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A gigantic Sword of the Flames stretching several meters.

While its form may span several meters, the influence of the Sword of the Flames far exceeds the range of the barrier.

Whoosh!

Diptera was engulfed in flames before it could even approach the Sword of the Flames, burning up completely.

It was merely a small spark, yet Diptera’s entire body ignited as it fell flat to the ground.

Whoosh.

White smoke began to rise as Diptera’s corpse started to burn away.

“Whoa, isn’t that going to burn the ground?!”

“Oh no, that’s our backyard!”

“Don’t worry.”

At first, people assumed the village was burning due to the fallen Diptera, but the flames clinging to its body had no effect on the grass.

“It’s a sacred flame. It’s composed of magical energy, which only burns demons.”

“Indeed…!”

“Truly, Witch! No, Sage! Incredible!”

“It’s just this much.”

After all, it wasn’t even my power.

Lucius and Droniel might not realize it, but that large, imposing sword is a ‘Replica of the Holy Sword’.

It’s just a grand visualization of the Holy Sword Flamberge wielded by the Flame Hero Bearnes.

“…Droniel, let’s go!”

“Okay!”

Whoosh.

Finally, the two of them began to swing their swords together.

In time with Lucius’ guidance, Droniel swung the sword, causing flames to stretch from it and ignite the sky.

Kiiing!!

One by one, the falling Diptera resembled a rain of fire as they crashed downward.

I clenched my fist at the magic stones rolling off their burning corpses and did my best to maintain the flaming sword that the two were wielding.

Though modeled after Flamberge, maintaining that sword is fueled by my magical energy.

Right now, I’m using my mana—specifically, the mana obtained from the magic stones of the townspeople—to fight against Beelzebub!

“I’m counting on you, Lucius! Chop them all down!!”

Whoosh, whoosh!

As Lucius and Droniel unleashed their flaming strikes, they laid the swords horizontally against the ground.

Then, after exchanging glances, they swung fiercely towards the sky.

Whoosh!!

The large arc they drew split the air, and the Diptera burned and fell once more.

Like moths that had their wings ignited, the Diptera disintegrated into the ground without a care.

“Liriez. Are you managing the barrier?”

“Yes, yes. I’m okay. For now…”

“Then, please hold on a little longer. It seems a big one might come from that side.”

“Eh?”

Kishaah!!

A roar echoed through the area.

Was it anger from the deaths of its subordinates, or fury because the Demon King himself was failing to properly conquer such a village?

…Or perhaps a pent-up frustration from losing control and being dominated by someone.

I don’t know yet.

But Beelzebub’s wrath was undeniable, and in such a situation, Beelzebub’s nature…

“A combination is coming.”

“Eh?”

“It will be just like that insect-like creature we faced before.”

Crash!

The Diptera began to gather as one.

“Ugh…!”

Previously, the creature’s steel-like chitinous skin was woven together like scales, but now they simply formed a mass that wriggled together like maggots into one giant entity.

“Life with mana. Flesh with flesh. As one life forms, all will become cells.”

“Eh?”

“That’s it. The monster from the legends…!”

There are no such legends.

It’s just that the sages of the Hero Party are supposed to shout out the enemy’s true nature in such situations.

“Be careful, Lucius! That monster is definitely not a regular being! If I’m right…!!”

Chzzzzt, chzzzzt!!

Violet mist spread out from the massive creature, wrapping around it.

It resembled an insect’s cocoon, and it quickly enveloped itself.

“Th-that’s an immediate attack—”

“No. There’s no time to attack. This isn’t a transformation that takes time.”

It merely appears that way.

Ordinary insects would break out of their cocoons to spread their wings, but the surface resembling a cocoon is merely a shell enclosing the living cells inside.

“It’s coming.”

Kyaaaah!!

“The Demon King of the Demon World, the Lord of Gluttony, the Abyssal Devourer that consumes everything, [Beelzebub]!!”

Ah.

It’s best to cry out like this to maintain appearances.

Does Liriez understand the authority of that Demon King, or does Lucius?

“Be thankful, you brat.”

By pretending to be scared and tense in front of Beelzebub, he can gain authority as a Demon King.

“Witch!”

“I’m, I’m okay…!! I can still go.”

Trembling my legs on purpose, I planted my staff down to regain my posture.

“Master!!”

“I’m fine, I tell you!”

Am I shaking in front of a demon for the first time?

Even Lucius might have been momentarily deceived by my act, anxiously gulping at the sight of that giant fly-like demon—Demon King Beelzebub.

“No matter how much they’ve combined into one, they only resemble the previous large creature! It’s merely the form of a Demon King; the reality inside is still monsters!”

“In that case… we can just kill each one of them!”

“Yeah!!”

We can slaughter the giant cell mass.

If it’s a simple kill, it would be hard, but right now, we have the most efficient weapon against Beelzebub.

“Lucius, swing it! Got it?!”

“Yes! Then—”

Thud!

Beelzebub lightly shook the ground.

And at the same time, it opened its mouth wide to exhale.

“!!”

I hurriedly sealed my eardrums with magic.

At the same time, I shouted towards the others.

“Cover your ears!! Quickly!!”

“What—”

Thump, thump.

Before I could even shout, many began to collapse.

“Droniel!!”

“Rgh, ugh…!!”

Even those inside the barrier, including Rosmas, fell.

“Damn…!”

Though they endured due to being undead, they’re still powerful.

“Ultrasound attack…!”

A powerful wave that no human can hear, yet its sheer magnitude rattles the brain, causing a concussion—Beelzebub’s main specialty.

Only four of us remain.

Me, Lucius, Droniel, and Liriez.

“This is…?!”

“Explain later!! Lucius! Take Droniel inside the barrier!”

“Eh?! But if I let go of this sword, it will disappear—!”

“Operation time!!”

“Got it!!”

Lucius immediately threw the sword towards Beelzebub and grabbed Droniel.

I intended to simply re-summon the sword, but Lucius’ instincts led me to unfold a new spell to explode the sword, causing flames to engulf Beelzebub as it reached out towards us.

“Witch!”

“Liriez. Minimize the barrier. Just enough to protect the fallen people.”

“Got it. But that enemy…”

“There are plenty of ways to bring it down. And….”

Right now.

At the moment everyone lost consciousness.

“I’ll show you. Even without the Spirit Device, with human strength, we can defeat such a monster, a Demon King.”

“Master.”

Lucius fiddled with his ring and nodded heavily.

“I’m ready.”

“…You can’t be serious?”

“It may be better if you fight than me. No, it surely will be. Master.”

Lucius knelt before me, extending a hand.

“Please use me.”

“…Sorry. If it weren’t for a Demon King, I would want to give you a chance, but we’re facing a Demon King.”

“It’s fine. If I can protect you and everyone else.”

“You two, what are you….”

“Droniel.”

I called Droniel.

Just as I shouted, she managed to stand on her own two feet thanks to her magic protecting her eardrums from the barrier.

“I’ll push my consciousness into Lucius. While I’ll control Lucius’ body to face that Demon King. Can I leave my body in your care for a bit?”

“Uh, Sage’s….”

Droniel glanced at Lucius, then at the fallen people, before nodding.

“I understand. But please save them no matter what…!”

“Of course.”

I pressed the back of my hand against Lucius’ outstretched hand.

“I’m going.”

“…Yes.”

Lucius looked somewhat dissatisfied.

If only his power was just a little stronger, he’d be able to face a Demon King, which must be frustrating.

But when facing a Demon King, the level must be matched accordingly.

‘Who does this rookie hero think he is?’

The opponent is a Demon King.

To face a Demon King, one should at least be at the level of a hero who’ve achieved the final awakening.

So.

“…… Connection, commence.”

Now it’s my turn.

Whoosh.

My consciousness slipped back into Lucius’ body.

Switching from Sorceress Bel’s flesh to Lucius’ body, Lucius’ consciousness began to drift into darkness.

The space Lucius granted me.

There, I take root and settle.

Very slowly.

I inscribe my existence onto Lucius’ body.

And the foundation of this inscription is Lucius’ Holy Wind Sword.

“…Liriez, and Droniel.”

As I called them, both looked startled and examined my—Lucius’ face.

“Could it be…?”

“I borrowed his body temporarily. Given the situation, handling this with my own power is more effective.”

They needed an explanation since they were witnessing this phenomenon for the first time.

“Rest easy; Lucius is safe.”

“Wha, what about the Witch…?”

“As long as my flesh is okay, there’s no problem. Of course, since my flesh has lost its soul, it’s essentially dying in real-time, but we’ll just have to deal with that Demon King quickly.”

And I had enough composure to explain this.

“Please wait inside the barrier. I’ll deal with it immediately.”

Whoosh.

I slipped out of the barrier so naturally.

Passing through the icy walls, I stood alone before Demon King Beelzebub, steadying my breath.

“Wind.”

Whoooosh.

A golden sword began to materialize in my hand.

Golden winds swirled around me, and I let the sword hang to my side.

“Come to me. And reveal that power.”

That power is.

Like a tempest.

“My winds will never falter.”

Release.

“Come forth.”

Ascalon.

 

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