The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

84 – Humanity’s Last Defense

Splash!

Hart threw away the sword he had grasped.

His target was Elpisia, who was being dragged by the demon king’s servant.

By the time he realized the situation, the servant’s heart had already been pierced by a sword.

“I’m too late, I’m sorry.”

Flick!

Hart quickly approached and used his cloak as a shield to block the blood splattering towards Elpisia.

“Why…”

Elpisia couldn’t continue speaking.

It was hard to believe that the man holding her waist with one hand was Hart. It was as if the demon tribe had used magic to create a fleeting hope and then crush it.

But this was reality.

She couldn’t deny the warmth, the gentle touch, and the pure gaze. This man was the most special person in her world.

“Hart…”

“Yes, Elpisia.”

The feeling of being in a dream was rapidly falling apart.

The demon king said that the territory from the capital to the border had been completely destroyed.

Honestly, she still didn’t understand.

Was it really Hart who had done this? Had this man, who couldn’t even step on a weed, committed such atrocities?

Elpisia was ignorant about the owner of the sacred name. Therefore, her understanding of war was a battle between many. A fight between one and many was called violence.

So, she asked.

“How did you get here?”

“I’ve been following Elpisia’s lingering scent.”

It was a romantic answer, but it deviated greatly from the intention of the question. However, Hart didn’t usually enjoy metaphorical conversations. So, Elpisia asked directly.

“Did you… kill many people?”

Hart paused for a moment and then affirmed.

“Yes.”

“…”

She felt a sense of self-loathing.

Hart had committed murder. He chose his words carefully, calling it “killing,” but in reality, it was a massacre.

A vast territory had been reduced to ashes. Countless lives must have been burned to death.

The cause of it all was Elpisia.

She had piled up evil deeds from the past, growing into a wicked woman feared by heaven and earth. And now, she was paying the price. Yet, she wanted to love someone.

In the end, she had tainted the soul of the person she loved from the roots.

“It’s burdensome.”

Her very existence was a sin. It would have been better to die than to be held captive.

“I’m resentful of being alive.”

Hart was a man with hands that were more suited to holding a gentle dog than wielding a sword. But he had led her to commit murder.

She hated herself for being led by him.

“But… even so… I… I’m happy you came.”

His warmth, which spread throughout her body, was lovable to the point of madness. The body temperature of this upright man, which she would never experience again in her life, was too precious.

“Elpisia.”

When Elpisia’s heart was about to burst, Harute called out her name.

“Don’t worry too much. I said I would?”

Harute interpreted Elpisia’s dark expression as worry. In the scene where the moonlight brightly illuminated the world, he wore a warm smile like sunlight.

“I’ll definitely protect you.”

“Hmph…”

Golden particles surrounded them, responding to the miraculous phenomenon.

Then, Harute created a hemispherical shield around Elpisia. With a short, gentle smile, he replaced his greeting and faced the demon king head-on.

“You… Are you trying to desecrate the holy temple—”

Just as the demon king opened his mouth to speak, facing Harute.

Bang!

Harute’s fist struck the demon king’s torso, sending him flying. The demon king’s body, which had been knocked back, crashed through several walls without hesitation.

“Kuh-!”

Ku ku ku…!

The ground shook. The aftermath of the first attack caused the earth to sink, and the pillars of the prison began to collapse. The demon king, sensing the threat of being crushed, leaped towards the broken ceiling.

“Kuh-!”

The demon king coughed, as if his lungs were about to burst. Regaining his focus, he realized he was bleeding. In an instant, his pride, which had been overflowing with confidence, was shattered, and his golden eyes grasped reality.

‘… I was foolish. That’s something far beyond the category of living beings…!’

Getting hit once was enough to clear his mind… He never imagined such an experience would happen to him.

Who was he? Because he possessed immense power, he was the king of the demon tribe, requiring the bloodline of Leticia – Baskhill.

It was bound to happen.

“…… I just drew my sword.”

The man in front of him, with a sword forged from divine glory, froze. When he realized it, the demon king let out a deep roar from the depths of his stomach.

“Hah!”

Don’t make me laugh. Fear was something to be overcome with courage. It was unacceptable to die without even putting up a struggle.

The demon king’s front foot took a step forward. His center of gravity shifted extremely, and his shoes scraped against the ground.

Furthermore, the sword in his hand was one of the demonic swords he had received from his subordinates, a divine object containing various abilities.

The decision was made.

The demon king unleashed all his stored power and abilities, engaging in a desperate battle.

“Uoooo!”

He was the ruler and leader of a tribe. He had already made a mistaken judgment once, losing hundreds of elite warriors and wounding Leticia. And now, with his second mistake, the demon tribe was on the brink of suffering irreparable damage.

Either way, it was the fault of the knight in front of him.

He had to put an end to this wretched fate. That was the responsibility he had to fulfill as a king.

As he felt time slowing down, he narrowed the distance.

Thud, thud!

A desperate knocking sound came from the wall. The demon king turned his gaze slightly towards the direction of the sound. There, Elpisia was desperately calling out to Harute within the boundary.

Elpisia, who was throwing a tantrum, and Harute, who was unconsciously meeting her gaze.

The demon king realized.

This man treated his existence like a pebble rolling on the ground.

Furthermore, his determination to fight to the death was nothing but a trivial element from the start.

“Ah.”

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There were about four or five steps left when Hart finally turned around and smiled wryly.

Although it was the Demon King who drew his sword first, Hart’s sword sliced through the Demon King’s time like a flash of lightning.

The divine sword that shone with the light of the gods was the harbinger of doom.

The extended sword and the vast, straight line of the land twisted together, as if the forces of gravity and repulsion were acting on their own, scattering and settling into the air. The pillar of dust rose from the ground, completely erasing the light of civilization.

“How…”

Those were the Demon King’s final words.

The strongest living being in the material world was unable to leave even a corpse behind and perished.

With the Demon King gone, the demon realm’s system would lose its function. It was impossible to start a war as revenge, as the demon realm’s territory was already in shambles.

This meant Elpisia could finally return to safety.

“Ha… ah…”

The blood that had accumulated in her mouth spilled out. Elpisia deliberately turned her back on Hart, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that the floor was drenched in blood.

“Hart…! What’s going on…?”

“It’s okay. It’s nothing. The Demon King was just stronger than expected.”

Hart made a ridiculous excuse, but Elpisia couldn’t refute it. Therefore, she couldn’t help but watch as Hart’s body slowly died.

“Let’s go back, Elpisia.”

“Okay… I understand.”

“We can live together in the temple. The temple is a place where even nobles and royalty can’t touch us. So, of course, Elpisia…”

Hart was rambling on with his wishes when Elpisia stopped him, covering his mouth.

“Wait, just a minute! What’s going on? You’re saying we should live in the temple? The story is suddenly taking a strange turn! It’s not that I don’t like the idea, but…”

Elpisia was unaware of the situation at the royal banquet. She had no idea that she was being accused of betraying humanity. On the contrary, she thought she was a victim of the demon tribe.

Therefore, Hart’s suggestion sounded almost like a proposal to her. In other words, living together in the temple meant living together in Hart’s family home. As she was about to accept his offer…

It would be foolish to hesitate at this point.

So, Elpisia decided to accept his proposal.

“I’m okay with…”

Just before she could finish her sentence, a stranger’s voice interrupted.

“Is it too late…”

The old man who appeared had a deeply wrinkled face.

There’s a saying that old people look back on the past, while young people look forward to the future. However, the old man who appeared before them gazed at the present with a stern expression.

A reddish light flickered in his eyes and disappeared, like the sparkle in the Pope’s eyes.

This was a phenomenon that occurred when a deity borrowed a mortal’s eyes.

Hart quickly deduced the old man’s identity from a single clue.

“High Priest…”

“You’re still sharp, despite being on your last breath.”

From the High Priest’s perspective, Hart was already a walking corpse. It wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly collapsed. It seemed that the curse related to his baptismal name was constricting both his soul and body.

“You’ve caused trouble again, you fool. Thanks to you, we’ve suffered a significant loss, and now we can’t declare war recklessly.”

Declaring war would be difficult to justify in the future. After losing the saint in Baskhill, the temple’s power had been weakened, and the demon tribe had gained the upper hand. Moreover, the country was already in ruins, so it was time to rebuild and prepare for the future.

After finishing his thoughts, the High Priest let out a sigh and spoke his next words.

“Kill that woman and take your own life. I’ll settle this matter once and for all.”

“…”.

“Is there anything to hesitate about? No matter where you look, it’s a negotiation that prioritizes human convenience.”

“Prioritizing convenience… Who decided that?”

The High Priest’s eyebrows twitched. Harthe’s atmosphere flipped, and his eyes took on a chilly, piercing gaze.

“I decided. That’s the promise.”

Harthe’s tone and gaze were reminiscent of his childhood. Elpisia felt a sense of unease, as if she had taken a step away from the gentle, affectionate Harthe she knew. The seal of his baptism had weakened, and his humanity was slowly being eroded.

But Harthe was burning his soul and body to keep his promise.

[I’ll definitely protect you, Elpisia.]

He was still Harthe.

“It’s hard to understand the intention behind forcing this negotiation.”

The High Priest closed his eyes, his expression a mix of resignation and frustration. His sigh was so loud it was almost palpable.

In the end, the two of them seemed to realize that further conversation would be a waste of time, and they were enveloped in a miraculous light.

The crimson and golden particles clashed, engaging in a struggle for dominance.

The manifestation of the miracle occurred without warning.

Ku-gung!

From far away, a massive sword pierced through the clouds, its weight equivalent to that of the Imperial Palace. Elpisia felt it was a sword that rivaled the Empire’s palace.

Paang!

Harthe leaped into the air. He grabbed the falling sword’s hilt with his bare hands, forcing himself to hold on. Immediately, Harthe swung the massive sword down at the High Priest.

Kwaaa!

The earth shook. It was as if the palace had fallen from the sky, which was only natural. Despite the intense blow, the High Priest calmly raised a barrier to block it.

“Sword…”

Even the sacred words were unnecessary for the High Priest. As a representative of God, miracles were his natural right.

The crimson sword of God, and the golden sword of God. Each sword, forged from their respective powers, divided the world.

The High Priest’s physical abilities were by no means those of an old man.

He stood at the pinnacle of human strength, clashing with Harthe, who had reached the limits of human potential, without retreating an inch. Instead, Harthe’s swordsmanship pushed the High Priest to his limits.

The more they clashed swords, the more the surroundings were devastated. The only thing maintaining its shape was the barrier surrounding Elpisia.

“Harthe…”

Elpisia felt a sense of powerlessness. Harthe was willing to die for her, but all she could do was call out his name within the safety of her barrier.

Ka-kak, ka-gang!

The center of the sword fight was where concentration was key.

The High Priest’s mindset was beginning to change.

“This…! Is this the aura of one who’s about to die?”

There were limits to the excuses of ‘trials and tribulations.’ Although the High Priest’s expression didn’t change, his deep psyche was growing anxious.

“That brat’s worthless flesh means nothing. One moment of carelessness would mean instant death.”

That was the nature of the sacred war. Each minor attack could shatter the earth and sever the heavens. If they allowed even a single mistake, it would lead to a catastrophic outcome.

“I thought he would at least put up a final struggle before dying…!”

Paat!

The High Priest took a step back. In that instant, the crimson light enveloped the world, filling the surroundings with an ominous color.

Sarararak.

“Huh?”

Elpisia stumbled back. Harthe’s barrier was being eroded by the crimson mist, disintegrating. Moreover, the miraculous sword in Harthe’s hand was rapidly decaying, as if it were being worn away.

“Do you believe that the avatar of God can be surpassed by a mere mortal?”

“This… is not divine.”

If the divine were a tool tailored to human standards, then the current crimson light was the raw power of the unrefined original.

A superior power that could not be implemented at human eye level.

Before that power, the divine became infinitely powerless.

“Haah…”

But behind Harute was Elphicia.

A special person who was being devoured by the boundary of the curse, worrying about him.

So Harute showed a gentle smile in her direction.

As if his worn-out humanity had been restored to its original state in an instant.

Only to reassure Elphicia.

“Elphicia.”

“… Yes.”

“I’ll protect you. I, definitely.”

“…… Yes.”

“I promise. No matter what.”

It was not a vow of the sacred name.

It was just Harute, as a human, wanting to protect Elphicia, whom he loved more than anyone.

So Harute held a pure desire and offered a sincere prayer to God.

“Give me your world.”

A brief request – it was a prayer directed at two existences.

Elphicia, whom he desired, and the mother he revered.

And yet, it was a prayer with a different meaning.

He desired Elphicia’s past, present, and future. He wanted to be with her wherever she was. He vowed to protect the precious person for a lifetime.

So Harute prayed.

To manifest the power to gaze upon all things in God’s world.

Just to fulfill Harute’s selfish desire.

“… What.”

At that moment, an anomaly occurred in the High Priest’s power.

A world of pure, blue-green color began to expand its domain. It pushed back the crimson space and returned the transparent moonlight to the world.

Harute’s purple eyes were filled with a blue-green glow.

“You…! You dare to surpass the Pope and the Saint, who are right there…! Do you think you can exceed God’s representative?!”

“God always saves those who believe.”

Taang!

Harute leaped forward.

The sound of the wind rushing past his ears did not fade away.

He approached the High Priest like a beast, forgetting even the essence of martial arts. He grabbed the High Priest’s hands, and if necessary, would headbutt them, pulling them into a muddy, beastly struggle.

“You’re ridiculous…!!!”

The High Priest felt that Harute was like a wildfire. Yes, a wildfire that, once ignited, would spread uncontrollably and devour everything in its path.

Is there a limit to physical strength?

My body would be fine even if my soul were to leave right now. If I’ve come this far, I should be able to collapse without a problem.

I mustn’t create any more variables.

With that determination, the high priest shouted.

“…… Sword…!”

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Unlike Hart, who could no longer use his divine powers, the high priest forged a sword with his vital energy.

The proximity of the sword’s range and the momentary construction of a miraculous sword.

The high priest’s swift sword sliced through Hart’s neck like a guillotine.

The repercussions of the sword’s power pierced through the mountains beyond the horizon, intersecting with Elpisia and the high priest’s fate.

“Haha…!!!”

I won.

Even amidst the chaos, I managed to emerge victorious.

At that moment, when I was rejoicing and celebrating…

“… What?”

Crack!

Hart’s headless body suddenly caught his flying head in mid-air. Then, it inserted the head back into its original position, just like putting together a toy block.

The joint recovered, just like threads and needles weaving flesh together.

The high priest was left stunned, his mind reeling.

“W-what’s going on…?!?”

When he finally regained consciousness, Hart’s hand was grasping the high priest’s face.

Crash!

Hart crushed the high priest’s face against the ground with all his might.

The sound of the skull shattering sent chills down the spine.

The long battle was finally coming to an end.

It was quiet.

The unsettled dust and the stars floating in the night sky maintained their silence.

Similarly, the center of the chaos remained eerily still.

“Hart…!”

Elpisia rushed towards Hart, who was barely moving.

“Hart… Hart…!”

“Elpisia… why are you crying?”

“What’s going on here? How far will you…!”

Elpisia couldn’t understand why he was being so reckless, and she thought the man who would go to such lengths to save a single wicked woman was foolish.

However, she couldn’t help but be moved to tears by that foolishness.

Elpisia, who couldn’t even imagine the burden of her wounded Hart, could only say one thing.

“Thank you…”

For saving even a wicked woman like me. For bestowing such an absurd kindness upon me like a gift.

For giving me a colorful world, unlike the dull world I used to live in.

“Thank you… Harthe.”

It was the first sincere expression of gratitude.

Harthe thought that it didn’t quite fit Elpecia’s style. It might be a foolish sentiment, but that’s how he felt.

“Harthe.”

“Yes, Elpecia.”

“You asked for my world.”

Elpecia thought that the prayer was really, truly foolish, just like Harthe.

It was only natural…

“My world has been yours since—”

You possessed it.

Perhaps it was destined to be so since the day they met at the imperial palace ball.

… Elpecia had clearly intended to convey that.

If not for the unexpected commotion, he would have finished speaking.

“It’s troublesome.”

The Pope appeared.

Another emissary of a different deity opened the space and descended upon the demonic realm.

At that moment, the temple bell in the distant imperial capital rang out.

It was the bell announcing the new year.

A week later.

Their selfish story finally came to a tragic end.