Episode 131
"Frey! Where are you going?"
"......."
"Frey!!!"
I naturally turned my steps to leave the corridor, but at that moment Perloche, who had been crossing her arms, started screaming.
'...Damn it, of all places.'
If it had been a bustling corridor, I could have mingled with the crowd and slipped away, but this was a quiet corridor where few people came.
Since there was a waiting room where slaves waited, normally no one would come here until the market ended.
"...Why did you come here?"
"I came to stop you! It's obvious you're going to commit some vile scheme here again!"
"How did you know I'd come here today?"
"As if I wouldn't know that! Last time, this was the place you brought me to! You definitely had a 'premeditated plan' back then!"
Perloche said that while glaring fiercely at me.
"You noticed that?"
"I'm not an idiot!"
I quietly watched Perloche start to wear a proud smile, then frowned and asked again.
"Then, how did you know I'd come here today?"
"What are you talking about! Of course it has to be today!"
"Why?"
"Because the market is open today!"
Hearing that, I frowned even more and said.
"This market runs for a week."
"Huh?"
"After the week-long purchasing period ends, they start delivering the slaves in bulk."
"Heok."
Perloche looked momentarily flustered at my words, then scratched her head and spoke.
"I-I see? But anyway, since I met you here, that doesn't matter!"
"...Did you seem certain I'd do something today?"
I said that to her and slowly started walking while speaking.
"So... you came to guide me to the 'right path'?"
A few days ago, Serena warned me.
She said it would be best not to provoke Perloche if possible.
Serena had never been wrong even once, so I intended to follow her words this time too, but after seeing the letter Perloche sent, I couldn't bear it anymore.
[Perloche Asterlaid]
Stop your wrongdoing! You're breaking your promise!
Don't you know gratitude? You promised last time!
No need to say more! Come find me this evening!
Just like the method to read the secret message left in the diary last time, a message hidden vertically spelled out 'right path.'
The timing of that message was exactly when I was penalized after Clana discovered my identity.
Isn't that quite a coincidence?
"D-don't come closer!"
"...Hmm."
As I approached Perloche with those thoughts, she showed a slightly tense expression and raised both hands.
"If you come any closer, I'll take it as you trying to harm me and attack!"
Looking at her preparing for attack in her usual half-hearted pose, I fell into thought.
'...That's that, but for now I need to shake her off.'
Uncovering her secrets is good, but right now the slave market liberation quest is the top priority.
If Perloche becomes attached to me, this already difficult quest will become extremely challenging.
And, though I tested her without thinking, Perloche showed no reaction. I was focusing on her facial changes and eye tremors, so I'm certain.
So there's no need to carelessly provoke her in this situation.
Following Serena's advice brings rewards even when sleeping.
- Click.
After finishing my thoughts, I began carefully manipulating the cane I was holding.
- Shuuu...
"Anyway! Follow me! We'll leave this ugly and foul place, and I'll beat you thoroughly so you can repent... uah?"
Then thick smoke began rising from the cane.
'Serena's design combined with three others' magic, even Perloche won't be able to handle it.'
The refined dark magic power from Kania, spewing from what amounted to a ultimate weapon, stained the surroundings.
Of course, it was power that would quickly disappear against Perloche's overwhelming holy power, but if it could blind her for even a moment, there was no problem.
"W-where are you? Frey! What kind of sorcery is this!"
'...She'll erase the traces herself.'
Dark magic power was something I hesitated to use in public places, but given Perloche's personality, she would clean it all up completely.
So there would be plenty of time to escape.
"F-Frey-nim! Hello!"
"...Yes."
With those thoughts, I quickly headed downstairs via the stairs nearby, gave a rough response to the guard captain who saluted me, and tried to blend into the crowd, but.
"E-excuse me... have you perhaps seen an intruder?"
"Intruder?"
"Yes! Looking at the entrance, all the guards were unconscious... when I checked, they were all taken out with a single punch!"
I stopped in my tracks hearing the thoroughly flustered guard captain's words.
"So we're searching right now, but did you not see anyone suspicious..."
"They're on the upper floor."
"What?"
I looked at him with a slight smile, then began speaking with a serious expression.
"Looking at them, they seem quite skilled, so you'd better bring as many guards as possible. Don't go alone and get beaten."
"F-Frey-nim! I'm a skilled fighter myself!"
The guard captain started to look slightly hurt at my words.
'...Strength 7.3 and magic power 3, Perloche would win with just a finger.'
But to my eyes, it just sounded like a novice's complaints.
"Don't talk back, take your subordinates and go catch them quickly. Otherwise I'll go to the person in charge directly and sort this out."
"Y-yes!"
When I said that with stern eyes, the guard captain turned pale, bowed his head, and urgently ran off somewhere muttering.
"Damn it, why am I so unlucky lately..."
'...He has the coin of misfortune, so that's expected.'
Thinking of the coin of misfortune I gave him long ago, I smiled slightly, then blended into the crowd and fell into thought.
'This is actually working out well?'
When I saw Perloche earlier, my mind went completely white, but thinking about it now, this might actually be a good thing.
The source of Perloche's transcendent martial power was the 'Sun God's Blessing' which could only display transcendent power in one-on-one situations.
So if multiple people confronted her in a narrow corridor, they could buy some time.
Of course, Perloche had 'holy power' specialized for defense, so she wouldn't get hurt by guys with that level of skill.
In other words, both Perloche and the guards would be tied up.
'Informing everyone. Combat expected between Perloche and guards in the corridor with the slave waiting room. Due to this, security is expected to loosen slightly.'
With a pleasant smile, I transmitted the message and quietly began rummaging through my pocket.
- This is Combat Executive. Currently approaching the secret break room with other combat executives. May we wait here for a while?
- This is Demon King's Army Strategist Lemer. As Frey-nim said, security has loosened. Shall I have subordinates clean up the guards a bit more?
'Combat executives, stand by there until I give orders. Lemer, just enough not to cause wounds. Proceed very secretly.'
After giving natural orders upon receiving the transmissions, I felt an odd emotion and muttered.
"This really feels like becoming the Demon King..."
In the previous iteration when I groveled before those guys, I firmly vowed to beat them all down in the next iteration.
But now receiving their admiration and even giving orders... something feels strange.
'Still, I should use them when I can.'
Thanks to that, my feelings got a bit mixed up, but anyway, reaching the conclusion that using them before beating them down was better than just beating them, my mind became at ease again.
- Swish...
With a calm expression.
"Alright, then..."
I carefully put on the Robe of Deception in the bustling crowd and muttered.
"...Now it's time to meet our princess."
It's time to rescue the demon princess I left neglected for several weeks.
.
"Mmm, mmmm..."
"Oh my, oh my head..."
At that moment when Frey put on the Robe of Deception and hurried somewhere.
"Wait... what the?"
The guards stationed at the slave market entrance felt severe pain in their heads and got up from their spots.
"B-brother! What happened here?"
"I-I don't know, kid."
"Could it... we got caught sleeping again?"
The guards who used to get scolded often by the guard captain for dozing off started panicking, thinking they'd fallen asleep again.
"No... that doesn't seem to be it."
"T-then what is all this?"
But soon they froze seeing the scene spread before them.
"Don't know what it is... but something definitely happened."
Because their unconscious colleagues were lying there foaming at the mouth right before their eyes.
"What on earth is going on? Can you think of anything?"
"Ah, come to think of it...!"
When the thoroughly flustered guard asked his colleague, he clapped his hands and started speaking.
"We were opening the door to change shifts, and that guy over there came flying at us!"
"...Right, now that you mention it."
Soon the two looked at the large-built guard lying face down before them and started talking.
"But this guy, isn't he over 120kg? How did someone like that come flying?"
"Right... even if he threw himself, I don't think he could fly that high..."
But no matter how much they talked, they couldn't narrow down the culprit.
- Chichik, chijik...
"Senior, radio transmission coming in!"
"Damn... looks like we're in for another scolding."
When a transmission suddenly came in that situation, the guard called senior scratched his head and answered.
- Emergency, emergency situation. All guards, assemble at the slave waiting room corridor immediately.
"...What?"
Hearing the content from the radio, they were flustered again.
- Guards have been beaten down and there's combat with an intruder. Multiple injuries. Immediate support needed.
"That can't be, an intruder..."
"Did a monster invade? Otherwise..."
They were guards hired from renowned mercenaries in the world, so although the voice was urgent, they couldn't determine the truth.
- The intruder is a girl. A girl with white hair and eyes.
"...A girl?"
That situation reached its peak when the intruder's identity was revealed.
"Is this a joke? What girl could take on mercenaries with decades of experience?"
"Strange... it's definitely the guard captain's voice... but doesn't sound drunk..."
At that moment when the two couldn't easily judge and were hesitating.
- Thump, thump.
"...Hmm?"
Someone started walking toward them.
"What, it's a girl."
"Hey! Stop!"
The two narrowed their eyes looking at the person, soon realized it was a smiling girl, and tried to point their weapons to stop her.
"What did you say?"
"".........!!!""
But that was a huge mistake.
"What did you just say?"
"Mmm, mmm..."
"B-b-b brother. W-what is that?"
Because when the eyes of the girl who stopped in place shone, emotions they'd never experienced before rushed into them.
Overwhelming fear.
Awe and oppression.
Like encountering a massive wave in the open sea, a volcano erupting before their eyes, or a massive tornado formed in the void.
Rather than people, it was an unknown emotion like facing a living natural disaster.
""Mmm...""
Before they knew it, they were wetting their pants.
"...Pathetic."
The eyes of the girl who just passed between them, looking at them with pitiful eyes.
Were shining ruby red.
It was the moment Demon King Ruby began to properly reveal herself to the world.
"......What did we just see?"
"......I don't know either."
The two trembled in fear for a while from the aftereffects of seeing her.
- Swish...
"W-what now!"
When another girl in a black robe appeared, they started shaking with fear.
"Grr...!"
But since they didn't feel the same fear as before, the guards summoned their spirit and tried to raise their weapons or chant magic.
- Clang!!!
But after a light sound of fingers snapping, their weapons and magic circles shattered to pieces, leaving them speechless.
"...This is amandantium."
"That's true, but the magic circle breaking too... does that make sense to you?"
As Glare in the robe also entered the market, the two who had been dazed for a while whispered quietly.
"...That radio transmission earlier, it must be true."
"Seems so."
Darkness and light were gathering at the slave market.