Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 230

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 230 – Her Prank

Even the movement of a single finger caused a sharp pain to seize him.

He tried to look strong, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead, but even so, a small gap had opened up in his heart.

“Once more…”

The World Tree of Gluttony was surprised, but it quickly regained its composure and used its power.

The illusionary hands appeared once more, and with increased momentum, they headed straight for Ain… but,

“What… what did you do…?”

The same thing happened again.

The moment he thought he had touched Ain, all the illusionary hands turned into mist and disappeared.

“It’s not over yet… I told you that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re already dying, and there’s no way you can use any power…”

“There is… or rather, there was.”

Then Ain took a deep breath. The pain from his burned skin was excruciating, but his strength had recovered a bit.

“The silver that spreads across the homeland is proof of the hope that stirs the spirits of the people.”

The illusionary hand that had turned into mist… that mist continued to drift around.

“As the one who rules over this proof, I may not have been suitable just now. But I am still here.”

He took a step forward with his right foot. But the trembling had not subsided. He was weak, like a child, and it would be impossible to compete with the World Tree of Gluttony in this state. Of course, this was assuming that things were normal.

“Therefore, I will continue to stand before you with my pride.

“Do you think that talking loudly will lead to strength? The fact that you are on the verge of death has not changed.”

“Yes, I know. But…”

Playing with the mist that drifted around him, he added more power to his feet.

As Ain felt this,

“I am Ain…! The proud heir of the Silver… the only man who will destroy you!”

Shouting his name, Ain gathered all his strength and closed the distance to the World Tree of Gluttony in one fell swoop.

There was no way he had that much power left. The World Tree of Gluttony’s face showed its confusion.

“But there’s no need for me to match your strength…!”

The World Tree of Gluttony took a step back from Ain. As it stretched out its illusionary hands, it directed its reddish-black magic at Ain.

In addition, many tree roots and vines sprouted from the ground, attempting to stop Ain’s movement.

“Don’t get… in my way!”

“You… tried to erase it?!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!”

Ain stepped into the gap between the World Tree of Gluttony. Then he swung his sword vigorously.

“But a sword with so little power…”

“Then try to block it, you World Tree of Gluttony!”

“Yes! I’ll block it! I will see with my own body why you have become so confident!”

The sound of metal clashing echoed. For the first time in a long time, the two swords crossed, and Ain’s sword reached the World Tree of Gluttony.

In addition to Dullahan’s armor, the World Tree of Gluttony, wielding the same great sword as Ain, stood firm against the attack.

“You are weak…! You can’t defeat me with such an attack.”

“I told you! I am Ain… so I will defeat you with my own fighting style!”

And then it happened.

“The sword…!”

The World Tree of Gluttony’s sword turned into mist. Why, how did that happen?

The World Tree couldn’t understand the situation. Yet, the mist was absorbed into Ain’s body…

“H-how did you… erase my power…!”

“How dare you speak of my power! Zeaaaaaaaahh!”

Ain did not miss the opening created by the sword’s disappearance and launched a counterattack. What lay before him was the sturdy Dullahan armor.

“You don’t believe this is going to work, do you, you empty shell?”

The ground collapsed with a rumble, creating a gap between Ain and the World Tree of Gluttony.

Huge rocks and earth fell on Ain.

“Kuh…”

“Hah… hah… Empty shell, what have you really done…”

The World Tree of Gluttony, who had been muttering to himself, was already holding the same sword as before.

Perhaps because it was a spiritual world, it was possible to retrieve the same thing.

“What did you do…!”

“You said it yourself. I erased your power.”

“You erased it…? That’s impossible! Because you don’t have that kind of power anymore…”

“Is that so? Then go find out why! World Tree of Gluttony!”

But even as the two of them continued to exchange such words, the spiritual world continued to collapse. The area was now less than half of what it was at the beginning, and if one ran quickly, they could easily reach the edge.

“If you take it from me, I’ll take it back from you!”

“I don’t understand! With the power you have, it’s impossible to erase my power!”

“…That’s why just being Ain is weak. I’ve been able to work hard up to this point by borrowing various powers.”

Ain smiled as if mocking himself. All the while, he continued to swing his sword and attack the World Tree of Gluttony.

“Don’t think you can defend yourself with that fake sword!”

He swung his sword with even more force. It was now filled with more power than when the battle began.

It turned the World Tree of Gluttony’s sword into mist, then sliced into the one-armed arm in front of it, and then…

“Stay… and be torn apart!”

“Nngh… Ah… Aaaaaaahhhhh!?”

He sliced off the World Tree’s wrist, and even that turned to mist.

All of it headed towards Ain’s body. It was as if the mist was happily absorbed into Ain’s body.

“Why… why are you hurting my body…!”

The World Tree of Gluttony showed its power. It made the illusionary hands appear and directed everything it had at Ain, including roots, vines, and reddish-black magic.

However, they were all turned to mist by the mysterious power Ain had shown.

“But… it’s strange! I thought my body had regained its strength, but look at your expression! And look at the collapse of this world!”

“…Yes, that’s right. I’m also trying my best.”

Ain’s face was a picture of despair. In contrast to the strength that filled his body, it was a very striking sight.

In addition, the speed of the World Tree’s collapse was increasing, and he was pleased with that. He showed off his wrist, which had returned without him noticing, and smiled menacingly.

“That’s why I’m going to get everything back from you as soon as possible!”

Even if you turn into a monster, even if you lose your words, you will always be the same to me.

The words encouraging Ain resonated. It was as if she was standing next to him, and he no longer felt like he was going to lose.

“I see! You don’t mean… that power…!”

Then, the World Tree of Gluttony seemed to notice and let out a startled expression.

“You see, World Tree of Gluttony…! You have the power I gained before I became the Demon King, but I also gained two more powers after that!”

“You… You bastard!”

“And the two powers I was born with were still intact! That’s because they make me who I am!”

The two abilities he inherited from Olivia were Toxin Decomposition EX and Absorption.

These two skills were not abilities that Ain acquired later in life but rather powers that were inseparable from him, just like how fish breathe through their gills, so he was able to use them.

And there was another ability that Ain gained after becoming the Demon King, in addition to the ability to summon familiars.

“Because I’m using this, my body is also in pain. So… I won’t hold back anything!”

“You… you’re going to use such a weak ability to… defeat me?”

“Ah, that’s right! I’m going to use that weak ability to… weaken you and kill you!”

Weakening.

It was the only skill he had absorbed from Raviolla’s magic stone, and he had no idea how to use it.

“I’ve weakened my immunity, all of it…! So you know what that means, right…!”

“…Don’t be ridiculous. You’re using such a forceful method with such a weak power against me…!”

“The World Tree of Gluttony! You are nothing but poison to me now…! That’s why in this world…”

There were no direct attacks in the spiritual world. That’s why Ain was able to fight in this forced manner.

If this were the outside world, he wouldn’t be able to do that.

“In this world, even if you become a god… I will never lose!”

That’s right. To put it in the most extreme terms, all he had to do is see it, hold the intention, and touch it.

The World Tree of Gluttony in the spiritual world was nothing but poison to Ain.

Then, the place where Ain touched it disappeared as a particle of light.

“Defeating the Demon King with the power to weaken him? Don’t be ridiculous, I can’t accept that!”

Everything that was recognized as poison disappeared without exception due to Ain’s power. It gradually gained momentum, and the armor of the World Tree of Gluttony gradually crumbled.

“Do you understand what it means to be erased from existence? You will lose all the power you have cultivated, and you will lose your life! Since most of you are already under my control…”

“No. I’m afraid that won’t happen.”

The World Tree of Gluttony, which had repeatedly appeared with a new sword and crossed swords with Ain, was gradually swallowed up by Ain.

However, it was not easy to defeat, and it was slowly being swallowed by Ain.

“That is impossible! The World Tree that has taken root is proof of that!”

“…It’s not like that. You’re all wrong.”

While Ain replied calmly, he swung his sword mercilessly… and finally sliced through the outstretched arms of the World Tree of Gluttony.

“This is what I’m telling you. The only one who will fall… is you.”

“I have also told you. You, who have lost most of your power to me, will die with me.”

The World Tree of Gluttony spoke defiantly, and Ain held it in his arms as if to comfort it.

He embraced it as if it had suffered the same fate as Ain only moments before.

“I’ll just keep doing what I’ve always done. I’ll purify you, who have become poison, and absorb everything about you.”

That’s right. All Ain had to do was absorb the World Tree of Gluttony when it fell apart.

When he did that, everything would return to normal… his power would return. …The way he fought was full of Ain-ness to the end.

“Uaaaahhhhhhh…”

The body of the World Tree of Gluttony begAn to glow as it turned into particles of light. Everything was absorbed into Ain’s body, and the World Tree of Gluttony gradually became transparent.

As Ain hugged it tightly, he whispered a small “thank you” at the end.

◇ ◇ ◇

One night has passed since Krone came to Ain’s side.

It was around sunrise, and the capital of Heim was about to be filled with light… at that time.

With a rustling sound, the roots growing from Ain’s base moved. Then, Raviolla’s magic stone emitted light, and after what seemed like a few seconds, it had become an empty magic stone.

“…Ain?”

Krone, who had been watching over Ain, felt his movement and looked slightly exhausted.

Then she put her hands gently around Ain’s cheeks.

“…Come on. Hang in there, Ain.”

She smiled softly at him, encouraging him. Then, it felt as if Ain’s cheeks moved slightly.

“You’re a nice boy but a little slow. Sometimes you’re optimistic… and unplanned.”

She began to talk about the time she had spent with Ain, gently stroking his cheek.

“But you… you wanted to be alone, didn’t you?”

“I’m definitely not going to listen to what Ain says, who tried to finish everything on his own. I’m definitely not going to let you be alone.”

When she pointed out that he tried to call Sylvia and the others to deal with the situation, she pinched Ain’s cheek without using any force.

“Isn’t that right? You’re the worst person in the world when it comes to understanding my feelings.”

With a rustling sound, the tree roots gradually separated Ain from the tree.

“…..!”

Then, Ain’s body began to fall forward with great force, and Krone hurriedly caught him.

However, it was difficult for Krone to catch Ain with his body. She was pushed backward into a falling position and somehow managed to catch him in a kneeling position.

“…..”

Ain was warm on her lap, and the occasional movement of his body told him that he was alive.

“Hey, sleepyhead. It’s almost morning, you know?”

She gently combed her fingers through Ain’s disheveled hair, caressing Ain’s head as it separated from the World Tree.

…Gradually, the morning sun began to shine down on their place, and a particularly dazzling brilliance stimulated Ain’s eyes.

“…Mmm…”

It’s so bright. Ain’s eyes furrowed deeply. Seeing this, Krone put her hand to her mouth and laughed, creating a small shadow on her back.

The chirping of birds woke him, and Ain slowly opened his eyes.

“…..”

When his eyes opened, he saw the face of the woman he had missed and realized he was lying in her lap.

Then she opened her mouth happily… but also playfully.

“Hey, Ain? What are you going to say first? ‘Good morning’? Or ‘Thanks for letting me lay on your lap’?”

…Compared to the day their paths crossed again, she had become even more beautiful and lovely.

But it was always a pleasant sound to hear… a voice like the tinkling of a bell.

With a slightly mischievous smile, she asked what Ain would say…

Back then, Ain thought for a while about what he would say.

But now, Ain didn’t need to think about anything. Because the words he would say had been decided from the beginning.

“…I love you. Is that okay?”

Krone shed a single tear and stroked Ain’s cheek.

These are important words that had kept her waiting for so long. Krone heard them and answered with a small nod.

“I love you too.”

The sun came up, and the birds sang.

In this place where Krone received the jewel from Ain, in this space reserved for the two of them, their bodies were naturally drawn together, and their lips met in silence.

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