Chapter 338: Enemy or Ally?

“Where are you going?”

“To my room. I’m going to change clothes.”

Red pupils, sensing caution in his opponent’s eyes, narrowed slightly, hinting at a faint bloodlust. Separately, Deon nonchalantly shook his blood- and rainwater-soaked clothes as if to show off.

His gaze lingered on the fluttering collar for a moment, then a firm voice returned, making it clear he wouldn’t let it slide.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“……It’s been quite a while since we heard the victory reports from each city, and we haven’t been able to contact the other legion commanders. May I ask why you’ve returned alone?”

“No.”

……

……

Good heavens. Ed, being led away by Ben, wore a shocked expression. Ben, who had been maintaining his composure fairly well, was no different.

‘Sir Deon, what on earth are you thinking with that answer…!’

Saying it so blatantly and contrarily, how could anyone not understand?

Everyone here must have realized it by now. Deon Hart is somehow involved in the fact that contact with the legion commanders has been lost, and not in a good way.

‘Could it be.’

‘Sir Deon is…?’

As expected, the surrounding demons, realizing the unusual turn of events, cautiously backed away.

In the tense atmosphere, wary glances passed between the Hero and the Commander of the 3rd Corps. Asild, with a hand on his weapon, spoke with a resolute face.

“Please answer me. This is a very important question.”

“Why? Will this one answer determine whether I’m an enemy or an ally?”

“……Idelia said something.”

Before departing, she secretly came to me and said something.

“She told me to be wary if Sir Deon returns alone or only with forces extremely favorable to him.”

That was content assuming the possibility that Deon Hart was an enemy. No, she was almost certain.

“[Since you’re the only one left in Demon King’s castle, I’m telling you this. If Sir Deon returns alone or only with forces extremely favorable to him, it’s best to be wary. Nine times out of ten, it’ll be to cut off Lord Demon King’s head.]”

“[……What?]”

“[You’re not thinking of letting the Royal Guard reach Lord Demon King without any interference, are you?]”

“[No, wait… .]”

At the time, Asild was momentarily stunned by the sudden, shocking information. And soon after, upon deciphering even more shocking information, he wore a bewildered expression.

“[Then Idelia, you.]”

Her two assumptions, reinterpreted, meant that Deon Hart would return alone or only with extremely favorable forces surviving.

If so, then Idelia, who, like me, thoroughly follows Lord Demon King?

‘……’

Having argued for a long time, Asild knew her well. To avoid being deceived by her cunning tactics, he had no choice but to understand her clearly.

Therefore, he knew that Idelia was undoubtedly on Lord Demon King’s side, and he was certain that her words were not nonsense.

‘That guy isn’t a demon who would talk nonsense in a situation like this.’

Moreover, she wasn’t the type to secretly visit her nemesis, a legion commander, and pull such a serious prank.

“So, I’ll ask again.”

The back of the guy who turned away without answering, even though he clearly heard my last question about his safety, flashed through my mind. Asild slowly opened his mouth, gripping the hilt of his greatsword tightly.

“Sir Deon… are you an enemy?”

……

Instead of answering immediately, Deon briefly faced his opponent.

Idelia. The familiar name that spilled from his opponent’s lips awakened a dormant memory. She was one of the perceptive legion commanders who was wary of me. It’s not strange that she left such contingency plans.

‘And… she was the one who told me to pull out Dan’s tongue.’

Thinking about it, she was a guy who annoyed me in various ways while pretending not to.

Of course, she’s dead now. I hope her death wasn’t a peaceful one.

His thoughts were quickly sorted. As if declaring the end of the brief silence, his red eyes, which had been fixed on Asild, curved into a beautiful smile.

“You’re already sure, so why ask?”

“……Then you’re planning to attack Lord Demon King afterward, right?”

“That’s right.”

“The 3rd Corps is tasked with the role of the Royal Guard, protecting Lord Demon King.”

……

“So, you can’t pass.”

Although his nature had changed at some point, becoming more offensive than defensive, the essence of the 3rd Corps was still ‘Royal Guard.’ That’s why Asild drew his weapon against the Hero, even knowing he would die.

The greatsword, boasting a gruesome and awe-inspiring appearance, was aimed at Deon Hart.

“As the Commander of the 3rd Corps, I order. From this moment on, we define Deon Hart, who intends to harm Lord Demon King, as an enemy.”

……

“Inform all demons in the city of this fact and prevent him from reaching Lord Demon King.”

Among those who had been blankly staring at the scene unfolding before them, someone frantically pulled out a communication stone. Deon, who had been silently watching the spectacle, turned to look at Asild and the 3rd Corps members who had aimed their weapons at him.

His eyes, scanning each face, fixed again on Asild, and a leisurely voice, out of place in the situation, flowed out.

“Come to think of it, you wanted to spar with me before, didn’t you?”

“That was really troublesome back then.”

“When I finally mustered the courage to refuse, you thought I refused because I was afraid of accidentally killing you, and said you would build up your skills enough not to die easily and request a spar again.”

“It seems like that moment has come now, what do you say?”

……

“Have you been diligently building up your skills in the meantime?”

“To not die against a Hero, ordinary skills won’t be enough, you know. Moreover, I also have a card that makes the situation advantageous for me.” Deon lightly brushed his epaulet as if checking it, then smirked, raising the corner of his lips.

Asild didn’t answer and looked back at his subordinates.

“Fall back and surround Deon Hart.”

“Understood.”

“It would be best to move far enough away not to get caught up in the battle. I’ll handle the fight. You guys just need to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.”

Even as a legion commander, he knew better than anyone that he was no match for a Hero. But if he were to back down for just that reason, he wouldn’t have become the ‘Commander of the 3rd Corps’ in the first place.

Was it the pressure of facing a Hero? A sensation similar to when he crossed into the Human Realm subtly dulled his body. But now, even focusing solely on Deon Hart was overwhelming, so Asild swung his greatsword without concern.

……

Deon Hart’s epaulet contains a charm. A charm that imposes restrictions on opposing demons when crossing the border into the Human Realm.

This was originally made for the Hero’s comrades to more easily face demons, its ultimate purpose being to make it easier for the Hero to reach the Demon King without hindrance. There’s no way a legion commander, one of the obstacles on the path to the Demon King, could withstand a Hero carrying such a charm.

Asild couldn’t last long and quickly collapsed. Deon checking the moon’s position in the middle of the battle and pushing even harder was also one of the reasons for his quick defeat.

‘……What a mess.’

Catching his breath and lifting his head, the surroundings, completely devastated despite the battle being fought under restrictions, came into view.

Well, how could it be intact when that greatsword is swung with such force that it could even cleave space? Honestly, I didn’t break anything in this mess. Asild broke it all. When the greatsword I dodged accurately swept away the goods on the stall, I thought it was intentional.

“Did he have some kind of grudge against Demon King’s castle…?”

‘The Demon King will be a bit heartbroken if he sees this.’

No, he might just overlook it saying he doesn’t care.

‘Either way, it’s not my concern.’

Brushing aside his thoughts, he pulled out the dagger that had been plunged into the guy’s heart. The sight of him still not letting go of his greatsword even at the end came into view.

Such words naturally spilled out.

“……Tough bastard.”

Even though it was a fight he was bound to win, it was quite a tricky battle. It wasn’t the weapon or fighting style that was tricky, but his tenacity and venom. Because of that, he sustained minor injuries all over his body.

It ended at a minor level thanks to being somewhat wary because the opponent was a legion commander; if not, there could have been dangerous wounds.

……He glanced downwards at the wound that was still bleeding.

‘It seems like he infused magic power into the greatsword… .’

‘Or maybe it’s a unique ability.’

The healing speed of the wound is slow. The thought of maybe I should have fought while being a bit more careful about injuries also crossed my mind, but if I had done that, it would have been difficult to shorten the time, so it’s better to be satisfied with this much.

Actually, considering that I moved without thinking about my body even in battles against Heroes, just being careful about injuries is already quite a bit of consideration, so even if I go back, nothing will change.

‘As I thought, it was tricky.’

In fact, Asild’s weapon or fighting style was simple, but even so, his tenacious attacks in a ‘let’s die together’ style were… .

His thoughts, which had been flowing without pause, abruptly stopped.

His red pupils slid sideways, and almost as soon as something caught his eye, Deon immediately leaned his upper body back. Following that, a greatsword grazed right in front of his neck.

“Deon Hart…!”

The legion members who had lost their superior were pouring their anger towards him.

Deon, flexibly dodging using the recoil of his body leaned far back, glanced at the sky, then faced those glaring at him and said with a sullen face.

“If you don’t attack, I’m even willing to just pass by.”

“Bullshit!”

“……No choice then.”

“Guess I have no choice but to kill them all.”

I understand their feelings, but that can’t take precedence over my position. In the splashing sea of blood, the dagger spun around and around.

……Blood reached up to his neck.

Deon quietly looked down.

Where does the real end and the fake begin? A pointless question flashed through his mind for a moment.

‘Guess it doesn’t matter anymore.’

Filling the space that had become quiet again with a humming sound, he started walking. Countless demon corpses were kicked by his feet, but he didn’t care.

Because there were so many fools rushing in mindlessly, he killed and killed again. Because of that, among the demons who were nearby, survivors… .

“Sir Deon… …”

……Survivors: 0.

He turned his head away, pretending not to see Ben, who was carefully approaching with a medical bag, and Ed, who was pacing nervously nearby with a worried face.

The two demons, vaguely realizing the meaning of his actions, stopped in their tracks. Ben scanned the wound with a lingering look.

“Even so, it would be better to treat your wounds before you go… …”

He knew there was nothing good about getting involved with Deon Hart right now. That’s why he’s just muttering to himself instead of speaking directly.

If he even exchanged words with him, he would be seen as being on the same side and would be killed by those who follow Lord Demon King. Even without exchanging words, just Deon Hart looking this way and passing by would make him seem like he’s on the same side.

For Deon Hart, passing by pretending not to see us is the best option since he won’t be able to stop the threats coming towards us. Yes, I understand his intention well.

But, still.

“Because it’s a wound caused by a legion commander’s magic power, the recovery will probably be slow… …”

“……”

“Treatment… .”

“……”

It was unavoidable that lingering feelings arose.

For a long time, he repeated the act of hesitating, wanting to rush out due to his belief as a physician but being stopped by Sir Deon’s intention, then a low voice like a whisper was heard.

“It’s fine.”

“……!”

A whisper so faint that he wondered if it was an auditory hallucination. But judging from Ed’s reaction, it seemed he hadn’t misheard.

At the reaction of the guy who flinched and raised his head, Ben also suddenly raised his head, but Deon had already left the place.