Chapter 113
While discussing the Spirit Device…
“…Huh?”
The Spirit Device has disappeared.
More specifically, it vanished from Belselphia in response to the summoning of the Holy Sword.
“…This is bad.”
Both Nana and Celcius had serious expressions on their faces.
Celcius was surprised by the sudden summoning of the Spirit Device, and I knew the reason all too well.
“I’m sorry. So, uh…”
I explained the situation to Celcius.
That I had liberated the Spirit Device out of joy after encountering the Holy Water Sword.
However, it seems the owner wielding the Holy Water Sword is the head of the Holy Knight Order of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, which means they would need to summon the Spirit Device at least once to demonstrate their calling or the manifestation of power.
And there’s a chance they might summon it frequently from now on.
“So, you’re saying this is your fault?”
“I had no idea that we would be attacked here!”
If I had known that Belselphia was being attacked by Leviathan, I certainly would have taken different measures.
But that’s something impossible to know given the circumstances, and what’s happening now is merely a result of that situation.
“Still, surely the disappearance of the Spirit Device won’t lead to an immediate attack?”
“…I don’t know. Having faced them, it seems that guy is one who goes straight for the weak.”
“That’s true. But still—”
Both Nana and Celcius know a fair bit about Leviathan.
I’m a Demon Lord, and Celcius has been fighting face-to-face with them for a while.
As such, we’re all too familiar with the kind of moves Leviathan might make in this situation.
Leviathan is not a Demon Lord to miss an opportunity like this.
Bwaaaaam—!
A harsh siren began to echo across Belselphia.
It was an alarm signaling an enemy attack, and it was obviously sent out by Celcius right in front of me.
“…They’re coming. It seems they’ve decided to launch a full-scale attack.”
“What? Right from the start?”
“You’re experiencing this as soon as you arrive, but we’ve already fended off several powerful enemy assaults. This situation is genuinely dangerous for us.”
Celcius pointed outside.
“Look at that. Those kids from the 5-minute standby unit are heading out right now. It’s normally a 5-minute readiness, but they’re out in less than a minute. Can you believe they’re coming out at this late hour?”
“…I don’t think they were that quick when I was fighting the Human Alliance.”
“Those guys and their descendants have been here for 500 years, developing a more efficient system.”
In an instant, a large army began to move out from Belselphia.
The soldiers, adorned with fishbowl helmets, rode strange beasts resembling seahorses as they rushed one by one out of Belselphia, forming up, while Celcius clenched and relaxed their fists, assessing their own power.
“Yeah… I feel weaker. The interference power…”
Celcius is a being of nature.
Without the Spirit Device, their ability to interfere with the surroundings diminishes.
“Given the situation, would you mind helping out?”
“…Of course not.”
Helping is a natural thing to do.
“Though Leviathan is a Demon Lord, we should treat our enemies as enemies.”
Initially, I had planned to eliminate Celcius if things went sideways, but instead, I found myself having to eliminate the Sea Demon Lord who had crossed over from another realm.
“I don’t have time for lengthy discussions, but there is another Demon Lord behind the one I summoned the Spirit Device to face. Demon Lord Beelzebub.”
I pulled a purple Magic Stone from my pocket.
“His soul is right here. For now, since he is also a Demon Lord, I’ve kept him in mind, but don’t get the wrong idea. Do you know someone named Zephar?”
“…That perverted psycho?”
“Yeah. He was trying to mess with me. He was going to summon me and turn me into a slave, though I’m not sure how.”
I placed the Magic Stone over my heart.
“Beelzebub is the same. He was summoned before me and was being controlled by Zephar. Leviathan might be in a similar situation.”
“So you want to save him?”
“I’m not saying to save him; I’m saying we should kill him to subdue him. Whether he’s being controlled or going rogue, if I turn him into a Magic Stone, I can absorb his power.”
Once that happens, I naturally become stronger, and the things I can do will increase.
“Will you cooperate, Celcius?”
“Cooperate?”
“Yes. It’s a bit tricky for me to talk to my people about the source of this power.”
“Ah… I see. You mentioned there’s also a Saintess from the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess.”
You can’t just seal a Magic Stone that has bound a Demon Lord; there’s a witch who uses her power instead.
That’s basically turning undead through a large-scale ritual.
“Just go along with it.”
“I understand what you mean. It looks like your people are also coming this way, but how long will this take?”
“Not long.”
Since it’s transformation, I can do it quickly.
“I’ve done it once already, so it won’t take much time.”
Shoooooosh.
The Magic Stone of Beelzebub connected with the Magic Core in my heart.
The purple Magic Stone stuck to my Magic Core quickly stained the red Magic Core, which was pulsating like a heartbeat, with a violet hue, and I found myself tinted purple as well.
“Hm.”
In Beelzebub’s colors.
A deep purple.
Like Beelzebub’s Magic Stone, this kind of purple with a slight bluish hue felt a bit unfamiliar and awkward.
“Hm, nice. Is it possible to make it blue?”
“Your color?”
“Yes.”
“It’s possible, but I really don’t want to.”
I gathered my hair that had fallen back and tied it to the side.
“I’ll make it similar to your hair. This should work, right?”
“…That’s nice. Hm, it’s good.”
Celcius was satisfied with the way I styled my hair to resemble theirs, but then their expression changed.
“…I never expected a bond formed after 500 years would end up like this.”
A serious yet dignified voice.
If a being from 500 years ago were to show up, it would send shivers down anyone’s spine, thinking it might be the Great Demon Lord Belphegor.
Beeeeeeee!
A horn sounded from behind.
Simultaneously, hurried footsteps rushed in.
“Master!!”
“Stop.”
By now, I had drawn the Holy Sword and reached out towards Lucius, who arrived here even wielding the Golden Storm.
“Calm down.”
“Master…?”
“Celcius has released one of the seals placed on me. No, rather than a seal, she has allowed me to use one of the powers I originally possessed.”
I’m selling Celcius out.
She’s a woman who would understand perfectly.
“What’s that…?”
“Think of it as an image change. It’s a method to optimize the spells I use. Well, suddenly shifting from red hair to purple hair might be quite strange.”
“Ah, no, it suits you.”
“…Oh.”
Celcius clicked their tongue with a pleased expression.
“Are you the Hero?”
“…Yes.”
Even Lucius swallowed hard at the solemnity.
“Entering my presence carelessly with a weapon deserves death, yet rushing in for the safety of your master is indeed commendable. For the sake of my Bel, I shall spare your life.”
“…My Bel?”
Lucius’s Golden Storm began to gradually subside.
At the same time, I worried about what crazy thing Celcius might do next and stepped between the two.
“Celcius, please refrain from making any remarks that could be misunderstood.”
“Is there anything wrong with stating that all who live in this land drink my water to survive?”
– Don’t be ridiculous.
– I don’t want to.
Celcius stuck to their guns, and I couldn’t help but sigh at the stubborn behavior that was reflected in my face.
“…I’m really sorry that something occurred while we were reminiscing about the past, but the situation is delicate. Celcius, we’ll also be going out along with the hero.”
“Going out…?”
“There’s no time for lengthy explanations. There’s another Demon Lord, Leviathan, outside, and Belselphia is in grave danger.”
The individuals immediately stiffened.
“A Demon Lord…?”
“Yeah. While it’s not the Great Demon Lord Belphegor, it is another Demon Lord that has come forth from the Demon World. Right now, Belselphia is in crisis. So we’re heading out.”
“Are we… going to be okay?”
“Of course.”
I approached Lucius and extended my fist.
“You can do this, right?”
“…Yes.”
After Lucius bumped fists with me, he confidently raised his head toward Celcius as well.
“I will proudly show what kind of man I am. Master.”
*
[As expected.]
Leviathan nodded at the massive army that appeared in the distance.
[They have put in their all. For some unknown reason, the Spirit seems to have weakened. This is the chance… tsk.]
Leviathan scoffed at the young man with blonde hair riding a seahorse.
[How amusing. To think a Hero would just pop up as if waiting at any moment.]
[M-Master?! Is it really the Hero?!]
[Yes. The Hero. Probably… the one wielding the Holy Wind Sword that defeated the Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor.]
This is dangerous.
The Hero of the Holy Sword could die if not careful.
But.
[!!]
She saw it.
No, she ‘felt’ it.
In the heart of the aggressively positioned enemy, the strange yet familiar ‘Magic’ flowed.
[Oh.]
This Magic, without a doubt, belonged to that individual.
No matter how much someone tries to disguise their Magic scent, or even if they concealed their form behind the Hero wielding Holy Power, that distinct strong scent could not be erased.
[Heh, so you’re moving amidst the human ranks like you did 500 years ago.]
Leviathan knew from the beginning how the Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor had moved in the Intermediate Realm.
To be precise, it was based on the information spread throughout the continent, but from that alone, she could glean how Bel Phegor dominated the Intermediate Realm.
With that knowledge, Leviathan too was able to dominate the seas.
[Looking at the state of the Magic, it seems they haven’t been summoned for long. The one with the Hero must have been deceived easily.]
What to do?
Leviathan had two choices.
One was to expose Bel Phegor’s identity and bring about self-destruction.
But that wouldn’t count as a real victory.
[I will go all out.]
Even before the Holy Sword, she wouldn’t back down.
If Bel Phegor has defeated Heroes of the Holy Sword, then she can definitely do the same.
[Unleash.]
Gooooo.
The massive body of Leviathan began to emit a deep blue light.
In an instant, her hundred-meter-plus form transformed, as if custom fitted to the size of a Hero, into the form of a human woman.
[All troops. Advance. And bring me that purple-haired woman over there.]
With waves swirling around her like a dress, and with deep eyes as though containing the depths of the ocean, Leviathan smiled and opened her mouth.
“I definitely must have a taste.”
Slurp.
“There’s nothing tastier than a plump, fat crab.”
