Chapter 225 – A Second Test!?
And so we boarded one of our small airships, and rushed towards the mountain with the banquet hall.
Iria, Melk, Asuha, Yomotsu, Milina and I were on the airship.
“There…she is.”
As we got closer to the mountain, I saw many black suits of armor near the palace.
They all had wings, except for one… That would be the Demon King.
And the demihumans were surrounding the Demon King and armors, while holding their weapons. I had left the defenses of the place to Berdos, and he was currently facing the Demon King with his axe in his hands.
“It seems like they are just staring at each other for now… But all of you, be careful. Especially you, Melk. Stay with the Nowa tribe.”
“Will support with magic. Leave the front to Iria.”
Said Melk, and Iria nodded.
And Asuha would watch from the sky.
As for Mette, we had her stay in the village, just in case something happened.
There was also Yomotsu and Milina, but they could not fight.
I landed the airship, and then we headed towards the Demon King.
The Demon King was still wearing a helmet. And…her hand was gripping her sword.
“Berdos. Thank you, but…”
“Sorry, but I cannot lower my weapon… This is not someone you can lower your guard when around.”
Berdos said while directing his axe towards the Demon King.
Iria had also unsheathed her sword.
And so the Demon King answered.
“I do not mind. I came here today, prepared to fight if necessary.”
However, Yomotsu and I quickly stepped in between them.
“Lord Demon King, with trepidation, I humbly speak.”
“Yomotsu…”
The Demon King turned towards the bowing Yomotsu.
“The non-combatants of the southern cities, as well as those within your army who do not wish to fight… Can you not spare their lives? That is what the people of Fendel want… If you allow it, I can make Joshua and the others draw back.”
“I never thought I would hear such words from you… You are…”
The Demon King seemed to have detected the change in Yomotsu’s heart. Right now, his children were the most important thing to him.
“Now, I am just a parent who has children… Perhaps it is insolent of me to give my opinion to a Demon King… After all, Kyuby and I already went to the human countries without saying anything.”
“It was to increase the success rate of the plan…wasn’t it? However, as someone who went to such great lengths, why do you care about what these Fendel people think?”
Yomotsu answered clearly.
“If you work with Joshua and the others…perhaps your wish will…”
“Come true? Are you saying there is a different way?”
“Yes. The people of Fendel have power beyond measure.”
“Yomotsu… To hear you say such a thing… Unlike the emotional Kyuby, you have always been calm. In that case, perhaps it is true.”
“Lord Demon King…!”
Yomotsu raised his face.
However, the Demon King had suddenly raised her arm.
In the next moment, there was a high-pitched ring. The Demon King’s sword…had been stopped by Iria’s blade.
“…Mr. Yomotsu, stand back!”
Iria said. She was gripping her sword tight with both hands, and pressing back against the Demon King.
But Yomotsu seemed calm as he opened his mouth.
“You…”
The Demon King also used both hands to press back against Iria.
“…Why do you care if one person like that disappears? It has nothing to do with you.”
“Mr. Yomotsu and his children are friends of Fendel… If you try to hurt them…then I will cut you!!”
Iria’s voice echoed, the repeated clashing of metal began to ring again.
I could not even follow it with my eyes, but Iria and the Demon King were trading blows now.
The other black armors tried to intervene, but the Demon King raised a hand, and then they bowed and backed off.
We also wanted to help Iria, but the two were so fast that we could do nothing.
Eventually, Iria and the Demon King moved away from each other, with their weapons still raised.
Iria looked at the Demon King sharply and asked,
“…Is this another one of your tests?”
The Demon King was holding back… It seemed that way to me as well. She could just use magic instead of her sword.
However, the Demon King shook her head.
“Hardly… This is my first time ever using a sword. There was no time for me to use magic.
“First time… This is your first time?”
Iria gripped the handle tighter.
And then the Demon King said,
“If anything, it was you who held back.”
“I was not holding back. I fought with all my might and soul to ensure that I wouldn’t kill you.”
“I see… That’s why…”
The Demon King lowered her sword.
At the same time, the blade crumbled into many pieces.
“Against your blade, a mithril sword is like a tree branch…”
“Sir Joshua made this sword. It is part of my body…and there is nothing that it cannot cut.”
Iria pointed the sword tip at the Demon King as she slowly bridged the gap between them.
However, the Demon King shook her head and put her weapon away.
And then she said to us,
“I have lost the battle against you… However, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t testing you.”
“If you wanted to make us submit, there are other ways, such as taking hostages. So, what were you testing this time?”
The Demon King answered Iria’s question.
“Your power. With the power of Fendel, could I give up on the plan…I wanted to know that.”
“And what is your opinion now?”
The Demon King took off her helmet and answered.
“I would…like to ask for your help. The help of the Fendel Alliance.”
I turned to Iria and the others, and then nodded to the Demon King.
Thanks for the treat.
Thank you for the chapter (: