Lucia stood in front of me, her eyes shut close. Glancing at her, her auburn hair had grown out to her back and her tiny horns poked out of her scalp, barely visible under the rays of the morning sun. I wondered why her horns were tiny compared to other horned demons of her age in the village. Was it due to being only a half-demon?

“Ugh, I can’t do it, Luqa,” she said resignedly, opening her eyes once again. “I just can’t do it, no matter how hard I try.”

I was trying to teach her the technique of body enhancement via internal mana manipulation, but she didn’t seem to be getting it, even after an hour of earnest attempts.

“That’s weird. Tavarius was able to quickly learn it from Ersham. I wonder why?” The words escaped my mouth, regrettably. Hearing them, Lucia grew dejected.

Damn it.

“I’m not as good as Big Bro Var or you…”

“Ah! No, no, I don’t mean anything bad by that. Apparently, internal mana manipulation is really difficult, even among demons. Don’t worry if takes you time.” I patted her head, trying to ease her now downcast mood.

Good job, Luqa. You crushed a little girl’s dreams.

“Well, okay, if you say so then. I’ll try it another time.” Lucia went back to her usual neutral expression. “Can we practice double casting now instead?”

Sudden recovery? The inner workings of this girl’s mind elude me.

But. In an instant.

A shock went through my body.

That presence… what the hell was that?

An oppressive atmosphere filled the air all around me. Its sensation felt similar to that red-eyed creature from a couple of years ago. Had a monster like that invaded the village?

***

“Who the hell are you? What do you want?” Ersham asked with caution as he faced a hostile invader. Behind him, the villagers watched with fear.

This guy… what the hell is he? Just from the looks of it, I don’t know if I can take him on alone. Clara picked a bad time to go surveying around.

Opposite Ersham stood a youth, around the same age as his nephew. Despite the youth’s arrogant behavior, he carried an aura of unbelievable power. Behind him was an armed group of a hundred. They were no professional soldiers nor skilled mercenaries, but simply a militia of villagers, forced to fight. Armed simply with a miscellaneous variety of shoddy weapons, with rusty spears, blunt swords, and hunting bows.

These people, they’re from the village of the tailed demons. What do they want?

“I… am none other than your ruler, the one born to be the Demon King by destiny,” the youth declared.

“Don’t fucking bullshit me!” Ersham drew his sword, his rage mixed in with his fear.

“Hmph! Insolent mongrel,” the youth said in response. “Will this convince your insufficient mind?” The youth drew a curved black sword, with distinct swirling patterns decorating the blade.

That sword… there’s no way.

“I can tell by the surprise on your face that even someone like you can recognize this sword,” the youth said. “Yes! I will enlighten you! I am none other than the reincarnation of the Demon King Malachi, and this sword in my hand is the legendary Shamshir wielded by my past self in the great war.” The youth held his sword up into the air. “Admire the beauty of its Avestan alloy, of the unparalleled craftsmanship of the past!”

“What… what do you want from us?” said Ersham, struggling to get out the words.

“Simple. I expect everyone in this village to bow to me and recognize my authority. Anyone I deem insolent will be executed by me personally. Any resistance and I will force my authority, as befitting of the Demon King.”

This asshole… what an arrogant dickhead. Hmph, I suppose his stupidity does give me a chance to win this, though.

“…okay then…” Ersham quietly muttered before taking a deep breath to ready himself. “Oh great mighty revered lord Demon King Malachi, if Your Highness says so,” he said with a sardonic reverence. “We have been awaiting your fateful return all these years, of course. And I am delighted to see you grace us with your celestial presence. May my humble self just plead for one thing?”

The youth’s face scrunched with annoyance, unamused by the swordsman’s manners. “What is it, fool?”

Ersham pointed his sword at the youth, doing his best to seem calm and confident.

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“I request a one-on-one duel with the lord Demon King. I wish to confirm both the famed skills of Your Highness. Would Your Highness be so generous to allow us a glimpse of your unequaled abilities?”

A malicious grin appeared on the youth’s face. “Fine. I’ll gladly show you your place, fool.”

***

I ran as fast as I could, relying on the winds to hasten me. I expanded my black wings to their full span, using wind magic to glide me through the sky.

That presence… it's right near the bridge of the village.

“Luqa, wait for me, please! What’s wrong?” Lucia followed not too far behind me.

***

Ersham had never fought a stronger opponent until now.

The youth’s speed and strength were absolutely unparalleled. It took every bit of focus, every instinct, and every piece of wisdom from his experience to avoid and defend against his attacks. The swordsman, the guardian of the village, was utterly forced on the defensive, without even a single opportunity to counterattack.

Every blow from the youth made Ersham’s arms feel numb by the sheer impact. Every follow-up gave no space for Ersham’s mind to wander.

On the other hand, the youth fought his opponent casually, insultingly so. He carried a smirk on his face the whole time. The mongrel that had dared to question him was now being utterly humiliated in combat.

This guy, he’s unbelievably strong and fast. I can’t deny that.

But Ersham’s experienced eye saw an open path to victory from the branches of possibility.

Physically, he’s better than me, but…

An attack from the youth was skillfully and unexpectedly parried by Ersham with a smooth motion, leaving the youth wide open for a split second. This was enough for the swordsman, who counterattacked with a quick slash. The youth, eyes wide open, shocked at the change in the flow of battle, sprung back.

The slash just barely met its mark, leaving a shallow cut across the youth’s chest.

…he’s no swordsman at all! He’s just raw power with no skill to back it up. A Demon King? Kiss my ass.

“You… you dare?!” The youth was absolutely enraged.

“Hmph, I don’t even need my sword for this fight. I was just playing around this whole time. You’re easy as hell, ‘Demon King’.” Ersham tossed his sword aside with a taunting look on his face.

“You! You’ll regret saying those words, you mongrel!” The youth charged in, his sword held with two hands, poised over his head. An attack that couldn’t be more telegraphed. Ersham simply stood watching his opponent.

Someone gifted with such power just to do nothing good with it. Not much intelligence, no actual skill with the sword, just someone with a bit of power and a bad attitude. What a shitty brat, Demon King or not.

As the youth’s black sword neared Ersham, the former smiled widely, eagerly awaiting the death of the latter.

But suddenly the black’s sword trajectory stopped short.

It had been forced to a stop.

By Ersham’s hands, which held the blade in between.

It was now Ersham’s turn to smile widely.

He twisted the sword in his hands, pulled forwards the shocked youth, and he slammed his forehead right into the youth’s face, all while enhancing and strengthening his forehead as much as he could.

The youth flew backward, reeling, losing his grip on his black blade. His nose was crushed and bent, bleeding profusely from the nostrils. His left hand made to touch his face, nonplussed by the sequence of events that had just transpired.

“O Lord Demon King. It seems I have your sword. I count this as my victory, no? You’ll have to leave the village now.”

“Y-you mongrel… You… will pay for this!”

Figures. Something like that's not enough to knock him out. It's a small victory, at least.

The youth conjured an explosion of black flames at Ersham.

Goddamn it. Not like this.

The flames consumed Ersham, who tried in vain to jump away.

“My army, subdue the people of this village! Kill them if you have to!”

***

Lucia and I pushed through the crowd of villagers to catch a glimpse of Ersham dueling someone who called himself the Demon King. However, Ersham was suddenly surrounded and smothered by intense black flames, flames that quickly burned away, leaving him unconscious and injured on the ground. The clothes on his upper half were completely burned away, and his skin was covered in severe burns.

“Dad!” Lucia screamed as she watched the fate of her father.

I drew my eyes towards the dark-haired man, the one who had conjured those black flames… and the one who had that unfathomable presence. His armed militia behind him had begun going after the villagers, although reluctantly.

Many of the villagers moved to run, others moved to arm themselves, and some chose to resist and fight then and there, though the defeat of their guardian had shaken some of their will to fight.

I ran forwards, making my way to where the fight between Ersham and the man had been. Next to Ersham’s body was Tavarius, who had ran to his unconscious uncle amidst the chaos. A fiery yet silent rage was apparent in him.

“Tavarius! Is Uncle Ersham okay?” I asked.

“…he’s alive and breathing,” he replied. “But… but… that asshole… I won’t forgive him!”

Lucia knelt down beside her father and cast a healing spell, while Tavarius stood up, his own sword drawn, staring at the arrogant youth, arms crossed, watching his troops move to take over the village.

“Tavarius, listen to me.” I put a hand on my friend’s shoulder. “I have a plan.”

He turned around, facing me with ireful eyes.

“What, Luqa?” he asked.

“Help out the villagers and protect them from these invaders. You too, Lucia,” I said resolutely. “I will be facing this so-called Demon King myself.”

“But—”

“Please, trust me, you two. I can deal with this.” I glanced at the two with imploring eyes.

“I… fine. Good luck. But if you look like you’re in trouble, I’ll be jumping in.” Tavarius carried his unconscious uncle and retreated away to find a place to leave him safely.

“Good luck, Luqa. Win.” Lucia joined her cousin.

I turned to face the man who called himself Demon King Malachi. In my glimpse of Ersham’s duel, I deduced he had the correct strategy. This guy was easy to lead by the nose. I would finish what he started.

I stepped forwards, meeting the eyes of this “Malachi.” The sounds of the fighting around us were drowned out in my head as my pale blue eyes regarded him.

“Hoh, what does this little boy want?” The man snorted as he looked at me, amused that it would be me who would be confronting him.

“Nothing much, I just wanted to have my turn,” I said. “Except this time, it’ll be you on the ground, begging sweet mercy.”

Mana coursed and circulated through the entirety of my body. I slowly unsheathed the sword given to me by Ersham and enhanced it with my magic as well.

That should be enough to withstand the strength this man had displayed earlier.

“Hahaha! What an imaginative boy you are. Are you seeking your death like the man before you, boy?” He grinned, a wisp of black flame in his hands.

“No. I just want to show you that those who seek to kill…” Mana strengthened my limbs, lending me extraordinary strength. “…should only be those who are prepared to die.”