Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Hiiro
When the signal to start was given—
「—Hyaaa!」
Lyselia pushed off the ground and charged forth with a single step.
And slashed at the girl closest to her.
(Oh...?)
Leonis frowned in surprise.
Her physical abilities were heightened after turning into a Vampire—
But that slash wasn’t simple.
It was only possible after training long and hard.
After being hit in the abdomen, the girl with the spear type <Holy Sword> staggered backwards.
Lyselia stepped forth again with a sharp thrust.
The tip of the training sword hit the girl squarely in the chest.
In that instant, the Mana on the tip of Lyselia’s sword exploded, sending that girl flying.
The audience gasped in disbelief.
「... How can this be!」
Surprise was written all over Muzel’s face.
He underestimated Lyselia because she didn’t have a <Holy Sword>.
「—I got this!」
She charged right before Muzel.
His <Holy Sword> had the <domination> ability. Taking him down first was the right call.
「Ugh— you lowly woman!」
Muzel blocked the slash with his short staff.
—I see. He doesn't just talk big, and has some real skills.
It could utilize some Sorcery, but a normal training sword was no match for the <Holy Sword> which was the manifestation of the user’s soul. Lyselia’s sword was deflected easily.
「Your sword isn’t graceful at all!」
「Annoying!」
Lyselia took a stance again and attacked—
「... What are you all doing, protect me!」
Muzel’s short staff glowed, and controlled a girl.
The girl with a greatsword stopped Lyselia.
She was expressionless without any signs of her own will.
「...Why are you letting that guy manipulate you—!」
「It’s useless. All of them made a pact with my <Holy Sword>.」
Muzel sneered.
(...It seems that they weren’t forced to obey his orders.)
They chose to be that man’s weapon by their own will.
If not, the <Holy Sword Academy> would never allow this.
During battles, Muzel will act as the commander and unite the will of the four girls.
This was a kind of tactic.
(... Their interests align, or all of them fell for that man— it’s hard to understand.)
While Leonis was observing calmly.
He felt a sharp gaze on his back.
It was instructor Diegrasse.
She was staring at Leonis with a tablet in her hand.
(...Oh, I almost forgot that this is the test for my <Holy Sword>.)
He was so engrossed with seeing his Familiar’s powers that he forgot about that.
(Well, what should I do...)
He could easily reduce that man to ashes, but that would reveal his power.
...And killing him would invite trouble.
(I will just show off my skills a little—)
With the Sorcery Staff in hand, Leonis started chanting a spell.
After pulling away from Lyselia, Muzel seemed to notice him and gave an order.
「Hey, get that kid!」
The spear wielding girl knocked down by Lyselia got up and charged at Leonis.
「...Leo-kun!」
Lyselia was distracted for an instant.
「It’s fine! Ms Selia, please take care of that man—!」
Leonis chanted a spell as he retreated.
His physical abilities were at the level of a normal ten years old child.
His potential was high since this was the body of a Brave, but he had the soul of a <Demon King> inside. Maybe there was some rejection reaction, which resulted in Leonis being unable to control his body deftly.
The spear wielding girl closed the distance without any wariness towards Leonis.
「Come forth, the dead from the Realm of Shadows— Shadow Hands, <Mesta Mordo>!」
「Kyaa!」
The charging girl was tripped by the shadowy hands.
Diegrasse stared with her eyes wide.
At the same time, he secretly double casted buffs onto Lyselia.
The First Grade spell— Agility <Soldy>, Blessing of the Wind Spirit <Cielhuis >, Enhance Sense<Mezzo Las>.
(—Well, this degree of assistance should be fine.)
And of course, he kept her buffs to a minimum.
If Braccus was here, he would definitely mock Leonis for doting on his Familiar—
After being buffed by those spells, Lyselia became even more nimble.
She defeated the mace girl and knocked down the great sword girl with a backslash.
She suppressed the <Holy Swordsmen> with her superhuman speed.
She couldn’t control her Vampire prowess well yet, but it was enough to overwhelm her foes.
Only the girl wielding a short sword was left to protect Muzel.
「Are you using the girls as a shield so you can escape, Muzel Rhodes!?」
Lyselia taunted, and the audience joined in to diss him.
It seems that many people dislike his everyday behaviour.
「That’s right!」「Stop running, Muzel!」「Get him!」
「Lady Selia—!」
(...Ohh?)
He heard a familiar voice amongst the cheers.
Leonis turned his head—
And saw Regina on the balcony of the campus facility’s second floor.
The blonde twin tail girl was bouncing around, but Lyselia didn’t notice.
「—Tch!」
Muzel took a stance with his short staff as he clicked his tongue.
He was planning on wiping the floor with Lyselia who didn’t have a <Holy Sword> to take revenge on Leonis. But the results were different from what he expected.
(Well, no one expected her to turn into a Vampire Queen.)
「Don’t look down on me— and the power of Absolute Monarchy, <Dominus>!」
Muzel’s <Holy Sword> glowed brightly.
(—What?)
Lyselia who was one step from pushing him to the brink stopped warily.
「...!」
As if they were answering the glow of Muzel’s short staff—
The girls’ <Holy Sword> started glowing too.
「—Activate!」 「—Activate!」「—Activate!」「—Activate!」
「The power of their <Holy Sword> had been forcefully unleashed!?」
「Game over!」
Muzel laugh madly.
「「「Hyaaaa!」」」
The short sword, mace and greatsword girls attacked Lyselia at the same time.
They weren’t expressionless like before—
And had gone completely berserk.
「—<Rock break>!」
The girl before her swung down her mace type <Holy Sword>.
The ground exploded and rocks were sent flying.
(—The power isn’t bad.)
Leonis was impressed.
That destructive power was on par with the Second Grade Spell— Fierce Rock Strike <Bratsug>.
A normal person would die or get heavily injured from that blow—
But instructor Diegrasse seemed unfazed.
It seems that this was a normal sight in the <Holy Sword Academy>.
「—Warrgghh, <Lightning Charge>!」
The spear girl who was caught by <Mesta Mordo> also unleashed the power of her <Holy Sword>.
But that level of lightning attack wouldn’t be able to break free of Leonis’ Spell.
Leonis snapped his fingers and the shadows tightened around that girl.
「...Uwah, what’s that move!?」「He’s just a kid, but he’s incredible!」「What kind of <Holy Sword> is that—」
It caused a stir in the crowd, but Leonis didn’t care.
He continued looking at Lyselia’s direction.
She was in a tough fight against three opponents with unleashed <Holy Swords>.
「—<Aerial Smash>!」
The attack from the short sword girl hit Lyselia right in her chest.
Her frail body was sent flying, and she bounced off the ground a few times.
「...Ugh...!」
「Haha, that’s a nice face, I really want to turn you into my toy now.」
Lyselia’s groan stimulated Muzel’s sadism.
「And in front of that kid, I will… Ugh...!」
Muzel’s body trembled suddenly.
...Oh no. I got too angry and unconsciously emit my murderous intent.
「...Meia, stop dallying. It’s just a kid, hurry up and crush him!」
Muzel pointed his short staff type <Holy Sword> at the girl bonded by shadows.
「It’s useless.」
Leonis said with a shrug.
No matter how much the spear girl struggled, she couldn’t break free.
「...A <Holy Sword> that can manipulate shadows?」
Muzel looked away, as if he had just seen something terrifying.
—At this moment.
「... It... doesn’t hurt...!」
Lyselia used the training sword to push herself up.
「What...?」
Muzel was shocked.
After taking a direct hit from a <Holy Sword>, he thought Lyselia would be down for the count.
However—
「...Tis but a scratch, it doesn’t hurt at all!」
Her powerful Mana spilled forth, and her long silver hair shone brightly.
Her ice blue eyes turned blood red.
Lyselia Christalia was a <Vampire Queen>— the strongest undead.
She had not awakened yet, but her Mana was much more than that of humans.
「Take this!」
Lyselia stamped on the ground after unleashing her Mana.
The three girls stood in front of Muzel with their <Holy Swords> to protect him.
With a flash of the sword, the mace girl was knocked down.
「—<Water Jail>!」
The great sword girl probably judged that a strength contest would be hopeless and unleashed her Holy Sword.
Water appeared out of thin air and imprisoned Lyselia.
「...This thing...!」
「Hahaha, how’s that? That’s the power of Millis’ <Holy Sword> of water—!」
Muzel laughed, but his face changed the next instant.
「I already said— I won’t lose!」
Her powerful Mana spread out like wings and broke the water prison.
「...No way—!」
Lyselia swung her training sword hard and knocked out the girl before her.
She then sent the short sword girl flying with a thrust.
There was no one left to protect Muzel.
「...!?」
She suddenly stopped mid swing.
「...W... What...!?」
Lyselia mumbled confusedly.
Her training Holy Sword fell onto the ground.
Muzel pointed at her forehead with the front end of his <Holy Sword>.
「Fufu... I don’t know how you manage to become so powerful—」
Muzel smiled smugly.
「But you are no match for a real <Holy Sword> wielder!」
「...Ugh...!」
Lyselia was as still as a statue.
(What did he do?)
As if to answer Leonis’ question, Muzel laughed loudly.
「This is the power of absolute domination— Forced Domination, < Phosse>!」
Muzel picked up the training sword from the ground and hit Lyselia’s head.
「... Ah... Ugh...!」
She couldn’t defend herself and was knocked onto the ground.
「It’s your fault Lyselia for not listening to me!」
He continued beating the defenceless Lyselia.
「What now, brat!? Are you just going to watch from the side?」
「Hey, stop it!」「Do you enjoy picking on a weaker student that much?」「She can’t move already!」
His actions were criticized by the students around him.
But Instructor Diegrasse showed no intention of stopping him.
(That’s as far as she can go—)
Leonis mumbled to himself. As the Master of his Familiar, he couldn’t just watch idly anymore.
(It’s enough. She hasn’t matured yet, but she has a bright future—)
He raised his Sorcery Staff and chanted a spell.
(I will need to hold back to avoid shattering that guy into pieces...)
But given how he treated Leonis’ Familiar, he would pay with an arm or two.
However, Leonis noticed that the will in Lyselia’s eyes were still unbroken.
「...Won’t lose...」
「Huh?」
「Even without a <Holy Sword>, I won’t lose to you!」
「What!?」
Lyselia stood up slowly.
「Impossible... My < Phosse > has been—!」
Muzel backed away with his eyes wide open with shock.
「... It’s futile!」
He tried to use < Phosse > again—
The next moment.
All eyes were on Lyselia.
As if time had stopped.
「...Ehh?」
The one who was most surprised was herself.
Before her—
Was a sword shining with a Holy light.
The hilt had an intrinsic design, and the sword was beautiful and breathtaking.
「It... can’t be... This—」
Lyselia gripped the hilt with her eyes wide open.
The Holy Sword felt just right in her hand, as if she had used it for years.
「...Impossible! It’s a <Holy Sword>!?」
Muzel looked really upset.
That’s right, it was a manifestation of her soul—<Holy Sword>.
Raaaaawwwwrrr!
Cheers erupted amongst the students.
「Oh? There have been many examples of <Holy Swords> awakening in battles, but this is really dramatic. That Christalia girl—」
Diegrasse muttered.
「Is it your doing, boy?」
She looked suspiciously at Leonis.
Leonis turned his gaze towards Lyselia.
And locked eyes with her.
She nodded and swung her <Holy Sword>.
「—This is my <Holy Sword>!」
「...So what! A freshly awakened <Holy Sword> won’t—」
It happened in a split second.
With the sound of the wind, her figure vanished.
「—Huh?」
The next moment, Lyselia appeared behind him.
Muzel’s <Holy Sword> was cut in half, and it disappeared into particles of light.
「Ahhhh... My <Holy Sword>...」
While he was in shambles…
「...What will you do?」
Lyselia said as she pointed her blade at his throat.
「Y-Yield, I yield...!」
Muzel raised his hands up.
Cheers broke out from the crowd around Lyselia.
「Lady Selia!」
Regina ran over and hugged her.
「—Congratulations, Lyselia Christalia.」
Instructor Diegrasse said with a smile.
「Your efforts have finally borne fruit.」
Chapter 6: Welcome Party
Clap clap clap—!
Clapping sound erupted in the girl’s dormitory’s common area.
「Welcome Leo-kun to Team 18, and congratulations to Lady Selia who awakened her <Holy Sword>!」
With a non-alcoholic champagne in hand, Regina who was in maid uniform gave the opening speech.
As expected of someone performing her main job, the maid attire looked very natural on her.
Compared to how she was when she shot at the <Void> with cannon fire, she looked completely different today.
「...Thank you.」
Leonis answered politely with confetti still on his head.
It was a surprise welcome party.
There were all sorts of tasty food and snacks on the table.
「Regina started preparing this immediately right after we got back to the city.」
Lyselia who was sitting beside her explained.
「This was Lady Selia’s instructions. She said the boy will definitely join our team.」
...I see, that’s why she was missing earlier, she was preparing all this.
(Maybe their plan was to recruit me by using snacks all along.)
「Your performance is outstanding during the Holy Sword Trial, and feels very reliable.」
Sakuya who was sitting on the other side of the couch said with a smile.
「My <Holy Sword> is nothing special, just a <Support Type>.」
Leonis shook his head.
「The deciding factor was Ms Selia’s <Holy Sword>.」
「Leo-kun...」
Lyselia looked a little embarrassed, but a little proud too.
That was only natural. She had been working hard on her swordsmanship for the sake of today.
「Yes, the power of the stars had answered Senpai’s efforts. I’m very happy too.」
「The whole campus is talking about Lady Selia’s <Holy Sword>.」
「Ehh? Really!?」
「Yes. I paid the public relations department to advertise it.」
「W-Wait, why did you do such a thing!?」
Lyselia panicked and grabbed the gloating Regina.
(But her awakening at that moment didn’t feel like a coincidence...)
Leonis deduced as he watched the two of them play around.
She had great talent with the <Holy Sword>. It didn’t awaken so far because something was holding her back.
(After dying and turning into a Vampire, that shackle came off? No—)
In any sense, this was just baseless thoughts.
Her efforts were rewarded. Maybe that was all to it.
(I should be happy that my Familiar obtained extraordinary powers.)
「The Fish Pie is done.」
Elffine served up a pie baked in an oven.
It was a salmon pie made with mushrooms, cheese and a generous serving of cream sauce.
The outside looked crispy and delicious.
「Did you make this, Elffine Senpai?」
「Yes, I’m good at baking.」
Elffine answered Leonis’ question with a gentle smile.
「It looks really yummy, let’s eat it before it gets cold.」
On Leonis’ right was Lyselia, and on his left was Elffine.
(...!?)
Leonis who was sandwiched between them blushed.
He could see their bountiful bosoms from his position.
「Is the sandwich comfortable, boy?」
「What, that’s not it...!?」
「Oh, you want a sandwich?」
Lyselia reached for the egg sandwich.
「No, My Lady, the boy is enjoying a different kind of sandwich—」
「Erm, can I have some pie?」
Leonis shouted hurriedly.
「Here.」
Elffine Senpai served a piece of pie onto a plate.
The fish pie was cut open with a dining knife, and the steaming hot sauce flowed onto the plate.
「You can get fresh fish and vegetables in this city?」
「Outside the Residential Zone are the food plantation and fishery lake. Team 18 also has a vegetable garden, although it isn’t very big.」
Lyselia answered.
「The garden is basically Lady Selia’s hobby.」
(...Raising fish in cities?)
The technology of humans in this era surprised him once again.
He took a bite of the pie, and the delicious sauce spread in his mouth.
「... This is really good!」
Leonis couldn’t help complimenting.
The outside was crispy and chewy, and the taste of the sauce was just right.
「Fufu, thank you for your compliment. Do eat more.」
「This is exquisite.」
「Not as good as yours, Regina.」
Elffine shook her head humbly when she heard Regina’s praise.
Leonis was a little surprised.
Was this maid an excellent cook?
Leonis also had a maid Shirley, but she couldn’t cook.
...She was very skill at assassination and using poison though.
「Oh right, Senpai, what are you going to name your <Holy Sword>?」
Sakuya, who was eating the fish pie, asked Lyselia.
「I haven’t decided yet.」
「The name of the <Holy Sword>?」
「Yes, I need one to register with the academy.」
「What about Slashing Bunbunmaru?」
「No, call it the Shining Saint Sword!」
Sakuya and Regina decided on a name on their own.
Lyselia smiled awkwardly, and for some reason, she asked for Leonis’ opinion.
「...Leo-kun, what name do you think will be good?」
「Hmm...」
His Familiar asked out of good will, but this one was tough. If he picked a weird name, he would lose his dignity as her Master.
Leonis thought about it and answered plainly.
「I don’t know the ability of your <Holy Sword>, so I can’t think of a good name—」
「...That’s true. I only know it’s a very sharp and light sword, but it might have a special ability. I will register it after I’m more familiar with it.」
Lyselia said with her hand on her chest.
「Speaking of register, Leo-kun needs to do it too—」
Elffine interjected.
「...Me?」
「I need to register your biometrics with my <Holy Sword>, and construct a communications network. It won’t take long, can you drop by my room later?」
「Okay.」
「Speaking of room, where are you staying?」
Sakuya asked.
「There are no more rooms in the <Witch> female dormitory.」
「Oh, why don’t you stay in my room then, boy? You can eat as much snacks as you want every day.」
「My room’s fine too, I’m usually out in the day.」
「I don’t mind bunking with you.」
Regina, Sakuya and Elffine all offered to share their rooms.
「...N-No...!」
Lyselia stood up and waved her arms.
「My Lady?」
「I’m Leo-kun’s protector. I’m responsible for his well being.」
Lyselia coughed and signalled Leonis with her eyes.
I see. Since we need to keep each other’s secrets, it will be better for us to stay in the same room.
(... And I also need to replenish her Mana.)
「...I want to stay in Ms Selia’s room.」
Leonis said as he tugged at Lyselia’s sleeve.
...Although Regina’s side was tempting since he could eat snacks everyday there.
「My Lady, is that fine?」
「Yes, no problem. My room is big anyway.」
「No, I’m worried that the boy will do lewd things to My Lady.」
「L-Leo-kun won’t do that! ...Right?」
「There’s no way I would.」
Leonis answered exasperated at Lyselia’s uneasy question.
...If he had to say, she was too defenceless and gave him problems instead.
「Regina, Leo is just a ten years old kid, you don’t have to worry.」
「That might be so...」
Regina stared at Leonis with a dubious gaze.
「Boy, My Lady’s sleeping posture is terrible, so be careful when you sleep with her.」
She warned.
「Wait, Regina, what did you say to him!?」
「My Lady, didn’t you use me as a bolster in the past?」
「...That’s because, Regina, your thing, is so soft.」
Lyselia averted her blushing face.
...It goes without telling which body part she was referring to.
After deciding on Leonis’ room, the welcome party became a chatting party.
They chat about the new shops in the Commercial Zone, Sakuya’s pet and so forth. Frankly speaking Leonis didn’t understand half of it, but he enjoyed his first leisurely moments after a thousand years.
◆
Leonis’ welcome party ended before it got too late.
After that, Leonis was called to Elffine’s room.
She wanted to register Leonis’ biometric into her <Holy Sword>.
(... Well, that was a rowdy dinner.)
Leonis thought to himself as he sat on the couch.
As the saying goes, three girls were a riot. Leonis had never experienced such a rowdy gathering when he was still the Demon King.
However—
(It’s not bad to attend such a gathering every now and then.)
Leonis shrugged a little.
He had to admit that he enjoyed himself.
Leonis surveyed the room.
It was about the size of Lyselia’s room. But the furniture and wallpaper made her room look more childish.
There was a photo frame on the desk.
The people inside weren’t Lyselia and the others.
Was Elffine part of another team?
(...It’s unlikely that they had a falling out.)
Given her personality, he found it hard to imagine her having a falling out with someone else.
「—Sorry for the wait, I’m ready.」
Elffine walked out from the room inside.
She was holding a large tablet device with both hands.
She sat on the office chair opposite Leonis.
「Relax.」
「...O-Okay.」
「What’s wrong? You don’t have to be so nervous.」
Elffine tilted her head with a smile.
「...」
Her bountiful bosom was right in Leonis line of sight.
...Hers was a little smaller than the maid’s, but it was stimulating enough.
Leonis averted her gaze with a red face.
「Well then, take off your clothes.」
「...Ehh?」
Leonis turned stiff.
「Just your shirt will do. It’s hard to get biometric data with your clothes in the way.」
「...」
「Sorry. Even though you are a boy, you will still feel shy too, right?」
「No, it’s fine...」
Leonis took off his shirt.
「Oh, your inner shirt too?」
「Okay...」
He unbuttoned his inner shirt and removed it.
And revealed his flawless naked skin.
「Yes, that will do. What beautiful skin.」
Elffine went around to Leonis’ back.
Her cold fingertips touched brushed across his shoulder blades.
(~this feeling is...)
He felt a strong sense of shame as the older upperclassman stared at him.
「<Holy Sword>— Orb of Heaven’s Eye, <Eye of The Witch>—Activate.」
With Elffine’s murmur, a transparent orb appeared.
Many numbers were churning at high speed around the orb.
「Next will be extracting Leo-kun’s data.」
Elffine placed her hand on Leonis and closed her eyes.
The light orb started spinning around Leonis.
「...Hmm, this is strange.」
Elffine said curiously.
「Y-Yes?」
Leonis felt nervous.
「Well, I can’t see the flow of Mana—」
...Oh no. <Conceal Mana> might be a little too strong.
「—Erm, Senpai, can I ask something?」
「Yes, what do you want to know?」
「Elffine Senpai, why are you on this team?」
Lyselia used to be a straggler who didn’t awaken her <Holy Sword>.
Leonis wanted to know why an upperclassman like Elffine joined this team.
(And that photo just now—)
She hung her head a little at this question, and said:
「—I lost the power of my <Holy Sword>.」
「...Ehh?」
Leonis was shocked.
「What do you mean?」
Elffine shook her head slightly.
「This isn’t the original power of the <Eye of The Witch>. This is just the limited form of its power.」
「I see.」
「Yes, in the past, I wasn’t an Operator, but an attacker responsible for dealing damage.」
「Dealing damage?」
...The steady Senpai was actually an attacker?
She picked up the photo on the desk.
「I was in Team 7, an outstanding all-rounder team. Our rankings are near the top in the academy, and even completed <Void> subjugation missions before. However—」
Elffine sighed gently.
「Half a year ago, our team was ambushed in the Ruins during a reconnaissance mission.」
「...」
The <Void> in the Ruins were very cunning.
It was already too late when they sprung their ambush.
The <Void> immediately sent out disruption waves to cut off the command structure. A large group of <Void> launched a surprise attack, and two comrades fell immediately.
...Elffine was just lucky to have survived.
No one blamed her for abandoning her comrades and running. Returning alive with information on the <Void> was the obligation of the <Holy Swordsman>.
However, she couldn’t forgive herself.
The guilt of being the only survivor tormented her.
After that—
Her <Holy Sword> lost its original powers.
The hand she rested on Leonis was trembling slightly.
The <Orb> floating in the air glowed faintly.
As if it was expressing her feelings—
「After I became like this, she approached me.」
Lyselia visited Elffine who had locked herself in her room countless times, and sincerely invited Elffine to join her team.
「I turned her down in the beginning, but I lost to her determination—」
「... I understand now.」
Leonis agreed with her, Lyselia had a mysterious power to push things onwards.
— Something different from reputation and leadership.
Elffine removed her hand from Leonis.
The <Orb> turned light green.
「Okay, I have finished registering your biometrics. I will keep it synchronized over the terminal.」
She stood up and entered the data swiftly into the tablet.
「...He’s cute, but keeps staring at breasts… S-So that’s how it is.」
Elffine looked at Leonis with a troubled face.
(...Wait, what kind of information was that!?)
「Does your biometrics collects information about that too?」
「Leo-kun, being lewd is no good.」
「It’s a misunderstanding...!」
Elffine admonished jokingly while Leonis protested—
—At this moment, he saw the screen of another terminal on the table.
It was the map of the area around the <Assault Garden>.
That’s right, she said she was investigating the <Hive> near the Ocean Floor.
「Elffine Senpai, can you let me browse that information later?」
「...? Alright, that’s fine...」
Elffine tilted her head quizzingly when she heard Leonis’ request
◆
After borrowing a spare terminal from Elffine, Leonis returned to the room.
She seemed to have all sorts of different terminals.
(...is she a collector?)
He opened the door and could hear the sound of running water.
...Lyselia seemed to be showering.
Leonis coughed unconsciously and sat on the bed.
He tapped on the tablet-type terminal with Mana on his fingertips.
The screen lit up and displayed a map with red dots.
It was the distribution of <Voids> found in the vicinity in the past several months.
(Everything seems connected...)
<Orc>, <Troll>, <Chimera>, <Wyvern>—
In the war between humans and the <Demon King Army>, several powerful monsters also joined the fray.
The <Void> Leonis saw had the characteristics of those ancient monsters.
On top of that, large <Void> were mostly found in Ruins or ancient battlefields.
The greatest number of encounters occurred in the sea around the city.
This place used to be the Sidon plains where the <Demon King Army> and the <Six Braves> clashed in an intense battle.
Where countless monsters and undead were buried, along with the <Great Sage> Araquil Degradios who merged with the <Holy Tree>—
(... Was the <Void> actually ancient monsters that got changed into this form by some sort of power?)
This hypothesis seemed to be right.
But if that was true, there would still be some questions.
The remains of the ancient monsters should had disappeared long ago—
(...The <Void> that I collected from the Ruins are gone now.)
Indeed, the remains of the <Void> that Leonis kept in his <Realm of Shadows> had vanished for some reason.
An otherworldly invader, or some form of weapon—
But there was too much variety for them to be weapons.
In fact, even the reason why they attacked humans was unknown.
(In the end, I should investigate the <Hive> at the bottom of the ocean...)
The <Void> might be a huge obstacle to the rebuilding of the Demon King Army.
More importantly, those knaves were rampaging arrogantly in the Demon King’s territory and were a huge eyesore.
Leonis felt a presence and turned off the tablet.
The shadow by his feet flickered a little.
「—I’m back, Great Demon King.」
The maid of shadows, Shirley Shadow Assassin, appeared silently.
The dark-haired girl then bowed gracefully.
「Yes, good work, Shirley.」
Leonis gave a word of encouragement to that girl.
「I’m honoured.」
「So, how goes your investigation on the humans?」
「Yes—」
Shirley gave Leonis a large paper bag.
「What’s this?」
Leonis asked puzzledly.
「It’s a snack called donuts, My Lord.」
「Hmm?」
Shirley opened the bag, and the sweet fragrance filled the room.
「Please try some.」
「...」
Leonis ate the donuts directly from her hand.
「... How is it?」
「Very tasty.」
His mouth was filled with the sweetness from the sugar, which stimulated his urge for some tea.
「I bought some beverages too.」
「Oh, you are well prepared.」
「It’s tapioca juice.」
It had a peculiar taste.
Shirley started eating the donuts too.
...Eating them is fine, but don’t drop the crumbs into the <Realm of Shadows>.
「I also bought a lot of other things. An extendable ice cream—」
Shirley took out all sorts of snacks from her bag.
「Wait, wait—」
「...?」
「Enough about food. Do you have other information?」
「...」
「You had just been playing around, huh?」
「...」
The maid of shadows averted her eyes.
「Never mind. Food is also an indicator of their culture.」
Leonis sighed with resignation.
「I also gathered information.」
Shirley said with a cough.
「No one in this city seems to know about the <Demon King>.」
「Hmm, as I expected—」
According to the intel gathered by Shirley, the citizens here didn’t really know about the ancient gods and the war between the <Demon King> and <Six Braves> a millennium ago.
But it was unnatural that no one knew about such a great war.
(As if someone had wiped away the historical records—)
He decided to investigate in the library of the <Holy Sword Academy>.
「... I understand. Continue with your investigation.」
「By your will.」
Shirley nodded—
She then looked at the shower that had the sound of running water with shining eyes.
「That girl is now a Familiar, right.」
「Yes.」
Leonis nodded.
「I see. So the Demon King will turn anyone he sees into a Familiar, huh.」
Shirley puffed her cheeks unhappily.
「Why are you angry?」
「Don’t know. My lord is a dummy...」
「You are calling your Master a dummy now? You will be surprised when you hear this—」
「...What?」
「She is the highest ranked undead, a Vampire Queen. She even awakened a mysterious power called a <Holy Sword>. If I nurture her properly, she will be a good retainer and a great asset for the <Demon King Army>.」
「Retainer, huh... I see.」
「You have a problem with that?」
「No. My Lord is a huge dummy.」
Shirley pouted and returned to the shadows.
「... What’s going on? That girl has always been eccentric though.」
Leonis sighed exasperatedly and lay on the bed.
He stared at the ceiling with his eyes wide open.
(... But this world has really changed drastically.)
— He felt a sense of loneliness that he couldn’t express with words.
Was her reincarnation really in this world?
In this world where the demon-kin and monsters had been wiped up, was it really possible to rebuild the <Demon King Army>—
(...No, as the <Demon King>, I can’t be so pessimistic.)
Leonis said with a bitter smile.
To search for her, he had to live in this world with this form.
(And there hadn’t been only bad things either—)
It happened by chance, but he obtained a powerful <Vampire> Familiar.
She was still immature, but Lyselia’s future was promising.
With the elite education of a <Demon King>, she would become a fine subordinate.
Suddenly—
He heard the shower room’s door opened.
「...!?」
Leonis couldn’t help looking that way.
Her silver hair was wet—
With water droplets still on her body, Lyselia walked over with just a towel around her body.
「Oh, Leo-kun, the shower’s free now.」
(...She’s too defenceless!)
The way she treated him like a kid made Leonis feel exasperated.
◆
The morning of the same day—
On the Ocean Floor beneath the <Seventh Assault Garden>, that awakened.
The one known as the wisest of humanity, a member of the <Six Braves>.
After abandoning his human form, <The Great Sage> who merged with the <Holy Tree>— Araquil Degradios.
But now, he has transformed into a different existence.
The Familiar of nothingness— The massive seedbed that produces <Void>—
However—
<The Great Sage> still had shards of his humanity left.
He felt the revival of his accursed enemy.
... Demon... King... Demon Ki... Kkkkkiiiiinnngggg...
His hatred from ancient times awakened his soul that was being devoured by nothingness.
The roots of the <Holy Tree> squirmed creepily.
Countless <Void> burst forth from the bulges in the tree.
Oooooooo—!
The <Void> cheered mindlessly.
As if to celebrate the revival of its king—
◆
『No.03 reporting, confirmed major crustal shifts on the Ocean Floor—』
『Acknowledged. Team 13, exercise caution and continue to observe.』
『Roger— Wait, what’s that—?』
The <Holy Swordsman> investigation team member who was diving in the water with the power of his water <Holy Sword> gasped in surprise.
『No.03, What happened?』
『W-What’s that... Ahhh!』
The sight before him sent him into confusion.
『Calm down, No.03, please respond—』
『There... There’s Void everywhere...!』
The voice of despair was followed by static before it got cut off.
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