'...It's so noisy...' There should still be some time before the exam ends. Strangely, it's very noisy outside.
The atmosphere inside the building has an unusual sense of urgency.
Why is that?
Is something wrong?
Since when, I seem to have lost the aura of the priests... So what is this aura shrouded in fear that I'm feeling now...?
...Perhaps, this is the final test before the exam ends.
Until the exam is definitively over, it's best to maintain this posture.
Something feels strange. Since just now, I've felt something ominous approaching in the distance... Is it just my imagination...?
I feel like I've felt this ominous feeling somewhere before... If there really is something, someone should come to call me...
"Sister Claire! Are you Sister Claire!?" Just as I thought this, I heard a rapid knocking on the door and a strange man's voice calling me.
"Yes. I am…"
"Please get out of here immediately! The Hero Devourer is approaching the church!"
"What!?" The Hero Devourer…?
That ominous feeling wasn't just a figment of my imagination…?
I hurriedly got up and turned towards the door. The man pushed it open and took my hand.
"Almost all the other candidates have evacuated! Sister Claire was the last one!"
"Then, who are the people still inside the building…?!"
"The Kingdom Knights! The priests are waiting outside!" How could this be… The Hero Devourer… My master's despicable enemies are here…!
…?
What's going on?
This sudden surge of anger…?
My master's enemies…?
Why am I thinking this…?
"The Hero Knights have already been dispatched to attack, but the enemy is approaching very quickly! Its massive size and incredible defense will likely take a long time to eliminate!"
Listening to the guide knight's explanation, I sensed the presence coming from outside.
Very… close… at this distance… ah! "Danger! Danger!" As I passed the central hall at the entrance, beside the goddess statue placed in the center, I suddenly felt the aura of the Hero Devourer rapidly approaching.
It's probably here... Just as this thought crossed my mind, and I pushed the knight away, a deafening crash of collapsing walls came from behind, confirming the presence of a massive and ominous entity.
"Eeeeea ... It was as if… a fallen goddess had taken my place, protecting my master.
The immense aura emanating from my master was identical to the 'that' surging within me, making me want to prostrate myself in worship.
Despite being hungry and exhausted, my body felt as if my senses had been drained, only my master's aura enveloped and filled me like a warm current.
'…Ah. So that's it. Now I understand.
The reason why it wasn't Paul who attracted me, but my master.
The reason why I used the word "determination" to describe it, yet still hesitated to choose.
What I… truly desire.
Is…this.
...... The moment I stepped into the building's entrance, as the ceiling collapsed, the figure of Jormungandr, its gaping maw lunging at me, came into view.
At the same time, where Jormungandr's gaping maw was aimed, stood the back of Kleia.
I transformed into my demon form faster than expected, shouting Kleia's name as I rushed forward.
"Kleia!!!" *Gurgle gur ... Fortunately, I managed to change form in time, and Jormungandr's massive jaws clamped down on my arms and my hooves-like legs.
The single leg I was using to support my body was half-buried in the ground, and the muscles in my arm, which was clamping down on the monster's jaws, were bulging as if about to burst.
This damned snake brat… it actually managed to pounce…! The single leg pressing against its jaws trembled uncontrollably. The slightest slip would result in it being crushed by its sharp teeth.
I really wanted to tear that gaping mouth apart…!
Aww, this bastard's strength is insane…!
"Gurgle…! Crack!!!"
"Master!!!" As I trembled, trying to hold back the monster's jaws, Lisbeth's scream came from behind me, and a fireball exploded behind Jormungandr's head.
At the same time, from behind the collapsed building, blue flames flickered and flew towards us.
"Eek! Eek!" Jormungandr, shaking its head as it fell off me, managed to get up and spread its legs, leaving the building.
Following closely behind, the sight of blue flames attacking and forcing it into a corner came into view.
For now... I guess I made it through?
"Master! Are you alright!?"
"Ah. Probably... not quite. Uh... my arm is starting to hurt..." Catching that big guy was definitely a struggle; only now am I feeling the sharp pain in my arm.
It's not unbearable... but could it be broken?
"Where's Marte? What's the situation outside?"
"The priests are handling him for now. When the Hero Devourer flew in, the priests protected the crowd and retreated to a distance. Master, here." Lisbeth, seemingly prepared beforehand, wrapped a strip of cloth around my waist.
From Marcy to the bit, everything was prepared? As expected of my female. Very tasteful.
"Is Kleia... alright?" I breathed a sigh of relief, tightening the cloth around my waist as I checked on Kleia behind me... Kleia knelt before me, hands clasped together, as if in prayer.
"Uh... um. Kleia?"
"Ah... Master..." Her expression seemed lost in a daze... No, this isn't the time for prayer...
"Kleia. Let's escape first..."
"Master, you are... my god..."
"Huh? A god?" Suddenly bringing up gods... wait, what did I just say?
I'm a god?
"So that's how it is. Master is my god... the true master bestowed upon me by the goddess...!"
Ah, no.
I wasn't sent by the goddess... no wonder Kleia looked completely lost... a little scary... I was just protecting my female... even with all the protection, isn't being treated like a god a bit too much?
"...Hehe. Claire. Do you understand now?"
"Yes! I understand! I completely understand, Liz! Ahh. Master... Master...♡"
Seeing Claire like this, Lizbet gently smiled and approached her, helping her up.
Wasn't Liz panicked by her appearance?
"Yes. It's so good that you were able to understand properly. Let's go out and treat Master's arm first."
"Ah! Master, are you injured!? Ahh... It's all because of me..."
"Uh, um, hmm... I can bear it for now..."
As I led the two out of the building, Claire was already treating my arm.
Claire's actions... how should I put it... it was as if she had crossed the threshold of a collapsing wall, even feeling an abnormal excess... Oh well, it's good that she's alright. Yes, that's right.
"Claire, are you alright?"
"Ahh. You were worried about me... Yes. I'm fine. I'm so sorry to have worried you, Master." When I asked Claire outside for treatment, she answered with tears in her eyes.
"Oh my god...did the arduous prayers take too long? You need to get a good night's sleep tonight."
"...Alright! It's all done. Master."
"Oh. As expected of Claire. The pain is completely gone. You're truly amazing."
"You flatter me, thank you very much, Master. But I, Claire, am merely your personal slave...this is simply my duty, not something to be praised for. To leave Master's wounds unresolved is a disgrace to a slave who follows Master."
Uh, um...it was just a compliment, yet you reacted like this even kneeling on your knees, it's a bit scary, Claire...
"Hehe...now you're truly ready, Claire."
"Yes, Liz. When the decision is made, the preparation is complete."
The two gazed at each other, nodding simultaneously as if in perfect unison.
...Um...what's going on here...?
"...Now, Hero Devourer..." Faced with this indescribable situation, I temporarily shifted my gaze to the Hero Devourer, now quite far away.
Although the Hero Knights and other knights were trying to stop it… it seemed it would take time to capture Jormungandr, which had inexplicably become so enormous.
The Hero Knights' attacks were slicing through its body, but whenever the Hero Devourer-like sword energy struck its cylindrical form, the attacks were deflected as if sliding off.
Legs and limbs, when severed or broken, would regenerate from within, emitting black smoke…
"…Shall we attack?"
"We will obey our master's will. We are ready."
Perhaps sensing my distress, the two nodded, looking at me.
Hmm… to be honest, the people of the royal capital have nothing to do with me, and the Hero Devourer seems to be gradually being suppressed. If left unattended, the heroes will probably handle it themselves…
"…Alright. Let's go."
However… wouldn't it be better to lend a hand rather than let this chaos continue? Thinking this, I ran with my females towards the Hero Devourer, which was visible in the distance.
......
"Citizens, this way! Evacuate as quickly as possible while the defensive spell is cast!"
Kreya, who had blessed me, used a defensive spell nearby to block falling debris from the building while guiding citizens to safety.
"Master! A leg has broken free!" Lisbeth, using Ethel's telekinesis to leap onto the collapsed building, shouted while launching a fireball to cover me.
"Shattering Strike! Shattering Strike! Shattering Strike! Die, you bastard!" I unleashed a skill from beneath Jormungandr, striking its body violently.
"Mages, focus your attacks on the head and legs! Warriors, stop it from advancing from below!" At the same time, the rapidly assembling adventurers, following the knights' instructions, launched an attack on Jormungandr.
Fully armed knights protected the nearby adventurers, while numerous warriors and knights aimed their attacks at Jormungandr's body.
Meanwhile, heroes flew about, continuously unleashing sword energy at Jormungandr's torso.
Its black body wasn't particularly noticeable, but the scales covering it probably deflected all attacks.
However, that's enough, you snake bastard.
Take this attack that Bivora dodged!
"Crushing Strike! Ugh…!" For over ten minutes, the group relentlessly attacked Jormungandr, trying to stop its movement.
Just as I slammed Crushing Strike into its body, Jormungandr suddenly tilted… and then, a sword strike from one of the heroes blasted Jormungandr's head away.
"Gotcha!!!" As Jormungandr crashed to the ground, its body turning into black smoke and dissipating,
the cheers of adventurers and knights echoed through the heart of the royal capital.