Chapter 141: Time for the Decisive Battle, Deogandai!

Chapter 141: Time for the Decisive Battle, Deogandai! Time for the Decisive Battle, Deogandai!

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Hiiiiiiiin......

Over the overcast fortress city of Liheid.

The northern plains at the foot of the Ranrananga demon realm mountains are enveloped in a purple light accompanied by a shrill sound.

A large-scale teleportation magic.

Left standing on the plains as the light faded were the Demon Lord’s Army’s middle-ranked commander Deogandai and 100 massive dark magic wolves.

“......Kukuku......Kukakaka......Kukakakakakaka!!”

Trembling with excitement while being caressed by the southerly wind, Deogandai checked his watch – it was 7 AM.

Soon, the preparations he had made should be triggering.

By now, the adventurers infected by the parasitic mushroom spores should have transformed into monsters, and the mad tadpoles should be bursting from the waterways to assault the residents.

Liheid’s interior must have already devolved into hell!

“Well then, this is a battle with a predetermined victor......allow me to fire the opening salvo first. Kukaka!”

Saying that, Deogandai took out a cylindrical magical tool, placed it on the ground, and lit the fuse.

Paan! Pan, Paaaan!

The sound of signal flares resounded around the fortress city of Liheid.

......The signal to commence operations!

The soldiers keeping watch on the town’s outer walls could be seen panicking.

“Kukakakaka! Listen well, humans! I am the Puppeteer Deogandai, middle-ranked commander of the Demon Lord’s Army! ...’Lightning, become my spear! Pierce through all! 【Thunder Spear】!'”

While declaring that speech, Deogandai began unleashing magic attacks against the outer walls!

Thunder spears struck the stone ramparts with a zuun sound.

The town of Liheid trembled.

“By the Demon Lord’s command! This town shall be destroyed! Resistance is futile, but pleading for your lives is equally futile! People of Liheid, young and old, men and women, nobles and commoners alike, all shall offer your heads to me! ......’Lightning, become my spear! Pierce through all! 【Thunder Spear】!'”

Zuuun!

Deogandai’s magic shook the town of Liheid once more.

These spells he was unleashing were merely a diversion.

The main objective was having the huge red boar breach the eastern gate.

He needed to lure as many soldiers as possible to this northern side, depleting the defensive forces at the eastern gate.

Incidentally, Deogandai was using a voice amplification magical tool, so his voice clearly carried to the soldiers gathering on the northern walls.

Also, to avoid revealing his incantations and looking undignified, he would switch off the tool during chants each time.

Such meticulous attention to detail enhanced his aura of malice and terror.

(Kukuku! Tremble more, humans! Weaklings!)

As he continued his declarations, Deogandai was growing rather pleased with himself.

He ended up firing a few more diversion spells than originally planned.

As a middle-ranked commander, Deogandai only had decent ability stats.

He didn’t possess infinite magic power to keep firing large-scale destructive spells endlessly, so he needed to use it conservatively according to plan.

However, Deogandai was confident in his strategy.

By now, the town’s interior should be under ravage by the parasitic mushrooms and mad tadpoles, and the eastern gate would soon be breached.

Liheid would fall without Deogandai needing to directly fight.

A bit of wasted magic power was just showing off, he figured.

That’s how Deogandai was thinking, utterly composed and unruffled.

At least, until this very moment.

“You there, demon! Stop attacking the town!!”

The tide shifted the instant that youthful yet resolute voice rang across the plains.

The voice’s owner leapt down from the outer walls that should have been quite high and dashed alone toward Deogandai with sword drawn!

“......Who might you be?”

Feigning calmness with an air of arrogance, Deogandai questioned the voice’s owner.

......However!

Deogandai had already realized it!

The true identity of......the red-haired boy pointing his sword at him!

That appearance matched reports he had seen!

(Oh, oh wait, wait! Red hair and red eyes!? Could it be, is that actually......!?)

“I am the hero! The hero Torch Fenoben! The one who will put a stop to your vile demons’ schemes!”

(Ahhhhhhhhhh!! He really is the hero—!?)

Cold sweat gushed like a fountain down Deogandai’s back, drenching him!

(Why!? Why why why!? Why is the hero here–!?)

The hero was a formidable foe who even defeated the special combat officer Ice Blade Caro!

As a mere middle-ranked commander, Deogandai stood little chance in a direct confrontation!

“Grurlll......”

“!!”

However, upon hearing the dark magic wolves behind him growling, Deogandai regained his composure.

(Thank you, dark magic wolf-chans! ......That’s right, calm down Deogandai. What was your objective? Not to defeat the hero, but to destroy Liheid! And that will be achieved by the monsters soon without me fighting! The hero’s presence here was unexpected, but it doesn’t change what I must do! ......For now, I just need to stall for time!!)

Recalling his original role as a diversion, Deogandai resolved to fulfill it.

“The hero, is it......Hmph, I’ve heard of you. You’ve been quite the repeated hindrance to us. Perfect timing, I’ve been wanting to have a chat with you!”

“What was that!? I have nothing to discuss with the likes of you!”

Conversation!

Deogandai would converse!

Converse to stall for time!

He would lose if they fought!

“Now now, don’t say that. Kukuku, I’m rather fond of chatting, you see......!”

“What was that!? You like chatting!?”

(No, what kind of response was that!?)

Deogandai inwardly critiqued himself!

While the hero Torch was a powerful warrior blessed by the 【Holy Goddess’s Protection】, his psyche was still immature and childish.

Hence, he would tense up before battles and blurt out nonsensical retorts!R/ê/Ad lateSt ch/a/pters at novelhall.com Only

It couldn’t be helped, really!

“Y, yes. I like chatting, you see......! So......umm, well......”

“............”

“............”

Deogandai was on the verge of panic, but he couldn’t lose his composure!

The 100 dark magic wolves waiting behind as diversion forces were growling uneasily.

He had to avoid the crisis of his agitation spreading to render them useless as combat forces.

The reason why the eastern gate invasion force ignored their orders to come here was unclear, but given the circumstances, he had no choice but to go with the flow!

He would clash head-on with the entire human army!

There was no strategy left, and with the hero present, victory was unlikely!

However, straightforward directions were easy to follow!

Even if a sudden change of plans, it was simple to understand!

The monsters wouldn’t be confused and could follow orders!

He could still inflict considerable damage on the humans!

This was his only recourse!!

“Kukakakakaaaaaah!! Well arrived, my forces——!!”

Deogandai let out a bellowing laugh befitting the dimwitted Four Archdemons he inwardly mocked, raising his right arm forcefully while his robe billowed!

“Go forth! Trample them! Tear them apart! The humans! Lay utter waste——!!”

Declaring that, he swung his right arm down, pointing his blade at the human army!

The humans’ tension heightened!

......However!!

“Kyain!!”

“Kyain kyain!!”

“Fugoooo!! Fugogaaah!!”

The monsters’ behavior was strange.

As if cowering in terror, they madly rushed past, reaching all the way behind Deogandai.

But instead of reinforcing him there, still rumbling as they ran, they fled off in another direction entirely.

“Hah? Eh?”

Deogandai was momentarily stupefied by their inexplicable actions.

“Kyain!?”

“Kyain!? Kyain!?”

Moreover, even the 100 dark magic wolves waiting behind for the diversion seemed to sense something, letting out uneasy howls before fleeing to join the retreating horde!

“No, eh!? W, wait, eh!? Why!? Wait wait!?”

Deogandai let out a pitiful cry.

How did this happen!?

That single question dominated his mind.

However, the answer would soon become clear.

Trailing slightly behind the dark magic wolves, Deogandai and the opposing humans all.

Sensed the ferocious presence rapidly approaching, pursuing the fleeing monsters!!

Both Deogandai and the humans instinctively turned toward that presence.

There was a girl.

Donning tattered rags, raven black hair rippling in the wind, murderous intent blazing in her black eyes.

Completely contrary to the chilling, ferocious aura she exuded.

Even from a distance, for some reason, the only comprehension was that she was “beautiful.”

Such an abnormal girl racing to pursue the monsters at an extraordinary speed was coming this way.

Deogandai thought it!!

The humans thought it too!!

(Who......!!)

Without slowing her momentum at all, the girl kicked up a whirlwind yet somehow made not a sound as she passed like the wind itself, showing no interest in the confrontation between Deogandai and the humans as she gave chase.

All that remained was billowing dust.

Even that was swept away by the southerly wind, leaving nothing behind.

“........................”

Now alone, Deogandai and the massive human army stared at each other in silence.

Any chance of victory was gone.

This was impossible.

Deogandai’s heart was overcome with the feeling of defeat.

Undoubtedly a failure.

No matter how he struggled, the operation was a failure.

He was.

A loser.

Incompetent.

Useless.

As despair threatened to consume him, a memory resurfaced in Deogandai’s mind.

The emaciated face of the special combat officer Ice Blade Caro, who accumulated failure after failure until being demoted.

It was utterly wretched.

Deogandai never wanted to end up like that.

He never wanted to die like that.

It terrified him.

Because achieving great accomplishments and earning the acknowledgment of all demons.

That alone was Deogandai’s purpose in life.

He could flee from here.

But he could not.

Flee from here!

Within Deogandai’s despairing, chilled heart, the flame of dignity ignited!!

From an outside perspective, it may seem a foolish choice.

However, for him, there was no other path left!!

“Uooooooohhhh!!!”

Letting out the kind of blustering shout he had inwardly mocked from the dimwitted Four Archdemons, Deogandai steeled himself!!

Tossing aside his robe, he drew the sword at his hip despite not being particularly skilled with it, pointing the blade at the human army!!

“I am Deogandai!! A middle-ranked commander of the Demon Lord’s Army!! People of the fortress city of Liheid!! And the so-called hero defying the Demon Lord!! All of you, all of you......diiiiiieeeeeee!!”

Screaming that, Deogandai charged at the hero!

The battle of predetermined defeat had begun!!