We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 1021

We live in the Foothills of Dragon Peak.

And into legend.

When the five Shooting Star Samma, including Lady Isabel, arrived at the Dragon King’s Capital. Everyone was speechless at the bizarre sight reflected in their eyes.

“Yes. I get it!”

Because, in front of the splendid mansion standing at the center of the capital, I was forced to perform seiza!

But please, do not worry. This is a commonplace sight for the Ys Family.

“No, that’s not it. I’m merely speechless at your overbearing behavior.”

“Why is a Demon Lord here!?”

“Elnea, reflect on your actions. And, explain yourself properly.”

“Even you, Mistral!”

“Hahahaha. Lord Elnea. I missed you.”

“Laira, it’s been a while!”

“Elnea? R-e-f-l-e-c-t?”

“Mistral! Let’s put away that dangerous thing in your right hand!”

I straightened myself and performed seiza.

If I didn’t, Sleigsta’s crushing, jet-black one-handed club would descend upon my head like a shooting star!

“So? Tell me the circumstances in an amusing way. If it’s a story that kills the mood, I will kill all of those bound behind you.”

The Demon Lord directed merciless killing intent towards me, who was performing seiza, from behind.

Indeed. The reason the Shooting Stars were speechless was not my seiza, but rather the shocking scene of those bound and suspended in the air behind me that had taken their breath away.

Ideally, I would have liked to rush to restore the Shooting Stars’ sanity. But if I didn’t comply with the Demon Lord’s request, it seemed like it would truly start raining blood, so first, I recounted all the events.

“Yes. That was when we rushed to the Dragon King’s Capital.”

I spoke, met with a sigh from Mistral, to the worry of Laira, and to the bitter smiles of Sefina and Madrine.

We fought an assassin named Jumey of the Red Ogre Race and the Puppet King in the Dragon King’s Capital.

However, the two were not in collusion.

I had assumed the Puppet King had hired the assassin to target Meduria and my life. But it seems the Puppet King interfered with us separately.

Putting that aside for now.

We fought a fierce battle in the lord’s mansion’s study.

But in the end, we emerged victorious.

What kind of technique Jumey used to appear before us in an instant, or to erase their presence, is still unknown.

But no matter how skilled one is at hiding and evading, it would not work against us. Because we ourselves are the true masters of tag and hide-and-seek!

If you’re going to hide and evade, why not intentionally create an opening, leap into their embrace, and then capture them? With this basic principle of tag, I captured Jumey and relentlessly unleashed my dragon arts.

I infused the magic power of the Demon Lord, in the jewel embedded in the hilt of my white sword, into the dragon energy great scythe that I had prepared just in case.

However, as expected of a high-ranking demon.

Even with a single blow, and without using the Dragon Sword Dance, the dragon art from the great scythe could not take their life.

Nevertheless, we incapacitated Jumey and bound them using a thousand-handed spider’s thread that absolutely could not be broken.

Incidentally, after witnessing our battle, the Puppet King laughed, made the magic thread disappear, and their voice could no longer be heard.

“Young Lady Elin. You’ve attracted the attention of a troublesome individual.”

“Hmm hmm. The Puppet King is Young Lady Elin. I’ve noted that. Why did they interfere with us?”

“That one is also of the Primogenitor Race. They act as they please. It is likely that this time you were chosen as a playmate.”

“How bothersome!”

Well, that’s how demons and the Primogenitor Race are.

I know.

“So, continue your story.”

“Yes, sir!”

We captured a heavily wounded Jumey. Now, they could not cause any more trouble.

Therefore, I would put my words into action.

That’s right. I would never forgive anyone who attacked my family or companions!

There was no employer for Jumey.

It seems Jumey, acting on the collective will of the Red Ogre Race and personally disliking me, a human, for gaining prominence in the Demon Race’s Country, targeted my life.

Thus, I would destroy the enemy Red Ogre Race. If that meant my family and companions could live in safety, I would show no mercy.

“But! When I thought about it carefully, we don’t know where the Red Ogre Race lives! Also, Sefina pointed it out, you know? Just like the Black Ogre Race, if individuals live in separate places, it would take a very long time to eradicate the Red Ogre Race!”

“You hadn’t considered such a basic point?”

“Ugh…”

Because the Beast race lived together as one species. I thought that was normal, and I applied it to the demons as a matter of course.

But, as Sefina said.

With the Black Ogre Race, there were those serving the Sage Demon Lord, and those serving the Fairy Demon Lord.

Therefore, perhaps the Red Ogre Race also had various regions where they lived separately and carried out assassinations across a wide area.

My oversight was, in fact, a significant problem.

However, we were fortunate.

The Red Ogre Race’s assassination business is widely known among demons.

Superb assassination techniques. A flawless track record. The assassin’s attire, which should ideally only appear to those whose lives are targeted, why is it famous?

It’s because the Red Ogre Race proudly displays their existence.

And once the Red Ogre Race establishes a solid position within the Demon Race’s Country, customers will naturally come to them.

Is that why? The location of the Red Ogre Race’s settlement is well-known, and the clan is said to live there together.

“We asked the Black Winged Demon Race for the location of the Red Ogre Race’s settlement, and we went there!”

The Red Ogre Race’s settlement was in the territory controlled by a Demon Lord known as the “Verdant Demon Lord.”

But, we, who are not immersed in the Demon Race’s society, do not know anyone’s territory!

Riding on Nimia, we stormed in without question.

“I threatened Jumey with bringing a large horde of dragons, but realistically, I can’t mobilize the Dragon Peak Alliance for a personal matter, can I?”

“No, if you called out to them, the dragons would have eagerly joined. However, I will say it’s good that you showed restraint. So, what about you who launched a surprise attack on the Red Ogre Race’s settlement?”

“Yes. We annihilated them!”

We showed no mercy to those who dared to lay a hand on us. To demonstrate this to the demons, I annihilated the Red Ogre Race without holding back!

“…And so, you used a great summoning, didn’t you?”

“Oh? Mistral, why do you know?”

“Know? How could I not? Teruru told me what happened, and that’s why we’ve rushed here to the Dragon King’s Capital, isn’t it?”

“Is that so!”

Yes! I performed a great summoning!

Rather than myself rampaging, it would leave a stronger impression and shock on the demons if I summoned Teruru, the legendary magic beast, the Thousand-Handed Spider, who is far more feared than I am, to run wild!

“Lord Elnea’s infamy will also spread by greatly summoning Teruru-chan.”

“Yes, yes, that’s the plan! If you don’t want to fight, you have to show a power difference so overwhelming that the opponent doesn’t even want to fight, right? Grandpa also said so.”

And so, I nodded to Teruru-chan, whose eight eyes glittered from the depths of the void, as she tore through the sky of the Dragon King’s Capital.

“But well. If I really killed them all, I might truly be called a Demon Lord, so I restrained myself on that point, you see?”

And finally, I turned my gaze behind me.

Those suspended by threads from the rift in the sky, torn apart by Teruru-chan.

These were the members of the Red Ogre Race.

The Red Ogre Race trembled in fear. Some had even lost consciousness from despair.

They looked at Teruru-chan hovering above. They looked at the Giant Demon Lord. And then, they looked at me.

Yes. That’s good. Frankly, I dislike being feared by anyone, but I can be the villain for everyone’s sake.

So, I want the Red Ogre Race to engrave this deeply in their hearts.

What kind of ending awaits those who dare to lay a hand on me, my family, my kin, or my companions.

And this time, they were fortunate to escape with their lives; they must recognize this fact correctly.

“Now, Teruru-chan. Could you please unravel only the threads binding the elders of the Red Ogre Race?”

“One tough soul.”

With a *shururi*, a single thread was loosened, and an old man who had been bound was freed.

An old Red Ogre, clad in completely black attire.

That attire must have surpassed red and turned black as a result of being stained with the blood of many.

Just looking at it evokes disgust.

How many people do you think the Red Ogre Race has assassinated in the past?

However, the elder of the Red Ogre Race, clad in black attire, trembled even after being freed.

Completely terrified.

As expected, it was good that I didn’t rampage myself. The mere existence of the Thousand-Handed Spider is enough to make high-ranking demons tremble. Seeing me, who summoned and controls that Thousand-Handed Spider at my will, they are terrified to their core.

They realize what kind of opponent they have dared to challenge.

“Now, Elder. First, please tell me your name.”

In response to my question, the elder answered honestly in a trembling voice.

“My name is Gihaku…”

Gihaku stared only at me, trembling violently.

Surely, he’ll lose consciousness the moment he lets his guard down?

Just like many other members of the Red Ogre Race.

Perhaps he is currently trying to maintain consciousness, as their fate has not yet been decided.

“So, Gihaku. I will ask you directly. Do you truly wish for the Red Ogre Race to be exterminated? Or do you wish to survive? A proud assassin, upon being defeated by their target, would likely not hesitate to commit suicide, would they? But, what about it?”

Will they truly seek the extinction of their race for the sake of pride?

Even the Red Ogre Race has those who cannot fight, young and old, men and women. Would they protect their pride at the cost of such lives?

As an outsider, not part of the demon race, I cannot know.

So, I decided to ask honestly.

If Gihaku would calmly wish for extermination…

Although Teruru-chan rampaged through the Red Ogre Race’s settlement, she did not consume a single soul.

It was because I had asked her to. To restrain everyone without killing them.

But now.

The Red Ogre Race faces their fate anew.

“You need not take action. If you desire death, I shall exterminate them for you.”

The Demon Lord looked at the Red Ogre Race with cold eyes.

An unparalleled killing intent, never directed at us, emanated from him.

This is the Demon Lord.

I enlisted the help of Teruru-chan, but the Giant Demon Lord subjugates his opponents with his killing intent alone.

The Demon Lord spoke.

“The Dragon King’s Capital belongs to Elnea. However, the Lord is my subordinate. I cannot overlook an attack on my subordinate.”

Right.

Meduria, the Ten Clans, and indeed all the inhabitants of the Dragon King’s Capital are, strictly speaking, citizens of the Giant Demon Lord’s country.

The Red Ogre Race attacked those citizens.

“So, was the role you assigned to Ruilala before departing…?”

“If those who are disregarded are killed, it’s such a common occurrence that it’s left as is. But, the Lord of this capital is different. If they are someone you care about, then they are also someone I care about. To attack them is equivalent to directing hostility towards me. Therefore, Ruilala was dispatched to kill everyone involved, including the mastermind. And you preempted that. *Kukuku*, as expected, you are amusing.”

“Is… that amusing…?”

At the Demon Lord’s words, Gihaku’s eyes widened, and he trembled.

He probably hadn’t thought that far ahead.

On the outskirts of the territory ruled by the Giant Demon Lord, there exists a city whose dominion is held by mere humans. The Lord is said to be a demon, but a mid-tier demon.

That was likely their perception.

Of course, as top-tier assassins, they must have conducted thorough investigations and meticulous planning.

But they failed to foresee it. They failed to foresee that the Giant Demon Lord existed behind us.

Even with the direct protection of the Black Winged Demon Race, they likely never imagined that attacking the Lord of the Dragon King’s Capital would escalate to an act of aggression against the Giant Demon Lord.

To that extent, in the Demon Race’s Country, those in power are routinely targeted, and weaklings who are struck down by someone cannot exist above the strong.

Gihaku finally grasped the true meaning of the foolish mistake the Red Ogre Race had made. And so, he trembled.

However, merely trembling will not advance the conversation. If it were me, I might wait for them to regain their composure, but the Demon Lord would not permit that.

“Of course. If you cannot make a decision quickly, I will exterminate you as a worthless race.”

No matter how infamous they were as assassins, it meant nothing before the Oldest Demon Lord.

Gihaku, perhaps aware of this, tried to speak with trembling lips. But, due to extreme fear, he could not even utter a proper sound. The Demon Lord watched him, a truly demonic smile gracing his lips.

Yes. He is enjoying this situation.

Ruilala also smiled slyly behind the Demon Lord.

Surely, if Gihaku decided to uphold the pride of the Red Ogre Race until the end, they would begin the massacre at that very moment. This aspect is truly demonic, and truly the work of a Demon Lord.

The Shooting Stars, too, were lost for words at the overly tense situation and could only stare blankly.

From their original standpoint, perhaps they should have shielded those about to be massacred, but…

Who knows?

Lady Isabel and the others still retained their human common sense. Could they shield demons?

Furthermore, a race of assassins. Could they make a judgment to shield those who have committed sins?

As I observed the situation while contemplating various thoughts, Gihaku finally managed to muster enough strength to speak.

“I, humbly surrender… We, the Red Ogre Race, prostrate ourselves here and vow never to raise our hands against His Majesty again. Therefore, please spare only the women and children…”

Should I call it “decisive”?

Gihaku and the adult Red Ogre Race showed their resolve to accept death as retribution. And with that, they pleaded for mercy for those unable to fight, in exchange for their own lives.

In response to Gihaku’s words, the Demon Lord shifted his gaze from the Red Ogre Race to me.

“What do you intend to do? Gihaku says that, but you are also a victim. If you wish it, Gihaku’s words will be meaningless.”

At the Demon Lord’s words, not me, but Gihaku and the bound Red Ogre Race gasped.

They must have thought that the Giant Demon Lord, the ruler of the demonic realm, was the one to pass judgment here. Yet, the Demon Lord clearly stated that he would respect my wishes.

That means, in this land, my will surpasses the Demon Lord’s judgment.

I grasped the meaning of the Demon Lord’s words correctly and pondered carefully.

Then, I spoke my conclusion.

“Uh. If I had truly intended to exterminate them, I would have done so when I attacked their settlement. Therefore, if Gihaku begs for his life, I will spare all of the Red Ogre Race.”

However, I glared at Gihaku with a serious expression.

“Sins must be atoned for. That is my belief, you see? Therefore,”

This time, I looked at the Demon Lord.

“It feels bad to keep relying on the Black Winged Demon Race to protect the Dragon King’s Capital indefinitely. How about this: the Red Ogre Race will abandon their assassination profession from now on and take on the role of protecting the Dragon King’s Capital? Ah, and regarding the matter of me destroying the Red Ogre Race’s settlement, which is my sin, I will atone for it by granting them residency in the Dragon King’s Capital!”

I tilted my head and asked the Demon Lord, “What do you think?” He chuckled delightfully, a rumbling sound from his throat.

“Very well. An interesting decision. This land is yours to command. Do as you please.”

And so, the Red Ogre Race’s new profession was decided.

I will have them do their best to serve as protectors of the Dragon King’s Capital!

Click the heart to easily convey your support. (Login required)

Support

If you have an account, log in.

Learn more about the reading experience possible on Kakuyomu.