Episode 11
A sense of omnipotence took hold of my thoughts.
I understood how to use the demon lord’s power almost instantly — no, more like I’d understood it from the very start.
I could see it, clearly: how this power could destroy anything at all.
The world felt like a sandcastle.
Everything sat right there in the palm of my hand.
The corners of my mouth rose on their own, and I drew back my fist to bring it down—
“…!”
I snapped back to myself and pulled my thoughts back in line.
Close. That was genuinely close.
I’m Yurina. Teresia’s close friend, her childhood friend.
Not the demon lord.
“Might not be able to use this for very long.”
Even so, I used the demon lord’s power to “look out over the whole world.”
Was any contamination still lingering in this world… were monsters starting to run wild?
I swept my gaze across every corner of it.
And — I see.
Sure enough, the contamination had vanished the moment I died, but there were still traces here and there showing signs of returning.
Same with the monsters — plenty of them were in the process of losing their reason.
“But if it’s this—”
I could manage this, right now, from right here.
I’d crush the anomalies (the bugs) surfacing in this world, one by one.
To bring the saint’s story to an end, right here.
She didn’t need to keep fighting so hard anymore.
Because she’d already given more than enough.
She should get to rest easy from here on.
“…I knew it.”
And sure enough, several monsters had appeared near Flower Lake, gone feral, and Teresia seemed to be fighting them.
Before she could get hurt any further, I’d erase it.
I stripped the corruption from the monsters, and watched as they suddenly regained their calm — Teresia stood there stunned.
I could see her lips moving faintly.
Curious what she was muttering, I stared intently at her face.
“…”
“…Eh?”
Somehow, our eyes met.
…Wait, am I currently peeking in on her through the demon lord’s power right now?
Why would our eyes meet, mine and Teresia’s, in a state like this?
And then, Teresia’s lips moved again.
This time, I understood what she was saying.
“Stay put and wait for me — I’m coming back now.”
“O-oh no.”
Well, I mean — I would stay put and wait.
If Teresia told me to wait, I’d obediently wait.
…And if, at the end of that waiting, she struck me down — I’d have no complaints.
“…”
I’m not running.
To begin with, this time right now is a miracle.
Back then, in that final battle, I should have died.
This is just an extension of a story that somehow went wrong, because I chose to end my own life.
If that ending is drawing near now—
“…Teresia.”
Even so, if it’s at all possible—
“I’d like to talk with Teresia a little longer, if I can…”