Chapter 525: Beldia: Y-You Are?!
He looked utterly wronged.
"Explosion magic?"
"If we're talking about Explosion magic, that has to be that crazy Crimson Demon girl, right?"
Everyone exchanged glances before their eyes gradually settled on the black-haired, red-eyed girl standing behind them.
"I'm shaking."
Megumin trembled from head to toe, her legs gradually weakening as panic surged through her.
"That's right! It was me who cast the Explosion magic! Got a problem with that?"
She stepped forward boldly, staff raised high with righteous indignation.
"She's just bluffing!"
"She's actually terrified out of her mind!"
Kazuma and Aqua whispered to each other.
"Black hair and red eyes... So you're one of those crazy Crimson Demons? That explains it."
Beldia suddenly had an epiphany.
"Those guys who keep opposing our Demon Lord Army love to come right outside the Demon King's Castle to recklessly cast magic. Then when we send out troops, they immediately teleport away without fighting at all! Their tactics are as shameless as street thugs!"
His tone dripped with disdain for the Crimson Demons, as if he were looking at kitchen trash.
"The Crimson Demon code is to never refuse a challenge! If you've got complaints about my people, then say them to my face! I'm all ears!"
Megumin had been frightened at first, but these words made her furious. Her crimson eyes flashed with emotion.
"Why are you getting so worked up? That stuff doesn't even matter!"
"Just apologize already! If you apologize, maybe they'll spare your life!"
Kazuma and Aqua grew frantic, hissing urgent but quiet warnings at Megumin.
"What are you two doing?!"
Darkness stared at them in disbelief.
"The Headless Knight is Undead! This is exactly when Aqua, as a high priestess, should shine! Get out there!"
Spirits that continue wandering the earth after death—ghosts, zombies, headless knights—are collectively called the Undead.
For such beings, the holy magic power possessed by priests is their natural enemy!
"Oh right, I forgot about that!"
Aqua paused thoughtfully before having her own epiphany.
"I often wonder if Aqua might be a bit slow..."
"Don't say that. You have to understand—her adventurer card officially certifies her as low-intelligence."
Darkness and Kazuma whispered among themselves.
"Hey there, Undead! Meeting me today is your unlucky day!"
Finally remembering her profession, Aqua immediately puffed up with confidence, swaggering forward with her light purple robe and white staff appearing on her person.
"No, actually it's your lucky day! For a filthy Undead to be purified by the Goddess of Water herself is an honor!"
"—Turn Undead!"
"Hmph, some priest's purification won't work on a Headless Knight like me! Even if holy magic counters me, the difference in our power is too great—GYAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Beldia's confident speech was cut short as a pillar of holy light descended from the heavens upon him.
To ordinary people, the pillar of light might even seem warm, but to Beldia, it was like a maggot burrowing into his bones, bringing an intense, searing pain akin to being scorched by flames.
The immensely powerful Headless Knight was writhing in agony from just a single strike by Aqua.
"Y-You… just what kind of priestess are you?"
It took Beldia a while to recover, his gaze now a mix of shock and fear as he stared at Aqua.
He had the protection of the former Demon King!
Though Eiji had clashed with him and usurped the throne, the former Demon King was wise enough not to recklessly revoke the blessings bestowed upon his subordinates. Beldia still retained that protection.
This blessing rendered the weaknesses of the Undead nearly nonexistent. Even purification magic from high-tier priests, let alone ordinary ones, would be nothing to him—it wouldn't even elicit the slightest reaction!
Yet this blue-haired woman had made him writhe in pain with just one move!
If not for the Demon King's protection, that single attack might have purified him on the spot!
This woman was absurdly strong!
"What do we do, Kazuma?! My purification magic doesn't seem to work on him!"
Aqua retreated fearfully, hiding behind Satou Kazuma.
"I'd say it worked pretty well!"
Kazuma rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
It was a bit unexpected that Aqua's purification magic hadn't instantly obliterated the enemy.
She was a goddess, after all—though her power had drastically diminished after he forcibly dragged her down from the heavens as a cheat, and she was also incredibly airheaded, always acting foolishly and doing things that made people want to punch her. Still, she occasionally proved unexpectedly useful.
At the very least, her overwhelming advantage against undead monsters was undeniable.
"I don't know how he withstood Aqua's purification magic, but this fight is definitely winnable!"
Kazuma's spirits soared.
Aqua's suppression of undead, Darkness's durability rivaling a manticore, and Megumin's overwhelming firepower with Explosion magic—if they utilized these strengths properly, they might just be able to defeat this monster!
No, in fact, their chances of winning were pretty high!
His mind was already painting a glorious future where, after defeating this formidable foe, the people of Axel would hail him as a hero, showering him with praise, allowing him to live the dream life of a harem protagonist!
"—Death Proclamation!"
But the next moment, the Headless Knight raised his hand.
"I proclaim that you shall die immediately!"
"Kazuma!"
"Don't even think about it!"
A crimson wave surged forth like a tide, transforming into a curse so horrifying it made one's scalp crawl.
The curse shot straight toward Aqua—clearly marking her as the primary threat!
Yet Megumin, standing at the front, suddenly shouted Kazuma's name.
Kazuma's face darkened like a burnt pot.
Aqua was hiding behind him, gripping his arm so tightly he couldn't escape.
He was caught in the crossfire.
This damn useless goddess!
In this critical moment, Darkness instinctively leaped forward.
Without hesitation, she positioned herself in front of the two, her expression almost… pleased, as if she was happy to take the hit for Kazuma.
"—Skill Bind!"
Just then, a peculiar surge of magic power shot from the far rear, precisely colliding with the crimson curse.
The Death Proclamation was instantly nullified, vanishing without a trace.
"What?"
Beldia was utterly shocked.
Someone in this beginner's town could actually block his Death Proclamation head-on?
His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the source of the voice.
Then he nearly pissed himself.
"Y-you... no, Y-Your Excellency—?!"
"Indeed, it is I!"
The confirmation came.
Beldia's legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees like a toppling mountain.
Eiji, dressed in mage attire, stepped out through the front gate.