Mountain.
Bell, who had just blown off the head of a rank 1 demon, was letting her sword droop.
She looked up at the aurora-like phenomenon stretching across the sky.
It was the black calamity that Yuma had touched, shooting out once again as another disaster.
The remnants of the sky showed because of the broken atmosphere.
“…Yuma.”
Bell didn’t even need to see who had killed the massive monster with thousands of tentacles in one strike. She was sure of it.
Brigitte gazed at the countless enemies flying above, all exterminated in an instant.
It was a sight that was hard to believe a human could achieve. A view that transcended common sense.
And the people’s gaze was drawn to the monstrous beasts and demons that had been taken down by that overwhelming power.
Yuma advanced toward the fallen Great Demon King Vefaron, riding Griffin Ethan.
He immediately raised his hand and tore at Vefaron’s scorched body.
For the item he sought.
To obtain the heart of the Great Demon King.
Everything had burned away. Not a single drop of blood remained. In this situation, the only thing that could be extracted was the heart.
‘What a relief.’
It was a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for it to be completely obliterated.
However, if the body that remained had any chance, it was thanks to the survival instinct trying to preserve the heart.
The heart, though stopped, was still intact between the bones.
A red jewel-shaped heart, often referred to as a life stone.
[Life Stone of Great Demon King Vefaron
This is the heart of Great Demon King Vefaron.
It contains powerful magical energy and the life force flowing in its blood.
Caution: The [Demon King's Blood] flowing inside the life stone of the Demon King is imbalanced with the [Heart of Red Dragon Vulcan─Dehit] and [Golden Ratio Sprout] currently held by the owner.]
‘Damn it.’
It was just as expected. The [Demon King's Blood] wouldn’t do.
Taking into account the warning that it advised against consuming it, lest he explode, Yuma had to head to the demon world to find the criminal.
In [Loop Blood], the Great Demon King was set not to escape the demon world.
Even looking at the history of the Astes Empire, there had never been a case of the Great Demon King descending into the Intermediate World.
Yuma first stuffed the heart of the Great Demon King Vefaron into his Spatial Pocket.
It was hard to predict what would happen if a human were to consume it, and he wasn’t even an alien race.
Yuma looked up at the sky, specifically at the gate to the demon world visible beyond the layers of black clouds. He would eventually have to go beyond that, into the demon world.
To obtain the Demon King’s blood, he had to escape from being a mere mortal.
‘After all.’
Not just that escape, but since he had other tasks to do, he had to go to the demon world.
‘Before they close the door.’
He had to find the right moment to slip in.
Before that, it was crucial to wipe out the remaining forces trying to invade the continent.
Yuma turned to the penetrating gaze behind him. There stood Cloney, the golden-eyed magical girl, staring at him.
She was Cloney.
Cloney was staring intently at Yuma’s back, her golden eyes sparkling.
It was obvious that she knew Yuma was strong.
But the moment they faced the clash while riding the griffin Ethan? Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine, even though it had just happened.
An attack capable of destroying the world had flown at them.
Yuma had brushed aside that attack. And at the moment, he had wiped out all the demons lurking just outside the Demon World.
Except for one.
In front of Yuma knelt a single demon, completely stripped of fighting spirit, quietly cowering.
Yuma walked towards that demon.
A demon with a bright red body and horns on its forehead—exactly the stereotypical look of a demon.
[Lv.92] Marcom
A second-tier demon.
Yuma looked down at the demon that lay flat as if in worship.
Tremble tremble tremble…!!
A terrible fear filled Marcom’s mind.
‘I’m dead. I’m dead. I’m dead….’
Marcom gazed at Yuma with wide trembling eyes.
Right now, Marcom was expressing with his entire being the sheer will to live.
Yuma watched Marcom.
[Lv.92] Marcom
Race: Demon
Alignment: Evil
Level: Expert Upper Class
Warning: Someone is currently using Marcom’s sight and hearing.
The warning written caught his eye. It was something he already expected.
“Listen, Demon World’s advisor.”
Yuma began to speak, looking down at Marcom.
“It seems you’ve used all the forces that were suggested today, but you must still have some troops left.”
Yuma’s words flowed into Marcom’s ears and traveled to the advisors situated within the Demon World.
*
Yuma continued speaking.
– Let’s call it a day. I’m tired.
The Duke of the Demon World, Seliel, one of the two advisors in charge of this war, widened his silver eyes hidden beneath his blonde hair.
“…Tired?”
Seliel observed Yuma’s appearance through Marcom, the second-tier demon. He saw Yuma’s black coat. The white cloth and black pants underneath were also visible. There were no scratches or torn parts anywhere.
Not even a single mark.
And there wasn’t even a spot of blood on his clothes.
He looked a long way from being tired.
– And you also have your own prepared forces. Considering the desire inherent in your race, it won’t be easy to halt the invasion, but you should stop attacking the Astes Empire. This is my land as well. So if your forces continue to head toward the Empire, I will have no choice but to deal with it.
“…Is he crazy?”
Another advisor, the great demon Prod, spoke up.
Were these the words to say to demons invading the Intermediate World?
Of course not.
That guy was completely insane. But…
─Gulp
Prod and Seliel both swallowed dryly at the same time. It was true that they were thoroughly terrified by that crazy guy.
They were completely overwhelmed.
The incomprehensible level of attack that had just wiped out all the demon kind, including the Great Demon King and his entourage.
The vampire Seliel trembled.
“…That was power on par with the Great Demon King. That strength was definitely….”
Five Great Demon Kings with power equal to that of the first-tier gods.
If the Great Demon King could descend into the Intermediate World, maybe he could tear that guy apart. But the Great Demon King was a being unable to escape the Demon World.
Creak—
Prod gritted his teeth.
According to history and reason, he had thought humans were the easiest prey.
He never dreamed that such a moment would come where he would struggle against humans like this.
Prod let out a deep sigh.
“First, let’s exclude the Astes Empire from tomorrow’s invasion. We’ll hunt humans or other races as far away from this damned empire as possible.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Seliel had no choice but to agree with Prod’s decision. Originally, the plan for this war was to conquer the Astes Empire, the most powerful nation built by humans, first and then fill this land with demon kind, but that plan had become a distant dream.
‘Annihilation.’
Seliel recalled the white light he had seen through the gaze of the recently deceased demon, the Great Demon King Vefaron, “King of All Monsters.”
Even if they scattered thousands upon thousands of demons in the Astes Empire, the result seemed obvious. They would be annihilated by that crazy guy.
*
Someone appeared beside Yuma, who had said all he needed to say.
“Yuma.”
It was Bell.
“One guy left, huh?”
She threw a glance at the red demon, Marcom, who was begging for mercy with hands and feet together, crushed by fear.
“Shall I kill him?”
Yuma nodded.
“Yeah.”
If they could talk, he would have considered having a conversation. But it seemed that those looking at him through this guy’s gaze could only share visual and auditory senses.
Swish!
Without hesitation, Bell beheaded the demon at Yuma’s words.
There was not a shred of pity for the demon. With the number of imperial troops dead on that mountain, feeling such emotions was impossible.
Knights and mages.
Every citizen of the empire on the ground was watching Yuma.
They were gazing upon the one who had single-handedly annihilated the 2,000 demons and monsters that were raining down to invade the empire from the giant black mountain goat, Vefaron’s minion.
Knights, mercenaries, and the men of the White Night clan held swords in their hands with various sword energies flickering. They were still unable to loosen their tense grips. Thanks to the countless lanterns, Yuma’s figure stood tall and clear in their sight.
Yuma scanned those who were sending him fervent gazes.
She scanned those who cast her glances.
“Everyone, lower your swords and take a break. There won’t be any more invasions today, I suppose.”
Even the demon folk who had lost their fear could undoubtedly understand such advice.
The emperor with white hair, Princess Brigitte, nodded beside Yuma.
“Set up a rotating watch and let the rest rest.”
The countless gleaming auras of swords finally extinguished.
Darkness fell.
“Waaaaaaah!!”
And from within the darkness, the cry of a single knight echoed.
A shout filled with joy of victory, something that didn’t quite match the darkness.
Other knights and mages also picked up the cry of the knight and shouted in succession.
The imperial palace was soon enveloped in cheers.
Yuma turned to Cloney behind him.
“You held on tight. I’m sorry. It must have been scary.”
Yuma gently patted Cloney’s black hair.
At the moment Yuma parried the [Black Calamity], Cloney was riding on the griffon too.
It was true that he had exposed her to the danger of being swept away by the Demon King Vefaron’s [Black Calamity], aimed at him.
Of course, Cloney didn’t think so at all. Rather, she only believed she had become Yuma’s luggage in the back seat.
Cloney’s lips slowly parted.
“…I wasn’t scared at all, my lord.”
Cloney’s golden eyes sparkled.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
This time, Yuma looked at Brigitte.
“I’ll go inside and rest for a while.”
Brigitte nodded eagerly.
“Yes, rest well, Yuma.”
Yuma slowly walked towards the annex of the palace.
The gazes of the imperial soldiers all followed Yuma, whose black coat fluttered as he entered the annex.
Those gazes lingered for so long that it felt uncomfortable, until Yuma’s form faded into the shadow beyond the door.
Watching that, the former Holy Maiden Ermel murmured blankly.
“Faith… is gathering.”
Yuma was not a god.
Just because faith gathers, nothing special would happen.
Even so, Ermel thought that the awe and reverence contained in those gazes weren’t much different from true faith.
Hestia nodded at Ermel’s murmuring.
“Yuma Yuma… hurray!”
Haven, who stood beside Bell, let out a deep sigh, one filled with admiration.
“Wow…! I knew he was strong, but I never imagined it was to this extent. My lord Yuma, it’s an unattainable realm.”
Bell’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.
– You will surely become a greater swordsman than me.
No matter how much she mulled over it, she couldn’t understand that statement.
‘…I’ll just have to try.’
Still, she had no plans to give up on reaching it.
– You did very well, Bell.
That person had passed down their swordsmanship to her to make that statement a reality.
– Just don’t give up.
She couldn’t betray that belief.
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