Manadeshi ni Uragirarete Shinda Ossan Yūsha, Shijō Saikyō no Maō toshite Ikikaeru

C10: Skull Swordsman

“Demon Lord!”

Stella came from behind me.

“The siege of the compound is complete.”

“Thank you for your service.”

That’s good work, Stella, good work.

“Surrender. I have questions for you.”

I declare once again.

“You understand that it’s useless to stand against this demon king, right? And we’ve sealed off the escape routes.”

The only thing they can do in this situation is surrender.

“I’m going to have to use force.”

One of them groaned in a shaky voice.

“We have no choice but to open a path of blood…….”

“But we’re dealing with the Demon Lord and a Demon Warlord…….”

“There are three of us. If we don’t give them an opportunity to use magic, we as beastmen will have a chance to fight them…….”

The three of them were having a disturbing discussion.

The next moment, their bodies bulge out from the inside. One of them transformed into a wolf, one into a tiger, and the remaining one into a hawk beast. They split in front of me and to the left and right, approaching me from three different directions.

“Paralyze.”

I cast a paralysis spell.

“Ugh, my body is numb…….”

In an instant, they fell to the ground.

“Reveal everything you’ve been up to.”

I look at the three of them.

“Or…you will pay for it with your life.”

As much as possible, I put on the dignity of a Demon Lord.

“Hee-hee…….”

“Oh, help me, Demon Lord…….”

The three of them looked frightened, realizing that there was indeed nothing they could do.

“Have mercy…….”

“Speak or you will be killed…….”

“Our Lord is a cruel man. Please help us…….”

They may be more afraid of Zegart the Beast than they are of me. Now, how can I get them to talk?

At that moment, while I was thinking, a dazzling white light flooded the edge of my vision.

“What ……?”

“Is that ……?”

Right in front of me and Stella’s surprised eyes.

“Giaaaaahhhh……”

The demons dried up with a scream. In the blink of an eye, all three of them were gone, reduced to ashes.

“Energy Drain……! This power is…”

Stella groaned.

“I beg your pardon, my Lord.”

I turned around at the sudden voice.

Standing there was a warrior clad in old-fashioned silver armor. He must have been nearly two meters tall. The face peeking out from under the helmet was a skull.

“What do you think you’re doing, Commander Regal?”

Stella glanced at the skull swordsman.

…..Regal? So this guy is one of the Demon King’s aides – the Immortal King, Regal?

“I can’t believe you killed him before we could question them.”

“They could be hiding weapons.”

Regal told her plainly.

“So, just in case…I killed them before they could harm the Demon Lord.”

“……Is that really all there is to it?”

Stella’s expression became increasingly serious. Her tone of voice was different from the one she used when talking to me, or to Lilim and the others. It was as if she was facing an enemy.

“What do you mean, Demon Commander Stella?”

“I’m asking if there’s something wrong with them being alive.”

Stella’s gaze was cold to the core.

“I’m saying that maybe you’re colluding with Zegart.”

“Hey, Stella.”

You’re thinking that even this skeletal demon tribe is part of the conspiracy?

……That means that I’m surrounded by enemies. I look at Stella and Regal alternately, my tension rising.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was only concerned for the Demon Lord’s safety.”

Regal said flatly and turned to me.

“My name is Regal Vana Sentora, one of the seven great demon army leaders. I have just returned from an invasion of the human world.”

Regal takes off his helmet and bows.

“……Glad to have you back, Regal. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

I regained my composure and told him calmly.

The Seven Great Demon Warlords….Have the strongest power in the demon world and serve as the demon king’s aides.

Three of them were killed in the previous invasion of the heroes. Of the four that remain, Stella is on my side, the Beast Emperor Zegart and the Immortal King Regal have gone to the human world, and the remaining Dreamer Princess Feria has disappeared in the battle with the heroes.

So Regal is……back from the human world.

“I was leading my immortal family in an attack on what the humans call the Eastern Continent.”

Regal reports.

“There were some worthy warriors among the humans, and not a few of my men were killed. However, in the end, our army kicked them all to the curb and attacked the three kingdoms.”

“The Three Kingdoms…….”

I clench my fists almost unconsciously.

A lot of people must have been sacrificed. Not only the heroes, but probably soldiers and ordinary people as well.

“I came back to the demon world to report the situation and I heard that the previous demon king, Yulisha-sama, has been defeated.”

A red glow appeared in the skeleton’s eye sockets. Regal’s eyes watch me sharply.

“I would like to take a look at the new Demon Lord.”

“Assess……?”

“With all due respect, I wanted to see firsthand if you were fit to be king.”

The tone of voice was polite, but Regal’s words were filled with a strong sense of intimidation. This guy is trying to put pressure on me…?

“Disrespectful!”

Stella shouted angrily.

“First of all, the Demon Lord has the Demon Lord’s crest as proof of his succession.”

“What does that matter?”

Regal cocked his chin at Stella.

“What……!”

“The presence or absence of a crest is trivial. I will only accept a master worthy of my service.”

With that, the skull swordsman turns to me.

“The previous king, Yulisha, had it. She was fierce and sometimes brutal – that was her strength as a king. What about you, Master Freed?”

“Regal……?”

“It seems that you are adored by your subjects. This is the first time I’ve seen such an expression on the face of Demon Commander Stella, at least. She was like ice, but now she is like a young girl.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about……!”

Stella’s face turned red.

“I…I…I don’t…I’ve been thinking about that……about the Demon Lord.”

For some reason, I’m a little fidgety…….Where’s all the rage you had earlier?

“This must be due to Master Freed’s virtue.”

Regal took one look at her and said plainly.

“In times of peace, that would be fine. But this is a time of war. I believe that the qualities a king needs are not kindness, but strength.”

The sense of intimidation increased even more. This guy…!

“Therefore, with all due respect……let me test you.”

He pulled out the sword at his waist. It is a long sword with an odd design that looks like it is made up of countless bones.

“If you call that a crime, then sentence me to death as you see fit, Master Freed.”

The murderous energy that was coming from him was real. So he was the type of warrior who speaks with his sword rather than words. Then there was only one thing to do.

“All right, Regal.”

I said quietly, and braced myself.

“See for yourself my power as a king.”