CH 2.5

CHAPTER 2 – I’M JUST A LEVEL 1 VILLAGER, CAN I DEFEAT THE DEMON KING?

PART 05

——

The next moment, I found myself in a freezing place.

“Uh…. Urrgh?”

My head was spinning. Was this an aftereffect of the warp?

I glanced at my surroundings. The floor under my fingers felt like the same stone used in the construction of the royal palace, and the place was very dim. Some flaming torchlights along the walls lit up the room, but its glow was not strong enough to dispel the shadows from the far wall. Without windows, sunlight could not enter the room, and the air in here felt frozen… This sparse place definitely needed an interior designer.

“Ouch. What is this place?”

I heard Harissa ask from beside me, as well as the rustling of her robe. Damn, so she’d come along as well.

“Harissa! Why did you come?”

“B-b-b-but, I can’t just let hero-sama come here on your own!”

“Why not? Isn’t this the reason why you summoned me?”

“That’s true… But when hero-sama said that our business has nothing to do with you, I’ve been thinking…”

As my eyes slowly adjusted to the dim, I saw Harissa nodding as she continued.

“What hero-sama said was right. You come from another world, and our world’s business has nothing to do with you. However, we are unable to solve the problem on our own, which is why we need your help. I guess His Majesty, the Army, everyone, even myself, are selfish in that manner.”

Harissa gripped her staff tighter against her body.

“But Rekka-sama said that he would fight for us. Even though it’s not your problem, you’re doing it for our world. And it makes me guilty since I’ve only been thinking of my own fate… So please, let me fight with you.”

Her strong determination reached out to me acutely.

“OK, but get this right.”

Before I agreed, I needed her to understand something.

“The reason why I’m going to defeat the Demon King is for you, Harissa.”

“M-m-me?!”

“Of course.”

It’s because you looked so pitiful, but saying that out loud would have been too rude.

“For… me…”

“What’s wrong? Harissa? Your face is red.”

Despite the dark, the blush on her face was plain to see.

“I-it’s nothing! N-nothing’s the matter!”

“Oh, OK then.”

Her voice still sounded strange to my ears… But it doesn’t really matter.

“So I’m not going to put you in harm’s way at any cost. I will battle the Demon King alone.”

“B-b-but!”

“No buts. Here’s the warp watch, now go back to the palace-”

“I refuse! I’ve made up my mind to fight with hero-zama, and I will!”

This won’t do. And it seemed that Harissa’s accent would show itself whenever she was flustered.

Just as I was puzzling over how to change her mind, a third voice spoke up.

“Oi…”

It was a low bellow that made the room tremble, and seemed to be coming from the darkness at the other end of the room.

“What are you doing, making noise in my domain…?”

As my eyes had already adjusted to the dark, I could clearly see the owner of the voice.

The first thing I made out was a humongous bed, large enough to sleep up to fifty men. Hanging off the edge was a fat, round tail and sail-like wings, joined to a huge frame. With four stout limbs, sharp claws, armored scales, teeth, red eyes glowing in the dark, and a cockscomb on its head, the creature resembled a ferocious, carnivorous lizard. Having played many games, I knew exactly what it was.

“A d-dragon!?”

“The D-D-Demon King!?”

Harissa and I screamed at the same time.

The green-scaled dragon -or Demon King- narrowed his eyes, probably annoyed at the noise we were making.

“Just what are you…? You look very well for a couple of decomposing corpses.”

I looked over at Harissa, puzzled.

“S-s-s-some demons look like decomposing c-c-c-corpses,” she explained.

Thanks for the matter-of-fact answer, Harissa. But more importantly, how did we end up in this situation?

I glanced at R this time, silently praying for an explanation. How many times had I done that today?

“The coordinates Harissa-san entered seems to center on the middle of this island, which is where the Demon King’s fortress stands. I’m guessing the warp just happened to send you right into his bedroom?”

Argh! This was just like finding a needle in a haystack, the ultimate bad luck.

“Good job. You’ve hit the jackpot. Congrats, Rekka-san.”

“You’re so annoying!”

But yelling at the relaxed R would not help the situation.

First, I pushed Harissa behind me, and faced the Demon King straight. Chances of me winning? None!

The Demon King scratched at his chin with a finger as thick as my waist, as he tilted his head in consideration.

“I heard that girl call you ‘hero-sama’, but my barrier is still intact…”

“O-of course. How can someone like me be a hero?!”

I nodded vigorously, hoping the Demon King would be convinced.

“But if you are not the hero, then who are you?”

“I d-don’t know?”

“I don’t like stupid answers.”

“W-we’re lost!”

“I said, I don’t like stupid answers.”

The room shook as the Demon King raised his voice, making the floor creak. His presence was just overwhelming. I can never defeat something like him.

My mind was panicking, and I couldn’t come up with another answer, but I needed to do something to get us out of here…! If not, it’ll be game over before we’ve even begun.

No. I need to calm down and think of a solution…!

I started riffling through my pockets, looking for something that would help.

Just then, my fingers brushed against an object stuck in my belt.

“A-alright. I’ll be truthful with you.”

Mustering up my courage, I spoke to the Demon King.

“Oh, what is it now?”

I pulled out the laser gun from my belt and fired it at the Demon King.

“Take this!”

“W-what!? GWAAAARRGGHHHH!”