Chapter 81
Tfw someone thinks that I censored a word without even considering that it might have been the author… *sigh* Anyways, I was wondering, but maybe Carol's name (the star rabbit tribe chief) has a connection with Lewis Carroll's name… Well, maybe I'm just overthinking it. Thanks for reading~
Author's Note: The second chapter has been released on Young Ace Up-sama!
By all means, please read it. And, I will be happy if you could click "I support it".
After arriving at the demon king's castle, we defeated the gatekeepers, the Orichalc.u.m Golems, and advanced even further.
"I'm happy that I could see Setsuna's growth, but it isn't time to be rejoicing." (Kearuga)
I focus my mind even further.
The problem is that the Orichalc.u.m Golem is a defence that didn't exist in the previous demon king's time.
It would be better to expect enemies and traps that I wouldn't have known of.
I switch my abilities into searching type ones that I gained from【Imitation Heal】and make full use of the knowledge that I saved up.
The effect of that immediately came in.
… Good grief, it should be inconvenient to live in a place like this that's full of traps.
There are so many traps that it's tiring.
I avoided the ones I can avoid, purposely stepped into the ones that can't be avoided to block it, and took time cancelling the ones that were too difficult.
"Kearuga-sama, amazing. You saw through all of the traps." (Setsuna)
Setsuna raises a voice of admiration.
"I guess. I can see most of them, since I'm good at these sorts of things." (Kearuga)
I immediately backstep after stepping into a trap purposely. Countless spears fell from the ceiling.
Bloodstains were on the spears, and they were fresh ones.
You don't hear of people sneaking into the demon king's castle, so this is basically proof of someone destroying himself.
It's understandable. With this many traps set up, your whole body could get caught in it.
I'm starting to see the demon king's personality.
He is extremely cowardly and distrustful.
If not, there's no way he would make his own castle have this many traps.
I saw that kind of personality from how he immediately expelled the close a.s.sociates of the previous demon king when he became the new demon king.
Even if you need to hurry, it still needs to take time.
If you don't properly carry out the transfer of control, the country will fall into chaos. A country is not so simple that it can run without objection after the leader suddenly changes one day.
… In a way, that also means that our strategy this time is also very unreliable.
Ma.s.sacring all the people in the capital city, killing the king, taking over, and then gathering the other people.
With the compelling force as a demon king, the demons should obey without question, but there's no change to the fact that it's dangerous.
The demon king's compelling force can't be activated unless you directly tell them your intention.
You could say that the real thing starts after Eve becomes the demon king.
There will most likely be rebellions and riots happening in various places, and I'm certain that the current demon king's influence will guerilla-fy, fighting against us. Even so, I have no other options apart from this.
"It seems we've finally escaped through this floor." (Kearuga)
Escaping through the trap filled room, we go to a higher floor.
"Kearuga-dono, once we go one floor above, it will be the demon king's room. We need to be patient for just a bit longer."
A person from the iron hog tribe raises an excited voice.
It unexpectedly ended quite quickly.
Even though I thought there would be more difficult enemies.
Probably because I was thinking about that, those guys appeared.
"We won't let you go any further than this."
"Don't think you can defeat us, the elite guards."
The elite guards or whatever gave their name as they appeared.
A human type demon that possesses a lion face. His whole body is covered in fur, and at a glance, he looks powerful.
I see through their power with my【Jade Eye】.
As expected of the demon king's elite guards, each of them are over level 60.
There are hardly any irregulars in this world that have a level limit of sixty.
On top of their levels being in those numbers, they have taken along a lion type monster that possesses a snake tail, an advanced level monster, a Manticore.
Because they were on standby near the demon king, they must have survived the snow of death by using the barrier.
"Kearuga-dono, our job is to escort your group to the demon king
The iron hog tribe raise their voices.
Certainly, they are strong as well, but they fall behind quite far compared to the elite guards. At best, their levels are in the forties, and they haven't taken along any monsters.
It doesn't seem like they have any chance of winning.
"I understand. I'll leave this to you. Don't die." (Kearuga)
However, there was determination in their eyes. I am not so insensitive that I would trample on that determination.
They must have wanted a reason to travel together with us into the demon king's castle.
If they couldn't do anything and just followed us like a shadow, they would be simple baggage. Because they can't forgive that, they decided to prevent the elite guards from leaving.
Considering their spirit, I'll give them a bonus.
"【Transformation Heal】" (Kearuga)
I use【Transformation Heal】on the iron hog tribe.
I can't tamper with other people's statuses, so this time, I removed the limiter on their brain so that they can draw out one hundred percent of their power, and furthermore made their brain secrete excess narcotics so that they won't feel fatigue or pain.
With this, they should be able to put up a proper fight, to some extent.
"Power is overflowing inside of me. This should let us do it."
"I am grateful, Kearuga-dono."
"I don't need any thanks. We're the ones that are going to be attacked from behind if you guys collapse after all." (Kearuga)
Even in this condition, the iron hog tribe will lose if they fight normally.
I'll believe in their power that their levels or statuses don't show.
… Of course, although I am leaving it to them, it's out of the question if we don't breakthrough first. With a signal from my eye, I call my party closer to me. Setsuna receive Eve from the iron hog tribe, and carries her on her shoulder.
Both her hands would be taken up if she carries her in a princess carry, so carrying them like baggage is the most logical method. With that, she can still use one hand.
"We're breaking through!" (Kearuga)
I shout, and charge. Kureha and I are at the lead.
"Do you think we, the elite guards will let you pa"
That was it.
The heads of two elite guards fall in front of my eyes.
Kureha took the left one, and I took the right one.
For us who have become over level 200, this much doesn't even count as a warm up.
It wouldn't be much of a waste to annihilate these guys here, and leaving the iron hog tribe to stop them is just to let them have a highlight scene.
While the guys of the elite guards faltered, our party shot through, and the iron hog tribe turned around, standing in between the elite guards and our party.
Without turning around, I continued running. The demon king's room is just in front of us.
We finally arrived at the demon king's room.
As if inviting us, the gate lock was open.
"Everyone, we're all prepared right?" (Kearuga)
"Nn. Setsuna can go whenever." (Setsuna)
"If I am with Kearuga-sama, I don’t feel like I will lose!" (Freya)
"I wouldn’t have ever imagined that I would fight the demon king in this way." (Kureha)
"I will be rooting for you from the rear, Kearuga-niisama! I will properly watch, and shout if there is anything notable." (Ellen)
Setsuna, Freya, Kureha and Ellen. Everyone is saying reliable things.
Incidentally, Guren is sleeping on top of my head. … This worthless kitsune.
Eve, who is being carried by Setsuna, opens her eyes.
Setsuna tells Eve the current situation.
"How do you feel?" (Kearuga)
"The worst. The world is spinning. But, I'm glad I woke up. I wouldn't want to become the demon king when I wake up." (Eve)
"Do you not think I might lose?" (Kearuga)
"I can't imagine you of all people losing. … Hey, Kearuga. Will you be by my side even after I become the demon king? I forget about it from time to time, but you are more or less a human, and I become scared when I think you might leave once I become a demon king." (Eve)
"There's no way I would do that. I promise you I'll stay close to you. At that time, maybe I could name myself the black knight Kearuga." (Kearuga)
"What are you talking about, that's so weird." (Eve)
Eve laughed.
I open the gate, and walk into the demon king's room.
It's a s.p.a.cious room. Extravagant and impressive. However, it feels somewhat lonely.
Deeper inside the room, there's a throne.
There, one man was sitting on it.
Like the elite guards, he's a demon with a lion face.
He has a big frame that's one size bigger than the elite guards, and their mana is also nothing compared to his mana.
Level 180.
As expected of the demon king. His set of skills are all troublesome as well.
Although we overwhelm him in terms of level, the demon king's skill composition is troublesome.
No matter how excellent his skills and status is… 【Deterioration Heal】should settle our victory it in one blow. There's no need to fear.
That's what my reason says, but my instinct is shouting that it won't go that easily.
In the first world, Eve, who was the demon king, killed Bullet, Blade, and made Freya onto the verge of death.
If I didn't go, the demon king would have won against the heroes.
A demon king is that much of an irregular existence.
There's no way I should look at it optimistically.
That demon king was holding his large build and made himself smaller.
His appearance did not look majestic, but looked awfully lonely.
Probably because he noticed us, he broadly grins and stands up from the throne.
The unreliableness from before disappeared as if it was a lie, and he was full of demon king-like ambition.
"You have come, o heroes. To think the girl from the kokuyoku tribe would come together with the heroes. Even I couldn't imagine it." (Demon King)
"That sort of thing can happen. In the first place, you joined hands with the humans as well." (Kearuga)
I shrug my shoulders.
"Fuhaha, you are an interesting one. Your method of coming here was also interesting. It seems that those d.a.m.n humans call demons and demon kings atrocious. … Even I haven't killed that much, you know?" (Demon King)
He is probably taking about how I destroyed the castle town with the snow of death.
"It seems so. I won't make any excuses. I'll name myself before killing you, as you are more or less the demon king, so I need to pay my respects. I am Kearu, the hero of【Healing】, a healing magician." (Kearuga)
"I am Hakuou of the king beast tribe. The king of kings, a demon king. Now, come, o heroes. Try and kill (save) me!!" (Hakuou)
The demon king roars.
And then, we draw our swords and run towards him.
I will win this fight, make Eve the demon king, and obtain the【Philosopher's Stone】.
TL Note: The manga says becoming an adult is 14 years old…. Well whatever, here's the amazon link of Kaif.u.ku jutsus.h.i.+ volume 2~(it's not out yet though) Kearuga looks so creepy lol.