The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody - Volume 3 - Chapter 53

CHAPTER 53

The Ex–Demon Lord’s Ensnared Friends

A short while before all this transpired…

“I have important news,” Latima claimed, to which Ireena and Ginny looked at each other, perplexed.

“Important…”

“…News?”

“Yes. The both of you will soon set out on an attack. I will guide you. Please follow me.”

Why? They didn’t even have time to ask this simple question before Latima left the room. They didn’t know what was going on.

“I suppose that means we can lend a helping hand?” Ginny mused.

Ireena didn’t respond, looking at the magic gear made by Ard that was lying in the corner of the room.

After they donned all their equipment, they left the mansion. Latima, now dressed in a light battle-outfit, was already waiting for them.

“I’ll explain the situation while we’re on our way.”

Latima wasn’t letting them get a word in, but this wasn’t the time to be complaining. After she finished, she darted off before them as they went through the center of the royal capital, past the gate, and outside the city walls. They continued down the main road.

Latima’s speed was extraordinary. It would have even left sound in the dust. If Ireena and Ginny hadn’t had anything to assist them, there was no way they could have kept up with her. But they now had Ard’s equipment… Meaning they were able to follow Latima with the help of their dark, shining leg-armor.

I’m really not used to this feeling…

The scenery flew past them. They both hadn’t yet caught up with the reality that her legs could move this fast. As they admired the overwhelming power that the armor’s mobility enhancements afforded them, the pair was overcome with a sudden burst of displeasure—an indescribable mix of indebtedness and frustration.

This isn’t fair.

This is just something that Ard gave for us to cheat…

Any power this gives me is meaningless.

I’ve gotta stand by Ard with my own two feet…!

Ireena grew despondent. It wasn’t like her, but since coming to this era, she’d lost her usual cheeriness.

“…Well then, Miss Latima. Won’t you please tell us what is going on?” Ginny asking, racing next to her.

Ireena involuntarily gasped, coming to her senses. Ginny was right. They were in an emergency situation. This was no time to feel down.

Finally, Latima answered a question: “This is a strategy devised by Master Ard himself.”

“A strategy?”

“Yes. Master Ard saw the truth behind the immortality of the Demon Lord…and explained his plan to me first. He instructed me to bring you along at the appropriate time to the castle the Demon Lord currently occupies.”

…There was something off about this statement.

Ard had seen through the enemy’s secret, which wasn’t particularly odd. It was obvious that he would. But why would he have Latima relate this scheme instead of telling them himself?

“It was crucial that this strategy remain secret. If he had spoken with you two ahead of time, Master Ard thought traitors on the inside would take notice… If you had known earlier that you were to be responsible for this important task, would you have been able to continue behaving as normal?”

Well, they had no confidence about that—neither Ireena nor Ginny. He couldn’t allow their odd actions and behavior to alert the enemy. That was why Ard had told Latima about the plan first.

…It was a plausible explanation, but for some reason, they just couldn’t shake off their doubts.

“I understand how you’re feeling,” Latima consoled. “But…let’s try to move past it for now. Our destination is right before us. We do not have time.”

Ireena finally took notice of her surroundings—the scene had changed.

The tranquil main road had become a thick, verdant forest.

“…You’re right. All right then, let’s hear the details of the plan,” Ireena said.

With the supersonic twists and turns in their plans, Ireena and Ginny didn’t have much choice. Beside them, Latima spoke with detached disinterest.

“First, about the Demon Lord’s immortality. Master Ard has surmised he is using a secret technique that separates the body and soul.”

“Something that separates the soul?”

“Yes. This is one of the secret ceremonial techniques that incorporates a special-class magic circle. You separate your astral spirit from your own body and contain it in a proper host. Then, the person becomes immortal.”

It was a preposterous story, but they had no choice but to accept it.

“There are two disadvantages to this secret technique. First, the host, which holds the astral spirit, and the spell caster must remain within a set distance from each other. If they are too far apart, the spirt will return to its true host, and the person will no longer be immortal. In short, for the Demon Lord to take over this domain with his own hands, he had to bring his astral body with him. That is what Master Ard believes.”

“…To the castle?” Ireena clarified.

Latima nodded. “Yes. Come to think of it, His Majesty did say so himself. We will win if we take that castle.”

Ard and Varvatos must have come to the same conclusion. In that case, everything seemed more credible… And yet, the question lingered in the air…

Why would the host be brought to a place as obvious as the inside of the castle?

But there had to be some subtleties that novices like themselves couldn’t understand.

Ireena tried to force herself to accept this as the truth.

“So I’m guessing the second disadvantage is that the person is in big trouble if the host is eliminated, right?”

“Yes. If the host is destroyed, the person will lose their immortality.”

“…And we were the ones chosen to do it.”

“That’s correct. Master Ard discovered a secret path into the castle, and we will use it to sneak inside—”

“Why us? For a big job like this…,” Ireena managed to say, whimpering—and very suspicious.

They had been entrusted with an important task. It was no exaggeration to say that it would play a huge role in turning the tide of the war.

Why would he leave this to us?

He should’ve chosen someone who would have a higher chance of success…

With each new thought, Ireena’s expression grew darker and darker.

“This is not like you, Miss Ireena. I thought you would be rather overjoyed,” Ginny observed. “To think that you would back down at a critical moment. If Ard found out, I’m sure he would be disappointed. Hee-hee, I’d already flushed out a few ideas to meddle with your relationship, but it seems it’ll capsize without my help, Miss Ireena—”

“Don’t be stupid!” Ireena shouted, angry.

Her face was hot. Blood was rushing to her head, and she could tell her cheeks were flushed.

Ginny answered this with a smile to challenge her.

“Yes, that’s it. That suits you best, Miss Ireena. I know you’re the type who hates to lose and rushes forward stupidly. It’s not in your character to get down in the dumps. You ought to yell Ard gave me a big job! Hooray! Time for a celebration! in your happy-go-lucky way.”

Ireena had a feeling that Ginny was mocking her, but it actually made her feel better. Ginny set fire to her natural competitiveness and blew those dark feelings away.

“Heh! Yeah, you’re right! Exactly! This isn’t who I am!”

She’d do it. She’d already torched any shreds of doubt in the back of her mind. Shouldn’t she be earnestly rushing in headfirst?

It was Ginny who had helped her feel this way… Not that Ireena would ever openly thank her.

“Have you come to an agreement? …To put it simply, we were chosen to carry out this plan because it would be a surprise to all other parties. We are all outsiders for a reason. Ignored and excluded. The enemy sees us the same way, and—”

Latima had been continuing her explanation, when a rush of wind filled their ears. By the time they realized it was a wind spell, it was already too late.

“Ngh…!”

It targeted the one leading their group, Latima. The wind slashed at her ankles, causing her to keel over. Blood pumped out of the deep wounds, plastering her tan skin.

“Latima?! Are you—”

“Please go without me! I’ll keep the enemy at bay! If you run straight forward from here, there will be a hidden passage to the castle!”

This was the first time Latima showed signs of desperation. Ireena and Ginny were at a loss for words.

“Stop idling around! Go! Quickly!” she shouted, pelting them with her commands.

“Don’t you die!”

“Please join us soon!”

It hurt to leave Latima behind…but for this important task, failure was not an option. Ireena and Ginny understood this and were left with no choice but to move forward.

Their hearts were practically ripped out as sounds of destruction reached them from behind, but they chose to keep running, all the while praying for Latima’s safety, racing forward as fast as their legs would take them.

“Is this the secret passage…?”

By all accounts, it looked like a cave. The gaping, dark hole was ominous…and they couldn’t help but feel danger coming off it.

“Hmm? What’s this? Could you possibly be frightened, Miss Ireena?”

When this partner of hers put it that way, Ireena couldn’t afford to let fear hold her back.

“Hmph!” she huffed, sticking out her chest, and continued forward into the cave.

Magic served as their light source. A bright orb floated in front of them and lit up the inside of the hole. They slowly inched their way forward, occasionally tripping on the rough path… It had to be a natural cave, but as they progressed farther, they started to get the sense that it was artificially constructed.

Before they knew it, they were walking on a cobbled path.

“Are we beneath the castle?”

“It does appear that way.”

In other words, they were in the middle of enemy territory.

“We better stay on our toes.”

“Yes…!”

With nervous expressions, the two tightly gripped their weapons: Ireena’s red spear, and Ginny’s blue rapier. Both were Ard’s magical creations that amplified the girls’ movement abilities. While they’d been informed of their effects, neither had actually used their weapon before. There was a tinge of anxiety regarding whether they could become shields of protection or arms to fight with.

…It’ll be okay. Ard made this. It’ll definitely be okay, Ireena told herself, cautiously surveilling her surroundings as they progressed.

Even though she roared internally with fear and anxiety, everything about her appeared calm.

After walking through what they assumed was the space underneath the castle, they came to an open space, where a few pillars occupied the area—

Naturally, the center caught their attention.

“Th-that’s…” Ireena pointed to the large levitating jewel before them. Pulsating crimson, it flickered continuously with a strange light and lit up the space around them.

There was no mistake. That was it. Their goal. The host.

“All right…! Let’s do it, Ginny!”

“Right!

Both readied their weapons and aimed to destroy the target with their given powers—

Just before they could—

“…Stop,” called out a voice that was familiar in every way except its tone.

In the next moment, magic circles spanned beneath their feet. With no time to be surprised, the situation took a sudden turn; they scrambled to escape, but it was too late.

The cast magic was meant to bind them; liquid steel coiled around them and fixed them in place. They were pitiful prisoners hung on a cross.

“Ngh…! Th…is…!” Ireena struggled to use magic to enhance her mobility…but nothing happened.

“Wh-why…?!” she cried out.

The voice responded, “This binding spell has an effect that seals magic. Anyone caught in it can’t use any spells.”

It was the magic of the girl whose voice they had listened to only shortly before.

“Wh-why…?!” Ireena stuttered.

In that moment, they heard the soft taps of footsteps, and the person in question appeared before them: a tan girl with expressionless features.

“What’s the meaning of this…?! Latima!”