The Time-Stop Breeding Uncle Want's to Retire-Chapter 142
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Why had he discarded his name? He himself didn’t know.
A name might be something taken for granted by some. But for him, it was anything but. He was once nothing more than a mere monster.
Therefore, he had given himself a name. And he had been obsessed with that name. But, to the point of abandoning even that name, he clung to a single battle.
So, he couldn’t fall here.
Ayanhar’s wounds healed in an instant.
The dying embers in his heart reignited.
Instinctively, he understood.
This was his final battle, burning his entire being. Even if he were to win here, there would be nothing left for him.
Golden flames erupted from Ayanhar’s body.
“This is getting a little more interesting.”
“Clara, you’ve done well. I’ll take over from here.”
“But, Commander…!!”
“Didn’t you feel it too? That guy’s determination.”
“…”
For a single battle, a being fights, even sacrificing its own life.
Though their roots were different, how could he, as a fellow warrior, dare to interrupt a duel between beings walking the same path?
“I pay my respects to your fighting spirit, War Demon.”
“…War Demon.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, that’s my name…!!!”
To be named by a worthy adversary for the first time, was there any greater recognition?
Ayanhar, no, the War Demon, roared. But it wasn’t a roar of anger, but a roar filled with delight.
Hans calmly faced the War Demon’s imposing aura, which would have made ordinary people kneel.
It was something even Hans himself found strange, but he severed those thoughts.
The only thing that mattered was the outcome of the duel. Soon, the War Demon and Hans clashed their weapons.
Unable to withstand the impact of their blows, the ground shattered, and fragments flew in all directions.
The War Demon, having reclaimed his name, had only one weapon, his fists.
An unrelenting barrage of fists, straightforward yet powerful, rained down like a storm. They possessed the power to shatter castle walls, but Hans evaded them effortlessly. РÅ𐌽օ₿Ě𝓢
‘My body feels lighter than I expected. And his reactions aren’t difficult to read.’
The War Demon’s attacks, powerful enough to crush most Blood Demons in a direct confrontation, were easily avoided by Hans.
The War Demon felt a flicker of impatience for the first time. Still, his attacks wouldn’t connect.
‘Yes, I was overwhelmed by this man.’
Despite his defeat and the humiliation he had swallowed, the reason the War Demon had retreated obediently was simple. He had been completely overpowered by his opponent.
He had attacked with all his might, only to have every attack evaded effortlessly. It felt like facing an insurmountable wall.
His limbs felt heavy, and he wanted to collapse.
That was the feeling of utter helplessness.
Yet, forcibly swallowing that feeling, the War Demon gritted his teeth and continued his assault.
He yearned for a single victory, just that one. But now, it didn’t matter.
“This is what I truly desired!!!”
Golden flames gathered in the War Demon’s fist.
The flames, burning as hot as the sun, were a reflection of the War Demon’s own heart.
The War Demon’s once-human face had reverted to that of a bull.
‘His face has changed? Has he gone through something?’
Maintaining his composure, Hans adjusted his stance.
The War Demon’s fist, devoid of any deception, swung towards Hans’s head. Evading the straightforward attack, Hans moved in.
Having dodged the War Demon’s attack, Hans threw a punch of his own.
The punch, landing squarely on the War Demon’s solar plexus, dealt significant damage.
The War Demon coughed up blood but didn’t retreat.
Instead, seeing an opportunity, the War Demon moved his massive hands to grab Hans’s shoulder.
Believing that Hans could no longer escape, the War Demon raised his fist again.
“Give it your all, human…!!!”
In that instant, the War Demon, who seemed ready to strike at any moment, froze.
It wasn’t just the War Demon.
Clara, who was watching the fight nearby, and even Quarentz, who was further away, were frozen as well.
The only one who could move was Hans.
Hans moved slowly.
The first thing he did was to forcefully push away the War Demon’s hand that was gripping his shoulder.
Fortunately, he was able to push the hand away without much difficulty.
Having freed himself from the War Demon’s grasp, Hans drew the sword at his hip.
The holy sword that could even cut through dragon scales.
That holy sword pierced the War Demon’s heart.
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The War Demon wanted to become stronger.
He wanted to become stronger than anyone else, to obtain complete freedom. He strived to escape the instinctual need to obey the demons. And finally, he met that man.
[You and I both seek to overcome our limits. Of course, it will be a very difficult path. But what choice do we have? We just have to do our best and try.]
He was planning something far more outrageous than the War Demon.
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Yet, he offered to help, bestowing power upon him. The power felt similar to the Blood Demons he had only heard of.
But he was certain that the man was not a Blood Demon. If he were, he wouldn’t have proposed such an outrageous plan.
In a way, the man was the War Demon’s comrade.
[Are you going?]
[Yes.]
[You will most likely die there.]
[Even so, it doesn’t matter.]
[Then I won’t stop you.]
He probably anticipated this outcome.
No, perhaps even the War Demon himself had foreseen this. Even so, the War Demon chose this path. Even throwing away his name.
Even so.
What the War Demon desired
Was only one thing.
“A battle without regrets.”
Yes, his life had already been forfeit that day.
A life revived by chance.
He had hoped to die fighting that man again in the end. And now, that desire had been fulfilled.
“Are you satisfied?”
“I am.”
“You committed unforgivable acts. But…”
“…”
“Before being a knight, as a warrior, I pay my respects to your fighting spirit.”
The War Demon collapsed without a word. But he wore a peaceful smile, as if he had no further regrets.
Hans sighed and sheathed his sword.
“Commander! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?!”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“I should have taken care of this…”
“How can I ignore a warrior’s fighting spirit?”
In truth, Hans had intended to keep watching.
Perhaps it was due to the experience he had accumulated. Even though the War Demon had awakened, he believed that Clara could have subdued him without much difficulty.
But the War Demon’s cry had moved Hans.
He didn’t know why the War Demon was so desperate for a duel, but his own non-existent warrior’s blood had begun to boil.
Hans quietly looked at his hand.
Ever since he heard the legend about the dragon heart, something felt off. He felt a surge of fighting spirit, which was unusual.
“Commander! Let’s go back! We need to report to the Kingdom!”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“And we should take everything we can while we’re at it.”
“Calm down.”
Hans calmed Clara and looked at the War Demon’s corpse.
Perhaps because he had given his all, the War Demon’s body was turning into ash and disappearing.
It was probably for the best.
‘May he live a better life in his next life.’
Hans genuinely hoped so.
Meanwhile, many people had witnessed today’s battle.
Most were in awe of Hans’s strength, but among them, one individual watched with a uniquely analytical gaze. A man who had seen everything through the invisible eyes of an Imp.
From a cliff far from the Kingdom’s walls, he had witnessed everything through the Imp. And as he had expected, the Commander of the Royal Knights possessed strength befitting his title.
“When he dealt with the Glutton, I had my doubts. But he’s turned out to be quite the monster.”
But thanks to this, things had become easier. He smirked and withdrew the Imp’s vision. He had never liked them.
They called themselves Blood Demons and True Bloods, lording it over others, while those below, who handled all the dirty work, weren’t even given names, just referred to as lesser demons.
Of course, most didn’t object.
The demon world was a place of survival of the fittest.
It was a place where the strong, ruled by the logic of power, took everything.
So he decided to fight in his own way.
First, he took control of the Imps, an information source, and controlled the flow of information.
He couldn’t withhold information entirely, as that would arouse suspicion.
He would provide some information, but withhold crucial details to cause harm.
Like the true strength of the Commander of the Royal Knights.
“Comprachicos, doppelgangers, parasites, and those hateful True Bloods.”
Information is only useful if it’s 100% true.
If you trust information that’s 70% true and act on it, the only outcome is ruin. And as expected, the power of the Blood Demons and True Bloods had weakened.
The man’s lips curled into a wide grin.
All of this was for the sake of his pitiful brethren.
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[Translator Notes]
