8 - The so-called Hero loses in seconds

“I am Eliza, a descendant of the Hero!” the knight said. “I heard the Demon King has appeared in this town, so I have come to the rescue.”

She was fair-skinned, dressed in a long leather coat with her chest open to reveal her cleavage, and her long blonde hair was gathered up in a bun. A sword was on her waist, a gun holster was on her thigh. She dismounts her horse and heads for Merle and company, her hand on her blade.

“I can’t believe I’m facing a Hero so soon,” Merle thought as she did the same.

“That enchanted sword, are you the Demon King?” Eliza asked. “I imagined a frightening vision, but you’re just a small-town girl.”

“I am who you say I am,” Merle replied. “But don’t you look too young to be playing Hero?”

Eliza flared up. “How rude! I’m of the Hero’s bloodline, I’ve been training for this day for years. And now it’s time to show the fruits of my labor,” she said as she unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Merle.

“ Her blood certainly smells of a Hero’s lineage. However, it’s quite thin.”

“Then I suppose if you are a Hero’s descendant, I don’t have to show any mercy,” Merle said as she raised her sword. The blade erupts in black flames, distorting the air around it.

“Please wait a moment, Hero!” the Mayor said as he rushed in. “The Demon King saved us!”

“Shut up!” Eliza cried. “I see you’ve brainwashed and enslaved these people, Demon King. How appropriately devilish!” she snapped, the fire in her eyes growing hotter.

“Mayor, this Hero seems like a dud,” Merle said. “I don’t think she’ll listen to you.”

“Are you mocking me?!” Eliza yells before she attacks.

Her speed and skill were considerable, but with Levantine’s power, it looked like she was moving in slow motion. “I’m disappointed with you, Hero,” Merle said as she dodged it without counter-attacking. “I thought you’d be stronger.”

Eliza continued to attack and failed to land a single blow, eventually baring her teeth in anger. “Fight without dodging, you bastard!”

“O-kay…!” Merle replied.

With a single swing of Levantine, Merle sent Eliza flying. She crashed into the forbidden fruit tree and was out in an instant.

“As expected of the Demon King! She defeated the Hero with one blow!”

“Was she a Hero, though? That wasn’t much of a fight.”

“ She may have been a Hero, but she was still just a woman.”

“Aren’t I a woman as well?” Merle asked.

“ You have me.”

“She was she far too weak, wasn’t she?” Merle asked as she looked at the unconscious Eliza. “This ended up a lot more boring than I expected; I was expecting an exciting clash!”

She sighed as she lost her desire to fight again. “Mayor, can you help this Hero?”

“Yes, it would be no problem,” the Mayor said. “But are you sure about this, Demon King?”

“It’s alright,” Merle replied. “It’s not fun to kill such a weakling of a hero, don’t you think? Look after her until she recovers.”

“What a benevolent Demon King. Not only did she save us, but she helps the hero as well.”

“For now, the Hero is defeated and I have conquered this town,” Merle said. “Let’s go, Succubus.”

“At once, Your Majesty!” Succubus said.

The residents raised their heads to the sky and watched Merle and Succubus ascend, hands clasped in prayer. “The Demon King saved our town…” they cheered. “The Demon King is our Savior!”