𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐧
It’s been just over a week since we left the dwarf village.
The carriage we took after descending the mountain range was pulled at incredible speed by two of the finest horses in the Hero’s Party, and we finally arrived at one of the fortresses located on the front lines of the war between humanity and the Demon King’s Army.
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“We’ve been expecting you, Hero-sama.”
“Yes, long time no see. . . . . .or not really, Ruberto-san.”
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Waiting for us there were many warriors and heroes defending the fortress.
And among them was the veteran Sword Saint, Ruberto-san.
After greeting Stella, Ruberto-san turned his thoughtful gaze toward Blade.
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“Hm?”
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Noticing that Blade’s demeanor had significantly brightened compared to before, he slightly widened his eyes.
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“What’s the matter, old man? Something on my face?”
“Blade, you. . . . . .could it be that you’ve recovered in such a short time?”
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Ruberto-san looked at us with a face that said he could hardly believe it, as if seeking confirmation.
Stella nodded firmly, Auntie Elle shrugged with a smile, Rin nodded through her tears, and then there was me. . . . . .
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“Ruberto-san, actually, this guy was encouraged by a girl he likes and recov━━”
“Wa━! Wa━! Wa━!”
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Just as I was about to spill the truth, Blade quickly cut me off.
I avoided him since I sensed danger, but his intent got through, so I shut my mouth.
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“What were you about to say to the old man. . . . . .?!”
“Sorry, I misspoke.”
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I lightly apologized to Blade who was softly fuming at me.
My bad, my bad.
I too know the embarrassment of being told various things by one’s real family.
I went too far this time. I’ve reflected on it.
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“I see. . . . . .You really are alright now.”
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Seeing our interaction, Ruberto-san looked at Blade with eyes filled with relief.
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“Blade, I’m glad you’ve recovered. Honestly, I was worried this time. . . . . .but it seems I’ve underestimated you. Forgive me.”
“H, Hah! Quit it, that’s not like you, old man! Besides, I didn’t recover just by my own power. . . . . .”
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As he said this, Blade glanced sideways at Rin with a blushing face.
So maidenly.
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“Heh. It seems you’ve been blessed with good companions.”
“Yeah!”
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With a firm response and an untroubled smile.
Watching Blade in this manner, Ruberto-san’s face became serene as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
However, in the next moment, he tightened his expression and began to speak not as a grandfather but with the countenance of a seasoned knight.
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“Now that we’ve confirmed Blade is safe, let’s go over the current war situation.
Let’s move to the reception room for that.”
“Understood.”
“Hmm. Perfect timing. There are also matters here that cannot be ignored. Let’s sort those out as well.”
“Matters that can’t be ignored, you say?”
“Yes. They’re bound to make even you slack-jawed.”
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And so, we were led into the fortress by Ruberto-san.
It’s a place I’ve never set foot in, even in my previous world.
Sure, I’ve been to a fortress much like this one to negotiate the use of the knight brigade for slaying the Demon King, but that was during a chaotic period where not just the Hero, but the majority of Holy Warriors were defeated by the Demon King.
All the front-line fortresses had fallen, and the remaining ones were barely holding off the relentless assaults of the Demon King’s Army.
Under such circumstances, there was no way they could afford to assist some unknown wandering swordsman, and I was turned away right at the gate.
Now here I am, proudly invited as a companion of the Hero, and I can’t help but feel impressed by how much the situation has improved.
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While contemplating all this, we arrived in a room that resembled the one in the mansion of the town mayor in Jamour, where we had stayed during our rest.
However, unlike that lavishly furnished mansion, this room was minimally decorated, embodying the phrase ‘simple but robust’.
It’s appropriate for a room within a fortress.
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Everyone took a seat in the room, and the discussion began.
Kicking off the conversation was Auntie Elle, who has the most experience in these matters among us.
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“May I start by sharing some information that I deem crucial?”
“Of course. . . . . .please go ahead.”
“Alright. First and foremost, we were heading to the Dwarf Village when it was attacked by two of the Four Heavenly Kings. After a series of battles, we managed to defeat them.”
“. . . . . .what?”
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Ruberto-san froze.
Even for a seasoned knight like him, it seemed that absorbing this massive piece of information on the spot was no easy task.
However, Ruberto-san regained his composure quite quickly, taking a moment to think while pressing his temple.
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“My apologies. Please continue.”
“Very well.”
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Auntie Elle continued the discussion.
We elaborated on the features of the two Four Heavenly Kings who had attacked us. We especially focused on Vampneel, who seemed to have known our whereabouts and even controlled Rest and attempted to control Blade.
Blade and I, who had directly confronted this, chimed in with additional details. Rin and Stella, who had treated people manipulated by Rest, explained the necessary countermeasures and the required capabilities for them.
Ruberto-san also posed questions, and a significant amount of time passed before the conversation came to a pause.
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“In summary, that vampire has the ability to exploit the vulnerabilities of the mind. It could potentially manipulate not just those with divine protection but even Holy Warriors.
Additionally, it can inject blood into its victims without them noticing, gradually amplifying their inner darkness, and it might even know their whereabouts.
Given what we know from Rest’s case, it can effectively hide the blood’s influence to the point that it’s not readily apparent. It can also partially manipulate the individual to make them an undisclosed asset.
. . . . . .It’s a terrifying ability if the seed has not yet cracked.”
“Exactly. However, if the seed has cracked, there are ways to deal with it.”
“Yes, you’re correct.
Hero-sama, Rin-kun, let me ask again, can we treat those who have been infected by this type of vampire’s blood?”
“Yes, I think it’s impossible if you’re completely under the blood’s control like Rest-kun was. . . . . ..”
“However, we were able to cure those who received secondary infections from Rest-kun!
If the amount of injected blood is small, I believe even ordinary healers without divine protection can cure it.
Above all, Blade-sama was resisting the blood’s influence on his own, so as long as you’re not fully under the blood’s control, a healer should be able to remove it with strong intent.”
“Hmm . . . . . ..”
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After hearing both explanations, Ruberto-san takes a moment to ponder.
Then, he lifts his head.
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“As for countermeasures, after facing a vampire, specialized treatment must be administered.
Likewise, if you feel even the slightest mental abnormality, or if someone else notices strange behavior, take the same precautions.”
“Exactly. I have already documented all of this, so it can be sent to the church later.
They will likely come up with even better countermeasures.”
“Indeed. I have also completed the report on Rest’s case.
Even if another vampire with the same abilities appears, we will not fall for the same tricks.”
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And so, Vampneel’s abilities were exposed to humanity, leading to the development of countermeasures.
This is the strength of humanity.
No matter how formidable the enemy may be, they inherit information, devise strategies, pinpoint weaknesses, and ultimately hunt them down without fail.
This tactic, which even hunted down the high-ranking members of the previous Demon King’s Army, is renowned.
It is the wisdom of humanity that has continuously protected the world from numerous Demon Kings.
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. . . . . .That said, there are demons like Dragburn and Asgard, who are simply too powerful, making the struggle inevitable.
Information is useless without the power to back it up.
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However, as of now, that balance of power has collapsed.
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“It is indeed good news that two of the Four Heavenly Kings have fallen. Now only one remains.”
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Ruberto-san is right.
The balance of power, that delicate scale between the Demon King’s Army and humanity, has now tipped in our favor.
With the death of three of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon King’s Army is unquestionably cornered.
. . . . . .That’s probably why.
Before being surprised by Ruberto-san’s next statement, it oddly made sense.
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“That explains their bold movements in the past few days.”
“Hmm? What do you mean? Has something happened?”
“Yes.”
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Ruberto-san momentarily pauses, looks at each of our faces to ensure we’re all ready to listen, and then opens his mouth again.
.
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“In recent days, the Demon King’s Army has completely abandoned the front lines they have been attacking for years, initiating a full-scale retreat.”
“”””?!””””
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At Ruberto-san’s words, the comrades are taken aback and catch their breath.
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“If only one of the Four Heavenly Kings remains, the Demon King is likely planning a siege at their main stronghold, the Demon King’s Castle.
The goal is probably to concentrate the remaining forces for a war of attrition, or to force a final confrontation in a location that is advantageous to them.”
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That’s right.
We must never forget.
That the current Demon King once pushed humanity to the brink of extinction in the previous world.
That just because we’ve cornered him doesn’t mean he’ll meekly accept defeat.
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He is strong.
Not just in simple combat strength, but also in tactical cunning uncharacteristic of a Demon King.
And what supports these traits is most terrifying of all.
What I felt when confronting him directly is most of all.
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I think that if the Demon King had a more careless personality and moved more freely himself or sent out the Four Heavenly Kings more recklessly, humanity might not have been pushed to the brink in the previous world.
Though great sacrifices would have been made, in exchange we could gather information and minimize further damage while trapping and killing him.
From all the battles so far, comparing the strength of both sides by what I’ve felt, such thoughts come to mind.
In fact, that’s how the armies of past Demon Kings have been.
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But that didn’t happen.
Though the scars left by the previous Demon King may have played a part, it was also because the current Demon King is competent.
The battles we’ve had so far with the Four Heavenly Kings.
The battles on the board that the Demon King has been setting up.
That we overcame them with minimal damage is nothing short of miraculous.
A single misstep and we would have been done for.
Those results were only possible due to the incompetence of Vampneel and the unilateral actions of Dragburn.
Inversely, despite acting independently, they were still able to stand toe-to-toe with us thanks to the board set up by the Demon King.
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The Demon King has orchestrated all of this without lifting a finger himself.
Now that he’s cornered like a wounded beast, now that he has to act directly, I can’t even imagine how much of a threat he will be.
Moreover, his power now is incomparable to when Stella weakened him and I defeated him in the previous world.
Now, we have to defeat him without sacrificing our lives in exchange.
It won’t be an easy battle.
It can’t possibly be.
Undoubtedly, it will be the most intense, perilous, unimaginable death battle we’ve ever faced, including the previous world.
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The final battle is finally in sight.
To end that battle with a happy ending, to secure a future beyond it, I quietly steeled myself once again.
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