Vol 1 Chapter 18: I Kept My Promise, You Know? (Great Labyrinth Arc)

Beyond the door, a spacious room stretched out—with one exception, nothing about it seemed amiss.

The room was enclosed by iron walls, and a magical orb of light hanging from the ceiling served as its illumination. Although it was spacious, it wasn’t as overwhelmingly vast as that great hall from earlier—it was just one room within the labyrinth.

Yet that one detail drew the eye more than anything else.

“Nio!!”

At the far end of the room stood Nio, her hands bound by chains. Suspended in midair, she seemed to have caught my voice, and she opened her eyes just a little.

Then, upon seeing me, her haggard face broke into a nostalgic smile.

“Long time no see… huh…”

“Hmph! I’m saving you right now!”

I had thought many times about what words I’d hurl at her if we ever met again. I even considered giving her a punch as soon as I found her.

But now, standing before Nio after two years, nothing but the desire to rescue her filled my mind—and my words carried that resolve.

However, as expected, things didn’t go so smoothly. As a black summoning circle materialized to bar our way, a demon clad entirely in black—the Demon King—emerged, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of magical power.

As expected, he had been lying in wait. I had steeled myself when Grulton was summoned, but seeing him up close, I was overwhelmed by his unmatched magical power and intimidating presence.

Torn between the panic of facing Nio and the oppressive aura radiating from the Demon King, I took a deep breath to steady myself.

I was no longer the well-behaved Sword Saint I used to be before those above me betrayed me.

I was a man named Kaim—a rough, violent type whom even top-tier adventurers couldn’t keep up with.

More than anything, I now had a comrade I could rely on. Glancing sideways at Yuu, I felt the comforting assurance of not being alone.

Stepping forward, Yuu whispered:

“To the one who just emerged, I have no interest in you, so I’ll head over to Nio. However, for safety’s sake, please draw his attention.”

“…Can I leave that to you?”

“Yes—I’ll keep my promise with all my heart and soul.”

“Then, leave the Demon King’s opponent to me.”

After those words were exchanged, I directed Asterion toward the Demon King and sneered.

“So you’re personally greeting me, General? Is Nio that important to you?”

“Hmph, I expected you to lunge as you used to, but it seems you’ve got quite the gift of gab.”

“The reason I made that jab earlier was because that bastard Sieg ordered me to. Normally, no one would just charge at the Demon King without thinking.”

Well, even a head-on clash would still be a battle. But it’d be pointless if the ensuing chaos blocked Yuu’s path.

While stealing glances at Yuu—who was steadily advancing deeper while maneuvering to encircle the Demon King—I did my best to stall for time with words.

“So, what’s the deal? You sealed Nio away for nearly two years, yet you didn’t kill her. But since we came to rescue her, you had to come out. Either she means a great deal to you or there’s some ulterior motive… Still, it’s a pity. I suppose you originally intended to have your minions and Grulton take care of her, didn’t you? From where I stand, it looks like you’re only making a move because you’ve been cornered.”

“From what I see… indeed, do your eyes truly reflect the truth?”

“Wha—?”

What truth is the Demon King talking about? In fact, I’d already swept aside his subordinate monsters—and even taken down Grulton, his trump card.

And yet, the Demon King stood there with a composed expression—what was his source of strength?

“Do you understand? As you can see, Yuu is free and can even wield magic on a mythic level. In other words, that Ancient Elf you sealed away in the past is still very much alive, you know? Furthermore, Yuu harbors a considerable grudge against the Demon King. And let’s not forget me—the Sword Saint. Do you really think you can win?”

“Indeed, if both of you attack at once, it might be difficult. But what if you’re at odds with each other? Or if one of you gets injured…”

“At odds, or injured…?”

Surely you don’t think that Yuu would betray me? No, it’s hard to imagine Yuu—who clung to me so fiercely—turning traitor in a situation like this. There’s no reason for her to betray me; if anything, she wouldn’t even hurt me.

To Yuu, I am the pillar of her life after avenging the Demon King—she might even call me her emotional support.

In fact, unless something truly significant happens, she would never even lose her temper.

So, could I ever betray or hurt Yuu? That is utterly unthinkable. I have averted death, saved her with my own hands, guided her toward hope and revenge—and now, with Yuu’s power, I’m about to rescue Nio.

I have no intention of doing otherwise. Still, the Demon King, his hollow eyes exuding calm, let out a low kukuku.

“Sword Saint, I can already tell what you’re thinking. That Elf will neither betray you nor hurt you. And you, for your part, would never do such a thing. But unfortunately, neither saving that woman nor the two of you joining forces to fight me will be possible.”

The Demon King doesn’t seem to be lying. But then again, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to excel at deceiving people.

Considering the journey we’ve taken, the future that lies ahead, and our current situation, there’s no way things will turn out as he claims.

It must be his last-ditch effort—or perhaps his aim is to disorient us with some kind of illusion magic.

I scratched my head vigorously and glared at the Demon King.

“Tch, trying to bamboozle a dimwit. Isn’t trickery the usual tactic for monsters? And now that I think about it, Nio even sweet-talked me into a contract and then left me hanging.”

Yes, Nio. As long as I save her, it’s fine even if I run away without a fight.

Well, though Yuu wouldn’t allow that. Besides, while the Demon King and I exchange words, Yuu is already closing in on Nio.

“Hey, Yuu! It looks like the Demon King is stumped! So… Yuu?”

In her hand, an abominable concentration of magical power had formed into a sword.

I hadn’t noticed it amidst the Demon King’s magical interference and words—if it hadn’t caught my eye, I would have missed that Yuu had condensed her magic.

But that wasn’t the issue. Yuu’s eyes… no, her face—wielding that magic sword—was completely tainted by madness.

“Hey, Yuu! What’s wrong?! What the hell is with that face… did the Demon King do something to you?!”

I could only ask, given her face was utterly consumed by madness.

Noticing me, Yuu turned to look and smirked.

“Demon King? If it’s the Demon King, he can’t do a thing, can he?”

“Wha—？”

Her words were off. Her expression—everything about her—was that of a completely different Yuu from the one I knew moments ago.

That Yuu, still smiling, fixed her gaze on Nio; her lips curled upward as she burst into laughter.

“Because the Demon King—Nio is tied up with magic-sealing chains!!”

“What?!”

The one bound by magic-sealing chains isn’t the Demon King we were talking about. The one sealed is Nio. But Demon King? No matter—Yuu’s aim is—!

“Guh!”

Just as she was about to swing her magic sword at Nio, I forced my way past the Demon King with Asterion’s power and reached in front of Yuu—only to be struck by a slashing blow.

The Demon King smiled and let it pass, but Yuu’s body had been enhanced to a terrifying degree, and even with Asterion’s power, I could only manage to withstand it with both hands.

“W-why…! Nio is the Demon King?! What does that mean?!”

“It is exactly as it is—Nio Fickner is the real Demon King, the one who sealed me!!”

Yuu’s darkness was on full display; her words and expression were utterly deranged.

My mind couldn’t keep up. Nio is the Demon King, and she sealed Yuu? But Nio is captured like this—she hasn’t been leading demons all along.

I just couldn’t comprehend it. If what Yuu says is true, then who is the Demon King over there? Even Sieg was calling him the Demon King—so who is he?

But anyway…

“Yuu, have you been deceiving me?!”

We promised a relationship without lies, yet Yuu deceived me and tried to kill Nio.

Still, with that maddened look on her face, Yuu tilted her head in bewilderment and replied,

“I’m not deceiving you. In line with Kaim’s orders, I haven’t told any lies. It’s just… there was something I didn’t mention.”

So, does that mean Nio is the Demon King? Is that the truth? Then, who has been spinning this absurd tale all along? Who’s been behind it?

Before I could even glare at Yuu in my confusion, all the madness in her face drained away, and in a chilling voice she said,

“Kaim, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re in my way. If you don’t step aside, I won’t be able to kill that woman.”

No sooner had she spoken than Yuu began chanting magic. Then, as if it were a doll’s part, my right arm dropped off with a “botori” sound.

“What?!”

There was no pain, but I lost my balance as Yuu pressed me further.

“I’ve undone the temporary binding magic. Don’t worry—once I kill that woman and erase her from your heart, I’ll bind you again!!”

I was overpowered by the maddened Yuu. There was barely a moment before her sword would be swung at Nio.

In that split second, all I could do was—!

The memories of two years of battle guided me to the optimal attack using Asterion.

“Enchant! 【Lightbringer Sword】!!”

A dazzling light robbed Yuu of her sight, but it only bought me a brief moment.

I slashed at Yuu with one arm. That would save Nio, but Yuu would die. If I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t be able to protect Nio—and she’d be killed.

Even throwing myself in front of her wouldn’t help.

The Demon King, his hand covering the light, sneered as if he were merely watching a performance at my decision.

“Now, choose. Will you behead the meddlesome Ancient Elf, or let that detestable woman die?”

“――I—！”

I swung Asterion, directing it toward Nio.