Chapter 51 – Spare Me, Please

There was something he’d always wanted to try. What was it called? Penetration strike? Internal force?

Techniques only seen in novels. Of course, utterly impossible in reality.

If you strike somewhere, the impact naturally spreads from that center.

How could it be that the struck area is completely unharmed, while the untouched interior is ravaged?

If that were possible, there would be no reason for skin, muscle, and bone to exist.

But here, it was different. At least in this world, this body was different.

If he willed it, he could ignore all defenses and ruin the wrong places.

He could even pass through the guy in front and damage something behind him!

‘This is the ultimate romance one can have with unarmed combat!’

If the romance achievable with a sword included greatswords, lightsabers, and dual blades,

Then for fists, there had to be a serious punch combined with defense-ignoring, internal penetration.

He was already quite disappointed at not being able to use weapons, so this was perfect.

He had to fulfill this romance, so that it wouldn’t lose to the lightsaber and dual-blade romances he’d witnessed so far.

Honestly, seeing their romances, he’d felt a twinge of envy!

―Crash!

He aimed his fist at the demon, who had fallen to the ground, from mid-air.

He had tried to target only the ax behind him as much as possible, but it seemed he wasn’t perfect yet.

He had dealt damage to the demon as well, and smashed the ax to pieces.

Thinking that he needed to refine this further,

He was just about to unleash the legendary Serious Punch for the finishing blow when—

“Wait! Wait a minute! Human! Just a moment!!”

“…?”

Deus couldn’t believe his eyes.

What? Wasn’t that guy turning into an ax just now?

I crushed that ax, so how can he be so unharmed?

Ah. It seems he has an extra life. Yes. That must be it.

Thinking this, Deus approached the man without hesitation.

Especially since he was holding a unconscious woman in his arms, he had to be eliminated.

“Just a moment, human! Let’s, let’s have a conversation!”

“Speaking informally now, are we?”

“Forgive me! I only beg you to stop, with all my heart!”

“…”

Heh. Who’d think he wasn’t a demon with that sudden change of heart? A real piece of work.

A dry laugh escaped Deus. He decided to at least hear him out.

Of course, his right hand, hidden behind his back, remained clenched in a fist.

If necessary, he could crush him to death without a second thought.

“Please, spare me!”

…He wanted me to stop just to spew nonsense? What a damn fool.

He was about to take a step forward, ending this, when the man blurted out, “It’s not like that, it really isn’t! Since arriving here, the Duke, Lord Astaroth, hasn’t…”

“Hasn’t?”

“Killed a single human being!”

Huh? At that, Deus tilted his head, surprised.

He heard that contact with the Empire’s Espers was severed, and he even witnessed Astaroth attempting to harm Neferti.

Was he really supposed to believe that? Did he really need his limbs separated for speaking such lies?

“Even that human woman from earlier! He only frightened her, but let her live.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

“He said moving around was too bothersome, so he didn’t kill the other humans either, just released his power, knocking them unconscious. And he even took the attacks head-on, just to have an excuse to move. Isn’t that at least a little bit believable?”

Deus considered it for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“It’s… plausible.”

“Then…!”

“Then I’ll make it easy for you to move on. Close your eyes and wait a moment. I’ll make sure you’re reborn somewhere nice. It won’t hurt. Just a flash, and it’ll all be over.”

As he drew the fist he’d been concealing from behind his waist, the man recoiled in terror.

Without exaggeration, it was almost the size of both his hands put together.

And it wasn’t just the size; the power it held was terrifying.

Having experienced it once, he knew it even more viscerally. He never wanted to be hit by that again.

“Anything! Ask me anything you want!”

“Hm?”

“I’ll pay the price! Any information that could be worth the Duke’s life!”

“…Oh?”

What was this? He thought he was just dealing with a second-tier boss, but it turned out there was an explanation-spouting character mixed in!

He almost killed him without realizing it. Good thing this friend opened his mouth, even if belatedly.

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat subtly. He couldn’t let the guy know outright that he had a chance of survival.

The one who needed to be desperate was him. He had to cling on with all his might, crying and begging to be spared. So, he had to act like he was indifferent, like he could take it or leave it.

“Astaroth. Duke. Both are weighty matters to get involved with. I don’t know how much information you’d have to cough up to match that value…”

“…”

For a moment, the man bit his lip without realizing it.

He knew that even lesser beings, no, even humans, used the term ‘Duke’.

But to know my true nature so precisely… that I hadn’t foreseen.

‘To know of Astaroth-nim…to have heard that name already.’

Most likely, that b*stard Zagan spouted nonsense before he died.

Yes. It must be that. There’s no other way he could know so accurately.

I see why Astaroth opposed Zagan going as vanguard, then.

Though from Deus’s perspective, it’s a concept so widely spread, it’d be strange if he *didn’t* know.

As an aside, even the dead Zagan would feel terribly wronged if he knew what the man was saying.

He died without uttering a word, yet he’s causing unnecessary misunderstandings.

“Let’s hear him out, then.”

Deus crouches down, gazing at the broken man before him.

“….”

“…?”

“….”

“Well? Why don’t you ask whatever you’re curious about?”

“Why would I ask?”

He’s misunderstood something, and quite thoroughly, it seems.

“I don’t ask questions. I’m simply listening to what you have to say.”

“….”

You’re supposed to be strong and nothing else, Duke. What is this? This isn’t the story at all!

He can use his head, too. And his intuition is disgustingly sharp!

The man internally ranted to the unconscious Astaroth cradled in his arms.

If the opponent had asked a question, I might have been able to artfully dodge it.

There would have been a chance to answer adequately without revealing the most crucial information.

But like this… if I can’t tell what he wants at all…

I can’t gamble with Astaroth’s life as collateral. If that man’s temperament truly twists, she’ll undoubtedly be reduced to ashes in a second.

“…Well. This one is…”

“This one?”

“…This demon. By human standards, this woman is Astaroth. One of the Dukes of Hell, bearing the mantle of Sloth. Here, ‘Duke’ is, um, just a title for the strong ones. There’s nothing particularly special about it.”

He pauses, gauging Deus’s reaction.

He’s listening intently. Of course, his fist is still aimed directly at me.

“As you may have realized fighting Zagan, we are those who wait beyond the Gate. Until now, we’ve been sending the beasts we raised to gather energy. We needed to accumulate this energy to construct a Gate that even demons could endure.”

“I see.”

“Of course, this energy, and the Gate through which demons can pass… they cannot be used recklessly, nor opened haphazardly. Time is required.”

Ah. So that’s the setting, then. Why there haven’t been demons in decades.

Well, that’s one way to fill the gaping plot hole of demons suddenly appearing.

Deus nodded repeatedly, awaiting the man’s next words.

“This is not the end. The invasion will continue, and eventually, the King will arrive.”

“….”

“The…King. In truth, even I don’t know much about him.”

You don’t know? Really? You’re really telling the truth?

“Really. Please believe me. I swear.”

Deus, fist raised, asked with his eyes, *’Are you really telling me you don’t know?’*

The man, startled, vehemently insisted he truly, honestly, knew nothing.

“The King’s identity is Astaroth-nim… I’m sorry. This woman doesn’t know either. It might sound unbelievable, but this world is quite secluded. Even frequent associates only meet once every few years, and if they don’t get along, not seeing each other for a decade is commonplace.”

Deus was still twirling his fist back and forth.

It looked like he was saying, *’Should I kill you and that woman? My eyes are about to roll back.’* So the man quickly added the next part.

“But the King’s orders mean demons will keep coming over. Eventually, after gathering more energy, the King himself might even make an appearance.”

— *Whoom! Whoom!*

“…Th-that energy! It’s all the negative emotions gained by opening the gate. Up until now, they released beasts to collect fear, despair, and so many other things. And next, demons will come out to collect even more energy.”

Fortunately, hearing that, Deus’s fist slowed down.

Then it returned to its original position.

“I’m really curious.”

“Speak your mind.”

“How am I supposed to believe this? How can I be sure there isn’t any lie in there?”

“This woman. Her life is tied to Astaroth-nim’s. I’ll do anything.”

“What is she to him, exactly?”

“She’s a part of him that he created, that’s what.”

Hmm. Is it something like that? An ego sword? Ah, it’s not a sword, so an ego axe?

A weapon with its own ego that can also transform. Demons really use nice things.

Someone’s dying of regret because they can’t properly use a single weapon because of a pact.

Anyway, it was pretty satisfactory information. Not bad.

As he stroked his chin, the man cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um, considering all this. Is it… possible to spare me, just this once?”

Deus gazed at the man and the woman called Astaroth for a moment.

From several points of view, the most rational thing was to extract the information and eliminate them.

Promises are only kept with those worthy of being honored.

There was sadly no reason to keep one in front of a bunch of demons.

But conversely. This kind of development wasn’t entirely unfamiliar either.

What if he genuinely didn’t kill? What if all of that information was real?

Rehabilitation aside, even if he returned to their side, he’d likely receive a terrible reception.

Afterwards, other demons might hear, ‘There’s one among you who betrayed us to save his own skin.’

Even if he wasn’t a solid ally, even just being a neutral party was beneficial to their side. An enemy of my enemy, and all that.

*’More than anything. I said I’d spare him.’*

Romance has to be kept alive. Even at the risk of being deceived.

It’s okay. Even if he deceives me. We’ll meet again later anyway.

And at that time, there won’t be any second chances. Just pulp.

“Go.”

*I’ll let you live, for now.*