Chapter 67 – A Hero (or not) Is Always Late

Rewinding time a bit, to when the two demons, Hagenti and Harpas, were being seen off by the yellow-eyed man as they prepared to cross through their ‘gate.’

“So. This body needs to go, does it?”

Adorned flamboyantly (at least, by his own reckoning) from head to toe, the demon Beelered regarded the man who had abruptly sought him out, and continued,

“Truly foolish.”

“What is now?”

“It would have been better had you simply gone from the start. Sending those weaklings as a vanguard, or whatever… I fail to grasp the purpose of this endeavor. Hence, I say foolish.”

“…?”

What in damnation is this wretch on about? Is he provoking me? Or merely jesting? The man had to pause, wondering if Beelered was indulging in some jest.

They had thoroughly discussed that matter ages ago. Why they—or those of equivalent caliber, the true powerhouses—couldn’t cross the gate to begin with.

It wasn’t that they wouldn’t go, but rather that they *couldn’t*. Energy was lacking. The stronger they were, the more energy they consumed, and the accumulated energy was still insufficient to sustain this body.

It wasn’t entirely impossible to go. But doing so would cost over thirty percent of the main body’s power. At that level, it would be far more sensible to send another demon.

Thus, they had been steadily amassing energy by continuously sending the least energy-intensive beasts. Sending out more than they brought back, ensuring no loss.

Later, with a bit of surplus, they dispatched Zagan as the vanguard. They reasoned that he could gather more efficiently and in greater quantities.

“None could have foreseen matters unfolding as such, Beelered.”

“That is what one calls a ‘pretext’.”

“Not a pretext, but a reality. Over a considerable span, we’ve assessed the standard of the world and lifeforms beyond the gate by sending our bred beasts, and further, we’ve verified their growth potential. After gaining certainty in various aspects, we determined it was permissible to move in earnest.”

You were present at that very juncture, so don’t feign enlightenment now. As the man growled that silently, Beelered cleared his throat a few times.

He decided to cease his impersonation of a visionary lest he provoke the man before him too greatly.

“The fact that Astaroth slipped through first is significant. Yet, she hasn’t contacted us with any usable updates.”

“The possibility of that she-devil’s defeat?”

At Beelered’s question, the man adopted a dumbfounded expression. Beelered hastily added, “It was merely a jest. Do not take it to heart.”

Though utterly indolent, her martial prowess was genuine. As someone who had once fought Astaroth nearly to a standstill, the man couldn’t fathom her defeat.

Beelered felt similarly. He recalled a time when he had spouted some nonsense before her and been pummeled until he resembled dust flying on a rainy day.

“Astaroth is predictable. She crossed over, only to find it too much of a bother to lift a finger. Hence, Hagenti, Harpas, and you. Those three will be sent.”

“You believe we can persuade her to act.”

“Persuasion is out of the question, but you can at least nudge her. Or can’t you? The Beelered I know seems more than capable.”

The man knew how to handle Beelered well. A demon who was not a king but wished to be, a creature of vanity with a penchant for ostentation.

Of course, he wasn’t just an empty shell. Beelered was undeniably powerful. His sole shortcoming was a lack of gravity befitting his strength.

One simply needed to supply it. Showing that you acknowledged him would grant you complete control.

Even if control proved impossible, one could sway his heart, and in the current situation, that was more than enough.

‘This is practically our last resort.’

Beelered was the strongest demon they could dispatch at present.

There were certainly stronger ones. The one with the yellow eyes (Astaroth called her Fly), for example. Or even himself. Aside from them, he could confidently name at least five others stronger than Beelered.

But energy was lacking. From the start, they lacked the energy for themselves to go.

They had dispatched demons to gather energy more swiftly and reliably, but things had become tangled in this way.

“Once you cross over, avoid direct confrontation. We must gather more energy by any means.”

“Are you suggesting I cower like a coward?”

“If you wish to die like Zagan, then feel free.”

“Are you equating me with that wretch?”

“Should you be harmed in any way, it would be a profound loss for our hell.”

The man observed. The subtle upward twitch of Beelered’s lips in that moment. Anything acknowledging him, no matter what it was, would immediately sway him.

“Thus, I have withheld the fact that you will be coming from Hagenti and Harpas.”

“Reason?”

“If, by any chance, that being named Dawn prepares, throw them both at it and break away. Then rendezvous with Astaroth and buy as much time as possible while gathering energy.”

“Is that also because losing me would be a significant loss?”

“….”

It’s not that, it’s that you’re skilled at running away the moment you sense danger. Hagenti and Harphas would try to resist until the very end. He couldn’t bring himself to voice the truth.

Instead, muttering, “You must hold out until one more of us arrives,” the man continued.

“Don’t forget. More than half our plan has already crumbled. Neither the King nor I can go. If you fail this time, we’ll have to wait a long, long time again. While sending out the beasts.”

*

Hmm. Impressive. Is this the level of a lesser lifeform? Far more formidable than the reports suggested.

Beleth thought with inner admiration, hammering even harder on the shield of Etendel, who stood before him.

“….”

Etendel bit his lip. Each strike felt as though his body was being pulverized.

He hadn’t shown it so far, but he didn’t know how much longer he could endure.

If he were alone here, he would be certain that today would be his death anniversary.

— *Shwoosh!!*

A stream of light shot forth from behind the shield at incredible speed.

One might mistake it for a ray of sunlight, but no. That was a sword. And not just a beam of light, but a thrust aimed for a surprise attack.

— *Clang!!*

The attack was rather anticlimactically blocked by Beleth’s claw. Normally, a thrust with expended force and speed would reveal a weakness.

But Luciel, behind Etendel, was different. The moment the attack was blocked, she instantly reverted the sword to its original length, never allowing him to establish his preferred distance.

‘Even if I can’t inflict a fatal wound, it’s okay. I just need to stop that demon from relentlessly pounding Lord Lansorte. That alone would be a success!’

The stream of light thrusts, like daggers, poured out from behind the shield. Beleth found it quite bothersome, but he couldn’t overpower Etendel, who blocked his path, with force.

The wound on his arm stung considerably. He initially ignored it, allowing the blows, but now, looking at it, the ominous air around it felt too potent to simply dismiss.

Moreover, Luciel wasn’t the only one behind Etendel’s shield.

“Heeeeeek!!”

Emitting a strange scream, staggering, and even nearly falling in mid-air…

A vortex he managed to unleash drew a path that was, in a word, ‘chaotic,’ constantly preventing Beleth from keeping his one leg still.

At first, Beleth wondered what it was all about. He thought he could just ignore it and endure the blows.

But the wind behaved like wind. It never moved according to his expectations. Not even once.

Suddenly surging upward, lifting his body, or conversely, pressing down on him.

Swaying him left and right, or, if he got caught up in it properly, spinning him around in mid-air for several rotations.

Was that it? Not even. Some of the wind even tried to twist and tear his flesh.

‘A truly bizarre technique. Impossible to tell if it’s strong or weak.’

He’d seen wind-based ability users before. They were all individuals who leaned heavily towards support roles.

Conversely, Nefertiti, when engaging in combat, would use the wind like blades, Etendel recalled. A completely different method from the swirling vortexes that were appearing now.

“How utterly foolish! Before this grand existence, you engage in utterly useless actions!”

He’s coming. Etendel gripped his shield tightly once more, standing in front of his two juniors.

— *Kwang!* *Bang!!*

The shield trembled. His entire body throbbed as if he’d been beaten all over. It was the same thing that always happened, the same thing he always did, but he could never get used to the pain. Did it mean he was still lacking?

Defensive ability users absorbed the impact they received in this way, distributing it little by little between the shield and their bodies.

It seems the easiest task at first glance. While your allies create chaos with attacks and tricks, expertly dealing with the enemy, you simply stand still and endure.

But precisely because of this, this role faces the most hellish difficulty. It may seem like they do little, but they handle the most crucial task. Should they fall, the team collapses entirely.

And so it is now. The devil’s eyes darted back and forth, and then, as of moments ago, he charges at Neferti, whose movements have been unsettlingly unsteady.

“Neferti!”

In ordinary times, I’d attach ‘sunbae-nim’ or ‘Young Lady’ to her name, but on the battlefield, just a name is best. Nothing heightens focus quite like hearing your own name.

“Ugh!”

I heard she was one of the top students when it came to wielding her ability. But this… she seems clumsy somehow.

It’s not carelessness. This is, perhaps, the result of that special training she’s been doing recently. But it’s a mistake born of unfamiliarity.

And a sunbae only deserves the title if they can cover for their junior’s mistakes.

— Kaga-ga-ga-gak!!

Sparks fly in all directions. In the midst of it, Neferti hastily retreats to the rear, assuming her position.

“A troublesome one, indeed. To block this body so many times.”

“For such a vile creature, you certainly speak eloquently.”

I focus my strength, pushing the opponent back with my shield. Though I possess few offensive techniques, to assume my physical abilities are equally weak would be a grave error.

A defensive ability user isn’t merely someone who protects others with a shield. Sometimes, they must also use that shield to bludgeon an enemy to death.