<h4>1012: Side - Izario</h4>


    She’s already left.


    It takes a true adventurer to make the right decision in times like these. Master must be guiding her well. The two make a good team.


    But still, never thought I’d see two Intelligence Weapons at a ce like this…… No, maybe it was because of this ce?


    The continent of Gordicia is and of horrors, with divine swords, antidemons, and all sorts of monsters around every corner. It shouldn’t be a surprise to see such mythical existences drawn together here.


    『Stop right there, GIIIRRLL!』


    A woman’s screech echoed in my head. I’ve known that Trismegistus’ sword, Fannabelta, was an Intelligence Weapon, but this is my first time hearing her voice out loud.


    By they male or female, those mad with envy are as troublesome as those seeking revenge. Though ording to the legends, she was supposed to be the always calm andposed Ice Maiden……


    Who could’ve imagined she’d be this crazy in reality? All thanks to her “Original Sin Envy” skill. Simply possessing the skill causes the mes of jealousy to warp her mind.


    Normally, these sin-type skills are rare skills only possessed by demons. Moreover, “Original Sin” marks the skills belonging to demons of the highest caliber.


    The Wrath Demon I fought a while back in the Rank A dungeon told me all about that, though his constant anger made it hard to hold a conversation.


    So the question is, why did Fannabelta have an Original Sin skill?


    From what I’ve heard, she didn’t start off with the skill. Well, she was supposedly an elf before bing a sword, so that’s only natural.


    Apparently, the two fought a demon with Original Sin Envy some decades ago. During that battle, the demon used Original Sin Envy to steal one of her skills.


    But what happened afterwards was something no one could have expected.


    The demon tried to take a skill so valuable that it was unable to pay the price.


    Original Sin Envy, a skill to forcibly perform an equivalent exchange with the target. However, usage of this skilles with a great risk. In the case that the user offers something not equal in value to what they are taking, the skill automatically decides what will be exchanged instead.


    That means the user may lose their very life, making for quite the risky gamble.


    As a result, the Envy Demon was forced to give the Original Sin Envy skill itself in the trade. Fannabelta lost some sort of powerful skill, and gained the loathsome Original Sin Envy skill.


    Considering Trismegistus told me this himself, it’s probably the truth. I don’t think the guy has enough individuality left to tell a lie.


    He never mentioned that Fannabelta went off the rails because of it though.


    I ain’t a fan of chicks like this, but I need to buy time for the littledy’s escape.


    「Hey, wannae y with me for a bit?」


    『Runt, move out of my way!』


    「Me, a runt? I guess that’s an elf for you.」


    『How dare you mock me!』


    Though she’s certainly in the grip of madness, her mind isn’tpletely gone yet.


    「Izario, farewell.」


    It seems Fannabelta told Trismegistus to ignore me. He quickly made an attempt to bypass me.


    But I won’t let you go that easy!


    「……<strong>Divine Sword Release</strong>! Heye on, don’t give me the cold shoulder!」


    『Runt! Stop interfering with us!』


    「No one’s dumb enough to stop when the enemy tells them to! me Dance!」


    From the very beginning, I sted him with max output. A brilliant red inferno consumed everything around us like an ocean of fire.


    No offense to the littledy, but I’m much happier fighting alone. After all, I can focus all my power on pure destructive energy without holding back.


    「Ora! me de!」


    「Superb techniques, Izario.」


    「At least put on a smile if you want topliment someone!」


    『My liege! How dare you!』


    It seems my attempt to grab their attention was a sess. Trismegistus only took a slight burn, and Fannabelta already went half berserk.


    『Cocytus!』


    「Tch! me Wall!」


    Fannabelta was known as the “Ice Maiden” due to being a practitioner of ice magic, and a high rank one at that.


    The vortex of ice freezing the air itself collided with the mes I shot out, resulting in a huge explosion.


    Though I was using a defensive technique, she still managed to match the output of a divine sword. Should have expected as much from a legendary Intelligence Weapon. Right afterward, Trismegistus snuck up on me without a sound. He appeared right behind me out of the cloud of water vapor.


    「Kuh! Did you suddenly turn into an assassin!」


    Trismegistus shed at me wordlessly, and I still couldn’t sense his presence. He had such an impressive aura, and he managed to camouge all of it.


    If Ignis’ heat detection ability wasn’t so ridiculous, I might have died without a chance to react. That’s just how nasty his stealth and swordsmanship were.


    He’s been swinging around his de for millennia, so I don’t stand a chance when ites to a melee. That just goes to show you how outrageous the littledy is for being able to cross des with him.


    But I’ll say this again, I’m a Rank S adventurer! I can’t keep losing to my juniors!


    「Your divine mes are splendid, capable of easily melting my barriers. In addition, you even surpass me when ites to defense.」


    「The divine sword bearers can’t afford to lose so easily, you see!」


    I continued parrying Trismegistus’ de, as Ignis’ mes melted away at his body. Though he has a powerful barrier, it’s practically useless against my divine mes.


    My divine mes collided with his mana, creating a tornado of wind and heat. The surrounding region was already beginning to turn into a hellscape.


    Not even littledy Fran would be able to survive getting caught up in that. Trismegistus’ entire body was covered in burns, but he maintained his rxed attitude.


    I guess that’s just your average day to this immortal. Like I thought, I’ll have to get serious!


    「Hurry up and die once already! me Body!」


    「Hoh. This is the first time you are showing me this power, yes?」


    「Ha! Never noticed it despite all that big talk about your eyes?」


    「Indeed. It seems the divine swords exceed my capabilities, so I was unable to see everything.」


    I used one of myst resorts: the Divine Sword Art, “me Body”. To put it simply, this technique turns my entire body into divine mes. The current me was now a clump of divine mes in the shape of a human.


    Any normal attacks targeting me will pass through without effect, and the slightest touch is enough to ignite my enemies with divine mes. Your average guy has no way of extinguishing that, so all that’s left is to turn to ash.


    「Hmm…」


    「You put it out so easily!」


    「Not quite. The feat consumed a bit of my divine attribute.」


    Trismegistus has Divine Dragon Form. Someone capable of using the divine attribute could deal with my mes. But just you wait, this technique isn’t just for defense and counters.


    「Ora!」


    「When did you get so close? I did not sense any magic.」


    The true essence of my me Body technique is the ability to assimte myself with mes. Simply absorbing mes bes enough to heal me. Not only that, I could also appear from anywhere there was a fire.


    This was no teleportation. All the mes surrounding us were a part of me, so I was essentially omnipresent. Without any prior knowledge, my opponent would think I instantly teleported somehow.


    I had already lit the entire room aze, so our battle took ce in the middle of the inferno. In such a situation, it was nearly impossible to follow my movements.


    「Haah!」


    『My liege! Stop this at once, runt! Damn you!』


    「Just try and stop me.」


    I could appear from anywhere and strike with a de of divine me. Even my opponent is an abomination from the legends, I don’t n to lose. Fannabelta sted away with ice spells, but they simply evaporated after making contact with my mes.


    「Now go back to the throne――Whoa?! What the hell?!」


    The antidemon I fought off earlier started radiating an extraordinary amount of mana. I put him off forter since he didn’t seem to be doing anything, but he managed to survive my stray mes. No, if anything, he’s gotten even stronger.


    But where did that Meltritte girl go? The antidemon’s aura is so strong that it’s covering up her presence!


    「The girl has finished her preparations.」


    「Preparations? What are you plotting?!」


    「The creation of the mightiest antidemon the world has ever seen. Your mistake was not prioritizing the destruction of the antidemon designated as the vessel.」


    What is he even talking about? The creation of the mightiest antidemon? Isn’t that against his entire purpose? Why is Trismegistus allowing this to happen!?


    「What the hell are you up to?!」


    「I have only ever had one goal.」


    I don’t know what kinda nonsense he’s speaking, but this is really bad! The antidemon just keeps getting bigger!


    「Should you really be focusing on other matters right now?」


    「Grah!」


    He’s managed to deal so much damage to me despite my me Body! His mastery of the divine attribute is too perfect! Shit, my concentration is……!


    『Now die! I’ll put your divine sword to good use for you!』