Chapter 2

EP.2 What? Give it back! (1)

Raniel, do you remember what I said back then?

I'm talking about when our village was trampled by the Demon King's army and only you and I survived. We made a promise back then, didn't we? To take down the Demon King's army, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon King, and everything else.

You... had a talent for magic.

I know you received good education under a great teacher and were even appointed to a good position. Still, I'll ask you shamelessly.

I'm forming a hero party.

I've managed to find two reliable comrades.

A healer, and a scout兼sniper.

Now, the only one left is a mage...

No matter what, I can't seem to gather a mage. You know, most mages are people who pursue efficiency. They wouldn't join such an absurd plan to slay the Demon King.

So, I was wondering...

Would you join my party?

Let's catch the Demon King. Let's achieve a feat that no one can ignore. Let's make sure our village is recorded not as a village that was destroyed by the Demon King, but as a village that produced a hero who slayed the Demon King!

Please, Raniel!

Join my party!

“...”

Crack, crackle.

Sitting alone in front of the burning campfire, old memories resurfaced. They weren't particularly pleasant memories.

“...Slaying the Demon King is bullshit.”

I sighed and threw a piece of kindling into the fire.

It's been four days since I left the hero party.

I was heading back to the capital. Since the place I was staying was on the front lines, it was quite a distance to the capital, so I was making my way back, camping along the way.

Well, I could use the accommodations prepared for heroes and soldiers if I wanted to... but I didn't feel like it.

Besides, this was more familiar to me.

Back when Kyle would disappear with Sara and Remia every night, I would be the one to keep watch by the campfire.

Thinking about it now, it suddenly feels like shit again.

Back then, I should have cast a Fireball at their tent instead of just lighting a campfire. I regret it now.

“Damn it.”

Swearing, I tilted my head back.

The constellations shone in the pitch-black night sky. Judging by their positions, it didn't seem too far to the capital.

I should arrive in about two days.

And in two days, I'll be able to see my master.

“...”

The thought of seeing my master made my mouth dry.

I had left with grand promises to cut off the Demon King's head, but now I'm in this state. Not only did I fail to defeat the Demon King, but I was expelled from the hero party.

I didn't have the face to meet my master.

“Sigh.”

I'll have to kneel and bow my head first.

Maybe it will end with a few Thunderbolts. With that thought, I closed my eyes.

Crack, crackle.

Under the pitch-black night sky.

The sound of the campfire crackled softly.

2.

As night deepened on my way to the capital, I stopped by a nearby city. I needed to replenish my camping supplies, which were running out.

So, I entered a small city nearby.

The city of night, Cardinac.

I had visited this city once before.

As the name suggests, Cardinac was famous for its nightlife. The reason I visited this city before was precisely because of this nightlife.

...If I say it like that, it might seem like I came to enjoy the nightlife, but that wasn't the case. I came with Sara and Remia, those crazy women, and there was nothing to enjoy.

Rather, I came to destroy it.

We visited the city of night to hunt the Succubus Queen, who had hidden there to enjoy the nightlife.

“Really, it was a big deal...”

Recalling the situation at the time, I sighed.

-Sara, catch her! I won't go back until I shoot that fox woman in the eye with an arrow. I have no intention of going back.

-I agree. Remia. It looks like tonight will be a long one.

-No, you crazy women, calm down!

-Raniel, shut up and cast spells from the back. Don't you know when to speak and when to stay quiet? You really are a clueless man.

-Tsk. Clueless indeed.

...Thinking about it now, it was a mess from the start.

I glanced at a part of the city. The place where Sara and Remia had wreaked havoc. It's been 2-3 years, but the aftermath of that fight still lingered a bit.

-Ah, aah! Heroes, please, outside the city...!

The lord's face, screaming in terror, flashed before my eyes.

‘I really am sorry for that...’

I silently apologized and pulled my robe tighter as I stepped into the city.

“Tonight, a special dancer is invited...”

“Drinks are free for travelers...”

“An opportunity that comes every day...”

As befitting a city of night, Cardinac was bustling. I heard the voices of vendors trying to attract customers as I sat down at a tavern a bit away from the red-light district.

“Here.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Can you get me the items listed here? I'll pay for your trouble.”

“Hmm. These are things that can be easily found nearby. Is there anything else you need?”

“Barley beer and chicken soup should be enough.”

“It will be 5 silver coins, including the trouble fee.”

I handed the innkeeper 5 silver coins.

Sipping the beer the innkeeper brought first, I relaxed my shoulders. It's definitely more convenient to travel alone.

“Gulp.”

The taste of the beer as it went down my throat was excellent.

As I drank, the surroundings became noisy. Glancing over, I saw a woman walking down the street with dozens of men.

What's that?

I asked the innkeeper, who was wiping the glass with a squeaking sound.

“Owner, what's that?”

“Oh, she's a famous lady around here.”

“Famous?”

“She's famous for her beauty. They say she has a captivating charm. I've never seen her myself, but that's what they say.”

“Hmm.”

She must be quite beautiful.

I wasn't particularly interested, so I finished my soup. But something felt familiar. I seemed to have seen a woman leading men like that before.

Ah, right.

The Succubus Queen was exactly like that.

I remember she would spread her charm everywhere and pick out useful men to drain their life force...

“...”

No way.

She wouldn't come back here, would she?

If she came back after being beaten so badly, she wouldn't be the Succubus Queen but a crazy woman obsessed with men.

Hmm...

Considering how she went after Kyle in front of Sara and Remia, she was indeed a crazy woman obsessed with men...

I glanced over.

I looked at the woman leading the men. Her deep red hair, sharp eyes, and unique adventurer's outfit.

Her face seemed familiar.

Narrowing my eyes, I examined her face again.

She looked a bit different from the Succubus Queen in my memory, but the demonic aura in her eyes was unmistakably that of the Succubus Queen.

“Damn it.”

Why is she here, damn it.

“This is going to be a long night...”

“Hmm? What's wrong, sir?”

“Owner, can I use the lodging facilities upstairs?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, of course.”

“I'll stay the night.”

It seemed like tonight would be a long one.

*

Incubus, Succubus.

Who are they?

To be honest, Succubi aren't particularly harmful. They take men's life force, but most Succubi are easily satisfied and leave quickly.

‘Besides, the damage they cause is really nothing much.’

The damage caused by Succubi is limited to men whose life force is drained... but honestly, it's hard to call it damage.

Men whose life force is drained usually complain of fatigue for a day or two but soon return to their normal lives.

In any case, that's what Succubi are like.

They're not particularly harmful, but it's a hassle to hunt them, so most Succubi are rarely attacked by humans unless they intrude into sacred areas.

However, there are always exceptions.

The Succubus Queen, Repha, is an unusual case that doesn't fit into the 'most.' She is never satisfied and drains men's life force until they are completely drained.

A bat that has become harmful beyond being harmless.

I had a reason to hunt her.

‘There's something I need to reclaim, too.’

I stealthily followed Repha.

“This way.”

Leading the men who were enchanted as a group, Repha headed towards a shabby building. I watched her and then jumped out from an alley to grab a man by the neck.

“Eek!”

“Shut up.”

I reversed the man's mana to knock him unconscious. Due to the narrow field of vision caused by the enchantment, no one noticed my conspicuous action.

I slipped into the gap left by the man and approached her from behind.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Unaware that I had blended into the crowd, Repha hummed as she fiddled with the door. It seemed she had cast various spells on the door.

-Click.

The spells gradually unraveled.

I held my breath and waited for her to open the door. Narrowing my eyes, I gauged the timing to rush in.

“Alright, everyone, come in...”

Now.

-Thud.

The moment she opened the door, I pushed through the crowd and rushed forward. As I rushed, I released the spells I had pre-cast. Mana surged through my body, and my physical abilities greatly increased.

-Boom!

One step.

The pavement cracked and fragments flew as I stepped on it.

“Huh?”

Two steps.

I extended my hand and grabbed the neck of the bat woman, who had widened her eyes. I pushed her into the building as I grabbed her.

Multiple Casting.

Spell Acceleration.

The basic spells accelerated my mana.

Sensing the flow, I released the spells I had pre-cast on each of my fingers.

Spell Dispel.

Shield Dispel.

The spells engraved on my thumb and index finger were released simultaneously. The first spell dispelled her Polymorph, and the second spell shattered the blue mana shield she was wearing.

Crack!

“Ugh...!”

Before the bat wings that sprouted from the dispelled Polymorph could push me away, the spells in my remaining three fingers emitted light.

Weakness.

Advanced Restraint.

Smite.

Chains shot out from the air and restrained Repha's body. Weakened, she couldn't resist the chains, and an invisible force collided with her restrained abdomen.

“Cough!”

Repha knelt, retching.

Leaving her sitting on the floor, I flicked my finger towards the door.

Lock.

For a while, there was a commotion outside the door, but no one could open it and enter the building. Soon, even the sounds of the crowd dispersed as the mind control Repha had cast was undone.

“Gasp, huff...”

I brought a chair from the corner of the room and dragged it in front of Repha. It wasn't for her to sit on, but for me.

“Succubus Queen, Repha.”

Sitting on the chair, I leaned forward slightly.

Crossing my hands under my chin, I spoke.

“It's been a while.”

Author's Note

The next chapter will be completed within 3 episodes.

I'm scared because the prologue received such a good response.

If you came in expecting the quality of the first chapter, I apologize...