Chapter 15

Time has suddenly advanced. Please do not worry about missing anything, as this is intentional.

---

On the day of the wedding...

The concubine, in her role as the mistress of the Demon King, was dressed in a pure white wedding gown in her bedroom. The wedding ceremony would take place in the King's Chamber, where the Demon King usually resided. Only the concubine and her partner's companions were invited, and to avoid causing confusion among the people, it would be held in secret.

The man named Teran, who had proposed to the concubine, had started the preparations for the ceremony at an alarming speed after she gave her answer. Although her five major generals had opposed it vehemently, the concubine had no intention of going against her decision. By selling herself, she could meet Setsu again. Of course, she might be being deceived, but she believed it was worth the risk.

Moreover, Teran was an unpleasant man, but he was a merchant who did not lie. She had, of course, had her subordinates investigate him. Considering all this, she decided to dedicate herself to him. Once married, it was taboo to betray one's partner in this world, no matter how powerful one was as the Demon King...

(Hmm... If Setsu saw me in this outfit, he would probably laugh...)

The concubine thought as she looked at the pure white dress that enveloped her. She herself preferred black or red, and he had once complimented her red dress.

(Come to think of it... Is that black brooch fixed? I wish I could have kept it with me...)

The black brooch he had given her when he left the Demon Continent was a unique item, with her name engraved on the back. She wanted to hold onto it as a connection to him until the ceremony ended.

As she thought about the brooch, there was a knock on the door of her bedroom. It was time...

"Lord Desastor, it's time."

"I'm coming."

The concubine got off the bed and headed to the King's Chamber, where the ceremony would take place. She had no intention of running away or hiding; everything was for the sake of meeting her benefactor and beloved man...

Still, with some hesitation, she stepped through the door of the King's Chamber...

---

The bride entered the King's Chamber. Teran, the groom, and his companions, who were members of his guild, were captivated by her in her pure white dress. However, the five major generals, who knew her usual style and preferences, did not look pleased.

"...It really doesn't suit you, Lord Desastor."

Lily Lavent, one of the five major generals, with her indigo hair reaching her shoulders, muttered as she fiddled with it. Responding to her was a giant man, who was probably twice the size of the child-like Lily. He had no excess fat, his muscles were bulging, and his skin was very dark, unlike Lily's pale complexion.

"Our lord is better suited to red or black. I can't understand human tastes."

His name was Ides Armius, another of the five major generals. The other three were not present; two were currently keeping an eye on the human continent, ready to land and open the gate depending on the battle situation. The problem was the last one, Blood, whom no one had seen for four days.

"What's Blood up to...? He said he was going to summon a sea god..."

"There's nothing we can do but wait. I still trust him. More importantly, keep looking for an opportunity."

Ides said this to Lily while paying maximum attention to the surroundings. They were trying to disrupt the wedding. It was to prevent the Demon King Desastor from being handed over to that man, Teran. Despite thorough investigations, they could not trust him. Moreover, Lily and the others, like Blood, did not want Desastor to sell herself to bring back Setsu. They thought it would only make Setsu suffer if he returned.

In terms of disrupting the wedding, the problem was the four robed figures standing along the walls of the King's Chamber. Three wore brown robes, and one wore a black robe. Their faces were hidden under deep hoods, but the one in the black robe seemed to be of a different level.

"They're the guards... Lily, don't let your guard down."

"I know, I'll move as soon as I find an opening."

They warned each other and blended into the crowd.

---

There, in front of her, was Teran with a lecherous smile. He was wearing a suit of the same color as her dress, and his neatly styled hair only increased her disgust. But she had to get used to it; she would have to spend the rest of her life with him.

"---You look beautiful, Desas."

His sweet words as he caressed her cheek made her shiver. She firmly planted her feet on the ground to keep herself from fleeing. Teran's hand moved from her cheek to her chin, tilting her face up and meeting her eyes. The moment she looked into his eyes, she felt as if insects were crawling all over her body. Being in front of this man was unbearable...

"Then... let's exchange the vow kiss."

The priest, standing next to her and Teran, said. She glared at him for his unnecessary comment, but stopped when he almost fainted. The demons did not have elaborate wedding ceremonies; a kiss was enough. But humans had strange customs, like exchanging rings. This priest was probably part of those strange human customs, so it was pointless to argue with him.

The concubine steeled herself and looked back at Teran.

As they faced each other, his face slowly approached hers.

(If only Setsu could have been my first...)

She thought, resigned, and closed her eyes. She tried to resist the instinct to turn her face away and maintained her position.

His breath was clearly audible as he got closer, and she resigned herself to the inevitable... at that moment.

"Ah---I can't take it anymore!! Ides, do it!!"

"Didn't I tell you to calm down!! But I agree, I can't take it anymore!!"

Familiar voices rose from the audience. There, Lily and Ides were shouting and preparing to cast spells.

---

Lily and Ides went into battle mode the moment Desastor's lips were about to be taken. The situation was unacceptable, and they no longer cared about finding an opening.

"I'll go first!! Cover me!!"

"Leave it to me!!"

Ides, who had enhanced his body with magic, leaped to Desastor.

"What!? Protect me!!"

Shocked, Teran released her and ordered the robed figures waiting around to act. Two of the four robed figures, both in brown, responded.

"Ugh!!"

"Out of the way!! <Flame Lance>!!"

Two Flame Lances from Lily approached the robed figures who had stepped in front of Ides. They were aimed at precise positions to avoid hitting their companions and pierced the robed figures... but they failed to do so.

"Magic barrier!?"

Lily was surprised by the magic arrays the two had deployed to protect themselves. A magic barrier is a shield made of magic power, a basic skill for any mage. She was surprised by its strength.

Of course, the magic she used was not significant for Lily, one of the five major generals. It was a level of magic she could use as easily as breathing. That's why she could rapid-fire it, but its power was enough to obliterate a B-rank monster.

The robed figures had blocked it with a magic barrier they deployed instantly, indicating they were at least A-rank in strength.

"So what!! Hmph!!"

Ides' powerful arm attacked the robed figures who had blocked the Flame Lances in mid-air. His blow shattered the magic barrier and slammed the robed figures to the ground.

"Kyaaaaa!!??"

"What, what's going on!?"

The merchants' companions, who had been frozen in shock, started to flee in all directions. Ignoring their pathetic escape, Ides continued toward Desastor.

Someone stood in his way.

"Experiment subjects are no match for you... I have no choice."

"Get out of the way!!"

"Hmph!!"

The only one in the group of four robed figures wearing a black robe caught Ides' punch.

The impact created a spider-web pattern of cracks on the floor, but the large fist of the black-robed figure had completely nullified the momentum of the punch.

"...Impressive, one of the five major generals. That's quite a punch."

"You're in no position to say that!!"

Ides kicked with his log-like leg. The black-robed man, however, broke the grip of his hand, bent his body, and dodged.

"Our battle will be a long one!! <Shadow Spike>!"

"What!?"

As the man shouted, something black stretched out from the shadow of the robe under Ides.

"Ugh!!"

Reflexively arching his back, Ides barely avoided it and jumped back to create distance from the black-robed man. The thing that grew from the shadow was... thorns.

"Hmm, dodging with reflexes... Impressive, one of the five major generals. This level of <Shadow Magic> won't work on you."

"You... a <Unique Magic> user?"

Unique Magic is a unique magic that suddenly appears in a person. They are all powerful, and once discovered, they are strictly protected and studied by the state. If mishandled, they could destroy an entire city. If they can be controlled, they are released under surveillance, but if not, they are never released.

In other words, this man could control his powerful Unique Magic.

Incidentally, Setsu had aptitude for all elemental magics but did not have Unique Magic.

"Riley!! Can you provide support!!"

"Sorry... it's tough..."

Ides turned to her when he heard her strained voice. There, Riley was surrounded by three brown-robed figures and attacked by various elemental magics.

She was a demon who could not fully exert her power in indoor battles. Riley, who was skilled in high-damage area-of-effect spells, could not use the same tactics in the King's Chamber. She might cause significant damage to the Demon King's castle.

Conversely, the brown-robed figures were taking advantage of this, maintaining a certain distance and casting spells intermittently. She was already in her least favorable position.

"Ugh...! This is so frustrating...!!"

"Riley! I'll come to your aid!"

"Whoa, can you leave me alone?"

Ides noticed the killing intent from behind and jumped to the side.

A massive black fist slammed into the spot where he had been standing a moment ago, creating a loud noise and cracks in the floor, shaking the Demon King's castle.

"<Shadow Fist>... It seems I can't finish you off with such a simple attack."

The black arm that had grown from the black-robed figure's shadow returned to the shadow.

The Unique Magic that manipulated shadows was something he had never heard of, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

(If I had taken that head-on, I would have been damaged...)

"Hmm, but... with this commotion, we'll have to take the wedding to our continent. You, who caused this disturbance, won't be invited, but you'll come to see the transformed Demon King."

"Transformed... what do you mean? What are you going to do to Lord Desastor!!"

Ides was enraged at the man's words.

But the man continued without changing his tone.

"We won't lay a hand on her... but that Teran will certainly train her to be loyal to him. She won't be able to resist, and gradually her heart and body will become his. It might be quite interesting to see..."

So that's what he meant by "transformed"---Ides spat.

The thought of their lord becoming a loyal mate to another man was a source of despair for them. It was as if their lives were in the hands of that trembling man still standing next to Desastor.

(I must prevent that!!)

But Ides was at a loss. The most powerful, Desastor, was unlikely to act. Her goal was to become Teran's and bring Setsu back to this world. She seemed to be in a state of confusion, unsure of what to do.

Riley was also in no position to act. She was still being attacked by the three and struggling to fight back.

(What can I do...!)

"Glaring at me won't change the situation. And... you're a bit too relaxed."

"!"

Ides had not noticed the shadow of the black-robed figure approaching his feet.

(Can he do this!?)

By the time he realized it, it was too late.

---

Desastor called out Ides' name from a distance. She seemed to have decided to fight alongside them, her body charged with magic, but it was already too late.

"---<Shadow Spike>"

The shadow of the robe writhed, growing countless thorns. They stretched out with sharp tips, aiming to pierce Ides' body---

"---Get the hell out of the way!!"

A loud noise and a cloud of dust rose, a hole opening in the ceiling of the King's Chamber, revealing the blue sky.

The thorns, which had extended due to the unexpected event, returned to their original size.

Ides, who had narrowly escaped death, quickly put distance between himself and the black-robed figure.

But he stopped moving when he saw what emerged from the ceiling, breaking through the debris. The others also stopped, staring in shock.

---

A man dressed like an adventurer appeared. He was not particularly tall, and his face was unremarkable... but the sword he held in his hand was a jet-black greatsword, completely out of proportion to his slender frame.

"Cough, cough... damn, I overdid it?"

The man, who was brushing off the dust with his free hand, was holding a greatsword taller than himself. Everyone present was captivated by the incongruous sight.

Among them, Desastor, Ides, and Riley recognized something.

They knew the name of that greatsword.

Desastor, who had noticed it first, spoke the name.

"That sword---is it <Schwarz>?"

"Don't call it that!! It's Blacky now!!"

The man pointed at the sword and shouted.

His way of speaking, calling the legendary sword <Schwarz> by such an unrefined name... a wave of nostalgia washed over the three.

Desastor, who had longed to see him again, was already in tears, staring at the man.

"Are you... Setsu?"

"---Hey... I'm here to save you, princess."

Despite his changed appearance, the mischievous smile on his face was the same as before. He was indeed their hero, Setsu.

The next chapter will start from the events leading up to this point.