Vol 1 Chapter 41 – You May Die

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Al began tailing the demon. A hero (self-proclaimed) being a stalker. This is unprecedented.

I trembled with fear that he might be setting a new precedent in the worst possible way… Well, okay, I’m confident Al isn’t the type to act on those kinds of feelings, though.

As we followed the demon, we headed toward an area with fewer and fewer people.

Was she doing this to hide from humans, or perhaps…

…Yeah, she’s totally noticed us. This demon seems pretty strong, too.

“Ugh, what a pain… Ludrick was the one who happily took on these kinds of jobs. If it’s his work, he should be the one to do it. Just because I look a lot like a human, they push it all on me. It’s the worst. I wish he’d just die.”

The place where she finally stopped was now completely deserted.

The contrast with the place that had been bustling with people just moments before was incredible.

And her monologue was also incredible. What is this one even saying?

As I was thinking that, the demon turned around and looked at us.

“Well, now that I’ve gone to the trouble of coming to such a deserted place for you, may I have a self‑introduction?”

“Hohou. To think you could notice my tailing… Not bad.”

“Ta‑tailing? You think you were tailing me? You were blatantly stalking me without making any attempt to hide, weren’t you?” “He’s just happy he got to use a word he just learned. Don’t tease him.”

“Huh…?”

The demon looked utterly bewildered. That makes sense. I was stunned when I first saw Al’s ‘tailing’ too.

Normally, tailing someone means keeping a certain distance, hiding behind things, and following them without being noticed.

Al’s method, on the other hand, was majestically audacious.

He made no effort to hide, kept no distance whatsoever, and just single‑mindedly charged after the demon’s back like a wild boar.

Without a doubt, Al was the criminal here.

For the record, Al himself was apparently tailing her with complete confidence. He should know shame.

“There is but one reason I followed you with my perfect tailing. There is something I wish to ask.”

I no longer have the energy to even comment on the “perfect” part. He won’t listen anyway.

As I was mulling that over, Al posed a question to the demon, straight as an arrow.

“Are you a demon?”

“Yes, I am.”

I was surprised by that answer.

The woman before us didn’t have an appearance that clearly marked her as a demon.

She could have easily feigned ignorance.

She probably didn’t know yet that Al was an unbelievably unhinged lunatic, but I’d think lying would be the better choice to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Oh? You answered so readily.

“I don’t go around advertising it, but there’s no need to hide it anymore. Anymore.”

That “anymore” caught my attention.

In other words, she had likely already accomplished some goal.

…Well, whatever. The humans are the ones who’ll suffer the harm. As long as it doesn’t affect me, do as you please.

“So, now that you know, what do you intend to do? Will you kill me?”

“Of course, I’ll kill you.”

“Wha…”

It was an astonishingly refreshing death threat. Well? Surprised? This is Alvarado.

Ta-daaa…

“Is what I’d like to say, but I do not decide someone is evil based on prejudice. I will not suddenly attack you just because you are a demon.”

“!?”

What!? What is this man saying!? Isn’t attacking without warning based on some incomprehensible criteria your modus operandi!? Isn’t that what Alvarado does!?

This reasonable person isn’t Al! Give me back that goddamn moron slug!

“If you will disappear without causing any further trouble to the humans, I shall let you go.”

“Heeh, you’re surprisingly reasonable.”

The demon nodded, impressed. It’s a lie! Don’t be fooled! This is an imposter!

This must be a trap set by the Demon Lord’s army to sow chaos among humanity!

“Which is precisely why this is unfortunate. I came here today to raid this place, you see.”

“How can this be…”

Al looked up to the heavens.

And I, too, looked up at the sky.

Ah, it’s over… This demon woman’s life is… Why did she have to be so stupidly honest…?

That’s basically the same as saying, ‘I’d like you to kill me!’…

“Because you were willing to spare me, I shall give you one chance to escape as well. If you promise not to tell anyone about what happens here and run, I will let you go. I possess enough kindness to spare a single human, at least.”

Apparently, this demon was quite confident.

She didn’t know a thing about Al, yet she was certain she could win.

Ah, you poor thing… I can certainly feel that this demon is strong, but she doesn’t know that the man standing next to me is probably on a level where he can crush that strength…

“I wouldn’t recommend trying to fight. I am not like your average demon.”

The demon’s expression barely changed, but she shot us a smug, confident look… Ignorance is so cute.

“My name is Rayfia. Have you not heard of it? I serve as one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings.”

Ah, I see.

Now I understood the reason for the demon’s confidence.

The Four Heavenly Kings, the top military power in the Demon Lord’s army.

If she was one of them, it was no wonder she possessed such high confidence and pride.

And in reality, she probably had the power to match.

The fact that a demon of that level had infiltrated this city made me all the more curious about her objective.

The reason she would risk coming to a city where five of humanity’s top fighters, the heroes (excluding Al), were gathered.

No matter how strong a Heavenly King is, if she clashed with all five heroes, she would be annihilated for sure.

Which means she has an extremely important objective, and the confidence that she won’t be destroyed… Sounds like a pain, so let’s just pretend I don’t know.

Well, I understand that this demon… Rayfia… is confident, but… it’s a pity she doesn’t know.

After all, just the other day, the man next to me unilaterally pummeled another one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings.

“Now, please flee. Our own preparations are already complete, so this city will soon be destroy—”

“My name is Alvarado. I am a Hero. You would do well to remember that as a souvenir for the afterlife.”

Deciding her words were no longer worth hearing, Al cut Rayfia off.

With a heavy swoosh, he raised the Holy Sword, rubble and all.

…It really is a terrible-looking thing.

“………Huh?”

Rayfia gaped, staring up at it blankly.

She looked like a helpless, beautiful young woman.

Normally, you wouldn’t be able to attack, let alone direct hostility toward, someone like her without a very good reason.

But this lunatic who so thoroughly abuses me was the type who could inflict violence on beautiful men and women without any particular reason at all.