I felt an immense weight in the arm holding Titania.
Unable to resist, I fell to my knees.
I stared at her, horrified.
Titania's beautiful face remained asleep.
Only my body seemed to bear the increasing burden.
Looking around, I saw multiple concentric circles of pale blue light centered on me.
Magic? I wasn't sure, but it might be a magic circle.
Heavy—I couldn't lift my arms or legs. I was completely immobilized.
I scanned the area with just my eyes.
Several aliens stood at a distance, their hands outstretched. Among them was Fenicia, Ferris's sister. A large-scale spell cast by multiple people.
From the direction of the city gate, just a short distance ahead, Devil Officer Dantalion approached, speaking as he walked.
In his hand, he gripped a sword radiating a malevolent aura.
I see… so it's you, Dantalion, who'll finish me off with this spell.
Tiriel and Ashera earlier were just buying time.
…
Huh… heh…
Ahahahahahahahahahaha!
Foolish!
I can break this restraint!
You still think I'm just a slightly stronger Butcher, a slaughterer?
Wrong.
I am Gevaudan.
In an instant.
Just one moment to break the spell, and in that split second, I'll kill Dantalion.
I know. That sword and my Jagulator Claws are evenly matched.
Then I'll win, with both hands and my combat skills. I could even embrace him and use Imolate.
I'll reduce him to dust.
Just like the child you couldn't protect.
If Dantalion dies, the mages will hesitate.
Disrupt their focus, and I win. Then I'll break through with force.
All of you, I'll slaughter every last one.
Titania, let's make this our wedding venue.
Look, it's filled with treats.
We'll devour everything, then go on our honeymoon.
Let's take some time alone, just the two of us.
Just us, quietly.
…
Yes, come closer.
Almost there…
Three steps.
Two.
"Gevaudan!"
A small figure—Ferris—leapt from behind Fenicia.
Stay out of this, fox cub… or I'll crush you!
Dodging Dantalion's restraining hand with fox-like agility, Ferris slid in front of me.
She immediately placed her hand on my face, peering closely.
A ferocious growl rumbled from my throat.
Fenicia shouted something, but bound by her spell, she couldn't move.
Noticing my growing murderous intent, Dantalion froze. He kept his sword raised but couldn't move with Ferris in the way.
An unexpected stalemate, a heavy silence.
… Let me introduce you, Ferris. This is Titania. A beautiful woman, isn't she?
She's my partner.
As I loosened my grip on Titania, she fell heavily to the ground.
A mournful wail, like a demon's cry, filled the air from nowhere.
Ferris knelt before me, gently stroking Titania's face.
Then, looking up at me, her cheeks were wet.
I want to cry too.
But my heart isn't filled with sorrow… only murderous intent and hunger!
Look, even now! Facing your innocent love, I feel only lust. I can't bear it—I want to defile your tear-flushed, youthful body! I want to rape Ferris, kill her, and devour her to the bone!
Am I human?
Ridiculous… no human could be like this…
Not even a living creature.
I'm despicable!
My soul is grotesque!
If you don't kill me here, the drop of deadly poison that is me will spread across the world like paint on water, destroying everything in an instant…
Someone, just kill me already.
…
… Yes. That's it, Ferris. Stay there.
With you there, *I* can't move.
Right now, you're wedging yourself into the gears of destruction that were about to unleash inside me.
Dantalion will realize this soon.
And it will end.
I feel empty.
In the end, I want to disappear while looking at Titania.
If there's a god in this world, it must be her.
My goddess—
"□◇▽〒○★★△〒..."
Ferris's hand stroked my face, while her other hand touched Titania's.
Instantly, we were enveloped in light.
The scene brightened.
… Death?
…
No, I've felt this before.
Warmth.
…
—The light faded.
Beside me stood a woman.
Naked.
Clothes were unnecessary. Her body was too graceful.
Beautiful black hair cascading down to her hips.
On her head, two majestic curled horns.
Breathtaking beauty.
A straight, refined nose.
Delicate lips concealing gleaming white teeth.
Deep purple eyes.
A golden gaze filled with strong will.
—My goddess…
The goddess silently glared at the now-quiet surroundings with a sharp gaze.
A silver butterfly fluttered down onto her shoulder.
Her flowing black hair, touched by its scales, shimmered silver in places, creating a fantastically beautiful wave.
Eventually, the goddess knelt, smiled gently, and kissed my bowed cheek.
Her eyes flashed brightly as she shouted.
In that moment, the massive city gate exploded.
Walls crumbled.
Huge shadows surged in.
Led by a giant centipede, spiders, mantises, beetles, and scorpions flooded the area. Above, terrifying winged insects like bees and dragonflies filled the sky—
A tsunami of giant, black-gleaming carapaces invaded the city of Faumbach.
Suddenly, my body felt lighter.
The chaos must have broken the spell.
I stood up.
Titania pressed her body against my chest.
I felt her scent and warmth.
I held her firmly with one arm.
The area was already in chaos.
Glancing down, I saw Ferris looking around in a daze.
Titania intended to kill indiscriminately. Leaving her on the front lines was dangerous.
I quickly scooped Ferris up to protect her, and just then, my body lifted into the air.
It was Number Five. Skillfully lifted by the giant centipede, we were placed on the back of another massive spider.
We headed out of the city, retracing the path of the monstrous insects.
At that moment, I felt a gaze.
My eyes met those of a ragged figure.
From afar, in the shadows of an alley, someone watched me.
Our eyes locked, and as they blinked rapidly, the figure melted into the shadows.
A hazel light flickered in the storm of violence.
The meaning was clear: we'll meet again.