Chapter 147: Prelude – 5

Chapter 147: Prelude – 5

“Demon King-nim, I have something to report.”

“…What now? Did that crazy lizard bastard cause trouble again? Or did those vampires get impatient and suck blood again?”

“……I wish it were something like that.”

“Then? Did the human allied forces invade? Or did the situation of this messed-up Demon King’s castle somehow reach human ears?”

“It’s similar.”

Even as he said that, the subordinate didn’t actually state what the ‘report’ was, so the Demon King silently glared at him.

To be precise, at his ribs, which were still rattling from a beating he’d received a while ago.

…Fortunately, being an Archlich who had lived for a long time, he quickly understood the meaning of that gaze, so the situation of bone dust flying didn’t occur.

“The Hero has arrived.”

“…Hero? That girl from back then?”

“Yes. Judging by her showing the Holy Sword and continuously watching the Demon King’s castle, it seems she has something to say.”

“……That child still seems to believe that fighting can be avoided.”

Various emotions flickered in the Demon King’s eyes as she spoke.

Pity for the Hero, who still believed peace could continue, resignation about her own unavoidable situation, and… anger towards the Hero for ignoring her words, and so on.

In the fleeting moment that those many emotions passed, the Demon King thought. And then she made her choice.

“…Unleash the Demon King’s Army and the Vampire Legion Commander.”

“……Are you planning to kill the Hero?”

“They’re just reckless fools who only trust their own strength and can’t cooperate anyway. If we can kill the Hero early at the cost of such individuals, it would be a gain.”

There was no harmony in the Demon King’s Army.

Even with the Demon King as the absolute leader, command was not smooth, and divisions constantly occurred without harmony.

However, there was only one reason to keep monsters under the name of the Demon King’s Army.

Because in a situation where command and control were impossible from the start, the individual combat power displayed by each monster was high.

Once a battle with humans broke out, they could tear humans apart so powerfully that no command or tactics were needed, so they were simply grouped together as the Demon King’s Army.

To the Demon King, the Demon King’s Army and its commanders were not soldiers. They were beasts to be used for hunting. The exception, perhaps, was the Archlich who still assisted her.

“Some of them won’t die fighting the Hero there, but will fight among themselves and self-destruct… but that small Hero will die one way or another.”

“Even so, wouldn’t it be a waste to unleash a Legion Commander and their entire legion on just one Hero?”

“Those vampires were useless things that only caused damage, driven mad by blood from before. It would be good to reduce their numbers with this opportunity.”

“……Understood. I will convey the message to the Vampire Legion Commander.”

And so, in front of the Hero, who was showing the Holy Sword and requesting communication with the Demon King, a hungry vampire legion began to pour out.

***

“Tsk… That’s a clear answer that they have no intention of communicating.”

*’To a being like the Demon King, you are merely an object to be dealt with, so in a way, it’s natural.’*

“It’s a good thing you finished your conversation quickly and came back, otherwise I would have had to face all of them alone.”

*’I had some information to hear from an old acquaintance, you see. By the way, are you going to fight? I’m not underestimating your skill, but… it seems like too much, doesn’t it?’*

I completely agreed. I struggled with just one vampire, and now a legion has appeared, along with someone who seems to be their leader.

Naturally, it was a situation too overwhelming for me to handle alone.

……Or so I thought. Even I.

*Notification

-> This is your last chance to persuade the Demon King. Trust your strength and break through the Demon King’s castle’s security.

=> Breaking through the Demon King’s castle will be arduous. The King of Vampires, as well as the leader of the Dragons, and vengeful spirits who hate humans, will block your path.

=> Nevertheless, we hope you will trust the power you possess and us. Since we have intentionally bestowed power upon you, it will be very different from before.

*

It was a calm notification, not a branching point or a quest like before.

Also, there were no effects like power being strengthened or potions being enhanced, as before.

It was simply… a notification calmly stating that this was the last chance, and to trust my recently enhanced abilities and the system itself.

At that notification…… I drew the Holy Sword.

“It’s a situation where I have no choice but to fight. To win an unfair battle against God.”

*’Yes, well, if you’re going to confront God, you can’t fall to these mere ruffians. And I, too, will give you strength, just as I gave strength to the Hero, that child.

For now… aren’t you the Hero?’*

It was funny for the Holy Sword to say such a thing with the real Hero in mind…

But it was a fitting remark for me, facing the monsters pouring out in front of the Demon King’s castle, and heading towards the Demon King with the Holy Sword in hand.

And so, for the first time in a long time, I activated the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’ and drew forth mana. At the same time, I felt the power bestowed by the Holy Sword, a power originally only given to the Hero, envelop me.

Even the Hero, who would fall to me alone, became so strong when wielding the Holy Sword… I wondered how I would be.

Let’s test how well the system upgraded me to be so confident, and how amazing the Holy Sword’s buff is.

***

“Human… it’s a human!”

“You said we could suck all the blood we want this time, didn’t you?”

“Let’s, let’s deal with her quickly before that Demon King bastard changes her mind!”

The vampire legion, always hungry for blood, charged in a disorderly fashion. Towards the living human, towards her blood.

Lower-ranking vampires, unable to control their craving for blood, led the charge, while higher-ranking vampires and the Vampire Lord watched their assault intently.

One might be intimidated by the sight of dozens of vampires charging simultaneously… but the girl calmly watched them and gripped something.

It was a small glass bottle, an unremarkable glass bottle.

At her appearance, most of the vampires scoffed at the girl, baring their fangs and lowering their heads towards her slender neck.

However, a few hesitated at the incomprehensible power contained within that small glass bottle and recoiled.

And that small difference… became dramatic in the next moment.

Amidst the shouts of joy and madness from the vampires, eager to taste human blood, a small, clear sound of glass breaking was heard…

Everything before their eyes instantly turned into an inferno.

And the screams of the vampires as they burned, and the horrific sight of them struggling in the flames at the same time…

The girl… no, Hero merely watched emotionlessly.

“Blinded, blame yourselves for charging without looking.”

A chilling voice, contrasting with the hot scene of flames all around.

With that voice, the Holy Sword, raised high, showed no mercy.

One stroke.

A heavy stroke that tore through attack, defense, and everything in between, was drawn from top to bottom. Like the greatsword of some Imperial Knight Commander.

With that single blow, the Hero’s Holy Sword was swung, scattering an alien sense of divine power, and cleaved through the unquenchable, scorching flames.

And so, a dozen or so vampires, mad with bloodlust and unable to properly see their opponent, turned to ash and vanished.

Vampires are monsters with excellent regenerative abilities and the power to freely control blood.

But… the flames the Hero ignited, and the Holy Sword the Hero wielded, possessed a power that even suppressed such regeneration.

It was neither mere flames nor mere divine power. It was a strange kind of power that could not be felt in this world.

Through the sacrifice of a dozen or so of the most reckless and foolish vampires, this was clearly imprinted in the minds of all other vampires.

“…Is this all? Stronger than expected. Though it helps that those guys are low-ranking.”

The Hero’s expression, having instantly incinerated a dozen or so of her own kind, showed no particular change.

There was a slight hint of surprise in the words she muttered to herself, but it wasn’t very noticeable.

Despite a dozen vampires dying, and still being surrounded by a large remaining vampire legion, the Hero, as if intrigued, pulled out more glass bottles.

And… the same clear sound as before rang out, and the sky began to darken.

Clang!

With that sound, the sky trembled. As if God was enraged, a massive bolt of lightning struck the vampire legion.

Divine punishment was declared, and with that divine punishment, several more vampires turned to ash.

An instant death, unable to even regenerate.

Even if they tried to do something with blood, everything was shattered before they could even draw blood.

“R-retreat! This is no ordinary foe…!”

“Stop squawking. It’s noisy.”

In the face of the fear that came with the clear sound, the vampires tried to retreat for a moment.

More precisely, they tried to flee to where higher-ranking vampires were.

However… another clear sound rang out, and a flash of light shot forth.

And the next moment, the Hero, who had seemed like a flash of light, stood before the vampires, gripping the Holy Sword.

And once again……

One stroke.

This time, the Holy Sword was drawn horizontally in a long sweep, and the vampires’ bodies were scattered along with it.

Their blood, once again, completely evaporated and vanished by that strange divine power.

It was clearly divine power, meant to heal and bless God’s creations… but the alien divine power emanating from the Holy Sword and the Hero was different.

As if resisting the original purpose of divine power and God, it had become a force capable of most effectively destroying everything in this world.

The pure white divine power flashed as if to blind, and with that flash-like brilliance, the vampires crumbled once again.

And so, the Lord, who had been watching the lower-ranking vampires literally vanish, finally spoke when the Hero dealt with the last remaining low-ranking vampire.

“…How interesting. Is it different because you are the Hero after all?”

“……You must be their Lord.”

“Hmm, you have good eyes. That’s right. I originally intended to play around a bit more, but…… seeing your eyes, I don’t think I have the luxury.”

At the same time, the Vampire Lord gestured once, and the earth trembled.

The sky turned red, and a crimson palace revealed itself.

A palace created from blood, the sanctuary of vampires, where an unending blood feast, a banquet of blood, continued.

Within that palace, the Vampire Lord, along with his higher-ranking retainers, bared his fangs at the Hero.

“Now, I am truly curious what your blood will taste like.”

“…And I’m truly curious what kind of light you’ll burn with.”

With those words, chains made of blood shot out from all directions, and several high-ranking vampires moved directly.

And, in defiance of that……

Clang!

From the Hero’s side, as always, a clear sound rang out.