Sylvia, That Pathetic Battle (Part 2)
Sylvia was recalling the words her master had once spoken to her.
"Listen carefully, Sylvia."
"If you take this medicine, you won't feel anxiety or fear for a full hour. Remember that. One hour."
One hour would be more than enough. In all her battles so far, Sylvia had never needed more than thirty minutes against anyone. No enemy, no matter who they were, could endure that long once she unleashed her full strength. Surely... this time would be no different. With that thought, she swallowed the pill—right there on the deck of the ship, just before they reached the Demon Continent.
"What are you eating, Sylvia?" Teo asked.
"Don't worry about it. Just something like a calming pill."
"Is that so? Guess even you're getting nervous."
"You too?"
"Of course. This is the first time any of us have faced someone on the level of the Four Heavenly Kings. I don't think we'll lose, but there's always that one-in-a-million chance. Besides... they say the previous Hero's party was wiped out by Sharon. Ah... especially you—you must have a special interest in her."
"Obviously."
Sylvia answered without a second's hesitation. Sharon Sarubia. That woman was the greatest failure in the entire history of the Sarubia family. The reason their house had never risen above the rank of count was precisely because they had produced her.
"Father always told me: grow strong, and kill Sharon. Now the time has finally come to fulfill that goal."
"Right. Let's all give it everything we've got."
Teo steeled his resolve like the leader he was. The ship had reached the shore; it was time to disembark. Battle was truly upon them. The place they were about to enter was hell itself—a nightmare realm for any human, the Demon Continent.
"Sylvia, Christine, Scarlet. Our party has trained together for a long time. We may not be the closest of friends, but we are the most trustworthy comrades we have. Each of us, myself included, has our own reasons for being here. Reasons we absolutely must win. We don't need to spill every last one of them right now... but let's win. So that none of us ends up in a bad spot."
At Teo's rallying cry, they all pressed their palms together. Never before had they shared such a sense of camaraderie. Seizing the moment, Sylvia spoke.
"Just like you said, each of us has a reason we have to win. In my case, I have to win to wash away my family's disgrace. If I lose, the fallout will be more than I can handle. As you all know, Sharon is the demon our house produced. I want to be the one to take her down. So... until we face Sharon, I want the rest of you to fight in my place so I can conserve my strength. In return... I promise I'll be the one to kill Sharon."
"What do you all think of Sylvia's proposal? I don't mind either way."
"Neither do I."
"She's volunteering to take the hardest opponent. Why not?"
Teo, Christine, and Scarlet all gave their consent, and the plan was set. Sylvia would handle Sharon. Until then, the others would clear out the small fry. The party members stepped off the ship and set foot on the Demon Continent. Suddenly Scarlet grabbed Sylvia's arm and pulled her aside for a private word. The two of them moved a short distance away from the others, standing on the sand.
"What is it, Scarlet? What's wrong?" Sylvia asked.
"I want to ask you something. How... exactly do you plan to fight Sharon?"
"What do you mean?"
"Without Jack, you can't fight at your full strength."
"Oh, if that's all you're worried about, relax. There are plenty of substitutes for Jack."
"What... did you just say?"
"I don't need that guy at all. I'll be fine without him."
"How can you say that? It was Jack's After-school Tea Time that let you fight in the first place!"
"No. It was all my own skill. Why are you giving my achievements to him? That's kind of annoying. What's with you, Scarlet? What are you trying to say?"
"If Jack was nothing more than that to you... then what was that promise we made that day? What was it even for?"
"That day? Promise?"
"The three of us all swore we wouldn't lay a hand on Jack—that none of us would monopolize him."
"Ahh... that was something you two insisted on. I honestly don't care what happens to a guy like him. Is that all you wanted to say? I'm going."
From a distance, Teo and Christine called out. Sylvia trotted after them without a second glance. Left alone, Scarlet clenched her teeth and muttered under her breath.
"What the hell... I held back all this time because I thought we were friends... So that means... I can monopolize Jack if I want? I was holding back for nothing..."
The mutter reached no one's ears.
"Hyaaaaah!!!"
Teo's sword aura cleaved through yet another demon. He alone had already cut down more than two hundred of them. Scarlet and Christine had each hunted dozens more. This was the Demon Continent, all right—no matter how far they walked, demons kept pouring out, and every single one was a hardened elite. The party was growing exhausted.
"Haa... haa... There's no end to them."
"Teo. Killing small fry is pointless. We have to kill one of the Four Heavenly Kings."
"Christine... what do you suggest?"
"Next time, don't kill the demon. Capture it. We need information. Skip the dumb ones like orcs—grab one that looks halfway intelligent."
Following Christine's advice, Teo managed to seize a demon with a relatively gentle face. The creature trembled violently, terrified out of its wits.
"H-hiiiik! P-please spare me! I'm not a fighter! I can't fight at all!"
"Then answer our questions."
"I-I know you! You're the Hero, Teo! Damn it... of all people, I had to run into the Hero! Damn it, damn it!"
"Answer our questions and I'll spare your life."
"! A-anything! Just ask!"
"Where is Sharon of the Four Heavenly Kings?"
"? W-why are you looking for Lady Sharon?"
"Why do you think? To kill her, of course."
"Pfft!"
Even in its predicament, the demon burst out laughing.
"A-are you insane? Trash like you won't even leave bones if Lady Sharon gets her hands on you. No one can beat her. She's on a completely different level from humans."
"Enough. Just tell us where she is."
"Kh... fine. I'll tell you everything. You lot aren't a threat to her anyway..."
The demon gave them a detailed description of the route to Sharon's castle.
"...Just go that way. Now let me go. You promised—ugh!"
The demon never finished its sentence. A savage sword had pierced straight through its mouth. Sylvia had killed it. Teo stared in shock.
"Sylvia! What do you think you're doing?!"
"There's no need to keep a promise made to a demon, Teo. Every last one of them has to die. Mercy is meaningless."
"Even so..."
"Come on... let's go. To Sharon's castle."
Sylvia's fighting spirit was blazing. The Hero's party followed the route they had learned and headed for the stronghold of the Four Heavenly Kings. The demon had not been lying. In the distance a massive castle came into view, and the closer they drew, the thicker the sinister demonic energy became. Strangely, even though the area was saturated with miasma, nothing attacked them—almost as if the demons were deliberately staying out of the way.
"This... isn't just my imagination, is it?"
"It's not, Teo. They're intentionally keeping their distance."
"The miasma around here is on a completely different level from before. These are all high-ranking demons. And yet they won't attack..."
"They're watching, aren't they?"
The party members understood. The demons had already stepped back to enjoy the spectacle of a Four Heavenly King clashing with the Hero's party. In a way, it was a relief—it meant they wouldn't have to waste stamina on pointless fights.
"All right. Let's move."
At Teo's command they quickened their pace. Before long they stood before the castle of the Four Heavenly Kings. Ever the polite one, Teo knocked on the gate. It opened from within, and a guide appeared—none other than Dawson, the knight from the previous Hero's party.
"S-Senior!"
Teo recognized him at once and cried out in shock.
"Dawson-senior?! What happened to you?!"
"...Teo."
Dawson's appearance had changed drastically from the old days, yet he still recognized his junior. Back when Teo had first entered the Academy, Dawson was already a famous swordsman. The two had been seniors and juniors who acknowledged each other's skill.
"It's exactly as you see. I lost in battle and became a demon."
"H-how could something like that..."
"Don't be so surprised. Before overwhelming strength, humans are powerless. You'll understand soon enough. True terror... The Four Heavenly Kings surpass any strength we ever imagined. If the demons ever felt like it, they could conquer humanity whenever they wanted."
"! We won't let that happen!"
"Is that so? Still as brave as ever. Let's see how much stronger you've become."
"You want to fight, Senior?"
"Those are my orders. The only one allowed to pass here is the girl named Sylvia. Anyone else who cannot defeat me will never even lay eyes on the Four Heavenly Kings."
"That's... not a bad offer at all. Right, Sylvia?"
Sylvia nodded at Teo's words. It was exactly what she had wanted.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine on my own. That was the promise, remember?"
As she brushed past Dawson, Sylvia pulled another vial from her clothes and gulped it down. One more hour. The medicine's effect would last. She glanced back over her shoulder and declared with absolute confidence,
"I'll win and come back. Wait for me, everyone."
Sylvia flashed a thumbs-up. She had no idea... of the miserable future waiting for her just ahead——.