Ahead of him, he heard a slew of cries. Several people soon ran in front of him. Fear gripped each of their faces. Lewin was puzzled by the scene, which was a far cry from the typical bustling main street, then he heard a tremendous roar that sounded to echo throughout the city.
“Demons! The Demons are here——!!”
For a small moment, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He can’t help but think that this is a jock. But, as if to mock Lewin’s disbelief, he heard an explosion in the distance. When he looked in the direction of the explosion, he saw smoke billowing around the city’s entrance.
With frightened looks on their faces, the number of people running rose, and everyone was yelling about the Demon tribe’s onslaught. It was obvious now that this was neither a lie nor a joke.
“Shit. There should have been no Demons sightings in this area…!”
Lewin took the opposite path as the escaping folks. Then, beyond that, he witnessed the most dreadful sight imaginable. The city residents——were being attacked in a heinous manner.
It was a few men who were attacking the people. They were human at first look, but they all had bat-like wings spreading from their backs, and others had twisted horns like goats sprouting from their forehead.
“… Demon tribe…!”
Lewin gasped. The worst of the several races who previously ruled this land, and despite their numbers dwindling, they still followed the Demon King and tormented mankind.
They were joined by massive lizard-like creatures with leathery wings instead of arms. They were Demons called Wyverns. Demons are sometimes kept as live stocks and used them as slaves.
The Demons grabbed the fleeing ones with their bare hands, twisted their mouths as though pleading for help, and penetrated their bodies. Another solidifies a few of them and extends his fingers to the terrified captives, and a flame rises in the gap. It was a specific ability that Demons are born with known as “Power.” It is comparable to job skills, however, unlike those, it is claimed to differ for each man.
Screams broke out, and the people pleaded for mercy. Desperate for mercy, they rub their head on the ground. Seeing this, the Demon burst out cackling.
It’s like the very scene being irresistibly funny. Like being helplessly stupid.
The people were mercilessly incinerated by the flames the following second. The howls faded gradually, leaving only those who had turned to charcoal behind. Armed adventurers laid on the ground all around them. None of them moved an inch. All of them must have been killed by the Demon tribe.
“…op…”
Without Lewin’s awareness, a voice escaped from his mouth. One of the Demon grabs the last remaining boy’s head and lifts him up. He shouts out, and with a startled look on his face, he pours all of his might into his hands——
“Stop——!”
Lewin instantly drew his sword from his waist and leapt towards the Demon. The assailant, who was caught off guard by the unexpected charge, releases the boy and moves away. Lewin held the boy back with one hand and released him.
“Who the heck are you, you scumbag? You’re trying to ruin my fun.”
The Demon looks at Lewin and sniffs.
“… Well, okay. Have you ever seen a castle near here?”
“Castle? What are you talking about? Get out of town right now. If you don’t… I’ll be your opponent.”
With a dull sound, the Demon flung his hands forward, and flames burst out. When he shakes his hand, it obeys his commands and soars straight at Lewin.
He fled rapidly to the right, and the spot where he had recently been caught fire. The ground instantly pyrolyzed. He knew that if he took a serious hit, he’d wind up like the others.
The Demon hurls fire after fire, but Lewin predicts his course and avoids them one by one.
“What a troublesome little bug… But you, why don’t you use your skills?”
The Demon inquires with skepticism. The majority of those who armed themselves and confronted the Demons were adventurers, and the majority of the adventures were skilled. This is due to the fact that, aside from Demons, only a skill blessed by the Goddess can inflict a lethal wound on their skin against the Demon tribe.
“… This guy can’t use his skills, can he?” Another Demon who had been watching Lewin came up to him and said. The others then nodded.
“Ah. If he could, he would have launched his attacks long ago.”
“I see. So that’s how it is. Stupid. Do you think people who can’t even use their skills can stand up to us?”
Lewin silently raised the blade of his grievance and calmly told the Demons, who gazed at him with pity.
“——Want to give it a try?”
He kicked the ground as soon as he uttered it. He closes in on the Demons quickly with his well-trained leg strength. They froze, their eyes wide open, perhaps due to the unexpected speed. But one of them raises his voice.
“Wyvern!”
The Wyverns began to move in tandem as soon as they received the order. They pounced at him, their keen claws poised. But not one of them was able to trace Lewin. This is due to the fact that he evaded all assaults with pinpoint accuracy, altering his body posture slightly. Lewin, on the other hand, swung his blade swiftly and tore the Wyverns’ wings from their roots. They collapsed to the ground, unable to move, but he stabbed his sword at them one by one, putting an end to them. Lewin brushed the blood from his blade, turned around, and pushed his sword at it after defeating the last one.
The Demons in the straight line of the blade’s point made expressions as if they had been hit by a lie.
“That’s ridiculous… that many with no skill…!?”
“It’s only a matter of defeating the Demons!”
One of them lifted his hand in the air. Dark clouds swirled in the sky, and lightning struck with a loud clap. Immediately after, lightning hit Lewin with great force.
——However, by that point, Lewin had already approached the opponent.
“Ngh…”
He swept his blade off from their stunned expressions. A blade flashed over their brow, leaving a small scar on their flesh. A non-skilled Lewin’s strike would have done little damage. However, the opponent seemed stunned by the movement itself that he showed.
“W… What the hell are you!? Are you really a human!?”
Another Demon, shuddering and retreating, holds a flame in his hand. It was too far away for swords to be used. Lewin swiftly analyzes his surroundings and spots a bow near the fallen adventurers.
As he jumped on it, he took up the bow and drew an arrow from the quiver. There was not much time until the Demon used his power. He had no choice but to tumble, pick up the arrow, and draw the string.
“You think you can hit an arrow in that condition!”
The Demon’s visage froze as he muttered tauntingly——right there and then. The cause for this was that the iron arrow that soared straight up through the wind and penetrated his eyeballs. It is possible to cause serious wounds on non-skin, rather soft places such as the mouth and eyes without using skills. Lewin proceeded to shoot arrows one after the other with his accustomed movements. The Demon’s eyes were precisely pierced by one or two rounds fired at tremendous speed and without rest.
The Demon yelled, doused the flame, and slumped on the ground, purple blood, unlike humans, gushed from their eyes.
The Demons in the area gasped. Lewin slowly rose to his feet and fixed his piercing gaze on those who remained. Then, in a daringly matter-of-fact tone, he tells them.
“You still want to continue?”
The color of terror dawned on the Demons’ faces for the first time there. They back away from Lewin as if they were being faced by an unfathomable monster.
“… We’re retreating.”
After some time, one of them muttered something, and the others buzzed.
“You’re dealing with just one animal. We should do it until we get him!”
“That one took care of the Demon and his group in no time. No one in the vicinity has seen the castle. There is no need to make any further needless sacrifices.”
As another Demon returned the accusing remarks, the others went silent. They eventually turned their backs on Lewin, flapped their wings, and soared forth. They just flew away.
(… They’re gone. I’m so relieved.)
Lewin, who had no skills, couldn’t have pushed them any farther than he did. As a result, he ventured to create a sense of uncertainty in order to alert them, and it seemed to have worked. The belligerent and triumphant Demons would still attack him under normal conditions. This time, though, they had different goals in mind.
(If only I could use my skills against the Demons, I could have easily defeated them…)
He was ashamed of what he had done, but now was not the time to dwell on it. Lewin nodded and left the scene. The Demon’s attack on the city had no known aim, although it was likely that they had friends elsewhere. They might return in bigger numbers. Before they do that, he must go to other cities and look for help.
He kept moving at full speed after leaving the city to hurry as much as possible, and by the time an hour had gone, he was a long distance away from Oren. Surrounded by dense forest, one can hear the faint chirping of the birds. If he passes through this forest, he will soon reach the nearest town.
Something suddenly leapt into Lewin’s field of vision just as he was thinking this. A robust, tall edifice in the distance. It was a gigantic castle. It was a majestic edifice with multiple spires that gave the impression that it might house royalty rather than nobles.
“… What is it? Looks like a very old building. Was that thing ever there?”
Suddenly, Lewin remembered.
——–Have you ever seen a castle near here?
He wondered whether the Demons were referring to that edifice. They came to the city to look for it, then attacked the residents in retaliation for not being able to find it. He didn’t know, but if so, it was probable that the Demons and their earlier allies had discovered the castle, joined forces with them, and were gathering there.
“… Let’s check it out a little.”
If that’s the case, it is preferable to know the overall number of enemies before requesting help. Lewin made a decision and began walking, looking around.
When he finally reaches the castle and looks up, he is taken aback by its majesty. When he was in the royal capital, he had seen the royal castle from afar, but what he is seeing in front of him now is no less breathtaking.
The walls were made of intricately hewn stone and were covered in ivy. There were other blemishes on closer inspection, albeit they were not apparent. The walls encircling the castle were also deteriorating in patches, and a statue standing in the center of what looked to be a fountain in the garden was partially shattered, suggesting that the castle had been abandoned for a long time, though the extent of this remained unknown.
“… I wonder who lived here.”
Naturally, no one responded to Lewin’s question. He made his way through the eerie silence and rested his palms on the massive wooden door, which was as big as a giant tree. He then stepped on it, putting all of his might into it. And so he met strong resistance and initially assumed it was locked, but it gradually made a creaking sound and began to open slightly.
As Lewin enters through the opening, he is greeted by a wide space. At the end of the blood-red carpet was a long staircase that curved gently from left to right and extended to the second floor. Through the high glass windows, soft sunlight streamed in. It’s as though the situation in the city that unfolded a few minutes before was a lie. This seemed to increase Lewin’s uneasiness, and he began to move gingerly.
The walls were lined with pedestals that appeared to be embellished, and there was a row of luxurious-looking furnishings, yet none of them were shattered or had lost their original appearance. There were burn scars and slashes on the walls, hinting that there had previously been a fierce battle.
When he got to the back, he discovered a big iron door at the bottom of the steps that led to the second floor and the basement. Lewin descends the stairs, deciding to check the basement for the time being. The basement door was in front of him, so he huddled up and put his ear to the ground. He waited for a while, but didn’t hear a sound.
“No one here? No, but… Let’s take a peek.”
When he pulls the door open to look inside, it opens easily, and Lewin leans down and walks right into the darkness. He was befuddled by the darkness, unable to see a single step ahead, but his vision gradually improved. There was no illumination. The basement was so large that it seemed to be large enough to hold a ball.
The reason for this was because the large “something” in the middle of the room was emitting a faint glow. It had a crystalline body that was pale greenish in color. Although the principle seemed unclear, it was carved into a diamond form and hovered in the air. Furthermore, it was bound in layers by sturdy-looking chains.
But that’s not what’s remarkable. Lewin approached and gazed keenly at the innards of the crystalline body after ascertaining that no demons were present.
“… A girl?”
There was a girl trapped inside. She had to have been fourteen or fifteen years old. Her beautiful, shimmering black hair was strewn across her crystalline body. She was dressed in ridiculously priced apparel that were recognizable by their appearance, but they were tattered and withered as a fruit of what had happened to her, and her exposed skin was visible here and there. The twin globes of her breasts, which were firmly asserted despite her diminutive frame, were nearly half revealed, and when Lewin notices this he turns away quickly.
The girl’s eyes were closed, and it was impossible to tell whether she was asleep or dead due to her crystalline body.
“Why is a girl in a place like this… Ah, no, but now is not the time to do this. Since there’s no Demons, I’ll have to check elsewhere.”
This was not long after Lewin had murmured it to himself.
<b>“Specific conditions have been met.”</b>
Letters emerged in front of his eyes all of a sudden. He was first bewildered, but soon realized that it was the Oracle.
<b>“Class change condition for Demon Tamer: 10,000 tames regardless of success or failure.”</b>
The letters vanished, and new ones appeared. The content——Lewin can’t believe his eyes.
<b>“and Encounter with the Demon King.”</b>
The Demon King, and he rolls it about in his mouth. Savoring the unbelievable thought.
“Eh, The Demon King… T-this girl!?”
It would be logical if the only person in the room was the girl in front of him.
“So, this is the Demon King’s Castle!? I mean, the class change condition for a Demon Tamer is an encounter with the Demon King!? What in the world is going on!?”
He had no idea that another condition that has long been a mystery would be revealed at a place like this. Leaving Lewin greatly perplexed, the Oracle continues.
<b>“Executing the process by achieving the conditions. The Demon Tamer class changes job to [Demon King’s Envoy]”</b>
“D-Demon King’s Envoy? What the hell is that?”
As if he had never heard of it. The context makes him wonder what if, but Lewin shakes his head and says that’s not possible.
“Demon King’s Subordination? Wait a minute. What the heck is that?”
<b>“Perform skill?”</b>
The Oracle was essentially uncommunicative. It just tells you one thing. Lewin didn’t have any choice.
“… P-perform.”
<b>“Eliminating obstacles to skill execution. Please touch the chain.”</b>
Lewin was still out of touch with the situation, but it appeared that he would have to do as he was told in order for things to go ahead. He took a step forward, stretched out, and touched the chain.
Instantly——All chains popped and jumped at the same time, with a violent sound. Simultaneously, the girl’s body pushes forward, as she gradually emerges from the crystalline body.
“Wa—eeh? What? What’s going on?”
He hurried to catch her, and the girl came to lean against him. He felt a slight warmth in her body.
“T-this girl, is she really a Demon King? But if so, she was sealed by a hero, right? Then, I did something really bad!?”
He has no idea what kind of power she possesses, but he appears to have broken the seal set on her by the hero. When Lewin was flustered, the Oracle continued in a matter-of-fact manner
<b>“Successfully realized the situation. Perform skill?”</b>
“I-I’m not sure if I will do it, um…”
<b>“Perform skills?”</b>
“Oh, God, you’re so inflexible, aren’t you!?”
He knows that’s the case, but he thinks a little explanation should be in order.
“… What does this mean? Has the power of that depressing heroic man been cut off?”
In his panic, Lewin heard a high-pitched voice in his arms. The girl blinks open her eyelids.
“Ah, good, you’re awake? … No, I mean, what can I say, you’re the Demon King?”
He thought he was asking himself this question, but he couldn’t think of anything better. The girl then rubbed her eyes, glanced up at Lewin, and remained silent for a few moments.
But eventually—like a child—she laughs innocently.
“That’s right. My name is Sasha. The one who leads the Demons——the woman called [Demon King of Death].”
“…… Are you really a Demon King? Doesn’t look that way to me.”
“You’re rude to me on our first meeting. Who are you, then? You look like a human being to me.”
Sasha looked annoyed, and Lewin apologized, “Oh, sorry,” before opening his mouth.
“I’m Lewin. I came all the way to this castle because I thought there might be Demons here…”