I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 24

Chapter 24: Encirclement of the Demons

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I quickly pressed down on my mask and explained the situation. The soldier’s behavior was rough, but I noticed his hand was trembling. He might have been shaken by the thought that I could be a demon with powerful abilities.

“Please wait. My face was badly injured in battle. It’s not something I can show to people. If you need proof of identity, I have this.”

“Hm? Oh… So you’re an adventurer. My apologies.”

When I showed him my guild card, the soldier looked apologetic and removed his hand from my mask. Now, if I could just handle Amon’s side of things…

“You bastard, you wanna get yourself killed?!”

“Gyaaahhhh!!”

A terrible feeling shot through me, and when I turned around, sure enough, Amon had one arm clamped around a soldier’s face WHILE lifting him right off the ground.

Ugh… Yeah, I knew this was going to happen…

Most likely the soldier had tried to forcefully pull down Amon’s hood. He was only traveling with us because Solomon ordered it and he didn’t particularly like humans. (Except for Tia.)

“Sorry, he’s drunk and his personality is pretty rough on the edges. Come on, that’s enough! Let’s get out of here!!”

Clicking his tongue, Amon roughly tossed the soldier aside and climbed up onto the driver’s seat.

“Hey, you lot—”

“Sorry, we’ve got our own circumstances.”

I deflected the soldier’s arm as he came at me, making sure not to injure him, and tripped him before following after Amon.

“Get us moving, now!!”

“Yeah, I got it!! That punk tried to lay a hand on me even though he’s just a small fry! I ain’t forgiving that!!”

While calming the enraged Amon, I let out a deep sigh and threw a stone at the wheel of the soldier’s wagon, shattering it before they could chase us.

“Sorry… But we can’t afford to be caught.”

From a distance, I saw a soldier pointing some kind of magic tool in our direction, so I stayed on guard for an attack—but nothing happened. Still, I could feel magic from it, so I’d have Elena check the wagon later.

“What on earth are you thinking?! We must form peace with the humans and defeat Ose! Why would you start trouble?!”

“’Cause, y’know… Those small fries had the nerve to give me orders. You think I can put up with that?”

“What are you saying?! If you’d just put up with it, Master would’ve smoothed things over perfectly… Even a dog is smarter than you! At least a dog can wait on command!!”

“Ughhh…”

After I explained the situation—that we’d had to make a sudden escape to get away from the soldiers—Tia and Solomon both blew up at Amon.

I mean, I can understand why Amon has to obey Solomon, but it turns out he can’t defy Tia either….

For the record, Elena just sighed and went over to the driver’s seat.

“Gustav-san, Tia-san, I apologize for the trouble caused by my foolish one . If he causes any further hindrance, I’ll personally take responsibility and send him back to the demon realm myself.”

“Wait a second, Young Lady. Sure, I screwed up, but they’re the ones who picked a fight first! And besides, I’ve found true love! I’m not going back like this.”

Winking at Tia, Amon made excuses to an angry Solomon. He seemed oddly relaxed.

But Tia, please… Don’t use me as a shield. I really don’t want to lock eyes with Amon’s burning gaze.

“Well, well… It was an irregular situation, so it can’t be helped. And since we got away quickly, I doubt they realized you were demonfolk. If it comes to it, I could take off my mask. It should be able to help keep our identity hidden.”

“Eh?! I can see Master’s real face?!”

Her earlier angry mode vanished as Tia’s eyes sparkled. 

Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually shown her my real face…

“Are you sure? Weren’t you wearing that cool mask for a reason?”

“Yeah, I‘m hiding from a certain person, but she’s the lord of her domain and she’s probably busy with her job, so it should be fine.”

“…Hmm!! Sounds like there’s a story waiting to unfold there… I like it. I’m a sucker for that sort of thing.”

Now Solomon’s eyes were sparkling too… 

But yeah, I get it… The unspoken past behind a mask. It does get you excited…When it’s not your own past, that is.

“Anyway, once we get to the city, I’m planning to scout around. Normally, there shouldn’t be any guards posted there. I’ve got a feeling something’s up.”

“Oh! Then I’ll go with you!! A couple will look more like travelers than a single person.”

“True… As demonfolk, Amon and I, and as an elf, Elena, would stand out… Could I leave it to you?”

Tia beamed at me like she’d been waiting for this chance. 

Damn it… I couldn’t help feeling genuinely happy at that straightforward affection… And just as the plan seemed settled—

“Ehehe… It’s a date, Master!~♡”

“Hold it right there!! I’m coming too!! There’s no way I’m letting you two go on a date!!”

The one who shouted was Amon.

“You might look human enough, but what about those wings of yours…?”

“Eh?? Read the room… Wait, what are you doing?”

“Uoooohhh!”

Even when Tia glared at him with eyes as cold as ice, Amon ignored her. He stood up, and ripped his own wings right off.

“Uh… Is he going to be okay…?”

“No need to worry. We’re demonfolk. Give it two or three days and they’ll grow back. But man, this hurts like hell…”

“…Like a lizard’s tail, huh?”

Kind of like Piccolo, maybe?

“See? Now it’s fine! I’m coming too!!”

With him half in tears from the pain, neither Tia nor I had the heart to turn Amon down.

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“Henrietta-sama!! A guard on public patrol was attacked by suspicious individuals, and his magic tool reacted! Those suspicious individuals must be the demonfolk!”

“I see… so Cain was right. There are still demonfolk here…”

Receiving her subordinate’s report, Henrietta furrowed her brows in displeasure. After word came from the royal capital that demonfolk had infiltrated the country, she’d strengthened security, and now there was a reaction already. But the location… was bad. Too bad.

“This direction… It’s right on the border between my territory and Pail territory… We absolutely have to protect it.”

“Yes, Pail territory is Phantom-sama’s homeland, after all…”

Henrietta nodded firmly at her subordinate’s words. Honestly, facing demonfolk without Phantom or the other Demon Lord Subjugation Party members would be incredibly hard. That said, she hadn’t been idle this past year. While fulfilling her duties as a lord, she had also undergone harsh training and gained new strength.

“Contact Ange, the lord of Pail territory, and tell her we should strengthen the surrounding towns’ security and work together to take them down.”

“Yes, ma’am!!”

After seeing her subordinate leave, Henrietta looked at the old but beautiful stone-set ring displayed on her desk.

“Phantom… Back then, I got lost in your territory… That’s why, I will protect this land and Pale territory that you cherished, no matter what. Please watch over me, wherever you are…”

Henrietta’s eyes held a quiet sorrow as she made her vow.

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