episode_0091

Marianne.

Ranked 2nd among the demons. The strongest swordmaster in the demon realm.

She drew her sword in a forest clearing. An old longsword. It was a blade she had picked up from the ground as a child.

“You’re fighting with that sword?” “Yes.” “Don’t you have a better one?” “No.” “Wait… You do have a better sword, don’t you? You could use that cursed sword the Demon King treasures…”

“Ah… That one…” “?” “If I use it, the Demon King might sense it… The cursed sword resonates with demonic energy… or something like that. It could wake him up… So it’s better not to use it now.”

At their current strength, the hero party could easily defeat the Demon King even if he awakened prematurely. They could topple even a fully powered Demon King without breaking a sweat.

With Lia, the strongest hero in history, leading them— But.

If the Demon King awoke now… complications would arise. The plan to gather the entire hero party and create the ultimate harem might unravel.

‘That wouldn’t be good.’

So. Better not use the cursed sword.

“Then what about another sword? Don’t you have anything else?” “No.”

All I had was this single old longsword. With just this blade, I crushed every demon in my path and became the strongest swordmaster in the demon realm. So.

There was no need to search for another. ‘This one was enough.’

No— In truth, this was better. If I wielded a sharper, stronger sword, I might end up killing demons.

‘Back then, I never intended to kill any.’

What I wanted wasn’t slaughter— It was to befriend them. So.

A sword just strong enough to drive off troublemakers was all I needed. I didn’t need lethal sharpness.

…Or so I thought.

In the end, I slaughtered them all and fled as an enemy of the Demon King’s army. I didn’t have to cling to this old blade. I could’ve sought a better one.

…But.

Life on the ranch was too comfortable—I just lazed around.

“So you never replaced it?” “Yes…” “Sigh… If you’d said something earlier, I would’ve bought you a proper sword from the blacksmith…”

Lady Alice glanced toward the distant city. But we were too far out.

Fighting near the walls risked destroying them— And exposing her as a demon. That’s why we’d come all the way out here, where we could cut loose without collateral damage.

Now heading back would be troublesome. No choice.

“Let’s fight like this.” “You sure?” “Yes.” “Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because your sword’s weak.” “I don’t care.”

I steadied my stance, flooding the blade with demonic energy. Crackle!

The rusted steel, long dulled, darkened— Gaps in the jagged edge filled with black energy, sharpening it anew.

Black Reinforcement (黑色強化)

This was my innate magic. A unique spell only I could wield— The power that made me the strongest.

With it active, I lunged forth. Ting!!!

Steel met steel. The instant they clashed—

Screeeeech!

Lady Alice’s blade emanated frost, spreading icy petals— “Tricks like that won’t work on me.” Crackle!

At my touch, the petals blackened—then shot forth like blades. “Ghk!…”

A darkened shard grazed Lady Alice’s cheek by a hair’s breadth. Only because she twisted away— A direct hit would’ve ended the fight instantly.

“Wow… Not bad.” “You think so?” “Most drop the second my frost touches them. You’re different.” “This much is standard.” “Really?” “Yes. And I can go even further—”

I unfurled my wings. My tail whipped free. Horns sprouted as I fully awakened my demonic form.

My physical abilities surged to their peak— All seals on my demonic energy released. With speed beyond my earlier limits, I struck.

Ting! Ting! Tidididing!

A blinding flurry of darkened steel. I pressed forward, overwhelming with sheer velocity.

“Wow… So this is the demon realm’s strongest swordmaster?… Impressive.” “You too, Lady Alice.”

She was the first to parry my strikes so effortlessly. Other demons couldn’t even react— Even the Four Heavenly Kings barely managed desperate blocks.

The Demon King was no different.

But. This world had magic.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Opponents like Lady Alice wielded spells mid-combat! “Agh!” “Opening spotted!”

An ice blade disrupted my balance. Seizing the moment, Lady Alice lunged for the gap she’d created.

Yes. This was how others fought me.

Magic to destabilize— Exploit the slightest lapse.

I’d faced it so often, it was tedious. ‘If I fell for that, I wouldn’t be ranked 2nd.’

Thud! Gripping my sword tightly, I spoke:

“Lady Alice.” “?” “Demons have tails.”

Plunge!

I anchored my tail into the ground— Using it as a pivot, I spun, slashing upward at blinding speed. Ting!!!

“Ghk!…” “Follow-up kick!”

Thwack! “Oof!…”

Lady Alice hurtled backward from the impact. “That’s the power of a tail.”

A weapon humans lacked— But demons wielded with lethal grace.

Tail. Horns. Wings. Mastering them created unpredictability.

…Yet.

Most demons refused such tactics. ‘Using your tail in combat is undignified.’

Pathetic nonsense. Those who tormented others for pleasure—preaching about dignity? Bullies who fled when challenged—what did they know?

If the words came from someone honorable, maybe— But they spilled from the least dignified mouths. ‘Truth is—they can’t use theirs.’

Demons scarcely bother learning deliberate tail control. No— They’re a race that never trains.

Born powerful— They laze through life, slaves to whims.

I, however— Forged my strength through relentless training.

That was the difference. Daily swordsmanship. Relentless conditioning.

No shortcuts—no Demon King’s Stones or condensed energy. Just sweat and perseverance.

Yet. The succubi tried stealing that power for their own.

‘Ugh… Still pisses me off…’

Regardless— This strength was mine. Built through endless drills and real combat.

And now— I channeled it into a single kick.

‘Normally, this would end it.’ Most opponents crumpled after one hit.

But. Lady Alice was different.

“Hah… Got some kick, huh?” “You’re still conscious?… Impressive…”

She’d shielded her abdomen with an ice barrier.

“……”

And counterattacked. Creeeeak!

The leg that struck her began freezing— Crackle!

Black sparks devoured the ice, crumbling it away. Clatter…

“Wow… Nobody’s ever resisted Snowbloom like that… You’re seriously strong.” “Ranked 2nd for a reason.” “Another round?” “Anytime.”

She charged again, blade flashing— But nothing had changed.

The same relentless assault.

‘This would crush most foes.’ But not me.

My strength surpassed hers. My sword moved faster.

…Or so I thought, pressing my advantage— “Ah!…”

Overwhelmed, Lady Alice stumbled off-balance. ‘Now’s my chance.’

A single strike now would seal my victory. ‘She’ll get hurt… but—!’

Winning meant a feast promised by Lady Serene herself— Praised by the Goddess of Light. No way I’d lose.

But as I swung— Ting!

Lady Alice, mid-fall, blocked.

And— Thwack!

Kicked my jaw with her heel. ‘How?!’

Blocking mid-fall? And countering? Possible for a tailed demon— But Lady Alice was human!

…Then I saw it. ‘A tail?!’

She’d mimicked me—anchoring an ice tail into the ground to pivot. ‘She crafted one from magic?!’

Humans lack tails— But ice could forge anything.

She’d copied my battle style. “This is a pretty solid technique.” “Wow… To replicate it instantly… Incredible.” “Added some tweaks too.” “Tweaks?” “Like this—”

Lady Alice swung—

“Huh?!”

I braced—yet her sword halted mid-air. Released.

Then— An icy hand sprouted from her arm, snatching the blade mid-flight.

“Gh—!”

The strike came from an impossible angle— But I barely dodged.

Black Reinforcement. My abdomen darkened, deflecting the slash.

‘Blocked… but—’ The impact still burned.

No time to grimace— Lady Alice was already closing in.

Gritting my teeth, I swung— Ting!!!

“Wha—?!”

She’d blocked with an ice horn. “Thanks for the lesson.”

Smiling brightly, she pressed the attack.

No way— Even demons don’t fight like this! What idiot blocks with their head?! One misstep—instant death!!

…I wanted to scream.

But her flawless counter left no room for protest. Failure would’ve been idiocy— But she’d succeeded.

So— I transformed further.

Crackle!

My entire body blackened— Armor of pure demonic energy encased me. Ting!!!

“Oh?…” “Going all out now.”

My demonic energy reserves were smaller than most— But while it lasted, my defense neared invincibility. Physical abilities surged—offensive power amplified.

Black Reinforcement — Full Armament (黑色強化 – 完全武裝)

(AI-generated image of Marianne as a succubus.)