‘You continue to resist, even in that state!’
The Demon King sounded both surprised and impressed. It was as if he enjoyed the idea of his own actions being obstructed.
He lowered the axe.
‘I held back in order to avoid killing you… Still, quite wonderful courage! Really, what kind of creature are you!’
Sheto’s face contorted with pain, and he crumbled to his knees.
But there was still fight in his eyes.
‘…But if you force yourself to continue like this, you will soon die… Not only that, but my general will also be in danger.’
The Demon King turned his gaze towards the northern gate of the village. The Seer watched this with an ironic smile.
“I see. The current Demon King has schemes and cunning… You should be happy, Canila. Your Hero has contributed quite enough.”
“Wha…what do you mean…!”
“I will tell you, in order to ease the pain of defeat. How I will use you all, and what it will accomplish.”
Furukamuto stood up and whispered into her ear.
“Fighting force analysis.”
“…Huh?”
“Their fighting force. Strategies. Battle arts. I will do it with you and Saliashe’s kobold.”
He said, and then looked into the mirror again. The view covered a range that an ordinary god could not see. And in the very corner, there was a group of soldiers in full armor.
“Once my army started to move, they kept their own fighting force a secret. They must have been acquiring information about us from the Demon King.”
The soldiers didn’t move. Even though a village was burning in front of them. Even though there was a group of ogres at the gate.
“I could have used my power to crush them. But our side would have taken some damage as well. And so I’ve been thinking of ways of luring them out. However, it was around then that there was a change in the demon army’s movements.”
The image in the mirror moved again, and settled on the kobold. The minotaur was moving towards Sheto while covered in a dark aura.
‘Become my servant, kobold. That is the only way to save the Hero.’
‘Ah…’
“I see. Heroes fading away without the Demon King lifting a finger… And now he wants to know the reason. So that is why he had the general go out to the frontlines…
While listening to him, there was nothing that Canila could do but watch the scene unfold.
Keita was no longer conscious, and there were no other allies. Salia could not use miracles, and no one had a way to get out.
‘I will hear your answer.’
“I, have blessing of a goddess. It will, be gone, if I betray. And then, I will die.’
Sheto used the contract of life with Salia as a shield. The Demon King pondered on it for a moment and nodded.
‘In that case, I shall invite you to the castle as a guest. After that, with the help of the Goddess of Judgement, the contract can be altered. How is that?’
Now it was Sheto’s turn to be silent. After a pause, which suggested he was confiding in Salia, the kobold nodded.
‘Fine. I, will be your guest.’
‘Good.’
The Demon King nodded, and then Sheto’s body collapsed on the ground. The stress and burden on his body was too much. And the small monster lost consciousness completely.
As if carrying a treasure, the minotaur took Sheto and returned to the other monsters. Canila watched all of this with a look of despair.
“I see. This is becoming quite interesting. The kobold who served a god. Will he betray his master and serve the Demon King now?”
“No! Sheto… He did it…to save Keita…”
“Aye. Indeed. What a beautiful friendship.”
The Seer laughed coldly as he looked into the mirror.
As if waiting for the moment, the minotaur looked up into the sky and gave the order of annihilation.
‘My subjects! Indulge your savage instincts and devour everything!’