Chapter 9: To the Demon Lord's Castle, Away!
After making a final stop at a magic item shop to stock up on supplies, we left the city and headed toward the Demon Lord’s castle. Once we reached the encampment where the Kingdom’s soldiers were gathering, we shared a nod and took up our prearranged formation.
“Lord Hero, we were told to expect... wait, what on earth...?”
It was only natural that the soldier would stare in utter disbelief. To my right was Fiona, and to my left was Cecilia—wearing her bikini armor instead of her usual plate—both of them walking with their arms wrapped around mine, pressing their chests firmly against me. From the outside, we didn't look like a Hero’s party; we looked like a total harem-jerk and his playthings.
Following Fiona’s instructions, I was told to walk as if we were a "sappy couple," but... how exactly was this supposed to help us gain the soldiers' trust?
“Hero-sama... finally, the battle with the Demon Lord is at hand... Please, protect me, just like you promised in bed last night.”
“H-Hero... after putting me in this ridiculous outfit and doing those things to me... you’d better make me a happy woman, or I shall be quite troubled.”
“Huh? Wh-what the hell are you two blathering about all of a sudden?!”
I panicked, trying to stop the two of them from spewing nonsense about things that never happened—well, we’d done stuff close to that, but still—yet Fiona continued, raising her voice just enough for the soldiers to overhear. Her performance was painfully theatrical.
“Oh my, Hero-sama. You promised, didn’t you? That you would take responsibility... After all, this body of mine no longer belongs to me alone ♡”
“Th-that is right. You taught things to a woman who knew nothing but the sword. I expect you to take full responsibility.”
Fiona wore a sultry smile, meaningfully stroking her stomach, while Cecilia turned beet-red and pressed her chest harder against me, likely recalling one of our previous sessions.
Of course, I was a virgin, so there was no way Fiona was pregnant, and Cecilia had simply become a pervert of her own accord.
But looking at the surrounding soldiers, I could only imagine what they were thinking...
“Hey, did you hear that? That Saintess, who looks like she doesn’t know a thing about the birds and the bees, has the face of a cat in heat. Just what kind of stuff did the Hero do to her?”
“And Cecilia-sama, too! I actually took sword lessons from her once. She was never the type to make a face like that or wear such a slutty outfit... I guess his seduction skills are ‘Hero-class’ as well.”
Hearing the soldiers' hushed whispers, I felt their gazes piercing me. It was physically painful.
“Weren’t we just supposed to show them that we get along?” I hissed.
“Lord Kamiya, listen closely,” Fiona whispered back. “From here on out, we are going to make them believe that you are going to defeat the Demon Lord specifically so you can add the women you’ve already bedded during your journey into your official harem. There are already rumors that the Hero will receive a grand reward for defeating the Demon Lord, right? If we play it this way, no one will ever suspect that you're actually going to save the Demon Lord.”
I was speechless at Fiona’s terrifying proposal. What a villainous tactic. But she was right—in this scenario, no one would dream that I was heading there to aid the enemy.
“However, Lord Kamiya, this isn't enough. I might ask you to do some... rather extreme things for the sake of the act. Can you do it for Iris-sama’s sake?”
“Is there anything more extreme than this?! I already look like a degenerate Hero who knocked up a pure Saintess and corrupted a serious female knight!”
Fiona just gave me a beaming smile while I whispered in a half-sob. I looked to Cecilia for help, but she averted her eyes. These two had teamed up when I wasn't looking. This Saintess is terrifyingly manipulative... but I have to do it. For Iris, I’ll take any amount of infamy.
“Fine. I’ll do it. Just tell me what to do.”
Satisfied with my resolve, Fiona smiled. Then, in a voice clear enough for the soldiers to hear, she clung to my arm affectionately.
“Hero-sama... but I am so anxious. Once you defeat the Demon Lord, you’ll be even more popular than you are now. I’m afraid you’ll just throw us away...”
“I-I’d never do such a thing, honey.”
“Hehe, words are cheap. So, please, prove to the soldiers that I belong to you. Let’s see... just like last night, squeeze my breasts and shout that you love me ♡”
“Wh-?!”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. What was she saying?! As I stood there reeling, Fiona’s ample breasts were pressed against my arm, forcing me to feel their softness whether I wanted to or not. The soldiers’ gazes converged on me. Envy, contempt, curiosity... I could feel a whirlpool of emotions.
But I couldn't back down now. Following Fiona's lead, my hands trembled as I reached out and touched her chest. Steeling my resolve, I shouted:
“I—I love you, Fiona! I’m gonna make you a permanent member of my harem!”
The soldiers erupted. Some cheered, “Yeahhh!” while others cursed, “You lucky bastard!” But this was fine. This was my role.
“Hehe, Hero-sama, you’re so bold in a place like this.”
You’re the one who told me to do it! Fiona smiled contentedly and then whispered in my ear.
“Now, it’s Cecilia-sama’s turn. Please make it even more intense.”
“Are you serious...?”
I looked at Cecilia. She was bright red, looking down at the ground. However, her expression was filled with determination.
“H-Hero... once this battle is over, please make me your bitch-slave. I do not care how much you insult or degrade me, so long as it is you.”
“Y-you really are a hopeless knight. Fine, I’ll give you all the ‘love’ you can handle once we’re done, so let’s go kill that Demon Lord! Here’s a down payment!”
“Nngh—♡!”
I gave Cecilia’s rear a sharp, resounding smack, and she let out a blissful squeal. Wait... was this still an act, or had it just turned into a public shaming play?
Cecilia buried her face in my chest, letting out sweet, breathless moans. Naturally, the soldiers were completely weirded out. I even heard one mutter, “So the Hero has a thing for making knights dress like that...”
But it was working. No one would ever think I was going to help the Demon Lord now.
“Alright, you two! To the Demon Lord’s castle! I’m gonna make you my wives and build the greatest harem in history!”
I shouted for the soldiers to hear, took their hands, and marched toward the castle. Ignoring the murmurs behind us, I hurried forward, my heart set solely on reaching Iris.
“But hey... even if we save Iris, aren't I socially ruined unless I actually take responsibility for you two?”
“Hehe, whatever do you mean? We’ve made quite the impact. The rumors of you being in love with the Demon Lord will be completely overwritten. Now, let’s hurry, Lord Kamiya.”
Watching Fiona smile as if everything was going exactly according to plan, I reaffirmed my belief that she was the one person I must never make an enemy of.
We pressed on toward the Demon Lord’s castle, maintaining our usual dynamic—me looking slightly disgruntled while the other two seemed strangely satisfied. It made me feel all the more lonely that Iris wasn't here with us.
“So this is the Demon Lord’s castle.”
The gates were tightly shut, and the air was thick with an ominous, surging mana. But we didn't hesitate.
Fiona used her magic to throw open the doors, and lights flickered to life within the dim interior as if guiding our path.
“Lord Kamiya... this is undoubtedly a trap. What is your plan?”
“That’s easy. I’m here to talk to her.”
“Heh, a fine answer. Lord Kamiya, I shall cleave asunder any foul beast that dares obstruct thy path!”
Emboldened by their words, I stepped forward. And then, I finally reunited with Iris.
We were in what appeared to be an audience chamber. A magnificent red carpet led to a throne where Iris sat... or rather, was perched.
Behind her, a massive, pitch-black stone—the <Abyssal Mana Stone>—pulsed with a wicked light, its mana enveloping Iris’s entire body. Her magical power was far greater than before, so much so that it took my breath away.
“...Why did you come?”
Her voice was colder than I had ever heard it. Her eyes seemed hollow, devoid of even a flicker of emotion.
“We’re comrades! Of course I’d come to get you!!”
“Ignoring my warning... you’ve come here to die? How truly foolish.”
Iris raised her hand, and the air in the throne room shivered. A hyper-dense mass of mana transformed into a bolt of black lightning and tore toward us. The strike was powerful enough to shatter the floor and warp the very space around it.
“Iris’s mana has skyrocketed!! Everyone, look out!”
I shouted and moved instantly. I used <Infinity Mana> to shave off the lightning’s power and <Overlord> to withstand the impact. Gritting my teeth against the agonizing pain coursing through my body, I forced myself a step forward.
“<O Veil of Light>!”
Fiona released a burst of holy light, erecting a thick barrier. The following bolt of black lightning slammed into the shield, resulting in a deafening roar as light and darkness violently clashed. However, beads of cold sweat formed on Fiona’s forehead, her face twisting in pain.
“Didst thou truly think such a trifle would make us yield, Demon Lord... no, Iris?!”
Cecilia cried out, her blade flashing. Her sword technique sliced through part of the lightning, parrying its force. However, because she was being fed mana directly from the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, Iris was on a completely different level than during our first fight. Moreover, this time, I couldn't use any skills that might actually kill her. Even as I agonized over what to do, more bolts of black lightning rained down, forcing us into a desperate defense as we were slowly pushed back.
“Damn it, at this rate...”
We were getting nowhere. I needed to talk to her, but I couldn't even get close.
Should I use Cecilia’s <Flicker Blade> along with all my skills to close the gap?! Just as the thought crossed my mind...
“Splendid! What magnificent despair, my Master!”
A mocking voice echoed as a shadow drifted down from the ceiling. It was a man wrapped in pitch-black robes, wearing an unsettling smirk.
“Belial... I told you that I would be the one to defeat the Hero.”
“Belial of the ‘Falsehood’... he is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. A powerful monster who leads people astray with lies.”
So he’s the last of the Four Kings... Belial looked at us and let out a derisive laugh.
“I wonder which of us is the one leading people astray? This ‘Hero’ whispers sweet nothings to you, Iris-sama, while he frolics with those two women, does he not? Now, show this traitorous Hero and the women who betrayed you the true power of the Demon Lord!”
Belial snapped his fingers, triggering the castle’s mechanisms. The red carpet beneath our feet peeled back with a roar, and the floor beneath the girls collapsed.
“A trap, I knew it!! Are you two okay?!”
“Lord Kamiya!! Forget about us and save Iris-sama!”
I instinctively reached out to grab Fiona and Cecilia as they fell, but they smiled and let go of my hands. I was separated from them, each of us cordoned off into different sections of the hall.
“I shall be your opponent, ladies. So that the Demon Lord may execute that traitor without distraction.”
With a mocking grin, Belial took flight and dove down after Fiona and Cecilia. A flash of panic crossed their faces, but it was immediately replaced by fierce resolve.
“Leave this guy to us! Go talk to her!”
“Do not worry for our sake!”
“Yeah! Don't you dare die on me!”
Their powerful encouragement reached me from across the divide. I turned my back to them and faced Iris one-on-one.
“I heard it from Belial... You only came here to kill me for the glory, didn't you?”
“As if! I came here to talk!”
“Liar!! Because... you boasted to the soldiers that you got Fiona pregnant, and you declared you were making Cecilia your bitch-slave! I know all about it!”
“How the hell do you even know that?!”
I was momentarily shaken by the fact that she knew exactly what had happened—was there a spy in the camp? Seizing the opening, Iris’s attacks grew even more ferocious, and the mana from the <Abyssal Mana Stone> wrapped around her like a cocoon.
“I’m sorry, but from here on, I’m getting serious as the Demon Lord.”
This must be her "second form." Radiating an incredible amount of pressure, her outfit had changed from her previous robes. Now, she was clad in a sort of pitch-black carapace made of mana that covered only her chest and her private areas, with bat-like wings sprouting from her back.
Yes... it covered only her chest and privates.
“No, that’s way too erotic!! You’re showing more skin than a succubus!”
“Don't say such things about the Demon Lord’s formal attire!! Kamiya, you idiot—!! You pervert! You big-boob lover!”
“Hey, I like small ones too—whoa, what is with that power?!”
In her state of extreme embarrassment, she unleashed not just black lightning, but storms of fire, spears of ice, and vacuum blades that rent the very air. It was a level of power beyond anything she’d shown during our travels. Every spell was a fang bared to destroy me and the world itself.
“Resistance is futile. I’m stronger now than I was back then. Besides, you can't bring yourself to kill me anymore, can you? So... just disappear! I don't want to hurt you anymore!!”
While Iris unleashed her magic through tears, I continued to endure, even as my body was battered. My skill <Overlord> was rapidly learning Iris’s magic patterns, gradually nullifying the damage. Even so, the sheer torrent of mana continued to shave away at my physical form.
But... it wasn't fatal.
“You were a lousy honey-trap, but you’re even worse at playing the villain! Your magic isn't meant to kill me... it’s just crying out that you want to push me away! Don't think for a second that an attack like that will break my heart!”
I shouted, believing in the light of emotion still lingering deep within Iris’s eyes. One step at a time, I drew closer to the girl at the center of the storm of despair. Every time her magic struck my body, memories of our journey flashed through my mind. Her prickly expression when we first met, her innocent smile when she got absorbed in magic, and that night she crawled into my tent with that shy, bashful look...
No matter how much I’m attacked, my heart won't break. Because through <Infinity Mana>, I could feel that somewhere within that magic, there was a faint kindness, a hesitation, and her feelings for me.
“Kamiya... why...? Why do you care about me? I’m the Demon Lord! I’m the enemy of the world who tried to kill you! Just leave me alone!!”
“As if I could! Because before you were the Demon Lord, you were just a girl... and the girl I love!!”
I didn't want to confess at a time like this. But this was the last chance before she became an irredeemable enemy of the world. Even as I was covered in wounds... I poured out everything I’d been wanting to tell her.
“You probably don't know this, but I was terrified when I first came to this world. And even though you were sharp-tongued, you were the very first person to be kind to me. You might think it’s a small thing, but it made me happier than anything.”
True, thanks to the Goddess’s cheat abilities, the chance of me dying in battle was low. But that didn't fix my mental anxiety.
Being treated with kindness at a time like that...
“Iris... my heart raced when we slept in the tent together. I thought you were so cute when you talked about magic. It was so much fun geeking out over magic items with you. I love you, Iris. I don't care if you're the Demon Lord. Join my harem!”
“Eh... wh-what...?”
Iris’s face turned scarlet, and her magic began to dissipate in her confusion. Seizing the opening, I lunged forward and pulled her into an embrace.
“Stupid... if you stay with me, everyone will hate you too... You have Fiona and Cecilia, don't you? So...”
“No. Even if the world calls you its enemy, I’ll protect you. I am the strongest Hero, after all.”
I held her even tighter as she tried to pull away. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that, but her resistance gradually weakened. Our eyes met as she stood there half-sobbing, and as our faces drew closer...
“Kamiya, run!!”
“Whoa?!”
The moment our lips were about to touch, a massive force blasted us apart. I looked up to see what happened—the <Abyssal Mana Stone> was glowing ominously, releasing pitch-black tentacles of mana.
Shattering the surrounding pillars, the stone seemed to act as if it wouldn't permit its master’s betrayal, snaring Iris’s body.
“Iris!! What the hell is this?!”
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
A piercing scream erupted from Iris. A torrent of wicked darkness enveloped her, beginning to overwrite her very existence.
“Is this thing... merging with her?”
The expression slowly drained from her face. The fear and anger from moments ago, even her love for me—it was all being swallowed up, replaced by a pure will for destruction in her eyes.
“What is this mana... is this the true power of a Demon Lord?”
A chill ran through my entire body. I instinctively leaped back as a mass of mana filled with pure killing intent—far beyond anything Iris had used before—gouged the ground where I had been standing a second ago.
“Guh... <Overlord>, <Overdrive>, <Infinity Mana>!”
I activated every skill I had, but they felt utterly meaningless. The torrent of mana was something even my skills couldn't grasp, and it tore through my flesh. Even as <Overlord> built up resistance, the attacks were instantly reinforced to compensate.
However, those merciless spells were somehow avoiding my vitals. I felt a sense of dissonance. I should have taken fatal damage by now, yet I was managing to dodge by hairsbreadths.
“Iris...! Your heart is still in there, isn't it?!”
I shouted, finding a sliver of hope.
Her soul was fighting back against the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, but if this continued, her soul would be completely extinguished. I could feel it coming.
“Lord Kamiya! Art thou safe?!”
Just then, with a sound like the earth splitting, the floor shattered as Cecilia leaped up, carrying Fiona.
“You two are safe!!”
“Forgive us, Belial escaped. I took his head, but it felt as though I were cutting air.”
“He likely swapped places with an illusion.”
“It’s fine. We have something more important to worry about right now.”
The girls' faces showed fatigue, but also relief at seeing me safe. However, their gazes were quickly stolen by Iris, who had become an avatar of destruction.
“This is... the true power of the Demon Lord... What terrifying mana. It’s as if her very soul is being drained by that magic stone...”
Fiona whispered in shock. Cecilia, too, gripped her sword, unable to hide her agitation.
'Precisely... the Demon Lord is nothing more than a vessel of mana for the prosperity of us monsters. A mere battery to supply the mana released by the <Abyssal Mana Stone>!'
“That voice... Belial!! You made Iris the Demon Lord just to use her from the start!”
I roared back at the voice echoing from above, and he answered with a delighted tone.
'Of course. We monsters have no need for a king who gives orders. Her role is to grant us power... and then die after providing us the chance to defeat you troublesome lot.'
I’d felt something was off for a long time. Why would the Demon Lord herself join the Hero’s party? Why did the Four Kings attack us one by one? It was simple. They wanted us to deepen our bond with Iris, lure us to their home field—the Demon Lord's castle—merge her with the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, and kill us all. Belial had used the Demon Lord and the other Kings for this very purpose.
Then, as Belial’s presence faded, a swarm of monsters began pouring in from the entrance. Trolls, orcs, archdemons—all sorts of creatures.
What’s more...
“What’s going on? These monsters are empowered!”
“A wicked mana is radiating from Iris-sama. Her very existence must be buffing the monsters.”
Just as Cecilia and Fiona said, the monsters approaching us were incomparably stronger than the ones we’d faced on the road.
To stop this, we have to stop Iris. But in my current state, could I even swing a sword at her...? This was exactly what Belial wanted. But there was something he hadn't accounted for.
“You two...! Lend me your strength! We’re going to combine my feelings and everyone’s feelings and reach Iris!”
I let out a roar. If we stayed like this, Iris would be swallowed by the darkness. To save her soul, I needed more than just my own power; I needed theirs too.
“Lord Kamiya?! We are willing, but the monsters...”
“I understand. I believe in you. So, what do we do?”
Fiona pulled a confused Cecilia over to me.
“Everyone... thank you.”
In front of us was the Demon Lord turned destruction incarnate, and behind us was a swarm of buffed monsters—a hopeless situation. Yet, their trust made me happy. And I had a secret plan.
“Her soul and mine are connected because of a certain circumstance.”
I explained how Iris had once tried to cast a 'Soul Slave' spell to make me fall for her, but had accidentally linked our souls instead. Back then, it was just a strange phenomenon where I’d feel nervous or catch glimpses of her affection, but it meant our emotions flowed into each other. That would be the key to speaking directly to her soul.
“But that must be a powerful spell. Canst thou truly use it, Lord Kamiya?”
“It’ll be fine, trust me. It’s been active throughout our whole journey. I’ve practically mastered it by now.”
“Very well. Then I shall buy us time!”
Fiona cast a powerful barrier. Simultaneously, I pushed <Infinity Mana> to its absolute limit, manipulating the mana to weave together Fiona’s, Cecilia’s, and my own feelings for Iris. I mimicked the formula of the ancient forbidden spell and directed our collective consciousness toward Iris’s soul.
Memories of our journey flooded my mind like a kaleidoscope. The prickly Iris from our first meeting. Her clumsy failures because she was such a magic geek. Her adorable smile when we talked about magic. And that heart-wrenching expression when she was desperately trying to push me away as the Demon Lord...
In that instant, Iris’s heart flowed directly into my consciousness.
'Kamiya...!'
The first things I felt were her deep love for me and her despair.
—Honestly, I didn't want to hurt you. But my destiny as the Demon Lord... this stone... it’s...!
What reached me, painfully so, was her regret for deceiving me and the sorrow of having no choice but to leave.
—I’m sorry, Kamiya. But I can't do anything about it anymore...
And I could clearly feel her emotions toward Fiona and Cecilia as well.
—Fiona... you’re manipulative, but you’re always calm and smart. You have things I don't. That’s why... for a split second, I thought it might be okay to leave Kamiya to you.
—Cecilia... your strength and kindness always saved me. You smile so reassuringly no matter how tough the enemy is, like a real big sister. I can depend on you. That’s why I thought it was okay if you were the one to steal Kamiya away.
Confusion, jealousy, and above all, her growing friendship and love for us. All of it was desperately seeking light within the darkness.
“Iris-sama... is this really what you want? Because if you step aside, I really will make Lord Kamiya mine.”
“Iris! Why have you given up?! You lovest Lord Kamiya, dost thou not? You thinkest of us as your comrades, don't you?! Then ask for help! As a knight, I shall surely save you!”
“That’s right, Iris! I don't want to hear you whining! Come back and be your usual prickly self and lean on us! I’ll take you in even if it means making the whole world my enemy!”
The moment the light of our combined feelings touched Iris’s soul, a miracle occurred.
'Everyone... Kamiya...! Help me!!'
Iris’s faint voice echoed in my mind. It was a weak but certain voice fighting back against the darkness.
'Yeah, I’ve got you. I’m right here, Iris!'
As if responding to my call, Iris’s consciousness linked firmly with mine, and my mind was drawn into a pitch-black abyss.
“Where am I...?”
When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark, foul-smelling stable.
I heard the scratching sound of someone writing on parchment. Looking toward the source, I saw a girl of about thirteen, desperately writing something by the light of a candle so small it looked ready to go out at any moment.
“If I can just finish this magic, I’ll show them all.”
Her environment was far from privileged, yet I could see the face of a girl who believed in her own talent.
“Iris... is that you?!”
As I took a step closer, the scene shifted. Now I was in what looked like a royal court. Iris was arguing with a middle-aged man dressed in lavishly decorated robes.
“That’s the magic I was researching! Why are you the one announcing it?!”
“Insolence from a mere commoner! It is only because I allowed you to read my grimoires that you were able to research at all, is it not? Besides, no one would listen to the words of a little brat like you anyway.”
“Ugh...”
Iris looked devastated. As I approached to comfort her, the scene changed again. But it was more of the same.
Despite being clearly superior, Iris was failed in her tests just to flatter the children of nobles.
And then, Iris being told by Princess Loresia and the King that she would be exiled if she didn't set a honey-trap for me.
“Is the <Abyssal Mana Stone> forcing her to relive these painful memories to break her spirit...?”
I felt a surge of rage at the treatment she’d received from people—enough to make anyone turn into a Demon Lord and hate the world.
With every step I took, more of her tragic past came into view. Finally, I saw a faint, flickering image of Iris. As her entire body was being covered in darkness, tiny sparks of light danced around her like fireflies.
“Is this... could this be Iris’s psyche?! That damn rock, what is it doing to her?!”
Was her heart being broken by those painful memories? I hurried toward her and touched the thin light that seemed to be fending off the darkness.
“Is this... Iris’s happy memories?”
Upon touching the light, a flood of her warm interactions with villagers, memories of our journey, her love for me, and her friendship with Fiona and Cecilia rushed into me. These memories were what was holding her together.
“We’re not done yet, are we? We only just met! We’re going to make way more happy memories from now on!!”
I hugged the darkness-shrouded Iris with all my might. I poured mana into her cold body.
I’m the Hero. What kind of Hero would I be if I couldn't even save the woman I love?!
“Raaaaaaaah!!”
As if I had become the new target, the darkness surged toward me. Memories of being compared to my brother... worrying that Ayaka-nee actually liked him... and more than anything, the pain of being unable to confess my feelings.
“So this is what it’s like to be attacked by negative emotions... But you know what? I learned something in this world. Everyone is struggling with something. And if you can share that with others, it gets easier, and you might even find a solution.”
Fiona, who had hidden her manipulative nature, started to show a softer expression once she bared her true self to us. Cecilia, who had hidden her masochistic side, looked content now that I had accepted her for who she was.
The same went for me... if I had just talked to my brother about Ayaka-nee, he probably would have helped me. He would have cooperated one way or another, and if I’d just told her, Ayaka-nee would have given it serious thought.
I fought against the darkness trying to swallow me, refusing to let go of my embrace on Iris.
“That’s why... Iris, you should have just talked to us sooner. And this time, let me be the one to confess to the person I love! Let’s all live happily together!”
“Ugh... Kamiya? I...”
Whether it was my prayer or the power of the Hero, reason and love for me began to dwell in Iris’s eyes once more. Seizing the moment her mana weakened, I shouted:
“Iris!! I love you! I won't let you become a Demon Lord!”
“Kamiya... I could hear your voice... and everyone else’s too. Kamiya... thank you for coming to save me. I... I love you too!!”
“Ooooooooooooh!!”
The light that had been on the verge of vanishing released a brilliance like the sun, incinerating the darkness that had covered Iris and me.
And as she smiled, my consciousness faded once again.
★★★
“Iris-sama, won’t you come with us? You wish to be joined with Lord Kamiya as well, do you not? Please, show us that adorable ‘nyan-nyan’ side of yours once more.”
“Indeed, Iris. I have yet to finish my many discussions with thee. Verily, return to thy senses.”
It felt like I had been inside her mental world for an eternity, but in reality, only a split second had passed. Beside me, Fiona and Cecilia were desperately calling out to her.
“Iris, are you okay?! I remember what just happened... I remember you answering my confession all shyly like that! Let’s keep making memories together!”
“Good grief... you’re so loud. But... thank you. Kamiya... you’d better take responsibility.”
“Yeah, leave it to me.”
The moment Iris opened her eyes, I grabbed her hand and tried to pull her toward me. Immediately, the <Abyssal Mana Stone> released a swarm of hideous tentacles as if refusing to let its prize be stolen.
“I will not allow it. <O Veil of Light>!”
“Forgive me, but I cannot permit thee to interfere with these two.”
Fiona’s barrier weakened the assault, while Cecilia’s blade shredded the remaining threats.
“I... I renounce being the Demon Lord!!” Iris cried out.
“And as the Hero, I accept that declaration!!”
Following her theatrical lead, I pulled Iris’s hand with all my might, yanking her free and catching her as she lunged into my arms. I wasn't letting go. Never again!!
“Is it over...?”
The <Abyssal Mana Stone> continued to resist for a moment, but eventually, it lost its luster and began to peel away, falling to the floor.
“It is a bit too early for you two to be flirting,” Fiona interjected.
“Indeed. Belial has vanished somewhere, but monsters still roam these halls...” Cecilia paused, a strange look on her face. “Even so, watching the two of you tryst brings a sensation akin to my very brain being shattered... and yet, it is somehow... quite pleasant.”
I had a feeling Cecilia was opening a door that should have remained bolted shut for the rest of eternity, but it was probably best to leave her be.
Instead, I looked down at Iris, who still looked pained in my arms. “What do you think? Do you want to take a break?”
“What are you talking about? The four of us are a party, right?” Iris replied, her voice firm. “I can't just slack off while everyone else is working their hardest.”
We responded to her encouraging words with smiles. From there, it was our usual coordination. Cecilia and I held the front line, while Fiona’s blessings and Iris’s magic wiped the floor with the remaining enemies. Without the buff from the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, they were no match for us.
“Everyone... don't let your guard down yet!! Belial is still here!” Iris suddenly warned. “<O Lightning of the Underworld, become a spear and pierce our enemies>!!”
Just as we were about to catch our breath, Iris launched a bolt of black lightning behind us with a grim expression. The bolt was deflected, revealing Belial standing there, the <Abyssal Mana Stone> already in his grasp.
“As expected of the Demon Lord... to think you would notice me even while I was shrouded in illusions.”
“Hmph. I’ve known you a long time, Belial. I know exactly how that lowly mind of yours works,” Iris spat. “You don't have the courage to fight head-on, so you have no choice but to rely on sneak attacks.”
“Hehehe... perhaps. But the <Abyssal Mana Stone> has already regained its power. I no longer have any use for a mere Demon Lord. All of you shall die here.”
Belial let out a cackle, holding the stone aloft as if to claim its power for his own. A wicked aura of darkness enveloped him—a power that rivaled the one Iris had just been unleashing.
“Behold the peak of demonic power, a force that shall surpass even the Hero!”
“Ugh... <O Veil of Light>!”
Belial waved his hand, and a bolt of pitch-black lightning erupted, instantly cracking Fiona’s barrier.
What incredible mana... Has he already mastered the stone’s power? But...
“Lord Kamiya, Iris, I leave the finishing blow to you. Hehe... this attack from the ‘peak’ of the demon race... I shall enjoy it to the fullest!”
Cecilia roared as she charged Belial head-on, but...
“Ahahaha! Did you truly think only my mana was enhanced? That little brat couldn't manage it, but with the power of the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, even this is possible!”
Belial gave a lewd, wide-mouthed grin as he caught Cecilia’s sword with his bare hand and kicked her squarely in the stomach.
“Gah...! That is... excellent pain!!” Cecilia coughed up blood even as she was blown back, yet a smirk remained on her face. “However... it lacks the refined perversity of my Master!”
“Stop saying things that cause misunderstandings! I’m nothing like this coward who does nothing but rely on sneak attacks and thievery! <Grant Unto My Hand the Holy Sword>!”
“Ahahaha! ‘Coward’ is quite the harsh word. But that is simply how those without power fight. Though, I suppose the tables have turned now, haven’t they?!”
Belial smirked as a pitch-black blade formed in his hand, clashing against my Holy Sword.
No, it wasn't just clashing. His demonic blade was staining the Holy Sword black, as if slowly eroding it.
“Whoa?!”
“Ahahaha! This is the true power of the <Abyssal Mana Stone>!! Even a Hero with a Goddess’s blessing is no longer a match for me!”
I barely managed to parry Belial’s swing, but the sheer momentum sent me flying.
“Nngh... what a lovely stimulation, Lord Kamiya ♡”
“I’m glad you caught me, but could you do it normally for once?” I groaned, looking at Cecilia’s ecstatic face as she embraced me from the impact.
I know I looked calm. And there was a reason for that.
“As a special service, I shall defeat you all in a fair, head-on fight,” Belial boasted.
“Honestly, the way you start acting all high and mighty only after you’ve gained an advantage just reeks of being a small-time crook,” Fiona remarked with a sharp tongue.
Belial’s face twitched with irritation for a second before he regained his shallow smirk.
“Hehehe... say what you like. I shall make you savor the humiliation of being trampled by overwhelming power.”
“Honestly, you should have stuck to your 'small-time' tactics,” I sighed. “You got so cocky you forgot that a former Demon Lord is standing right here.”
“Wh...at...?”
We weren't just taunting him for the sake of it... well, okay, I was blowing off some steam after the whole Iris situation, but that wasn't all.
“There’s no way a bottom-feeder like you could ever master the power of a Demon Lord!” Iris declared. “I’ve already finished analyzing the <Abyssal Mana Stone>’s power!”
Iris, who had been hiding behind Fiona with her head down, suddenly thrust her hand toward Belial. Mana erupted from her body once more—not the destructive force from before, but a delicate, powerful wave that interfered directly with the stone.
“Wh... What is this?!”
Belial screamed in panic. The <Abyssal Mana Stone> in his hand began to pulse with a wicked light, resonating with Iris’s mana.
“I won’t let you! I’ll kill you before you can do anything else!”
Gone was his smug composure. Belial unleashed a concentrated beam of pitch-black light at us, but...
“<Grant Unto My Hand the Holy Sword>!”
Using the Holy Sword, I sliced the beam clean in half.
“You might have just gotten that stone’s power, but I’ve been living with the power of a Hero since the day I was reincarnated. Our levels of mastery aren't even close!”
“You... you were holding back this whole time...?! Gwaaaaaaargh!”
Black tentacles, even more powerful than the ones that had ensnared Iris, wrapped around Belial’s body, beginning to consume him.
“G-gah...! Impossible... Is this stone... defying me?! How are you doing this?!”
“Just like I can tell what Iris is thinking, she can tell what I’m thinking,” I explained. “Iris picked up the information I gathered through <Infinity Mana> and used it to seize control. You could call it our first act of love as a couple.”
“Stop talking nonsense! Let’s just finish this already,” Iris snapped, her face red.
Belial writhed in agony, trying to escape the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, but the tentacles controlled by Iris didn't budge. Dark mana surged through his entire body, looking as if it were literally eating his existence.
“Now, Kamiya!”
“<O Holy Sword, Strike Down the Wicked>!”
Responding to Iris’s cry, I pushed my physical abilities to their absolute limit and swung the Holy Sword.
“Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Unable to move due to the stone’s rampage, Belial took my blow directly while completely defenseless. With a final death rattle, he dissolved into dark dust. The <Abyssal Mana Stone>, sliced clean in two, lost its light and rolled across the floor as nothing more than ordinary black rocks.
“That should keep the monsters quiet for a while. Are you okay? You really pushed yourself.”
“I’m fine. I am a member of the Hero’s party, after all.”
I looked at Iris with concern, and she hugged me as if to reassure me. She looked tired, but she looked up at me and gave a sweet smile.
“Hehe, to think you would deceive that suspicious monster. Truly impressive,” Fiona praised.
“Verily, thou hast done well, Iris,” Cecilia added.
“Of course! Who do you think understands the power of that stone better than anyone?”
Fiona and Cecilia rushed over to pat Iris’s head.
“Hey, stop it! It’s embarrassing!”
Iris’s blushing face no longer held even a trace of a Demon Lord. She was just our precious comrade... and the girl I loved.
“So... it’s really over.”
I picked up the halves of the <Abyssal Mana Stone>. I couldn't feel any power from them anymore. By destroying this, Iris truly had returned to being a normal girl. Now that the Demon Lord was gone, the conflict between humans and monsters would surely come to an end.
But...
“Iris... um...”
“It’s okay. By losing the blessing of the <Abyssal Mana Stone>, I might lose my mana... But right now, I have you and the other two.”
I wondered how much sorrow she felt, being a magic lover about to lose her power... yet she leaned against me with a brilliant smile.
“It’ll be okay, Iris. Because I’ve decided I’m going to make you happy.”
I gripped the stones tightly and threw them high into the air.
“As the Hero, I will carve out a future for all of you!”
My voice echoed through the collapsing Demon Lord’s castle. Fiona, Cecilia, and Iris all looked up at me, each wearing their own unique expression.
“Ehehe. I’m counting on you, Kamiya.”
Leaving behind the masterless castle, we stepped out toward a new future.
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