Volume 3 – 14 – Thor – A Fateful Confrontation [1]

Volume 3: Chapter 014: Thor – A Fateful Confrontation [1]

Author: かっぱ同盟／友麻碧

Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3862be/

Translated by Zzonkedd

Edited by Gumihou

Gumihou: Smoothed out the writing in general

 

When I returned to the Princess’s room, I found Commander Dante standing over two burnt corpses. A terrible smell lingered in the room.

“Haah… what an awful state.”

Aide Urban, still in his pyjamas, was looking around the room. There was a vague look of annoyance on his face as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.

As expected of that unflappable person.

“Get the staff to clean out a room on the lower floor for the princess,” said Dante.

“Hey, is this hotel still safe?” Aide Urban asked.

“It’s risky to stay here, but it’s even more dangerous to try and move the Princess outside in the dark.”

“What about investigating the enemy?”

“But, we can’t leave the Princess’s side…”

I cut into the conversation, “I’ll go and investigate.”

“Thor?”

“We should investigate this immediately. Otherwise… I have a feeling that things could get worse,” I said.

I had detected magical waves earlier and could still track them down while the information was still fresh.

What worried me were the blue flames that got through my barrier and turned these bodies into ashes.

This went beyond magic. It was a course that exploited a loophole that I must have overlooked. That, or the wielder was someone of equal power or even more skilled than me.

Not to mention, I had been getting the feeling that someone was watching me.

“But, what if someone attacked this place while you’re gone?” asked Aide Urban.

“It’s fine. Stay together on the lower floor. I will secure it as best I can. Just don’t leave it for whatever reason.”

“Thor, you-” Commander Dante looked like he wanted to argue with me, but he must have felt the magic I was giving out because he eventually subsided.

“I’ll be back by morning.”

A strange tension had enveloped me.

I felt… uneasy.

 

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The night was dark at the harbour. A piercing coldness made itself known in my body as I left the body. My breath came out as a white steam.

I could sense several presences and hear the guttural growls of something utterly inhuman.

There were mages, human magic users as well as-

“Demons,” I muttered to myself.

Glowing eyes could be seen deep in the darkness all over the place. Well, they were clearer to my senses since demons are magically stronger than human mages.

I paused and chanted, “Magic Fortress, [Shadow Kingdom].”

A blackness darker than night stretched out around me. The [Shadow Kingdom] engulfed the town with me at the centre.

“Don’t let anyone escape.”

Under my feet, quiet mist swirled.

Not a single thing can escape this black labyrinth.

This Magic Fortress is one of the reasons why I was called the Black Demon King. I can take over an entire area in one beat and entangle pretty much anything within my target range. It is a kingdom of shadows where time and space are separated from reality. Once trapped inside, my targets are stuck forever until I decide to release the space. Shadow puppets would forever harass the targets as I like.

As for myself, I can just sit in the middle of the throne and observe everything that is happening within the space as I like. Just like a villain.

Like a Demon King.

“It’s been a while since I have sat in this chair.”

Monitors floated around me as I lounged within the black marble chair. I watched as the countless monitors showed me livestreams of mages being chased down by shadow puppets and demons trying to tear the shadows apart.

Well, my shadow puppets could not be defeated by such meagre techniques or be torn apart by physical force.

[2] “Listen here, drag all these vermin to my feet. Take care to look for that one fellow…”

That one fellow being the mage who managed to sneak the blue flames through my barrier. One of the monitors flickered abnormally. When I looked at it, I noticed that the shadow puppets were not following their automatic settings and were moving strangely.

“Did they rewrite the spells…” I muttered as I looked closer at that screen.

All of the people in that monitor wore the same masks, but there was one person who stood with a certain confidence that denoted his position as leader.

“It should be him.”

With a thought, the glowing screen floated over and I narrowed my eyes at it.

As a shadow puppet appeared, he stuck out his index finger and flicked it about. Obviously rewriting the spells behind the magic, causing the puppet to malfunction. Then, he moved forward, without hesitation, choosing the most efficient path centre of the labyrinth.

This was proof enough that he knew where I was and how to navigate this labyrinth.

“Well, if you insist…”

I snapped my fingers, and the view of that area widened. Immediately, I could see that they had some kind of small guiding light in front of them. The thing was showing them the shortest way to get to me.

The masked man suddenly looked up. It was as though he was looking right at me, even though it should be impossible…

“Who are you…” I muttered, looking at the man in his cloak and mask. The only thing I could tell is that he is most definitely a man.

[2] “Since you lot wear the same mask, you must be comrades, right?”

[3] No answer.

[2] “Were you the one who set off the blue flames?”

[3] “Indeed.”

The man answered for the first time. He had his hands behind his back and answered the question in a calm voice. He was not the least bit afraid.

“Do you know who I am?” I continued.

“Of course, Ruskia’s Magic Advisor. Thor Sagaram. Or, should I say, ‘The Black Demon King’?”

[3] That was unexpected.

“The Black Demon King is a ghost from 2000 years ago. Even if you are his reincarnation, you are no longer king and therefore not fit to sit on that throne. I would be most obliged if you would step down.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am merely a servant to my king. I was never a king… once.”

“Once?”

Something about his words reminded me of something. Just why is this person hiding his face behind a mask?

“You’re Demon King class,” I said.

Within that dark, dark labyrinth, I faced a preordained fate.

The man in the mask tilted his head slightly, the laughter sounded as though he was goading me.

“In that era, there were three demon king classes I had yet to meet. The Gold King, the Silver King and finally, the Blue General…”

The one who was never a king. Well, I already have an idea of who I was facing now.

“You are the Blue General.”

[3] “That is so, Black Demon King.”

I stood up and drew the sword at my waist. The man in front of me sneered. I could feel his haughty attitude even through the mask and robes.

“Oh my, oh my, do calm down. I am not here to fight you. I am merely here on business. I saw the video of Ruskia’s Magic Advisor defeating the Giant Soldiers of our country. Do forgive my curiosity, it’s been over a thousand years since I last saw a Demon King. So, I was curious to see just what kind of Demon King you are.”

“Your country? You mean Hermedes?”

“Well, I am from the north…”

“That you are.”

The Blue General from a thousand years ago was also a general from a great northern country.

Whatever, I did not like this guy. Especially his nonchalant manner of walking around with his hands behind his back, even though I had a sword in hand.

He continued to wander around the area and made little comments, “Still, this is quite the Magic Fortress. Whether it is in size or strength, it is incomparable to those little shacks made by those Twilight people. As expected, the original is different.”

I said nothing.

“Indeed, rather than shacks. Those little constructions are but sand castles to me, easily destroyed by a mere ripple. Now, this construct is worthy of being called a ‘fortress’. It cannot be conquered without considerable military might.”

“Get to the point. Are you trying to write a poem?”

“Well, I am but a poet, a mere servant to a king.”

“Hermedes had been trying to invade this country. Just why are you doing this?”

“Why, you ask? That’s because our king desires it. I am but a mere servant. A loyal vassal, nothing more…”

[2] “Enough! Stop talking like a stage actor,” I snapped. “Tell me now, are you working with the Terziers?”

[3] “But of course?”

“At least you’re quick to answer,” I said grudgingly. I really can’t handle people like these. “Are you working with them to bring down Sir Raymond’s faction?”

“Yes, yes, that is indeed our goal!”

[2] “… …” This fellow was clearly enjoying himself. [3] That little laugh at the end was especially grating.

[2] While I was tempted to take his head off with my sword, I gestured for him to continue.

The Blue General happily complied.

“Ruskia’s struggle for the throne is really convenient for us, so of course it made sense for us to take advantage. People forced to the edge only think about self-preservation. [3] It is just so, so convenient for us to hop in at the right time and be there to hand them a little helping hand. Not to mention, if that Raymond fellow becomes king, things would be rather inconvenient for us…”

[2] “In other words, you can’t persuade Lord Raymond to do your bidding?”

[3] “Not for free, of course. The Terziers were quite happy to accept our aid. The conditions of which I cannot completely reveal to you, but at the very least, we promise to install the crown prince as king.”

[3] Whatever ‘aid’ they hand over must be tied down with all kinds of strings.

“Still, the queen is quite the frightening person. To think that she would sacrifice her own daughter to further her son’s future. Well, I never! She was quite adamant about it, too. Screaming hysterically about how it must be done as soon as possible or something. That woman is ready to kill her daughter to frame her brother-in-law so that her son can take the throne. Well, now, the Royal Palace may look forward to a bloody future quite soon.”

“That’s impossible,” [2] I said under my breath, unable to accept the fact that the queen was really, truly going to these lengths.

“Isn’t it? Still, the Hermedes Federation prides itself on making the impossible possible~”

“By impossible, I meant ridiculous,” [2] I said stonily to the Blue General, who must be grinning toothily behind that mask like a used car salesman.

Although there was no sign that he was using magic and did not even draw out his sword, I felt oddly drained from dealing with him. He was the complete opposite of the battle-crazy Esca.

“Oh my, I must be going soon. Busy, busy, I have so many things to do as a high-ranking servant of a country. Speaking of which, there must be other demon kings in Ruskia, yes? Won’t it be fun to play a little game of war amongst the Demon Kings?”

“Did you seriously just say that?” I could not believe my ears at the sheer gall of this person.

“Ah, hello? Hello?” The masked person pulled out a communicator lacrima and began talking into it. “Yes? Yes, yes, I’ll be there, no need to rush me~”

What was even more shocking than his rudeness was the fact that he could use the device within my domain. How did he even manage to get any connection here?

“Goodness, the signal is really bad here. I’ll have to call you back later,” he said as he turned around, making to leave.

I was outraged, “Oi! We’re not done here!”

He had turned his back completely to me, so I retaliated in the most appropriate way, by slashing my sword at his retreating back. My sword was blocked by a blue-handled sword he pulled from his waist.

“Attacking one’s back? How dishonourable, Black Demon King?”

“If a demon king class mage can’t even defend this much…”

“Well, well, if that is so…”

[3] The resistance against the sword suddenly disappeared and cleaved the man cleanly through his torso.

What the-

“I grant you the gift of the Cursed Flame.”

While I was reeling with shock, he pointed a finger at me. A blue flame danced at the tip of his finger. Then, as I was engulfed in blue flames, [4] the mask slipped off to reveal a grinning face.

[5] I closed my eyes and braced myself against the blue flames. I have already seen how fast it reduces living people into burnt corpses…

[5] “… …”

[5] When I did not feel the expected heat and pressure, I opened my eyes and… the flames had disappeared.

“What the…”

Instead of blue flames, a brilliant crimson light engulfed me. Beyond the barrier of the crimson light, blue flames struggled for a while longer before guttering out like a flame deprived of oxygen.

[5] Even the Blue General looked shaken by this development.

[5] A brilliant crimson light. There’s only one person I associate with this colour. Makia. The brooch pinned to my chest let out the most light. Although it was a suspicious gift from the princess, something I had worn with reluctance, the light was all Makia.

“Ah.”

That’s right, when I showed the ridiculous brooch to Makia, she cut her finger on it. [5] Since her blood had touched it, she must have done something back then. As I looked at the brooch, red letters bled over the writing that Princess Lulu had scratched on.

 

It was a command.

[Do not harm Thor]

 

“Makia …”

I felt [2] my eyes tearing up.

The Blue General, who had been silent since the crimson light burst out, suddenly laughed.

“What a surprise! Of course, of course, this must be the Crimson Witch’s common magic, right? I never thought I’d catch a glimpse of that power in a place like this. Ahhh… I’m getting goosebumps from the sight~”

He looked like he might burst from excitement. He was still leaking blood in the chest, but seemed too excited by Makia’s power to notice it.

While it was true that Makia’s common magic was a rare and special thing, the amount of information contained within the brooch could only block the Blue General’s attack just once. After a while, the crimson light faded, and the brooch broke and fell to the ground.

I shot forward with my sword and thrust it into the still-laughing person. He was completely open and [5] blood dribbled from his mouth as he snickered, “There is no point killing this body~”

“Of course, I know,” I said. “This is just one of your puppets. Your real body is elsewhere.”

“Oh, so you noticed? Indeed, my own personal ‘Delegation’ magic allows me to take over the consciousness of people I want to~”

With that final remark, the body collapsed. The grin fixed on its face was familiar, but the strong, crude features were nothing like the Blue General I had remembered. While I am not sure who this person was, he had been a living human being once.

I dragged my sword out and sat back down on my back throne.

“Haahhh…”

Fatigue hit me suddenly.

The Blue General had never shown himself much before, but he was clearly a difficult opponent.

I stared at the last of the crimson light lingering in the air, a hand on my chest where the brooch used to be. Something rustled under my hand. It was the wrapping paper for the pair of earrings I had bought for Makia.

I think… I really want to see her right now…

 

 

[Gumihou: Adjusted so that it’s properly dramatic without being overly melodramatic]

 

[1] Changed the title so that it doesn’t spoil the chapter

[2] Adjust Thor’s speech to reflect a ‘king-like’ behaviour and not some puffy-faced kid

[3] Adjusted the dialogue between the two so that it sounded more natural

[4] Added details, there was no mention of the mask falling off, only a ‘grin on his face’, which would require the mask to fall off at some point.

[5] Adjusted details for dramatic purposes that are not… that happened. Yeah.

 

 

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