Renas-sama and the others headed straight to the courtyard that was located between the North building and the East building without entering the dining hall. It is because the information that the Minotaur will appeared again was reported earlier by the spirits.
There were many knights and magicians in the courtyard. They also expect that the Minotaur will appear but apparently, the magicians seemed to have failed to sense the presence of the Minotaur again this time and the atmosphere was filled with tension. Due to the sense of urgency, Renas-sama came but unexpectedly, it was easily accepted by the knights and magicians. I guess they cannot deal with it by themselves anymore.
The priest Renas-sama, the female thief Milly-sama and the female warrior Farah-sama arrived. Even Rufus-sama, a magician like them, who stimulates their complex, does not possess a high-ranking magical power like Greed-sama, thus the others were not repulsed. They can show each other what they’ve got in defeating the demon, which may have malicious intent.
For now, Renas-sama and the others, who got the cooperation of the magicians, prepared for battle.
Even if they have the ability to defeat the enemy, they will not be able to do anything unless they can see it.
Reelis flowers began to spread in the courtyard.
Reelis is a symbol of the Goddess, and it is compatible with the sacred magic that Renas-sama was chanting. Using the Reelis flowers, it created a space in the courtyard which will nullify the concealment magic of the Minotaur.
However, because the Renas-sama’s sacred magic is particularly weak against the demon, it will take precaution and will not appear. Therefore, it is decided the other magicians will cover up Renas-sama’s sacred magic in order to camouflage it.
“Lux (Latin for ‘light’).”
Renas-sama opened a book which he always carries and started chanting sacred magic. At the same time, the magicians scattered in the courtyard also began to chant. And they waited for the Minotaur to appear in the courtyard.
Approximately five minutes later—the shining space created by Renas-sama clearly showed that the Minotaur was floating midair and was trying to cross the courtyard. Its silhouette can be seen by everyone present. After that, everyone went to thoroughly beat it.
Using the camouflaged magic by the magicians, they created a barrier to confine the Minotaur.
“Flight.”
Farah-sama and Milly-sama, using flight magic, approached the Minotaur with their weapons in hand.
Farah-sama’s weapon is a rapier, while Milly-sama’s was a dagger. Their weapons were tools in which Renas-sama bestowed [Blessing] in advance to become a weapon for the opponent. With ordinary weapons, it is difficult to scratch a demon.
The dagger suddenly darted out of Milly-sama’s hand. The aim was precisely unprecedented, and it pierced first the right hand of the Minotaur, its right knee then its left knee. Something like a thunder and lightning ran from the dagger that was stuck in the Minotaur throughout its body.
“Roooaaarrr!!”
The Minotaur let out a tremendous roar. Although it has a bull’s head, it didn’t sound like “Moo, moo”.
Milly-sama’s dagger seemed to have a magic that seals the motion of the beast, and the Minotaur was suspended in the air, unable to move. However, the Minotaur also seems to be able to use magic. Roaring while taking the sword in its hand, it released magic toward Farah-sama when she approached it.
Within the barrier, an immense stormy wind blew violently. The wind stirred up Milly-sama’s cloak and Farah-sama’s long hair. With resolution, both of them endured the raging winds, not allowing themselves to be blown away.
According to the narration I heard later, it was because the two of them have high magical powers, and it was also thanks to Renas-sama who covered them with a barrier of sacred magic.
Then Farah-sama, while sweeping away the magic attacks coming towards her, struck the small long sword into the Minotaur’s left chest when she reached in front of it. In other words, if it was a human, she struck the part which corresponds to the heart.
One of the nucleus of magical power which the beast has is often situated in the so-called heart part of the human body. Such was the case of the Minotaur. Farah-sama’s rapier definitely pierced the magical nucleus.
At that moment, the wind that was blowing within the barrier stopped. And then—
“Roooaaarrr!!”
Again, although the Minotaur again bellowed, it gradually echoed like an agony of death and eventually, its body crumbled like a sand and disappeared into the sky.
* * *
I heard the two roars in the Princess’s room.
“Oh, it seems that Renas and the others have defeated the half-human, half-beast demon.”
To me who trembled at the second roar, Rufus-sama smiled as if to give me a peace of mind.
……While stroking the Princess’s back that was leaning on his arm so as to calm her.
They’re definitely flirting.
It-It’s not as if I am envious~ But I just think that it is good to have an arm to lean on, yep.
Maybe he saw some yearning on my face, for Rufus-sama said.
“Greed is alright. He will definitely win in order to protect you. He will never let that demon escape. Perhaps at this moment, he has already……”
* * *
“An elf……”
Looking at Rufaga-sama who suddenly appeared through Teleportation magic, Espiridion’s face contorted in anger.
“Irritating, a Goddess’s dog.”
“Please say whatever you like.”
Rufaga-sama said with a smile, although his words were filled with contempt.
“It’s because what you said was true. We elves were created by the Goddess and the Spirit King in order to bring stability to the world. A regulation device to maintain the balance in the world. Indeed, we are the Goddess’s dogs.”
Rufaga-sama continued and turned to look at Greed-sama who descended beside him with a thump.
“I thought that was the case but he does not seem to be influenced*.”
“Yeah. He seems to be under the control of Noir*.”
[T/N: The author used the word (色つき, irotsuki), which I think means get colored/dyed. Think, because it has no direct translation T^T *sobs*. And I guess it is also because Espiridion’s master’s name, Noir, is related to color. It means “black” in Latin. But to make it somewhat related to the context, I used the word “influenced”.]
“I don’t think that he will be easily influenced since he is just a very small pawn. He may only have two nucleus. His strategy was rather good. To think that he could release such a monster as a decoy.”
Despite his smile, only bitter words spilled out of the mouth of the white young man. Had I heard it on the spot, I would have absolutely thought that he was the same kind of person as the Prime Minister, a person who practices caution.
“He was often ordered to do reconnaissance after being valued for his dexterity, but I guess he could no longer endure.”
“……”
Espiridion silently gritted his teeth. Apparently, they’ve hit the mark.
Greed-sama indifferently said while looking at the demon.
“Their target was her.”
“I know, right?”
—Although I did not know that I was a target of a demonic group until much later, during this time, the demons began to organize various movements in order to obtain information about “the Hero’s beloved”.
Espiridion was one of them, and with instructions from influential—that is, the upper echelons of the demon clan—to scout and investigate for me.
“It’s useless to squeeze out information from such a small pawn. Because they do not seem to know the location of their leaders.”
Rufaga-sama said, with regret in his tone.
Espiridion frowned at these words but he already guessed he has no chance of winning. He lightly floated in the air and said.
“I was tasked to do reconnaissance. I was not ordered to fight you. Since I had done enough, then let me get rude.”
Whether he will engage in battle or not is not as certain as the truth or falsehood, but Espiridion’s stance and words suggest his withdrawal from here on out.
But when he rose towards the sky, he murmured something that Greed-sama could not ignore.
“Our objective has been carried out somehow. I have sensed the presence of the Hero’s woman, so I need not stay here anymore.”
At the next moment, Greed-sama disappeared from the side of Rufaga-sama and moved in front of Espiridion who floated in the sky.
“What?!”
—Espiridion was surprised by the Holy Sword that was thrust in his chest, not able to avoid it.
“Gaha—!”
The moment it penetrated his chest, Espiridion groaned. His eyes were wide open, and incredulity was painted all over his face. He is a demon but he could not keep up with the movement of Greed-sama, who is a human being.
And this should never had happened to him who is a demon.
Greed-sama pulled the Holy Sword from the chest of Espiridion. However, since the demons generate their bodies through magical powers, no blood came out.
“U-Ugh…”
Espiridion shook violently in the air, and was thrown off balance. Apparently, the nucleus of his magical power is at the area of the heart like the beast.
In a blink of an eye, the nucleus of magical power was destroyed. Although he somehow managed to escape from the destruction of another nucleus, his power was greatly reduced.
Halting himself from falling, Espiridion rapidly breathed, catching his breath, and stared at the gaping hole in his chest.
“Since you already know her, do not think you can leave here alive.”
Which villain are you?
He spoke to Rufaga-sama, who idly spectated below.
“Rufaga, where is the other nucleus of this guy.”
“It’s on the base of his left foot.”
“Ku,”
Using his magical power, Espiridion leapt to distance himself from Greed-sama, his face contorted in chagrin.
“Since it has come to this……”
Espiridion turned his red eyes towards the main residence. There was a malicious grin on his face. At the same time, his small body began to emit red.
“The barrier here only prevents enemy invasion. It cannot prevent attacks, shock…… Hey, Hero, I will let you kill me. But before that happens, I will take the life of that woman along with this building, then the lives of people around her.”
“Oh, is this self-destruction?” Rufaga smiled wryly.
“Greed, it seems he will make his magical power go berserk. Even though the nucleus is down to one, if the magical power that maintains his body erupts, the whole area will be slightly blown away.”
Rufaga-sama said an outrageous thing in a relaxed tone.
It’s not someone else’s problem, you know?! If I were there, I think I would have inserted my tsukkomi.
However during this time, Rufaga-sama was actually not worried for a worse situation. That is because—
“This place is already within the barrier that the Spirits and I have made. No matter how much your magical power will go berserk, it will have no effect on the buildings. Also on hers. Espiridion, you are the only one who will disappear in the explosion of your magical power.”
“Wha…… Barrier……?”
Espiridion widened his eyes. He did not notice the barrier surrounding him at all.
It was not impossible for Espiridion to be surprised. Demons are much more sensitive to the presence of magical powers than humans. So if it is the usual, he should have noticed Greed-sama’s barrier. However, he failed to notice it, and only after being told by Greed-sama, he knew that he was surrounded by a strange prison.
“Wh-When did you……?!”
“Immediately after I sent Aria to my friends via magic.” [T/N: The ancient bluetooth? LOL okay bad joke.]
……After I disappeared, Greed-sama’s manner of speech changed.
Espiridion misunderstood that Greed-sama’s tone became boorish because his beloved woman was not beside him anymore and did not know that it is a signal that will remove the controller. [T/N: NANI?! Oh, well.]
Actually, Greed-sama has already surrounded him with barrier that time.
“Once the situation gets bad, the only thing that the stupid likes of you could think of is to take hostages and drag them into the strife. So I took the first move.”
Greed-sama informed him impassively.
“From now on, I will not let you have a chance to get in contact with her.”
He pointed the tip of the Holy Sword towards Espiridion. With eyes like a glass bead, not reflecting any emotion. However, it seems that a cold and silent anger emitted from Greed-sama’s body.
“Disappear.”
“!”
Greed, who quickly reduced their distance, swung down the sword while looking at the base of Espiridion’s left foot. Espiridion tried to avoid it, but was not able to do so in time. And then—
“……Noir-sama……!”
It disappeared, leaving behind a scream.
——A few minutes later, when the courtyard has regained its usual silence, Rufaga-sama told Greed-sama.
“It seems that the target of the demons’ movements was her after all. What are you going to do about it, Greed?”
“There is only one thing to do. Protect. That’s all. If we defeat all the leaders of the demon clan, she will not be targeted anymore.”
Greed-sama responded impassively as usual.
“Then let’s pray for the demons to appear as soon as possible. For her sake…… However, since they sent a scout, it will not be long before they appear, right—to target the ‘Fiancee of the Hero’.”
“Yes.”
Greed-sama muttered in agreement, turning his eyes with unreadable emotions towards the sky.
“The remaining are Azure (blue), Noir (black) and Verde (green)……”
—Did the two people in the courtyard really noticed?
Actually, it happened that there were people who saw Greed-sama’s battle from the window of the Palace.
“……Did you see?”
It was His Majesty, the King, who spoke to the person beside him.
“Yes…… It was more than what was said in the rumors.”
The person beside His Majesty, His Excellency, Prime Minister, who was also looking outside the window, answered.
Originally, they were supposed to be doing their respective work in the office of the main tower, but today, it happened that they were going to have lunch with Her Majesty the Queen, and they came back to the main residence. However, such a fuss broke out and the passage towards the main tower was closed, so he decided to make the spare room as an interim office and took responsibility in dealing with the emergency situation. The window of the room faced the courtyard where Greed-sama and the others were fighting.
“It was my first time to see a humanoid demon, but I heard that its power is tremendous, enough to sink a capital of the great country overnight. However, when that high-ranking demon encountered the Hero’s party, it was like a baby.”
“As expected of the so-called the strongest Hero of the generation. It is a good thing that he defeated the Demon King.”
“Yes.”
His Majesty nodded, looked at Greed-sama who seems to talk to Rufaga-sama about something in the courtyard and spoke once again.
“Prime Minister, by all means, I want to have a connection with the Hero.”
“Yes. A connection through Prince Rufus is not bad, but there is someone who we want to have a direct connection.”
“Fortunately, the interests are consistent with the other side.”
“Yes. I also want to have a connection with the Hero. I want that girl for that Hero. The interests are in agreement. Besides……”
The Prime Minister held his tongue tongue for a moment, before adding this statement.
“Besides, it is for that girl’s sake.”
“Because the Prime Minister is the guardian of that girl, you feel various complex emotions…… Unfortunately, if we are to choose between personal feelings or national interests, we have to choose the country. Even if you feel remorse for forcing that child, you have to take the method that seems to be the best for the country. …… It is that kind of government.”
“I understand., Your Majesty.”
The Prime Minister replied, his bespectacled eyes cast down.
After that, Renas-sama, who fought the Minotaur at the East building’s courtyard, have won.
—In this way, all the demons who entered the castle were subjugated and thanks to the Hero’s party, the trouble was over. (End of Chapter 12)