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There was a large hall covering most of the first floor of the fort. In the past, that area had been used as an audience hall. At the far end, a few steps led up to a throne, and their target was seated there.

*”…Oh? Guests, have we? I guess this means the other guy lost.”*

A crystal-clear and rather androgynous voice echoed through the hall once Crim and her allies stepped inside.

A young man sat on the throne, his features handsome yet ambiguous, with shoulder-length silver hair that faded into a purple gradient. He lounged there at ease, surrounded by many women in mourning dresses, their faces hidden by black veils.

His clothes were a strange blend between a knight’s formal uniform and a spellcaster’s robe. If he smiled, he might appear kind and welcoming, yet his eyes betrayed him—corrupted, filled with derision as they locked onto the intruders.

*”But I struggle to comprehend. Why would you come here? Disturbing the peace and silence that has reigned for so long?”*
“What’s that supposed to mean..?”
*”Ahahah, though I suppose it was only I who enjoyed that quiet life here… right?”*

He shrugged, then shook his head with mocking laughter, stirring anger in Crim and the others.

“…You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲, you have no right to talk like that.”
*”Ahahahah, I have all the rights I want.”*

While Elmir seethed, the man merely stood, placed a hand to his chest, and offered an exaggerated bow. His mocking behavior only deepened their hatred. Meanwhile, Crim’s eyes turned toward the women in black. Something about them made her uneasy…

***

***

“So that’s what he did…the fiend.”

Crim noticed it then…their eyes across the veils. In them glimmered a faint light, like newfound hope. They had likely been forced into eternal servitude, shackled against their will, yearning to be freed. The sight of their sunken eyes ignited fury within her, and she clenched her fists.

“…I realize the futility, but I’ll ask anyway. Free those women.”
*”Those women you say… Why not? I’m touched by your empathy, so I’ll grant you that wish.”*
“…What?”

His reply was not what Crim expected. For a moment she hesitated, then he rose from the throne, seized one of the women by the neck, and lifted her into the air.

“Stop, don’t even…!”

As the woman whimpered in pain, kicking helplessly in the air, Crim tried to intervene, but—

*”…Here, catch if you want!”*

With strength far greater than his appearance suggested, the man hurled the woman toward Crim. She rushed forward to catch her, and his smirk widened with delight.

*”…I command you, burst. Corpse Explosion.”*

He muttered the words and snapped his fingers.

The moment Crim reached out, a blinding light erupted, followed by a thunderous roar. A fiery explosion engulfed her entirely.

“Crim?!”
“Crim!!”
“Demon Lord?!”

The players cried out in shock as flames raged where Crim had been.

*”Heheh, HAHAHAHAHAH! Did you really think I wasn’t watching you earlier? I already know you’re the most annoying of the bunch! But now you can’t… What?”*

He cackled from the throne, but his laughter stopped abruptly.

As the flames subsided, Crim still stood. Fire was her greatest weakness, and she had been closest to the blast. Her HP had plunged into the red zone, yet she survived. A glowing barrier surrounded her, and Alberich stood beside her.

“Crim, are you okay?!”

Freya was the first to rush to her side. Elmir and the others quickly formed up in front of Crim. But instead of answering, Crim only mumbled under her breath. Freya leaned closer, worried she had been badly injured.

“…killhimkillhimKillHimKILL HIM I’LL KILL HIM NO MATTER WHAT I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU UNTIL YOU’RE DEAD!!”
“…Hiee…”

Crim’s eyes had lost their luster, consumed entirely by murderous rage. Something within her had snapped. Even Freya recoiled in fear, never before had she seen Crim like this.

But her fury ebbed when she saw a ghostly figure float before her.

“…Wait, before that. Alberich, is it mine eyes, or hath thy form grown fainter?”
*”Yes, well… I had to use half the mana I have left for that. But it was worth it. Are you alright?”*

It was his own mana that sustained his soul. Normally lingering spirits corrupted the mana around them, manifesting as ghosts. But Alberich relied only on his limited reserves, and protecting Crim had consumed much of it.

“…Alberich…”

Crim looked deeply concerned, but Alberich only smiled and told her not to worry. Then his expression hardened as he glared at the throne, where the man sat with an entertained smirk.

*”Don’t worry about me. This body is nothing but old regrets and emotions. I exist only to use all my strength to defeat him.”*
“…I see. In that case, let me express my gratitude now while we still have the chance.”

Alberich’s eyes burned with determination. Crim knew there would be no other time to say it. The man on the throne, who had watched everything unfold, suddenly raised his voice as if he had just remembered something.

*”Ahh, right… It’s you, that spellcaster who didn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.”*
*”Yes, it’s been a while, alchemist… no, Devil Bifrons.”*
“Hohoh, ahahahah, what a surprise that is…!”

Alberich’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion, as he addressed the man…the Devil Bifrons, who only laughed heartily and clapped.

*”Hahah, I still can’t believe it. It was truly a surprise to see you act so heartlessly. Let me guess, you lost patience with your former master when he refused to listen to you? Back when you discovered what I was doing in the shadows?”*
“…That’s enough, I’ll listen no more.”

Bifrons’ grating voice became too much for Crim to endure, and her furious cry seemed to make the room tremble. By then she had reached the throne and swung her dark scythe, forcing Bifrons to retreat instantly, while the High Revenants nearby rushed forward to block her path.

And then, right after… Bifrons swung the scythe that had appeared in his hand.

***CLINK!***

The sharp ring of metal echoed. Bifrons’ scythe had deflected the dagger thrown by Setsuna from behind him, who had been hiding and waiting for the right moment. She clicked her tongue in annoyance, vanished, and reappeared at Crim’s side.

“I’m really sorry, Master. You gave me the perfect opening, but I couldn’t exploit it.”
“Don’t worry. He seems quite capable at close-range combat too. We managed to move his arrogant a̲s̲s̲ off the throne anyway, and that’s enough.”

Crim tried to reassure Setsuna, who looked devastated by her failure, before turning back to face Bifrons with her weapon at the ready.

*”Haha, did you really try a sneak attack against me? How disgraceful.”*
“Who careth? ’Twas thy strike that signaled the beginning of our battle!”

Crim snapped back, for he had no right to complain about surprise attacks.

But even as they spoke, a horde of zombies shambled into the hall. That also meant far more units that could detonate with Corpse Explosion. Normally, a sight like that would have made Crim scream and cry uncontrollably, given her weakness to horror, but this time…

“I must thank thee. Though I abhor scenes of horror, this one hath no effect upon me whatsoever.”
*”Oh? And why is that, if you’d be so kind as to tell me?”*
“Is it not plain…? ’Tis because mine hatred for thee burneth far greater. All that fills my mind is the thought of crushing thy skull, to erase that cursed, smug grin!!”

With that furious shout from Crim, the final battle in Garland Citadel began.