The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

60 – The Most Profane Act Committed by the Most Noble Sacrifice

11 years ago.

“Why does the queen hate you so much?”

“Well, I guess I must have been enemies in a past life~~”

Dominic and Wolfgang chatted as they rode at the forefront of the formation. The war with demons, which had lasted for over ten years, was starting to come to an end thanks to the efforts of the Decisive.

Today, as they were on their way to the location of the major demon they had been tracking, a battle that could possibly be the last in this war was looming.

Perhaps because of this, Dominic felt the urge to share his untold story with Wolfgang.

“Hey, Commander.”

“What nonsense are you trying to say now.”

“Oh~ Why do you always react like that when I try to talk~”

“You just say ridiculous things. If it’s a real story, check it later; you probably made it up.”

“If it’s fun, what’s the harm! Isn’t that right~”

“Well, that’s true. But still, refrain a bit today. Thinking it might be the last, I’m feeling a tension I haven’t felt before.”

“Understood~”

If it had been the usual joke or interesting anecdote, Dominic would have opened his mouth despite Wolfgang’s objection to relieve the tension. However, what Dominic wanted to talk about now was the complete opposite, so he kept silent.

– Boom!

With the sound of the wind cutting through the hill, a signal flare soared into the air and exploded. Red smoke scattered in the sky like clouds.

“Casey and Tendrial have discovered it.”

“Commander. If I die, I’ll revive you with my enchantment.”

“Just let me die. I absolutely don’t want to owe you my life.”

“Kavi~”

Wolfang chuckled and, turning around, ran towards the ranks following him, shouting with a thunderous voice. It was a customary action he took before battles, meant to boost the morale of the various soldiers from different affiliations who had joined the ranks as combatants or support.

Wolfang passed through the ranks and reached Haganess and Adeus, who were positioned at the rear.

“Don’t miss it this time, Adeus.”

“Don’t worry, sir.”

“Good.”

Wolfang patted the warrior’s shoulder and nodded lightly to Haganess beside him. Haganess also acknowledged his greeting.

Wolfang then returned to the forefront of the ranks, scanning the formation once again.

Suddenly, the ranks were crossing a hill.

“It’s a very good place for a battle.”

After passing a quite steep slope, a vast field spread out before them.

Before the war, it seemed like a place where cattle or sheep might have grazed.

It would have been a picturesque scene if not for the giant hole in the middle, disturbing the otherwise serene landscape.

The scouting party led by Casey and Tendrial was waiting around the massive hole.

The ranks continued moving and reached their position.

“Tendrial, Casey, good job. Is it here?”

“Yes, Boss. We’re not sure when it will pour out, but it’s definite here.”

“Yes. If Haganess confirms…”

“Oh~ Well, I admit the Holy Knight is a bit more appealing, but it’s a bit disappointing that you just ignore me when I’m closer to you~”

Dominic teased Casey while glancing at the rear of the ranks where the warrior Adeus and Haganess were.

“Oh, that wasn’t my intention, Dominic. It’s just a habit since Haganess usually handles it.”

Casey denied, but it was an intentional statement to anyone who heard it.

“Alright. This might be the last time, but give it a try, Dominic.”

“Oh~ Finally~”

Upon Wolfang’s approval, Dominic took out a bottle from his pocket containing a solid object and stopped in front of the cliff-like hole.

“I’m ready~”

“Everyone! Prepare for battle!!!”

Wolfgang raised his arm toward Dominic, shouting toward the ranks. At his command, all the combatants strengthened their resolve, readying themselves to confront the pouring onslaught of demons.

Lowering his outstretched arm forcefully, Wolfgang signaled Dominic. Dominic opened a vial, pouring its contents onto the ground. A noxious odor swiftly permeated the air.

Dominic closed his eyes, beginning to recite the incantation to summon the demon.

As the incantation echoed, a faint vibration accompanied the slow formation of a massive rift.

“So simple a task.”

In the smooth operation of the spell, Dominic pondered silently on how inefficient the purification rituals performed by paladins were. The method of compulsions, ten times faster than the sanctum’s purification rites, to bring forth demons hidden deep within the earth was strictly disregarded due to its classification as forbidden magic.

Yet, under Wolfgang’s directive of ‘anything goes if it means catching demons,’ Dominic was finally able to attempt it.

“…Necro.”

Finishing the incantation, Dominic knelt and placed his palm over the black objects he had spread on the ground earlier. A squishy, unpleasant sensation enveloped his entire being.

Excitedly, Dominic closed his eyes. Suddenly, the ground beneath his hand unfolded within his sight.

“This… this is?”

Meanwhile, Haganes, waiting in the rear, wondered why he hadn’t been summoned for the purification ritual. Despite silently waiting, assuming he would be called separately, Wolfgang’s command for “combat readiness” came abruptly.

“Oh… could it be?”

With a sense of foreboding, Haganes dashed towards Wolfgang. Upon arrival, it seemed that Dominic, the enchanter, was performing the role that Haganes was supposed to undertake.

“No! Wolfgang! What if we entrust such a profane task to someone like him!”

“Haganes, what’s the matter…”

Despite hearing Wolfgang and Haganes’ voices not far off, Dominic paid no heed. He had encountered a grave issue within the earth he had been peering into.

While originally intending to connect his ritual to ancient souls buried beneath the ground, ensuring the successful summoning of the demons hidden underground, he unexpectedly encountered a problem deeper within.

Where demons were supposed to lurk, corruption was spreading, and an enormous number of corpses lay piled up like a vast field, bloated as if filled with gas, covering an area comparable to the entire field.

“Then?”

Sensing a strong feeling, Dominic scanned the surroundings and soon noticed unstable-looking explosives planted near the ground. If they were to detonate, the gas-filled decomposed bodies would trigger a chain explosion, obliterating all life forms on the field without a trace.

Evacuating everyone was practically impossible. Dominic withdrew his hand from the ground.

“Call it a purification ritual, but it’s not weakening the demons pulled from the ground, is it?”

“Even if that’s the case…??”

“Dominic?”

Passing by Wolfgang and Haganes, still engrossed in conversation, Dominic suddenly knelt on the ground and urgently began digging. Everyone stared at him due to his sudden action.

Dominic was in a hurry.

Frantically, as if possessed, he dug into the earth with his hands.

And soon, he found the explosives.

Dominic tried to throw it as far away as possible. He thought that if it exploded in the air, away from the ground, the radius would not reach the gas that filled the underground.

However, time was running out. It seemed clear that it would explode before he could throw it. Dominic thought that if he wore his bone armor, he could minimize the damage. He held the explosive in his arms, tightly wrapping his body, to prevent even the slightest explosion from escaping.

“What am I doing right now?”

– Boom!

The explosive exploded in Dominic’s arms, and his body was thrown into the air before crashing back down on the ground. Fortunately, the chain reaction did not occur, and there were no casualties except for himself.

“What happened…”

“Dominic!”

Wolfgang rushed towards the fallen Dominic and placed his head on his lap.

“Oh, no… Dominic, what have you done?”

Dominic’s body was in a state that could be described as nothing but a mess due to the explosion. He continued to froth at the mouth, barely managing to speak.

“Co…Commander…I…it’s a trap…the…underground is filled…with corpses full of gas…”

“What?”

Wolfgang called the combat engineers to dig the ground. As they dug a few times, a sound of gas escaping with a foul smell could be heard from the ground. Everyone believed it to be the gas that came out of the decomposed corpses, according to Dominic’s words.

“Co…Commander…cough.”

“Stop talking, Dominic… You saved all of us.”

“Commander…actually…I have a daughter…please…take care of her…”

“What are you talking about? I don’t know where your daughter is or how she looks, how can…”

“When…if we meet in Najou…you’ll know…”

Meanwhile,

Hero Adaeus sighed in relief as he hugged Wolfgang and watched Dominic slowly lose his breath.

(It would have been better if I hadn’t suggested the damn mind control mage) because he hadn’t informed Dominic of his plan to betray Wolfgang.