We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Charge! To the Demon Lord’s Castle Next Door!
“What is this?”
“We’ve been invaded by dragons!”
“…!”
Lily, who had infiltrated the middle levels of the Demon Lord’s Castle, wiped out the demons present with her dark breath.
Slightly behind Lily, Revalia also breached the castle walls of the Demon Lord’s Castle, carrying the Demon Lord and everyone else, and invaded.
The wall shattered, and rubble scattered across the spacious room.
It seemed they had invaded one of the main halls. Debris from the outer wall was scattered throughout the large space.
A black carpet covered the floor of the main hall, and the pillars and inner walls were adorned with carvings and decorations.
Seeing the luxurious and elegant interior, surpassing even the human royal castle, made me question for a moment if this was truly the Demon Lord’s Castle.
“Lily, good work.”
“I’m tired—”
The giant Demon Lord descended from Revalia’s back without hesitation.
However, the black-winged demons were engaged with the approaching defending army from outside the Demon Lord’s Castle, and had not yet entered.
Could it be that we have to escort the Demon Lord? Just as I thought that.
A spine-chilling aura emanated from the Demon Lord, and darkness of miasma appeared in the room.
“Fufufu, what a bother, must I truly accompany His Majesty? Fufufufu.”
“Oh dear, what a difficult person you are. Charlotte-sama, as His Majesty’s subordinate, participating in the northern expedition is natural. Or rather, you say you dislike it, but you seem full of motivation?”
“Ruillala, Charlotte-sama is in charge of internal affairs. Originally, it is her duty to oversee the Demon Lord’s Castle and the country while His Majesty is away?”
“I understand what you say, General. But Charlotte-sama is the second strongest after His Majesty, you know? If she’s here, you won’t need an army, will you?”
From the miasma created by the Demon Lord, Ruillala, Charlotte with sideways rolled blonde hair, and a great man with blue skin and four arms, appeared.
“Your Majesty, we have arrived.”
They prostrated themselves before the Demon Lord.
“This is a race against time. Charlotte, seize control of the Demon Lord’s Castle. The rest of you, search for Demon Lord Kusharilla.”
“Understood.”
“Fufufu, Your Majesty. Although we are under the pretext of chasing Lily, how should we explain the subjugation?”
“I came to offer my direct apologies to Kusharilla, but she is nowhere to be seen. Say you counterattacked because you were somehow attacked.”
“That is a very enjoyable excuse. Understood…”
Charlotte narrowed her eyes further and smiled.
She didn’t seem to have any intention of arguing against the Demon Lord’s absurd plan.
She is, after all, a demon. And as a retainer of the giant Demon Lord, it’s only natural that she’s far removed from common sense for us humans.
The three who emerged from the miasma stood up and immediately took action.
Ruillala drew her slender demon sword. The four-armed great man held an axe, a long sword, a spear, and a curved sword in his four hands. Charlotte, complaining that she didn’t want to, took the whip she had wound around her back and cracked it with a sharp sound.
The three instantly annihilated the demons who had rushed into the room they invaded and disappeared into the corridors of the Demon Lord’s Castle.
Then, screams and angry shouts began to echo.
The castle of Demon Lord Kusharilla, the capital of the Demon Race’s Country bordering the northwestern part of Dragon Peak. Are these demons guarding it going to be subdued by just three people?
Perhaps the main forces have advanced to Dragon Peak, leaving the Demon Lord’s Castle understaffed.
The giant Demon Lord may have exploited this and launched a surprise attack.
“So, what should we do here?”
Except for the giant Demon Lord, we were still on Revalia’s and Lily’s backs.
“Hmm. I shall have you work as well. You will face Demon Lord Kusharilla and the Demon General guarding the capital.”
Facing the Demon Lord and a Demon General…
Speaking of Demon Generals, I recall Goldoba, who was secretly active in the Yorttenitos Kingdom. While Goldoba wasn’t as strong as Mistral in individual combat, his immortality made him a formidable opponent.
And this four-armed great man, a vassal of the giant Demon Lord, is also apparently a Demon General, just like Goldoba.
Demon Generals are incredibly strong and tricky opponents, unlike ordinary demons. And the Demon Lord is an even more formidable and terrifying being than them.
They’re telling us to face the Demon Lord and a Demon General all by ourselves.
We all looked at each other, silently shaking our heads to show our refusal.
Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible!
No way, facing the Demon Lord is impossible!
Even Mistral’s face is contorted.
“Pathetic. Let me tell you, if you intend to resolve the disturbance at Dragon Peak, you cannot avoid confronting Kusharilla sooner or later.”
I understand that…
But I also know that we can’t win against an opponent like that by facing them head-on without a plan.
We’ve ended up in Kusharilla’s castle by being manipulated by the giant Demon Lord, but if they tell us to fight now, I can’t think of any strategy.
As we looked at each other, wondering what to do, trouble arrived.
“Giant Demon Lord. What kind of outrage is this?”
The one who appeared alone in the rubble-strewn main hall was a man who looked demonic.
His spider-like head had six glowing blue eyes. His two arms, extending from his hunched, narrow shoulders, were thin and long, and he held a curved-bladed two-handed sickle, like that of a death-bringing demon.
He wore a black robe embroidered with intricate patterns and exuded an extraordinary killing intent.
“How convenient. A Demon General guarding the capital, aren’t you? Offer me your life.”
“Ku ku ku… Hahaha! Surrender to my army. I won’t spare you even if you beg for your life. What a ruthless Demon Lord.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I need a clan that excels at betrayal like yours?”
The giant Demon Lord looked at the sinister Demon General with disgust, as if at something filthy.
“Ku haha! Do you know our clan’s destiny? We cannot let you live. For the fulfillment of our clan’s wish and Your Majesty’s ambition!”
The Demon General, hostility radiating, raised his two-handed sickle against the Demon Lord. However, the giant Demon Lord chuckled disdainfully and turned to us.
“Here, your prey. If you can’t defeat this much, you won’t be able to stop Kusharilla.”
Grrr. He’s really determined to make us do it.
We have no intention of standing by, but we weren’t even mentally prepared.
But we have no choice.
Whether it’s a high-ranking demon or a Demon General, when faced with a situation requiring a fight, we must resolve ourselves.
As I dismounted from Lily’s back, everyone else also silently dismounted from Revalia’s back.
“Dragons, scatter the demons outside.”
“Grrr. Are you ordering me, Demon Lord!”
“If you don’t want to be killed by me, obey my orders here, Tyrant.”
“Here I goeeees!”
Lily urged Revalia, then broke out of the room and soared into the sky.
Revalia, albeit reluctantly, returned to the sky and began to rampage as if taking out her frustration.
“Ku ku… Hahaha! You’re leaving my opponent to humans and a dragon girl?”
“You are too weak to be my opponent. If you manage to wipe out the humans, I will kill you as a reward.”
“Ku haha! Those are arrogant words befitting a Demon Lord.”
The Demon General grinned, his spider-like face twisting into a smile.
As the miasma and killing intent swelled, we also moved into a prepared stance.
I, wielding the White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, unleashed the power of the Dragon Jewel.
Ruiseine, holding her naginata and beginning to chant incantations, and Laira, holding the Spirit Tree Two-handed Club.
The Twin Princesses, holding hands and gripping the Spirit Tree’s jewel in their other hands.
And Ares, who suddenly appeared in his adult form, with Priscilla-chan and Nimia entering his arms.
Mistral drew his One-handed Club without transforming into his dragon form.
“Now then, let me see the power of Mistral and his companions.”
The giant Demon Lord retreated to a corner of the large room, a smirk playing on his lips with hidden intentions.
“Ku ku ku… Ha! How I’m underestimated. Did you think I’d fall behind humans and dragonkin?”
The Demon General’s body sank.
No, he’s trying to melt into the darkness at his feet.
Not happening!
Using Spatial Jump, I instantly entered the Demon General’s range. Then, I swung the White Sword low.
“Kuh!?”
The Demon General, caught by surprise, hastily blocked with his two-handed sickle. A hard sound echoed.
Although the White Sword’s blow was blocked, the Demon General’s movement, as he tried to melt into the shadows, stopped. I couldn’t let him activate his ability, whatever it may be!
Along with the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, I slashed consecutively.
I deflected the two-handed sickle and slashed at his torso. However, the White Sword’s blow could not cut through his robe. The sword was pushed back by the hard resistance and repulsive force.
“Elnea-kun, fall back!”
As Ruiseine said, I retreated once.
The magic spell Ruiseine unleashed, in turn, attacked the Demon General.
Five light arrows hit the Demon General.
But, as expected, he was unharmed by the robe.
“Ku ku ku. No need to defend,”
he said boastfully. Immediately after.
A rainbow-colored glowing orb rolled at the Demon General’s feet.
Danger!!
I cast a barrier with all my might and retreated towards everyone.
Mistral also hastily deployed a Dragon Energy barrier.
Then, a great explosion occurred.
The Twin Princesses’ unchecked Spirit Tree Jewel Super Destruction Dragon Arts were unleashed!
After a bright flash, the Spirit Tree Jewel, filled with Dragon Energy, caused a massive explosion.
A blinding flash engulfed the Demon Lord’s Castle, and we were overwhelmed by unbearable vibrations and shockwaves.
The jewel given by Asher, which everyone possessed, shone and protected us from the devastating explosion.
It was too indiscriminate!
My barrier and Mistral’s barrier alone wouldn’t have been enough to block it!
The Twin Princesses’ indiscriminate destructive dragon arts mercilessly destroyed the Demon Lord’s Castle. I could tell even through the smoke-filled vision.
Walls and ceilings were blown away without a trace, and of course, the floor vanished.
We fell downwards with the small piece of floor beneath our feet, which was our only support.
As we fell, the roaring subsided, and the blinding flash faded.
We landed safely, protected by the barriers deployed in all directions and Asher’s protection, and our faces twisted in shock at the transformed Demon Lord’s Castle.
The upper half of the giant structure, the Demon Lord’s Castle, was blown away, and the sky spread out above us.
Lily and Revalia were rampaging freely in the sky above, trampling the demon air defense forces.
However, the number of demons on the enemy side was very high, and no matter how many they defeated, Revalia let out an irritated roar at the demons that filled the sky.
We had landed in a place a little below the middle level.
The ground was still far below. Beyond the vanished outer walls, ground forces from all over the capital were beginning to gather in the Demon Lord’s Castle grounds.
And the Demon General was nowhere to be seen around us.
Did we defeat him?
That can’t be right.
I don’t believe a Demon General, who was impervious to the White Sword’s blow and magic, would die from this.
I carefully looked around again.
Speaking of which, where is the giant Demon Lord?
The giant Demon Lord was not where we had fallen.
Looking closely, the giant Demon Lord was floating above us.
This was the first time I had seen someone without wings floating in the air.
Perhaps the place where the giant Demon Lord was floating was originally the main hall on the middle level where we had been standing?
The giant Demon Lord remained suspended in the air, observing the sky, the ground, and our situation.
However, he still seemed disinclined to intervene.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he maintained a stance of observation.
Putting the giant Demon Lord aside for now.
I shifted my awareness to observing our surroundings.
The Demon General must be hiding somewhere.
“Ku ku ku. What terrifying power. For a human.”
Then, from the shadows of the rubble, the Demon General slowly emerged.
It seems he has the ability to hide in shadows.
The Demon General, emerging from the shadows, was, as expected and as predicted, unharmed.
And then, hordes of demons appeared from the lower levels.
Monstrous beings. Oni and beast-like figures. A variety of beings appeared, brandishing their weapons.
Humans lack the ability to discern races, but I intuitively felt that the opponents were malevolent beings, demons.
“You lot deal with the humans and dragonkin. I shall target the giant Demon Lord. Ku ku ku… If I defeat the Demon Lord and steal the ‘Soul Spirit Seat’, I too shall become a Demon Lord…”
The Demon General’s six eyes did not seem to register us. However, we couldn’t just leave it to the giant Demon Lord, saying “Yes sir.”
Mistral seemed to have the same thought and stepped forward.
“Yufi, Nina. You two, bomb the demons gathering on the ground. Elnea, Ruiseine, and Laira, deal with the demons that have appeared. I will face the Demon General.”
Mistral’s Dragon Energy spread out like a clear, deep lake. Then, it converged within her body in an instant.
Her eyes glowed blue and her pupils split vertically like a dragon’s. Three scales appeared on her cheekbones, and the same silver-gold scales appeared on the back of her hands. The claws of her hands gripping the jet-black two-handed club grew sharp.
Then, beautiful, elegant dragon wings sprouted from her back and rustled.
I can’t be a burden any longer.
I expanded my Dragon Energy to its limit, releasing visibly thick Dragon Energy that wafted from my entire body.
“Dragon Princess Mistral, I’m coming.”
“Dragon King Elnea, I’ll face him!”
The demon army braced themselves at our auras, and the Demon General slowly lowered his gaze from the giant Demon Lord to us.
