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… - 29

Chapter 29: VS Henrietta

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“Hey, hey!! Can’t I just kill these guys already?!”

“Of course not!! It would make coexistence between humans and demons even harder!”

“And besides… This is Master’s homeland!! If you hurt anyone, I’ll never speak to you again!!”

“Hahahaha! Both Young Lady and Tia are selfish, huh?! But, moments like this are the most fun!!”

We had barely returned to the carriage before soldiers surrounded us. Amon frantically drove the carriage forward, but since our horses were ordinary ones and not military-trained, their speed was slower, and the distance between us and the soldiers closed little by little.

“Elena… Is it about time?”

“Indeed. I’ve been deflecting all their arrows, so they should be losing their patience right about now.”

“As expected of the Great Sage!!”

“Hmph, this much is nothing to me. However, I am kind, so I shall grant you the right to pat my head.”

While Elena puffed out her chest in pride, I gently patted her head and unleashed my Evil Eyes to absorb the soldiers’ magic.

“Devour magic and become my sustenance!!”

“O’ earth, change your form and become an obstacle to my enemies!!”

Just as planned—when the soldiers, frustrated by Elena deflecting all their arrows, switched to casting magic, I absorbed it with my Evil Eye, and Elena shifted from defense to offense.

“What the—gahhh!?”

“Damn it, I’m losing control… Calm down!!”

All the soldiers’ magic was nullified, and Elena’s spell turned the ground into a swamp. Both soldiers and horses panicked, plunging the enemy ranks into chaos.

“As expected of Master and Elena-san!! With this, we can escape unscathed!”

“To nullify them without causing injury… We should learn from this as well.”

Solomon, now completely calm, pulled tea from the shadows and began drinking. But Elena and I never let our guard down. Because if our movements were exposed and demons were involved, there was no way she wouldn’t appear.

“Everyone!! Do not falter!! Mages, reinforce the public road! Cavalry, circle around from the flanks and do not let up your attacks! Don’t give them any chance to use magic!!”

With that commanding voice, the cavalry arrived—and at their head rode a woman clad in silver armor. Her voice and face were ones I knew all too well.

“So she came after all… Henrietta.”

“Henrietta… Isn’t she Master’s…?”

I felt the concerned gazes of the two beside me. My chest ached sharply. The woman I once swore to protect… The one I dreamed of developing our territory with… The one who, unlike Elena, knew about my banishment…

“Let’s see if my skills have dulled. O’ balls of flame, burn my hated foe to ash!”

“Elena-san!? Henrietta-san will die!!”

Tia cried out in shock as dozens—no, hundreds—of tiny fireballs flew toward Henrietta. But those of us who knew her strength—Elena, myself, Solomon, and even Amon—just watched silently.

“It seems you have some skilled people with you. But all of your effort will be in vain. 『Break』!!”

Centered on Henrietta, a dazzling light flared, forming a barrier that nullified the magic. I remembered when she protected the people from a Four Great Demons’ attack. Ceres had made a complicated face when people joked that Henrietta seemed more like a saintess than the actual saintess herself.

“Oh… So that’s Henrietta, the ‘Sturdiest’ knight? She certainly has poise.”

“Hm? ‘Sturdiest’ knight?”

When Elena questioned the unfamiliar title, Solomon smugly explained:

“The Demon Lord Slayer’s party is famous even among demons. I’d heard many rumors in the demon realm. The ‘Sturdiest Henrietta,’ with her overwhelming defense. The ‘Wisest Elena,’ the elf with unmatched magical power and control. The ‘Worst Ceres,’ with neither mercy nor compassion. The ‘Most Excellent Cain,’ master of both sword and magic. And finally, the ‘Most Troublesome Phantom,’ who seemed to predict our every move and nullify both intellect and magic. Together, they’re known as the Strongest Five.”

“Whoa, so that’s what you were called, Elena-san.”

“How should I put it… What an embarrassing title.”

We were that famous in the demon realm, huh? And “Most Troublesome”…It actually sounded kind of cool… Or so I thought—

“No, I came up with those nicknames myself. Cool, right?”

“…” “…” “…”

“Sorry… The Young Lady is just at that age. Even though demons don’t need to chant to use magic, she’s the type to make up her own, so you should be able to guess already what she’s like…”

While we were rendered speechless by Solomon’s smug look, Amon chimed in.

Wait… If I also think those nicknames sound cool and I also chant when using the Evil Eyes even though I don’t need to chant…. Does that make me chuunibyou too?

Elena cleared her throat, resetting the atmosphere.

“Well, that’s not important here. Henrietta’s defense is strong, but she cannot attack. I’ll keep her pinned down with magic while we—”

“Whoa, that was a close one!!”

A massive wave of heat passed by the side of the carriage. Even my Evil Eye couldn’t react to that force… So this was—

“The power bestowed by the god to repel the demons… 『Exorcism』”

Yes, this was her skill 『Exorcism』. A holy light that could nullify not only demonic power but even magic whose source was elemental spirits. When used offensively, it became a ray that could burn demons to ash.

I didn’t know why she could attack now when she couldn’t before. Did Cain tell her something or did something happen in the past year? What I did know was that she had improved, improved enough enough to agree to my banishment to obtain what she wanted.

“In that case, I can’t stay still either, can I?”

“Gustav…?”

“Master…?”

Smiling at the two who looked at me with concern, I spoke to them.

“You all go on ahead. I’ll hold Henrietta at bay.”

“Master… No…”

“That’s right, there’s no need for you to put yourself through something so painful!!”

“You’re wrong. This is something only I can do. Elena and Tia aren’t suited for close combat, so they can’t hold her off. Solomon and Amon are demons, so 『Exorcism』 is a bad match for them and it would turn into a fight to the death. That’s why I need to go.”

Feeling sorry for making the two gasp, I raised my voice:

“Leave the carriage and somehow get to the lord’s manor in the Pail territory!! Just say, ‘Stella-oneechan, please, help us!’ and they’ll understand!!”

“Fool!! Then at least allow me to make it a one-on-one battle for you!”

Without waiting for a reply, I opened the carriage door, leapt onto the roof, and then launched myself toward Henrietta with legs strengthened by the Evil Eyes’ power. I heard screams nearby—Elena must have used magic to deal with the escorts. She really was a dependable companion.

“What!?”

As she prepared for a second strike, I clashed with her atop her horse, and we both tumbled to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I stood, facing her in her dirt-stained silver armor. She looked straight at me and spoke.

“So you’re the masked man working with the demons… Sorry, but I don’t have time to deal with you.”

I felt relief at the hostility in her eyes—because if she had recognized me, like Elena had, I might have hesitated.

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