Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo Dorei Majutsu Vol 3 Chapter 4

Long before the church’s bell rung five times──
It was immediately after getting separated from Diablo and Shera in the Central Plaza.

Rem was in the gap between two buildings, a back alley.

Chasing after two people, although she lost sight of them several times, she finally caught up to them.

Trash was thrown out from homes into the back alley, and it stayed like that.

Ahead of Rem in that back alley, Alicia was standing there.

As for Krum, she looked like she had absolutely no understanding as to why she was brought to a place like this. Her cheeks were stuffed with a biscuit.

「……Erm, I don’t know why you were brought to a place like this. Alicia, why did you do it?」

「Truth be told, I hoped that I would take only Krum-sama along, and then I would later call out Shera-sama but……Well, it might be alright if I were to take Rem-sama along. I don’t know what will become the key after all.」

Rem became vigilant, and extended her hand to the pocket of her leather belt that her crystals were in. She stood at the ready so that she would call out her Summoned Beasts at any time.

「Why do you think Krum-sama had lost her memories? According to a Demonic Being Priest, what is required for Demon King-sama’s revival isn’t just magical power……That’s what it means.」

Now that she mentioned it, she remembered that was the one that Edelgart borrowed her wisdom from.

「Yes, after that……I went outside of the town, and asked this to Edelgart-sama. Just what should be done for Demon King-sama to regain her memories, and fully, awaken.」

「If Demon King-sama hadn’t lost her memories, I could have told you the truth much earlier though……」

「Did I not mention that?」

「……Alicia……you……in that case……It’s as if you’re a Demon King Worshipper, isn’t it!?」

Alicia delightedly expressed a smile.

Krum looked up at Alicia.

「However, you will not kill people of the Races, correct?」

「That’s why……I thought I would try to awaken you to become the Demon King-sama……To try and open your eyes……」

「Yes, if that will awaken Demon King-sama, I can handle being the first one you burn, in fact, it would be the highest blessing.」

However, Alicia didn’t release her hand while still expressing a gentle looking smile.

「For that to happen, you will surely have to kill me, and anyone that blocks your way. At that time, Demon King-sama should awaken.」

It seems that Alicia’s knowledge was obtained from the Demonic Being Priest via Edelgart. They weren’t baseless, reckless remarks.

She absolutely needed to prevent such a thing!
「Alicia, why are you trying to do something like awakening the Demon King!?」

「It is because destroying the unsightly Races, and making this a beautiful world of Demonic Beings is my desire.」

Her appearance wasn’t any different from usual.

This was no longer the time to be talking.

Alicia is a State Knight. She should possess befitting ability.

Rem tightly grasped a Summoned Beast crystal.
It was an enemy that was difficult even in just one-on-one, but even more companions on the opponent’s side were appearing.

The ones that turned up at the back alley were some familiar knights.

「Cristela-dono, so you were here. I was doing a bit of searching for you, you know?」

In those eyes dwelled a flame that was several times darker than when she had seen them before.

Alicia cast an icy glance this way.

Rem’s eyes went round.

「As if that would be the case. At the end of my infiltration investigation, I ascertained that you all were Demon King Worshippers, and am now safeguarding this little girl that you took from somewhere.」

「No, I am only saving this child.」

Rem started thinking.

At the moment that Krum kills a person of the Races, she will awaken as the Demon King──is what the Demonic Being Priest told her.

To begin with, what was the reason for involving the Holy Knight?

Rem had piled up experience as an Adventurer, and wasn’t ignorant about strategy. Even so, she still couldn’t read Alicia’s true motives.

Rem threw a crystal.

「……Come forth! 《Aslau》ッ!!」

In regards to Sadraa, she had taken a blunder at the 《Triangular Ears》, but she couldn’t allow herself to lose here.

Winning against a Holy Knight and a State Knight, and furthermore, four Subordinate Knights, it would be considerably difficult.

The possibility that Diablo would notice would also rise.

《Aslau》 charged at the Holy Knight.

「Become a shield.」

One of them was stabbed by a horn and sustained a considerably serious wound. However, being held back by the other three, the gigantic Summoned Beast’s charge lost its power.

「No way!? Why would they abide to an order where they might die!?」

「It is because God wishes “for this to be” that I am able to live. The thing called dying is namely only an invitation to heaven from God……And then, those that abide by God’s honorable will while they are alive will be approved after death. Those that disobey that honorable will will receive retribution and fall to evil. Above all, protecting me is equivalent to protecting God. Infidels that would refuse my order out of fear cannot enter the Subordinate Knights.」

And then, he thrust it into the nape of 《Aslau》’s neck.

「Fuha! Fuhaha! This is quite a sturdy Summoned Beast!」

The Summoned Beast that had accumulated damage was finally annihilated and returned to becoming a darkened crystal.

Although she was surprised at how the Subordinate Knights became a shield, Sadraa’s true strength that could take down the gigantic Summoned Beast this fast wasn’t common.

When it became this high of a level, Rem was no longer able to make a conjecture.

──Moreover, a Holy Knight can use magic.

She brought out another Summoned Beast.

Even if she were to have Sadraa alone as an opponent, Rem’s chances of winning with the Summoned Beasts that she possessed were low.

Since Krum looked like she didn’t understand the situation, she was simply making a displeased looking face and gazing this way. To her, was this an unenjoyable side show? She just might have a feeling of that level.

It blew away a Subordinate Knight.

「Perhaps, do you require some assistance, Sadraa-sama?」

「However, people will gather if you take too much time here. If feel that will be an inconvenience in one way or another, you know?」

「The idea on not leaving Demon King Worshippers is something I approve of.」

「Thank you very much.」

Sadraa gave an order to the Subordinate Knights.

「Yes sir!」

During that time, Rem called out another Summoned Beast.

However, this is where she needed to fight back!

「What? Could it be, do you want to kill those fellows? In that case, you should rely on Maou. These armored guys are of no relation to biscuits after all. In an instant, they will turn to ashes──」

Rem shouted.

Rem’s own feelings, which were complexly entangled, were finally settled, and she noticed.

「……Krum……Please don’t kill anyone……Please eat biscuits, smile with everyone, and sing with Shera……That, is my desire.」

「……I, do not want you to kill anyone of the Races. Please, that is the only thing I want you to never forget.」

Krum breathed a sigh.

「……To tell the truth……I, was afraid of you, and I think I probably hated you. But, these past few days, it was as if you were family……And I didn’t hate that. Right now, I believe that I don’t want to lose you. Even at the cost of this life of mine!」

Summoning 《Shadow Snake》──It hurled itself towards the Holy Knight.

And then, Rem equipped claws onto her fist, and made her assault as if chasing after 《Shadow Snake》.

The ends of Sadraa’s lips curved.

The opponent drew the sword that was on his waist, and swung it.

Rem struck at him with the iron claw that was attached to her right fist.

──Shoot, 《Chantless》!?

「You should prostrate yourself before God, corrupted one that worships the Demon King!」

She collapsed.

Rem’s hands were on the ground. She couldn’t put any strength in her body.

So it was 《Stun》 again.

「You are extremely wonderful. After all, if you didn’t have hope, you wouldn’t despair either. How you embraced that foolish hope that you might win against me, it was truly wonderful. And now, you should fall into deep despair.」

Magic that could be used only when in contact was powerful. Among them, there existed magic that could snatch away one’s consciousness.

In the middle of her fading conscious, she extended her hand out.

Alicia whispered close to Rem’s ear.

「What is required……is hatred.」

When Rem’s consciousness ceased, the Summoned Beast 《Stoneman》 had its magical power supply cut off and returned to being a crystal.

Her consciousness returned──

Rem opened her eyes.

There was someone that was peeking over at her.

「You, are you alright?」

Reflexively extending her hand out, and made sure that she was safe.

It seemed that she didn’t have any injuries on her.

「There is no way anything would happen to Maou, you know? It was strange how you suddenly went to sleep -noda.」

「Ahh, so that weird light from before was magic. To lose against one of that small level of magical power, how deplorable -noda.」

As an Adventurer of this town, Rem was a fairly well-known existence, but recently, she’s had a succession of defeats.

She spilled out a sigh.

It was the inside of a cage. What surrounded them was an iron bars cage. Both above and below them were covered.

Even Krum would probably have her head obstructed.

Her hands and legs weren’t restrained.

This swaying was……?

「……About how long was I fainted for?」

*Pori pori* She was eating biscuits. So even in a place like this.

If it was during the time that Krum was eating biscuits, it wasn’t even 10 minutes.

A slight amount of light from the sun was shining through the cloth that was placed on the cage. At this time, with the sunlight coming from the left side, the carriage was probably headed north.

No, did they continue further into the North District?

Since she didn’t come here all that much, she couldn’t recall what kind of buildings there were.

For example, what if she were to shout out “kidnapper”?

In terms of social trust, they were overwhelmingly above her.

──When I try and think about it, it’s strange, isn’t it?

If Krum were to kill a person of the Races, she would awaken as the Demon King?

How she can bestow magical power to Demonic Beings, how she calmly watches the frequent fights, how she appraised Sadraa to be “one of that small level of magical power”. She seemed considerably strong.

Did she start to value her life?

She didn’t have enough information so she couldn’t assert this, but weren’t Alicia’s words that “if Krum kills a person of the Races, she would awaken” a lie? That was the conjecture that she concluded to.

That is probably nothing but a convenient hope.

「……Kuh……If only, I were stronger.」

「You should eat -noda.」

Since it was already time for dinner, she certainly was hungry. Rem stared at the biscuit that was in her hand.

「Eh?」

Krum dropped her shoulders.

「……That’s true. I lost though.」

「……I won’t deny that there were hardships though.」

「……It isn’t loyalty.」

Rem hugged her knees and looked downward.

「……God sealed the soul of 《Demon King Krebskrum》 in an ancestor of mine from many generations ago. Thanks to that, generations of women in my family, all of them lived while avoiding the public gaze. In order to not release the Demon King, they would treat their bodies with great care, and would definitely leave behind a baby girl……All of them sacrificed their own lives. Many of them accepted this, and without settling down, they would take their distance from the surroundings, and live frightened lives of isolation and dread. Why……only me? Why was I the vessel that sealed the soul of 《Demon King Krebskrum》?」

「In other words, because of Maou, you did not have freedom -nodana?」

「I see. Not having freedom is no good. It is something irritating.」

「……Now that I think about it, at the same time that we were suffering, you spent that time being sealed.」

「……Do you also, resent us?」

「Is that, so.」

Moreover, to think that it was the Demon King herself that told her.……

「Nn……You resenting Maou is only natural. Maou being resented is only natural -nanoda……」

She wanted Krum to not make such a sad face.

Surely Diablo would have defeated her. She should have been able to strike her with her hatred that continued for generations.

Rem cast her eyes downward.

「U, mu? Certainly, Maou was born as Maou.」

「Maou is not of the Races, but Maou understands was Rem wants to say.」

「So it would seem. Good grief, even though Maou told her that Maou is flawless, complete, and perfect.」

That appearance was neither flawless, complete, nor perfect, but Rem didn’t say that.

「……Let’s return, to where everyone else is. We will definitely return.」

Rem embraced Krum.

She was warm.

After getting puzzled for a bit, Krum nodded.

Before long, the carriage’s movements stopped.

Making noisy sounds, the cloth that was hung over the cage was taken off.

The cage was opened.

「Please come here. We have arrived at the place where I shall give you girls salvation.」

The Subordinate Knights extended their hands out, grabbed Rem’s arms, and dragged her out.

The surroundings were a graveyard, and there were no signs of people.

So it was the northern extremity of Faltra City.

Krum was the same as usual. With the biscuits that Alicia prepared, she completely did as she was told.

She became anxious.

The building right before her eyes rang its bell.

It’s the church.

On the roof of the belfry, the holy symbol of the Church was put up. It had a shape where the center was a circle and had a line extending out on three sides. A large wooden door was opened, and Rem and Krum had their backs pushed, telling them to go inside.

Just like the exterior, the interior of the church was old but was well maintained.

The origin of that smell, was the utensils that were placed at the inner part of the church.

She had no idea what they were used for.

It was said that he would torture people that appeared to be Demon King Worshippers, force them to confess, and then execute them.
Rem opened her eyes wide.

──These objects with so much rust on them, are they all torture utensils!?

Rem glared at Sadraa.

「Ahh, thank goodness.」

「The people that know of the rumors about me, the moment they see these utensils, they would say “I was a Demon King Worshipper, but I’ve already reformed. Please point me to the faith towards God” and start weeping. Who would believe in such shallow words? You are, without a doubt, a Demon King Worshipper that would deceive us clergymen.」

「No, no. It is something often misunderstood, but I am not doing anything like torture.」

「They are misunderstood to be for torture to normal people but……The act I am going to do is “bring salvation”. Something like worshipping the Demon King, that is a mistake as a person of the Races. This is an act meant for the sake of saving those people whose souls have been corrupted. I simply wish to save all people of the Races.」

She didn’t understand the meaning of it.

Moreover, that which he called bringing salvation, wasn’t that rumored to be about him executing the ones that he tortured.

Sadraa shook his head.

「What are you……!?」

「……That’s……the result of torture, didn’t they simply just die!?」

Because he himself had forgiven them, that means that God has forgiven them?

「……Do you think that you’ve become God or something!?」

However, Sadraa didn’t change his facial expression.

「That’s right. Since this is something that I don’t really want spreading about, I keep this as secret as possible but──actually, it would seem that I am God.」

「Like I said, I am God himself that has made his advent into this world. Do you not understand?」

「Born in a blessed house, possessing a blessed body, boasting a blessed intellect──I, who has received all of heaven’s favor, can only be God that has made his advent in order to save this world.」

Rem was dumbfounded.

Sadraa pointed at Rem’s ears.

「……How stupid. I am not a Demon King Worshipper.」

「Wha!?」

The muscles along her spine shivered.

「……These, are the characteristics of a Pantherian. There are few whose color is black, but it isn’t strange.」

「Wha!? Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t do any torturing!?」

「……N, no way.」

This guy, he insisted that they were the corruption’s origin, and had intended to mangle her from the start.

「Fumu, those hands that threw a Summoned Beast at me, they are also no good.」

「That mouth is also bad. How about we take out her teeth.」

「Oh, that’s right. Because of your Summoned Beast, one of my faithful Subordinate Knights was seriously injured, given the miracle of healing, and put to bed. Good grief, you’ve done something quite outrageous, haven’t you?」

Both of her arms were grabbed by the Subordinate Knights.

She was vexed.

「……I don’t understand. Why did you think to cooperate with something like this? To go as far as betraying us.」

「For me, it is because I have my own objectives after all. If you do not want pain, how about seeking help?」

Maybe because Rem’s terror was transmitted, Krum was making a stern facial expression. Surprisingly, the hand that she ate biscuits with had also stopped.

「……Th, that is……unneeded! Please protect your promise.」

Krum had been given detailed instructions so that she wouldn’t interfere.

Alicia made a wry smile.

「……I do understand. What I don’t understand, is what your objective is. Is it to revive the Demon King and bring the Races to their downfall? If that is the case, is there a need for any of this?」

She didn’t exterminate her smile.

「……Alicia……The understanding that you showed me, and how you went to together with us to save Shera, was it all a lie?」

Alicia turned her back.

「Yes, please leave the rest to me. Also, the purity of Cristela-dono’s body, I guarantee it.」

「I understand. By that time, I am sure that this Demon King Worshipper will have been forgiven by God.」

Alicia placed her hand on Krum’s shoulder.

「Yes, of course. She is a pitiable child that we saved after all.」

Both of her hands were held down by the men.

──Is she really not going to seek help? Her facial expression is asking that.

She absolutely didn’t want that.

Sadraa took out a gigantic pair of scissors.

「……How crafty……Do you not have pangs of conscience!?」

The edged tool approached her Pantherian ears.

「With this, you will be brought only a small bit closer to normalcy. To a proper Human.」

「Calling the impure impure, what is wrong with that?」

「Don’t move!」

Sadraa closed the scissors.

*Batsun!* (Snip!)

Rem momentarily swung her body. The base of her ear became hot. She was cut!?

For as much as she ran away, not all of it was cut off.

「Don’t you understand that, you were to not to move!?」

As she was was being held down, he thrust it into Rem’s right arm from above.

She was stabbed.

「──────────ッ!?」

*Doku, doku* (Drip, drip) Blood was dripping onto the chair.

Krum rushed over to her.

「Uuu……You can’t……」

Death was dreadful.

Sadraa pulled out another sword from his waist, and pushed it out towards Krum.

The very tip of the swung sword cut and tore the robe that was covering Krum. *Basari* (Drop) It fell to the floor.

And then, her lizard-like tail as well.

Rem even forgot about the pain of her right arm.

However, Krum showed no signs of running away.

After that, he raised his voice as if he were boiling.

Krem’s eyes were full with the color of anger.

「Those horns……They remind me of the Demon. That’s right……There’s no doubt that he’s also a Demonic Being. I’ll get the Feudal Lord to bring out the army and subjugate him tonight!」

Making eyes with no determined focus, Sadraa held his sword and went forward.

「Such a hateful existence……Giving me such disgrace……Those horns are corrupted!」

「Cristela-dono as well, if she saw those horns and tail as well, it would be recognised as me being in the right……You damned Demonic Being. To be pretending to be a person’s child, how repulsive!」

Krum glared at him.

「A Demonic Being brat shouldn’t talk so high and mighty to me. My ears will be violated! Those horns, I’ll crush them to pieces!」

At that time, Rem kicked a chair.

A sharp pain ran through her right arm.

However, Rem’s thoughts weren’t on her own pain.

Even though he flesh of her arm tore, and the bone was disconnected, none of that mattered.

Rem threw her body out.

That was where Rem broke in between them.

She held Krum close to her chest.

It felt as if burning iron was being pressed up against it.

A cold blade was entering her body.

It was soaking Krum.

Nothing but air that didn’t become words came out from Rem’s mouth.

「Rem────!?」

On the floor, collapsed, in the area around Rem, blood spread out like a puddle.

「Rem! Rem! Rem!」

「Rem too! I’ll bring Rem too! I will kill these guys, and you will live!」

「Th-that is……I did promise but!」

Sadraa’s sword, to make the finishing blow, went from Rem’s back, and went through her right to the floor.

A large amount of blood flew about.

That bright red blood.

A person of the Races would die. If they were to shed this much blood, they would die. That was what Krum knew.

Blood. Blood. Blood.
Her life, would vanish.

Krebskrum shouted.

Rem, still collapsed, heard a voice that seemed like it shook the entire church.

There was no mistake that her own life was coming to an end.

She remembered the words that Alicia muttered in the back alleyway.

That’s what she said.

Until things turned into this situation, Rem didn’t know. She didn’t know the method of making the emotion called hatred.
And then, after all this time, she knew.

Hatred is born when someone important is snatched away.

Holy Knight Sadraa looked up close to the ceiling.

Growing weird horns and a lizard-like tail……She was most likely a Demi-human crossbreed.

And then, he should have executed her as usual.

Was she really a Demonic Being?

「……Krebskrum.」

Sadraa once again glared at the gigantic monster.

「It couldn’t be……For her to be the Demon King……No way……Impossible……」

A shock wave spread out.

The church’s walls and roof were blown away. The fragments burned, and turned to ashes before they could fall to the ground.

The classical church was annihilated to the point that its belfry, its holy symbol, its stone walls, its roof, its stained glass, not even fragments of any of that had remained.

And then, gigantic wings of light that almost reached the sky stretched out from Krebskrum’s back.

From there, as if it were being drawn on the sky, a magic formation was developed.

An ear piercing sound resounded.

Sadraa pierced three swords into the floor, and made an order to the Subordinate Knights.

「Y, yes, sir!」

「Fufu……Even if she is the real Demon King……She will surely disappear without leaving even dust behind by my maximum magic.」

Even if he was in front of the Demon King, he didn’t lose his calm and composure.

Sadraa considered himself to be God.

Because of that, he believed that his confronting the Demon King was nothing but a verse that would make up his own legend.

In her violet eyes, flames of hatred swayed.

It was a scream that made the air shake.

「Fufu……So you’ve noticed my magical power, you damned Demon King……However, it’s already too late.」

His ultimate magic.

「You should just get scattered away, 《Flare Burst》ッ!!」

An explosion enwrapped Krebskrum’s body.

There was no effect.

Sadraa solidified with his hand still thrust out towards the Demon King.

Krebskrum raised a fist overhead.

──It’s still, alright.

That he himself was God, and that even if he were to encounter a crisis where it seemed like he would die, he would survive without fail. As for why, it was because he was God.

His face was scorched by a hot wind.

──Just watch, it will come soon. The power of God will defeat the Demon King.

──Look, it’s will come soon. The Demon King’s fist is already drawing near. Now is the time that God’s power will awaken!
──Ahh, quickly, quickly, come on, come on, come one, come on! Power of God, do it now!

「……Huh? Am I not God?」

Krebskrum’s gigantic fist reached Sadraa’s head.

It was pointless.

The defensive magic failed, his body scattered blood, and even that flying blood evaporated.

Sadraa, in the same way as the Subordinate Knights that became his shield and died, had only his lower half remaining.

Still fallen down on the floor, the young Pantherian girl looked up.

Looking at her appearance, Demon King Krebskrum raised a scream of hatred.

However, she could no longer remember the reason for that hatred.

She had awakened.

Demon King Krebskrum’s first cry, resounded in the cemetery.

Chapter end