Chapter 9: The Fallen Hero
Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Hiiro
<The Great Sage> of the Six Braves—Araquil Degradios.
Before merging with the <Holy Tree> worshipped by the Spirits and becoming immortal, he was already 200 years old.
Revered as the wisest old man of the humans, he crushed the <Demon King Army> with his overwhelming prowess in many battlefields.
That the Great Sage had appeared in the world once again after a millenium.
However, he looked completely different from what Leonis remembered.
「<Void>...?」
Leonis gasped at the incredible sight.
The bark of the <Holy Tree> was rotting from the corruption of the miasma.
Countless heads of <Void> were hanging from the branches of the immortal tree. They were howling as they crawled outwards.
The <Holy Tree> was making <Void>.
「I see, so you are the <Void Lord>.」
Leonis understood now.
The <Void> was created by remaking ancient monsters with an unknown power.
In that case, the <Six Braves> could become <Void> too.
—...Leo… nis—
The countless <Void> spoke as if they were chanting a curse.
Even after a thousand years, his grudge remained strong.
Or rather, his grudge had grown stronger after one millenium—
「Are the Dead so happy to see me?」
Leonis smiled and cast a Grade 6 spell— <Hell Bullets>.
The powerful flames burned the <Void> along with the roots.
(Did it abduct Lyselia to lure me in?)
...Leo… nis…
Leonis groaned as he stepped over the charred heads of the <Void>:
「—Wait right there, I will burn you to smithereens this time.」
Feeling gazes on his back, he turned around.
The children were looking at Leonis with fear through the windows.
(...Well, that’s expected.)
— I’m already used to such gazes.
Power that was too strong would cause fear in people’s hearts.
It was the same when he saved the Kingdom as a Brave.
(... This is just right for a <Demon King>.)
Leonis sighed and walked towards the Orphanage.
The <Void> in the area had been wiped out, but they might come again.
It would take some time before the <Holy Sword Academy> sends <Holy Swordsman> here.
Whether the Orphanage was destroyed was not Leonis’ problem.
He had no obligations to protect it.
However, his Familiar Lyselia cherished this place.
Leonis raised his <Sorcery Staff of Sealed Sin> in front of the door.
「Eighth Grade Spell— Doom Barrier <Zoa Dormer>.」
A black mist that looked like a deadly miasma surrounded the Orphanage.
He then used <Summoned High Undead> to guard the door with two Skeleton Knight Lords.
These were High Class Undead on the level of a fort commander. Tasking them with the defence of the Orphanage was overkill, but he made an exception for today.
「I already set up a <barrier>. Stay inside if you don’t want to die.」
Leonis quietly said to the frightened children and was about to leave.
「...Erm… Please wait—」
A voice came from behind.
The Orphanage door opened, and the eldest girl walked out timidly.
It was Tesla.
「Leo nii-san...」
The Skeleton Knights tried to stop the girl with their swords.
But Leonis waved them off, and they sheathed their blades.
「Erm...」
The girl was too nervous to speak.
「What is it?」
「Thank you for protecting us...」
Tesla said with a deep bow.
「...Oh, okay...」
Leonis didn’t know how to respond to the unexpected show of gratitude.
「Please save Selia- Nee.」
She probably saw Lyselia being captured. The girl bowed her head again.
「—Alright, leave it to me.」
Leonis nodded gently and placed his hand on the girl’s head.
「I promise to bring Ms Selia back.」
「Yes!」
The Skeleton Knight escorted the girl back into the building.
—A <Demon King> always keeps his words.
Leonis walked to the giant chasm without turning back.
At the edge of the chasm, a Dark Wolf was sitting on the debris.
「— It seems our sworn enemy has awaken.」
Braccus said.
「Braccus, what have you been doing all this while?」
「Killing monsters and rushing to my friend’s side.」
「You ate the <Void>?」
「No. They don’t look tasty.」
Braccus dropped the large bag tied to his neck.
「What’s this?」
「War trophies I got from investigating the city. It tastes great.」
There were grilled meat skewers inside.
「Did you steal them?」
「I’m a royal of the <Realm of Shadows>. There’s no way I would do that.」
Braccus snorted haughtily.
「I just need to wag my tail at the humans, and they will give me food.」
「...I see.」
… I don’t want him to be too prominent, but there’s no time to mind the trivial details now.
「I’m hungry, give me some too.」
Leonis used too many powerful spells.
It would be difficult for him to cast spells endlessly without the body of a Demon King.
Braccus bit a skewer and offered it to Leonis.
Leonis ate the grilled meat, then tossed the skewers into the chasm.
Lyselia was abducted to lure him in.
But maybe the goal was to absorb the power of the Vampire Queen.
If that was so, he couldn’t dally.
「Alright then, give me back my Familiar, <Great Sage>.」
◆
「—<Thunder God Slash>!」
The blade of <Raikirimaru> slashed through the air.
Sakuya Sigelinde’s masterful swordsmanship—
Sent the head of a Hydra Class <Void> into the air.
With lightning movements, she pushed off the ground and accelerated once again.
「—<Double Moon Flower Dance>!」
Her <Ouran> outerwear fluttered, and the head of another <Void> flew off.
「Incredible, so you are the Elementary schooler who defeated a <Void>?」
A girl using wind <Holy Sword> charged in alongside Sakuya.
She was the vanguard of Team 9 who was assigned to the same zone.
「—Senpai, don’t talk in a battle, you might die.」
Sakuya answered coldly.
「...Alright alright—」
The other party didn’t get mad as she attacked the leg of a Hydra.
『— The head of the <Hydra> Class regenerates really fast. Sear the cut wound!』
Elffine analyzed the <Void> and relayed the information to the whole team.
「Leave it to me— <Dragon Fire>!」
Boom boom boomer—!
Regina’s <Holy Sword> spat out fire.
Her <Holy Sword> was powerful enough to annihilate an Orc Class <Void> on her own.
The explosion shook the entire place.
The Hydra Class <Void> was surrounded in a sea of fire.
When the dust settled—
「H-How can this be...!?」
Regina was shocked.
The <Void> didn’t have any wounds, and roots were growing out of the necks that had the heads lopped off by Sakuya.
「W-What is that!?」
『... No idea. There’s no data on it.』
Elffine shook her head.
That wasn’t a normal <Hydra> Class.
「... Spread out!」
Sensing danger, the leader of Team 9 shouted.
Three of the attackers scattered.
But Sakuya didn’t heed that order.
She stood before the <Void> and stared it down.
Dong———!
The roots that sprouted from the neck swung around randomly, and the building around started falling apart.
『—Sakuya!?』
Elffine screamed.
「— How strange, it’s becoming more monstrous.」
After dodging the attack, Sakuya took a stance with <Raikirimaru>.
The roots seemed to be moving independently from the <Void>.
The commander in chief was shouting something, but Sakuya didn’t hear him.
When Sakuya entered battle mode, she would lose awareness of her surroundings. That was why no teams recruited her even though she was skilled.
In any case—
(... Good.)
Seeing that Sakuya was safe, Elffine sighed in relief.
If her <Eye of The Witch> was in its complete state, she could use her overwhelming firepower to support the vanguards.
But her <Holy Sword> wasn’t at full strength.
(...Deep inside, I’m still afraid of the <Void>.)
She clenched her hands to steady her trembling body.
She had not overcome her fear of the <Void> yet.
Even so, she was still standing on the battlefield and relaying accurate information to the <Holy Swordsman> on the frontlines.
This was the only way she could contribute now.
As the battle intensified—
『—Senpai… Elffine Senpai...』
That voice pulled Elffine back to reality.
「...Leo-kun?」
It was Leonis’ voice.
『Great, I got through...』
A relay <Orb> was probably nearby, and Leonis’ voice sounded very clear.
「Hmm… That terminal belongs to Selia?」
Leonis didn’t have a communications terminal yet.
『That’s right, this is Ms Selia’s terminal.』
At that moment, she had an ominous feeling.
Since the two of them were together, then why didn’t Lyselia call in herself?
And her hunch was spot on.
『Ms Selia had been captured by the <Void>.』
「...!?」
Elffine was confused.
(The <Void> capturing people? But why—)
But what Leonis said next surprised her even more.
『I will take Ms Selia back. Elffine Senpai, please use your ability to tell her where she is right now.』
「You are going alone...?」
Elffine was at a loss for words.
That was too rash. He could use a <Holy Sword>, but he was just a ten years old boy.
『—Yes.』
「Wait, I will request for help from the other teams—」
『There’s no time.』
Leonis said calmly from the other end of the terminal.
『Besides, can your side even spare the manpower?』
「That’s—」
Elffine cast her <Eye> towards the battlefield. Sakuya and the others were trying their best, but the large <Void> was suppressing them.
『I will bring Ms Selia back. Senpai, please track her location.』
「...」
— I should stop him.
It was dangerous to go alone. But if she waited for the other team to help, Lyselia might be dead by then.
Leonis hesitated then said:
『...Senpai, please use your <Eye> to see the zone that I’m in.』
「...? Okay...」
Elffine was a little confused, then linked her vision with an <Orb> in the air.
「That’s…?」
Elffine made a surprised sound.
She could see roots growing out of the cracked ground and signs of an intense battle.
And also—
The countless charred <Void> around Leonis.
「Did you...?」
『Yes, I did this—』
Leonis answered curtly.
『I will explain later, please trust me for now.』
That calm voice didn’t sound like a ten years old at all.
「...」
Elffine sighed softly—
「...I understand, I will try.」
She nodded. After seeing that scene, she had no choice but to believe him.
Cutting off information from the outside world temporarily, she tracked Lyselia who had already been registered with her.
The sensitivity was poor, probably due to the miasma from the <Void>—
「... Underground… Even further beneath the fourth level—」
The underground of the <Assault Garden> contained military secrets. It was protected by numerous barriers, and even Elffine’s <Eye of The Witch> had trouble tracking it.
She cut off her hearing and sight to focus.
「From Leo-kun’s position, head into the main elevator. I will use my <Celestial Eye> to infiltrate the system to open the barrier walls, then you can access the seventh level directly—」
『I will break the barrier walls. Please give me the shortest route.』
「Break… Understood—」
She concentrated again.
At this moment.
Bong—!
A loud cracking sound made Elffine shiver and fall over.
『...What’s wrong, Senpai?』
Elffine stood up and regained her normal senses.
「That thing is heading this way!? Senpai, fall back—」
Regina yelled from the roof.
「...」
But Elffine didn’t move.
The attack by the <Void> immobilized her with the fear of losing her comrades.
「Ahh...」
As she curled her body and closed her eyes.
Swoosh— there was a sound of the wind.
(...Ehh?)
The head of the <Void> before her flew off.
Swoosh swoosh— heads kept flying off.
Bong——!
The Hydra class <Void> fell down before Elffine.
「... W-What happened?」
Sakuya who rushed over with her <Raikirimaru> muttered.
「... I don’t know either.」
At this moment, Elffine’s <Eye> saw a petite dark shadow on top of a building in the distance.
The girl in maid attire retracted her black whip.
It was Leonis’ subordinate Shirley.
「... My Demon King sure works her maid hard.」
She bit into her donut a little belligerently.
◆
「—<Explosion>!」
Leonis used an explosive spell to destroy the metallic barrier wall.
In the main elevator shaft leading to the bottom of the city, Leonis fell silently.
Instead of the unstable <Float>, he was using gravity control.
「So there’s such a big space under the city.」
Braccus who was standing in Leonis’ shadow said.
「This passage was probably built to transport manpower and resources.」
The <Holy Swordsman> would be able to deploy quickly to designated places with this system. However, the path had been blocked by the trees corrupted by the <Void>.
「To think human magic civilization is this advanced.」
Leonis muttered after burning the roots that were trying to eat the intruder.
Even the dwarves wouldn’t be able to build such a large building.
(... Speaking of which, I didn’t see any Elves or Dwarves on campus.)
Leonis suddenly noticed.
Were they segregated from human civilization, or—
(—Destroyed by the <Void>? But they aren’t so weak.)
The demi-human alliance that joined forces with humanity. They gave Leonis a hard time, especially the Elves from the <Spirit Forest>.
『... Continue along the walkway after landing...』
「Got it.」
Following the directions given by Elffine through the terminal, Leonis landed at the end of the elevator shaft.
「—<Explosion>!」
He destroyed the closed barrier wall. With the light from his Sorcery Staff, he advanced along the dark passageway.
『...— Further ahead… Assault… City propulsion...』
Elffine’s voice was breaking.
Probably because of the <Void Lord>.
Which meant that guy was nearby.
The sound of his shoes tapping on the ground echoed.
「— You sent Shirley to the humans?」
The Dark Wolf that appeared from Leonis’ shadows asked.
「Yes—」
Shirley was mediocre as a maid, but she was an excellent assassin. She couldn’t match Braccus in pure combat prowess, but she could take down a fort by herself.
「The enemy is one of the <Six Braves>. We should have brought her along.」
「...The two of us will be enough.」
Leonis forcefully ended the conversation.
He knew what Braccus meant.
Leonis sent out his vassal Shirley to protect the humans— Braccus wanted to ask about that.
Lyselia who was now a Familiar of the <Demon King> was an exception—
But Leonis had no reason to protect the girls of Team 18.
Leonis cleared his throat and said to the confounded Braccus:
「Elffine’s <Holy Sword> is very useful and will probably help with our goal. Regina Mercedes is the maid of my Familiar.」
「...」
But Braccus didn’t accept that.
(...So annoying!)
To be honest, Leonis didn’t know the reason either.
He just didn’t want to lose them.
Leonis said again unhappily.
「I like those humans, that’s all.」
「—I see, that’s more like you.」
Braccus got it this time.
Speaking of which, placing Shirley who came to assassinate Leonis as a vassal was decided easily too.
「You have always doted on your Familiars. Maybe you have become more human after your body changed.」
「... Not true.」
Leonis shook his head a little peeved, and broke the large barrier wall in front of him.
The way was blocked by squirming roots.
The air was filled with revolting miasma.
「Enough chat, Braccus. This is the place.」
「Yes—」
Communication with Elffine had been cut.
The root expanded, and small beast-like <Void> came out.
「—<Heat wave>, <Heat wave>, <Heat wave>!」
Leonis cast 3rd Grade spells repeatedly to burn the <Void> before advancing.
He could get them all with one Eighth Grade spell, but he would get burned from using it in this confined space.
He forged on ahead—
Shortly after, he reached a large open space where the barrier wall was already destroyed.
Green Mana Light illuminated the place.
「That’s...?」
As they walked forth, Leonis furrowed his brows.
The thing giving off Mana Light was—
A gigantic <Mana Crystal> that was enveloped by the <Holy Tree>.
Just the exposed parts were 15m long.
「I see, so this is the power source of this city.」
Braccus said.
<Mana Crystal> was the product of the Spirit and ancient gods. During the era of the magic war, they were the power source of the Daemon Lord Disorph’s <Confounding Castle>.
There was no other way to power such a large city except using <Mana Crystals>.
However—
「Such a large <Mana Crystal> can’t form naturally.」
「... Could it be an artificial <Mana Crystal>?」
As Braccus was mumbling, the branches of the <Holy Tree> that covered the <Mana Crystal> started squirming creepily.
With an intense tremor, the barrier wall was broken, and the roots sealed Leonis inside the space.
The roots started to swell and formed countless faces.
More than a hundred faces that appeared to be carved from—
The face of <The Great Sage> of the <Six Braves>— Araquil Degradios.
「—How unsightly, my nemesis.」
Leonis said with his Sorcery Staff resting on the ground.
「The Hero of humanity, the one known as a sage, is now a breeding ground for monsters—」
The surface of the <Holy Tree> was covered in miasma, and it created all sorts of <Void>.
Those were the monsters devoured by the Great Sage in the battle one millennium ago—
Lyselia was trapped inside the gigantic tree.
「—Alright, time to give my Familiar back, Araquil.」
Leonis smiled arrogantly and cast his spell.
Chapter 10: Demon Sword
「Dance, flames of hell, reduce all to ashes— <Wild Dance of Hellish flames>!」
There was no need for words. He cast the strongest fire spell at the Great Sage’s face.
The crimson fire summoned from the <Kingdom of Flames> devoured the newly created <Void> along with the roots.
「Remember this? The power of Demon King Leonis Death Magnus—」
He knocked the <Sorcery Staff of Sealed Sin> on the ground.
The air hissed from the heat of the flame.
All the <Void> had been reduced to dust—
The next moment, countless dark green Mana Light started to shine.
The <Holy Tree> cut off the charred parts and started regenerating.
「What powerful regeneration. As expected of the <Holy Tree>.」
Leonis offered praise to his old nemesis.
The <Holy Tree> from the <Spirit Forest> absorbed the Mana from the ground to grow. It’s leaves were <Elixir> that could cure all illness, and those who ate its fruits would become immortals.
The Great Sage Araquil deceived the Elves in the Spirit Forest, and obtained the power of the <Holy Tree>.
『...Demon King...Leo… Nis...』
The old face on the tree called out his name hoarsely.
「I thought you have lost your sense of self, so you can still talk.」
『... You… should have died… a thousand years ago...』
「You sure are retarded for a Great Sage. There’s no way I will die, I just sealed my soul away.」
『... The retarded one… is you… the world has changed...』
「It did change a lot, the food taste great now.」
Ignoring Leonis, the Great Sage continued.
『The world shall be reborn... from nothingness.』
「A world of nothingness?」
Leonis frowned.
「What do you mean?」
『The void… is the one that brings blessing to the world… I— have been chosen.』
The Great Sage maniacal laugh echoed in the wide space.
「—Incoming!」
Braccus warned.
「... Tch!」
Leonis backed off as he chanted an 8th Grade Spell <Icicle Slash>.
The blades of ice that appeared out of nowhere cut the roots of the <Holy Tree> into pieces.
But he couldn’t cut them all.
The sharp <Holy Tree> roots pierced the ground to attack Leonis.
Awwooooo—!
Braccus shook as he fired off a <Destructive Howl>.
The roots of the <Holy Tree> turned into ashes.
「What’s wrong, Leonis, that’s not like you at all.」
「...Ugh.」
When he heard Braccus’ comment, Leonis looked down at his hand.
「It seems that my Mana has been severely weakened.」
「What?」
Changing back into human form also played a part.
—However, that wasn’t all.
The power of the <Wild Dance of Hellish flames> and <Icicle Slash> were greatly diminished.
「So it’s because of this space...!」
Leonis realized what was wrong.
This place was equivalent to the inside of the <Holy Tree>. The roots sprawling out in this place were absorbing Leonis’ Mana constantly.
『... That’s right...Demon King—』
The voice of the Great Sage Araquil echoed.
『...Become the nutrients of Araquil Degradios...』
Instead of bearing fruit that grants immortality, all sorts of <Void> were born and fell to the ground.
「—Why are you so cocky?」
『... What...?』
「You are just a potted plant surviving on fumes, so this is just the right handicap for you.」
Leonis raised his Sorcery Staff and the aura of death appeared around him.
The shadow by his feet expanded, and rattling sounds came from inside.
「Racial Sorcery— <Summon Undead Army>.」
An army of skeletons wielding magical weapons emerged from the shadow.
The Skeleton Soldiers formed ranks at Leonis’ feet.
Standing on top of the mountain of bones, Leonis looked down at the <Void> group.
This was the reenactment of the Sidon plains battle a millennium ago.
「My loyal Undead Army—」
Leonis declared arrogantly.
「— Ravage those foolish foes!」
With rattling sounds, the skeleton mountain rushed forth like a wave.
◆
(...Leo-kun...?)
Lyselia regained consciousness in the darkness.
...She heard his voice.
「...!」
She wanted to move her body, but she was bound by tree branches, and couldn’t.
(Oh right, after defeating the <Void>, I was captured by the tree and brought here—)
She lost consciousness right after that.
It was dark, and she couldn’t see anything.
The more she struggled, the tighter the branches got.
The corrupting miasma of the <Void> kept seeping into her body.
If she wasn’t an undead, her organs would already have rotted.
「... This thing...!」
Lyselia bit the branch with her fangs.
But she couldn’t break it off.
(... What should I do...)
Even if she summoned her <Holy Sword>, she couldn’t move her body.
At this moment—
『—Ms Selia… Can you hear me—』
The boy’s voice reached her ear.
「Leo-kun...!?」
The communicating terminal in her ear was glowing faintly.
But she couldn’t hear anything after that.—
Leonis was here to rescue her.
Just that was enough to fill her with strength,
Regina, Sakuya and Elffine Senpai should be fighting on the surface.
(That’s right. If I don’t fight now, then what’s the point in awakening my <Holy Sword>!?)
Lyselia’s silver hair started glowing faintly.
◆
Leonis held on tightly to the ear-ring shaped communications terminal.
Lyselia didn’t answer, so he wasn’t sure whether she got the message.
But she was definitely here.
The wolf from the Realm of Shadows sprinted on the skeletons.
「Dragon of Dark Flames, devour my enemies— Dark Dragon Flame <Gills Vera>!」
Leonis who was riding on the Dark Wolf cast a 6th Grade spell.
The dark flame turned into a black dragon and engulfed the <Void>.
This was a spell unique to Demon Kings, which included both <Death> and <Flame> elements.
The dark flame spread like wildfire and surrounded the immortal <Holy Tree>.
The Skeleton Soldier army charged in right at its wake.
However—
『... Play the… song of holy… brilliance...』
The countless old faces on the <Holy Tree> chanted a spell at the same time.
「... What, it’s a spell!?」
Leonis opened his eyes wide.
Araquil was casting a high level <Holy Spell>.
And it was a multicast done with numerous faces.
(— The monks of the <Holy church>, huh.)
The Great Sage Araquil probably absorbed the monks working under him too. There was no way to know if they did so voluntarily or were forced to—
A large Magic Circle shone in the air.
Eight Grade Holy Spell— Holy Destruction Cannon <Lex Megiddo>.
Lights descended like a storm, obliterating the skeleton army. The skeletons hit directly turned into ashes, and those that were grazed lost their temporary undeath and returned to normal bones.
「—Braccus!」
Braccus jumped at Leonis’ cue.
They dodged through the storm of light blades and approached the <Holy Tree>.
「Darkness, explode— <Hell Explosion Ray>!」
Leonis cast a 10th Grade Sorcery.
The black flame raced towards the <Holy Tree>.
But other faces appeared and chanted a spell.
A barrier of light kept the black flame at bay, negating Leonis’ spell.
A large scale defensive spell— <Sanctuary Barrier>.
To cast an Eight and Seventh Grade spell simultaneously—)
Leonis clicked his tongue when they landed.
And of course, Leonis could pull that off too.
But to think they could cast spells so quickly despite losing their sense of self—
「— I see, Great Sage.」
Leonis raised a corner of his lips mockingly.
「His Mana is more plentiful compared to when he was still alive.」
「Yes—」
Leonis nodded at Braccus’ question.
「He is probably absorbing Mana from that gigantic <Mana Crystal>.」
Araquil had endless Mana.
He could even multicast with the monks who were merged in. In contrast, Leonis’ Mana was being absorbed even by standing still.
(...A long battle will put us at a disadvantage.)
However, Araquil merged with the <Holy Tree>, making him immortal.
He could regenerate immediately after taking hits from normal spells.
As long as he lives, the <Void> will be created endlessly.
This was a sacrificial altar. Prepared to offer Leonis as a living sacrifice.
...LeOnIs...!
The dead absorbed by the <Holy Tree> cried grudgingly.
They already lost their sense of self, and only their hunger remained.
Leonis used consecutive gravity spells to fend off the giant tree branch coming his way.
(—I should crush the room with <Ultra Destruction>.)
But if he did so, then the core of this city— the <Mana Crystal> would be destroyed.
Lyselia would be caught in the fall out too—
(Familiar—)
Inspiration struck Leonis.
(This is a dangerous gamble—)
Leonis said as he gripped the ear-ring shaped terminal.
「—Braccus, I will be going wild.」
「Going wild, you say? I’m the prince of the <Realm of Shadows>, and will be with you all the way.」
The giant Dark Wolf nodded energetically.
He was Leonis’ comrade that had gone through numerous battlefields with him.
Even if Leonis didn’t say anything, Braccus could tell what Leonis was thinking.
Leonis cast another spell to summon an army of undead.
「Army of the undead, follow my lead—!」
Leonis attacked amidst the rattling sounds of the skeleton.
◆
「I won’t give up… I will never… give up...!」
Lyselia’s long silver hair was glowing with the light of Mana.
She pulled off the <Holy Tree> branches and tried to crawl out.
Her skin was lacerated and bleeding from the struggle.
Even so, she was still—
「... Kyaaaa!」
She refused to back down. She refused to back down. She refused to back down. She refused to back down.
「... I will never back down!」
— On that day six years ago.
The <Third Assault Garden> fell to the <Void>, and her parents were killed.
She made her resolve back then.
(...I won’t rely solely on others anymore!)
Her blood transformed into sharp blades that sliced the branches binding her limbs.
◆
Countless Magic Circle appeared out of thin air.
Eighth Grade Holy Spell— <Holy Destruction Cannon> rained down on the skeleton army.
On the slowly crumbling skeleton mountain, Leonis rode on a Dark Wolf in full sprint.
A large humanoid <Void> stood up from the debris, and tried to crush the Dark Wolf with its giant fist.
「—<Great Gravity bullet>!」
Leonis cast a 7th Grade Gravity Spell and defeated a titan.
Thump——!
When it fell, the <Void> crushed the Skeleton Soldier around it, kicking up small pieces of debris.
It brushed against his cheeks, leaving a cut.
The roots were pointed to the sky, and the faces at their tops started chanting <Holy Spell>.
A multicast of <Holy Destruction Cannon>.
「Braccus—」
Leonis jumped off the Dark Wolf’s back, and pointed his Sorcery Staff at the <Holy Tree>.
The Dark Wolf— Braccus Shadow Prince transformed into a shadow, and wrapped around the Sorcery Staff on Leonis’ right hand.
Leonis’ unique spell— Royal Wolf Shadow Flaming Roar, <Howling Blaze>!
Shadows of the Dark Wolf filled with tremendous Mana obliterated the <Void> army, biting the faces that appeared on the <Holy Tree>.
Araquil and Leonis’ magic were at a standstill.
However, the mortal Leonis and Araquil leeching off the <Mana Crystal> had different Mana limits.
He was holding his own against Araquil because the pride of the Demon King was supporting him.
(...Where is she?)
Leonis concentrated, as if he was scanning the inside of the <Holy Tree>.
He searched for the presence of his Familiar within the suffocating mana.
A short while later— He found the Mana spot.
「... Over there!」
Leonis closed one eye and extended his left hand, and flicked a finger.
「—<Lightning flame>.」
A blade spinning at high speed flew out with the explosive force of the lightning flame. A Spell used for assassination.
The thing that flew out was Lyselia’s communication terminal, which was shaped like an earring.
And of course, Araquil didn’t even flinch when that hit him.
『...Is that your… trump card...Demon King…?』
The faces on the tree laughed maniacally.
「—How foolish, Great Sage.」
Leonis smiled fearlessly.
The next moment.
The regenerating branches of the <Holy Tree> started to crack.
Crack crack crack—!
A vermillion light shone through the cracks, and was breaking the <Holy Tree> from within.
『What… have you… dooooooone!』
The countless faces on the surface of the tree contorted.
「Nothing much, I just shared some blood imbued with Mana with my Familiar.」
The surface of the <Holy Tree> cracked, and—
—exploded.
With her long silver hair fluttering in the air, the excess Mana Light spread out like her wings.
「—Leo-kun!」
The <Vampire Queen>— Lyselia Christalia.
Her crimson eyes were full of life.
(she has awakened her Vampiric prowess...!)
Her Mana wings and the way she was looking down from above was breathtakingly beautiful.
「Leo-kun… Hyaaa!」
She clumsily flapped her Mana wings, and flew over unsteadily… She wasn’t used to her Mana Wings yet.
Leonis used <Float> to help Lyselia land steadily.
「You have mastered your Vampiric prowess.」
「Yes, this is Leo-kun’s blood, right...」
Lyselia showed a blood-stained earring on her palm.
And it wasn’t normal blood. It was Leonis’ blood that contained a huge amount of Mana.
「The blood is just a catalyst, Ms Selia’ Mana is already on the verge of exploding.」
Leonis could see that her powers were awakening inside the <Holy Tree>, so he sent the Demon King’s blood over as fuel.
「You need more?」
Leonis reached his finger out, and she blushed.
「I-It’s enough!」
She turned to the<Holy Tree> howling in pain.
「That <Void Lord>...」
She turned pale at the sight of its strange appearance.
The <Holy Tree> was already regenerating.
「What strong regenerating powers… How can we beat it...」
「Ms Selia, can you buy me some time?」
「Ehh?」
「I will wipe it off completely.」
She swallowed her question.
Leonis smiled confidently with his Sorcery Staff in hand.
「It will take some time. In the meanwhile, protect me.」
「...Okay.」
Her voice was filled with trust.
Lyselia raised her hand.
「—Activate!」
A thin crimson red sword appeared in her hand.
She then slid the blade across her arm as if she was playing a string instrument.
She was bleeding with a pained expression.
「What are you doing?」
「I’m demonstrating how to use this <Holy Sword>—」
A new group of <Void> titans surrounded them.
She stabbed the blood stained sanguine sword into the ground.
At that instant, the blood pooled on the ground turned into countless blades.
「This is my <Holy Sword>— The Promised Blade of Demon Blood, <Bloody Sword>!」
Lyselia said its name proudly.
The Bloody Swords massacre the <Void> rushing over.
(... The ability to automatically protect its Master!?)
<Holy Sword> reflected your soul.
Her ability was to form blades with blood— very fitting for a Vampire Queen.
「I will protect Leo-kun!」
There were countless blossoming mist of blood.
「—I see. It seems you obtained an excellent Familiar.」
「Yes, I have high expectations of her, she has the potential to be a vassal.」
Leonis smiled at the Dark Wolf peeking out of his shadow.
Alright, since my Familiar is working hard, her Master should pick up the pace too.
He planned to show the might of the Demon King and annihilate the <Great Sage> of the Six Braves, Araquil.
He got his Familiar back, so he didn’t have to hold back anymore.
—Which meant the game already ended.
Leonis turned the handle of the Sorcery Staff lightly.
And the Staff fell away.
— A sword was hidden in the staff.
An amazing amount of Mana exploded.
『... What… is that...』
The countless faces on the <Holy Tree> started screaming.
The ultimate lifeform felt fear.
Leonis slowly walked forth.
「Leo-kun!?」
Lyselia opened her eyes wide with surprise.
「That jealous goddess keeps reminding me not to use this lightly—」
The <Sorcery Staff of Sealed Sin> is just a legendary weapon.
A sheath used to seal a mythical class weapon.
The Demon King Leonis had only used this sword twice.
The first time, he reduced the mountain where the powerful <Holy Dragon> was nesting into charred earth—
The second time, he destroyed a <god>.
The gigantic <Mana Crystal> shone brightly.
The 10th Grade spell— Reality Collapse <Aion>.
It was trying to destroy this entire place.
This was the core, if it was destroyed, the entire city would be finished—
Since it was immortal, it was confident of surviving.
(... Who knows, maybe it has already lost it’s sentience and wasn’t thinking about anything.)
Leonis sighed as he drew it out.
The blade had a black gleam.
The Holy Sword wielded by the strongest swordsman of the <Six Braves>— Leonis.
No, because of the goddess’ blessings, it was now a <Demon Sword>.
As it was too powerful, it was placed under a strong seal—
The sword to defy the heavens and destroy the world.
The Holy Sword blessed by the gods. (The Demon Sword blessed by the goddess.)
Thou shall designate this place as thy <Kingdom> and decimate thy foe.
The sword dyed in darkness, thy name is—
「—Demon Sword <Deanslav>!」
Leonis drew out the Demon Sword glistening with a black light.
Blessed by the goddess that rebelled against the gods, the reforged <Holy Sword>.
Since it lies in the hand of a <Demon King>, it was a <Demon Sword>.
However, the <Demon Sword> Deanslav still had the will of a <Holy Sword>. If the condition wasn’t met, it couldn’t be drawn.
And that condition was—
—Protect his <Kingdom>.
This condition exists because the <Holy Sword> was born to protect a nation.
The sword to defend the Kingdom and cut down invaders—
Hence, the Demon King designated this place, the <Seventh Assault Garden>, as his <Kingdom>.
The <Demon Sword> could be drawn out because it recognized that this place was Leonis’ <Kingdom>. This was unexpected, but at this moment, the <Seventh Assault Garden> and <Holy Sword Academy> became the base to revive the <Demon King Army>.
And then, the <Void Lord> threatening its citizens was—
「—An enemy that has to be destroyed.」
...Impossible… Why, the <Holy Sword> that can slay the gods, why is it…
The terrified voices of the Sages echoed in the giant space.
「—Oh? You regained your sentience because of the terror?」
Leonis smiled.
The next moment, his figure disappeared.
「—Leo-kun!?」
Lyselia gasped in surprise.
The <Goddess of Rebellion> didn’t only seal her power inside the <Demon Sword>.
She also sealed Leonis the Brave’s power and experience inside too.
Which meant that he would revert back to the most powerful swordsman when he wielded this sword.
The army of <Void> was slaughtered in an instant, and the Demon Sword master Leonis leaped up high.
The faces of <The Great Sage> Araquil on the <Holy Tree> started scowling.
「Any last words, Lord of the <Void>?」
… Destruction… is inevitable—
「— I’m a <Demon King>. Something as trivial as fate will be controlled by me.」
Leonis mocked.
「Ultimate attack of the Loganius Kingdom style— <Lightning God Slash>!」
A dark beam from the <Demon Sword> shredded the <Holy Tree> into pieces.
Epilogue
「Roselia! Why, you—」
「— Don’t cry, Leonis.」
She reached out her hand that was slowly being encroached by emptiness and smiled gently.
「— I will awaken a thousand years later.」
So Leonis, find me—
「...I will! I will find you, Roselia!」
The girl known as the <Goddess of Rebellion> smiled again.
◆
With the fall of the <Void Lord>, the Stampede came to an end.
After losing their commander, the movement of the <Void> turned dull, and they were defeated by the <Holy Swordsman>.
Before long, the piles of <Void> carcass turned into mist.
They didn’t leave anything behind just like a void, which was how they got their name—
—<Holy Sword Academy>, Hraesvelgr Female dormitory.
Leonis laid in Lyselia’s bed for most of the day now.
(...Damn it… A Demon King like me is actually suffering from muscle ache...)
This is the after effect of using the swordsman power sealed in the demon sword <Deanslav>.
The untrained body of a ten years old was being tormented by his aching muscles.
As if all his muscles had snapped.
(And I used up all my Mana...)
… What a terrifying <Demon Sword>.
In his lull time, Leonis watched movies.
The entertainment in this world was much more interesting than the plays from a millennium ago. He started with the movies he borrowed from the library, and after finishing that, he watched the movies in Lyselia’s collection.
It was a romantic comedy between a noble and a commoner, and there were more lewd scenes than he imagined.
(... She likes things like this? What a surprise.)
Leonis thought as he rolled around the bed boredly.
「Leo-kun, I bought food… W-What are you watching, Leo-kun!」
Lyselia screamed when she saw the image on the video screen.
「Don’t watch this! This is too early for Leo-kun!」
Lyselia turned off the movie with a remote control.
「... It was just getting to the good part—」
Leonis said unhappily.
「No. Didn’t you borrowed some movies from Sakuya?」
「To be honest, it’s boring...」
A movie about men slashing at each other with swords.
Leonis didn’t like to watch fighting. He had seen enough of it a thousand years ago, so he prefers the healing type right now.
Lyselia sat on the bed.
「They had started repairing the city zones damaged by the <Void>. However, it would take some time to repair the propulsion engines. We will be staying in this ocean for the time being.」
「I see...」
「Also, the news report that the <Void Lord> awakened in an incomplete state, and fell apart naturally.」
She looked a little unhappy.
「It’s fine, I don’t want to expose my identity either.」
Leonis said plainly.
Lyselia stared at him and asked:
「Just who are you?」
「I already told you. I’m an ancient Mage who was stirred from my slumber.」
「But you used a sword.」
「...」
Leonis averted his eyes.
「...Forget it.」
Lyselia shrugged.
「Here, Matron Felina wants to give you this.」
「...Hmm?」
She took out a small badge from her bag.
「What’s this?」
「A badge. Made by the kids from the Orphanage.」
It was a mediocre blue flower folded with paper—
「...A badge, huh..」
Leonis smiled awkwardly. But since he decided as a <Demon King> that this <Kingdom> should be protected, he wasn’t against it either.
「...Oh right, Leo-kun.」
Lyselia blushed and looked hesitant to speak.
「What is it?」
「Well, using the <Holy Sword> seems to drain a lot of blood...」
「Yes, that’s true.」
For her <Holy Sword>, she transforms her own blood into the blade.
「So, erm… I want...」
「Didn’t you say you will bear with it?」
「...~Meanie...」
Lyselia was on the verge of tears when she heard Leonis’ exasperated voice.
Her cheeks were flushed, and looked at Leonis in pain.
「...Fine, just a little.」
Seeing Leonis nod in agreement, Lyselia apologized softly and moved her lips to his neck—
「My Lady, the boy is… Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!」
Regina, who entered without knocking, opened her eyes wide.
「...~Ah, R-Regina!?」
「I’m here to check on… My apologies for disturbing you.」
Sakuya pretended she didn’t see anything and tried to leave.
「M-My Lady, what are you doing with the boy!」
「...~I-It’s a misunderstanding, I’m just taking care of him...」
「Selia, that’s against the dormitory rules...」
Elffine said with a troubled face.
「S-Senpai, it’s not what you think!」
Leonis looked at them exasperatedly, and looked out the window.
—<Void>, <Holy Sword>, and the <Six Braves>.
(...The world shall be reborn from nothingness.)
What did The Great Sage corrupted by the <Void> meant by this?
(... In any case, i have to rebuild the <Demon King Army>.)
Leonis didn’t know that this was just the start of his troubles.
Ebook Bonus Side Story 『Rumours of a Dog』
Hraesvelgr Female dormitory. The members of Team 18 were having breakfast.
「It seems that a dog has moved into the campus.」
Regina brought up a topic.
「Oh? What kind of dog?」
Sakuya asked as she peeled an egg.
「It’s supposedly big and black with a cute and fluffy tail.」
「Supposedly. That means you haven’t seen it yet, Regina?」
Lyselia chipped in.
「That’s right. There are many witnesses amongst the students, but when they chase after it, they will lose sight of it. As if the dog vanished into the shadows.」
「That’s weird.」
「There are rumours that seeing it will either bring good luck or misfortune—」
「Which is it?」
「Sounds like some urban legend.」
Elffine said with a smile.
「The Lifestyle Club has started an investigation. See, there’s a bounty for anyone who finds it.」
Regina controlled her terminal to display an image.
... It was a blurry picture of a creature that resembled a black dog.
「What’s that, it looks so scary!」
「10,000 credits? Alright, I’m going to get that dog.」
Sakuya picked up her <Raikirimaru> and left her seat.
<TL: 雷切丸 Lightning Slasher>
「Hey Sakuya, wait! Really now...」
Lyselia furrowed her brows.
「Leo-kun, what’s wrong? You didn’t even take a bite.」
She looked at Leonis who was hanging his head quietly.
「...I-It’s nothing.」
— After finishing breakfast, Leonis returned to his room and activated Realm of Shadows.
「...Braccus, bad news, you are infamous in the academy.」
「Hmm? I disguised myself as a dog during the course of my investigation to be inconspicuous though.」
Braccus said after poking his head out of the shadow.
「There aren’t any dogs that look like you!」
The Dark Wolf of Shadows was almost 2m long.
Obviously, he would get famous when he ran around campus.
「Then use <Shadow Walk> when you are moving outside.」
「But I won’t get enough exercise if I don’t walk.」
「Even if you say that...」
...Do you even need to exercise.
「Oh, My Lord.」
Shirley came back with paper bags in her arms.
「I bought a lot of snacks outside. Let’s have a tea party.」
「Shirley, what about my share?」
「I bought roasted meat for Lord Braccus!」
「Oh, thank you very much.」
「... The two of you are really making yourselves at home, huh.」
... Leonis sighed exasperatedly at his two vassals.
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