Vol 3 Chapter 70 – Evil Has Been Vanquished

Red hellfire consumes everything.
People, objects, even souls.

Fire gave civilization to humanity, but at the same time, it thrust absolute terror upon them. No matter how much you resist, if you’re burned, you die.

Even humans who built advanced civilizations can’t change that fact. Raging flames inspire fear—it’s just how it is.

“Beautiful, ain’t it? I love fire.”

Yet staring at the roaring flames before him, Masado didn’t feel even a shred of fear. Why the hell would he be scared?

Fire is beautiful. It’s not like he’d lived the kind of quality life where he could look at art and think it was pretty.

Even if he saw a gorgeous woman, he probably wouldn’t be able to honestly call her beautiful. But fire? Fire was different.

He could say with his whole chest that fire was beautiful—no excuses, no qualifications needed.

“The most beautiful fire is the kind that burns living things… especially humans. Nothing else in this world comes close. Right?”

Masado turned to the Holy Sword and Antares, seeking agreement. The two exchanged glances and muttered in unison:

“Total pervert…”
“What a pervert…”
“Wait, you’re saying that?”

The Holy Sword barely managed to hold back from pointing out you’re a pervert too, though her attitude and words made it pretty damn obvious she hadn’t really held back at all.

Of course, Antares was Master’s precious weapon, so she wouldn’t attack her. But if she wasn’t a precious weapon?

…Well, that’d be a different story.

“Now then, you’re next. That said, I know The Bloodstained Hero is strong. I’m not really looking for a fight, so if you let me go, I promise I won’t lay a finger on you. Just hand over that Church of Shannon bitch.”

With Alvarado’s body ablaze behind him, flames roaring like thunder, Masado made his offer. Just because he’d managed to kill Alvarado the Despair didn’t mean he could kill The Bloodstained Hero too.

It had only worked because it was practically a sneak attack. Plus, his opponent was a battle-hardened Hero.

This wasn’t someone he wanted to fight. Man, I hope they’re scared off by these flames…

“No way we’re letting you go, right? There’s no way we wouldn’t crush a moron who defied Master. Obviously we’re gonna kill you.”
“That’s some serious bloodlust!“

Of course they weren’t scared off. This was Antares, raised under Alvarado’s tutelage.

Even against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, she’d gleefully launch an attack. There was no way she’d forgive someone who attacked Alvarado with hostile intent.

Honestly, she wanted to kill him right this second, but…

“But this time, it’s not my turn. Because you made Master angry.”
“…Huh? What’re you talking about? Your so-called Master was killed by my fire ages ago…”

How could a dead guy get angry? What’s scary about that? Dead people can’t even feel emotions.

Masado furrowed his brow suspiciously. That’s when a low voice reached his ears.

“——You’re absolutely right, Ann.”
“……What?”

He whirled around in shock. The flames consuming flesh were as beautiful as ever.

…But there was a shadow in that beauty. Which meant the fire wasn’t burning a living creature and consuming a life anymore.

“The flames of justice burning in my heart cannot be extinguished by your little campfire.”

Alvarado casually emerged from the raging inferno like it was nothing. His body was slightly charred, but that was it.

The hellfire had clearly been at a level that could kill a person, yet there wasn’t a single burn that would affect his bodily functions.

“How… how are you still alive!? It didn’t even work!?”
“Heh… I have the Holy Sword’s divine protection. Therefore, this level of attack cannot kill me.”
“As expected of Master!”
“No, I don’t have any divine protection like that, and even if I did I wouldn’t give it to Al! Why aren’t you burned!? That’s terrifying…”

The Holy Sword was genuinely shaken. She hadn’t given him any kind of protection, yet here was this monster acting smug like he had.

Actually, why the hell was a flesh-and-blood human just slightly sooty after getting blasted by that level of firepower? It makes no sense…

Antares with her sparkling eyes made no sense either. But the person who understood the least was probably Masado, who’d had absolute confidence in his flames.

“My fire… the most sacred thing in this world… there’s no way there’s a human it doesn’t work on! I’ll prove you’re a fraud!”

Hellfire overflowed from his body. It raged like it had a will of its own, lunging at Alvarado.

The overwhelming heat would burn your skin just from getting close. Its approach was death itself drawing near.

But Alvarado’s expression didn’t change one bit. Calmly, he raised the Holy Sword and—

“Haaah! 《Lament of the Dead》!”

He unleashed his signature killing move (literally). At this point, he could use this technique freely even without the Holy Sword’s permission.

The Holy Sword genuinely shuddered, feeling like she was being corrupted somehow.

“M-my fire… is being devoured…!?”

Darkness like concentrated screams of agony poured forth. It swallowed the approaching hellfire in an instant.

There was no clash, no struggle. The flames were simply consumed one-sidedly.

And in the next moment, the beautiful roaring fire had vanished without a trace.

“……”

Masado stared wide-eyed, burning the scene into his memory. Cold sweat beaded all over his body.

It was because his pride—his flames—had been completely obliterated. And also because his body had suffered a fatal wound.

Alvarado’s 《Lament of the Dead》 had devoured the hellfire and continued on to assault Masado’s body with the same momentum. Fatally wounded, he coughed up blood and gave a bitter smile.

“…Not bad.”

Masado had believed his flames were the most beautiful thing in the world. But the gruesome attack he witnessed at the very end held a beauty that rivaled—maybe even surpassed—fire.

So despite some lingering regrets, Masado collapsed to the ground satisfied.

“Evil has been vanquished.”
“Don’t you mean ‘Evil still remains’?”

The Holy Sword openly grimaced at the self-satisfied Alvarado.