How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 124

“A spirit…?”

[Yes. I am fire. The primordial fire, all of fire, its king. The Fire Spirit King.]

Luri’s mind went blank.

She only felt that something, some immense opportunity, was approaching.

She recalled what Princess Adela had once said.

If you keep striving and persevering, one opportunity will come…

‘This is that opportunity!’

[Long ago, I ascended to the side of the gods, but to protect the mortal continents, I stored my primordial form in the spirit realm. I don’t know why it’s here. And to think the one who picked it up… possesses a talent for spirits unseen even in ancient times.]

Talk of gods and the spirit realm went unheard.

One phrase shook Luri’s heart.

‘That’s about me, right?’

Me, who always seemed talentless compared to others?

I was born with a talent for spirits?

“M-Me? Talent?”

[Of course. Ho, your body overflows with the energy of countless elixirs. They’ve accumulated, undigested due to your modest talent, but that’s all the better. They’ll make fine material.]

The fiery bird flapped its wings.

Sparks scattered in all directions.

The Fire Spirit King flew slowly around Luri.

[You have an innate talent for flames.]

That’s right.

When I first learned magic, I was told I had an overwhelming affinity for flames.

But my affinity for mana was poor, so in the end, I was neither a genius nor a prodigy—just average.

[And you have the ability to pierce the essence of what you observe.]

That’s the secret art of the Elidore family.

[Now… let us come to know each other.]

The fiery bird embraced Luri from behind.

[We spirits are tasked with guarding the world, but due to human betrayal and arrogance, that role was indefinitely suspended. But you… you are fulfilling that duty. Your noble dedication to protecting the world from evil, for the one you love, is utterly beautiful.]

Luri felt her heart fill with heat, her strength surging.

As the Fire Spirit King was absorbed into her body… she began to feel it.

His mind.

The power of the spirit.

[That’s not all. The first fire of the spirit realm is here, and you, holding the primordial spark, possess immense talent and desperate resolve. The emotions we spirits cherish. Your desire for strength, your burning love for one man, awakened me. This is fate.]

The Fire Spirit King saw a grand design Luri could scarcely comprehend.

[Can you see the threads of cause and effect aligning? The world has desired this moment.]

It was the moment when ancient guardians, destined to leave a mark on human history, returned.

[The Fire Spirit King declares it will resume its original role.]

The flames subsided.

Not a spark remained.

[Through this girl. Girl, your name?]

A colossal flame to burn and purify evil had taken root within Luri.

“Luri. Luri von Ciel Elidore.”

[Good, Luri. The contract is sealed.]

An overwhelming surge of spirit power erupted from Luri’s body.

The wings of the Spirit King sprouted from her shoulder blades.

A pair of wings, larger than her body, flapped.

The demonic energy eating away at her body screamed as it was burned away, and even impure emotions submitted.

‘Martin!’

The anguished girl.

‘I’m coming!’

Had found her answer.

***

[What?]

Brahmus felt an unprecedented panic.

It couldn’t be.

It shouldn’t be.

[Lies.]

Demons despised three entities.

First, the gods.

Inflexible, self-righteous hypocrites.

[It cannot be.]

Second, the empire and church that believed in the cosmic order, Cosmos.

Of course, they destroyed them a hundred years ago.

Erased all their information, didn’t they?

The Star Child of the Peacemaker, a thorn in their side for centuries, and the sudden appearance of gunmen and swordsmen wielding stellar force were all there was.

[Why… that thing?]

But the third.

The most incomprehensible part.

In an era older than ancient times, during the continent’s dark age, the demon lords were the rulers of the land.

Countless demons and the seven demon lords who sat on the thrones were driven to hell by the continent’s guardians: dragons, the World Tree, and…

[The Fire Spirit King! And the Desert Hierophant!]

The spirits of nature, crafted by the gods, and the heroes of the ancient dark age who wielded their treasures, the Nature Five.

Extra Luri has awakened her privilege! Her steadfast efforts and her feelings for you have borne fruit. The spirits, who vanished from the continent disappointed by human selfishness, have sensed a new destiny in her heart and declared their return to the fight!

Main villain Adela has awakened the Desert Hierophant! The fallen ruler hidden within the hierophant attacked her, but Adela is no longer the villain of the past. Through you, she learned love and wishes to live among people. Instead of becoming an empress by merging with the fallen ruler, she chose to stand by your side, even as a powerless princess! One of the Nature Five, lost to human greed, has reappeared in the world!

“Finally.”

A pillar of fire erupted from the ruins of the fallen Imperium Academy.

The blazing column, radiating intense heat, soared into the sky, then fell, engulfing Brahmus.

[Kuh, aaagh!]

The heat was so intense that even Brahmus flailed, swinging his arms.

[Minions! Kill them!]

At Brahmus' frantic command, the Academy’s demons swarmed toward one spot.

But then, golden light flashed, and the demons were swept away like fallen leaves by the golden knight corps.

‘Did it work!’

Could we win?!

[Princess' Gift activation time has ended.]

The golden magic circle above the Black Knight’s armor vanished, and the strength that had kept me moving disappeared completely.

‘That was close.’

Relief washed over me.

As tension faded and my legs gave out, Brahmus stopped me.

[…What.]

A tremendous force surged.

A vortex of deep green demonic energy spiraled from Brahmus' body, spreading outward.

The spirit’s flames, which had seemed to overpower him, were easily pushed back.

[The Fire Spirit King I remember… is weaker than this.]

The golden knight corps, caught in the vortex, froze and crouched.

[The hero of the hierophant I met long ago… is weaker than this.]

Though Adela and Luri had awakened, it was only just.

No matter how powerful, their vessels were too small to contain the power, and they were not yet hardened to wield it freely.

[Die.]

The spirit’s flames were pushed back faster.

[Die.]

The golden knight corps fell to their knees.

[Before you become great trees.]

Perhaps if Brahmus had been struck right after being summoned, it might have worked.

But having devoured buildings, teachers, and cadets for a while, he had regained enough strength to make it impossible.

[I’ll crush… the sprouts…!]

‘Lies!’

Regret surged.

I should’ve given them earlier.

I shouldn’t have delayed.

‘I shouldn’t have doubted.’

I should’ve trusted them.

‘I should’ve given them sooner.’

Did I grow arrogant, thinking I could control every situation just because I’d gotten stronger?

‘Damn it…!’

As I raised my head with regret, Brahmus' massive form was already before me.

To see the demon lord’s face, I had to crane my neck high.

Like a mountain peak, Brahmus was as heavy as a great ridge.

[You… are out of strength.]

Brahmus' hand slowly grasped me.

“Arghhhhh!”

An unbearable scream erupted from the pain.

It felt like my body was being crushed into jerky.

The dizzying sensation of bones breaking and organs bursting.

[Shock absorption limit exceeded.]

Without the Black Knight’s armor, I might’ve been reduced to a lump of flesh and bone.

[I… peel shells well.]

Brahmus' finger flicked my head.

It felt like my head exploded.

I thought my head was flying off, but it was the Black Knight’s helmet.

‘Ha…’

Now it’s laughable.

There’s no way to survive this damned creature…

[I’ll eat… you.]

“Martin!”

“No!”

Screams echoed from below.

A massive maw approached my face.

‘Is this… the end?’

Empty.

Dragged to this world by Recola, was this my fate?

To accomplish nothing here…

“Well, you can’t just stand there.”

Someone dropped from the sky.

Know-It-All (Lv 4) cheers that your savior has arrived!

A figure so remarkable that even the refined Know-It-All cheered.

“Don’t worry.”

Clad in a pristine white robe, he descended from the sky, drawing dual white pistols.

He smiled between Brahmus' face and me.

“I’m here.”

Tat-tat-tat-tang!

The dual pistols fired white flames.

[Aaagh!]

A scream.

For the first time, Brahmus truly wailed in pain.

So shocked, he dropped me and writhed.

He caught me as I fell from his open hand.

I’d held many people, but being held was a first.

“Oh…”

The demon lord’s writhing in agony was a measure of the sudden savior’s strength.

The inside of the man’s white robe should’ve been invisible, as if veiled in light.

But I could see it.

Proof that I was his comrade.

“Peacemaker…?”

“I told you to call me Star Child.”

The Star Child laid me down.

I tried to get up… but my body wouldn’t move.

There was no sensation.

No pain.

“H-How…? Weren’t you searching for the Nature Five…?”

The Star Child knelt on one knee and placed his hand over my heart.

Warm stellar force flowed in, beginning to heal my body.

“I found Majesty of the Mountain, and got some unexpected results too.”

“No matter how I thought about it, these guys wouldn’t just sit back after having their feast stolen.”

“What, upset I came late?”

The Star Child’s playful smile was dazzling.

I was so overjoyed, I shook my head vigorously—or so I felt, but did my head actually move?

“No way…! You came… right on time…!”

“But the barrier… what happened?”

The Star Child chuckled and pointed in one direction.

There, a small section of the barrier was broken… and bright light was streaming in.

Through that crack, I saw seventeen Platinum Knights entering.

“They piled up damage on the barrier, so I could enter at the right moment.”

The Platinum Knights who entered the barrier immediately scattered, slaughtering demons.

“That’s not all.”

“Thanks to you landing a few hits on Brahmus from the inside, breaking the barrier was much easier.”

The Star Child raised his hand and patted my head.

“Well done.”

“You kept our promise to protect the capital of the Imperium Empire, humanity’s last bastion.”

The Star Child gave a proud smile.

To me, it felt like a checkpoint signaling the end of the crisis.

“I… I’m the one who’s…!”

Having faced death head-on, I flashed a rare, relieved smile.

It wasn’t intentional; it just came naturally.

“Hm, you can make that face too?”

“If you weren’t in such a state, you’d have broken plenty of hearts.”

“What? N-No, that’s…”

As I gave an embarrassed smile.

[Woooargh!]

Brahmus let out a roar.

I was shocked to see his state.

His body was riddled with clear holes.

I had just seen who made them.

[Star Child…!]

“Hey, Brahmus~. Long time no see.”

The Star Child spun his dual pistols and took aim.

“Shall we play, piggy?”

[Star Child!]

Brahmus opened his maw wide and fired a green photon cannon.

The Star Child merely pulled the trigger of one pistol.

A thin white line clashed with the massive green cannon, dissolving the green and piercing Brahmus' head.

[Kuueeegh!]

“Thirty percent of your main body? No… five percent was used elsewhere.”

“Probably Keltu pulling his favorite feint tactic.”

“So, just twenty-five percent, huh? You’ve had it rough.”

Pure, flawless stellar force rose from the Star Child’s body.

His tone was still carefree, but there was an odd tension.

Perhaps the Star Child was angry.

Inside his fluttering Peacemaker robe, a cape I’d never seen hung over his back.

Tinged white, likely influenced by stellar force.