Giselle is just carving off the unnecessary parts: the parts that try to seperate you from her!!
- Beware of unmarked spoilers.
- Pictured here: Abel pulls an all-nighter carving the World Tree Ortem. He finishes it, but he falls unconscious with a fever. He wakes up in ... his house's storeroom, Bound and Gagged, and everything he saw after his truck broke down was All Just a Dream. And then, Giselle comes.
- After he explains to her why he escaped from the marriage, it looks like she understood him and offers him some water, only for her to say: "Nii-sama is, just confused about all that's been going on , right?", than pulls a big knife and starts stabbing his thighs nonstop, then seals his wounds with magic, without healing it, then stab him and seal the wound again, so that he may never walk again! And in the water was a drug that made him unable to scream!! Luckily it was a Catapult Nightmare...
- In the same chapter after the nightmare, we cut to the real Giselle, who has shut herself in her and Abel's room after her failed Batman Gambit, holding one of her brother's carved Ortems. She mutters some words, pulls a similar knife, then repeatedly stabs... the poor Ortem she was holding with a nonchalant look on her face:
Giselle:"Nii-sama... Why? Why might you not be returning?" "It's not like..'Shank'..I'm mad or anything. 'Shank'".
- Some of the monsters descriptions in the webnovel can remind the reader of how dangerous the life of an adventurer can be:
- Goblins: Not strong, but they grow fast and have a high reproductive capacity. In addition, they are intelligent, cunning, and cruel. Some dangerous goblins dig Pit Traps filled with manure. Because they are born in places where the magic field is greatly distorted, there is a high probability that demons are lurking in the vicinity of goblins.
- Gnomes: Known as 'Goblins that look like adorable little girls'. Both female and male have a girlish appearance, and like to wear human clothes. They may look cute, but they are cruel and inhumane inside. It is said that there is no end to the number of pedophiles who enter dungeons to get a glimpse of them, only to be beaten senseless by innocent-looking, smiling gnomes.
- Sufis: A Horde of Rodent of Unusual Size that attack in surprise ambushes, have Healing Factor, might carry germs necessitating the need for sterilizing magic. The female does everything, ranging from defending the nest to defending pregnant females. And should you be splashed by blood of a male Sufi, the females will carry you to the nest to mate with you!! No one was carried to the nest and returned safely alive.
- Abel and Mea's encounter with Gordon and Mordon in the webnovel. A sibling adventurers party of two muscled bullies who outgrow the protagonists and are bigger than them. They eye them, their loot of hunted Balm Birds, then they eye Mea and her bow, causing her to cling to Abel and shudder in fear and tears. They introduce themselves, and Gordon talks to them of how they are adventurers like them, making them their seniors, and how the world is not all about ranks, but also knowing what role to play, and how many 'newbie parties' falls due to lacking it. Abel quickly figures out that they want to force Mea into their party, which is pretty much kidnapping, since it's clear she doesn't want to. Then Gordon calls for Mea to ditch the useless white-haired kid and join him, saying how he'll be a gentleman and will protect her in a pinch, oblivious to how he reduced Mea into a stammering shuddering mess. Reminder that they are alone in the forest, and that Mea is sixteen, while Gordon is in his late-twenties according to Abel.
- Seeing how they didn't give Mea a choice, Abel tells them to buzz off and mind their own business. Gordon then decides to 'test him for qualification to be an adventurer', going on how he hates to bully the weak, but will play the bad guy to teach Abel a lesson as a senior. Then he adds that he'll not kill Abel, he'll just leave him battered he'll never be an adventurer again! Nothing Personal! Accidents like these happens all the time to adventurers. And to think that was them bluffing. Were they actually going to carry out their threats had Abel been not strong enough to defeat them?
- The Devil's Trial. A Trial by Ordeal used by the Church of Levi, to determine if a person, suspected of being a devil, is indeed or not a devil. Using a sacred flame, said to have been created by the god Levi himself, to torch a person with it. If he's unharmed, he's not a demon, if he's burnt to death he's a demon. (It is actually a special magic flame said to only burn spirit bodies, but that's how they believe it in Levi's churches). To prevent the suspect from using magic to escape or survive, they are shackled with Arogua stone shackles to disrupt their magic and render it ineffective. However, if a murder conducted using a false Devil's Trial was discovered, all those involved will be executed by commandment as immoral.
- So as long as you're not a devil or a demon you'll be fine. Right? Wrong!! The trial and the flame are both rigged!. The real reason this penalty for abusing the Devil's Trial is so high is... to not compromise the credibilty of a ritual, that allows Levi's church to execute whomever they want, whenever they want, and pass it off as justice! As a result, only the higher-ups of Levi's church knows about this, meaning that no one passing the trial as the subject was already condemned to death to begin with. How many people did Levi's church kill and had them passed off as devils to their loved ones? How many foolishly sat there confident of their innocence waiting for the flame to pass them without harm, only to suddenly burn to death, and listen to the cheers of their friends as the "demon" dies in their last moments?
- Adding to the horror is the way they lure someone into going through the trial, like when Nelgliffe decided to kill Abel. He cleverly frames Abel for stealing the ingredients and recipe for the elixir Livglass, destroying a part of a Levi's Church along with their supply of Live Foggs (that Abel hunted for them), and injuring him, leaving him in a coma. He then has Chloe and Levi followers working under his orders accuse Abel of the crime, claiming there were witnesses (they are the witnesses), then give him a Hope Spot in form of accusing him of being a demon, to tempt him into going through the trial itself to prove his innocence. Any attempt from Abel to defend himself or call on how one-sided this accusation is is met with them accusing him of heresy and insulting their religion and priestess, effectively putting him into a Morton's Fork. When Abel sees "the sacred flame" in the day of the trial, realizes it is just a normal torch, decorated with magic to make it look sacred. When he calls them out on the trickery, this is how they respond:
Abel: “…… That, that’s a normal flame, isn’t it? Is it a decoration or something?”
It was quiet for a moment, and then the followers in the front row started cursing me again, saying.
Levi Follower 1: “You can’t come in here and tell us you’re going to get away with that! A devil that doesn’t know how to give up!”
Levi Follower 2: “Levi-sama is watching us! She wouldn’t make a move like that! That’s enough of you with insulting of Chloe-sama!”
When I think about it, they played us a lot with cheap tricks.
These guys should probably change their name from Levi Church to Levi’s Theater Company.
- The first paragraphs of Chapter 263. Abel briefly mentions what happened after he subdued Ruin and went to aid Peter, but the scene he describes is a cross between Mood Whiplash and Harmful to Minors:
- Abel goes to help an injured Peter and treat his wounds, only for the latter to go crazy all of the sudden, punches Abel square in the face and gets on top of him shouting: “I can’t end up here yet!”! Given the fact that he held his ears before lunging at Abel, the memory of his Handshake of Doom with Abel must have triggered after seeing him getting close, as he laid pinned to the floor.
- Peter eventually calmed down... after a panicking Mea stabbed him In the Back with a woodcarving knife! Seeing Abel getting a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown so suddenly made the Nice Girl act before the beatdown turned deadly! She was in a shock after that and had to be calmed down by Abel.
Abel: [narrating] Mea was sweating for a while, her hand trembling as she held the knife, but when I stroked her back, she seemed to have calmed down somehow, and now she was lying down in the carriage resting.
At first, I tried to leave the dying Peter behind for the moment and stay with Mea, but she replied, “I’m very happy for your feelings, but Mea is just a little sick, so please look after the others first ……”- Abel commenting on Peter surviving the stab wound. Yeah...
Abel: [narrating]The part of the body where he was stabbed was critical, and if Peter hadn’t been using artificial organs, he could have died immediately, but he is much healthier now.
- Peter And Myunhi capturing Abel and Mea and taking them captives in Kudor's Cathedral. Abel did not see that coming, and now he and Mea are helpless and in the mercy of two grown ruthless adults, who tells them they'll have to kill them because they are a liability. A grim reminder that for all the magic and power in Abel's hands, he's still a teenager with less experience on the lines people are willing to cross to get what they want.
- The capture scene itself. Peter manages to swiftly get behind Abel, grabs him and points a knife to his throat, while the latter didn't realize until it happened. Mea, without hesitation, aims an arrow at Peter's direction and actually shoots at him... only for Myunhi to knock away both the flying arrow and the bow from Mea's hand with her staff, then quickly subdue her, taking her a hostage to keep Abel in check.
- Peter gets extra creepy and acts like a mad man while holding Abel, and Myunhi suggests killing the two to Peter on the spot, without any shred of remorse. Peter tells her.. and Abel too, that they're their insurance in case of traps in the Cathedral, in the most creepy way possible:
Peter: “It looks like the trial is over, but there’s no guarantee that there won’t be more tricks up our sleeve. Abel, you are my insurance. If something goes wrong, you will take care of it, won’t you? For me and for Mea, right?”
Abel:[Narrating] Peter’s long-fingered hand was placed on my shoulder in a familiar manner.
A chill ran down my spine.
After all, it seems that Mea is going to be treated as a hostage to me.
If something goes wrong, I may be able to take advantage of the situation and attack Peter.
But I guess Mea is there to check that.
They have not stated exactly what they will do to Mea when I counterattack, but they have kept it implied so that I can imagine it, which increases the effect of the fetters.- Peter grows megalomaniac as soon as he comes close to reaching Kudor's chamber, leaving Abel so he could perform the awakening, but also telling Myunhi to keep her eyes on him and Mea. He also get Drunk on the Dark Side as he finally awakens Kudor and performs the “God Binding Technique” on her to gain control.
Peter: “I-I did it! At last, at last, I have the power of Kudor in my hand! From now on, I, the one who controls Kudor, the one who destroyed the four great creator gods, will be the world’s god of law!”- Peter controls Kudor's tentacles and aims them at Abel, intending to kill him. Abel is helpless, with Mea as a hostage, he can't do anything to create an opening to escape, so he asks Peter to at least spare Mea. Peter answers... that he'll release her when the time is right. Abel is relieved, but Mea wasn't pleased.
Mea: “W-What are you saying, Abel!? I-I don’t want to! I don’t want you to do that! Then I’ll die with you!”
Mea says, flailing.
Myunhi: “Peter-sama! I’m sure she’ll come for revenge!”
Peter: “What does it matter? I’m not afraid of a little girl like that.”
- Dafne and the Doom Tribe search group finding Mea and Abel in Russell Village, and the subsequent confrontation outside the bar. Mea's reaction to hearing the line below just sells it.Dafne: “If you’ll excuse me, shopkeeper. I was told that you have a daughter of our people here……”
- Dafne's apparent behavior as he explains their situation to Abel is neither friendly nor assuring. An armed group of strong warrior adults and their leader are telling Abel that his female companion and friend must be killed, by the law of their tribe. Dafne even takes it a step further telling Abel that Mea will be taken to be killed in a secluded area, and her corpse will be kept by the tribe. The fact he's telling that to a teenager, with the added threat of attacking Russell Village only make it even worse.
- The fact that Mea correctly guessed what her tribe were up to.. very early in the novel before the story of the RedStone was revealed. Sure, she knew nothing about the latter, but the fact that she lived under the possibility of her tribe killing her all that time does explains the moments where she puts Abel's well-being before her's.
- Jeem's showdown with Abel. The former has already established what a credible threat he is by invading Russell Village and nearly killing the Collector, and is confident that Abel is an easy prey after surviving an encounter with Count Julem. The fight however, is taken from Jeem's side... and he's now the prey!
- Despite his prowess, invulnerability and inhuman strength displayed before, Jeem is reduced to getting juggled by Abel's spheres of Hydeem Magimetal and is blasted by Abel's Ball. His frightening technique “Dragon Flow” is quickly rendered useless, and he never gets to land a single hit on Abel!! Jeem realizes to his horror what he really got himself into, his feet actually moved to escape without him noticing it!!
Jeem: “Why, why did my feet just retreat ……?”
Abel: “Don’t think you can get away after coming this far!”- Abel himself during the fight. Since it's from Jeem's viewpoint, we never hear his monologue, Magi Babble nor train of thoughts. He looks calm, talks in short sentences and sometimes quips.. but that's about it! Heck, he makes his intentions pretty clear after engaging Jeem in battle. This is maybe how Abel's enemies see him, but this an Abel who isn't into sparing anyone period. Mea getting kidnapped and suffering TWO betrayals did this to him.
Abel: “I know from last time that if I try to catch him carelessly, he’ll run away. I have to do my best to kill him.” - Jeem's death. Getting caught in the middle of an explosion wouldn't be enough to kill something like him. But an army of 243 Jeems, who sacrificed their durability for maximum offensive capability and their spirit bodies are deteriorating.. is a different story altogether. The disturbing thing however, is Jeem's reaction:Jeem: “Hiho, hohohoho …… I knew it, there was no human …… who could match …… me.”
From the Light Novel's short stories
- In “Giselle and the Evil Spirit”, we see Sim going to the Marren village, in order to find someone close to Abel to manipulate them in his and his cohorts' Evil Plan. He actually possesses a poor bird to watch Giselle and chooses her as a suitible pawn.
- It gets on several levels of creepiness, as Sim memorize and figure Giselle's movement patterns, in order to know how to approach her.. exactly like a predator would in real life to target children.
- When she sees the Sim-possessed grimoire writing words by itself, Giselle's first instinct was to call for the Chieftain (she was in his library) to deal with the demon!! Had she actually found the Chieftain before Sim convinced her otherwise, a fight between them would've broken out. Sim monologues that he could deal with the Chieftain with ease, but doing so might ruin his chance at manipulating Giselle. That's right. The Marren village escaped getting annihilated by Sim because Giselle foolishly listened to him!!
