Published: September 9, 2025
※Warning: Contains cruel expressions.
※Typo corrected on 2014/12/15.
※Some changes made on 2014/11/22.
This is Satou. How is it that protagonists in fictional worlds can stand against enemies that seem absolutely unbeatable?
I think it’s better to run away when you can and come back stronger later.
◇
“—What if your prediction is right?”
“A formidable enemy.”
Looking up at the black lines that divide the moon into four parts, I answer Arisa’s question with the best light-hearted remark I can manage.
Maybe it’s too soon to judge it as an enemy, but something deep in my heart whispers that “That is something that can’t coexist.”
Soon, we must have entered the Shiga Kingdom’s territory, because an AR display appeared beside the black lines.
—UNKNOWN.
It was the same display that appeared during the battle with the dog-headed Demon King in the desert, manifesting as a mysterious figure resembling a little girl.
Ten meters wide, nine kilometers high, it looked like a silhouette of a person but was strangely elongated...
It actually felt thicker, but that’s probably because the black lines are absorbing light, making it look like that.
It slowly descended and hovered about 100 meters above the Royal Capital.
“What is that? Hair?”
“But I feel an incredible magic power.”
Mito answered Arisa’s murmured question as they looked up at the three black lines.
...Hair?
Now that you mention it, it does kind of look like hair.
—Hair of a god?
What is this unfamiliar anger I’m feeling?
Is this how office ladies feel after hearing a terrible dad joke?
...But the fear is gone.
On second thought, the death of gods has been proven.
Besides, we don’t know which god’s part that is, but it certainly isn’t the god’s true body.
Just a partial summoning of a god—I'll wipe it out with the Divine Sword.
“Master, aren’t you unusually calm?”
“—I’m not angry.”
That Arisa, she’s pretty sharp.
She could tell even through the golden helmet.
“I'll take care of it.”
“Huh? Wasn’t that thing dangerous?”
“That’s why I’ll handle it.”
I raised the Divine Sword still sheathed, putting on a smile unseen from outside the golden helmet.
“Master, I’ll accompany you.”
“Pochi will accompany you too!”
“Master, I request to accompany you.”
Liza, Pochi, and Nana volunteered to come along, but I couldn’t let them.
When I attacked the “fragment of a god” that appeared from the Immortal King Zen with the Holy Sword before, I couldn’t destroy it or even interfere.
Liza’s dragon spear might have worked, but it’s too risky.
“No. Sorry, but I can’t take you. The enemy is just too strong.”
When I told them gently, the three obediently agreed.
Looking towards the ones pulling on my cloak, I saw Miiya with a pale face and Tama looking like she might cry.
“No, that’s not okay. Absolutely not.”
“Shall we go home~?”
It’s sad to pull these two away since they’re worried, but I have a feeling the Royal Capital will be devastated if that thing starts moving.
I gently separated them and entrusted them to Liza.
“Everyone stay here. From here on, it’s my job.”
Once I move, their defenses will weaken, but I have no time to switch equipment.
I leave the decision of when to retreat to Nana and told Arisa and Liza not to hesitate when retreating.
◇
From the Royal Castle, crimson flames flew toward the three black lines.
I don’t know if it was an advanced magic or a forbidden spell, but the flames vanished as if they evaporated as soon as they hit the black lines.
The base of one black line twisted into a spiral shape—
I dashed between the black line and the Royal Castle with skystride.
I just barely managed to change my title to "god slayer."
—The black line attacked the Royal Castle like a whip, but I blocked it with the Divine Sword held before my body.
The black line touched by the Divine Sword sparked dark flames and tore in two.
When the sparks faded, I saw their true color: a deep, very deep purple.
—Ugh, heavy.