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Chapter 18: The Sage Grasps the Keepsake Sword
ăI was on the roof of the castle.\năI watched the Demon Lordâs army being formed below me.\năThey were the ones who would participate in defeating the Hero this time.
ăTheir total count was two thousand.\năMost of them were undead.\năThe living demons made up only a very small number of the troops.\năIn order to avoid causing unnecessary damage, only an elite few had been granted consciousness.
ăEven though they had just awakened, their opponent was the Hero.\năI will do my best to prevent my allies from getting killed, but I donât know how far I can protect them.\năI was the Demon Lord, and I was also the one who was in charge of the lives of the people of my domain.\năI donât want to let them die without a fight.
ăThis strategy this time was simple.\năFirst, we will use transfer magic to go to the frontier territory where the Hero was, and then we will attack them under the cover of darkness at sunset.\năThe other side may have set barriers to block the transfer, but weâll just use our raw strength to push through.\năSince there are no mages who can surpass me, there should be no major obstacles to the operation.
ăAfter the transfer, weâll slaughter the ordinary soldiers.\năThere should be no problem here.\năThis had been repeated many times.\năTheyâll probably counterattack back with holy magic and such, but that was a trifling matter.
ăAs for the greatest threat, the Hero, I was going to deal with him.\năThere was nothing to make allowances for.\năI only had to slaughter him with all my might.\năIt was impossible that I would be defeated with my strength.
ăThe setting sun emitted a reddish glow from the horizon.\năNight was almost here.\năIt was the time of the undead.\năIt was the perfect time for an attack.
ăAnd so, as I stared into the sunset, a presence approached me from behind.\năI could guess who it was, without turning around to check.
âAre the preparations complete?â
ăI asked perfunctorily while pushing Luciana away from me as she tried to hug me from behind.\năLuciana smoothly dodged and sat down next to me.\năShe crossed her legs in a graceful manner.
âYes, itâs perfect. We can leave any time.â
âI see.â
ăLuciana had a knack for it.\năShe could handle any job without a mistake.\năEven during the time of the previous Demon Lord, espionage and sabotage were her main duties.\năI remember her wreaking havoc in each nation quite well.\năHer skills were still going strong and had contributed greatly to the new era.
âHey, Demon Lord.â
ăLuciana stared at my face.\năHer eyes seemed to suck me in.\năThey had traces of a succubusâs unique magical power.
ăIf I were alive, I would have used psychoprotective magic with all my strength.\năItâs because Iâd be mesmerized and become her slave.\năOf course, charm doesnât work on me now.\năI respond to her bewitching gaze without a care in the world.
âWhat?â
âHow do you feel now?â
ââŠWhy are you asking me that?â
ăI wondered at her abrupt question.\năI couldnât read her intentions from her expression.
ăShe put a finger to her lips and smiled.
âBecause, doesnât that make one curious?I want to know whatâs on your mind, Demon Lord.â
ăApparently, it was simple curiosity.\năIt was not strange, not with Lucianaâs uninhibited personality.
ăI thought about the answer I should give.\năA momentary silence hung over the place.\năIn the meantime, Luciana waited without interrupting.\năWhen my words were in order, I quietly replied.
ââI donât feel bad. I think Iâm calm, if I do say so myself. Maybe becoming immortal has dulled my feelings.â
âOh, you definitely seem calmer than you did when you were human. Should I say it felt like I stripped off a layer of your personality⊠Ah, not like stripping in the real sense though.â \nâThatâs a funny joke.â
ăLucianaâs unreserved words caused my shoulders to relax nicely.\năI canât come up with such witty quips.\năWhy canât I think of them?\năShould I learn from her?
âHmâŠ?â
ăLuciana twisted her head and hummed.\năShe had an oddly serious expression.\năOn top of all that, she started patting my face with her fingers.
ăAt this, as expected, even I broke my silence.
âDo you have anything more to say?â
âAre you perhaps, laughing?â
ăLuciana asks me in a serious manner.\năIt was not a joke like the one before.
ăI said the answer as it came to me.
âDo you think I can laugh with this face?â
â⊠Hahaha! Thatâs certainly true! Thereâs no way you can laugh with bones alone!â
ăAt that moment, Luciana burst into laughter for some reason.\năShe rolled around, clutching her stomach.\năDid something tug at her heartstrings?\năI couldnât understand it, and I couldnât seem to empathize with it either.
ăAfter laughing for a while, Luciana stood up as she caught her breath.\năShe exhaled as she stretched out.
âYeah, yeah, youâre going to be fine if you keep it up. I was worried sick about you.â
ăI finally understood the situation on hearing Lucianaâs words.\năJust like with Grom, it seems she was concerned about me going against the Hero.\năI thought she was just here to kill time or something.
âIâm sorry that I caused you trouble.â
âI donât mind. It was harder on that fussing skeleton than it was on me. He has been endlessly practicing how to talk to me in secret.â
ăLuciana snitched on him with a wicked smile.\năGrom seemed to be more troubled than I imagined.\năHe seemed to be conscious of not putting any mental strain on me in any way.\năThat concern made me more than happy.
âBy the way, howâs Henry?â
âThe human archer? He didnât say anything in particular. Oh, but I think he was complaining about wanting fresh, high-quality meat. Heâs such a carefree guy.â
ăLuciana replied, smiling bitterly.\năIt was very much like him to act so.\năDid he think that there was no need to worry about it?\năMaybe that was an indication of his trust.
ăLearning of my subordinatesâ conditions, I stood up and told Luciana again.
âAnyway, Iâm fine. Until I fulfill my duties as the Demon Lord.â
âDonât hesitate to ask for help when youâre in trouble, okay?â
âYeah, Iâll do that.â
ăWhen I replied, Lucianaâs expression changed for a moment.\năIt was full of warmth and affection.\năHowever, her expression quickly switched and returned to her original aloof smile.
âItâs good to hear that. Iâll see you later then.â
ăLuciana unfurled the wings on her back and jumped off the roof.\năAfter a beautiful glide, she landed on the ground.\năShe gives instructions to her subordinates around her.
âŠItâs hard to believe we used to be mutual enemies in the past.
ăYou never really know how life is going to turn out.\năI expressed my gratitude to her in my heart.
Â
ăâ
Â
ăAfter leaving Luciana, I headed to the audience room.\năThe dimly lit room was empty.
ââŠâŠâ
ăI look at the crystal on top of the pedestal.\năInside, I saw her remains floating.\năI stopped in front of the crystal.
âI will now go up against the Hero. It seems that I am finally going to be a real Demon Lord.â
ăThe crystal did not show any reaction whatsoever.\năIt was just there.
ââŠWhat do you think of me now?â
ăI ruminate over the questions Iâve uttered by myself.\năWhat would she say?\năVarious possibilities came to my mind, but nothing I could be sure of.
ăI looked at the sword propped up against the pedestal.\năItâs the sword that I took back when I killed the king.\năSince then, Iâve diligently taken care of it.\nââIâll borrow it for some time.â
ăSpeaking softly, I gently picked up the sword.\năI held the blade above my head as I pulled it out of its scabbard.
ăAt first glance, it seemed like a nondescript sword.\năIn fact, it had no special abilities.\năHowever, this was a famous sword that had been used in many battles.\năIt was a sharp sword that has travelled along with the faith of the Hero.\năItâs no exaggeration to say that her feelings dwell in it.
ăI had yet to use this sword.\năI was afraid to handle it lightly.\năBut this time, my opponent was a Hero.\năNow was the time to use it.
ăThe sword that once killed the Demon Lord will be handed over to the next Demon Lord, and he will slay a new hero.\năI think this was the most ironic story.\năI couldnât help but feel the ruthlessness of the world.
ăWith the drawn sword in my hand, I moved to the balcony using transfer magic.\năThis is a good vantage point in the castle.\năAt the same time, it was easy to attract attention from the ground.\năBelow me, demons preparing for war were coming and going.
ăI spotted a figure on the rooftop of the castle town.\năIt was Henry, sitting on a chair and chugging a bottle of liquor.\năHe suddenly looked at me and made eye contact.
ââŠâŠâ
ăSmiling wryly, Henry slightly raised his liquor bottle.\năThat would be his way of cheering me on.\năI responded with a small nod.
ăSoon, the demons began to notice me on the balcony.\năInstantly, they stopped moving and became quiet.\năThe air was filled with an anticipation that had grown to the point of bursting.
No more words needed to be spoken.
ăJudging that, I thrust my sword up and pointed at the sky with its tip.
ăIn the next moment, the Demon Lordâs army erupted in explosive joy.\năIt was a frenzy that could rip through the skies.\năThe never-ending roars resounded through the royal city at sunset.
ăâThus, the Demon Lordâs army began an expedition to kill the Hero.\n