Jack Must Be Here (1)
"I'm disappointed. I thought you'd finally beaten Jeanne… that the chance had come to prove you were the one who would inherit the dojo… My descendant. I never imagined you'd turn out to be such trash. You can't even fight without the medicine working? Then I'll show you pain that surpasses death itself."
"W-wait a second!"
Sylvia cried out desperately.
"Just take the medicine! If I take the medicine I can fight again! You—you don't want the fight to end like this either, do you?!"
"I use a secret technique every time I fight. A technique that makes time flow ten times faster. So you're saying you'll stop the fight once every six minutes to take medicine? You want me to fight like that? Do you think this is some boxing match? What I wanted was a true life-or-death duel where you don't even get a single second to catch your breath. Forget it… You… may not have been the person I've been waiting for after all."
Sharon flexed her razor-sharp claws as she spoke.
"Well then… what shall I do with you? Peel the skin from your face… pull out your guts and strangle you with them… chop off your limbs and turn you into a human pig…"
"Gulp…"
Sylvia swallowed hard. She couldn't muster the courage to stand against her. Fighting in this state would be meaningless. If she wasn't even allowed to take the medicine… there was only one way left.
"You were never a proper swordswoman. I'm starting to think all those flashy achievements I've heard about were lies. Pay for the crime of deceiving and mocking me with pain worse than death."
"Wait!! Give me one more chance!!!"
"What… what kind of chance are you asking for? What meaning would that even have?"
"I didn't actually lie! All the military merits I've earned so far really were mine! So… don't kill me so hastily! Ah, there's still a way. There's a way I can go all-out even without taking the medicine!"
"What is it? Speak."
"It's… um… Ja-Jack! Jack Slave!"
The name burst out on pure improvisation.
"Jack Slave? What's that? Who is he?"
"The porter who used to travel with us. That guy has… a skill that stabilizes me. It's a passive skill, so I don't even need to take medicine—just having him nearby is enough. Th-that guy… if I just bring that guy, I can fight again. Ah, wouldn't that be a waste? Ending it like this without even fighting properly? Weren't you looking forward to fighting me?"
"Then why didn't you bring this Jack fellow this time?"
"That's… well…"
"Tell the truth. Or I'll kill you."
"W-we had a little fight… b-but it's fine! That guy… he's completely head over heels for me! If I ask him to come back, he'll come running for sure! Next time I'll bring him! So… so…!! Just look the other way this once!!! Overlook it just this once!!!"
"Is that true?"
"It's true! Really! Why would I lie at a time like this?!"
"I'm a little… hesitant. Part of me thinks you're lying. But at the same time, killing you here would be a waste. There's no point in killing you when you can't even show your true strength…"
"!!!"
A clear ray of hope seemed to shine. Sylvia's face bloomed into a broad smile. But the next moment, Sharon's voice turned terrifying.
"Kneel, and swear your submission to me."
"W-what are you talking about?"
"Say this: I, as a spy for the demon race, will henceforth work for the Four Heavenly King Sharon."
"W-why would I…"
"Insurance."
"Insurance…?"
"I'll give you one month."
"One month?"
"If you bring Jack within one month, I'll believe your words and give you another chance. But I can't just trust and wait forever. If you fail to bring Jack within the month… I'll record the scene of you swearing submission to me and distribute the video to the entire world."
"What are you saying! If you do that—!"
"I know. Swearing submission to a demon is a capital crime. No… you won't even be treated as human anymore. Especially considering you're part of the Hero Party. You'll receive treatment worse than death. But that doesn't matter, does it? As long as you bring Jack. Or… were you lying after all?"
"Th-there's no way… Jack is really… the kind of guy who goes all gooey and comes running back the second I treat him even a little nicely…"
"Then there's no problem. I'll say this clearly: I am showing you mercy."
It wasn't entirely wrong. If she didn't take this chance, she would die right here. With no other choice, Sylvia dropped to her knees. In a pitiful voice, she spoke.
"I… devote myself to the Four Heavenly King Sharon. From now on I will obey the Four Heavenly King…"
If anyone ever saw this scene, it would be over.
Over as a human being. At least no one was watching—that was a small mercy. Of course, the crow Brown was recording the entire moment on video.
"Good. Then we'll leave it here. Understood? One month. Exactly one month… I'll give you only one month. You may go."
Sharon even kindly escorted her all the way to the main gate. Sylvia was terrified, yet something still nagged at her.
"Why… it feels weird asking this, but why are you being so considerate to me? Honestly, you don't even need to wait a whole month."
"Because you are Jeanne's reincarnation. I can grant this much grace to my little sister. As an older sister, that is. But the dojo is non-negotiable. That is mine."
"?"
It was an answer she couldn't understand.
They reached the main gate. The moment it opened, they came face-to-face with the Hero Party, who had just finished taking down Dawson. Traces of a fierce battle were everywhere, and Teo shouted.
"We won! Huh…? Sylvia! What happened? Why are you coming out with Sharon? W-what on earth happened?!"
"I'll answer in her place."
Sharon said.
"We've postponed our match. You lot are pretty strong, managing to take down Dawson. Leave now. Come back in one month. With Jack."
"Jack…? How do you know about Jack? What the hell is going on? This doesn't make any sense! We came here to defeat you!"
"So you're Teo? You look fairly strong yourself. However… you're still no match for me. Grow stronger and come back. Killing you here… would be a waste."
"Don't talk nonsense! I am strong! For this world! For humanity! I'll kill you right here!"
"…Foolish human."
Teo charged. Sharon never underestimated those dazzling movements. The Four Heavenly King realized the current Hero was far stronger than the previous one and released her second seal. Then, with a single slash of her blade, she severed Teo's left arm.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
"Teo!!"
"No!!!"
Christine and Scarlet screamed. But Sylvia only stood there drenched in cold sweat, showing no reaction at all. She thought to herself:
If she's this strong… even with Jack… I might never be able to beat Sharon… The Four Heavenly Kings are this powerful… We were far too naive…
Teo, one arm gone. Even so, the Hero refused to give up the fight.
"I'm still fine! I just let my guard down! Let's fight again, Four Heavenly King!"
"Oh…? To keep your fighting spirit after losing an arm is truly remarkable. Very well. But I made a promise with Sylvia here. We will fight again in one month. This is a promise between swordswomen. Even a Hero should understand how heavy such a vow is, no?"
"Kgh…!!!"
"Don't get so worked up. You're still young. Once you gain more real combat experience, you might even give me an entertaining match. Now… this expedition ends here. Leave. I'll order the demons not to hinder your return journey. I'll say it again… I am showing you mercy."
Sharon's voice carried a dignity that made it nearly impossible to argue. Teo still looked unconvinced, but in the end they decided to withdraw. As they retraced their path, the cheers of the demons rang out around them.
"Yahoo!! You guys were fun!"
"Come again next time!"
"Kwahahaha! Thanks for the great show!"
Whether the words were mockery or goodwill was hard to tell.
In any case, the first expedition of the party led by Hero Teo ended like this.
A Hero who had lost one arm. An expedition that had gained nothing of note beyond defeating Dawson. The news was plastered across every headline and spread throughout the continent. The people's reaction was ice-cold. Word had gotten out that they hadn't even managed to scratch a Four Heavenly King.
After all, if they couldn't defeat the Demon King or the Four Heavenly Kings, the Hero Party had no reason to exist.
"Hmm."
Of course, Emperor Carlos had also been informed of the situation. And not only that. He had received a gift—a single video that had flown in from the Demon Continent. It came with a note stating that a curse prevented it from being played until one month had passed.
"What… is this?"
"I couldn't say."
Even Zero, the Lord Protector renowned for his brilliant stratagems, had no way of knowing this time.
"Perhaps the Hero Party would know?"
"You're right. Summon the Hero Party. I have a great many questions this time. Especially… for Sylvia."
And so the Hero Party was summoned to the Imperial Palace. They were treated almost like criminals.