## Chapter 560 – The Little Match Girl

The heretical swordsman exuded an aura of formidable strength at first glance.

His black attire, adorned with bizarre patterns, was impeccably neat, and the muscles in his forearms hinted at a true warrior. He seemed to be a martial-type heretic.

He had also ensured the escape of the demon and the suspicious woman behind him.

I didn’t know who he was, but if I had to guess, the woman and the demon were likely key figures in the heretical cult.

And he was such a zealous fanatic that he volunteered to stay behind to ensure their escape upon hearing that paladins were coming.

He was definitely strong.

He had to be strong.

“…How on earth did the paladins find this place?”

A chilling voice escaped his lips as he spoke. His face was covered in curses that looked extremely wicked, making it impossible to see him as human. This was definitely a voice that matched his face.

However, his sword was crude—an utterly practical instrument of murder.

I feigned a smile and replied.

“Hehehe, you bastards are all in the palm of Buddha’s hand, you hear? Don’t underestimate the information network of the Brass Celestial Paladins. Your movements have already been fully tracked, you vile heretic.”

As I pointed my sword and spoke, he paused for a moment before answering.

“…That’s a hard story to believe.”
“Was it so shocking that you’re in denial? Well, you did hide it well. But you got caught in the end.”
“…”

Of course, it was complete bullshit.

But thankfully, my bluff worked, and the demon, who seemed like the strongest force, escaped through the gate. Thus, all that remained on the scene were me, Winia, the heretical swordsman, and another heretic standing behind him.

A 2:2 situation.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Surrender and kneel. Then our god will show mercy.”
“…Verde’s mercy isn’t very appealing.”

Then there’s no choice but to fight.

I cast aside any thoughts of defeat. All that remains is victory. You win if you decide to win and fight. Besides, they don’t know my full power either.

If the conditions are the same, there’s no reason to lose.

“Soon, even your parents will be dragged to Verde, you heretic.”
“…”

Just as I was about to kick off the ground while holding my sword—

“Fire Bolt!”

—Whoosh!

A fireball flew from behind. Winia, who had been timing her attack, had fired a Fire Bolt.

—Thud!

Just as I was about to shout that it was a nice surprise attack, a shield formed around them, blocking the fireball.

—Clang.

Behind the heretical swordsman was the mage who had dealt critical damage to Sasquatch yesterday. He spread his hands as if pushing an invisible wall, muttering something to maintain the shield.

—Whoosh!

At the same time, purple flames blazed in his grasp—an offense-and-defense mage!

Then it would be better to deal with them separately!

“Winia! Take care of the mage!”
“Darkie, take down that swordsman!!”

—Whap whap whap!
—Whoosh!

Winia, shouting fiercely, immediately cast Fire Blast, firing small fireballs in rapid succession.

—I won’t think about anything else.

First, kill the swordsman, then help Winia kill the mage!
Because I trust Winia!

“Hail Verde!!!!”

—Thud!!!

Shouting maniacally, I kicked off the ground. Whatever it takes, I have to unleash my full power and kill him right now!

If we lose the initiative without knowing the enemy’s strength, we’ll be at a disadvantage!

—Flash!

“What!”

Just as I was about to rush towards the heretical swordsman and unleash my sword energy, about to deliver a strike honed to the extreme, his figure blurred for a moment—

—Clang!

He took a perfectly defensive stance, blocking my attack. Sparks flew as our blades crossed.

A swift change of posture!

Because his figure disappeared for a moment, I missed the timing and couldn’t summon my sword energy!

—A master!

He turned into a complete demon and launched a counterattack.

“Verde’s hounds can’t stop us!!!!!”
“You son of a bitch!”

As expected, he was a strong opponent, just as I had seen.

—Shhh!

As if trying to swallow my sword, he locked my blade with a cross guard and launched a relentless barrage of attacks!

“Kyaooo!”

Fast and heavy.

He was using the highest level of skill among all the enemies I had faced so far. He must have committed countless murders to hone such skills! I could feel the spirit of a true warrior!

A situation where opponents of similar skill faced off, blades clashing, each looking for an opening.

It’s impossible to unleash sword energy in this state.

“I will gladly burn this body for the sake of this world!”
“What the hell are you babbling about, you little shit!!”

—Clang clang clang!

Of course, I easily defended against his relentless attacks. I’m just as used to killing. Mersin, Matellis, Vugal, and the Labor Rights Pioneer, whom I had killed, were giving strength to my arms.

Now that I’ve vowed to live, taking responsibility for their lives, I cannot afford to lose.

If he’s good at technique, I’m even better.

“With an irresistible impulse!”

The foundation of my extremely honed skills was Karin!

“I’ll cut out the pests, thud!!!”

Twisting and pushing away the locked blades, I aimed for his neck. But this bastard was skilled too, immediately countering my technique and blocking it.

“Ugh…! Strong! As expected of Verde’s lackey!”
“You dare, you son of a bitch!!”

But sword fighting isn’t just about swordsmanship.

“Receive the essence of my swordsmanship!! Divine! Verde-Cleaver!!!”
“What technique…!”

—Demonic Heavenly Advent Step.

I pretended to counterattack once more, immediately gathering mana, spreading it to my lower body, and forcefully stomping on his instep.

—Thud!

A true warrior knows how to use even their own body as a weapon! It’s easy to deal with a guy who only focuses on swordsmanship.

“Kuh, kuhaaa!!!”

The guy who got his instep stomped on screamed in pain and tried to retreat. Of course, I wouldn’t let him escape. I put strength into my foot, stomping on him until the end, and reached out to grab his neck.

—Squeeze!

“Keuk, kuhuh…”
“Hehehe, this bastard was a pushover. I’ll send you to your mother’s side!!!!”

Just as I was about to tear him apart, bones and all—Whoosh!!!

Suddenly, a dark energy surged from his sword, twisting the wrist that was holding him at a bizarre angle, trying to stab my chest—no, damn it!!! This is!!!

“Kieeeeeek!!!”

I immediately let go of him and dodged—Shhh! But I couldn’t avoid it completely. His sword scraped across my breastplate.

“Damn it, my breastplate!!!”

Such power! Is it sword energy!

“Kuhuk… Kuhuh! As expected of a paladin…! You’re certainly strong…! Kuah!”

Only then did the heretical swordsman, staggering backward and coughing, straighten his posture and glare at me. Blood was streaming from his mouth. He had taken damage.

I should have torn out his vocal cords and esophagus right away…!

More than that, this son of a bitch dared to cheat!

“You son of a bitch! How dare you use sorcery! Can you even call yourself a swordsman after that!”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You bastard, that’s cheating! Who told you to use such shitty techniques! Don’t you have any pride as a swordsman! As expected of a vile heretic! You lack the basics!”
“Wh, what on earth are you saying…! Kuhuk!”

The guy seemed confused by my mental attack.

—Whoosh.

His sword was still burning with a dark aura.

Even in an unstable posture with me grabbing his neck, it had enough power to scrape my breastplate. I could judge that its destructive power was comparable to sword energy.

“Cool…”

Of course, he was continuously spitting out blood, having suffered considerable injuries from me grabbing his neck.

—Thud!
—Boom!

And the battle between Winia and the heretical mage was also in full swing. Both were skillfully using shields and attack magic, fighting neck and neck.

It’s still okay.

But I don’t know what will happen as time passes.

“I’ll finish you off.”

—Fwoosh!

I immediately unleashed sword energy and approached him. This would waste mana, but it would be better than being caught in an attack and not being able to use it, like just now. It’s time to decide the outcome.

I am a sword energy user.

Therefore, I know very well how dangerous sword energy is.

Even if you’re wearing armor, you’ll be cut through the steel plate if you make a single mistake. I calmed my mind and achieved a state of perfect clarity.

With an utterly calm mind, I kicked off the ground.

“Come at me, hound!!!”
“Thud!!!!”

—Crash!

Blue sword energy and dark aura collided. If he didn’t have the aura, I would have split his sword in half.

—Clang clang clang!

With our blades locked, I unleashed a backslash as if pushing him away. —Clang! The attack was blocked, but I knew that one of his feet was in tatters.

“Hey, hey! Your foot! What’s wrong with your foot!”
“Wh, what!!!”

As soon as I pretended to step on his foot, he hurriedly tried to pull one foot back.

“It’s a feint, you idiot!”
“Heok!”

—Thwack!

In that state, I slammed my knee into his abdomen.

“Kuhak…!”

He didn’t lose his posture with superhuman endurance, but rather tried to stab me with his sword. But it was just a weak attack from an unstable posture. I simply knocked it down and grabbed his forearm.

“Got you.”
“What!”
“My combat sense is superior, heretical swordsman.”

—Grab!

With his forearm grabbed,

—I lift him up.

Like a flail swung powerfully into the air, his body floated, drawing an arc, and then—

—Thud!

It collided with the ground!

“Kihyaaa!”

Grabbing the forearm of an adult male and slamming him into the ground. It’s something that an ordinary human couldn’t do. A destructive skill that only a warrior with monstrous strength, enhanced by mana, could perform.

“Larva Crush!”

—Snap!

“Kiyaaaa!”

Immediately, I broke his arm. Clang, he dropped his sword. It was my victory. His swordsmanship was threatening, but his basic skills, the foundation of swordsmanship, such as kicking techniques and close combat skills, were no match for me.

Above all, this bastard was far inferior to Karin, with whom I had sparred hundreds of times.

That’s why it’s my victory.

It wasn’t just for show that I practiced Larva Combat in the backyard every morning.

“Hehehe, heretic. Now you’ll have to come to our torture chamber and tell us everything you know.”
“Kueuk… Ah, what I know… So it ends like this… Kuek! But… it’s strange…”
“What is?”
“When… when are the paladins coming…?”

What the hell is he talking about.

Ah.

“Ah, that?”

Come to think of it, I did tell such a lie.

“It’s a lie.”
“…?”

When I said it was a lie, he frowned as if he had heard something bizarre.

“…A lie?”
“It’s a complete bluff, you idiot. There was no such thing.”
“Wh, what on earth…”
“You got tricked.”
“Euaaaaa!”
“Shut up! Asura Blood-Sealing Fist of Silence!”

—Thud!

As soon as I slammed the Asura Blood-Sealing Fist into his face, he quickly regained his silence.

I was planning to keep him alive for now, so I controlled my strength.

“Ch, Chief! Euaaaaa!”

The heretical mage, who had checked this side for a moment, screamed tearfully. —Thwack! I don’t know about anything else, but there’s no reason to keep the mage alive. As I rushed towards him, Winia, taking advantage of the gap, unleashed lightning.

“Chain Lightning!”

—Zap!

“Kyaaaaa!”
“Winia’s the best!”

The mage, struck by the lightning, stopped in his place and screamed. There’s a risk of electric shock, but I’ll cover that with skill.

“Die, mage!!!”

I immediately swung my sword, aiming for his neck.

—Slice!

The heretical mage’s hideous head fell off easily. —Shhh. Black smoke rose from the severed surface.

“Darkie, fire! We have to get out of here!”
“Okay!”

Anyway, we managed to win. But the lab was already almost a sea of fire. All the furniture, altars, and tools were burning fiercely due to the aftermath of the magic battle.

Ah, damn it! This means there’s almost nothing to salvage!

I was so focused on the battle that I didn’t even realize the lab was going to hell!

“Damn it!”

As I was about to run away, I saw the heretical swordsman lying unconscious in front of me. I can’t carry him with me when there’s already a fire.

Then!

“I’ll finish him off, thud!!!”

—Stab!

I immediately ran over and stabbed the Life-Giving Sword into his forehead. With this, he would gain a new life in hell due to the effects of the Life-Giving Sword and suffer countless eons of pain.

—Shhh.

Soon, black smoke began to flow from his forehead, and I immediately put the sword back into its sheath. —Whoosh. Nevertheless, the lab continued to burn relentlessly, finally swallowing even the corpse of the heretical mage.

“Oh, oh…! Oh, oh! Why is this happening…!”

Like tearing off a part of hell, the heretics’ lab burned.

Like the flames of the Little Match Girl, who, at the last moment, awakened her hatred and tried to burn the world as her own match…

“I can’t believe it!!!!!”

I left the burning lab behind, with Winia tucked under my arm, and escaped out of the cave. After escaping, I tore at my hair and wailed. Because I couldn’t accept that such a terrible thing was reality.