Prologue
Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Hiiro
Year 447 of the <Holy Calendar>.
This was a fantasy age of Gods, Spirits and Sorcery.
The war between the Demon King Army and the Six Braves was coming to an end.
Bones, bones, bones. In the land covered in black miasma there were bones everywhere.
「—Is this the end for the Capital of Death, <Necrozoa>?」
In the deepest reach of the black fortress <Death Hold>, where the throne room lies—
The <Demon King> of the Undead— Leonis Death Magnus, sighed, exhaling his breath that was mixed with miasma.
The dark cloak on his body was covered with dark cursed mist. He was the personification of death, and the symbol of fear and terror to normal humans.
However, the territories of the Undead King, <Necrozoa>, and the Dark lands were being ravaged by the allied army of humans, demi humans, and spirits. Destruction was looming silently over them.
The <Six Braves> who had the blessings of the gods had already destroyed the other strongholds of the Demon King Army. Be it Daemon Lord Disorph’s <Confounding Castle>, Beast King Gazos’ <Iron Blood Castle>, Otherworldly Devil Azura Il’s <Dimensional Castle>, Dragon King Weyla’s <Malevolent Dragon Mountain> or Sea King Levis’ <Ocean Floor Citadel>, all of them had fallen.
The only stronghold left was <Necrozoa>.
Demon King Leonis looked at the crystal ball in his right hand that displayed the battlefield.
The crackling sounds of the bones resounded in the wind.
The innumerable skeleton soldiers spread across the plains.
They were an army of undead created by Leonis with his Mana.
But that army that numbered over 10,000—
Was mowed down like grass before the violence of the battlefield.
「The Six Braves……!」
In the centre of the warzone was a large shining tree.
Roots sprouted from the ground sent the Skeleton Soldiers flying, smashing them to bits.
「The Great Sage Araquil. To think that he gave up on his humanity and degraded into an apostle of the gods—」
The Demon King Leonis murmured with rage and shattered the crystal ball in his hand.
The Six Braves had the blessings of the Gods and possessed the unlimited potential of evolving.
The Great Sage Araquil, known as the wisest of the Six Braves, devoured the guardian of the <Spirit Forest>, the <Holy Tree>, and took its powers for himself.
「I will engage them. My dark flames shall burn them all to crisps.」
Demon King Leonis held his Sorcery Staff and got up from his throne with a flick of his dark cape.
「—Please wait, Lord Magnus.」
Demon King turned towards the voice.
A Dark Wolf was biting the edge of his cape as it looked up at Leonis.
Braccus Shadow Prince.
The Prince of the <Realm of Shadows>, and Demon King Leonis’ comrade in arms over many long years.
「You are the last <Demon King>. That person doesn’t wish you to meet your end in battle here.」
Leonis stopped and tightened his grip on his Sorcery Staff.
「—You are right.」
Demon King Leonis searched his memories.
She— <The Goddess of Rebellion> entrusted him with a task.
<The Goddess of Rebellion> made a prophecy.
A thousand years later, when the stars crash into the ground. A child of humanity will serve as my vessel, and the one that holds my powers will appear—
And the mission given to the last Demon King was…
Find the vessel of the goddess and revive the <Demon King Army> that served her.
「Humans, I will accept my defeat this time. But I’m the Overlord of Death. When a millennium has passed, I will take back this throne!」
—And so, the <Demon King> of the Undead sealed his soul within the Mausoleum.
Chapter 1: Revival of the Demon King
「— Currently at Level 7. No signs of any <Voids>.」
『—Unders— Conti… with— search.』
The response mixed with static came from the earring shaped terminal on the girl’s ear.
As she delved deeper into the Ancient Ruins, the military communication device given to the <Holy Sword Academy> cadet <Holy Swordsman> started to falter.
「Lady Seria, shouldn’t we retreat?」
「The reports said that a <Hive> was built in these Ancient Ruins. Let’s go deeper to investigate.」
The girl flicked her long silver hair and started walking.
Her determined ice blue eyes gaze warily into the darkness.
The short staff type Sorcery device illuminated the girl’s face in the darkness.
She was 15 years old. Her silver hair shined in the light.
Her skin was so smooth and pale that others would mistake her for a snow fairy.
Her lips were pink, and her delicate features would turn the heads of anyone when she walks in the streets. She gave off an aura of innate nobility.
Lyselia Ray Christalia.
She was a noble of the Empire that ruled the Tactical City known as <Assault Garden> , and shouldn’t be in a dangerous place like this.
「Alright alright, you are too serious, Lady Seria.」
A petite girl who tied her blonde hair into two braids smiled wryly with a shrug.
She was Regina Mercedes, Lyselia’s handmaid.
She was energetic and had large blue green eyes. Her toned limbs had the aesthetic of a feral beast.
Both of them were wearing the same dark blue clothes.
This was the uniform of the <Holy Swordsman> enrolled in the <Holy Sword Academy> within the <Seventh Assault Garden>.
Their mission was to investigate the Ancient Ruins that appeared suddenly in the wild.
A few days earlier, there was a big earthquake, and this massive Ancient Ruins hidden underground was uncovered.
Since the <Void> often congregate and build <Hives> in Ancient Ruins where Mana pools easily, they were dispatched to investigate.
Investigating Ruins was dangerous work, and they were sometimes called canary teams due to the nature of their mission. Half a year ago, an investigation team encountered a <Void> mob and got wiped out.
—<Void>
They were invaders from another world that launched their attacks against humanity 64 years ago, wiping three quarters of mankind.
Their origins, goals and ecology were all shrouded in mystery.
It wasn’t even clear if they were weapons or living beings.
The only thing that was certain was that their appearance closely resembled creatures from ancient times.
「This is an important mission. If we don’t locate their <Hive>, the city might get attacked—」
Seria bit her lips gently and forged ahead.
It wasn’t because she wasn’t afraid. Strictly speaking, she was more timid than others, and would often hide behind her elder sister when she was young.
The air in the underground Ruins was damp and had a weird taste to it.
Like that of a grave.
(… Maybe it is a grave.)
Seria muttered in her mind.
Who knows how many centuries old this Ruins was? She looked around and found the ugly sculptures of fantasy creatures.
If this was the tomb of a king—
(… That king must be lonely.)
Seria thought.
Wary of any signs of <Void>, the two of them moved through the silent passageway.
And soon—
「… A dead end?」
Regina stopped and frowned.
「This looks like a door—」
Lyselia said as she looked up at the giant wall before her.
She pushed with both hands, but it wouldn’t budge.
「Anyway, want to break it down?」
「Wait, what does it say?」
After stopping Regina who said something dangerous, Seria moved the light of her staff near the door.
There were words carved on it. She was familiar with many Ancient Ruins, but she had never seen a language like this before.
「Can you read it?」
「Well, is it the ancient language of Elves… or is it Spirits…?」
Lyselia took out a small analysing terminal and tapped rapidly on it
「What is it?」
「— This door is still active.」
「What’s active?」
「The system is still operational. Even though it’s an ancient Sorcery device—」
「… Erm, will it take a long time?」
「It will take a while.」
Regina shrugged and exhaled.
She knew Lyselia’s personality.
「I will keep watch then.」
「Yes, I’m counting on you.」
Regina waved and walked back down the passageway.
She was really bored.
Moving alone in the Ancient Ruins was dangerous, but unlike Lyselia, she had the powers of a <Holy Sword> that could subjugate the <Void>. So, it should be fine.
Lyselia controlled the terminal and started deciphering the unknown ancient text.
There should be similar words in the database.
Just what was on the other side of the door. She was very curious.
The moment she touched the words—
It glowed with the light of Mana.
「Ehh…?」
Vroooom …!
The heavy stone doors opened slowly.
「… It’s open!?」
Lyselia opened her eyes wide and looked inside.
(What, is that…)
Embedded in the wall was a giant black crystal that was shimmering with light.
… She had never seen that before.
An alarm came from the terminal.
(Mana reaction…?)
The terminal that detected Mana was abnormal.
<Counter Stop> —After showing a theoretically impossible number, the device died.
「Really now, why does it have to malfunction right now …」
Lyselia said as she approached the crystal.
She could see a human figure inside the dark crystal.
「… N-No way… Why!?」
She forgot to breathe as she looked into the crystal.
There was a human inside.
(I have to rescue that person …!)
Lyselia drew her pistol out of her holster.
◆
Bang, bang, bang bang!
(… What’s going on, it’s so noisy.)
There were unpleasant noises outside the <coffin>—
The <Demon King> of the Undead— Leonis Death Magnus was awake.
In the mausoleum beneath the legendary capital of the undead— <Necrozoa>. Time that was frozen was moving again, and the soul of the <Demon King> sealed within the coffin was wide awake.
(So, a thousand years have passed …)
Bang, bang bang bang!
His vision was completely black, and he started to think.
He wasn’t conscious during the entire time he was sealed in the coffin.
The undead army was crushed by the Braves of humanity, and with the fall of <Necrozoa>, the last bastion of the Demon King Army, his time was stopped.
Bang bang bang, bang bang!
(The reincarnation ritual appears to be a success …)
He flexed his fingers in the darkness.
His head was still fuzzy, but he could feel his limbs.
Even though there wasn’t any Mana supply to the <Demon King> of the undead for the past thousand years, his body was preserved perfectly. So, he froze his soul with the mystic skills of undeath, and attempted reincarnation in the coffin—
Bang bang, bang bang bang bang bang bang!
(… So annoying!)
Leonis yelled angrily in his mind at the sound that disrupted his train of thought.
(What’s that noise?)
Someone was knocking on the lid of the coffin.
Who’s the insolent fool that dares disturb the slumber of a Demon King.
The Mausoleum sealed underground by a powerful barrier couldn’t have been uncovered so easily. But there’s no telling what might have transpired in the past millennium.
(But this place should have been sealed perfectly by a Sorcery barrier …)
Leonis listened carefully to the sound outside.
The fool trying to destroy the Demon King’s coffin was saying something.
(He looks like a human, hmm …)
After a thousand years, there would be some changes to language.
He stretched his fingers in the darkness and chanted the <decipher language> spell. A light appeared before him instantly.
His Sorcery was working normally with his reincarnated body.
「It can deflect bullets, so this isn’t normal rock. Let’s try anti-material rounds—」
(… A foolish grave robber?)
Leonis concluded.
And of course, this coffin couldn’t be harmed with normal Magi.
But he had to punish the insolent fool.
(—Behold the glory of the awakened <Demon King> and die!)
Leonis reached his hand out.
Creak creak creak!
The dark crystal coffin shattered loudly.
The impact spread out, blowing the figure in front of him away.
「...」
After sleeping for a millennium, the <Demon King> surveyed his surroundings.
The air in the underground Mausoleum was still the same.
The deathly atmosphere and serenity.
「… Ugh, cough…!」
The person before Leonis was curled up and moaning painfully.
And of course, that impact wasn’t meant to kill the foolish grave robber. The <Demon King> would show that insolent fool true terror before granting him death—
「…!?」
The moment he stepped forward, Leonis opened his eyes wide.
From the light source on the floor, the one illuminated was—
A girl.
She was around 14 or 15 years old, with long lustrous silver hair and clear ice blue eyes. Her skin was like virgin snow. It would be easy to mistake her for a High Elf living in the forest.
No, was there even a High Elf that could match her beauty?
Her face was as delicate as a sculpture of a goddess.
Leonis was mesmerized as he stood right there on the spot.
His thoughts of punishing the insolent grave robber—
Was already gone from his mind.
The girl was wearing a uniform that Leonis didn’t recognize.
It had a dark blue light cavalry uniform with a short skirt.
She didn’t look like a grave robber.
「… W-What happened…?」
The girl looked up at Leonis and groaned.
Instead of being afraid, she looked more troubled.
Leonis snapped back to his senses.
(… Oh right, the punishment. )
When he faked a cough…
「…Why is there a child here?」
The girl spoke.
「Hmm?」
Leonis reacted to her words.
— What does she mean by child?
Leonis looked down at his limbs with a frown.
「… What!?」
He opened his eyes wide with surprise.
(H-How is this possible...!?)
Skinny arms and tender skin.
Under his dark robes was a child-like body.
...N-No, not just child-like.
The Demon King Leonis Death Magnus had transformed into a ten years old human child.
(... Did the reincarnation ritual fail!?)
Level twelve, the highest grade of <Reincarnation> Sorcery had several types.
One type transfers the soul into another vessel.
Another creates a vessel with Sorcery and locks the soul to that vessel.
There was also a type that revert one’s body into a prior state by reconstructing his body
Leonis chose the third type.
The first type depended too much on chance, and there was no telling what kind of body he would reincarnate in. As for the second type, it was difficult to create a vessel tough enough to sustain the soul of a Demon King. Hence, Leonis went with the third option.
He rebuilt his failing body into his prime and used it as the vessel for his soul.
— Just like the legendary <Phoenix> that returns to life when engulfed in flames.
When he reincarnated, he should have used Sorcery to reconstruct his body into that of the Undead King.
Why am I in this detestable form—
The form of the brave Leonis.
The cape was too big on him.
Compared to the body of the <Demon King> before his reincarnation, this felt unreliable.
「Erm...」
She probably felt at ease because the person before her was a young boy—
The silver haired girl tidied her dress and stood up slowly.
She knelt on one knee before Leonis and stared at his face.
She then looked at the black crystal coffin that was shattered into shards.
「Why were you trapped inside?」
「...T-That’s...」
His heart started racing when those clear ice blue eyes stared at him.
(... Ughh, that’s why I can’t stand a human body—)
「Did you get captured by the <Void>?」
「...Void?」
He had never heard of that term before, which confounded Leonis.
「— I see, your memory is a mess due to the shock, huh.」
The girl seemed to have thought of something—
And suddenly hugged Leonis’ tiny body.
「...!」
「… It’s okay now.」
「W-What are you—」
「Big sister will protect you.」
「S-Staph… Ughhh …!」
Two soft melons were planted on Demon King Leonis’ face.
Before the well-developed bosoms of the girl pressed onto him, her silver hair tickled him.
She used her slender fingers and gently caressed Leonis’ head.
(...!)
This was a grave insolence towards the <Demon King>, ruler of <Necrozoa>.
But Leonis didn’t slap her hand away.
His heart started to race. He had long forgotten about how it felt to be human.
It was really comfortable to be held like this.
(… Hmm…)
He felt dizzy.
As if the girl’s breasts were a comfortable pillow—
Demon King Leonis lost consciousness.
◆
(...I see, this thing has raisins in them. )
Leonis sat on the stone altar in the underground Mausoleum and took big bites out of the biscuit the silver haired girl gave him.
(This is similar to the Elf’s travel provisions, but these are crunchier.)
He lost his sense of taste a long time ago, but this doesn’t feel bad.
「...Hmm, ughh...」
The biscuit was stuck in his throat, and he hurriedly pounded on his chest to swallow it.
(This body is difficult to get used to. I will black out when I get hungry—)
Leonis muttered grumpily in his heart.
You read that right, he passed out just now because he was hungry.
... That was dangerous. The strongest <Demon King> passing out from hunger was a great disgrace.
Leonis never thought he would reincarnate into his original human body and didn’t prepare any food or water in the Mausoleum.
He didn’t want to admit it but—
Leonis raised his head and looked at the girl sitting some distance away.
(... Maybe this girl just saved my life.)
By right, he should bestow her with the highest honour, the <Bones Medal>.
She had her hand on her earrings and was speaking with someone.
『I found a Deserted Citizen child in the Ruins. Please help me check.』
『— Understood… Matching with the list of Deserted Citizens.』
That was <Remote Conversation> Sorcery. Hence, that earring should be a Sorcery Catalyst.
She seemed to notice Leonis’ gaze—
She smiled to not make her worry.
「You look better now. Are you still hungry?」
「...」
Leonis nodded quietly. She stood up and sat beside him.
「My name is Lyselia·Christalia. I’m from the <Seventh Assault Garden>, <Holy Swordsman> academy, knight cadet of the 17th team— Oh, I’m 15. So, what’s your name?」
She politely kept her eye level with Leonis and introduced herself.
He understood the words but didn’t know what she was saying.
Leonis only got her name and age.
The human nations nearby should be the Lagarde Kingdom or the Schneival Sorcery Nation. However, this girl didn’t mention either of them.
She seemed to be mistaking Leonis for a child that had been abducted by monsters.
(... It can’t be helped since I looked like this.)
Leonis thought to himself mockingly.
He didn’t know why he reincarnated into this form—
But if his appearance created some misunderstanding, then he should make full use of that.
(... Anyway, I should ask more about this world.)
Leonis lifted his head.
「Lord— Leonis. Leonis Magnus.」
<TL: He switched to a more subservient japanese honorifics to refer to himself>
With the slightly high-pitched voice of a boy, he stated the name of the Demon King directly.
For a moment, he thought about using a pseudonym, but he had the high status of a Demon King and shouldn’t use parlour tricks on puny humans. In any case, this name was given by her, and was something he should be proud of.
(Alright then, let’s see how you react...)
If the name of the Undead King— Leonis Death Magnus had spread through the generations, she should have some reaction.
「Leonis?」
Lyselia opened her ice blue eyes.
(Oh? So she did know—)
「What a cute name!」
「...R-Really?」
Leonis’ face turned awkward.
(... What do you mean by cute, this is the name that sends terror throughout the world.)
It seems the name of the Demon King wasn’t recorded in their history books.
「Leonis— I will call you Leo-kun. How old are you?」
「I think... around ten.」
Don’t shorten the name of the Demon King on a whim! After stopping himself from saying that, Leonis gave his answer.
「... Around ten?」
「Oh, I’m ten years old.」
He didn’t remember how old he was before he became the Demon King. Well, it’s around that.
「You are a Deserted Citizen child, right? Do you remember what the <Void> that abducted you looks like?」
「Void?」
Leonis asked her in return.
「You don’t know about <Void>?」
「Erm... Yes.」
「I see, you probably don’t know if you live in the borders.」
Lyselia rested her chin on her hand and nodded.
「<Void> is the enemy of humanity that came from another world. We, the knights of the <Holy Sword> are fighting the <Void>.」
「...Another world? Enemy?」
Leonis was confused.
A millennium ago, the enemy of mankind was the demon race and the Demon King Army. And the <Goddess of Rebellion> that betrayed the pantheons of gods known as the <Luminous Powers> and declared war on the world.
(Did a new faction rise up in the past thousand years? but—)
The prophecy of the Goddess made no mention of that.
「We are looking for the hive of the <Void> in these Ruins. It has a high chance of appearing in Ancient Ruins. And then—」
Lyselia turned and looked at the opened entrance of the mausoleum.
「I found that door.」
... I see, so she found this place by chance.
Normally, the sealed door couldn’t be opened, but one of his subordinates probably set it to open after one millennium.
(No, wait—)
Leonis realized he had not confirmed one important thing.
「Erm... Ms Lyselia.」
「You can call me Seria, Leo-kun.」
「Erm, Ms Seria, which year of the <Holy Calendar> is this?」
He asked her about the calendar used by the human kingdoms.
If this is <Necrozoa>, the last stronghold of the Demon King Army to fall, and a thousand years have passed, then it should be year 1447 of the <Holy Calendar>. However—
「Holy Calendar?」
Lyselia furrowed her brows puzzledly.
「This is Year 64 of the <Humanity Unification Calendar>...」
「Humanity Unification Calendar?」
It was Leonis’ turn to be confused.
(— What’s going on here?)
Suddenly, Lyselia’s earring started to glow.
「—My lady... Please be careful, I’m engaging a large Void right now...」
「Eh? Wait, Regina!?」
Bzzz, bzzz, the communication cut off with static.
「Something happened?」
「...I’m not sure, but—」
Lyselia stood up with a sharp expression.
The next moment…
Booooooooooooom!
The underground mausoleum of <Necrozoa> started shaking violently.
◆
「—What!?」
Debris kept falling from the ceiling.
Lyselia immediately hugged Leonis and shielded him.
(...!)
He could clearly feel the soft breasts behind the uniform.
「Leo-kun, are you okay?」
「...I-I’m alright...」
The scent of the girl’s sweat entered his nasal cavity.
Leonis suppressed the wavering of his heart and nodded.
「The <Void> has appeared and is engaging my companion.」
Lyselia let go of Leonis and surveyed her surroundings cautiously.
Booooom!
The sound of explosion came from afar.
(...How dare they disturb the resting place of my comrades in this Mausoleum—)
As the Demon King ruling over <Necrozoa>, he couldn’t permit such an outrage.
Leonis wanted to stand up—
「...Uwah!」
「Leo-kun!?」
He was tripped by his long cape and face planted onto the ground.
(D-Damn it...)
He rubbed his nose painfully and got up slowly this time.
... He wasn’t used to this young body yet.
「Are you okay? Are you hurt?」
「I-I’m alright.」
「You’re a good and brave boy.」
Lyselia rubbed Leonis’ head with a smile.
... Leonis felt itchy, but surprisingly, it wasn’t unpleasant.
(What’s this...)
「Don’t worry, I will protect you.」
With that, Lyselia took out a metal plate from a belt on her thigh.
「Third Grade Holy Sword, Artificial Relic, <Ray Hawk> Limiter Release— Activate.」
She held the metal piece with both hands as she said that, then with a snap, the metal piece transformed.
In her hands were a cylindrical object that was glowing with Mana Light.
It appears to be a projectile weapon. This object didn’t exist back in Leonis’ era.
「This way—」
Lyselia took Leonis’ hand and started running.
Boooommm!
「...!?」
A large arm smashed the walls of the Ruins.
「...An Orc Class <Void>!?」
Lyselia’s delicate features turned pale.
(...She said Orc!)
Leonis was excited to hear a term he was familiar with.
Orcs— the generic term used to describe the man-eating monsters in the Demon King Army under <Daemon Lord> Disorph’s command.
But his expectations quickly turned into disappointment.
「Leo-kun, back away—!」
A five metres tall giant smashed through the wall and stood before them.
It had a grey body covered in minerals glowing with a red light. There were no eyes on its head, only a disgusting gaping maw.
It’s arms were covered with scales, and it had a squirming beast-like face on its chest.
(That’s not an Orc...)
It looked nothing like the Orc that Leonis was familiar with.
If Leonis had to name something that looked like it, it would be the synthetic organisms created by the Demon King Army strategist Zemain for his research. Leonis never got along with him.
「That’s an <Orc>?」
When she heard that question, Lyselia nodded with her eyes still on that monster.
「Yes, the enemy of humanity that mimics the form of ancient deities—」
Bang! A crisp explosion rang out.
That was probably Lyselia’s projectile weapon.
But it wasn’t effective and was deflected by the scales.
「...This weapon is not effective at all...!」
■■■■■■■■■—!
Revolting miasma spewed out of its maw as the <Void> roared.
It swung its heavy fist out like a whip to crush Lyselia.
「Hmmp, Dark barrier <Li Larte>—」
Leonis was about to chant a spell from the <Realm of Shadows>.
At that moment…
Boom boom boom—!
A series of explosions sounded out.
The crimson flames and the impact of the explosion blew off the arm of the <Void>.
「 Lady Selia, are you alright!?」
「...Regina!」
This time, it was a petite girl carrying a large tube-shaped weapon who appeared after smashing the wall.
Her blonde twin tails were shaking from the shockwave.
... So were her huge boobs.
In the darkness with the flickering flames, her green eyes had the keenness of a hunter.
This girl was a beauty too.
She used the momentum to slide across the floor and stopped at an appropriate distance from Lyselia.
「<Void> are spilling out from this Ruins after all— Lady Selia, who’s that kid?」
The girl named Regina looked at Leonis with her head tilted.
「I found him in the depths of the Ruins and placed him under my custody. I will tell you the details later—」
「I see—」
■■■■■■■■■—!
The monster pushed the debris aside and stood up.
Its shattered right arm had already started regenerating, showing amazing vitality.
「As expected of a large type. It will be hard to take it down with the firepower of this—」
Regina kept the large projectile weapon on her waist.
「Holy Sword <Drag Howl> Mode Shift—」
Anti-large type beast termination weapon— Number Four Heavy Cannon Dragon Destroyer, <Dragon Slayer>!
The large weapon suddenly transformed.
Starting with the dragon head-like cannon mouth, it turned into something bigger—
(... What’s going on? That weapon is—)
Leonis was dumbstruck.
(...That’s a <Holy Sword>?)
「Turn into ashes!」
Booooomm!
As the cannon erupted, a loud explosion and white light blinded them.
(... M-My underground Mausoleum!)
Leonis almost cried out.
But that was really powerful.
From the heatwave, it was on par with the Fourth Grade Explosive Sorcery, Exploding Lightning < Rag Ira>.
But that wasn’t Sorcery.
He didn’t see the Mana light when Sorcery was activated.
「D-Did you get him!?」
「Erm, my lady, that’s a Flag...」
A giant figure was slowly getting up from the other side of the dust cloud.
(Oh? It withstood the impact on par with <Rag Ira>...)
Leonis was surprised. A normal monster would have been reduced to ashes.
The blonde girl glared at the other side of the dust cloud, and stepped forward.
「Please leave the Ruins quickly, I will hold it off here—」
「Regina...」
Lyselia hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
「I understand. Be careful.」
「Yes, my lady.」
Regina smiled brightly.
They didn’t speak much, but the trust between the two of them was clear.
「Let’s go, Leo-kun.」
Lyselia took Leonis’ hand and started running.
◆
(I didn’t expect any of this...)
Leonis grumbled in his mind as he was pulled along.
The reincarnation ritual failed (Obviously), and he reverted into his young human form, before he became the Demon King. A monster from a different world named <Void> barged into the underground Mausoleum and destroyed the Ruins without the permission of the owner.
He wanted to turn back and destroy that monster but couldn’t do so.
Leonis glanced at Lyselia who was running desperately.
In order to learn more about the current world, this girl was an important source of information. He had to hide his <Demon King> identity as much as possible and fleece her for information.
「Let’s head straight for the entrance leading to the surface.」
Lyselia panted hard as she said that.
(... If you want to return to the surface, there’s a shortcut.)
But it would be suspicious if he said that.
「...Wait!」
Leonis felt a presence—
And immediately tugged at Lyselia’s sleeve.
Vroooommm!
The ceilings of the Ruins collapsed.
If they continued forward just now, the two of them would have been crushed by the debris.
「...Leo, kun...」
「Seems like there are more than one of them.」
With his back to Lyselia who had fallen to the ground, Leonis looked up.
A large figure with huge wings stood in the dust and looked down on them.
「...There’s, another one!?」
「So that’s a <Void> too?」
「Yes, a flying type— <Wyvern> class.」
A Wyvern this time, huh. Leonis frowned in his heart.
The wings were like a Wyvern, but its body was covered with minerals, and the huge and ugly body was nothing like the Wyvern Leonis knew of.
Wyvern was a more elegant and graceful monster.
「...Leo-kun, run!」
Selia shot three times with her weapon at the <Wyvern>.
But that didn’t even slow it down.
(Let’s kill it...)
Leonis shrugged.
He would have to show the girl a fraction of his prowess, but that couldn’t be helped.
It wasn’t a bad opponent for a warm up after his reincarnation.
(I will make you regret ever stepping foot into <Demon King> Leonis’ Mausoleum.)
With an arrogant laugh, Leonis started weaving ancient Sorcery.
He could feel Mana coursing through his body.
He couldn’t use it as usual with this body yet—
The huge <Void> swept its claw down.
(Burn into dust—)
As Leonis was preparing a Sixth Grade offensive spell.
「... I won’t let you!」
Lyselia charged before Leonis and knocked him away.
(...Huh?)
Leonis could only see her silver hair flailing in the air.
The <Void> swept its claw across the top half of her body.
She was sent flying, bounced a few times, and lay limp on the floor.
「What...!」
Leonis stood up and looked her way.
「Mmm, ugh...」
Lyselia’s uniform was slowly dyed red.
Leonis stood still with his eyes wide open.
「Why—」
「...R-Run.」
Lyselia said weakly.
「Meet up… with Regina, and leave... can you do that?」
She said gently with all her strength.
The wound on her chest was deteriorating with every breath she took, and the ground was covered in blood.
The <Void> behind them was moving.
And not just that Wyvern class. There were two or three more of them.
Leonis still didn’t turn back.
「...H-Hurry...!」
「...」
She had already lost consciousness, and Leonis walked over there only to hold her hand.
Her hands were turning cold rapidly. He had experienced this countless times; this was how death felt like.
A foolish act, an unnecessary act of self-sacrifice— This could be easily dismissed as such.
The <Demon King> Leonis could easily deal with an attack of that level.
He only let the girl live in order to obtain information about this world.
In a sense, she saved his life too—
To him, that was the extent of her value.
But the way she stepped up to protect Leonis overlapped with her figure back then.
— Being a Brave is boring. Be mine, Leonis.
That girl sacrificed herself to protect the heavily injured boy.
Betrayed by the people he had saved, the one who appeared before him who had lost everything—
Was the one that rebelled against the world and was detested by everyone— the <Goddess of Rebellion>.
「... Really now, what a pain.」
Leonis smiled wryly as he soaked his fingers in the pool of blood.
「This body is a real pain too...」
Why did he regain his emotions as a human—
Leonis stood up and glanced behind him.
At that moment, the three <Void> became still, as if they were frozen.
They were frozen by the boy’s intimidating aura.
He looked around and found the walls of the Ruins severely damaged.
「Are you the ones that destroyed my Mausoleum?」
The boy asked coldly.
「I thought I was reincarnated, but things turned out this way. Barbaric monsters made a mess out of my Mausoleum. And even killed the wench that saved my life. Alright, I admit that I’m a little impressed by the courage of this wench—」
Ignoring the <Void> before him, he kept droning on.
「This cape is too big, and gets in the way. My feet hurt too—」
Running on the rocky ground resulted in cuts in his soles.
He only mentioned it to vent out his anger.
「—Alright now, how should I deal with you lot?」
Leonis crossed his arms and thought.
The <Demon King> was magnanimous and reasonable.
And these monsters didn’t seem to possess any intelligence.
They didn’t even know who they just messed with. Pathetic, how pathetic. They didn’t even have the wits to understand that they must never make an enemy out of the boy before them.
「Well, in summary—」
After glancing at Lyselia who was lying in a pool of blood, the <Demon King> made his conclusion.
「— All of you deserve a painful death!」
Leonis stepped on his shadow with his right foot.
It squirmed and a staff appeared from inside.
A pewter staff with a blue Sorcery crystal at its tip.
「I haven’t seen you in a thousand years, partner—」
When Leonis held the Sorcery Staff in his hand, it emitted ominous miasma.
The symbol of death in the Demon King Army— <Sorcery Staff of Sealed Sin>.
Leonis obtained this Sorcery Eye Staff after battling the legendary dragon god.
「...Hmm, holding the staff with this body seems rather odd?」
He swung the Sorcery Staff with one hand and inspected it.
Gyaaahhhh!
At this moment, the Wyvern type <Void> swept its claw down.
「Really now, how crude.」
Leonis injected Mana into the Sorcery Staff and activated his spell.
The large body of the <Void> fell over feebly, as if it was pressed down from above.
It’s limbs were twisted in strange angles, and its head was crushed into the ground and bent out of shape/
—<Gravity type> Eighth Grade Sorcery, Great Gravity Well <Vuira Zuo>.
In the area of effect of the gravity well, it was possible to move a limb slightly, but there was no way you could stand up.
「—Die, lowly knave.」
He hit the ground with the end of his staff—
The <Void> uttered its death throes and started to contort and crumple from within.
A beast-like <Void> with long horns charged in.
Waaaarrrghhh!
「So it feels no fear, huh. Interesting.」
Leonis swung his Sorcery Staff forward.
「—Force Barrier <Lua Mayles>.」
The tip of the horn clashed with the barrier and sparks flew.
However, it couldn’t penetrate the Sorcery barrier.
「Alright, it’s my turn—」
Leonis swung his Sorcery Staff.
The hexagonal barrier spun and cut the beast-like <Void> into pieces.
Unlike the previous two enemies, the last snake-like <Void> seemed to have some intelligence. It slithered through the wall in an attempt to flee to the lower floors.
「You think you can escape?」
Leonis jumped gently from the ground and floated in midair.
He then aimed at the <Void> burrowing into the ground and swung his Sorcery Staff.
「Return to dust!」
<Flame type> Eighth Grade Sorcery— Ultimate Destruction Fireball, <Al Gu Berserga>.
The crimson flames consumed the <Void> in an instant.
「...Well, that’s it.」
Leonis muttered after he landed.
The next moment, his face contorted with surprise.
「...H-How is this possible!?」
—There was something that shouldn’t be there.
It seemed to be the skeletons of the <Void>.
「… How is this possible? Bones are left behind after a hit from <Al Gu Berserga>!?」
The intense fire could even melt the scales of a red dragon found in the <Realm of Flames>.
Leonis looked down at his hands and sighed.
When he was called a brave, he wasn’t proficient with Sorcery.
His mana right now was nowhere near that of his prime.
(... At best, it’s only about one third of my peak.)
Leonis walked to Lyselia and held her hand.
Her body was already cold, but she was still breathing.
But the human body was fragile, and she would die if nothing was done.
There was a sort of tragic beauty to her pale face.
「I’m a <Demon King>, I’m not concerned with the life of a human.」
She couldn’t hear him, but Leonis continued speaking to himself.
「However, I wish to show respect to a noble soul. You protected me with your life. Protected me, a <Demon King>. Your actions might be futile, but I’m impressed by your spirit.」
Leonis held her blood-soaked body.
「...Ugh... So heavy...」
She was thin for a girl her age, but Leonis was now a ten years old boy, so she was heavy to her.
「I’m sorry, even though I’m a master of Sorcery, <Holy Sorcery> is the only type of spells I can’t use.」
This was the price he had to pay in order to learn the Sorcery of the <Realm of Death>.
The <Demon King> Leonis couldn’t even use the most basic healing spell.
And he couldn’t heal a person who had lost a huge amount of life force.
And so—
Leonis chose to save her in a different way.
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