◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Central Street, Near the Castle Gate ◆
“Rua-san, help meee!”
After defeating Renedo, we landed a short distance from the castle gate and entered the town, only to be greeted by a shocking scene. Nanoka and Konoka, who should have been in the Kingdom of Normitz, were being attacked by a monster. A grotesque demon, many times larger than the two girls, was poised to tear their small bodies apart with its claws.
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 4,611,729 damage to the Land Demon!
Land Demon defeated! HP 0/1440】
I rushed over to the two girls, who were frozen in fear, unable to stand on their own. When I reached out my hand, they trembled but managed to grasp it.
“Rua, Rua-san… I can’t stand up.”
“Then I’ll carry you. Kurinka, can you take Konoka?”
“Okay, here we go…”
They felt heavier than they looked. Despite being smaller than Kurinka, it was strange. Maybe they had gained weight since coming to the Kingdom of Normitz. Thinking about it, it’s odd that Kurinka, who eats as much as she wants every day, hasn’t gained any weight at all. Can I just chalk it up to her being a dragon? As I glanced at Kurinka, she seemed to sense something and glared at me with a piercing look. Did she catch on?
“Did you just think something rude while looking at me?”
“I didn’t, I didn’t!”
“Really?”
“Really, right, Nanoka?”
“Hehe, you two are quite close, huh?”
A chill ran down my spine. The voice of the girl who had just been terrified was now unnaturally calm. Just as I realized this, Nanoka’s arm, which I was carrying, transformed into a pitch-black appendage and lunged for my neck, attempting to strangle me. Though it gripped tightly, its claws never pierced my skin.
I didn’t want to carry this for long, so I grabbed the demon’s shoulder with my left hand and tossed it into the air. The demon let out a short cry of surprise but landed gracefully.
“Gii?! What the hell is going on?!”
“It doesn’t seem to be working on us at all!”
【Two Imitation Devils appeared! HP 666】
The small demons, sporting bat-like wings, retreated cautiously from us. The little demon Kurinka was carrying also seemed to give up and moved to regroup with its companion. I wondered how these little devils knew about the twins. Was it something like the mist from Mist Village?
“Wow, they really knew about those two.”
“Hehehe, I know everything about you guys! This is the strategy of the Devil Master, Ganoas! You’re about to learn just how terrifying it can be!”
“Idiot! Don’t spill unnecessary information!”
Thanks for clarifying, but if I knew they were fakes, it wouldn’t matter.
“Anyway, we have to take you down.”
“Idiot! Who would fight against the one who took down Renedo in one blow?!”
“We’re escaping and continuing the operation! We were ordered not to fight!”
“Stop saying unnecessary things!”
【The Imitation Devils fled!】
I was impressed they could fly with such tiny wings. They were talking about a strategy, so there was no way I would let them escape. With a slight push of my ankles, I leaped ahead of them, surprising the demons so much that their eyes nearly popped out when I suddenly appeared in front of them.
As they said, their actual strength might not be that impressive.
【However, I was surrounded!】
“What’s the strategy?”
“G-Giieee! This is bad! Damn it! If it’s come to this, I’ll fight back!”
【The Imitation Devil attacks!】
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 4,919,253 damage to the two Imitation Devils!
Two Imitation Devils defeated! HP 0/666】
The pressure of my sword alone obliterated their limbs and heads without a trace. What kind of strategy were they planning?
When I turned to regroup with Kurinka, I saw her smashing a demon that was more than twice her size with her staff. Was it just my imagination, or had she been using her staff to strike more often than casting spells lately? Even Yuyu from the Five Elites, who was a priest, had extraordinary strength, so it wasn’t too surprising. But it was odd that she actively chose to strike with her staff. Perhaps something had changed since she became a dragon.
“There are quite a few scattered around the town, Rua-chan!”
“We have to defeat Ganoas, quickly…”
“Kyahhhhhh!”
Another scream. Between a general store and a house, I caught a glimpse of Mai. The last time I saw her was in the Kingdom of Normitz, but she had made it here. With the other three missing, it seemed she had gotten separated. I swiftly sliced through the demon that resembled the little devils from earlier, finally revealing Mai in full.
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 49,218,311 damage to the Killer Imp!
Killer Imp defeated! HP 0/955】
“Thank you, Rua-chan!”
As soon as I saved her, Mai suddenly hugged me. Hmm, something felt off. Had Mai ever been this familiar with me? No, before that. Rua-chan? I was pretty sure she called me Rua-san.
“Geez, Rua-chan, you just jumped out of nowhere… Wait?! Rua-chan, what are you being hugged by?!”
“Ah… could it be again…”
【The Leech Demon appeared! HP 1240】
“Hehehe! You fell for it! I am the Leech Demon! Once I drain all your blood, I can kill anyone! I won’t let go!”
A grotesque demon, resembling a caterpillar, clung to me like a suction cup. Even if it drained my blood, it would only slow me down a bit; I didn’t feel like telling it that I wouldn’t let it. It was just so disgusting that I hugged it back and squished it. Greenish liquid splattered everywhere, and I was immediately overwhelmed by the urge to take a bath.
【Leech Demon defeated! HP 0/1240】
“Ugh… can’t we do something about this?”
“Should we wash off in that well over there…?”
“Why are you leaving me?”
“Well, because, um…”
“…Yeah, it does smell, doesn’t it?”
I had lost count of how many times I had scooped water from the well to wash off. I still felt a strange sensation, and I wanted to take a bath later, but there was no time to waste. If demons like that were scattered throughout the town, the damage would be catastrophic.
There were likely others disguised as humans, and the only way to stop this was to defeat the mastermind, the Devil Master. I had to use my roof-jumping skills to search for him.
“Rua, help me!”
“Rua-san, please! Come this way!”
“Come help us!”
“R-Rua-chan, what’s going on…?”
Even Kurinka and I couldn’t help but change our expressions at this sight. Nanoka, Konoka, Gantetsu, Ord, and even Cynthia, who should have been in Queemil, were all being attacked by demons at once. Based on previous patterns, I knew they were all fakes. I understood that.
“We should ignore this and hurry on, Kurinka.”
“Hey, are you really going to abandon them?! Uwaaaaaah!”
Ord was impaled by a demon’s claw and lifted high into the air. The demon proudly displayed its prey to the surroundings, as if to show off its catch. No way, could it be that he was the real deal?
“O-Oorddddd!”
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 4,719,509 damage to the Land Demon!
Land Demon defeated! HP 0/1440】
I left nothing but dust behind, except for his arm. Just before the arm that had pierced Ord fell to the ground, I completed another task. Watching Ord bleed out made me regret not being able to use healing magic again. Even though I knew Kurinka was there and would be fine, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my own helplessness.
Because I couldn’t save someone in such a state, no matter how hard I tried.
“Kurinka! Hurry!”
“Okay, it’s done.”
The gaping hole in Ord’s chest closed, and the blood flow eventually stopped. Angel Heal could almost certainly save someone as long as they weren’t completely dead. I had seen enough to be confident in that. Despite being gravely injured, it was as if there were no traces left at all.
Was this the power of being a dragon, or was it Kurinka’s own magic? I couldn’t tell. But it was clear that Kurinka’s magic had grown. Ever since that day she awakened as a dragon, it had exploded in growth. If there was another reason besides being a dragon, what could it possibly be?
“Ugh… you saved me…”
“Do you know where Ganoas is?”
“Yeah, I know. But it’ll cost you your life in exchange!”
【The Mirage Devil appeared! HP 5020】
“This is just too much, isn’t it? So what? Are we saying we desperately helped a fake? The demon, with mist pouring from its body, creates afterimages and attacks without hesitation. It’s too late; I can’t give my life like this.”
“Enough already! Burn it all away!”
Kurinka swung the Staff of Scorching Tales! She dealt 13,318 damage to the Mirage Devil! The Mirage Devil has been defeated! HP 0/5,020
From the very start, it seemed like this would be a unique battle, but the flames Kurinka unleashed from her staff were terrifyingly powerful. It was more like an explosion than mere fire. The demon’s body was completely obliterated, consumed in an instant, leaving nothing behind. Not even ash remained; it felt like that wasn’t even fire anymore.
“Lua-chan, this is a decoy! They’re just using Nanoka-chan, Mai-san, and Ord-san to draw us in!”
“But what if it’s the real thing…?”
“All of them are fakes!”
“How can you be so sure? What if there’s a chance they’re real?”
“That’s exactly what they want! They’re trying to wear us down mentally and physically because they can’t defeat you, Lua-chan, through sheer strength!”
It was true; this was effective. Even knowing they were fakes, I couldn’t just stand by while someone I recognized let out such a heart-wrenching scream. Their voice and appearance were unmistakably them.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Central Street, In Front of the Castle Gate ◆
Ganoas cast Firebird! He dealt 804 damage to Dagosa! Dagosa has fallen! HP 0/216
He dealt 733 damage to Maron! Maron has fallen! HP 0/275
“Is it over already? That was disappointingly quick.”
Just now, two B-Rank Adventurers had fallen. The armor they wore was of a quality rarely seen around here. Judging by their fighting style, their levels were likely higher than mine. Though we were all B-Rank, the difference between us was like heaven and earth. If there had been an opportunity, we could have exchanged information at a tavern or somewhere, asking for guidance. Adventurers, especially those below A-Rank, generally couldn’t survive alone. That’s why they formed parties, valuing their bonds with one another. It wasn’t uncommon for someone who had helped you yesterday to be the one you helped today.
Gantetsu had drilled that into me time and again, and I had felt it through my own experiences. That’s why I respected seasoned adventurers deep down.
“Ord-aniki… wh-what should we do?”
“Aniki! Please take care of that guy! With you, the one who raised the Flash Strike Girl, facing him, he won’t stand a chance!”
The one who should feel sorry for someone is me. It was only when I faced the Demon Lord Army that I realized something. They shouldn’t exist on the same plane as us; who could possibly defeat something like that? This is absurd; such an unreasonable situation shouldn’t exist. These are the Demon Lord’s elite, the Twelve Demon Generals who have destroyed entire nations.
I shouldn’t get involved; I wanted to turn around right now and dash away with all my might, seeking refuge somewhere far away to spend the rest of my days.
I shouldn’t have become an adventurer.
“Whatever it takes, we must defend the castle gate! This is our castle!”
Kirkton, the captain, was still full of spirit, but I knew he was panicking inside. After all, even Ganoas was in trouble, and now there were those two demons as well.
“Shuri! You know what the target is, right?”
“My analysis suggests this is the best course of action!”
Shuri cast Cold Spear!
Sharp and swift, hundreds of ice spears rained down upon Ganoas. Yes, he was the command center. If we could take him down, it would deal a psychological blow to the remaining monsters. But that was impossible.
The Demon Guardian protected Ganoas! It took 13 damage! HP 4,409/4,820
“Futile, futile! These creatures exist to prevent unworthy souls from approaching the Demon Lord. Not even a Hero can break through them! Kwah-hah-hah-hah!”
It wasn’t that our attacks were completely ineffective. In fact, that decorated captain and Ritta-chan, along with the other adventurers, were fighting valiantly. But how many had fallen just from accumulating scratches? And there were two of them, two!
“However, I never expected them to be this fragile… I have never seen such a thing without taking action before.”
“Aniki…”
Please don’t look at me like that. I’m just a smooth-talker. The reason you all followed me was that you were deceived by my words. I had orphaned them at a young age and led them down the path of adventuring; how cruel was that? I had been riding high on the thrill of reaching B-Rank, and my overconfidence had cost me dearly more than once. I had even deluded myself into thinking I was a genius.
“B-Rank… so what?”
I was elated over a rank arbitrarily set by the Adventurer’s Guild, and this was the reality. Even senior adventurers fell without a chance, and what could I possibly do? My best bet was to beg for my life or slip away in the chaos. Yes, that’s what I should do. I didn’t need to cling to being an adventurer; I had other things I wanted to do. I should have had something else in mind, but I couldn’t quite remember what it was. Yeah, there had to be something.
“Aniki? Why are you holding my hand…?”
I had unconsciously grabbed their hands. I couldn’t abandon them; my subconscious made me do it. If I fled right now, they would be disillusioned. They would have every right to call me a smooth-talker.
What was I trying to protect? My superficial pride? Was I trying to uphold a flimsy lie?
“I will let you take this kingdom, Avangarde.”
“I won’t take a single step back! Because here, we have something to protect! If we run, who will fight for us?”
Something to protect; what Kirkton was talking about wasn’t just some petty pride. It had to be the King or the treasures stored in the vault. It couldn’t be just that.
“I won’t let you take any more lives!”
Lives, that’s right. Nobody wants to die. So, I should run. But what if I got caught? I’d be killed, and it would hurt.
“Aniki! What’s wrong with you?!”
“Aniki…?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you all.”
I had no idea why those words came out. I must be going crazy. And why was I gripping my spear, standing alongside the soldiers? They should be the ones protecting the kingdom. So why did those two adventurers challenge that monster? They must have known it was an unwinnable fight. What drove them to overcome their fear and push themselves to that extent?
“I don’t understand; why rush to your death like that?”
“There are my friends here, and kind residents! There’s the landlady who always greets me during patrols and gives me freshly baked bread! That’s how a pleasant morning starts, and in the evening, we all laugh together at the tavern! We talk about what happened today, trivial conversations! Those everyday moments are the most precious things of all! You demons wouldn’t understand!”
“Well, night shifts are tough, though… And as captain, no friends allowed.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Then after this, okay?”
What I wanted to protect was the same for me. Maybe that’s why I was gripping my spear so tightly. No matter how I looked at it, the only path ahead seemed to lead to death, yet for some reason, I found myself stepping forward in front of Ritta-chan. A man standing behind a girl was just too uncool. Some might laugh and call me a feminist, but I had my own principles.
“Um…”
“I feel the same; I fight because I have something to protect.”
“Huh…?”
“I know I’m not reliable, but there are times when you have to act! Ritta-chan, I will fight!”
“Ritta, is this person someone you know?”
“A stranger…”
My target was that guardian demon. I would fight. Even if I died here, I would.
“Then die together…”
I could feel the magic gathering at Ganoas’s fingertips. It was almost mocking how he was using just his fingertips, but that was the truth. He could kill us with just a flick. The gap in our abilities was that vast; it was no wonder he looked down on us.
But there had to be an opening. It was a gamble; I would leap to either side to dodge. I would take full advantage of his underestimation of me. If he thought a weakling like me couldn’t dodge, then I could.
“Die…”
Ganoas cast Firebird!
It was impossible. If anything, it was us who underestimated the situation. A heat so intense it felt like my skin might evaporate enveloped me in an instant. The speed of the attack was beyond what I could even see, leaving no room to dodge. It was reckless from the start.
“One slash, and it’s over… Hehe.”
The overwhelming heat I had felt vanished from the battlefield. As I slowly opened my eyes, there stood Ganoas. And another person.
“Finally back, have you?”
“Yes, I made some cute twin friends in the Kingdom of Normitz. All thanks to Azuma.”
“Forget the souvenirs!”
“Oh, is that so?”
With her orange-tinted blonde ponytail and tall, stunning figure, she was a beauty. Yet, her attire consisted only of a sweater and brown pants—more like casual wear than battle gear. This woman had leaped into the fray to save me.
“Master Knight Tiferia!”
The morale that had plummeted surged back up in an instant. It was as if the Combat Tournament had returned, cheers erupting all around. While everyone adapted to the situation, I felt left behind.
“But you know, I’m not the only one here. Look.”
“With Tiferia here, we might not have a chance to shine.”
“The Five Elites!”
“I was wondering what was causing all the trouble… If the kingdom’s army can’t protect the realm, then they might as well disband.”
From the left front, four figures approached, led by a hulking bald man—the Five Elites. Could it be that the superstars had all gathered? Was this a miracle?
“Hehe, maybe we can take it easy now. Hey, Ritta-chan.”
“Tiferia-saaaan! Thank you for coming back!”
“Oh dear, don’t get snot on me. I just bought this, you know?”
Ganoas stared at Tiferia, who had effortlessly interrupted her own magic. But of course, for him, reinforcements were nothing to worry about. It merely extended his lifespan; his red eyes spoke volumes.
“So, have you decided the order of death?”
“Then let’s draw lots. Oh, it’s you! Hehe.”
Watching her mock that monster with a makeshift lottery using her fingers, I couldn’t help but feel that I didn’t belong here.
◆ Shin Report ◆
This is the Devil Master Ganoas.
He anticipated that Rua and the others wouldn’t descend directly to him.
Because he knew that the truth about Krynka being a dragon must not be revealed.
He saw through Rua’s psyche, trapping her in a false sense of security.
It might be a coincidence that the Five Elites and Tiferia coincided with his presence, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he had foreseen even that.
Truly, he is a man like a devil.
Still, he should have disguised himself better.
What’s with “Rua-san”?
It seems Ganoas doesn’t have much education regarding his subordinates.
And the stench of the Leech Demon is unbearable.
Just when I thought the nausea had subsided, here we go again.
I need to clean up quickly and take a bath.
Hey, don’t bother with such weak demons. Just a moment, Rua-san.
Monster Compendium
【Land Demon HP 1440】
A demon with tough armor that wields earth-based magic. Its only weakness is fire, but it also employs sealing magic, making it a troublesome foe. While its armor can fetch a decent price if stripped, few adventurers seek to hunt it down due to the hassle.
【Imitation Devil HP 666】
A diminutive and weak demon, often referred to as a fake demon. It has bat-like wings and is somewhat quick, but seasoned adventurers won’t find it much of a challenge.
【Killer Imp HP 955】
An advanced variant of the Imitation Devil. It is larger and possesses significantly enhanced combat abilities. Many adventurers have suffered painful experiences after mistakenly challenging it, thinking it was just an Imitation Devil.
【Leech Demon HP 1240】
A demon composed of blood-sucking leeches. Its classification as a demon race is debatable, leading to past discussions among scholars. While it moves slowly, once it latches on, it can drain the blood of even an adult male in mere seconds. It is a one-hit kill type of monster, so caution is essential when facing it.
【Mirage Devil HP 5040】
A fearsome demon that creates illusions. However, it has a habit of revealing itself at the moment of attack. It also casts confusion magic alongside its illusions, making survival nearly impossible for all but the most seasoned adventurers.