Chapter 133: Sword of Remembrance, Part 2

We’d left Agarta and arrived in the southeastern town of Krené.

"Still, this sword’s something else. Made by Lazus?"

"No… it was stored in the lab. Supposedly made a long time ago. I was the one assigned to repair it…"

"Stole it yourself, huh? Haha, never thought I’d see the day you’d become a thief. Anyway, does this sword have a name?"

"According to the one who examined it, it’s only labeled ‘The King’s Sacred Sword.’ The researchers called it the King’s sword, Calétvruuf."

"The King’s sword, Calétvruuf… nice name."

Aias was grinning, clearly amused.

But we’re being hunted. Fighting the demon forces means not just battling demons—but also the ordinary people serving them.

We’d narrowly escaped several ambushes, but now we’re being cornered. We needed allies to fight alongside us.

"East of this town lies Maxwell Mountain. I once heard rumors that ‘Elifas Butler’ was there."

I told Aias about the old stories I’d heard about Butler.

"The Great Mage? But even if he’s still alive, he’s gotta be ancient by now."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. If there’s even a chance he’ll help, we’ve got no choice but to go."

We decided to head toward Maxwell Mountain, where the Great Mage Butler was said to live.

Butler was a legendary figure—just an ordinary human, yet said to have wielded magic surpassing even the demons.

It took over four days of land travel to reach the foothills of Maxwell Mountain.

Surprisingly, he was well-known locally—his location was easy to find. Myself and Ajax headed straight for the middle slope of Maxwell Mountain, where Butler was said to be.

The place we arrived at was a pretty large mansion. As we approached, a grumpy voice echoed from inside.

“What’s this? You got something for me?”

Out stepped an old man, draped in black and gray robes, looking well past seventy.

“Are you Butler?”

“Don’t you *dare* ask me that! I’m not free right now!”

Butler had a long, white beard, which he idly twisted as he sized us up.

We told him everything that had happened so far. Then—

“Challenging a demon god… you’re both complete fools.”

“But you fought a demon god yourself once…”

“Old story. And back then, the demon god *challenged me* to test my strength. I just… took the fight, that’s all.”

“Still, you won every battle! Butler!”

Ajax’s eyes sparkled as he listened.

“Hmph! Never mind that! What’s your *real* reason for coming here?! You’re not thinking of dragging this old geezer into another fight, are you?!”

“We need someone to fight alongside us. Please…!”

“Don’t be absurd! What could a feeble old man like me possibly do? You’re just a nuisance! Get out! Now!”

“Butler, I’ve heard you once opposed the demon god’s rule. Please… help us!”

“Whatever you say, the answer’s still no! Just leave—…”

Butler’s expression shifted.

“You… were followed.”

“Huh?!”

We froze at Butler’s words. We’d been so careful—hadn’t we?—to check if we’d been followed on the way here.

“…No way…” I whispered, and I and Ajax moved to the window, peering out without being seen. Outside, there were soldiers—dozens of them—and figures that had to be demons.

“Sorry, Butler-san. We weren’t careful enough.”

“Carelessness from a brat? Hardly surprising.”

Butler turned and strode into the deeper rooms of the mansion. We followed. She opened the lid of a long, narrow box inside.

“You said you killed a demon god… If that’s true, then the sword must carry the power of “Godslayer,” no?”

Ajax looked down at his own blade.

“Demons can’t be killed with ordinary weapons! You need a weapon with special power. And this one—”

She pulled out a thick, heavy staff radiating cold menace.

“‘The Staff of the Underworld’… a myth-level weapon, forged in ancient times.”

“Wait—you’re going to fight with us!?”

“Me? I’m seen as a rebel now, thanks to you two. Even if I tried to explain, those demons wouldn’t listen.”

She smirked slightly.

“Besides… my time’s not long. Might as well let off some steam before I go. Could be fun, really…”

We confirmed the mansion was surrounded, then marched out the front door with bold confidence.

“Why, why, if it isn’t the famed Butler-sama, mingling with such criminals? Care to explain yourself?”

The voice came calm and polite—another demon, speaking with flawless manners. The rest of the demons and soldiers had already closed in, trapping us from all sides.

Looks like they’re not letting us go no matter what.

“Huh? Just having a bit of chat, that’s all. I’m getting on in years—no more fighting for me. How about you just back off?”

“Now, now… we can’t let criminals like you escape. You’ll be coming with us, too.”

The demon raised a hand, and the demons and soldiers surrounding us lunged forward all at once. Aias and I went on the defensive.

I’d expected a tough fight with so many of them… but—

“Flame Dragon!!”

From Butler’s staff, a massive dragon of fire coiled around, spreading outward. Regular soldiers were instantly engulfed in flames, reduced to ash.

Even the demon staggered, overwhelmed by the sheer power of the spell.

“Not bad… but you’ll regret defying us, demon.”

“Regret? I’ve had plenty of that already. Let me enjoy my final moments my way—no harm done, right?”

“Now!”

A second demon launched from the flames, a shortsword in hand, lunging straight at Butler.

Too close for a mage like him—impossible to handle. Aias started to move in to help—then—

“Challenging me to close combat? Bold move, old man!”

Butler swung his black staff, unleashing a spell.

“Composite magic—Land of the Unclean Dead (Helheim)!!”

From the staff’s tip, thick black flames erupted, burning the demon alive. The demon screamed, crumbling to black ash, dead.

“Damn… even in your old age, you still got that power?”

While the demon was distracted by Butler, Ajax closed the distance in an instant and slashed at it. Timing was perfect.

"Idiot! Don't get close to that demon! He's got a unique skill—【Mind Control】!"

"Too late. 'Stop!'

The demon tried using its unique skill, but Ajax's sword didn't stop. It cut straight through the demon's shoulder, splitting it open.

"Gah!? Why…?"

The demon collapsed to its knees, blood spurting out, then finally fell into a pool of its own blood.

"…Don’t know why, but I guess we’re alive. But don’t let your guard down. They’ll be after us soon."

Encouraged by Butler, we left the scene and slipped through the mountain pass. On the way, I explained Ajax’s ability to Butler, asking for his opinion.

"Blocking a unique skill… never heard of such a thing. But yeah, when I attacked with magic, the demon didn’t seem to be using its abilities at all."

Butler looked at Ajax with genuine respect.

"Demons often overestimate their own powers. Against someone like that, a skill that shuts down their abilities could be devastating."

We stopped by the riverbank to catch our breath. Chose a spot with a clear view—open, visible, ready to react if attacked.

"Wait a second."

I activated a magic circle, and from within it emerged a single "spirit"—a small, translucent firebird.

"Huh? What’s that? A summoned beast?"

"Yeah. A rare 'spirit-type' I once tamed. Even has a unique skill—【Immortal】."

Hearing our conversation, Sister called out to us.

"That’s not just any spirit. If it grows, it’ll become a 'Divine Omen Beast'—a phoenix. Whether it’ll thrive under your care remains to be seen."

"Wait, a divine omen beast? You really know everything, Butler... So, Lazus, what’re you planning to use that thing for?"

"Yep, it’s still small—can’t fight yet. But it’ll do just fine as a lookout, scanning the area."

I said that, then released the bird into the sky.

Honestly, I didn’t get the whole "divine omen beast" thing at first. But now? It’s one of my most important allies.

While the fire bird kept watch, I talked with Butler about what comes next.

"True, your abilities might be enough to take down the demons. But the Demon God King? That’s impossible. He’s on a completely different level."

"Still, if we’re to shape our future, we’ve got no choice—we must take down the Demon God King. Butler, tell us what we can do."

Aias said that, and Butler scratched his beard, deep in thought.

"There’s a slim chance. If we could defeat all the other demons known as 'God Generals'... maybe we could isolate the Demon God King and bring him down."

"All the God Generals...?"

"No... even that’s just one in ten thousand odds."

Aias clenched his fist. His resolve was set.

"Do you know much about the Demon God King, Butler?"

"No, I don’t know much. Rumor has it he can possess dead bodies... but even that’s uncertain."

No one knew much about the Demon God King. But since he could birth demons, as long as he wasn’t destroyed, the demon realm would never end.

I was brooding, feeling a little down, when the firebird on high let out a sharp, piercing cry.

We stood up, scanning the surroundings—then saw a massive bird approaching from the east. Perched on its back was a figure wrapped in a hood, their build suggesting a man.

"Trouble’s arrived... "

Battler muttered it, and the bird slowly landed before us.

"Long time no see, Battler."

The man dismounted from the bird’s back, addressing Battler. His face was shadowed by the hood, hard to see, but his mouth seemed to be curled in a smile.

"Know him, Battler-san?"

I asked, and Battler stared at the man with a grimace.

"Know him well. Once fought him back in my youth—only once. But unlike the other demons, I couldn’t lay a finger on this one."

"Is he that strong?"

"Yeah. One of the divine generals, and a close aide to the Demon God King. The oldest demon of them all—"

The man pulled back his hood, revealing an aged face.

"—the Sea God, Okeanos!"