Chapter 207: Two Graves (1)
Finished resting, and recharged both stamina and magic power.
It meant the time had come.
Lilith guided us to the ‘passage’.
To be precise, in front of the transfer gate.
“This gate is operated only by my magic power. So once you cross over to that side, you will not be able to return through this gate again.”
And then she gave this ‘warning’.
If this were a game, a notification window would have popped up around now.
Asking ‘Do you really wish to proceed?’.
It would have kindly informed us that since we cannot return once we proceed from here, we should return after finishing any undone tasks or preparations.
“Yes. I know.”
Preparations were already finished.
I didn't leave any undone tasks behind either.
When I looked around at each person one by one to ask for the companions' opinions, they all nodded.
“We are ready.”
At my answer filled with determination, Lilith also nodded once in the same way.
Then the moment I placed my hand on the transfer gate.
『──Open.』
Whoosh!
The gate emitted light.
Then before long, the gate that had been blocked by a blue ‘wall’ as if closed slowly became transparent and began to reveal the appearance of the other side.
“I wish you good luck.”
Lilith calmly said that we could cross now, gesturing to the other side.
Perhaps, she tried to send us off in the calmest manner possible because she didn't want to burden us, who were facing the most dangerous fight so far.
However.
“……Lily.”
As a mother, not a ‘collaborator’, it seemed she couldn't quite do that after all.
In the end, she hugged Lily who was about to leave.
“You must, come back safely.”
Lily seemed somewhat surprised at first by such a sudden hug, but.
“I will, Mother.”
She soon closed her eyes and patted Lilith's back, embracing her just the same.
“Please take care of Lily, everyone.”
To Lilith who then asked this of me and my companions.
“Don’t worry.”
I grinned and answered confidently.
“Because our real goal isn't defeating the Demon King, but all of us coming back safely.”
Not just Lily, I don't intend to lose a single person.
After all, my ultimate goal is for all of us to ‘survive’ together.
Catching the Demon King is only being done because it is practically a necessary task to achieve that goal.
So there will absolutely be no such thing as sacrificing someone for the sake of defeating the Demon King.
I haven't even thought about it.
“──Now.”
I looked around at my companions one by one again to convey that meaning and said.
“Let’s go.”
Like that, we took a step toward the 「Demon King's Castle」.
***
The transfer through the ‘passage’ was a sensation similar to yet a bit different from 「Teleport」 magic.
If 「Teleport」 felt like my body was in a different place after closing my eyes for a moment and opening them, crossing this ‘passage’ was like… should I say it was just the sensation of passing through a door as usual.
Perhaps because of that, there wasn't really any strange nausea this time either, which usually accompanied 「Teleport」.
I just felt like I had entered a room with a (completely) different atmosphere after crossing the door.
Well, it was actually a room too.
Where seven doors were gathered side by side.
We came out through the third of them── the ‘Door of the 3rd Legion Commander’.
In other words, this was a room that gathered the ‘passages’ used by the seven Legion Commanders.
Whether the news that Alzar was defeated by Lilith hadn't been known yet, fortunately, there wasn't anything like the Demon King's army swarming here waiting for us to cross over.
As for where to head after leaving this ‘Room of Doors’, we had already received a map from Lilith.
Actually, even if there wasn't a map anyway, it was all in my head.
This place was a ‘mansion’ built near the Demon King's Castle, an annex if one were to be precise.
Since it was a space where Legion Commanders who crossed over through the ‘passage’ like now would rest (prepare) while waiting for his permission before going to the Demon King's Castle to have an audience with the Demon King.
Meaning, it was right under the nose of the 「Demon King's Castle」.
As most of the Demon King's army marched toward the barrier, only the minimum number of guards now remained near the 「Demon King's Castle」, which would have normally been teeming with troops.
Although he sent most of the troops at the news that the Alliance of the barrier had crossed the barrier, the Demon King was still remaining in the castle.
Even from the Demon King's perspective, it is incredibly suspicious.
Suddenly humans descend from the (literally) huge advantage called the barrier on their own, and come to attack in reverse?
It was practically no different from coming to die on their own accord.
That is why, to be honest, it was too blatantly a trap.
Because it is just that crazy of an act.
But to not accept it because it is suspicious, isn't it too golden of an opportunity?
Whatever the humans are plotting, the overwhelming difference in military power between the two forces isn't going anywhere.
So whatever the humans are plotting, he just had to crush them.
So the Demon King put the Legion Commanders at the forefront, and made the choice to remain in the Demon King's Castle himself to prepare for any potential situations.
Strategically, it was the right judgment.
Even if the humans dug some trap, and so the troops sent ahead suffered however much damage, as long as he, the focal point, was fine in the end, the barrier could be destroyed at any time.
He did not allow even a small variable, such as standing at the vanguard out of pride and possibly falling into a trap.
──He surely would never have thought that the trap was, in fact, merely six people coming to assassinate him.
After all, isn't he that Demon King?
The one who pacified the Demon Realm with overwhelming power.
If it were a ‘war’, there might be a chance of winning.
Even if the Demon King is an existence no different from a strategic weapon, various variables exist anyway.
But if it is a ‘battle’, there is no such thing as a chance of winning.
But would he be able to think that they would invade his base to assassinate him, the strongest existence in this world?
Moreover, not only the Demon King himself, but the guards left in the castle as a minimum were also the elite of the elite among the Demon King's army.
「Demon King's Royal Guard」.
By game standards, they were the strongest ‘enemies’ excluding bosses.
On top of that, there was also the ‘Advisor’, the 4th Legion Commander Stras, who was always stuck in the castle's torture chamber.
So far from assassinating him, it is a situation where it is hard to even approach.
So who would dare to try such a crazy thing.
The Demon King must have thought.
──Kwaang!
Until the large door of the castle was eventually kicked open by a dwarf.
Well, they really exist.
The guys who actually came to do that crazy thing.
The Champion's party who came to defeat you, Demon King.
“Wh, what!”
At that moment, the 「Demon King's Royal Guards」 guarding the hall beyond the door, specifically in front of the stairs, showed a startled appearance.
“What the──”
Then, seeing the other Royal Guards who had been guarding in front of the flung-open door fallen── sprawled on the floor as corpses, they were even more shocked.
Correct.
The 「Demon King's Royal Guard」 is strong.
They possess level 18, the highest level among ‘normal enemies’.
However, they aren't ‘bosses’.
That meant they did not have ‘immunity’ (which is usually attached to bosses to prevent so-called ‘cheese’ strategies systemically).
『──Kneel.』
“──!?”
In short, it means they are helpless against my 「Word of Power」.
Thanks to that, we were able to enter inside the 「Demon King's Castle」 without shedding a drop of blood, and even now we could make them kneel before they rushed at us.
“You, you bastard, how──”
Of course, since their resistance was also very high matching their high level, it was at best maintaining it for about 1~2 turns rather than 10 turns, which is the maximum duration of the 「Word of Power」 effect.
For my companions, it was enough time.
“Peek-a-boo, you son of a bitch.”
“──Keuk!”
Blood splattered.
Ibi, who quickly ran to one kneeling Royal Guard, immediately stabbed and slashed the guy's vitals almost simultaneously.
Meanwhile, on the other side, as soon as Mickey unleashed a quick 「Triple Strike」 at a kneeling Royal Guard, Toric struck down with his axe with a Crunch! without mercy.
“Th, these guys…!”
“…?!”
Even so, perhaps because Royal Guards are indeed Royal Guards, they tried to get up from their spots, finally escaping the influence of the 「Word of Power」.
──Swish!
“──!”
At that moment, two strands of 「Magic Arrows」 cast simultaneously pierced their brows (in other words, filling up the ‘damage’ that was slightly lacking), and they eventually collapsed on the ground with a thud, but.
After that, Rine quietly lowered her staff back down.
“Monster-like bastards… If we do this much, shouldn't they just obediently die…?”
Ibi, who directly confirmed the durability that was distinctly different from the ‘trash mobs’ we had dealt with so far, muttered in disgust immediately.
Although the Dark Elf soldiers reinforced by Gloom before also showed an appearance of not dying easily like this time, strictly speaking, that could be said to be closer to moving while ‘forgetting pain’.
But these guys, they just endured it.
Attacks that would have surely been fatal wounds if it were other beings.
“This is a place swarming with monster-like guys like this. Don't let your guard down until the end.”
“Ah, thanks for the very encouraging word.”
“Shall I make you feel energized?”
Slap.
Ibi answered my light joke by lightly slapping my cheek.
Although those things happened yesterday, it seems Ibi is Ibi after all.
Even if the security became lax due to the expedition toward the barrier, that was strictly a story until entering this castle.
There were still over a hundred 「Demon King's Royal Guards」 who didn't leave the castle with the Demon King.
Of course, before that, one Legion Commander much stronger than those Royal Guards was also still keeping his eyes wide open.
So we should make him close those two eyes first.
“Toric.”
When I looked back, Toric quietly nodded.
“Let’s go. To get revenge.”
The destination was the underground torture chamber.
***
If you want to seek revenge, dig two graves first.
One for the opponent who is the object of revenge.
And another one, for yourself.
There is this saying that states revenge is an act that destroys even oneself.
Or it could be interpreted as meaning to be prepared to die yourself first if you want to kill the opponent.
In the West, it is known as a quote said by Confucius for some reason, but there is also a saying that Confucius never actually said this and a Japanese proverb was introduced wrongly as it was translated into the English-speaking world.
Well, it doesn't matter who really said it.
“──Stras.”
Since Toric had to dig two graves already.
For his beloved wife, and child.
--
Companion Quest
「Two Graves」
Kill the Demon King's Army 4th Legion Commander Stras.
--
“I came to kill you.”