Book of God – 17 (1/2)

Kitaseno-sensei:

It’s the last boss fight

Please play your choice of BGM

Chapter 17 – Imperial Death

The large doors creaked as they opened

With nothing to block it, the overwhel sense of presence from inside the room increased, and the mixed party faintly trembled before the door

『…Let us go』

With the De’s voice, the party cailance naturally made their steps slow

Sitting on the luxurious throne and waiting for the Heroes and demons was a skeleton clad in a jet black robe He was on and Armour of the Evil God, and could only be taken as the size of a norathered in that rooreater than any of the previous foes

The party advanced as far as just before the throne, but he azed at them with his dark, eyeless sockets, and showed no further reaction

In that tense silence that discouraged even clearing their throat, when the party was about to reach their mental limits, the skeleton spoke first

In a voice that may well have invited death upon anybody with a weak mind, a low voice that seemed to shake the soul, he welcomed them

『Welcouests You are the first to have reached here』

That line was similar to his previous one, but the only one who knew that was Leonora and myself

『You… “What” are you?』

『Fu”, but at present I ale servant of my God──Anri-sama』

『Anri… Evil God Anri?』

The skeleton had quietly replied to the De rave

『So we can take it to ht?』

『Indeed I have been appointed by uardian of this room Therefore, I cannot allow you to proceed beyond here』

Hearing the skeleton’s words, their vigilance heightened, and they prepared their weapons

『Hu-』

『!? What’s so funny!?』

The skeleton laughed at theerated reaction It told of her nervousness

『Not funny, but joyous, …Young Miss』

『Young-…!? T-, Then joyous about what?』

『As I stated earlier, you are the first ones to have reached this floor Although it was an honour to be appointed as guardian of this place and I had not an iota of dissatisfaction, it is also the truth that I found it vexing to have no opportunity to display my loyalty to my God And in this moment, that opportunity has finally arrived; what could this be but joyous?』

Having said that, the skeleton stood up, flicked back his jet back robe, before spreading his arms wide

『Let us exchange our names; I am Imperial Death A retainer and kin of uardian of this room』

The skeleton──Iave his name, and in response the Heroes held out the weapons that could be called their symbols, and the party members named themselves one by one

『Hero of the Holy Sword, Arc』

『Hero of the Holy Spear, Lionel』

『Hero of the Holy Bow, Orlaine』

『Deor Romariel』

『One of the Four Heavenly Kings, Fierce Gale Knight Renarve』

『Likewise, Bloodfrost General Vikuto』

Iave a satisfied nod in response, and displayed his intent to fight

『Now then Come To demonstrate my loyalty, I shall be your opponent with all my power』

『I’ to attack!』

『Please leave the support to me!』

The first un to attack from afar They released as many arrows as they could at once, and they rained doards Iht hand, and a round barrier appeared, easily blocking the rain of arrows

『An opening!』

Seeing Iainst the arrows, Lionel rushed up and aimed for the torso with his Holy Spear No ht have been, Imperial Death was still an undead In that case, the Holy Weapon that was effective against undead should have dealt hie Lionel had attacked with that belief, but the strike was all too easily stopped

『I-, Impossible…』

With his right hand stillHoly Spear with just his left hand No, er of his left hand The brittle-looking finger bone blocked a strike fro that seely impossible scene, not only Lionel, but everyone in the rooreater defence than the Armour of the Evil God?

『If you wish to aiht not shout your intentions to do so』

Saying so, Irabbed the Holy Spear, before casually waving his hand His strength was iine froether with his Holy Spear, Lionel was sent flying parallel the ground

『UOOHHHHHHHH!?』

『Kuh-, make it in time!』

Renarve i Lionel, before catching him Had Renarve not been there, Lionel would have hit the wall dozens of ht in that instant

『Guh-, sorry!』

『It is no big deal』

Lionel thanked Renarve for saving him, and Renarve shook his head with a smile

『Watch out!』

『Would I let you!』

While Lionel and Renarve exchanged their short lines, they heard a voice from somewhere else

Realising that they were saved by a hair’s breath because Imperial Death had been attacked when he was about to fire, Lionel and Renarve got up and ran to join the two engaged with Imperial Death

『Sorry, you saved me!』

『My apologies, Your Majesty』

Because Arc and the others were fighting at close range, Orlaine and Vikuto had stopped their attacks and watched for an opening Because of that, Iht hand turned to the two he had been fighting with However, with Renarve and Lionel joining the frae

Perhaps because he really could not handle a four-on-one close combat battle, Imperial Death released ain some distance

『Speaking of which…』

Just as Arc and the others were about to close the distance to attack again, I to attack, they could now do nothing but lend him an ear

『Although I said that I would be your opponent with all my power, if I remain barehanded it would hardly be truth, would it』

『What-!?』

In front of the surprised party, Iht hand out The party watched with bated breath Under his hand, a black pole of soht hand and swiftly pulling it out of the shadows, Imperial Death held the weapon with both hands

It was a single-edged scythe, that was about as long as he was tall A skeleton clad in jet black robes, holding a scythe… It was the very iht have seemed ironic that the undead e the form of the reaper that invited it, but it was probably partially because of the iave him the divine protection

『I have kept you waiting Shall we continue?』

Hearing this, the party couldn’t ly powerful barehanded ene a weapon nobody in the rooilant about that

『Whatever is the matter? Will you not come? Then I shall move instead』

With those words, Imperial Death suddenly disappeared

『Wha-!? Where did he go?』

They frantically searched for him, but couldn’t find him anywhere Then in the next moment, in front of the backline support Orlaine and Vikuto, Imperial Death suddenly made his appearance

『Impossible!』

『It can’t be!?』

Cutting through Vikuto’s pro away like a twig the Holy Bow that Orlaine tried to shi+eld herself with, I scythe cut deeply into the Orlain’s shoulder and Vikuto’s abdomen

『KYAAH!?』

『Guh- …!!』

『Orlaine!』

『Vikuto!』

The other tried to run up to the tho had collapsed with a cry, but before they could, Iain

『Kuh-, he disappeared again』

『Incredible speed… is not, what he’s using Short distance teleportation?』