---

“How comfortable.”

Even if I just stay still, the warriors will take care of everything.

It’s great that not only the hero but also the warriors treat me like one while fighting alongside me.

That’s how males are.

With just a bit of praise, a clear chain of command, and some hot male action to stimulate their instincts, they can be easily managed.

– “Oppa, do the dishes.”

– “What? The dishes? Why?”

– “If you do the dishes, you can drink with your friends today. I’ll even give you some pocket money.”

– “Okay, go ahead…!”

– “And call me before you arrive. I’ll be cleaned up and waiting.”

– “Huh…? Wait a minute. Waiting after cleaning up? Why…?”

Occasionally, if rewards aren’t proportionate, or if unexpected extra tasks pop up after completing a mission, men tend to feel resentment.

Therefore, when presenting a task, it’s best to ensure they focus solely on that task.

“To the heroes. We will annihilate all the orcs in front of us. In the name of justice. For humanity.”

The command to the warriors is singular.

Defeat the enemy before them.

There’s no need to specify which units should advance, which should retreat and rest, or which should risk their lives to attack from the flank.

Each one is a warrior with overwhelming power; what more do we need?

The moment their attacks cease to hurt, they have already transcended humanity.

Each one wields a 6kg weapon like a dagger, and with 300 of them, they can easily encircle and annihilate around 5,000 orcs. They are capable of defeating tens of thousands of elite orc warriors of the so-called Demon King’s Army.

Thinking of it that way makes it easier.

Each of them is beyond human.

“For humanity—!!”

In the past, during my days in command of the Demon King’s Army, it reminds me of the time I led the Death Knight Order made up of Swordmasters, and the warriors are displaying overpowering strength.

“It’s chaotic. Really.”

Although they’re rampaging around thinking they can’t get hurt, they’re not invincible against enemy attacks.

Beep, beep!

The flow of magical power connected to my staff suddenly began to flicker in red.

As I scanned through my staff, a scene unfolded before me with the magic of foresight.

“Ugh!!!”

Three much larger orcs are attacking a single warrior.

Other orcs are setting up a barricade with their bodies to block the approach of our warriors, while simultaneously one orc is holding a warrior from behind and unleashing violence.

“Ugh!!”

“How cowardly…!”

It’s shocking.

Not only is it shocking that an orc is holding him back so he can’t move, but the orcs are mercilessly whacking the warrior with their clubs from below.

Protect the groin!

“Are those guys even males? How can they attack the groin so mercilessly? If it weren’t for the protection…ugh.”

Thud, thud, thud.

The orc is spinning its club like a windmill.

With every hit, veins bulge in the warrior’s eyes as he cries out in pain.

As they are made of steel, the impacts may not directly transfer, but men have something known as phantom pain.

Not only does it apply to men, but seeing another’s wound can make one feel as though they are receiving the same injury.

Just like staring at a heart-pierced corpse and remembering past experiences causes one’s heart to throb, the warriors couldn’t help but flinch as they watched their comrade getting mercilessly attacked in the groin.

“Hahaha! Now there’s only one block left!!”

“Ugh!!”

Beep, beep, beep!

The magical energy flowing into the groin protector started flashing red.

If I don’t replace the magic stone, the remaining mana within will be used up, and once the mana runs out, the groin protector will no longer perform its protective role and will crumple.

Along with whatever’s inside.

“These filthy orcs! No matter how different our species, how could you attack like this among men?!”

“Squawk, if you’re mad, you can attack too!”

“Th-this…!”

I have no words.

They say to attack like that, but no matter how much of a warrior they are, would they really want to strike somewhere they’re not even sure about beyond a piece of cloth?

They’d rather thrust their spear into a neck or heart.

“Hahaha! The protection’s over! Once the barrier is gone, you’ll just be a naked pervert! Ha-ha!”

“That can’t happen.”

I poured strength into the flow of magical power connected to the warrior.

At the same time, the magic that was twinkling from behind the warrior’s helmet began to swirl.

“What, what is this?!”

“Aura Blade.”

Swish!

The magical energy that shone from behind the helmet took shape in an instant, cutting off the neck of the orc that was holding from behind.

The warrior urgently pushed the orc away and reached for its heart.

Boom!

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere as the warrior crushed the orc’s heart and yanked the magic stone from within his grasp.

“Stop!!”

The orcs rushed in again, but the warrior already tossed the magic stone he pulled from the orc’s heart over his head.

“Catch.”

I manipulated the flow of magical power and caught the freshly looted magic stone.

It’s quite far, but thanks to Beelzebub’s power, I could exert my influence even from a distance.

“Connection.”

Wheeing.

The violet grip of magic swiftly wrapped around the magic stone.

The mana contained within the stone began to flood into the helmet in an instant, and the gauge for the man’s groin protector began to fill up from red to yellow.

“Wow—!!”

After being tortured not to death and freed from the orcs, the warrior raised both hands high and roared.

“Die, you pig bastards!!”

Then he started swinging his fists wildly at the surrounding orcs.

“C-cowardly…! Using our deaths for your power!”

“What kind of words are those from someone attacking the vital points of others?!”

“What’s different from aiming at your heads and hearts?!”

“If you’re mad, then you all aim for our heads and hearts too!”

The warriors and orcs clash once more.

Even if the barrier’s power decreases, the warriors can absorb mana in real-time by defeating the orcs.

“Ha.”

Although I may seem like I’m just standing quietly doing nothing, I’m supporting these dangerous individuals from afar.

In the past, I could control the entire battlefield solely with my pure mana, but now, without Beelzebub’s or Leviathan’s magical assistance, it honestly becomes challenging to control even such a battlefield.

“…Looting.”

The blue magic moves like a shadow across the battlefield.

With the hue of Leviathan, the magic flows along the ground, moving like a silhouette of a shark beneath the water.

Swoosh!

The small blue sharks ruthlessly sank their teeth into the heart of the fallen orc.

Simultaneously, tendril-like fingers emerged from their opened mouths, drilling into the flesh and gripping the magic stone nestled within the heart, pulling it out.

“There’s no time to collect the magic stones.”

Gulp, gulp.

The shadows devour the orc’s magic stones.

Even as the mana predators consumed the bodies that the warriors were unable to loot, the orcs could not resist.

By killing the enemies we fight, we convert them into our power in real-time.

Turning the outcome of attrition into a unilateral advantage for our allies.

Enemies into allies.

That is the core tactic of Demon Lord Belphegor.

“To think humans could execute such a tactic.”

500 years ago.

The fundamental power that pushed humanity’s alliance to the brink of annihilation lay in thorough benefits exchanges and wheel warfare.

Minimizing losses for allies while continuing to increase losses for the enemy.

Sometimes unleashing an undead virus, some corrupting with vampirism, and others making propagandists through mental education and brainwashing so they no longer believe in false gods.

It was by deploying all sorts of means and methods that I was able to reach the brink of victory.

Of course.

“Wow.”

Though I was defeated by the power of the Holy Sword.

“Today’s the day I catch Lucius.”

Regardless of looting or any of that, I couldn’t help but admire the golden storm that soared higher than the mobile fortress we rode in.

“At least 300 orcs must have been cut down in one strike. That’s just a normal attack.”

With every swing of the sword, a golden gale stretches dozens of meters, and the orcs caught in that blade gale are ground to a bloody pulp with not even a shred of flesh remaining.

Splash!

And that blood rains down on the heads of the enemies.

It could be considered somewhat cruel, but I can’t help that.

“Indeed, that guy Lucius must be livid after being robbed of his workout and sparring time.”

What a vent.

I feel no sympathy for the orcs suffering from the hero’s anger.

Had the orcs not advanced, we would have been sparring among the 300 warriors.

“Truly, heroes are unfair.”

No matter what wisdom or tactics are concocted, when the hero swings the Holy Sword, everything becomes useless.

“…But the problem is that the enemies also have a hero.”

Satan.

Beyond just holding the Holy Sword, now there’s a user of the Holy Sword.

I don’t know how he became its master, but thinking the other way around illustrates how dangerous that could be.

Imagining that the golden storm could turn into a red pillar of fire and sweep us away is terrifying.

“…It seems I’ll have to use that method. Ah, Lucius. Can you hear me?”

[Master?]

I extended Beelzebub’s magical power towards Lucius.

With a whoosh.

The violet magic flowed widely around the back of Lucius’s neck.

It resembled a cloak and the long hair fluttering in the wind.

“Since it’s practice, I’ll teach you one thing on the spot.”

[W-what is it?]

“Image training.”

The Holy Sword is merely a form.

“Hold the sword at chest height and make it vertical. Then grip the handle with both hands like this.”

I conveyed the gesture of my action to Lucius through magic.

“And.”

Swish.

“Split it to the left and right.”

Now.

“Hero. You should also give dual swords a try.”

It’s time for the show-off to explode.

 

---