Author: SS Samurai	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: rm31439	English Source: Re:Library

“Hah… oh well. Do I need to introduce myself to you cretins? You are in the presence of the magnificent Black God, Surtr, pleasure to meet you! Oh, you can skip your part. I already know your names.”

The evil god possessing the king’s body launched into a self-introduction no one had asked for. Not a single person deigned him with a reply. Rir and Sakura looked perplexed, while Kanata just glared at him. The two knights were the same as Kanata.

“…!!”

Suddenly, the Black God opened his eyes widely, as if he was fighting something unseen. From the looks of it, Kanata had used some kind of skill, but… Surtr then showed a toothy grin and started laughing.

“Ha-ha! So, that’s your teleportation? Not bad! But I hate~ to break it to you; all the abilities of sages that consume MP are ineffective when used against the one who summoned them¹! Although, this fool is the last of the Zeggrays who can use that art…”

Our attacks are ineffective? What are we supposed to do then?

The Black God continued jabbering on.

“Indeed, that weird barrier you just put up has zero effect on ME. As a matter of fact, this little coward never had the power to render healing, defense, and support magic ineffective… but I do, since I‘m an evil god!” he explained, as he thrust his hand into empty air.

The moment he did that, Kanata’s expression changed to frustration. He had probably put up a barrier like the one with Dace earlier.

“Heh… Still, this body has a long way to go. It’s a good thing it can turn off the attacks from sages, but… I‘m the type of evil god who demands a thrilling battle, so this won’t do. Not at all.”

H-Hey, ain’t that evil god way too strong in various ways…? Wait, that’s only since he got that problematic power by taking over the king, I guess?

“All that talking, and not a single reply? You guys make ME sad. Gi-hi, gi-hi-hi-hi!!” he laughed creepily.

…What do we do? I wonder, if I use my speed consciously, could I cut him down? Still, that probably won’t destroy his true body, and I ain’t got no clue what he’ll do, then. For now, there’s nothin’ but defend against his attacks, is there? Moreover, without usin’ magic and skills.

[Hey, Rir.]　
[W-Woof!? Woof, what should we do? Just what do we do now!?]　
[Well, calm down, first. It might look impossible, but you and those two knights should be able to use your attacks like normal… Still, don’t do anythin’ for the time bein’, will ya? When the time comes, I’ll send you a signal via telepathy,] I explained in preparation for later.
[Understood.]　

If all else failed, Rir was likely to become our trump card.

Next, I sent Kanata a question.

[Kanata, what would be best now? Do you have an idea?]　
[Oh, Shuu, I was about to contact you myself. Mr. Loukis’ magic power has risen to a scary level, but it’s still at a point where we can win. So, even if it comes down to a straightforward fight, the probability of us losing is low, but… the question is what other skills the king has.]　

After shooting a glance at the evil god, who was still roaring with laughter, Kanata turned his gaze back on me.

[Surtr most likely has the power to amplify the existing abilities of whoever he possesses. He said so himself earlier… While Mr. Loukis only had the ability to render the effects of the sages’ powers used against himself ineffective, I now cannot even teleport us. If what he says is true, then that’s rather troublesome. I also asked Sakura telepathically to cast support magic on me, but as expected, she seems unable to.]　

…What can we do, then? Is pushing through with our stat difference our best bet, after all?

I gripped Lævateinn strongly and got ready. That instant, the Black God opened his eyes wide and looked at me. It felt as if his gaze was trying to pierce a hole into me.

“Oh, my!! That’s one nice sword you have there! Probably found it in a dungeon, didn’t you?”

It seemed like he was admiring my sword. I gripped the weapon even more tightly.

“Alright, c’mon fight ME… let’s have a battle to the death already, guys! …Who’ll go first? …Eh, *ahem*… Kyrian, Kruzel. You aren’t going to tell me you are just planning to watch, while none of the sages can use magic, are you? …Come at me.”

The Black God suddenly provoked the two knights in the tone of voice the king normally used. Among those two… the man called Kruzel pursed his lips tightly, readied his sword once more, and charged at the evil god with a “Graah~~~!!”

“Mr. Kruzel, please stop!!” Kanata shouted.

He tried to prevent the knight from reaching the Black God, but was too late. Kruzel was about to slash at Surtr. Kyrian had also grasped her spear and tried to rush at the Black God, but it looked like Sakura managed to stop her.

“Hrm, so Kruzel is first. Gah-ha-ha, just as I predicted.”

The king’s body stuck out its arm. And Kruzel was flung to the room’s entrance.

TL notes:
Surtr starts by sealing all the heroes’ abilities, like a proper video-game boss. It might sound like a big issue, until you remember just how insane the raw stats of the sages are, and that Rir is well past SSS-Rank strength, while Surtr has to work with the equivalent of an A-Ranker (though he apparently boosts the stats of his host, too).

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Footnotes:

That does sound like a reasonable failsafe so the summon won’t just attack the summoner. Though it wouldn’t have helped Loukis stop Kanata’s plan to teleport Gungnir into space.