#1058 Hero vs Demon King

The Demon King Who Got His Buff Body Back Thanks to Natto!

...Not that a summary of previous events would make any sense.

In any case, the Demon King shed his chubby shell and reclaimed his title as the strongest once more.

Even Hero Momoko is utterly overwhelmed by his newfound muscular might.

“Hmph! Ultimate Demon King Slash!!!”

“Eeeeeeeeeek!!!”

With just one swing of his sword, the Demon King unleashes a blinding flash of light of incredible force.

It’s like firing sixteen cannons in rapid succession.

Momoko is doing everything she can just to dodge, unable to find an opening to counterattack.

The flashes that miss and fly off in random directions are safely caught by the orc and goblin staff to prevent any danger to the spectators or other contestants.

“Too... too strong! So this is the power of the Demon King?!”

“What’s wrong, hero?! The showdown we’ve awaited since the Human-Demon War is finally here! Give it your all and challenge me without fear so you won’t have any regrets!!!”

But the Demon King, who regained his peak strength thanks to natto, isn’t someone you can defeat so easily.

...Wait a minute, isn’t this overwhelming power even beyond his prime?!

His current might is downright godlike.

Is this also the power of natto?!

“Fwahahaha! This exhilarating feeling that makes my blood boil and my body dance! It’s been ages since I immersed myself in the passion that only the battlefield can provide! I should thank you just for rekindling this feeling, hero!”

Even as he speaks, the flashes from his sacred sword continue without pause.

If someone like this—a walking, mass amplitude preemptive-strike weapon—were on the battlefield, enemy soldiers would surely despair.

The spectators are stunned by the Demon King’s rampant display of power at his peak.

Perhaps it’s only natural since they’re witnessing firsthand the legendary prowess of the Demon King they’ve only heard about in rumors and tales.

“So this is the Demon King’s power...?!”

“With this strength, the Demon King has been protecting us!”

Among the audience are demons who’ve come all the way from the Demon Kingdom.

For them, seeing the Demon King’s majestic figure in his prime must be quite a shock.

Meanwhile, the hero being tossed around by the unstoppable Demon King...

“Guooooh?! So this is the Demon King’s power?! The final boss really isn’t messing around!”

Momoko can do nothing but run around frantically.

It must be frustrating as a hero, but the determination in her eyes hasn’t faded.

“You’re cheating! Using natto to get all buff—isn’t that doping?! Enhancing your physical abilities with substances is totally doping, right?!”

Natto isn’t a drug.

It’s a fermented food.

“Am I really going to be outsmarted by beans even here?! No, I can’t give up. There must be a way to counter natto...”

Please focus on finding a way to defeat the Demon King rather than the natto.

“Aha! That’s it!”

Did she just have a lightbulb moment?

“Hey, veggie vendor! Veggie vendor!”

Momoko calls out to the vegetable stall in the marketplace area.

They’re selling some of the produce from our farm directly there.

They’re quite popular, and as the farmer, I feel proud.

But what’s Momoko doing calling out to the vegetable seller in the middle of a battle?

Is she seriously shopping at a time like this?

“Yes~ How can I help you?”

A goblin salesperson pops his head out in response to her call.

He sure is diligent, properly responding when called.

“Give me a daikon radish! A whole one!!!”

“Thank you for your business~”

Obliging her request, the goblin tosses a daikon radish into the battlefield.

“All right! With this, I can see the path to victory!!!”

“What the—?!”

What kind of comeback is Momoko planning with a daikon radish?!

“First, I’ll chop up this daikon...! Hyaaaaaaaa!!!”

Momoko swings her holy sword wildly, chopping the daikon into tiny pieces.

...Wait.

It’s more than just tiny pieces.

She’s cutting it even finer than that!

The daikon, chopped so much that not even fragments remain, can’t contain its moisture anymore, leaking out and becoming a semi-solid, semi-liquid mush.

In other words, this is...

Grated daikon?!

“Yes, grated daikon! Now, taste this natto mixed with grated daikon!!!”

“Ooooooh?! The light and refreshing taste of grated daikon, while being the opposite of natto’s stickiness, brings out the best in both, creating a wonderful texture! To think there was such a way to enjoy natto! Truly, natto’s infinite possibilities!!!”

Once again, natto is showing its surprising versatility to go with anything.

People think it doesn’t pair well with anything, yet it actually goes with everything.

While reconfirming natto’s all-around greatness... wait, what was Momoko trying to do again?

At this rate, she’s just introducing a new way to eat natto.

“G-Guoooo...?! What is this?!”

What’s wrong?!

The Demon King, having eaten natto with grated daikon, suddenly groans in pain!

“You fell for it! That’s what you get for carelessly eating something offered by your opponent!”

Wait, could it be... poison?

No, even for Momoko, that would be too underhanded.

She knows where to draw the line, right?

I can trust her, right?!

“Daikon contains an enzyme called diastase. This enzyme cuts through the stickiness produced by natto bacteria! So people who dislike natto’s stickiness can eat it together with daikon!”

And grated daikon is the best way to mix the diastase into the natto.

Thanks to that effect, the natto’s stickiness has been neutralized...

“Guooooooo! The stickiness is gone, and the bond between me and the natto is severed...?! Uooooooh!!!”

The Demon King’s muscular physique loosens, reverting back to his plump, chubby form?!

Did the effects of the natto wear off because the stickiness was wiped away?!

“Just as I thought! If you became muscular thanks to natto, then nullifying the natto would undo the muscles too! Who would’ve thought that the knowledge from a beauty book (Natto Diet Edition) I read in my world would come in handy here! This is what they call ‘cheating with modern knowledge’!”

Nobody could’ve predicted that combining natto and daikon would be a game-changer in another world.

You really never know what’s going to come in handy in life.

Meanwhile, with the stickiness neutralized, the natto’s magic has worn off on the Demon King.

His muscular build is once again covered by fluff, reverting him back to a chubby middle-aged guy.

“Now’s my chance! Hero King’s Dancing Fang!”

“Guuaaaaaaghhhhh!”

Hit by a somewhat over-the-top finishing move, the Demon King is sent flying through the air.

This settles the match.

At last, Hero Momoko has defeated the Demon King.

“I did it!!! I’ve finally, finally defeated the Demon King!!!”

Rescue team, move out!

We were worried about the Demon King’s safety after being blown away, but turns out he’s fine.

He immediately stands up on his own.

“Hmph, to break through my natto-enhanced strength with such a trick. I must commend you—truly worthy of the title ‘hero.’“

Despite taking a finishing move, he doesn’t look injured at all; in fact, he’s brimming with energy.

...Well, that figures.

Even if he’s chubby, it doesn’t mean the Demon King’s strength has diminished; he’s still plenty strong as he is.

Even a hero’s best attack doesn’t necessarily result in a fatal blow.

“I too recalled the times when many heroes threatened my life, and I feel invigorated. Even in peaceful times, we must not forget this sense of urgency.”

The Demon King laughs heartily, and the audience erupts in respectful applause.

It seems that even though he lost the match, the Demon King’s dignity remains intact.

As the organizer, I can breathe a sigh of relief...

Meanwhile, Momoko, basking in her victory, is...!

“Now I’ve defeated the Mermaid King, the Human President, and the Demon King! Doesn’t that practically make me the ruler of the world? Right, doesn’t it?!”

She’s really getting carried away now.

Indeed, Momoko has defeated the leaders of the world’s major nations here at Orkubo’s Castle.

Just as I wonder what will happen next...

“Hey.”

“Yes? Gyaaah!”

Momoko is twisted and crumpled in an instant.

Right after Letasreit placed a hand on her shoulder.

“How long are you planning to fool around?! I said you could have some free time until the next busy period, but it’s almost time to start preparing! Hurry up and get back to help!!!”

With that, she drags away the crumpled Momoko, twisted like a pretzel.

...Wait, does this mean that Letasreit is actually the strongest one here?