Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: 16. It's Burning. (6)
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# 157
#12 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Demon
I could tell something was wrong.
It started with the chief of the Dog-Horse Tribe, Apir.
He suddenly flung open the door and reached out to grab the succubus descendant, only for his left arm to be sliced clean off by cat claws.
Even an ordinary demon wouldn't lose a limb to a cat.
Let alone the chief of a tribe so ferocious they were called the Fighting Horse Tribe.
Apir was a being who wouldn't even get scratched by a normal sword, and even if he did, his rapid regeneration would heal it in no time.
Yet his arm had been neatly severed.
That meant the cat wasn't just any ordinary cat.
Proving it, the cat transformed into human form and blocked Apir's attack.
A perfect beastkin transformation and humanization—abilities only the nobility among beastkin could achieve!
Stunned by that, a monster burst out.
It was a human. An elderly one, at that.
But he was no one to underestimate.
His body was that of a perfect warrior.
And the sword he wielded, radiating red light, emitted a ferocious energy comparable to the demonic sword wielded by our master, Lord Agreat.
'What the hell is this place?'
It hit me in an instant.
What were the odds that such a monstrous old man with that kind of aura and a beastkin noble would gather in this tiny kingdom?
Right next to the succubus descendant we were after, no less!
This was a trap.
A trap dug by wicked humans who knew our demon circumstances!
But the humans probably hadn't realized we were the pinnacle of demon strength, one by one.
Not that surprising, really.
Even with spies and traitors inside, only we Four Heavenly Kings and Lord Agreat knew we'd infiltrated the human continent.
But this human elder was tricky.
He matched our level—or surpassed it—and wielded a magic sword crafted by a master artisan.
Especially that white flame—even I, called a fire dragon descendant with high fire resistance, felt threatened!
'No point dragging this out.'
Just one minute of fighting.
But in a clash of masters, one minute was enough to gauge each other's power.
The enemy was strong.
Top-tier even among humans!
Would humans who set such a trap by a powerhouse like this not station more forces nearby?
No way.
They'd probably woven an encirclement to prevent escape.
Their miscalculation? We weren't ordinary demons—we were the demon world's strongest elites.
They got careless with our small numbers and would surely send reinforcements soon.
If that happened, even we Four Heavenly Kings couldn't win.
So now was the time to flee for the greater cause.
But we had to secure that succubus descendant first.
"Guh, no time! Charge in, even if we take losses!"
At my words, the others rushed to tie down the old man.
At the same time, I lunged at the fleeing succubus descendant.
"Where do you think you're going, you mongrel neither beast nor human!"
"Grk!"
I blasted away the blond kid who'd severed Apir's right arm with one strike.
Without a sneak attack, he lacked the skill to harm us.
I couldn't waste even a second on him.
"Come here, little brat!"
I reached out toward the succubus descendant.
As my hand approached, she squeezed her eyes shut, while the tiny drake in her arms opened its eyes wide.
It was over now.
Demon unification was at hand.
If I just grabbed this kid and broke through the enemy encirclement, the demon world would reign!
But just as I basked in that joy, the drake's cheeks began to puff up.
Acting like a true dragon descendant, trying to protect them by spewing flames from that tiny body?
'Pathetic. A mindless beast. As if a puny creature's spark could faze this fire dragon heir...'
Then the drake's mouth opened—and a voice full of will burst forth.
"Mommy, I'll protect you!"
Wait, the drake... talks?
#13 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of Certain Demons
"Damn it!"
Veins began bulging all over the frantic old man's body.
"Kh... khahaha!"
But his attacks grew even fiercer for it.
Still, I could laugh.
The succubus descendant was in Garsa's grasp.
We just had to keep the old man busy, link up with Garsa, and head to the demon world.
We'd grown numb to enduring.
Hold out a bit longer, and this continent would be ours.
We just needed to pin down this old man.
"Kahahaha, futile struggle, human!"
"Garsa is one of us!"
Suddenly, my back burned hot.
The sheer heat made my head turn involuntarily.
"The strongest... one?"
"Huh?"
"Where's Garsa?"
Gone... Garsa was gone!
In his place, everything where he'd stood was engulfed in flames.
And at that moment.
"F-Faaarm!"
The succubus descendant screamed about something utterly mismatched to the dire situation.
#14 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Old Man
Fighting the demons, I saw it clearly.
The drake in Ellis's arms opening its mouth—and spewing red flames.
The dragon-headed demon who took the hit and evaporated.
'What...?'
I saw it with my eyes.
But my brain hadn't caught up.
Everything in a straight line from where the dragon-headed demon stood was obliterated.
If he'd been facing us, we'd have vanished; if toward the village, the village would have.
That level of power.
The heat alone withered crops in the area, and everything in the flame's range burst into fire.
'A dra... drake? That?'
Melrn had only told me he'd gotten a drake egg.
But for a drake to breathe flames like that!
Impossible.
If drakes could do that, a nation's strength would be measured by drake knight squadrons.
If a young one like that could unleash such fire, imagine an adult's!
It'd be almost dragon brea...
"No way...?"
Any ordinary farmer raising a drake would be called insane.
But Melrn wielded a magic sword feared even by the Red Hammer Clan.
From him, raising a drake in this quiet village? Believable.
But what I was thinking now was a creature with no history of human rearing.
Even fairy-tale heroes borrowed its power, never kept it as a pet.
No. It couldn't be.
Ellis called the blond youth Misha.
If my guess was right, the neighbor kid Ellis had a beastkin noble and a dragon as pets.
If true, Ellis was a walking nation.
She could wipe out a kingdom like this Belserk Kingdom with ease!
"W-What do we do?"
The dog-headed demon, staring blankly at the burning fields like me, muttered.
What do we do?
"Graaaah!"
"We'll see it through!"
I slashed the back of the dazed dog-headed demon.
I'd aimed to kill in one blow, but he dodged in a split second.
"D-Damn human scum!"
The dog-headed demon howled and kicked out.
Fast, but dodgeable.
"Guh... Old timer, I'll hold them—get the kid out!"
"Gonna fall for it again?"
I cut off the dog-headed demon and attacked the others.
No idea why, but their target was Ellis.
I couldn't let them near her.
"Senile coffin-filler!"
"Urk!"
I blocked the wolf-headed fist with my sword, but couldn't stop the blood from my side.
That earlier wound had hit harder than thought.
Worst, the poison gas in it was my biggest mistake.
My body was growing numb, sluggish.
A venom that could poison even a swordmaster.
The snake-headed demon freely wielded that poison mist— a nasty foe.
The longer this dragged, the more it'd spread, and then it was over.
So.
"Swordless Swordplay, Secret Technique: Selflessness."
The sword aura around my blade vanished.
A formless strike.
The ultimate blow I'd created back when a mere stick could shatter any sword in the world.
"Damn, can't block it alone!"
"From a dying geezer!"
"Annoying!"
Realizing he couldn't handle Selflessness solo, the dog-headed demon spat curses as the others rushed to help.
Now's the chance.
Abandon them blocking Selflessness and bolt through the gap.
"Damn old fart!"
The snake-headed demon saw, but they were tied down blocking the invisible strike—couldn't move freely.
"Can you move?"
"Guh... Probably not... just leave me..."
"Can't do that—Ellis would cry."
I slung the wounded youth—Misha—who'd blocked the dragon-headed demon over my shoulder and ran.
"Grandpa!"
I met Ellis's tear-filled eyes.
Even a brave girl like her would cry in terror like this...
"The f-farm... the farm's burning!"
"Ah... so that's it..."
Melrn's family each had their quirks.
But now wasn't the time.
"Let's go."
"Okay..."
I helped Ellis stand on her shaky legs.
Meanwhile, sharp Misha had reverted to cat form.
"Misha..."
No reply—he'd probably passed out after transforming.
External wounds weren't bad, but internals might need quick healing.
"Hold tight."
"Yeah!"
I scooped Ellis into the arm that held Misha.
In her arms: fainted Misha and an utterly exhausted dra... no, drake.
'Can't confirm yet.'
Best not to assume in my state.
Ignoring the spreading poison and such idle thoughts, I fled with all I had.
Dodging burning fields, avoiding village damage—only through empty areas.
The wolf-headed demon caught up faster than expected, followed by snake-headed attacks.
But with Ellis there, their target, they held back full power—no poison mist, the nastiest trick.
Still, I'd fall first.
After Selflessness, my mana was hitting limits; once depleted, poison would ravage faster.
'At least these kids...'
Not just for my duel with Melrn.
Not a long time, but not short—we'd bonded.
Childless me saw Ellis as a precious granddaughter.
"Can't die yet!"
"A dying old coot still has gas left?"
I poured all mana into speed; the wolf-headed demon behind yelled in panic.
Widen the gap more.
At least enough for the kids to escape—then I'd block these bastards with my life.
Crossing mountains, topping hills—
'Perfect.'
From the hilltop, I spotted one person rushing down.
Seeing my face, his urgent expression softened to a smile— he remembered me.
"You're late."
"Sorry."
He hardened again at the demons behind me, lightly apologizing.
"And what's this trash now!"
As I slowed, the wolf-headed demon charged, thinking it a chance.
"It's the Hero trash! Woof woof!"
Hero Reina Rel Swin, drawing her sword, engaged the demons.
***
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
I tilted my head.
That way's definitely home...
"It's burning?"