44-Episode 44: Army Appearing in Shadows and Hunting People

"No way ... they've seen our plans?

I'm afraid so.

My, our coup plot has been detected by someone and is being thwarted right now!

d*mn, who the hell did that?

I wonder who it was that detected the plan.

The Warlord Faction?　Or have you been discovered by the royal family's own secret service?

'No, no, that's not what we should be thinking about right now.

Yes, what I need to think about now is protecting the precious S-rank and other higher ranked demons.

We need to protect our forces so that we can take over control of this country.

"You, why should I protect the demons we prepared to use as pawns?

Absolutely abominable.

"Give the order to the demon hunter. Organize your demons to destroy the adventurers.

What?　You're going to use a demon in this situation?　But that doesn't mean...

The enemy is already aware of our movements. If that's the case, there's no need for us to sneak around anymore. It's a good idea to think of this as full-blown battle training for the demons you have under your control. After all, they are just adventurers.

The enemy must know that we have used the herb to lure the demons to the capital.

I'm sure they think that when the time comes, we will plant the evil plant in various parts of the city to lure all the demons we lured to the city at once.

But I didn't see it all coming.

We didn't just draw the demons to us.

In the first place, there is no reason for us to make an entity that does not obey our wishes the cornerstone of our strategy.

We've learned how to control the demons.

With the ancient spell, we have gained the ability to control the demons, and we can now control the demons that we would never be able to follow.

It's not only easy to get the advantage in numbers, but also to handle powerful upper level demons as a fighting force.

A high-level demon by itself is equivalent to a few skilled warriors to dozens.

In other words, with a single high-ranking demon, they could save a few skilled warriors the trouble of raising them from scratch.

And all of them would move at our will!

Using this technology, we will command an army of demons to rule this country, or this world!

'And the Knights, pretend to fight demons and find the enemy that has infiltrated the adventurers!

Ha!

My men will take action on my orders.

What they do is the same, just a little faster.

Yes, just think of it as dealing with those adventurers who will become irregularities in the future first.

Even though we are a ragtag bunch, the existence of high-ranked adventurers can't be careless.

Especially now that we're hearing that S-ranked adventurers are coming to our country.

''Come on, let's show them our power, demons!

You're not going to be able to do that.

Freeze boost!

I activate the ice attribute enhancement to cut through the demons.

The ice attribute enhancement has many applications, and can be used to freeze enemies, slow them down, or even freeze parts of their bodies.

Also, by creating ice blades in the soles of your feet and freezing the ground further, you can deliberately slide on the ice to express fast and tricky movements.

........Well, this strategy was taught to me by Lex-san.

'Huh!'

I cleave my legs and neck with my spear as I slip through the demons.

This spear, which Lex-san had trained me on, showed a wonderful cut that could cut through the demons like butter just by cleaving them.

''Do it sis!　But I'm not gonna let you down!　Flameboost!

Gyro-kun activates the flame attribute enhancement and charges at the demon.

It's quite an unusual style, not using the flames to attack, but accelerating his own body by releasing them behind him.

''Oraa!''

And then he cuts through the demons, letting the strength of his muscles, strengthened by his body-enhancing magic, do the work.

Although it's crude, it seems to have the ability to screw over powerful demons with its fighting style.

''It's doable.''

''You're going to lower the purchase price if you take it down like that!　Thunderlance!

While Mina blurted out, she used her lightning attribute magic to accurately defeat the demons near Jairo-kun.

Even though she's been using magic for a while now, she still hasn't run out of magic power, as expected of her, she's only Lex-san's disciple.

''Norbu, Megri, keep your prey as clean as possible!

I'll concentrate on my recovery, and I'll take care of that!

The monk, Norbu-kun, didn't actively participate in fights except against the oncoming demons, and focused on treating the wounded.

''Yes, I'm healed now.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Thank you.

The adventurers who had been treated by him thanked him and returned to the front line.

Some of them were quite seriously injured, but he had healed them all to the point where they could return to the front line.

At first glance, it seems like a waste of money to have everyone else recover, but in a large-scale defeat like this one, a restorer like him who can move freely on the front lines is very valuable.

After all, he can defeat demons on his own, so there's no need to protect him.

If he's that good, he'll be very popular even if he leaves the current party.

Yeah!

And Megri, the bandit, in a way, she's the most amazing kid in the world.

She identifies the weakest part of opponents and precisely disables them.

No matter how hard or fast the opponent is, her style of finding an opening and finishing them off is quite threatening.

He doesn't use his power in a special way like the other kids, but uses his power as an extension of his basic ability.

A simply stronger opponent is harder to destroy when you make it your enemy.

If possible, this is a child you wouldn't want to send as an enemy.

No, I'm going to destroy that one.

And it's a very beautiful way to take it down, so the purchase price will be high.

As an adventurer, I wonder if this technology is what I appreciate most?

I can't let my guard down on this one either!

Now, where is the next monster?

You know what?

'Oh my God!　Not only S-ranked demons, but also A and B-ranked demons have been defeated one after another!

'Where is the Fiend Master?　If we let them command the demons, they'll soon be able to bleed all those adventurers out of existence!

The demons under the command of the demonslayer were lucky to have been defeated when they appeared in a neat little mass.

That's ridiculous!

No way!　Adventurers are just a bunch of people who are good at playing games.

No matter how strong they are, if they have great strength and overwhelming power, they will be powerless!

And if some of the adventurers are our enemies, they can't systematically fight back if they're operating under cover!

Didn't any of the adventurers show outstanding coordination?

No, except for a small group of adventurers who partied separately, none of them displayed a high degree of teamwork.

"Then how come the demons won?　..........?　Don't tell me they're using a lost item?

This is an army of demons commanded by a soldier. I'm not going to be the only one who can do this.

That tornado's lost item was also deliberately flaunted in the first place to keep them from realizing that!

''That's why they fought and defeated it normally. There are a few people who use magic and special fighting styles, but they don't seem to be activating the Lost Item.

Idiot, so how many adventurers are really capable of single-handedly defeating an S- or A-ranked demon?

Absolutely not!

A group of adventurers that fierce gathered here by chance?　That's just not possible!

What's going on, and how can you fight it?

And...

A subordinate says the words with difficulty.

''What's more?

''I heard that a small white fluffy creature that runs at a terrific speed is taking down and devouring all the top A-ranked demons in the neighborhood.

What the hell is that monster?