Trisen Castle
In the garden connecting the Ironclad Knights’ Headquarters and Trisen Main Castle, Gerard, Boga, and Dan, who led the Knights, were clashing with a group. They were female knights of the Magic Knight Corps, wielding cursed weapons.
“Hmph! Ha!”
Gerard, standing at the front line, parried a simultaneous attack from five female knights with his Demonic Sword and swept them all away. Each of their weapons flew far off, piercing the castle wall. The moment they lost their weapons, the female knights collapsed on the spot and lost consciousness.
“Carry away those who have fallen! And don’t forget to tie them up with ropes, just in case! It’s for propriety!”
“Understood! (What on earth is ‘propriety’?)”
Gerard and Dan had fought these female knights several times and discovered a certain pattern. Whether Clive’s Charm Eye’s brainwashing had weakened, or the power of the curse had surpassed it, was a subtle point, but they could defeat the female knights without killing them, simply by making them let go of their cursed weapons. The opponents were all young and beautiful women who had been brainwashed without their consent. Even the knights who had resolved themselves secretly admired these women, and if possible, they didn’t want to kill them. If that were the case, there was only one tactic to employ.
“Everyone! There’s no need to kill them! Just take away the weapons they hold! Then, they will be freed from the curse!”
“Be very careful not to touch the weapons directly! This time, it will be our turn!”
“““Ooh!”””
It was a minor detail that the morale of the Knights was rising.
“Cough, you’re outmatched by sheer strength!?”
“Don’t let your guard down! Their physical abilities are not what they were before! Coordinate with each other!”
However, the skilled Ironclad Knights were struggling against the strength of the female knights, enhanced by the cursed weapons. Not only was their raw power superior, but they were also using higher-tier magic. Their strength was approaching that of Kelvin’s Golem. It seemed their bodies were being manipulated forcibly by the curse, and they showed no signs of fatigue from the battle. Then, another group of female knights began chanting spells from the rear.
“Lord Gerard!”
“Indeed!”
Magic was unleashed upon the stalemated front line. It was a fireball equivalent to an A-Rank. Before the magic could be cast, the two old veterans ran out, breaking, crushing, and destroying the cursed weapons held by the female knights in the magic’s path.
““Haa!””
Wielding the black Demonic Sword and the white Sacred Sword, the two moved with synchronized coordination like comrades who had fought together for many years, cutting down the magic. The flames scattered, and the magic particles were absorbed by Dainsleif, which Gerard held, while Chalice, the Great Sacred Sword, shone white and healed Dan.
“Fully recovered!”
“Good, let’s move on!”
The A-Rank Red Magic, cast for offense, had paradoxically made the two stronger and more energetic. Although they were starting to push the front line forward with the two of them as the focal point, the Magic Knight Corps seemed to have committed their entire army to this location, and the inability to kill was causing them to take time due to their sheer numbers.
“There’s no other way. Boga!”
“Gooar. *inhales*…”
Boga nodded at Gerard’s command and began to inflate its belly, sucking in air. Boga, utilizing its massive body and toughness, played the role of clearing a path into the enemy ranks alongside Gerard and Dan. In other words, it was in the very center of the enemy. Boga, defenseless in its current state, was protected by the ironclad guards of the two knights, preventing the enemy from approaching.
“Is it about time… Everyone, cover your ears! The breath is coming!” Gerard shouted. Immediately after, Boga’s wide mouth opened.
“…GURURUUAAAAA!!!”
What Boga unleashed was a sonic breath amplified by its voice. The intense sound waves attacking in all directions impacted the bodies of those who heard them, hindering their movements.
“N-Now’s our chance, all forces, ch-charge…!”
“““O-Ooh…”””
“Goa goa.”
The enemy, and the allies… Nevertheless, thanks to the prior warning, they were better off than the female knights who took the direct hit. The Ironclad Knights exploited this opening to destroy their weapons. However, they couldn’t destroy them all, and those farther from Boga began to revive.
“…Hmm, there are still quite a few. If I were to cut, it would be one thing, but to aim only for their weapons… Hey, can I just cut them?”
“““Lord Gerard, please be lenient!”””
“What’s with this unity…”
“However, we can’t afford to waste any more time… Hmm?”
Just as the Knights were grappling with Gerard, a change occurred in the movements of the female knights, or more precisely, in the cursed weapons they held. The weapons detached from their wielders’ hands and began to float in mid-air. Freed from the curse, the Magic Knight Corps lost consciousness and fell one after another.
“They’re retreating…?”
Someone muttered upon seeing various types of weapons flying towards the Main Castle all at once. Like moths drawn to a flame, their movements were unwavering. Furthermore, an unusual pressure was emanating from the part of the castle where the weapons were heading.
“Gah!? This fierce, dark killing intent emanating from the Main Castle, is it the awakening of the Demon King!? What is this, the King after all… Lord Gerard, Boga, I’m heading to the Main Castle now. Forgive me, but could you lend me your strength?”
“U, indeed. Of course.”
“You all, restrain the Magic Knight Corps while you have the chance. The battalion commander is—”
As Dan gave instructions to his subordinates, Gerard had some thoughts. It was about the killing intent from earlier.
(This killing intent… Sera is really pissed off… She’s not even responding to telepathy. Sera, what are you doing? I’m sure she’s noticed, but I should contact the King and the Princess too.)
“Guruu…”
Boga whimpered uneasily.
“What, don’t worry, Sera will be fine. Rather, you should worry about the others. Really.”
Trisen Castle – Venue
The once magnificent banquet hall was in ruins, half destroyed. An entire wall leading outside had vanished, and all the chandeliers had been knocked to the ground. The marble floor was cracked, on the verge of collapsing. On that floor, the monster that was Clive knelt. Weapons that had been stored in his inexhaustible body were impaled in his blackened form, and dark blood continued to flow.
“That’s the 113th. How many more are there?”
Sera hovered in mid-air, looking down at Clive. Around Sera floated countless weapons—each of which had originally come from Clive’s body. Sera’s pupils were dyed crimson. This was a characteristic of a demon enraged, but Sera was enveloped in magic power that radiated a similar color. The S-Rank Black Magic, Demon Fist Crimson Battle Rage.
Since activating this magic, Sera had been overwhelming Clive. The cursed weapons couldn’t harm Sera and were instead controlled. If struck, the point of contact would be controlled. Whether attacking or defending, both actions led directly to Sera’s control. Clive had already had his right arm controlled three times, his left arm twice, and his legs once. Each time, he had to sever the limb and form a new one. His regeneration was not unlimited either, and his HP was being ground away by the attacks from all eight directions by the stolen weapons.
“Army of the Underworld that bathes in blood.”
A mass of flesh, submerged in a sea of blood, expanded, solidified, and formed a human shape. This sea of blood belonged to the guests who were at the party venue, and it also contained the blood that flowed down Sera’s cheek. Sera’s blood, mixed with others, assimilated, transforming everything into the same substance, and eventually, all of it became Sera’s. Clive now realized this, but at the cost of losing both his legs.
“There are 8 that have been formed… Aren’t you a bit of a bully? You could only make this many.”
Sera handed weapons to the blood-colored skeletons. Dragging the cursed weapons, the demon servants approached Clive.
