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Chapter 103. The Fourth Demon Lord’s Prince

“Your Highness!”

From behind the green-haired demon, a continuous stream of new demons appeared.

Fully armed and moving in a coordinated manner, they possessed strong magical power, even if they were not as impressive as the prince.

(Damn it, elite troops!)

The Elf Mage grimaced, pressing a hand to the scar on his face. Unlike the soldier demons who were meek in their nightclothes, these ones were formidable.

“We will hold them off. Everyone else, retreat!”

The female demon warrior at Emelgias’s side spoke in a clear voice. She too had green hair—likely from the same royal lineage as the prince.

With the given “order,” the soldier demons took their chance to distance themselves. No matter how intimidating the Sword Saint was, it wouldn’t do to flee in front of others, but if it was an “order,” they had no choice—

Instead, the elite demons stepped forward, forming a formation around the prince and thrusting their spears out.

(…But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!)

Meanwhile, the heroes were gathering their courage. From one perspective, the target of their hunt had revealed itself—

No more searching was needed.

“——–”

In an instant, everyone exchanged glances—

“【Holy Radiance, come into my hands!】”

The hero, having conserved his power, bet everything on this moment.

“【Holy Armor of the Hero!】”

Imparting strong protection to all allies.

The fist and sword saints, clad in light, surged with strength in their limbs.

Ready to strike all at once—

“Hah. A futile struggle.”

However, Prince Emelgias remained unfazed, instead adopting a mocking demeanor.

“【I am the Fourth Demon Lord’s Prince, Emelgias Izanis!】”

He summoned an intense magical power that could be felt even clearly by the humans.

“—【Wither away!】”

The wind began to blow.

The wind, thick with powerful magic, distorted the view on the other side, causing even the heroes to hesitate to step forward.

“【O Spirit of Wind!!】”

The Elf Mage immediately prayed and unleashed a pure wind to counter the curse. …No, not counter, but rather,

(I’ve had the power of purification stripped away!)

The Elf Mage felt a chill run down his spine. He barely managed to nullify the magic, but what a tremendous dispelling spell it was.

What would happen if the heroes were exposed to that? Their holy attributes and protective charms would vanish in an instant, leaving them utterly vulnerable!

If he, being a mage, didn’t hold his ground, they would all be wiped out—!

“I see. So you are indeed the key.”

Emelgias grinned wickedly and set his gaze upon the Elf Mage.

“—Death to the creatures of darkness!”

Sensing a bad turn in events, the hero shouted and unleashed holy flames from his sword.

Brilliant silver flames surged towards the demons—of course, they were deflected by some protective magic, but they momentarily obscured the vision.

That was the signal for the sword saints to charge. They braced themselves for incoming magic. Even if some were intercepted and sacrificed, they would take down the demon lord prince here—

“【Wither away!】”

“【Pure Wind!】”

Once again, the prince’s dispelling magic flew their way, and the Elf Mage countered in turn. The immense magical power swirled, clashing and vanishing.

As long as the Elf Mage was present, Emelgias’s magic could not reach the sword saints. But that also meant the Elf Mage had to remain focused solely on Emelgias.

“【Lame your feet, become rigid!】”

“【Winds, muddle and entwine!】”

The elite demon’s royal guard also steadily unleashed curses.

The curses struck the advancing sword saints directly.

However, the holy light’s robe served as a substitute to absorb the curses, dissipating into thin air.

Even as they vanished— they indeed protected the sword saints.

Indeed, the distance between both sides became zero.

With a loud clang, the sounds of fierce metal echoed. The sword saints’ slashes were deflected as the elite demons braced themselves. Though some spears were cut and armor shredded, not a single one took a fatal hit—

The injured demons drew back to avoid further injury and swapped places with fresh troops.

(This is bad, these guys)

(They have considerable power too!)

(I don’t care, push forward!)

The sword saints shared their urgency and pressed on toward Emelgias.

“【Great blessing!】”

The hero strained to share his power and barely maintained their magical resistance. In straightforward melee combat, they still held the advantage.

The enemy was trying to shield the prince, causing them to move with some awkwardness. Several demons fell victim to the pressure from the sword saints, receiving fatal wounds—before another could interfere, they aimed to finish this quickly—!!

(Alright, this is it—)

They could take the demon lord prince’s head!

The Elf Mage felt a surge of excitement while maintaining the circulation of magical power.

“Nice, you have such strong magic!”

But a voice whispered right by his ear.

Startled, he found no one beside him.

In fact, that voice—

“You’re no ordinary forest elf. Are you of high elf blood?”

Emelgias, standing several dozen steps away, visibly moved his lips.

“【I envy you.】”

As if the words were whispered right beside him—

A clear voice reached his ears.

“【I’m jealous. That innate power of yours.】”

A sticky, insidious gaze wound around the Elf Mage.

“【I’m envious. Jealous, I want that too…!】”

It seemed to absorb every light and leave nothing behind, like a void.

The Elf Mage sensed a chilling madness beyond that void.

—This is bad!!

Suddenly, he snapped back to reality.

—What am I doing, idly listening!?

A curse!! Words of malediction slipping into his heart.

He should not listen any longer—

“【Offer it up!】”

—The scar on his cheek, torn by magic, burned with intensity.

“Oh… guhh!”

Power drained from his entire body, and dizziness overwhelmed the Elf Mage as he staggered, sustained only by his guardian, the wise wolf race’s Dogajin, barely avoiding collapse.

It was as if— the world had lost its color—

“Haha♪”

With a malicious grin, Emelgias’s presence grew even stronger.

“【Wither away!】”

Without a moment’s pause, an envious wind rushed toward the sword saints.

“—Pure wind!”

The Elf Mage shouted, but was met with shock shortly thereafter.

His words, his spells—held no power.

He couldn’t use magic…?

“—This is bad!!”

The Elf Mage’s cry turned into a scream.

The cursed wind consumed the sword saints and heroes.

The holy light enveloping them—was completely stripped away and scattered like dust.

“Wha—”

The hero, too, froze in shock.

“Now! Do it! 【Lame your feet!】”

“【Become rigid!】”

“【Tear apart!】”

A torrent of curses from the elite demons flooded in.

The sword saints, who had fought like demigods, suddenly lost their finesse, either caught by magical attacks or being severely wounded—

“Don’t you dare underestimate me!!”

Although the dual-wielding sword saint found his abdomen ripped by the wind’s blades, he still spat blood and slashed at the demon before him, charging toward Emelgias.

“【Tear apart!】”

However, Emelgias merely muttered one word.

The swirling winds sliced through, and the dual-wielder was torn limb from limb, collapsing in a pool of his own blood.

“—!”

Teeth-gritting, the curved sword wielder moved closer, using the fallen’s body as a shield, closing in on Emelgias.

With a chilling sound, the curved sword grazed the prince’s neck.

“You possess remarkable physical abilities!”

But Emelgias was not merely a magic-obsessed demon. With a trained physique and spear skills, he easily countered.

Using a spear infused with immense magical power, he effortlessly blocked the curved sword.

By distorting the very principles of existence, he subdued the blade cherished for slicing through anything.

“【Tear apart!】”

Once again, a single word. With a sickening sound, the curved sword wielder too sank into the blood pool.

“【Blessing…!】”

Straining to his limits, the hero chanted with a near-collapsing expression.

A faint silver light ignited around the remaining sword saints.

“Not yet!”

“Watch our sword techniques!”

Former soldier sword saints shouted with feigned enthusiasm as the shield-wielding sword saint bravely attacked.

“I’ll acknowledge your pathetic efforts.”

Emelgias said casually as he impaled the nearest mass of meat with his spear, showing a false sense of concern.

“—But I’m not envious of you.”

A hint of mockery seeped through.

“【Wither away!】”

The last remaining hope, the holy light, was once more—

Blown away, effortlessly.

“……”

Exhausted from excessive magical use, the hero swayed and fell.

“Well then, I’ve already secured my trophy. I won’t hog it all, so feel free to do as you like with the rest.”

“Oh, is that alright?”

“You truly are generous, Your Highness!”

Emelgias stepped back a few paces, casually proclaiming.

His demon subordinates erupted in joy, as if the battle was already over, engaging in relaxed conversation—

“Don’t underestimate us!”

“Watch it, you there!”

Two of the outraged group charged while forming a defensive stance.

“【Tear apart!】”

“【Lame your feet!】”

Against the onslaught of curses—

“【Evil words shall pass over us!】”

Though only two, they formed a formation and managed to endure the attack. But just then, spears came rushing at them from all directions.

“Damn it!”

“That’s so cowardly! Fighting without magic!”

The dull sound of spear tips piercing flesh echoed—

“Shh!”

A loud burst of air sounded from behind. The beastman fist saint, picking up stones, hurled them rapidly with his fists.

“Whoa!”

“That was close!”

“Ugh!”

Surprised, some were hit directly, but there was enough distance that most either dodged or managed to evade.

The beastman fist saint swiftly turned and dashed into the forest.

“…Hmm? Where did that elf go?”

Emelgias looked puzzled.

The Elf Mage and the elder beastman beside him had vanished without a trace in the brief moment he had taken his eyes off them.

 

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