Chapter 34: Enemy Contact
It was just as we were leaving the informant’s place and walking down the main street.
“H-Hey, Loin… look at… that…”
Claris suddenly stopped and pointed upwards.
When I looked, the surrounding passersby were also looking up at the sky.
“Oi oi, are you serious…”
I also looked up and noticed something strange.
A part of the sky was scarred, as if it had been torn apart.
A single, jet-black scar on the clear blue sky…
I could see it slowly opening with an eerie sound.
—Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble.
“Ah, is that… the distortion in spacetime the informant was talking about…?”
Is the gate between the Demon Realm and our world finally opening…?
I thought Demon Lords and all that were just fairy tales, but…
Perhaps this “Hero” business isn’t something to be trifled with after all.
“H-Hey…! Look at that!”
“Something’s coming out!”
Hearing such voices from the people in the street, I focused on it again.
And then, what do you know…
From the rift in the sky, a large, humanoid—a demon-like creature—was appearing.
“Th-That’s…!?”
Is that a creature from the Demon Realm…!?
It’s on a completely different level from the monsters here…
It would be one thing if that was the Demon Lord, but if that’s just a regular enemy, then it’s hopeless.
Even from a distance, I can clearly tell how strong it is.
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaah! It’s the end of the world…!”
A number of people in the street were saying that and fleeing.
Some were carrying out their household goods and whatnot, while others fled with only the clothes on their backs.
There were also those who, thinking themselves brave, took out their weapons and postured.
Or people spouting fortunes or random nonsense.
People starting to pray towards the sky, and so on; the streets were in a state of chaos with all sorts of people.
“Damn it… what in the world is happening…!?”
As for me, I was at a loss as to what to do in this sudden situation, just standing there dumbfounded.
The enemy… no, it’s not even clear if it’s an enemy…
In any case, that demon was hovering far up in the sky.
There’s nothing we can do from here…
All I could do was suppress my anxiety and watch.
—Aaaaaaaah!!!!
At that moment, such a voice boomed from the demon in the sky.
The crack in the sky had already closed.
The demon spoke in a voice that seemed to resonate throughout the entire city… no, the entire world.
No, perhaps “spoke” isn’t the right word.
To be precise, it had sent a message directly into our human minds.
“I am… Demon Lord Army Executive Delormeria! I have arrived from the Demon Realm as the first arrow of the invasion of humanity…!”
Wh-What…!
A Demon Lord Army Executive…!?
As expected, given its demonic appearance, it seems there was no mistake that it was an enemy.
But, an invasion of humanity…!?
Just when my adventurer life was finally getting on track, they have to come and interfere.
“Due to a disturbance in the spatiotemporal cycle… the gate to the Demon Realm opened earlier than planned. Therefore, I have arrived! Humanity! Tremble in fear! This is merely the beginning! The gate is constantly widening its maw…! The time when this human world will be filled with monsters will soon be upon us…!”
The demon bellowed such things in a loud voice.
Babies, women, and children were crying and screaming, and men began to lament that it was all over.
But I was different.
“Loin…?”
Claris looked at me with an anxious expression.
“It’s alright, Claris. Anyone who interferes with my life, be it a demon or a Demon Lord… I’ll cut them down…!”
That’s right, haven’t I always done that?
Those who get in my way, I’ll resist properly and cut them down…!
If I don’t, I’ll just be robbed…!
I’ve had enough of a life where things are just taken from me…!
I’ve changed now. I will win, my own life!
Demon Lord Army Executive Delormeria continued further.
“I shall establish my base here at Dragon’s Peak! And I shall make this the frontline base for the invasion! Those who resist, come at me! I will slaughter every last one of you!”
Saying such things—
—ZDOOOOM!!!!
It flew off in the direction of Dragon’s Peak.
Dragon’s Peak—if I recall, it’s a massive mountain on par with Death Ruler Volcano.
Literally, there’s a dungeon where dragons live, and it was supposed to be a dangerous region.
To think it would use that place as a base to invade humanity…!
Saying whatever selfish things it wants…
“H-Hey, Loin… are you really going to fight that…?”
Claris once again looked at me with an anxious expression.
“Yeah, of course. I can’t forgive anyone who threatens my peace. Besides…”
“Besides…?”
Well, I’m sure that Hero Party will try to fight it too.
But they’re just guys who lost to me, after all.
Even though I’m ranked 5th now, I’m practically the strongest in this town.
If someone like me doesn’t act, then what’s the point…?
“I can’t just leave it to that Hero Party, after all…”
“Yeah, Loin! I’ll fight too…!”
“Yeah! If it’s Claris and me, even a Demon Lord Army Executive will be a piece of cake!”
At the very least, we can put up a better fight than that Hero Party.
And if we can’t match it, then humanity will just be invaded and perish along with us.
I had one more reason to fight.
“Besides, Claris…”
“Hm…?”
“Aren’t you curious what kind of Rare Drop items those guys from the Demon Realm will drop?”
“Ehh… So in the end, Loin, that’s what it’s about for you…?”
Claris seemed exasperated, but for me, there’s nothing more appealing.
That Delormeria thing from the Demon Realm, was it…?
That demon, anyway, had a form that seemed utterly out of this world.
It was so huge you could see it even from this town.
I’m sure it was visible from anywhere in the surrounding countries…
“The Rare Drop item something like that drops is bound to be something completely off the charts…!”
I realized that, at some point, excitement had overcome my anxiety.
That’s right, since that day, I’ve known the joy of fighting and obtaining.
Since that day I first defeated a Slime—!