Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 92

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 92   Those who could not be saved

Meanwhile, as Mermel was lost in the forest…

Ars and his party, who had saved the port town of Grazier, were on their way to the royal capital, tracking the remnants of the demons who had escaped their initial assault.

The number of remaining demons was not large, perhaps only a few.

However, demons are still demons.

Even one low-ranking demon, with strength comparable to a B-rank adventurer, could easily destroy nearby villages.

Since they were not foolish, they would never head towards a large city or town with the intent of self-destruction.

Because of this, it was clear they would target powerless farming villages to cause as much damage as possible to the human forces.

As they continued their journey, dealing with the remnants, they finally sensed the presence of what was likely the last remaining demon.

Because at that location…

“The village is on fire!? Let’s go, everyone! We can’t let the damage spread any further!”

“Right! Considering the number that escaped, this should be the last of them! Let’s give it everything we’ve got!”

Ars discovered the village engulfed in flames and shouted to his companions following behind.

The damage to the buildings was evident, and while hoping that the villagers were safe, they sprinted like the wind.

“This… this is…!”

However, they were too late.

Upon reaching the village, they saw that all the residents had perished, their bodies consumed by the fire along with their burning homes.

Faced with such a hopeless scene, Ars stood still, momentarily forgetting to search for the escaped lower-class demons.

“Damn it… Even if they’re working for the Demon King, to go this far… I don’t care if they’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings, this is just sickening.”

Hades muttered quietly, her voice barely audible, as she averted her eyes from the horrific scene. Though a demon, she had come to understand human emotions and experienced much kindness during their journey. Her face showed frustration and, more than anything, doubt towards her own father.

Why was her father pushing such a plan, or if it wasn’t his will, why were the Four Heavenly Kings, supposedly under his command, committing such atrocities?

Anyone familiar with Hades’ circumstances as the Demon Prince could easily see the turmoil on her face.

“Don’t give up just yet. There are still survivors hiding in that house over there. It seems a boy has been taken hostage by the demon who ran out of escape routes… Don’t underestimate my Amanda’s sense perception!”

“……! Thank you, Amanda! Brave Blade!!”

Ars, brought back to his senses by his comrade skilled in detecting presences, manifested his golden sword. He charged through the burning, crumbling house, destroying it with his body and instantly killed the demon holding the boy hostage.

With the power of the Brave Engine awakening within Ars, a lower-class demon using a hostage couldn’t even stall for time. Without even realizing its own death, the demon turned to dust and vanished.

“Are you alright? You did well, you’re very brave!”

“………”

“I’ll heal your wounds right away, hang in there just a little longer!”

“………”

Without sparing a glance at the demon that had turned to dust, Ars focused all his healing magic on the boy who had been taken hostage. The boy’s body was covered in severe burns, fractures, cuts, and stab wounds, making his condition almost unbearable to witness.

Pouring every ounce of his energy into the healing spells was the only way to have any hope of saving him.

In response to Ars’s desperate determination, his golden eyes shone even brighter, radiating an aura around him. Over and over, countless times, he cast healing spells, continuing even after the boy’s body was restored to its original, unblemished state.

However, no matter how much he healed the body, no matter how long he cast the spells, no matter how much time passed…

The boy did not wake up.

“Calm down, Ars. That child is already dead…”

The sight of Ars desperately continuing his healing efforts, trying anything to save the child, was heart-wrenching. Amanda and Hades turned their eyes away, silent and somber, while Gaius alone spoke the truth and gently pulled Ars away from the boy.

It wasn’t that Gaius was insensitive to the situation.

Rather, he was the only one who understood Ars’s feelings deeply enough and had the strength to stop his distraught apprentice from denying reality.

Gaius had a wealth of experience from his youth, having formed parties and adventured many times, often facing the deaths of comrades and the lives he couldn’t save. It was this maturity that allowed him to speak up now.

“……… Why? Why is this happening? Isn’t the Brave Engine supposed to be powered by the strength of my wishes? Wake up! Please, wake up! Why won’t this child wake up, even though his wounds are healed… Tell me, Gaius…”

He understood.

The boy had died long before, and no amount of healing magic could change that.

Ars knew this all too well, having continued the treatment himself.

Yet, the reality he faced was something he couldn’t accept.

“This is unforgivable…”

“Yes, it is.”

“The villagers were just living their peaceful lives.”

“Yes, they were.”

Gritting his teeth, Ars’s golden eyes reflected something different as he gazed at the sea of blood around him.

“How could this happen? How could someone do this? I… I can’t forgive those who do such things…!”

Yes.

What was reflected in his golden eyes was hatred.

For the first time, Ars, who was always the most straightforward, the purest, and the most gentle, felt an overwhelming rage that threatened to consume his very will.

This intense hatred became a negative wish, influencing even the Brave Engine.

“Gah…! What is this?!”

“Gaius! Ars is acting strange!”

“What the…? Hey, what’s wrong with Ars?! It’s like he can’t even see me!”

The out-of-control Brave Engine spread a dark aura around, destroying everything in its path. Trees and corpses with low magic resistance turned to dust instantly, while even comrades with strong magic resistance were repelled and blown away upon contact with the dark aura.

Seeing Ars in this berserk state for the first time, everyone was confused and didn’t know how to handle the situation.

But just when it seemed all hope was lost…

A familiar, oddly relaxed voice echoed from above.

“Finally found you all! But it looks like things are bad, huh? Is this a bad time?”

“That voice! It’s that little squirt!”

“Who is that girl? It looks like she’s flying, or is it just me?”

The newcomer was an elite angel, Mermel, fluttering her angel wings and wriggling her body as she pondered, “This is troublesome~”. She had finally found the hero, but she seemed to be figuring out how to handle the unexpected berserk state he was in.

“Hmm. Yes, that’s right. Using the Brave Engine like this will eventually destroy him.”

“What?! What do you know? Are you saying my friend Ars is in serious trouble?!”

“Exactly.”

Although her response sounded obvious, Gaius and the others, not understanding the cause of the berserk state, couldn’t grasp what she meant. Realizing this from their reactions, Mermel came up with a slightly smarter explanation.

“The Brave Engine is powered by the strength of one’s wishes. But right now, it’s in a berserk state because it’s being consumed by intense hatred. It’s out of control because it’s overwhelmed his consciousness, so…”

“I get it! So, we just need to knock him back to his senses, right?!”

“That’s it!”

With a “That’s right!” vibe, Mermel pointed her index finger at Gaius and said, “Yes, yes, hitting him will solve it. Violence solves everything,” she declared something quite terrifying.

Understanding the situation, the group divided into front and rear formations to stop the berserk Ars. They readied their weapons to bring him back to his senses by force.