The Four Heavenly Masochists... The Demon Lord's subordinates, or so according to the setting established. And the one I'm now battling with is the last of them, and the worst pervert I've ever known, Pandora-san.
I don't have any allies with me at the moment, so I'll be fighting alone, but what should I do...
If we're talking about simple combat power, there's no way I'd be able to compete with Pandora-san even if I'm wearing the strongest equipment in the world.
But right now, we're in the middle of a game of playing Hero, and if I think about it on that premise, I think I've got a shot at beating her.
Judging from the mysterious notification window, I guess I'll win if I bring down her HP to 0? Anyway, let's just do everything we can.
If I think of this like a game, it would depend on Pandora-san's SPD, but I'd really like to gain a preemptive strike.
[The Insane, Pandora has appeared!]
[With expectant eyes, Pandora awaits your attack.]
Why the heck are three of the four Demon Lord's Four Heavenly Kings always waiting!? Waiting with her arms outstretched, Pandora-san's eyes seemed to be shining though, as if she was aiming for something.
Is she trying to aim for a counter-attack? No, just thinking about it won't lead to anything... For the time being, let's try attacking with this ridiculously light sword.
[Hero Kaito attacks.]
[Pandora quickly moves to "receive the sword with her vital point".]
[Aaaaahhhhhnnnn!]
[Critical Hit! 9999 damage dealt to Pandora.]
[Pandora is very delighted.]
I really want to go home now. Seeing Pandora-san's ecstatic expression with her strangely erotic scream, that is was I truly thought of.
[Splendid! To give me so much pleasu... damage from one strike, I guess it's to be expected from the Hero!]
She said pleasure just now. She definitely said pleasure just now.
[However, just this much won't defeat me. I think it's because you're using a weapon ill-fitting for you... Fine, I will prepare a specially powerful weapon for you! Now, hold the weapon aloft and use as you see fit!]
[...Ummm, this kind of looks like a "whip" though... what the heck are you trying to make me do?]
[Haahhh... Haahhh... For me to be tormented by Miyama-sama... What a great role, this is.]
[Pull yourself together, pervert.]
[Nuwaaaahhhh!? T- There's even verbal strikes... Thank you very much!]
[.....]
This won't do, this pervert is just too invincible. If we stay together in this place any longer, I feel like I'm going to lose something really important.
As I reaffirmed how Pandora-san isn't someone that could be touched, I quietly muttered.
[...Alice.]
[Yes, yes, come now, Pandora... House.]
[Eh? S- Shalltear-sama!? H- However, we're still in the middle of our S——- battle right now...]
[And I told you that we're not having an SM play here... Even though I kept on telling you to keep a hold of yourself...]
[Pandora has been dragged away by Alice.]
[The Insane, Pandora has been defeated.]
How should I say this... It was a sad and tough battle. I mean, this notification window... For it to make notifications at this moment, I don't know if it's just pointlessly high-efficient... but I'm pretty sure that someone, like a certain World's God, is controlling this.
Arriving at the castle of the Demon Lord after defeating the Four Heavenly Kings, which can be described as the worst in a sense... Unnn, is it just my imagination? The fights the party had so far... kinda feels like our opponents, dragging us to an SM play against our will...
Well, let's just forget about them. To be honest, I don't want to remember about them... but rather than that, let's think about the Demon Lord now.
I wonder who is holding the role of Demon Lord? Honestly, with the line-up of people acting as the Four Heavenly Kings, it would be more fitting if Alice was the Demon Lord... but since she's in my party, the Demon Lord would probably be someone different.
Of the Six Kings, I think Megiddo-san is the one who looks more like a Demon Lord. It's possible for her to have different forms since she can shapeshift, and she's also the type of person who would excitedly join in on games like this.
Thinking of power levels though, there's a chance that Kuro may also be the Demon Lord. Even if we have two of the Six Kings and the First Hero on our side, Kuro would still be a formidable opponent... She can also shapeshift.
With those thoughts in mind, we proceeded through a luxurious castle that looked relatively normal... which doesn't have any monsters around in sight, and arriving at the far end of the path, we stood before a huge door.
Now then, as for whether an oni or a serpent awaits me behind this door...
Slowly opening the double doors, which were surprisingly light for their size, we arrived at the throne room where the Demon Lord awaits...
[...Do your best, me... It's for Miyama-kun's sake, it's for Miyama-kun's sake... Uuuu, but when I wear this dress, my past trauma... Fuguuhhh... Bear with it...]
[....]
[Even so, this is quite nostalgic... Why did I do such a stupid thing... Ughh... I feel like throwing up.]
[....]
It really was the Demon Lord inside the throne room. Moreover, it was the real Demon Lord defeated by the First Hero. However, her face was pale and she was sobbing in her luxurious chair... She just looks so pitiful.
[Hey, Alice?]
[What is it?]
[...The Demon Lord looks like she's already on the verge of dying, you know... She's already a mental wreck before the fight even starts...]
[I chose the real thing for the sake of reality but... it seems like she's quite traumatized about this matter huh.]
What should I do? I've already played a lot of RPGs, but I've never seen one where the final boss was already dead just when we arrived... She even looks like she's about to start crying... Heck, it looks like she's half-crying already.
As I was dumbfounded by how miserable the Demon Lord looked, the Demon Lord... Dr. Vier, of course, noticed us, and looking a bit flustered, she straightened her posture...
[Y- You've finally arrived, Hero... Upphh... I- I offer you my respect for struggling this far... Ueegghhh... b- but this is where it ends. I'll deal with you mys———–!?]
As she tried to get up from her throne while saying her lines, her hand slipped off her arm chair and she fell down her throne.
[Wait, Dr. Vier!? Are you alright?]
[...M- My body is trembling... that I can't properly stand up.]
This is already too unreasonable! There's no way I can fight her like this! Even though this might be playing pretend, there's no way I can spur the trauma of such a tattered Dr. Vier!
When I saw Dr. Vier shaking like that with a pale look on her face, I hurriedly ran over to her and crouching down before her, I spoke to her.
[Dr. Vier, please don't push yourself... Slow down, take a deep breath, and calm down...]
[...If Kaito-san... gives me a tight hug, my trembling might stop...]
[...Unnn?]
What is this? I thought I heard a few calculating words... but I know that her pale expression and the shaking of her body weren't an act.
W- What should I do... No, well, I can't leave Dr. Vier in such a state, and the reason for why she's like this is Alice, and by extension me, for agreeing to play pretend Hero... and if it will calm down Dr. Vier...
With that in mind, I responded to Dr. Vier's request and gently hugged her slender body.
[W- Would this be alright?]
[...Unnn... Thank you... Miyama-kun feels warm.]
Hmmm, I really don't know how it happened... Although we're supposed to be playing Hero, I just ended up being forced into SM play by perverts and in the end, the journey was finished by hugging the Demon Lord.
[The Demon Lord Vier wants to join the party!]
[Do you accept? Y/N]
...And there's the notification window that doesn't read the mood. Now I'm sure that it's definitely that airhead God behind it...
[The Demon Lord Vier has joined the party!]
[A luxurious bed has appeared!]
...Unnn? The heck's happening? What's with this bed?
[Would you like to initiate a night battle?]
[Yes.]
[It seems like tonight is going to be a fun night.]
Oi, wait right there! What the heck is with that message!? Heck, why is the notification message selecting my choices without asking me!?
[Wait!? Dr. Vier!?]
[...I'll keep you warm.]
[No, no! What the heck are you talking about now!? Alice, stop h———– Arehh? She's not here!?]
For some reason, I suddenly found myself on top of the bed and a blushing Dr. Vier was nuzzling up to me, looking at me with her moist eyes.
I tried to call for help, but I can't feel the presence of Alice, Neun, or Isis-san, who should have been here a while ago, nearby.
[Miyama-kun...]
[Wait a minute!? Stop! STOOOOOOOOPPPP!!!]
[Uwaaaahhhhh!?]
[Uwaahhh!? Why are you suddenly shouting, Kaito-san?]
[...Eh? Arehh?]
Hearing a surprised voice, I turned around to see Alice at the counter of the miscellaneous goods store, curiously looking towards me with her head tilted to the side.
[...Did you have some sort of strange dream?]
[Huh? Eh? Errr... Was I just sleeping?]
[Yes, for about half an hour, you were lying on the counter, asleep.]
[Then, what happened just now... was a dream?]
[I'm not really sure, but I guess?]
[...I- I see.]
As soon as I recognized this, I felt my shoulders relax. What, it was just a dream huh... How should I say this... I feel kind of relieved, but I also feel slightly disappointed.
Well, I still feel relieved. Whether it's the Four Heavenly Masochists or the Pitiful Demon Lord, all of them don't exist.
[Ahh, by the way, I'm changing the subject...]
[...Unnn?]
[Kaito-san, would you like to try "playing hero"?]
[...…..]
When Alice told me this with a bright smile, I strained out a smile before responding back.
[Unnn... "Definitely won't do that".]
[...Arehh?]