Taming the Evil Saintess

---

Black Water Elgore.

Elgore, who appears in “Sword & Magic Chronicle,” is treated quite oddly. Elgore’s dungeon is right here, at the Eastern Coast.

In the game, players personally experience the devastation of the Eastern Coast and the tragedy of the grand city, Eastern Port, heightening the tension. Moreover, the cruelty and madness displayed by Elgore’s lieutenants could leave even horror game enthusiasts speechless.

Thus, anticipation was high for the final boss, Black Water Elgore.

Players had no doubt he was the most wicked and dreadful Demon King and a pirate.

“Whoa! A challenger, huh? You’ve come to the right place! I’m the big boss of this place, Elgore!”

However, what popped out of the boss room was a bizarre figure who seemed ready to speak in a quaint dialect for some reason.

Exchanging a few dumbfounded lines with Elgore, who was oddly dim-witted, players immediately plunged into the boss battle without any cutscene or special effects. Elgore waddled towards the player party, slowly swinging his fists.

At that moment, players may wonder if this truly is the terrifying ruler of the dungeon. But when they allow just one of Elgore’s basic attacks to land and witness their frontline character staggering, they couldn’t hide their astonishment, especially after the caster character in the back row had their magic casting button locked.

This is precisely why Black Water Elgore is a member of the Demon King’s Army, who is shockingly and inordinately strong, a glaring anomaly of common sense.

And here I am, ready to duel with him, one-on-one, without any assistance.

“Hmph.”

I can’t deny that it’s a suicidal act.

Even Albrecht and Ophelia said the same.

But I have no intention of committing suicide.

If I had no chance, I wouldn’t even attempt it.

“Are you ready?”

Before me stood Black Water Elgore, postured as if expecting a fight while I nodded and raised the Holy Sword.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Hehe, you’re straightforward, I like that. Then I’ll go first.”

At this moment, I’m probably stronger than the hero of the original story. I felt this deeply while battling the Aide of the Hell Duke, the Black Knight Negilus.

Armed with the Hero’s Divine Mark, Blood of the Hero, Olmen’s masterpiece, and various top-tier artifacts, I believe I can give Elgore a good fight.

That’s what I thought.

Bam!

In the blink of an eye, Elgore vanished from my sight.

Teleportation? No. He simply moved out of my field of vision at an incredible speed.

I opened my senses to gather information from the surroundings. I soon realized that a punch fired off from Elgore’s left side, and I quickly swung my Holy Sword in that direction.

And…

Bam!

An impact hit me like crashing against a giant wall. Was that even a punch? It felt suspiciously strong and heavy.

Since I was hit without any opportunity to brace myself, my feet lifted off the ground. Unable to withstand the shock, I hovered momentarily in the air and reoriented myself when I saw Elgore tucking his fists to his sides.

I noted! The air split apart with a deafening rush as Elgore unleashed another punch. Even though he swung it from afar, the shockwave transformed into an invisible fist and ravaged the area around me.

‘What the hell…’

This isn’t merely mana. It’s something far more sinister. It’s because Elgore’s physical form is alarmingly close to the inexplicable.

Did he inherit the blood of giants?

I wonder what kind of monstrous era it was when those giants roamed the earth.

Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, I braced myself and landed after taking the shockwave.

“Oh ho! Little brother, your sense of balance is pretty good!”

“I guess that’s all I’ve learned.”

From that brief contest, it became clear that the gap in combat prowess between Elgore and me was abysmally vast.

“But little brother, you’re mistaken. You can never defeat me.”

Elgore seemed to share similar thoughts as he puffed out a breath, clasping his fists together in front of his chest. A shockwave burst forth, sprinkling debris onto my face.

It was certain that I couldn’t defeat Elgore in my current state.

At this moment.

“Little brother, entertain me until the end!”

Elgore grinned and charged at me, swinging his fists.

Bam!

His punch neatly deflected off my Holy Sword. This time, I didn’t get knocked back. Instead, it was Elgore who got pushed away.

“…What?”

Elgore gazed at me in surprise.

I felt hot.

All over my body.

And the mark on my palm glowed white, radiating light.

“It seems my brother has underestimated me.”

I gritted my teeth.

Every muscle in my body felt like it was expanding.

“Now, the real show begins.”

Elgore accelerated.

Last time, I couldn’t keep up with my eyes, but this time it was different. I could clearly see Elgore running and his beaming smile looking back at me.

It wasn’t just visibility.

I could keep up.

I was capable of generating that much speed.

I explosively accelerated the flow of mana coursing through my spine. Gathering mana in my legs, I leaped forth. Elgore, who had seemed distant, was suddenly right in front of me.

Swish!

I lunged with my Holy Sword.

It was a clean hit.

*

Ophelia bit her lips, watching the duel unfold before her.

If it looked like Elliot might lose, she had vowed to intervene.

However, she realized just how foolish that proclamation was as she witnessed that unfathomable level of combat.

Elliot could lose at any moment.

“Tch.”

Black Water Elgore launched a ruthless charge. Even without using magic, he was merely scratched by the Holy Sword. He was monstrous, beyond description.

On the other hand, what about Elliot? If he allowed even a single direct hit from Elgore, he would be rendered combat-ineffective. He adeptly utilized techniques to deflect punches, evade, and mix in feints to confuse the opponent.

That dance of attacks and counters exchanged in a heartbeat.

Honestly, keeping up with it was a challenge. Had it not been for the enhancement of my sight through Divine Power, I likely wouldn’t have followed even half of that fight.

Emily, who was watching the battle right beside me, had her eyes spinning wildly. She was probably just trying to catch a glimpse of the battle’s afterimages.

“…”

In such a scenario, was it even feasible to intervene precisely at the moment Elliot allowed an attack?

The success of the fight hinged on how well Elliot could block Elgore’s attacks.

In the end, all that Ophelia could do was wish that her beloved would emerge victorious.

“Saintess, are you… praying right now?”

“Shut up. I’m just as irritated.”

In response to Emily’s query, Ophelia pressed her hands together, resting them on her forehead.

That was her prayer.

Even now, as Pope, Ophelia harbored a hatred for the Gods.

She firmly believed that the responsibility of her life’s current state also lay significantly with the Divine.

However.

No, precisely because of that.

Shouldn’t they perhaps grant her wish just this once?

“…You bastard, I won’t say anything more, so… whether divine retribution or a miracle, please grant me something…”

Could it be that Ophelia’s wish resonated?

Crash!

A sound that signaled something breaking echoed.

“…”

It came from none other than Elliot’s sword.

“Divine Essence, you bastard…”

Of course, Ophelia had merely misinterpreted.

*

“Huff.”

I stripped off my shattered chest plate, which had been grazed by Elgore’s punch. I tossed away the cumbersome greaves, gauntlets, and the tattered shoulder guards.

The armor wasn’t a major issue. After all, if I got hit properly, it would be fatal. Avoiding hits was the top priority, so I needed to lighten my load.

However.

“Little brother, I think you should use a sturdier sword than that.”

“I suppose so.”

The problem was the crack that had formed in the Holy Sword. A chunk was missing, with a hairline fracture running through it.

At present, it wouldn’t greatly affect the sword’s strength, but if the fight dragged on like this, it might break entirely.

That would be the worst-case scenario.

“Does Olmen the Old Man not know how to craft a proper sword?”

Of course, I’m well aware this isn’t Olmen’s fault. This is all due to Elgore’s abnormally monstrous strength.

I’ve already deflected his attacks hundreds of times. I did indeed use the sword roughly in that process. But still, I could hardly have imagined that this masterfully forged sword, crafted with great care by a blacksmith with a mark, would be ruined by mere punches.

“Tch.”

What can I do?

I should use it as sparingly as possible.

As long as the blade doesn’t break cleanly in half, I should be able to injure Elgore with the remaining strong edge. Of course, Elgore knew that fact well, so he would relentlessly target the Holy Sword.

In the worst-case scenario, I might even have to consider taking on that monster with martial arts.

As I wrapped up my preparations, Elgore took a deep breath, raising his fists.

“Little brother, let’s do this again.”

“Got it.”

Elgore crouched low, while I widened my eyes, watching his movements closely.

However, just before Elgore charged, someone dashed in unexpectedly.

“You bastard! How do you plan to fight like that?!”

“Ophelia…?”

“How can you do anything with that flimsy sword!”

Ophelia shouted, rushing towards me.

It happened so swiftly that even Elgore scratched his cheek in surprise at the appearance of such a flustered Ophelia.

“Little brother, didn’t we say no outside interference…?”

“Shut up, you pile of garbage!”

“Ugh.”

At Ophelia’s scolding, Elgore looked dejected, lowering his head.

Rushing in, Ophelia produced a long box from her arms, panting as she reached a suitable distance.

“Ophelia, that’s…”

“Just shut up and take it.”

Ophelia tossed the box from a distance, and I fumbled to catch it.

“I brought it because I figured it might go to waste. Hurry up and get ready.”

To interrupt a duel just to deliver supplies?

I was about to urge Ophelia to get back, worried she might get hurt, but her fierce gaze stopped me. Resigned, I rummaged through the box, feeling something cold brush against my fingertips, frowning in confusion.

From the box came the sword of the Previous Hero.

In other words… I was about to wield the real Holy Sword.

“…Ophelia, this is…”

“You’re well-prepared, aren’t you? Call me the Queen of Preparation.”

Ophelia grinned as she said that.

The Holy Sword sparkled in the sunlight.