Chapter 25 – Uphold It. This Power!

One. Does a weapon now rest in my hand?

The answer is, no. Only a body honed to the limits of its limits.

[Because the Oath is invoked, no weapon can harm this flesh.]

One. Am I receiving aid from anyone in the face of this imminent battle?

The answer is, no. Only Deus stands alone on this battlefield.

[Because the Oath is upheld, I will reach victory without assistance.]

Finally, one. Do I now fight for the righteous?

The answer is, it is so. These are those who have each given their all for their duties.

Heroes who stand with righteous hearts against a presence that would taint their world with malice.

[Because the Oath is followed, I can surely overcome the malice before me.]

*

‘…But, seems it wasn’t the top.’

If things had gone just a little bit wrong, the bottoms would have followed the top.

We almost witnessed a naked barbarian running amok!

‘That green photosynthetic monster still fit his pants even after a growth spurt.’

Come to think of it, why were the uniform pants pricier than the shirt?

Also, why are uniforms sold separately for top and bottom? It’s absurd!

Deus grumbled incessantly about the outrageous commercial tactic.

“Lower lifeform.”

Deus tilted his head slightly upward. …Hard to see. He tilted it a little further.

He’d heard he was the tallest student in the cradle.

As proof, all the students and teachers looked up at him.

Yet, he himself had to crane his neck to see this being.

“Not bad.”

The first thing that catches his eye is, of course, the horn sprouting from its head.

Nothing like the horns of those demon-attribute heroines you see in manga.

It’s as if it’s shouting, ‘This is the real deal!’ a seriously wicked visage.

To put it a bit more precisely, yes. You could say he looked monstrous.

“Honestly, I was surprised. I figured this place would be crawling with grunts.”

Next, his skin tone. Man. That’s a true crimson man right there. I’m serious.

How could his face and body be such a blazing red?

At that point, even if he was bleeding, he probably wouldn’t know because of the camouflage.

“So, the vanguard has arrived. At least the lowlifes sent out a gatekeeper of some sort to meet me.”

If you’re looking for a gatekeeper, I can recommend a novel for you.

*Academy Silver Gatekeeper*, go check it out. It’s right up your alley.

–Blah blah blah–

Good grief, what a menacing face. How should I describe it?

Right. His features are a total battleground. His face looks like it’s on its last legs.

“…”

Then, Deus realized the demon’s rant had stopped, and oh, he let out a little sigh.

“All done talking?”

“You… didn’t hear a single word I said?”

“Heard it all. About your face being all chewed up, no. That’s not it, is it?”

“Insolent wretch! Prick up your ears and listen well one last time! My name is Zagan! One of the vanguard commanders of the glorious Hell Legion. A wildfire born from the darkness! Furthermore—”

“Oh, wait. Just one question.”

A look of sheer bewilderment spread across the demon Zagan’s face. The expression said, *What kind of guy is this?*

How could he be so nonchalant, even when faced with his magnificent presence?

“Born from the darkness, you said.”

“Indeed. Inferior being.”

“On your mother’s side? Or your father’s?”

“…?”

“Oh. Are your parents hermaphrodites, by any chance?”

“…”

“Nah? Never mind, then. Just curious.”

For a moment, Zagan doubted his ears at Deus’s question.

But soon, an undeniable rage washed over his face.

“You damned lowlife…! And here I was, showing you courtesy!”

–Wooosh!–

The demon’s massive spear hurtled back and thrust forward with all its might.

A speed that even skilled combatants couldn’t react to, let alone see.

If it struck true, survival was out of the question. No, you’d be dead for sure.

Watching the scene unfold, Deus wore a satisfied smile.

‘You just can’t beat a good insult to the parents when it comes to provocation.’

Whether they’re angels, demons, Buddhas, or Jesuses, they’re all suckers for the parent insults.

Thanks to that, the demon, who was going on about his introduction, was now giving it his all.

Look at him. Gritting his teeth. Killing intent gleamed in his eyes.

–Thump–

He roughly strips off his top and tosses it aside.

Ripped to shreds anyway, no point in mourning it. It’s already shuffled off this mortal coil.

But the pants are salvageable. Guess there’s a reason they were so damn expensive; sturdy.

Made from monster byproducts, they said. Seems that wasn’t just idle boasting.

He reaches out. His gaze fixed on the colossal spearhead, now mere inches away.

Gently. Like brushing aside a curtain fluttering in the breeze. He nudges it aside.

A searing pain shoots through his hand. But, that’s it. That’s all there is.

From his right wrist, the Oath flares with light. So long as he protects, he shall be blessed.

Not a scratch, not a single drop of blood escapes this weaponless hand.

“What—”

The spear is deflected, veering off course, and with it goes the demon.

‘Damn. This guy’s face is something else, real… avant-garde.’

—CRUNCH!!

An uppercut slams squarely into the demon, Jagan’s, jaw.

With a concussive blast of eerie energy, the fiend is sent reeling backwards.

Almost simultaneously, Deus’s new form seems to vanish.

“Guh-ACK!!”

This time, a merciless downward strike lands squarely in the center of his abdomen.

No wasted movements, only those geared towards delivering a fatal blow.

A technique that began as sport, warped through a twisted evolution, now honed solely for killing.

A raw, refined, distilled power born from a single-minded determination to survive.

—CRASH!!

With just two blows, the demon’s body is sent bouncing haphazardly.

Finally, it comes to a halt, flipping over, and vomiting a stream of black-red blood.

“Krrgh…”

Vanguard. A different emotion flickers across Jagan’s eyes for the first time.

Something, something’s wrong. This is so different from all the information they had gathered.

This can’t be happening. This… this just isn’t right!

‘These lowlifes, weren’t they supposed to be struggling against even our beasts of burden?! We gathered every possible piece of intelligence, made preparations for every contingency, and came here only to…!’

And yet. What in the hell *is* this monstrous creature?

His jaw feels like it’s been torn clean off. His guts feel like they’ve been ripped open and are spilling out.

He gropes around for his weapon. But his fingers grasp only empty air.

“Hey. Vanguard guy?”

The spear lay at Deus’s feet.

“Surely this isn’t the end, right? Is it?”

He casually applies pressure with his foot, and the spear snaps in two with a resounding *crack!*

The King’s boon, bestowed upon the Vanguard, shattered so… anticlimactically?

Heh heh heh. Jagan was beyond bewilderment, he was simply… numb.

“Ah. Please. Even if you *are* just the first boss of the first act, this is a little much, don’t you think? I finally thought I was getting some catharsis after that whole genre-misunderstanding thing, but damn it all. This just makes it even *worse!*”

Jagan couldn’t understand a single damn word the lunatic was rambling about.

Genre? Mistake? What on earth were they even talking about?

—THUD! THUD-THUD!

Each time that man stomped his foot in fury, the whole area shook as if a minor earthquake had struck.

For a split second, he even considered that b*stard wasn’t just some lowlife, but a mole planted by a rival.

There were plenty who would be seething that he was the one launching the initial attack.

‘…No. Can’t be. Even if there were some who’d stoop to that, surely they wouldn’t risk it. If they got caught doing that from the very first strike, they wouldn’t have bones left to bury.’

Then the only conclusion left was this: that lowlife was just an anomaly.

Strong. Stronger than him. Just too damn strong. He hadn’t even been able to put up a fight.

“Heh, heh heh! KYAHAHAHA!!”

An uncontrollable laugh burst forth. Soon, a deafening roar echoed raucously.

“Lowly creatures. Not bad. You figured out our invasion!”

“…?”

“Indeed. I concede. I was outwitted, quite spectacularly. I thought I had laid a trap, but it turns out I was the one who walked into it! KYAAHAHAHA! I admit it. This is my perfect defeat!”

This was unexpected. Was the first boss really going to admit defeat so readily?

He’d expected some rant about it being impossible, or how could some lowly thing accomplish this.

“However! Know this, lowly creature! I am merely, a vanguard! As time passes, more will come! Stronger beings will arrive! And in the end, my King will arrive!”

The stronger beings were probably the next bosses.

And the King was obviously the final boss.

Nice of him to spell it out so clearly. Typical first chapter boss. Deus nodded slowly.

“So pave the way, and prepare your necks! KYAHAHAHAHA!!”

Blood dribbling from his mouth, Zagan forced himself to stand.

There was no chance of winning. He’d fallen into the trap; it was only right to die fighting.

That was the only fitting end for one who held the title of vanguard!

“Once more! *Cough,* I introduce myself! My name is Zagan! One of the proud vanguards of the Hell Legion. A flame born from darkness! One of those who has been granted the King’s Ki! Who are you, lowly creature who will snuff out my flame!”

Deus watched the scene for a moment, then let out a sigh.

Oh. This wasn’t good. If he acted like that, he couldn’t help but show him some respect, even if he was a boss.

What should he say? What could he say to preserve even a shred of the loser’s honor?

“…”

He suddenly realized that the dark world around them was gradually growing brighter.

Dawn had broken, and the morning was beginning to lighten the sky.

That’s when Deus hit upon the perfect answer.

The novel that had tricked him into this situation, ＜The Dungeon Opened on the First Day of Mercenary Work＞.

The cringe-worthy self-introduction that the protagonist had spouted.

“The sound of trumpets echoing in the dawn sky.”

“…”

“That’s me.”

Ugh. Jesus. How could he say such a ridiculous line?

Being a protagonist wasn’t something anyone could do. Respect, pure respect.

Deus scratched his head frantically.

“…Impressive.”

Yet, for Jagan, it seemed as though he was rather pleased.

*

The morning dawns. First light. Yes, first light is breaking.

Luciel, dazed, lifted his head to gaze at what lay beyond.

The monster, no longer moving. And Deus, perched atop its head.

From his bare back emanated a power that dared not be challenged.

— *Ssss*

The gate the fallen monster had ridden in on vanishes.

And then, in its wake, other gates gape open their maws.

“Uwah!”

“F, finally, the Cradle! We’re back!”

The teachers, completely isolated from the battle as he had wanted.

Having finally returned to where they should be, they were all in a panic.

“Wh, what is this!?”

“What is going on here?!”

That, now, is for you teachers to figure out.

Deus smiled faintly and slowly rose to his feet.

Time for morning drills. Next, time to prepare Jojo’s meal.