Volume 4 Chapter 87: Extermination【Final Volume: Balor and Nanashi Arc】

Seriously, what’s with this “Balor” garbage? Screw that.

I couldn’t care less about some evil god.

There’s no way I’m losing to trash that forces its way into people’s minds and corrupts them. Give me a break.

While I was thinking that, Konoha gently placed her hand on me.

H‑hey, what…? I’d really prefer it if you didn’t touch me.

“…I understand about Balor‑chan. Even if Balor‑chan is a homunculus, it doesn’t change how much I love her. And the fact she has Balor’s Mystic Eye makes no difference at all.”

“Oh… right.”

(This is supposed to be a heart‑warming love confession, yet I’m giving her an unbelievably cold response.)

I mean, whether other people accept me or not is totally irrelevant…

And if they don’t, I can always find another meat shield to replace them.

Anyone who becomes my enemy is unforgivable. Like Ashvin and the others.

“But you’re the real problem, Nanashi. What are you, anyway?”

“As I explained, the angels fear the evil god Balor. Even if it’s only the Mystic Eye that revived, the fact this homunculus can wield that power was something the angelic faction couldn’t overlook.”

From the way Nanashi puts it, Balor gave them hell when he was alive.

No wonder the angels are desperate to crush him.

But I’m not about to let myself be collateral damage.

“By the way, what happened to that Kainz Apophis?”

“He died in an unfortunate accident. Poor thing…”

I answered Artemis’ question with a pained expression.

A tragic incident, really…

(Truth is, I blasted him with Balor’s Mystic Eye because he tried to have me terminated.)

(It was self‑defense.)

He freaked out when the Mystic Eye synchronized with me and tried to kill me—how absurd.

They got exactly what they wanted and then tried to put it down. How is that fair to me?

And so, Kainz set off on a long trip to the deepest hell.

“A homunculus coexisting with a Mystic Eye that drives anyone nearby insane until they die. We regarded it as an aberration outside the world’s laws, and I was dispatched to eradicate it.”

“So you are an enemy after all?”

Even with Ashvin’s murderous glare on her, Nanashi’s face didn’t change.

If anything, she nodded calmly.

“At the time, yes. Fueled by duty, I swore I would kill her without fail. However, after spending so long with Master, I…”

“You fell in love?!”

“Kyaa!” Izun squealed in delight.

She looks playful, but she’s been watching Nanashi’s every move—creepy.

Also, Nanashi falling for me? Not happening.

As I expected, Nanashi slowly shook her head and declared with a straight face,

“――――――I discovered the joy of slacking off.”

“Ehh…”

Breaking news: the self‑proclaimed angel abandoned her mission just so she could slack off.

I bet her bosses and coworkers in Heaven were speechless.

She didn’t pity me—she ditched her mission purely to loaf around.

What kind of angel does that?

“Throwing yourself into a mission is exhausting, you know. And despite all my hard work, I never got any reward. I never questioned that until I started lazing around and skipping work with Master.”

Nanashi nodded with a crisp bob.

“…This is crazy fun.”

“Ehh…”

That’s literally all I can say…

Totally creeped out here, Nanashi‑san.

“So, now that I’ve been completely dyed in Master’s colors, let me state that I have absolutely no intention of killing Master anymore.”

Nanashi fixed me with a sharp, earnest gaze.

Quit saying you’ve been “dyed” in my colors. Gross.

Facing her, I flashed a bright smile.

“I see. Then you’re fired.”

“Why?!”

Why? Don’t be stupid.

You came here to kill me. Get lost, trash.

Like I’d trust you just because you claim you’ve reformed.

Anyone who even thinks about pulling that off isn’t worth trusting, idiot.

And “pulling it off” includes merely plotting it.

Approaching me with intent to kill me is already grounds for dismissal.

“No, no, no, no. I really wouldn’t recommend firing me. Especially in our current situation.”

“Oh? Trying to threaten me now? You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.”

“I’m actually the oldest one here.”

Nanashi clung to me, but I wouldn’t relent that easily.

If someone said they’d kill me, I might cave—so please don’t.

“I tried all sorts of sabotage to hide my slacking, but Heaven finally found out.”

“Huh. So they’re dragging you back? Good for them.”

Perfect. If she goes back to that so‑called Heaven, she won’t be returning any time soon.

Fine by me.

“Well, that’s part of it, but the primary objective of the next angel coming here will probably be…”

“So bright?!”

In the middle of Nanashi’s sentence, everything around us flashed with blinding light.

It was clearly unnatural, so I covered my eyes…

Then, slowly opening them, I stared up in shock at what was descending from the sky.

“So this is the lower world. …Hmph, still as gloomy and ugly as ever.”

A handsome man touched down.

But the contempt written on his face as he looked down on everything ruined the effect.

Particles of light drifted from his body as he descended, and on his back sprouted a pair of pure‑white wings, just like the glimpse Nanashi had shown before.

…An angel…?

“――――――The extermination of Master.”