◆ Eastern Region of Noibranz Nation – Agada Wasteland ◆
“It is a testament to the honorable soldiers of Noibranz that we fight! Grab your weapons!”
“Long live King Braamd!”
The Killing Worm looms large, its body towering high enough to make us look up in awe. At this rate, it wouldn’t even be a fight. Yet, despite the despair of having been devoured, Private First Class Bikuro’s Servant, along with the other Servants, is determined to confront the Killing Worm. Everyone charges toward the massive worm lying in the wasteland. Even knowing they stand no chance, this is the spirit of the soldiers of Noibranz. I wonder what I would have done if I were in their shoes.
“Lua-chan, those people are going to get killed!”
“But they’ve already lost their weapons. It’s their own fault they can’t be saved.”
“That’s true.”
“When did you all become so cruel…”
If Shin is exasperated with us, then it’s game over. Of course, even without weapons, they could defeat a worm like that. But rushing in to help right away wouldn’t be entertaining. I decided to let them feel a bit of fear before stepping in to save them.
“Isn’t that Killing Worm getting closer?”
“It’s shrinking the body that surrounds us. It’s completely underestimating us…”
“Private First Class Bikuro’s skill! Cross Slash!”
“Is that what it’s called?”
“Since it combined a horizontal and vertical slash, it must be.”
“Private Second Class Zakutsu is using a spear, and it’s engulfed in flames, so it’s a magical spear, not a sword. But from what I see, Ritta might be better at it…”
A Private Second Class isn’t that strong, I guess. Even Private First Class Bikuro isn’t dealing much damage to the worm’s skin and is already out of breath. The Servants are swarming in to attack, but it doesn’t seem to be effective.
[Noibranz soldiers launch a full assault! Dealt 16 damage to the Killing Worm!
Servants launch a full assault! Dealt 103 damage to the Killing Worm! HP 26181/26300]
“We’re feeling some resistance! Let’s focus all our efforts on breaking this scale first!”
“Woooaah! Burning Spear!”
“It seems it doesn’t have much resistance to fire! Private Second Class Zakutsu, keep attacking!”
“Concentrate skills around Private Second Class Zakutsu! This is a great opportunity for the Privates; if we defeat the Killing Worm, we could all be promoted three ranks!”
“Long live King Braamd!”
Just a moment ago, they were trembling, but now they’re filled with determination. They feel like they can win, but the Killing Worm hasn’t done anything yet. I hope they realize that it’s slowly closing in on them while they’re attacking. As Shin said, maybe we’re being a bit cruel. But we’ve been mocked and captured ourselves. Though, it was mostly Kurinka’s fault we got captured.
“Still, that Killing Worm is an incredible monster… Its HP is over 20,000. I wonder if I could win even if I turned into a Dragon.”
“It’s probably as strong as the Twelve Demon Generals of the Demon Lord Army. With something like that around, traveling would be a hassle.”
“But the Demon Lord is the strongest.”
“That’s true.”
[Killing Worm’s Earthquake!]
Just after I casually brushed off Shin, the Killing Worm slammed its body against the ground. It writhed like a wave, kicking up dust. With enough force to flip over the Jail Saurus we were riding, the soldiers and Servants were scattered in an instant.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
“Hiiiii!”
“No way! This is impossible!”
Luckily, we weren’t crushed. We were blown away by the shockwave and wind pressure. Meanwhile, Kurinka and I were tangled up inside the Jail Saurus.
“Ugh, my hand got stuck under Lua-chan’s armpit…”
“My leg is between Kurinka’s thighs… This might be a bit tricky to get out of.”
“…Maybe it’s okay to stay like this for a little while.”
“Eh…?”
What should I do? Even in a situation like this, I find myself wanting to stay like this. We’re pressed together just right, and it’s warm. Our faces are close enough that I could kiss her. This feeling I’ve had before, a fluttering sensation that makes me feel small. My heart races, and at the same time, I feel like I’m doing something really bad.
“Ah, ah! We have to help those people!”
“Y-Yeah!”
They’ve already fallen and dropped their weapons, and only the Servants are still standing strong, but if the next blow comes, it’ll be over. I realized that the Killing Worm is just toying with us. That means it’s underestimating us, including me.
Struggling to escape our tangled state, I manage to pry open the iron bars of the cage with both hands. The bars bent like they were made of rubber, surprising me a bit. Sorry, Jail Saurus. I’ll fix it later. Kurinka will.
[Killing Worm’s Attack!]
“I-I’m going to get eaten!”
The gaping maw of the Killing Worm looms over the soldiers. It intends to swallow them whole. I close the distance in an instant.
“Y-You…”
With the force of my charge, the small stones and sand covering the ground were blown away. Just before being devoured, I jumped in front of the soldiers, who were still holding their weapons in a daze. I swung my fist with all my might, not just at the Killing Worm’s head but also its body, sending it flying. The wind pressure alone tore its body apart, leaving only the part buried in the ground.
[Lua’s attack! Dealt 17722 damage to the Killing Worm! HP 8459/26300]
“……!”
Now is not the time to be surprised, soldiers. I thought I had defeated it, but the worm is still alive. The remaining body quickly emerged from the ground and retaliated. Even reduced to just its body, it’s still alive. Truly, it’s impressive for a worm. A monster that’s too large, with half of its body buried in the ground, is a hassle.
“Once more!”
[Lua’s attack! Dealt 18001 damage to the Killing Worm!
Killing Worm defeated! HP 0/26300]
It was tough to take it down in one hit. I followed up to finish off the part buried in the ground, diving down to strike. I needed to ensure it wouldn’t move again, so I had to take it all out. This worm was so large that I thought it could create tunnels all on its own, and the real challenge was just beginning.
“Uwaah! The ground…!”
“Quick, escape from here!”
With the Killing Worm gone, a hollow space was left behind. It was only natural for the ground to crack and sink.
“We’re falling! Hiii!”
“It’s okay.”
The ground didn’t break any further. Kurinka gently restored it. It would take time to return everything to normal, but a little was enough to keep everyone from falling. We just needed to escape to a safe place before it collapsed again. As we managed to get the completely disoriented soldiers onto our Servants and moved with the Jail Saurus, the sun was already beginning to set.
“Phew, I’m tired. By the way, Kurinka, your skills have improved… I never expected you could restore the ground like that.”
“Hehe, I practiced hard when Lua-chan wasn’t watching. If I keep at it, I think I can apply it even more.”
“That’s nice. My destruction is just destruction, after all. Just breaking things…”
“Well, my restoration is the same, but destruction isn’t just about breaking things. Even Elmera-chan’s Imagination Magic can be destructive, and that’s a scary Divine Nature.”
“I’ve been secretly training too…”
I can definitely feel that I’ve improved in how I use my power since we left the Abyss Cave. To defeat a large monster like the Killing Worm with my bare hands, I can’t rely on the same methods as before. It’s not that I can’t defeat it barehanded, but it would take too long. The way I apply my strength, my stance, and my movements—all of it matters. Just thinking a little about how to move better than I do now yields significantly different results. Training includes this kind of thing too.
“Ah, we’re technically still captured, so we should return to the jail.”
“But the Jail Saurus seems to be trembling…”
“You don’t have to go back.”
The one who said this, in a small voice, was Private First Class Bikuro. He was completely paralyzed with fear, and everyone was in a daze. The Servants remained still, and the crab that we rescued from the Killing Worm, which was Private First Class Bikuro’s, curled up and settled down on the ground.
“Is it okay? We might get scolded.”
“Yeah, we don’t really mind…”
“Thank you for saving us. I apologize for our rudeness earlier. And, um, we are willing to offer anything we can in return, so please, could you continue to protect us?”
It was as if their souls had been sucked out, their speech stuttering. Everyone stood at attention, saluting. Even the Servants were lined up neatly, behaving themselves.
“But, but we…”
“It’s fine! It’s perfectly fine! It would be a disgrace to His Majesty to offend guests from the Kingdom of Avangarde, which is a friendly nation! Now, now! It’s getting late, so please rest comfortably! We will prepare your beds and meals!”
“Is that so? Then let’s take a break, Kurinka.”
“Yeah, let’s just forget about the disgrace we’ve caused to His Majesty…”
Kurinka was quite mischievous. Watching the soldiers shrink back even more made me feel that maybe everything that had happened before didn’t matter so much. It seemed I had surprised them more than I had anticipated, and at this rate, it didn’t seem likely that they would attack us while we slept. Though, even if they did, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Kurinka, with this momentum, shouldn’t we ask about Platiu?”
“That’s right, let’s ask. Um, Private First Class Bikuro.”
“Yes! What is it?! Was the food not to your liking?!”
“Not that…”
Private First Class Bikuro trembled like a small animal as he answered Kurinka’s question. The stew looked delicious and smelled wonderful. Shin was already sniffing around the pot, completely underestimating the soldiers.
“Ah, the Red Devil… was just a child… No, we don’t have detailed information. After breaking through the Dragon Knights’ squad, we lost track of them… If they were heading towards the Royal Capital, it would be a serious matter.”
“The Royal Capital has elite troops that far surpass the local units, and the worse the situation gets, the more likely the Great King will take action.”
“The Great King?”
“Our King Braamd’s Servant. The Great King is the strongest and oldest in Noibranz, so massive that it can overshadow even a royal castle.”
“Could it be that giant creature that looks like an elephant?”
“Yes, you’ve already seen it, haven’t you?”
That was the creature I saw when Rudred from the Dragon Knights came seeking help. I wondered just how strong it was; if Crimson were to be defeated, we needed to hurry.
“If we don’t hurry, Platiu will be killed, Kurinka.”
“Indeed, it’s only natural to think they headed towards the Royal Capital… We might not have time to waste.”
“Um! We…”
Perhaps it was the fear from the earlier Killing Worm, or maybe they were anxious about us leaving without doing anything. Noibranz was a dreadful country that spread viruses, but these people weren’t to blame. It would leave a bad taste if we were killed along the way, so we had to see this through to the end.
“Alright, but we’ll have to hurry, okay?”
“Hurry, you say?”
“First, let’s eat!”
Understanding Kurinka’s words, I felt pity for these people. After finishing our meal, I was convinced when we diligently placed everyone into the Jail Saurs’ cells. This was quite a forceful move.
“Lua-chan… um, about earlier…”
“Earlier?”
“Yeah, when I got close to you… um, that…”
Amidst all this, Kurinka blushed and kept glancing at me shyly, rubbing her index fingers together, struggling to find the right words.
“That… let’s do it again next time, okay?”
I understood why Kurinka’s voice had dropped to a whisper. The moment I heard that, I felt incredibly embarrassed, and it truly felt like we were doing something very wrong. But I couldn’t bring myself to say I didn’t want to. So, I could only nod silently in agreement.
“When we sleep, okay…”
We were probably both blushing fiercely. Kurinka, who had always been shy, would turn red to her ears when embarrassed since childhood. I was sure I was the same.
“Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret.”
Even without her reminding me, I understood; it was definitely something embarrassing.
◆ Noibranz Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“…With this, we are fully prepared to intercept the Red Devil.”
“Very well. You may stand down.”
Over six hundred dead, and more than three thousand injured, including serious and minor wounds. If we had continued to engage the Red Devil, the numbers would have increased even further. If I hadn’t intervened, Noibranz’s forces would have faced total annihilation.
“King Braamd, shall I lend my strength again next time?”
“There’s no need for that.”
“I see.”
I expected that response. I also knew what the King would say next. It was a warning to me; if he relied on the power of someone he didn’t understand, it would lead to distrust among the people. The King was indirectly telling me not to meddle.
“Aboro, I commend your strength. However, if assistance is needed, we will ask for it. The trust of all the people living in Noibranz must be upheld by me.”
This fossil-like old man was revered as a Divine Being in this country. When this Divine Being commanded war, they would fight; when he commanded death, they would die. Yet, did the soldiers who faced the Red Devil and became heroic spirits have no regrets even in their final moments?
Among us, the Demon Race, there were those who harbored such thoughts. Some were cornered by humans and wished for peace with them. Those few were executed by their comrades to maintain unity. But this human nation was different. Everyone adored and obeyed the King. They easily accepted their fate, not even resisting. It was strange, considering they couldn’t see what I could.
“Remarkable. Just how much charisma does it take to create such an army?”
“We are not individuals; we are Noibranz. We become one will.”
Indeed, the unity displayed by humans sometimes seemed to merge their very souls. But it was a sad reality; no matter how united or strong they became, everything was already decided. The delusions the King had just uttered, and even the future of this country.
“Then, do your best to struggle.”
“Aboro, just how much can you see?”
I intended to be sarcastic, but the old King didn’t respond at all. Rather, he already knew why I had come here. What I intended to do. To put it plainly, I didn’t care about this country; I only wanted the outcome that intersected with my goals.
“…Everything.”
But it all ended in vain. Even if we intersected, it meant nothing. I couldn’t get lost in something I already understood. Even the decisive battle with that girl, which was my goal, had become just another task. This was the moment for that girl to unleash her full potential. Perhaps she could betray me, the one who could see the future of the Demon Race. I believed she had that power.
“Everything has come to an end.”
Yes, it was all over. The old King didn’t respond to my irreverent words; he merely warmed his throne.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Yes, yes, I should have done this from the beginning.
It’s been a while since I felt this atmosphere.
What made me think that Rua and those with power would be here?
From the depths of my heart, I trembled, and
I was careful not to touch that anger.
Watching those three, Shin realized.
Shin was beginning to fall for these two.
The overwhelming pressure from the power I felt during the Demon Lord’s time.
No, Shin is devoted to the Demon Lord.
Demon Lord, Shin won’t betray you.
Shin is not normal; I’m different from those special ones.
Yes, this is love.
Shin’s love, may it reach the Demon Lord someday.