## Chapter 1025 – The One With Many Questions

“What? Isbant?”

Karin, who had stopped slicing vegetables, repeated as if she had heard something unbelievable.

“Yeah. I just heard.”
“Isbant is screwed?”
“The entire outskirts.”

Returning home, I told them about the massive appearance of demons on the outskirts of Isbant and showed them the documents.

“That can’t be… So, you’re saying a demon army has appeared and is waging war?”

Liztina looked genuinely worried as she spoke.

“They’re sending all the reinforcements now. Big cities like Isbant are taking in refugees and defending from within.”
“Oh my…”
“Why, Sis? Are you worried?”
“Yes… I am a little worried.”

She placed her hand on her chest as she spoke, and Karin asked.

“Your martial artist kids?”
“I can’t help but worry. I’ve known them for a long time.”

The Isbant Martial Artist Guild still had orphans like Liztina’s proteges, Lizette and Mariel, doing their jobs. And this kind of situation had broken out.

As expected of a kind-hearted woman, she was worried about those kids.

“Hmm.”

Karin stroked her chin.

“Sis, wouldn’t Lizette and Mariel be fine on their own?”
“Well… if they don’t step up to fight, they’ll be fine. But they’re still lacking in many ways. I hope nothing happens.”
“Nothing will happen. Don’t worry. What, would they step up to fight? They’ll be helping with the defense inside the city.”
“I hope so.”

I said that to comfort Liztina.

Even though Lizette was a nobody by my standards, she wasn’t stupid, so she would be fine.

“But Sis, isn’t it possible that Lizette and Mariel took all the assets and ran away?”
“Hey, no way. Lizette may have a bitchy side, but not to that extent…”

She’s not just a bitch, she’s worse.

“Then that’s a relief.”

Still, they were comrades who fought together with the slum criminals, so I’ll drop the suspicion here.

“But why did demons suddenly attack? Isn’t this that thing from back then? That Andromalius thing.”
“So, those things appeared again?”

Winnia and Claudia spoke, recalling that time. Back then, I, Winnia, Claudia, and the paladin went to catch it together.

That’s where we saw Andromalius.

“Andromalius!!!”

Hilde exclaimed in shock.

I massaged the back of Hilde’s neck and replied.

“Honestly, I think so too. It seems likely, but we don’t know for sure yet.”
“I remember that being really strong. If it comes in its proper state…”
“Hmm, wouldn’t it be okay, though?”
“Really?”

Even if he manifested in his proper state, what could he do against us now? It would be tough if a large number of similar guys appeared, but if we ganged up on him one-on-one, we couldn’t lose.

“Ah. That Great Demon from back then.”
“It could be that. Didn’t they say it returned to Pandemonium without dying?”
“We even cut off its arm.”
“It was impressive.”

Karin and Liztina nodded.

“Yeah. That’s right. That’s it. But what’s the big deal even if that bastard shows up? Let’s just slice him up as soon as we see him. Hilde, wouldn’t that be possible?”
“Certainly, with this much power, even a Great Demon… But according to the documents, that area is contaminated. If it moved its territory, we might have to face a Great Demon in its complete state!”

Hilde added that the contamination was described as “Pandemonium’s encroachment.” Land exposed to that energy would change to a similar nature.

So, the appearance of a gate was certain.

“Originally, creating a gate large enough for a Great Demon to cross is extremely difficult. It would take a lot of time for it to cross completely. But…”
“Things have changed a lot lately.”

Gates to Pandemonium don’t open easily, but the boundaries between dimensions have thinned. Even Andromalius, that bastard, wondered why the gate was open when we beat him up and sent him back.

Even a Great Demon doesn’t know the cause.

“Yes. I don’t know the reason either. In this situation, a Great Demon might cross over. Andromalius…! It will come! Maybe other Great Demons or higher-ranking Arch Demons too! But it’s okay! We can definitely annihilate them all!”
“Hehehe, that’s right.”

It’s not a big deal.

“Still, it’s a very ominous situation. A gate opening, demons crossing over in large numbers, the land being contaminated, and a Great Demon possibly appearing… It’s hard to keep up with the changes these days.”
“Is that something the Demon Realm Princess should be saying?”
“W-Well, the time and situation when I crossed over are very different!”

Risha seemed worried about the current situation as well.

“Father, are we going back to Isbant this time?”
“We have to. With something like this happening.”
“I’ll get to see that house again after a long time.”
“I don’t know if it’ll be intact. But I’m looking forward to it.”

Anyway, everyone nodded, saying that we should definitely go when I mentioned going to Isbant on a business trip. After all, Karin, Liztina, and Risha had lived in that town longer than I had.

“It’s a city with quite a few connections. If something like that happened, we have to go.”

Karin said that as she started sharpening her knife again.

“Yes. How dare they invade that pleasant Isbant. I won’t forgive them.”
“Well, it’s a pretty good place to live for being on the outskirts.”

I know because I’ve traveled a lot, but there aren’t many cities as big as Isbant. Is it because it’s a frontier duchy? Of course, it’s not as good as the capital, but the infrastructure and everything else is quite decent, so it’s a livable place.

It even has a magic tower, which says it all.

Ah, but now that I think about it, the presence of a magic tower seems to be the measure of a city’s development. Wizards wouldn’t build a magic tower in a bad place, they’d build it in a good place.

“Still, I guess it’s because it’s on the outskirts. That kind of ridiculous thing happens, really. Demons are really surprising.”
“That kind of thing didn’t happen in the old days. It was just a quiet city… It certainly seems like those kinds of things have been happening a lot lately.”
“Hey. Isn’t this the work of those heretics?”
“Well… I don’t know. It could be.”

Anyway, let’s get ready.

“Katt. Even if a complete Great Demon appears, it wouldn’t be a match for Katt, who defeated a Valkyrie and obtained the power of a demigod, right?”
“Of course not!!!”

I clenched my fist and answered energetically to Claudia’s question.

“I killed a Valkyrie, so now I have to kill a proper Great Demon! That Berial we caught in the underground dungeon last time? That was too easy.”
“Kyahaha, that’s true.”
“That one was completely sealed.”

Karin and Liztina smiled at those words.
It was definitely too easy.

“But Blackie. No. Hilde. Who’s stronger, a Great Demon or a Valkyrie?”
“I think it’s a Valkyrie!”

Hilde answered energetically to Winnia’s question.

If only one Great Demon appears, it won’t be a problem. It’s the scattered High Demons that are the problem. Not that we have a problem, but the civilians do.

“That’s right, Hilde. What are those High Demons?”
“It’s a general term for demons with some power. There are High Demon groups made up of unified races… Ah. Rakshasa demons are usually like that. And there are also those that evolved from Lesser Demons or naturally occurred. Pandemonium is a truly unknowable place.”

Hilde added that Lesser Demons become High Demons by taking human souls and blood. All those low-level demons that have appeared so far were trying to become High Demons.

The one I remember the most is none other than the labor revolutionary.

“Hmm.”
“But they won’t be a match for Katt-nim!”

“Hehehe, of course not.”

Nothing to worry about.

“Father? Should we start preparing to depart?”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

I stood up from my seat.
Shall I prepare for a long-distance business trip for the first time in a while?

* * *

After finishing the preparations, we quickly departed.

It takes quite a bit of time to get from the capital to Isbant. It’s a long-distance journey, so it’s a bit tiring. But since we had been there once before, we advanced straight ahead.

“Damn it.”

We encountered monsters and bandit groups, but we were able to move relatively quickly. When we were about halfway there on the map, we found a lake near the road and stopped the carriage to take a break.

“You bastards.”

—Grrr.
—Krrr…!

Illyong and Ilyong, who had been living well and eating well, were as energetic as ever. That’s because Ari often feeds them herbs that have good effects.

“You cute little bastards. Anyway, we’ve arrived at the lakeside.”

Opening the door, the women came out one by one and stretched.

“Aahh…!”
“Haa… Katt. Thanks for the hard work. Shall we go wash up?”
“Blackie, bring clothes and something to cover us.”
“Okay.”

Washing at the lakeside wasn’t a rare occurrence, so she skillfully packed what we needed and headed there. After arriving, I watched them wash. Since we were washing to rest, they were washing very leisurely.

How long had it been?

They came out, dried their bodies, and changed their clothes.

Just as we were about to eat and depart.

—Swish.

I felt something stirring in the bushes next to us, so I looked over and saw a monster crawling out.

“Kyurururu.”

Surprisingly, the monster was a white horse.
A handsome horse with pure white fur and mane.

“What the hell.”

But it had a long horn on its head!

“Crazy!!! It’s a unicorn, damn it!!!”

A large horse with pure white fur and mane! Its identity was none other than the inhuman, mythical beast, a unicorn!!!

“Oh my. It’s a unicorn?”
“What, a unicorn appeared?”
“Hoo… It’s quite a rare monster.”

The women started showing interest when the unicorn appeared.

“Unicorns are not very hostile to humans. It’s quite a rare monster, and it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen one.”
“Oh, Risha. Are they that rare?”
“Yes.”
“What are they good for?”
“The horn is said to be valuable, but… I don’t really know. It’s a material I’ve never handled.”

So, she doesn’t know the value.

“Wow, I get to see a unicorn. I’m seeing one for the first time.”
“I’ve seen one when I was young. I happened to encounter one, and I remember being amazed that it listened well. I think there was a legend that they liked beautiful women? So, I guess it listened well.”
“Oh, look at what this girl is saying.”

It likes beautiful women?

“It has a horn on its head? Is it a monster that attacks with that?”

Claudia seemed to be seeing one for the first time, and she expressed such a question.

“Getting stabbed by that would be deadly.”
“An ordinary person would die.”

I’ve only heard about them, but this is the first time I’m seeing one.

Damn, there are even unicorns.

“Anyway, it’s a native monster of the human realm!”
“I don’t really know.”

Hilde didn’t seem to know either, and Ari shook her head. Anyway, everyone was showing interest in the unicorn.

“Pooheehee.”

Then, the unicorn snorted and started walking towards us. Is it not afraid of humans? Is it approaching because it likes beautiful women, as Liztina said? No, can a monster distinguish between human beauty and ugliness?

It’s kind of amazing.

“Come on, come here.”

Liztina, who said she had seen one before, smiled and held out her hand. The unicorn slowly approached and started smelling Liztina’s palm.

Suddenly.

—Pooheeheeheeheeheeheehee!!!

It roared and raised its front hooves!!!

“Kyaaak!!! Damn it!!!”

Liztina’s scream!

“That bitch!!!”

Just as I was about to kick off the ground to kill it right away.

“Ah! That’s it! That unicorn thing!!”

Karin shouted from behind.

“There’s a saying that unicorns attack women who aren’t virgins!!!”
“I-Is there such a story?”
“What did you say!!!!!!!”

Liztina, who blushed for a moment, shouted shrilly.

“You son of a bitch!!!”

She stepped forward and entered the unicorn’s flank, cursing as she landed a powerful punch on its side.

—Thwack!!!

“Gwereck!!!”

The unicorn, which vomited blood with a bizarre scream, collapsed and sprawled out…! Actually, it wasn’t a dangerous situation at all! Liztina could have easily taken care of it!!!

More than that, this son of a bitch is a monster that attacks women who aren’t virgins!!!

“Is this crazy bitch attacking me because I’m not a virgin, then!!!”
“Isn’t that a pretty famous story? No, but. Aww. It’s so funny, damn it. Are you embarrassed?”
“I don’t know, damn it!!!”
“Hey! You said it listened well in the old days!”
“Shut up, Karin!!!”

Karin was holding her stomach and laughing, and everyone else had a bad expression as they glared at the unicorn’s corpse.

—…

And soon, all eyes turned to me.

“Oh.”

I did take the virginity of all the women here.