Part 1
「My great self’s name is Emil Byushelbeljel! I am Faltra’s strongest 《Superhuman Strength Warrior》 who boasts a level of 99!」
He made a brazen self-introduction.
The man was a Warrior whose body was covered in a golden full-body armor. Despite being Human, he had a large body like a Pantherian male, and he carried a deep red large sword on his back.
It was in the middle of the highway that was headed to the Fortress City Faltra from an eastern town.
A carriage had fallen over.
A bearded man with an appearance that made him seem like a merchant had crawled out from inside of that carriage. So he was a Dwarf in the prime of his life.
「An Adventurer......!? P, please help me!」
「You seem to be in trouble.」
Emil turned his gaze towards the enemy. The carriage falling over was probably due to this monster having done it.
A jet black giant bird, a 《Giant Crow》, had trampled down the carriage.
It had the outward appearance of a crow, but it was big enough that it seemed like it could swallow a person of the Races whole. Its sharp beak was longer than a longsword.
A beast affiliated with the demonic──It was a Demonic Beast.
Rumors that a Demon King had revived in the west had spread. In society, it is said that “Demonic Beasts will increase when a Demon King is revived”.
They were dangerous monsters with lively fighting spirits and were far stronger than the beasts of the countryside.
The male Dwarf shouted.
「Please do something about it, Warrior-dono! My daughter is still within the carriage!」
「Daughter you say!?」
Emil opened his eyes wide.
He drew the gigantic sword that he carried on his back.
The magical power that dwelled in its blade turned into flames and scorched the surroundings.
Holding his sword above his head, he readied his sword.
「I love women!」
「......!?」
The male Dwarf displayed a face of regret that said “I sought help from a weird guy”.
However, Emil didn’t mind it.
「I will say it once more! I love women! This Emil Byushelbeljel is the guardian of all women!」
No matter who made dubious faces at him, he didn’t mind them at all. Before the great cause of protecting women, that sort of thing was a trivial matter.
Emil charged towards the Giant Crow.
「Here I come, you damned bird!!」
His opponent opened its wings, and flapped them. Its legs floated away from the carriage.
──So it’s running away!?
That was not the case.
Temporarily flying high up, it rushed in from the sky. Many of the techniques of the Races were on the assumption that the enemy would be on the ground. It was difficult to make an attack towards the sky.
Moreover, with the Giant Crow adding in the force of its descent, the power of its attack was equivalent to a Giant’s hammer.
*Guwah* The monster opened its beak.
「GAaaaa!!」
「Too slow!」
Emil jumped.
He was wearing full-body plate armor, and its weight was about the same as his own weight. A normal person would find it difficult to even stand up in it, and even trained Warriors would probably be able to just barely run in it.
However, Emil had leapt up.
Until he was above the approaching Giant Crow’s head.
Not even the Grasswalkers whose traits were keen and nimble movements like that of rabbits would have this much springiness.
「Seiya!!」
He struck his burning large sword on it.
Maybe because it never thought that it would be attacked from above, the Giant Crow was astonished and stopped its movements.
The sound of bones being broken was made.
The Demonic Beast’s head was split right in half.
If it were a living beast, then fresh blood would be scattering about, but the Giant Crow was a Demonic Beast. When those die, they turn into particles of light.
Emil’s attack vanquished the gigantic Demonic Beast.
*Dan* He landed on the ground.
His mouth curved into a sneer.
「Hmph......Did my strength, once again, captivate a woman?」
Emil turned around.
At the place where the carriage was toppled over, gazes of thanks from the male Dwarf, and his daughter were──
Not there.
No one was there.
Just in case, he checked the inside of the carriage, but although the cargo remained, not even a kitten was there.
They had probably vanished while he was fighting.
「............」
Going “Hmph”, Emil loosened his mouth.
He brushed up his bangs.
「Good grief, she is quite the shy daughter. To think she would not even be able to face the man she had fallen for.」
Emil was overwhelmingly positive.
Around the time the noon bell rang──
Finally, Emil passed through the Faltra City gates.
It was in a solemn state.
Normally, stallholders would be lined up on the main street, and it would be bustling with shoppers.
However, right now, there were almost no figures of residents walking about.
A majority of stores were closed, and only a small amount of inns and weapon stores were open for business.
Only soldiers were great in number.
Heavily armed soldiers wearing armor were found here and there around the town.
Some glared at him, but Emil waved a hand in a friendly manner and greeted them.
「Yo, what kind of festival is going on today?」
「Emil!? So you were alive, you bastard! It’s been awhile!」
Several of the soldiers gathered.
In Faltra City, Emil was a celebrity. He was an Adventurer, but as a Warrior that could be relied on, he was also trusted by the soldiers.
Many of them were also his friends.
「So I was alive, you say? Of course I am. My great self is Emil Byushelbeljel! As long as there is a woman to protect in this world, I will not fall!」
「You’re the same as usual......However, it’s because you’re like that that you came back at a time like this, isn’t it.」
The soldiers were pleased with their reunion with old friend, but grim impressions were on their faces.
So the situation was that bad huh.
「How are things in the west?」
「The abandonment of Fort Bridge Ulg has been decided. It seems that the Demon King Army has already appeared in the 《Man-Eating Forest》. There are rumors that there’s a considerable number of them. Also things like there being large-sized Demonic Beasts.」
「Hou......Makes me itch to put my skills to use.」
The soldiers exchanged glances due to Emil’s words.
「I’m really envious of your bottomless positivity. Even though Faltra might be done for this time.」
A different serious-looking soldier nodded.
「Even if there is a barrier that won’t allow Demonic Beings through......We can’t live for years within the town just like that after all.」
Emil placed his hands on their shoulders.
「It’ll be alright!」
「Eh? You, do you have some sort of secret plan or something? Or could it be that reinforcements are coming from the royal capital!?」
「There is no secret plan. And something like reinforcements probably won’t come. With the Demon King having been revived, he wouldn’t reduce the protection of the royal capital, that Lifelia King.」
「Then it isn’t alright at all......」
「But, it’ll be alright! Believe in me!」
「What?」
「While I’m protecting the women, I will absolutely protect you guys as well! That is why, you guys, within the range that your swords can reach, please protect the women!」
Going “good grief”, the soldiers made wry smiles.
「Haha......So we’re just while you’re at it. Well, when I look at you, Emil, I feel stupid for being seriously depressed.」
「It’s stupid to even feel depressed. But, this alone is an unmistakable fact......We, are the guardians of all women!」
「Ou, that’s right!」
The soldier nodded.
The other soldier raised his spirits high.
「Hell yeah! We’ll do this!」
That energy spread out to those around them.
==
Part 2
That same day, eleven o’clock──
His friend Massa let out a very thin voice.
「......Hey, Boris? Will we be alright in a place like this?」
「Probably. More importantly, absolutely do not raise your head up high. Also, I’m begging you, do not raise your voice no matter what happens, okay?」
「I know......Even the horses, two especially quiet ones were chosen.」
The horses were tied to a place a bit separated from themselves. It was a place in the shadow of an old barn, and couldn’t be seen from the other side of the river.
Boris’s group was sprawled out on the ground, hiding their bodies.
Fort Bridge Ulg──
Boris, who belonged to the garrison there, volunteered to remain and do reconnaissance. Saying “in that case, I will too”, his childhood friend Massa also remained.
The rest evacuated.
The role of Boris’s group was to get a grasp of the Demon King army’s battle formation and movements.
On top of having no choice but to fight if they attacked as far as the town, if they knew the enemy’s number and what their main fighting force was, some sort of preparation could be made......but even if that were impossible, they could be mentally prepared for it.
If they grasped the Demon King army’s movements, the soldiers wouldn’t have to wait wondering “will they come now, will they come now” and wear down their nerves.
Information was precious.
However, that meant that they would need to get close enough to the Demon King army to where they could see it with their eyes. It was an extremely dangerous mission.
「It’s here!」
Boris covered up Massa’s mouth that shouted that with one hand.
With one of his fingers hitting his nose, Massa became teary eyed, but it wasn’t the time for that.
He opened his eyes wide.
──The Demon King army!!
What appeared on the other side of the river was undoubtedly the military forces of the Demon King. They first saw the figure of a gigantic Demonic Beast.
With the shape of a turtle, it was a 《Grand Turtle》.
It were as if it were a moving castle.
Heteromorphic Demonic Beings were riding on its back.
Even around it, there were the figures of walking Demonic Beings. They looked small when compared to the all too large Grand Turtle but......
The Demonic Beings were no less than twice as big as a person of the Races.
In addition, there were also Demonic Beasts no greater than medium-sized.
They were not organized enough to be said to be in ranks, and had an atmosphere of walking together at their fancy.
Boris muttered in his heart.
──What is that, that square thing? A box?
On the shell of the Grand Turtle that was at the lead, a box that was like a square six-sided die was fastened down.
Chains that could pull ships were used in bundles.
The color of the box was black.
Patterns that gave a discomfort that could make one’s stomach have a fit just from looking at it was engraved on its surface.
Although he harbored an instinctive unpleasant feelings for the heteromorphic forms of the Demonic Beings, the feeling from that box felt several times stronger......
Next to Boris, Massa trembled.
「Uuu......I’m gonna throw up......」
「It’d be best not to look at it.」
「......This is......plenty already......Let’s go back, Boris.」
「No, not yet. Just cover your face, and think about your girlfriend back at home or something.」
「............I don’t have something like that.」
「Sorry. Then just think about your mother or something.」
Boris looked into the precious telescope that he had been entrusted with from his commanding officer.
In front of the box that was at the lead, there was someone there.
Was it their commander?
If that was the case, was that the 《Great Demon King Modinalaam》?
──He looks like an owl, doesn’t he?
==
Part 3
A box was placed on the back of the Grand Turtle.
Treating its massive shell like the deck of a ship, thick stakes were thrust into it. Chains extended out from the ends of the stakes, and held that box down.
Although it was slow, the box creaked due to the Grand Turtle’s walking.
The size of the box was big enough that it seemed like a noble’s whole estate could fit within it. If the Grand Turtle were compared to a moving castle, the box could be described as the inner citadel.
In front of the box stood a Demonic Being that possessed the head of an owl. Its body had arms and legs like people of the Races, and was a mass of muscles.
「Tis within sight -no dearu! Finally, the territory of the damned Races......!!」
There was another Demonic Being there, and he had gotten down to one knee.
He wore a loose cloth, and wore a vertically long hat with a golden embroidery. However, his face was similar to that of a frog.
Being rare among the Demonic Beings where many had muscular physiques, its stomach protruded out, and it really looked heavy.
「Commander-in-chief Ourou, it is Fort Bridge Ulg. Might there not be armed forces of the Races there?」
Being asked that, the owl-headed Demonic Being thrust one hand out, and gave a command.
「We shall only advance as such! Pulverize them -dearu! The extermination of all of the Races is the Great Demon King Modinalaam-sama’s great will -nano dearu!!」
「At your will......」
The frog-headed Demonic Being curled his round body in an uncomfortable looking way, and made a low bow.
He was the Demonic Being Priest, known as Lazpuulas.
In the past, he had given advice to the Demonic Being of Dragon Eyes Edelgart, but due to her losing her standing, his position changed.
Now he was Ourou’s staff officer.
Lazpuulas turned his eyes to the young girl that was next to him──Manuela.
This young girl, when compared to Ourou and the other Demonic Beings, she only had half of their height and had a size that was about the same as a person of the Races.
Her limbs and torso were thin, and she was dainty enough that it seemed like she would break if one touched her. She was like a skeleton.
Manuela was lacking in physical strength, but she was an excellent 《Demonic Beast User》.
She was also a Demonic Being who had changed the master she served. Originally, she was a staff officer of a Vampire-type Demonic Being called Vanaknes, as well as his wife.
Vanaknes had a position of Commander-in-chief but......If said in sense of values of the Demonic Beings, its seems that he was “pathetically” killed by a Magician of the Races.
Now, she had also become Ourou’s subordinate, and supports the army together with Lazpuulas.
Thanks to Manuela’s magic, the Demonic Beings that originally wouldn’t obey even the Demon King could be manipulated freely.
Ourou muttered like he were making a curse.
「How annoying -no dearu......Passing through that tiny bridge, hadst amazingly become our dearest wish after all.」
Lazpuulas turned his gaze towards the stone bridge.
「That bridge, I had heard that it was once partially destroyed.」
「Umu......Twas said that when Edelgart hadst fought against that Magician of the Races, that fellow had casted 《White Nova》.」
「I had also heard of that but......I found it hard to believe. For a mere person of the Races, to cast that ultra-high class magic.」
Ourou wrinkled his face.
「Tis more annoying. However, that fellow’s name is 《Diablo》......If it was that Magician, then it is likely so.」
Manuela, who was silently manipulating the Demonic Beasts beside them, abruptly raised a piercing cry.
「Diablo......!? AAAaaaa! Diabloo!!」
Come to think of it, the one who killed her master was also that fellow.
Lazpuulas called out to her.
「Calm down. Concentrate on your magic......It is fine. Great Demon King Modinalaam will destroy all of them.」
「Fuuー......Fuuー......Fuuー......」
*Kachi kachi* While chattering her teeth, Manuela calmed down.
It was different from everything up until now.
There was no way they would lose.
They possessed eight Grand Turtles, commanded 1000 Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts, and all of them had received power from the Great Demon King-sama.
They crossed the river.
A river of this level didn’t even serve as an obstacle to hinder the Grand Turtle’s advancement. Showing no concern for neither the stone bridge nor its structure, it moved on as if it were on the vast plains.
Fort Bridge Ulg was crushed.
Making thunderous sounds, the fort was turned into rubble.
Ourou expressed a smile of satisfaction.
「Kukukuku......Tis overwhelming -nano dearu, my army!」
*Pyuu* The sound of air being cut was made.
Flapping wings that were similar to that of a Dragon’s, another Demonic Being came down.
It was a slender young girl.
Wearing a China dress style outfit which was open from her chest to her navel, her long hair was put up behind her.
A large Seiryuutou (Green Dragon Crescent Blade) hung on her waist.
「Just now, what was crushed was, a fort of the Races, right!? Where are the people of the Races!? Where’s the fighting!?」
From that beautiful young girl’s behind, a tail covered in scales extended out was wagging left and right looking delighted.
Ourou twisted his neck until it was rotated completely horizontal.
「There is no sign of the Races. Tis an empty castle -nano dearu.」
「Haa? What’s with that!?」
「Being aware of the invasion of our army, those people of the Races have surely abandoned it.」
「Then, that means it’s just a mere pebble? That pisses me off!」
Lazpuulas admonished the young girl who did not hide her anger.
「Ryoka-dono, you must calm down as well......You are in the presence of the Great Demon King Modinalaam, you know?」
「Mumu......I, I know that. But, when are we going to fight!? Can’t this slow-ass turtle go any faster? I’m getting really tired of waitingー!!」
「......Slow-ass turtle?」
Manuela showed an expression that went *mu*. 《Demonic Beast Users》 held affection for their Demonic Beasts.
Ryoka, just like a Demonic Being that used weapons, poured her affection only on her weapon.
And then, Demonic Beings were warlike by nature and did not crowd together.
As Lazpuulas racked his brains over how he should mediate them──*Girori* Ryoka glared at the area ahead.
A single horse was escaping on the highway. There was a single soldier on its back.
「A person of the Races!?」
The moment that was said, without waiting for even the words of Ourou who was the commander-in-chief let alone the counselor Lazpuulas, she flew like an arrow.
Lazpuulas chased after the area ahead of it with his eyes.
「......I suppose it is a decoy.」
Ryoka caught up to the horse that galloped down the highway.
She swung her Seiryuutou.
The slash bisected as far as the horse’s body along with the soldier, and grandly tore through even the ground. Fresh blood and internal organs were dumped onto the ground.
==
Part 4
《Relief Inn・Twilight Store》
*Garan* The one who was diligently mopping the dining hall that had no customers was the store’s employee, Mei.
It was already noon. Normally, it was a time where it would be bustling with customers.
「Fuu......」
She was a young Pantherian girl whose light brown hair was cut to shoulder length, and she was making a long face
The entrance door was pushed open, and the installed bell rang.
Mei instantly went into a whole faced smile and greeted them.
「Welcome to the Relief Inn -nya～! I am the inn’s idol, Mei-chan☆」
「Ahaha......Sorry.」
The one who came in while making a wry smile was the Adventurer’s Guild Guildmaster Sylvie.
She wore clothes that had excessively little cloth. She looked like a child, but that was because she was a part of a race called Grasswalkers whose physical appearance doesn’t change even after they grow up, and she was actually a veteran Adventurer.
Mei half-closed her eyes.
「What, so it wasn’t a customer.」
「Even though I look like this, I am more or less a Guildmaster after all. I’m going around patrolling to see if there are any abnormalities in the town.」
Mei shrugged her shoulders at Sylvie who seemed like she was making an excuse.
「If you’re looking for Diablo-san and the others, they haven’t come back yet.」
「I seeー」
Occasionally, she would claim that she is patrolling, and come to visit this Relief Inn.
There had been stories that the Magician who was a regular customer here seemed to be outrageously strong. Mei had not seen him in battle, but rumors had flowed in.
She asked a question.
「Is the town, in that much danger?」
「No, that isn’t really the case thoughー」
Sylvie had replied cheerfully, but that made her all the more uneasy.
「You wouldn’t come to see their situation so often if you didn’t need to rely on them......」
「Hahaha......Things really are fine. Faltra City has the barrier that wards away the demonic after all. Let alone the Demonic Beings and the Demonic Beasts, even a Demon King wouldn’t be able to get in.」
Surrounding the Fortress City Faltra, there were splendid stone-built walls.
There were also several stone-built towers, and those acted as barrier amplifying apparatuses. It is said that the barrier itself is made through the magical power of the Chief of the Magician’s Guild, Celestine Bordorel.
As long as Celes stayed within the town, a barrier would generate from the Magician’s Guild’s tower, and would be amplified at the ramparts──Thanks to that, those that were affiliated with the demonic would be unable to enter Faltra City.
Despite knowing that, Mei’s unease didn’t disappear.
「The soldiers are going to fight, right?」
「I don’t know much about what’s going on with the armyー. Faltra City’s stationed troops are something like the Feudal Lord’s private army after all. I think Galford-san is going to decide that.」
「Then, what about the Adventurers?」
「They’re all raring to go. Everyone is going to protect the town, so you can be at ease!」
Going *Muー......*, Mei pouted her lips.
「I have many acquaintances among the Adventurers, so I’m worried about them -nya.」
「Thank you. But, protecting the Races from the Demon King is the duty of Adventurers after all.」
It’s about time for me to head to the next place──saying that, Sylvie turned around.
She pulled the door open.
As if to make sure of something, Sylvie spoke.
「If Diablo-san comes back, tell him to come to the Adventurer’s Guild.」
「I know. But~, I won’t tell him for free, okay -nya?」
「Ehー?」
*Pin*, Mei put up a finger.
「After the Demon King has been driven away, everyone is to come and eat the Relief Inn’s exquisite sausages!」
「......Fufu......I promise. See ya.」
Sylvie left, the door closed, and the inside of the store became quiet once again.
==
Part 5
Fortress City Faltra’s West Gate──
「Open the gate! Open the gate!」
A man mounted on a horse shouted towards the top of the ramparts.
Being a young Human, not even wearing armor, and not even being armed with a sword, he didn’t look like a soldier.
Even so, the gatekeeper recognized his face.
「It’s Boris! Open it up!」
The order to open the gate was immediately given.
At the city gate that was at the inner end of the bridge, there were iron doors, and those would be pulled open by rolling up the chains connected to them.
A single horse, and Boris.
And then, on the horse’s back, there was one more person.
The figure of Massa in a limp state was also there.
When they entered the town walls, the soldiers rushed over to them.
「Good job on coming back! How was it!?」
「We saw the Demon King Army!」
Going *Ooo!*, voices of surprise were raised from those surrounding them.
「You did well to come back safely.」
「No......Due to having made a decoy, we lost a horse and some equipment.」
Putting armor on a doll made of straw, they made a horse run down the highway. If it could get away, then they intended on running away on the horse on the highway but......
The decoy was easily cut down by a winged Demonic Being.
They would be killed if they were discovered.
While the Demonic Beings were focused on the horse on the highway, Boris and Massa escaped riding together on the other horse, continued on within a forest that was distant from the highway, and returned to Faltra City.
Massa covered the mouth of his paled face.
「Urp......I feel like I’m going to throw up, Boris.」
「A, are you alright? You can get down now. I can make the report by myself.」
「Yeah, I’ll leave it to you. The lieutenant general, is scary after all......Urp......」
He was not good at riding things.
The surrounding soldiers thanked them.
An officer took the reins of Boris’s horse.
「You don’t have to worry about the horse and the equipment. More importantly, you need to make a report to the lieutenant general.」
「Understood!」
After going along the rampart from the west gate to the north side, there was an army garrison. Stables, barracks, training grounds, an armory, a food storage......
And then, the headquarters.
Normally, it was a building made of bricks that only officers could enter.
Boris made a salute to the sentry.
「I have returned from Fort Bridge Ulg! I am here to report to the lieutenant general!」
「Enter!」
The sentry made a salute, and Boris went inside.
Going through the corridors, he advanced to the door that was furthest to the back. Several times, there were similar arguments going on, and then he finally came in front of the Fortress City Faltra’s Feudal Lord, Lieutenant General Chester Ray Galford.
The control room──
The lieutenant general was at the main large desk.
Bundles of paper were stacked on the desks that were lined up to the left and right of the main desk, and the staff officers were alongside them.
The smell of sweat, ink, and iron filled the room.
Since the last time Boris saw Galford was during the briefing at the start of the year, it will have been a year since he last saw him. Between the lieutenant general in his memories and the sullen face that was in front of him, the impressions were so different that it seemed like it wasn’t just a single year.
His wrinkles had become deeper, his skin turned ashen, and there was white mixed in his hair.
However, with the glint in his eyes being the only things that were sharp, he glared at Boris.
「You saw the Demon King Army......you say?」
「Yes! There were eight large-sized Demonic Beast Grand Turtles! There were a large amount of Demonic Beings atop each of their shells, and with them leading even more medium-sized Demonic Beasts, their number is estimated to be approximately 1000. They are advancing at a speed that is at the level of a person running, and had passed through Fort Bridge Ulg at eleven o’clock today!」
Hearing “Did you say there were 1000 Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts!?” from the staff officers, a stir took place.
Even though just a 100 would be a despairing number for them. Going through the records, an army of the Races has never battled against a Demon King Army of 1000 before.
An elderly adviser with thinning hair stood up.
「Do you have any proof that you really saw them!?」
「......Going by their current speed, I believe that they will arrive at Faltra City by the time it becomes night.」
「Mumumu」
Another officer asked a question.
「The speed of a person running huh. Then wouldn’t a carriage be able to escape?」
「That is if it is from the Grand Turtles. But, I......no, we were attacked by a winged Demonic Being. They were faster than the horse, and bisected armor and a horse with a single attack.」
「Goodness......」
The objective of the Demon King Army, was the annihilation of the races. Negotiations for peace or surrender did not come into existence.
What should be done to deal with this?
The staff officers repeatedly discussed with each other.
Galford asked a question.
「What of the Demon King? Did you see the Great Demon King Modinalaam?」
Boris shook his head sideways.
「I do not know. On top of the leading large-sized Demonic Beast, there was an owl Demonic Being, and they seemed important-looking though......」
「That is probably Ourou. He is a Demonic Being with seniority.」
「That was......」
「Did you see any others?」
Boris talked about the female-type Demonic Being with dragon wings and tail, and the frog-headed Demonic Being.
「Ah, also, I saw a box.」
「A box you say?」
「It was tied down to the Grand Turtle’s back with chains, and some kind of......creepy design......was on its surface.......」
When he remembered it, the feeling of wanting to vomit welled up within him.
He held down his mouth.
「Fumu」
Galford folded his arms and pondered.
The door to the room that was behind Boris made a sound and opened.
A woman’s voice was raised.
「Are you all still bickering? You all sure are a patient bunch.」
「Lamnites-dono!?」
A staff officer shouted her name.
She was Farnis Lamnites, the former Zircon Tower Feudal Lord.
This was Boris’s first time seeing her.
She was a woman wearing a bright red military uniform, had a chest so abundant that she didn’t seem Human, and had scarlet hair that seemed to shine. Her eyelashes were long, her lips were lustrous, and she lavished an allure that was mismatched with the location.
Boris was unintentionally enchanted and went into a daze.
Lamnites was a brave general that once repelled the Demon King army.
However, with the Demon King having revived, she determined that Zircon Tower City could not be protected and abandoned it, and she was now staying in Faltra City.
Acting as if she herself were the commanding officer, she spoke to the staff officers.
「It does not matter if they are 1000 or 2000, does it? After all, no matter how many small fries there are, they will not be a problem.」
「They are not just small fry, Lamnites-dono......They are Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts.」
「Hahn! Frightened like a young girl on her bridal night.」
「Wha!?」
「Do not fear. As long as the enemy’s commanding officer is defeated, the Demon King army will collapse. Even if their individual fighting strength is high, they are a mass of disorderly beings. There is nothing to fear.」
Galford opened his mouth.
「The one leading the Demon King army, is the Great Demon King Modinalaam. If that is defeated, then this battle will be a victory for the Races......I understand that much.」
「In that case, this makes the story short. Gather those with strength, and fight the Great Demon King. There is no other choice than this, correct?」
「A request for relief has been sent to the royal capital.」
Going *Hmph!*, Lamnites snorted.
「To that coward! As if he would move war potential away from the royal capital!」
「His Majesty is a sagacious person.」
「If the king truly were a sagacious and brave ruler, then he would have sent the Heroes to subjugate the Great Demon King by now. Just as the kings of the past had done. How many days do you think have passed since the Demon King army had attacked by Zircon Tower City!?」
「I am sure, he has a plan.」
「Have you become a coward, Galford!」
「I shall say this to you──In fighting against a Demon King, the banding together of the Races for the sake of a common cause is essential. No matter how you may feel on the inside, we cannot win if the officers and soldiers doubt the king.」
「If we follow an imbecile, then the Races will fall, you know!?」
「You are wrong. Quarrelling like this is what will bring about the Races’ fall.」
Lamnites clicked her tongue.
「Hmph......Well, as long as there is no path to draw back upon, there is no other choice but to fight. The point of being unable to expect reinforcements from the royal capital is an opinion that both you and I share. Quarrelling over the workings of the king’s head is also absurd.」
「I ask that you do not speak so disrespectfully in front of the staff.」
「The Demon King army’s arrival will be this evening, right? I shall prepare for battle. You and I and......Are there any other usable soldiers?」
「......」
Galford kept silent.
Faltra City was an important point that came into contact with the Demon King territory, so the stationed troops were an assembly of the elite.
However, for people that had surpassed the limits of the Races, there weren’t any.
People that were overflowing with such talent, they would be forfeited to the royal capital. The promotion of subordinates was a joyous event, but it was a fact that there were no soldiers that stood out in this forefront.
Lamnites asked a question.
「Has Diablo yet to return?」
「There was information that he had headed to the Master Swordsman’s town of 《Sodmas》.」
The Feudal Lord had appointed Diablo as a subject for surveillance, and had someone proficient in espionage activities tracking him. He did not call them back even after their group had left Faltra City. He had even chased after their movements in Zircon Tower City and the royal capital.
「Sodmas? For the sake of what?」
「I do not know as far as his aims but......It seems that he has bought fertilizer there, and climbed the mountain.」
「He hasn’t started making a field, has he?」
「He is an Adventurer after all......It would be best to not rely on him.」
「It is aggravating to say this but......Whether or not he is here, will influence the war.」
「The news has been sent. As for whether he will move or not, I do not know.」
Galford shrugged his shoulders, and Lamnites breathed a sigh.
Boris had a thought.
──Diablo-san, you’re amazing.
For these two to talk about the importance of his existence, it was something outrageous.
Please hurry up somehow and come back, is what he couldn’t help but pray.
He casually turned his gaze to the west. The rampart could be seen outside the window, and the sun was slowly setting.
His anxiety did nothing but grow larger.
==
Part 6
3 p.m.──
Contrary to the expectation that the invasion would happen after sunset, the watch-keeper on top of the rampart raising their voice happened before the evening.
Boris, just like his companions of the Fort Bridge Ulg, was incorporated into the Faltra City garrison. He was assigned to being around the watchtower that was a bit north from the west gate.
The watchtower also acted as one of the barrier amplifying apparatuses.
Boris pointed to the west.
「They’re here!」
「Uuu......They’re here!?」
The lips of his friend Massa trembled.
Other voices trembling from the enemy attack were also raised here and there.
Even the forefront soldiers who had repeatedly gone through harsh training found it difficult to maintain their presence of mind after seeing the majestic appearance of the Demon King army.
The gigantic Grand Turtles had the setting sun at their backs, making it seem as though the darkness of the night was seeping out from them.
The smell of beasts and blood came wafting about even from afar.
It were as if that were the materialization of the people’s fear.
The alarm bell that indicated an enemy attack was rung.
The many soldiers looked to the western gate.
Would the lieutenant general make his debut? Would he seclude himself in the castle?
Galford was a hero of the great war, and when the Elves led an army here, and even during times other than that, he proactively moved the army.
This time as well, heavily equipped infantrymen were gathered in front of the west gate.
However, they did not move out.
The trumpet that gave the command to open the gate did not sound.
「......They won’t go out.」
Someone muttered that.
If they were to fight from the front like this, they couldn’t win──is what the lieutenant general had decided.
That was probably only natural.
「......So we can’t win.」
Someone let out a discouraged voice.
Wouldn’t a hero of the great war be able to do something about the approaching Demon King army──that faint hope was crushed.
Reality was cool-headed to the point of freezing, and it did not have even a fragment of gentleness.
Being up against the Demon King army that was 1000 strong, there was no one that denied it.
Maybe having predicted this situation, or maybe having known that they would be holing up in the town, an officer raised their voice.
「This is a defensive battle! We have the barrier! Those Demonic Beings aren’t smart enough to prepare provisions. And also, it is now winter. This battle, we can win it!」
Going “I see”, the soldiers’ faces became bright.
Now that it was mentioned, although the vicinity of Faltra City was a temperate region, winter was winter. The leaves of the trees of the forest had fallen, and fruits and animals were scarce.
It was the season where the fields were given rest.
It was said that even Demonic Beings ate meals, but when they are that gigantic, they must surely eat a lot.
Procuring enough food to support the Demon King army of 1000 would be impossible in the long-term. So it was a defensive battle that estimated that the enemy did not have provisions.
The Faltra City rampart had been partially destroyed from the inside by a mysterious explosion, but it was already repaired.
The officer continued.
「In Faltra City, there are enough provisions to feed 200,000 people for half a year. Refugees from the Demon King territory have escaped here, but they have also been taken into consideration. Do not worry.」
As expected of lieutenant general Galford.
Voices saying that could be heard.
Boris gazed at the west.
The inside of his chest couldn’t calm down.
「............」
「What’s wrong, Boris? Your face is pale.」
In response to Massa’s question, he lowered his voice.
「......There was a time where 100 Demonic Beings attacked Fort Bridge Ulg, right?」
「There was. I thought we were done for at that time.」
「It seems that at that time, a Demonic Being infiltrated Faltra City, and Celes-sama was in danger.」
「I heard that too. The Demonic Being Gregor, was it? But an Adventurer called Emil defeated him, right?」
「......That’s only how it was announced though.」
Boris had seen Diablo’s deed at Fort Bridge Ulg with his own eyes.
And then, he had heard his words as well.
“I will try Return Magic”
That is what Diablo shouted. Immediately after that, his figure was enveloped in light, and then he vanished.
In the Adventurers’ report, it ended up saying that the one called Emil had defeated the Demonic Being Gregor, but Boris suspected that the truth was different.
「No, right now, that isn’t the problem......Even during that time, the Demonic Beings had thought of a method to lift the barrier.」
「Yeah.」
「Having come here with a force ten times larger than that time, and even bringing along the Demon King, do you think they wouldn’t consider the barrier?」
「Could it be......Celes-sama is in danger!?」
「......Naturally, I do think that the lieutenant general is being vigilant though.」
Is there anything strange going on at the Magician’s Guild?
He turned his gaze to the center of the town. He stared at the tower with a peculiar shape that was like the tip of a lance, but it wasn’t any different from normal.
==
Part 7
They had approached to being right in front of the Fortress City Faltra.
Ourou raised one hand.
「All forces, halt -nano dearu.」
Lazpuulas repeated the order, and communicated that to the Demonic Beast User Manuela.
Through her magic, the Grand Turtles slowly came to a stop.
However, they were not well-organized as the armies of the Races.
A portion of the Demonic Beings raised war cries.
Being in front of a town of the Races, they seemed to have lost their senses. They charged in on their own.
Lazpuulas frowned.
「So it is the bunch of the Baal Faction.」
Wanting to kill the Races──they were dyed with only that thought. They were a bunch that often killed each other, and possessed reasoning power less than that of beasts.
Ourou turned his back towards them.
「We shall leave them be -no dearu. Those fools that hadst come along on their own accord even though I hadst not called for them......They do not even have value as sacrificial pawns.」
「Indeed.」
Ourou spread out both of his hands.
He shouted.
「Release the box -no dearu!」
The Demonic Beings that waited on him behind him started to move about.
Lazpuulas took Manuela to descend from the Grand Turtle.
「Now then, let us hurry.」
「Wait.」
「Do it quickly.」
Manuela caressed the shell underfoot.
「......Sorry.」
Cutting the chains with an axe, the restrictions on the box came undone.
Lazpuulas carried Manuela under his arm.
「We do not have anymore time.」
「Ah」
After jumping down from the shell, he ran to the rear of the Grand Turtle with agile that did not match his fat stomach.
They could not delay.
The Demonic Beings with axes in their hands raised their voices.
「The chains, are cut!」
At that time, Ourou had flown up to the sky. He was flapping the owl wings that were on his back.
「Open the box -no dearu! Break the seal -dearu!」
「Break the sealー!!」
Several Demonic Beings either placed their hands on the front of the box, or thrust the blades of their weapons into it──
And wrenched it open.
Dense magical power came gushing out.
Materialized magical power flooded out from inside of the box.
The stuff that looked like black slime touched the Demonic Beings that were surrounding the box. They did not even have the time to scream, and turned into particles of light.
They were annihilated.
It was magical power strong enough to annihilated Demonic Beings just by touching them.
Looking down upon that scene, Ourou shouted.
「Great Demon King Cannon, fire -dearu!」
From the box, magical power jetted out.
The magical power turned into a glint, brightened the surrounding as if the sun had fallen there, and was dazzling......
A light bright enough to burn the eyeballs of those that looked at it was fired.
A Demonic Being might have been able to endure it, but it was impossible for the Races. Being on top of the Faltra City rampart, those that didn’t sense the danger of that intense light had all gone blind.
The light was just that bright.
The light turned into heat.
The head of the Grand Turtle was the first to evaporate. Even the front half of its shell couldn’t endure the heat that was fired from the box.
Next, the Demonic Beings of the Baal faction that had gone first were engulfed by the heat. They vanished without a trace.
That bundle of super high heat approached Faltra’s rampart.
The barrier creaked.
Since the creation of the town, many wars between the Races and the Demon King had occurred, but it had never taken this powerful of a hit before.
If not for the barrier, that power was strong enough to scatter the town away.
The soldiers on top of the ramparts raised screams.
The inhabitants of the town did the same.
The ground shook, the air shook, the buildings shook, and an ear-splitting sound resounded.
Even so, the barrier did not break.
The property of “not allowing things made from the demonic” was absolute.
At least for the barrier.
The light settled down.
As well as the colossal heat......
On top of the rampart, Boris fell down onto his bottom, and shed sweat to the point that they were falling in drops.
He thought that he was going to die.
He had resigned himself to being engulfed by that light, and being erased.
「Haa! Haa! Haa! Amazing......We’re alive!」
So it meant that the barrier had won.
When he raised his head, shouts were raised coming from the west gate.
「Take coverー!!」
「Ha?」
He involuntarily let out an idiotic voice. The shouting voices of soldiers could be heard from the direction of the west gate.
The light and heat that was fired from the Demon King army had already completely settled down.
Despite that, the angry bellows and screams only increased.
Before long, an earth tremor was transmitted to him.
「What’s going on!?」
Boris stood up, placed his hands on the edge of the rampart, and caught hold of the outside of it in his view.
──No way!?
The ground that should have been outside of the west gate, it was completely annihilated.
The barrier even extended underground.
But, the soil that was outside of the barrier’s reach had vanished as if it had completely been shaven away.
Water came flowing in from the moat that surrounded Faltra City. Making a sizzling sound, the water evaporated, and white smoke rose.
「Take coverー!! Take coverー!!」
Soldiers hurriedly started to run away from the top of the west gate.
Even from the spot that Boris was at, he could clearly see that it was swaying.
「Is it going to collapse!?」
If one took the soil that supported the foundation of such a gigantic structure, it was a natural result.
The west gate grandly slanted outward, and crumbled like collapsing building blocks.
Cracks started to appear even in the areas around it as if being dragged in along with it.
Since the rampart was made so that they mutually supported each other structurally, even the place that Boris’s group was at was in danger.
「Take coverー!!」
The officer shouted.
Before that, those with good perception had started to run away.
「Uwah.」
His footing started to collapse.
Stumbling from the difference in level, Massa fell over.
「Aguh! M, my foot has been caught by a Demonic Being, save meー!!」
「Calm down, all you did was fall over!」
Boris pulled his hand making him stand up, and then started running.
Fortunately, the rampart finished with just leaning over.
After running a safe looking place, Boris turned around, and became aghast.
His knees trembled.
He found it hard to even breathe.
The thing that must absolutely never vanish, had been erased.
The watch towers that completed the demonic warding barrier──one of them, had toppled over together with the rampart.
It had turned into a mountain of rubble.
「......Th, the barrier......has vanished!?」
Even though it was his own voice, Boris felt like he was hearing it from a distance.
==
Part 8
Headed towards the collapsed west gate, several Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts came running.
「Hiーgyaーhaー!!」
The Fortress City Faltra was in danger of falling.
Wrapped up in the collapse of the west gate, the garrison soldiers fell into chaos. Some ran away, while others fell into a stupor.
Now was the time for Adventurers to take the stage!
Emil carried his large sword on his shoulder, and stepped into the west gate plaza. Both the once splendid west gate and the rampart had all turned into rubble.
「Oーoー, you’ve all gone and done something quite flashy, haven’t youー」
The barrier meant to defend against the charging Demonic Beings, was no longer there. The town was in a defenseless situation.
His companions called out to him.
「E, Emil, what will you do? Against something like that......」
It was the Healer wearing a white robe, Churon. In addition, along with Elastov who was proficient at enchanting and strengthening weapons, his four party members were there.
Emil waved one hand.
「I’ll win! It’s because there is no other choice than that. The barrier has vanished, there is a great number of women in the town, and the Demon King army is approaching. And finally, my great self’s name is Emil Byushelbeljel, the guardian of all women!」
The young Healer boy, Churon, curved his mouth.
「Fufu......In your tour around the countries, you’ve polished your stupidity, haven’t you.」
「It isn’t stupidity, you know!?」
The male Enchanter, Elastov, shrugged his shoulders.
「......Certainly, it does not seem like a wise decision, but we have no choice but to do it......Sitting around waiting to die just doesn’t suit him.」
When he swung his staff, all of the party members’ equipment were endowed with magic. Their offensive and defensive abilities were strengthened three-fold.
The Warrior who possessed a gigantic shield in place of a weapon, Glutas, went to the front. He was a companion with the Class called 《Blocker》.
「Yosha! Let’s do this! We are the new generation of Heroes!」
「Yeah, we will, protect this town!」
Even the male Archer, Yuan, was in high spirits.
Emil’s group stepped onto the rubble, and gazed outside the rampart.
Heat still remained in the ground, and even though they were wearing leather shoes, it felt as if the soles of their feet would be burned.
From behind them, yet another group had come──
「Fumu......To think that there were Adventurers that didn’t run away......」
「Mu?」
Emil turned around.
The ones that appeared were Local Knights. They surpassed 100 people.
The one standing at the lead was the Feudal Lord Galford.
「Hou, so it was you......Your name, if I’m not mistaken......」
About two months ago, Emil received instruction on the sword from him. He had the impression of being an uninvited disciple though.
「Hmph......My name is──」
「Emil Byushelbeljel was it. Did you meet with the Master Swordsman?」
*Zawah* The Adventurers became noisy.
──He remembers my name!?
Emil puffed up with pride.
「Yes I did! I had been taught the Master Swordsman’s serious slash through this body of mine. Thanks to that, I have been reborn.」
「Fumu......So you can somehow be counted in our numbers.」
The Local Knights shrank back, and their line was split to the left and right.
The one that appeared, was a beautiful woman who seemed to have an air of allure. Her scarlet hair gathered behind her, she wore deep red armor.
「Move aside......If you obstruct my way, I shall shoot through your body as well, got it?」
It was Farnis Lamnites. She had a gigantic Magi Gun at the ready.
The gun point was pointed towards Emil.
「Wh, what do you plan on doing!?」
「I told you to move. They are already within my range.」
「What!?」
The Demon King army was charging in. It was a distance where the heads of the leads still were not clear, but if that’s what she said, then it must be true.
Lamnites’s skill as a Magi Gunner was famous to the point that there was no one who didn’t know about it.
Emil’s group opened the way in front of her.
She pulled the trigger.
*Bas! Bas! Bas!* Sounds that seemed to pass through the air resounded.
Even if it were a large-sized Demonic Beast, if fired from this distance, how much power would there be──Emil was half in doubt.
Even if each attack had the power to bring certain death, the charging Demon King army had a vanguard of more than 200. Defeating just one or two of them would just be......
An explosion happened.
「What!?」
Black smoke that went higher than the ramparts rose up.
Several Demonic Beings were launched up without keeping their original shapes, and turned into particles of light and vanished faster than they could fall to the ground.
That happened in three places.
After a while, the shock wave came. It was that far. It was a distance that would take about ten minutes if one were to walk it.
Even his Adventurer companions raised voices of surprise.
「Wh, what was that......just now!?」「That’s just unbelievable, isn’t it!?」「Didn’t that just take out about 30 of them!?」
To Emil, rather than the bullet exploding, it looked like something underground had exploded.
「Could it be, did you set something up?」
「Fufu......You are surprisingly sharp, aren’t you. As expected of a man that Lord Galford had kept an eye on.」
Lamnites smiled pleasantly while keeping her Magi Gun at the ready.
Galford shook his head left and right looking reluctant.
「I hold no expectations for Adventurers.」
「But you practiced with him almost every day, didn’t you?」
「Since he wormed his way into my early morning training, I merely beat him away.」
「And that made you go out of your way to personally get your dull sword meant for training use without ordering a subordinate to get it?」
While teasing the man who was thirty years older than her, she once again fired her Magi Gun.
Another explosion occurred.
「You were called Emil, were you not......Just as you surmised, mechanisms were placed on the western bank of the city gates.」
While still keeping her gun at the ready, Lamnites said that.
「Is that possible!?」
「Eventually, the state of the battle will change. However, right now, it is just a bluff.」
Galford nodded.
「A battle against the Demon King army, to sum it up, is whether or not the Demon King is defeated......It will come to an end with that.」
「Hmph......For the Demon King army, they surely do not wish to pointlessly lose too many troops. If this castle does not fall easily, then the strong ones should come out.」
Just as the two of them said, the Demonic Beings that were coming towards the west gate stopped.
They became quiet.
It felt like even the sound of the wind blowing could be heard.
Stepping on the soil, there was someone who came walking this way.
==
Part 9
At first, it seemed like a young woman of the Races, but she had dragon-like wings on her back. She shouldered a huge Seiryuutou.
She had horns on her head, and her tail swayed left and right.
She came as far as in front of the mountain of rubble.
She then stopped.
The distance was about twenty steps away from it.
「Fufuーn♪ I thought that the whole town would be blown away with the Great Demon King Cannon but......You all are surprisingly quite tenacious. As a reward, I’ll kill you after playing with you thoroughly!」
It was a voice like that of a high-pitched young woman.
Emil asked a question.
「Great Demon King Cannon? Is that about, the dazzling thing from earlier?」
「That’s rightー. Although I don’t really get it, I was told that it fired magical power that Great Demon King-sama had stockpiled for a long time within a box. Ourou said that it was the ability of the 《Demon King of the Eyeball》 or something. Ah, no, or was it from the 《Demon King of the Hands》?」
The 《Demon King of Insanity Modinalaam》 absorbed other Demon Kings, and claimed to be the Great Demon King.
It seemed that the attack from earlier was the ability of a different Demon King that was absorbed.
He didn’t think that she would go out of her way to tell them but......
「The Great Demon King, about how many Demon King’s did he absorb?」
Going “One, two......*, the young Demonic Being woman counted on her fingers.
However, it seemed that even both hands were not enough.
「............A, a lot! Among them, three of them were obtained by this Ryoka! Amazing, isn’t it!?」
「So at the very least, it is more than ten.」
「As a reward, I received power from Great Demon King-sama several times! It’s already to the point that there’s no one even in the Demon King army that can fight against me at full power......What about you all!?」
The Demonic Being that called herself Ryoka sneered, and hit them with bloodlust.
Emil gulped.
A chill went down his spine.
The Enchanter Elastov chattered his teeth, and fell to his knees.
「Uuu......Th, the picture of my own figure being cut down by that Demonic Being came to my mind......」
「Get a hold of yourself!」
Emil supported his shoulder.
Galford stepped forward, and asked the Demonic Being with an uninterested tone.
「There are some unnatural points in your story just now......Are you saying that the Demonic Beings discovered more than ten 《Demon King Fragments》 in such a short period of time? That is hard to believe.」
Certainly, that was doubtful.
Although Ryoka looked like she found it to be a pain, she also surprisingly told him.
「The one that found them was Great Demon King-sama. I was told that Demon Kings have the ability to sense other Demon Kings. They were normally left alone since they weren’t needed to destroy the Races though.」
It was surprising information for Emil’s group, but Galford nodded looking like he understood.
「And were all of the fragments gathered?」
「Nuh-uh. For the ones in the territory of the Races, not yet. Also, there were some that escaped.」
「What do you mean......escaped?」
「I didn’t make any screw ups like that you know! It seems that Demon Kings that were close to awakening and already had consciousness didn’t want to be absorbed and escaped.」
「So other Demon Kings had......And where are they now?」
When she was about to answer yet again, *Tatatatatatata*, a Demonic Being came running up to her.
It had three tails and a fox head.
It curled up its body that was larger than a person of the Races, and brought its long mouth close to Ryoka’s ear.
「Ryoka-sama, Ryoka-sama.」
「Nn?」
「There was an order from Ourou-sama saying “Hurry up and kill them -no dearu”. He also said “Do not talk about unnecessary things -dearu”.」
「Haa? Even though he said to “listen to the story to the end” earlier! That guy, isn’t he slow in the head!?」
Ryoka pouted her lips.
*Jirori* She glared at Emil’s group.
「Well, that’s fine. I wanted to hurry and fight from the start anyway.」
Ryoka wielded the Seiryuutou with one hand.
Handling a lump of iron that was about her own height as if it were a small branch──As expected, she was the owner of physical strength that was very far apart from what the Races possessed.
With an uneager look similar to how she was chatting up until now, she called out to them.
「So who’s gonna come up firstー? Or will you fight all at once? I don’t mind either way!」
Even though she spoke with a tone that sounded like a young girl talking with her friend on the street corner, she had an intimidating air that wasn’t there before.
Emil trembled.
「Kuh......This is bad......」
The Healer Churon nodded.
「It certainly looks like she is on a different level from the other Demonic Beings.」
「Yeah, she has extraordinary cuteness. And above all, she is a woman.」
「Wait!? Emil, that’s a Demonic Being you know!?」
「But she is a woman.」
「There is no male or female among Demonic Beings!」
While they were arguing, Galford stepped forward.
「Cover me.」
Lamnites made a surprised looking face.
「Oya, is that alright? Are not chivalrous things like one-on-one bouts something that men fuss over?」
「......That, is not a being that I can win against with that sort of naive thinking.」
==
Part 10
The vicinity of the place where the west gate had once stood had completely changed.
The plaza that was on the gate’s inner side was greatly cracked.
It was there that the Knight Order was distributed.
The Local Knights were people that were sufficiently trained as people of the Races, but if they were to fight against a named Demonic Being or a large-sized Demonic Beast, they couldn’t be counted as fighting power.
In front of them, there was Lamnites who had her Magi Gun at the ready.
She had established her aim on the enemy.
Emil and his companion Adventurers were standing at the place where the gate originally was at.
There was nothing but rubble at their feet.
While they protected Lamnites who was right behind them, they opened up the Magi Gun’s line of fire.
And then, there was the area in front of the west gate.
Due to the Great Demon King Cannon, a huge hole was opened up. The rubble that once was the west gate had crumbled down into that hole, and there was not a trace of the once beautifully maintained city gate and highway.
That place that was like the center of the destruction had become Galford’s battlefield.
Placing a hand on the sword on his waist, he had yet to draw it.
「............」
The distance was about ten steps.
The one he was confronting, Ryoka, narrowed her eyes.
「Hnn, it looks like I can enjoy this for a bit♪」
「......I cannot sympathize with you......A time where I have felt joy for a battle, has never happened.」
「Isn’t that because they were weak? Don’t disappoint me, got it!?」
After cheerfully declaring that, Ryoka kicked the ground.
A charge.
However, it wasn’t faster than what he imagined.
Emil had a thought.
──Could it be that, I trained too much?
To think that he would feel that the Demonic Being that Galford asserted that he could not win against in a one-on-one fight wasn’t all that fast.
Ryoka swung her Seiryuutou.
「Oryah!」
She should have still been distant.
However, the blade shot out a light.
From a distance that was about one step off, her slash reached. An unexpected attack!?
Galford made a loud scream of fighting spirit.
「ZEH!!」
He drew his sword.
Emil opened his eyes wide.
When compared to the attack used when he was training with him before, this was a speed on a completely different level.
──I thought that he was probably going easy on me, but to think that it was this fast!
Galford’s sword negated Ryoka’s hurled slash.
*Don!* The air shook.
Right away, there was another attack.
Galford’s two-part attack was fast to the point that even Emil was just barely able to chase after it with his eyes.
Fresh blood fluttered about from the back of Ryoka’s right hand.
Her eyes became round.
「I, was cut!?」
「Mu......」
Galford dropped his gaze onto his sword.
The tip of his blade was chipped.
Ryoka’s injury, smoothly vanished.
「Ufufufu......You’re pretty good. I’ll go a bit faster!」
She came attacking once again.
It was a slash that was clearly faster than her first one.
Having taken a step in, this time it was a distance where the blade of her Seiryuutou would reach him.
Galford warded it off with his sword.
「ッ............Seei!!」
From his movement of receiving it, as if drawing a circle, he slashed at her without any hesitation.
He slashed Ryoka’s upper arm.
He had given her a fairly deep wound, but it didn’t reach the point of cutting it off. Her left arm languidly dropped.
「Why!? Even though I was the faster one!?」
It was a difference in technique. In physical ability, the Demonic Being called Ryoka had the upper hand, but there was an overwhelming difference in their sword techniques.
Galford’s sword technique was like having offence and defence as one, where there was no pause when he went from defending to attacking. When one thought that he had defended against an attack, he would finish his counterattack as naturally as water finding its leveling point. It was beautiful kenjutsu that did not match his stern face.
However, Ryoka’s left arm which should have been completely cut to the bone, returned to normal in no time at all.
──Is she immortal?
Ryoka made a broad smile.
「It looks like you aren’t a small fry! Now this, is a fight!」
She slashed at him again.
Did she think that the earlier counterattack was something done by coincidence?
It was an attack similar to before.
Warding her off yet again, the counterattack this time cut Ryoka’s left shoulder.
The Demonic Being sped up even more.
As if matching with her, the swinging of Galford’s sword also became faster.
A sword fight was something where the sound of metal colliding with metal would happen over and over.
However, the fight between these two, was on a whole other level.
Each and every attack was heavy.
There weren’t light sounds like *Kin, kin......*, but heavy sounds like *Gah, goh......* were made, and Galford’s sword would chip every time.
Maybe because the Seiryuutou that Ryoka wielded was endowed with magic, there wasn’t even a single smudge on it.
He won in sword technique, but it seemed like he would lose in the difference of their weapons. Did he not have some sort of hand to play?
Suddenly, Ryoka took some distance.
「Tsk......」
「Mu?」
While cautiously putting himself on guard, Galford did not chase after her.
Ryoka languidly lowered her Seiryuutou.
「I quit.」
「Hou......If you are going to leave, then as a person of the Races, I have no reason to detain you.」
「You, you aren’t fighting seriously, are you?」
「And why, would you think that?」
「You are matching with me, and are going at the bare minimum speed to do that. And even when I show openings, you don’t cut at me.」
「......I am the cautious type, you see. I believe clear openings to be traps.」
「Ah, really......Then, I’ll make you go seriously.」
Ryoka turned her gaze to behind Galford.
She glared at Emil’s group.
──Wh, what in the world!?
Naturally, he did not lose focus.
He had put himself on guard. That should have been the case.
Ryoka’s eyes suspiciously shined.
Lamnites shouted.
「Dodge itー!!」
「Gah!?」
Elastov the Enchanter vomited blood.
A hole opened up in his left breast.
Deep red blood was gushing out even from there. He collapsed face up.
Emil got down to his knees next to him.
「Elastov!」
He shouted his name with all of his strength.
*Gobah* What came out from his mouth was not words but blood.
「......ッ」
「E, Elastov......!!」
Churon the Healer waved his staff.
He offered a prayer to God.
A faint light enveloped Elastov.
「............」
「O God! Show mercy......!!」
「......」
「Heal his wounds, O God! O God!」
It was an earnest Healing Technique.
However, Elastov did not move. Not even his breathing had returned.
*Gakkuri* Churon crumbled down.
「Uuu......kuh......」
「H, he died......!?」
Emil heard his own voice as if they were words spoken by some other person.
A companion of his had died.
Ryoka curved her lips.
「How about it? If you don’t get serious, then they will decrease one by one. People of the Races hate it when their companions die, right?」
Galford groaned.
「Doing something so foolish......」
Emil broke into a run.
==
Part 11
「Bastardddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddー!!」
Emil’s blood was boiling.
Raising his large sword overhead, he dashed towards Ryoka.
Lamnites clicked her tongue, and fired her Magi Gun.
「Damned fool......」
*Gan* Ryoka ended up grandly bending backwards.
「Au!?」
It hit! Did she not dodge it!? Or could it be, she couldn’t react to it!?
Was she careless!?
Whatever the case, it’s a good opportunity!
Emil plunged in.
「《Sword Smite III》!!」
He filled the distance in one go with a charge in-type Martial Art.
Galford shouted.
「Do not get close so carelessly!」
Although he told him that, Emil’s thoughts were filled with rage.
Ryoka had her stance broken, but she swung her Seiryuutou with a single arm.
As he had vigorously rushed in, it was right on top of him.
The gigantic blade drew near right before Emil’s eyes.
「Teyah!」
He repelled the Seiryuutou with his large sword.
Interrupting the side slash that immediately followed the charge, he connected it to a different technique.
「《Quad Slash》!!」
If one can use this, they will be level 80 as a Warrior──It was a Martial Art that said that. It would dispatch four consecutive attacks almost simultaneously.
It was an attack where one had to be a 《Superhuman Strength Warrior》 that could easily handle a large sword.
The first one was defended against, but the remaining attacks gouged Ryoka’s torso.
She was blown away.
「Kuhah!? Even though you’re just a small fry, how cheeky......!!」
「I’m not done yet!」
It was the fruits of his long and difficult training.
This Ryoka was surely far stronger than the Demonic Being Gregor that acted violently in Faltra City before. And he was pressuring that kind of formidable opponent in a crossing of swords.
It was also thanks to Elastov the Enchanter.
Emil’s large sword that was endowed with magic did not break even after clashing with the Demonic Being’s Seiryuutou from the front, and did not have a single chip in the blade after cutting Ryoka’s tough body.
──I will have, my revenge!!
His large sword struck into the Demonic Being’s side.
His opponent’s body bent at a weird angle. If it were a person of the Races, they might have been cut into two from it.
──I can win!
Emil took a stance where he held the large sword right overhead.
《Alps Fall III》
Its power was great, but the setup was long. If he were to unleash it normally, the punch line would be him getting cut before he could.
Even in his fight against Diablo in the past, he was struck before the Martial Art could activate, and was blown off to the wall.
Even so, this Martial Art that was evaluated as being unusable, suited him the most──that is what Emil believed.
That is why he went as far as to grasp the special skill 《Instantaneous》. It was possible to shorten a Martial Art’s setup. With this, 《Alps Fall》 would make it in time against an opponent that was in recoil from receiving damage.
「Eat thissss──────!!」
Ryoka’s face, entered his view.
She had horns. She also had wings and a tail like that of a Dragon. She also killed people of the Races. She was a Demonic Being.
However, that face, was that of a woman.
──My name is Emil Byushelbeljel. The guardian of all women!
「Kuh!!」
A momentary hesitation that not even he himself was conscious of.
Ryoka showed her fangs.
「What a killjoy, you damned small fry!」
The large sword that was swung down on her head──
was smashed by her Seiryuutou.
「What!?」
An aura that could only be described as pitch black flames was emitted from his opponent’s blade.
So while she was being showered with several attacks, Ryoka had kept a trump card hidden. So she was going easy on them.
The Seiryuutou clad in jet black flames swooped down on Emil who had lost his large sword.
「The second one!」
「Emiiiil!!」
There was someone that wedged himself in between them.
With a gigantic shield, he stopped the Demonic Being’s Seiryuutou.
No, he tried to stop it.
「Gohoh!?」
Glutas the Blocker, together with his shield, had his body split right in half. Emil’s field of vision became deep red.
「Gul......ッ......!?」
Moreover, despite having cut through a thick shield and a giant of a man, the power of Ryoka’s attack didn’t diminish.
Emil’s armor was torn through.
It felt as if burning iron was pressed onto his chest. What he felt wasn’t “ouch”, but “hot”.
「GAAAAaaaaah!?」
He collapsed onto the ground.
Due to the pain, he couldn’t put strength into his body.
Ryoka looked down on him with eyes as if she were looking at a bug.
「The second one ended up being a different small fry. Well, whatever......Hey, you? Have you started to feel like fighting seriously yet?」
She was no longer looking at Emil.
Her interest returned to Galford.
Being asked that, he breathed a sigh.
「......Disobeying orders, making a challenge that left everything to spirit, and isolating himself on the war front......As I thought, it was pointless to count Adventurers as part of the war potential. There wasn’t even any point to buying time.」
Buying time.
So Galford was waiting......
For someone who could overturn this hopeless war situation.
However, that sort of vague expectation, he had long since abandoned it──that is what he said aloud.
His tattered long sword, fell from his hand.
「I had not intended on using this until the battle with the Demon King though.」
==
Part 12
Ryoka tilted her head.
「What’re you doing? Throwing away your weapon......Could it be, do you plan on surrendering? Just so you know, I plan on slaughtering you all, got it?」
「I am sure that you do. Allow me to say this as well......I will show no mercy, to you Demonic Beings.」
Galford did not hold a sword. Despite that, he took a stance as if he were holding a sword at his waist.
This made Ryoka make an even more puzzled face.
「It doesn’t look like......it’s just a bluff.」
A drop of sweat languidly fell from Galford’s forehead, who was not moving an inch.
His heart rate increased.
*Fuu, fuu* He repeatedly took short breathes.
While putting himself on guard, his muscles swelled up.
It was said that what became the base of Martial Arts was the energy (SP) that flowed throughout the body. If used within the body, it would become a Martial Art that increases the limit of one’s physical ability.
If that is the case, then there also exists a different way of using it.
「HAAAAAAA!!」
Gathering SP outside of his body, it would materialize.
He slowly made the action of pulling something out.
In Galford’s hand, a shining sword had appeared.
《Sword of Light》
Ryoka pulled both ends of her mouth up to her ears, and expressed a whole faced smile.
「So you’re finally, serious. You slowpoke, I almost ended up carelessly killing you.」
She kicked the ground.
She was clearly faster than any other point up until now.
Emil understood that she had gone easy on him. Even with that, his companions were cut down, he himself was also cut down, and he was now humbly collapsed on the ground.
She was a monster.
Ryoka was on a different level from the other Demonic Beings.
Even if Galford was a hero of the great war, even if he pulled out his trump card, there was no way a person of the Races could fight against that kind of monster──that is how Emil felt.
Going first, Ryoka slashed at him.
「Show me that seriousness of yours! Make me smile, Human!」
「Sei!」
Against her slash, Galford, while twisting his body, caught it with the shining sword.
Amazingly, the Sword of Light scattered into pieces.
It turned into shining fragments.
Ryoka raised a strange laughter.
「Hyaha!」
「Slash!!」
Galford swung his empty left hand. At the same time, in his left hand, a second 《Sword of Light》 sprung forth.
Fresh blood scattered about.
Both of Ryoka’s hands were severed.
「Wha!? Why......!?」
Her Seiryuutou fell to the ground together with both of her wrists.
With bloodshot eyes, she glared at Galford.
「I will not let you get away!!」
At the same time he shouted that, the sword that was held in his left hand was already swung.
Ryoka’s head fell.
Flying high, it then fell to the ground.
Turning into a freshly severed head, Ryoka opened both of her eyes wide to the point that it seemed like her eyeballs would fall out.
「Impossible!? I was......!?」
Her figure of raising her voice while only being a head, she truly was something not human.
This time, Galford looked down on her.
「What is wrong? Smile......Fights, are fun, are they not?」
「Gii......You......!!」
「Since you can recover in an instant even if you bear an injury, you held no fear or weariness and did not turn your attention to defense. Due to that, you had lost your weapon.」
「You had two swords! That was foul play, you cheater!」
「Cheater you say......That is the greatest compliment.」
「Do you enjoy winning like that!?」
「Just as I said before──A time where I have felt joy for a battle, has never happened.」
Galford struck a 《Sword of Light》 onto Ryoka’s head.
==
Part 13
The Demonic Being priest Lazpuulas was riding on the back of a gigantic Demonic Beast, and was gazing at the war situation.
The one that he was riding at first had turned into particles of light due to the Great Demon King Cannon. Right now, he was on top of a different Grand Turtle.
Next to him was the 《Demonic Beast User》 Manuela.
And then, the commander-in-chief of the Demon King army Ourou was there.
「As expected of the hero of the shining sword, Chester Ray Galford -nano dearu. To think that Ryoka who hadst been strengthened to the limit would be defeated......」
He has a surprised look, but this was probably within his calculations──is what Lazpuulas thought.
The commander-in-chief seemed to find Ryoka to be an eyesore. It was because the young and uninhibited girl would repeatedly ignore orders.
The Demonic Beings who were of the former Edelgart faction also made flagrant movements to elevate Ryoka into a high position.
In order to solidify his own position in the Demon King army, Ourou should have wanted to pluck that sprout of talent.
He had most likely made Ryoka fight alone while expecting her defeat.
Was this crafty Demonic Being a shrewd tactician? Or, was he a small-timer that ran on self-protection? His evaluation was split at the moment but......
At any rate, the current Demon King army would not have come into existence if not for Ourou’s command. His leadership and decisiveness were absolutely necessary.
Lazpuulas turned his gaze to the box that fell onto the ground.
──As for why, it is because Great Demon King Modinalaam-sama is no longer in a state that could be called a king after all.
「Commander-in-chief Ourou, if we do not close the box.」
「It is already too late.」
「What did you say!?」
「It would seem that Great Demon King-sama has taken an interest in fighting.」
「Th, that is......Will things be alright? Won’t another town be annihilated......」
Lazpuulas voiced his concern.
To maintain the current Demon King army which had grown to an unprecedented scale, a fair amount of food was required. They had no provisions.
There was a need to steal from the towns of the Races.
Ourou twisted his head horizontally.
「If this Fortress City Faltra is removed, the many bases behind it shall be defenseless -nano dearu. This is where we shall have Great Demon King-sama show his power -dearu.」
「I see......」
「Instigating Great Demon King-sama’s fighting spirit, was the enemy’s blunder. They were foolish -dearu. Tis a fate that the Races’ excessive resistance hadst invited -nano dearu.」
「......」
That was surely also within his calculations, is what he thought.
By defeating Ryoka and showing that fight, Great Demon King-sama would be spurred on.
So it was a calculative step to turn Faltra City into scorched earth, and gain total control of the Lifelia Kingdom’s western side.
How shrewd.
Lazpuulas gazed at Faltra City.
「To think they would end up having to face against Great Demon King-sama......I am a Demonic Being, but I am harboring a feeling of pity for the Races.」
「Priests are too soft -no dearu!」
That might be true.
However, Great Demon King-sama’s power was overwhelming to the point that he ended up pitying them.
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