Chapter 11: Counterattack (3)

“Director Mita, report.”

A constable was meeting with Mitae separately to relay the results of the reconnaissance.
The two were having a secret conversation in a secluded corner of a slave trader’s base.

“A boy single-handedly destroyed the prison camp?”

“Yes, we saw it clearly. The demon he was with only played a secondary role.”

The demon must be the Lera지에 I missed.
The key is the boy.
That’s the one who killed the entire 3rd and 4th platoons of the company.

“What kind of power does he use?”

“Well… at first, it seemed like martial arts, but then it also looked like magic… and maybe even necromancy and shamanism mixed in…”

Mitae let out a sigh and struck the constable hard on the head.
“ot!”

“Who in the demon world can use all four abilities? Is he the Demon King?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“If the Demon King were still alive, we wouldn’t be here. We’d be by the hero’s side.”

“Ha… but… I’m sure…!”

“It’s not just one person. The boy must be a decoy.”

That’s a common tactic used by the resistance.
They make it appear as though someone is using all four powers to create the illusion that the Demon King has been resurrected.
This strategy convinces demons joining the resistance that they are fighting for a great cause.
A small force overwhelming a larger one.
Effortless movement and an aggression that shows no fear of the current world.
A strategy the constable was all too familiar with.
Clearly, it was a resistance agent.

“Where did he go now?”

“We confirmed he’s joined the demons who escaped the prison camp.”

“Good, that will be easy to track.”

Mitae reached his own conclusion and returned to his post.
Peña always worked at the central table of the slave trader’s base.
He said it was the most convenient place for all his subordinates to gather.
He had also heard that an inefficient organization couldn’t make money.
Mitae sat back down at that table.

“Don’t you think the constabulary has too many secrets from our comrades?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Peña flipped through the papers, and it was he who spoke first.

“I saw the report being given just now. Shouldn’t you tell me too?”

“When did the constabulary ever become your subordinate? Wasn’t it you who was conscripted?”

“Ha, wasn’t it your whim to only send constables as scouts?”

“Well, your subordinates are untrained punks.”

The subtle power struggle between the two was palpable at the table.

“You secretly sent subordinates and had some die, didn’t you? I heard they were burned to ashes. Couldn’t help themselves, huh? A bunch of fireflies who can’t stand being in the dark?”

“We train too. We learn the wisdom of hunters.”

“Then, did the dead ones learn the foolishness of their prey?”

“They were just salary thieves who were trying to raid my vault.”

“Ha.”

In response to the very capitalist remark, Mitae clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“…It’s the resistance. From what I hear, that boy must be a promising recruit raised by them.”

“Then, did the agent also cause the prison camp’s collapse?”

“No, that’s not it. I was at the prison camp.”

“Then does this mean the resistance was just lucky? How ironic.”

The conclusion Mitae and Peña came to was this:

An agent of the resistance just happened to pass by, and, lucky for him, the prison camp collapsed in a major event.
The escaped Lera지에 just happened to meet that agent and has been traveling with him, receiving protection.

“If it’s a resistance-related incident, we could request support from the headquarters.”

“Have you forgotten the pact we made?”

“…Ha…”

“A promising recruit from the resistance, I wonder how much he would sell for?”

Peña didn’t want this incident to be known as one involving the resistance.
Even if the ‘someone’ who was strong wanted an expensive slave, could they really gauge how much a promising recruit from the resistance could sell for?

“Well, do you have a plan?”

“…Well, if I say it, will you follow?”

“Is threatening them with prisoners the extent of your strategy?”

“That’s just bait.”

Mitae shrugged his shoulders.

“We’ll bring all our forces, spread the bait, and catch them with sheer strength. Is there a stronger strategy than that?”

Peña glared at Mitae with sharp eyes.
No useless tactics, no unnecessary strategy, no plans prone to failure—just straightforward tactics.
The simplest yet most powerful.

“That sounds good.”

“Then that’s settled. Tell your knights to prepare as well.”

“…I’ll do that.”

Peña stood up for the first time in a while and entered a room at the base.

“Anjak, are you inside?”

Inside the room was a massive man named Anjak, who was burning incense.
Next to him, on the bed, a naked slave was crying.

“…I’ll deduct the cost of that slave from your salary.”

“Do as you please.”

“It’s almost time for battle.”

“…The enemy?”

“The resistance.”

Anjak clenched and released his fists.

Even his hands were so large that they caused shadows to flicker every time he made a fist.

“…Understood.”

The new morning arrived, and Lera지에 was enthusiastically destroying the prison camp.

Lera지에’s fireball exploded, and the cutting winds of his blade tore down the camp’s buildings.

The underground space was flooded with water, and all the magical tools were shattered.

Though it seemed meaningless at first glance, there were four advantages to this action.

The first was Lera지에’s training.

Now able to control his magical output, Lera지에 continued using various spells to improve his technique.

The second was Lera지에’s mental management.

This was, after all, the forced labor camp where Lera지에 had been imprisoned.

Constantly stressed by his friends, Lera지에 relieved his stress by wreaking havoc.

The third was boosting the morale of the camp.

For them, the destruction of the prison camp was a satisfying event.

For the slowest survivors, Lera지에 could afford to put in this much effort.

The last was hindering the enemy’s pursuit.

By destroying the base, Lera지에 ensured they could not use it as a hideout, which would slow down any pursuers.

“Yeeaahhh! I’m the wizard, Lera지에!!”

The Demon King observed Lera지에’s magical flow with great interest.

Even as he rampaged like that, it was clear that his total magical power wasn’t decreasing.

He was learning magic several times faster than others and his magical purity was extraordinary.

It was talent. Tremendous talent.

The Demon King nodded silently.

“It was so much fun! I’ll definitely show my friends later!”

Lera지에, clearly in a good mood, spoke with sparkling eyes.

The Demon King patted Lera지에’s head.

“Watching that get destroyed makes me feel good too.”

The camp leader said with a smile as he stood beside them.

The Demon King nodded at the camp leader and reached out his hand.

The hand extended toward the dead overseers, moving as if to form a “puppy,” lifting and rearranging the bodies.

“These guys will take care of the rear. They’re like the ‘puppies’ I carry around. When the pursuers latch on, they’ll

fight first.”

“…Reliable. So, you’re saying they’ll come with us?”

“If the pursuers latch on, we’ll part ways.”

“Ah… I see. It’s not like they can always fight for us…”

“They’re after us, not you.”

The camp leader pondered the meaning of the answer, then, with an apologetic expression, spoke.

“Because you’re part of the resistance?”

“Yes.”

Though it was a clear lie, the Demon King thought it would be better for them to believe it.

“…Understood. Thank you. May good fortune favor you.”

“Thank you.”

“Prepare to depart!”

As soon as the conversation ended, the camp leader announced the departure loudly.

Voices echoing throughout the camp repeated, “Prepare to depart!”

“Lerajie.”

“Yes.”

“Get ready mentally.”

“…Yes!”

Both the upper division of Pena and the mid division of Mitae began to move.

Except for the minimal number of personnel managing the slaves at the upper base, hundreds of people left the base

simultaneously.

Among them was a cart carrying the iron cages where Lerajie’s friends and grandmother were kept.

“They’re ugly!”

“Bad uncles! Baldy!”

“Waaaaaah!”

Even as the children inside the cage cursed with all their might,

the now accustomed peace officers didn’t even threaten the children to be quiet.

With hundreds of armed groups moving at once, it was a sight to behold.

Peace officers riding together with crossbows and daggers, Pena’s subordinates armed with the same,

and the highly armored Mitae, along with the knight Anjak whom Pena trusted so much.

Anjak was fully armored, so his face and skin couldn’t be seen. A trembling female slave stood beside him.

Mitae seemed displeased with this knight, frowning slightly.

A huge horn sounded, echoing across the area, signaling everyone to depart.

As everyone moved their legs, it felt as though a giant was stirring.

“You, come here.”

At that moment, Mitae called over a peace officer who had been moving right next to him.

“Did you call for me?”

“Take your squad and return to the present world.”

Mitae handed a letter to him.

“It’s a report on what we’ve gone through.”

“…Didn’t you decide not to report?”

“Does it matter if it’s the emperor’s or the hero’s orders?”

“…No, it doesn’t.”

“Then take this and leave immediately.”

The peace officer saluted and turned his horse around.

Like birds flying off the shoulder of a giant, a group of peace officers broke off from the main group and headed in

the opposite direction.

Anjak and Pena saw this, but didn’t raise any objections.

They passed by the ruined prison, noticing signs of survivors. From there, they continued to track the trail.

The difference in speed between the armed combat forces and the survivors, who were not in good health, was

overwhelming.

“We can’t contact the scouts ahead.”

“Useless, as usual. Where are they?”

Hearing the report from the peace officer, Mitae grumbled and drew his sword.

“Let’s head to the scout’s location.”

The peace officer showed him the map, but without even listening to the report, Mitae silently urged his horse to go

faster.

Several peace officers followed behind him.

Upon arriving at the location, they saw a massive corpse monster.

It was feeding on the already dead scouts’ bodies, growing bigger.

“…Did they leave something like this behind?”

Mitae walked forward, sword in hand.

“…! Sir, it’s dangerous!”

The peace officers objected, but Mitae instead lifted his sword high.

“Interrogation sword, unseal.”

Mitae’s sword split apart.

The sword shattered into countless fragments, forming a shape much larger than its original.

The golden connecting points created a razor-sharp edge.

The corpse monster, sensing Mitae’s approach, instinctively attacked him.

The monster’s massive arm tried to crush Mitae, but he easily dodged it.

At the same time, Mitae swung his sword and effortlessly cut off the monster’s arm.

While the monster examined its severed limb,

Mitae didn’t pause but continued to slice through the creature, tearing it apart.

The mindless monster couldn’t keep up with the trained swordsman’s speed.

Eventually, the monster was shattered into pieces.

Mitae sheathed his sword back into its scabbard.

“Let’s keep going.”

The Demon King, sitting atop the corpse monster with Lerazier, felt something and turned their head.

“They’ve arrived.”

The Demon King commanded “Puppy” to stop. Upon noticing this, the camp leader hurriedly ran over.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll say it again… I wish you good fortune.”

“May fortune be with you as well.”

“Thank you. For giving us freedom.”

With the camp leader’s words, gratitude was expressed from all directions. As the survivors continued walking, the two stood silently, watching them go, as if everyone was blessing them as they passed.

“Sister! Take this with you!”

A young girl, even younger than Lerazier, offered a single flower to Lerazier, and others shared the little food they had left.

When all the survivors had passed and only the two of them and the “Puppy” were left, Lerazier exhaled deeply, releasing the tension she had been holding.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes, to be honest.”

“Think of it as meeting old friends.”

“I’ll try to be brave.”

They stood in the middle of a vast plain. Several dozen meters away, there was a forest, from which a huge dust cloud was rising. There were surely pursuers inside that forest.

“Lerazier, this is to save your friends. Can you follow me and trust me completely?”

“Yes! Of course.”

“I will repay your trust.”

As white-clad figures and those in lighter clothing began to emerge at the edge of the forest, the two stopped walking, their conversation halting as well. As soon as they confirmed that those people were their target, their forces dispersed and surrounded the two of them.

Lerazier flinched, feeling the pressure, but seeing the Demon King remain expressionless, she steadied herself.

“Are you alone…? You’re not part of a team?”

Mitae briefly wondered, but continued with what she had planned.

“Are you here to surrender?”

Mitae shouted at the two of them.

“We’ve come to negotiate.”

The Demon King’s voice, though soft, reached everyone’s ears clearly, as if it were being directly hammered into their minds through magic.

“Negotiate? Ha! We need to be of equal standing to—”

“Do you want to say that we need to be on the same level to trade?” the Demon King interrupted Mitae.

“I agree with that. So, I’ll state my terms first.”

Surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, the Demon King spoke without any fear.

“Surrender, and hand over the prisoners. I will spare your lives.”

A threat, not a negotiation or a trade.