episode_0087

000

The story changes for a moment, but there is a legend passed down through generations in the royal capital.

When the hand of darkness reaches out to the royal capital of Elkerdo, one who hunts demons with the power of the Holy Spirit will appear.

The Order of the Holy One claims that this legend refers to the `Hero`.

Some people claim to have seen her.

Destroying demons that appeared from the darkness as if shadows were wriggling.

The figure of a girl wielding a huge pure white hammer, appearing as if dancing under the brilliant moonlight.

In the long history of the kingdom, that girl has appeared many times.

Protecting the people, the kingdom, and the royal capital.

From the forces of darkness….

001

And Rubera remembers such a legend and sees the figure of the girl in front of her – [Secluded Princess] Amelia.

A halo above her head, representing pure divinity.

Her platinum blonde hair shines brilliantly, even in the dark back alleys where sunlight does not enter.

And, armor made of an unidentified metal material composed of sacred magic that wraps around her entire body.

A white waist cape on the part that descends from the hips to the calves, fluttering every time she moves her legs vigorously.

At the end of the huge hammer that she is holding and swinging with both hands, a golden magic circle unfolds.

If what touches its end is evil, it purifies it with concentrated, powerful sacred magic, regardless of its kind.

In fact, the succubus who was hit by her swung hammer floated a magic circle on the hit area as if a seal was stamped on it.

Leaving only screams like `Ah, ah-`, she was sent back to hell.

“Wh, what’s that brat!? Why is such a powerful paladin…. Kyaak!”

Rubera instantly cuts down the succubus who was distracted by Amelia’s performance.

For demons who can easily make up for physical damage unless their souls are damaged.

A blow containing the magic power of a magic sword or a holy sword was like their weakness.

Thanks to this, Rubera cut down all but one of the succubi writhing in pain and rolling on the ground.

She sent them back to the Demon Palace of Hell, where their main bodies resided.

The fight with the succubi ended in an instant thanks to Amelia’s performance.

That much, her sacred magic was a powerful countermeasure against demons.

“I have a lot of questions to ask…. But first, let’s question this demon first.”

Saying that, she takes the blade of her magic sword to the neck of the succubus who is stuck on the floor and struggling under Rubera’s foot.

Because they are demons, they will generally return to hell even if they die.

Even so, feeling the pain of the moment of death if cut by a sword was the same for them.

The upper part of Rubera’s face is covered by the fedora, and only the murderous glint that naturally extends from the shadowed area.

Enters the eyes of the succubus lying below.

“Then…. Answer the questions I’m about to ask. If you ignore the questions or if I judge that you are lying, I will cut off your body parts one by one.”

“H, hik…!”

The succubus’ face instantly fills with fear.

Most succubi have masochistic preferences as the embodiment of abnormal desires.

No matter who they are, they cannot endure the pain of having their bodies cut off or gain pleasure from it.

Pain is pain.

“Wait a minute, Rubera.”

Then, Amelia, who finished the fight, released her transformation, and put on her robe again, approached Rubera.

Then, with a merciful face, she looks at the succubus trampled by Rubera and begins to speak.

“Even if they are demons, inflicting more pain than necessary on those who have already lost their will to fight is not the way a good person should take.”

Rubera turns her gaze to Amelia with a look of asking what she is talking about.

Soon, she closes her mouth as she sees the small version of the hammer in her hand.

“So, if you lie, I’ll send you off with this at once.”

“Hieek!”

For succubi, what is more frightening than physical pain is the sacred magic that directly penetrates their souls.

Whether Amelia knows that fact or not.

Either way, Rubera turns her head away from her innocent face again and asks the succubus.

“Is it true that the crazy bitches of Astaroth called you to this world?”

The succubus, who has completely lost her will to fight and is terrified, nods vigorously.

“The summoning of demons is a secret art of the cultists. I think it’s safe to assume that Astaroth is cooperating with the cultists.”

Amelia answers, putting her hand on her chin and making a face as if she is pondering something.

“Is it also your doing that the residents of the royal capital have been having nightmares lately?”

To Rubera’s question, the succubus nods again this time as well.

“Th, the summoners suggested a method. They said we need to gather magic power for the `Advent Ritual`….”

“Advent Ritual?”

Rubera expresses her doubts at the word she hears for the first time from her mouth.

“…Did you just say Advent Ritual?”

But Amelia alone has a serious face and asks the succubus again.

The succubus still nods her head and does not give further details, so Rubera asks Amelia instead.

“What is the Advent Ritual? Just by the name, it sounds like a ritual to summon something.”

Amelia answers with a dark face to Rubera’s question.

“Originally, demons are beings that are summoned to reality as a medium and take a price in return for fulfilling the summoner’s wishes. In the case of succubi, it is human essence, and in the case of other demons, it is the flesh, bones, and blood of sacrifices.”

“I know that. I also know that a summoning circle, a ritual, and a sacrifice are required to summon a demon.”

“Yes. The more powerful the demon, the harder it is to use its power in reality, so the bigger the ritual and sacrifice are required to remove such restrictions. And demons of the 3rd class or higher…. There is a special way to summon beings commonly called `Great Demons`. The Order calls this the `Advent Ritual`.”

Hearing that story, Rubera looks down at the succubus and narrows her eyes.

In other words, Astaroth summoned the succubi as a preliminary work to summon the `Great Demon`, and is gathering essence through the nightmares that the residents of the royal capital have every night.

The demon that hedonistic bitches like her are trying to summon is probably a demon related to lewd acts, just like the succubi, and she didn’t even want to imagine what would happen on the day of the summoning.

And above all, if human essence is used as a sacrifice for their ritual….

“…Is the Black Magic Clan’s brothel also being used to gather sacrifices…”

Biting her lip hard, Rubera felt herself unknowingly putting strength into the sword she was holding.

It was the limit to restrain it with reason, so as not to accidentally kill the succubus.

“Last question. There will be a brothel where only people of the Black Haired, Black Eyed clan are gathered. Where is it?”

The succubus trembled for a moment at Rubera’s cold voice, hesitating to answer.

But as the sound of the sword clanging next to her ear, the succubus answers with a crying face.

“I, I don’t know… The essence and wealth emotions created by the Black Magic Clan are said to be important materials for the ritual…. The older sisters….”

“Is that so. Then, we can assume that those older sisters are inside this `Walpurgis`?”

“That’s…”

The next moment, before Rubera raises her sword and strikes down on her body.

Amelia strikes first, striking her body with her hammer with a `thud`.

The succubus disappeared from the spot without resistance.

Rubera stops her sword just before the Barysada is stuck in the ground and looks back at Amelia.

“I’m sorry, Rubera.”

But Amelia apologizes first before Rubera can say anything.

Rubera also pauses for a moment, then returns the Barysada to its scabbard and turns her body towards Walpurgis.

“…There would be no more information to get from her. Thank you for dealing with her before she dirtied my sword.”

Amelia, who had been watching her quietly as she said that, also follows her and enters the building.

002

The interior of Walpurgis is thanks to its unique dim and eerie lighting that makes the viewer feel strange.

The two were cautiously moving forward while feeling a twist in their senses as if they had entered a labyrinth.

There were fewer succubi inside than expected, so if they moved from shadow to shadow and eliminated them one by one.

They were able to go deeper without making a single sound.

However – that doesn’t mean the surroundings weren’t noisy.

“Aah, uh…! Haa…”

Luxurious decorations along the long corridor, and doors that were tightly closed.

Beyond the doors, a feast of moans was unfolding, with the employees of the brothel, who were busy serving customers, making their voices in unison.

Of course, it was fortunate that they were able to hide their footsteps in the noise thanks to that.

Rubera had a look of annoyance on her face, wrinkling her face as much as possible.

Amelia blushed, pressing her hood down deeply, and bowed her head in embarrassment.

“It seems a little too stimulating for you. You can wait outside if it’s too difficult.”

Rubera speaks to Amelia as if caring for her, as if teasing her.

Amelia shakes her head vigorously and answers her.

“No! I’m, I’m fine. For the sake of the people. This much shame is nothing.”

Rubera glanced back at Amelia saying that for a moment, and then as she was about to move forward again with a difficult face.

Rubera and Amelia immediately hide in the shadows of the hallway when they see the door right in front of them opening with a clatter!

Holding their breath, two women walk out of the room.

Surprisingly, both of them were succubi.

`As expected, if succubi are used as employees, then it will be a luxury brothel.`

Rubera narrows her eyes and observes the two women from the shadows using a hand mirror.

“Good job~ How much did you get?”

“Hmm- maybe 5 times. Even if I use drugs, this much is not much.”

“I was 3 times, so is it 8 times in total~ Certainly. They have to give us about 10 times~”

The succubi’s conversation tells the number of acts, not money.

And they were each holding the arms and legs of the men they had dealt with so far.

`…That’s a customer…. They don’t look like nobles at all. Rather, they are vagrants wandering the back alleys….`

The man Rubera saw had dirty beards and hair, and his body was thinly emaciated.

He didn’t look unclean because he would have washed his body before engaging in acts at the brothel.

There was no life felt in his drooping body at all.

“Aah~aa~ I didn’t feel very good, but is it additional labor~ Do we really have to take them to the basement?”

“Hmm…. He’s already fainted, so should we just do it here?”

They exchanged meaningless words like `Should we? Should we do it?` with each other.

A suspicious pink magic dwells on the finger of one of them.

`…What are they-`

If Rubera watches that scene for a while while thinking that –

She was momentarily unable to close her mouth at the phenomenon that seemed to take her breath away.

The magic power that the succubus displayed on her finger touches the man’s abdomen, leaving patterns as her finger moves.

If a light purple seal resembling a heart is engraved on his body.

The man suddenly regains consciousness and makes painful noises like `cough, kaak…` and struggles like a fish lifted onto land.

And then, his body gradually shrinks.

His rough skin regains its radiance as if regaining lost years.

His formerly thin but masculine arms and legs become thinner.

The beard, muscles, and male genitalia disappear.

Feminine breasts swell on his chest, and buttocks to seduce men.

And instead of the groin, female genitalia are created.

And finally, his face becomes completely female – a rather beautiful face.

His hair grows long, extending to about the length of his waist.

`A man… into a woman?`

This is different from the illusion magic used by Kleon before or the application of Polymorph.

That is literally a spell that turns a man into a woman.

She has never heard that succubi are capable of such a thing.

“This is amazing every time I see it. Humans have developed such magic.”

“Well, we actually don’t need this kind of magic because we prefer more men than women….”

The two succubi say that and take the human who has completely turned into a woman and disappear into the darkness.

Rubera watches the sight, forgetting to even breathe for a moment, and turns her head to Amelia, who was behind her.

“…It seems like a lot more is happening than I thought.”

“…Yes. To think that they are even using magic to change the gender of humans…. But when that magic was activated just now, I felt a strong connection between someone inside the building and the magic power.”

Amelia gets up and looks around. There were no other succubi around.

“Then, let’s go without delay.”

Rubera also gets up from her seat following such Amelia, and walks following her guidance.

She was more anxious than fearful about what kind of human the mistress of this succubus’ lair would be.

003

Eventually, they succeeded in reaching the innermost room of the brothel without encountering any other succubi.

Standing in front of the huge and lavishly decorated door, the two could not help but frown at the sweet scent mixed with miasma emanating from the inside.

And the thick and sticky flow of magic that made their bodies tingle just as much.

Amelia must have had a hard time enduring the concentration of magic power, so she uses her pendant in advance to transform as before.

Then, she becomes a holy warrior wrapped in white armor once again, holding a hammer in her hand.

“Let’s go in. The existence that the succubi called `older sister` must be here.”

Amelia nods at Rubera’s words, and she swings the hammer she is holding at the door.

Then –

What is seen beyond the door that is smashed with a tremendous noise is a woman with red hair and brown skin wearing glasses, sitting on a sofa and reviewing documents while smoking a water pipe.

She is wearing a rough shirt and blue tight-fitting skinny jeans.

Thanks to this, her body line was greatly revealed, and her voluptuous figure was clearly visible.

Her ears were a little pointed compared to humans, and it could be seen that she had small horns on her head.

Despite the sudden smashing of the door, she takes a big puff of the cigarette she was holding without being flustered at all.

She smiles faintly and turns only her eyes to look at the two.

“Hello. Little ladies.”

A fascinating low-pitched husky voice flowed from her.

“…A demon…? Could it be that the entire Astaroth is a group of succubi?”

At Rubera’s muttering, the woman claps her hands lightly and spreads her arms.

It was as if she was welcoming the two.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not a demon. Well, I’m half demon.”

“I guess I can think of you as the boss of Astaroth?”

This time, she nods at Amelia’s question and puts her hand on her chest.

“Astaroth’s big sister… As the little lady said, I’m Ishtar, the leader of this organization. I’ve been watching you fight outside a little. You’re very skilled, aren’t you?”

Ishtar, who introduced herself, did not move from her seat, but crossed one foot over the other on one knee and did not erase the smile from her face.

“Sending my younger sisters wouldn’t be able to beat you two, so I told them not to interfere with you coming all the way here. But even so, it’s amazing that you walked through this building full of yin energy. That is, within the category of `human`.”

She adjusts her glasses and leans back on the sofa and continues her story.

“As a reward for coming this far, I’ll answer one question each for both of you. Of course, without lying.”

Rubera and Amelia’s eyes meet, and silence flows for a moment.

It was Rubera who opened her mouth and asked the question first.

“Where is the Black Magic Clan?”

“Ah. Did the lady come to find her clan? They are in our secret hideout. How should I say it… The Black Magic Clan is a bit special. In many ways.”

Rubera is swept by the urge to immediately pull out the magic sword Barysada and strike her neck at Ishtar’s question as if teasing her.

First, she exerts patience so that Amelia can ask a question.

“What… are you? A succubus yet also human…. Two beings mixed together….”

“Just as you said. I’m a half-blood between a succubus and a human.”

At Ishtar’s answer as if it were natural, Rubera shakes her head and denies her answer.

“Nonsense. Only succubi are born between succubi and humans.”

Ishtar said `That’s true if it’s normal` to Rubera’s assertion, but she did not deny her words.

“But I was actually born as a half-blood between the two. Maybe it’s because my father and mother weren’t ordinary people. Anyway, is that the question? Isn’t it?”

“…Kh. What on earth are you planning to do by summoning the Great Demon with the Advent Ritual….”

Amelia asks again, feeling resentment at Ishtar’s words and actions as if she knew Amelia’s heart.

“It’s simple, to spread more pleasant things in the world. The empire is gone, so everyone in the kingdom is spending boring days, right? It’s time for stimulation and spice.”

“That’s such a trivial goal of a small villain that I can’t even speak.”

Rubera covers her mouth with a nauseated expression, as if she was dumbfounded.

Ishtar continued the story as if Rubera’s reaction was interesting.

“And, to awaken the `Demiurge Factor`. That’s all.”

“Ugh!?”

It was Amelia who reacted to those words.

Amelia has a look on her face as if she heard something she shouldn’t have heard and grips her hammer tightly.

“Wh, why. How do you know that name?”

“Because I’m a demon’s daughter. I know more about demons than humans.”

Amelia meets Rubera’s eyes, and in those eyes, she could only see the will to somehow deal with this woman.

Rubera also reads Amelia’s will and immediately uses the magic sword’s ability to strike Ishtar’s vitals.

The next moment, Rubera’s sword pierces her heart.

Amelia’s hammer crushes the woman’s body.

Because it is purified and annihilated by sacred magic from the part that touches it, blood does not splatter.

[Rubera! Be careful!]

However, Rubera clicks her tongue at the warning of the Barysada that follows immediately and moves her body to fend off something flying at her.

`An illusion…!`

“This is a succubus’s lair, how can you dismiss everything you see as an illusion?”

Something rushes towards Rubera’s heart, making a sound that tears through the air.

She was a little late in realizing that the sign of the first attack was a feint, leading to a fatal wound.

But it was Amelia who blocked it.

She stands in front of Rubera and spreads a defensive magic with her hand, blocking the opponent’s attack.

However, the magic wedge, which was more powerful than she had imagined, broke through the defensive magic and was stuck in Amelia’s shoulder.

It is a shallow wound, but definite blood spurts out.

“Kh, ugh…!”

“Amelia!”

Rubera swings her sword greatly, clearing away the illusionary smoke that surrounds them, and rushes towards Ishtar, who reveals herself as she is.

Ishtar tries to retrieve the spear-like tail that extended from herself from Amelia.

Amelia endures the pain and grabs it to prevent Ishtar from escaping.

“Haaat!”

The next moment Rubera’s sword was about to cut off Ishtar’s neck.

“Sleep.”

Another voice rang out from behind Ishtar.

Then, Amelia and Rubera simultaneously stagger from the sudden oncoming drowsiness.

Standing behind Ishtar is a succubus with black hair and black eyes who looks younger than Amelia.

She looks at the two with emotionless eyes.

“Yo, u…”

Rubera says those words and falls to her seat, and soon Amelia also falls asleep on the spot as if collapsing.

But at the same time, a powerful sacred magic barrier unfolds from Amelia’s body, enveloping Rubera and herself.

Ishtar strokes the area around her neck, which had been swept away by a cold sensation, and then looks down at Rubera.

“This…. It’s a draw. My body will burn if I touch the little lady’s sacred magic.”

“Wa…it…”

“Hehe. See you next time, ladies.”

Ishtar greets Rubera, who is reaching out her hand, and takes the succubus who helped her and leaves the spot.

Soon, Rubera also completely loses consciousness.

004

After that, when Rubera opened her eyes, she was under a ceiling she had never seen before. The surrounding scenery was a room with a luxurious interior close to pure white.

“Ah, Rubera…”

And when Rubera quickly raises her upper body at the sound of Amelia’s voice coming from the side, Amelia and –

The figure of Duchess Tromeyia sitting with a smile was visible.

“Did you sleep well, Rubera? You were calling someone’s name in your sleep. Kleon…was it…”

“!? …You must have misheard.”

Rubera turned red for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and shook her head.

Then, she met the Duchess’ eyes and a brief awkward silence flowed.

“I have no intention of blaming you. Rather, thank you for helping her by the princess’ side.”

But the Duchess bows her head to Rubera.

“…Duchess, did you know what she was doing?”

“Of course. Before I married into the Tromeyia family, my main family had been a clan in the shadows that worked to support the `Saint Princess` for generations.”

Saint Princess.

Amelia transforms and wields sacred power, a warrior of exorcism that exists in the legend of the royal capital.

The Duchess says that she gathers talented women and forms a private army to support such a princess in the shadows.

“…Astaroth is?”

“When we arrived, there was no one in the brothel. It was thanks to the princess’ barrier that the two of you were safe.”

Rubera clenches her fist with a look of frustration.

In the end, she had not found out where the other members of the Black Magic Clan were.

And that young succubus who put her to sleep…

Looking at Rubera, who was organizing her thoughts, the Duchess opened her mouth.

“But, Rubera. Now that you know about this, you must cooperate with us.”

“Is it about the secret of the Secluded Princess……. …If Amelia also hasn’t given up on tracking Astaroth, I will help. I have a lot to find out from them too.”

At Rubera’s answer, Amelia brightens her face and nods her head.

“Thank you, Rubera! Let’s work hard together for the peace of the royal capital!”

Looking at her holding her hand, Rubera makes a wry smile.

She was ultimately wielding her sword and fighting them according to her own desires, but Amelia seemed happy that even such Rubera could fight together.

“Then let’s go back to our mansion as it is.”

Duchess Tromeyia smiles as if it went well and gets up from her seat.

Then, she presses a button on the wall of the separate room, opening a secret passage.

“Ah…. As expected. You came out through this passage.”

Amelia nods at Rubera’s words.

Suddenly, the bandage wrapped around her shoulder caught her eye.

“…Are you okay? Your wound.”

“Ah! Yes, of course. It wasn’t that deep of a wound either. Thank you for your concern.”

Amelia waves her hand at Rubera’s words and reassures her.

Soon, as Rubera and the Duchess leave the room, Amelia sighs and covers the area around her shoulder with her hand.

Along with a throbbing pain, a light pink magic pattern emitting a faint light.

Was wriggling from under the bandage.

005

“It seems a little difficult to solve this matter with just us.”

In the carriage moving to the Tromeyia family, the Duchess opened her mouth. When Rubera looks at her face.

The Duchess slowly opened her mouth.

“It seems that there are quite a few noble families involved with Astaroth. Now that Marquis Hughes has disappeared, it seems that there are many who are contacting them to seize control of the back alleys.”

“… Dealing with demons is a righteous thing, and you can leave that to Amelia. But borrowing her hands in a fight with humans is.”

The Duchess nods as if she knows at Rubera’s words.

“That’s why I need your power. Rubera. Because you don’t hesitate to cut people down. Like me or the private soldiers under my command.”

“… …”

Rubera realized that she was needed by her, and why she herself was gathering strength.

Behind Amelia’s fight was another fight for Duchess Tromeyia.

A human and human fight that the Saint Princess cannot be forced to participate in, ugly and dirty.

“… … I will charge for all overtime work.”

“Oh my, there is no place where the servants’ salaries are as high as our family’s.”

Rubera sighs and looks out the window.

In the end, she returned to being a servant of a noble, which she hated.

This time, she was under a slightly better master.

Even so, the reason she couldn’t refuse the offer was probably because she felt a bit of sympathy for the girl named Amelia.

Really, it was as if she had been tainted by someone.

Suddenly, she recalls the Duchess’ joke-like words from earlier.

He is probably spending a happy school life surrounded by women who love him at the academy right now.

“…I wonder if I can see him soon.”

She mutters to herself without realizing it, and then looks at the passing scenery.