Episode 11
When I went to where the strange men had taken the girl, I felt a sensation that was both familiar and unpleasant.
"...Black magic."
Black magic grows more fierce the more evil the caster's heart becomes.
Ordinary people might find it difficult to notice, but having always stuck close with Kania, I could easily distinguish it.
"..........."
After closing my eyes for a moment to feel the black and fierce energy of the dark magic power, I soon detected that the traces of magical power led out to the street.
"...Concealment type, perhaps."
No matter how much of a back alley this was, kidnapping a girl in broad daylight and using a bustling street as an escape route was close to suicide.
It seems a quite skilled black mage is among the kidnappers.
[Sudden Quest Occurred!]
"...Hm?"
While making such speculation, a system window suddenly floated before my eyes.
[Sudden Quest: Rescue the Child]
- Quest Content: Rescue the child.
[Reward: ???]
[Failure Penalty: Vitality, lifespan slightly reduced]
"...A quest? Then, does this mean this incident is related to the 'scenario'?"
The quests given by the 'Path of the Evil One' system are closely connected to the grim fate of this world, the 'scenario' that inevitably leads to bad endings.
If so, it seems there's one more reason to rescue the child.
Because somehow, saving the child would help prevent the world's bad ending.
While thinking such thoughts and steadying my mind, quite a commotion began to be heard from outside.
Wondering what was happening, I went outside to find the magic tool shop being smashed up.
"Who is this girl to behave so outrageously? Does she have some grudge against me?"
"...A skilled one. I'll have to face you seriously."
As Isollet drew her family's treasured sword with serious eyes, the magic tool shop owner began to take out various artifacts from his bosom with a benevolent smile.
"My, my, a girl who won't listen to reason? Well, can't be helped then. You're the one who smashed my shop first, so don't blame me too much if you get hurt?"
Immediately after those words ended, Isollet's sword techniques and the owner's magic clashed.
After watching that scene for a moment, I judged that the fight would be over by the time I returned, then took out the black robe I had removed when entering the back alley.
"...Why would a skilled person like you run an illegal shop in a place like this?"
"There's an unwritten rule in back alleys that we don't ask about the past! And even without that rule, I have absolutely no intention of telling someone who suddenly barges in and destroys someone's livelihood!"
Hearing the pleasant owner's voice, I let out a small laugh, then draped the robe over my body and quietly began following the traces of dark magic power.
"...Well, my house chef served potato dishes for lunch and then served potato dishes again for dinner, you see."
"It makes me sick just thinking about it. So, what did you do to that chef?"
"I broke his wrist and threw him out. Thanks to that guy, I still smell potatoes when I think about it, so it serves him right."
Following the traces, I happened to overhear the chitchat of gentlemen in suits and began to sigh inwardly.
'...While in the market right next door, children are starving to death without even getting potato peels, let alone potatoes.'
I'd like to feed all the poor people in the market if I could, but as the first son of the 'Starlight' family, doing such a thing would drain my vitality due to the system's penalty.
And if I helped while hiding my identity, I lack the funds. Financial power is also necessary to survive the upcoming scenarios.
After glaring at the passing gentlemen for a moment and promising myself to start a poverty relief project once everything was over, I quietly began to move my feet.
.
"...Hm? This way leads to the restaurant district?"
For some reason, the dark magic power led toward the restaurant district.
After tilting my head for a moment, wondering if I had misread the magical traces, I closed my eyes again and began to feel the magic, but the dark magic power was still strongly felt from the restaurant district.
Eventually, I opened my eyes and decided to trust my senses, quickening my pace toward the restaurant district.
As I walked through the restaurant district for a while, luxurious restaurants became sparse and increasingly shabby establishments began to appear, while the dark magic energy grew even more fierce.
"...Hm?"
However, upon reaching the very end of the restaurant district, suddenly the energy was cut off.
At that unnaturalness, I raised my head to see a shabby tavern that looked like it belonged in the countryside welcoming me.
"...Kids aren't allowed in."
"...Get lost."
Just as I was taking a deep breath to enter the tavern, suddenly two burly thugs opened the door and blocked my way.
"I heard the appetizers are delicious so I came..."
"Can't you hear us? Kid? We said get lost."
"...Should I just beat you up? I was bored to death anyway, so this works out."
When I still didn't back down, the thugs began to threaten me by cracking their knuckles as they approached...
"...What's the most delicious thing? Can you recommend something?"
"".........!""
When I took out gold coins from my bosom and tossed them one each, the thugs who hastily snatched up the gold coins looked at each other blankly, then quickly bowed their heads and began to fawn over me.
"Yees, young master... Our tavern does have delicious 'appetizers.'"
"Then, please enjoy yourself!"
Thus, leaving the two bowing their heads behind, I entered the tavern to find not a boisterous drinking atmosphere but a space decorated stylishly with mirrors and jewels everywhere.
"...My, what a cute young master? What brings you here?"
"..........."
When a madam with heavy makeup soon came down while making eyes at me, I grasped the general situation and immediately began to act.
"I want to see and choose with my own eyes."
"...Someone in a hurry? Then... look at this catalog..."
"No, not photos. With my own eyes directly."
"Pardon?"
"These days there are too many places that deceive with photos. Where do you keep the girls waiting? Warehouse? Basement?"
"............"
When I spoke calmly, the madam frowned slightly and opened her mouth.
"...This puts me in a difficult position, cute young master."
"...Difficult?"
"Yes... Our shop has circumstances too... If we grant all the customers' requests..."
"...What about this?"
"......!"
However, when I took out a gold coin purse from my bosom and placed it on the desk, her eyes went round for a moment before she assumed a composed expression and said:
"Young master has quite a lot of money, I see? But even so, there are trade secrets..."
"...What about this?"
"Um, if you keep doing this..."
"...What about this?"
"..........."
And when I took out gold coin purses in succession and placed them on the desk, the madam fell into thought with a troubled expression.
"...Is it really not possible?"
"Well, that's..."
"If it's not possible, it can't be helped. I'll have to find another shop."
"...W, wait a moment!"
I looked at her with an expressionless face and pretended to get up from my seat to collect the gold coin purses, and the madam urgently shouted.
"Normally it's not allowed... I'm doing this specially because the young master is cute, you know?"
"...I'm hiding my appearance with a robe, so enough with the flattery."
"When you've been in this business for a long time... you get a sense for it even if someone is covered up."
Finishing her words with a bewitching smile, she rose from her seat and gestured for me to follow.
Maintaining a calm expression toward her, I rose from my seat and used an information gathering skill on the madam who began walking somewhere slowly.
For reference, I had used points a few days ago in preparation for today to raise the level of the information gathering skill. Therefore, even a person's disposition now appears in the information window.
[Name: ???]
[Ability: Strength 7.5 / Magic Power 7.5 / Intelligence 7.5 / Mental Strength 8.5]
[Special Characteristics: Protection of Charm / Succubus's Scent]
[Disposition: Gold Digger]
"...Ha."
Seeing her information, I let out a sigh and muttered inwardly.
'So this is why the sudden quest appeared?'
I used information gathering because I felt an evil aura from her, and there in the special characteristics, Protection of Charm and Succubus's Scent were prominently displayed.
And if my memory is correct, those two characteristics are protections possessed by the Succubus Queen 'Arbatia,' one of the Demon King's closest confidants in the previous iteration.
She was inferior to other executives in martial power and magic power, but she wielded mental-type magic, especially 'seduction' magic, more skillfully than anyone else.
Thanks to that, in the previous iteration, numerous heroes fell under her spell and died meaningless deaths frequently.
'...This is an unexpected harvest.'
But since I discovered her here now, such things won't happen in this iteration.
"...Here, this way."
While thinking such thoughts, the Succubus Queen had somehow opened a secret door in the floor and was looking at me with a smile.
"...I'm already looking forward to it."
I told the Succubus Queen exactly what I was feeling right now and began following her underground.
.
"There... look around all you want. Cute young master."
"This is..."
The underground I arrived at following her was quite wretched.
Women with unfocused or dead eyes were crouched and imprisoned in cells.
"Girls... a guest has come, you should smile, right?"
"".......!!!""
When the madam looked at them and spoke in a cold voice, the women flinched and began to force smiles.
"H, haha... hahaha..."
"W, welcome... guest..."
"Welcome... sir..."
Their eyes were filled with fear as they spoke and tried to smile.
"...My, was this a bit too stimulating for the cute young master?"
"..........."
As I stared blankly at them, the Succubus Queen glanced at me and asked.
"...It's amazing."
"You... no, you really... suit my taste?"
"Just kidding."
Looking at the Succubus Queen who began licking her lips while making eyes at me, I stood at a distance and said with an unsatisfied expression.
"But, everything's fine except... they're too old."
"Pardon? They're all young women in their 20s?"
"...I want someone younger than me."
"............."
The Succubus Queen's expression stiffened at my words.
"...Young master, I'm sorry but that's not for sale."
"So there is some?"
"...Please don't do this, young master. If you keep this up... I'll have to call people, you know?"
As the Succubus Queen began to emit killing intent, I sighed and began to rummage through my bosom.
"Hey, I understand you have money but... even so, you can't sell what's not for sale..."
"...Ten gold coin purses."
".......!"
The Succubus Queen, who had been speaking coldly to me, froze when I threw ten gold coin purses one by one before her.
'The Succubus Queen who was so blinded by greed she even betrayed the Demon King, so this should work?'
Filled with all kinds of desires, she had betrayed the Demon King's location in the previous iteration, tempted by my fiancée's scheme and the princess's treasures.
Of course, the battle that ensued from that was easily won by the Demon King, and the Succubus Queen was purged for that incident.
Anyway, the important thing is that she's crazy about money.
"W, well... one might be... okay...? Well... we can always capture more..."
The Succubus Queen, who had been pacing anxiously in thought, carefully collected the gold coin purses and opened her mouth.
"...Please wait here a moment. I'll personally select one."
"...I want to see with my own eyes."
"That really won't do. I'll bring the finest quality... so you don't need to worry?"
The Succubus Queen knocked on the wall beside her three times.
- Rumble...!
Then, the wall split open and a secret passage appeared.
"...By the way, forgive me for asking, but which family's young master are you? If you become a regular at our establishment, everyone from that family gets a discount..."
"...There are children inside here, right?"
"Yes, but young master should stay here... ugh...!"
And then, looking at the opened passage, I asked the Succubus who had begun making a sales pitch, and the moment she let her guard down, I kicked her stomach with all my might.
"...Just wait a little, kid."
I looked at the Succubus Queen who had floated up and crashed into the wall before fainting, then began heading toward the secret passage.
.
"P, please spare us!!"
"Help us!!"
"Waaah... mommy..."
".........."
After exiting the passage, I found children crowded into a large cell, and in front of it, a red magic circle was drawn.
Seeing that magic circle, a rage began to rise within me.
That's a magic circle used in the ritual to awaken the Demon King's power.
And the materials used to draw that magic circle are the children's blood, and the activation condition is sacrificing the lives of 100 healthy children.
'...So "well-fed means premium quality" meant this.'
As I was muttering inwardly, footsteps were heard from behind.
"...Ha, so you found out."
"............"
"But still, our young master is full of energy? Even though it was a human form, to knock me out for a moment."
The Succubus Queen, now transformed into her demon form, was blocking the passage with a group of people wearing black masks.
Feeling that familiar and fierce energy, they were likely all black mages... and high-ranking ones at that.
"...Don't kill them, capture them alive. I'll make them my toys."
""...Yes.""
When the Succubus Queen's command fell, the black mages began extending their hands and chanting spells.
"...Hah."
I looked at them and took a deep breath, then drew my beloved sword from my bosom and slashed greatly.
- Zzing!!
One flash.
And when that single sword strike ended, all the black mages who had been chanting spells began to collapse powerlessly to the ground.
"W, what!?"
While the Succubus Queen was bewildered at that incomprehensible situation, I began to approach her while glaring at her.
"Y, you...! What are you!?"
"............."
"W, wait! Wait!! Don't come!!!"
When I approached right in front of her, the Succubus Queen began to back away in panic, but then,
"..........Ugh!"
When I groaned and fell to my knees and began vomiting blood, she tilted her head for a moment before approaching me with a smile.
"My, I thought you were a cute toy... but you have quite an unexpected side?"
"...Cough! Cough!"
"But... when you use such a reckless technique, your body will be destroyed, you know."
"...Ugh."
When I, who had been continuously vomiting blood, collapsed completely to the floor, the Succubus Queen crouched beside me and began whispering softly in my ear.
"You really suit my taste."
"..........."
"Haah... it's been so long since I've seen such a clear color..."
"Mmm..."
"...How ecstasy-inducing would it be to dye that clear color with my color?"
After saying those words, she breathed into my ear.
"Remember that scent. It belongs to your master."
".........."
"The Succubus's Scent... I don't use this on just anyone? Only on my exclusive toys."
".......Yes."
"Good, you're obedient. Then... would you take off that stifling-looking robe?"
And so I began to remove the robe as she said, and she, who had been looking with expectant eyes, was once again bewildered when she saw my face.
"...W, what? That unpleasant mask?"
"I just bought it."
"What? What do you mean..."
Without even hearing all of her question, I thrust my beloved sword into her stomach.
- Thud!
"Trying to report to the Demon King..."
"........!"
She had tried to transmit my appearance to the Demon King via transmission magic, so I quickly purchased a 'Mask of Deception' from the shop that completely hides one's identity for one minute even from detection and put it on.
Thanks to that, right now the Demon King must be fuming, seeing the appearance of someone wearing a white mask that even his own discernment couldn't identify, someone who disrupted his power awakening.
"H, how..."
"...Hm?"
Just as I was about to wrap things up, the Succubus Queen grabbed the sword embedded in her stomach and began to speak with a dying voice.
"Why... doesn't the Succubus's Scent... work on you...?"
"Simple. Because my mental strength is higher than yours."
"I, impossible... how... can a mere human... be higher than me..."
"...Is that your last words?"
"W, wait!!"
When I tried to pull the sword from her stomach, the Succubus Queen shouted with all her might.
"I'll give you information about the Demon King!!"
"...What?"
"Yes, I don't know how you know... but anyway, you're targeting the Demon King, right? I'll help you! I may look like this, but I'm the Demon King's closest confidant!"
"..........."
As I quietly began to stare at her, she, as if having found a thread of hope, began to shout even more desperately.
"That's not all!! I'll give you gold and treasures!! Not just the money in this shop, but all my assets!!"
".........."
"A, and... if you want, I'll serve your nights too! I, I'm the Succubus Queen? I'm confident in satisfying men..."
"...It's almost one minute."
"...Huh?"
After saying those words, I violently pulled the sword from her stomach.
"...Thud!"
Then she knelt while spewing blood from her mouth, and I looked at her before speaking softly to the children behind me.
"Children, cover your eyes."
Then the children in the cell, who had been staring blankly at me, covered their eyes with their hands. Listening well to adults, truly admirable little ones.
"Why... even though... for you it would be the best offer..."
On the other hand, she, kneeling and bleeding, asked me in a fading voice.
"...Simple."
To her, I pointed to the children who were still trembling with fear and answered.
"...You shouldn't have touched the children."
"...Ah."
And the next moment, her head was flying through the air.
"I didn't touch children in the previous iteration either."
Looking coldly at her head rolling on the ground, I added those words, then quietly turned around and looked at the children.
""..........""
The children were still covering their eyes with their hands and bowing their heads. Looking at those children with a proud expression, I was finally able to find the child, my ultimate goal in coming here.
"...She's unconscious."
After cutting the locked bars with my beloved sword and taking out all the children, I carefully picked up the girl who had been unconscious since taking that earlier strike, and began heading outside with the children.
.
""Th, thank you!!""
Coming out of the secret passage, I freed all the women who had been imprisoned in the cells and collected the gold coins I had given the Succubus Queen to distribute a little to everyone.
I originally intended to give only one coin each, but seeing the faces of the poor people kidnapped to fund the Demon King and awaken his power, I couldn't bring myself to do that.
Then the women and the child bowed their heads to me and asked my name, but it was a life-or-death situation if I revealed it, so I wrapped my body tightly in the black robe and covered my face with a mask while maintaining silence.
Regretfully, they continued to bow their heads to me, then formed groups and escaped the place that had been a terrible hell for them.
"...Mmm."
Watching the backs of the disappearing people with a satisfied expression, when the child in my arms let out a moan and opened her eyes, I smiled and spoke.
"Are you awake?"
"...W, where is this?"
The little girl, who had been looking around blankly for a moment, looked at me quietly and began to sob.
"D, did oppa save me...?"
".........."
"I, I haven't even paid back all the gold coins yet..."
"...I told you that doesn't need to be repaid."
"B, but..."
"...Then, I'll be going."
After setting her down at the tavern entrance, I thought I should quickly return to Isollet who would be waiting for me, and tried to go outside, but...
"...Oppa."
"Hm?"
The girl grabbed my robe to stop me and asked with an innocent face.
"What is oppa's identity?"
"Me?"
Receiving that question, I fell into thought for a moment.
Because, the child was just asking out of curiosity about who I was... but for me, it was a question with significant meaning.
My identity... that is, my identity had never changed even once since the day I first heard my fate from my father.
When I committed my first evil act against my fiancée,
When the main heroines began to despise me,
And when they started dying one by one,
When I finally succeeded in the first mutual destruction with the Demon King,
My identity was always one thing.
To maintain that identity, I had always acted out a different personality whenever I committed acts of evil.
Using lines and tones that a cowardly, pathetic, immature third-rate villain would use, I had separated my defined identity from myself as the evil one.
I did that because I feared that what I was doing might become real evil rather than acting, and that I might lose my identity and become a true villain.
And that painstaking effort was not in vain, it seems.
Because I was able to protect my identity until this very moment.
"...Information window."
Looking at myself reflected in the mirror at the tavern entrance, I deliberately spoke aloud even though I could say it internally and used the information gathering skill.
[Name: Frey Raon Starlight]
[Ability: Strength ???/ Magic Power ??? / Intelligence ??? / Mental Strength 9]
[Special Characteristics: Protection of the Star / Evil One / Vitality Depleted]
Looking quietly at the information window floating before my eyes, I quietly answered the little girl who was looking at me purely.
"...A hero."
"...Yes?"
To her, who tilted her head at those words, I looked quietly at the very last part of the information window and answered once more in a clear tone.
[Disposition: Hero]
"...I am a passing hero."