Chapter 138: Demon King, and – 4

Chapter 138: Demon King, and – 4

“Hmm, so this is what human cities look like? The districts are densely packed.”

“Unlike monsters, who constantly start fights, are uncontrollable, and only quiet down when you beat them, humans cooperate with each other, so it’s natural.

Furthermore, there are powerful leaders to follow, whether it’s the Pope of the Holy Kingdom or the Emperor of the Empire, so it’s even more so.”

“…You have a bone to pick with me, don’t you?”

“Just because there’s a bone doesn’t mean it’s wrong… Ugh.”

“There’s a difference between what’s wrong and what’s permissible. So, if you don’t want your remaining ribs pulled out, shut up.”

This was definitely not a conversation to be had in the middle of a city, but then again, no one understood what they were saying.

And why would they? The woman with long black hair and gleaming blood-red eyes was the Demon King, and the one groaning with a pulled-out rib was a thousand-year-old lich.

It was impossible that these two, who were out scouting the human cities and their defenses, wouldn’t have concealed their voices and appearances.

However, as for why a being like the Demon King and a high-ranking officer, the First Legion Commander of the Demon King’s Army, were personally scouting…

“Hah… Should I have just sent the underlings after all?”

“Wouldn’t that have resulted in a skirmish rather than reconnaissance?”

“That’s the problem. They’re all packed with guys who’d just kill any human they see first.”

“……I keep telling you, if I just kill them all and make them my subordinates, things would be easier…”

“Do you want your spine pulled out this time, instead of your ribs?”

It was because of the sorry state of the Demon King’s Army, which, aside from being gathered, was utterly un-legion-like.

The Demon King and the Archlich had gone through considerable trouble to make them appear decent and, at the very least, ‘specially guided’ them to prevent solo actions…

But that didn’t mean they could perfectly control monsters whose desires were their top priority.

If the Demon King hadn’t been a being directly sent by the Demon God to eradicate humanity, or even if she had been, if she lacked the military power befitting the title of Demon King, even this would have been impossible.

“Enough. Haven’t you observed many human cities so far? Evaluate them.”

“It’s surprising how disunited the Demon King’s Army is……”

“Tsk.”

“Ahem, ahem. I was saying that humans are surprisingly densely packed. So much so that if you just destroy the walls and barriers protecting the city, it would collapse immediately.”

“Indeed. Even if it means some sacrifices, once we enter residential areas or non-combat zones, defensive facilities are practically nonexistent.”

Unlike monsters, who often set natural or artificial traps everywhere to deal with intruders in their territories,

Human cities had all their defensive elements concentrated on the city walls that protected the outskirts.

Of course, the humans in this city, unlike monsters who are terribly disobedient and cannot change tactics during battle, can always pick up weapons and come to fight monsters…

But that was all. There were no deadly traps or defensive facilities in residential areas or other non-combat zones.

Occasionally, makeshift barriers and armories that could be used as evacuation lines were visible, but they weren’t particularly threatening.

“Most importantly, their complacency seems to be the most fatal aspect.”

“Indeed. The phrase ‘rotted by peace’ suits them well. Giving weapons to those here wouldn’t make them much of a threat either.”

Furthermore, while soldiers might be an exception, ordinary citizens had no sense of crisis regarding a war with monsters.

On the contrary, they worried more about conflicts between human nations; monsters were merely a minor threat, handled by regular soldiers and adventurers.

If it were just one city like this, it would be one thing, but the entire Empire had this recurring atmosphere, and the Imperial capital was no different.

Therefore, the Demon King, who would normally have moved on to the next destination, was not doing so…

“It seems there’s something bothering you.”

“Yes, there’s an unusually anomalous place in this city. Specifically, it’s right in front of us.”

“…That utterly ordinary shop? Are you serious?”

An ordinary shop located on an ordinary street in the capital.

The only difference was a ‘Long-term Business Trip’ sign hanging on the door, unlike other shops.

The displayed goods were peculiar, but that was as far as it went.

“Tsk tsk… What an incompetent fool. Can’t you feel all sorts of power vibrating inside that shop?

Not only mana, but power from an unknown source, and even divine power and the power of the Holy Sword can be felt……”

“Yes, yes. What would a skull-head who’s only used mana all his life know? It’s truly the damn magnificent insight of our omniscient Demon King-nim.”

“……Right, next time, I’ll pull out your jawbone first, not your ribs. Then you’ll chatter a little less.”

“So, what. Are you just going to barge in?”

“Oh, come on. Don’t I have some manners? And am I the kind of person to sneak into an ownerless shop like a stray cat?”

“Isn’t scouting like this, sneaking into a human city like a stray cat, what you’re doing in the first place?”

“……Fine, then. Tonight’s dinner is a thousand-year-old instant beef bone soup.”

But unfortunately, the Archlich was not boiled into beef bone soup on the spot.

To be precise, while the Demon King was preparing magic to zap him, a human popped out from beside them.

“Why is this damn Demon King here of all places…!”

…More precisely, a human who was holding the Holy Sword in their hand, knew they had come to the capital, and confidently opened the shop door with a key and entered.

***

*’Ahem… I don’t know if I should say this, but.’*

“…What is it now? Is it bad news?”

*’I wonder. It’s just that the Demon King was standing in front of your shop.’*

“……Huh?”

No, I knew the Demon King was in the Imperial capital.

Her purpose… well, since a war would break out soon, reconnaissance was a pretty good guess.

But, she was in front of my shop? Why on earth?

“No, wait a minute. That means she arrived earlier and heard what I said, right?”

*’Naturally.’*

“And there’s no way she didn’t recognize the sword in my hand as the Holy Sword……”

*’Hmm, since I recognized her presence, she would naturally have recognized mine. Oh, and due to the skirmish with the prophet, a lot of divine power would have clung to you as well.’*

“…So, I’ve suddenly become someone who knows the Demon King’s whereabouts, was carrying the Holy Sword, and had a lot of divine power clinging to me?”

*’That’s also true.’*

Ah, my head is suddenly spinning.

No, why on earth was that Demon King just loitering in front of our shop, with nothing better to do?

Watch my words? She wasn’t even visible in the first place, how was I supposed to be careful?! I just moved to my shop!!

*’Is there a problem?’*

“…Holy Sword-nim? Do you know what people call a human who carries the Holy Sword, suspiciously knows the Demon King’s location well, and has a lot of divine power clinging to them?”

*’Why, they call them Hero, don’t they? The Demon King’s adversary, commonly.’*

“You know that, and you’re still so calm?!”

No, isn’t this a state of emergency, logically?

I’ve been marked by God, foreshadowing a thorny path, and now I’m about to be attacked by the Demon King, mistaken for the Hero.

Even if I wanted to talk my way out of it, this damn Holy Sword is in my hand, so I have no excuse.

Logically, would the Hero hand over the Holy Sword, which is her symbol, to someone else?

…Of course, this worthless Hero somehow ended up in that situation, but anyway.

*’It’s fine. They don’t have any intention of attacking yet. Rather… they’re showing strong curiosity.’*

“…You can’t even see them, yet you understand them so well.”

*’I may look like this, but I am the Holy Sword. I can perceive and see that level of magic. More importantly, why don’t you open the door? It seems they want to talk.’*

*That’s good. A conversation with the Demon King is essential for completing the branch point anyway.*

In addition to the Holy Sword, Ria also popped out, emphasizing that the situation wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite resonate with me.

No, because, even if it was my choice, being marked by God is already a burden, and I don’t want to be marked by the Demon King too!

Furthermore, I had to explain that I wasn’t the Hero, which made my head ache twice as much.

*Is there really a need to explain? Why don’t we just impersonate the Hero this time?*

‘…Is that really okay?’

*Because the goal of the branch is for both the Demon King and Hero to give up on war.

Originally, a meeting with the Hero was deemed necessary in the process of persuading the Demon King, but……*

‘So, if the Demon King thinks I’m the Hero, it doesn’t matter if I’m real or fake?’

*’Hmm, that’s not bad. You handle me better than that guy, and most importantly, aren’t you more trustworthy?’*

……And so, with even the Holy Sword’s agreement, my impersonation of the Hero began.

And that too, to the Demon King, the Hero’s sworn enemy.