Interlude
The Demon Lord and the Soldier
Night, in the town on the other side of the Kronogan River.
Harmon had fallen asleep after drinking, and a cold chill ran down his back, waking him up.
It had been six years since he’d volunteered to fight and left Zoltan. Over that time, he’d developed a sense for danger that had kept him alive on the battlefield.
He quickly got up and looked out the window to see flames rising in the distance. Harmon pulled a telescope out of his pack—a tool he’d been provided with on the battlefield that he’d since come to rely on.
“S-survivors from the demon lord’s army!”
He could see a large demon wielding a spear.
“Soldier demon! That’s a survivor from the main force!”
A soldier demon was leading the orcs attacking the town.
It was a lower-level fiend in the demon lord’s armies, but it was still an officer-class demon that usually commanded a squad of five soldiers.
“Shit!”
Harmon hurriedly put on the thick cloth doublet he wore beneath his armor. He didn’t have time to don his armor, but the padded doublet was better than nothing.
Then he picked up his trusty bastard sword and raced out of the room.
“Mr. Pearlman!”
As soon as he left his room, he saw the inn’s terrified proprietress.
“It must be bandits attacking… I’m waking the guests.”
“Not bandits, survivors from the demon lord’s army.”
“B-but…the war’s over!” She looked aghast.
“Wake everyone staying here and evacuate the inn.”
“Okay…!”
The woman nodded. She was scared and confused, but the words of a battle-hardened soldier like Harmon were reassuring. There was a strength to them that made her think that as long as she did what he said, she’d be safe.
Just then, the door to the next room opened.
“Enemy attack?”
“So it seems.”
“Taraxon! Bui!”
The two men stepped into the hall, already holding their swords, and prepared to fight.
“Survivors from the demon lord’s army have appeared!”
“Hmm, this is a dangerous situation.”
“What should we do?” Bui asked.
Taraxon responded by flashing a smile and nodding. “We’ll defend the town.”
To Taraxon, the demon lord’s army was an enemy he’d dominated by force. Those who went against their orders and ran amok were to be punished.
“All right, let’s meet up with the town guard first,” Harmon said. “They’re probably panicked and can’t do much, so we should restore the chain of command.”
Taraxon’s eyes widened at seeing Harmon taking the lead.
“You’re coming, too?”
“Of course. I’m a soldier who fought the demon lord’s armies.”
“Even if they are just a remnant of the army, they’re stronger than the defenses of this town. You survived the war, and yet you would risk your life again?”
Bui’s tone held clear concern for Harmon, but the other man just shook his head.
“I know as well as anyone how powerful and terrifying the demon lord’s army is. Even now, I’m so scared, I can’t stop shaking.”
“Then you should evacuate with the others.”
“It’s because I know that fear that I have to fight.”
There was no doubt in his voice.
“…Ahh!”
Taraxon’s eyes gleamed at seeing his bravery.
“Splendid! Your courage is inspiring. I would like to fight by your side.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying, isn’t it?! Let’s go!”
Watching Harmon’s back recede as he ran with sword drawn, Taraxon smiled.
“Bui, do not let that man die.”
“Of course. God must be a fool to give someone so brave a mere Infantry blessing.”
“Indeed. That is the back of a true hero.”
That night, the town was attacked by over thirty orcs and one soldier demon. While there were some injuries and damage, thanks to the efforts of Harmon, Taraxon, and Bui, the remnants of the demon lord’s army were entirely destroyed.
Their names were carved in stone to commemorate the heroes who’d saved the town.
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