Chapter 522 A Solo Mission

“Damned humans!”

A furious shout rang out nearby.

The High-Rank Demon wounded by Laki’s surprise attack charged forward.

“Ah, this just got a lot worse……”

Boom! Boom! Boom……

Roars exploded constantly in the sky.

Laki and Fulmir were being thoroughly pressured by the three demons. Without the support of top-tier magical artifacts, they would have already fallen. Even so, both were battered and exhausted.

Yet amid this crisis……

Irus stood leisurely atop the hill, watching without any intent to intervene.

If she or Esmelon stepped in now, the demons would flee at once.

Even if they held back, the demons would not be foolish enough to miss the obvious act.

“Hmmm~ that’s true, but little Laki and Fulmir look like they’re barely hanging on. What to do……”

As Irus pondered,

Rumble……

the ground trembled.

Esmelon, who had vanished for some time, reappeared before them.

He waved a hand, restoring the ground to its original state,

then spoke:

“It’s done.”

“Heh…… that was quick.”

Irus looked down, her emerald eyes staring sharply at the area below.

Esmelon saw right through her.

He said bluntly:

“Stop looking. Unless the Archdemon Commander acts personally, no one can find what I’ve hidden with nature magic.”

“……Hah?! Who’s looking? I was only checking your work. It’s passable, I suppose.”

“……”

Esmelon did not argue. He turned to gaze at Laki and Fulmir, still locked in battle.

“It is time to retreat.”

“Hahaha! You foolish humans! Daring to stop us with just two? You seek only death~!”

The demon wounded earlier taunted.

Laki burned with anger.

“That bastard…… I want to kill him!”

“Do not act rashly. He is trying to enrage——hm?”

Fulmir’s gaze flickered. He glanced toward the distant hilltop.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Esmelon is finished. We fall back——”

With that,

Fulmir retreated from the battlefield without hesitation.

“You! You’ll pay for this!”

Laki shouted in defiance.

“Next time we meet, I’ll smash your skull in!”

“You dare run?!”

Six eyes materialized behind Goruzaan once more.

“Not good?!”

Laki’s face paled.

She vanished in a flash, fleeing into the distance.

Boom——!

A terrifying beam chased after her.

Just as it was about to catch up,

Hum!

A massive magic circle unfolded in the sky above Dorothy’s Hill.

A barrier rose, blocking the two High-Rank Demons’ pursuit and Goruzaan’s attack entirely.

Boom!

Goruzaan’s strike slammed into the barrier, triggering a colossal explosion.

The barrier shook violently.

“What is this?! Get out of our way!”

Boom! Boom!

The other two demons attacked simultaneously.

Crack!

At last, the barrier shattered.

But……

Laki and Fulmir had already vanished without a trace.

Thud!

Goruzaan landed atop Dorothy’s Hill, staring at the pre-laid magic circle on the ground with a dark expression.

In an instant,

red light burst from his eyes.

Boom!

The magic circle on the ground was obliterated at once.

“Lord Goruzaan……”

The two High-Rank Demons asked cautiously.

“Shall we pursue those two?”

“Pursue?”

Goruzaan shot them a cold, sidelong glare.

“Where would you even chase them to?”

“W‑we beg forgiveness, my lord!”

The two High-Rank Demons bowed their heads hastily.

“Hmph! Go and do as I first ordered—destroy everything here——”

“Y‑yes!!”

Far from Dorothy’s Hill,

Irus and the others retreated toward Windrock City.

“Esmelon, if you’d been any slower, I would’ve been trapped for good…… And don’t spring sudden plans like that again.”

“I won’t next time.”

“Don’t say that when you’ll definitely do it anyway!”

“……”

“This is infuriating! Why do I put up with all of you……”

Laki fumed.

“Well, it’s not like he just started acting like this. Hold a grudge and get him back later.”

“……What are you talking about all of a sudden? You’re no better!”

“Eep! Little Laki, that hurts my feelings! Sob~.”

“Cut the act. Honestly…… sigh, never mind.”

Laki sighed wearily, tired of bickering with Irus, and changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, where’s Hulim? I haven’t seen her all day.”

“Ah, you mean Hulim Heyerar? Hmm…… should I tell you?”

“Now you’re just——”

“Alright alright~! I’m only joking. In short, Hulim Heyerar is off doing something very important.”

“? Something very important?”

“Very important indeed……”

One night prior.

“Irus, what did you need to see me about?”

At the park observation deck,

Irus sat on the cliff’s edge, leisurely admiring the night view.

At the sound of Hulim’s voice, she turned with a smile and patted the spot beside her.

“Hulim Heyerar, you’re here. Come, sit beside me~.”

“?”

Hulim Heyerar was confused, but sat down next to her anyway.

“Irus, can you tell me why you called for——”

“You were the one who suppressed the Red Mist Volcano, weren’t you?”

“……”

Silence fell abruptly.

Hulim Heyerar stared silently at the whimsical yet unnervingly perceptive elf beside her.

“Wondering how I know~?”

“……Mm.” Hulim Heyerar nodded gently.

“Hehe~ It’s simple——”

Irus smiled, gazing up at the starry sky.

“I know this world far too well.”

“……”

“So when I saw that scene, I knew it could not be a miracle of the gods. But if it wasn’t……”

Irus lowered her head, staring directly into Hulim Heyerar’s eyes.

“Who else could have done it but you?”

“……”

“……Why?”

“Why what~?”

“If you know, why haven’t you told anyone?”

Irus chuckled softly.

Shush——!

She suddenly leaned in close, their breaths nearly touching.

“Then why haven’t you said anything, Hulim Heyerar~?”

“I……”

Hulim Heyerar opened her mouth, but could not think of a reason to hide the truth.

“Alright alright~.”

Irus leaned back again.

“No need to dwell on that. That’s not why I called you here~!”

“?? Then what is it?”

Irus’s unpredictable thoughts left Hulim Heyerar disoriented.

“Arant……”

The name slipped slowly from Irus’s lips.

“From the day I met him, I knew he possessed an incredible, instinctive talent.”

“Lord Arant the Sword Saint? Instinctive talent?”

Hulim Heyerar frowned in confusion, not following Irus’s words.

Irus did not answer. Instead, her gaze turned deep and fixed on the east, continuing:

“It is an intuition that leads him toward the ending he wishes for……”

“But……

Even so, he has held back an Archdemon Commander for far too long. His limit must be near.”

Shock slowly spread across Hulim Heyerar’s face.

“Irus, you don’t mean——?!”

“Mm, exactly.”

Irus nodded slowly,

then looked solemnly at Hulim Heyerar.

“This task can only be done by you, Hulim Heyerar. No one else can do it——

Go and eliminate that Archdemon Commander.”