Chapter 70 – The Fiery Demon

“…How is it?”

After landing on the ground and asking Grace for her impressions, she tapped the ground lightly with her toes as if testing the feel, then broke into a smile.

“I think it’s good. With this, I should be able to fight.”

“…I’m glad I could be of help.”

Alfred let out a big yawn. After that, I had him summoned back to the Royal Castle under the pretense of having business with him.

The fact that Alfred is Prince Albert is something we’re pretending not to know, which makes this arrangement possible. Prince Albert himself seemed quite pleased to cooperate under the guise of serving the kingdom, so despite the sudden request, he readily agreed.

What he provided were two Magic Stones engraved with the Spell Formula for Magic Shield. Being a basic magic with common applications, it’s a fairly common item for self-defense purposes.

Since it was an item with existing know-how, obtaining it was simple enough. However, to deploy it from the soles for footholds in midair, we had to fix it to the boots and make slight adjustments to the Spell Formula… In the end, we ended up working through the night.

Though I say “we”… Alfred bore most of the burden, for which I feel somewhat apologetic. I managed to get some proper rest myself.

Now then. Of course, with just this, she can only move in straight lines in the air, which isn’t enough. But that’s where other ideas come in.

It’s admittedly a bit rushed… but based on Grace’s reflexes, she should be able to handle it without issue. And considering Linette as a benchmark, she should be more than capable of fighting—that was my impression after our brief mock aerial battle earlier.

“Theodore-sama. Your escort has arrived.”

Ashley came to fetch us.

Perfect timing. Stepping out of the workshop, a knight accompanied by a Wyvern bowed in greeting.

“We have come to escort you.”

“Understood. We’re ready as well.”

Following their lead, I mounted the Wyvern’s back and soared into the sky.

“…Well then, be careful. I wish you luck in battle.”

“Have a safe trip!”

“Yeah. I’m off.”

From the ground, Alfred and the others smiled and waved.

Now then. If it turns out our opponent isn’t a demon but just some ordinary adventurers, it would be quite the letdown.

We joined up with four members of the Wyvern Corps in the air. Among them was Chester.

Mercedes and Mildred, being Earth Dragon riders, are on evacuation duty this time. I heard Mildred can ride Wyverns too—but as she’s in charge of commanding the entire Knight Order, it seems she can’t join the front lines.

That said, her expression clearly showed dissatisfaction. I get the feeling that if we show any incompetence, she might storm in with furious intensity.

On the Wyverns’ backs were figures other than knights. Shrine Maidens from the Moon Temple. By bestowing the Goddess’s Blessing, they provide countermeasures against Miasma.

Unlike me, who can handle it through circulation, this is usually essential when fighting demons.

As the Shrine Maiden made a praying gesture, each of our bodies began to glow faintly, enveloped in a golden phosphorescence.

We hurried straight to the harbor area in the western district.

“That inn over there.”

We dove toward the wooden, budget inn that Chester pointed at. Actually entering the inn is the role of me and Grace. If we can’t face the demon after dismounting from the Wyvern, it’s pointless—and besides, we’ve seen our opponent’s form once before.

Dismounting from the Wyvern, we entered the inn. It was a common setup, with the first floor serving as a tavern. Going up the stairs to the second-floor hallway, the doors lining it were the Guest Rooms.

The innkeeper, who seemed to have been preparing breakfast behind the Counter, looked momentarily stunned before eyeing us suspiciously.

“What’s with you two?”

Well, I get why he’d wonder—both Grace and I were enveloped in phosphorescence from the Shrine Maiden’s Blessing for Miasma protection.

“Pardon me. Are a pair named Jerio and Zalbash staying at this inn?”

“…Can’t answer questions like that.”

…Seems he has quite strong professional ethics.

“Those two may be involved in serious crimes. If you look outside the inn, you’ll understand.”

I’m not exactly lying. After the innkeeper looked out the window, he made a dubious face.

“Up there.”

“Up there?”

“Stick your head out the window and look up.”

Told this, the innkeeper looked straight up above the inn, then turned to us with a shocked expression.

If the Wyvern Corps is circling above the inn, anyone would think something’s up.

“Shall we talk to them?”

“Nah, I get it. …Yeah. Those two are definitely staying here, but…”

The innkeeper sighed, told us which room they were in, and even lent us the key.

“Hope you won’t cause too much trouble?”

“That depends on them. It’s dangerous, so please wait at the Counter.”

When I honestly voiced my thoughts, the innkeeper’s face turned grim.

Well, really. I want to avoid casualties, but I can’t guarantee anything beyond that.

He’s probably worried about property damage if they resist arrest, but that’s not the issue. If a demon goes on a rampage, the place could be flattened, so I have to be prepared to use appropriate Magic as well.

Standing before the door, I exchanged glances with Grace, and she nodded.

“Let’s go.”

Turning the key, I stepped into the room in one swift motion.

“…Hoh.”

A voice that sounded impressed.

In the not-so-spacious room, a man was sitting on the windowsill… looking our way.

A man with blazing red eyes. Indeed—I saw him before, accompanying Jasper.

Is this Jerio, or Zalbash?

“…Young man. We’ve met once before, haven’t we? When I heard you were the Demon Slayer, I could hardly believe my ears.”

The red-eyed man smiled, leisurely got down from the windowsill, and turned to face us.

This reaction—seems like he was expecting us to burst in.

“Where did the other one go?”

“Zalbash? I sent him to report on the Seal.”

“Report?”

“That matter is unimportant. More importantly, you’ve tracked us down at an excellent time. The report has been sent, and now that we’ve been found, there’s nothing to be done, is there?”

Jerio shook his shoulders and laughed. So he has no intention of hiding it, huh. Miasma rose from his entire body, and Jerio’s smile deepened.

“In other words. I no longer need to restrain myself with a feast before me. Do you understand, young man?”

“Like hell I do.”

I feel the same about restraining myself before a demon. There’s no need to wait and see his move. I fired off the Magic I had prepared as a greeting.

Seventh-class Wind Magic, Resonance Mine. A spell that deploys multiple directional vibration bullets simultaneously, causing them to collide at specified coordinates to destroy objects from within… In short, if it directly hits a single point where it detonates, even a demon won’t get away unscathed.

Naturally, I’m aiming for the head from the start to kill him.

But—the moment the vibration bullets deployed in space, I saw Jerio bare his teeth in a grin. He crossed his arms before his face and tilted his head back, evading the destruction coordinates.

With a tremendous explosive sound, Jerio’s body was blown backward. Due to the residual Shockwave from the Resonance Mine and the impact of Jerio’s body, the inn’s wall was shattered, and his body flew out from the second floor into the open air.

Without hesitation, I pursued him outside through the hole made by the magic.

This guy—did he see through that move just now?

Wiping a single trickle of blood from his forehead with his arm, Jerio floated in midair, his smile deepening further.

“Did I… fail to dodge completely? I’ve seen that magic once before, but—I see.

The real thing deploys this quickly…? Magnificent—magnificent, magnificent! I like you, boy!”

Blackish-red Miasma concentrated on his right arm, extending like a sword. Without hesitation, I charged at him.

Ouroboros and the Miasma sword clashed, growling and scattering sparks.

Meanwhile, Jerio’s entire skin swelled and transformed like black-gold Armor. His true form resembled a humanoid black Dragon. Only his eyes remained, burning red.

Dashing left and right through the air, Ouroboros and the Miasma sword crossed paths dizzyingly. In the morning sunlight, Sparks produced by Magical Power and Miasma burst incessantly, like scattering flower petals.

“This… is a demon?”

A knight’s stunned voice.

A high-speed aerial battle. Since there’s a risk of involving allies, even Grace can’t intervene.

Or rather, I’m guiding it into such a situation.

This guy. His Miasma is extremely dangerous.

Each time we clash, I feel a Blazing Heat that makes me grimace. The scenery behind him is distorted by the heat.

If I were cut by that… even with the Blessing, I’d probably burn helplessly. Not from Miasma Erosion, but from being burned by the heat. Is it his inherent Technique, or a characteristic?

And this Miasma sword probably can’t be blocked by ordinary Weapons. You’d either need to counter with a Combat Skill constantly, or oppose it with a Weapon infused with Magical Power like mine.

In other words—there’s no one else who can fight this guy besides me.

“Grace! And all of you, handle Zalbash!”

“B-but!”

The knights raised confused voices. They must be unsure whether to leave this situation to me.

“He’s at the sea! Somewhere in the harbor! If you’re lucky, you might even interrupt that ‘report’!”

“Hoh?”

Jerio’s impressed voice. While exchanging blows, I thought.

He said he had him reporting. Since he’s using him as an errand boy, Jerio is probably the higher-ranked one. In that case, it’s better to leave Zalbash to Grace and the knights.

“Why do you think so!?”

Laughing, Jerio’s eyes shone brighter. Sensing a bad premonition, I kicked off the air to retreat, and an explosion occurred in the space I had just occupied.

An Evil Eye.

And quite direct, or rather, aggressive. Normally, Evil Eyes are for Petrification or Charm, right?

As I dashed through the air in an irregular trajectory, explosions occurred repeatedly behind me. Not quite Continuous Fire, but he seems to use it quite freely.

There’s a slight delay between his eyes glowing and the explosion occurring. So far, avoiding them isn’t too difficult.

The fact that he doesn’t cause explosions through precognition suggests he either needs to visually lock on and concentrate, or he can but is deliberately holding back.

“Linette also had a base at the harbor! If you’re going to report, doing it from the sea would be the least conspicuous, right?”

There’s no direct long-distance communication method. If an individual wants to exchange information secretly, using a Familiar like a carrier pigeon is the best way. That is, if you can prepare one.

If the demons’ Familiars are birds, there’s no need to leave the inn. The land is surrounded by outer walls, with no exit except the gates. So, it must be the sea.

“Theo—!”

“I’ll crush this guy. It’s fine. I’m watching your side too.”

“…Understood!”

Grace kicked off the air and flew toward the harbor, and the knights followed. He doesn’t move. He seems to be enjoying setting off explosions at me and watching how I avoid them.

I’m—starting to enjoy it too, so it’s mutual, I suppose.

He seems willing to let Grace and the knights go. Perfect. Third-class Light Magic. Deploy Mirage Body.

“Interesting, boy!”

The so-called clone technique. It has no substance and only has an illusory effect of projecting a phantom image elsewhere, but it’s sufficient as a countermeasure against his Evil Eye.

Kicking off the air again, I flew into his close range, once more clashing the Dragon Staff against the Miasma sword.

Even Ouroboros seemed to let out a delighted growl.

“My name is Zevion! Zevion the Infernal! Boy! May I ask your name!?”

“Theodore!”