Chapter 67: The Fiery Demon
"...How is it?"
Upon landing on the ground and asking Grace for her thoughts, she lightly tapped the ground with her toes as if testing its feel and slightly shifted her posture.
"I think it's good. With this, I should be able to fight."
"I'm glad I could be of help."
Alfred let out a big yawn. Afterward, he was summoned to the royal castle and had business with Alfred. Although it was a story that could only be told because Alfred was mistaken for Prince Albert, he cooperated willingly under the pretext of aiding the kingdom. The preparation consisted of two magic stones inscribed with the spell formula of a Magic Shield. Due to the basic nature of the magic and its purpose, it was a somewhat well-known item for personal protection.
Since there was originally some know-how regarding the item, the preparation itself was straightforward, but in order to use it as a foothold in the air by deploying it underfoot, adjustments were made to the shoes and the spell formula, leading to working through the night.
Although I say it ended up like this, the burden fell mainly on Alfred, so I feel a bit sorry about that. I've been able to get proper rest here.
Now then, of course, this alone wouldn't suffice for versatile aerial movement, so there were other ideas.
Though it might seem a bit rushed... it appeared that Grace's reflexes were more than capable of handling it, and judging by Linette's abilities, it seemed we would be more than capable of fighting after conducting a brief aerial mock battle.
"Lord Theodore, your ride has arrived."
Ashley came to fetch us.
Perfect timing. As we left the workshop, a knight accompanied by a flying dragon bowed his head in greeting.
"We're ready to depart."
"Understood. We're also prepared."
Prompted by this, we mounted the back of the flying dragon and soared into the sky.
"...Well then, take care. I'm praying for your success in battle."
"Safe travels!"
"Yeah. I'm off."
Alfred, Ashley, and the others on the ground were waving and smiling.
Now then. If our opponent were merely adventurers and not demons, that would be quite anticlimactic.
We met up with the four flying dragon squadrons in the air. Chester was among them.
Since Mercedes and Mildred rode land dragons, their role this time was to assist in evacuation. Although it seemed Mildred could ride a flying dragon as well, her role as overall commander of the knight order prevented her from being on the front lines.
However, her expression clearly conveyed dissatisfaction. If we were to show any sign of incompetence, she would likely burst onto the scene with tremendous force.
In addition to the knights, there were others aboard the flying dragons. Priestesses from the Moon Temple. By bestowing the goddess's blessing, they were providing a countermeasure against miasma.
Unlike me, who could deal with it through cycling, when confronting demons, this would likely be essential.
With gestures resembling prayers, each of them began to emit a faint golden phosphorescence.
We hastened to the vicinity of the western district's harbor.
"That's the inn."
Chester pointed down, and we began our descent toward a wooden inn. It was our role, Grace's and mine, to actually enter the inn. If we couldn't stand up to a demon while dismounted from a flying dragon, then there would be no point. After all, we had already seen the demon once.
We disembarked from the flying dragon and entered the inn. The ground floor was a tavern, a typical setup. Stairs led to a corridor on the second floor, lined with guest room doors.
The innkeeper, who seemed to have been preparing breakfast at the counter, momentarily wore a dumbfounded expression before regarding us skeptically.
"What, who're you folks?"
Grace and I had the luminous glow conferred by the priestesses to counteract the miasma, so it's understandable he'd wonder what was going on.
"Excuse us. Have two individuals named Gerio and Zalbash stayed at this inn?"
"...I can't answer that kinda question."
...He certainly seemed to have a sense of professional ethics.
"There's a possibility those two are involved in a serious crime. If you look outside the inn, you might understand."
For now, I wasn't lying. After glancing out the window, the innkeeper gave us a puzzled expression.
"Upstairs."
"Upstairs?"
"Stick your heads out the window and look at the sky above."
At his urging, I gazed up at the sky above the inn, and then he looked at us with an expression of astonishment.
He'd probably find it odd that a flying dragon squadron was circling above his inn.
"Should I go talk to them?"
"Nah, I get it. ...Yeah. Those two are indeed staying here, but..."
The innkeeper let out a sigh, told us which room they were in, and even lent us the key.
"Try not to cause too much trouble, okay?"
"It depends on the circumstances. Please wait at the counter since this could be dangerous."
Speaking the truth seemed to transform the innkeeper's expression into that of a stony visage.
Well, truly. While I want to avoid loss of life, I can't guarantee anything beyond that.
The innkeeper appeared to be concerned about things like items getting broken in a scuffle during an arrest, but that wasn't the real issue. If the demon were to go berserk, it might very well leave the inn in ruins. So, we need to prepare a certain level of magic ourselves.
I stood before the door, exchanged a look with Grace, and received a nod.
"Let's go."
I turned the key and entered the room in a single breath.
"Oh..."
A voice that sounded almost impressed.
In the not-so-spacious room, a man was seated on the windowsill, gazing this way. The man had fiery red eyes. Indeed, I had seen him before, accompanying Jasper.
This must be Gerio or perhaps Zalbash.
"Young man. We've met once before, haven't we? I must admit I found it hard to believe when I heard you were a demon slayer."
The man with the red eyes smiled and casually stepped off the windowsill to face us.
His reaction seems to imply that he was anticipating a confrontation.
"Where did the other one go?"
"You mean Zarbush? He's probably giving a report about the seal."
"A report?"
"Never mind that. Anyway, it's quite impressive that you sensed the right timing. The report's been made, and now that we've been found, there's no avoiding it, is there?"
Jelio laughs, his intentions clearly not concealed. Fumes rise from his body, deepening his smile.
"So, in other words, we don't have to hold back anymore before the feast. Got it, young one?"
"Like I care."
Facing the demon, I have no intention of holding back either. No need to see his moves. I release a prepared spell as a greeting.
Seventh-rank elemental magic, Resonance Mine. Multiple guided vibrational projectiles deployed simultaneously, collision at designated coordinates generates shockwaves that induce destruction from within the target... That's the nature of the magic. If a single point of impact explodes, even a demon won't emerge unscathed.
Of course, I aimed for his head from the start.
However, the instant the guided projectiles spread in space, Jelio bares his teeth and laughs. He crosses his arms in front of his face and tilts his head back, evading the coordinates of destruction.
Amidst a tremendous explosion, Jelio's body is blown backward. The surplus shockwave from the Resonance Mine collides with him, and his body bursts out from the second floor to the open air.
Without hesitation, I pursue him through the hole I've created with magic. Did he predict my move just now?
With a single drop of blood trickling from his forehead, Jelio floats in the air, his smile growing wider.
"You dodged and missed? I've seen this magic once before – but indeed, a genuine one. Such a fast deployment... splendid – splendid, splendid. I like you, young one!"
Crimson-black miasma concentrates in his right arm, extending like a sword. Without hesitation, he thrusts it.
Ouroboros and the miasma blade clash, emitting sparks as they collide.
Meanwhile, Jelio's entire skin on his body begins to rise and transform, like black metal armor. His appearance: a black dragon in humanoid form. Only his eyes, burning with a fiery red.
Dashing left and right in the air, Ouroboros and the miasma blade intersect rapidly. Amidst the morning sun's light, sparks born from the collision of magic and miasma explode relentlessly, scattering like flowers.
"This... is a demon."
A bewildered knight's voice.
This is a high-speed aerial battle. There's a risk of involving allies, so even Grace can't intervene.
Or rather, I'm deliberately guiding things in this direction.
His miasma is considerably dangerous. I feel enough heat with each clash to furrow my brows. The scenery behind him is distorting from the heat.
If that blade were to hit me... even if I'm blessed, I would likely be engulfed in flames. Not due to miasma's erosion, but because of the heat. Perhaps it's one of his inherent abilities or traits.
Moreover, conventional weapons likely wouldn't withstand this miasma blade. Responding with martial techniques or countering with magically-infused weaponry like mine seems to be the only way.
In other words – apart from me, there's no one else who can fight him.
"Grace! Leave the task of dealing with him to me. It's fine. I'm keeping an eye on you all too."
"However!"
The knights raise voices of confusion. They're likely debating whether they should entrust this situation to me.
"He's at the sea! He's somewhere in the harbor! If we're lucky, we might even interrupt his report!"
"Oh?"
Jelio's intrigued voice. We continue clashing while I think.
He mentioned he was having someone else report. Since he treats that person as a messenger, they're probably more capable than the knights. Therefore, it's better to leave Zarbush to Grace and the knights.
"Why do you think so!?"
Laughing, Jelio's eyes brighten. With a kick in the air, I distance myself, and an explosion occurs in the space I had just occupied.
It's his demon eye.
And quite directly offensive, unlike the typical petrification or charm effects associated with demon eyes.
Between his glowing eye and the subsequent explosion, there's a brief delay. For now, it's not that hard to dodge.
Seeing where he doesn't cause explosions gives me the impression he needs to focus on the target with his eyes or that he deliberately hides it, even though he could use it.
"Linette also had a base in the harbor! Reporting from the sea would be the least conspicuous!"
There's no direct long-distance communication. If someone wants to discreetly exchange information, using familiars like messenger pigeons is the best way. If you have the means to do so, of course.
If the demons' familiars are birds, they don't need to leave the inn. Land is surrounded by outer walls, so apart from the gates, there's no exit. That means the sea.
"Teo—!"
"I'll handle this one. Don't worry. And I'll keep an eye on you too."
"...Understood!"
Grace kicks off into the air, heading toward the harbor, and the knights follow suit. Jelio doesn't move. He continues triggering explosions in rapid succession, seemingly enjoying how I dodge them.
But I'm starting to enjoy it too.
He doesn't seem to intend to pursue Grace and the knights. A lucky break. Third-rank Light magic, Mirage Body. It creates a duplicate. While it doesn't have substance and only produces a visual illusion at a distance, it's more than enough to counter his demon eye.
I kick off into the air again, fly into his range, and clash Ouroboros with his miasma blade once more.
Even Ouroboros seems to growl with delight.
"I am Zevion! Zevion of Flames! Young one! Shall I hear your name?"
"Theodore!"