The Tale of A Man Who Believed That His Reincarnation Had Granted Him A Japanese Sword And The Greatest Battle Sense, Only To Have The God Finally Inform Him "Huh, I Didn't Give You Any Combat Sense… That's Scary…" - Episode 42

A woman emerged from the stone coffin, gazing at her long, slender limbs with a quiet “hmm” to herself. The pale, fleshy masses scrambled over each other to reach her, clinging to her bare body as if begging for something.

“You… Where is Utsuho?”

“Hmm? Utsuho? …Ah, ah, ah, you mean this body?” The woman tilted her head in mock thought. “Oh yeah, that was the name, wasn’t it? That body barked like a little puppy, trying to intimidate the original owner. It was adorable.”

Lifting one of the pale masses at her feet, she blew on it lightly. Instantly, it froze solid like ice. Then, she placed it onto her body. A piercing scream echoed through the space as the flesh wavered, stretching and contracting repeatedly. Soon, it transformed into a robe—dark blue, almost lifeless in color, splitting open at the chest and back.

“See? Look, look! A dress made of human flesh~♪” She twirled playfully. “I call these ‘Shiruniku’—White Flesh. They’re people I reshaped back when I was alive. Very useful, you know~”

“You…”

“Not ‘you.’ It’s Angelica. I have a proper name, so use it.”

The woman spoke with the ease of a casual conversation between friends. One by one, she transformed the pale masses into tools—a tall, straight staff like a scepter, high heels decorated with frost, large earrings adorned with teardrop-shaped gems. As if restoring herself to her rightful form, she continued reshaping lives into objects.

“So, let me get this straight,” the man said. “The great witch that the ancient kings defeated has been scurrying around the kingdom like a rat, waiting for a chance to resurrect herself?”

“To be precise, I pretended to be defeated and hid my power here,” Angelica corrected. “Most of my magic was sealed in this place. I became nothing but a tiny, weak soul, waiting for a strong but foolish person like you to use.”

“It was tough, you know? As just a soul, the only magic I could use was slightly twisting the thoughts of people I touched on the shoulder.”

Angelica covered her mouth with her hand, giggling mockingly.

“Honestly, I was planning to mess with your thoughts a little back in the plaza. I wanted to turn you into my obedient little prince~ But for some reason, my magic didn’t work on you at all.”

She sighed dramatically. “So, I had to change my plans. Appear as a villain, get taken down immediately, and let everything wrap up neatly—at least, that’s what you expected, right? Nope, not happening~”

He remained calm, unsheathing his sword with controlled precision. His grip on the hilt tightened.

“But really, you should’ve noticed sooner,” she continued. “Even I thought I was suspicious when we talked at the restaurant. And when I sent Shiruniku after you to test your strength—come on, didn’t that at least make you a little wary?”

She tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Did you just assume that no matter what showed up, you could kill it? Or did you know something was off but chose to ignore it because it was a chance to get stronger? That would be so reckless and selfish~”

The body was tall like Utsuho’s. The figure was flexible like Utsuho’s. The face even resembled Utsuho. But the words coming from her lips… were things Utsuho would never say. His bl00d boiled.

“If I were a pawn of the cult, I wouldn’t have spilled secrets before dying, right? But oh well, it’s too late now.”
She smirked. “I made sure that mangy mutt found me suspicious behind your back. I even made it obvious when I reacted to the name Angelica.”

“Too bad, really. If either of you had noticed how I extended my life by moving between bodies, you might’ve caught something off. Too bad you’re both too smooth with your kills~”

She chuckled to herself, as if she could barely hold back her laughter.

“This coffin transforms the bodies of the trapped into fresh vessels for my revival. But I can only possess them if they’re just souls. So really, you killing that body without hesitation was very convenient for me~”

Finally, he understood Kirke’s warning. He had misinterpreted her words, assuming she wanted them to stop Alice from doing something. After Alice died, he let himself think whatever was convenient.

It was his mistake.

Had he acted more cautiously, the woman before him would never have crawled out of that coffin.

Now, he had to put her back himself.

With a sharp motion, he drew his sword and pointed it at the woman standing before him.

“Oh? You’re willing to fight? Well, this body was hers. If you manage to force me out, maybe—hmm, what was his name again? Oh well, your little doggy might survive.”

Angelica laughed, a chilling, ominous sound. He stepped forward, maintaining a low stance, moving without lifting his feet.

“Huh. Okay then. While I settle into this body, I guess I’ll play with you a little.”

“『The Pregnant Mermaid’s Calculated Tears – Maternity Mermaid』”

She swung her staff-like scepter, and blue orbs of light floated like paper balloons before firing in rapid succession.

He stopped. Deflected. Slashed. Dodged. Knocked them aside.

“Wow, amazing, amazing~! Using just a sword to handle all that, you’re pretty good!”

She twirled her staff, then suddenly thrust it toward him.

“『The Lonely Beast’s Lament – Angry Beast』”

A massive shockwave crashed through his body, rattling his insides. He was sent flying as if struck by a hammer. Twisting midair, he landed on his feet without losing balance.

There was nothing in sight.

But the attack had been real.

It was something invisible.

He wouldn’t see it just by watching.

He had to feel it. Hear it. Sense its intent.

“Now, hurry up and die, okay~? I have a kingdom and a goddess to destroy.”

Angelica twirled her staff once more and pointed it at him again.

If eyes alone weren’t enough, he’d use everything else.

He focused on the unseen killing intent.

Color flickered in his vision.

A hazy, dark blue phantom emerged.

Like a AR hammer crashing through a castle gate, it charged.

He swung his sword in a single, decisive slash.

For the first time, Angelica’s mocking expression stiffened.

“Oh? You actually cut that? I see, I see~ So all your intelligence got funneled into just cutting things, huh?”

He lunged forward, but the white flesh intervened.

He slashed through it effortlessly, but his strike at her neck was a fraction too late.

With a flick of her hand, she sent a gust of freezing wind.

The force blasted him out of the building and into the empty streets.

He landed smoothly, immediately raising his sword again.

“If I fight you properly, there’s a small chance I’ll lose. So~ I’ll just kill you in the most efficient way possible.”

She whispered, unseen.

He sheathed his sword, focusing.

“『The Witch’s Forced Curtain Call – Deus Ex Machina』”

At her words, the entire area collapsed.

The ground shattered. White flesh flooded the streets.

Boulders rained from above.

A perfect burial.

“You’re strong, but you’re still just human.”

She laughed. “Bury you alive, retrieve the body later—ultra-efficient! I really am a genius~”

But he had already moved.

Rock to rock. Step by step.

His soul remembered what to do.

His blade split the collapsing ground.

The night sky opened above.

He stood before her once more.

Angelica’s face twisted in disbelief.

“No, no, no—what kind of nonsense is that?! You cut through the ground to the surface? That’s just impossible!”

His sword gleamed in the moonlight.

“Show me your neck. I’ll take it swiftly.”