“Healing Circle”
After finishing the battle with Victor, the entire party was restored. In the end, everyone was fine, but there were many moments that chilled them to the bone. No, to be able to fight and win against a former confidant of the Demon King like this was a great achievement.
“Well, are you still alive?”
The one I addressed was Victor, my opponent from the fierce battle just moments ago. He lay on his back, his artificial arms gone, three holes in his body. In essence, he was in a state of near death.
“Yes… unfortunately, it seems he’s still breathing…”
“Ah, that’s right.”
The fighting spirit he had when we met was gone, and his long life was about to end.
“But, there’s something I want to ask you before you go.”
“…What is it?”
“You weren’t actually planning to eat the Demon King’s daughter, were you?”
I realized this during the battle: Victor was careful not to hit the sealed demon when he attacked. Even if Victor’s demonic attacks hit the seal, he wouldn’t be able to break it without human characteristics, nor could he even touch her. He knew this himself from what he said before the battle.
“Kufufu… you’re quite sharp, aren’t you…”
“Why did you say such a thing? You gained nothing from it.”
“Well, if I didn’t, you wouldn’t have come at me seriously, would you…? Besides, I was entrusted with this by Gustav-sama…”
Victor began to speak slowly.
“My life won’t last much longer… I’ll tell you the gist of it…”
He recounted the tale of the battle between the Hero and the Demon King of the past.
—Demon King Gustav was a tyrant king. Ambitious and having become the king of demons, he spent his days invading other countries and repeating wars. Eventually, people began to call him the Demon King, and a Hero was summoned to carry out his subjugation.
Gustav, though tyrannical and feared even by his subordinates, had one person he trusted: his beloved daughter, Sera. After a life of war and the death of his wife, his doting affection became pronounced. He kept her existence completely secret, known only to his closest aides, never revealing her to the outside world. Sera knew nothing of the world, her conversations limited to a select few demons.
When the human army led by the Hero attacked Gustav’s castle, Gustav was certain of his defeat. The Four Heavenly Kings of Demon had fallen in various locations, leaving only Victor, Sera’s caretaker. Their fighting power was overwhelmingly insufficient. Gustav did not worry about himself or his kingdom, only his daughter’s safety. The Hero was fast approaching. If her existence became known, Sera’s life would be forfeit.
As a last resort, Gustav placed a seal on Sera and confined her in the transfer chamber. The seal would stop her body’s time and lull her into a deep sleep. When Gustav himself died, a transfer magic circle would automatically activate, sending her to a hidden location. Once that was done, the seal’s chains would gain a property that only humans could undo. This was because demons and monsters, like the Hero, had the potential to target her. Therefore, it would be best to set up the seal’s release to be triggered by humans, a race that was weaker overall. Fortunately, Sera, while not as strong as Victor, was skilled among demons. She wouldn’t lose unless her opponent was the Hero.
Before confronting the Hero, Gustav ordered Victor to guard Sera. Victor, intending to fight alongside Gustav, objected. However, the moment he saw Gustav’s face, he could not disobey. The Demon King Gustav, so feared by all, wore a father’s expression he had never seen before. Victor formally accepted the assignment and departed for the hidden location where Sera would likely be transferred.
It was two days later that Victor heard of Demon King Gustav’s defeat at the hands of the Hero. Victor suppressed his bound heart and managed to reach the hidden location without revealing his identity. However, what greeted him was an unopened door deep underground. Like the seal of chains, it was designed to be opened only by humans. The door was cleverly hidden, making it impossible for even an expert adventurer to discover easily. Only if an adventurer happened to visit and open it by chance…
From then on, Victor spent a long time in this hidden refuge. It was a place that simply had a nondescript hut. The underground area would likely never be found. He could have forced humans to break the seal, but that carried the risk of the Hero finding out. So, he decided to wait for an era without Heroes. He would wait for the lifespan of humans, which only lasted a few decades, to pass until they were gone—
“—And then, this era arrived… Wars between countries did occur, but compared to the Demon King, they were child’s play…”
And then, this underground area was discovered as a Dungeon, and the door was opened by a chance adventurer. Victor had planned to devour any strong adventurers who arrived, gain strength, and then disappear with Sera, whose seal he had broken.
“And yet, my plans have been completely ruined…”
Vomiting blood, Victor continued.
“I have one request… Will you please make Sera-sama your ally…?”
“…I don’t mind, but why would you say that?”
“Kufufu… You are strong, and trusted by your allies… Even by monsters…”
He looked at Kuro and Gerard.
“Kuro, maybe, but did you realize Gerard was also a monster?”
“We fought so much… I realized it quickly, you know… Summoner, perhaps?”
I’d been found out.
“Sera-sama has never been outside the castle… If possible, please show her the world…”
“…But will Sera agree to become your subordinate?”
Victor replied with a smirk.
“She absolutely will agree… Sera-sama is very curious… Besides, after that fight… Her consciousness must have awakened from her slumber…”
“She’s awake…?”
“Kufufu… If you break the seal, she will open her eyes immediately… She can hear this conversation as well…”
“…I speak no lies.”
It seemed to be true.
“I have a proposal: are you interested in becoming my subordinate as well? If so, I can heal you?”
“It’s a tempting offer, but my only master is the Demon King… Besides, it seems too late now…”
Victor’s consciousness began to fade.
“Kufu… It’s strange for a demon to ask, but if you feel inclined, please take care of this matter…”
His body lost its strength, and Victor became still. At the same time, a fanfare rang out in my mind.
“Level up, I guess…”
Perhaps due to the level difference, the amount of experience was immense. The fanfare wouldn’t stop. But it felt a little hollow…
“Now, let’s free this Sera.”
“Is that alright? Melfina-sama said she might become a Demon King, didn’t she?”
Efil’s concern was valid.
“Haha, I’m a sentimental man. Sigh, I’m really too soft…”
I touched the seal’s chain. The chain glowed with a pale blue light and shattered the next moment.
“Now, can you hear my voice?”
The red-haired demon slowly opened her eyelids—
“—My father, and Victor, they’re both such idiots!”
—and began to cry.
