Kays Translations

Volume 3

Chapter 55 Magic City "Zoff"

　――Magical City ‘Zoff’

　At noon the day after we parted from Arthur and Mary, we arrived at Zoff, the only town of the demons.

　Geographically, if we liken this continent to a clock, the area between 12:00 and 2:00 belongs to the demon tribe.

　Demons generally live in villages of about 50 people.

　However, there are exceptions. That is the magic city "Zoff".

　According to Karla, about 10,000 demons live here.

　The size of the city is much smaller compared to the human capital, Melkid, but there are more magical tools to be seen here.

Although the demon tribe could probably create magical tools like light trucks, they don't seem to have large-scale ones. Perhaps they are exercising restraint to prevent repeating past mistakes.

　In that case, I'm a little worried about what will happen after establishing a relationship between them and the dwarf tribe.

The power they put into craftsmanship is incredible.

We should be careful not to let the demon tribe go out of control due to being influenced by that.

After getting off the dragons, we headed towards the mansion where the Demon King resides.

　On the way, passing demon tribe members first looked relieved when they saw Karla and Gale, but they directed looks of hatred towards me and Mia.

　Apparently, the fact that Karla was kidnapped and was about to be executed at the hands of the humans has spread throughout the city.

"Hey, why are you humans here? Face us in a battle!"

Some of them even try to provoke us.

"Stop it. He is a benefactor who helped Karla-sama and me. If it weren't for him, we would have been killed. Besides, we don't have time now."

"Did you really help Gale-sama? Please stop joking. If it's not a lie then come at me."

"We won't be deceived. There's no way a human like you could help Gale-sama in a critical situation."

"If you claim to have saved him, show us your power. Come on, fight me."

Then Gale raised his voice, and the guys who were causing trouble until now backed off quietly. These four young demons are surprisingly stubborn.

This isn't a game, so don't come challenging us to a battle in the middle of the city.

　And what's with picking a fight with the princess' entourage? What's wrong with them?

"Takumi, what do you want to do?"

...Gale, it's not about "What do you want to do?" but about reprimanding those guys.

Karla is also looking at me with expectant eyes.

It seems that I underestimated the demon tribe's battle frenzy.

　

"I won't do it. But If you insist, then the fight won't be over until one of us is killed."

Karla and Gale were speechless, their faces turned pale.

They understood that I wasn't joking and was serious.

Of course.

The opponent has a higher level and extensive combat experience.

I'm just an amateur with overpowered equipment.

There's no way to win except by cutting off their limbs or killing them.

"Hey, don't underestimate us. Did you think I'd be scared by such an empty threat?"

It seems he misunderstood and thought I was trying to provoke him.

The man who challenged me then came closer.

At that moment, Gale suddenly kicked the demon man's stomach, sending him flying far away.

The man rolled on the ground, twitching.

"T-Takumi, I'm sorry. It was kind of a small strength comparison or more like a greeting among the demon tribe. I think they wanted to see how strong the human brought by Karla-sama is."

"But it was quite an unwarranted accusation..."

Mia seems surprised too.

"That was like a set phrase used during tests of strength. It wasn't meant seriously."

While battle may be a form of communication among demons, it doesn't resonate with me and Mia.

　Gale bows his head to me, who is still wary.

"I'm sorry. I will guarantee your safety. So please keep it back."

　Did he notice?

　I put the lightsaber I was holding under my cloak back on my waist belt.

　I feel bad for Karla and Gale,  but I won't hesitate.

Even adventurers attack with a face that seems normal.

"Mia and I don't know the customs of demons. And we can't hold back in combat. Especially in a fight against another person. Please be careful."

With this exchange, many demons gather around us.

This is troublesome.

I hope they spare us from repeating this same exchange.

"Gale, you're just interested in the opponent's strength, right? In that case, how about I fight the monster?”

"Oh, that's a good idea. It wouldn’t make sense if it's us, but if it's a human, that can demonstrate their strength. But is it alright, Takumi?"

"Yeah. If it continues like this, I won't be able to be at rest."

　Karla introduces us to the gathered demons as the "heroes who saved her from a terrible predicament."

And when she said that we will fight against monsters to demonstrate our strength, cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd.

◇

"That facility over there is where the monsters are trained, and the building in front of us is the training ground."

Gale pointed ahead, to a building resembling the Colosseum in Rome.

　Once inside, we saw a large arena in the center, with spectator seats around it.

　And between the arena and the bleachers, stick-like magic tools were lined up at intervals of 10 meters.

　It seems that a barrier is put up in the arena so that the effect of the battle does not reach the bleachers.

"But by the way, doesn't it seem like the number of spectators has increased a lot in such a short time?"

"For the demons in this city, humans are rare. They hardly witness such battles. Probably all the demons in the city have gathered. The monsters will enter soon. Takumi, you go in after that and defeat the monsters."

"I'll be in the VIP seats as the organizer. I have some greetings to do. I'll make sure to tell those involved to ensure Takumi and Mia not to be harmed, so don't worry."

...What's going on?

I wasn't tricked into this, right?

It seems like Karla and Gale are simply enjoying themselves, but that's how it looks to me.

"Fufufu. Everyone will be surprised when they see Takumi's awesomeness!"

　Mia clasps her hands in front of her chest and cheers with a smile.

She doesn't have the slightest worry that I'll be defeated.

Well, I don't mind Mia having high expectations/

Loud cheers rise from the spectator seats. The cheers were so loud that the Colosseum shook.

　When we looked at the VIP seats, there was a man waving his hand towards the entire venue.

Could it be... Is that the Demon King?

　I connected the 'Portable Telepathy Device’ to Karla.

『Karla, isn’t that the Demon Lord? what is happening? 』

"I didn't know either. The whole town turned into a festive mood, and it seems like it reached my father's ears. There's nothing we can do now. We just have to go along with it."

“Oi oi, that's so irresponsible... It's a fighting monster, but please stop the physical invincibility. I'm counting on that, at least.”

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm more concerned about what happens afterward... Oh, I've been called by my father. I'll be cheering for you, so do your best."

Hey! What do you mean by "afterward"?

Well, as long as it's not physically invincible, I should be able to manage somehow.

After the Demon King's greetings, Karla explained the events so far to the gathered demons.

　Everything was the plot of the Elves.

　The human race also wants friendship with the demons.

　It was the humans that saved us.

　And now, the hero who will fight here...

Somewhere along the way, it sounded like someone else's story to me.

It's uncomfortable to have Mia looking at me with such a respectful gaze.

Mia is one of the heroes who saved Karla and the others too.

But she seems completely unaware of it.

　After Karla finished talking, the door on the other side of the arena opened.

　From there, a reddish-black humanoid monster with a bull's head and a body length of about 3 meters appeared.

　On top of his bulging strong muscles, was wearing lightweight yet metallic armor.

　Dragging a huge axe, it walked towards the center of the arena.

I received a call on the "telepathy device" from Gale.

"Takumi, that's a Minotaur. It's an A-rank monster. I think you'll be fine, but don't let your guard down."

    My first A-rank monster.

　It's been a while since I felt this nervous. My excitement is rising.

　Oh my God, I think I'm starting to join the ranks of the battle maniacs.

"Well then, here I go."

I waved my hand to Mia and entered the arena.

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