75

All the events that occurred here… they were all part of Athena's plan to see you broken.

"…What did you say?"

"It was her order to render you powerless and useless."

He looked at me with a smile so wide it seemed it might tear his face, as if the injury to his arm didn't matter at all.

For a moment, I stared blankly into space, stunned by his words.

Athena…

Athena gave such an order about me…?

No.

That can't be.

I let out a small, incredulous laugh as I turned to Bordin.

"What's your angle?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you trying to sow discord?"

…What nonsense.

It might be embarrassing to admit, but I knew how much Athena loved me. I also knew how deeply she cherished me.

There's no way she would do anything that would harm me.

This must be one of Bordin's vile schemes.

"It's useless, Bordin."

When I spoke firmly to him, he stared at me blankly for a moment before his expression turned intrigued.

"Interesting. Are you choosing denial?"

"I told you it's useless."

"And how can you be so sure?"

I met his gaze confidently.

"Because it's obvious."

With eyes full of conviction, I declared,

"I trust Athena, who loves me, more than a criminal like you."

"Keh… how amusing. Truly amusing."

Bordin turned his head toward Alina and spoke.

"It seems the plan has failed, Alina. The young lady says she has no intention of leaving this place."

Alina looked at me with a momentary expression of confusion, then closed her eyes tightly before turning back to Bordin.

"I will respect the lady's decision. Master, please give up now."

"I refuse."

"…What?"

While Alina stood momentarily flustered, Bordin twisted his broken arm several times until the misaligned bone snapped back into place.

"Alina, there are too many things about your plan that don't sit right with me."

Flexing his now-realigned hand, he extended it toward Alina and began counting on his fingers.

"First, you trust the imperial palace too much. They are not as virtuous as you think."

He cast a quick glance at me before continuing.

"Second, you underestimate Athena. She will stop at nothing for her desires, even if her opponent is the imperial palace."

As Alina watched silently, Bordin continued his speech.

"Lastly, did you tell me to give up on revenge?"

Sensing something ominous, Alina raised her sword, adopting a defensive stance.

"No, no. Telling me to abandon revenge is the same as telling me to die."

"It's already over, Master."

Despite the significant amount of blood Bordin had lost, which made his situation far from favorable, he spoke calmly to Alina.

"Alina, haven't I always told you?"

Crack—

Bordin clenched his teeth, and a sharp, breaking sound echoed through the room from within his mouth.

A purple liquid began to flow into his mouth.

"It's always a good idea to have a contingency plan."

A sinister aura began to surround his body.

Sensing the imminent danger, Alina quickly rushed to him.

"The surprise attack might have worked, but did you really think you could defeat me in an open fight?"

Bordin easily subdued her with one hand and swung his leg, striking her leg forcefully.

"Ugh!"

Alina winced in pain, collapsing to her knees. Bordin immediately kicked her, sending her flying.

She hit the wall and fell to the ground, lying face down.

"Alina!!"

I quickly ran to Alina to check her condition.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like she was seriously injured, but standing up again looked difficult for her.

"Miss…"

Even so, she forced her trembling body to stand and gripped her sword again.

"This is my mistake. I'll buy you some time, so please run away."

As if she wasn't concerned about her injuries at all, she continued to worry about me.

…Why does she go this far for me, Alina?

I looked at her briefly, sighed, and helped her sit back down comfortably on the ground.

"…Miss?"

"Just rest for a bit, Alina."

"What? But—"

"I'll take care of it."

Interrupting her words, I spoke firmly, and she looked at me with a surprised expression.

Leaving her behind, I turned my gaze toward Bordin and realized his condition was far from normal.

His appearance was grotesque, hardly describable as human.

From his severed arm, purple tendrils were writhing grotesquely, and his eyes were no longer human.

The sclera had turned black, and his pupils were a blood-red inverted shape.

It was a scene I had seen before in a novel.

A demon's form—or, more precisely, a human who had turned into a demon.

The symptoms were identical to those of a non-demon becoming demonized.

"Impressive," Bordin muttered, looking at his newly regenerated arm.

I addressed him in a sharp tone.

"…Did you dabble with demonic energy?"

"Oh, you're aware of it?"

How could I not be?

It was something I had read about in the novel.

Demonic energy.

The novel described it as a power granted by the Demon King or high-ranking demon generals.

Receiving demonic energy and undergoing demonization not only enhanced physical capabilities but also allowed the use of some of the abilities of the demon who granted the energy.

But nothing comes for free.

Although it allowed one to gain immense power in a short period, there was a significant drawback to demonic energy.

"Have you given up on being human?"

Not only did one inherit the power of demons, but also their violent and destructive nature.

Once you absorb demonic energy, your life as a human is effectively over—you're consumed by an insatiable thirst for bloodshed.

'Who in the world granted him this demonic energy?'

Since Bordin wasn't a character from the novel, there was so much I didn't know about his background.

From the imperial seal to the demonic energy…

If such an influential figure existed, there should have been mentions of them. Why is there no information about Bordin?

"Forsaking humanity, huh…"

Bordin briefly examined his body, then turned to me and answered my question.

"Ever since my wife died, I haven't once wanted to live as a human."

As he extended his hand forward, purple tendrils surged toward me in a frenzy.

Numerous grotesque, repulsive tendrils.

However, despite their appearance, which would terrify most people into fleeing, these tendrils burst far too easily under the impact of my kicks and punches.

Pop! Bang!

Though the sensation of the tendrils against my skin was unpleasant, I clenched my jaw, planted my feet firmly, and sprinted forward with all my strength.

In an instant, I closed the gap between us.

Perhaps not expecting my speed, Bordin's crimson eyes widened in surprise as he stared at me.

As I launched a punch at him, he reflexively raised his arms to block.

"Ugh!"

Crash!

The sound of breaking bones echoed as his body shot through the air like a bullet, slamming violently into the wall.

I approached him, speaking in a low voice as he coughed up blood.

"Now that you've become a demon, I won't hold back."

Bordin, with his grotesquely twisted body, rose as if it were nothing.

"…I knew you were strong, but this is astonishing."

I raised my fist again, preparing my stance.

Around me, golden and blue lights swirled violently like a storm.

"You'd better be ready."

***

"Urgh!"

'How could this be?'

Bordin couldn't comprehend the situation he was in.

Crack—

His arm was severed.

Boom—

A single punch shattered his body into pieces.

While the demonic energy allowed him to regenerate immediately, even that had its limits.

'Was my calculation wrong?'

He knew she was strong.

She possessed a unique ability, after all.

On top of that, he'd heard she had inherited part of Athena's power.

He had prepared thoroughly, anticipating her strength.

Even if the poison failed, he had bet his life to obtain this demonic energy.

This wasn't the energy of a mere demon.

It was the power created by Velum, the Immortal King, one of the greatest generals second only to the Demon King.

He had only obtained this power by promising the fall of a hero.

Though his body and soul were doomed to ruin, he had gained the strength to wield Velum's abilities.

But despite his regeneration, his attacks had no effect on her.

'What is that blue mana?'

The dense, blue aura surrounding her was far more potent than Athena's mana.

That unknown power was undoubtedly why he was being overwhelmed.

If this continued, he would die in vain.

He couldn't let his years of preparation for revenge end like this.

As he racked his brain for a way out of the situation—

Creak—

The faint sound of a door opening broke the tension.

When he turned his head, he saw a young girl standing there.

"Mom… what's going—…huh?"

A child, still too young to shed her innocence.

He had seen this girl once before.

When Athena returned from her travels, she had brought the child along, saying she was an orphan from Karman, whom she had taken in out of pity.

"Uh… Mom… blood…?"

The child, upon seeing the young lady, began to tremble violently.

"Ma… Mari…"

The young lady, too, showed great shock upon seeing the child.

His mind raced.

It didn't take long to make a decision.

'I don't know what their relationship is, but this is perfect.'

Using the child as a hostage…

He could create a breakthrough in this situation.

Having reached his conclusion, he immediately rushed toward the child.

Being inhumane didn't matter.

To bring Athena to despair, he was willing to do anything.

"No… Mari!!"

The young lady rushed in desperation to stop her.

"Kuhaha. Too late."

Luckily, she was closer to the door of the dining hall.

Thanks to that, he reached the child before the young lady could.

"Sorry about this, kid."

Without hesitation, he extended a tendril toward the child, whose face had lost all color.

The tendril began to wrap around the child.

But just as he was about to grab the child,

The child's head whipped around in an instant, fixing its gaze on him.

"You?"

"…!!!"

The sight of the child's icy blue eyes overwhelmed him with terror.

It felt as though he stood before a transcendent being.

His instincts screamed at her, warning of imminent danger, urging him to flee.

"W-What is this…?!"

But before he could turn to run, A magic circle appeared beneath her.

Before he even had the chance to feel pain—

Schkrrk–

His body was split in two.