I examined the figure closely. A crimson bob cut. A surprisingly cute appearance that didn't quite match her fierce aura. No doubt about it. It was Red, the demon who had appeared last time seeking revenge on Alios and ended up fighting us.
Why is she here?
I was stunned by the reappearance of this extra I'd forgotten about, when a surprised voice sounded beside me.
"Ceres, what's going on!"
Ares, sensing something amiss, had hastily thrown on clothes without even drying herself properly and rushed out.
"Is that... the demon you and Alios encountered?"
It was Hames who spoke, her expression hardening as she recognized Red.
“Information about that incident reached our Temple too. Her appearance matches what we heard then.”
As the High Priest, opposed to demons, she's well-informed on such matters. It was convenient for me, as I didn't need to explain.
“Yeah. That's her."
“I see. But why has she come looking for you? If I heard correctly, it sounded like she said she would ravish you..."
Hames asked, her usually impassive face crumpling fiercely. Beside me, a loud cry erupted. It was Ares's horrified voice.
“What? Ceres, what is the meaning of this?!"
"It just means she wants revenge for what I did to her!"
I tried to calm the seemingly agitated pair and turned my gaze back to Red.
Red, who had been hovering in the sky on the strange creature, came down from it. Despite the considerable distance from the sky to the ground, she landed nonchalantly.
“Come down."
She gestured with a crooked finger towards the window where I stood, urging me to come.
“When a woman comes calling, a good man comes out immediately and greets her obediently. Otherwise, you'll be dragged out like a dog.”
"Bullshit!"
Did she think I wouldn't come down if she told me to? I immediately leaped out the window.
“Ceres!"
“...Why must he be so reckless."
Ares and Hames quickly followed me. Although we jumped from quite a high floor, none of the three of us were ordinary humans, so we landed lightly. The three of us stood together, facing Red from a slight distance. And then...
“You petty coward!”
I yelled, pointing accusingly at Red.
“Alios fought you too back then, so why are you targeting me!"
I was dumbfounded that this creature, who originally targeted Alios, had switched her target to me.
“Is it because I'm weaker? You coward!”
"That Alios brat is currently holed up in her own territory," Red grumbled.
“Her territory supposedly has 10,000 private soldiers and 400 knight-level fighters, right? Even I couldn't take Alios out in the midst of all that.”
“...Did her territory have that many troops?” (Ares asked this).
"You're a high noble too, and you don't even know that?" (Red asked Ceres).
My 'contents' are just an ordinary citizen. That's why I had no way of knowing, but Red looked at me pityingly and said.
“Pretty face, but an empty head, I see. Do you even know what's in your own territory?"
“I know there are 200 knights."
“And 5,000 private soldiers too. It was difficult to target you there, so I was waiting.” Red smirked slyly.
"Waiting for the moment you left your safe territory and appeared before me, just like now!"
Those words were the signal to attack. The monsters hovering in the sky began to descend abruptly. Seen up close, they had appearances like strong creatures such as cows or bears, synthesized with bird wings and various other parts.
The moment one of them approached us, its upper and lower body split apart.
“Did you think I would just stand by and watch trash like this approach my Ceres?"
It was Ares's doing. She swung her sword, instantly dismembering several monsters.
“...Ares Whiperion. Just as rumored, you're quite capable.”
Red looked at Ares with annoyance and charged. She swung her right arm, transformed into a massive blade, trying to finish Ares off, but...
“Aura?"
Red looked shocked seeing Ares parry with an aura-clad blade.
“What, I never heard you were a Sword Master?"
"Die!"
Ares didn't answer her opponent's question. As if intending to kill her faster rather than waste time talking, she attacked. Ares's momentum was stronger than expected, forcing Red to hurriedly counter her. With the strongest powers on both sides engaging each other like this, the remaining forces naturally began to fight amongst themselves.
As all the remaining monsters swarmed towards us, Hames raised her hand. In time with her hand movement, a barrier of holy power manifested, blocking the approaching monsters.
“She came thoroughly prepared.”
Having bought some time, Hames observed the opponents, then made a wry face.
“Ceres, these things were probably ordinary wild animals originally.”
“They don't look like it at all."
“That demon's ability must be physical transformation, right? She probably applied that to change ordinary beasts like this and is controlling them.”
As Hames explained, I understood what she meant by 'thoroughly prepared'. Capturing animals and turning them all into monsters like this would require time. Moreover, the timing was exquisite. Coming right after we left the territory and parted ways with the priests.
“So she's been watching me for quite some time, waiting for an opportunity.”
“I don't know what method she used, but that seems likely. She's quite obsessed with you." Hames said worriedly.
“If we let her live, you'll be in danger."
“Then we just need to deal with her," I said nonchalantly, extending my hand.
With clear hostility, I released divine power from my hand, striking the monsters before me. Consequently, they all collapsed, their bodies pierced or melting away. As expected, since they were changed by a demon's power, they seem to be treated similarly. If divine power works on them, they're no match for me. Thinking I was properly sending these poor animals to the afterlife, I annihilated the monsters.
Finally, I fired divine power at Red, who was fighting Ares.
“Kugh, you brat!"
Red, caught in the middle of her fight with Ares and now having to deal with my divine power as well, grit her teeth. She tried to rush towards me but was blocked by Ares.
“You won't lay a single finger on my son.”
“...Both mother and son are equally annoying!"
Seeing Red swearing as she struggled to face us both simultaneously, I felt relieved. At this rate, we could definitely capture her. There wouldn't even be a need for Ares to use her Black Pain.
However, something felt strange.
“This is too easy.”
Red is quite a cunning foe. Last time, too, she used people as hostages to turn the situation to her advantage. But today, even though she seemed thoroughly prepared, she was surprisingly easy to handle. As I pondered this strangeness, I belatedly noticed something peculiar.
“Why aren't the people reacting?"
"What?"
“There's been this much commotion, yet everyone is staying completely still!"
As I pointed out this overlooked fact, Hames's expression also hardened. Could it be...!
"What, you figured it out already?"
As I stopped firing divine power, Red spoke as if bored. Her earlier panic had been an act; she was even smirking now.
The next moment.
New monsters revealed themselves some distance away. Dozens of them, each carrying an unconscious person tucked under their arm.
“That's right. Just as you suspected, this was all a ploy to stall for time. The real objective was to have my subordinates capture hostages in the meantime," Red said smugly. This damn woman had taken hostages again!
“I'm warning you. If you carelessly fire your divine power, I'll kill one hostage each time you do.”
I reluctantly lowered my hand.
"Hey, you back off too."
“This brat..."
Ares also had no choice but to sheath her sword and retreat towards me. Red looked satisfied that we were complying with her demands for now.
Tensely, I met her eyes.
"What are you planning to make us do?”
With so many people taken hostage, it couldn't possibly end with just ordering us to back off. She would surely use the hostages to demand something more, so I asked. Red replied.
“Before I take you away, shall I play with you a bit first?"
“...How?"
"Let's see." Red pretended to ponder exaggeratedly, then smiled ominously. I tensed up, wondering just how she planned to 'play' with me...
"Take it off."
...Huh?
“I said, take off your clothes, right here, in front of me. If you hesitate even slightly, I'll kill a hostage immediately..."
“Is that really all I have to do?"
“...What did you say?"
Seriously, I wondered what she'd make me do, and it's just taking off clothes? If she had ordered something truly terrible, I might have considered abandoning the hostages, but this much was nothing.
“Alright, I'll take them off.”
Thinking it was a really idiotic demand, I decided to do as she said for now. I reached for my clothes, but...
"Stop!"
“Ceres!"
Hames and Ares blocked me, horrified.
"Are you really going to give in to that trashy demon's threat and do such a shameful thing?!"
"It's really no big deal."
“How is this not a big deal?! Did hitting your head knock your common sense out too?!"
Both Hames and Ares desperately tried to stop me.
“This is... somehow different from what I expected..." Red looked bewildered.
Ah, come to think of it, in terms of my original world, I was in the position of a precious young lady. Even though this world was like this, I myself hadn't forgotten the common sense of my original world, which led to this brief struggle.
It was at that moment.
The monsters holding hostages in the distance were instantly slaughtered.
"Who the hell are these guys?" (Red)
"You guys!" (Ceres)
Red was surprised, but I was horrified. Because the ones who killed the monsters were the Death Knights we had met in the Land of the Dead.
As the beings appeared, everyone was surprised. The leader among the Death Knights pointed their sword towards Red.
“Demon. Your filthy scheme has already collapsed. It would be best for you to retreat now."
“...Tch, what bothersome intruders!"
Red reacted angrily but still faltered. Because she saw the aura emanating from the lead Death Knight's sword.
“We'll meet again later!"
Creating wings, Red immediately fled.
I wanted to pursue her to prevent future trouble, but I couldn't. Because right before my eyes were beings potentially more dangerous than Red. We were all wary of the Death Knights, when their leader spoke to me.
“We have been searching for you.”
“...Why me?"
When I asked the reason, the Death Knights suddenly knelt before me.
The lead Death Knight among them, acting as their representative, removed her helmet. What was revealed wasn't a skull. A beautiful woman with long 'silver hair', similar to Ares, spoke with a voice thick with emotion.
“Because you are the Holy King, the rightful monarch of the Whiperion Royal Family. The one to whom our Royal Knight Order must pledge loyalty!"
What is this bullshit?