It was about 19,000 years ago, when order was beginning to be established in the Demon Realm through Alice’s efforts.
Illness was on a leisurely journey around the various regions of the Demon Realm. There was no particular reason why she decided to do so, and just as she told Kaito, it was the result of objectively considering how to wield her power.
Traveling while reasonably engaging in acts of kindness in various places, continuously improving herself. Along with her special eye that could be called Demon Eye, she had almost no opportunity to use the power to manipulate diseases that she was born with, only occasionally using it to heal others.
She traveled around aimlessly, saving those she saw earning herself the nickname “Savior”, but as nothing touched her heart, Illness moved from one place to another.
Having become one of the most powerful people in the Demon Realm, she stopped at a certain forest during her travels.(……This iiiiiiis, I think it’s safe to saaaaay that they’re intentionally showing their preseeeeence. A presence that is always emitted from a certain directioooooon and with a certain intensityyyyyy…… They’re trying to beckon me towards theeeeeem.)
She didn’t look in the direction of the presence she felt and continued walking as if she didn’t notice them, but there was a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead.
(They got meeeee. I can feel the direction of that preseeeeeence, but I can’t detect the souuuuurce~~. This would be the first time in a long time that I’m being outclaaaaaaassed.)
Feeling a presence from the depths of the forest…… It’s understandable for Illness to cautiously probe, almost like appraising the state of the surroundings. However, she was unable to tell where exactly the presence was coming from.
For Illness, one of the most powerful in the Demon Realm, to “detect their presence but be unable to find them”…… It seems like that person accurately grasped Illness’ reconnaissance abilities and was deliberately showing their presence right at the very edge of her detection range. As if they’re testing something……
Although she didn’t know that person’s objective, the situation wouldn’t improve if things continued as is, and it would also be difficult for her to escape from this person, who was clearly superior to her.
Having decided this, Illness quickly took up a fighting stance and proceeded in the direction of the forest where the presence was coming from.Soon after, someone wearing a black robe concealing her entire body appears in front of Illness.
(……There’s no doubt that they’re stroooooong, but their presence feels straaaaaange.)
Despite feeling a sense of discomfort from the presence before her, as Illness assumes a defensive stance, the black-robed figure immediately approaches at a tremendous speed and launches their attack.
Faced with the fist swinging at an overwhelming speed, even Illness couldn’t avoid injury if she received it directly. However, with moments that seemed to be flowing, Illness catches the fist and smoothly deflects it, before following through with a counter palm strike.
(Tough…… It feels as if she’s clad in a considerably powerful Defense Magiiiiiic, but this feeliiiiiiing……)
While skillfully handling the storm of punches unleashed in rapid succession, Illness, sensing something out of place, focuses intensively and braces herself.
Thereupon, her eyes emit a bluish-white, lightning-like light. In this state, Illness is able to visually perceive even the magic particles in the air that hadn’t passed through magic techniques, allowing her to see the enemy right before her with her eyes.
Illness’ eyes can only see magic power, and aren’t capable of analyzing or quantifying it. However, Illness, who has a lot of combat experience, can read a certain amount of information from the way magic power appears and flows.
(……This isn’t a living thiiiiiiiing. Maybe a Magic Puppeeeeet or perhaps a Goleeeeeem, whatever it is, it’s being operated remotelyyyyy. Am I fighting an opponent who makes use of such fighting styyyyyyle?)
While realizing that what she was now fighting wasn’t a living creature, but something close to a Golem, Illness was astonished. The fact that a Golem of a level that can fight on equal terms with Illness was a sign of the skill of the user.
However, the fact that it was a remotely controlled Doll or Golem was a factor that worked to Illness’ advantage. Due to the nature of being remotely controlled by magic, it’s possible to anticipate her opponent’s next action by visually observing the flow of magic power.
Since there isn’t necessarily only one Golem, Illness thought it desirable to deal with the one before her immediately. Anticipating the movements of the Golem from the flow of magic power, Illness evades its fist and at the same time, strikes back with the sole of both of her palms, aiming to pierce through the Golem’s body.
[Crushing Palm.]
A technique aimed at internal destruction where special magic shockwaves, released as the soles of each palm collide with the opponent’s body. The intense collision results in a powerful repulsive force, amplifying its force multiple times before explosively rupturing the insides of the body.
No matter how powerful her opponent’s Defense Magic may be, that doesn’t necessarily mean the insides of its body are tough. Seemingly exploding from the inside because of Illness’ attack, the Golem’s body shattered, scattering fragments all around it.
Maintaining a ready stance, prepared for a follow-up attack, Illness looked at the scattered debris, and her eyes widened in astonishment.
(……What…… sloppy magic techniiiiiiique…… Excessively haphazard magic formulaaaaaas, as if it was just written impromptuuuuuu. With thiiiiis, even if they were to remotely control iiiiiiit, there would be a considerable amount of deviatioooooon…… With a technique like thiiiiiiiis, they possess the skill to remotely control it with such precision huuuuuuh……)
Frankly speaking, the Golem’s magic formulas were written quite sloppily. If one wanted to remotely operate it, it was at a level where it wouldn’t be surprising if, worst-case scenario, there was a 1-second delay.
In other words, the user of this Golem was able to operate it while anticipating Illness’ movements for almost a second earlier just a moment ago. The conclusion she derived from this…… is that her opponent is far superior to what Illness had imagined.
(Now this is troubliiiiing. They’re far more powerful than I thouuuuught. For them to exert such combat power with suuuuuuuch disposable level of magic technique…… I might not have any chance to wiiiiiin.)
Trembling in the face of an opponent’s power beyond her imagination, as Illness stares intently into the depths of the forest, the sound of dry applause reaches her ears…… “right from beside her”.
[Well done, you did it~~]
[ ! ? ! ? ]
Reflexively leaping away at the sound of that voice, a single bead of sweat runs down Illness’ cheek. Illness hadn’t let her guard down at all. On the contrary, she was intensely focused, paying utmost attention to her surroundings…… and yet, Illness wasn’t able to realize she was there at all.
[Let me introduce myself. My name is…… ah~~ well, you can just call me Shalltear. Now then…… May I have a quick word with you?]
Seeing the blonde woman…… Shalltear saying this with a smile, Illness felt cold sweat running down her back. This was her first encounter with the King.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [An intermission chapter about Illness’ past…… Isn’t the way they met each other here a little different from how it was in the Light Novel?]
? ? ? : [Right. Well, I guess this is how things turned out in the Web Novel……]
