Valburke let out a roar of rage, his dark energy swirling like a storm around him.

The air trembled as if a dragon had roared, making everyone in the vicinity tense up.

The rage of a knight who has lost his master.

I had never seen Valburke so consumed by fury, even in the game.

“I will kill you all right here and now... to appease the wrath of my king.”

After that short declaration, he vanished, leaving behind only faint traces of his dark energy.

‘He's coming!’

He vanished.

But he hadn’t truly disappeared.

He had merely launched himself forward at a speed too fast to perceive.

Clang!

The moment I could see him again was when Raphne, in my arms, blocked his massive sword with her spear.

“Get out of my way, wench! You wretched thing, I'll kill him and then break every bone in your body as well!”

“If you try anything against Ken again… I swear I’ll kill your mother, your father, and even your grandparents, every last one of them.”

It was a clash between the strongest of the demonic realm and the strongest of humankind.

As their spear and sword met and then broke apart in the air, only the swirling, fierce gales of their strikes remained in the space.

“Urgh...”

I shielded my face from the raging wind with my arm and quickly turned my head.

‘Zeri... what is Zeri doing?’

With Arleus dead, Valburke wasn’t the only one running wild.

I quickly turned my gaze, looking for her, as she might lose her rationality and do something unthinkable.

Soon, I spotted Zeri, kneeling on the ground and holding her master’s severed head.

Her empty eyes were fixed on his cold, lifeless face.

‘Then what needs to be done first!’

Zeri seemed to have lost her will to fight.

If that was the case, my priority was clear.

Taking down the rampaging Valburke.

“Ken!”

“If you’re alive, at least say something sooner! I almost had a heart attack!”

As I moved to support Raphne, Emily and Mary, who had been watching the situation from a distance, rushed to me, wrapping me in a hug.

Unable to approach earlier due to Valburke's rage, they finally felt my revived presence as they embraced me.

“Ken... sob, I’m sorry... for doing something so foolish.”

With tears in her eyes, Mary looked up at me and apologized.

I didn't know the full story, but it seemed she had fallen for Zeri's tricks and ended up helping her.

Mary, who was sniffling even without having been caught in the rain.

It was such a rare sight, seeing her usually emotionless face crumple like that. I held her gently and replied.

“I’m just glad you’re safe. Really, I’m so glad, Mary.”

“Ken...”

Mary clutched my collar tightly, resting her face on my shoulder, and spoke.

“I’m sorry... for doubting you. I’m just glad you’re okay... sob, I really am...”

I always feel it, but among the three, her heart is surprisingly the most fragile.

Zeri must have known that, which is why she targeted Mary.

It wasn't Mary’s fault.

If anyone claims it was, let them come to me, and I'll tear them apart.

“But more importantly, we need to help Raphne take him down.”

“Right, that guy in black armor?”

“Should we attack together, all four of us?”

Mary's suggestion made me shake my head.

This guy was the strongest of the Demon King’s army, having been the final boss in the game.

While in pure stats he might fall short of the Demon King, there was no one stronger in raw combat ability than Commander Valburke.

The most troublesome thing was his armor.

It nullified all magical damage and weakened curses and seals—an incredibly overpowered gear.

Because of that equipment, even Emily’s 'Designated Seal' skill could only temporarily block his 'Death Sentence.’

Therefore, even if Mary, a mage, and Emily, who had limited combat ability, attacked simultaneously, it could be dangerous.

“We’ll do what we always do. I’ll assist Raphne in the front, and you two support from the back.”

“Got it!”

“Understood.”

No matter how strong the opponent is, they are no different from the enemies we've faced until now.

He rages and swings his massive sword recklessly.

Raphne and I would block his attacks together.

Then Emily in the back would cast healing and buff magic for me and Raphne.

And Mary would create openings with her freezing spells instead of launching direct attacks.

If we all work together, we can bring down even an ancient dragon.

BOOM!!

“A curse from the demon god be upon you all! Even if you die of old age, your end will be far from peaceful!!”

Receiving attacks from the four of us, Valburke gritted his teeth, hurling curses at us.

Then, failing to make any impact with his swings, he planted his massive sword into the ground and extended a hand toward me.

“Exariant—!!”

In the fierce melee where Raphne and I launched attacks between gaps in his defense, Valburke suddenly used magic.

Black energy gathered in his outstretched hand, quickly forming into a spell.

However.

Though it might be his first time fighting me, it wasn't my first battle against him.

A game I cleared over and over.

At its end always awaited Emily, facing this very Valburke.

His ambush wasn't an ambush to me.

“Raphne!”

I intercepted Raphne as she charged toward Valburke.

And instead of reaching out toward him, I extended my hand behind me.

‘Quick Crafting!’

Countless categories flooded my mind.

Weapons, all of which I had crafted once before.

But among them, I chose the one weapon that was most special to me.

The first weapon I ever made for someone else.

‘Siegfried.’

The mana turned into an element.

The element turned into steel.

The transformed mana soon solidified into a black blade in my hand.

A demon-slaying blade that absorbs magic.

And I swung the hand I had extended backward straight forward, slicing through empty air.

It looked like I was merely cutting the air.

But it hadn’t missed its mark.

“Damn it…”

The life-draining spell he had been casting was destroyed by the summoned anti-magic sword, and Valburke clenched his fist in frustration as nothing seemed to go his way.

And in that opening, a red streak flickered beside me.

A miraculous movement powered solely by bodily reinforcement, not magic.

Raphne spun like she was dancing, coming to a sudden stop directly in front of Valburke.

And in the fleeting instant when time seemed to stand still.

Her golden spear pierced through his black helmet.

CRACK!!

“…….”

Valburke, whose head was pierced, uttered not a single word.

Perhaps he thought it was a distance she could not reach.

During the short time he had clashed with her repeatedly, he must have judged the range of her spear.

He must have thought that in that moment, it wouldn't reach.

―Thwip.

Thud.

Raphne pulled her elongated spear back to its original length, withdrawing it from Valburke’s head.

Without its support, his body fell to the ground.

His rage could no longer be felt.

“...Lord Arleus… Lord Valburke.”

The last one remaining.

Zeri still held the severed head of Arleus, staring blankly at the fallen Valburke.

And I approached her to put an end to all these twisted fates.

The battle was over.

Arleus and Valburke were dead, and Zeri had lost her will to fight.

She alone could not face us.

This had been proven in the underground of the temple not long ago.

“What do you want me to do?”

I considered killing her.

But I still couldn’t bring myself to kill someone who had lost their will to fight.

I asked what she wanted.

And I would grant her wish.

“He... was my life. I gave him my loyalty.”

Zeri held Arleus’ head tightly to her chest.

“When that guy died just now, you all looked so devastated.”

She raised her vacant eyes to look at me and the others.

With a blank expression that betrayed no emotion, she asked.

“Tell me, do I have the same look on my face right now?”

We didn’t answer.

I couldn’t see their faces when I had died.

And the others merely looked at her with an ambiguous expression, without replying.

Perhaps that expression served as an answer, for Zeri lowered her head again, her empty eyes staring down.

“I see, that’s a relief.”

Her voice was one of someone who had given everything up.

“I won’t make it painful.”

Feeling that more talk would be meaningless, I summoned Tirfione.

The sharpest, deadliest weapon I could wield.

With it, I could kill her in one stroke.

Just as I was about to swing and put her to rest.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Suddenly, Zeri looked up at me.

Her eyes, as dark and translucent as Valburke's armor, almost drew me in.

The moment our eyes met, my face was covered by her hand.

“Ken!!!”

Zeri's unexpected action, taken by someone we assumed had lost their will to fight, caught everyone off guard.

No one had reacted in time.

She might struggle all she wants, but she stood no chance against anyone here.

The first to react was Raphne.

With her eyes wide open, she immediately activated her innate skill Acceleration, stretching her arm toward me.

But no matter how much one strengthens their body, they cannot outpace spatial magic.

―Whoosh!

Zeri’s hand, holding my face, moved us.

To the center of the magic circle where she had summoned Arleus and Valburke.

“You know, when he died earlier… you all looked like you were willing to throw your lives away.”

“Ugh! What the hell are you…”

My strength was being drained.

Succubus magic?

I tried to pry her hand away, grabbing her slender arm, but strangely, my strength wouldn’t return.

What kind of magic is this?

I had no idea, but one thing was certain.

“That’s why I’m relieved. Because now I can see how to act when you lose someone you see as your life.”

Zeri’s body was disintegrating.

Except for the hand brimming with dark energy.

Cracks formed on her face, and her flowing hair scattered like dust.

Her eyes no longer held any life, and her warmth began to grow cold.

There was no doubt she was dying, yet for the first time since Arleus’ death, Zeri smiled as she looked at me.

“This is a curse. The worst curse that someone who watched your love up close can give.”

And that sneer was directed toward the three women pounding at the magical barrier that separated us.

“God or demon, I’ll pray to anyone. Be it the Demon God or the Goddess.”

Her giggling echoed quietly through the space, which flickered with demonic energy.

“I pray that your happiness never comes to fruition. That the seeds I plant will grow into beautiful flowers.”

My consciousness began to blur.

I put all the strength I had left into imprinting their images in my mind beyond the barrier.

This unpleasant sensation was different from Valburke’s curse earlier.

“This is Zeri Von Perleon’s greatest dream and spatial magic—one that transcends everything.”

And in my fading vision.

The mocking smile on Zeri’s face, disintegrating, was the last thing I saw.

“May you all meet the worst possible end.”

I stared at what was in front of me for a long time.

It was what people often call a status window.

One of those helpful messages someone seems to send directly to me.

As I’d heard, the semi-transparent blue rectangle didn’t disappear no matter how hard I rubbed my eyes or slapped my cheeks.

[ Name: ◩ ◩◩◩◩◩

Unique Skills: ◩◩ ◩◩, ◩◩◩ ◩

Unique Traits: ◩◩◩◩ ◩◩◩◩◩ ◩◩ ◩◩◩ ◩◩◩◩

Acquired Traits: Ki◩ Up◩

Current Physical Specs: 1◩5cm, ◩2kg ]

However, after checking the contents, I tilted my head in confusion.

The status window I knew of was supposed to be helpful.

But this one wasn’t helpful to me at all.

After verifying that I couldn't make heads or tails of the status window, I directed my gaze downwards.

And what I saw were some truly impressive muscles.

“Damn…”

The so-called abs that every man wants at least once in his life.

I stroked those abs.

Wow, solid and smooth at the same time.

It was, truly, a nice body.

Who was this guy, exactly? An athlete? A model?

In a situation where no information was provided, the only thing I could tell for sure was—

“God, he’s fucking handsome.”

I had possessed this unknown man in the mirror.

And then…

[ Uwoooooooo—!!! ]

Through the small iron-barred window punched into the yellow-brown wall.

There was a wide dirt floor visible beyond that narrow gap.

Two muscular men were having a literal bloodbath of a duel out there.

One swung a sword larger than his own forearm, while the other blocked it with an axe bigger than his head.

The people in the stands that encircled the arena were all cheering and shouting, thrilled by the savage fight.

‘This is definitely…’

In this desolate environment where no one kindly explained anything to me.

Something finally entered my vision that matched the information stored in my memory.

It was the audience seating.

At the center, a specially prepared shaded section for distinguished guests.

There was a flag hoisted there.

Probably to indicate where this coliseum was located.

And I recognized the pattern on that flag.

“No way…”

This place was from the otome game I used to play, called 'Epiris Academy'!

Why would a guy like me even play an otome game? Well, that was because of the villainess in that game… Actually, never mind about that.

I had possessed an unknown gladiator in Perion, the life-or-death arena of Rendil, the desert nation from that game.

Usually, people get to possess the protagonist, or at least an extra, don’t they?

“...What the fuck.”

I cursed involuntarily.

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