Chapter 132: The Sword of Remembrance, Part 1

Going down with Lazus, we entered a tier made of pale green crystals.

I walk toward the stone pillar in the center of the floor. Around it, several humanoid golems stand quietly—motionless, like statues.

They’re about one to two meters tall.

Lazus stops. Looks up. Inside the crystal, there’s a person. Calm face, eyes closed—like they’re sleeping.

“Is that your true body?”

‘Yeah. I made it this way to live through endless time. My real body can’t move… can’t go outside… forever.’

Spent all this time alone in a cave… just like that…

“Why are you here? There’s gotta be a reason, right?”

‘There is… but… where should I even start?’

After a pause, Lazus looks at me and begins speaking.

‘First… let me talk about my friend… the one you call the Black Knight.’

“You know about the Black Knight?”

‘I know him well. Do you know his real name?’

The Black Knight’s name… I remember seeing it when I examined him… wasn’t it—

“Hybris?”

‘No. That’s not his real name. “Hybris” means “insolence.” The sorcerers gave it to him as mockery.’

Lazus’s expression stays blank—but his eyes… they flicker with anger.

‘His real name is Ajax. A man hailed as a hero in our world.’

After saying that, Lazus steps closer. His gaze falls on Excalibur at his side. Something in his eyes… like memory. Like longing.

‘I fought beside him with that sword… it’ll take a while to tell the whole story… but will you listen?’

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

“Again?”

"Guess a parent and child got killed in the square... probably the Demon God King’s subordinate. No one’s gonna complain, right?"

"Damn heavy story."

...Back in the world I used to live in, there were beings called 'Demons' who ruled over ordinary people. They were considered a higher species, known for their supernatural power.

At the peak of those Demons stood the Demon God King.

He was the King of the world, a god. His form was beyond the grasp of someone like me—a common, unremarkable human. I’d only ever heard rumors about him.

One thing I do know for sure: he possessed countless abilities and was the only being capable of transforming humans into Demons.

In that world, I lived alongside him.

"What’s wrong? You look down."

"Ah, Aias."

I was sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree outside the research facility when my friend Aias called out to me, cheerful and bright.

Back then, I was an alchemist working at a lab in the city of Agarta, and Aias was a magic warrior in the military. Both of us belonged to an organization under the Demon God King’s rule.

"Still no luck with the research?"

"Same old story. I know brooding won’t help, but..."

Aias, someone I’d known since childhood, and I chatted aimlessly, lifting each other up with silly talk.

It was a world under tyranny, sure—but we always talked about our dreams. My dream? To have my research recognized, to invent something that could make people’s lives a little better.

Aias’s dream? To rise from a commoner to become a Demon, gain a territory, and make the people living there happy.

"You’ll make it. You’ve got the sharpest sword skills anyone’s got."

"What are you talking about? Lazus is the genius. It's not that you can't see it—it's your superior who lacks vision. You've made plenty of useful inventions, haven't you?"

Aias was the one who saw my talent more than anyone else.

"Thanks... just hearing that makes me happy. Aias sure has a great superior."

"My direct superior isn't a demon or even a demon's attendant, but they know my abilities and actually appreciate them. Though, they say I shouldn't say it out loud."

"Is that so..."

Aias's ability was unique. He could, if he wanted, seal off everyone else's unique skills.

It seemed less like a power to become a demon, more like a power to defeat one.

Normally, people with unique skills are rare, so you'd want to brag about them. But Aias couldn't do that.

"Ah, whatever! I've got my sword. Once I become a demon and gain a big territory and can manage a city, Lazus, I'll pull you up with me."

Aias's positive energy always gave me strength.

"I'm looking forward to it."

To someone else, this might sound like nonsense. But back then, we believed—without any real proof—that one day, it would come true.

Just then... the incident happened.

A demon's attendant went wild in a tavern, leaving several people seriously injured. Even among demons, not all are the same, but they held immense power.

Some held official positions in city management. Others used their demon relatives as a shield to act recklessly.

In our town, Agarta, this was especially obvious.

"Stop it!"

"Oh? What's this? A city guard?"

Three soldiers, including Ajax, rush to the scene. In this world, soldiers served as police.

A child lies motionless, soaked in blood. The group of five young men had apparently been drinking at the town’s tavern all day.

“I’m arresting you.”

“Hey! Ajax, this is bad.”

“Ah… they’re the son of the demon lord who rules this city. Better not make a scene.”

The other soldiers, fearing the demon lord’s wrath, tried to ignore the youths. But Ajax—

“Their actions clearly violate national law. Can’t let this slide.”

Ajax, as serious as a fool, couldn’t stand the thought of demon kin—especially those who’d attacked civilians, even children—getting away with it.

“Whoa, whoa… this is scary. Gonna get arrested, huh?”

“Hahahaha, go ahead and try, if you can!”

The drunkard swings his sword at Ajax.

“Apologize, and I’ll let you go.”

“Don’t see any reason to apologize.”

“Shut up!” The man roars, swinging his blade high—straight at Ajax.

Ajax sidesteps with ease, then cracks him in the face with a backfist. Teeth fly. The man’s body crashes through the wall.

The other two charge, blood in their eyes—but Ajax disarms them both barehanded, then drags them all to the town’s holding cell.

He did his job. But that became a huge problem.

Arresting and detaining a demon lord’s underling? Unheard of. Ajax is demoted, placed on suspension.

“You seemed down, but you’re looking lively.”

Freyja finds Ajax in his barracks, lying on the bed reading a book. She calls out to him.

“Lazus? Nothing to be down about. Just followed the law of the nation.”

“Gotta do better than that, or they’ll kick you out for good.”

“You know my style, right? Even if I’m kicked out of the army, there’s stuff I just can’t forgive.”

I expected some kind of punishment… but things took a turn for the worst.

I heard Ajax was furious when he found out the demon ruling this city—back from the capital—was returning. That demon didn’t just punish him. No. He made up some random crime and ordered Ajax’s execution.

Public execution, too. For show. To scare the rest of us.

Demons have ranks. The top one’s called a “Divine General,” and beneath them, lower-tier demons handle governance and such.

Lower-tier demons? They’re usually worse. The demons in Agarta were especially brutal.

Ajax said he had no regrets—he’d accepted the consequences of his actions. But I don’t buy it.

The execution date was set. I had to get to the execution site fast. This was my only chance to save him.

Ajax was brought up the execution platform, hands bound behind his back. The executioner stood ready with an axe.

Crowds packed the square. Even the demon and his son showed up.

Smirking. Acting like it was some kind of festival. I pushed through the mob, making my way to where I could see the platform.

Ajax knelt on the platform, blindfolded, waiting quietly for the end.

I released a tiny, insect-shaped magical tool made from a demon crystal into the crowd.

The insect-shaped magical tool darted through the square, clinging to the executioner and the soldiers guarding the venue. It was designed to minimize lethal force, instead releasing a thick cloud of smoke.

When the explosion hit, the execution ground erupted into chaos—white smoke blanketed everything.

In that moment, I moved to Aias’s side and removed his shackles.

“What the hell are you doing, Lazus!?”

“I can’t just let you die like that.”

“If you do this, you won’t get off easy either! You understand that, right!?”

I knew I’d lose everything—my life, my job, my future. If caught, I’d be executed. But that didn’t mean I’d abandon my best friend.

“Let’s run, Aias!”

We stood up, ready to flee—then a jolt hit me from behind. I froze, collapsing to my knees right there.

“Lazus!!”

Seemed like I’d been slashed from behind.

From Aias’s expression, my wound was deep. I’d known that risk… no regrets.

As my consciousness faded, I heard Aias’s voice. Apparently, the one who’d stabbed me was the demon god Molok, who’d come to the arena.

“Think you could escape? A criminal?”

“You…!”

Aias picked up the sword I’d brought, facing off against the demon god Molok.

“If it’s just me, fine. Kill me if you must—fabricate any charges you want. But you’ll never lay a hand on a friend. Never.”

“Never? A human fool like you dares defy me—the Iron Demon God? Hah.”

Molok swung down with his massive frame, raining down a brutal slash.

Aias lifted his sword—just slightly.

Molok’s hands, still gripping the sword, flew into the air. For a moment, he didn’t understand what had happened. Then, after a stunned pause, he screamed.

“Gyaaaaaahhhhh!! What the hell?! What happened?! Where the hell are my hands?!”

Blood gushed from his arms as he staggered back.

“Why?! My iron body… no sword could cut through it… what the hell are you?!?”

“Ain’t no high-and-mighty like you gonna know the strength of a low-ranking grunt like me.”

Aias slowly approached Molok, the sword pointed straight at his chest.

“M—wait! Kill me, and you’ll cause something terrible…”

“Dimension Slash!!”

The moment Aias’s unhesitating blade struck down the demon god, both their dreams vanished. And a new goal formed. A world without demons—

That’s why we left Agartha.