"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 36: Crisis
Episode 36: Crisis
“Hah… hah…!”
“They’re still coming…!”
“Damn it…!”
“Who would’ve thought they’d go this far──!”
We had finally put our plan into motion and were now confronting the monsters.
The true source of all evil was Prince Raiz. He was the root of everything.
To truly reclaim where Senpai belonged, we had to take him down—even if it meant dying with him.
Over these past five years, we had been gathering allies.
In addition to our four-person party, we secretly gathered people who were dissatisfied with the current royal regime. It was centered around Princess Tiris.
Nobles, the Adventurers’ Guild, the Magic Association, the Knights’ Order—we gathered trusted members and collected information.
We uncovered the current regime’s bias and fraudulent commissions through the Adventurers’ Guild.
We gathered evidence of academic suppression in the Magic Association—obstruction of research and unjust purges.
We secured confidential documents proving that the crimes of *Hero Haruto* were fabricated.
We collected records of backdoor dealings in the royal court and evidence of dark contracts among the nobility.
Misused taxes were funneled into arming and training Prince Raiz’s private army…
We kept gathering evidence to make a case against him. And we prepared our forces thoroughly.
Princess Tiris and her allies were to reveal the truth to the people. We would act as the strike team.
And finally──we had cornered Prince Raiz.
“At last… we’ve finally come this far…!!”
He was heading toward a specific place in Rothen, and we were chasing after him.
But along the way, a horde of monsters appeared.
We responded to the threat. But these monsters were different—ones we had seen in Abyss Sanctum.
They were far stronger than the monsters of this world. Each one of them were marked with red-black sigils.
Deeper in the cave, we found Prince Raiz.
He was gently touching a wall that had something inscribed on it.
“Prince Raiz. Your crimes have already been exposed in the royal capital. There’s nowhere left to run.”
I told him. It had been a long journey to get here.
He would pay for his sins—with his life.
Even if he was a prince, that didn’t matter.
Seeing him again, the flames of hatred in me flared fiercely.
He was the one… the one who ruined Senpai’s honor.
“So, you were the ones working with Tiris. I figured you had other collaborators. I’ve eliminated most threats over the past five years. But Tiris always slipped away. For that alone, I’ll give her credit.”
He gave us a dry, mocking clap.
Despite being cornered, he still seemed composed.
“Are you not planning to come quietly?”
Estelle called out to him.
“Not at all. Finally. At long last. My long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled──”
He gazed off into the distance, continuing:
“What do you think is the one thing needed to rule the world──?”
Prince Raiz asked us. But we gave no answer.
All of us were already channeling magic through our bodies, ready for battle.
But his eerie demeanor had us slightly on edge.
“Strategy. Tactics. Connections… mere delusions. History proves it—what ultimately moves the world is just one thing:
Overwhelming violence.
Ideals and justice mean nothing before power. That’s reality. Even if you expose my wrongdoings, nothing will change. You think you’ve cornered me—but it’s the opposite. And I’ll prove it to you now—with the power befitting a king──”
From the ring on his right hand, ominous magical energy burst forth.
Its signature… was identical to that of Abyss Sanctum.
So it was true, after all…
“So Abyss Sanctum really was──”
“Kukuku… Yeah. That’s right. The gate to Abyss Sanctum was created by accident during a magical experiment. Though even I didn’t expect it to cause *that* much chaos.
Then a brilliant idea came to me—send the hero to handle the chaos, and weaken him in the process. He ended up staying there alone. It was the best outcome. Thanks to that, I could continue my research undisturbed. And here, in Rothen, the magical signature is perfect for opening the gate.
Kukuku… Hahahahaha!
The gate is already under my control. This world will fall into my hands──!!”
So that’s what he truly was—pure evil.
A monster in human skin.
Someone like him should not be allowed to live.
He who ruined Senpai’s life—we would *never* forgive him──!
“Haaaaaaaaa──!”
The first to move was Luster.
She charged at Prince Raiz with full force. She was aiming a punch at his face──
But *smack*—it was easily caught.
“──Whoa now. Don’t get so fired up.”
The man who stood there…
His body was massive. And the magic he radiated was beyond abnormal.
This guy… this was Prince Raiz’s bodyguard—the one who had singlehandedly crushed countless factions…
“Volk. Kill them.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s play a little first.”
──Chills.
A shiver ran down my spine.
We had fought many strong enemies. We had trained for five years.
We knew Raiz had a powerful guard.
We believed the four of us could take him down.
But… that had been naïve optimism.
“Whoa! That’s a good defense skill, but still a bit weak, huh?”
“Guh…!”
Luster’s defense was being completely dismantled.
Even though she withstood the Abyss Sanctum boss, now she was being broken…
“Haaaaaaaah!!”
I used that opening to accelerate and dash forward.
I closed the distance instantly. I aimed to drive my rapier into his heart──
“You’re just fast. That kind of attack won’t work on me.”
“Kyah──!”
He blocked my rapier with his arm and casually swatted me away.
Immediately after, Sharo’s fire magic came flying in—but it was easily deflected.
In a flash, he vanished—and was suddenly right in front of Sharo.
Luster managed to guard her just in time. But both of them were blown away together.
Estelle quickly cast a healing field—but he targeted that too.
I tried to shield Estelle. But his raw strength was on another level.
Both of us were slammed into the wall.
“Ah… guh…”
“What strength…”
“Ugh…”
“This is… impossible…”
He hadn’t even used any unique magic.
Just raw physical enhancement through magic—and he overwhelmed us.
So this was why Prince Raiz had been so confident…
No matter how much we investigated, we could never learn the true depth of this guy’s power.
That had been deliberate—for this moment.
Our chances of winning were slim.
Still, we couldn’t give up here.
To protect Senpai’s life…
To never repeat that regret again…
We *had* to win here──!
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Even if it ended here, I didn’t care.
I closed the gap with everything I had.
He was overwhelmingly powerful—but he *had* to have a weak spot.
Without hesitation, I aimed to stab my rapier into his eye──
“Not bad. I like that lack of hesitation.”
“Gah…!”
He grabbed me by the throat.
I channeled all my magic into defense. But his grip kept tightening.
One slip, and he’d crush my neck like a twig.
“Urgh… guh…!”
Prince Raiz let out a twisted laugh.
“Hahahahaha! *This* is the power of overwhelming violence! You lot could never defeat Volk! Volk—finish it.”
“You got it.”
His grip tightened further.
I held on as best I could. But it was only a matter of time…
“I won’t let you!!”
“Felina-san!”
“Felina!!”
The other three launched attacks. But they were effortlessly swatted away again.
They crashed into the wall, bl00d dripping from their bodies.
Ah… I see.
This is where it ends for us.
Senpai… I’m sorry.
Truly sorry…
Because we were too weak…
I braced for death. But suddenly, the pressure around my neck vanished.
Before I knew it, someone was holding me in their arms.
That person was──
“──Felina. Are you okay?”
There was no mistaking him.
The one who once fought beside us.
The world’s strongest adventurer──Hero Haruto himself.
Original Author’s Comment:
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[Afterword]
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