Chapter 104
Trying to break that bizarre system—the one that says demons must be defeated—by killing humans and then negotiating with them sounds like nothing but a threat, no matter how you look at it.
But there was no need for anyone to lose their life for the sake of such a ridiculous system. That was the thinking behind Kagami’s choice.
Realizing that, the Demon King couldn’t help smiling.
“Heh... As I thought, you’re trying not to kill anyone. In that case, Villager, I’ll give you a little help. The essence of nonlethal force is to demonstrate such an overwhelming difference in power that your opponents lose the will to resist...”
Then, right in the heart of the royal capital, the Demon King removed the cloth wrapped around his head that suppressed his magic power.
“H-hey! Your magic power’s leaking everywhere!”
“Is that something to worry about? Whether we take it off or not, they’ll treat us as enemies. Besides... wouldn’t it be more convenient if rumors spread that demons and humans had joined forces and stormed the royal castle?”
Saying this, the Demon King turned toward the several dozen soldiers who had gathered after hearing the commotion.
Then he added, “We’re about to destroy the system that says demons are beings who must be defeated.”
Hearing that, Kagami grinned and turned to face the soldiers as well.
“D-demons?!”
“Wait... what is this? What the hell is this ridiculous magic power? That guy... he’s no ordinary demon!”
“A-and that Villager-looking guy next to him, too! I saw him take down the other soldiers in an instant earlier!”
“Humans working with demons... Aren’t these the people who supposedly deceived Lady Kururu?”
“Then that Villager is... the one who fought an army of ten thousand in Salmaria...?!”
As time passed, more and more soldiers gathered, until the main street leading to the royal castle was packed with them.
But despite their overwhelming numbers, none of them attacked the handful of people standing before them. No—they couldn’t.
Seeing that the soldiers still weren’t attacking, Kagami understood what the Demon King had meant. “So that’s it.”
The soldiers were so terrified by the beings standing in their way that every cell in their bodies screamed danger, while their minds shrieked at them to flee at once.
The demon before them radiated such overwhelming magic power that it seemed certain they would be killed if they fought. The human before them exuded such menace and killing intent that anyone who came close would be killed instantly.
Yes, gathered here now were the strongest Demon King in history and the strongest human in history.
There was no way anyone could throw their life away by fighting people like that.
Even Menou, Takako, Tina, and David, who were supposed to be their allies, felt as though they might be overwhelmed by the pressure just standing nearby.
Only Alice, who had dreamed of this scene for so long, murmured softly, “You two... do your best.”
“They won’t come at us, so we’re never going to make any progress... I can’t knock them out with the stun baton unless I get behind them, either. It’s bad if this keeps up, you know?”
As he spoke, Kagami idly waved his stun baton. The Demon King sighed and said, “What are you doing, acting like that...?” Then he gathered magic power in his hand and created a swirling vortex of green wind.
“What’s that?”
“There are spells with overwhelming force but little killing power. They’re soldiers tasked with protecting the royal capital, after all... They should survive. Now, are you ready? ...Let the show begin!”
Immediately after declaring that, the Demon King fired the spell straight ahead.
A powerful gust slammed into Kagami and the others, forcing them to bow their heads and crouch.
The soldiers in front of them, meanwhile, were hit by such a forceful wind that it sent them flying, one after another.
“Now! Run!”
At the Demon King’s shout, everyone dashed toward the royal castle all at once.
Almost simultaneously, the soldiers who had weathered the Demon King’s spell charged at Kagami and the others.
“David, protect Alice! Takako-chan, back Tina up!”
Shouting that, Kagami raced forward, striking the soldiers trying to block their path on the neck with his stun baton in a blur, knocking them unconscious one after another as he pushed ahead.
“That’s some sturdy-looking armor... But it’s no use against me!”
The soldiers who tried to surround them from the sides were mainly handled by Takako and David, who used the martial arts they’d honed to knock them unconscious. Kagami caught sight of it out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help feeling sorry for their opponents. No matter how heavy their armor, Takako smashed through it and knocked them out. She must have seemed absolutely terrifying to them.
Menou dealt with the soldiers closing in from behind, using wind magic—not as powerful as the Demon King’s—to blow them away and keep them at a distance.
“Got you—! ...Huh?”
The Demon King kept watch over the whole battlefield, using wind magic to blow away any soldiers who slipped through and, when things got dicey—as they had just now when Alice was nearly attacked—backing them up with magic that unleashed bolts of electricity.
“Alice, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, Dad! ...Oh, Menou, watch out!”
Their formation looked perfect, but even so, they couldn’t block every attack from the enormous number of soldiers. Sometimes they took the brunt of ranged attacks like magic, and damage steadily accumulated among them.
“Menou-san, I’ll heal your wounds! While we’re running!”
But Tina healed their wounds, so they continued pushing onward without fear of getting hurt.
As they repeated this, the number of soldiers trying to attack them gradually dwindled. The difference in power was simply that great.
No matter where they attacked from or how much damage they dealt, it made no difference. Anyone who came close was knocked unconscious, and the group never stopped moving.
“D-don’t falter!”
“We absolutely will not let you pass! I swear it on my honor!”
Even so, some soldiers remained determined to fight for their king. Each time one of them closed in, the group was forced into a difficult fight.
Their opponents intended to kill, while they were trying not to kill anyone. That was a major handicap.
“Tina! Are you still alive?!”
“I’m still okay! What about you, Kagami-san? Are you getting worn out?”
“I’m fine! But... at this rate, we’re in trouble. Demon King! Can’t you keep using that blast-producing spell?”
“I can’t cast it repeatedly. I have to take time to build up my magic power, and it’s hard to control the force.”
Hearing that, Kagami couldn’t help grimacing.
At this rate, they’d be worn down. They would be exhausted before they reached the king. He wished the Demon King were at full strength, but there was no point clinging to what they didn’t have, so he gave up on that thought.
But there was still hope. They had already covered nearly half the distance to the royal castle.
“All right... from here, I think I can just barely reach the other side. Plan B!”
“...What’s that?”
“No time to explain! Demon King! You go on ahead to the other side and catch everyone!”
“...I see.”
Kagami’s words—‘catch everyone’—made the Demon King realize what he was planning. Kagami then grabbed the Demon King and held him firmly in place—
“Heave!”
With all his strength, he hurled him toward the royal castle.