Banishment of the Savage Demon
The atmosphere grew awkward in an instant as Arios's shout rang out. Red, who had been threatening everyone, the citizens trembling under her menace, and even I—the very person Arios had called precious—all fell silent.
A moment later.
"Did your family raise you on romance novels or something?"
Red replied in disbelief.
"You're the duke's heir and a hero! You gonna throw away all that responsibility for one guy?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"You've gone completely off the rails since I last saw you!"
Even as Red yelled, Arios moved to prove her sincerity. She charged at Red in a thrusting stance, her sword shimmering with vivid aura. It looked like she was ready to impale her hostage without a second thought.
"Hey, Arios!"
She's not serious, right? I watched, thinking it couldn't be, but...
"Damn it!"
Red hurriedly shoved the hostage aside before Arios could close in. If the opponent didn't care about the hostage, it was just dead weight. She ditched the nuisance and shot into the sky.
Arios pursued Red as she leaped onto the rooftops. The two dashed between buildings, locked in a fierce battle. Arios swung her aura-clad sword as she lunged; Red blocked with her arm. Blocking aura with bare flesh was normally impossible, but Red's arm had grotesquely transformed. It was covered in thick scales, so the aura sliced scales instead of skin.
After defending, Red mutated her other arm too. She extended claw-like talons and slashed. Arios ducked low to evade.
Even with one side wielding the deadly weapon of aura, the fight was even. Was that Red's demon ability? In the original story, demons each had unique powers. It seemed Red's specialty was bodily mutation for combat.
"Se-Seres-nim!"
The soldiers approached me in panic as I observed the battle.
"What do we do? Should we help Arios-nim...?"
"No chance."
I cut them off bluntly. How could anyone intervene in a rooftop chase? Even I, far stronger than an ordinary human now, couldn't manage it. Sniping with bows would be too risky.
"Focus on evacuating the civilians instead."
The sudden demon appearance had caused chaos. People fleeing in terror, others still gawking in confusion. I directed the soldiers to herd them to safety when...
"Heh heh, running like rats!"
Red spotted the evacuees and grinned wickedly.
"You think I'll let you go?"
Something erupted from Red's body. They descended to the ground—winged centipede-like horrors, massive in size! Dozens swarmed the fleeing crowd.
I jolted, thinking they'd all die, but the real shock came next. Those pierced by the bugs suddenly turned toward me and charged like madmen.
"Seres!"
Arios, who had ignored attacks on me, freaked out at this unexpected twist.
"Haha, I know that's your weakness!"
Red laughed triumphantly. The bugs were parasites that could control others—and amplify their physical abilities too.
Soldiers tried shielding me, but the possessed shoved them aside effortlessly. Arios moved to help, exposing a gap that Red exploited, escalating the mayhem.
Amid the uproar, I approached the controlled victims instead. As one lunged, I grabbed their outstretched arm, using their momentum to flip and hurl them over my shoulder.
"Huh?"
"Eh."
I heard Red and Arios blurt out in stunned unison. Ignoring them, I hooked another's leg to trip them, blocking the front. As dozens hesitated, I slipped to the flank.
Before they regrouped, I struck from the side—mostly low kicks to topple and subdue. For good measure, I infused divine power into the downed foes; they thrashed then went still.
Just unconscious, alive and unharmed. Did the bugs dissolve in divine power? Crisis averted, Red's shocked voice exploded.
"Wasn't that guy supposed to be sickly? The fragile beauty type!"
"I got treated!"
And got way stronger. Without superhuman strength, no amount of skill beats dozens enhanced like that.
"Sorry, but targeting me's a bad move."
"You little shit, who asked you to play hero? Just stay a pathetic invalid."
What? I shot back, incredulous.
"Hey, extra!"
"...Did you just call me an extra?"
Yeah, you're the type that doesn't even get named in the original. No fights, just a throwaway mention as "some demon." If that's not an extra, what is?
"You arrogant punk! You're only alive thanks to Arios—don't get cocky."
"Says the one who's only alive thanks to me. Pipe down."
"What?"
"Guess you don't know, but you're breathing because of me."
Not intentionally, but that's how it shook out. Red, clueless to the truth, just looked baffled.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Just take my word for it."
"Agh!"
Arios struck a fatal blow while Red was distracted by me. A long gash from chest to side—Red gnashed her teeth.
"You bastards were trying to confuse me with bullshit!"
Not really, but whatever. She'd totally misunderstood.
"Raaagh!"
Enraged at the "deception," Red transformed horrifically. One arm split into massive whips; the other became a giant head. Too bulky for agility, she landed and aimed the blind-snake mouth at me.
"Watch out!"
Arios flinched and stepped in front.
"Be careful! That's the attack that hurt my subordinates before."
The one that would've scarred your arm in the original?
"She's charging it longer than last time."
Arios sweated as Red stalled without attacking. Dodging seemed easy, but...
"Dodge, and she'll blast the ones you've subdued."
Red's taunt made escape tricky. Her whip-arm lashed out, keeping everyone at bay.
"Seres, just run."
"Hold on."
I stopped Arios, who was ready to scoop me up regardless. A perfect idea hit.
Demons seemed vulnerable to divine power. She exposed herself unable to endure it; her bugs melted too. Come to think of it, the original had Seres repelling demons with divine power.
For this guy at least, maybe I could weaponize it.
"Seres, what's that stance?"
"Ener..."
"Pardon?"
"No—Divine God Buster!"
I yelled a flashy made-up name they'd never heard. Pillars of divine power erupted from both hands, engulfing Red just as flames brewed in the snake mouth.
"Gaaah!"
Her spell fizzled; her body melted as she screamed. Soon, Red was a mess of burns from my divine power blast.
"I-I'm not letting this slide."
Her words were fierce, but she sprouted wings from her back and fled skyward.
"The moment my wounds heal, I'll come back. Especially you, Seres Huferion—I'll torment you endlessly before devouring every inch!"
"Unbelievable! This extra keeps barking."
"You punk, I'm really gonna kill you~!"
Red spat her furious line and vanished.
"Th-the demon's gone!"
"Hero Arios and Saint Seres repelled the demon!"
Cheers erupted.
"Amazing!"
"Not just healing plagues but slaying demons too!"
Technically, we drew her here, but folks fixated on the victory. Even during follow-up treatments, it was all praise.
"I was shocked when she took you hostage, but you had a plan."
"Knew the demon would release you if you acted indifferent."
"All a bluff to fool the demon!"
They even spun the potential diplomatic disaster in our favor.
Word reached King Arsen fast.
"A demon appearing? Then the plague must've been her doing."
"Doesn't seem like..."
"If you two hadn't been here, the horror's unimaginable."
"Technically our fault..."
"A valiant hero and radiant saint unite to vanquish a demon—like a legend come alive. I'll throw a grand feast in your honor at once!"
I tried correcting the misunderstanding, but King Arsen was too thrilled to listen.
"Seres, everyone's praising you."
I eyed Arios coolly as she smiled like it was someone else's business.