#587 The Hero Marches On

The third match...

“Hmph, I never expected much from one-trick ponies like Nefer and Barilla. A genuinely strong person excels in everything. I, all-rounder Ramie of the Heavenly Four, have no weaknesses and am capable in any situation—offense, defense, agility, magic, wit, endurance, jokes, and even socializing... Hyugh!”

“So you’re saying you’re a jack of all trades and master of none. Got it.”

Ritheseus claims victory after victory, like taking candy from a baby.

Three of the four matches have ended, and he won in all of them—overwhelmingly so.

The venue is quiet because the home team has been nothing but an embarrassment.

“Strong, too strong...!”

“Is that the power of the human race?”

“And he’s just a kid! Not even a regular soldier!”

“Is that what they call half a man?!”

“The demons on the continent have won the war against such a strong race? Then that makes them even stronger than us...!”  

Goood. They’re becoming more perplexed and speculating things on their own.

This is a silhouette projected by the up-and-coming Ritheseus.

It grows larger and larger amidst the confusion, throwing the people of this island into turmoil.

Right, Demon King?

“...Hey, Glasya.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“If our Heavenly Four were to clash with Ritheseus, would they win?”

“Belphgamilia will manage. I’m not so certain about the rest.”

Anyway, it would be beneficial for us if they were overwhelmed by Ritheseus’ strength and consequently feared the Demon King and his nation.

Looks like we’re getting closer and closer to accomplishing our goal.

“...No. This isn’t over just yet!”

The self-proclaimed True Demon King Azar trembles as he says, “There’s still one person left! The final member of the Heavenly Four and the ultimate warrior—Shaymiri!”

A blooming lady appears on the battlefield after her name is called upon.

Her complexion is dark like all the other demons around us, yet she exudes a certain air of nobility.

“My daughter, Shaymiri, is far more powerful than your previous opponents! Do it, Shaymiri! Do whatever it takes to win and protect the pride of the True Demon Kingdom!”

“Yes, Father.”

The young demoness readies herself for battle with a slender sword in her hand.

“I promise you that I will emerge victorious with the sword Adeka. The human race is our ultimate nemesis. I believe that fighting such a person is the true spirit of the demon race.”

“Let the match begin!”

The final match has begun.

The charming demonesses charge boldly at the signal. Ritheseus dodges a series of thrusts reminiscent of fencing.

“Woah!”

“What’s the matter, human? Unable to fight back?”

As his opponent mentions, Ritheseus’ movements have slowed down.

Is he finally showing fatigue after three consecutive battles? 

No, that can’t be it.

“This could be a battle that exploits his weakness!”

“His weakness?”

That’s right. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

Ritheseus would have attained near-absolute perfection after receiving elite education at the farm if it weren’t for this one weakness he struggles to overcome.

And that’s...the female gender!

Especially stunning women!

“Ack...This is hard...” he says as he evades the attacks with no signs of retaliating.

If this were like the previous three matches, it should’ve ended by now.

“Ritheseus is the kind of guy who can’t bring himself to hurt women, after all.”

What a protagonist-like trait.

If not that, his body is a rich expression of the blood of a deity who once communed with a mortal.

And that, too, blood of a celestial god, infamous for womanizing and philandering.

How could he possibly look at a lady and treat her merely as an enemy?

“Why won’t you fight back?! Do you have no desire to battle me?”

And his opponent snapped.

She looks pretty young, about the same age as Ritheseus or maybe a little older.

“Are you looking down on me just because I’m a woman?! I’m the most skillful warrior on the island of Spontina! Death awaits those who underestimate me!”

“No, it’s just that I don’t want to hurt a pretty girl like you, so I...!”

“Pretty?!”

Her face turns red.

I recall Ritheseus doing something similar before.

“Calling your opponent pretty and delicate like a flower, huh? A sly taunt!”

“But I only said ‘pretty!’”

“Enough! I’ll skewer you with Daemon Sword Adeka customized just for me!”

...

Ritheseus loses his remaining moral support in his fight against a girl.

He’s already battling in enemy territory, but he is now subjected to even colder stares.

“That maiden... Did she just say, Daemon Sword?”

“Huh?”

Nonetheless, the Demon King remains unfazed and says in a steady voice, “I’ve heard our ancestors had once established a method to produce a weapon called the Daemon Sword after thousands of years of study. Although not as powerful as the holy sword, it was the main weapon of the Demon King’s Army because of its sword aura comparable to a holy sword and ease of mass-production.”

But the current army doesn’t use Daemon Swords, do they? 

“Its production was discontinued at some point in time. Therefore, it has become more of a phantom in the current Demon Kingdom than holy swords and is only talked about in legends. Perhaps its methods were preserved in this island...!”

“Foooohohohoho! You got that right!” boastfully says the True Demon King. “Daemon Sword Adeka is a custom-made sword to fit Shaymiri’s physique, fighting style, and personality! No foe stands before her and her sword! She is the strongest princess on earthhhhhhhhhhhh!”

I can think of a few other princesses who fit that bill, but that’s beside the point right now.

If Ritheseus loses this one match, we’ll be in trouble.

I suppose I should give him a little push.

“Ritheseus! I’m going to tell Eryngear you’ve been flirting with other girls!”

“No! Please!!!”

There we have it. An immediate effect.

If you don’t want me telling your girlfriend half-truths, get your game face back on, Ritheseus!

“Well, I intended to win from the very start, but now I have no choice. I’ll have to use my special weapon!”

He pulls out a sword from his sheath.

That’s right, Ritheseus is equipped with a sword. He had prepared it, especially for this day, so that he could fight as a fine representative of the Demon Kingdom!

“A blade forged by Lord Saint out of mana metal close to a holy sword!”

The moment it was released from its sheath, a tremendous sword spirit erupted, whirling around and engulfing the air to create turbulence with force reminiscent of a holy sword.

“W-Woah! What’s going on, Lord Saint?!”

As expected, the Demon King was caught by surprise.

“Well...I made that sword from scratch with hopes of Ritheseus winning these battles. When I finished forging it, it somehow possessed power equal to a holy sword.”

“P-Power equal to a holy sword?!”

The sword Ritheseus wields exudes a dazzlingly beautiful aura.

It is as if it were a geyser or the blade had been extended multiple times its original length.

“What theeeee-?!”

The young lady, shuddering, thrusts her rapier-like sword several times into the sky, unleashing sword aura like a machine gun. 

However, it had no effect on Ritheseus’ blade as it effortlessly repelled the comparatively minuscule aura.

In fact, Ritheseus’ unwavering blade aura could even swallow his opponent with its immense size, but...

“Kyaaaaaa!!!”

The range of his attack was cut off just before it reached the other young lady, leaving her unharmed.

Instead, it slashed the battlefield so intensely that it looked like the earth had cracked itself open.

So that’s what happens when Ritheseus, who possesses god-like abilities, wields a sword of that caliber...

“What of the results...?”

“You win...The boy wins...!”

The True Demon King’s choked-up voice confirms Ritheseus’s victory in all four rounds.

Well done, Ritheseus.

You really had us for a moment back there, you know.

I hope this is enough to trigger a change in the True Demon Kingdom’s condescending attitude.

That’s what we came here for, after all.