Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: What? Give It Back (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Raniel, do you remember what I told you back then?
Our village got trampled by the Demon King's army, and you and I were the only survivors. We made a promise back then, right? To crush the Demon King's army, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon King himself—everything, no matter what.
You... had a gift for magic.
I know you got top-notch training under a great master and have a prime spot lined up. But I'm still gonna ask, shameless as it is.
I'm putting together a Hero Party.
I've already lined up a couple of reliable companions.
A healer and a scout-slash-sniper.
All that's left is a mage...
No matter what I do, mages just won't join. You know how they are—always chasing efficiency. They won't sign on for something as insane as subjugating the Demon King.
So here's the thing.
Would you join my party?
Let's take down the Demon King. Rack up an achievement no one can ignore. Make sure our village goes down in history not as 'the village wiped out by the Demon King,' but as 'the village that produced the Hero who slew him'!
Please, Raniel!
Join my party!
"...".
Crackle, crackle.
Sitting alone by the dying campfire, old memories came flooding back. Not the pleasant kind.
"...Subjugating the Demon King, my ass."
I let out a sigh and tossed a twig into the fire.
Third day since ditching the Hero Party.
I was on my way back to the capital. I'd been at the front lines, so it was a long haul—with stops like this for camping along the route.
I could've used the inns set aside for heroes and soldiers, sure... but that didn't appeal.
Besides, this felt more natural anyway.
Every night Kyle snuck off to fuck Sara and Remia senseless, I'd been the one stuck tending the campfire and keeping watch.
Thinking about it now just pisses me off all over again.
Should've skipped the campfire and just blasted a fireball straight into their tent. Hindsight's a bitch.
"Fucking hell."
Muttering curses, I tilted my head back.
Stars glittered across the pitch-black sky. Tracing the constellations, the capital didn't seem too far off.
About two days, give or take.
And in two days, I'd see my master.
"...".
The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I'd swaggered out bragging I'd lop off the Demon King's head, and here I was—kicked out of the Hero Party before even getting close. Pathetic.
No way I could face my master like this.
"Sigh."
Guess I'd start by dropping to my knees and begging. With any luck, it'd end with just a few thunderbolts. Clutching at those desperate hopes, I closed my eyes.
Crackle, crackle.
Under the jet-black night sky,
only the soft crackle of the campfire filled the silence.
2.
Night fell hard on the road to the capital, so I made a detour to a nearby city. Needed to restock my camping gear anyway—it was running low.
And so I stepped into a modest little town nearby.
The city of night, Cardinac.
I'd swung by here once before.
As the name suggests, Cardinac was famous for its nightlife. That was exactly why I'd come last time.
...Not that it sounds like I was here to party or anything. Hell no—with Sara and Remia, those psycho bitches? Enjoyment wasn't on the menu.
We'd come to smash the place up.
The Succubus Queen had slunk into this night city to indulge in Cardinac's pleasure district. We'd tracked the dream demon down to hunt her.
"That was some real shitshow..."
Recalling it all, I sighed.
-Sara, grab her! I'm not leaving till I shove an arrow through that fox bitch's eye for flirting with Kyle.
-Couldn't agree more, Remia. Looks like tonight's gonna drag on.
-Hey, quit going berserk, you lunatics!
-Shut your mouth and shoot spells from the back, Raniel. Don't you know when to butt in? God, you're such an oblivious guy.
-Tch. Oblivious, my ass.
...Come to think of it, shit was already hitting the fan back then.
I glanced toward one corner of the city. The spot where Sara and Remia had gone apeshit. It'd been two or three years, but traces of that brawl still lingered.
-Ugh, aaaaaah! Heroes! Please, take it outside the cityyy...!
The city lord's screaming face flashed in my mind.
'Sorry about that time...'
Muttering an apology under my breath, I pulled my robe's hood low and stepped into the city.
"Tonight's special invited dancer..."
"Drinks on the house for travelers..."
"A chance that doesn't come every day..."
True to its night-city rep, Cardinac buzzed with energy. Tuning out the hawkers, I found a seat at a tavern a safe distance from the pleasure district.
"Here."
"Ah, yes sir?"
"Can you fetch these items on the list? I'll pay for the errand."
"Hmm, all easy to find locally. Anything else?"
"Barley ale and chicken soup should do it."
"Five silver including the errand fee."
I handed the barkeep five silver coins.
Sipping the beer he'd brought first, I rolled my shoulders. Traveling solo really was a breeze.
"Ahh."
The ale sliding down my throat hit just right.
I was nursing my drink for a good while when the surroundings got rowdy. Glancing over, I saw a woman strolling by with dozens of men in tow.
What the hell?
I asked the barkeep, who was scrubbing a glass with a squeak.
"Barkeep, what's that about?"
"Oh, that's a famous lady around these parts."
"Famous?"
"Known for her beauty. They say she's got a captivating charm. Never seen her myself, but that's the word."
"Hmm."
Must be drop-dead gorgeous.
Not my concern, so I slurped my soup instead. But... something about it felt familiar. Like I'd seen a woman dragging guys around like that before.
Ah, right.
The Succubus Queen pulled the exact same stunt.
Sprinkling her魅惑 everywhere, picking out prime targets to drain dry... yeah, that was her.
"...".
Nah, no way.
She'd come back here?
After we beat her ass that badly? That wouldn't make her the Succubus Queen—it'd make her some man-obsessed lunatic.
Hmm...
She did grope Kyle right in front of Sara and Remia, so yeah... total lunatic.
I snuck another look.
Staring at the woman leading her pack. Deep red hair. Sharp eyes. Odd adventurer getup.
Her face rang a bell.
I narrowed my eyes, peering closer.
A bit different from the Succubus Queen in my memory, but that demonic flicker in her eyes? Pure Rephe.
"What a fucking lunatic."
Why the hell is that bitch here?
"Driving me nuts..."
"Hm? Something wrong, sir?"
"Hey, barkeep. Got rooms upstairs?"
"Yes? Uh, sure do."
"I'll take one for the night."
Looks like tonight was gonna be a long one.
*
Dream demons. Succubi.
Who are they?
Truth be told, succubi weren't all that harmful as demons go. Sure, they drain a man's essence, but most are quick to satisfy and quicker to leave.
'And the damage? Barely worth calling it that.'
At worst, some guys left exhausted for a day or two before bouncing back to normal.
That was succubi for you.
Not particularly dangerous, but a pain to hunt. Unless they crawled right into a sanctuary, humans rarely bothered them.
But there's always an exception.
Succubus Queen Rephe was that exception—not content with "most." She never stopped. Sucked men dry until they withered away.
A harmful little bat bitch beyond harmless.
I had my reasons to hunt her down.
'Plus, something she owes me.'
Breath held, I shadowed Rephe.
"This way."
Leading her horde of charmed men, Rephe headed for a rundown building. I watched, then darted from an alley to yank one guy by the nape.
"Guh!"
"Shut it."
Reversed his mana flow—lights out. Charmed and tunnel-visioned, no one clocked my obvious move.
I slipped into his spot, tailing her naturally from behind.
"Hm, la la~."
Clueless I'd blended in, Rephe hummed while fiddling with the door's wards.
-Click.
The spells unraveled one by one.
I held my breath, waiting for the door. Eyes narrowed, timing my leap in my head.
"Come on in, every—"
Now.
-Thud.
The instant she cracked the door, I shoved through the crowd and lunged. Unleashing pre-Stocked spells in sequence as I charged. Mana surged through me, physical prowess skyrocketing.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Stock (Pre-stored) Mana and physical enhancement released
-Boom!
One step.
The pavement cracked underfoot, shards flying.
"Huh?"
Two steps.
Hand out—grabbed the wide-eyed bat bitch by the nape and slammed her inside.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Multi-Casting Magic Boost - Accelerates mana flow
The basics kicked in, mana accelerating.
Feeling the rush, I triggered the Stocked spells one by one from each finger gripping her nape.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Anti-Spell - Dispels active spells Anti-Shield - Shatters protective barriers Thumb and index finger—spells fired simultaneously. First unraveled her polymorph; second pulverized her blue mana shield.
Crack!
"Ngh...!"
Her bat wings sprouted as the polymorph broke, but before they could shove me off, the remaining three fingers lit up.
⚡ SKILL COMBO ⚡ Weakness → Mid Restriction → Spell-Smite Iron chains bind | Debuff applied | Invisible force impact
Iron chains shot from thin air, wrapping her tight. Weakened, she couldn't fight them. Limbs pinned, an intangible force slammed her gut.
"Gack!"
Rephe dropped to her knees, dry-heaving.
I left her slumped there and flicked my fingers at the door.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lock - Door sealed Chaos erupted outside for a bit, but no one busted in. Soon her brainwashing wore off—the footsteps scattered.
"Cough, ugh... heup..."
I grabbed a chair from the corner and dragged it in front of Rephe. Not for her—this was my seat.
"Succubus Queen, Rephe."
Straddling the chair, I leaned forward.
Hands clasped under my chin, I opened my mouth.
"Long time no see."