Episode 14
"...Alright, so it was here after all."
Rummaging through the box, I picked up a cylindrical object made of metal that felt similar to iron and muttered.
"...I recall you could recover vitality by consuming this?"
According to the words left by my ancestor in the prophecy book, the true identity of this cylindrical object—one of the items placed as an Easter egg inside the box—was 'caffeine beverage,' a tonic of the 'developers' who created the world.
In the game, drinking the beverage inside would continuously recover health for several minutes, and if combined with my 'Star's Blessing' which maximized health recovery, I would probably be able to hold out to some degree in this chaotic situation.
'...But the Star's Blessing isn't working well. Has it already reached its limit?'
As the successor to my ancestor who was the Hero of the Star, I can use the 'Hero's Power' and 'Star's Blessing' that my ancestor used.
'Hero's Power' is a technique based on vitality, allowing one to transfer vitality to others or burn vitality to unleash explosive power.
And the Star's Blessing automatically activates when vitality starts to run out, rapidly recovering depleted vitality.
Just looking at this, they might seem like overpowered skills that allow one to use powerful strength without any risk, but the reality is different.
Using them once or twice causes no problems, but continued use strains the body while also shortening one's lifespan.
When vitality is depleted, one should slowly rest while absorbing mana and consuming energy, but forcefully pouring vitality in naturally causes these effects.
Of course, I'm already in a state where my body is strained from continuously giving vitality to Kania. Perhaps because of that, I can't fully utilize my power and my lifespan has also been significantly reduced.
Well, I'm fated to perish together with the Demon King anyway, so it doesn't matter.
"...Ugh, what is this?"
After making an opening in the bottle with my sword and drinking the beverage, I frowned at the sharp, stinging taste.
Like that, determined to definitely obtain the 'Stone of Domination,' I forced all the beverage down my throat, and my body grew hot as energy began circulating.
"...Phew, that's better."
Confirming that my body, which had been battered from pouring life force into Kania this morning and fighting the Succubus Queen, had recovered to some extent, I began moving forward, cutting through the darkness covering the auction house.
- Shuuu...
Then, the dark energy that detected moving people began to attack me, but I waved my hand like shooing away flies and drove it away.
The reason I can so easily drive away dark energy that would make ordinary people lose consciousness the moment they touched it is because I possess 'Star's Mana.'
'Star's Mana,' passed down to the direct descendants of the Starlight family from the previous Hero, has 'light properties' similar to the 'Sun's Mana' possessed by the imperial family, the 'Moon's Mana' possessed by the Moonlight family that my fiancée belongs to, and the 'Holy Power' used by the Saint of the Sun God Church.
Therefore, those four powers, which are the protective forces representing the Sunrise Empire, have excellent effects in driving out dirty and evil energy.
"Haap!!"
Klana stretched her hand upward and shouted a battle cry, and a dazzling, brilliant power spread from around her, forcefully driving away the black energy.
The 'Sun's Mana' that the Princess just used burns enemies with blindingly destructive power. However, it's so powerful that sometimes the caster themselves gets injured, and there are times when it cannot distinguish between friend and foe.
"...Oh Sun God, please grant power to this humble lamb."
Peroche closed her eyes and offered a prayer, and white energy spread in all directions, driving away the darkness.
The holy power that the Saint just used specializes in granting blessings to those she desires, healing wounds, or driving out evil things. Therefore, her power is essentially a natural enemy to dark magic.
"...Kugh."
Meanwhile, Kania's 'Black Magic,' as she unsteadily but silently approaches the 'Stone of Domination,' is the power the Sunrise Empire is most wary of.
Just as one can see from the Sun symbolizing the imperial family, the Moon symbolizing the Moonlight Duke family who were founding contributors, and the Star symbolizing the Starlight Duke family who were also founding contributors, the Sunrise Empire worships brilliant light.
However, since Black Magic symbolizes darkness that dyes everything in its own color, the Sunrise Empire cannot help but strongly reject such Black Magic.
"...Alright, got it."
Watching the heroines pushing through the darkness and approaching the 'Stone of Domination,' I finally grabbed the Stone of Domination and smiled in triumph.
I started first, so I grab it first. Even a fool would know this obvious fact.
'...But why aren't the Demon King's troops coming?'
It bothers me a bit that the Demon King's troops aren't launching a surprise attack for some reason. Did they give up on entering because a variable occurred when Kania activated her dark magic power?
Or did something change because I killed the Succubus Queen?
'...No, that's not what's important right now. I need to take this 'Stone of Domination' and escape this place before the heroines reach here...'
- Thud!!
".....Kuhek!"
Just as I turned around with the Stone of Domination in my grasp, I was hit by the Princess's flying kick—she had gathered Sun's Mana in her legs and used it as propulsion—and went flying through the air.
"...Just who are you?"
"...Ugh."
"Answer me. Right now."
Eventually, after I flew and crashed into a wall and went limp, the Princess approached me and began speaking coldly.
[Name: Klana Sol Sunrise]
[Abilities: Strength 7 / Magic Power 7 / Intelligence 7 / Mental Strength 8.1]
[Special Traits: Sun's Blessing / Ruler's Aura]
[Disposition: Conqueror]
"...You're clearly someone not in the scenario, so why did you appear here?"
"..........."
"If you won't speak, I'll have to inflict pain on you, Mr. Irregular."
While I was gauging her combat ability with my information search skill, the Princess gathered Sun's Mana at her fingertips and began aiming at me.
"...Where should I shoot the first shot? Arm? Leg? Eye? Wherever it hits, the pain will be quite terrible? So please, speak quickly."
Staring at her for a moment, I gathered Star's Mana in my throat and spoke while distorting my voice as much as possible.
"...Below."
"What?"
"...Look below you."
At those words, the Princess made a puzzled expression and looked at her lower body, then froze.
Because she had concentrated too much of the powerful Sun's Mana in her legs, her lower garments had disappeared.
Even her underwear.
"...Kyah!?"
The Princess, who had been blankly looking down, screamed and covered her lower region with her hands as she collapsed to the ground, and I didn't miss that opportunity—I kicked off the ground and started running toward the exit.
"W-wait! Stop right this instant!!"
Then, the Princess, still sitting down, began wildly shooting attacks charged with Sun's Mana from her fingers.
"...Hah!"
Dodging those attacks here and there, I deflected an attack flying straight at me by drawing my sword, redirecting it toward the Saint who had appeared blocking my path.
- Clang!!
Then, a massive white shield appeared before the Saint, and the Princess's attack that collided with it disappeared with a loud noise.
"...It's useless. All attacks are powerless before me."
The Saint clasped her hands and offered a prayer, and white shields appeared around me and began enclosing me.
"...You are trapped. Give up."
When the shields covered me without gaps, the Saint smiled triumphantly and raised her hand.
"Oh Holy Sun God, lend your power to humble me, and help me destroy the evil existence before me."
Finally, the Saint chanted her ultimate move.
"A sacred wave will wash away your sins."
It was a great purification spell—a counter against all evil existences except the Demon King, who is an out-of-bounds existence that destroys all that is corrupt or evil.
- Shaaa!
Watching me take the blindingly bright wave of light head-on, the Saint quietly offered a prayer.
"Servant of the Demon King. Reflect on your sins in hell and live a life of atonement."
"...I'm the Demon King's servant?"
"...Huh?"
But when I answered grumpily after concentrating Star's Mana in my throat, the Saint began making a dumbfounded expression.
"W-why is a Demon King's servant... fine after receiving my holy power?"
".............."
No matter how much I used Star's Mana, if I kept speaking, my throat would be strained or my original voice might come out, so I answered her question internally.
'...I'm not the Demon King's servant but a Hero, why would I be purified by a purification spell?'
Her ultimate spell is one that destroys evil existences, not righteous and good existences. Therefore, I only suffered the minor effect of temporarily losing my vision due to the bright light.
Of course, since the auction house is currently shrouded in darkness due to Kania's spell, the main heroines can't clearly distinguish me in front of them either, so even that wasn't much of a hindrance.
- Crash!
When I frowned and swung my sword powerfully once, the shields surrounding me shattered all at once.
The Saint, watching that scene blankly, smiled and spoke.
"I see, this is a trial."
"...........?"
"A trial given to me who once doubted the Sun God's existence—to overcome hardships with my own strength."
"..............."
"The great purification spell being ineffective, the unbreakable shield being broken—it's all his deep intention telling me not to rely on abilities and to grow my own strength."
'The shield broke simply because I was strong...'
I wanted to retort at her words, but fearing my voice might leak out, I remained silent, and the Saint raised her fist and declared solemnly.
"Then, come at me. Servant of the Demon King."
Seeing the Saint take on a ridiculous combat stance while calling me the Demon King's servant for some reason, I nearly burst out laughing and was about to ask why exactly I was considered the Demon King's servant, but...
"May the Sun God's blessing be with me."
Recalling that she had the 'Sun God's Blessing,' I turned around and started fleeing.
'...Crazy woman. She said she'd fight with her own power? The Sun God's Blessing is also something received from the Sun God, isn't it?'
"D-don't run away!"
The Saint began chasing after me as I fled, and not wanting to die in a place like this, I started running even faster.
"...Stop! Irregular!"
But this time, the Princess blocked my path.
"...What is that?"
"D-don't look down there!"
The Princess, who had gathered Sun's Mana in her legs and vital areas to make them shine blindingly bright, creating makeshift pants, began approaching me while emanating a golden aura from her hand.
"...Damn."
With the Princess in glowing makeshift pants in front and the Saint behind who could tear me to pieces at any moment blocking my way, I was breaking out in cold sweat when...
"...Huh?"
"Kyah!?"
Suddenly, the two women started looking around and screaming.
"W-what is this? Why is my Sun's Mana..."
"M-my holy power...? Why..."
".....?"
For some reason, the two women extended their arms and began outputting their respective powers at maximum to surround themselves, and while I was watching them with confusion, I froze in surprise at a sound coming from behind me.
"...Frey La-on Starlight, what exactly are you doing here?"
"...Ugh?"
It was because the eccentric collector who had competed with me earlier was whispering my name in my ear and asking a question.
"...W-who are you!?"
"It's me. The Demon King's confidant, Yukarius."
"...Ah."
And upon hearing his introduction, I immediately knelt on the spot and spoke.
"Frey La-on Starlight greets the great Demon King's confidant, Grand Archdemon Yukarius."
"...Haha, Grand Archdemon? That's too much praise. Don't raise me up so high."
"But isn't Lord Yukarius the one truly fitting to be the next executive?"
"Ahem, sometimes you flatter even better than the demons of hell, you know?"
Looking at the demon who had removed his mask and now had a dignified face, I poured on flattery while using my information search skill.
[Name: Yukarius]
[Abilities: Strength 2 / Magic Power 8.5 / Intelligence 7 / Mental Strength 8.6]
[Special Traits: Transformed State / Under Mind Control]
[Disposition: Swindler]
One of the Demon King's confidants, specializing in mental manipulation and hypnosis magic, he is an intermediary connecting me—who has been pretending to cooperate with the Demon King since long ago—with the Demon King's side. But why is this guy here right now?
"...Lord Yukarius, what brings you here?"
"Well, you see... I was ordered to investigate the incident that occurred in the back alleys."
"...Investigation?"
"That's right. It seems the Succubus Queen might have been harmed."
"......!"
While I flinched internally and averted my gaze, Yukarius patted my shoulder and continued speaking heartily.
"Don't worry! The Demon King's army won't collapse just because one of them died! And the unit that was originally planning to raid this place is investigating where she died... so the culprit will be revealed soon!"
"Ah... that's fortunate... haha..."
"By the way, why are you here?"
"...Yes?"
Yukarius suddenly gripped my shoulder tightly, tilted his head quietly, and spoke.
"...Moreover, you were even trying to purchase the 'Stone of Domination' to offer to the Demon King, going so far as to cause a commotion?"
"Ah, that's..."
"Being called 'greenhorn kid' by a greenhorn kid like you was quite a fresh experience. I'm truly grateful for that experience."
"...I-I'm sorry!"
I urgently knelt before him as he started frowning deeply and spoke.
"Actually, I recently obtained information about the 'Stone of Domination' from an information guild...!"
"...That's information only the Demon King's army knows?"
"The explanation Lord Yukarius gave me last time matched exactly with the information from the information guild! And they said it would appear at today's auction!"
"...And so?"
"S-so I intended to purchase it with my own funds and offer it to the Demon King. I never imagined my competitor would be Lord Yukarius!"
Hearing my urgent words, Yukarius looked straight into my eyes and asked another question.
"...Your immunity to my illusions is quite remarkable, isn't it?"
"...But isn't Lord Yukarius also skilled in disguise arts? I was truly completely deceived!"
"...Hmm, right. That's true."
Yukarius stroked his beard for a moment, then smiled broadly and spoke.
"As expected, you're really good at flattery...."
"Yes, yes..."
"...That's why I like you!"
After saying that, Yukarius looked at Klana and Peroche who were waving their arms wildly, caught in an illusion of being swallowed by darkness from his mental magic, and spoke.
"...The Princess and the Saint. Quite a funny combination, isn't it?"
"R-right...? Haha..."
"I'd like to kill or kidnap them if I could... but if I did that, the Demon King's plan would go awry, so I'll have to endure it."
"...Yes."
"Why is that? Are you disappointed?"
"N-no!"
As I spoke while sweating profusely, he smiled slyly and spoke.
"...If you want, I could change the illusion magic and make those two yours right now."
"............"
I nearly lost my composure at those words, but quickly made a frightened expression and started speaking.
"I-if we get caught doing that, my life is over!"
"Haha, true... getting caught embracing them would bring ruin to three generations! But what kind of man has such a small heart?"
He thumped my back while chuckling, then suddenly looked like he remembered something, grabbed my arm, and led me away.
"...That's why I've prepared women who won't cause any problems even if you embrace them."
"..........!"
The place he arrived at had Isollet standing with a blank expression holding a sword, and Kania kneeling before her, gasping for breath.
"...These two women suddenly attacked me, so I cast hypnosis on the sword-wielding woman and made her attack that reckless black magician."
"..........."
"After that, I ignored them for a bit... but it seems like it's been settled now?"
"By any chance, is the magic you used on that sword-wielding woman that spell Lord Yukarius is fond of using?"
"That's right, the 'Slave's Seal' magic you know well. This woman is now my slave forever unless I die."
Saying that, Yukarius made a greedy expression and licked his lips.
"...I hate black magicians, so you take that black magician. If you want, I'll even put a Slave's Seal on her."
"..........."
"Then, I'll go have some fun for a bit..."
- Squeak!
"......Gaaaaaak."
After drawing my sword and beheading Yukarius, who was approaching Isollet with a greedy expression, in a single strike, I coldly addressed his head rolling on the floor making grotesque sounds.
"...Have all the fun you want with the Succubus Queen in the Yellow Springs."
Since demons go to the Yellow Springs, the hell of demons, rather than their homeland of Hell when they die, I wished for him to suffer together with the Succubus Queen there while begging for his life. Then I sheathed my sword and slowly approached Kania.
"...W-who are you?"
"..........."
Kania, who had covered the auction house in darkness and had been fighting Isollet, was now in a state where her life was in danger if she didn't receive life force immediately, and she asked me who had approached right in front of her with a trembling voice.
'...I'll have to live with depleted vitality for a while.'
I started reaching out to share my recovered life force—from drinking the beverage from the decorative box—with her, but...
"...B-behind!"
At her urgent cry, I turned around and could only freeze with an expression of shock.
"...I'll kill you!"
For some reason, even though I killed Yukarius, the brainwashing hadn't been lifted, and Isollet had already drawn her sword and was right behind me.
"...Kugh!"
In that desperate moment, I...
"....Ugh!"
Made the choice to tightly embrace Kania who was in front of me.
- Thud!!
Protecting Kania from Isollet's sword while simultaneously pouring life force into her, I felt tremendous pain in my back, squeezed my eyes shut, and muttered internally.
'What a... fucked... game...'
Now I'm starting to hate everything.