Second Day Third Meeting
A small island surrounded by the five continents ruled by humans manifested, with Demon King's Castle on it.
I can't Fast Travel with Map Screen since Demon King is present there.
We can apparently get there with Teleportation as long as it's not immediately in the Demon King's vicinity but nobody has set foot Sthere so this method is unusable too.
It's not exactly hard for me to fly my way there, but carrying this many people at once is a bit....
That's where we've got some wings handy. Good thing I secured that thing~.
"...Why do I have to..."
『...Pray tell why do I...』
Our alternative means of transportation to the Demon King's Castle is the White Dragon tamed by Souma Ranaia.
The both of them seem to be grumbling something but please understand that I'd like to save energy before the final battle.
"Oh don't give me that. All you need to do is carry us there one way."
"Well I do owe you for the matter with Black Dragon. I do not have issues helping you out..."
『Hmph, that foolish Black would have lived longer had he not bothered to involve himself with humans. Truly a fool.』
"Don't talk when nobody asked. Don't make a fool out of that stupid lizard, you. I'll serve you on the dining table."
『Ah yes, I'm very sorry, don't kill me please, like for realsies.』
White Dragon apologized while trembling after I warned him coldly... This guy sure has got some incredible mob moves.
He called Black Dragon 'Black', maybe they were acquaintances. I won't bother asking though.
"So uuuh, you and Almatina are one thing but are we even gonna move the needle against Demon King?"
"Not gonna lie, we're just gonna drag you you down..."
Baredo and Rasfin asked anxiously.
Well I mean, both of them may have reached the Advanced Job levels long ago, but I guess Demon King is still too much.
Them being anxious is understandable. Frankly, I don't expect anything from them, firepower-wise. Sorry to say.
"Ha! Get outta here if you're getting cold feet now. We're up against Demon King, ain't nobody gonna ridicule ya."
"I'm just as scared, but I'm gonna give my all even if it doesn't amount much."
Aizawa-kun is full of motivation while Radia-kun is eager to help despite his fear.
...I'm kinda, sorry about this.
"So, how are we gonna go about this?"
"How should we fight Demon King?"
"Aah, about that..."
Honestly speaking, there's no human alive that can stand against an opponent that manhandled Alma's Parents like they were babies.
Not even the next strongest person after me here, Alma.
After delivering the finishing blow to Black Dragon, her level went up enough to reach Special Job, her sword also evolved again, yet she's still helpless against Demon King.
That's why
"I'll go fight Demon King by myself. Everybody else is to stand by outside his castle."
"Eh...?"
"Wh, what are you planning to do!?"
『Pii?』
That might bring question why are they even here, but there's a proper reason for it.
Having those who can use Energy Control waiting outside will make the second half of the final battle against Demon King slightly easier.
Once I told them the strategy, Baredo and Rasfin looked relieved, Aizawa-kun and Radia-kun seemed dissatisfied, while Reina and Hiyoko made a worried look... Alma looks like she's about to cry as she stares me.
"...Is that all you need us to do after bringing us all the way to Demon King's castle."
"That's just way reckless. That thing's a monster that handily beat those two instructors, ain't it? You're gonna die, Kajikawa-san!"
"Hiyoko-chan and I should be able to absorb Demon King's magic and stuff, we can still be of use. It's better and safer if we all fight together from the start."
『Pii!』
Each of them voiced their opinion.
Yup, I get what they're trying to tell, and they're not wrong.
"Hikaru, are we, a nuisance...?"
Lastly, Alma sorrowfully asked me.
...I feel guilty even just looking at her face, but I gotta say what I gotta say.
"You are. I'll be brutally blunt here, it's gonna take less than a minute for Demon King to kill you all if you try to challenge him."
"..."
"I absolutely don't have the leeway to protect you all while dealing with Demon King. It's just much easier for me to go alone."
I'm sorry for laying it all out unfiltered, but it's the truth.
Forget Demon King, I might end up hitting them in a crossfire. I don't wanna commit a friendly kill.
"But that's for the first half of the fight. I'm gonna need your help, all of you for the second half... Alma's role is especially dangerous, forgive me."
"Hikaru's role is, much worse. That's why, I should..."
"You can't... Don't you worry a thing, I won't make a single fatal mistake in the first half, heck, I'm actually just trying to buy time. I won't do anything crazy."
"...I will die too if Hikaru is dead. So promise me you have to stay alive."
O, oou. This girl just demanded some real heavy vow out of me. This goes beyond Yandere.
"...Well I mean, if you're gonna go that far. Got it, I promise I'll stay alive no matter what happens."
"...Un."
I made a promise with no guarantee I could uphold while patting Alma's head.
...Oh craaap, it's hitting my nerve hard now that my survival is a matter of life and death for Alma too.
"Oh boy, I can't stop grinning looking at these two even though this is the moment before our final fight."
『Pi.』
"Is it just me or it's getting hot here..."
"...Tch."
On top of that, the peanut gallery are grinning ear from ear while watching us. I'mma beat y'all up.
Aizawa-kun was the only person who clicked his tongue in a bad mood... I have to settle the score with him one of these days.
"Oy, I see something by the sea, is that the castle we're looking for?"
"Hmm? ...Ah, yep, that's the thing alright."
I saw something after turning my sight at the direction Souma pointed at.
I buffed my vision to check and confirmed the existence of a white beautiful castle whose grandeur won't lose to any human-made castle.
...Eeh. It's purdy alright, but that doesn't have the feel of Demon King-ness to it.
Yet Menu display shows it as 'Castle of Demon King', cementing it.
"My image of this castle is way more ominous though..."
"It's really pretty but it does feel off for what it's supposed to be."
"How do you imagine it's like, Kajikawa-san?"
"Super gloomy with grotesque-looking pulsing walls and floors like they're made of biological flesh. Somewhere you absolutely don't wanna go in to."
"Which one do you prefer if you have to enter, that one or this one?"
"This one, thank you very much."
"...What's up with this carefree exchange. We're heading off for the final battle, aren't we..."
Perish the thought, I'm jumpy as all heck right now. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it's gonna pop off when I think about having to fight that monster again.
The first half is nothing more than a survival battle, yet that's already at ultra hard difficulty. Give me a break.
Well then, I'm gonna go ahead and check it out, after which you can drop off everybody in a safe zone, White Dragon.
Once that's taken care of, you go and fight the rest of the demons with Souma.
Eh, you don't want to? Oh really now, guess we're having dragon steak for dinner today. Wonder which one tastes better, black or white.
Eh, you're actually gonna participate? Much appreciated.
Well then, time to get down.
...Ah, man, I'm scared stuffless...
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~Demon King's POV~~~~~~~~~
『Pleaase forgive us. The human side is giving more resistance than anticipated, we're running behind the schedule.』
『Their army is moving uncharacteristically smooth as if they knew we were going to attack today. We have also confirmed the existence of non-standard magic tools deployed by humans.』
『Our side has also confirmed the sightings of Special Job holders who should have been dislocated along with Continent 3. It's hard to believe, but perhaps there were leaks...?』
Current generation demons offered their intel one after another.
Every single one brought unwelcoming news with them. They all are experiencing a harder time than anticipated.
I was under the belief that our sheer quantity and quality would have overrun humanity in no time. It appears I have miscalculated.
"I rescind my order to move in a group of five. Proceed in a group of 20. This may slow down the rate of our invasion to a degree, however, what we require now is certainty."
『Affirmative.』
"I heard mentions of non-standard magic tools. Take them over and make use of them when given the opportunity. It should be possible to induce friendly fire with clever manipulation. Use your wisdom over brute force."
『By your will.』
"Those Special Job holders may be a thorn on our side, an insignificant one however. Spare no effort to eliminate even one Special Job holder. Focus on each of them even if it means taking resource away from other matters."
『Yes my liege.』
Wave tactics would collapse upon itself without minute commands such as this.
Conversely, precise positioning of our matchless army should guarantee the extinction event of humanity.
Their side may have displayed more resistance than anticipated yet I have not heard a single report that would indicate a reversal.
Nothing has changed. This match is all but assured for us.
And yet
What is this chill I feel.
My memory and experience as Souma Ryuta is telling me.
The unceasing alarm bell that heralds my downfall.
I have overlooked a thoroughly fatal something----
*CRASH* the window to this room loudly broke into pieces.
I immediately determined that someone broke through the window to enter this Chamber of Demon King.
A terrible chill went from the tip of my head to the verge of my toes when I saw the person entering, as if I had found myself in the middle of a blizzard.
"Yo, Spada geezer. Wait no, your real name's supposed to be Souma Ryuta, or Demon King now huh? Howdy."
".........You're........."
Everything clicked the moment I laid my eyes on this man.
It's him.
This man is the source of all the chill I experienced. The worst Joker of humanity capable of overturning everything. Such is what my soul and every cells of my being tell me.
I squeezed the name of this black haired Japanese man out of my trembling lips.
"Kajikawa Hikaru...!"
"Ou. My turn to surprise the stuff outta you, Demon King."
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