Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Upper-Class Demon
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Upper-class demon.
Back during Asteron’s [Prophecy of the Red Moon], it had given me quite a bit of trouble.
But now, after all the growth since then, how would it fare?
“Grrrrr...!”
The pack of [Red-Maned Werewolves], charging at us like they were about to devour us whole, came to a halt in front of us and snarled.
Unease was clear in their eyes.
There was only one reason for their behavior.
“They’re scared.”
Just as Thompson said, they were thoroughly frightened.
‘...An upper-class demon cowed by sheer presence.’
It was an excellent sign.
Proof that we possessed greater power than they did.
Of course, we had one more head on our side, but even accounting for that, it was a welcome development.
“If they won’t come to us, we’ll go to them.”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Thompson moved first.
“Urraaaah—!”
Thud thud thud thud!
His body transformed into a rhinoceros mid-charge, each step shaking the ground.
He was using the legendary artifact [Cloud Boots].
Having been firmly warned about how dangerous the Demon Realm was, Thompson was going all out.
‘I can’t just sit back and watch.’
Normally, I’d observe his performance to gauge his growth, but judgment called for something else here.
Flash!
I conjured a sword of light and [Teleported] straight behind the werewolf pack.
One with keen senses turned around...
‘Too slow.’
My body was currently enveloped in ‘light magic.’
My sword was already extending toward its neck.
Slash—!
Blue veins of blood sprayed in all directions.
A roar erupted from the side at that exact moment.
Boom!
“Guweeeek!”
One werewolf went flying through the air from Thompson’s headbutt.
The situation was unfolding more smoothly than expected.
However, the demons weren’t just sitting idle.
Flash!
One of the unscathed ones overcame its fear and lunged forward.
“Grrrng!”
Baring its sharp fangs, it aimed for Thompson’s nape.
A rhinoceros versus a werewolf.
It felt just like watching some TV documentary.
The only pity was that the wolf had picked the wrong opponent.
Crunch!
“...Grng?”
The werewolf that bit Thompson wore a baffled expression, as if something was off.
And understandably so—Thompson’s entire body was encased in rock magic.
Soon, the werewolf let out a groan.
“Kyaaang!”
The pain in its fangs must have finally hit.
Meanwhile, Thompson, looking unscathed, gored it with his horn.
Stab!
Impaled straight through the heart by the sharp horn.
The werewolf’s body went limp.
Amid all this.
Srrrrk... srrrrk...
“This side’s wrapped up too.”
Thompson and Kayla approached, dragging two werewolves by their tails.
The one I’d beheaded and the one Thompson had first sent flying.
Thompson and Kayla had finished off the ones that were still clinging to life.
Srrrrk.
“Phew...”
As Thompson reverted to his original form, the heated atmosphere cooled.
At the same time, everyone was staring straight at me.
They looked like they were waiting for me to say something...
“You’re all strong. Haha.”
Only after I tossed out that line did they break into smirks.
A fairly satisfactory measure of their combat prowess.
***
“Eheheh, let these guys come at us from anywhere!”
Thompson puffed out his chest with a face brimming with confidence.
His nose was riding awfully high.
Well, he had shown better-than-expected performance in the fight just now, but...
It wasn’t something to react to quite like that.
The power gap had been overwhelming, after all.
“Well, they were mid-class demons at best, anyway? And we had the matchup advantage.”
“Ah, they weren’t upper-class...? I thought they were since they were in the Demon Realm, so obviously upper-class?
Technically upper-class if you had to classify them.
But that was due to the traits of pack-hunting demons.
Since it wasn’t a one-versus-many fight, it was more accurate to rate this battle as mid-class.
It was also safer for us that way from the start.
‘Pumping them up more would just breed complacency.’
With that judgment, I shook my head and said.
“Real upper-class starts with the ones that can speak.”
As I spoke, a faint trace of demonic energy reached me from somewhere.
Not just me—everyone turned toward the same spot, and I spoke first after identifying the source.
“Like that one right there. ...It’s hiding.”
Rustle!
We darted behind nearby rocks like cockroaches.
Ahead of us now, two unidentified demons were conversing.
‘Upper-class at least.’
I focused all my senses to glean their information.
However.
Mumble mumble.
‘...What are they saying?’
The distance was too great; I couldn’t make out a single word.
Getting closer risked them noticing us.
‘Right, that thing.’
Then, a perfect item came to mind.
At my mention, Barundel immediately understood and pulled an artifact from his bag.
A golden necklace embedded with a transparent gem.
[Necklace of Clear Resonance.]
Originally bought on the black market in preparation for the Asteron war, but it hadn’t seen use until now.
This was the perfect moment.
Swoosh.
I touched the gem to activate the artifact.
Then.
Scuttle scuttle.
The sound of Demon Realm insects crawling on the ground.
Swish swish—
Plants rustling in the wind.
Hoo...
The tense breathing of my companions.
The [Necklace of Clear Resonance] had enhanced my hearing.
Naturally, the demons’ conversation came through crystal clear.
[You couldn’t find it?]
“Yes, for some reason, the body that should have remained was completely gone.”
[You damned fool!]
“...I’m sorry. Lord Andras.”
‘Andras?’
I’d identified them, at least.
One was an upper-class demon, Andras.
The other seemed to be Andras’s subordinate.
And Andras—I knew him well.
‘A real one’s popped up already.’
The Demon of Discord, Andras.
Not a legion commander, but a beast with power rivaling one.
Top predator among upper-class demons.
Encountering one this soon was surprising.
But even more shocking was—
[That wasn’t meant for you. It was for that damned fool who died acting on its own and even wasted a precious vessel.]
“You mean it was the choice of that being?”
[Yes, the Death Knight’s vessel always reacts to the soul. The body vanishing means it denied its own existence in its final moments. Otherwise, the corpse would have remained.]
“...I see. Another lesson learned. Lord Andras.”
Somehow, their conversation was sticking in my ears perfectly.
Not because of the enhanced hearing, but the content itself.
‘Death Knight?’
That’s exactly what they said.
[Death Knight].
Which meant...
‘It’s connected to us.’
There was a high chance we were involved in their discussion.
Sensing something ominous, I listened even closer.
[Enough. We can find a new vessel.]
“Ah, there’s something I haven’t mentioned yet.”
[What?]
“The last place where that being’s aura cut off was Alvheim.”
[Alvheim? Oh ho, so the pointy-ears are the culprits?]
“That seems to be the case.”
‘...As I thought.’
I hadn’t misheard.
They were searching for the [Death Knight]’s dead vessel.
The reason became clear from the ensuing conversation.
[The pointy-ears turning into a Death Knight would be quite amusing, wouldn’t it?]
“Yes, with their superior physical abilities, it’ll surely perform as expected.”
The two cackled as they said this.
They appeared to be looking for a new candidate to become a Death Knight.
The one we’d recently encountered seemed to be their handiwork too.
‘Andras shouldn’t have that kind of ability.’
The question arose, but it was fleeting.
[Open a rift to the human realm.]
“Yes.”
Zzzzzzt!
Seeing the eerie demonic energy slicing through space wiped all other thoughts.
Except one.
‘I have to stop them.’
The calculations were done.
Upper-class demon Andras and his subordinate, who didn’t look pushover either.
What would happen if they clashed with our group of four.
Step.
I gestured to my companions, then slowly stepped forward.
The moment I took a few steps, they noticed our presence.
[Humans? Altir, have we already crossed over?]
“...No. We’re still in the Demon Realm.”
[Then... what about those?]
Andras tilted his head in disbelief.
I drew his gaze with a taunt.
“Hey, how about me? Watching you, it seemed like you were looking for someone to make into a Death Knight or whatever.”
[...What? Human, you serious?]
Serious?
“Like hell I am, you bastard!”
Flash!
While he was still off-guard.
I [Teleported] behind him and swung my sword of light.
[...!!]
But as expected of non-pushovers, he reacted instantly.
Swoosh!
His subordinate extended an arm to block the sword’s path, while Andras’s elongated claws targeted my abdomen.
‘Fast.’
The reaction speed was worlds apart from the werewolves earlier.
They couldn’t have anticipated my sudden appearance from behind, yet this response.
However, one thing in common with those guys...
Their judgment was lacking.
“You should’ve dodged instead of blocking.”
Slash!
“Krgh!”
This wasn’t some knight’s flimsy sword.
A blade with light magic as its core attribute, infused with holy power.
Thus, my sword of light severed the subordinate’s arm and went for Andras’s neck.
[Hup!]
Andras yanked back his stabbing claws to cover his throat.
I thought he hadn’t learned, but...
Clang!
The sword of light bounced off his claws like striking a shield.
[Hardening].
He must have mastered that technique.
Of course, even with his defensive skill, I hadn’t dealt zero damage.
Drip drip!
Blue blood trickled from his split claws.
He grimaced upon realizing it.
And that led straight to a counterattack.
[Die.]
Thud thud thud!
His claws, laden with demonic energy, shot toward me like thorns.
Dangerous.
If I were alone.
Splat!
A thick stone wall erupted right in front of me.
Clang clang!
It deflected all of Andras’s claws.
At the same time.
Rumble!
A bolt of lightning crashed from the sky.
No—a single dwarf was plummeting down.