Each One's Dream, Each One's Ideal World
Don't mistake the demons' retreat for defeat. This isn't like a war between nations, with negotiations and ceasefires. They've merely pulled back from the alliance's front lines. The demons are still lurking, waiting for any opening.
"Demons! A demon has appeared!!"
A soldier guarding the outskirts of a small town spotted something writhing on the horizon. Without a second thought, he shouted and rang the bell.
Shouldn't he confirm if it's really a demon first? He could. But he'd do it from inside the demon's belly.
Demons are strong. Vicious. And fast. When in doubt, prepare for the worst. You might strike at nothing, but at least you'll live.
Today, this soldier wasn't the boy who cried wolf. He was the town's hero.
"It's a real demon!"
"Damn it. Today was supposed to be my wild night with Amy."
"Should've at least gotten one off before dying."
"If I'd known, I'd have jerked off ten times first."
Luckily, the town currently hosted a knight order. Normally, there wouldn't be one. Knight orders were for big cities. Knights didn't bother with backwaters like this—no glory to be had.
They craved battles sung by bards, admired by noble ladies. That was all knights desired.
But that had changed.
Over ten years, it had clearly changed—
"Demons!"
"Uwoooooh!!"
"Exterminate them!"
"Exterminate them!!"
It was already shocking that knights had come to this small town. But the real surprise came next.
The knights flung open the gates and charged en masse. No hesitation, no fear. Pure aggression. A desperate will burned in them, as if something was chasing them from behind.
"Kill them! Kill!"
"Yeah, I don't wanna die!!"
"Demons must be eradicated!"
"Knights don't wanna get hit!!"
Strange words slipped through the roars, but anyway—the knights cut down every last demon.
"N-not bad, you humans...! But it's not enough. I'll make you stronger! How about it? Join me, and that glory you crave so desperately will be yours..."
"Uwaaaah! Die, you demon! Die!!"
No one listened to the demons' whispers. Not conviction or justice. It was simpler: the instinct to survive, to avoid hell.
"We exterminated the demons!"
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
"We're alive!!"
Knights paraded with demon heads impaled on spears. Had knights always been like this? A few soldiers wondered. But who cared? They'd won. They'd survived. The townsfolk praised the knights and sighed in relief. The knights hugged each other, joyful at not getting hit.
"Ow, fuck."
Or maybe not.
"Did you catch all the demons?"
Cain had rushed over the moment he heard. He'd even hoped they'd be strong this time. But they were all dead meat by the time he arrived.
The knights snapped to attention at Cain's question, lips sealed, trembling in terror.
Knights wielded mana. They were superhumans. They feared nothing, not even demons. Because they were strong. Because they could overcome any trial.
Yet here they were, quaking in deathly fear. Superhumans reduced to mice before a cat. They prayed this time it'd end at five thousand lashes. Seven thousand would kill them for real!
"Haa."
Cain scratched the back of his head and spoke.
"At ease."
"A-at eeease!!"
As they relaxed, Cain sighed. He was annoyed, but couldn't blame them. He was late. They'd killed the demons. It stung to have his kills stolen, but he'd ordered them to kill.
What could he do? He'd just have to hurry next time.
'Gotta torture the magic circle managers again.'
They were already plenty fast! Somewhere, their screams echoed. Cain? He didn't give a damn.
"Good. Our knight friends have made tremendous progress."
"..."
"So quick and snappy—how nice. How's it feel to kill demons?"
"G-good, siiiir!!"
"Right? Feels good, doesn't it? Refreshing? You were all traitors for slacking before."
"Yesss, siiiir!!"
Yeah, yeah. Keep it up, knight friends.
"Oh, and if you hear I'm coming, leave the strongest ones for me. The most lively bastards."
"We'll save them for suuure, siiiir!!"
"But don't wait too long. Kill demons on sight."
"We'll kill half of theeeem, siiiir!!"
Truly, history's miracle cure. Cain flexed his fist—more vicious than any iron mace—and marveled at his own genius.
Anyway. He praised them once more, patting their shoulders.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
"What?"
"We'll work haaaarder, siiiir!!"
Less than a day had passed since they met. But that brief time was eternity for the knights. A touch from him unleashed nightmares. Hell itself.
They'd rather face demon hordes than this man. Demons! Demons were the root of all evil!
"Hm."
After parting with the knights, Cain slumped anywhere. Deep worry clouded his face, followed by a brooding chin-rest.
Yuris would blush and call it handsome. Wilhelm would pale and panic.
'This won't do.'
Lately, he hadn't fought demons properly. Sure, he'd clashed several times. But that wasn't fighting. Child's play.
The real thing? Endless demon hordes. Battlefields where their blood formed rivers. That's what Cain knew.
"Cowardly bastards."
He'd diligently killed them for years, and now they fled. Talking big about toppling the alliance, turning half to food and half to livestock. Weren't they giving up on their dreams?
This wouldn't do. He needed to kill demons soon. So, the academy. Definitely the academy!
'That place is bound to be demon central.'
With heroine and hero there, attacks were inevitable. High chance the villainess enrolls too, clashing with the heroine in jealousy-fueled drama.
Academies were always like that.
Summon the Seven Deadly Sins demons already, villainess! He'd go mad from boredom otherwise.
"Aaah! The academy!!"
Demon raid event! Underground demon tunnels! The academy as a summoning circle! Demon fever time! Anything!
Cain shouted for the academy in earnest.
Meanwhile—
"..."
Someone watched Cain intently. Not a knight, but superhuman like one. Skilled enough to battle demons.
But now, focused solely on tailing him.
"Academy!!"
"..."
Scribbling furiously at each shout. He lingered a bit longer, then vanished swiftly to a safe spot.
Soon, he met a noble.
"Back."
"Report."
The man handed over a notebook. Rage twisted the noble's face.
"That Mad Dog. He had ulterior motives after all."
A brute who only knew fighting had endorsed the academy. Some thought Wilhelm convinced him. But this noble was certain otherwise.
'Something only the academy offers.'
Probably a shot at rising status. Despite countless feats in the demon war, Cain was scorned as a commoner. He acted indifferent, but was it real?
No way! Arrogant peasants always schemed for nobility. An innate instinct for the lowly.
They believed there was a way. Deluded themselves they could escape.
"Insolent wretch. How dare he."
How dare he think he could change his blood?
Killing a few demons doesn't make you a hero. Heroes are nobles who fight demons to protect this land! Nobles who train knights to safeguard people!
Glory isn't earned by mere brawls!
"He didn't notice the tail?"
"Of course not."
The academy was meant for elite heirs. Fixed alliance families. Plenty exclusive.
But key figures suddenly changed their minds. Let lower classes in too. Low nobles? Make it full commoners!
'I'd have blocked it outright.'
But the supporters were too big: Third Prince Arhen, Border Count Evan, Kasen Prince Prince, even Holy Kingdom's Liberio lately.
Nobles couldn't oppose en masse.
"What are they thinking...!"
The world should be ruled by noble blood. No place for commoners or low nobles. The academy too.
Absurd. Letting riffraff in fueled delusions! Crush them early, so they never look up. Make them crawl, eyes on the dirt!
"Can't have this."
Persuade alliance nobles again. Bar all commoners and low nobles. No mingling with filth. Worse than death. Utter humiliation.
This land belongs to noble blood. That's the nobles' dream—their utopia.
"Set up a meeting the moment we return. We need to talk with the alliance nobles again."
"Yessir! Right away, m'lord!"
...Huh?
"What's wrong, m'lord? Somethin' here that shouldn't be?"
The noble backed away in panic. The man beside him had vanished. Scanning around, he saw legs on the ground—his subordinate's outfit.
Then the voice now...
"Ta-da."
"Y-you?!"
Demon Slayer. God's Right Hand. Executioner.
But the name that terrified the noble most:
"Mad Dog!!"
"Woof."
A noble might rage at the insult. Cain just barked and laughed.
"If you're gonna tail, do it right. You're too obvious."
He'd considered playing dumb. Might've been funnier. But as the Mad Dog, letting someone step on his tail without reaction? No way.
That'd shatter plausibility—a grave sin!
Thud—
"Don't come closer, you cur!"
"Wandering like this in these rough times, m'lord."
Snap!—
"Gaaah!!"
The noble screamed as Cain gripped his shoulder. Bones cracked and crumbled instantly.
"You could drop dead right now, no issue."
"Y-you bastard! A-are you insane?! A noble, for no reason!!"
"That's why you'd drop dead."
If you dare tail the Mad Dog, expect to get bit.
"Even one protagonist's enough to annoy me."
"G-guuuh!!"
"No mercy for extras."
After that day, one noble went missing. Rough world. Probably demon chow.