I gave up on using the power of the Light Hero in his place.
“Licht, stop it.”
Ignoring Kainel’s plea, I tightened my grip on the sword and deliberately cut into the palm of my hand. Blood dripped down in heavy droplets.
“Helmet Guy, your hand’s bleeding! Why are you suddenly playing around with Kainel’s sword?!”
“Licht… What on earth are you trying to do?”
The blade was turning crimson, soaked in my blood. Even if it worked, the sword’s power would be significantly weakened since I wasn’t its rightful owner. Still, I had to try.
“No matter what happens next, do not attack me.”
I exhaled a short sigh inside the helmet. Everyone behind me carried trauma inflicted by the Demon Lords.
Honestly, I hope nothing happens. But if I do fall, I pray they don’t immediately try to kill me.
「Sleep in darkness.」
I spoke words that were the exact opposite of Kainel’s usual incantation when activating the Holy Sword.
The moment I uttered those words, my body began to violently reject the power. A sickening sensation rose in my chest, and black blood spewed from my mouth.
“Licht?!”
“Helmet Guy, are you okay?!”
“You… could it be…?”
Damn, the backlash is intense. I barely managed to catch my breath. My entire face was covered in blood, spilling from every possible point. In moments like these, I was grateful for my helmet.
“My dear… What are you doing right now?!”
Magic Hat screamed at the sight of the blood pooling on the ground. I’m doing this to defeat you. Dark mist swirled around me, enveloping my entire body.
“Oh… it works. Holy sh—”
Our saintess must not be okay. By coating the sword with my blood, I’d triggered a glitch.
Just like Kainel in the Fallen Route, I had become a Demon Lord. Black knight armor covered my academy uniform, shrouding me in darkness.
The loss of a loved one. That’s why I never asked the Seer.
I hated spoilers. I was terrified that if I sought her foresight, she might name someone destined to die.
“…”
The result of my endless running was this. Words failed me as despair swallowed me whole. Didn’t they say you could save her if you maintained the love line in Grand Hearts Academia?
Why was this happening in a past timeline? If they wanted her to appear later, this shouldn’t have been possible.
Had my interference altered the future?
The Nameless Saintess.
When her loss fulfilled the condition for Demon Lord transformation, I was consumed with self-loathing.
“My dear… so you were the Demon Lord of Light all along! No wonder!”
Magic Hat’s voice rang with triumphant joy. While she celebrated, my heart was torn to shreds. Seeing her revel in my misery made me feel sick.
“I’m neither a hero nor a Demon Lord, Magic Hat.”
The Demon Lord of Truth must have acted against the saintess ahead of time. Even if it cost me my life, I had to take her down.
“I’m just a Black Knight.”
I raised the sword, which was no longer a Holy Sword but a weapon shrouded in dark mist—a blade of utter blackness.
“Everyone, get out of here. Use telepathy magic to contact Professor Dennis. I’m going to neutralize Magic Hat’s power now.”
I warned them, prioritizing their safety. But instead of the sound of retreating footsteps, trembling voices responded.
“…Licht, so you were the Demon Lord all along.”
“Helmet Guy…”
“Licht, you—!”
The hero’s party stared at me, unable to conceal their shock. It seemed the companion route was over for me now. I sighed heavily within my helmet.
“Kainel, remember this: Demon Lords have powers that contradict their names. Keep that in mind—it might be useful someday.”
“What…? Licht, is that really what you should be saying? Explain this to me—”
I had to do what I could for them before leaving. After all, they had helped me so much in reality.
“Ariel, fix your attitude.”
“Helmet Guy… You really are Helmet Guy, huh?”
The red-haired twin-tailed elf mage’s voice trailed off as she stared at me in my armor, seemingly uncomfortable.
“Mardol. Remember the promise we made earlier, about the Nameless Saintess.”
“…I will. But…”
The saintess might still be alive, so I had to cling to this fragile hope. After all, the term “Black Knight” ultimately symbolized sacrifice for one’s loved ones.
And then—
─Grip.
The glass knight grabbed my hand. Through my helmet, I could see his sorrowful golden wolf eyes.
“…Let’s fight together, Licht.”
Even now, Mardol’s strength outmatched mine. His iron grip stopped me in my tracks as I tried to approach the Demon Lord.
“Yeah, Licht. Let’s just call it a seriously delayed case of chūnibyō or something.”
“I believe in Helmet Guy. If you were really a Demon Lord, you wouldn’t have helped Kainel in the first place!”
Kainel and Ariel seemed unfazed by my transformation, their determination shining through as they recited lines from the companion route.
“…Heh.”
How could they be this kindhearted? This really was the game I had loved since my school days. I felt tears well up slightly.
But they were hopelessly outmatched. The fight earlier had already been too dangerous.
“Thanks for everything. I really appreciated it.”
「Dark Dimension.」
With those final words, I plunged the sword into the ground, isolating the hero’s party in a separate space. The entire world went pitch black, drowning in darkness.
“My dear, did you just use your power? For me?! I’m so happy!”
Now, only the Demon Lord and I remained within the void. This dimensional rift meant no harm would come to Kainel and the others.
The power to envelop the world in darkness.
Commonly referred to as spatial severance. Now it truly was a one-on-one battle. There would be no interruptions this time.
“…I used it for someone I care about. Just in case.”
“Oh, oh my! Is there a new rival?!”
“Well, I’d rather not tell you.”
That marked the start of the fight. The two Demon Lords clashed in the isolated darkness.