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◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (25)

Chapter 5. Caught on His Own (6)

"The Tutorial Demon Lord has been captured."

The fairy, who hadn't visited in a long time, announced this while wiping tears and chocolate cream from her eyes and mouth.

The chocolate éclair, made with the Soul Cooking skill, offered a comforting and sweet sensation as it crumbled crisply in the mouth. The fairy herself, after eating a bite, cried out for her mom and dad, barely regaining her composure after a bout of tears.

It wasn't surprising to see the group looking at her with fond expressions. Realizing that even this bratty and annoying fairy once had a childhood where she solely sought her parents, somehow made it hard to dislike her.

"Hey, I said the Tutorial Demon Lord has been captured! Don't look at me with those happy faces!"

The fairy, who now had no other way to express her anger at KiJun, who had become stronger than her long ago, except for yelling, trembled as she shouted.

Lucy, the Light Spirit, who wouldn't hesitate to return to human form and consume KiJun's spirit power just to eat more of his cooking, handed another éclair to the fairy.

—Here, have another one, okay?

"Thank you!"

Despite her apparent anger, the fairy politely accepted and ate another éclair.

"The party, including the hero YeMin, captured the Demon Lord. Apart from the party that directly killed the Demon Lord, dozens of others who inflicted effective hits received reward titles. Among them, a man named Choi Kang was strangely powerful. Why didn't we see him in the first round...?"

"Did you kill him?"

At the Demon Lord's sharp question, the fairy laughed softly, denying it.

"No way. The tutorial fairy is only granted one kill. During the first round, I only killed a thug-like guy who tried to hit me while talking nonsense. His impression was different; surely it couldn't have been him?"

Perhaps because of the soul-soothing éclair, the fairy's tone was somewhat gentler today.

"Anyway, after defeating the Demon Lord, they received a notification about the tutorial's end and a brief guide to the Leta continent from another fairy. As with all tutorial passers, they were given ten days of leisure."

You know, right? The fairy emphasized.

"It means this place will end in ten days too. If you still have things to do, sort them out. Make sure to put the three items you'll take with you in your inventory."

"Ah..."

"That's right."

"Ah, uh..."

Despite expecting this news, KiJun sighed and closed his eyes.

The Demon Lord nodded as if she understood, and Lucy seemed excited about Leta but also a bit nervous, glancing at the Demon Lord.

The fairy, having declared the end of the tutorial and feeling like she had completed her task, sighed in relief and added more information.

"And about the hidden dungeon, it's finally been discovered."

"How?"

"By whom?"

The Demon Lord and KiJun reacted simultaneously.

The fairy sighed and said,

"It was hero YeMin. After hearing about the tutorial and the ten-day grace period, she suddenly started causing a ruckus."

"Why would she do that?"

"I think I know."

The fairy gave KiJun a meaningful look and shrugged.

"After the entire Demon Lord castle sank, guess what? There was only one place that didn't sink. Hero YeMin and her party approached it and, amazingly, because the trigger to open the dungeon was Charisma, voila."

Hearing this, the Demon Lord interjected,

"Wait a minute. The open trigger is supposed to be Spirit Power."

"We thought the same when we heard it was discovered here. But no, it wasn't. We set the trigger differently each time, just in case the information about the dungeon spread to other dimensions. Of course, they were all as tricky as spirit power."

"Charisma, huh? Definitely YeMin."

KiJun nodded, recalling YeMin from the first round.

She was undoubtedly talented, but among her qualities, her appearance shone the brightest, an indisputable fact.

After falling here, KiJun had tried not to think deeply about her, but perhaps her Charisma was already uncommon or more when she entered this other world.

Even he, who knew her, was sometimes taken aback by her beauty.

That's why he remembered having to brace himself whenever he faced her.

"Hmm."

"Huh?"

As the Demon Lord made a nasal sound, KiJun tilted his head.

Noticing her narrowing eyes, the fairy quickly continued.

"Anyway, right after it was discovered, and legendary titles were awarded to everyone, the higher-ups urgently intervened to limit the title effects. Originally, titles should be given to the entire party, but the dungeon exploration effect of this title was decided to be given only to the first person."

"Oh, that's a bit disappointing."

At KiJun's casual remark, the fairy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Why are you disappointed? You have a power unique to you that can boast to them. You could demand whatever you want, right? It's funny for me to say this, but it's a power that would make you a revered figure by heroes of any civilization, not just on Earth. It's absolute power."

"How do you always manage to sound so shady? Want another éclair?"

"Are you implying that my character is completely dungeoned? And treating that éclair as if it's some kind of medicine... Well, I'll eat it anyway."

The fairy, still unaware that her way of speaking had somewhat softened, devoured the éclair and then spoke with a healed and happy expression.

"That dungeon, if you 'properly' clear the tutorial before entering, receives a positive adjustment where time flows differently inside and outside. Since all four of you have grown unbelievably in the second round, you'll be able to clear the dungeon within the set period."

"Oh, I was going to ask about that. That's good to hear."

If there were only ten days of spare time, he had wondered if they wouldn't be able to clear the dungeon before it ended, but thinking about it, it was a dungeon that could only be entered after clearing, so it made sense that there was some sort of provision.

Despite the lack of support from a skilled thief and a magician, hadn't KiJun taken four years to clear that dungeon?

Of course, he trained at every moment, so it wasn't wasted time, but he thought it might have been better to borrow some of the Demon Lord's power...

At the sight of his genuine relief, the fairy eventually laughed and said,

"You're quite a nice hero. I'll speak well of you to my kin in Leta, so if you need help, just bring a dessert."

"You guys are in Leta too?!"

"Hehe, but then I'll be a rival on equal footing, not a kind guide. We're not just kind to be acting like tutorial fairies, or NPCs. It's a way for our minor race to earn points."

What, really?

KiJun was startled and turned to the Demon Lord, but she shook her head expressionlessly.

"I don't have any kin."

"Oh, right... Yeah."

He had wanted to ask if she was there.

Realizing he hadn't let go of a hope he thought he had abandoned, KiJun sighed. As the atmosphere grew heavier, the fairy quietly stepped back.

"Well, I've said all I had to say, so I'll be going now. The éclair was delicious."

"Okay. Take care, Tinkerbell."

"See, even that sounds like an insult from you."

The fairy laughed heartily and disappeared from the spot.

Lucy, already uncomfortable with the fairy's innocent face, sighed softly, and the Demon Lord rose from her seat, now keeping a little distance from KiJun.

"Then let's get ready."

"…Demon Lord."

KiJun's voice was tinged with pain.

The Demon Lord hesitated for a moment, then shook her head again and distanced herself further, saying,

"It's time for a proper fight, isn't it?"

"...Huh?"

At the Demon Lord's calm and cold voice, Lucy tilted her head.

"What do you mean by a proper fight?"

"Let's have a match to the death, since it's the end."

"Wha?!"

Lucy shrieked in shock and flew up into the sky.

—What are you saying! You'll die!

"What a foolish thing to say, spirit."

The Demon Lord mocked her.

"I'm the Demon Lord, and he's the hero. Naturally, we're supposed to kill each other."

"But you're not like that! The tutorial is already over, and we're all going to Leta together..."

"They killed the Demon Lord."

The Demon Lord no longer looked at Lucy.

"Hero, are you planning to go to Leta without properly clearing the tutorial?"

"Wait a minute, I really don't understand... Are you trying to die?"

"..."

Amidst Lucy's confused and random outbursts,

KiJun, who had known for years that this moment would come, picked up his weapons with a pained expression.

It wasn't because he wanted to kill a friend who had been by his side for ten years and meant more to him.

It was because he knew her resolve.

—Contractor!

If possible, he wanted a few more days.

If there were ten days left, he wanted to spend at least half of them laughing together.

But if that time only made her suffer more.

Then, better now.

Gritting his teeth and standing up, KiJun said,

"Lucy, let's fight."

—...If the contractor says so.

Lucy, sensing something in KiJun's changed demeanor, responded with a hardened face and entered his embrace.

His body, infused with light magic and spirit power as Salutaris, the Savior's will, was already transformed into divine iron, Adamant.

The spirit, having regained the power of legend, resonated with his immense spirit power, lending him strength.

The two shields, imbued with all that light, became the fangs of moonlight, howling.

He had already removed the shock absorber.

If it collided with her full power, it would shatter without a chance to absorb the impact.

"Haha."

As the battle began, KiJun, armed with several legendary skills, presented a figure of such power that it was hard to believe he was of a rare race or profession, facing himself.

Despite his suppressed pride, the Demon Lord couldn't help but feel satisfied, laughing contentedly.

"What a fine cake you've baked."

"I couldn't believe it."

"Please understand, I was just too strong."

The Demon Lord laughed, her face much paler than when they first met ten years ago.

The poison she had been ingesting over the years.

The cuisine infused with light that burns the darkness.

The warm soul's power that negates the evil.

It had smoothly scraped away the Demon Lord's evil.

"Let's fight. Come at me with all you've got."

"...I'm prepared."

The hero, even while crying, lunged with his fangs.

The Demon Lord, smiling, gave herself up to the fight.

"You can't kill me that easily! Move faster and more boldly... Argh!"

"And you...! With such weak magic, how can you call yourself a Demon Lord!"

Dark arrows and spear-blades blanketed the surroundings, launching dozens at a time to pierce the hero as the Demon Lord moved.

The hero, wielding two shining fangs in his hands, deflected, dodged, or shattered them, charging towards the Demon Lord.

"Being tough isn't enough - hit harder!"

"Damn you!"

As he approached, powerful punches rained down, cutting through the light around his body and injuring his flesh, now turned into divine iron.

The hero, unable to deflect some attacks with his fangs, used the strength of the divine adamant to wield his shields.

Block and strike.

Parry and strike.

Relentlessly, like a wolf hunting its prey.

Even after being hit dozens of times, if he could bite a critical spot, he could win.

Like the first day he faced the Demon Lord as an enemy, he resisted her overwhelming magical power without yielding.

Burning with venom in his eyes, he swung his two shields like a madman.

"Ah, really… why do you cry while fighting, seriously!"

Lucy, irritated, yelled out and tore through the curtain of darkness enveloping them with a lance of light she conjured in an instant.

She protected the hero from fatal attacks aimed at him and, conversely, created fatal openings in the Demon Lord.

Her combat power, growing absurdly with each level, eventually produced dozens of chains of light.

Binding the Demon Lord's attacks, her shadow, her arms.

Chains which extended until the bubbling darkness was completely covered by light.

"Ugh, Ah?!"

―Boom!

And then, at one moment.

The Demon Lord's attacks failed to hit the hero.

Lucy's chains skillfully captured the Demon Lord.

The hero struck the Demon Lord's face with precise timing using his shield.

A fatal gap appeared in the Demon Lord's chest.

Seizing the moment, a giant fang of light converged and struck down.

A clean penetration.

A blow that would take life.

"...Ah."

Black blood gushed from the Demon Lord's chest, splattering KiJun's face and shield, then oxidized by the light magic filling the space the next moment.

"We make a great team, don't we," the Demon Lord mumbled playfully, and KiJun weakly nodded.

"Indeed."

"Cough... Why are you crying? It's not like I'm really dying."

The Demon Lord teased KiJun with an endlessly light tone.

"Did you misunderstand? Are you a fool? This isn't even my real body. It's a substitute body for NPCs. It has a short shelf life because it can fully exert the power of the main body. It's about time for its limit... Ah."

As KiJun's tears did not stop, the Demon Lord too eventually let out a bitter smile.

"No reason to cry, yet you do."

"Just... just..."

Knowing he would curse this moment later, wrapped in his blanket.

Deciding to stop holding back for the sake of others, he openly shared his feelings.

"It's a bit sad to end things this way with you."

"Puahaha! What's that, we're not even a couple!"

The Demon Lord burst into laughter, causing the already intense blood to spurt more violently.

Stubbornly tenacious vitality, typical of a Demon Lord.

Something black and tentacle-like tried to emerge from the wound, but as the Demon Lord clicked her tongue, it receded.

It meant she hadn't even shown her real strength.

"Ah, don't misunderstand. This power, if used properly, makes me lose my mind and go berserk. My face would turn monstrous. I didn't use it to spare you, oh, what's the word, anyway."

The Demon Lord added cutely with a smile.

"I wanted to part with a pretty face."

"Yeah, you're pretty."

"Prettier than that Yemin girl?"

"Of course."

KiJun reassured her, laughing, yet making sure she didn't misunderstand.

"You're the prettiest."

"Good... then that's enough."

The Demon Lord, looking at someone other than KiJun, smiled triumphantly.

Only then did KiJun realize Lucy was also there and had an 'aha' moment, but surely she would understand him now.

He wanted to believe that.

"Well, I should be going now."

Even as she neared death, she maintained a lively voice.

Was this how she wanted to part, so perfectly?

"Ah, congratulations on clearing the tutorial."

"Demon Lord."

"Bice."

KiJun's eyes widened.

The Demon Lord squinted her eyes and said.

"My nickname. Call me that."

"Bice."

"Good."

Satisfied, she nodded and then...

"KiJun, see you next time."

She called his name, closing her eyes gently.

As KiJun stared at her in a daze, her body was enveloped in light and disappeared.

Engulfed in sorrow, a system message, as if mocking his foolish thoughts, appeared thunderously.

―Absurdly strong enemy defeated, level rises significantly...

―In a battle of legends, your job [Dancer of Light] transcends limits and grows...

―Facing and defeating a legendary foe, drenching the Fangs of Light in their blood, [Moonlight Fangs] skill grows significantly...

―An emotional battle reawakens your astonishing potential long faded. [Skillfulness] transcends limits...

―Your [Light Magic] circulates within, elevated by defeating a legend...

Unthinkable possibilities blossomed from a fight he never dared dream of against the Demon Lord.

If all this was her intention...

She was truly...

―Your Charisma opens a new chapter of a legend, transcending limits to reach Legendary status. Charisma (L) reaches 1.

―Victory against an unbeatable boss-level enemy! Unique title [Transcender] grows to Legendary status! When facing higher-tier enemies, gain 'dramatic' positive effects. Transcending all limits becomes 'much' easier.

―Legendary title [The Last Hero] fully activated. All stats increase by 20, abilities strengthen by 30% against dark/evil boss monsters.

KiJun closed his eyes tightly.

Hating himself for understanding why the Demon Lord sacrificed herself for him.

―Thud

"Huh?"

Something left by the Demon Lord fell into his hand.

It resembled something KiJun knew well – a smartphone he used 25 years ago on Earth.

Bewitched by its familiar feel, he turned it on to find numerous welcome messages, as if it had just been activated.

Among the few apps on the screen, besides calls and messages, there were Mini Map Records, Leta Points, Distress Signal, clearly for aiding activities in this other world.

―Letalk!

That notification sound is annoying.

KiJun, feeling off, opened the recently received message.

From someone already registered with a cute nickname... Yes, as expected, it was from her.

[Bice♥ (Tutorial Channel): Looks like you safely received the drop! You can't contact me without this in Leta, so make sure to bring it! Promise with Bice!]

[Bice♥ (Tutorial Channel): I've inserted one completed battery here. The remaining battery will be enclosed, so don't forget to insert it into the shock absorber. Got it?]

"Ah, really!"

―Contractor?! What's been going on, what is that?

KiJun, unable to contain his anger, almost threw it... but restrained himself, fearing it might really break.

Thus, the lengthy tutorial ended somewhat anticlimactically.

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