Akatsuki Translations

Five years ago

The City of Sin, Gradol, was on the brink of annihilation.

『――ＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！』

In a sense, it was the most typical threat in this world – an invasion of monsters.

The invading monster was a 【Cyclops】.

Originally, it was a sixth-rank monster that appeared in the deep layers of the dungeon. However, the monster currently attacking Gradol was not of that grade’s strength.

The difference was in scale. Normally, a Cyclops has a total length of 2-3 meters, with large ones reaching about 10 meters. Of course, even that is a threat. With its huge body and weight, it can move its arms and legs as freely as a human, to an irrational degree, pulling out large trees and swinging them around like blunt weapons.

Such a monster appeared as a 50-meter titan.

The giant visible from within the city, towering over the defensive walls, could only be described as abnormal. It–

『ＡＡＡＡ『ＧＵＵＵＵＵＵＵＵＡ『ＫＫＫＫＫＫ『『ＡＡＡ！！！！！』』』』』

It emerged in a “mixed” form.

The base was probably a Cyclops. It had a human shape. But everything else was vastly different. Where the right arm should be, a giant serpent with blade-like scales writhed. The torso had the face of a lion, and below the waist, six legs stomped the ground like a centaur. However, the lower body resembled that of a beetle.

It was a dubious composite beast, a chimera, that one would hesitate to even call a Cyclops.

An excessively distorted chimera, like a child’s poorly made clay sculpture, it could even be thought of as comical. However, that crumpled monster shook the earth, rattled the city, and posed a threat, so the people of Gradol could hardly laugh at it.

Even with the greatest defensive wall, the Barrier of the Sun God, Gradol was terrified.

The knights had already failed to subjugate it. Its giant body had been detected approaching Gradol early on. Nevertheless, it was allowed to get close at the last moment simply because there was nothing they could do.

Its rock-like thick skin could not be penetrated by physical attacks or magical destruction.

The overwhelming violence swung down from its colossal body was unreasonable.

The serpent on its arm swallowed knights whole, the lion’s head breathed fire, and the six legs tore knights apart miserably.

Combined with the regional characteristic of Gradol having few monster appearances in the first place, the weakened knights had no way to deal with it. Although the giant’s intrusion was blocked by the Sun’s barrier, it peered over the physical defensive wall, day and night, incessantly attacking to destroy the barrier, and the gruesome sight had plunged the city into a state of panic.

The citizens abandoned their assigned jobs and rushed to the temple, forgetting even to pray, only trembling. They could hardly sleep.

The priests and attendants were much the same. Resistance with the power of spirits also produced only meager results. Even if spirits were omnipotent, the priests who commanded them were not.

Fleeing from Gradol.

Or, with a bitter experience, begging for help from the City of Sin, Proudia.

Such whispers began to circulate, and that’s when it happened. A miracle occurred.

―― Smite, O Spirit of the Earth.

With that single utterance from the boy, an embodiment of the earth, so vast as to look down on even the giant, emerged from the ground. A gigantic mass of rock, like a mountain range, took on a human shape. Some mistook it for the descent of the One True God, Zerudia.

―― Mow it Down.

The incarnation of the earth swung its arm. When it came down, just the wind from the aftershock blew away part of Gradol’s defensive wall. That single blow directly hit the chimera in the form of a Cyclops, causing its body to burst apart like scraps of paper and return to the earth.

It instantly swept away the giant that no one in Gradol could deal with. It was truly a miracle.

When it became known that the one who performed this miracle was the boy who would become the next high priest, it was only natural for fear and despair to turn into excitement.

―― Our king, Aesula, incarnation of the Earth Spirit and guardian of Gradol!!!

His achievements circulated throughout the country, and the people of all Gradol supported and praised him. He became a legend at a young age, turned into a story and a song. As a result, he effectively dragged his own father down from the position of high priest, took control of the useless knights, turned the Sun Knights directly under the Temple into his private army, and made everyone acknowledge it all.

Anyone who expressed the opinion that this incident may have been orchestrated by Aesula’s own manipulation disappeared.

Thus, having truly become the king of Gradol, he proceeded according to his own desires. He devoured all manner of luxuries, tasted pleasures that most could not, and still he was not satisfied.

Not enough! Still not enough!! Next!! Next!!!!!!

It was inevitable that he, who despised the City of Sin, Proudia and the leader of the Grand Federation, would plan to usurp that pinnacle. The endless hunger smoldered in the depths of his stomach.

And because he was the type to keep looking up like that, he never noticed.

Hungry and starving, reaching up and up, using others as stepping stones, he never paid attention to what kind of pebbles were rolling at his feet.

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And now, in the present.

“Kill me? You must be joking, you piece of trash!!” -Aesula

Aesula was surprised by the declaration of the Nameless boy with grey hair, and then immediately mocked it.

Kill him? Him? The Nameless nobody who was just crawling on the ground like a bug? In this place without even The Hero?

He seemed to have cunningly bought time and prepared a barrier, but if he thought that would be enough to defeat Aesula, it was a poor joke.

“Enough, I’ll send you to the afterlife right now–” -Aesula

Die, he declared and tried to wield the power of the Earth Spirit.

But faster than that, the Nameless man threw something at him. At a speed that Aesula couldn’t react to, in order to hit him directly in the head.

“Gah?!” -Aesula

It was a vial. The glass shattered, and a dark red liquid stained Aesula’s priest robes. Always under the protection of the Earth, he felt no injury or pain. But just having his clothes soiled, his anger reached its boiling point.

“If you want to die so badly, then die!!!! Urigandin!!!” -Aesula

In a rage, he spread both hands and shouted the name of the Earth Spirit.

Uplift the earth, cause a landslide on the plain. Crush them with a mass of soil and rocks. It was his usual tactic. An ultimate strike that could annihilate even a large horde of monsters with one sweep–or so it should have been.

“……Huh?” -Aesula

But nothing happened.

For the first time in his life, Aesula felt a strange lack of response. Ever since he could remember, the Earth Spirit had been by his side. He had been able to freely manipulate the blessing given to him as he pleased, like his own limbs.

The beloved of the Earth Spirit.

A gifted one, born with power without needing training or prayer. The opposite of Echelle, who was loved by the cursed Mirror. For him, that power was not a miracle, but a given.

That power had now vanished from within him. He was stunned by the sudden absence.

“Nice pose, Your Majesty.” -Ur

Before he knew it, the Nameless one had approached him closely. Stepping in deep, he thrust out his dragonfang spear in one motion. Reflexively, Aesula raised his hand in front of him. That was his only defensive stance. Always protected by the invincible Blessing of the Earth Spirit, and now even layered with the blessing of immovability. Mere brute force violence shouldn’t be able to penetrate it.

But a chill ran through him just before impact.

“—-?!” -Aesula

It was a defensive instinct that surfaced at the very last moment. He scrambled back, almost rolling. The dragonfang spear, aimed straight at Aesula’s throat, slightly deviated and pierced his shoulder instead.

It pierced him. It penetrated the invincible blessing and its tip dug into his flesh.

“Guh, AAAAAAAAAAAAH?!!” -Aesula

From his shoulder, he felt a burning heat. For him, who rarely had the opportunity to “get injured” in his daily life, the stimulus of “pain” was too intense. Even though the dragonfang spear had only slightly penetrated its tip, he rolled on the ground in agony.

“The power’s not completely stripped off, huh. I see.” -Ur

The Nameless one looked at the dragonfang spear that was pushed back before piercing through the flesh completely and spoke as if he understood. Then, as if ignoring Aesula, he began to remove the black bandage wrapped around his right hand.

“Y-you! You bastard!! What did you do!?” -Aesula

“Then how about this?” -Ur

Ignoring Aesula’s words, he raised his right arm. The Nameless one’s right arm emerged from under the black bandage. A far cry from that of an ordinary person, with a dark red color, reptilian skin and scales, and long, extended nails, a fearsome right arm.

“Here goes.” -Ur

“Guah!!?” -Aesula

The fist struck Aesula’s face directly. Blood spurted out. The bridge of his nose was crushed. Considering it was a single blow from an adventurer enhanced by magical power, it was fortunate that his face wasn’t completely smashed, but still, the impact of “being punched in the face,” which Aesula had never experienced before, was tremendous.

“This is also not nullified, huh. I guess it’s better that it can at least penetrate a little.” -Ur

“Gueh!! Gyaah?!” -Aesula

The beating continued. Grabbing him by the scruff of the neck, he persistently kept smashing his fist into Aesula’s face. Each one was at full power. Putting in enough force to crush even rocks, he dug his feet into the ground, twisted his body, and put his weight behind his fists. A loud, dull sound of pummeling flesh repeatedly echoed across the plain.

Dispassionately, the Nameless one kept raising his fists to beat his opponent to death. Aesula was terrified.

“STOP IIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!” -Aesula

“Ugh.” -Ur

Aesula screamed and flailed his arms. He desperately grasped for the lost absence, the Blessing of the Earth Spirit. Shouting as if spitting blood, in order to protect himself, he raised stone spears in all directions. The Nameless one leaped back to avoid them.

He writhed in pain from the beating on his face. Just breathing sent pain shooting through him. Everything was unbearable. Especially being inflicted such wounds by the lowest of the low, a Nameless nobody.

“I’LL KILL YOU!! DIE!! DIE DIE DIE DIEEEEEE!!” -Aesula

He moved the earth once more. Floundering as if trying to grasp water while drowning, with a lack of response, he still wielded his power. It took shape, crumbled, and solidified again. Gigantic arms, half-collapsed, appeared countless in mid-air and swung down like meteors.

“【【【【【O Shadows, Become Black Chains and Sing】】】】】” -Shizuku

However, the fierce attacks from the Earth were blocked by a spell chanted by the Nameless woman. From the black wall surrounding Aesula, numerous chains extended all at once, grabbing, binding, and crushing the arms of earth.

With his original power, it should have been impossible for his magic to be shattered by a spell of that level.

Both in quantity and firepower, it was clearly weakened. He couldn’t draw out even one-hundredth of his usual strength.

“What did you do, you trash?!!!” -Aesula

“It’s the Curse of a Dragon of Sin.” -Ur

In response to Aesula’s enraged interrogation, the Nameless one gave an unexpected answer with an unconcerned expression.

Dragon of Sin?

Of course, he knew that name. Everyone in this world knew it. The enemies of the world, the embodiments of evil, the incarnations of the original sin of humans who oppose the One True God, the Sun God, Zerudia. The evil entities that still scheme to manifest on the earth from deep within the seven dungeons.

That curse?

“To be precise, it’s my blood that’s been cursed by a Dragon of Sin. I’m glad Jain reported that it was effective. I tried experimenting with Kalkara, but that alone wasn’t enough to be sure.” -Ur

Aesula’s vestments were stained dark red. The mysterious liquid that had been splashed on him at the very beginning, at the opening, had defiled his body. The stench of blood that now wafted over and the uncanny disgust that repulsed him from the core of his body made Aesula stiffen.

“Pu-【Purification】…” -Aesula

“【Thread Fang・Cursed Blood of the Lust Dragon】” -Shizuku

In contrast, the Nameless ones moved without mercy.

He pierced that inhuman right hand with the tip of the dragonfang spear. Dark red blood, the same color that had defiled Aesula, gushed from that hand. The blood did not spill, but was enchanted to cling to the blade of the dragonfang spear.

The violet blade was imbued with dark red blood.

He pointed that ominous spear at Aesula and stepped forward. Aesula instinctively recoiled and then turned his heel to escape.

“【Ground Binding】” -Shizuku

“Wha-?!” -Aesula

But his movement was sealed by the chains entangling his own feet. It was the Nameless woman who had preemptively noticed his fear and come forward. Aesula was angry and irritated at her actions, but he could not resist.

“【Cursed Piercing Thrust】” -Ur

With a step so fast it disappeared from view, the cursed spear came flying. It struck Aesula’s body, gouging the skin and piercing the flesh.

“GaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” -Aesula

“It hit. Good.” -Ur

The momentum could not be stopped, and Aesula was slammed into the ground, rolling on the ground without being able to kill the momentum. Oddly enough, it was the same state that Aesula had put the Nameless man in earlier.

“Guh!! Ugh!! Damn…!!” -Aesula

Groaning in agony, Aesula rummaged through his bosom.

What he was trying to find was a scroll of teleportation. An emergency escape device. Since he was going out alone to use that “Nameless chimera”, it was a necessary precaution. It wasn’t a shoddy item like the ones rampant in the streets, but a genuine scroll of teleportation.

Tucking his tail and running away in front of the Nameless ones was the height of humiliation, but in any case, he had to escape from here right now–

“【Black Chains】” -Shizuku

“Ah?!” -Aesula

“I’m sorry. We can’t let you escape.” -Shizuku

The moment he took it out, the scroll was mercilessly torn apart by the black chains that appeared again. The shredded scroll glowed for just a moment, but the next instant, it turned into mere rags.

“Yo-u, bitch…!!!” -Aesula

Aesula shouted and tried to move the earth to crush the woman. But in the end, it was a repetition of earlier, and he was blocked and shattered one after another by the writhing chains from the surrounding black walls. Each time the woman chanted a spell, the sound of the chains rubbing against each other from the walls of darkness grew louder. That unpleasant sound and the pain from his wounds rubbed his emotions the wrong way.

“…What… are you bastards?!!! What reason do you have for doing this?!” -Aesula

Aesula shouted.

He didn’t understand. He just couldn’t accept it.

If the 【Hero of the Seven Heavens】 was trying to kill him, he could still understand.

Even if his foolish sister tried to kill him, there would still be some reason.

But who the hell were these guys in the first place?

Since they were near the Hero, they were probably her servants or something.

They wore adventurer’s rings, so they were probably adventurers. That was all he could tell.

There was no further information, and in the first place, they didn’t look like anything more than that at all. Why would such people, ignoring the Hero’s intentions, try to kill him, the king of a City of Sin???

“Who are you bastards?!! What are you?!!!” -Aesula

“Just adventurers. Well, being cursed by a dragon was honestly extraordinarily unlucky.” -Ur

“Why are you adventurers targeting me?!! Were you asked by that foolish sister of mine?!” -Aesula

“We were asked by Echelle. But that’s not the only reason.” -Ur

The Nameless man shook his head.

“Revenge for the Nameless?!” -Aesula

“No, not really. Even if we’re both Nameless, we’re all strangers who aren’t related by blood and don’t even know each other’s faces.” -Ur

The Nameless man shook his head.

“Then what is it?!!! What is your purpose in targeting me?!!!” -Aesula

“You’re going to kill Echelle, aren’t you?” -Ur

The Nameless man looked puzzled.

As if he didn’t understand why such a thing was being asked, he stated the reason.

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? To die. You told Echelle to kill herself.” -Ur

Indeed, he had said that. As a message to her and a declaration of war to the Hero, he had sent the words through magic. Just like when she lived at her parents’ home, he had chosen his words to hurt her heart as much as possible.

It was nothing special, just a normal action for him. What was the big deal about that–

“Then there’s no choice. I have no choice but to kill you.” -Ur

“…Huh?” -Aesula

“Echelle has become mine. You’re trying to kill that woman. Right?” -Ur

Then there’s no choice but to kill you.

“Killing is no good, but if someone close to me is going to be killed, there’s no choice–You’re my enemy.” -Ur

My enemy just happened to stupidly come out of the city alone by chance. For that reason, I’ll kill you now. I’ll definitely kill you.

That is what he said.

“——…” -Aesula

Aesula was at a loss for words.

That reasoning was too far removed from Aesula’s understanding.

It wasn’t particularly unusual for Aesula to face assassination attempts. The hostility surrounding him was diverse. Schemes between nations, machinations, political struggles within the Temple. There, a whirlpool of various ideologies, desires, beliefs, faiths, hatred, and extreme emotions swirled.

None of them were monolithic, and everything had been simmering in the long and deep history of Gradol. Aesula had crushed such hostilities one after another with the power of the Earth Spirit, without suffering any injuries.

However, “this” was different.

“You said you were going to torture and kill me, my family, my comrades, and Diz, right? Then there’s even less reason to let you return alive.” -Ur

It was the logic of a beast.

“This is outside the city. It’s easy to hide a corpse. At this perfect opportunity, I have no choice but to kill you here and now. I…” -Ur

Eliminating enemies to protect oneself, family, friends, and lovers.

It was a murderous intent based on primitive instinct, devoid of any plausible ideologies or claims.

“—D, do you understand? You.” -Aesula

“Understand what?” -Ur

“Do you understand what it means to kill me?! I AM AESULA SHINRA CARALEIGH! SHINRA!! CARALEIGH!!!” -Aesula

Aesula’s question was mixed with a sense of impatience. After all, he had realized it. The man in front of him was not an assassin sent by some hostile priest, nor a vanguard possessed by the Hero.

He was truly just a pebble on the roadside, trying to kill him out of a mere desire to save his own life.

And unbelievably, he, Aesula, was about to be killed by such a person right now.

“I have saved the people living in Gradol countless times and am the true ruler who will eventually devour the City of Sin, Proudia as well!! Do you understand the significance of killing me?! Do you have any idea of the impact it will have?!!” -Ur

There was no response. Instead, the Nameless man took a step closer to Aesula.

“There are many in Gradol who consider me a hero! There are also those who invest in me!! The moment I die, there will be countless people who will be ruined!!” -Aesula

There was no response. Instead, the dragonfang spear gripped by the Nameless man activated, and the light of magical power pulsated.

“Do you understand how much of a benefit my existence is to the people living in Gradol?! The depth of that sin!! Can you understand and face that evil deed?!!!” -Aesula

“Sin… Ah, yeah, that’s right.” -Ur

There was a response. The Nameless man made a gesture of placing his uncursed hand on his own chest. With a slightly sad, genuine, and serious expression, without any lies or acting,

“Having to take a life, even if it’s an enemy, makes my chest ache with guilt. Not as much as when I killed the bandits, though.” -Ur

He declared that there was no other remorse.

“—-” -Aesula

“Well, are we done? Then…” -Ur

The man tightly twisted the handle of the spear. The pulsating magical power overflowed from the spear as an ominous, pitch-black flash of light. Aesula reflexively created a wall of rock in front of his eyes.

“Die.” -Ur

The fierce light was released. The rock shield generated by Aesula was effortlessly shattered. Pushing aside the scattering rocks, Ur approached.

“Eek?!” -Aesula

Reflexively, Aesula turned his back. He no longer had any thoughts of the humiliation of turning his back out of fear of the Nameless one. The murderous intent emanating from the approaching Gray Beast, so intense that it made it difficult to breathe, shattered his pride to pieces.

He had been ringing the communication magic tool prepared in his bosom countless times. He had already repeatedly sent rescue requests to the Sun Knights on standby in the area. However, there was no response. A clamor of black chains scraping against each other continued to ring in his ears. Aesula didn’t have the composure to understand that it was causing communication interference.

“【O Black Chains, Scream】” -Shizuku

“Guuh!!?” -Aesula

The sound of metal scraping against each other, which had been resonating all along, intensified. It was no longer a clamor but closer to a roar. Even covering his ears, Aesula squirmed at the sound that shook his head. It was unclear what was happening, but he tried to protect himself. However, it was already too late–

“【Black Chain Prison】” -Shizuku

From all the walls, black chains stretched out, targeting Aesula alone. His arms and legs were instantly bound, leaving him in a posture with his arms spread wide, unable to move an inch.

It was like a condemned prisoner being crucified, and Aesula felt the worst chill yet. This situation was definitely bad. He had to escape right now–

“Something like this, I’ll immediately–” -Aesula

“There’s no ‘immediately’ anymore.” -Ur

A voice came from in front of him.

At the same time, a gigantic blade pierced his neck.

“Aaaaaaaaah!!! Ah?! Stop!!! GaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaAAH!!!!!!” -Aesula

Ironically, because the Blessing of the Earth that had still been trying to protect him remained halfway, his death was prolonged. Aesula was forced to vividly experience his own body being defiled by the violet blade which gradually, gradually tore through his skin, dug into his flesh, tore apart his blood vessels, and tried to sever his bones. Screaming and showered in his own blood, Aesula’s eyes met those of the one trying to kill him.

“——” -Ur

They were the eyes of someone who had suppressed all emotions and made their decision.

They were the eyes of someone who had decided to kill him and had done everything to achieve that.

Faced with the intensity of that murderous intent, Aesula finally realized that he had stood in this place with far too shallow a resolve. No matter what happened, he had been decisively lacking in the determination to annihilate the enemy in front of him.

And that realization came far too late.

“AAAAAAAaaaaaa       a       ” -Aesula

The blade that reached his vitals severed his scream and his life.