Volume 11 Chapter 14 Festivals Are More Fun
I'm just an average demon, wearing a mask and waiting for orders under Clay's command.
"So, everyone, let's do our best."
Clay, also wearing a mask, said this from the stage. His explanation was straightforward, but the demons were all fired up, shouting, "Yeah!" and "Leave it to us!"
The reason was simple. The pay was excellent. Survivors from the slums, outcasts from the bazaar, and demons from Bael's territory were all excited with the advance payment of gold coins.
The great pay and the chance to mess with the Demon King’s army were very appealing to the demons.
The Demon King’s army is always arrogant and unbearable. Getting paid to beat them up in large numbers was a festival the demons couldn’t wish for more.
Even if you try to make them do something unpleasant, demons are good at slacking off or escaping. In that sense, this job was pretty good.
If there are only a few of them, the risk of getting caught is high. Life is tough without money. But all those concerns were cleared up.
I'm good at riling up the crowd with speeches, but when it comes to spending money, I can't beat Clay. Thinking that, I watched Clay (the ice soldier) give the command.
"Operation start. Let's show them a big hit first."
As soon as we heard that voice, we rushed out from the warehouse near the Demon King’s army’s walls.
From other warehouses too, demons surged towards the walls. The demons capable of great power simultaneously unleashed their sorcery towards the walls.
As I watched, I secretly put on the Durandal Gauntlet on my arm and used gravity magic to deliver a heavy blow.
The castle walls shook.
A loud noise, a shockwave. I was covered in dust and spat out the dirt that had entered my mouth, laughing and saying, "This has become quite a mess!"
In front of me and in many other places, the castle walls had collapsed, and holes had opened up. Demons poured in from there.
Then, perhaps sensing the abnormal situation, an announcement from a magic tool near the castle walls rang out.
'Warning! Warning! You are invading the headquarters of the proud Demon King's army! Leave immediately or you will be caught and punished for treason against the Demon King!'
It seemed that a demon with considerable speed had rushed in, and the announcement was hijacked soon after it started playing.
There were sounds of punching and struggling for a few seconds. Then the announcement came back on.
'Attention, invasion team! Attention, invasion team! The Demon King's army is made up of the same demons! If you kill them, they will just revive! So don't kill them! Knock them out! Capture them! It's going to be fun!'
"""OOOOOHHHH!"""
The demons let out a battle cry and invaded the building, pouncing on the soldiers they saw.
Blood, screams, chaos. I went with the flow, using controlled punches to knock out the demons and move forward.
"Where are the strong ones? I don't need the weak ones. Strong ones, come out."
As I advanced deeper into the castle, I arrived at a luxurious room. A strong-looking demon was waiting for me.
Its body was glowing with runes, and it radiated hostility towards me and the demon that had opened the door.
"Foolish commoners... I'll annihilate you all now."
"You're too slow to cast your sorcery, you piece of trash!"
I waited for the arrogant demon's sorcery.
But the demons who were really serious about it rushed straight in to kill the enemy.
They ganged up on him, and the arrogant guy got beaten up. Watching that, I just stood there, alone.
Then, I muttered.
"...What was I trying to do just now?"
Was I trying to wait? To take the enemy's prepared trap-like attack?
"..."
Holding back. This is hiding my true self. So there is a reason.
But, there's no reason to wait. Normally. It doesn't make sense. Just thinking about it, there's no benefit.
But the reason I tried to do that is simply because I hate unsatisfying battles.
"..."
I think.
At this level of battle, even for fun, it's not something I should be doing.
"...I see. I was just trying to put a reason on bullying the weak, pretending it's not bullying the weak."
I turned on my heel. While the invasion force demons continued their looting and kidnapping as they pleased, I walked alone with a cold heart.
"Let's stop doing pointless things. Don't do what shouldn't be done. Let's do that."
I left the government building. I bit my lower lip to push away the self-loathing. Then I slapped my cheeks and pulled myself together.
With the Ajna Chakra, I roughly saw where the strong ones were.
Four reactions. Excluding allies, 4. I nodded. There were 4 strong ones. I should head that way.
I climbed the wall and started running. Running from a high position makes it easier to gather information about the surroundings.
As far as I could see, the invading army seemed to have a slight advantage. But that was probably because they had just started invading, and it was still early. It didn't seem like the strong ones had clashed with our side yet.
As I was running, I saw a huge shadow rising up in the distance.
"You fools! How dare you invade Demon King's castle! You will pay for your disrespect!"
It was a giant. A fire giant, with huge horns on its head that were burning with flames.
"Those who betray Demon King will be burned to ashes by my flames! I, Commander-in-Chief Rutgal, will see to it personally!"
The giant roared, and the ground opened up, shooting out something like a volcanic bomb.
It attacked the invading army like a meteor, wiping out a large area of demons. I watched and cheered, "Whoa!"
This was it. This was what I was looking for. This was the kind of enemy I wanted to fight.
I gathered my strength and prepared to attack. I would take a few hits and see how things went. That was my plan.
The enemy was Commander-in-Chief Rutgal. Which meant it was Sur's father. I was looking forward to seeing how strong he was...
Just as I was thinking that, I suddenly felt a strong presence closing in on me from above.
"―――!"
I quickly flipped my body over. And then I felt a sense of unease about what I had just sensed.
―――There were four strong presences, excluding us. Four? Not three? I thought there were only three members of Sur's family in the Demon King's army...
A middle-aged man wearing a swallow-tailed coat suddenly landed in front of me.
"Greetings, young man. This is quite an enjoyable event. Turning a rebellion against the Demon King’s army into a festival. Even I, Chiero, am impressed."
The man tips his silk hat and bows to me. I stare in surprise at his introduction.
"Could it be, you are..."
"Forgive my late introduction. My name is Chiero, the circus ringmaster. I couldn't resist coming to this event. It's truly wonderful. My compliments to you, the organizer."
How did he find out I was the organizer? Ignoring my question, he puts his silk hat back on.
Then, spreading his arms wide, Chiero, the ringmaster, speaks to me.
"But it's a pity. This event could be even more fun. Allow me to help, if I may."
Chiero snaps his gloved fingers. The sound echoes strangely. Not just me, but many demons turn their eyes to Chiero.
Chiero speaks calmly.
"Domain Control 'Trickster'. ――― Now, let's make this party even more fun!"
The Demon King’s army is enveloped by Domain Control.
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