Chapter 53
"Yuurai!"
"Yuurai-sama!"
Gilka pulled Yuurai's hand, moving her away from the spot. Claire also drew her sword, ready for combat.
(......Are they attacking us? Soldiers or adventurers, maybe?)
Yuurai thought they were being targeted, but that wasn't the case.
Earth spikes burst through the cobblestones, impaling about a hundred dazed citizens. Some died instantly with their hearts or heads pierced, while more than half writhed in agony from the pain.
"......Huh? What's going on?"
Confused, Yuurai looked around. Then, she spotted a girl of about fifteen or sixteen approaching.
The girl had yellow-beige twin tails and wore a black-based Lolita-style dress. A warped smile played on her lips, and at a glance, it was clear she was a dangerous individual. Her toxic purple lips were surely not natural.
The girl walked up to Yuurai, knelt on one knee, and bowed respectfully.
"It is my first time meeting you, Demon King-sama. I am Fia, a member of the Demon King Cult, known as 'The Thorn that Devours the Stars.'"
"......Huh?"
What a painfully eccentric person had appeared.
Yuurai frowned, dumbfounded in more ways than one.
"Yuurai! Lend me your magic power!"
Lipia called out to the stunned Yuurai. Lipia had dismounted from her Skeleton Horse and was rushing to the injured.
To Yuurai, these were unrelated strangers whose fates didn't concern her much. However, Lipia still retained a decent heart that cared for others, and it seemed she couldn't ignore the sight of injured people.
"Ah, yeah."
Yuurai supported Lipia with Servant Enhancement while following her instructions to destroy the earth spikes with Blade of Darkness. Lipia prioritized healing magic on those who could be saved. Gilka and Claire remained on guard, weapons pointed at Fia.
"......Demon King-sama. What are you doing?"
Fia, now standing, asked with genuine curiosity.
"......Saving lives, I guess."
"These are insignificant vermin who dared to oppose you, Demon King-sama. Shouldn't they just be left to rot?"
(......This one's as dangerous as her vibe suggests. What even is the Demon King Cult? Well, I can kinda guess. They probably want to borrow the Demon King's power to dominate the world or something......)
"Hey, didn't you hear what I said earlier? I have no intention of harming humans. I even allow them to direct their hatred at me."
"That was a lie to lull the townspeople into a false sense of security, wasn't it? I fully understand your true intentions."
"......What are you even saying?"
"I am your ally, Demon King-sama. And I believe those who defy you have no place in this world."
Fia showed signs of casting magic again.
"Stop it."
Yuurai activated Marionette magic. Not only did she halt Fia's movements, but she also forcibly shut down the manipulation of magic power within her.
"Ahaha. To be ensnared by Demon King-sama's magic once more...... How wonderful......"
Despite being stripped of her freedom, Fia seemed entranced. Yuurai sincerely wished to have nothing to do with her.
"......I don't know what you might do, so I'll take your magic power too."
Yuurai touched Fia's body with her left hand and activated Absorption. She drained Fia's magic power, intending to leave about one percent so as not to kill her.
"Ah...... Haaah......"
Fia let out an oddly sensual moan.
"Haa...... Haa...... Haa...... Demon King-sama...... More......"
"......What's with you? Having your magic power drained shouldn't feel good."
Absorption isn't a magic that brings pleasure. If anything, it should feel unpleasant.
And yet, Fia wore an expression of ecstasy. It was incredibly unsettling.
"If my life...... can become sustenance for Demon King-sama...... I offer my entire being......"
"......I don't need it. I don't need Fia's life. I'm already strong enough."
Even in her normal state, her strength far surpassed humanity's. With Corruption, she could reach godlike levels.
There was no need to grow stronger by sacrificing someone else's life.
While still controlling Fia's movements, Yuurai and the others continued rescuing people. About a hundred had been injured by Fia's magic, and of those, twelve managed to survive, but the rest perished. There were too many wounded, and the injuries—gaping holes in stomachs or chests—were too severe.
Yuurai didn't feel much deep sorrow over this, but Lipia was profoundly shaken.
"It's not your fault, Lipia. You did well."
"Yeah......"
Yuurai hugged Lipia, holding her until the trembling in her shoulders stopped.
Once Lipia had calmed down, Yuurai released her and turned back to Fia.
"......You didn't hurt my companions, but you're still irritating."
Unable to suppress her irritation, Yuurai punched Fia in the face. With her enhanced physical strength, she had to be careful not to break Fia's neck.
(......I know hitting a girl isn't great, but I'm a girl now too, so whatever.)
Even after being struck, Fia bled from her mouth while maintaining a warped smile.
"To be struck by Demon King-sama's own hand...... It is the height of fortune......"
"......You're creepy."
This time, Yuurai kicked Fia in the stomach, with enough force to rupture her organs.
Fia flew about five meters and tumbled across the ground.
"Gah, cough, cough."
Fia spat blood. She looked to be in considerable pain, yet her face still showed traces of pleasure.
(......This one's completely unhinged. Who even is she?)
"......Hey, Claire. What's the Demon King Cult?"
"An evil group that worships the Demon King. I don't know the full details, but they supposedly aim to dominate the world with the Demon King and plunge it into darkness."
"Have you fought them before as a Holy Knight, Claire?"
"A few times. But they were just low-ranking members, not much different from common thugs."
"Hmm...... So they don't operate openly much?"
"Not to my knowledge. But they might be spreading their roots across the world in secret. There will always be those who desire destruction and chaos."
"......Guess it'd be faster to ask her for details. Good thing I didn't accidentally kill her."
Yuurai manipulated Fia to come closer. Fia was still smiling broadly, which Yuurai found deeply unsettling.
Feeling creeped out, Yuurai slammed a fist into Fia's face. Fia's nose broke, and blood gushed from it. Yet she kept smiling.
"Demon King-sama...... Please, pour more, more of your love into me......"
"I've never poured any love into you. What's wrong with you......? Pain doesn't affect you at all......"
Even magic might not have an effect on her. Still, Yuurai couldn't help but want to inflict some kind of mental damage on Fia.
As Yuurai pondered, Gilka touched Fia's shoulder.
Instantly, Fia's smile vanished, replaced by a demonic glare.
"Don't touch me, you beastly woman! Only Demon King-sama is allowed to touch me! I won't forgive anyone, even if they're Demon King-sama's allies!"
Gilka quickly withdrew her hand.
"......I see. She hates being touched by anyone other than Yuurai-sama. Which means she'd hate being hit by me, right?"
"......Gilka, you've noticed something good."
"I'm a bit of a villain myself."
"Then, sorry to ask, but can you rough up Fia just short of killing her? I'll make sure she can't move."
"Understood."
Gilka began striking Fia.
"Stop it! Don't mess with me! Being touched by the likes of you makes my skin crawl!"
Ignoring Fia's curses, Gilka continued the assault.
Yuurai finally felt her mood lifting.
"......Yuurai. You're not ordering me to hit her?"
Claire seemed somewhat dissatisfied, her voice icy.
"......I can't let you do it, Claire. You might kill her."
Fia hadn't harmed Yuurai directly, but she had certainly irritated her.
Claire seemed to be frustrated by that fact.
"......I wouldn't kill her. I wouldn't let it end with death."
"Claire, that's a bit scary too, okay? Oh, Lipia, cover your ears for a while. Sorry for showing you something unpleasant."
As Yuurai showed concern for Lipia, Claire muttered under her breath.
"Yuurai always pays so much attention to Lipia......"
"Hey, hey, calm down. I care about you too, Claire."
Yuurai hugged Claire. Though the armor prevented them from feeling each other's warmth, it was still comforting.
Listening to Fia's curses and screams with a strange sense of satisfaction, Yuurai continued to hold Claire.