Rennel couldn't pull herself together at all.
Just moments ago, she'd thought she heard thunder rumbling, and then the ground split open.
The sound had come from the sky, so why was the earth cracking...? She was so out of it that even such a casual, absurd thought crossed her mind.
'Why did this actually work?'
Dai-il had told her:
-I'll split the village in two. The adventurers will probably all run away. But the knights might hold their ground, so you'll have to put on an act for the rest.
She'd responded with "You're insane" in lieu of words, but she'd already resolved to follow his plan.
Of course, she'd had her doubts about whether Dai-il could really achieve something like that.
This was already S-rank adventurer territory.
S-rank adventurers—there were only ten of them on the entire continent.
Unless it was one of those monsters, something like this couldn't happen.
Now she finally understood why Dai-il had made such a fuss about being "merely" B-rank.
'Maybe, just maybe...'
If she stuck with that guy, they might actually be able to take down that Arch Demon King.
The Chaos Demon King.
Some emotion flickered in her eyes.
Her body shuddered with excitement, and the bracelet on her wrist jingled right along with it.
The one Dai-il had said didn't suit her.
"..."
Rennel cupped the bracelet in her hand and thought.
'Dai-il was the first one to ever tell me to take this thing off.'
What had he meant by that?
Maybe nothing at all.
The reason no one had ever said it before was probably because Dai-il was the only one rude enough.
But those words he'd tossed out so offhandedly had comforted her in a way she could scarcely believe.
She wanted to kill the Chaos Demon King alongside Dai-il.
But she had zero intention of dumping everything on him.
This was her revenge too—and besides, if she did, Dai-il might end up dead.
They hadn't known each other long, but she didn't want him to die.
'I need to get stronger too.'
She had to reach S-rank, just like Dai-il.
And gather more—no, even more—powerhouses like him.
That's when a familiar voice reached Rennel's ears.
"Everyone, hold your positions! Leaving without orders will not be tolerated!"
It was Chris.
He was shouting at full volume to the adventurers scattering like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
But his desperate pleas fell on deaf ears—adventurers for whom survival came first.
If anything, their flight seemed to be spreading panic among the knights too.
"Branch Leader, we should pull back too."
"He's right. The intel was wrong."
"Let's retreat for now and regroup later."
Grit.
Chris ground his teeth, glaring daggers at them.
His heart blazed with fury, but he seemed to grasp that their words weren't entirely off-base.
As promised in advance, Rennel stepped in to help him reach a decision.
'Did that guy predict this whole mess?'
Ahem.
After a light cough, Rennel melted into the shadows.
She swiftly formed hand seals, layering a voice distortion spell with an amplification one.
As an adventurer, she was only C-rank, but as a mage, Rennel was exceptionally gifted.
Gifted enough to conjure a booming, fake echo that reverberated through the entire village.
"Did you enjoy it? My masterpiece."
Maaasterpieeeece.
Chris's face went rigid as the voice echoed like thunderous reverb.
"That voice...?"
"You came hunting me—why act so surprised?"
"Could it be the Deception Demon King?"
"Pleasure's all mine. Scum of the Radiant Knights Order."
Even amid the tension, Rennel felt a sly amusement bubbling up.
It felt like she was the real Deception Demon King.
"Now my title stands proven. Witness the deception I tailored to the rankings you fools arbitrarily assigned me."
"...You hid your power on purpose. All to relish the perfect ruse."
"Heh heh. Indeed. But I do love a big audience. I'd appreciate it if you spread word of this splendid deception across the continent. Which is why I'll spare most of you."
"Most?"
"A conqueror needs his trophies, after all."
She delivered the next line Dai-il had asked for.
"Leave one behind from your ranks. Decide who among yourselves."
"..."
"You have one minute. Anything lingering in this village after that gets split in two. Just like the village itself."
With that, Rennel scanned the knights' faces, eyes alight.
They were all etched with panic and confusion—except for one.
Chris's twin brother.
Rennel recalled Dai-il's words.
-That brother guy's bound to have a sourpuss face. That'll be the smoking gun he's the Demon King.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Dai-il had foreseen.
Her tightly clenched palms grew slick with cold sweat.
That's when the brother in question spoke up.
"I'll stay behind, Branch Leader."
"Creed."
"Take everyone and withdraw, sir. Every soul here is a vital asset to the Order. You most of all."
"But if that's your logic, then you...!"
"No. I want you to live, brother."
His eyes brimmed with apparent sincerity, but Rennel hadn't forgotten.
Creed's face, twisted in fury just seconds prior.
Chris, who hadn't seen it, looked like he'd steeled himself for something.
He bellowed into the void.
"Two staying won't be an issue, right, Demon King?!"
"Branch Leader... no, brother!"
"You stay put. Sir Chernil, lead everyone back to HQ. The subjugation's a failure."
Chris pulled God's Mirror from his pack and handed it over.
"Tell them we never even got a chance to use it."
"B-but sir, that would tarnish your honor..."
"Honor? For a failure like me, who botched the mission completely? It never existed. All that's left is minimizing losses while that Demon King's feeling cocky."
"..."
"Go—now!"
At his command, the remaining knights hesitated, then nodded.
Snap.
They saluted with fists to chests, then withdrew.
Grief shadowed every departing face.
To Rennel, who knew the truth, it was heartbreaking.
Once they were gone, Chris shouted again.
"That should do it! Show yourself, Deception Demon King."
"..."
"I'll test if my blade can reach you!"
Rennel thought.
'Do I really have to fight him?'
Me, solo against a Demon King?
Her legs buckled, limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Her mind spun in overdrive.
Everything up to now had played out just as Dai-il described.
What came next? What guidance had he given?
That's when it hit her.
Recalling Dai-il's final words, her body steadied.
Snap.
She stepped forward.
And addressed Chris.
"Step aside, please. Sir Chris."
"Y-you...?"
"What's behind you isn't the Radiant Knights Order. Not your brother. Not even human."
She spoke deliberately.
"It's the Deception Demon King."
Instantly, killing intent flashed in the brother's—Creed's—eyes.
Rennel flinched but straightened defiantly.
Dai-il's last words echoed in her head.
-Don't worry too much. I'll have your back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rennel was holding her own pretty damn well.
Boom. Kwang.
The spells erupting from her hands hurtled forth with fearsome momentum.
They all struck the Demon King true, but sadly inflicted no real damage.
'First time soloing a Demon King.'
That performance? Solid enough.
Question was, when to jump in.
I wanted Rennel to grow from this, but not if it put her in mortal danger.
I was mulling the sweet spot between progress and survival when...
"You're a real pest. I'd love to know how you sniffed me out."
"Parantra!"
"No openings, huh. Guess I have no choice."
Thud.
The Demon King stomped suddenly.
Rennel, mid-seal, toppled flat.
Pinned like something crushing her, she couldn't budge.
"Ugh... what is...?"
"This is my authority. Leagues beyond your parlor tricks."
"..."
"I've deceived your senses. Your brain now sees sky as ground, ground as sky. You can't stand—hell, you can barely twitch."
The Demon King sauntered toward her leisurely.
"Mouth and ears intact, so you can answer. Spill it—how'd you figure me out?"
"Urk."
"I'll count to ten."
The Demon King started tallying slowly.
From the shadows, I drew my sword slow and deliberate, pondering.
'Still can't manifest spells on willpower alone? Not at this stage.'
Right before regression, Rennel needed no chants or seals.
Just mental resolve to wield mana—that was endgame Rennel.
Current her? Too soon.
This was the ceiling for this op.
So thinking, I moved to save her.
That's when.
"Para... ntra!"
Flames sparked into being midair at her cry.
A match-sized flicker, feeble—but it took vivid form and nailed the Demon King.
"...?"
The Demon King's voice cut off.
The scorch was negligible, masked by the Quad wrangle... but he was definitely shocked.
"Casting without seals? Rare talent among humans."
His shock couldn't match mine, though.
This instant, Rennel had leveled up.
Still needed the incantation, but ditching seals? Massive leap.
The Demon King sounded wary.
"Changed my mind. Die. No interest in answers anymore."
I snapped to reality in a heartbeat.
Hurled my readied sword.
Shrieeek!
Kwang.
It slammed dead-center between Demon King and Rennel.
Dust billowed, vision obscured.
In the chaos, I positioned back-to-back with her.
"Good work."
"D-Dai-il?"
"Rest easy now. I've got the rest."
I faced the Demon King.
"Not thrilled to meet you. Deception Demon King."
Still shrouded in Quad wrangle.
Bet he's scowling hard, though.
Chris's voice rang out then.
"You... Dai-il?"
"Didn't peg you for remembering my name."
"It left quite the mark. Bad one."
"Pity."
"Why're you here? You weren't infiltration."
"That matter right now? More than slaying the Deception Demon King?"
Chris bit his lip.
"Don't kill him."
"Why."
"He knows where my brother's gone..."
That's when.
"Ahahaha!"
The Demon King erupted in laughter.
I cocked my head.
"Where's the joke in our chat? Demon King humor's lost on me."
"You spoke like killing me's a whim. Human bluffing's baffling too."
Next instant, I dipped my knees.
Blasted forward.
Shot my hand out, snagged the Deception Demon King's nape.
Normally, I wouldn't rush a Quad wrangle like this.
Can't pinpoint a White Squares-veiled nape.
But the transformed was Chris's twin.
I gauged by Creed's height, struck where it'd be.
"Gurk."
The choke and tactile feedback confirmed the hit.
"Hm. Try that again. Something 'bout my bluff?"