◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram, Courtyard Training Grounds ◆
Under the blazing sun, the King of Kashiram knelt on the ground, his hands and knees pressed against the earth as he struggled to catch his breath, sweat pouring from his body. Neither of us wielded weapons. We had agreed to this condition to avoid the risk of killing each other during our sparring, but I had also made some excuse about wanting to convey my fighting spirit with bare hands. Not long ago, I wouldn’t have been able to lie like this, but I suppose this is what they call growth.
Thanks to that, the King, who couldn’t even graze me with his punches, was now utterly exhausted. It had been a long fight—he moved around as if he had boundless stamina, and I estimated we had been battling for at least two hours. Because of this, I had missed lunch.
“Recognize my fighting spirit!”
I wanted him to acknowledge my determination so that he would stop the executions of Matere and the others. Being able to bring this up with the Battle King was thanks to the numerous opportunities I had to interact with him. I had lost count of how many times I had heard the term “fighting spirit.” So, I thought I should show him my resolve and proposed a duel. Of course, the King wouldn’t back down, and we quickly moved to this courtyard.
Having fought him, I realized just how incredibly strong he was. Even without an axe, he could easily stand alongside an S-rank fighter. Every punch he threw was calculated, always anticipating my next move. He learned from each exchange, predicting my actions and honing his precision. Just like the strength I had developed in the Abyss Cave, the King must have faced his own struggles to acquire such power and instinct. No machine that fought on command could ever replicate that.
“Hmph… I concede my defeat.”
“Your Majesty?! That can’t be…”
“If you’ve fought before, you understand. We are but children in comparison; who else could possibly win?”
“Ugh… I can’t believe even Your Majesty is…”
Weiss trembled slightly, as if he were holding back tears. Yet, the King, sitting on the ground and wiping away sweat, showed no signs of regret. On the contrary, he seemed to revel in the post-exercise refreshment, drinking heartily from a water bottle, the sound of his gulping echoing in the air.
“However, if this becomes known in the town…”
“I don’t care about those who would mock us. I remain unchanged. By the way, regarding Hans’s Workshop, I’ve sent the materials and personnel as planned.”
I had recently learned that the King rarely relied on his subordinates and handled most of his work alone. I couldn’t even imagine the scope of his responsibilities, but it must be far beyond what mere words could describe. After all, I had been fighting continuously, so perhaps it was only natural that I had grown stronger compared to someone like him.
“Shall we stop by to greet Hans on our way back?”
“That sounds good. I also want to thank him for Disballade… Hehe, I really love this! My very own sword!”
“How nice! I wish I had something like that too.”
“Isn’t the staff I gifted you enough?”
“Not at all! I really love this!”
She seemed to cherish the staff, hugging it and rubbing her cheek against it. I understood her desire for a personal weapon; it would be great if she could have something unique.
“Why not have Hans make a custom one for you? This axe of mine was crafted by him.”
“Hmm, Hans is skilled, but that’s not quite what I mean… I want something that feels truly one-of-a-kind.”
“What do you mean by that? How rude, you!”
“Be quiet, Weiss.”
“Yes…”
Something with the unique feel of Disballade, perhaps? But I wondered if such a thing even existed. After all, Disballade had been resting deep within the Abyss Cave. If anything like that existed, it likely wouldn’t be found around here.
But Kurinka could transform into a dragon, and I thought she was stronger than anyone wielding a weapon. I knew that might not satisfy her, but it was the truth, and there was no denying it.
“When do you two plan to stay in this country?”
“I think we’ll return to the Kingdom of Avangarde tomorrow.”
“I see… If you have the chance, feel free to visit anytime.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to greet you again then.”
I didn’t question why we had to greet him. Kurinka wasn’t being serious, and I wondered if there would even be another opportunity to come back. If there was, it would likely be after meeting Eeks. I had spent a long time in this country, but now I aimed for the Great Garnis Glacier. Deep within lay the Demon Lord Castle, where Eeks was waiting.
As I pondered our future, something descended leisurely from the sky. It clearly didn’t belong to this castle, yet it landed without hesitation, folding its expansive black wings as if it were simply saying “I’m back.”
“This is the place. It has to be here. It’s definitely here.”
Despite the presence of the King, Weiss, the captain, and many soldiers, it paid them no mind, scanning the area as if we were invisible. Its entire body was cloaked in pitch black, with two horns sprouting from its forehead and a slender physique that could almost be described as delicate. There was only one conclusion I could draw about what it was. A monster. A monster had boldly descended into the heart of the Kashiram Royal Palace.
“I can tell you understand me, so let me ask. Who are you?”
“…Huh? Oh, there’s something here?”
“Do you know that this is the Kingdom of Kashiram, and that you are within the royal palace?”
“This is the place. It’s definitely here. Hey, you lot… hand over Disballade. It’s here, isn’t it?”
The name of that demon’s sought-after treasure sent shockwaves through us. Disballade—the monster was searching for it. In an instant, I connected the dots.
“…Disballade? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s a sword. Ah, but it seems there’s no one here capable of wielding it.”
Disballade was originally crafted by the Demon Race. There was no need to ask the identity of the demon searching for it; it was clear.
“That belongs to the Demon Race. It’s beyond your capabilities, and if you don’t hand it over, you’ll be devoured.”
“A sword, huh…? Hey!”
“Y-Yes!”
“Go to the treasury and find something that resembles it.”
“B-but…”
“Hurry up!”
This wasn’t the usual demeanor of the King. What was he doing in the presence of such an audacious monster? Besides, there was no way anything like that would be found in the treasury. Disballade was right here. If that was the case, he should just step forward and speak honestly, but something within me wouldn’t allow that.
If Disballade belonged to them, I had to return it to its rightful owner, no matter who the opponent was. Even if I believed that was the right thing to do, the reason I couldn’t make that decision was that I didn’t want to part with Disballade. I had finally obtained my own weapon, but more than that, something deep within me warned against giving it to him. It wasn’t just because he was part of the Demon Lord Army; there was something deeper within me.
“I checked, but there’s nothing that resembles it…”
“That’s what I said. I’ve never heard of Disballade, so look elsewhere.”
“Ah…?”
The demon leaned in, peering up at the King, its gaze crawling from his head to his feet. Its movements were reminiscent of someone observing a rare creature, a clear sign of its contempt for the King. And it was no wonder; the King was clearly avoiding provoking it, even if he would never show it outwardly.
“You know, you humans really annoy me. You’re infuriating.”
The one who understood best that this was not an opponent to anger was the King himself. Even after being treated so rudely, he stood still, waiting for the storm to pass. Meanwhile, Weiss, who would usually be furious, was sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
What was happening? It was simply the fact that this demon was far stronger than the two of them. Those who are truly powerful can sense the difference in strength. Though it spoke in a relaxed tone, the overwhelming pressure it exuded was palpable, making the gap between us feel utterly hopeless.
“You weaklings flaunt your dominance over the surface while being mere playthings. You won’t understand until we show our true power.”
The King remained silent, avoiding eye contact, as if waiting for the storm to pass. The demon, determined to force eye contact, finally grabbed the King’s arm and then—
“Graaaaaah!”
It was as if it were snapping a dry twig. That slender arm easily crushed the arm of the Battle King, who was among the strongest humans. Then, as if discarding a toy it had grown bored of, it released the King’s arm. Someone bravely stepped forward to confront the demon. Ignoring the difference in strength, fueled by anger at the one who had harmed the King and the failure to protect him, Weiss unleashed the blade of Grand Run, aiming for the demon’s torso. The power behind it was enough to penetrate even the wall behind it—a full-force strike from Weiss, without holding back. But—
“Gah…!”
“See?”
As if to emphasize its point, the demon spread its arms wide, and at that moment, both the King and Weiss were sent tumbling to the ground. A single blow to the stomach had easily inflicted damage on Weiss’s S-rank body.
“H-Hiiiii!”
“Your Majesty!”
He watched disinterestedly as everyone rushed over. It was as if he were simply swatting away an annoying insect rather than delivering a finishing blow. It wasn’t even an attack. No, I couldn’t let him roam free like this. What was I hesitating for? It was more than just not wanting to hand over Disballade; there was a far more straightforward danger at play. If it were him, it wouldn’t take long to bring this country to ruin. Once he initiated an attack, no one would be able to fight back. Not even Hans or Tatarka, nor the people of this nation.
“I have Disballade with me.”
At my words, he showed no sign of surprise and simply turned around at his own pace. With his mouth slightly agape, he took a single step closer. Watching him scratch his cheek with the long claws that extended from his fingers, I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or if it was something else entirely.
“Oh, isn’t that Shin behind you?”
“Yikes!”
The moment I noticed Shin had once again stuck to my back, it seemed he had been spotted by him. He looked familiar with Shin, but the sheer terror radiating from him was palpable, suggesting they weren’t exactly friends.
“Just as I thought. What are you doing here?”
“I’m, um, on patrol.”
“Haha! The only thing a useless guy like you can do is that! How’s it feel to disgrace the Demon Race?”
“S-Shin isn’t useless…”
“Then prove it by killing someone here. It’s expected of a Demon.”
“That is… that is…”
“You worthless scum.”
The fear directed at him was overwhelming. I could feel the sniffles and the tears from Shin even from behind. I hadn’t been that surprised to learn Shin was part of the Demon Race, and I already knew he was with the Demon Lord Army from his previous words. For some reason, Shin had been following us. But if he intended to attack, he would have done so much sooner, so what was Shin’s true intention?
“Shin, what is that monster?”
“Th-that guy is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord Army… he’s a Demon.”
“The Four Heavenly Kings? Not the Twelve Demon Generals?”
“The Four Heavenly Kings are fundamentally different from the Twelve Demon Generals… More importantly, Shin… Shin is…! Ugh, waaaah!”
Kurinka gently patted Shin’s head as he finally broke down in tears. He must have been terrified of that guy, or perhaps he was upset about being called useless. Maybe it was both.
“Can you really handle Disballade?”
“Yeah, I’m using it properly.”
“…That’s a lie.”
“It’s not a lie.”
“No, I mean you yourself. You’re… strong!”
The moment he spread his black wings, the soldiers were sent tumbling as if caught in a fierce gust of wind. They had been ready with their weapons, yet they were already thrown off balance and rendered useless. That alone wasn’t an attack; it merely signaled that he was entering combat. Even with just that, most of the people present were overwhelmed, simply because the gap in power was that vast.
“Do I need to introduce myself? I am Eerlich, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Neo Demon Lord Army! What do you think you’re doing, recognizing a human like Disballade?!”
[Eerlich has appeared! HP 63900]
I thought he might wait for me to draw Disballade, but Eerlich suddenly leaped into action.
[Eerlich’s attack! Rua dodged gracefully!]
“Fast! But how about this?!”
[Eerlich’s Deleter Fang! Rua dodged gracefully!]
His dance-like assault left no room for me to draw Disballade. He was truly strong. Normally, just brushing against that spinning attack would be enough to shred flesh and bone beyond recognition.
“Shin… Shin isn’t useless…”
His frail whisper and trembling were painfully evident. Everyone has one or two things they don’t want to be touched upon. Eerlich had effortlessly dug into that wound, driving a knife deep into it. Shin might indeed be part of the Demon Lord Army, but—
“Shin isn’t a bad kid.”
“R-Rua…?!”
I didn’t truly know the situation. It was just my intuition. But I couldn’t forgive anyone who would make such a small child cry. I might be called naive for it, but there are things in this world that absolutely cannot be forgiven. Sweet or bitter, I didn’t care.
“That won’t even graze me.”
“Oh, is that so?! Then I’ll show you my trump card!”
[Eerlich’s form is changing!]
Eerlich’s black body rippled like the surface of water. As the ripples gradually faded, his black form transformed into a flesh-colored human shape. When the clothing covered him from his feet up, I was left speechless.
“The stronger you are, the more you submit to me.”
“W-What is that…”
“Rua-chan…”
Everyone was shocked. The King, Weiss, and the soldiers, no matter how battle-hardened, would be left speechless if they saw two of the same human standing there. I was no exception.
“Rua-chan… two of you…”
[Doppel Lua has appeared! HP 263000]
“Oh wow! This is amazing! What power! Incredible! Sooooo incredible!”
Eerlich let out a roar in my voice. I had never experienced such a strange sensation, even in the Abyss Cave. There had been monsters that mimicked our skills, but this was the first time I encountered one that looked exactly like me. The Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord Army, Eerlich, might just be a hassle. How much of him was truly me? That was the problem.
“Eerlich’s other name is the Doppel Master… and his power is far beyond this…”
Now, what should I do? I didn’t want to hurt myself, but I couldn’t stand the thought of remaining like this. I didn’t know if I would ever have the chance to fight against myself again. I had to try my best somehow.