Chapter 266: END

I thought about splitting this chapter into several parts because it has a lot of words, but I thought a lot about this chapter and decided not to split it.

Hijiri Takao has made up his mind.

I understood that.

She saw through that my long-windedness is to stall for time.

Just as I had expected, she really is quite the shrewd human.

And she’s looking down on a Deity.

The first action I took was to disengage.

In a few strides, I leapt up the stairs and landed in the upstairs hallway.

Hijiri would probably follow me downstairs.

Now then, how would she———-

She isn’t there.

Behind me.

She leapt up without using the stairs.

Probably due to inherent skill, she had gained an extraordinary leaping ability.

Perhaps, she used her wind ability to muffle her sound as much as possible.

Turning around, I transformed the bone in my right arm into an axe shape.

Just like that, my strike slashed away Hijiri’s sword.

However, Hijiri Takao’s onslaught———– continues unabated.

Weaving in and out with her inherent skill, she continued her attack.

She showed no signs of slowing down.

Her attacks were also showing no signs of stopping.

With a voice no one could hear……

[Cunning.]

I muttered.

Hijiri’s attacks.

They were always trying to lead me in the direction of the Great Demon Emperor.

But if I were to evade the direction she’s leading me to, I will definitely be struck.

As if all her movements were planned out.

As I thought, the older twin really is quite clever.

She doesn’t confine herself with her inherent skill and status correction.

With all her capabilities————

[What a shame…… It was truly a shame. She would have made a good pawn……]

Upon all these———- I only get away, run away, escape.

Currently, I can only go on the defensive.

For now, I need to get as far away from the source of the Tyrant’s Miasma as possible.

As I take more distance away from it, my regenerative ability should also increase back to normal.

The Root of All Evil————- and their Tyrant’s Miasma.

They truly are an abominable existence.

First of all, Divine-type Magic couldn’t be used in places where the Tyrant’s Miasma is dense.

I won’t even be able to shoot a single “Fireball”.

(T/N: Blazing Ball of the Heaven’s Will / Fireball)

Using our clashes to propel my body, looking like a bug, I bounced around the hallway.

It may look unsightly, but with the situation like this, this is the best way I could escape for the time being.

Landing on the floor, I took a quick scan around me.

I’m currently on a corridor that connects the building I was in with the one nearby.

The stone corridor has windows, but they don’t have any railings attached.

[…………………………..]

The figure of Hijiri disappeared.

[———-Even so, this is what happens after I use my treasured Dark Purple Gem huh.]

“No”, I quickly changed my thought.

I suppose it’s a good thing I can move like this thus far under the influence of the Tyrant’s Miasma.

Although I’m extremely weakened, I’m still able to resist Hijiri Takao.

However———– I really can’t stand against the Root of All Evil.

The closer I get to it, the stronger the burden it is for a Deity like me, even heavier than what a human carries.

Above all, Deities’ attacks are unable to pierce through the Root of All Evil’s defenses.

Even if I can move this much, any of my attacks would just be nullified.

No matter how powerful a Deity may be, this is an absolute that we couldn’t overturn.

That’s why we have to rely on the short-lived Heroes from Another World who were able to attack them.

Even so, I pondered————-

How long had she been planning this betrayal?

Was it just her that had been planning this?

Does she have other people supporting her?

If so, was the idea of killing I, the Goddess, from Hijiri herself?

Or perhaps———— Had she been tricked?

Considering the timing of events……

[I suppose the one she’s in contact with would definitely be Mad Emperor’s subordinate huh……]

“There’s a way to defeat the Goddess”

Perhaps, such things were being whispered to her ears.

How is it that Mira’s spy was able to escape from my eyes?

Though I guess the answer is simple———— It was because I had been too busy.

Especially before and after the Great Invasion.

I was busy working on behalf of the useless humans.

As a result, I overlooked the enemy’s spies that had entered the vicinity.

[In addition, for the Great Demon Emperor to have directly entered this area…… It’s truly unprecedented……]

They really are different from the past Root of All Evil.

Even in its early stage……

They are learning about this world quite well.

However, how in the world did they get in here?

What method did they use?

[…………………..]

Teleportation?

However, only the Deities should have been able to create Teleportation technology.

Though I say that, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t be made anymore.

Then again, if other deities come to this world, I would know.

However, no one came……

Thus, there’s no way that other deities are involved.

As for unexplored underground ruins……

There is a possibility that some unknown teleportation technology is in there…..

However, most of such things are devices that couldn’t be brought to the surface.

[With that being the case……]

Does that mean that this time’s Great Demon Emperor was an exception, having a teleportation ability?

No.

If that were the case, it’s strange that it hasn’t been used in the past Great Invasion.

In that case, there’s one thing left in my mind.

From somewhere———-

[They’ve acquired a Teleportation Stone huh.]

However, that doesn’t exist here in Alion.

Of course, the Magician Guid doesn’t have it either.

It’s the rarest among the rare items.

Thinking about the people who would have it……

[Yes, that annoying Witch of Taboos would probably have them…… Other than her———]

Jonato Principality or Mira Empire.

Mira———– Mad Emperor.

[…………………….]

Could it be that the Great Demon Emperor’s attack this time was under the guidance of the Mad Emperor?

Did that Mad Emperor “dared” to hand over a Teleportation stone to the Great Demon Emperor?

[Fufufu…… If that were the case, he really has become mad. Duke Polarie would probably become furious again…… Ah, scary……]

Now then……

[Hijiri-saaaaan? Where aaaaaaare youuuuuu? If this continues, I will completely regenerate, you knoooooow?]

No response.

As for escaping———– It would be hard to imagine that she’d do that.

This would definitely be the perfect opportunity for Hijiri.

[In this case……]

The time when she can strike with that skill again is near.

Meanwhile, I filled my regenerative ability into my drooping right arm……

My attack with my right hand that had transformed into several edged limbs.

Hijiri Takao was able to safely handle it.

It was as if she had experienced fighting with a similar style before……

It was like she had seen some sort of example……

An example huh……

If there were two people with more fighting ability than Hijiri, it would be those two.

Takuto Kirihara or……

[……Ayaka Sogou.]

Speaking of which, what are the other S-rank Heroes doing?

Would they come as her reinforcements?

Is Hijiri awaiting the arrival of the other S-ranks?

If that were the case, I’ll have to get rid of Hijiri as soon as possible……

Even so———– They made the right decision.

Repulsive it may be, it could be said that they made the right decision this time.

If they wanted to get rid of me, it would certainly be now or never.

There is no