Chapter 130 - Assembly
"Frey! Where are you going?"
"......."
"Frey!!!"
I'd naturally turned on my heel to slip out of the hallway, but at that moment, Perloché, clinging to my arm, let out a piercing screech.
'...Damn it, of all places.'
If it had been a bustling corridor full of people, I could've blended in and escaped easily. But this was a quiet hallway where hardly anyone came. It was near the waiting room for slaves, so no one visited until the market ended.
"...Why are you here?"
"To stop you! I knew you'd pull some vile scheme here again!"
"How did you know I'd come here today?"
"You think I wouldn't figure it out?! Last time, you brought me here! You definitely had some 'preliminary plan' back then!"
Perloché glared at me fiercely as she said that.
"You noticed that?"
"I'm not an idiot!"
She beamed with pride. I watched her quietly for a moment, then frowned and asked again.
"But how did you know I'd come today?"
"What are you talking about? Obviously, it's today!"
"Why?"
"Because the market's open today!"
I frowned even deeper at her words.
"This market runs for a week."
"Huh?"
"They deliver the slaves all at once after the week's purchases are done."
"Gasp."
Perloché looked flustered for a moment, then scratched her head and spoke up.
"W-Well, yeah? But anyway, now that I've caught you here, it doesn't matter!"
"...So you were convinced I'd cause trouble today?"
I slowly started walking as I said that to her.
"That's why... you're here to lead me down the 'right path'?"
A few days ago, Serena had warned me. It'd be best not to provoke Perloché if possible. Serena had never been wrong, so I'd planned to heed her advice this time too. But after seeing the letter Perloché sent, I couldn't hold back anymore.
[Perloché Astellade]
Stop your unjust actions!
You're breaking your promise!
Do you not know gratitude?
We promised last time!
No need for long talk!
Come to dinner right now!
Just like the secret message hidden vertically in the diary last time, there was a concealed "right path" message reading down the lines. And she'd sent it right when Clana had discovered my identity and I'd taken a penalty. How convenient.
"D-Don't come closer!"
"...Hmm."
As I approached her with those thoughts, she looked tense and raised both hands.
"If you come any closer, I'll assume you're trying to harm me and attack!"
I watched her strike her usual awkward pose to prepare for battle, lost in thought.
'...That's one thing, but for now, I need to shake her off.'
Uncovering her secret was tempting, but my top priority was completing the slave market liberation quest. Having Perloché tagging along would turn this already tough quest into a nightmare.
And though I'd tested the waters without thinking, she showed no reaction. I'd been watching her expressions and eye twitches closely, so I was sure. No need to push it and provoke her here. Better to follow Serena's advice—good things come even in sleep.
Click.
With that settled, I carefully manipulated the staff I was holding.
Hiss...
"Anyway! Follow me! I'll drag you out of this filthy, sordid place and beat some repentance into... Eek?!"
Thick smoke began billowing from the staff.
'Serena's design mixed with magic from the other three—even Perloché can't handle that.'
The staff, practically a ultimate weapon, unleashed Kania's refined black magic, dyeing the surroundings. It would vanish quickly against Perloché's overwhelming divine power, but if it blinded her even briefly, that was enough.
"Wh-Where are you? Frey! What dark sorcery is this?!"
'...Perloché will clean up the traces herself.'
Black magic was tricky in public, but given her personality, she'd erase every bit spotlessly. Plenty of time to escape.
"F-Frey, sir! Good day!"
"...Yeah."
As I hurried down the nearby stairs, lost in those thoughts, I gave a curt reply to the guard captain saluting me and tried to blend into the crowd.
"Ex-Excuse me... Have you seen any intruders?"
"Intruders?"
"Yes! The entrance guards were all knocked out... Turns out they all went down with a single punch!"
I stopped in my tracks at the flustered guard captain's words.
"We're searching now, but have you seen anyone suspicious...?"
"Upstairs."
"Pardon?"
I flashed a sly smile at him, then turned serious.
"Looks like a real pro, so take as many guards as you can. Don't go alone and get wrecked."
"F-Frey, sir! I'm no pushover myself!"
The guard captain looked a bit offended.
'...Strength 7.3, mana 3. Perloché could beat him with a flick.'
But to me, it just sounded like a rookie's whining.
"No backtalk. Gather your men and catch 'em quick. Or I'll go to the top brass myself."
"U-Understood!"
He paled, bowed, and rushed off muttering.
"Damn it, my luck's been shit lately..."
'...Because of that misfortune coin I gave him.'
I smirked faintly, thinking of the coin I'd given him long ago, then melted into the crowd, deep in thought.
'This actually works out better.'
When I'd seen Perloché, my mind had gone blank. But now, it seemed like a stroke of luck. The source of her transcendent martial prowess was the Solar God's Blessing, which only shone in one-on-one fights. In a narrow hallway against multiple foes, I could buy some time. Her defensive divine power would keep her unscathed against those weaklings anyway. Meaning both she and the guards would be tied up.
⊳ Combat imminent: Perloché vs. guards in slave waiting room hallway.
⊳ Security expected to loosen slightly as a result.
A pleasant smile spread across my face as I sent the telepathic message, then quietly rummaged in my pocket.
'Combat executives, hold position until I give the order. Remerno, just enough to avoid rashes. Keep it subtle.'
I issued the orders naturally upon receiving the telepathies, then muttered with a strange feeling.
"This... really feels like I'm the Demon King."
In past loops, I'd groveled to them, vowing to crush them all next time. Now they revered me and took my commands... It felt odd.
'Still, use 'em while they're useful.'
A bit sentimental, but better to exploit them fully before crushing them. My mind settled.
Swish...
Composed, I murmured.
"Alright, then..."
In the teeming crowd, I carefully donned the Deception Robe.
"...Time to meet our princess."
Time to rescue the demon princess I'd left alone for weeks.
.
.
.
.
.
"Ugh, uugh..."
"Aigoo, my head..."
At that moment, as Frey hurried off in his Deception Robe...
"Wait... what the hell?"
The guards at the slave market entrance clutched their throbbing heads and staggered up.
"H-Hyungnim! What happened?"
"I-I don't know either, you punk."
"Did we... get chewed out again?"
They often got scolded for dozing off, so they panicked, fearing the same. But...
"Nah... doesn't seem like it."
"Th-Then what's all this?"
They froze at the scene around them.
"Dunno what, but something happened for sure."
Their fainted comrades lay foaming at the mouth right before their eyes.
"What the hell happened? Anything ring a bell?"
"Oh, wait...!"
A flustered guard asked his comrade, who clapped and spoke.
"I opened the door for shift change, and that guy flew at us!"
"...Right, yeah."
They eyed the massive guard sprawled before them.
"But he's over 120kg, right? How'd he fly like that?"
"Yeah... Even jumping himself, he wouldn't soar that high..."
No leads despite brainstorming.
Crackle, static...
"Hyungnim, radio!"
"Damn... gonna get an earful again."
The senior guard scratched his head and answered.
"...What?"
"No way, an intruder? Impossible..."
"Maybe a monster got in? Otherwise..."
Elite mercenaries, they doubted despite the urgency.
"...A girl?"
The revelation peaked the absurdity.
"Joke, right? What girl beats veteran mercs?"
"Weird... That's the captain's voice, and he doesn't sound drunk..."
As they dithered...
Step, step.
"...Hm?"
Someone approached.
"It's a girl?"
"Hey! Halt!"
Squinting, they realized she was smiling, raised weapons—but...
"What?"
".........!!!"
A fatal mistake.
"What did you just say?"
"U-Ugh..."
"H-Hyungnim... What is that?"
Her eyes glowed, unleashing unprecedented dread. Overwhelming terror. Awe. Like facing a colossal wave, erupting volcano, or skyborne hurricane. Not human—a living natural disaster. They felt it viscerally.
"Ugh..."
Before they knew, they'd wet themselves.
"...Pathetic."
She passed between them with pitying eyes, still glowing ruby red.
The moment Demon King Ruby fully revealed herself to the world.
"......What did we just see?"
"......No idea."
Shaken long after...
Swish...
"Wh-What now?!"
Another robed girl appeared; they trembled in fear.
"E-Eek...!"
No prior terror, so they gripped weapons, chanted spells—but...
Clang!!!
A finger snap shattered weapons and magic circles. Speechless.
"...This is adamantium."
"Even so, breaking the magic circle...? Makes sense?"
As the robed Glare entered, they whispered blankly.
"...That radio was real."
"Yeah."
Darkness and light converged on the slave market.