Chapter 49

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 49

Chapter Title: Anxiety (1)

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"...What?"

A piercing, murderous glare stabbed into me.

It felt like she could snap my neck at any moment.

I didn't need to think hard to realize Sera had been offended.

What had I said...?

Something about her being short?

Why the hell did I say that?

It was a genuine slip of the tongue.

Lately, I'd been so isolated that I'd picked up the habit of muttering to myself, and just now, I'd blurted out my thoughts on reflex.

Sera started yelling at the top of her lungs.

"You think you can just say whatever because I'm a little short?! Do you even know who I am?!"

My ears were ringing.

She seemed way more hurt than I'd expected.

To be fair, even I'd be pissed if a stranger called me short right off the bat.

It was completely my fault.

"And I'm average height!"

"Nah, that's not true."

"What?!"

"Oops."

Sera was just a bit over 150 cm.

Even in this medieval fantasy setting, the average height here wasn't that different from the modern world, so yeah, she was definitely on the short side.

Roel was well over 160 cm, after all.

"...Tell me your house and affiliation."

Sera threw out a classic 'who the hell do you think you are, senior?' line.

It almost made me chuckle with nostalgia, but I barely held it in.

I thought for a moment before answering.

"Don't have any."

"Uh, oh... sorry..."

The atmosphere sobered up instantly.

I'd said that because I couldn't exactly claim some 'third son of whatever house,' but Sera took it differently.

This was my chance.

I casually slipped past her.

"Well, I'll be going then."

"Wait. Where do you think you're going?"

She grabbed me right away.

Damn, too bad. I'd thought I could brush it off.

"Answer my question."

"I told you, no house. I'm an orphan."

"N-not that!"

This was getting tricky.

Of all people, I had to run into Sera. Running away outright wasn't an option now.

"What do you mean by pretending not to know?"

The Evans family was a ducal house.

They had the biggest influence in the kingdom, appearances aside.

If she marked me as suspicious, my face would be plastered across the entire kingdom in days.

Of course, I had my disguise skill, so it wouldn't be a huge deal.

Just a massive pain in the ass.

Plus, Roel knew this face too, so it was better to clear things up.

"Exactly what I said. Didn't the Demon King show up?"

"...You're saying you're gonna run?"

"Yeah."

The 'witnesses' described the Demon King as pure terror incarnate.

I was just a human, so claiming I was scared wouldn't seem off.

"Don't lie. You don't look scared at all."

Sera's instincts were sharper than I'd thought.

Well, might as well test out the skill.

"How did you even know my name? You're super suspicious."

So that's how it works.

I liked it.

This would let me judge anyone shady for sure.

Though 'Attack Ready'... I must've looked really dodgy.

"Alright, I'll be straight with you."

First, time to dispel the suspicion.

"I saw you during midterms."

"...Midterms?"

"You fought that blonde girl, right? Pretty impressive."

I started spinning a plausible story.

"You're right, I was pretending not to know. I wasn't really scared."

"Then?"

"I'm kinda like an adventurer. To be honest, I just turned back because I didn't think I was needed."

It wasn't even a lie, technically.

No fabrications—just pure facts. No way it'd sound suspicious.

Plus, Sera would know.

There was never anyone Demon King-level strong there to begin with.

"And lastly, I'm the prime suspect in all this..."

I leaned in close to her face.

So she could get a good look.

"...!"

"What do you think? Do I look like the Demon King?"

The 'suspicion' was gone from her status.

This should keep things from getting messy.

"F-fine, just back off!"

I stepped back a few paces as requested.

I kept Insight active just in case, but her suspicion didn't return.

"Can I go now?"

"...Whatever."

I flashed a grin and slipped past her again.

This time, she didn't grab me.

Before Sera could turn around, I quickly recalled the avatar.

.

.

.

The snowy landscape outside the window had become familiar by now.

I was grateful to the system for that.

Without these familiar modern things, I'd have lost my mind ages ago.

I flopped onto the bed and sorted through the situation.

"Didn't expect to run into Sera there."

About ten minutes after picking a fight at the Mage Tower, I'd bumped into her.

Even accounting for her speed, that was unnaturally fast.

The ducal estate must be right nearby.

The Mage Tower was a key kingdom facility.

If I tried to smash it, every soldier in the area would swarm and beat me down.

So, I'd have to take out the archmage in under ten minutes...?

Even for me, was that possible?

"Not easy."

I couldn't say for sure without knowing the archmage's level.

Normally, I'd gather intel leisurely before striking, but things never go as planned.

"And the Demon Sword's a problem too..."

The shop said no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠refunds.

Couldn't swap weapons now.

A weapon that sparked Demon King rumors every time I used it?

If I'd picked the holy sword, it would've overshadowed Roel's whole deal.

"Tricky, really tricky."

I'd think it over step by step.

Good thing nothing was urgent right now.

I got up and sat back at the monitor.

Roel was training alone on the screen.

"Oh, maybe try ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it on Roel too."

Not sure if it worked through screens.

Eh, only one way to find out.

...Nightmare?

A certain region on the Northern Continent.

This frigid land, once home to the continent's most prosperous kingdom, was now devoid of humans.

A massive frame over two meters tall.

Two horns sprouting from its head.

And an overwhelming majesty that could be called the pinnacle of 'demonic' terror.

The Demon King of this era, 'Behemoth,' sat upon his throne.

This place was known as the Demon King's Castle.

"My report, Your Majesty."

Behemoth nodded slightly.

A signal of permission.

The red-haired demon, Astra, spoke.

"Recently, three demons went missing on the Central Continent. They had contact with the Academy, but the 'Demonic Grimoire' hasn't been delivered either."

"Understood. I've already found replacements. Humans can't read it anyway, so it's fine."

"Then we'll halt the investigation."

Astra continued her report.

A battle in the elves' Great Forest, suppressing a rebel faction this time—things proceeded with surprising systematicity.

"Final matter. Demon Sword fragments were found near the Mage Tower."

"Demon Sword?"

Behemoth scowled.

He couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"Aren't I holding the Demon Sword right now?"

He toyed with the sword at his waist.

As if delighted by the touch, the blade trembled faintly.

The Demon Sword was a weapon permitted only to the Demon King.

Protected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by causality alongside the holy sword... so how...?

"What happened?"

"I've ordered my subordinates to investigate, but there's been little progress."

Astra looked up.

"So, please permit me to go myself."

The real Demon Sword had been here all along.

There couldn't be two, so the one found on the Central Continent was almost certainly fake.

The problem came when word spread.

Demons everywhere would scramble for it.

The Demon Sword was tantamount to the 'Demon King's emblem.'

They had to prevent anyone claiming the fake as real, no matter what.

"This is a grave incident. To solidify Your great Majesty's throne, I believe I should go personally."

A brief silence fell.

As the Demon King's gaze fell on her, a prickling chill like electricity coursed through Astra's body.

As expected of His Majesty.

This power from a mere glance...

"...Granted."

A reply tinged with annoyance came soon after.

"Demon King's Army 1st Legion Commander Astra thanks you for the permission."

Preparations for departure were already complete.

Leaving the audience chamber, Astra gathered her waiting subordinates.

"You've heard the news."

"Yes!"

"We're heading to the Central Continent."

All for His Majesty the Demon King.

Any obstacles must be thoroughly crushed.