Chapter 33

Georg pulled out his sword and suddenly began to suffer, and his form transformed into something inhuman.

A sharp horn protruding from his forehead.

Gray skin.

His slender body had swollen to one or even two times its size, turning into a massive, muscular figure.

"...A demon, huh."

He resembled goblins and orcs, but he seemed more intelligent and capable of using language, making him closer to human.

He is also known as a demon.

The demon's eyes glowed fiercely, and a sense of pleasure seeped through his fanged mouth.

"Hehehe... Hahahahaha!"

As if unable to contain himself, he let out a loud laugh.

"How long has it been since my revival? I couldn't find anyone suitable to serve as my vessel for quite some time."

Despite his broken speech, he managed to speak human language.

It seems communication is possible.

"Can I ask you two questions? First, who are you? Second, why did that man transform into a demon when he drew his sword?"

When I asked, the demon turned to me, chuckling.

"You remain calm even upon seeing me. It seems this era has become quite peaceful."

The demon chuckled again.

"My name is Durgalda. As you can see, I am a demon. I used to be a high-ranking officer in the Demon King's army, killing many humans. The name 'Demon God' Durgalda once made humans tremble in fear just by hearing it."

Hm.

The Demon King's army, huh.

A few hundred years ago.

In the dark age when the Demon King, summoned by an evil deity, and his subordinates, the demons, threatened the human world.

Many people were killed, and numerous cities and countries were destroyed. To counter the Demon King, the goddess summoned seven heroes.

They combined their strength and, after a fierce battle, successfully defeated the Demon King, bringing peace back to the land.

It's a story even children know.

Though the details vary slightly by region.

"Hehehe, so it's been a few hundred years. Then, those who were alive back then are already in their graves. Humans have such short lifespans."

As Durgalda spoke, the crowd, already confused by Georg's transformation, was filled with even more murmurs.

"Hey, didn't he just say 'Demon God'? Wasn't he one of the Demon King's officers who was defeated by the 'Sword God'...?"

"He led just a few hundred demons and destroyed a major country back then...?"

"Stop saying such ridiculous things...! The 'Sword God' killed the demon, so there's no way he could be here...!"

Hearing this, the demon chuckled.

"Indeed, I was killed by him. But at that moment, using my own blood as a medium, I attached myself to this sword that killed me. You could call it a curse. Due to my intense resentment, the man who realized it was impossible to remove the curse sealed me in the sheath."

But now that Georg has drawn the sword, I have been revived.

"Why did you have such a sword?"

A cursed sword, rather than a magic sword.

It seems one of the legendary heroes did indeed use it, but regardless, the result is far from what Georg intended.

Suddenly, the demon pounded his fist into the ground.

Thud!!!

A tremendous boom echoed, and the hard stage, made of special materials, was easily shattered.

A crater-like depression formed, and dust rose into the air.

"Maybe it's because I just woke up, but I can't use my full strength."

Despite demonstrating overwhelming destructive power, the demon tilted his head, seemingly unsatisfied.

On the other hand, the audience, who witnessed this,

"Uwaaaaaah!"

"Run for it!?"

"The 'Demon God'! The 'Demon God' has been revived!"

Panicked.

Screams rose from all directions, and people tried to flee.

However, some brave souls approached the half-destroyed stage.

They were the participants in the main event.

"Whether you're the 'Demon God' or not, I won't let you interfere with the Sword God Cup!"

"Your luck has run out, reviving among so many top swordsmen!"

Drawing their swords, they all charged at the 'Demon God' at once.

"That's right! There are many A-rank swordsmen here today!"

"Even if you're the 'Demon God,' they can...!"

Some of the panicked audience members stopped, their faces filled with hope.

But in the next moment, their hope was shattered.

"Too weak."

The demon swept his right arm horizontally.

With just that, the A-rank swordsmen were blown away and slammed into the wall separating the field from the audience.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

The venue was plunged into even greater panic.

"Hehehe, what a good sound. The cries of fear and despair are truly pleasant to the ear. However, the swordsmen of this era seem to be even more weaklings than I expected."

The demon laughed sadistically.

"Impossible... How could they be defeated so easily..."

"This is the 'Demon God'..."

Seeing their peers easily defeated, the main event participants who were about to counterattack stopped in shock. Some fled, fearing for their lives.

"Alar! Run, you fool!"

It was Rina who shouted.

"What? Why do I need to run?"

"What... You're going to fight!?"

"Of course. The match isn't over yet, after all."

The other swordsmen intruded, but that was a clear violation of the rules.

"It's not the time for that! You're facing a legendary demon! It's not someone you can challenge as a human!"

"...Hm? But he lost to the human 'Sword God,' right? So he can be defeated."

The demon snorted at my words.

"Hmph, a haughty child who doesn't know your place. You should just run. Besides, I intend to kill every last one of you. That detestable 'Sword God' is already dead and no longer in this world. Hehehe, in other words, I can now slaughter as I please without any interference."

"Hm. I need to correct you on two points."

"...?"

"First, the 'Sword God' still exists in this world. Second, even without the 'Sword God,' I can defeat you."

I closed the distance with "Divine Step" and approached the demon.

"Infinite Break"

"Kyaah!?"