‘Is there a way out of this?’

I pondered as I watched the eyes of the Creature that Devours the World turn black once more. At this rate, I would definitely get my memories read.

And we would all die together.

What was even bleaker was the fact that, even if I went through the Forced Defeat Event like in the game, I questioned whether that thing would actually back off.

The Creature that Devours the World had only retreated at our first encounter because it realized it had misunderstood after reading the protagonist’s memories right before it was about to kill them.

But now, it was already as good as over from the moment that thing read my memories. A human with secrets would surely be killed.

‘It probably won’t blow its breath at me out of nowhere…’

Initially, the breath attack was my biggest concern, but as my worries settled, I was able to analyze the situation calmly. I figured it wouldn’t immediately breathe fire and kill me.

Having lived for such a long time and having accumulated a vast knowledge, it had mentioned that it was quite hungry for new knowledge.

In fact, during our first encounter, when it read the protagonist’s memories, if the protagonist had visited the DLC area of Hell, the cutscene changed to show that it would take a bit longer to read the memories since it had just come back from an interesting place.

It was still true now. It had come all the way to the imperial capital with that massive body just because a human had killed the Creature Abandoned by God.

It seemed that character trait of its didn’t go anywhere, so it was highly likely that it wouldn’t just blast its breath at me until it figured out how I killed the Creature Abandoned by God.

It knew very well how powerful its breath was, and also that a regular human would turn to ashes instantly upon being hit, leaving not even a trace.

Even if the power of the Creature that Devours the World was immense, it couldn’t read the memories of a human that was burned down to nothing.

It wouldn’t kick away an opportunity to acquire new knowledge.

“Why did you attack me? Obviously, it’s because you were trying to do something suspicious.”

For now, I had to stall for time until a reasonable plan came to mind. With that thought, I opened my mouth. The massive body of the Creature that Devours the World hesitated for a moment.

The mana-formed body returned to its original state. The detached head reattached itself, and the eyes and mouth that had sprouted on the back of its head disappeared. The newly formed body stumbled and walked over.

This was a good sign, indicating there was still a chance for conversation.

“What were you trying to do just now?”

“I will… look into your memories…”

“My memories? Why?”

Unlike just a moment ago, when it seemed ready to pounce, it answered my question calmly. A thought crossed my mind: Would it pass this without fighting?

“To know… how you killed the Creature Abandoned by God…”

“Well, you should have talked to me first. You dazzled your eyes right away, and I thought you were going to do something, so I cut off your head.”

“Talk…?”

The mouth of the mana-formed body stopped moving.

And then, the original body started to move.

Its head slowly lowered. The body crouched down, aligning its neck with the ground. The distance between us closed in an instant.

A massive head, one eye the size of my height and teeth much larger, came inches away from me.

—What an audacious thing to say… human…

A tearing noise struck.

Even knowing it was useless to cover my ears as it directly forced its thoughts into my head, I reflexively covered my ears. A ringing beep beep beep echoed in my ears. My legs began to wobble involuntarily.

I clenched my teeth. Even though it was just its voice resonating in my head, it felt like my body was about to crumble. I forced strength into my legs that were about to give way.

It was just a brief conversation, but the aftermath relentlessly stirred my mind. How much power had it slammed into that single sentence? My whole body ached.

Maybe for that thing, what it just said was a normal conversation.

—If you didn’t grasp it… I shall make you realize…

Hearing those words, my mind snapped to attention.

What I had just said was a perfect match for what the Creature that Devours the World had said right before it initiated combat during its first meeting with the protagonist.

I saw the mana-formed body disperse into the air. Its dispersion signified it no longer had the intention to converse. Any glimmer of hope I had faded too.

I covered my ringing head with one hand and staggered to regain my posture. Having said that and with the mana-formed being gone, combat was inevitable.

If that’s the case, I had to fulfill the conditions for the Forced Defeat Event, no matter the outcome.

I didn’t expect things to unfold like in the game now, but it was far better to act than to do nothing when an opportunity presented itself.

The dragon still had its head lowered, continuously bombarding my mind with thoughts. Just as my entire strength was about to drain away, I dragged my limbs along fiercely.

This moment was the only opportunity I would have.

I grasped the Blood-Stained Sword with both hands. I didn’t know why it was driving its head here to shove its thoughts into my head, but that was fine by me.

I reversed the weapon and aimed it at my abdomen. I stabbed the blade deep into myself. Perhaps taken aback by my action, the voice that resonated in my head abruptly stopped.

I felt the sensation of blood being drawn from my entire body, and when that sensation hit its limit, I pulled out the Blood-Stained Sword. A few drops of blood that hadn’t been absorbed dripped onto the ground.

Holding the crimson-stained sword, I closed the distance. The creature seemed to enjoy watching the struggles of a mere human and did not move at all while I wielded the sword.

—CRACK!

As the blade made contact with its head, the Blood-Stained Sword cracked apart with a sharp metallic sound.

“Keek… hehehe… that hurts so much, doesn’t it?”

In a back alley of the capital. In a place where people had evacuated due to the Creature that Devours the World, a woman, battered and bruised, was stepping out from the wall.

Not a single part of her body was unharmed. Her already disheveled hair was drenched in blood, and her body was covered in injuries; it appeared she had hurt her leg as her walk was lopsided.

Due to her highly revealing attire, her skin was laid bare, filled only with wounds. Most of them looked like deep cuts from a sword, but in various places, she had severe bruises that turned her skin a shade of blue.

She was definitely not in a normal state.

“Your Majesty, that’s a bit much, don’t you think? You rush to kill me just for boasting a little in front of you. Is teasing a crime? Hehe. These wounds from the Holy Sword won’t heal right away.”

Her chest was much larger than her head. Exaggerating a bit, her waist looked thinner than her thighs. Her thighs, plump and soft, looked as if they would burst with each step, while her clothing barely covered it.

Each time she limped, her enormous chest jiggled, and her nearly exposed nipples threatened to spill out from her shirt.

The woman’s identity was Nix.

“I told you to run away! His Majesty even said he would let you go safely if you ran now, but you just kept teasing! Because of you, I ended up like this!”

“Heh, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have survived, would you?”

“If it weren’t for you, none of this would’ve happened in the first place!”

“You were the one who suggested going to the Imperial Palace first, right? Did you really think you’d just go see Minerva and talk? Knowing the relationship between us and Minerva?”

But something felt off.

From the content of the conversation, it clearly sounded like both were talking, yet their voices were the same. Moreover, there was only Nix in this back alley.

Everyone else had evacuated long ago, so it was an obvious outcome. Even if the knights didn’t evacuate people, no one would stand still while a dragon was flying overhead.

Yet, despite that, Nix’s voice diligently talked away, covering two people’s conversations.

“Hehe… hehehe…”

“What’s so funny that you’re laughing like that? Huh? I’m in this state because of you, and you’re laughing?”

“Of course it’s funny. You were acting so cool, and then the dragon roared, and everyone just fainted. His Majesty, who made us end up like this, will feel so embarrassed when he wakes up later.”

“…Really? How do you know that?”

“You can feel it too if you focus, you idiot. Why can’t you do what I can?”

At her scolding voice, Nix tightly closed her eyes. Her wounds ached, and her legs trembled, but she somehow expanded her sensing range to check the vicinity near the dragon.

“Listen carefully… can’t you feel it?”

“W-well, I can… but isn’t it dangerous? We’re right next to the dragon. They say dragons can exert mental control, what if we get taken over mentally?”

“Get taken over mentally? That person?”

Nix snickered. At her reaction, her body instinctively shivered.

“Did you forget how we cast magic on that person’s head?”

“Oh, right… I forgot about that.”

Nix awkwardly shifted her feet again. Then, mumbling in a small voice, she said,

“Mental domination? That can’t be possible.”