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

C13: The other side of the door

“Intruders?”

“Yes, a strange presence has suddenly appeared on the top floor of the Demon Lord’s castle.”

Stella explained.

“I’ve sent guards to the location, but they don’t seem to have any luck.”

“……Who the hell is that guy?”

“It seems to be a demon that looks like a black mist, but even my clairvoyance……couldn’t see through it completely. It seems to have a great deal of magical ability.”

“In that case, it’s my turn.”

Lilim shouted cheerfully.

“As the captain of the guard, I’m going to take it down.”

“No, wait. If Stella’s clairvoyance is ineffective against it, it might be dangerous.”

I stopped Lilim.

“I’m coming with you.”

“Then I’ll go as well.”

Stella stepped forward.

So, the three of us came to the top floor of the Demon King’s Castle…

I was horrified to see it. Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

“What’s this feeling……?”

My hand was hot. When I looked, I saw that the Demon Lord’s pattern on the back of my hand was faintly glowing. What is this?

“Demon Lord……?”

Stella looks at me quizzically.

“I’m fine.”

I said firmly.

“Both of you stay behind me.”

“No. It’s my job to protect this castle and the Demon Lord.”

“I’ll be your shield if the need arises.”

“I appreciate your feelings.”

I nodded at them.

“But I want to protect you, too. So please listen to me.”

“My Lord…”

“Stella knows what I’m capable of, right? After all, I’m the most powerful Demon Lord of all times, right?”

I chuckled under my mask.

“……. Got it.”

“…….”

Somehow, Stella and Lilim seemed to be convinced. As we continued on our way, we saw figures lying in front of us, it was the guards.

“Hey, are you okay?”

From the looks of it, they don’t seem to have any external injuries…

“Hmmm……munchies”

“Supee……Supee……”

“So…you’re just sleeping.”

I took a small breath. I’m relieved to see that they’re okay.

“Five more minutes, five more minutes…….”

“Wake up, all of you.”

I said with a bitter smile.

“Oh, hey, when did I……?”

“This is the Demon Lord…….!”

The soldiers woke up with sleepy eyes. When they saw me, they all went upright.

“What happened to you?”

While asking, I prepared myself.

In the room in front of us, behind the door, there was a strange presence. Someone is there, someone powerful.

“We’ve come this far to fight off intruders…….”

One of the soldiers replied.

“When I got to the door, I suddenly lost consciousness…….”

“Yes, I realized I was asleep…….”

The other soldiers nodded.

“All right. I’ll take care of the rest.”

I made my way to the door.

“……?”

Suddenly, my consciousness drifted away and I began to feel sleepy. I see, this is what put the soldiers to sleep.

“Resist Wall.”

It’s a spell that prevents all kinds of abnormal magic conditions, such as curses, paralysis, poison, and mental attacks.

My drowsiness was instantly blown away.

“…….Let’s get you out of here.”

I put my hand on the door.

The next moment, the scenery around me changed completely.

“What the hell is……?”

I look around in surprise. I was not in a castle. All around me, the darkness stretched out as if ink had been poured over it.

In front of me, there was something even darker than the surroundings. Something like a fog was lingering in the air.

“I’ve been waiting for you…….”

I heard a muffled voice coming from the black fog. It was an indistinct voice, indistinguishable from either a man or a woman.

“Are you……?”

Once again, the Demon King’s crest on the back of my hand was glowing. I feel like I’ve seen this guy……somewhere before. Something inside of me is saying ‘I know this guy.’

“Follow me to…….”

I followed him, wondering what was going on. Led by the fog, I moved forward in the darkness. I wondered how many minutes I had walked like that.

“It is good to see you again, hero…no, Demon Lord Freed.”

Suddenly, it became bright in front of me. The black mist converged and dissipated.

“This is a space slightly out of sync with the world. I created this space for you and I to talk alone.”

“Talk with me……?”

I couldn’t find the owner of the voice.

“Here, here.”

“Hmm, where?”

I looked around again.

“I told you I’m here!”

A voice that sounded awfully cute, like a little girl. The voice came from right under my feet.

“……Oh, there you are.”

It was a girl who was only just tall enough to reach my waist. She was just too short to be in my line of vision.

She has black hair that reaches to her feet and light green eyes that have a mysterious glow. And her figure is as lovely as a doll. The black robe she wore was too long and loose.

“Listen! Be amazed! Fear and revere me! My name…is Yulisha!”

“……?”

“You have not forgotten……me, have you?”

“I don’t think we’ve met before…….Hmm, Yulisha?”

I stared at the girl sullenly.

“That’s the same name as the last Demon Lord.”

“Of course. I am Yulisha, the previous Demon Lord. I was once the ruler of this Demon World.”

The girl proclaims.

“No, you don’t look like her at all.”

The Demon King Yulisha that Lyle and I fought was a bewitching beauty. She was a formidable opponent who controlled powerful magic.

“She wasn’t a little girl.”

“Don’t call me a little girl!”

Yulisha snapped.

“So, what does this former Demon Lord want?”

I call her the previous Demon Lord.

“Mmm, your response is mild.”

Yulisha frowns in discontent.

“I don’t see any respect for your predecessor……You’re insolent.”

She’s just a little girl on the outside…….There is not a shred of the majesty of the previous Demon King. And the encounter was so abrupt that I still haven’t caught up with my understanding.

“So, what is it that you want to tell me?”

Anyway, back to the main topic.

“Mmm.”

She nodded and spoke.

“I wanted to pass on to you the true power of the Demon Lord.”