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… - 58

Chapter 58: The Hero Who Killed the Demon Lord

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“Cain-sama, what are you…!?”

Ose, wearing a look of shock, pressed down on his bleeding right arm, but Cain continued to swing his blade without hesitation. Each strike was far more refined than when we had fought in the hidden passageway earlier. 

Even though Ose’s physical abilities had increased, he was left with no choice but to reveal his true form. His arm regenerated instantly, transforming into a sword as he was slashed at by Cain.

“What am I doing…? Well, if Josef and the Phantoms seemed to be enemies, then of course I’d side with the Phantoms.”

“What on earth are you thinking!? You were the one who suggested expelling Phantom in the first place! Do you intend to betray us now!?”

“What are you talking about? There’s no way I’d betray my best friend, would I?”

Cain tilted his head innocently at Ose’s frantic words, and I arrived at one answer.

“Cain… Have you come back to your senses?”

“Hmm, I don’t know… I mean, I was supposed to be in front of the Demon Lord’s castle, but now I’m back inside… It doesn’t make sense. Maybe this is just a dream?”

That lighthearted tone… It was Cain. It was the best friend I knew. Not only I, but Henrietta and Ceres also nodded in agreement.

“Cain… That’s a demon who stole the Demon Lord’s power. It can transform its appearance, so we have to defeat it here.”

“Got it!! I’ll show you the power of a champion of justice!”

“Tchhh! What in the world is happening!?”

Ose parried Cain’s ferocious strikes, shouting in confusion as Cain pressed the attack. Well, of course Ose wouldn’t understand that Cain had been possessed by a reincarnator… For whatever reason, Cain had returned to normal. I could only pray he wouldn’t betray us like a certain dragon knight.

“Blessing of the gods, deliver judgment upon this fiend!!”

“Demon who toyed with human hearts, perish here and now!!”

As Cain and I pulled away in unison, Ceres unleashed her holy power, burning Ose. To prevent him from escaping as before, Henrietta’s barrier enclosed him.

“Gugyaaaaaa!!”

“Ufufufu, suffer more!! This is your punishment for tormenting Phantom-sama and me!!”

“Wait… Ceres, did you drop your act in front of Phantom too?”

Wrapped in the purifying barrier and seared by holy light, Ose screamed in unbearable pain, while Ceres smiled in delight. Cain made an unnecessary comment and was promptly glared at by Ceres though.

Yeah… She’s scary.

If we were talking about sheer pressure only, she might surpass the Demon Lord himself.

Ose’s magic power weakened rapidly. From behind, footsteps approached—Tia and the others had caught up with us. Solomon, with a complicated expression, went toward Ose—probably to reclaim the Demon Lord’s stolen power. Elena’s eyes widened in joy when she saw me standing together with Cain, and she smiled happily.

And then—

“Master!! Are you all right!?”

“Ah, of course… Whoa!”

“I’m so glad… I was just a little worried, you know.”

Tia suddenly leapt into my arms, and I reflexively caught her. With tearful eyes, she smiled up at me, relieved. The battle was over—or so I thought, until I felt a hand slap my shoulder. Turning, I found Cain glaring at me with an expression that said, “What the hell am I looking at?”

“Hm? Cain, what’s wrong?”

“‘What’s wrong?’ you say!? What are you doing flirting with another girl right in front of Henrietta!? When I invited you to the bunny girl bar, you said you couldn’t because of Henrietta. Sure, we went anyway, but… What happened? Henrietta, you should complain! Tell him that if he wants to fool around, he should at least wait until he’s secured an heir first… Huh? Wait… What’s with this atmosphere!?”

Cain looked confused at the strange atmosphere, while the rest of us exchanged glances, unsure how to explain everything that had happened.

“Cain… It’s fine. It was my fault. I abandoned him…”

“Eh? No, seriously, what happened? You two were so lovey-dovey. Both you and Phantom were radiating that nauseatingly obvious ‘I love you’ aura.”

Henrietta tried to calm him, but Cain still seemed unconvinced. Well, yeah… Back then, maybe it really was like that… The memories stung a little.

“Master… This man feels different from before… I don’t sense that lecherous gaze anymore.”

“Yeah, he came back to his senses. But… Explaining everything is going to be so hard…”

“…I understand the situation. Cain, I’ll explain it later, so keep quiet for now. Many things happened while your mind was taken over.”

Elena soothed Cain, who still looked dissatisfied. That was just like him—always blessing my relationship with Henrietta.

“By the way, what happened to Amon? Don’t tell me you killed him…”

“Hm? Oh, that demon? He said something like, ‘Thanks to the cursed sword, the soul that was possessing you has weakened!! You’re Phantom’s ally now!!’ or whatever, so I just restrained him with magic.”

“Ugh…”

Honestly, back then we were so fired up about defeating the Demon Lord. Maybe I should be glad Amon wasn’t killed outright by Cain… I’d better apologize to Amon later.

“Also, there was some weird sword, so I left it behind. A blade with that kind of sinister magic? That thing is totally cursed.”

“Even that Amon…If you were able to defeat him… I guess the real thing is really strong, huh?”

Tia looked surprised at Cain’s casual tone. That said, Amon must not have been fighting seriously, since he had said he’d spare Cain.

“Damn it… My magic power…”

“That makes 99% of the Demon Lord’s power recovered. You won’t be causing any more trouble.”

When I turned, Solomon had already confined Ose in a prison of shadows. Her aura was completely different from before.

“…What will you do with him?”

I asked, staring at the powerless, despairing Ose, and the satisfied Solomon. Honestly, thanks to Ose, I had been exiled, forced to fight Henrietta… Nothing good had come of him. I didn’t know demon law, but I couldn’t forgive him easily.

“Hmm… Normally, anyone who tries to steal the Demon Lord’s power is executed…”

“Please, Solomon-sama!! You intend to coexist with humans, don’t you!? Then surely my negotiation skills, honed in human society, will be useful! Spare my life, I beg you!!”

Ose grovelled pitifully, and Solomon tilted her head, then nodded as if struck with inspiration.

“Very well. You will return to the Demon Realm and persuade those who still insist that strength is everything.”

“…How lenient. Sorry, but even if God forgives you, I never will.”

“Haha, silence, Saintess!! Understood. I shall prove myself by winning over your subordinates. In return, may I have my magic restored? At this point I lack both the Demon Lord’s power and even my innate transformation magic…”

Ose raised his voice eagerly, but Solomon simply tilted her head.

“Why should I return power to someone who might betray us again? Oh, don’t worry. With 1% of my magic linked to you, you’re immortal as long as I live. Use those ‘negotiation skills’ you bragged about. Although… I do wonder how the militant demons will treat someone who tried to seize the throne through cowardice. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Wha…? Wait… please. That’s impossible… Kill me. Please, kill meeeee!!”

Ose’s face twisted in terror, but Solomon ignored him, dragging the entire prison into her own shadow. I didn’t know what fate awaited him, but… I guess it was like being reborn in the world of Fist of the North Star without any strength at all and immortal on top of that. Honestly, I felt a little sorry for him.

As I marveled at Solomon’s ruthlessness, she turned to us with a warm smile completely unlike before.

“Everyone… Thank you. Thanks to you, I have fully regained the Demon Lord’s power.”

“Ah, that’s good. Amon seems safe too, so… Happy ending, I guess…”

Sure, there were still things to discuss, but for now, it was fine to let them wait…. But then, it happened.

“No, there is one more thing I must do. Shadow, consume.”

It was a complete surprise attack. A shadowy hand, faster than anything before, seized me and dragged me down.

When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t endless darkness. A bed, a table. I was clearly in a room.

Wait a second. This is… My bed from back home!! This is my old room!!

“Phantom… What exactly happened?”

I turned toward the voice and found Henrietta, looking just as bewildered as me.

That’s my line!!

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