The Demon Corps Commander's Bargain
Now she realized it wasn't idiocy after all—it was something else entirely. A blunt stone was embedded in the goblin's eye. Identical to the ones where the man had been sitting.
'Did... did he help me...? Why me...?'
She mulled it over alone until Capier called from behind, urging her to hurry.
They continued the hunt after that, but Frensia managed steadily without a hitch after felling her first goblin. She made no more mistakes.
"I... I won again..."
When she took down her fifth goblin, Capier spoke up.
"Good work. But aren't you wandering a bit too far out?"
"...When did we get this far?"
Dusk had fallen before she knew it, and the castle gates were out of sight.
"Looks like we'll stay here till dawn. Better than stumbling around in the dark—who knows what could happen."
The girl nodded in agreement with Capier's words.
"Yeah... let's do that."
Hours into goblin hunting together, she could finally speak to him naturally. She'd sworn never to trust anyone again, but Capier felt reliable. Not fully guarded down yet, of course.
"There's a cave over there. We'll hole up and pass the night."
Beyond the palace lay vast plains, dense woods, and deep caves aplenty. Adventurers and knights often rested in caves when dusk caught them mid-hunt or exploration.
Clink.
Clink.
At the cave mouth, Frensia watched him polish his gear and asked, "Aren't you sleeping, Capier?"
"Don't be stupid. Who handles monsters if we both crash?"
"Save your breath for lying down and shutting up. If your slow ass holds us up, I'll ditch you."
He paused, then added, "Tomorrow at dawn, we bag one last goblin near the kingdom, then go our separate ways."
Frensia got it now. He was just awkward with words, but not a bad guy. Even now, he was roundabout-saying he'd stand watch, so sleep—and he'd escort her near the kingdom tomorrow.
'What does he want from me?'
No way. He was loaded enough to toss three gold coins into the air like trash, strong enough to crush a gate guard barehanded. What could a broke nobody like her offer?
No impure motives there, either.
'If there were, he wouldn't keep his distance like this.'
Even now, as she lay down, he stayed far off, tending his weapons. Treating her like she was nothing.
The power gap was overwhelming anyway. Any scheme would've been faster by force.
'He's actually a decent guy.'
'People like this exist...?'
Bit by bit, her heart opened to him. Not with sweet lies, but clumsy, indifferent generosity—sharing his strength whether praised or not.
If the prophesied Hero really came to the kingdom soon, he'd surely be like this man.
Clink.
Clink.
The rhythmic sound of him maintaining his sword and armor echoed from afar.
For some reason, his presence registered constantly, easing her mind.
This was monster-infested plain. Yet this cave, with him guarding the entrance, felt safer than the kingdom itself.
....
Clang.
Clang.
'Wh... what's that noise...?'
As she slept, harsh clashes of steel rang out beyond.
Goblins, orcs, minotaurs—endless ranks. Some clashed with Capier.
'Am I dreaming...?'
The surreal scene left her dazed, uncomprehending.
Those three monster types never grouped up. Different species fought each other often.
'No way... Demon King's army...?'
Only a Demon Corps Commander could unite disparate demons in such formation.
Shudder.
Her hands trembled wildly.
If right, no matter Capier's strength—it meant nothing. Even one Corps Commander drew multiple Knight Order Captains and hundreds of knights from the kingdom.
No lone man could stop them.
Suddenly, an orc swung its club at Capier's back.
"Watch out!"
Too late.
Thwack.
The club smashed into him with a thunderous crack, but Capier didn't budge.
He muttered low, "Fuck... these worthless shits pissing me off..."
Slash.
His sword cleaved the orc—club and all.
Capier glanced at Frensia and barked, "Shut your damn mouth and hole up in the corner. Things get fucked if they head that way."
From then, she clamped her mouth and retreated deep into the cave, watching the Hero in action.
Then, a creepy giggle echoed.
"Kihihihi! Thought you were gone, but still here?"
The goblin-like figure beamed with glee.
"They called you the new Hero, but stronger than I figured? Kihihi."
Capier scowled. "How much of a fucking snack do you think I am? And technically, not a Hero yet."
Beibaros grinned slyly. "Huh? Don't lie. Then what's with that power?"
Capier raised his gleaming sword. "Eh, the Goddess just likes me too much."
Divine Power was one force only the chosen could wield. Imbuing objects like Capier did was another level.
Beibaros's face twisted ugly.
Capier pressed on. "Hey, Beibaros."
"...? How do you know my name?"
The pint-sized, goblin-esque man tilted his head.
"Heard it back at my last spot."
"...?"
"Some tiny-dicked, weak-ass retard bossing minions around—turns out he's one of the Demon King's Corps Commanders."
"Wha—! I'm no snack! I earned my Corps Commander rank fair and square!"
"Licking the Demon King's asshole for scraps, fumbling half-assed schemes into lucky wins, then bragging like it's some epic feat. Not a retard—a fucking moron."
"You...!"
Beibaros nearly exploded, then reined it in.
"Hoo... almost fell for that cheap mind game. Hero. Or not yet?"
"Whatever, call me Hero for convenience? Kikikik."
He cackled wildly.
"Know why I came for you?"
"'Cause you're a moron?"
"Kikiki, no more falling for lame taunts."
"Pity. Hoped you'd charge in raging."
The goblin-man shook his head. "Listen, I came to negotiate. Ki ki."
"Negotiate? Then what about those assholes jumping me earlier?"
Capier gestured at the still goblins, orcs, and minotaurs.
"Eh, had to gauge your strength."
"Long-winded. So why're you here?"
"Sigh... humans got no patience. Kihihihi."
"Spit it out or I kill you now."
"Eek, scary. Fine. You're heading to Ellinsier Kingdom, right?"
"And?"
"Hand over your Holy Sword. Killing you summons another Hero, so just the sword—we let you go."
"Don't have it on me."
"Kihihihi, think I'm dumb, Hero? Hold the Goddess Token, picture it—boom, summoned anytime."
"Oh, and toss in the Token too. Kihihi."
The Holy Sword was Hero-exclusive, an unbreakable mass of immense Divine Power. Summonable anywhere with the Goddess Token.
Obviously, its power dwarfed the Divine Power-infused blade Capier now held.
"You know about the Token too? Not total moron after all."
"Ki ki, anyway—sword for your life. Hero sans sword ain't scary. You're not even using it right yet."
Legend said the Holy Sword unlocked full power only after baptism and official Hero rite at Ellinsier's cathedral.
"Pass."
"Kihik... then we kill you. Hurts us too, but..."
"Next Hero summoned—we snag the sword, buy time."
A dead Hero triggered another summoning. They didn't know all were Earthlings. Capier too.
Simple motive: sword's raw power, and delay.
A swordless Hero reaching the kingdom? The king would kill him to resummon one with it.
'Faster than hunting a who-knows-where sword.'
Heros knew this—Goddess would've warned.
Steal sword, evade elite knights while fleeing—Demon army ignores sword, focuses kingdom troops.
Beibaros's scheme for the Demon King.
Capier scoffed. "You lot? Threatening to kill me sans sword?"
"Kiki, not expecting these grunts to do it."
"Then you charge? Welcome."
"What? No way~ kihihihi."
Beibaros whistled sharp.
Whoooom.
A colossal roar—something crashed from the sky, cratering the ground.
Beibaros leered. "Kihihihi, ready to hand over sword and Token now?"
There stood a griffin, massive wings spread.
Beibaros crowed triumphantly. "Kihihi, you fucking moron gaping like that—scared shitless?"
That fucking bastard...