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“Extra, extra!”

Paper newspapers flutter everywhere.

Kids with bread hats seem excited yet wear slightly stiff expressions as they dash around, placing newspapers on tables, people, and railings, their shoes nearly catching fire.

Flap.

Those reading the newspapers pick them up with serious faces, but most people ignore them.

Is it because they have no interest in the newspapers?

No.

It’s noon.

Everyone who wants to read has already checked, and those curious about the newspaper’s content have heard from those who checked first.

Flap.

Not only distributing newspapers to people, they’re haphazardly throwing them around, scattering them on the ground.

Now the newspapers are just paper trash littering the streets.

However, if this trash can still help anyone who hasn’t yet read it, it could be of great assistance to those still in the dark.

“…….”

A white-haired woman in a black uniform clutched a newspaper tightly.

She wore a rapier-like white sword at her waist and donned a squared beret, dressed unmistakably as a soldier.

The peculiar thing about her was that she bore none of the Empire’s insignia.

And no one recognized her as a knight.

“Ha. Is it already too late….”

The headline of the newspaper read boldly, “Demon King’s Army, Closing in on the Realm?”

The article detailed how the Demon King’s Army had been steadily advancing towards the Empire, including how scouts reported on how the Demon King’s Army had captured the Empire’s cities.

Casualties.

Death toll.

A display of sensational phrases designed to evoke emotions of discomfort and anxiety in the reader.

Yet, this is an undeniable fact.

Though it might not align with the truth, and possibly doesn’t even reach half of it, it is indeed clear that the Demon King’s Army is steadily advancing towards the Empire’s capital.

And at the bottom of the front page was some ambiguous statement, either an advertisement or propaganda: “We are collecting funds to defeat the Demon King’s Army!”

“…So the Demon King is making it to the realm.”

The white-haired woman couldn’t suppress a laugh at the newspaper’s content.

“Creating an atmosphere of fear again at this point is too late.”

The newspaper is a very fast medium for sharing information.

However, if you filter the information from it once, or if new information gets updated faster than the newspaper can announce it, the information becomes contaminated and distorted.

“Scouter, Sandbag, Barazak. And now Maginot and Rhine as well.”

The Baron Maginot and the Marquis of Rhine.

In areas neighboring the two territories, flames from the Demon King’s Army were on the rise.

– The Demon King wields flames as he pleases!

– Flame Hero defeated by the Demon King?

– A recurrence of history from 500 years ago? We must mobilize our armies swiftly.

Finally, the Empire could no longer remain idle as the Demon King’s Army moved, having crossed beyond Scouter, Sandbag, and Barazak to finally reach Maginot and Rhine.

They had no choice but to act.

News not relayable by the newspaper had finally reached the realm.

– The Demon King is using some kind of Sacred Flame Sword?!

The Demon King was wielding the Holy Sword.

It was said that the Demon King had defeated the Holy Sword’s Hero, Bearnes.

The Empire’s intelligence division had already grasped that information more than a week prior, yet the Empire’s newspapers were just now announcing it to the public.

– It’s natural that the news is slow. We only relay the information we have gathered.

– Had the Empire’s intelligence division sent that information sooner, we would have published it immediately!

Once the Empire’s influence burrowed into the newspaper, it began to spread.

Naturally, the contents of the paper were filtered and cherry-picked by the Empire.

Until now, it had calmed the world’s folk with reassurances, but now the frontline information couldn’t be controlled anymore.

– The Demon King attacks the Empire wielding the Holy Sword!

The Demon King’s assault on the Empire.

No one knew the reasons for their advance into the Empire’s heart, but the Demon King Satan, controlling a crimson flame, could easily vanquish even Grandmaster-level foes while steadily seizing territories.

“…So it’s the Holy Sword again.”

Creating an atmosphere of fear.

While it remains certain that “the Demon King has defeated the Hero of the Holy Sword,” nothing is clearer and more certain than the statement “the Demon King possesses the Holy Sword.”

Those in Maginot and Rhine were known as the Grand Swordmasters and Great Sorcerers.

For such individuals to be slaughtered without any means to fight back by the Demon King, and to have perished in blazing crimson flames, could only be explained by the power of the Holy Sword.

And.

The Demon King’s Army arrogantly approaches the Empire with the Mercenary King Bearnes bound and crucified.

The crimson flames rising from the Demon King’s hands.

The original owner of the Holy Sword, the Mercenary King Bearnes, now shackled.

This context was painfully obvious even to a child.

The Mercenary King, the Flame Hero, has been defeated by the Demon King.

“Damn it, is a war really about to break out…?”

“What if the enemy pushes into the realm? Surely the Emperor will step in to resolve it? Damn, can’t he just run out for a bit to subdue the Demon King’s Army…?”

The citizens of the Empire began to panic.

They can’t help but panic.

The Demon King’s Army continued their advance towards the realm while the Imperial army showed no significant movements.

“…Huh.”

A thick atmosphere of war looms yet there is no military action on the peaceful streets.

The white-haired knight kept fiddling with the sword at her waist, looking up at the sky.

“…Should I take action?”

No one could answer that question.

The white-haired knight simply remained alone, pondering deeply.

Realm of Leberced.

Arpe was spending another noisy but uneventful day.

*

“This is a message from the Empire. The Mercenary King Bearnes has been defeated and captured by the Demon King.”

“…What?”

Just as our preparations were reaching their final stage.

I received an incredibly shocking piece of news from Mammon.

“Satan directly used the Holy Sword, you say?”

“Yes.”

“No way. How could Satan wield the Holy Sword?”

“I don’t know that myself. How can the Demon King use the Holy Sword? Do you have any insights?”

“…….”

Bearnes has been defeated.

I had already heard that.

But I had not heard of what Satan did afterward.

“Did Satan really ‘use’ the Holy Sword?”

“…Perhaps.”

I could hazard a guess.

There are so many possibilities.

So many that it might just be circumstantial evidence or speculation, yet that might carry little to no difference from the truth.

“Satan must have defeated the Flame Hero in a one-on-one battle before becoming the master of the Holy Sword.”

“Can the Holy Sword change its master?”

“Yes. Among beings from the Intermediate Realm.”

The owner and the user are different.

Satan has become the ‘user’ of the Holy Sword.

Having taken the Holy Sword from Bearnes.

“…Beings from the Intermediate Realm?”

“That’s right. Those from the Demon World cannot wield the Holy Sword. To be precise, only those with ‘a physical body born in the Intermediate Realm’ can wield it.”

“…Ha.”

Mammon snapped his fingers.

“Then can I use it?”

“…For now.”

“Then why didn’t you….?”

“Correction. I’ll add ‘living being’ at the end.”

I also wanted to use the Holy Sword.

If I could wield the Holy Sword, I wouldn’t have to carry Lucius around.

“I’m undead. My essence is that of a spirit. I’m different from you who have been summoned to the Intermediate Realm and fully blended with your current bodies.”

Mammon dwelled within a living woman.

I dwelled in the body of a woman whose heart had been ripped out.

“What if I possess another body…?”

“It’s possible to possess the body of someone who wields the Holy Sword. But it’s a bit complicated, so for now, let’s focus on the fact that I must possess Lucius’ body. We’ll discuss that later; right now, let’s concentrate on the fact that Satan is wielding the Holy Sword.”

Satan, the Holy Sword acquired.

Flambergue has now transformed into a demonic sword.

According to the information obtained from the Empire, it has morphed into something akin to a ‘Scythe of the Grim Reaper.’

“So, what about the coordinated operation with the Empire?”

“We’re waiting for information from the Empire. Initially, while their forces held out at Maginot and Rhine, we planned to send scouts under permission… but…”

“Things went haywire as the frontlines fell back faster than expected.”

“Yes.”

I understand.

Prepared to give one while expecting one, you can’t help but be thrown into a panic when you’re compelled to give three at once.

“…Ha. To think that they’d be overrun while I was preparing. Is the Empire so incompetent, or is Satan just too capable?”

Simultaneously, the Empire was breached far too easily amidst these unfolding events.

“…I hadn’t intended to extend this much assistance to the Anari Principality.”

“Since you’re helping anyway, let’s make it grand! Right, Demon Lord?”

“Tch. I hadn’t originally intended to assist this much, but you’re special, so I’m helping you.”

Thanks to Mammon acquiring a ‘Spare Body,’ I couldn’t ignore the help I’ve received.

“Seems like our preparations are complete. Let’s start moving.”

Towards the Empire.

*

Murmurs.

In the training ground of the Principality.

Leonidas, a former knight of the kingdom among the 300 muscular warriors lined up, couldn’t hide his confusion as he gazed at a woman on the podium.

“Ah, everyone. I’m the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, ‘Bel.’ I am also the tactical advisor for the special forces, ‘Fenrir Special Brigade,’ aiming to defeat the Demon King Satan and his army alongside the ‘Hero’.”

Fenrir?

Special Brigade?

Tactical Advisor?

Those terms were completely incomprehensible, yet Leonidas gulped as he looked at the blonde youth standing next to the red sorceress.

“This man is the Hero of the Holy Sword. Together with you all, you will become a storm-like wolf to defeat the enemy. And the armor you will don… is this.”

Flap.

The Hero removed his robe.

Everyone was taken aback in shock and horror at his figure, while Leonidas trembled involuntarily at the ungodly size of his lower armor.

“I will show you the grace of the winds dwelling within you.”

Sorceress Bel grasped a sizable axe.

Then she—

Clang!

Struck the Hero’s chest.

Clang!

Hit the Hero’s abdomen.

And then—

“Uh, uh?!”

Bang!

She struck the Hero’s protective cup.

But only the golden wind sparkled on the Hero’s chest and abdomen, and the cup remained unscathed without a scratch.

“…You will all be blessed by the golden storm. Those of you who are confident in your body, take it off. Right here. Right now.”

As Sorceress Bel snapped her fingers, neatly dressed maids stood before the heroes.

“The measurements for the helmet, boots, and protection will be similar in specifications and appearance. The maids will measure and record your head and foot size. And…”

Clang!

Every time Sorceress Bel tapped the Hero’s protective cup with her axe, the muscle-bound warriors involuntarily shrank below.

“Declare your size here. Is it Large, Extra Large, or Special Extra Large? If you’re…”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“…Claiming to be Hero Sized, we will need to make a special order.”

“…….”

“Uh, the Special Extra Large doesn’t fit me….”

“What’s your name?”

“Le, Leonidas.”

There was one.

 

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