Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 80
Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~
Chapter 80 Tokoyami
The clang of metal against metal resounded through the air.
On one side, the highest-ranked assassin, a dark elf with silver hair clad in pitch-black attire.
On the other, a colossal super warrior encased in azure ice dragon armor.
At present, the battle between the assassin and the warrior seemed to slightly favor the warrior, and it appeared that the outcome would be settled before long if the fight continued.
This was partly because the battle had commenced ever since the super warrior, Gaius, entered the room. In terms of compatibility in a direct confrontation, as well as their respective levels of strength, Gaius overwhelmingly held the advantage.
“What… what are you doing, Tokoyami!? Kill that muscle-bound doll right now! What will happen to me if you lose!? Have you forgotten the favor I bestowed upon you, grooming you within the shadows, and elevating you to this position!?”
“…”
Prince Freid, relying on Tokoyami’s power, found himself greatly flustered as his plea fell on deaf ears.
However, assassins were ultimately professionals who accomplished their goals by lurking in the shadows and seizing opportunities. Facing a warrior profession that had surpassed even the pinnacle of humanity, the S-rank, and had entered the realm of SS-rank, it was unlikely that they could hold out for long.
Moreover…
“Hey, you. …You don’t seriously intend to let me kill you like this, do you?”
“Hmph…”
From Gaius’s perspective, it seemed that Tokoyami wasn’t putting forth his full strength, as if he was holding back in some way during the fight.
Although this conversation wasn’t audible to Prince Freid due to the distance between them caused by their high-speed battle, Amanda, an S-rank scout, enhanced her sensory organs such as eyes and ears to the utmost limit, allowing her to pick up on it.
“That person… couldn’t be. No way…”
“Darn it!! Why?! Why does my interference come at such a crucial moment like this?!”
Ignoring the frustrated second prince, Gaius became convinced upon seeing Tokoyami’s defiant smile in response to his inquiry.
This skilled assassin intended to take down his own lord, the source of corruption in the magical kingdom, even at the cost of his own life.
Why Tokoyami was so stubbornly determined to assassinate the second prince to the point of risking his life remained unclear. However, as a warrior, an adventurer, someone with companions and disciples, and as a man who had come to save a woman, Gaius’s intuition, honed through countless experiences, told him that this man was currently trying to protect something.
“I see… So you also have something you’re willing to protect at the cost of your own life, just like me.”
“Don’t worry about it, super warrior. This is my fault for valuing something more than the life of the one I serve, even while serving the country in the shadows. If you think of it as the hands of an assassin, tainted as they may be, finally achieving justice in the end, then my heart feels lighter.”
For Tokoyami, it was something precious.
Someone he wanted to protect.
A belief he wanted to uphold.
Taking all of that into account, Gaius understood on a level of determination and emotion, and made a certain decision.
“Uooooooo!! Ultimate Warrior Awakening Technique! Super Devil Bat Assault!!”
“…That’s good. It’s fitting that my lifelong formidable opponent is a courageous warrior like you.”
Intending to settle the matter here, the highest-ranked assassin, who had realized his own end, leaped into the range of the warrior in front of him, who had once again enhanced his physical abilities to the limit with his last resort.
If the dagger in his hand clashed head-on with the greatsword, the greatsword’s attack would undoubtedly reach first due to its longer reach. In that case, he would die, and the shield protecting the second prince, who was still showing his last struggle while holding the woman named Amanda hostage, would disappear.
This was the utmost he could do as agents of the shadows bound by magical contracts, unable to break free from the principle of protecting the royal family’s lives. Even if the prince had a hostage by his side, he couldn’t imagine stalling for long against this courageous man.
With this, the greatest source of corruption in the magical kingdom of Rulans would finally be eradicated, and someday, the dignity of the actual sister he had wanted to rescue from the hands of the second prince would be preserved.
“…Farewell, Elsa. Your brother wishes for your freedom and happiness.”
In the next moment, his body pierced by the weapon, crimson blood danced through the air.
◇
Time rewinds to over two decades ago in the magical kingdom of Rulans, a time when Dark Elf siblings sharpened each other’s skills and continued to carry out missions under the royal family’s supervision as members of the shadowy organization.
These shadow agents fought against every enemy threatening the nation’s peace, becoming the most powerful trump cards of the magical kingdom, both domestically and abroad.
Among these shadow agents, two individuals stood out for their remarkable achievements. Already gaining fame as the highest-ranking assassins, their names were known even among the nobility of the country.
“Ho, it seems Tokoyami and Twilight have achieved success once again… Hunting down the heads of the nobles colluding with enemy nations might sound simple, but the existence of these two loyal agents of the royal family is widely known. To accomplish their missions with such precision amid heightened vigilance is truly remarkable.”
These words come from none other than the king of the magical kingdom of Rulans. Apparently, this time, due to the corruption inherent in any large nation, he had secretly dispatched the two strongest assassins among his loyal subjects to purge the internal rot.
However, as the king himself stated, individuals with power and ability inevitably become known, no matter how discreet they try to be. When such individuals pose a threat to one’s own life, gathering information becomes imperative.
Hence, although they were prepared for some degree of failure in this mission against the high nobility, even the king did not anticipate the assassinations to be carried out successfully as ordered.
“They are indeed exceptional, those siblings. We should prepare a suitable reward for them.”
“Yes, Father. However, it’s truly regrettable…”
“Hm, what is it, Freid? Did you say something just now?”
“No, Father, it’s nothing. Probably just a misunderstanding.”
As someone who would eventually become a pillar supporting the kingdom, Prince Freid, who was by the king’s side receiving reports from the shadow organization, disguised his thoughts and pondered.
Due to the exceptional prowess of these siblings surpassing expectations, Freid couldn’t help but worry that they might exploit loopholes in their magical contracts and pose a serious threat in the future.
That’s why he earnestly believed that it was appropriate not just to lead the shadow organization bound by magical contracts but to subjugate them as slaves by framing them with false accusations. This was the mentality of a villain who couldn’t trust the goodwill or conscience of others due to his own depravity and couldn’t be satisfied unless he controlled everything.
First and foremost, Twilight was the prime target. Compared to his brother Tokoyami, she was more sentimental and had shown blind loyalty to the royal family, which had always treated her well.
Once Twilight was under control, the rest would be easy. With her sister enslaved as a hostage, Tokoyami, who had shown more obedience, would become even more compliant, and one could expect him to work beyond the restrictions imposed by the magical contract.
Above all, once she fell into slavery, he would gain control over her body, mind, and strength. With that, he could bury all political enemies and gain an advantage in the power struggle with his elder brother, the Crown Prince.
Thinking this way, Prince Freid smirked inwardly and began preparing various obstacles for Twilight from the next day onwards. Sometimes, he would provide the king with false reports and frame her, while at other times, he would sabotage her missions at crucial moments.
Although the king felt a sense of unease at Twilight’s sudden string of failures during missions, he couldn’t suspect Freid, who still outwardly portrayed himself as an outstanding prince, nor did he feel the need to exert so much effort over just one member of the shadow organization, no matter how competent she might be.
Thus, taking advantage of the king’s complacency, Freid’s schemes bore fruit. Several years later, after plotting and exploiting the king’s carelessness, the moment he had been waiting for finally arrived.
After numerous failures and false accusations, Twilight, ensnared in a web of deceit, was finally burdened with the crimes and sentenced to slavery.
“What is the meaning of this, Lord Freid?! To accuse Twilight, my sister, of plotting betrayal against the king! It’s clearly a misunderstanding! There must be some ulterior motive behind this!”
“That’s not something you can negotiate, Tokoyami. This has already been decided by my father, the king. It’s not going to change. However, if you behave yourself, I might consider sparing Twilight’s life. So, what will it be? Will you pledge your obedient loyalty to me? Or will you also fall into slavery along with her?”
As Prince Freid spoke with a smirk, Tokoyami realized everything.
Even he had recently noticed a significant decline in favor from the royal family, whom he should have served faithfully, but he never expected the second prince, whom he had pledged allegiance to, to be the cause.
As members of the shadow organization, they were prepared to face death or be discarded due to mission failures. But this was too much.
This abandonment was not even for the sake of the country anymore; it was a blatant betrayal against them.
However, bound by magical contracts, they currently had no options. Even if they spoke out, they would only end up falling into slavery alongside their sister.
Therefore, Tokoyami concluded that they would have to bide their time for the perfect opportunity to decisively eliminate this prince.
“Very well. I will follow your lead, Lord Freid.”
“Hahaha! That’s the spirit! Alright, from now on, I’ll trust you completely, considering your hostage situation. Well, you can expect good things as long as you’re following me! Hahaha!”
Seeing the villainous prince, whose laughter seemed never-ending, Tokoyami resolved to dirty their hands to bring him down from that day forth.
Prepared for any dirty work for the sake of his sister, he knew he would eventually pay for his sins, even in the afterlife. But he accepted it all.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own life, he had decided to rescue his sister from the clutches of this man’s evil.
◇
Returning to the battle at the Dark Guild headquarters.
From the abdomen of the super warrior pierced by the dagger wielded by the highest-ranking assassin, crimson blood dances in the air.
Even if it’s just a dagger attack, being stabbed so deeply could be life-threatening.
The decisive blow that can be called a fatal wound has already indicated the defeat of the super warrior Gaius in this match.
“Foolish… why…”
“Cough… chuckle… Well, hold on. You don’t just throw away your life so easily, right? Lady Elsa’s family… I thought I saw a resemblance somewhere, and that’s why. I understand now.”
For some reason, despite his apparent defeat, Gaius collapses onto the floor and releases his greatsword with an air of satisfaction, as if saying, “Everything went well.”
This inexplicable turn of events leaves Tokoyami bewildered. Why wasn’t he dead, pierced by this man’s greatsword?
In theory, his own attacks, with its short reach, should never have reached this man.
So why is he still alive here and now?
Lost in these thoughts, Tokoyami stands still, dumbfounded.
“Excellent, Tokoyami! Just as expected from my trusted subordinate! Finish off that muscle-bound Daruma once and for all! Kill him! Kill him, I say! Well, maybe I’ll deliver the final blow myself! Hahaha!”
Perhaps convinced of his subordinate’s victory, the second prince releases Amanda without hesitation and begins to approach Gaius, even without needing a hostage.
However, seeing Tokoyami standing there in a daze, Gaius laughs, turning the tables.
“Cough… I see, I see. Well then, if you think you can, give it a try, Prince Freid?”
“Kukuku… Bravado, huh? Fine, then let’s end this with your head—“
Even the prince, and even the assassin Tokoyami, were convinced of Gaius’s death, about to say those words.
Suddenly, accompanied by a golden glow piercing from behind, a boy’s voice echoed.
—Ah, it’s good you’re a fool, Prince.
—With this, we can finally put an end to this problem.
There, a boy with eyes shining in gold turned Amanda’s restraints into sand, an unbelievable sight unfolding before them.