The corner of the Demon King's mouth rose.
"... That's right."
That's outrageous.
"As expected, you have talent."
"... Because I am a hero."
"Yes."
The movement was different from the Deon who first tried it. Although it was clumsy, the attack almost imitated the Demon King's movements.
A hero is a hero because he didn't forget to follow through and finished it without fail. The Demon King, who was quietly looking at him, approached Deon, grabbed the upper part of the spear he was holding, and lifted it up.
Deon, who understood that he was trying to take the spear, relaxed his grip, but the spear did not escape his grip and stayed in place. A soft voice was heard.
"Don't let go."
"..."
"That attack from earlier was correct, but the tip of the spear shook a little when it was thrust in and pulled out. I'll show you slowly again from your perspective, so try your best."
Even the stabbing was clean.
To get this far in just one attempt. How much does an average person have to work to reach this level? With the absurd thought that life was truly unfair, the Demon King slowly moved the spear, stabbed it in the air, and retrieved it.
There was no need to explain in detail that the spear had to be twisted and retrieved at this point. The Demon King showed through his actions and only spoke a few words.
"Did you see it?"
"Yes."
"Now, repeat this ten times in the correct position. When you're done, I'll show you how to block, so do that twice and then spar with Myers."
"..."
"What? Sparring is effective when blocking. I'm sure there's nothing like it in actual combat, but it's not possible right now, since I can't spar, so it wouldn't be best to spar with the Commander of the 12th Corps, whose main weapon is a spear?"
That shouldn't be a problem. But in common sense, who would spar immediately after doing only 10 thrusts and 2 blocks?
However, Deon, who realized his talent when he properly held the spear for the first time, did not bother to argue. Just as the Demon King said, it really seemed like that would be enough. No, that was definitely enough.
"... Oh, right."
The Demon King, who was watching Deon stabbing without wavered, exclaimed as if he had suddenly remembered something. Words unrelated to the lesson continued.
"I heard the Imperial Army raided and wiped out the Demon Cult?"
Stop. The movement of the spear he was retrieving was momentarily disrupted.
The Demon King didn't care and gently raised the corners of his mouth. A heavy yet light question followed with a slight hint of playfulness.
"I heard that almost everyone is dead and only a few are left. Are you okay?"
"... As long as the contractor is alive, it's okay."
He heard that as soon as the contract was successful, Lirinel took away the contractor, Sheia, and began protecting and monitoring her.
Moreover, if the contractor had died, 8th Corps Commander Hell would also have been forcibly recalled, but Hell was still on the campaign trail. In fact, he also heard that he was doing a great job by overcoming traps and reaching the walls of Shanguk.
'He said he used his unique ability to enter the castle and make a big fuss to open the castle gate?'
The King of Shanguk was in the next castle, so he couldn't call out checkmate, but the situation that had made no progress suddenly changed, and that alone was amazing. The last report was that they were leaving immediately for the next castle.
This means that the contractor is safe.
'He's so... so passionate that it's burdensome.'
Deon had a shocked expression.
Hell, Lirinel, Ben and Ed... All the demons that came to mind were passionate, which seemed to be a characteristic of their race.
'Especially how I felt when I belatedly learned of Lirinel's quick actions.'
A young-looking demon flashed through his mind as she proudly boasted about her actions in stealing a contract, saying, 'You omitted it because it was such an obvious order?' He couldn't help but laugh.
It was an indescribably subtle feeling.
It's fortunate that the group that took control of the leader of the Revolutionary Army was alive, but it's a shame that the group that summoned the Commander of the 8th Corps into the human world did not die. When you calculate it, it is more beneficial for him to be alive.
Anyway.
"As long as a Commander was summoned, the Demon Cult in the human world has fulfilled its role. As long as the contractor is alive, it doesn't matter whether the religion dies or not."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Actually, no.
It would have been better if it had been resolved quietly without summoning the Corps Commander. What he had left behind just in case turned out to be poison.
How do I clean up the remaining residue? What about the contractor? Even while he was contemplating, Deon neatly completed ten stabs and handed the spear to the Demon King, who stretched out his hand. The Demon King turned his spear lightly as if he were turning a pen and took a stance.
"Now I'm going to show you how to block, so watch carefully."
The spear moved without any fuss.
"This is what pushes outward."
"..."
"This is what pushes down inward."
Even though it may seem like he moved roughly, it was clear and clean, so it was easy to see and learn. Deon took the spear that was held out.
"Try it now."
The Demon King smiled slightly as he imitated the movements.
'I see why he said to only do it twice.'
It's easy, but it's too easy.
Even though it's his first time, the Demon King told you to do it only two more times, as if there's nothing to point out about his posture.
He moved the speak and glanced at the Demon King. The Demon King, who couldn't possibly miss his gaze on him, immediately took his eyes off the moving tip of the spear, looked at him, and smiled. Deon's eyes suddenly turned cold due to his unlucky situation.
"Oh, right."
"...?"
In the same way the Demon King did a moment ago, Deon exclaimed.
Perhaps because this was unexpected, doubt and confusion appeared in the Demon King's eyes. Deon had a barely visible smile on his face.
"How was the monster problem resolved?"
He stopped talking because it was obvious without having to listen to what the Demon King was going to say. It must have been a pointless question as to what to do now. A remark without any special intention, just to upset and put pressure on him. There was no need to listen to that.
Deon spoke to the Demon King, who still had a questioning look in his eyes.
"As expected, if the Demon King himself steps forward, the number of troops available to operate will increase significantly, and the war will become much easier."
He was the one who annoyed him first, but he also had a slightly surprised look on his face as if he hadn't expected this.
'If you offend someone first, you have to be prepared to get hit back.'
He smiled brightly, as if to show off. Only then did the Demon King blink a few times and raise the corners of his mouth. There was joy that could not be hidden in the eyes.
Before he knew it, he had finished practicing twice, lost his purpose, and took away the limp spear, whispering with a smile.
"The hero is here, but he hhasve to wait until the Demon King is away to use them?"
Why should I believe in you and why should I leave you here alone?
Although he said it a little differently, it's still almost as if he said it out loud. Deon chuckled at the unusually explicit answer.
"It's not that you don't like easy wars, is it?"
"Well."
The Demon King shrugged his shoulders. Although both of them knew it and pretended not to know, the Demon King was not waging war to completely devour the human world. Since his main purpose was to fill his own interest and fun using the toy called Deon Hardt, he was not interested in easy wars that could be ended quickly.
'... Huh?'
If it had been before, he would have answered, 'That can't be possible' and smiled proudly.
Have you decided to answer honestly now? Deon blinked for a moment at the unexpected answer, wondering what kind of wind was blowing.
Meanwhile, the Demon King, who took out the communication stone from his chest, spoke calmly.
"Then let's stop the class here. Now let's call Myers."
"... Isn't the 12th Corps busy hunting monsters?"
Besides, it hasn't been that long since they left.
He heard that the Commander of the 12th Corps went out to hunt monsters again that afternoon.
It would be a bit different if he told him to come back from there. The Demon King grinned, as if a nervous emotion was reflected in his eyes.
"I'm not saying you're going to spar right away, but let's say we're reserving it for later."
"Ah..."
When Deon nodded in understanding, the light in the Demon King's communication stone came on. But he hadn't even tried to contact him yet? His attention gathered in one place. Deon muttered as if he were puzzled.
"There's a communication...?"
It would be rare for someone or a situation to communicate directly with the Demon King's communication stone. What on earth was going on? A doubt suddenly appeared in his eyes.
The Demon King glances at Deon and immediately lowered his gaze to receive the communication. Soon, a slightly trembling voice echoed throughout the training hall.
"Greetings to the Demon King. This is the communication delivery team. I would like to contact you because I have urgent news."
"What is it?"
"It is said that the troops who went out to provide support a few days ago were annihilated."
Pause. Deon's hand, which had been stroking a bit of loose hair, took a step back and stopped.
It was easy to understand the situation.
'... Ah. That's it.'
The feeling suddenly sunk.
Therefore, while he was silent, the Demon King slowly opened his mouth as if he was remembering.
"A few days ago... Are you talking about the troops led by the 8th Corps commander?"
"Yes that's right.
"They were completely destroyed..."
The Demon King's eyes sank a little coldly.
"Does that mean the 8th Corps commander is also dead?"
"... Yes that's right."
In the end, he died. Deon rummaged in his arms and took out a cigarette.
The Demon King's gaze immediately caught his attention, but he didn't care and lit the fire. The Demon King, who watched the smoke fading as it rose into the sky for a moment, soon focused on communication again.
Questions poured in.
"What is the source of the information? I heard that they were active by joining the troops that went ahead, but why did I only hear news of the annihilation of the supporting troops? What about the troops that went first? Are they safe?"
"A little while ago, I received a direct message from Nine, the adjutant of the 8th Corps commander. He said that they were attacked by a hero while traveling on a neat and unorganized route for efficiency."
A well-organized road has pitfalls, and an untidy road is narrow and difficult to navigate. The larger the number, the slower the movement speed, so it was worth moving separately.
"He also confirmed the news of the survival of existing troops. He says everyone is safe.
"That's a good thing... I heard the adjutant contacted me directly. So, isn't there only one death, not annihilation?"
"He directly said 'annihilation' and contact was cut off in an urgent situation."
... He sensed his own death.
Deon put out the burned butt out on his neck and took out a new cigarette. The Demon King looked back and forth between the new cigarette in Deon's hand and the healed wound on his neck that left no trace, and then stretched out his hand.
"Any information about the hero they encountered?"
Crack.
The index and middle fingers holding the cigarette pressed the lit end to extinguish it. Deon's hand lost some strength due to the unexpected action.
"Judging by his appearance of green hair and brown eyes, he is inferred to be Stigma Primero, the Empire's second hero known to have disappeared."
"Green hair isn't that common, and if he's capable of killing the Commander of the 8th Corps, who even signed a contract, he's probably the one."
The Demon King, who naturally took out a cigarette without missing the opportunity, smiled.
"Thank you for your hard work. If we don't hear from you by tomorrow, we will confirm annihilation and notify you officially."
"All right."
***
After delivering the news of the 'annihilation' of the reinforcements, Nine turned off the communication and raised his head.
The body of his superior was seen lying at the feet of the green-haired hero. The three-dimensional black shadow without any movement made him realize that he was dead because he struggled desperately until the end.
He grit his teeth. He felt the complex emotions of anger and despair mix and distort, engulfing him.
... Originally, he was going to report two survivors and request assistance.
"I urgently request assistance. The location is..."
That would have been the case if the number of survivors had not been reduced to one.
Slash. An eerie sound was heard, and Hell, who had held out until the very end, died. Nine, who witnessed the scene, stopped talking.
"Adjutant"
"..."
"... Adjutant? Are you listening? What's going on?"