🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 69
“Sir Gregorius!”
A snow-covered field.
At Eric’s request, Gregorius had moved away from Squallor and was reciting prayers behind the other knights.
Focusing on detoxification over healing, he had gathered his divine power for a long time, and at Eric’s shout, he unleashed the holy magic he had prepared.
“The Goddess’ Sacrament.”
Whoooosh—
A brilliant white light spread outward from his reverently clasped hands, radiating divine energy.
-Click?
-Click click click!
“This light…”
“Ugh! My legs… huh?”
“Th-That’s Sir Gregorius! It’s Sir Gregorius!”
Every time the wave of light passed, those suffering from the poison of the rat bites felt their pain ease, their complexions brightening.
The knights and soldiers quickly shook off their injuries and rejoined the battlefield.
Because the forces of the Demon King Jama carried both poison and plague, the wounds inflicted were more about disease and status ailments than physical trauma—something Gregorius had been urgently sent north from the church for, as he had been under investigation for the Holy Tribunal.
-Glug…
Thunk—
Screeeech—
Squallor, with a wounded neck, paused, the falling snow briefly settling.
Eric watched the black blood dripping onto the ground rot and decompose rapidly, and clenched his fist as it gradually turned red and lost its toxicity under the rolling waves of bright light.
Squallor.
Being one of Jama’s most favored named monsters, Eric knew exactly how to tackle him.
Overwhelming close-quarters and endurance combat, thanks to his abnormally high strength and HP relative to his level.
Toughness due to Anesthesia—ignoring minor injuries or even severed limbs.
But, given his huge size and low agility, binding his legs meant he could be handled, even if it took time.
There was only one thing to be cautious about: the jet-black blood that had melted the ground moments ago.
“Filthy Blood… back when I didn’t know better, I nearly lost the hero I’d carefully raised because of this stuff.”
The toxic blood and plague alone were deadly.
However, if they followed the strategy—binding his feet and keeping a safe distance—there was no risk of blood splattering.
The problem was the smoke emitted as it melted the floor.
Though less dangerous than direct contact, over a long fight with Squallor, the toxin in the smoke was like a silent assassin.
Most priests couldn’t handle detoxifying it over such a long time…
But that wasn’t an issue here. Gregorius, one of the church’s top holy casters, was present.
The Frost Step would bind Squallor’s feet.
Leona would pierce his thick hide and wound him.
Gregorius alone could neutralize the Filthy Blood toxin.
All conditions were met.
The remaining task was simple: use Frost Step without revealing it, bind his legs at the right moment, and continue the assault.
“Uh… dizzy! B-But I can’t kill him! Father said to bring him back alive!”
Squallor staggered, recovering enough to move toward them.
Despite deep cuts, the wounds had partially healed. His Anesthesia made his expression unchanged—truly terrifying—but it didn’t matter. The blood he had lost wouldn’t return just because the wounds had closed.
“Uoooooooh!”
Squallor roared and flailed again.
KRAAAANG—!
Because of his unsteady body, a punch aimed at Eric smashed into the ground just ahead.
Shreek—
As the floor shattered and debris brushed his cheek, Eric instinctively touched it, wincing as his fingertips stained with blood.
“This just got more troublesome.”
KRAANG—BANG—!
Dodging successive blows, he frowned at the flying debris.
Previously, punches came straight down, so debris was minimal and manageable.
Now, Squallor’s unsteady swings scraped the ground like whips, sending fist-sized fragments flying like scattered sand.
“Ugh… huh… kuhk!”
Blood—
Every punch left wounds. Evading them required more movement, draining his already limited stamina faster—but there was an upside.
Each swing lifted piles of previously settled snow, creating thick dust clouds far worse than before.
“D-Don’t run!”
The cloud was so dense that Eric could barely see, using brief clearings to dodge.
Meaning he could use Frost Step without anyone noticing.
Thud—
Having located Squallor, Eric stomped hard.
Creeeak—
Between him and Squallor, a massive ice pillar shot up.
Plunk—
As Squallor charged, a terrifying sound echoed across the battlefield.
A sharp tearing, piercing noise.
Whoosh—!
Blood burst out, black blood splattering everywhere.
Watching it quickly decay under Gregorius’ holy power, Eric called out:
“Lady Leona!”
Hearing him, Leona launched herself across the ground toward Squallor.
“What… what’s happening? My… my legs won’t move!”
Squallor turned in surprise, glancing at his legs that could no longer move freely.
“Ugh! My… my legs! What… what is happening?”
The ice pillar pierced from foot to knee, leaving holes through the shin and top of the foot.
“Thanks to Anesthesia, he probably didn’t notice yet. Too late to free them now.”
Spikes of ice shot out around the pillar.
The toxin in Filthy Blood quickly dissolved small ones, but sharp spikes had already shredded the nerves in one leg.
Even with his regeneration, removing a leg from the pillar would still make him recover quickly…
“Hah!”
With a short grunt, Leona leapt, aiming her sword at Squallor’s neck.
“No, don’t come!”
Squallor flailed, trying to repel her, but his mangled leg made it impossible to move properly. Leona’s speed made her impossible to catch.
Slash—
In the dark, dust swirled, and her blade flashed, cutting across his neck.
Whoooosh—!
Though his neck was thick, almost half of it was sliced, blood gushing more than ever.
-Glug…
Screeech—
The ground quickly pooled with blood. Squallor pressed his hands, but the wound was too large to stop by hand.
“Good. If he just holds out until he collapses…”
“Ugh… I can’t hold it! Bringing him back alive is too hard!”
Squallor staggered back, letting go of his neck, struggling to rise.
“Don’t… don’t break, you.”
KRAAANG—!
Using his arms in place of his legs, Squallor swung himself like a slide.
“Ah!”
Even with some distance, his fist flew past Eric in an instant, forcing a desperate dodge.
“Ugh…”
Debris from the shattered floor pierced his legs? He couldn’t move even if he wanted.
“How… already…?”
Even a strong monster shouldn’t be able to move with such injuries. By the blood he had lost, he shouldn’t even stand…
-Click!
-Click click!
Squallor braced himself, and Eric noticed, in the distance on a hill, rows of rats moving toward him.
“Th-That… can it be!”
Unlike normal gray rats, they were black and sticky.
Following their gaze, Eric saw someone faintly visible on the hill.
“…The Demon King!”
“Sir!”
Just then, Leona called out, horrified, as a massive arm descended toward Eric.
“Damn…”
KRAAAANG—!
A sharp roar and dust cloud filled the air.
“Ugh…”
Opening his eyes, Eric saw Leona blocking Squallor’s strike, his throat dry.
“Lady Leona!”
She stood, sword to shoulder, holding the blow with her body. With Jama’s support from behind, she barely managed, but her legs were shaking from the strain.
“Damn! What now…”
“Goddess, shine light upon the darkness before me.”
Whoooosh—
In despair, Eric tried to move, and behind him, a white light burst forth with a short prayer.
“Ugh!”
Even Eric, facing the light, momentarily blinded. Squallor, directly in front, was helpless.
“Ugh! Wh-what’s happening! My eyes! I… I can’t see!”
Squallor flailed blindly.
“Sir! Are you okay?”
“Thanks to you.”
Eric, supported by Leona, nodded at Malefica, indicating he was fine.
The bright light was temporary. Once Squallor regained vision, he’d attack again.
“But how to handle him, already so strong and with Jama’s help…”
“Everyone, get out of the way!”
A familiar voice called.
Flames blazed warmly around, spiraling skyward.
“Ugh… Ah! Now I see! You…”
Squallor’s eyes locked onto one spot.
A fireball descended from the air onto him.
KRAAAAAAANG—!
Impact shook the battlefield.
Flames roared higher than the fortress walls.
Crack—tap—
When the fire died down, all the rats and Ratmen were reduced to ashes. Squallor, still barely intact, limped forward.
“Ugh… damn monster.”
Plunk—
Leona’s blade pierced obliquely through his eye.
“Glurk…”
Squallor collapsed. Eric finally sheathed his sword, sighing in relief.
“Good work, Sir.”
“Nonsense. You did all the hard work…”
Just as they relaxed,
“Lady Leona! Behind you!”
“Huh?”
Eric spotted something behind Leona, calling her back.
“…Squallor.”
A small figure in a black robe, in the dark night. Thankfully, he stopped before attacking Leona. Eric frowned at the terrifying voice emerging from the old man.
“Who the hell are you!”
“Lady Leona! Stop…”
Leona approached, sword drawn, but Eric stopped her—too late.
Creeeek—!
“Lady Leona!”
The floor erupted, sending her flying. A human-like mass of filth struck her. Eric broke into cold sweat.
Because only one being used this technique in Protect Humanity: the one who had secretly assisted Squallor from the hilltop.
“Hoho. Exceeding expectations, young hero of the church.”
The king of all filth: the Demon King (Child)
