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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 86
Jupien and Marisa gave firm nods.
“And… Prince Kashmir is the key. Do you think you can pierce the Spider Queen’s outer carapace? If you can break through that, I’ll finish the rest with Willcraft.”
Willcraft.
If Aura Force is the manifestation of will into physical reality, then Willcraft is the manifestation of will that transcends the limits of natural laws.
The issue was that the Willcraft Simon intended to use required activation conditions.
In this case, the Spider Queen’s outer shell had to be pierced.
‘Can Prince Kashmir actually do it?’
Simon narrowed his eyes.
Honestly, it was a difficult ask.
Prince Kashmir’s level was mid-4-star.
Far from weak, but the opponent was simply too powerful.
“I know it’s difficult. But it has to be done. If you want to survive.”
“…Understood.”
Kashmir gave a stiff nod.
Fwoosh!
Kashmir charged forward.
Long-range destructive black magic was useless, since the spider silk would block it, so he intended to detonate powerful magic at close range instead.
The baby Devils swarmed to stop Kashmir, but Jupien and Marissa moved to cover him.
Eventually—
Kashmir reached close range and stretched out his hand.
The Spider Queen struck out with countless legs, but he dodged and activated his spell.
For reference, Kashmir had risen from the ranks of a low-tier Demon, so he was no stranger to close-quarters combat.
Woooooo.
A fierce whirlpool of dark energy surged.
Destruction magic at the level of 4 stars.
Elemental transmutation.
A vortex of wind imbued with icy energy. A cursed frost that corroded anything it touched.
The black magic with the greatest piercing force in his arsenal.
“Rusted Horn!”
Spear-like blades of wind and ice roared forward.
Just as the outer shell was about to be pierced—
The Spider Queen let out a furious roar.
Crashhhhh!!!
Countless strands of spider silk burst across her outer shell.
The spear of destruction halted, then shattered in vain.
‘Ah.’
Thud!
One of the Spider Queen’s legs slammed into Kashmir.
He twisted his body at the last second and avoided death, but he was gravely wounded.
‘As expected, it didn’t work.’
Simon clicked his tongue.
He had anticipated it, but it was still too much.
‘If it were Prince Christian instead, maybe it would’ve been possible.’
An absurd thought.
Chris hadn’t even reached 4-star yet. There was no way he could land a blow on the Spider Queen.
And yet, Simon couldn’t help but think that, as always, if it was Christian—the one who constantly pulled off the impossible—maybe he’d surprise them again this time.
Flutter!
The situation shifted drastically.
The Spider Queen let out a vicious shriek and stretched out her hand.
Spider silk began to fill the air.
‘The Spider Queen’s Willcraft—Despair Without End.’
That silk wasn’t a mere physical substance.
It was Willcraft infused with the Spider Queen’s intent—infinitely expanding and shattering everything it touched.
‘This is bad. Really bad. The numbers just don’t add up.’
Simon growled and sank his fangs into his own wrist.
As the artery tore open, blood erupted like a fountain.
The droplets that floated into the air began to boil and vaporize, scattering into fine particles in all directions.
As the spider silk came into contact with the blood particles, it suddenly halted in place.
‘It won’t hold for long. It’s time to make a real decision.’
Simon’s eyes grew cold.
Unless Christian arrived—
No, even if he did, it would still be too much.
Simon looked toward the three—Jupien, Marisa, and Kashmir—who were gasping for breath.
At least two of them would have to be sacrificed.
‘They’ve done enough by now.’
Just as Simon decided to tear into Kashmir’s throat first—
An unexpected voice rang out.
“…What exactly is everyone doing right now?”
“!!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
They turned their gaze—and saw a boy, annoyingly handsome, looking at them with open disappointment.
“…Why are you all making such a mess here?”
Holding back the urge to snap at him—
You— we came here to save you!
That was what everyone was thinking.
But Chris was just as baffled.
‘What the hell? I was never in danger, so who asked for all this trouble?’
Now, thanks to them, he’d just ended up with more hassle.
‘Well, can’t be helped. I can’t exactly pretend I didn’t see this. Guess I’ll help.’
A thought so smug it would make the others boil over again if they heard it.
Chris calmly walked toward them.
“Are you all right? Chief Steward, looks like you’ve had a rough time.”
Simon twitched his lips.
“I’m still fine for now. But as you can see, the situation isn’t good. So, my lord, please choose which one of these three should be killed.”
“…What?”
“One of the three must be sacrificed as an offering. Originally, at least two would have been necessary… but since you’ve arrived, I think I can manage with just one.”
A chilling statement.
Saying someone should be sacrificed while they’re standing right there, listening.
But Simon was never one to follow common notions of morality to begin with.
‘It’s only because I thought Prince Christian might disapprove that I held back until now. But if I get his approval first, then I won’t have to worry about getting on his bad side.’
Simon licked his lips in anticipation of the blood he would soon taste.
Chris let out a sigh.
“There’s no need for that.”
“…What?”
“I’ll handle the Spider Queen. If you can just keep holding her back like you’re doing now.”
Simon looked genuinely flustered at those words.
“My lord? The Spider Queen is a 6-star rank demonic beast. No matter how talented you are…”
Of course, he had thought about it for a moment earlier.
That maybe Christian could pull off yet another insane miracle.
But even miracles had limits.
The miracle Simon had been hoping for was something like Christian creating an opening.
But now he was saying he’d defeat the Spider Queen himself?
“I know. It’s far beyond my level. That’s why I’m asking. Just for a moment. Just a few seconds, hold her still like you are now.”
Chris spoke firmly.
“I’ll cut off the Spider Queen’s head.”
“……”
Simon went silent.
It was impossible. Ridiculous.
‘But he’s not bluffing.’
Chris’s crimson-black eyes held not a trace of doubt.
They gleamed with unwavering conviction.
Simon found himself chuckling without meaning to.
‘How amusing. This is great. As expected of our crazy young master.’
After all—
Wasn’t it because of this madness that they’d gone through all this trouble to save Christian in the first place?
“Understood. But you must succeed.”
Simon bared his fangs with a grin.
“If you fail and die, I’ll resurrect you as a Lesser and send you to Idrinne to be her toy.”
Chris said nothing.
Lesser referred to the lowest class of vampires—mindless, zombie-like beings.
‘…Even as a joke, that’s horrific. Then again, if it’s Simon, he might actually do it. I have to succeed no matter what.’
As he stepped forward, a hand grabbed his arm.
“N-no, my lord! Please, sacrifice me to that vampire instead!”
It was Kashmir.
“I’m sorry! This all happened because of me…!! Let me take full responsibility and—die in your place!!”
Kashmir looked devastated, guilt etched across his face.
Chris thought to himself.
‘Well, technically, everything did happen because of me.’
From the beginning, Chris was the one who activated the key and triggered the teleportation.
If he had left things alone, it was likely Kashmir wouldn’t have activated the key out of guilt.
Anyway—
‘This is another opportunity.’
“Prince Kashmir, raise your head.”
“Honestly, I did feel betrayed and like I’d fallen into a trap, but seeing you risk your life like this for me made me realize it wasn’t truly your will. I forgive your mistake.”
Acting like it was Kashmir’s fault, and generously forgiving him!
Naturally, Kashmir’s reaction was dramatic.
“Ah… ah… Prince Christian, how can you be so…”
His voice trembled. More than touched—he was overwhelmed, his emotions collapsing.
“!!”
Chris grinned.
“Then trust me and watch.”
He began walking forward.
But another interruption came.
This time, it was Marissa.
“Don’t do something so stupid. No matter how amazing you are, the Spider Queen is too much.”
Chris paused and looked at Marissa.
Her clothes were torn, her body wounded—she had clearly gone through a lot.
‘…Why did she come to save me?’
With Kashmir, it made sense—he was kind by nature. But the others were unexpected.
“So why did you come? It’s not like I asked to be rescued.”
“…What? You…!!”
Marissa’s face flushed bright red.
Just as her pent-up frustration from the start of this whole mess was about to erupt—
Chris casually said,
“Well, either way—thanks.”
“……”
Marissa shut her mouth tight.
The fiery anger that had flared up on her face slowly faded, replaced now with something else entirely.
“D-don’t get the wrong idea. I still… don’t like you.”
“Yeah, I know. You don’t have to worry, I’m not planning to bring up the engagement again either.”
“……”
“Just cover me with poison so the baby spiders don’t get in the way.”
“…Fine.”
Marissa responded coolly, unlike before.
And finally, Jupien.
Wiping the blood from her forehead, she spoke bluntly.
“No need to thank me.”
“Yeah, I’m not thankful.”
“…You’re such an ass.”
“Only figuring that out now?”
“One day, I will crush you.”
Jupien drew the half-broken sword she’d been using in the fierce battle.
“You’re going, right? I’m coming too.”
“Why?”
“I told you. I’m the one who’s going to take you down. So I can’t let you die in a place like this.”
Chris chuckled under his breath.
Strangely, it didn’t feel bad.
“Suit yourself.”
Step. He started walking forward.
His demonic energy surged.
“Though I probably won’t need it.”
Fwoosh!
Chris’s body shot forward.
“Watch out!!”
Kashmir shouted in surprise.
But Chris didn’t stop.
‘It’s enough. I can do this.’
The old Chris—
Would never have stepped up so confidently.
Even if Simon managed to restrain the Spider Queen, the old Chris’s power wouldn’t have been enough to cut through her armored shell.
‘But now it’s different.’
It was because of the gray ring on his finger—the Vampiric Ring.
A faint gray light shimmered from the indented center of the ring, and Chris’s movements changed.
He became—
Faster. Stronger.
The spider’s silk shot toward him, but couldn’t touch him at all.
‘Was Prince Christian always this fast?’
Simon was stunned.
He moved nothing like he did the last time Simon saw him.
It wasn’t that his cultivation level had risen.
Rather, it felt as though he’d taken a temporary enhancer—his stamina, strength, and demonic energy had all spiked.
‘How? Even for a genius, amplifying your base abilities in such a short time should be impossible…’
But that wasn’t it exactly.
The Vampiric Ring didn’t just raise one’s base abilities.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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