I dismounted from my horse and walked toward the enemy army. When I reached about halfway, the infantry soldiers raised their weapons and stared at me.
「Halt! Who the hell are you!!」
A well-dressed knight on horseback appeared from behind the infantry.
「Um… I’m the 【Hero】 who was summoned by the church, the one the Saintess mentioned earlier…」
The moment I said that, the knight’s eyes widened and he drew his sword.
「Capture him!!」
「I came here to talk, though…」
「「「「「UOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!」」」」」
The soldiers charged forward, shaking the ground. Hmm… what should I do…
「Can’t be helped… I’ll just neutralize them. 『——Magic Outfit・Marbas』」
I deployed the magic outfit I had not used in a while. Large claws formed on both my hands and feet. I also created a mane of lion-like hair flowing from my head, slightly different from before.
「Hah!」
「Gyah!」
I grabbed the thrusting spear and sent the soldier flying with a palm strike.
「Ha!」
「「「「Gyofu!?」」」」
I tore through the wall of spears with my claws and swept them away with my long extended hair.
「Hah! Toh! Haaaa!!」
I threw them, kicked them up, and sent them flying with shoulder strikes.
「Wh-What is that guy…」
「He doesn’t even have a weapon…」
「Come on, come on, come on!! More! More!!」
I dodged, punched, and hurled them all at once.
「Hiii!?」
「I-It’s a monster!?」
Hearing the word “monster”, I leaped forward and landed right in front of the soldier.
「Monster is pretty harsh… I’m still human, you know?」
I smiled brightly. The soldier’s legs gave out and he collapsed on the spot.
「Stop!? Please don’t kill me…」
「Haa… I’m not going to kill you…」
I said that while dodging incoming attacks and knocking away the other soldiers, carefully holding back so none of them would die.
「Retreat… Retreeeeat!!」
The soldiers desperately fled. For now, I chased down the arrogant-looking knight from earlier and caught him.
「Hiii!? Someone save meee!?」
「Ah, yeah yeah. Calm down.」
I tossed the knight lightly to calm him down, then released my magic outfit and approached. I removed his helmet so our eyes could meet.
「For now, will you listen to what I have to say?」
「Y-Yes…」
「We don’t like pointless killing. It would really help if you surrendered.」
「Th-That’s…」
「I see. Can’t be helped…」
I released my magic power and transformed into my Demon King form.
「Hii!? D-Demon King!?」
「Yeah… so you already know about me. That makes this quick.」
I launched a fireball toward a nearby mountain. A series of massive explosions followed, causing the mountain to collapse.
「Awa… awawawawawa!?」
「Hmm… I might have misjudged the power a bit…」
I glared at him. His eyes filled with tears and he began trembling violently.
「If you surrender right now, I won’t use this on you.」
「Hii…」
「If you understand, then hurry up and go tell the others!!」
I pulled him to his feet and gave his back a push. Still half-crying, he ran back toward his army.
「Haa… I really shouldn’t do things I’m not used to…」
I scratched my head and returned to our camp.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
◇Baldor Side◇
「What the hell… was that…」
Right after I heard the soldiers shouting in front of the castle, the hill exploded…
「Your Majesty! Excuse me!!」
A messenger soldier came running up.
「That explosion just now was caused by the enemy’s Demon King! It was his attack!!」
「What… did you say…?」
The Demon King!? Those useless assassins!!
「They failed me!!」
I slammed my fist on the desk, knocking over the wine.
「And the Demon King has sent a surrender demand…」
「Surrender!? How dare they mock me!!」
「What should we do…? The morale of the entire army is already dropping…」
「I know that!! Damn it all!!」
Think… is there any way to defeat a monster like that…? No… what if I make that little girl come alone?
「Understood. Tell them we need until tomorrow. We will hold the official abdication ceremony tomorrow.」
「U-Understood.」
「Hurry up and go. I’m busy.」
After watching the messenger rush out, I rang the bell.
「You called, Your Majesty?」
「Mix this into the wells. Then make the nobles in the noble district drink it.」
I placed the medicine down and gave the order. If we spread this much, it should at least slow the Demon King down…
「Damn Demon King… I’ll show you…」
Staring at the plain full of large craters, I bit my nails.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
That night, after we had sent the surrender demand, a messenger arrived at our camp.
「Haa… tomorrow, huh… and only the princess alone…」
「Y-Yes! My king said he will personally conduct the abdication ceremony!」
Wow… there’s definitely something behind this…
「Understood. We accept the offer.」
「Yuuki!?」「Yuuki-sama!?」「Yuuki-san!?」「「Demon King-sama!?」」
Everyone reacted with shock. Well, that was expected.
「Understood! My king will be delighted!!」
The messenger turned to run back happily, but I stopped him.
「Yes? Is something wrong?」
「Do you know that your king is the kind of man who easily sacrifices other people’s lives?」
I asked as gently as possible.
「That is…」
「Let me rephrase the question. If it comes down to it, would you be fine with being turned into a monster by that king and attacking the people of the city without distinction?」
After thinking for a moment, he hesitantly looked up.
「No… I don’t want that. My family lives in this city too…」
「I see. 『——Anti-Evil Curse Healing』 This will prevent you from being turned into a monster. Even if they give you something suspicious, make sure not to drink it.」
「Yes… understood.」
With a puzzled expression, the messenger left.
「Now then… I need to explain this…」
I turned back to the still-shocked group behind me.
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