Chapter 52
Releasing part of her Concealment magic to reveal herself, Yuurai moved the citizens with her Marionette magic while heading toward Gilka.
"Yuurai-sama......"
"Gilka, I'm sorry. I'm the one who should be blamed here."
"No. I am someone who stands with Yuurai-sama. What you bear, I bear as well."
"I see. Thanks. It's reassuring to have you by my side."
"Your words honor me."
Gilka bowed respectfully, almost like a vassal. Though Yuurai saw her as a companion, Gilka might consider herself a subordinate.
In any case, Yuurai turned to face the citizens of Yusef.
The citizens appeared confused. Since Yuurai was still concealing her overwhelming magical power, they likely couldn't gauge who or what she was.
"Citizens of Yusef, nice to meet you. I am the Demon King you harbor resentment toward."
Though unable to move, the citizens directed hateful glares at Yuurai.
(Oh, scary, scary. Still, if I'm going to speak, I'd rather address everyone in the town, not just those here. I don't have a megaphone or anything... Well, let's do it this way.)
Yuurai expanded the range of her Marionette magic. Not just the people in the square, but everyone in the town. In the past, she couldn't target such a vast area or so many people at once, but now it was possible. Some resisted the magic and regained their freedom, but she let them be.
Then, Yuurai made nearly everyone outside the square repeat the same words as her. That way, she could convey her will to everyone without needing a megaphone.
"Once again, citizens of Yusef, nice to meet you. I am Yuurai, the Demon King. I am currently in the square. And with my magic, I have temporarily taken away your freedom. You must be confused by the sudden inability to move, but rest assured, I have no intention of harming you."
Yuurai's words should be reaching everyone through her Marionette magic. Of course, making tens of thousands of people do different things simultaneously was impossible, but having them do the same thing wasn't.
"I understand your resentment. Including ordinary people unrelated to the recent battle, I have taken many lives. I'll admit, I killed too many."
Some citizens in front of Yuurai were trembling. They might have escaped the Marionette magic and were trying to curse her.
"This isn't something I can resolve with an apology, and frankly, I think it's your fault for attacking me unprovoked, so I won't apologize. Well, hate me if you must. I'll accept being hated."
The citizens' gazes were extremely hostile.
"Hate me if you like, but do not threaten us again. If you attack us once more, I may take many lives again. Conversely, if no one threatens us, I promise not to harm anyone."
The citizens in the square were still glaring at Yuurai.
"......Some of you may feel you can't be satisfied without exacting revenge. I won't spout nonsense like 'revenge begets nothing.' Revenge feels good, doesn't it? Sometimes, you can't move forward without it. But I have no intention of being the target of your revenge. I don't want to die, nor can I allow anything precious to me to be taken. And as you've probably realized, I am strong. If I wished, I could erase every resident of this town. However, that is not what I desire."
Yuurai completely released her Concealment magic. Furthermore, as if to flaunt her power, she deliberately unleashed her magical energy.
The expressions of the citizens in the square twisted in fear. They likely sensed death instinctively. Even those not present must have detected the presence of something abnormal.
Yuurai felt sorry for Lipia, who was trembling behind her, but asked her to endure it just a little longer.
"As an overwhelmingly powerful being...... I will give you an order. Give up on seeking revenge against me. If you do, I will not take your lives, nor will I threaten your way of life. Understood?"
Yuurai gave a faint smile. The audience before her might no longer be registering her words.
Yuurai once again used Concealment magic to hide her magical power. Lipia let out a sigh of relief, while the citizens wore stunned expressions. Some seemed to have fainted.
"......I will retaliate if attacked, but I will overlook the harm done to my subordinates this time. It happened before this declaration, and no one was killed. However, if my subordinates are unjustly harmed in the future, I will consider it an act of rebellion against me."
After delivering a light threat, Yuurai made an effort to speak in a brighter tone.
"However, of course, if my subordinates cause any trouble, feel free to scold them as you normally would. I don't intend to control everything through force. For that matter, I have no desire to dominate or destroy the world. In fact, I'd rather get along. I mean that sincerely."
Yuurai smiled gently. The people in front of her, still in a daze, might not have registered it.
"......That's all I have to say. You may move now."
Yuurai fully released the Marionette magic. Almost everyone in the square collapsed to the ground, falling into a state of shock.
However, one girl remained standing, glaring at Yuurai.
She looked to be under twenty. Her long brown hair was disheveled, her cheeks were gaunt, and dark circles marred her eyes.
(......Did she lose a lover? If it were family, she'd probably be dead too.)
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The girl charged toward Yuurai. In her hand was a longsword. Given she was out in a town in this state, she might be an adventurer or something similar.
"......I just told you to give up on revenge."
Before Yuurai could stop her with magic, Claire dismounted her Skeleton Horse and intervened.
Claire used the Sword of Gaen to cut down the girl's sword and then shoved her back with her left hand.
The girl flew about three meters, crashing into the stunned citizens and coming to a stop.
"......Should I kill her?"
Claire turned back to ask Yuurai. Though her face was hidden by her helmet, her eyes likely held a cold intensity.
"......No need to kill her. She's not a threat. Thanks for protecting me."
"Mm."
"......Kill me. Kill me too...... Let me go to him......"
The fallen girl muttered faintly.
Yuurai let out a small sigh.
"......Ah, so you wanted to die. You wanted either to exact revenge or to join your beloved. In that case...... shall I make you forget?"
Yuurai dismounted her Skeleton Horse and approached the girl.
The girl, unable to stand, remained slumped on the ground. Yuurai crouched down and placed her right hand on the girl's head.
"......Even if it's a false salvation, it's probably better than dying. Mental Manipulation."
With Mental Manipulation, Yuurai couldn't read the girl's memories or thoughts. She simply manipulated her mind to forget her feelings for her beloved.
Forcing someone to forget precious emotions might be crueler than killing them. It's like killing their soul.
Whether this was truly salvation for the girl, Yuurai couldn't judge.
The girl's expression softened. The desperate air about her vanished, replaced by a dazed state.
She might feel dreamy for now, but she would return to normal soon.
"Alright, done. ......Um, is there anyone else who wants to forget something? I can make you forget."
Yuurai called out, but there was no response. Most still hadn't regained their senses.
"I guess that's it for now. The rescue is done...... Next, let's go to the lord and settle things."
As Yuurai turned back toward Claire and the others, she suddenly sensed a magical presence from the ground.