Episode 52: The End of the World, The End of the Story ⑤ ~Blessed Be the Celestial Knight~

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　Thrusting the sword in my right hand into the ground, I grasp the evil sword with both hands and unleash its power with all my might. ―――In that instant, the scene flooded back like a flashback.

　Awoke amidst despair, regret, and rage, roaring upon the mountain's peak.
　I used miasma to absorb the surrounding monsters and unleash them upon Alberic's birthplace, delighting in the carnage that ensued. Driven by rage, I attacked the kingdom and reduced it to ashes. So much fun! Those filthy, “leather sacks stuffed with excrement and filth” scream as they die. Cry, scream, suffer, and die in regret, screaming like a pig! Die, die, die—―― amidst such cries and unstoppable laughter, I looked down upon the kingdom's ruin.
　And after trampling the kingdom underfoot, I set my sights on the Elven Kingdom, determined to take it by force rather than let it be taken from me.

　―――And standing in my way was myself.

　Just as this body was born of hatred, the sword of darkness from a severed piece of my heart tears through my flesh. As I felt my life vanish, severed in two, I saw myself—Raoul, the Celestial Knight—in the gaze before me and laughed. If you've already destroyed this body――—then show me you won't stop, that you'll keep pushing forward. Satisfied with being utterly destroyed, I vanished.
　……This was the world that Hroboros saw.
　And the memory of the tragedy I myself unleashed. ……But I won't look away anymore. My hatred undoubtedly exists in this world, and it raged unchecked in a frenzy of loathing and fury. But it's definitely me. I hate this world. I found no appeal whatsoever in the people living in it and thought it would be better if it just perished.
　So now I'm not protecting the world— I've found hope in my loved ones and comrades, and for that, I'll burn my life away.

『How vile, how impure—―― What a filthy power……! ! 』

　The goddess intercepts the evil sword with her holy blade, but my darkness is stronger. At the archbishop's behest, I race at full speed along the path carved by darkness. Forward, even just one step forward. Closing the distance.

『I told you it's child's play, didn't I―――!? ! 』

　As I lunged forward thrusting my sword and plunged into the goddess's embrace, she swung her arm with a look of fury, causing the surrounding magic to explode.

「Guh, uhh―――? ! "

　My right arm, which I'd raised to shield my body, was torn off and flew away, landing with a thud on the ground behind me.
　　……But though my right arm was taken away, my left arm remained intact—the bracelet merely melted away as if consumed by fire, scattering into nothingness, while the evil sword clutched in my hand remained firmly in my grasp.

　――――Thank you, Luqur.

　At the very last moment, you protected me. With heartfelt gratitude, I thrust the sword I clutched into the Goddess's chest.

『AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! ? 』

　……Shallow! ! The magic surrounding the Goddess erupted once more. Though lacking the earlier blow's power, the close range caused the lower part of my left arm—from the elbow down—to be blown away as I tried to shield myself. Several holes were drilled into my torso, and whenever I tried to breathe, a foul, sludgy smell like rusty air rushed up from the back of my throat.

"……Not yet! ! "

　If I fall now, I'll never get back up.
　I know without even looking that I'm in a state where I can't be saved. So I stepped back and kicked the pommel of the thrusting sword over.
The tip of the evil sword peeked out from behind the Goddess, and the impact caused her to stagger backward.
　Even so, I've used up every ounce of strength I possess, and it's a miracle I'm still conscious right now. My eyelids feel heavy, and if I let my guard down, my consciousness will drift off as if to sleep, never to wake again. Glaring at the Goddess, I breathe heavily through clenched teeth.

『Why? Why, why? ! Why did I end up like―――― GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! ? ! ? 』

　She tried to pull out the evil sword that had pierced her, but her hand began to crumble and decay. The darkness overflowing from the evil sword was consuming the Goddess from within. A deep, black stain became visible through the Goddess's white, beautiful body, emanating from within. Then, gazing up at the heavens with her mouth open, the Goddess uttered words of disbelief at her own demise—――her expression utterly vacant. She froze, then crumbled into black ash, vanishing along with the evil sword.

　I sensed that I had shattered the Goddess through the evil sword, but I couldn't be certain. With every breath, the red liquid spilling from my mouth and nose prevented me from speaking.

"―――Sister, who existed in this world, has vanished. Well done, Raoul."

　I'm barely managing to stand, so unfortunately I can't turn around, but a smile escapes me at the Devil's words spoken from behind. ……I see, then it's all good.

"Raoul, you idiot―――! Devil, let go! I gotta douse that guy with potions and elixirs and shove some herbs into his mouth right away―――"

　Ah, sorry, that would be all for nothing, Falty. The damage from battling that goddess carved away at my very existence, my soul, my life— the whole of me. So even if you try to heal me, it probably won't work.
　I'm glad it was only me. If I'd let Falty fight alongside me, she would have ended up like this too…… so it's truly for the best that only I had to die.
　It was a stroke of luck that I was able to slay the Goddess with this dead body that was merely waiting to be dispatched.

"It's useless, Falty. Raoul's wounds will never heal. ―――Can you see him disappearing as if dissolving from the severed stump of his right arm? "

　Oh, is that so. As I moved only my eyes at the Devil's words, I saw the severed stump of my right arm crumble into particles of light, dissolving into the air…… Am I…… vanishing? I was prepared for it, so that's fine, but…… 
　The Devil explained what I wanted to say, so I'd like to at least thank her, but honestly, just standing here is getting exhausting, so talking is not an option.

"……What's with you, are you crying? "

"―――I see. So these are tears?"

　……Haha! Seriously? That Devil is crying? Damn it, if only I could turn back and see it as a parting gift for the afterlife, but even that's impossible now. What a pity, Devil.

"Raoul, the surface will soon be obliterated—―but with my sister gone, there's a slight possibility the blast's power might diminish."

　I see. That is the most welcome news of all. I've done everything I could, so now――― all that's left is to pray. Not to the Goddess. To my dear friends, wishing them good fortune.
　Then, with the Goddess lost, the cave began to crumble. I feel the earth vibrating with a deep, rumbling thud.

"Alright, let's go, Falty."

"NO WAY! I have a duty to drag that idiot back home even if I have to! Or at least to bring him home to rest beside my sister―――"

　Falty's tearful whining, mixed with the sound of sniffling, made me smile wryly— she's just like a child.
　I want those two to leave here quickly, and I can't afford to let them just sit around watching until I disappear.
　……Still, it felt pointless to just collapse without saying anything to the two who'd stuck with me this far. After coughing up all the accumulated bloody phlegm and clearing my airway, I felt I could speak just a little.
　I uttered each character slowly, imbuing them with a flood of emotions, gratitude, and the loneliness of parting.
　
　―――Born on Earth, I lived a worthless life, but after reincarnating into this world…… I was able to gain wonderful friends.
　I might not have been a normal person, someone who could be swallowed by darkness and summon a calamity of slaughter. But for me, it was an overdue life. This journey was filled with nothing but hardship and pain, yet even so――— I was able to find hope by seeing beautiful things.

"See, you……Falty, Devil――― It was, fun."

　That was truly my limit. The sensation of something slipping away from within me, the voices of the Devil and Falty gradually growing fainter.

"Uwaaah, noooo, Raoul! "

"Good night, Raoul. ……My blessings to you."

　Listening to their voices from afar, I could not help but smile.

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