Chapter 153 – The Old Demon and the Boy

I flew backward as if riding the blast, spun once in the air, and landed. Only then did I realize I was still holding Claudia.

“Whoops, sorry.”

“N-no, it’s fine. You surprised me.”

I released Claudia, who I’d been carrying with my arm wrapped around her waist. Though her cheeks flushed slightly, she quietly shook her head.

“Now then, just a bit more—”

As I spoke while catching my rough breath and taking a stance with Ouroboros, Claudia’s eyes widened.

I focused my gaze beyond the blast. Until I confirmed my opponent was down, letting my guard down was strictly forbidden. Though I felt something like dizziness along with dull and sharp pains resonating throughout my body—once I fight, I’ll forget about such things anyway.

The smoke gradually cleared. There was Gardinis, with half his body blown away. I don’t know what technique he was using… but despite only having his head, chest, and right arm remaining, he was floating in the air and glaring at me.

I thought I had dealt enough damage, but it seems I failed to finish him off. Well then, this time I’ll make sure to deliver the final blow.

While circulating my magical power to regulate and reinforce my bodily functions.

“I cannot… accept this! How could I possibly accept…! That I, of all people!”

He thrust his right hand toward me, and miasma began converging there. But—before it could emit a flash of light, it crumbled from the fingertips downward.

“…To be defeated… by a human. I, Gardinis…”

Upon seeing this, Gardinis muttered quietly, then fell to the ground without a sound. Maintaining my circulation and keeping Ouroboros at the ready, I approached.

“…Your name?”

“Theodore Gartner.”

As I spoke, I removed the ring and released my transformation.

“That name, that face. I have indeed remembered them. So you are traveling with the Administrator. If you are one created by the Labyrinth, then your skill makes sense, but…”

“Unfortunately, that’s not correct.”

“Oh? That makes it even more intriguing. In that case, I’m curious about the source of that Teleportation Magic, which should have been lost to time.”

Gardinis laughed, his shoulders shaking. Cracks ran through Gardinis’s body—and light began leaking from within.

“Regardless, you have defeated me. Do not fall behind any others? Not even that young upstart. And of course, not that person from the Moonlight Temple either.”

“The one in the Moonlight Temple is…”

“Indeed. The first one—”

Leaving those words behind. Laughing cheerfully until the very end, Gardinis scattered into the void.

Watching his form disappear, I let out a deep breath.

Once the tension and excitement of battle passed, I was forced to confront my own condition whether I liked it or not… I feel sluggish and heavy, and everything hurts. The side where I was struck has broken ribs.

I’m using magical power circulation to dull the pain and forcing myself to move, but if I stop this, it’ll probably get bad.

Still… he said quite a few concerning things.

Gardinis’s words about “the first one.” I suppose I should take that to mean the oldest demon.

Given that it concerned his own strength and pride, I don’t think Gardinis was lying.

As for “young upstart”—I’m not sure. It probably means there are other demons with enough power for Gardinis to mention them here. Regardless of this “first one,” I have a feeling I’ll eventually have to fight this so-called “young upstart.”

Hmm. Maybe he’s like the leader among the demons? I doubt he would have answered if I’d asked. It felt like he was choosing his words carefully, right up to the line of not betraying his comrades.

And about the lost Teleportation Magic too. No wonder the magic’s tier is unknown. He probably assumed I was part of the Labyrinth’s management because Claudia used Teleportation Magic and because I’m a child.

Well, regarding Teleportation Magic, I suspect it’s secretly passed down in Silvatoria.

“Are you alright with the magic’s recoil?”

While I was pondering various things, Claudia asked me. Perhaps because she was close by, she seemed to have a general understanding of what I had done.

“Well, I’ll manage.”

“Is that so… I’m glad. I wonder if I ended up getting in the way instead.”

“Not at all. I appreciate that you tried to help, and it was a strategy I came up with on the spot. Sorry for worrying you.”

When I replied like that, she gave a wry smile.

Claudia’s actions were part of my planned movements because I had thought from the beginning that she might teleport to me if I got into serious trouble. That’s why I could respond immediately.

If Compact Leap was a magic that couldn’t move together with someone else… I would have thought of another method.

Teleportation Magic. Limited range, and yet high-tier. Even though it’s called teleportation, it can’t cross strong barriers, but there’s no doubt it’s a powerful weapon. I want to master its use properly.

As for the surface—reports are coming in through the communication device that the half-demons have lost their power. Perhaps the technique Gardinis cast collapsed when he was defeated. The Golems from the Spirit Hall seem to have crushed everything around here too… Grace and the others also won. For now, I’ll take a little break.

I sat down on the spot while maintaining my circulation. Ouroboros made a worried sound from somewhere, so I patted its head.

“Theo!”

Soon after, Grace and the others came rushing in through the entrance.

“Theodore-sama!”

Ashley’s expression changed when she saw my condition, and she came running over. Everyone else looked worried too. Ah. I’m covered in blood everywhere.

“Sorry for worrying you. We won.”

“Yes…”

“Is everyone uninjured?”

I had been checking with Caduceus, of course. Since I was watching the overall situation, I might have missed some minor wounds.

Especially Grace. When she delivered the finishing blow to Virginia, she must have moved as if using the purification crystal along with her own palm.

“I have no significant injuries. I’m fine as well. Ashley-sama healed me.”

Saying this, Grace showed me her pure white hand. The fact that Ashley treated her means that immediately after being wounded, the injury was from the purification crystal, so regeneration didn’t work properly. Even so, the fact that there’s not even a scar shows impressive recovery power.

“Yeah. That’s good.”

I closed my eyes. Ashley touched my back and began healing with magic. The pain and sluggishness eased, and warmth spread through my body.

“To this extent… damage reaching even the interior—”

Ashley seems to be able to understand my condition through the sonar she wears for healing magic. She’s accurately treating the areas with major damage first, like the side where I was struck.

“Half of it’s my own fault. The recoil from high-tier magic and… well, the rest is probably the demon’s fighting style. I was defending, though.”

“It must have been a terrible battle.”

While casting healing magic, Ashley hugged me from behind and pressed her cheek against me as if listening to my heartbeat. When I touched her hand wrapped around my chest, the strength in her entwined arms tightened slightly.

I washed off the blood with water magic and activated Grace’s cursed tool. Grace smiled and gently wrapped her arms around my neck. Marlene had also come beside me with a worried expression, so I smiled at her, stroked her hair, and pulled her close.

“—Alright.”

After resting thoroughly, I stood up.

The portion of life force I poured in to boost my magical power won’t recover immediately. I feel somewhat languid… but this should gradually return to normal if I can rest properly.

More importantly, there are still things I need to collect.

“…I think the demon’s orb that Gardinis brought is lying around here somewhere.”

The demon’s orb. Gardinis called it a miasma orb, didn’t he?

The aftermath of the battle destroyed things everywhere. It might be buried among the crystal fragments. I don’t think it’s broken, though.

“In that case, I think it’s over there.”

When I searched the area Claudia indicated, I quickly found the miasma orb too. I used levitation to float it without touching it and kept it that way.

“Next is the Spirit Hall’s orb.”

“Shall I go collect it?”

Claudia said.

“…Aren’t half of the guardians here outside the Labyrinth’s jurisdiction? While Claudia might be less likely to be targeted for attack, wouldn’t she definitely be attacked if she directly opposes their purpose of guarding the orb?”

“That… might be true.”

Just as I thought.

“Then let’s all go. Claudia, would it be alright for you to teleport the two orbs?”

“Yes. Transporting items is simple.”

Good. That means today’s work is accomplished too. After that, we’ll withdraw using the red transfer stone.

I input the report of the demon’s defeat into the communication device, and we all walked toward the Spirit Hall. Along the way, I gathered magical power in my hand and kneaded it. While I haven’t forgotten the sensation, so to speak.

Gardinis’s movements and fighting style. And then, his techniques. Since he was a well-matched opponent, there were many reference points. For example, about that striking method that permeates shock to the interior.

I might be able to imitate that too. Not only against magic shields, but even in battles against demons, I should be able to deal damage from above their miasma barriers.

Since I experienced it many times with my own body, I somewhat understand the principle and method. I think I’ll try experimenting with various things later.