Volume 7 Chapter 15 (2/2)
Everything was going smoothly. We quickly settled the specifics like how many injured soldiers that Avalon was going to take and when.
Just when we were about to end the meeting though, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
I felt a shiver down my spine. All of my instincts were roaring wildly, telling me to escape.
”Procell-dono”
”Procell-dono”
”Procell-dono”
The king, the princes, and the other statesmen then immediately stood up and jumped at me. The other party being who they were, I couldn't carelessly shake them off.
And due to my order not to harm the royal family, Kuina's response was a little delayed.
”What has gotten into you?”
I tried to ask so, but no answer came.
Their eyes were unfocused. It was clear that they were being controlled even though I was sure we eliminated all possibilities of it happening.
However, rather than how, the question was why they were being controlled at this moment.
There was just no sense in restricting me like this.
For better or for worse, the answer came right away.
”Oto-san, outrageous magic power is coming from the sky. It's a ceremonial magic done by hundreds of people!”
Kuina said so as she concentrated all of her magic power into her hands that she had pointed upwards.
”It can't be. Does he intend to blow away this building even though the royal family is in here too!?”
We had expected that there would be an attack, but not such an extreme one where everyone in the same building—including the royal family—would be annihilated.
Nevertheless, the attack came. It was a pillar of light that had the holy attribute.
It punched through the ceiling like it was nothing.
”I won't let you kill Oto-san!”
Kuina erected a barrier of flame. However, flames were originally not geared toward defense. Moreover, the attack in question was a ceremonial magic that needed to be prepared beforehand by several hundreds of individuals. There was no way her barrier would hold.
She then used her golden red flames and clad herself in it. Even with that though, there was no way the pillar of light would be pushed back. But then, as though fully aware of that, Kuina looked and smiled at me with a face full of resolve. She then leapt leaping toward me, brushed away the royal family members that were restraining me, and pushed me down herself.
”Even if Kuina dies, Kuina will protect Oto-san. Oto-san, sorry, I don't think Kuina can keep our promise of being together forever.”
Right after she said so, she transformed into a giant fox that covered all of me. Using what magic power she had remaining, she hardened her golden furs.
Shortly after that, the pillar of light made a direct hit.
◇
The ceremonial magic finally stopped and the pillar of light gone.
The sky, it's visible even though I'm inside a building. No, wait… I have to check something first.
”Kuina, are you alright?”
There was no answer.
Unconscious and back to her humanoid form, she laid on top of me. Her body was covered in wounds and her face had gone pale.
”Kuina, answer me, please, Kuina”
No matter how much I begged, there was no response. Not even so much as a twitch. At that moment, a grave thought crossed my mind. No, no, no, I will not accept that.
Accept it or not though, particles of light were rising from Kuina's body. Soon thereafter, the particles and Kuina herself were gone.
”Kuinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!”
I screamed so as loud as I could. I tried to reach for one particle of light, but all I grasped was air.
Kuina was my first monster as well as my most beloved.
We were supposed to always be together, but now, she was gone.
”Miserable, that's the only word to describe you right now, wouldn't you agree, [Creation] Demon Lord?”
The moment I heard that voice, two angel-type monsters pinned me down and bound my arms behind my back. Soon after that, the [Black] Demon Lord himself appeared.
”You! Why, why involve even the royal family!?”
Due to the situation, I was late in realizing that the members of the royal family that were present for the meeting had all perished.
”Haha. How should I put it? They're nothing more than mere pawns. Easily replaceable. But isn't it normal to do whatever it takes to catch your opponent unprepared?”
”Even so, don't you feel anything for your believers? As imperfect as you are, they worship you. Doesn't your chest hurt at the very least when you kill your believers!?”
”You do say the strangest of things. Wait, don't tell me you actually believe what you're saying. These so-called believers are nothing more than livestock. Expendable livestock that will believe whatever convenient thing you say. So, no, my chest did not hurt. Well, expending the livestock with role of royalty was a bit wasteful, I admit, but you know what? Humans are unexpectedly clever; I'll have a replacement soon enough.”
The [Black] Demon Lord said so and then laughed heartily.
Surveying the field one more time, I finally accepted defeat. It would take considerably less time to kill me than for Aura and Ruru to mow down the group of angel-type monsters.
It was over. There was no use resisting.
”Kill me already, [Black] Demon Lord”
At least this way, I would die with honor, for whatever that was worth.
”Now, why would I do such a wasteful thing? You're a fool, true, but you have an excellent ability. With my ability, I could dye your heart [Black] and make you useful for once.”
According to the [Time] Demon Lord, in exchange for a huge amount of magic power, the [Black] Demon Lord could dye his target's heart black and control them. This worked even if the target was a Demon Lord. That meant that no matter how much a war was progressing badly for him, he could still turn the tides in just one fell swoop. Worse still, there was no direct defense against it.
Considering that it was a fate worse than death, I tried to break free, but the angel-type monsters' hold was just too strong. Furthermore, they reached for the silver watch hanging from my chest and snatched it off.
That watch was awarded to me by the [Time] Demon Lord. If I used it to stop my own time, the [Black] Demon Lord's ability could be prevented and because of the high magic power consumption of his ability, it was unlikely he could use it on me again so soon. Alas, with the watch stolen from me, this was no longer possible.
”Now, become mine, [Creation] Demon Lord”
”Fuck off. For taking Kuina, there's no way… there's no way…”
I wasn't able to continue my sentence. My heart grew darker and darker. And then, I vanished.
Who am I? That's right, I'm…
”Your wish is my command, [Black] Demon Lord-sama.”
I am the [Black] Demon Lord's loyal servant.
◇
”Fuhahahaha! I've obtained the ultimate power! I should be able to win against [Dragon] and [Time]!”
The [Black] Demon Lord laughed heartily.
”First order of business. [Command] all of your monsters to swear loyalty to me. You probably have some deployed nearby. Let's start with them. Summon them here and make them swear their loyalty to me.”
”As you command, [Black] Demon Lord-sama.”
Like he was ordered, Procell called Aura and Ruru.
Riding the wind, the first to arrive was Aura. With a thump, she landed by Procell's side.
”So, this is the rumored Ancient Elf. I see, such a beautiful monster. I've always wanted a monster with such talent and beauty. Let's see, why don't you demonstrate that talent of yours? Using your weapon, shoot the clock tower two kilometers away in that direction. If anyone can do it, it's you, right?”
The [Black] Demon Lord ordered Aura so. Procell had already commanded her to be obedient to the [Black] Demon Lord's commands.
And so, she readied her prized anti-materiel rifle and pointed it toward the aforementioned clock tower.
”Then, please observe my shooting.”
Aura said so and pulled the trigger three times. However, rather than the clock tower, her actual targets were the heads of Procell and the two angel-type monsters that restricted his movements.
At the sight of what should have been an impossible thing—a monster attacking their own Demon Lord—the [Black] Demon Lord was wide-eyed.
”Phew. Even though it's a fake, it still bothers me to shoot master.”
After saying so, Aura then looked at the [Black] Demon Lord with cold eyes full of disdain.
”What- wha- you, what are you doing!?”
”What, you ask. I'm eliminating the enemy, duh?”
At that answer, the [Black] Demon Lord was confused.
Before he could say anything else, the water beneath his feet surged and formed a cage. Right after, R'lyeh Diva, the beautiful, blue-haired otherworld songstress, appeared.
”Aura, everything's A-OK on my end too. The capture has been safely completed.”
Ruru said so and then gracefully smiled.
”You! How dare you! Release me this instant!”
”Eh. Even if you say that, I'm under no obligation to obey you.”
”Yup. Me too. Our master's the only one we'll listen to.”
The two girls responded so and then smiled.
Right then, the sound of footsteps could be heard and everyone turned to see whom it belonged to.
”Did you have a good dream? Frankly speaking, your cowardice and arrogance has made your moves readable. But I guess I have to thank you for that interesting speech. You've awakened a lot of people to the truth.”
The one who spoke was none other than [Creation] Demon Lord Procell. By his side were the supposed-to-have-perished royal family and Kuina the Celestial Fox.
At that moment, the [Black] Demon Lord finally realized who was doing the trapping and the one getting trapped.