Chapter 80

It's a different perspective.

"What!? Defeated...?"

"Yes..."

"Winter, what about Winter and the others!?"

"Probably captured by the demons..."

"..."

"Alright, that's enough, step back."

"Understood!"

The king of Distenia was troubled by this worst-case report.

He had never expected to lose.

He was well aware of the threat posed by Winter and the others.

Of course, the demons had their own considerable forces.

However, he truly believed that the demons, without the support of the beastmen, could be easily wiped out.

The king punched his throne in frustration at the naivety of his own thoughts.

"Father..."

Princess Margaret, seeing her father in such a state, shed tears.

Still, she wiped away her tears and looked at the king with a determined gaze.

"Father, there's no way Winter would lose so easily. He must have a plan. For example, he might have intentionally been captured to launch a counterattack from the inside—"

"That could be the case."

"...! Room!"

Suddenly, a boy in a black robe stood on the throne.

Room, the last of the group of black-robed individuals Winter had gathered.

"You... where were you?"

"What are you talking about? I've been here all along, in this room. Anyway, it might be better not to move until Winter starts moving again. We don't want to get in his way."

"Umm... Yes..."

Those present knew that the person named Kamishiro Winter was an extraordinary monster.

They knew he could do things that were beyond their comprehension.

However, they still didn't know that an even more extraordinary existence, more formidable than Winter or Setsu, had appeared.

And that a crisis was now looming over them.

"Down!"

Room jumped off the throne, grabbed the king, and threw him to the ground.

Margaret reacted quickly and crouched down.

Immediately after, a loud explosion echoed.

The large door to the king's chamber was flying through the room.

Smoke was rising from the entrance, indicating that an explosion had occurred.

From the smoke, two young men and women slowly emerged.

"Hey... human king, and princess too."

The man, with a twisted smile, spoke in a rough tone.

Both had pale skin, indicating they were demons.

The man had messy blonde hair, red irises, and black pupils, while the woman wore a simple gray hakama and had her hair tied back in a single braid.

They exuded an eerie atmosphere and had a presence that was impossible to ignore.

"Demons!? What about the guards!"

"They're probably taking a nap... if they wake up, that is."

"What...?"

Room stepped forward, shielding the shocked king.

The princess also realized and began to gather her magic.

"So, you demons are here to take the king's head, right?"

"Of course."

"Still... just the two of you... even though most of our forces are on the demon continent, we still have a considerable number of soldiers left. You're brave."

"Hmph... no matter how many weaklings gang up, they can't beat me. Don't talk back, weakling."

"! ...You really are fearless!"

Magic began to emanate from Room.

The room was filled with his powerful magic.

However, the two didn't budge.

"My name is Room... I'm the one who will take care of weaklings like you."

From the amount of magic, his strength was estimated to be SSS-class.

He had more magic power than even Kagerou.

"...Well, since you introduced yourself, we might as well do the same."

"Is that necessary?"

"Don't be a killjoy, there's such a thing as atmosphere."

"Hmm, you have a point."

Despite being exposed to the overwhelming magic, they took a step forward.

"I am one of the Five Great Demon Generals, Dione."

"I am one of the Five Great Demon Generals, Lamina. You don't need to remember it."

Magic began to emanate from both of them simultaneously.

It quickly filled the room, overwhelming Room's magic.

"What... you two...! You're the Five Great Demon Generals!"

"Watch out, we're even stronger than the other three."

Dione, with a mad grin, made Room take a step back.

Margaret, trembling, stepped forward.

"If you are the Five Great Demon Generals, I can't let you leave here! 'Chain of Flame Spears'!"

"Wow... quite a brave princess."

Margaret's magic was quite powerful.

Thanks to Winter's guidance and the training around him, her magic had clearly evolved.

Setsu was initially surprised by her significant growth.

This flame spear, in terms of power alone, would surpass S-class.

However...

"Eh..."

The flame spears were split in two, no, cut in half.

Their power was nullified, and they fell to the ground and disappeared.

The two remained unchanged.

The only change was that Lamina had placed her hand on the sword at her waist.

"Hey, I'll leave the princess to you. I'll take care of the kid."

"Got it."

Lamina nodded and moved in front of Margaret in a single step.

No one in the room could react to her speed.

"Ah—"

Lamina's back kick hit Margaret in the abdomen, sending her body through the wall and into the king's bedroom next door.

"Don't take more than two minutes."

"No need, that's too much time."

After confirming that Lamina had pursued Margaret, Dione turned to Room.

"Well, let's finish this."

"Don't underestimate me!"

Room waved his arm.

The carpet on the floor writhed and formed fists that attacked Dione.

"Whoa! What the hell is this?"

"My magic is 'Room Magic.' I can control anything in the room freely. It's useless outdoors, so I was left behind in the war."

"Unique... annoying."

While complaining, Dione dodged the countless fists with ease.

For him, this level of speed and density was easy to avoid even while chatting.

However, just as he was about to escape the carpet's range, his feet were entangled by the carpet's fibers.

"What!?"

"Ha! Got you!"

Losing his balance and falling, the carpet's fists attacked him all at once.

"Ugh... this... annoying!"

Despite being pummeled all over, Dione managed to tear the fibers and escape.

Once outside the carpet's range, his instincts warned him of danger.

Looking up, he saw a giant chandelier falling towards him.

"Don't get crushed!"

"Ugh..."

Dione rolled to the side to avoid the chandelier.

Considering that he would be caught again if he went back to the carpet, he moved towards the wall.

However, Room had anticipated this.

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings, demon."

"What? Gah—"

The paintings lined up on the wall fell and their frames struck Dione's back of the head.

As he writhed in pain, more paintings continued to attack him.

"Ugh... this... is enough..."

"Ha! You're tough! But I don't have much time. I'll finish this quickly."

'Limit Break'—.

◆◆◆

"Haa... haa..."

"I have no interest in toying with my enemies. If you surrender, I won't take your life."

Margaret, spitting blood, glared at Lamina.

She was likely injured internally.

Though she could barely stand, her eyes were still alive.

"Don't underestimate me... I am the proud princess of Distenia, and I won't bow to demons."

"Proud... I don't usually comment on others' actions, but calling yourselves proud when you summon and use unrelated people from another world... it's rather laughable."

"Insult us... will you! 'Sphere of Flame'!"

"!"

Margaret, with a look of anger, activated her magic.

Or rather, she triggered it.

The magic had been there all along.

"You use interesting magic. I don't usually express my feelings, but I'm impressed."

"Take this!"

Around Lamina, countless spheres of flame floated.

This was a trap, and the spheres would converge on her from all directions.

Dodging would be extremely difficult, and if she didn't, Lamina would surely be reduced to ashes.

"...Not enough."

However, the spheres never reached Lamina.

Like the flame spears earlier, they were all cut and dispersed before reaching her.

"Eh..."

"You can't see it. I don't usually expect much from others, but this is disappointing."

At that moment, Margaret blinked. She blinked.

Her vision was momentarily blocked, and when she regained it—her upper body was floating in mid-air.

"Eh...?"

For a while, she couldn't comprehend that she was dead, seriously wondering why she couldn't stand up.

When she saw the state of her lower body, she finally realized her death and slowly closed her eyes.

She would never open them again.

"I have no interest in talking to the dead... but reflect on your actions in the afterlife, princess."

◆◆◆

"Gah... haa... I never thought... this would happen to me..."

"Haha! Ahahaha! For all your boasting, you're pretty weak! Haha!"

Dione's body was pierced by a massive sword.

A steel sword that didn't exist in the room.

"My 'Ideal Toy Box' can create anything based on my imagination! I can even make this sword grow and pierce you further!"

"Stop... please..."

"Too late for begging! Die!"

From Dione's body, more precisely from the central sword, black steel thorns shot out in all directions.

In that instant, he transformed from a person into an object, becoming a black flower dripping with red blood, like a piece of art.

"There's no way you could beat me... I'm stronger than Winter, and even that Setsu! If I wanted, I could kill them too! Hahaha! Ahahaha!"

...

"Ahaha... ahaha... ahaha..."

"You seem to be in a good mood... if you're having a nice dream, that's great."

Dione, with vacant eyes, looked down at Room, who was kneeling and laughing softly.

"Room! Room! Why aren't you moving!"

"Ah, it's no use. He's not coming back. I put a spell on him."

Kicking Room to the side, he continued to laugh.

It seemed he was having a very pleasant dream, and his laughter was genuinely content.

"Are you done, Dione?"

"Yeah. You were quick too."

"I don't usually talk about the dead, but this one was so disappointing, I ended it in one hit."

"Keh! You're cruel! Crueler than me!"

The king took a step back.

Terrified by the abnormal behavior of the two, he wanted to leave the room immediately.

However, there was no escape.

"Haa... but now, our 'Plan to Hide in the Chaos and Strike the King When the Enemy is Complacent' has finally succeeded."

"I don't usually comment on things that are already decided, but couldn't you come up with a better name?"

"It's your fault for not thinking of one. This is a good name, like something Winter would come up with."

"...True, he's the strongest, but I don't think he's better at naming things."

Ignoring the king, the two began a casual conversation.

The king tried to run behind the throne to reach a hidden staircase that led to an escape route, a precaution in case of emergencies.

He couldn't miss this chance.

However—

"Don't run."

"Gy... gyah! Ahhhh!"

His legs were cut off at the knees, and he fell to the floor.

The escape route was still far away.

"Hehe, good thing the carpet is red... it won't show the blood."

"Hi... hiie..."

"Die with dignity."

The last thing the king saw was the brief gleam of Lamina's sword.

"Haa, we got a good souvenir, let's head back. Desastor will be pleased."

"You might get scolded for acting on your own. If that happens, I'll push all the responsibility on you and run away."

"That's not fair, Lamina... we're in this together, right?"

"...I don't usually contradict people directly, but I disagree."

They continued their casual conversation as they left the room.

All that remained were the still-laughing boy and the headless body of the king.