Heroes Always Show Up Late
This chapter starts from the long purple haired female captain Vijikaranna.
"Kuh...! Is this, the end of the line for us...!"
"Weak, you are far too weak humanity. We may have the grace of Demon King empowering us but to say it's a disappointment is an understatement."
Each city is only invaded by about 20 demons.
A small enough number we normally would be able to deal with if they were ordinary demons.
But they're not.
Each and every one of these demons is powerful enough to obliterate a city on their own.
We can't hope to win against such forces...!
"...All units, avoid close quarter combat! Focus on defending by shooting Farslashes and magic!"
"B, but those demons have been shooting far stronger ranged attacks than we could hope to match. Our attacks can't stop them..."
"It should serve to offset the firepower for a tad... It's frustrating but they're simply on a whole other level. Our chance of victory is extremely slim. Put our effort into holding them back, not winning!"
We are weak. The battle earlier made that painfully clear.
I admit it. I lack the overwhelming strength to eradicate demons like that black haired monster.
So what of it.
We, the Anti-Demon Army, exists to protect people from the threat of demons even if it means risking our life.
All the better if we could defeat demons.
But if that is not possible, then we simply have to focus on protecting.
At one point, my envy was exploited to entrap me into getting brainwashed. But thinking clearly, there's no point feeling envious about that irrational strength in the first place.
I must focus on what I can do instead.
"Captain! We have finished evacuated all areas besides the west district!"
"Alright, go finish that--"
An especially huge explosion sound resounded before I could finish issuing orders.
The direction is... The west district!?
"C-captain! Demons showed up out of nowhere at the west district!"
"They're attacking the residents there! We have to save them asap!"
"Hurry it up! Stop those demons even if you have to use yourself as a shield!"
If only that black hair was around at times like this but there's no end to what if-ing.
Doesn't matter where and how those demons decide to show up, it won't change what we have to do.
"Strike back at the west district demons! Save as many citizen as you could, bring them to safety!"
"C-captain! Their barrage of attack is too severe! We cannot possibly hold it back!"
"Nevertheless, it has to be done! The fact that we cannot best them is obvious from the very start!"
"B-but...!"
...I get how horrible I'm acting. It's like I'm telling my subordinates to go die.
I never wanted to be such a horrible superior.
And yet, that's exactly why we exist.
"...All units, follow my lead."
"Eh, C-captain!?"
Then, allow me to lead by example.
I will take the very first fall.
Please forgive me with this.
"Hmm? That human is rushing here all by her lonesome."
"She must have a death wish. Very well, I shall grant it to her."
The demons are sneering and ridiculing my charge.
Yeah, go on and have a laugh! I'm the biggest of fool who ordered her subordinates to die!
But even a fool has pride, and I'll let you watch a showing!
"Now, die... Uh...?"
"W, what the, my strength, it's..."
"The effects of Lord Demon King's Skill, have been cut off!?"
"Has something happened to, Lord Demon King...?"
...?
The demons suddenly got all flustered up.
Is it just me or does the pressure emanating off them seem weaker.
Unsure on what and why, but I won't overlook this chance!
"This is our chance! All units, attack those demons altogether!!"
"""Acknowledged!!"""
That Black Hair mentioned something about heading off to fight Demon King.
Did his fight bring about this change to these demons?
...I loathe to admit, but his assistance comes at the most opportune moment.
I'll give him my thanks, this one time... I'd never do this to any other man.
"Dammit, we don't need Lord Demon King's grace to slaughter the lot of you!"
"It's time for, True Demon Reguhaa!?"
Someone drop kicked the group of demons that was rearing to go at us.
What tremendous speed...! Just who's---
"W-what the hell are... you...!?"
"Eh..."
"...No, for real though, what is even...?"
The demons were all dumbfounded.
Same goes for us Anti-Demon Army, we've been stopped dead in our tracks.
"Ofuhahahahahaaaaaai! I have come darniiiiiiiit!"
......................
A completely hairless head with a questionable content, and a body bulging with muscles wearing nothing but a single underwear. A man with those features is making a ruckus on his own where he stands.
There's no way that won't freeze anybody.
"Come at me you demons!! I'mma play with y'all till Hero-chan comes baaaaaack!"
"G-get away from me!!"
"Die! Just die already!"
"Whoa there, that ain't gonna hit moiii! I been honing this stuff all my liiiife!"
The demons shot a barrage of magic at the muscled man, but not a single projectile managed to hit him.
The way he kept making a weird emphasizing pose whenever he dodged an attack is utterly irritating.
The way he moves is so needlessly refined and so uselessly efficient....
"Captain! That buck naked pervert is throwing the demons into chaos!"
"Ignore him!!"
"P-perhaps we could use him as a decoy as long as we look away from his gross appearance!"
"I can't accept it on the basis of that fatal appearance!!"
"I get you! I so get you, but you know!"
....There's really nothing good with getting involved with men.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~~POV of the monster fighting Demon King~~~~~~~~~
"Gugiiuugwuuu...!!!"
"Fumu, you managed to dodge by a hair's breadth... Nay, that felt amiss. Are you employing some manner of tricks?"
Demon King murmured as he crushed an eyeball he took from me.
It hurts, it hurts so bad I'm gonna die. My immediately vision narrowed down.
Blood is spilling out of my eye socket like a waterfall.
I explosively energy buffed myself for a brief moment the instant Demon King's finger was sunk in my head.
My brain remained intact thanks to that but he managed to nab an eyeball.
...It would have been over the moment his finger sunk on me if not for my HP buffer.
"This should be a sufficient demonstration of my superiority over you... Or perhaps you intend to win with but an eye?"
"Shut, the hell, up...!"
"...This is my last warning to you. Leave this world at once. I am indebted to you for your help that granted me this power. I shall overlook you, and you alone."
He urged me to run away again. Dunno what's on his mind.
Debt, huh. Guy's either a real stickler to rule or he simply has no interest in me.
"..Hey, Demon King."
"What."
"Do you have, something you cherish?"
"...?"
Demon King frowned with a dubious look.
Well I guess that did come out of nowhere.
"How about, Souma Ryuta?"
"What...?"
"He muttered 'Yukana' when he left us. Who's that?"
"...That is insignificant. Both to you, and to me."
"Wasn't that insignificant thing the reason Souma Ryuta sought reincarnation? Regardless whether I'm leaving or dying, I just gotta know the truth behind this."
Demon King frowned, looking really ill-humored.
He obviously isn't keen on talking about it despite what he said.
But then, he obliged which I didn't expect.
"...Souma Ryuta's goal was to 'Be reborn in this world and reunite with his reincarnated spouse'."
"Ah, I knew it. Yukana was his wife, yeah?"
"'Yukalatina', a woman beautiful to the very end. The curse of word that woman left for Ryuta was the beginning of everything."
"Curse...?"
Demon King spoke while laughing dryly like he couldn't believe it himself.
"Souma Ryuta gave a nod when she asked him to 'Reincarnate after his death and reunite with her'. It was an impossible request, yet his love for her did not allow him to respond any other wise."
"...So he took that seriously and went around to find a way to reincarnate with his memory intact?"
"Menu told him that a hero's soul is sent back to their world, Earth, once they die here. Dying as is would have him break his promise. Thus he searched for a way to reincarnate in 'this world'."
"There's no way to know who he's going to reincarnate into even if he succeeds though."
"Exactly. It's a hopelessly foolish and futile wish... And yet Souma Ryuta simply cannot bear to do nothing toward honoring his promise. After exploring countless options, he at last arrived at Floor 21."
...It went about as I expected.
That geezer was awkward beyond belief.
He even half succeeded and ended up with the worst possible result, reborn as Demon King.
"Well, that foolish wish is what enabled me to come into a realization on Demon King's true role."
"...."
"That is the end of my story. Thus I ask thou once more."
Demon King asked while sharply glaring at me.
"Forfeit your life, or step aside. What say you."
"...Neither of 'em. I've got mountains of things I cherish in this world. I'd rather die than leaving all that behind and go back to Japan."
"...It is so."
I may not go as far as looking for a way to reincarnate, but even I've got things I won't back down on.
"A shame truly. I loathe to return good with evil, however, I too have a wish toward a world of demons."
Demon King got right next to me in the blink of an eye.
My hands reflexively locked with his, like a contest of strength.
"You may die now."
"Ugugigigi...!!"
My hands are creaking. I've been putting all my energy into my Strength, yet Demon King easily outstrips me.
He's overwhelmingly stronger than me it's like an adult against a child.
"You shall lose your means to defy death once your arms have been crushed. Pile Bunkers shan't do a thing against me now."
"Agugagagagaaaaaaaa!!!"
I can tell my bones getting fractured.
They're gonna break for real at this rate...!!
"!? Tch!"
Just one last step before my arms broke apart for real, Demon King let go of my hands and stepped back while clicking his tongue.
Someone stood in front of me, replacing Demon King's position.
...They're here at last.
"Kept you waiting, Hikaru."
"Ou, you sure did. Dangit, thought I was a goner there..."
There stood a girl.
Long blond back hair with a mix of red, silver and black forelock.
Light purple left eye and blue right eye. Her proportion is unbalanced yet there's a harmonious and fantastical attractiveness to it.
I'm convinced she's the most beautiful woman in the world presently. As for the gender inside.
"Wait, did you always call me by my first name? Neora-kun."
"...It's probably cause Alma is also fused with me, I wanna call you dear on reflex, wait, no, what the hell! Stop that!"
Neora-kun who should have been sent far into the future is standing there while blushing and scowling.
...He's gotten even cuter than ever, though I guess that's only natural with Alma in the mix.
"...How are you, hero, here. How did you escape that future of death...?"
So Demon King inquired while glaring hatefully at Hero-kun.
...For real though, thank goodness I found them right before left Floor 21 for good.
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