Chapter 49 - Geshkafo (1)
Geshkafo.
He was the designated successor to Kopetal, one of the previous Four Heavenly Kings, destined to stand at the forefront with his massive build, boosting the morale of the Demon King's army.
"Kopetal at least had some dignity, but you're quite rude."
Geshkafo chuckled, looking at Beatrice who spoke in a chiding tone.
"Won't I be equal to you once I ascend to the position I was promised anyway? Besides..."
Geshkafo nodded.
"It's possible I might ascend to a position even higher than that."
"!"
For a moment, Beatrice's expression hardened even more fiercely, but then it melted away like snow.
"Well, yes. Kopetal was the same; you have to experience it directly to understand."
Demons in Kopetal's domain tended to prioritize physical confrontation over intellect.
"Go experience it for yourself. I'll guide the way."
FLARE!
Beatrice conjured a flame in her hand.
Soon, the flame, which had awakened eyes, bounced lightly on her palm.
"Flame."
She softly spoke the name of the familiar she had summoned.
"You shall guide this rude fellow to Barungenia."
Hoo!
Flame spat out sparks, as if flustered.
Hoo hoo!
"I know. He's not exactly the type you'd want to accompany."
Beatrice glanced down at Geshkafo.
"But what can I do? I need to go to the other Heavenly King candidates as well. I was already on my way, but this guy came in this direction, so we crossed paths. I can't waste any more time."
Hooo...!
Flame, though letting out a breath of fire as if nervous, raised its fiery eyebrows, as if faithfully complying with the order.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
Beatrice lowered her hand.
Flame immediately dropped to the ground and landed on Geshkafo's head.
HISSS.
"ACK!"
Geshkafo yelped in surprise and stumbled.
THUD!
Flame, struck by his hand, fell to the ground and rolled away.
"Ugh, my head...!"
Beatrice chuckled at the sight.
"He's your guide, so don't treat him roughly. Otherwise, you won't find the way."
WHOOSH!
She immediately flapped her wings and soared high into the sky.
"Then I'll see you later."
BOOM!
Creating an explosion in the air, she disappeared into the distance.
The mercenary commander, who had been staring blankly at her, slowly shifted his gaze to the demon in front of him.
"That bitch...!"
The demon called Geshkafo clenched his fist, shaking off the lingering embers on his body.
"I will definitely stand above you, woman, and show you! Who is superior!"
And so, Geshkafo turned his head and shouted.
"Flame! Guide the way!"
Hoo!
Flame, wearing a disgusted expression, began to glide forward, drawing a fiery path on the ground.
"Huh?"
Geshkafo, who had just started walking to follow the familiar, turned his gaze to the Commander.
The Commander was trembling like an aspen leaf, overwhelmed by fear.
"Hmph."
Geshkafo leaned his face close to the Commander.
"Ah, ahh."
Geshkafo grinned, looking at the Commander who let out a shrill voice.
"Heheheh."
He grasped the Commander's shoulder tightly with his large hand.
"U-Uwaaah!"
"I won't kill you."
Geshkafo said with an amused expression.
"So go and spread the word."
Madness gleamed in his eyes.
"That I will be the new Demon King."
♧
RUMMMMBLE!
The commotion continued, and Yuru stood there, gritting her teeth, with the Holy Sword, Excalbren, in her hand.
No, not in her hand.
It was being held captive.
CRUNCH!
She ground her teeth.
There was a set way to subdue a rampaging magical artifact: by cutting off the power that was causing it to go wild.
She was trying to sever the Holy Power that moved Excalbren.
"Unyielding will."
But the Holy Sword did not cease its struggle, even as her magical power invaded its blade.
"That is what the Hero taught me."
Even having reached Origin, Yuru had only just stepped into the realm of legend.
She was still far from being able to perfectly subdue an artifact of a different power system solely through magical intervention.
"...Stop."
Yuru spoke.
"Realize how useless you are."
"Can you guarantee that?"
Excalbren asked.
"Are you certain Clay doesn't need me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"If the Hero is still alive, he will need me."
Yuru flinched.
At that moment, Excalbren slipped out of her hand and spun, retreating backwards.
"If he were dead, there would be no reason to stop me like this."
Excalbren calmly pointed out the fact that there was no need to deliberately stop it from going to a master who no longer had any life force to lose.
"Can you hate Clay if you destroy me?"
At those words, Yuru finally turned her gaze.
And she discovered.
A man in black clothes standing nearby.
"!"
Yuru spun around and reflexively snapped her fingers.
KABOOOOM!
Her magical power, unleashed, tore through the air, drawing a magic circle.
An explosion immediately followed, and the man's figure disappeared in smoke.
WHOOSH!
No, the man burst through the smoke and was running.
CLACK! CLACK!
There were a few more explosions following her gestures, but the man skillfully dodged them.
'That's him!'
Recognizing him from the detected aura, Yuru stopped her hand.
Then the man also stopped and stared intently at her.
"You."
Yuru frowned and said.
"You're the guy from that castle."
Barungenia.
Yuru had already confirmed this person's presence near there.
"That is correct."
The man, clearly a high-ranking demon, straightened his posture and bowed his head.
"It is my first time meeting you, Lady Yuru."
"What?"
Yuru gasped at the sudden behavior.
"It's an impertinent question, given I've just appeared, but is that the Holy Sword Excalbren behind you?"
At those words, Yuru turned her head in surprise.
A few steps away, Excalbren stood still, its blade pointed towards her.
"You weren't completely off guard."
But that was all.
It had to be.
She had immediately set up a trap magic while attacking the man.
If Excalbren had come any closer, a restraint magic would have been activated, and violet chains would have bound its blade.
"Your reaction speed is almost divine."
The man clapped softly, praising her.
"Considering how you instantly prepared, despite how surprised you must have been by me."
"Don't change the subject."
Yuru spoke in a sharp voice to the man, wary of Excalbren.
"Who are you?"
"I am Kardine, the direct adjutant to His Majesty the Demon King, Clay."
At his words, Yuru's expression hardened.
"Cl-Clay?"
"Yes."
The man, Kardine, said softly.
"He is now our Demon King."
As he spoke, Kardine observed Yuru's expression.
But Yuru only showed a brief hardened expression, not a strong reaction.
"...Right."
As if saying, that's just how it happened.
"It doesn't matter."
Yuru, who had spoken as if to herself, clenched her fist tightly.
"Why did brother send you?"
She just wanted to ask Clay's true intentions.
"To attack me?"
"No."
Kardine said something she hadn't expected at all.
"He asked me to deliver a letter."
"What?"
Yuru's eyes widened, and she turned her head to Kardine.
SWISH!
At that moment, Excalbren moved, and the trap magic was activated.
Yuru heard the sound and quickly shifted her gaze, but she couldn't see the chains binding Excalbren.
That's because although Excalbren triggered the trap magic, it didn't aim for her, but flew towards Kardine.
THUD!
Passing through the violet chains that swept through the air, Excalbren spun in mid-air and plunged its blade into the ground in front of Kardine.
"Has Clay become the Demon King?"
"..."
"Answer."
"Yes."
"This is the worst."
The master of the Holy Sword had fallen.
Excalbren shivered, as if expressing its confused feelings.
"I cannot accept it. However,"
Excalbren's voice lowered.
"I understand."
Excalbren couldn't possibly be unaware of the hardships he had endured.
The Holy State Alliance had constantly kept him in check.
"Without a master, I can no longer be anything."
FWOOSH!
Excalbren, having bounced off the ground, flew off somewhere and disappeared.
"Should I just let it go?"
Yuru asked Kardine with a dejected expression, yet shaking her head.
"It doesn't matter. As long as it doesn't have brother as his master."
"I see."
Kardine sighed softly and rummaged in his pocket.
Then he held out the letter to Yuru, who was glaring at him.
"This is from His Majesty, the Demon King."
"Really?"
"He said you would know once you opened it."
At those words, Yuru cancelled the trap magic and slowly walked towards Kardine.
"..."
And cautiously, she accepted the letter from Kardine.
"!"
There was a time when they had sworn to each other, looking at the blue path in the night sky.
The first sentence.
It was part of a conversation they had shared, a promise to protect each other.
Yuru clutched the letter a little tighter and trembled.
"I'm sorry, Brother."
She knew all too well how betrayed Clay must feel about her actions now.
Her breath hitched, and her head spun.
She looked as if she might collapse at any moment, but she stood firm again and looked at Kardine.
'Everything is a trial.'
It had to be this way.
Everything was fate.
All that remained was to grow stronger within that fate.
Having surpassed her limits, all she could do was help Clay, who was also caught in a trial.
In a way she hadn't been able to before, no longer backing down.
Therefore, she read it.
She read the contents of the letter from beginning to end.
And she reached Clay's intention.
-I wish for you to destroy it. Everything that is my enemy.
Yuru swallowed dryly, looking at the last sentence.
"He accepted me."
Yuru's eyes, within their shadowed sockets, shone as she looked at Kardine.
"Brother, he accepted me as someone who isn't his enemy."
"Yes, that's right."
"He wants me to exterminate his enemies with him. He wants my help."
"..."
"He forgave me, Brother forgave me."
"Lady Yuru."
Kardine said, watching Yuru mumble while biting her finger.
"Strictly speaking, Lady Yuru, you are being tested to prove your worthiness of forgiveness."
"Tested?"
"Yes."
Kardine conveyed Clay's words that weren't written in the letter.
"His Majesty the Demon King said he does not wish to see you again."
"Ah."
"But if you truly wish to beg His Majesty for forgiveness..."
Kardine said softly.
"He asked you to prove your value."
Of course, that "value" simply meant "usefulness," but Kardine didn't elaborate.
Because the truth didn't need to reach her, who now had a somewhat clearer expression.
"Prove..."
Yuru clutched the letter tightly.
"Tell Brother."
She was already twisted.
"That now, I will strangle all those enemies for him."