Chapter 35

The viscount's son undergoes a transformation.

His skin turns pale blue—indeed, an impossibly blue hue for a human.

Unlike the brown skin of the demon race, it evokes a certain physiological horror.

The clothes he wore tear, and beneath them, a biological armor, nearly black but green, swells up.

Furthermore, the parts not covered by armor are covered with green scales, and in his raised hand, he grips a black longsword.

■ Demon Knight

Type: Demon

Level: 13

Status: Normal

Attribute: Darkness

Battle Position: Ground

[Your "Identification" skill level has increased.]

"...So, you've revealed your true form, demon."

Holding my katana at the ready, I fix my gaze on the figure before me.

Though he has now deviated from his human form, he originally appeared to be a human in every way.

Demons, it seems, have the ability to mimic humans. Well, thinking back, Geryon also had a form that was not much different from a human.

The transformation into this monstrous form began the moment he used that "Avatar Liberation."

However, this current form is somewhat different. It's not that his presence suddenly became overwhelmingly powerful, but rather that the presence he originally had has surfaced.

After all, the "Avatar Liberation" ability is supposed to be usable only by those of viscount rank or higher. If that's the case, it's hard to imagine that this one, who doesn't even have a title, could use it.

It's more prudent to assume he was always such a being.

"Impossible, a Demon Knight!? Lord Quon—"

"Don't worry, leave it to me."

I stop the knight who was about to draw his sword and step forward, gesturing to the surroundings.

The townspeople who had been gawking are still present.

They are trying to flee en masse due to the appearance of the Demon Knight, but some remain, and chaos has erupted.

With such undeniable evidence now before us, the private army is no longer a concern.

What's needed now is to guide the townspeople to safety.

"Foreigners, foreigners, foreignerssss? The very existence of scum like you in this world is a mistake! Why do you interfere, you creatures of unknown origin!"

"I don't want to hear that from a demon. You're probably pests of unknown origin yourselves."

"No! No, no, nooooo! We, the demons, are the true rulers of this world! We are the chosen race to govern this world under the great Demon King!"

Indeed, there must be a king above the four dukes.

While thinking this internally, I scan the surroundings.

The onlookers are scattering, but the private army that the Demon Knight brought with him has not moved.

However, they don't seem to have known about the demon from the beginning. This is because I can't sense any will in their eyes.

They are being controlled, which makes them a troublesome opponent.

"Answer me. Were you originally a human?"

"Hahaha! Indeed, I was foolishly a human! But I am different now! This is my true form!"

"Then, who turned you into a demon?"

"Heh, hehehe... Do you think I'll tell you everything, foreigner?"

"Well, it doesn't really matter."

I can't tell who turned him into a demon, but I can make a rough guess.

Given that the viscount's son has transformed, it's best to assume that the main figures of the viscount's family have all become demons.

If that's the case, a higher-ranking demon must have infiltrated and caused this.

I'm curious about who that is, but the plan to slay the demons remains the same, and I have the means to identify them in my hand.

We've bought enough time—now, let's see what the body has to say.

"—Aji!"

"【Dark Cannon】!"

Aji's dark cannon blast hits the Demon Knight directly, exploding on impact.

While the Demon Knight is dark-attribute and the effect of dark magic isn't particularly high, the purpose is the explosion upon impact.

The shockwave knocks down the private army surrounding the Demon Knight.

The moment I see this, I charge at the Demon Knight, who is staggered by the impact.

Strike—Strike Gold.

Using the hilt of my katana, I strike the longsword he holds. This technique is meant to numb his hand and make him drop his sword.

I intended to disarm and restrain him, but the Demon Knight is flung backward without letting go of his sword.

In that moment, I close in and deliver a roundhouse kick to his abdomen, sending him flying even further.

—This allows me to break free from the encirclement by the private army.

"You—!"

"Well, despite all your talk—ultimately, you were just a human, weren't you?"

Strike—Gentle Form, Flowing Water.

I easily deflect the slash he delivers from an unstable stance and counter with a cut to his torso.

It's hard, but feels like leather armor. With this level of resistance, I can at least wound him.

The strike pierces his side armor, leaving a shallow cut.

With just that, he lets out a dramatic scream, clutching his side and retreating.

"Guh, aaaaah!? You, foreigner!"

"What, it's not like the armor has nerves or anything."

If it did, he would have screamed when I kicked him earlier.

In short, he has no tolerance for pain.

This might make it easy to get him to talk.

I exhale lightly and sheathe my katana.

"Grr... What are you planning, you—"

"Just that I can handle this alone."

I smirk and draw my wakizashi.

It's not that there's a significant difference in quality between a katana and a wakizashi, and I don't think the wakizashi is inferior.

Indeed, the numerical power of the wakizashi is lower, but the young man doesn't seem to understand the difference.

As expected, the Demon Knight, his mouth torn open, bellows in anger.

"You! How much more do you intend to insult me!"

"Complain after you've earned the right. Though, I don't plan on letting you escape."

The private army behind him was trying to rise and cause trouble, but they are being suppressed by the mica jellyfish and the knights.

In that case, there's no need to waste time.

This one is weaker than Geryon, and the human he was originally is too weak.

The demons should have been more selective in their choices.

"Yelling won't change anything, demons are ultimately just that."

"Shut up!"

Roaring, the Demon Knight charges at me.

His physical abilities are considerable, and while his movements are clumsy, his speed is decent.

However, his strikes are not sharp and are easily deflected.

I narrow my eyes and deliver a slightly delayed horizontal slash.

Strike—Gentle Form, Flowing Water, Finger Shaving.

Using the butt of the hilt to push the sword's edge, I deflect it while making a small circular motion with the blade.

The timing of this strike accurately severs the Demon Knight's right thumb.

Unable to hold on, he drops his sword and screams.

"Aaaaaah!?"

I deliver a strike with the hilt to his back as he curls up, clutching his hand.

The Demon Knight rolls to the ground, and I kick the black longsword far away, then step on his back and draw my katana again.

"Alright, let's continue the questioning. Oh, I don't know if you can use it, but don't use magic. You'll lose your head."

"H-Huh!?"

"I'm fine with this, but to call yourself a demon in this state, you have some nerve."

Shrugging, I press the tip of the blade into the gap in his armor and sigh.

From his earlier reaction, he'll likely talk if I keep poking him without killing him.

"So, who is the demon that infiltrated the viscount's family?"

"Hmph. If you want to know—giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii