Episode 9: The Hero Takes His Own Life (9) – The Demise of the Wretched and Miserable Royal Family

　　……A shimmering inferno sang.

　　Flames ran through the royal city like a cross, and the people were trampled and mangled one by one in the separated capital.
　There was already nothing to hold back the demonic invasion, and the soldiers were either dead or had run away――― those who had the will to fight were sprawled on the ground and not breathing.
　There seemed to be a good number of demons in the horde that could use fire magic, burning traces of human life and reducing them to ash.
　The rain of glass from the destroyed buildings hit the fleeing people, and those with numerous shards of glass stuck in their faces and bodies writhed about.
　Not only that, but spears and arrows rained down from behind people who were running, goblins trampled the people who had been pierced and were unable to move and pulled out spears that were stuck in their backs and stabbed them again and again.
　An ogre grabbed the head of a man who seemed to be a soldier and pulled out his spinal cord, then used the pulled-out spinal cord to forcefully cut the fleeing people in two. ……Wow, isn't that the legendary Spinal Sword, that's an awesome monster!!

―――The royal city has now become a feeding ground for demons. Here, there, and everywhere, there was a feast.

　The footsteps of the fast-moving demons and the screams of people became quieter with time.
　When I saw those who were being played with like toys and made to scream continuously, it made me think that those who were killed for food still had an easier way to die.
　Orcish pigs roasted young girls on skewers over a bonfire in the square.
　The lizardmen dexterously dismantled people.
A werewolf raised his weapon victoriously while holding a baby in his mouth.
……Then, perhaps because of the demons' miasma, the slain corpses rise up and become undead, wandering around in search of the living in slow motion.
　As the voices of the doomed ones faded away, what echoed in their place was a low, growling moan. The only figures striding through the city, which continued to burn with the residue of magic, were non-humans. Shadows of the wandering dead projected like shadow puppets on the walls illuminated by the flames.

"……Like the flames of hell."

"Indeed, it's absolutely gorgeous."

　The Devil chimed in with my monologue, but I think the nuance of the speech was not the same. Well, I don't have the energy to butt in.

The muddy stream of demons and dead people then approached the royal castle and easily swept into it.　The soldiers in the castle were more skilled than those in the city, perhaps, for they were able to return fire on the weaker demons, but that was short-lived.
　The screams and cries for help likely belonged to the royal family, attendants, and squires living in the palace. Screams like graceless pigs or shrills similar to high-pitched screeches gradually climbed up from the bottom of the castle to the top.

　Finally, the roof and walls of the top floor were blown away from the inside, and the audience chamber could clearly be seen from here.
　Oh, in the audience chamber, the prince is holding Alberic's sword in front of him as he covers for the king and princess. Come to think of it, I gave it to those guys.

"How dare you lowly devils run rampant as you please? I will exterminate every last one of you with my holy sword!! "

　Oh boy, the prince is very confident. But that sword no longer has the power of the hero. Will you be all right? It's an ordinary sword, you know??

"Oh, as expected of the prince, my son!! You have my excellent blood in your veins!! I'm glad you've grown up so well."

　The king wept tears of joy and relief at the prince's courageous demonstration.

"Now it's time for you to behold my courage, old man! Ha, take this!! "

　The prince, who had plunged into the pig demon with a stance that was full of gaps devoid of any swordsmanship or any shit, and in a posture that was just holding a sword for the sake of looking cool, was knocked down with a single blow and slammed to the ground.

"Gyaaaaup?!?! "

　After everyone there was stunned, the guards made the pig demon retreat and helped the prince up from the ground, but the person himself was bleary-eyed as if he had no idea what had just happened.

"Wh-why?! This is the holy sword, right?! With this, I'm the strongest! Then why?!?! Cough cough…… I see, so the demons used some underhanded tactic, right?! Those vermin!! "

　I don't think there is any cowardice or underhandedness when he went in on his own and got one-upped, or perhaps the prince is just plain too weak, even the pig demon who stuck him looks more bewildered.

『―――You back off, I don't know what he's on about, but he has a hero's sword. I'll deal with him.』

　With these words, dismissing the pig demon, out came the general of the demons whom I had met in Alberic's village.

『Allow me, the Dragon King's vanguard――― to disinfect all this filth.』

　When he removed his cloak, his entire body was covered with a kind of lean armor, and his red double eyes gleamed behind his helmet. He reminded me somewhat of a ninja, so I guess he must be a powerful demon. But treating people like dirt....... Well, oddly enough, they are indeed like dirt, so I can't deny it. Now, will the prince be able to defeat that powerful demon?

"Right back at you. Now, Holy Sword, grant me power once again! I will torment them to death!! "

『Too slow.』

　As the prince raised his holy sword above his head and shouted something, the demon general closed the distance and swung his dagger. Within a breath, both arms of the prince holding the holy sword were slashed off, falling to the ground and rolling.

"A-eh……?! "

『How trifling.』

"M, my……arms, huh……? ――――Gaaaahhhh? ! "

　The prince, looking between his arms on the floor and his gushing wounds, then turned towards the holy sword lying on the ground, screamed and wet himself.

"Aaaaahh, ahhh, my, my a-arms!? Give them back, why, my arms!? They're gone, my arms are gone, old man! "

"H-How easily you have been beaten, you fool!! What do you think I gave you the holy sword for, you useless bonehead of a prince?! "

　The king lashed out at the prince, who was crying like a child and begging for help from his father, reprimanding him as if his earlier attitude was a lie. In this way, they both share the same helplessness, so I guess they are father and son after all.
　It's disconcerting to see Alberic's belongings used like that, but I learned that the value of a weapon can change that much depending on the user.

『Aaah, no, stop, don't come!! 』

『Help me, Father! 』

　The prince, who was rolling around like a caterpillar on the ground and crying out, was dragged away by a monster, and the demon slowly crept up on the frightened and trembling king and princess as if to hunt them down.
　Some of the guards laid down their weapons and began begging for their lives, but were instantly beaten to death, leaving every human being present with a look of despair on their faces.

『Prepare yourself. I'll execute you publicly as an example, but as an act of mercy, I'll cut you down in an instant so that you won't feel any pain.』

　The demon general announced to the king with a dagger in his hand, but his words seemed to spark something in the king, causing him to flash an expression that said he had a good idea.

"W-wait, wait a moment! You seem to be a very powerful bastard…… I mean, demon! How about it, I'll give you my daughter! An alliance!! Let's form an alliance!! "

　―――――No way, that stupid king, do you think such words can be used to communicate with demons?!

"What are you saying, Father?! "

　The princess was bewildered, but understandably so. There's no way they'd go along with a last-minute scheme to switch sides, let alone beg for their lives, and then that princess being asked to go marry a demon out of the blue.

"I will not marry such a disgusting monster!! "

"Now is not the time to be picky about the means you use to survive!
　And having surrounded yourself with the sons of good-looking aristocrats as guards, indulging in all manner of debauchery, you can't say anything about your situation now! It doesn't make much difference if the other party is a demon!! "

"What?! Were you aware of that, Father……?! "

　Wow, that princess is a bitch, huh? It's all kind of over, or rather, the king's shitty genes seem to have been firmly passed on to his children, and all I can do is join hands for them.

"Of course, I knew it, you idiot!! Now, go seduce and entrap that demon!! "

『……It's useless. It was decided that anyone associated with the royal family would be beheaded and exposed to the public to ensure that no lasting effects would be left.』

　The general of the demon facing the idiots can hear their messed up suggestions, so I think the general is also dumbfounded and is rhetorically replying to the king's words, but I think he should just ignore them and off them already.

"Gghhhhhh, damn it.……!!! Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn you―――! ! The Celestial Knight was also easily beaten and I haven't heard a thing from him, I never thought I would see it through my eyes, that he was such a useless piece of trash....... If it was going to come to this, I should never have killed the Hero.……!! Both the empire and the church advised me to get rid of the Hero, and yet they did not even offer to help me, traitors……!! "

　The king screamed out in anger and frustration...... Whoa, that king just said something I can't unhear. I don't care if you despise me, but the Empire and the Church are involved.……? As for Roger…… I wouldn't be surprised if that guy turned on us. Irene was a saint, but she didn't get along with the church and hated them, so if I go talk to her, I might learn something. She's decent, except for her sexual inclinations, and I think she's now living on a small fiefdom instead of a monetary reward, taking in orphans.

『……Is that all you have to say? Then line the royal family up outside the castle, and I will have them beheaded and displayed.』

"W-Wait! Wait now! Please wait! Please, at least spare my life! I will give you my son's or daughter's life! They can be the plaything of demons! So please, please, please, just my life!! I will kneel, I will even lick your shoes! But please―――"

　The king, terrified of his imminent death, was on his knees, crying out and begging for his life. In fact, he began licking the demon general's shoes while sobbing.

"Please, please, please, pleaaaaaaaaase!! "

『Take him away.』

　The king was dragged away, shaking his head unwillingly and with tears, snot, and drool smeared all over his face. Meanwhile, the princess was losing her mind with fear.
　The royals were lined up on the balcony of the castle and in turn, were pompously beheaded. The royal city was ablaze, and the screams of the last moments of the royal family could be heard in the distance.
　Is this the end of the kingdom that has discarded the hero as useless? ……The end of the road is too bleak and miserable for it to be self-inflicted. I raised the liquor bottle as I watched it.

"Here's to the ungrateful scum of the earth."

　With that said, I guzzled the liquor directly from the mouth of the bottle and felt that today's drink tasted strangely good, just as it had in Alberic's village.

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 ToC  

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