The Temptation of the World
The soldiers on the walls let out frantic cries the moment they saw me.
“I-it’s the Demon King!”
“The Demon King has appeared!”
They watched in raw panic as I leapt onto the battlements during the chaos. Yet the word Demon King that spilled from their lips left me with a strangely complicated feeling.
Demon King, huh… That’s a little more than I bargained for.
I was certainly displaying overwhelming combat strength, but hearing myself called the Demon King while still technically a former hero felt undeniably awkward. Still, there was no point in standing here and loudly insisting I wasn’t the Demon King. And at the same time… a rather good idea began to bloom in my mind, sparked by the fact that they already saw me that way.
It wasn’t in the original plan, but since they’re already calling me the Demon King, maybe I should pour a little more oil on the fire?
The sight of the Demon King clad in jet-black armor before their eyes sent the soldiers spiraling into deep panic. The appearance of a monster that made their hearts shrivel just by looking at it filled them with despair, frustration, and the terror of death. They flailed helplessly—until a single voice, the only one that had not yet broken, reached their ears.
“Everyone, get a hold of yourselves! No matter how strong that bastard is, he’s only one man! If we take his head, we will become heroes of the continent! Wealth and high titles that will let your families live in luxury for generations will be yours! This is your chance to seize everything you have ever wanted in this world!”
Wealth. Fame. Power. The greatest desires any person could hold. Pharisect’s fiery incitement offered all of them in one hand. The soldiers, who had been drowning in fear and confusion, suddenly felt a colossal wave of greed surge up inside them—strong enough to smother every other emotion.
Y-yeah… No matter how strong he is, he’s still alone.
Whether I die this way or that, if I can at least take the Demon King’s head, it’ll be a huge help to my family back home.
Looking at it another way, this is an opportunity. The chance of a lifetime!
In truth, the first soldier to reach the top of the wall during a siege was promised a generous bounty and rewards. That materialistic incentive was exactly why soldiers charged madly toward the battlements even through storms of arrows and fireballs. And right now, Pharisect had succeeded in igniting that same fire of desire within the terrified troops.
“You wicked Demon King! I will kill you and claim the reward—no, I will win peace for the continent!”
“Prepare yourself! Behold the power of our allied forces!”
The soldiers overcame their fear with raw greed and leveled their spears and swords at the Demon King with bold voices. Riding that momentum, Pharisect drew his own spear and glared at the Demon King standing before him.
“You don’t even deserve an honorable duel! By the will of the gods, I will end you here and now, Demon King!”
There was no room for thoughts of a fair one-on-one fight between warriors. The only thing that mattered was taking the Demon King’s head by any means necessary. If he could do that, Pharisect knew he would become far more than one of the Empire’s Three Knights—he would be the greatest hero who had saved the entire continent.
In a one-on-one fight, I’d have no chance. But if I join forces with the other soldiers and my own strength—which is only slightly below the Three Knights—then maybe…
He didn’t know whether it was actually possible. Yet in this moment, Pharisect had half-convinced even himself with the very words he had spoken to his troops. Wealth, fame, power. On this once-in-a-lifetime gamble where he could seize everything he had ever wanted, he decided to roll the dice.
“Kill him!”
“Uwaaaaaah!!!”
At Pharisect’s command, the soldiers charged with weapons raised. The elite troops guarding him were already tightly packed around their commander. Dozens of warriors who had reached the level where they could strengthen their weapons and bodies with magic power were present, and they unleashed their full strength—sword strikes powerful enough to split boulders and crush steel—directly at the Demon King.
Then—
“Haaaa…”
In the next instant, the Demon King began condensing an enormous amount of magic power into the pitch-black greatsword in his hands. The soldiers instinctively sensed something ominous in that aura and felt a chill run down their spines. Nevertheless, both they and Pharisect forced themselves to ignore that feeling and rushed forward.
And then—
“Haaaaaat!!!”
The Demon King drove the magic-infused blade into the ground like a pillar of black light. At that exact moment, a massive vortex erupted from where he stood, unleashing an overwhelming wave of magic power across the entire area.
“Th-this is—!”
“What the f—!”
It was an unstoppable strike packed with the force of a crashing tidal wave. The violent storm of energy swallowed Pharisect and his soldiers whole.
“Guaaaaaaaaagh!!!”
“Guaaaaaaaaek!!!”
An excruciating wave of pain engulfed their entire bodies. The sensation of being sliced apart by countless blades swept over them. Within that torment, Pharisect barely managed to release his own magic power to shield himself.
“Damn it! You filthy Demon Kiiiiing!!”
Clenching his teeth against the surging tide of agony, Pharisect forced himself forward. Even though the storm of pain felt four times worse than anything he had ever experienced, he somehow steadied the spear in his grip and assumed a proper stance.
“Don’t think something like this… something like this can bring me down!!!”
With those words, he kicked off the ground with all his might and charged. Each step brought even greater pain, yet he never took his eyes off the Demon King ahead of him.
I absolutely cannot fall here! Never! I will defeat you right here! For wealth, honor, and power! For everything I desire!!
Pharisect burned with the purest, most materialistic greed while displaying a transcendent will. Watching him, the soldiers—who couldn’t even stand, let alone advance through the terrible pain—felt deep respect bloom on their faces.
As expected of General Pharisect! To go that far for the peace of the continent…
He really is fundamentally different from the likes of us! That iron will… It must surely come from a sense of duty that transcends mere worldly desire!
Just as the soldiers were beginning to sense the noble spirit of a true warrior in Pharisect’s selfless advance—
“Haaaaaaaah!!!!”
“….”
Pharisect finally broke through the storm and reached the Demon King. With every ounce of strength he possessed, he swung his spear. The Demon King swiftly pulled the sword from the ground to meet it.
And then—
—CLANG!!!!
With a sharp ring, the Demon King’s blade blocked Pharisect’s spear. At the same time, the raging storm the Demon King had unleashed vanished in an instant. Even through the lingering pain, Pharisect shouted in a piercing voice.
“Now! Finish him off!”
“Ah… Yes, General!”
At Pharisect’s command, the soldiers snapped back to their senses as if doused with cold water and charged the Demon King. With their commander holding the monster in place, this was the perfect opportunity.
“You filthy Demon King! This will be your grave!”
“For the Alliance!!!”
Swords and spears poured toward the Demon King from every direction. Though each individual strike infused with magic power wasn’t particularly strong, the combined force of so many attackers created a destructive power that could not be underestimated.
Perfect! We’ve got him!
This is the end of the Demon King!
The soldiers were certain of victory, believing they could finish off the defenseless Demon King. But then—
—SCREEEEEEECH!
“!? Huh?”
In the next instant, the Demon King’s strength suddenly and dramatically increased. Pharisect, who had been using every ounce of power to pin the sword down, turned deathly pale. And then—
—KWA-KWANG!!!
The Demon King flung Pharisect’s spear aside and swung the massive blade with terrifying force. The enormous wave of power that erupted from it sent Pharisect—who had barely been holding the Demon King in check—flying helplessly through the air before he crashed into the ground. At the same time, the soldiers charging the Demon King were swept away by the shockwave and collapsed like a house of cards.
“Cough—!”
“Ugh…”
The soldiers rolled across the ground, bodies battered in an instant. Paying them no attention whatsoever, the Demon King slowly began walking toward the fallen Pharisect.
“Kuh… You think… you think I’ll just sit here and take it!”
Watching the Demon King approach, Pharisect forced himself to his feet despite the pain. His entire body was in ruins, yet even now his eyes burned with greedy ambition as he glared at the Demon King standing before him.
He already knew his odds of victory were hopelessly slim. But having committed to this gamble, Pharisect was prepared to wager even his last copper coin.
I have no choice but to gather every last ounce of strength for one final strike. It probably won’t work… but I can never give up until the very end!
Having steeled his resolve, Pharisect drew every drop of remaining magic power in his body to the tip of his spear. Even though his condition was far from normal, the reckless exertion made his mind feel hazy. Still, he maintained his focus until the last moment and leveled the spear at the Demon King before him—pouring into it his final, iron will forged from an unyielding desire for power, fame, and riches.
“Die, Demon King!!”
With a sharp cry, Pharisect’s spear left his hand and flew toward the Demon King. Yet despite the considerable power and strong will infused within it, his instincts already knew the truth. The strike would be futilely deflected. There was simply no way his power could defeat that monster.
He had been certain that was how it would end, but—
“Kuh!”
“….?! What?”