Chapter 71

"......How about it?"

When I landed on the ground and asked Grace for her opinion, she tapped the ground lightly with her toes as if testing it and broke into a smile.

"I think it's good. I can fight with this."

"......I'm glad I could be of help."

Alfred yawned widely. After that, I had him summoned to the castle, saying I had business with him.

It's a conversation that can only happen because it's supposed that Alfred doesn't know Alfred is the prince, but it seems that even Prince Albert would be happy to cooperate if it's for the sake of the kingdom. Despite the sudden request, he agreed readily.

The items prepared were two magic stones engraved with the Magic Shield spell. Being a basic magic and considering its use, it's a rather common item for self-defense.

Since it's an item with established know-how, it was easy to prepare, but to deploy it under the soles of the feet and use it as a foothold in the air, we had to fix it to the shoes and make slight adjustments to the spell... In the end, we worked through the night.

When I say "we," the main burden was on Alfred, so I feel a bit guilty about that. I did get a good nap, though.

Well, of course, this alone only allows for linear movement in the air, so it's not enough, but there are other ideas.

Although it was a bit of a rush job... Grace's reflexes should handle it without any problem, and based on Rynette, I think it's more than enough to fight. That was the impression I got from the light mock battle we had in the air just now.

"Sir Theodore, your escort has arrived."

Ashley came to call us.

It seems to be the right time. When we stepped out of the workshop, a knight riding a flying dragon bowed in greeting.

"I have come to escort you."

"I understand. We are ready."

Following the invitation, I mounted the flying dragon and took to the sky.

"......Be careful. I'm praying for your success."

"Safe travels!"

"Yep. I'm off."

From the ground, Alfred and Ashley were waving with smiles on their faces.

Well, if it turns out that the opponent is just an adventurer and not a demon, it would be a bit of a letdown, but...

I joined up with the four flying dragon squadrons in the air. Chester was among them.

Mercia and Mildred are ground dragon riders, so their role this time is to guide the evacuation. Mildred can ride a flying dragon, but she has the role of commanding the entire knight squadron, so she won't be on the front lines.

However, her expression clearly shows dissatisfaction. If we show any incompetence, she might barge in with a fierce momentum.

There were also figures other than the knights on the backs of the flying dragons. They were the priestesses of the Moon Temple. They would cast a blessing to counteract the miasma, which is usually a must when fighting demons, unlike me who can counteract it through circulation.

As the priestesses made a gesture of prayer, each person's body was enveloped in a faintly glowing golden phosphorescence.

We then rushed to the harbor area in the western district.

"That's the inn."

Following Chester's finger, we dived towards a wooden, cheap inn. Actually stepping into the inn is our role. If we can't fight the demon after getting off the flying dragon, it won't work—besides, we've seen the opponent's appearance once.

We got off the flying dragon and entered the inn. It was a typical inn with a bar on the first floor. The stairs led to the second-floor corridor where the guest rooms were lined up.

The innkeeper, who seemed to be preparing breakfast at the counter, first looked taken aback, then looked at us suspiciously.

"What do you want, you guys?"

Grace and I were enveloped in a phosphorescent glow from the priestesses' blessing to counteract the miasma. I understand why he would be curious.

"Excuse me. Are there two people named Jerio and Zalbash staying at this inn?"

"......I can't answer that kind of question."

...He seems to have a strong sense of professional ethics.

"Those two may be involved in serious crimes. I think you'll understand if you look outside the inn."

I wasn't lying. After the innkeeper looked out the window, he wore a puzzled expression.

"Up there?"

"Up?"

"Look out the window and up into the sky."

The innkeeper looked up from the window and then looked at us with a look of shock.

He would be surprised to see the flying dragon squadron circling above the inn.

"Are you going to talk to them?"

"No, I understand. ...Ah. Those two are indeed staying here..."

The innkeeper sighed and told us which room they were staying in and even lent us the key.

"I'd appreciate it if you don't go overboard."

"It depends on the opponent. Please wait at the counter for safety."

When I said this honestly, the innkeeper's expression turned sour.

No, really. I don't want anyone to die, but I can't guarantee anything more.

The innkeeper is probably worried about the inn's furnishings being damaged during the arrest, but that's not the issue. If the demon goes on a rampage, the place could be reduced to rubble, so we need to be prepared with the appropriate magic.

Standing in front of the door, I met Grace's gaze and nodded.

"Let's go."

I turned the key and burst into the room in one breath.

"......Hmm."

Such a voice of admiration.

In the not-so-large room, a man was sitting on the window frame, looking at us.

A man with burning red eyes. Indeed, I had seen him with Jasper before.

Is this Jerio or Zalbash?

"......Boy. We've met once before, haven't we? When I heard that you were a demon slayer, I had to doubt my ears."

The red-eyed man smiled and gracefully got off the window frame, turning to face us.

This reaction... It feels like he was expecting us to break in.

"Where's the other one?"

"Zalbash? He's reporting on the seal."

"Reporting?"

"Such talk is irrelevant. Still, it's a good timing that you sniffed us out. The report has been made, and now that we've been found, there's nothing to be done, is there?"

Jerio laughed, his shoulders shaking. He doesn't intend to hide, does he? Miasma rose from his entire body, and his smile deepened.

"In other words, it means I don't have to hold back anymore in front of the feast. Do you understand, boy?"

"Like I care."

I have no intention of holding back in front of a demon either. There's no need to see what he'll do. I unleashed the magic I had prepared as a greeting.

Seventh-class wind magic, Resonance Mine. It's a spell that deploys multiple directional vibration projectiles simultaneously and causes a shockwave to collide at a specified coordinate, causing destruction from within the object... In other words, if the explosion point hits directly, even a demon won't come out unscathed.

Naturally, I aimed for the head to kill with the first move.

But... the moment the vibration projectiles deployed, I saw Jerio grin, baring his teeth. He crossed his arms in front of his face and tilted his head back to avoid the destruction point.

A tremendous explosion sounded, and Jerio's body was blown backward. The excess shockwave from the Resonance Mine and the impact of Jerio's body crashing into the wall broke through the inn's wall, and his body flew out into the air from the second floor.

Without hesitation, I pursued him through the hole in the wall created by the magic.

Did he see through it...?

Wiping a thin line of blood from his forehead with his arm, Jerio floated in the air, his smile deepening.

"Did you miss? I've seen this magic once before... So, the real thing can deploy so quickly... Wonderful... Wonderful, wonderful. I like it, boy!"

A red-black miasma concentrated in his right arm, stretching out like a sword. Without hesitation, I clashed with it.

Uroboros and the miasma sword collided, roaring and sparking.

While this was happening, Jerio's skin all over his body began to rise and mutate, forming a black-gold armor. His true form was a black dragon in human shape, with only his eyes burning red.

Dashing left and right in the air, Uroboros and the miasma sword crossed each other in a dizzying dance. In the morning sunlight, sparks created by magic and miasma exploded one after another, like scattering flowers.

"This... is a demon."

A knight's stunned voice.

It's a high-speed battle in the air. Grace can't intervene because there's a risk of involving allies.

In fact, I'm guiding it to this situation.

This guy. His miasma is extremely dangerous.

I can feel the heat every time we clash. The scenery behind him is distorted by the heat.

If I were to be cut by that... even with the blessing, I would burst into flames. It's not erosion by miasma, but burning by heat. It's either a unique spell or a characteristic he possesses.

Moreover, this miasma sword is probably too powerful to be blocked by ordinary weapons. I can only counter it with constant martial techniques or a weapon infused with magic like mine.

In other words—no one but me can fight this guy.

"Grace! And everyone, take care of Zalbash!"

"B-but!"

The knights voiced their confusion. They must be wondering if they can leave this to me.

"He's in the sea! Somewhere in the harbor! If we're lucky, we might be able to interrupt his report!"

"Hmm?"

Jerio's voice of interest. While we were clashing, I was thinking.

He said he was reporting. Since he's using him as a messenger, he's probably the superior. So, it's better to leave Zalbash to Grace and the knights.

"Why do you think so!?"

Jerio's eyes sparkled with laughter. Sensing something ominous, I kicked off into the air and dodged, and an explosion occurred where I had been just a moment ago.

It's a magic eye.

And it's quite direct and offensive. Normally, magic eyes are for petrification or enchantment.

I dashed through the air in an irregular trajectory, and explosions occurred multiple times behind me. It's not quite rapid-fire, but he can use it quite casually.

There's a slight delay between when his eyes glow and when the explosion occurs. For now, it's not too difficult to dodge.

From the way he doesn't cause explosions in anticipation, it seems he needs to focus on his target with his eyes, or he can do it but is deliberately holding back.

"Rynette also had a base in the harbor! If he's reporting, the sea would be the least conspicuous way!"

There's no direct long-distance communication method. If someone wants to exchange information secretly, the best way is to use a familiar like a messenger pigeon. If they can prepare it, that is.

If the demons' familiars were birds, there would be no need to leave the inn. The land is surrounded by walls, so there's no exit except through the gates. In other words, the sea.

"Teo—!"

"I'll take care of this guy. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on you too."

"......Understood!"

Grace kicked off into the air and flew towards the harbor, and the knights followed. He didn't move. He kept causing explosions one after another, seemingly enjoying how I dodged them.

I was also starting to enjoy it, so it's mutual.

He seems to have no intention of pursuing Grace and the knights. Perfect. I cast Third-class Light Magic, Mirage Body.

"Interesting, boy!"

It's a clone technique. It's not a physical clone, and it only has the effect of creating an illusion at a distance, but it's enough to counter his magic eye.

I kicked off into the air again, flew into his range, and clashed the miasma sword and the dragon staff once more.

Uroboros also seemed to roar with delight.

"My name is Zeveion! Zeveion of the scorching heat! Boy! Will you tell me your name?"

"Theodore!"