The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 27: What's Yours is Mine

A single demon appeared from the magic circle that my brother Ilario had drawn.

The demon was a beautiful girl with white hair and pale purple eyes. She gently swayed her waist-length hair and formed a soft smile.

“O-ooh…! This is the demon I summoned! I understand, I understand! It’s a high-ranking demon!”

Ilario spread both arms wide while letting out a disgusting voice toward the white-haired woman.

“Is that really a high-ranking demon?”

I ask out of curiosity. Then Ilario began explaining with a stupid grin.

“You probably don’t understand, but demons are considered higher-ranking the closer they are to human form! An individual with an appearance this indistinguishable from humans is definitely proof of the highest-ranking demon!”

“Heh, amazing, amazing.”

I clapped to praise my brother’s efforts.

Seeing it in person really made a difference. Despite her pure appearance, the amount of cursed power she contained within was extraordinary.

She’s definitely some highest-ranking whatever.

“Tell me your name, demon.”

Ilario looked away from me toward the white-haired demon. She answered while maintaining her smile.

“My name is Astaroth. Please treat me favorably for a long time, Honored Summoner.”

Astaroth bowed her head politely. She gave a different impression from the demons I had imagined. Quite well-behaved—.

Slash.

A dull sound was heard.

“Fufu. Just kidding, though.”

Astaroth raised her face. My gaze turned toward her… no, toward Ilario who stood in front.

—Ilario’s right arm had been severed.

The sound from before was when Astaroth cut off Ilario’s arm. Ilario, who couldn’t even react, belatedly realized his right arm was gone. After a moment, he screamed.

“AAAAAAAAH⁉”

A scream that tore through the air. Hearing it, Astaroth giggled.

“I cannot serve someone so incompetent they can’t even dodge that attack. Your cursed power is low too. Even your talent is ordinary… how sad.”

Astaroth smoothly raised her left arm. The moment I saw that movement, I was already moving. I step between Ilario and Astaroth. I ready my sword and grin.

“Sorry, but I won’t let you kill Ilario-niisan. I’ll be your opponent from here on.”

“Oh? You’re his brother? You two get along well.”

“No, I wouldn’t particularly care if Ilario-niisan died, but it would be troublesome if he died right now.”

“?”

Hearing my words that could be taken as heartless, Astaroth tilted her head. What do you mean? she seemed to ask.

“If Ilario-niisan dies right now, you’ll disappear too, right? I mean, you know that killing the summoner cancels the summoning itself, yet you still do it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Clap, Astaroth struck her hands together in understanding. She giggled again.

“I don’t want to serve an incompetent master. I responded to the summoning thinking it might be a bit fun if I could kill the summoner.”

“I see. You really are a demon after all.”

“I’m honored by your praise. As for you… you’re somewhat, not very human-like.”

“Whatever.”

There’s no one more human than me. While muttering that internally, I wrap my entire body in aura. I let the aura crawl over my sword as well, then kicked off the floor and closed in on Astaroth.

Astaroth intercepted me without losing her composed expression.

“You’re fast.”

She thrusted out her right hand and released a dark-colored light from it. I quickly dodged to the side.

“A curse?”

“Correct. If it hits, you won’t get off with just pain, you know?”

“Don’t worry, it won’t hit.”

I kicked off the floor again. This time the distance to Astaroth was completely eliminated. She swung her arm.

When I guarded Astaroth’s attack with my sword, CLANG! An impact ran through.

The momentum was completely killed.

“For such slender arms, you’ve got quite the strength.”

“I’m a demon, after all.”

“Fair enough.”

While speaking, I stepped back one pace. I secured the distance needed to swing my sword, then sweep it while wrapped in aura.

Astaroth’s right arm was severed. However, she showed no signs of pain.

“Oh my, I’ve been cut. You’re very strong.”

“Annoying reaction. No pain? Is that even fair?”

No blood either.

“We demons are close to ghost-like existences. Physical attacks have no meaning, you know?”

“So in other words, divine prayers and magic are effective?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll use those.”

“Eh?”

Up to here was as expected.

From here on, I’ll one-sidedly beat up Astaroth. While maintaining my aura deployment, I concentrated divine power into my sword. An application of prayer. I can’t strengthen it with aura, but against someone of Astaroth’s level, there’s no problem. She’s probably not displaying her original power. Being summoned by a mediocrity like Ilario was the end of her luck.

Currently, her temporary contractor is Ilario. Her power also depended on Ilario. So even just prayer should deal fatal damage.

I kick off the floor a third time and close in on Astaroth. Seeing my purifying light, she showed a confused expression for the first time.

“Tch. I never thought you could even use divine prayer…”

“Don’t run away. You’d be lonely, right?”

I was enhancement my body with aura.

No matter how high a demon’s physical abilities, I was not losing in terms of movement either. I quickly caught up to Astaroth who had retreated.

This was indoors to begin with. Though somewhat spacious, it was not suitable for running around.

Astaroth continuously released curses, but I cut through them all with prayer, and eventually my blade reached her body.

A diagonal slash exploded.

Astaroth’s body was deeply wounded.

Though no blood came out, this time she cried out in apparent agony.

“Kyaaaaaaah!? M-my soul… the purifying effect… guh.”

“You cry out with such a nice voice. Looking at you puts me in a good mood.”

I never thought Ilario would really summon a highest-ranking demon for me. The biggest bottleneck in training curses had been summoning demons. Thanks to Ilario shouldering that burden, I can—steal this demon.

I don’t even try to hide my upturned mouth corners. I shoulder my sword blade and approach Astaroth with her distorted face.

I wonder how I look to her right now?

“Strange… that I would be cornered this much…”

Astaroth looks down.

She trembles, then—.

“Fu, fufu.”

For some reason, she laughed softly.