Chapter 4: "Hero"
"It's been a while, Himmel. What are you doing in a place like this?"
I ask with a provocative smile. A fitting demeanor for a demon lord and one of the Seven Sages of Destruction. I also display my magical power as proof of this status. An absolute power that would make ordinary adventurers lose their will to fight and flee at the mere sight of it. But facing it—
"That's my line, Aura. It seems you're not an impostor."
Majestic and dignified, the man looks at me without the slightest hesitation. To outsiders, he might appear to be a refreshing, handsome young man. But I know he's no such simple being. In his hand, he held a sword. The so-called Hero's Sword, said to have been left behind by the goddess. A thing that, despite its grand title, emanates no power that I can sense. But that's not a significant problem. The problem is—
(Why is Himmel here?! What kind of joke is this?!)
It was Himmel. No matter how you looked at it, it was Himmel. Already prepared for battle, his sword drawn from its scabbard. A situation where he could strike at any moment. Unknowingly, the old wound on my arm that had once been slashed by him began to throb, and my back was drenched in cold sweat.
"Yes, as you can see, I'm the real one. Too bad for you. Aren't your companions with you?"
While desperately suppressing the urge to flee immediately, I ask the hero, Himmel. If I show such an opening now, I'd be cut down in an instant. The survival instinct of a demon. The magic I was about to cast on Kvaar remains halted mid-activation.
"No, it's just me here. You don't seem to have your proud undead army with you either."
Whether aware of my inner turmoil or not, Himmel answers without the slightest sign of being shaken. A straightforwardly honest reply with no intention to deceive. At the same time, a display of confidence suggesting he doesn't need his companions to deal with me. But that's not all that proves this man is the hero. He has already seen through the fact that I don't have my undead army with me.
(He's as irritating as ever...! But, it's not the worst-case scenario yet...!)
While feeling my insides boiling with rage, I maintain my composure. Yes, it's not over yet. Indeed, as Himmel said, my undead army isn't here now. Partly because I lost most of them in our previous battle, but mainly because traveling with them would be too conspicuous. If I did that, the heroes would find me immediately, so I left them behind, which has now backfired. In the first place, no one could have predicted this situation. But the same must be true for him. The proof is that Himmel hasn't brought his other companions. This means that for Himmel too, this situation was unexpected.
"Is that so? They might be hiding somewhere, you know?"
"That's unlikely. There's no reason for a coward like you not to have guards nearby in this situation."
"...You've got some nerve. So why are you here? Don't tell me you've been following me?"
"Just a coincidence. I came to check on Kvaar, who is sealed in this village. I never thought you'd be here... but it seems I arrived just in time."
Tit for tat. At the same time, I feel nauseated that this ridiculous situation was truly a product of chance. Why now? Of all times, at this very moment. I'm almost suspicious that some curse has been placed on me, but my body tenses as Himmel's gaze is directed at me.
"Stop that magic right now. I won't allow you to resurrect Kvaar."
"Oh? Is even the great hero afraid of Kvaar? Well, that makes sense... you couldn't defeat him, so all you could do was seal him, right?"
"That's right. But things are different now. This time, I can't let you escape."
In that moment, my head nearly boils over with anger and fear. I almost launch an attack right then and there but restrain myself. Yes, I need to stay calm. I've known all along that Himmel has no intention of letting me escape. I remember our past battle. Back then, I had no choice but to flee from Himmel. Part of it was because I was distracted by the other heroes, but the main reason for my defeat was that I misjudged Himmel's power. I was attacked by his god-like swift sword before I could activate my magic of subjugation, Azeliuse. Any magic is useless if you can't cast it. Such a childish, absurd countermeasure realized by the hero's nonsensical abilities is what makes heroes so terrifying. But now it's different.
(At this distance, I can activate the subjugation magic Azeliuse... the problem is...)
I know the hero's power. I won't make the same mistake as before. Himmel is already within the effective range of my subjugation magic Azeliuse. Additionally, we're farther apart than in our previous battle. I recall the memory of that battle. The memory of defeat I'd rather not remember. But that's precisely why I can win. However, I need one more thing. Something that will give me an advantage. Suddenly, I remember. The nagging feeling I've had since reuniting with Himmel. Its true nature.
"By the way... why did you call out to me? You might have won if you had just launched a surprise attack. Is it because surprise attacks aren't befitting of a hero?"
That was during our initial contact. I hadn't noticed Himmel yet. If he had launched a surprise attack then, I would have been in far greater danger. So why did he call out to me? Is he that dismissive of me? Or is it some boring pride as a hero?
"...No. Aura, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Something you wanted to ask...?"
I inadvertently respond genuinely. I don't understand. What could he possibly want to ask me now? The hero and the Seven Sages of Destruction. Humans and demons. Entities that can never be reconciled. What could he want from someone like me?
"The village chief and one of the village children have gone missing. Do you know anything about that?"
With a murderous intent that makes me feel as if the surrounding temperature has suddenly dropped, Himmel questions me. His eyes, his fighting spirit, tell me that he won't forgive me if I don't answer. At the same time, I can't help but smile. I no longer feel fear or trepidation. My demonic nature in front of prey. The sensation of finding the final missing piece. Feeling this, I say:
"I killed them. Old men and children are useless even if I subjugate them."
I tell the most effective lie to a hero. At the same time, it became the signal for the rematch between me and the hero—
The match was instantaneous. Whether I could cast my subjugation magic Azeliuse first, or whether Himmel could strike me first. Just that. Something incredibly simple and straightforward. In our previous battle, there were unpredictable elements like the other heroes and my undead army, but not now. A perfect one-on-one. Which attack would reach first? I already hold the scales in my hand. I discard the option of unsealing Kvaar. True, if I unsealed him and made it two against one, I wouldn't lose, but unsealing takes time no matter what. That time would be a fatal opening in this battle. Therefore—
"Subjugation Magic Azeliuse!"
This magic is my everything. The magic I reached after dedicating my entire life to its refinement. With all my might, it attacks Himmel with a flash of light. Impossible to evade or defend against. A certain hit, certain kill trump card. Even the greatest mage couldn't defend against it. As proof, balls of light—souls—rise from Himmel's body. At the same time, from my own chest as well. Two souls are placed on the scales. Much faster than during our previous battle.
(—I've won!)
In that moment, I'm certain of victory. The reduction in activation time for my subjugation magic Azeliuse. That was my winning advantage. The result of my relentless refinement since that humiliating defeat. The pinnacle that only a demon lord who explores magic could reach. Additionally, the terrain advantage is more on my side than before. So why—
"—Huh?"
Am I making such a stupid sound?
I don't understand. What exactly happened? The scales I was holding until just a moment ago are gone. Where? Looking up, I see the hero's sword being swung and Himmel's figure. The scales flying high in the air. In that instant, I finally realize. That Himmel has cut away my scales. Impossible. What kind of magic could do this? To cross this distance in an instant.
—Aura failed to realize. That Himmel too was different from before. Several more years had passed since the previous battle with Aura. How much the journey to defeat the Demon King had made the hero grow.
—Aura didn't know. The difference in the weight of the years between humans and demons.
"—It's over, Aura."
Lightning fast. Himmel adjusts his grip on the sword and swings down a counter-attack. Aiming for the neck. Even a demon will die if decapitated. At the same time, it's a tribute to the heroes who have been miserably beheaded in the past. The god-swift sword that gives no time for pleas—
"—No, what's over is you, Himmel."
It stopped before the triumphant executioner demon. But not by the power of the subjugation magic Azeliuse. By Himmel's own will.
(Is that... a child...? Could it be...!?)
Himmel stops his movement at the sight. Behind Kvaar's seal, in the bushes. A boy appears from there. Himmel knew this child. A boy wearing a straw hat, once so energetic that he even flipped up his companion's skirt, a mischievous boy. He was alive. Such relief lasted only a moment. It turned into despair. Because the boy held a dagger in his hand. That alone was enough for Himmel to understand everything. At the same time, his own defeat.
"Aura, you...!"
"Correct. Your quick understanding is helpful... so will you drop that dangerous thing now?"
In contrast to Himmel's pained expression, Aura commands with a sly and bewitching smile. Even without the subjugation magic Azeliuse, Himmel has no choice but to obey. If he resists, it's crystal clear what will happen to the boy. Not just the boy. Looking over, beside the boy is the figure of the village chief who was supposed to be missing. He too holds a dagger in his hand.
"...So your earlier words were lies."
"Of course we demons lie. That should be obvious to a hero like you. But isn't it good? They're both safe. You should be thanking me, you know?"
Himmel realizes from Aura's triumphant words. That the two villagers are being controlled by the subjugation magic Azeliuse. And that if he resists, the two have likely been ordered to take their own lives with those daggers. But this was also a happy miscalculation for Aura.
(I never thought it would work out this well...! For a hero, this is more effective than an undead army.)
Keeping the two villagers alive was just a whim for Aura. The village chief for controlling the village, the child just to eat later. But because of this, Aura survived and simultaneously understood. Against a hero, a single child hostage is more effective than an army of thousands. Humans have an instinct to protect children. Using that is more effective against heroes. The true use of subjugation magic Azeliuse against humans. The standard demon tactic that Aura, who had gained too much power, had forgotten.
"I-I'm sorry... Hero. I-I..."
"Hero, don't worry about us...!"
"Please be quiet. Himmel, resistance is futile. I've ordered them to kill themselves if anything happens to me. The same applies if you run away. But a hero wouldn't run away, would you?"
Aura declares, as if saying checkmate. That resistance is futile. But even that is a lie. The effects of the subjugation magic Azeliuse disappear if the caster dies. If Himmel defeats Aura right now, he could save the two. But Himmel has no way of knowing this. If the mage Frieren were here, she might have seen through this lie, but she's not present. The absence of his former companions. That is perhaps Himmel's only reason for defeat.
"...Promise me. I don't care what happens to me. In exchange—"
"Yes, I promise. I'm the type who keeps promises."
While making promises that aren't really promises to each other, Aura takes the scales again and activates her magic. A replay of the previous scene. The difference is that the hero Himmel is kneeling on the spot, having discarded his sword.
Himmel and Aura. The souls of the two are placed on the scales. The scales that decide everything by the quantity of magical power. The tilt slowly but surely inclines towards Aura's side. The fair yet unfair judgment that many humans have been forced to undergo. That judgment has now been passed on the hero Himmel.
"...Heh, hehe. Aha, ahahahaha! I did it, I did it! I, the great me, have subjugated the hero Himmel!"
In that moment, Aura bursts into laughter and dances with joy. Of course. She has defeated the legendary hero who even vanquished the Demon King. And not just that.
(Now that I have Himmel, there's nothing to fear...! No one can match me!)
Having made that hero her own pawn. What that means. It's equivalent to having obtained a force that is virtually unmatched. Aura no longer needed to skulk around as she had been doing. Because she had made the root cause her own. Regardless of that fact, the villagers are in despair at the sight of the hero's defeat caused by them, unable to raise their voices. But—
"...ugh...guh...!"
As if to spare the two from worry, Himmel, who had been crouching on the spot, raises his face with a pained voice. At this sight, Aura, who had been laughing, momentarily widens her eyes, recoils, but then regains her composure.
"That's right, I almost forgot... but to be able to resist this much, as expected of a hero."
After taking a deep breath, Aura faces Himmel again. Those subjected to the subjugation magic Azeliuse normally cannot move until Aura commands them. But there was an exception. Those with strong wills could temporarily resist. The more hardened a hero, the more steel-like their will. For Himmel, the hero, this goes without saying. But even so, only this much. That's why Aura has taken rational measures with those she has controlled until now.
"—I win. Now I'll personally behead you."
By beheading those she controlled. That's why Aura is called the Executioner.
Aura picks up the hero's sword that had fallen and approaches Himmel. To kill the hero with the sword that bears his name. A greater irony doesn't exist. Faced with this, Himmel tries to move his body somehow but fails. There's still a will to fight in his eyes. No surrender. Yet, the judgment of the scales that cannot be overturned. However—
"Don't worry, I'll soon add your other companions to the undead army too. Then you won't be lonely, right?"
The careless words of that judge gave weight to the hero's soul—
"Wha—!?"
Aura utters a voice of astonishment for what must be the countless time. But this one is incomparable to the previous ones. Of course. It's impossible. Himmel catching the sword she swung down with his hand. Someone under the subjugation magic Azeliuse physically defying her. There had been many heroes with strong wills before, but never such a situation. That alone would have been manageable. What's truly impossible is what follows.
(This... is— my body, it won't move—!? Could it be—!?)
Aura, with eyes wide open, simply stops moving. At that fact, that sensation, Aura literally freezes. Aura finally realizes. What her situation is. The answer to that.
"Subjugation Magic Azeliuse"
It is a magic that places the soul of the target and one's own soul on scales, weighs the size of magical power, and the larger one subjugates the other. The magic of the Seven Sages of Destruction transcends human knowledge and reason. That's why, while human magic can be analyzed, demonic magic is closer to a curse. Even Aura, who uses it, doesn't fully understand its principles and conditions. Hence, she didn't question it.
Why is it necessary to extract souls when distinguishing by the amount of magical power? Despite the fact that if one were comparing magical power, extracting magical power would suffice.
Aura didn't know. That magical power is contained within the soul. Not just that. Along with magical power, the soul contains mental strength. The reason those with strong mental strength can temporarily resist is because of this. Because that strong mental strength was tilting the scales. Due to it being a demonic magic that's close to a curse, operating on the unconscious and images that even the user can't consciously understand, and having never been broken before, Aura learns for the first time of the weakness of the subjugation magic: that a single failure leads directly to defeat.
By the fact that the scales, which had surely been tilting towards her until a moment ago, are now tilting towards Himmel.
The weight of Himmel's soul, with the thoughts of his three companions who aren't here. The proof of a hero that surpasses even Aura's magical power accumulated over five hundred years of refinement.
That was the conclusion of the rematch between Executioner Aura and the hero Himmel, and Aura's defeat—