◆ Kashiram Royal Palace – Courtyard ◆
“This is absolutely amazing…”
I stuck my tongue out and licked my lips, unable to look any longer. I had never turned my gaze away from anyone before, but this was different. Even Kurinka was staring at it.
“Yeah, that’s not the real Lua-chan.”
“Of course not…”
“So, it looks just like her. But inside, it’s that pitch-black person from earlier. And you know… even if Lua-chan were to do something like that for real, I wouldn’t look away. Because if you only love the pretty parts, that’s not true love. It has to include the ugly parts too.”
“No way, I would never do that… but…”
Those words were more reassuring than anything else. The fact that she would love me no matter what I did seemed simple, but it was incredibly difficult. If that were the case, then I shouldn’t have been scolded so harshly when I secretly ate the roast beef rolls that Kurinka had been saving. She loves me, including the part of me that does things like that. If I tried to make excuses, I would be lectured for at least an hour.
“Hey, what are you two getting all cozy about? You really don’t understand the situation, do you? Right now, I am you. All your skills, physical abilities, and the experiences this body remembers—everything! This is incredible! With this body, I feel like I can’t lose to anyone!”
“Oh really?”
“Oh really? You don’t seem to grasp the meaning of what I just said.”
“That’s not it. You don’t understand anything.”
“Then take this!”
【Doppel Lua unleashed Sonic Ripper!】
Experiencing my own skill being unleashed right in front of me was a new sensation. So this is how my opponents had seen me all this time. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is fast. Really fast.
【Lua’s attack! Cancelled Doppel Lua’s Sonic Ripper!】
The Sonic Ripper’s power isn’t that impressive. I originally learned it to strike from a distance rather than close range. So, if I can read the angle of the slash and time it perfectly to match the exact same cut, I can actually break through it quite easily. I was trying this for the first time now.
“W-what?!”
Eerlich’s face twisted in disbelief. Could it be that he had planned to defeat me with that? Losing to my own skill is absolutely unacceptable.
“How about this then!”
【Doppel Lua unleashed Sonic Spear!】
Using Sonic Ripper to distract, then finishing with Sonic Spear. If I were to fight a strong opponent, I might have fought like this. No holding back, going for the decisive blow. I think that was the right choice.
【Lua’s attack! Cancelled Sonic Spear!】
Since this one focuses on power, I can’t use the same approach as with Sonic Ripper. But the fundamental principle is the same, so I just need to put in a little more effort and thrust.
“There’s no way this should be happening…! I’m superior to you in every way!”
One thing became clear. As expected, he claimed to have perfectly replicated me, but there was one thing he couldn’t do. That was the weapon he held. He had Disballade, but it wasn’t a perfect replica. I couldn’t tell what state the weapon was in, but if Disballade had been perfectly replicated, the size of the Sonic Ripper’s slash would be far greater than this. The power of the Sonic Spear could obliterate half of that massive machine from Matere Trading Company. If Eerlich had truly replicated Disballade, I wouldn’t have been able to easily cancel it. In fact, I might not even be able to move an arm. If he had completely replicated Disballade, I would have been dead. But the answer is that I’m not dead. There were monsters in the Abyss Cave that mimicked skills and power perfectly, but even then, I didn’t suffer that much damage. So, compared to that monster in the Abyss Cave, Eerlich isn’t that impressive. But I was a bit surprised that he could mimic my appearance and form.
“Take this! Sonic Impact!”
【Doppel Lua unleashed Sonic Impact!】
Slow.
“Wha…!”
With the tips of our swords locked together, Eerlich’s eyes widened in shock as he transformed into me. No way.
“I’ll be clear, I’m really angry right now.”
“The power should be on my side… What the hell is… damn it!”
【Doppel Lua’s attack!】
Receiving the fake Disballade with my own. Even though it was a fake, it seemed to have decent hardness, and when our swords clashed, they produced a unique metallic sound without a single crack appearing.
“Why… why can’t I hit?! Why can you withstand it?!”
“That was close, close call. As expected of me. If I let my guard down, I could get cut in an instant.”
I deflected the sword, dodged, and managed to parry just in time. When I felt a light cut on my cheek, I couldn’t help but feel a chill. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is an unprecedented strong opponent. I never broke a sweat when fighting the King or Weiss, and I didn’t even get a scratch.
But I’ve gotten used to it. This is me, but not me. The slashes are getting sloppier, and I wonder if he truly understands my experiences. This fighting style doesn’t seem right.
【Lua’s attack! Dealt 1,332,321 damage to Doppel Lua! HP 0/263,000】
In an instant. I seized the opportunity when Eerlich overcommitted in his attack, taking advantage of his opening. Eerlich’s arms, resembling mine, flew through the air, and then I sliced his torso cleanly in half. When his upper and lower halves separated, his body began to change. His skin turned black, his clothes vanished, and he became a solid mass of that color. Maybe I should have gone a bit harder.
Watching the gruesome scene of blood gushing from the severed edges onto the courtyard floor, I felt a twinge of sympathy. But that was all. I can’t forgive this. What I can’t forgive is…
“Disgusting. Don’t take on a human form and do filthy things. And also…”
This sense of revulsion is exactly what I mean. There’s one more thing.
“Don’t belittle the power I’ve honed.”
The soldiers, who had quietly retreated to the walls to regain their stance, watched silently. The King and Weiss were relatively close, but they definitely wouldn’t intervene. They didn’t wear their usual smug smiles; instead, they seemed to be analyzing what was happening here.
“That is indeed my fighting style, but it’s not acceptable. Because I haven’t fought like that in a long time.”
“What?! But this should be the best move for you in this fight!”
“There’s no such thing.”
“Huh…?”
“There’s no such thing as the best in battle.”
“What are you saying…?”
Despite the massive loss of blood, Eerlich stubbornly seemed to be deep in thought. Perhaps he had realized something.
“No, I couldn’t see it…”
How I fought based on my experiences. That was indeed something my body had gone through. But there’s no way he could understand that.
“I might have fought like that… But at some point… why did I do this… and that… Ahh, what is this?!”
How I fought is something I can’t even answer myself. There’s no such thing as the best move against any opponent.
“Eerlich, I’m actually grateful for one thing about you transforming into me. It allowed me to experience fighting myself.”
“Could it be… that this guy learned everything from our previous battle… and became even stronger…?”
“I thought I was tougher than I expected, but it turns out you can get used to it surprisingly quickly.”
Eerlich, now just a torso, finally seemed to understand. I feel like I’ve started to see parts of the battle that I hadn’t noticed before, and if I take that into account, I can fight even better. I didn’t waste a single moment from my battles in the Abyss Cave.
“I’ve never thought of a battle as wasted. Eerlich’s fighting style is indeed one of the methods I used, but that’s in the past. So while you could defeat the old me, you can’t defeat the current me. By the way, that Sonic Impact from earlier? It has a much larger charge than Sonic Spear, so don’t use it recklessly.”
That’s right, there’s no such thing as the best. I can just react to attacks as I see them; that’s usually how it goes.
“I can’t see anything! I can’t understand anything about you! This is the first time for me! What are you?! You’re not human?! You can’t be human!”
“I am human. Why does everyone, including Genia, look at me like that?”
“Hehehe! Huh! No way, you’re not human… you’re not…!”
Eerlich’s body melted like cream, turning into liquid and spreading out. Eventually, it disappeared without a trace, absorbed into the ground.
“…Is it over?”
The King rubbed his foot against the melted ground where Eerlich had fallen. Perhaps feeling relieved, the soldiers gathered around to peer into the earth.
“That was… quite the ordeal, wasn’t it?”
“He claimed to be of the Demon Race, but what does that mean? Have you heard anything about it?”
“Not really, I’m not well-versed in that stuff…”
It seemed the tension had finally eased, allowing them to exchange words. The King crossed his arms, deep in thought, while Weiss clenched Grand Run tightly, his teeth gritted. He must have been incredibly frustrated, so it was best not to provoke him further.
“Lua-chan, you did well to win… This time, it was against you, so I was on edge.”
“I felt the same way. But it was nothing special. If the current me stands in my way, I just have to overcome it.”
“If you can do that, then everyone in the world would be like you…”
“What does that even mean?”
“It seems… we have a lot to investigate. Especially regarding the Demon Race. We’ll have that little one over there talk as well.”
“Yikes?!”
The King might not have intended it, but I wished he wouldn’t scare the child too much. If she spills anything, it would be disastrous.
◆ Kashiram Royal Palace – Conference Room ◆
The King, several of his retainers, Weiss, and a few imposing captains filled the conference room. They sat around a circular table, with Shin at the center. Given the King’s temperament, I worried he might resort to violence, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
Shin, on the verge of tears, looked pitiful. For him, it must have been bewildering to be thrust into such a situation. However, since he was connected to Eerlich, we had our own questions to uncover.
“First, who are you?”
“Sh, Sh, Shin…”
“That Eerlich, a monster of the Demon Lord Army… judging by the way the Demon Race speaks, you must be part of it too, right?”
“That is… perhaps true…”
“You scoundrel! How dare you say that so brazenly! Should I dispose of you here and now?”
“Eek—!”
With Weiss’s low boiling point, Shin quickly darted behind me to hide. I wished he wouldn’t scare him like that. It was pitiful, and more importantly, I would be the one to suffer.
“Since both of those girls are involved, we could consider all three of you as part of the Demon Lord Army…?”
A captain, resembling an old man with a beard, cast a doubtful glance our way. I didn’t appreciate being viewed that way.
“We helped you, so that’s a harsh accusation.”
“No, no, it’s merely a possibility. If you say otherwise, we can leave it at that. Hahaha.”
As I was about to stand up in anger, Kurinka placed a hand on my knee. Arguing here wouldn’t solve anything. Thanks to Kurinka’s silent communication, my head began to cool.
“That doesn’t matter. The only thing I want to know is, what is the Demon Race?”
“Don’t you know that? This is why humans are…!”
“What did you say?”
“The Demon Race is—! A race that flourished in ancient times! They possessed superior bodies and powers compared to other races and once ruled this world!”
“That’s an intriguing tale. I’ve read through many renowned texts, but I’ve never come across such facts.”
“Of course not! It’s because you humans erased everything!”
I noticed Shin clinging tightly to my back. As a result, all eyes were on me. If Shin said something strange, it would appear as if I had spoken. The old captain’s cold gaze was particularly unsettling.
“You said erased, what do you mean?”
“Even if the Demon Race was powerful, they couldn’t win against numbers. The humans, having reached the peak of their prosperity, exterminated every race they deemed heretical. The Demon Race was one of them. The elves, with their immense magical power, the dwarves, skilled in handling ores and forging, the Beastkin, with their superior physical abilities… all of them were wiped out by your ancestors.”
“That’s a grave sin. So why has the supposedly extinct Demon Race reappeared?”
“That’s… a top secret.”
“You scoundrel!”
“Eep!”
Every time Weiss threatened, the conversation would stall. Finally, the King shot Weiss a glare, and we seemed ready to proceed. Remembering what the Dragon God had said, I listened intently to Shin’s tale.
“The Demon Race… wasn’t extinct. Shin and the others lived quietly, hidden from humans. Until one day…”
“Until one day?”
“They encountered the Demon Lord Army and came up with an idea. They decided to team up with the Demon Lord Army to make a comeback. It was the Demon Race, including Eerlich, who taught them how to wield their powers. They call themselves the Four Heavenly Kings, but in truth, they are in a cooperative relationship. Deep down, Eerlich and the others don’t even respect the Demon Lord. The Demon Race is a prideful bunch, believing they are stronger than anyone else. But Shin… Shin believes in the Demon Lord…”
“Hmm, so they are after the Disballade weapon that Lua possesses.”
“Disballade was originally created by the Demon Race to fulfill their long-held aspirations.”
“If that story is true, then our kingdom must take urgent measures…”
“If the Demon Race is targeting that girl’s sword, then we shouldn’t allow her to remain in this country any longer…”
The retainers began to whisper among themselves, fear evident in their voices. I could hear unsettling comments, but I intended to leave this country by tomorrow. I was grateful to Hans and the others, so I would at least say my goodbyes.
Still, the Demon Race that Shin spoke of reminded me of the Dragonfolk I encountered under the Dragon God. They possessed immense power yet lived quietly, avoiding contact with others. It was a stark contrast to humans, who actively sought conflict. Why did humans exterminate other races? Was it simply because they were different, or because they were afraid? I couldn’t tell if something had happened to provoke such actions, but if not, then what could be done? We all share this world; why must there be such division?
“I’ve gathered most of what I need. It seems unlikely we’ll uncover more information about the Demon Race.”
“No, that Demon child is still hiding something. We must extract information that could lead to their strengths and weaknesses. With such beings around, this is no longer just a problem for our kingdom.”
“Indeed! If there are others like them in the Demon Lord Army, we must coordinate between nations…”
“Not just the Demon Lord Army; the Comet Wolf Brigade is also a formidable force. Our enemies are not just monsters.”
“Then all the more reason!”
“This is not the time for such discussions. We have to deal with the subcontractors of Matere Trading Company first; we should resolve our domestic issues.”
No one dared to argue against the King’s strong decision. A few showed discontent on their faces, but the King simply declared the meeting adjourned and left the conference room. Everyone was shaken by the Battle King’s quiet departure, but I understood. Though he didn’t show it, he was deeply troubled by his inability to deal with Eerlich. It was predictable, given that he never displayed weakness.
In the end, Shin was spared any punishment, perhaps as a consideration from the King. If he had truly intended to kill Shin, I wouldn’t have stayed silent.
“Oh, what do we have here? Were you perhaps in the middle of something?”
The voice that broke the tense atmosphere belonged to Genia, who peeked in through the door. I wondered if she was allowed to wander around the palace like that. Maybe it was fine since it was Genia.
“…What is it?”
“I have something I want to give to Lua and Kurinka here.”
Deck clicked his tongue and shot Genia a glance, but she seemed completely unfazed. I was curious about what she wanted to give us.
◆ Kingdom of Kashiram – Kaganagi Forest ◆
“Damn it!”
I kicked aside a massive tree and charged at the monster, my frustration boiling over. Crushing these beasts wouldn’t quell my anger. How could I possibly accept this absurdity? The great Eerlich would never know defeat at the hands of humans. The pressure we faced as Demon Race was largely due to that Hero, but more than anything, it was the sheer numbers.
When it came to individual strength, humans were weak—no match for the beasts I had just crushed. Even those specialized for combat were generally no threat to us. But what was that? That was a human. Why could they wield Disballade? Why did Disballade acknowledge them? My irritation only grew with these unanswerable questions.
“I never expected a human to come,” I muttered, my frustration boiling over. “If I had gone myself, it wouldn’t have ended like this… This is just pathetic. It’s the same as before; I can’t let it be like this. I won’t allow it. I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him two hundred thirty-eight times! Each time, I’ll make him suffer immensely. I will definitely kill him! I will seriously kill him! One hundred percent, I will kill him! No matter what, I will kill him! I will make him pay!”
“Kyahaha! You really messed up, didn’t you?”
That irritatingly high-pitched voice pierced my eardrums from above. That annoying brat had shown up. Should I just kill her?
“If you want to mess with me, I’ll kill you first, Mimmy.”
“Eerlich and Mimmy are friends, so I’ll help you get your revenge!”
The girl, sitting on a floating broom, dangled her legs provocatively. Her oversized red robe looked ridiculous on her small frame, and it only added to my irritation. If she weren’t a survivor of the Demon Race, I would have killed her on the spot. She twirled her blue hair around her fingers, her golden, round, slanted eyes sparkling as she slowly descended toward me.
What really got under my skin was how little she looked different from a human. Aside from her pointed ears, her shell-like hair and skinny legs made her look just like a human child. I would never accept anyone as a member of the Demon Race who didn’t have the two horns that marked us.
“Stop it. Even Aboro would struggle against that. You wouldn’t stand a chance. Plus, the more we fight, the stronger she gets.”
“Kyaha! So, should I ask Aboro for help then?”
“What do you want? If you’re here to pick a fight, I’m ready.”
“I have business here; Mimmy is just here to tease you.”
“Huh…?”
“Leave the defeat of Flash Strike Girl Lua to me.”
The moment I heard that voice, the trees around us were uprooted by the wind. It felt like we were in the eye of a tornado. There was no doubt that it was her doing. What a nuisance; even though she’s a piece of trash, she still follows me around, acting all high and mighty.
“You think you can do what I couldn’t?”
“Of course, I have a secret plan. You won’t even need to step in. I will definitely get Disballade. So please, rest assured…”
She knew I had lost, yet she spoke to me with such polite words, completely underestimating me. What secret plan? She couldn’t even wield her power properly until she met us. This gust of wind was just a demonstration of that. She was playing around, barely avoiding us.
“Fine, give it a try. But if you run away after talking so big, you’ll have to pay for that cocky attitude.”
“I would never underestimate you… The way to fight isn’t just one way; let me prove that…”
With a farewell gesture, the trees around us were completely uprooted. She probably thought she was showing off her power, but what could she really do with this? She just wanted to show off a bit because she couldn’t stand being looked down upon by us.
“What’s this secret plan of yours? Do you know, Eerlich?”
“How would I know?”
As I cursed her in my mind, Mimmy began twirling her bangs around her finger again.
◆ Shin Report ◆
What have I done?
I talked too much, and now I have to face the Demon Lord with what face?
Being mocked by Eerlich, and being outmatched by the Muscle King and the Ice Cold Silver Hair…
I feel so pathetic.
If my tears wet the report, it would be a disaster.
This is an important report of mine, the Shin Report.
It should surely be of use to the Demon Lord, surely, surely…