Chapter 29: A City in Ashes and a Desperate Stand

“But why go to a place as dull as goblin eye crust? You lot don’t seem like the type to obsess over a coward’s hideout.”

With only a short time left before reaching the great city, Paradis, the dragonian Rui, who’d been silent since her defeat by everyone except the priestess, finally spoke.

To a battle maniac like her, it must seem absurd that those who bested her were seeking peace instead of conflict.

Gently stroking her glossy, swaying tail, I answered.

“Something really annoying’s stuck to us. To shake it off, we need to settle things in Paradise.”

“…How annoying are we talking? A doppelgänger or something?”

“Way worse. Ever heard of the evil god’s followers?”

“Oh, those creepy, deranged freaks? Yeah… they’re disgusting.”

Having apparently tangled with them before, Rui immediately grimaced with disdain.

Watching her reaction, I started worrying about what awaited us in Paradis.

If a character indifferent to most things except fighting and growth reacts with such disgust, how vile and sinister must they be?

Sure, expecting sanity from lunatics called “evil god’s followers” or “fanatics” is a stretch.

But I wish they’d keep their chaos to a manageable level.

Pat, pat.

Finding emotional stability in the smooth texture of her tail, Rui, with a sulky expression, pulled it away.

“My tail’s not your toy! Stop petting it!”

“But it’s so warm and plush. Hugging it tight just feels… calming.”

“Am I some kind of pet?”

“Wanna be my pet? If I can hug that tail, I’ll take full responsibility.”

“Hey!!!”

True to her anger issues, Rui roared, but the memory of my punch to her solar plexus kept her from lunging at me.

A good sign.

If she can maintain this “anger management” state, she won’t pull any stunts during the arc.

That’d make wrapping up the western arc a bit easier.

Clapping my hands, I gave her sleek tail another stroke.

“Perfect, lizard. When you’re pissed, think for three more seconds. Got it?”

“…Witch, are you really trying to pick a fight?”

“No, I’m dead serious.”

If you pull troll moves like in the original, it’ll be a massive headache.

The incidents are already way tougher than the original, and pouring oil on a burning house won’t help.

As I dealt with Rui’s fiery complaints, a boisterous voice from Stroheim pierced my ears.

“Oh…! Finally, ‘Paradise’ is in sight!”

Peering through binoculars he’d pulled from who-knows-where, he buzzed with excitement.

But soon, his face hardened.

“Why’s smoke rising from the city…?”

Would this be what the apocalypse feels like?

Hurrying at Stroheim’s words, the party faced a chilling sight: Paradise being devoured by an ashen giant.

Rooaaarrr!!!

The giant, bellowing, chomped the clock tower like a snack.

Watching this terrifying scene, the male party members voiced the same thought.

“Big.”

“Very big.”

“Huge.”

“Massive.”

They didn’t specify what was big, but I could tell—it was that massive thing.

Clapping in awe at its reverence-inspiring size, Rui’s tail drooped as she trembled.

“I’m out.”

“You can come in freely, but leaving? Not so much.”

“Seriously, how do you fight that?! Even the toughest opponent has limits—this is too much!!!”

“I didn’t expect that either. I would’ve warned you.”

It was hilarious hearing such an absurd creature talk about “common sense,” but the despairing scene killed any laughter.

…Wasn’t the final boss of this chapter supposed to be a noble-class demon?

One tied to lust, supposedly easier to handle.

Why’s the difficulty spiked like this?

No matter how I looked at it, that ashen giant devouring the city wasn’t using the power of lust.

If it was, Rui would’ve gone into heat by now.

And since Rui, who’d recklessly charge even a noble-class demon, was staying in “anger management” mode, this giant was clearly beyond that level.

It looked far too tough for the original party, who struggled against a noble-class demon.

Even with allies from the north, west, and south, it seemed hopeless.

As a last resort, I considered fleeing, but—

“Finally caught you, you damn escapees.”

We were surrounded by the elves who’d caught up, trapping us completely.

Lust-crazed elves behind us.

An unknown ashen giant ahead.

Is this what they call a rock and a hard place?

Hoping to at least talk to the more reasonable side, I stepped forward.

“…Can we talk for a sec?”

“Doesn’t look like we have time for a leisurely chat.”

“Just a moment. I’ve got two options for you.”

Pointing at the approaching ashen giant, I smiled and flared my mana.

“Fight and get eaten together, or fight together and get eaten together?”

“Sounds like the outcome’s the same. Am I wrong?”

“We might win if we work together. So, what’s your answer?”

“Getting eaten from below is always welcome, but that size? Hard to take. That’s ‘trash-tier’ in a different way.”

“Don’t evaluate disasters like that, you lunatic. How do you see calamity and think of mating first?”

Sighing heavily, I conjured a contract with mana. The lead elf skimmed it and signed immediately.

She knew a fight here meant annihilation.

Renewing the uneasy truce from the Great Forest, I turned to the giant. Its hand opened, revealing a woman in black priestly robes.

Click, clack.

She walked toward us with a wide smile.

One look, and I knew instinctively—she was the “Master” of the cult.

It’d be weirder if she wasn’t.

The ashen giant, devouring everything, showed kindness only to her.

Boom!

I fired a mana bolt to test if she’d be consumed, but the giant blocked her with its massive hand.

The bolt dissipated harmlessly upon touching its skin. Enraged at the attack on its precious one, the giant swung its fist at me.

But—

“Wait a moment.”

At the Master’s words, the giant’s attack stopped.

It retracted its fist, growling as if warning me that another misstep meant death.

Staring blankly at the Master, she kept her smile and spoke to the party.

“My, so hostile for a first meeting. Did I do something to you?”

“The state of the city gives me a pretty good idea. I can guess what you’ve been up to.”

Her likely deeds were within my expectations.

In the original, she tried to summon the evil god to the continent, so she must’ve been working toward that.

…And since it’s nearly the final stage, that ashen giant appeared.

“Fuck.”

No wonder it was so quiet—she was plotting something massive.

Peace is never trustworthy. How can you feel secure when it leads to a disaster like this?

The only silver lining was that the ashen giant wasn’t the evil god itself.

Per the author, if the evil god descended, the area would be obliterated like a hydrogen bomb went off.

The giant munching Paradise like a snack was likely a subordinate.

A “minion” or “apostle,” roughly.

In short, it’s something we could fight.

…Whether we can win is another story.

Glaring fiercely at the cult’s Master, she smiled slyly and made an offer.

“You came all this way—how about hearing the good word? Hehe, faith brings blessings.”

“Not interested. Your ‘god’ doesn’t look like it belongs to any sane religion.”

“Haha… that’s just a tool, not a ‘god.’ You lot seem qualified to be true believers. How about joining the cult?”

“Your eyes aren’t looking at believers—they’re eyeing fodder for a ritual.”

“…This is why I hate sharp witches.”

Tch.*

Clicking her tongue, she turned to pitch her religion to the elves.

“We don’t speak with vile beings who destroy precious seeds. That’s the law of the Yggdrasil clan.”

The lead elf aimed her bow at her.

A hair-trigger situation.

The Master sighed, disappointed at her failed recruitment.

“Wipe them all out.”

With her cold command, the ashen giant’s fist slammed into the ground, and the battle began.