The Unfortunate Girl Wants an Easy Mode in Her Second Life – Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Fall of the Royal Capital
ㅤ◆ Cretias’s Perspective
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm. As expected, being split in two leaves a lingering sense of discomfort.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias muttered while examining his own body.
ㅤ
ㅤ”The secret art of the Mage Grandmaster, the Curse of Immortality. Originally, it was a technique meant to be cast on enemies, rendering them immortal before subjecting them to torture, but…”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias picked up the halberd of the Holy Knight Valados, whom he had just defeated.
ㅤ
ㅤHe swung the heavy and long weapon with one arm.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm. This is inconvenient. I won’t be able to defeat him with a fighting style that relies on weight. Even the rat’s sword can be troublesome if mastered.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias threw the halberd.
ㅤThe halberd pierced the wall, embedding itself up to the hilt.
ㅤA portrait of a past king hanging next to it fell to the ground.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Now, have I taken too much time? In order to feed the angels, I need to leave as many people in the castle alive as possible. It’s about time I gave them a good beating.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt was the time when the king would usually be in the audience chamber.
ㅤHowever, with all the commotion so far, he would have already fled.
ㅤ
ㅤ”He can’t escape from me, God’s Agent.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias concentrated, enlarging the minimap that appeared in his vision.
ㅤThough he called it a minimap, the map showed the entire castle.
ㅤHe could grasp the location of important figures in real-time with markers.
ㅤ
ㅤ”He’s holed up in the Royal Guard barracks, huh?”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias started running towards his destination.
ㅤ
ㅤIt was a divine sprint, different from his usual walking pace.
ㅤThe agility of a thief, the explosive power of a warrior, the self-enhancement using a mage’s Ether. Utilizing all the techniques accumulated by the Grandmasters, Cretias reached his destination in just a few dozen seconds.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Heh.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias gave a wry smile as he looked at the barracks, which resembled a small fortress.
ㅤFor Cretias, who was once a member of the Royal Guard, this was a nostalgic, old nest.
ㅤ
ㅤStanding in front of it was a familiar figure.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hey, Cretias. Looks like you’re making quite a scene.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt was a rather short man with one cloudy white eye.
ㅤHis Holy Knight battle attire was slovenly worn, and he carried an ordinary sword casually in one hand.
ㅤHe had black hair and sun-tanned skin, a race rarely seen in Zamzaria, making it difficult to discern his age.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Captain Volk, is that you?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, looks like you haven’t forgotten about me.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe man said with a boisterous grin.
ㅤRoyal Guard Captain Volk. He was third in the Holy Knight hierarchy, but the top two were practically honorary positions. In reality, this man was the strongest Holy Knight.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You know, I’m filled with immense regret right now. You could say I’m feeling down.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s certainly unusual.”
ㅤ
ㅤHe inadvertently reverted to his old way of speaking.
ㅤ
ㅤ（It always happened when he was in front of this man.）
ㅤ
ㅤHe was unknowingly being drawn into the other man’s pace.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Cretias, when I first met you, I thought to myself, ‘Oh great, another incredibly arrogant, noble brat has shown up.’ Honestly, I was about to say we wouldn’t take you in.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s news to me.”
ㅤ
ㅤIgnoring Cretias’s reply, Volk continued.
ㅤ
ㅤ”But I decided to give you a try.
ㅤYou were indeed an incredibly arrogant, handsome, noble brat, but you had a serious look in your eyes when you saw a sword.
ㅤYou see, there are two types of swordsmen in this world. Those who genuinely want to become strong, and those who talk big but don’t have the will to truly become strong.
ㅤMost noble brats are the latter, but you genuinely wanted to become strong.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias involuntarily fell silent.
ㅤ
ㅤ”To become strong, being handsome, being a noble, being intelligent, all of that is nothing but a hindrance. If you dedicate yourself to the sword, you’ll eventually cut away all those useless things. That’s what I thought.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Indeed, you were right. I have become strong. I will become even stronger. And I will gladly discard anything that stands in my way.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Cretias, your current strength is wrong. It’s a crooked path. The path to becoming a demon. No, perhaps you’ve already become one.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I am God.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias was about to say, “I am God’s Agent,” but the word “Agent” slipped out.
ㅤ
ㅤHowever, as he uttered those words, they settled comfortably in his stomach.
ㅤ
ㅤ（I am God. Is that so? Was I God all along?）
ㅤ
ㅤCretias felt a refreshing sensation, as if a long-standing mystery had been solved.
ㅤ
ㅤ（All the humiliation, all the hardships, they were all trials for me to become God.
ㅤAh, the world revolved around me!）
ㅤ
ㅤ”Fu, fuhaha… Ahahahaha! Kufufu, hahaha, this is good! I see, the world is a theater! A divine comedy is being performed, centered around me, the God! I write all the scripts, and of course, I play the leading role! Delightful, absolutely delightful! Fuhyaahahahaha!”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias continued to laugh madly, clutching his stomach.
ㅤ
ㅤVolk watched the spectacle with more bewilderment than fear.
ㅤ
ㅤ”God, God, is it? I see. So that means I have to cut down God now, huh? That sounds like fun.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You cannot cut down God. Not someone of your caliber, content with being the foolish king’s dog.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”So you’re saying my words won’t reach you anymore, huh? Well, it’s too late now.
ㅤBut maybe this is for the best.
ㅤI’d never get another chance in my lifetime to fight a demon like this. It’s an honor for a man who lives by the sword.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Are you done talking?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yeah! Let’s do this!”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen did Volk move?
ㅤWhen did he raise his sword?
ㅤCretias couldn’t see any of it.
ㅤ
ㅤThe only result was the sword in front of him.
ㅤ
ㅤCretias caught the sword with a pale, glowing arm.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Whew! That’s a handy arm you got there.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Agatlam – the Arm of God.”
ㅤ
ㅤThis time, Volk’s sword came from behind.
ㅤCretias swung his left arm back to intercept it.
ㅤ
ㅤ”What a tough arm!”
ㅤ
ㅤVolk’s sword energy converged into a horizontal slash.
ㅤ
ㅤThis slash couldn’t be blocked.
ㅤ
ㅤFollowing his intuition, Cretias spun around Volk, following the movement of the sword.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Whoa! That’s creepy!”
ㅤ
ㅤA vertical cleaving slash.
ㅤCretias left an afterimage of Ether in his place, dodging the sword by splitting himself in half.
ㅤThe sharp sword wind grazed Cretias’s skin.
ㅤVolk, realizing that he had cut a decoy, immediately created distance.
ㅤIf he had hesitated for even a moment, he would have been cut down by Cretias.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Magnificent.”
ㅤ
ㅤGoosebumps erupted all over Cretias’s body.
ㅤ
ㅤ”What a man. To be able to wield a sword to this extent as a human.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What, you’re just realizing that now? If you had obediently remained a knight, I would have trained you as much as you wanted.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I am God. I do not need a swordsmanship taught by humans.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Heh. You’re starting to sound like it. Now, why don’t you come at me?”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias transformed both his hands into swords and attacked Volk from the front.
ㅤAgainst this man, tactics like flanking or attacking from behind were meaningless.
ㅤFor Volk, everything was the front.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, this is good!”
ㅤ
ㅤHe blocked Volk’s sword with his right sword and slashed with his left.
ㅤIt was dodged as if it were natural, and a counterattack came flying.
ㅤ…which he anticipated and placed his sword in its path.
ㅤVolk narrowly withdrew his sword.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yikes! I thought I was going to die there!”
ㅤ
ㅤHe aimed to decapitate him.
ㅤOf course, it was dodged.
ㅤ
ㅤCretias continued his assault, changing his attacks.
ㅤ
ㅤHowever, neither of them could land a decisive blow.
ㅤ
ㅤAs they continued, Cretias grew bored.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Indeed, you are strong.”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias said.
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ㅤ”You are worthy of being called the man loved by the God of Knights.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What, that’s creepy.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Earlier, you said that there are many things one must discard to become strong.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I did.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”My knight’s blood stirs when I cross swords with you.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You’re not a knight anymore, though.”
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ㅤ”That is a hindrance to me now. Our sword fight is enjoyable. That is why I must cut away that enjoyment.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”…Huh?”
ㅤ
ㅤVolk narrowed his eyes at Cretias’s smug smile.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You… What are those eyes? They’re not human eyes.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”How pathetic for a swordsman. Look at your own body.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What…?! This is…!”
ㅤ
ㅤVolk looked down at his own body in astonishment.
ㅤ
ㅤAlthough, he probably couldn’t see from the position of his head.
ㅤVolk noticed the abnormality in his proprioception and realized what was happening to him.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You… You bastard! You intend to taint a sword fight with such dirty tricks!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Who said anything about a sword fight? Your swordsmanship had some merit. I merely indulged you as training to become a perfect God.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe sword fell from Volk’s hand.
ㅤVolk tried to reach out with his hand.
ㅤHis movement was sluggish, unbefitting of a master swordsman.
ㅤHis hand, starting from the fingertips, gradually turned gray and hardened.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Petrification…?! Those eyes, I thought they looked familiar. It’s the Evil Eye of the Cockatrice!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Don’t lump me in with those chicken-like creatures. This is the sacred Eye of God. Before God, all humans tremble in shame, their existence extinguished, transforming into lifeless stone. It is the least amount of humility humans can offer to God.
ㅤConsider it an honor to be petrified by the Gaze of God. Royal Guard Captain, Third Ranked Holy Knight, Volk・Nogan.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You・bas・tard…”
ㅤ
ㅤVolk, with an expression of resentment on his face, soon turned completely to stone.
ㅤ
ㅤ”The Sword Saint, unable to wield his sword, sleeps here filled with regret. Kukuku… How ironic.
ㅤThough, he won’t die, of course.
ㅤUnderstand, Volk. You will remain like this from now on. Exposed to the elements, your body will gradually erode. Soon, you will beg to be killed quickly, in a single blow.
ㅤBe trapped in your immobile body, and continue to cry out in despair and resentment.
ㅤFor that is the perfect bait to lure them in.”
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤOn this day, the capital of the Zamzaria Kingdom, Zalbuck, fell to a single man.
ㅤ
ㅤTrumpets blared from the heavens above Zalbuck, and countless angels descended.
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ㅤThe man who called himself God’s Agent was crowned as the first king of the Holy Zamzaria Kingdom, Holy King Cretias I.
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ㅤThe nightmare of Zamzaria began from this moment.