Deeana’s cupped palms with his companions.

“It would take months if I were to match your walking pace, after all,” she said.

The size of her body was comparable to Gyubarzo, the evil G.o.d of dark seas. Boulders and trees were crushed beneath her feet, and the nearby monsters fled for their lives. Her steps were unfaltering no matter what kind of Devil’s Nest environment she was crossing.

“It doesn’t seem to be a simple matter of distance,” Vandalieu remarked.

“Indeed. I heard from that guy and… Schneider and his companions that this place that you refer to as the Dark Continent is an a.s.sortment of Devil’s Nests with far harsher environments compared to the continents that humans inhabit, and the monsters that roam about here are powerful, of the sort that would normally only appear in Dungeons,” said Deeana. “This is the edge of the continent, so it is not really the case here, but the deeper reaches of the continent are swarming with Rank 10 monsters.”

“Rank 10 monsters… swarming…” Oniwaka murmured in awe.

Even inside the Boundary Mountain Range, Rank 10 monsters outside Dungeons were rare, the only ones around being monsters like the Hurricane Dragons that inhabited the skies above the mountain range itself.

Deeana gave a bitter smile at her reaction. “The main cause of this is Ravovifard, the evil G.o.d of release. That evil G.o.d stimulated the monsters to increase their Ranks, using them in power struggles against the other evil G.o.ds and to attack us from time to time, and now this continent is more dangerous than any other land,” she said. “But now that he is gone, the number of high-Rank monsters is gradually decreasing. Things should calm down in another hundred years… though they were going wild during the solar eclipse that occurred not long ago.”

Ravovifard had defeated the other evil G.o.ds to take control over the Dark Continent, but the continent was apparently safer than it was before now that he was gone.

“However, this has caused a burden upon you,” Deeana continued. “I have heard a rough recollection of events from that foolish Elder Dragon… I believe that Zantark will have his own words for you, but I shall apologize as well. I am sorry.”

As a result of Ravovifard managing to escape the Dark Continent, Prince Bugitas of the n.o.ble Orc nation that was an empire at the time had caused a large conflict inside the Boundary Mountain Range.

Of course, everything was a result of Ravovifard’s actions, but it seemed that Deeana felt responsibility for the incident as one of the individuals who had allowed him to escape.

“Foolish Elder Dragon?” Vandalieu repeated. “… Those words alone are enough, please do not trouble yourself over it any further. More importantly, what do you mean when you say that the monsters went wild during the solar eclipse?”

“Under the influence of the solar eclipse that Alda caused… to be precise, the ‘eclipse’ that Alda brought about by loosening his control over the light and life attributes and darkening the sun, a number of seals on evil G.o.ds that are remnants of the Demon King’s army also loosened,” Deeana explained.

It seemed that Gyubarzo, the evil G.o.d of dark seas, was not the only G.o.d to have made a return.

“The Bahn Gaia Continent is under Alda’s influence, so he should have been cautious even during the solar eclipse, but… perhaps some remained out of his sight, or perhaps it was a deliberate action by him. The seals placed by the G.o.ds have weakened,” Deeana continued. “The divine authorities of multiple great G.o.ds were used when they sealed the evil G.o.ds away during the battle against the Demon King… However, this is a result of Alda being the only G.o.d who governs the world now.”

It seemed that the seals had been loosened due to Alda loosening his control over the world in order to cause the solar eclipse. Of course, it wasn’t as if the seals on every evil G.o.d had become undone.

However, on the Dark Continent and in the seas surrounding it, there were seals that the Demon King Guduranis had left intact, thinking that he had no use for weaklings that could be defeated and sealed away. Deeana and her allies had also placed seals on numerous evil G.o.ds that they had defeated themselves, as well as the ones that they had taken the opportunity to seal away while they were weakened from their power struggle against Ravovifard.

It seemed that all of these seals being loosened at once had caused large problems.

“As a result, we have been very busy. Many of them were not particularly powerful G.o.ds, so they did not cause great incidents, but… we were supposed to alternate shifts, night and day, to welcome you. However, Tiamat used all of her strength in sealing an evil G.o.d who attempted to escape, so she is now slumbering, and I have ended up making you wait until nightfall,” said Deeana. “I do not know what intentions Alda had in bringing about this solar eclipse, but it has been of great nuisance to us.”

“It is likely that this was one of Alda’s goals,” Gufadgarn said suddenly, having listened to Deeana in silence up until this point. “He has been careful to not cause any direct damage to the Bahn Gaia continent outside the Boundary Mountain Range, but he has exhausted your strength by forcing you to deal with the evil G.o.ds whose seals were undone. Even if it caused some human casualties, Alda and his G.o.ds would support his heroes to deal with them, gaining more believers and strengthening his heroes at the same time. It does not seem to have gone as well as he thought, however.”

“You… Could it be you, Gufadgarn?” asked Deeana, her eyes opening wide.

“Yes. Did you not notice?”

It seemed that Deeana had only just noticed that the sweet, beautiful Elf girl was the vessel that contained Gufadgarn.

“If you did not, then I should be happy about it. It means that my vessel is complete enough to fool the eyes of a G.o.d,” Gufadgarn said. “It seems that I am able to act in accordance with the will of Zakkart, who desired a beautiful Elf girl.”

“… No, I did notice that there was something strange that resembles an Elf girl… However, I do not mean to be rude in saying this, but many of you are strange in my eyes.”

There was the half-n.o.ble Orc Pauvina, the Ghosts whose Ranks had increased in strange ways, Bone Man who was rational and conscious despite being an Undead, and Vandalieu, who had a stranger presence and aura than anyone. It seemed that Gufadgarn, who had remained silent until just a few moments ago, had been forgotten among such a strange group.

“I am very glad that Gufadgarn is… Wait, what did you mean by the ‘will of Zakkart?’” asked Deeana, not even trying to hide her bewilderment.

“Ah, please don’t touch on that topic yet,” said Vandalieu, stopping her. “I’ll explain everything when we meet Zantark and the others.”

There would be other G.o.ds that would be surprised by Gufadgarn’s current appearance, so he wanted to save the effort of having to repeat his explanation.

“More importantly, are you related in some way to the Sun Giant Talos?” Vandalieu asked. “Your name isn’t written anywhere in Talosheim’s records, so we haven’t heard of you.”

He wanted to change the topic, but he had also been curious about this ever since he had heard Deeana’s t.i.tle of ‘Moon Giant.’

“Indeed. I am the twin sister of the Sun Giant Talos,” Deeana said, not seeming particularly hesitant to answer Vandalieu’s question. “The Colossi created during the age of the G.o.ds, including myself, were the children of the Colossus G.o.d Zerno, but Talos and I were born at the same time. Zerno took the warmth of the sun and the light of the moon and gave each of us twins one each,” she said, giving a tender smile towards Princess Levia, who was floating behind Vandalieu. “Thus, I am the aunt of all t.i.tans. Talos and I fought together during the battle that occurred a hundred thousand years ago, but… you have gone through many hardships because we lacked strength.”

Princess Levia, who was now a Satan Prometheus Ghost after her latest Rank increase, hastily materialized into a visible form and lowered her black-red-flame-covered head. “N-no, we are not worthy of such words! But… I am sure that everyone would be delighted if you graced Talosheim with your presence one day.”

“Yes, I certainly will one day. It seems that by becoming a Ghost, you have become closer to my brother. Blessings upon you and your brethren,” said Deeana, smiling deeply at the flames that enveloped Princess Levia like robes.

The place that Deeana brought Vandalieu and his companions appeared, at first glance, to be a vast, sinister land of death, filled with lava and boulders.

But somehow, it seemed that the air did not contain any toxic volcanic gases. It was hot, of course, but not unbearably so.

With a few Demon Fires, which were cold flames that absorbed heat energy, it would become a reasonable temperature.

Just as Vandalieu was wondering about this environment, Gufadgarn voiced her thoughts.

“It is likely that the surrounding lava is not the result of volcanic activity, but the result of Zantark’s presence,” she said.

“I see… So, this is the power of a great G.o.d. But that doesn’t seem to be all,” said Vandalieu.

“Indeed. This place has partially turned into Zantark’s Divine Realm. I heard a hundred thousand years ago that by fusing with evil G.o.ds, he has become a different being and his Divine Realm can no longer return to what it was. Now, he is likely turning a part of the Dark Continent into his Divine Realm… though it seems that he is making a reckless effort to do so,” Gufadgarn murmured.

She suspected that this was something that Zantark could only do because the entire continent was as contaminated with Mana as the inside of a Dungeon, and because two-thirds of his being were now evil.

“Hmm. This is a great historic discovery,” said Luciliano, his entire body drenched with sweat as he furiously scribbled notes as if his life depended on it.

Even he was so overwhelmed with nervousness that he couldn’t stop sweating, because there were so many great beings gathered here.

The mountain-queen Elder Dragon G.o.d Tiamat, who had the appearance of an enormous female Drakonid. The bird beast-king Lafaz, who had the appearance of an enormous, two-headed bird. The ancestors of the Kijin and Majin races.

The Kijin ancestor was a being so huge that he might be mistaken for a Colossus, wearing a fur cloak and a mask. In contrast, the Majin ancestor was about as small as a human, but emanated a tremendous presence.

There were also numerous other G.o.ds and their followers gathered here.

There were two that stood out among them. One was a man who looked like an adventurer emitting a pale glow from his entire body. The other a male G.o.d who looked like he had fused with a rocky mountain, sitting with a grave look on his face, his eyes firmly shut.

… There was also another that stood out in another way – for some reason, there was a being with the appearance of a slightly larger-than-normal Wyvern next to the man with an adventurer’s appearance, its entire body trembling.

What could that be? Vandalieu wondered.

All of his companions were curious about this out-of-place Wyvern as well. However, they didn’t get a chance to express their curiosity.

The male G.o.d, whose right body half was covered in a black, iron-sand-like substance and whose left body half was enshrouded by a black mist… Zantark, the war-G.o.d of fire and destruction, suddenly opened his eyes and widened his jaws, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

He let out a ferocious, storm-like roar that contained a physical pressure, causing even Vandalieu to stiffen.

However, even with the force of the roar bearing down of them, n.o.body could discern its meaning.

“M-my apologies!” said Luciliano, immediately stopping his note-taking and instinctively falling prostrate.

“Boss, maybe you should’ve kneeled or prayed or offered him something first?!” Kimberley shouted in panic.

“Van, why is he angry at you?” asked Pauvina, bewildered.

“Bocchan, what shall we do?!” asked Sam.

“Should we offer him the fatty cuts of Gyubarzo’s meat?!” suggested Saria.

“Everyone, calm down. Saria, put the fatty meat cuts away, you’re shocking everyone,” said Vandalieu, hastily trying to calm his companions down. However, even he was confused. “Is he even angry at us to begin with?” he wondered.

He was accustomed to seeing evil G.o.ds with bizarre forms, and he did not feel any anger from Zantark.

However, the others could only tell that Zantark was frowning and that his voice was loud.

But they didn’t know the meaning of his roar.

The Majin ancestor scowled and slapped the shoulder of the nervous, stiff-faced man who looked like an adventurer.

“ah, right. The old man… Zantark says, ‘Welcome, Holy Son of Vida who carries the fragments of the champions’ souls,’” said the man… the heroic G.o.d Farmaun.

It seemed that he was able to understand the meaning of Zantark’s roar.

Zantark roared once more, but this time, Farmaun interpreted it for Vandalieu and his companions right away. Apparently, ever since fusing with the evil G.o.d of dark dust and the evil G.o.d of evil darkness, Zantark had become unable to communicate his thoughts like before, so he needed other G.o.ds to interpret for him.

“‘I welcome you… With that said, there’s nothing much to be done in this land that has nothing but rocks and lava…’”

Suddenly, Farmaun’s interpreting was interrupted by the Majin ancestor hitting him.

“Ouch! Those are Zantark’s words, not mine!” Farmaun protested.

“I know that, but I am hearing the words from your mouth, so my hand moved instinctively in that direction. I am sorry for interrupting the conversation, Oyaji-dono, honored guests,” said the Majin ancestor, apologizing to everyone except Farmaun.

With that, he took two steps back, behind the place where he had been originally standing. The other G.o.ds looked disapprovingly at the Majin ancestor, but they did not seem to feel sorry for Farmaun at all.

This exchange made it clear that Farmaun had not made amends with them; they had simply called a truce.

Of course, considering the discord between them that had continued ever since the battle between Vida’s faction and Alda’s forces, perhaps even a truce was more than reasonable.

To the Majin ancestor and the rest of the G.o.ds, Farmaun was an enemy who had been among those who had wounded their parents and siblings, and killed many of their children. He had mostly fought against Zantark during that battle, so the ones he had wounded and defeated directly were few compared to the other two battle-oriented champions.

However, how would things have turned out if he had remained an ally of Zantark, the G.o.d who had chosen him, or even simply not partic.i.p.ated in the battle? With thoughts like these, it was likely impossible to forget the chains of the past.

Vandalieu felt like he noticed a bitter smile on Zantark’s face as he looked at the other G.o.ds, but perhaps he was just imagining things.

Zantark began roaring once more.

“‘I wish to face Alda in battle once more alongside you, but unfortunately, we will be unable to move from this place for some time. There are the weakened seals on some of the Demon King’s remnants due to the recent solar eclipse, but there is also the fact that if we abandon the Dark Continent, monsters will continue multiplying and the Devil’s Nest will spread endlessly, eventually crossing the ocean and reaching Bahn Gaia in as little as just a few years,’” said Farmaun, interpreting. “Zantark, slow down your pace a little. If you don’t put a little less meaning in each of your words, I can’t keep up!”

It seemed that each of Zantark’s roars contained a densely-compressed amount of information, and Farmaun was struggling to interpret them.

“I see, I understand the situation. To speak of the situation on our end, I have destroyed Alda’s divine authority that was used to seal Vida,” said Vandalieu.

At his words, the G.o.ds began making a commotion.

“Mother has been revived… no, she has regained her consciousness?!”

“I had missed her and wanted to meet her again one day. It will really come true!”

“KUEEEH!”

The Majin and Kijin ancestors, who were Vida’s own children, trembled in astonishment and joy. Tiamat’s tail twirled about to express her happiness, and Lafaz spread his wings and let out a squawk.

Zantark looked up at the sky and let out… not a roar, but happy laughter.

“‘You have brought news that is more joyful than we could have imagined. I thank you for freeing my sister, the mother of all of our children…’ I can’t understand you either if you talk that fast,” said Farmaun. “… I don’t know if it’s of any value to you, but please accept my heartfelt grat.i.tude as well,” he said to Vandalieu, his shoulders loosening in relief as he lowered his head.

“I am humbled by your grat.i.tude,” said Vandalieu, lowering his head politely as well.

Farmaun raised his head again, an expression of surprise on his face.

But Vandalieu was really curious about that Wyvern. The other G.o.ds were overjoyed, but the Wyvern was not.

“This is it… It’s over…” the Wyvern murmured to itself, tears flowing from its dead-looking eyes.

It could speak, so perhaps it was a superior race of Wyvern?

Could it be that it’s not a Wyvern? It looks a bit like Shashuja, Vandalieu thought.

The great marshlands south of Talosheim were currently inhabited by Lizardmen, the Armans that were a mutant variant of Lizardmen and the Scylla. Looking at the Wyvern, Vandalieu was reminded of Shashuja, the Lizardmen’s representative, whose crying, puppy-like eyes had once caused Vandalieu to yield.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him even once this year. I should visit the marshlands to see the Armans’ growth and the Capricorn farms, he thought.

“Vandalieu, Zantark seems to be saying, ‘However, that only further limits our ability to act, unless Alda has come to attack us as he did a hundred thousand years ago,’” said Gufadgarn, taking over for Farmaun, who finally seemed to have become unable to keep up with the interpreting.

“By ‘limiting’ their ability to act, does he mean that it would be problematic if Alda detects their actions and things gradually develop into a war between G.o.ds?” Vandalieu asked.

“It can be a.s.sumed that this is part of it, but I believe that this is a matter of the world’s maintenance. Even if we could defeat Alda and his allies, the world would be devastated and could even be destroyed if we cannot maintain the attributes after the battle,” Gufadgarn said, explaining the G.o.ds’ situation without needing to interpret Zantark’s words.

The world of Lambda’s existence was maintained by the G.o.ds governing the attributes of earth, water, fire, wind, time, s.p.a.ce, life and light. If problems arose with governing these attributes, the world would come undone and eventually be destroyed if the attributes were to remain unmanaged for too long.

Alda, the G.o.d of law and fate, currently ruled over the life attribute that had once been governed by Vida as well as the light attribute. The heroic G.o.d Nineroad was governing the wind attribute in place of Shizarion, the G.o.d of wind and art, who had been destroyed by the Demon King. The heroic G.o.d Farmaun Gold was governing the fire attribute in place of Zantark, with the support of Zantark’s subordinate G.o.ds.

As for the other four attributes, time and s.p.a.ce were managed by the subordinate G.o.ds left behind by Ricklent and Zuruwarn. However, the earth and water attributes were being maintained by the subordinate G.o.ds who had survived the war against the Demon King as well as those whom Alda had turned into G.o.ds after the war.

Even excluding the fire attribute that was being governed by Farmaun, five attributes were currently being maintained by G.o.ds belonging to Alda’s forces.

“I see. Even if we were victorious against Alda’s forces, with things as they are now, it is uncertain as to whether we would be able to manage to maintain the attributes afterwards,” said Vandalieu, understanding the dilemma that Zantark faced.

Vida and Ricklent believed that they could manage by borrowing the power of the evil G.o.ds who joined Vida’s faction and were not currently governing the attributes, but Zantark suspected that this would not be enough.

Among the great G.o.ds who had not been destroyed, Vida, Ricklent and Zuruwarn had recovered, but it could not be called a complete recovery. Furthermore, Peria and Botin still had not returned yet.

He had considered governing other attributes like Alda was doing now, but he was a significant part of Vida’s fighting forces. The enemy was wary of him, and it was possible that he would be forced to expend more of his strength in battle than he expected.

There would be no point in winning a harsh battle if the result was the world being ruined and destroyed.

“It’s a difficult problem, isn’t it? Van, can you do something about it?” asked Pauvina.

“Pauvina, even I wouldn’t be able to do anything about the circ.u.mstances of G.o.ds,” said Vandalieu. “I can barely manage removing seals and curses, and spreading the word as a religious figure for Vida.”

“My lord, perhaps you could ma.s.s-produce Undead, order them to worship the G.o.ds of Vida’s faction and accelerate the process of gathering followers for them?” suggested Bone Man.

“It’s something that you’ve been doing up to this point anyway, and even though it probably won’t change the situation too drastically, they say that persistence pays off,” said Rita.

The maintenance of the entire world was a problem that was on a scale that would seem enormous to any individual, especially to the people of this world, where efficient methods of communication had not been developed. Vandalieu’s companions did not understand the circ.u.mstances surrounding this issue fully, but they offered suggestions based on what they were now aware of.

Vandalieu himself was a mortal, so he didn’t have an understanding of how difficult it was to “govern an attribute,” or how many G.o.ds and what amount of power was required to do so. He could only vaguely imagine that it wasn’t a simple task.

However, he had already been told these things by Tristan, the G.o.d of the seas, so he had decided to simply try to be aware that G.o.ds had their own circ.u.mstances.

However, Vandalieu and his companions were talking amongst themselves like this because Zantark and the other G.o.ds had remained silent for a while. Perhaps they were deep in thought; Vandalieu had a.s.sumed that they were whispering amongst themselves, but that wasn’t the case.

“Could that be you, Gufadgarn?”

“That form… I was certain that evil G.o.d was male, but was it a G.o.ddess?”

It seemed that they had fallen silent with shock upon realizing that the girl interpreting Zantark’s words was actually Gufadgarn. Zantark appeared so surprised that it seemed as if his jaw would fall off.

“Deeana did not recognize me at first either, but… it seems that this vessel is far more complete than I expected. To think that it would fool even the eyes of Zantark,” said Gufadgarn, nodding multiple times in satisfaction.

“Ah, I’ll explain the circ.u.mstances around that. There was a bit of a misunderstanding, and –” Vandalieu began, intending to explain things so that Zakkart’s intentions would not be misunderstood.

But at that moment, the Wyvern approached Vandalieu with stumbling steps.

“P-please… I’m begging you…” it said.

Saria and Rita reflexively stepped in front of Vandalieu. The Wyvern squeezed out a cry that sounded so frail that even they hesitated. It kneeled on the ground, which must have been difficult due to its skeletal structure, and lowered its head towards Vandalieu.

“Please spare me from being devoured… Please spare me from the destruction of my soul,” it said.

“I’m not really hungry, and I’m not hurting for food supplies so I’m not going to eat you,” said Vandalieu. “Actually, who are you?”

“Lu… Luvesfol. I’m… I am Luvesfol, the raging evil dragon G.o.d.”

Of course, this Wyvern’s ident.i.ty was that of Luvesfol. After his spirit clone was destroyed by Vandalieu, he encountered the Storm of Tyranny led by Schneider as he tried to escape the Boundary Mountain Range, and sealed into this Wyvern form after suffering a large beating. His fear and anxiety had reached their limits, leading him to beg Vandalieu to not destroy his soul.

Schneider’s party had left him behind on the Dark Continent, where he was reprimanded and lectured by Tiamat. Now, Vandalieu had come to this place, straight after having defeated Gyubarzo and turning his meat into food supplies, with the news that Vida had been revived.

Now that Vida’s faction was regaining its strength, Luvesfol could only imagine that his soul would be eaten so that his body could be used as food, as his own strength was of little value.

Fidirg, the dragon G.o.d of five sins who had been sealed and had his Lizardman followers stolen from him by Luvesfol, was not an important figure in Vida’s faction.

However, Fidirg was an ally to Vida, and Luvesfol was a traitor.

Even if he were to swear obedience here, he couldn’t imagine that he would be allowed to live. That was why he was begging Vandalieu to merely be sealed away.

“… Ah, now that you mention it… Well, that’s not something for me to decide,” said Vandalieu. “I’ll leave that decision to Fidirg and Shashuja.”

“So, it is my fate to be devoured after all… Wait, huh? Fidirg and Shashu-?” Luvesfol repeated, his eyes opening wide at the fact that Vandalieu was not pa.s.sing judgment and did not seem to be particularly angry.

“Yes, they are the ones you harmed directly. If we want to talk about the past, the ones you betrayed were Marduke, Tiamat, Lioen and the other G.o.ds, right?”

However, Vandalieu did not feel a particular hatred towards Luvesfol. Luvesfol had not left such a large impression on him. If Dalton hadn’t told him that Luvesfol was on the Dark Continent, he might have forgotten about him completely.

And looking at his current weak form, Vandalieu felt more pity for him than anger or contempt, though perhaps he might not have felt that way if Luvesfol was in his original form and not the form of a Rank 5 Wyvern.

Even so, if Fidirg and Shashuja who had suffered directly at Luvesfol’s hands insisted that Vandalieu should consume his soul, then he probably would.

“That’s how it is,” said Vandalieu. “Do you understand? Now then, excuse me but there is something important that I have to explain –”

“Eh?! Zakkart wanted a beautiful girl?! … But… he was so well-mannered…”

“Ah, I might be a little too late,” Vandalieu sighed.

A tremendously powerful voice echoed out on an ancient battlefield that was a floor in the Dungeon created by Alda, the G.o.d of law and fate.

“What’s wrong?! You can’t even hope to defeat the new Demon King with skills like that! Or do you intend to give up on your ideal of peace with Vida’s races?!” boomed the voice, which belonged to a knight in glowing armor with pure-white wings emerging from his back… one of Alda’s heroic spirits.

“I… No, we, will never give up!” said the Blue-flamed Sword Heinz, standing in front of his companions, raising his sword.

Name: Levia Rank: 11 Race: Satan Prometheus Ghost Level: 60 Pa.s.sive skills: Spirit Form: Level 10 Mental Corruption: Level 5 Heat Manipulation: Level 10 Flame Nullification Materialization: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!) Augmented Mana: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!) Self-Enhancement: Subordinate: Level 10 Self-Enhancement: Demon King’s Blood: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Self-Enhancement: Guidance: Level 3 (NEW!) Strengthened Attribute Values: Creator: Level 7 (NEW!) Active skills: Housework: Level 5 Projectile Fire: Level 10 Possession: Level 5 Silent Steps: Level 2 Long-distance Control: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Unarmed Fighting Technique: Level 3 (LEVEL UP!) Shield Technique: Level 3 Surpa.s.s Limits: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!) Fear Aura: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!) Fire-Attribute Magic: Level 4 (NEW!) Unique skills: ヴァ■■■■’s Divine Protection (NEW!) [Va]

Monster explanation (Written by Luciliano):

Satan Prometheus Ghost

According to Master, Prometheus is a G.o.d of legends who taught humans how to use fire, and Satan is the name of a demon king. Perhaps this Princess Levia can be referred to as a divine spirit? She is still only Rank 11, so even with the effects of Master’s guidance increasing her Attribute Values, she is unlikely to be worthy of that t.i.tle, however.

She has acquired Skills such as Self-Enhancement: Guidance and Strengthened Attribute Values: Creator, making her an even more powerful being. With her younger sister Zandia’s guidance, she has become able to utilize fire-attribute magic, but… as she has not acquired the Mana Control Skill, it is extremely dangerous. She would remain unharmed even if her fire-attribute magic were to explode because of her Flame Nullification Skill, but those around her – namely Master – would be caught up in it.

Master possesses the Magic Resistance Skill and can block the flames with a barrier, so he has apparently never been burned by her, however.

According to the Moon Giant Deanna, Princess Levia has become closer to the Sun Giant Talos who was Deanna’s twin brother.

Name: Orbia Rank: 10 Race: Chaos Broad Ghost Level: 95 Pa.s.sive skills: Spirit Form: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!) Mental Corruption: Level 6 Water Attribute Nullification Fluid Manipulation: Level 1 (Awakened from Liquid Manipulation!) Materialization: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!) Augmented Mana: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!) Earth-Attribute Resistance: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Self-Enhancement: Subordination: 1 (NEW!) Self-Enhancement: Demon King’s Blood: Level 3 (NEW!) Self-Enhancement: Guidance: Level 2 (NEW!) Strengthened Attribute Values: Creator: Level 2 (NEW!) Active skills: Unarmed Fighting Technique: Level 4 (LEVEL UP!) Fishing: Level 3 Housework: Level 3 (LEVEL UP!) Dancing: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!) Projectile Fire: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!) Long-distance Control: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!) No-Attribute Magic: Level 1 Water-Attribute Magic: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!) Earth-Attribute Magic: Level 2 (LEVEL UP!) Mana Control: Level 4 (LEVEL UP!) Unique skills: Merrebeveil’s Divine Protection ■■ンダ■■’s Divine Protection (NEW!) [n, da]

Monster explanation (Written by Luciliano):

Chaos Broad Ghost

Orbia, whose fluids have become even deeper in color and has leveled up her Housework Skill by spending time with Princess Levia.

The race t.i.tle sounds even more dangerous than ‘dark,’ but it currently seems that there has been no real change to her form.

With Fluid Manipulation, the superior version of the Liquid Manipulation Skill, she has become able to more skillfully manipulate the liquid that makes up her own body as well as the liquid in her surroundings. Of course, moving seas and large rivers is impossible, but she is apparently able to manipulate the direction and force of flash floods.

It seems that she has become able to manipulate large ma.s.ses of liquid more efficiently with water-attribute magic.

She is apparently thinking of using Fluid Manipulation to a.s.sist in the planting of rice in the marshlands’ paddy fields this year. It is unclear as to whether this is a good or wasteful use of her superior Skill.

Name: Kimberley Rank: 10 Race: Schwarz Blitz Ghost Level: 3 Pa.s.sive skills: Spirit Form: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!) Mental Corruption: Level 3 Wind-Attribute Nullification Lightning Manipulation: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!) Materialization: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Intuition: Level 3 Mana Enlargement: Level 4 (LEVEL UP!) Self-Enhancement: Subordination: Level 5 (NEW!) Self-Enhancement: Demon King’s Blood: Level 1 (NEW!) Self-Enhancement: Guidance: Level 4 (NEW!) Strengthened Attribute Values: Creator: Level 4 (NEW!) Active skills: Silent Steps: Level 6 Trap: Level 5 Projectile Fire: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Possession: Level 5 Long-distance Control: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!) Archery: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!) Unique skills: ■■■■ルー’s Divine Protection (NEW!) [lieu]

Monster explanation (Written by Luciliano):

Schwarz Blitz Ghost

An evil-looking Ghost enshrouded by black lightning. The cackle he makes when excited certainly makes him seem evil. However, even with the word ‘Schwarz’ in his race t.i.tle, Kimberley has not become more black-hearted; his personality has not changed from before his Rank increased.

However, in terms of his abilities, he has become an even more powerful Ghost due to the effects of Attribute-Value-strengthening Skills and the temporarily named “mysterious divine protection.”

Of course, this is the first time such a monster race has appeared in Lambda… Incidentally, I shall record that for a period after his Rank increase, he wanted to confirm with me that he is the only one in the world every time I saw him.