A Betrayed Master Will Not Return

52 – A Late Apology (7)

“W-What… What is this?”

“Suddenly, what is this…”

An eerie and chilling aura.

Feeling as if their entire bodies were enveloped in an intense and chilling presence that began to seep into the prison, Fiona and Charlotte were seized by instinctive danger.

“F-Fiona, th-this can’t be, could it? Isn’t this what is written in the records left by the master…”

“Ugh…”

The record Gelard had left behind.

Inside it contained information about the possibility that Lord Lamotte or someone else behind him was controlling the demons, along with information he had gathered about the demons.

Among that was the last record he had left.

There wasn’t much information about the demon La Place, as it seemed that it wasn’t a significant target.

It only mentioned that it could disguise itself as a human-sized being,

and that its mere presence alone instilled a profound chilling sensation and instinctive fear.

However, even with this brief information, the two high-ranked devil hunters were able to deduce.

That it was a being that could cause such unrest in them with its mere existence.

And if a demon had appeared in this vicinity, then it was undoubtedly…

It is the fact that it will be Laplace.

The source of all evil that I have desired to kill as a devil hunter.

However, at this moment, not only was I unarmed, but I was practically in an uncomfortable state as a criminal, and the fact that he was right in front of me only increased my sense of fear, rather than igniting my desire for revenge.

“Oh… Why now of all times…”

“He is the one I’ve wanted to meet, but I never expected to meet him like this…”

In a situation where being unarmed is worse than being naked, facing the worst enemy in a vulnerable state.

Feeling deep despair at this fact, the two of them could only wait for the approaching death in the chilling air that was suffocating them.

At that moment…

“Huh? Were you here?”

“!”

“Uh?”

A familiar voice suddenly rang out.

The voice that seemed to bring a ray of light in the midst of profound despair,

the two of them immediately looked up.

“! Yo… You are…?”

“Mas… Master!”

The person standing in front of the prison, armed.

Gerard Muira.

He had an expressionless face as he looked down at the two people in front of him from outside the prison.

The situation in which the person I desperately wanted to see again revealed themselves in this urgent moment, where their life hung by a thread.

Upon this, Fiona’s desperate voice attempted to apologize to him once again.

“Mas… Master… We…”

“Sigh…”

Gellert let out a deep sigh upon seeing Fiona about to say something.

And then.

-Clang!

“!”

“Huh?”

In the next moment, the lock shattered into pieces as Gellert swung his sword.

In response to the master’s action that released them,

Both of them were seized with astonishment and intense hope.

“Mas… Master… Is… is this… forgiveness for us?”

“…”

Fiona asked the question in a voice filled with earnestness, directed towards the person standing before her.

In response,

Gellert turned away and spoke in a quiet voice.

“I’ve said it before, but I don’t know who any of you are. This is just me saving people who might die at the hands of demons.”

“Mas… Master…”

“Go, and never appear before me again.”

“Gerrard spoke in a stern tone.

Yet, Fiora could sense a slight tremor within his voice, realizing that his actions carried their own consideration and meaning of forgiveness.

That for him, now unable to turn back, this was the last act of mercy he could offer his disciples.

“G…Gerrard, Master, we…”

“…Yes. I understand.”

“What?”

As Charlotte tried to speak with a trembling voice, Fiora stopped her and bowed deeply to the master standing before them.

“Please… take care.”

Without responding to Fiora’s farewell, Gerrard turned his head and vanished into the shadows.

With her master’s departing figure behind her, Fiora spoke with a resolute voice.

“Let’s go.”

“But… but are you sure this is okay, Fiora?”

“It’s alright. For now, we need to get away from here. Lingering around will only cause trouble for the master.”

Without weapons, their presence there was nothing but a hindrance.”

Now, it was best for me to leave this place, thanking the Master for his final mercy.

‘Thank you so much, Master… No matter what happens in the future, I will always be grateful for your kindness…’

*

The cold grew thicker as I continued along the path, feeling a slight unease.

Encountering Gelert’s former disciples in an unexpected place.

Honestly, for a moment, I thought about ignoring these two and leaving them behind.

But soon, I made up my mind to release them.

After all, the person connected to them, Gelert, was already dead, and I was merely someone else wearing his facade.

I didn’t know what wrong they had done to Gelert, but I couldn’t help but personally feel sorry for them, sincerely apologizing to the illusion of someone who had already passed away.

Furthermore, considering the fact that they were imprisoned because of my disciple’s unnecessary troublemaking, I couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of guilt.

Moreover, if I proceeded with the battle against La Place like this, they would inevitably get involved as well, defenseless and exposed to death.

As much as it went against my nature to let people die because of something like this, I showed them human mercy and rescued them.

Of course, it was just a bonus that I put a plug in, warning them not to pretend to know anything in the future.

“Now then… Now that I’ve finished dealing with this troublesome matter, shall I take a look at this guy’s face?”

After tidying up the annoying business like that,

I slowly began to see that place…

I continued my footsteps towards the so-called boss room.

The creature that appeared in the deepest underground of the location where the “contract” was executed, just like in Part 1.

Facing the intense and undeniable presence emanating from the creature,

I entered the basement as it was.

– “…Have you come, human.”

It began to appear, as if the mist was clearing.

The first impression of seeing it in person,

“Oh… indeed…”

Automatically, it made me think “it’s beautiful.”

With fair skin, black hair, and golden eyes.

And possessing a graceful figure with smooth curves,

It was a woman.

Furthermore, she had the appearance of a human woman with considerable beauty.

However,

Aside from the appearance that may seem beautiful at first glance, it had distinct characteristics that clearly indicated it was not human.

Aside from the flawless upper body.

Covered with blue scales underneath.

Its lower body had the appearance of a huge snake’s tail.

Resembling the monster known as Lamia in mythology, it had a similar appearance to a demon.

That was the true appearance of Laplace, who was known as the final boss and the strongest being of the first volume.

Seeing it in person, as a fan of it, I couldn’t help but feel excited naturally.

However,

Separate from my fandom towards it, as a Devil Hunter entrusted with a mission and mentality of a working man, I immediately drew my weapon while looking at it.

-“Impressive, to think you’ve discovered my location so quickly. You’re quite a capable human, aren’t you?”

Laplace spoke, with a calm yet enchanting smile on his lips.

In response to that, I smiled back and answered.

“I know some information about you. By the way, it’s quite surprising. I distinctly remember you being destroyed 30 years ago. How are you still alive?”

Ever since I first heard his name, I’ve had this question lingering in my mind.

Regarding this, I threw a question in anticipation before the battle.

And.

-“Oh, intriguing. You seem to be someone who knows about what happened back then. You’re becoming more and more interesting.”

Laplace reacted as if finding my questions amusing.

However, right after that,

Following the cliché, instead of explaining the situation in this moment, he pulled out the scythe from his back and said to me.

Just like in the first volume.

-“But unfortunately, you’ll have to die here for now. Once I have taken your soul, I will savor it slowly!”

With those words, Laplace began releasing an overwhelming amount of magical power.

Due to the tremors caused by the tremendous waves of magical power emanating from its body, not only the basement, but the entire palace soon started shaking.

‘As expected, it’s just as chaotic as the first part. However, I’ll have to observe the attack patterns a bit more…’

If it’s the same as the first part, I’ll simply shout “thank you” and finish him off.

But if there’s something different, I might have a decent struggle, I thought.

With that in mind, I also started the battle by releasing my magic power.