Kays Translations

Chapter 57 Sense of Danger

"No way. The Demon King unleashed the 'Magic Blade of Condemnation'..."

"This is going too far. Does he intend to kill the human...?"

The demon tribe watching this battle felt a sense of discomfort with the Demon King's actions.

"H-Hey, Father, what are you doing! Please stop!"

Karla hurriedly approached the Demon King.

Ignoring her, the Demon King raised his sword.

Everyone around held their breath.

He won't necessarily come straight at me like an idiot.

I remain vigilant, ready to put up barriers in all directions.

However, contrary to my expectations, the Demon King slowly approached me.

"Are you ready? Let's start with a warm-up."

The Demon King swung his jet-black sword enveloped in ominous flames.

An octagonal barrier blocked the sword at my side.

He continued attacking, two times, three times in a row.

　The speed of his swordsmanship increased, and the number of strikes grew.

Damn, that idiotic Demon King... This is bad, I'm running out of SP.

At this stage, it was impossible to counterattack.

If even the slightest opening appeared in my barrier, I'd be done for.

"Hey... Takumi is blocking it all."

"Is that even possible? It's the Demon King's onslaught," said someone from the bleachers.

"T-There's a reason they call him a hero, after all."　

　The Demon King suddenly stopped attacking aglanced towards the spectator seats.

Seizing that opportunity, I distanced myself from the Demon King.

...Finally, it's over.

I don't know the actual time, but it felt like an endlessly long period to me.

I quickly checked the remaining SP on my status screen.

This is bad. I only have 14 left.

The Demon King, who had been focused on something in the spectator seats, seemed to have finished with that as well.

　The Demon King pointed the tip of his sword at me, who was retreating.

He pointed the tip of his sword at me as I retreated.

"Well then, this will be my final attack. Defend it properly. With the same hardness as before, you'll die..."

The flames surrounding the Demon King's sword intensified, gathering at the tip of the blade in undulating waves.

The mass of flames gradually grew larger, writhing like a living creature.

Bububu... Bubu...

What's that sound?

Perhaps due to fear, it reminded me of the buzzing of a hornet.

Goosebumps covered my entire body, and my instincts desperately urged me to run away with all my might.

　And then, with a thunderous roar, it was released towards me.

"Damn it!!"

I erected the "Heart Wall" barrier, rejecting the Demon King from the depths of my heart.

The mass of ominous flames collided directly with the barrier, causing the octagonal barrier to distort greatly.

As my fear of death increased, the thickness of the barrier also increased, but the barrier kept flashing a bright red.

　This is bad. Should I deflect it like I did with Arthur?

But the arena barrier has been released. If I deflect it in the wrong direction, someone will die.

In that case, there's only one answer.

I repel the mass of flames aimed at me back towards the Demon King.

Thanks to my control of the barrier honed in the Shirakami Dungeon, I successfully bounced it back perfectly.

　The mass of flames, capable of turning everything it touches into ashes, rushed back towards the Demon King.

However, the Demon King calmly thrust his jet-black sword into the flames.

Then, as if returning to its original position, the flames moved towards the blade.

The swollen flames gradually got absorbed back into the sword, returning to their original size.

...What kind of weapon is that? Everything about it is too abnormal.

The Demon King swung his sword once, and the next moment, the sword disappeared from his hand.

"Amazing! You were incredible, Takumi! I admit that the rumors about you were true."

　As the Demon King applauded, a grand applause and cheers resounded throughout the arena, shaking it greatly.

—Ignoring such an atmosphere, Karla marched towards the Demon King and slapped him on the cheek.

"What are you doing? Even if you’re my father, that was too cruel. Takumi is our benefactor!"

Holding his slapped cheek, the Demon King hastily tried to explain himself.

"H-Hey, wait a minute. There's a proper reason for this. Let's go back home first, and I'll explain. Takumi, I apologize. But to redirect that final attack back at me, that takes a lot of guts. I like it." He winked with an innocent smile.

It's frustrating to see how composed he is.

"Alright, listen, everyone! What you just witnessed is the truth. Takumi was strong. He had guts. And he saved our comrades, a truly admirable guy. We, the demon tribe, will welcome Takumi. From now on, anyone who touches Takumi will be considered as having touched me!"

“Ooohhhhh!!”

The Colosseum trembled.

It was the loudest cheer of the day.

◇

　——We are in Karla's family's reception room.

In other words, we have come to the Demon King's residence.

It was quite an ordeal to get here.

　The demons were waving their hands and shouting Takumi's name. It felt like when a popular Hollywood star visits Japan.

Certainly, there were no more people approaching us on the streets asking for battles, but the current situation is still very inconvenient.

The door to the reception room opened, and the Demon King enters.

Impeccably dressed, his aura is simply overwhelming.

　Rather than being called a demon lord, it would probably be more fitting for him to be called a mafia boss.

"Once again, welcome to the demon territory. And thank you for lending your power to the demon tribe. We welcome Takumi and Mia."

　The Demon King reached out his hand for a handshake, but my 'Heart Wall' barrier activated on its own, and I couldn't shake his hand.

Even the Demon King, as expected, had a wry smile, but I want him to reflect on the fact that it's his own doing.

"Now then, Father, please explain. Why did you try to kill Takumi?"

"Oi oi, that's a misunderstanding. Let me ask you this, do you think there is someone in this world who can block all the attacks from 'Humanity's Strongest Sword Saint,' possesses the knowledge and skills even the Dwarf tribe worships as gods, and would sacrifice their own life for the sake of their comrades without discriminating against races?"

"......"

"Exactly. Well, to be honest, when I received that report, I thought you guys were under the influence of Takumi's charm or illusions, highly likely brainwashed. That would have been a more believable story. I wore equipment with mental attack resistance and tested if the report was true."

　Oh yeah? Come to think of it, what happened that time?

"What was it that you were looking at in the bleachers on the way?"

"Oh, so you noticed. Me and the multiple people hidden in the bleachers were watching to see if we were under charm or illusions."

　I see.

I wonder what would have happened if they had judged that I was launching a mental attack.

...It would have been terrifying!

"But still, was it necessary to do it right after coming to the city?"

Karla's anger doesn't subside.

"It'd have been too late to do it after being subjected to a mental attack. Besides... even if there was no ill intent, it was necessary to confirm what was true and what was a lie. Otherwise, it would be impossible to have an honest conversation. Don't you agree?"

"W-Well, that's true, but couldn't you have done it differently?"

"You guys organized that spectacle event. I just took advantage of the opportunity. However, it ended up with me having to intervene because the Minotaur was not strong enough. If you had brought us here directly... it could have been settled through a discussion."

The Demon King grinned, while Karla and Gale hung their heads, realizing their part in this.

　But that last part about it being settled through a discussion was a lie.

In the end, it would have been proven through a battle.

There are many thoughts running through my mind, but what's important now is not about 'being convinced,' but about 'how we will get along.'

Because reviving those two takes top priority.

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