Chapter 733 – Crime and Judgment

000

Cleon and his companions aim at Remilia, whose movements are restricted, with the weapons they each hold in their hands.

Even if we simply compare the number of people, the difference of 5 to 1 means that the balance of power has already collapsed, and since Remilia’s body was originally restrained by Lila, she was not able to protect her group. You won’t be able to resist

And as if she knew this fact best, she threw the red magic spear in her hand to the ground.

“I never thought I would be disturbed here. Are we destined to be at odds forever?”

As if responding to Remilia’s words, Cleon opened her mouth.

“I never would have guessed that it was you who ran away to the East. I thought she would have fallen with Ish Tal.”

“Unfortunately, the only person who saw her fall was Rubera, your proud comrade who saved your people. I couldn’t stay by her side until the end, so I just escaped her collapsing organization and came here.”

In response to her answer, Amelia took a step forward and spoke to her as if she didn’t know.

“But, why did you come here? You weren’t from the Empire, but a member of the kingdom’s… Volunteer army, right? Rather, it would have been a hostile relationship with the empire.”

She – no, he too was a warrior in the past who protected the people of the kingdom against the invasion of the empire.

A warrior who trained commoners who didn’t even know how to hold a weapon, and stood at the forefront of them and charged bravely.

Although his comrades no longer remained, there were still many in the kingdom who knew his fame and glory.

I couldn’t imagine what their facial expressions would be like when they found out the hero had changed like this.

“For me, who has become a devil, such past relationships have no meaning. The only will I have left now is to follow Ishtal’s will and rebuild Astarote.”

＂Rebuilding Astarote…? Could it be that you were trying to enter the empire’s territory for that purpose?”

In response to Amelia’s next question, Remilia nodded her head as if it was natural.

“Of course. Although there are no humans left in the empire’s territory, the land is still overflowing with numerous monsters and powerful dark magic. I just thought that if I used them, I would be able to summon the demons once again and rebuild the organization.”

＂Why all the way there…!＂

Are you taking the devil’s side to that extent?

They must have all of their memories from when they were humans, but when they became demons, did they come to think of humans as nothing more than their own prey, rather than their own kind?

Because she couldn’t understand her thoughts, Amelia’s voice became harsh, but Cleon stretched out his arm to block her.

“… We cannot understand the thoughts of a man who left humanity of his own will and became a devil.”

“Wow, that’s poignant. But I don’t think I’m any different from you, Cleon.”

To Remilia, who said that she was similar to him, Cleon did not show any particular reaction, but slowly approached her by drawing out her holy sword, Kali Burn, in order to complete her request.

＂Rubera fought with us Astarote to save her compatriot, the clan of dark demons. I, too, was willing to do anything for the sake of my new fellow demons.”

“I see. If you insist that you are a devil, I’m glad you gave up your hesitation in cutting me down.”

She doesn’t have any sympathy for her.

The reason why Remilia became so corrupt was not impossible to guess, but it was impossible to justify the evil deeds he committed afterward.

Probably, she is prepared for that as well.

In that case, I think the most certain mercy that can be shown to him is to bury his bones before he commits any more evil deeds and accumulates sins.

Cleon swung the holy sword and tried to cut off her head.

＂Albain.＂

Until she said that name in her mouth.

Suddenly, Cleon’s arm stopped.

“Are you aware that Albain is currently being subjected to various experiments by the Exiled Church and the Returnees?”

＂Albain…?＂

It was known that he was the biological son of Setos Tromeiya, and they knew that he had returned to the royal capital from the north, but since he did not make any significant movements after that, Cleon and his party were drawing attention to Albain.

Remilia spoke as if she knew Alvain’s whereabouts.

“Why is the story about Albain suddenly coming out here? “It doesn’t matter where that guy is or what he’s doing.”

At Remilia’s words, Lila raised her voice as if she were indignant, but Remilia was speaking.

“Well, does it really make any difference? Now, there is a strong curse planted on Alvain by us Astarote. That curse, the Church of Exile, is preventing Adam from reaching his desired goal.”

＂Curse…?＂

When it comes to the curse of Astarote, what usually comes to mind is the curse that turns men into women.

Did you put that on Albain as well?

“I see you guys are well aware of Adam’s goal.”

“Ah. I know it well. That guy is trying to create the most powerful holy sword through a holy sword selection ritual. And in order to use that holy sword, Adam is trying to create a body to use himself.”

“… In other words, Albain is being used to create that body?”

When Lila spoke as if she had heard and understood what she said, Remilia smiled sarcastically.

“Yes, the power of the curse weakens Alvain’s body and protects it from magical measures through various experiments. A powerful curse itself acts to block other magic. Just like at the Academy, where you accepted another Demiurge’s argument in order to escape Demiurge’s memory manipulation.”

At her words, of course Cleon couldn’t help but frown.

“He’s called a hero, but why is he like Alvain…”

“And you know? The longer our curse is inhabited, and the more the human mind succumbs to it, the stronger it becomes, becomes established, and does not fall. If the caster dies before then, it’s a different story.”

Yes, what she’s talking about is that in the end, when she destroys Remilia, the last remaining Astarote, the curse of Astarote disappears from Alvein’s body due to the disappearance of her caster.

In that case, Adam would be able to use Albain’s body to create his own body.

Cleon is silent for a moment, then looks back at Lila.

Lila then nodded and walked closer to her, placing her profane magic book in one hand and her other hand on Remilia’s head.

“Aha, it looks like that grimoire helped chase me.”

＂Seeing that you recognized me, I guess we got along well?＂

“Of course. Because with Ishtal, we were all like sisters.”

“That’s just plain unpleasant.”

Lila naturally shows disgust that a person who was originally a man would say such things.

And, she read the memories she had in Remilia’s head.

It was a spell to find out whether what she said was true or not, but after reading everything, Lila took her hands away from her head and spoke in embarrassment.

“You… Were you running away with Alvain?”

＂What…?＂

When Cleon also looked at Remilia as if he was a little taken aback by Lila’s words, she shrugged her shoulders and answered.

“Well, I know the other party wants him, so there’s no need to keep him in the royal capital, right? In the end, it was taken away by the guys who chased it.”

“I hope you don’t forget that I saw your memories. You were just trying to rebuild Astarote by taking Alvain hostage. Otherwise, there is no reason to keep that guy alive who will help the other party’s plan.”

When Lila spoke as if lying in front of her didn’t work, Remilia just smiled and responded.

“Either way is sincere.”

＂An opportunist…＂

When Lila speaks with an expression of contempt, she turns her head toward Cleon.

“… What this guy said was entirely true, although there were a lot of parts omitted. Albain was taken to the Eastern Country by this guy and then kidnapped by the cult members who were tracking him down. And, the information that Astarote had included a plan to create the strongest holy sword user – an artificial hero, based on the bodies of heroes including Alvain.”

“Can you trust me now?”

In Remilia’s eyes as she spoke while looking at Cleon, there was a will in her eyes that if she killed her, she would do as the enemy wanted.

Obviously, Ishtal and other demons of Astaroth were irreplaceable enemies to Cleon and Amelia – but the same was true for the Exile Church and Adam.

Cleon thought for a moment and then turned to Amelia.

Of course, if Cleon were to judge rationally, he wanted to prevent that killing Remilia here and now would lift the curse on Albain, which would be helpful to Adam’s plan.

However, such a thing could not be decided by Cleon’s will alone.

The person who has something to say to Remilia is Amelia, who has greater feelings for Astarote than any of them.

Therefore, Amelia receives Cleon’s gaze, and after a moment of hesitation, she nods and moves towards Remilia.

“Seeing you up close like this, it looks like you’ve grown quite a bit in just a month, Princess Amelia.”

“… Yes, thanks to you. But no, thanks. What you did was ultimately to cause chaos in the kingdom and cause even unrelated innocent citizens to suffer.”

“Even after being treated so poorly and criticized by them and seeing their true nature, do you still care for them? This is because my head is down, and I can’t go up.”

At her mocking words, Lila, who was listening next to her, became upset, but Amelia shook her head to stop Lila.

“… Everyone is afraid of things they don’t know. And fear makes us lose our judgment and shows our weak nature. What you showed is only a part of the negative side of humans.”

After speaking, Amelia clenched her fists and held them in front of her chest.

“But I know. As a person, you cannot simply look at one part and discuss the whole. Everyone is a little evil and a little good. It was really thanks to you that I realized that I also had dark emotions that I had not realized.”

Amelia’s unwavering belief in goodness was strengthened by the despair she experienced as a result of her Asta Lote.

I thought I had broken her heart, but Remilia, who saw that her broken heart had been straightened and was stronger than before, looked at her with a blank expression for a moment, and then looked at her as if she had no choice. He answers by shaking his head.

“Ha, how great it would be if all nobles and royals were ideal human beings like you.”

Looking at her self-mocking expression, Amelia took a deep breath for a moment and took out the (hammer) of light in her hand and raised it above her head.

＂Sinner Remilia- No, Raymond. The crime you committed against the citizens of the capital is very serious. This is something that cannot be tolerated. Therefore, according to the laws of the kingdom, it is right to sentence you to death, but it is also true that your strength is needed to deal with a more serious and great enemy. Therefore, the verdict I make here is-“

And the next moment, boom! A sound is heard and her hammer strikes.

However, what was hit was not Remilia’s head, but the ground in front of her.

＂In order to prevent the curse on you from being lifted, your life will be preserved, but you will be sentenced to a seal that prevents you from acting freely. ＂

What was engraved on the ground where Amelia hit was the emblem of the kingdom.

At one time, he fought with a red flag with this symbol drawn on his spear, and for Raymond, who was betrayed by this symbol, the symbol was like a kind of curse.

So, thinking that if he had to be punished under that pattern – it was his damn fate too – Raymond felt defeated by Amelia for the strength of her heart.

＂… Kuon.＂

When Cleon called Cuon’s name like that, Cuon nodded and unleashed the sealing magic he had prepared a long time ago, trapping Raymond within it.

＂Sealing technique – Metatron.＂

001

The brilliant light of divine magic blocks the party’s vision, with a sense of surroundings, and then slowly subsides.

In the land that was polluted by black magic and became a wasteland where not even the bushes could grow properly, a huge crystal had been created where Remilia had been standing just a moment ago.

After confirming that the crystal contained the image of Remilia sealed with her eyes closed, Kuon sighed and turned to Cleon and spoke.

“Huh. The sealing technique was properly activated.”

This is a very powerful technique that was previously used to seal Lilim.

It must be more than enough power to trap her.

Even if someone tried to get her out, it would be impossible without her Kuon’s permission.

“The crystal can be lifted and moved using the floating magic, so you can just bring it to Selena’s mother, the Duchess Regent.”

＂Wow, I think it will really stand out…＂

＂Fit!＂

Sasha and González looked closely at the floating and moving crystal as if it were fascinating, and Amelia looked inside the crystal for a moment, then looked back at Cleon.

Then Cleon picks up her magic spear that was on the ground and looks at it for a moment and then-

After throwing it into the air, he used Caliburn to cut it cleanly in the middle.

A magic spear that falls to the ground and now has no strength left.

Now that her red thorns have been broken, even if she opens her eyes again, she will not be able to demonstrate her true power.

After nodding her head to Cleon’s decision, Amelia turned her eyes toward the barrier that stretched across the border with the territory where the empire once existed.

“Beyond this… Imperial territory…”

Although it was difficult to see properly due to the translucent barrier, the reverberations of the dark magic felt beyond it were transmitted to this place even after breaking through the barrier.

Probably not a place for people to live, really.

＂Do you care?＂

When Cleon asks Amelia that question, Amelia closes her mouth for a moment and then makes a troubled expression, as if she is not sure how to answer.

“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t worried, but I know very well that it’s a dangerous place out there.”

At her answer, Cleon also nodded his head.

“They say it will take at least hundreds of years for the aftereffects of the war with the Empire to completely disappear. Until then, this barrier will not disappear.”

“… Okay. Then, after so much time has passed…”

Of course, neither Cleon nor himself will be alive until then.

“… Okay, let’s head back for today. It ended pretty quickly, but there’s no harm in rushing.”

As Cleon said that, she patted Amelia on the shoulder, and it was at that moment that she herself turned her body and tried to get away from her barrier.

[… Cain…]

Cleon, who thought he heard a voice from somewhere, stopped and looked behind her.

I think I heard it from beyond the barrier – if you think so.

＂Cleon?＂

[Raksachal…]

＂Wait─＂

A voice was heard once again, and Cleon tried to quickly move away from the barrier as anxiety came over his back.

But the next moment, something like a black tentacle extended from beyond the barrier and attached itself to Cleon’s left arm.

＂Kuhk, what is this…!＂

“Under!? Cleon!!”

And Lila, who was the first to discover it, quickly used magic to burn the tentacles that bound Cleon’s body, but—

[Cleon…]

The last time he heard his name called, Cleon’s body was unable to resist and was dragged across the barrier.

It happened literally in an instant.

Just before Sasha puts an arrow on her bow and Amelia swings her hammer, we see Cleon’s body fall through the barrier as if falling into a swamp.

The group could only stare in fascination at the scene for a moment.