Forbidden Master – Part 9/Chapter 468

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Chapter 468  – The World to Come

“That narrator’s tone… his voice… I thought it couldn’t be… but it’s impossible… nonsense! It can’t be! What is going on, Lyvarl! I thought you and Benlinerve had joined forces…”

　

Emperor Solja was in a state of utter turmoil.

Having fought on the front lines since the Great War, he knew the man who had appeared before Earth and the others all too well. At the same time, he couldn’t hide his shock at the impossibility of it all.

　

“…Ah… why… how…”

　

That was because the now deathly pale Sword Saint Lyvarl had dealt with him in the past.

That’s why the person responsible was still trembling.

　

“Your Majesty, surely that isn’t……?”

“N, no, that’s impossible! That guy is…… by Lord Lyvarl and the others…”

“Th, that’s right, th, this, could be an illusion, or a look-alike…?”

　

The veteran Imperial Knights gathered on the palace terrace also seemed to be trembling uncontrollably.

The younger generation were left bewildered by everyone’s reaction.

However, the man’s voice that rang out from the sky next was……

　

“What’s going on?! Contact Phianse via the Magic Crystal immediately! I haven’t heard a word about this! Those children fought him…… no, how is it possible that he’s still alive?!”

　

Yes, Solja had heard about the Seraphs and the reconstruction support for Cacretale from Phianse.

However, he was unaware of this one thing.

Phianse had intentionally omitted the complicated relationship between the Black Sage and Earth from her report.

That’s precisely why neither Solja nor the others, not even Lyvarl, could remain calm in the face of this shock.

Was that a lie, an illusion, or something else…?

　

—Yes, he was alive. Paripi of the Six Supremacy was still alive.

“Paripi……!”

　

At that moment, the narration began again.

　

—A legend among legends! He once stood before the Seven Heroes, and raced through the ages alongside many comrades-in-arms. During wartime, he employed military strategies to minimize casualties, and spent almost all of his earnings supporting bereaved families and war orphans……

“…… Huh?”

— His reputation was tarnished by fake news spread through human information manipulation. He was lured into a trap set by the Seven Heroes, and it seemed his legend had come to an end. But the legend begins here! Enter Paripi, the Black Sage!

“W, wait, something’s off! Reducing casualties? On the contrary, that guy only ever used crazy tactics with no regard for the deaths of his own allies… and that support for bereaved families and orphans? Utter lies!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! What do you mean, information manipulation and a trap… We fought and defeated him in a fair fight!”

　

Despite Solja and Lyvarl’s objections, Paripi made his presence known with a thunderous boom accompanied by a grand sound effect.

　

〔Yes, found a chance ♪〕

〔Eh… Ah…〕

　

However, in front of the bewildered Solja and the others, Earth—who had been toying with Jamdi’el—was effortlessly pierced by his claws.

　

〔Wait, Kron! There’s a reason I’m doing this!〕

〔Eh……〕

〔A・LIE〕

〔Ah…〕

　

And it wasn’t just Earth. He mercilessly used those claws to scar even Kron’s beautiful skin with his depraved methods.

　

〔Ah……Haha, hihahaha! Ah~, so easy~ panay. Winning so easily without using much strength or magic, I’m so sorry I was born into this world!〕

　

The way he laughed so wildly and maniacally.

Solja and Lyvarl instinctively sensed that it was something even an illusion could create.

　

“So that infuriating laugh—the kind that makes you want to kill him—is real after all… h, he still lives! The Six Supremacy and General of the Demon King Army…… The Black Sage, Paripi!

“That man…… wh, what in the world! How could this happen!”

“””””So, it’s real…… that’s Paripi!!???”””””

　

The Black Sage Paripi, one of the legendary Six Supremacy, has finally revealed his survival to the world.

　

〔Goddess! Earth!〕

〔Goddess! Big brother!〕

〔L, Little man!〕

〔Nah~, it’s okay!〕

〔〔〔〔Goddess ah, Earth uh, we’re here!!!!〕〕〕〕

　

Just as Earth and Kron find themselves in a pinch, their allies arrive at the perfect moment.

Phianse, Rebal, Fu, and even Sadiz and Machio are there.

However, facing this group, Paripi……

　

〔Geez, aren’t you too relaxed, damn brats! How could I get up? Unbelievable! You punks think you’ve seen the world! The eras we’ve lived through! The enemies we’ve fought are of a different dimension! Fine, small fries! Let’s give these kids a little old-fashioned hell to commemorate my departure from the land of the skies! Come now, all together!〕

　

Without the slightest hint of fear or hesitation—in fact, snarling “Don’t mess with me,” as he challenged them all at once—he then……

　

〔Hihahahahahahahahaha!〕

　

… Shook the world.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

The Academy students—classmates of Earth and others aspiring to become future Imperial Knights—were shocked by their teacher’s pale face.

　

“Th, The Black Sage, Paripi?! Former Six Supremacy!? T, teacher, is that true!?”

“Y, yes…… I too have seen him during the Great War… from a distance, though…”

“But…is he a good person?”

“As if that could ever be true!”

　

The Black Sage, who was believed to be dead, was actually alive.

This was a monumental event affecting the entire world—including the Demon Realm—so significant that it would require rewriting history textbooks.

　

“N, no way! Both Earth and Kron were taken out so easily….”

“B, but, it looks like he used some kind of underhanded trick! And, look, everyone’s gathered here!”

“Yeah. The Princess, Rebal, Fu, plus Miss Sadiz, who possesses the strength of an Advanced Knight, and Mr. Machio, who fought a fierce battle with Earth!”

“Besides, there are so many other skilled fighters there too! If they all attack at once――”

　

Though surprised, the students nodded to each other, believing that “The Princess and the others are here too, so it’ll be fine.”

That hope stemmed precisely from the fact that they “knew absolutely nothing about the power of the Six Supremacy”.

Everyone thought they had gauged the power of the Six Supremacy through the battle against “Jamdi’el, who had no intention of killing Earth.”

　

〔Hihahaha! Ancient Dark Magic, 【Shadow Laguerre】!〕

〔Nugu!? Wh, what?! Kaha……!〕

　

First, Paripi’s magic drenched Machio’s body in blood……

　

〔Imperial Sword, 【Celestial Light Blooming Strident Dance】!〕

〔Hiha! Second Sword Saint… your father took care of me… but you…… Faiiiilll!〕

　

He stopped Rebal’s lightning-fast sword with his finger, then broke his ribs with a middle kick……

　

〔The fires of hell exceed absolute zero! In other words, it evaporates all!〕

〔〔Eehh?〕〕

　

He absorbed Fu’s magic and returned it twofold.

Those hellish flames engulfed Phianse and Shinobu……

　

〔Aaaaahh!? Kah, ah, ah……〕

〔Hiharahara, I love it~, crushing a face that seems popular with women is a pleasure, even though we are different races ♪.〕

　

He mercilessly slammed his knee into Fu’s face, smashing it to a pulp.

　

〔I will not tolerate any more violence! Little man’s share… I’ll take it on!〕

〔Hihahahaha, just too easy, damn brats! Let’s get ripped apart… Wicked Funeral Claw Melody!〕

　

And even Sadiz… along with all the heroes of Cacretale who had gathered―――

　

〔Hiha, ♪ but, that’s some backbone, well, for small fries……〕

　

To a generation unfamiliar with the power of Paripi, this was a rampaging monster that shattered any hope that ‘even against the Six Supremacy, it’ll be alright as long as they’re all together.’ in a matter of seconds.

　

“Ah…… Ah……”

　

Without the slightest struggle, he utterly crushed every single one of them, leaving not a single survivor.

　

“Uh, ah… uh, no way…”

“H, he’s…he’s too strong…”

“Th, this can’t be… it’s a monster…”

“Earth, the princess, Rebal, and the others, ah, just like that, they were, uh, completely helpless…”

　

Earth and Machio, who had shown growth and engaged in battles that sent the world into a frenzy up until now.

Furthermore, Phianse and the others, who could be called the heroes of the next generation, were there.

It was a thrilling development where all that hope converged at once.

However, Paripi demonstrated to the world an overwhelming power that could instantly transform that passion into terror.

　

“A, a monster like that… there’s no way we can beat it…”

　

Just a few minutes earlier, the Academy students had been so fired up by the sight of their classmates—Earth and the others—running rampant against the Seraphs and thought, “We wanted to fight alongside them, too”. Now, every single one of them had turned pale, and some were even trembling so hard that they had lost the strength to stand.

And the same was true for the generation that had experienced war.

　

“It’s…it’s the real thing…it’s him…the Black Sage Paripi is still alive…”

　

Undoubtedly, the Paripi they were shown was the real deal, and even the teachers were terrified.

　

　

　

　

　

　

“He’s strong… There’s no doubt about it! He’s the genuine article…”

“Damn it……… what’s going on! How, how is he here!? Back then, we surely used the magic sword combination technique that Benlinerve and I came up with…”

　

Faced once again with Paripi’s overwhelming strength, Solja and Lyvarl have no choice but to accept that this Paripi was real.

And then……

　

“Excuse me, Your Majesty! Through the magic crystal―――”

“Huh, did it connect to Phianse!?”

“No, not yet. Before that…….”

　

A knight rushed to the scene in a panic.

In his hand was a small magic crystal.

　

“Urgent message… from the Supreme Commander of the Demon Realm, La’iphant……”

“Huh?! …… La’iphant…… it came from that side… never mind. Just connect me.”

　

He was the current Supreme Commander of the Demon Realm and the former Six Supremacy, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Paripi. After the war, however, he made peace with humanity and devoted himself to governing the demon race. He now maintains friendly relations with them.

　

“…… La’iphant. It’s me, Solja.”

[Your Majesty Solja…… I apologize for the rudeness of contacting you directly without prior notice―――]

　

Solja gave his consent and spoke into the magic crystal.

Then, a reply came from the other end, in a solemn voice brimming with dignity.

　

“Enough with the preamble, La’iphant. Lyvarl is here with us now. However, we’ve lost contact with Hiro, Mamu, Benlinerve, Koujiro, Lord Mikado, and even your Norja. Given that situation, you’re watching this.”

[I see…… Well then, this will be quick, zou. So, about Piripi…… What is the meaning of this, zou? Not only the missing Earth Lagann, but it seems your daughter’s group is fighting as well.]

“It’s a shameful admission, but I only just found out myself. I haven’t received any reports from my daughter about this. So, I’m also confused about the fact that Paripi is still alive. This is the truth.”

[…… I see…… From the narrator’s voice and tone, I wondered if it might be, but I was surprised to see him actually come out so strongly, zou.]

　

La’iphant reacts that way to Solja’s reply. From this reaction, Solja realized that La’iphant, too, was unaware of Paripi’s survival.

And La’iphant……

　

[Emperor Solja. We have known each other for over a decade now. I, too, suffered a defeat in the past war, and as long as there’s no lie in the fact that I’ve worked alongside you all to foster friendship between humans and demons, I won’t stir up trouble in the world no matter what happens now, zou.]

“…… La’iphant?”

[But the thoughts of the other demons watching this… will change drastically, zou.]

　

This was La’iphant’s prediction for the future of the world to come, born from the shocking realization that Paripi had survived.

　

[Think about it. Paripi’s survival means that even if the Great Demon King and Gouda are gone, I, Norja, Jamdi’el, and Paripi from the Six Supremacy are still alive, and most importantly, Hakuki is active, zou.]

“……ah”

[Yes, five of the former Six Supremacy are here…… And as their standard-bearer…… Hakuki …… and even Vasalar. Or perhaps… that girl whom Jamdi’el serves… the one who bears a resemblance to the Great Demon King… I can’t ensure that certain voices won’t rise up among the demon race…]

　

Members of the demon race who cry out that war should be waged against humanity once again might appear.

Above all, Jamdi’el and Hakuki’s refusal to surrender is precisely why bounties are still on their heads.

　

[To be honest, there used to be a sentiment among the demon race…… ‘Even if the Seven Heroes were still alive, after more than a decade, the short-lived humans would have declined. After 50 years, their lifespan would be spent.’…… such were their views, zou.’

“La’iphant, that means…….”

[Yes, once the Seven Heroes have grown old or reached the end of their lives… and more importantly, once the world realizes that your children, the next generation, do not possess the same power as you do……]

　

That would be the worst possible scenario, one that both Solja and Lyvarl must avoid at all costs.

Humanity desires “eternal peace” with the demon race.

However, on the other hand, some on the demon side view this merely as a “temporary truce”.

That was something Solja and the others had anticipated to some extent.

　

[Paripi is unique even among demons. Although he is disliked by his peers, he has a wide network of connections, including in the underworld, and holds the weaknesses of many powerful figures. Above all, he excels at inciting the masses.]

“Ah, that’s exactly what’s happening right now…”

[If…… by some chance… something were to happen to Hiro, Mamu, Benlinerve, Koujiro, or even Lord Mikado, and we were unable to contact them…… and if the perception spread that their successors were powerless against even Paripi alone… and if Paripi were to incite the demon masses…]

　

Even if the Seven Heroes themselves were to disappear, they had to create a world where war would never break out.

That was the duty of Solja and the others.

However, achieving that will take time.

They still haven’t managed to do it.

　

“…… Originally …… Espíe, who was supposed to lead the next generation, has severed ties with the Bethreal Kingdom and remains missing… Japone also seems to be in a dire state… this is bad…”

　

And this is the situation they were in.

Indeed, it could essentially be said that the Seven Heroes have collapsed and ceased to function.

In other words, the outcome of this battle against Paripi will dramatically change the tide of the Demon Realm.

At this point, they could no longer casually talk about having a viewing party together. Realizing this, Solja and the others found themselves at a loss.

　

The fate of it all lay in Earth’s hands.

　

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