One of the members of the group raises his voice.
At once, Elio’s eyes darted to me.
“You are too indiscreet to leave the gate open to hunt for thieves, Elio,” I said.
Then he straightens his back and kneels in front of me, as if bowing to me.
The two members of his entourage soon followed.
“How can I shut the gate upon your return?”
“Hmm. It appears that you are not under the control of Avos Dilhevia, is that correct?”
“Yes. However, all of our troops, apart from the two present, have come to believe that he is the real Demon King of Tyranny. Apparently, those who are less loyal to Anos-sama are more susceptible to the influence.”
Regarding the subordinates of 2,000 years ago, rumors and folklore persist heavily that they were under the control of the Demon King of Tyranny.
In particular, the well-known Seven Elder Demon Emperors, even to this day, have not been able to extricate themselves from Avos Dilhevia’s rule. Melheis and the others’ anti-magic, in his opinion, is not of a significant scale.
Nevertheless, there are no rumours or legends about my reign over the demons of this era. Therefore, my coercive influence over them is likely weaker.
If I have a stout heart, as Lay, Misha, and the others do, I can overcome them.
“What is the situation in the city?”
“The magic of the <Dark Area Demera> has shrouded Midhaze in darkness. It seems that this is a magic to instill the will of Avos Dilhevia into the demon race. It may be the same as the former <Sanctuary Asc>. The influence appears to be greater on those who believe the Demon King of Tyranny to be Avos Dilhevia.”
The same as <Sanctuary Asc> huh.
Another troublesome magic has been cast out.
If it’s magic unknown to me, then it must have been conjured up on the spot.
Well, it’s certainly not something that can’t be accomplished.
“I surveyed the city on my way here and saw that certain members of the royalist side were already behaving inappropriately, aggressively abusing the half-breed demon race. At this rate, the situation may develop into a riot, but as long as Avos Dilhevia’s order is in place, the army cannot be mobilized…”
They are probably intending to establish a country of royal supremacy, according to the rumors and folklore believed by the royalist faction.
Most of the opponents of the royalists now believe that Anos Voldigoad, rather than Avos Dilhevia, is the Demon King of Tyranny.
Hence, there are hardly any rumors and folklore to counter the royal supremacy.
“As long as Avos Dilhevia is defeated, that will be all that matters.”
After Misha and the others lifted the magic of <Illusion Mimicry Rainel>, they came rushing toward us.
“Close the gates after we’re through. Keep up the pretense of hunting for the misfit.”
“Understood.”
Though, once inside the city, Avos Dilhevia will definitely notice us.
But at least that would save us from having to engage Elio’s army.
“Let’s go.”
We cross through the castle gate with Lay and the others.
“Please be safe.” Elio calls out to my back.
“Um, so where are we headed to?” Eleonore asks, while following behind me.
“We’re heading to my house first.”
“I see… If the demons are under orders to kill you, Anos-kun, then your parents are in danger too…”
“As long as they don’t leave the house, though, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Why?”
“They will have to take a long time to enter the house. I’ve made arrangements so that if the door is locked, the house will be warded. No ordinary demon race will be able to penetrate it. If my mom and dad had been watching the magic broadcast, they should have closed their store and locked themselves in.”
We rushed towards the house while saying that.
I’d be able to observe things in the vicinity after I got to this stage, thanks to my house’s warding.
I focus my attention on the house with my magical eyes.
Then I saw the inside of my house――
My mother was there. Her lips are pursed in a tight line, with a worried expression plastered on her face.
My father stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder.
“It’s okay… I don’t know what has happened, but it must be a mistake. We know better than anyone that Anos has done nothing wrong. Isn’t that right? Dad calls out softly.
“… Yeah…”
“He’ll come back safe and sound. Absolutely.”
At that moment, a dull thud sounded outside the store.
It was the shriek of a woman.
“What…?”
My mother approaches the store window and softly peers out through a gap between the curtains.
A girl with brown hair and eyes was slumped on the ground.
She is surrounded by a group of demons.
They are students of the royalist faction clad in the uniform of the Demon King’s Academy.
“Hey, oi? Don’t you dare look at us that way, you half-breed!”
“… Kyaaaa…!”
With all his force, the man kicks the girl.
While crawling on the ground, the girl raised her head.
She looked familiar.
“… Stop… it… I am… part of the… royalty.”
It is Emilia.
“Ha? Royalty? Ha ha ha ha. Quit your idiocy. Your magic power looks like that of a half-breed from any angle!”
“It is understandable that you long to be a member of the royal family. Unfortunately, you lack nobility. In this country ruled by Avos Dilhevia, you are as good as a slave!”
With laughter, the students kick Emilia in the leg.
Then a peculiar occurrence took place.
Darkness enveloped Emilia and the students.
And her magic power was absorbed by the students.
Is that also an effect of the <Dark Area Demera>? By inflicting pain on a half-breed, their magical power can be absorbed. As Avos Dilhevia said, the half-breeds will be the sustenance of the royal family.
“Stop it!”
The students shifted their gaze in the direction of the voice.
My mom emerged from the store.
“Ah? What, are you a half-breed too?”
“Oi, wait, is this woman Anos’…?”
One of the students smirked, a terrible grin on his face.
“Oh, you’re right.”
With a filthy expression on his face, he looked at my mother as if licking her.
“Ha ha! What the hell. Looks like my luck is beginning to shine. I can already picture the look on that misfit’s face now, hey! Isn’t this the best!”
The man disregards Emilia and advances toward my mother.
She backs away slowly. Then the man pounced on her.
“Hee hee hee, don’t you dare flee!”
“Hey!”
The royalist student fell flat on his face after being knocked sideways by a foot.
It is my father.
“… Ugh…”
“Izabella, now!”
My mom hurries over to Emilia.
“Can you stand up? Get in, it’s not safe here.”
Taking Emilia’s hand, my mother is about to return to the house.
“… Why…?”
Emilia halted and shook off her hand.
“Why are you helping me!?”
“Why?”
She tilted her head as if she didn’t comprehend.
“… I am no longer… a member of the royalty…”
Emilia looks downcast, but my mother simply offers a smile.
“It’s okay. I am on your side. Being a half-breed is not an excuse to beat someone up. Isn’t that obvious?”
Once more, my mother extends her hand to Emilia.
“Come on, let’s go inside. I’ll take care of you.”
Emilia timidly attempts to grasp her hand.
Suddenly, her eyes widen in surprise, and she casts an anti-magic spell the next moment.
“You have to avoid…!”
A ball of black flame shot toward my mother. It is <Demon Flame Gresde>.
Whether it is a spur-of-the-moment action or not, Emilia flicks it away with both hands as if to protect my mother.
Her back went up in a black blaze.
“… Ah… Kya…!”
Emilia drops to her knees.
“Oops, I guess I missed it. But running away isn’t going to work,” One of the students who invoked the black flame in his hand remarked.
He stepped on my bruised and battered father, who had collapsed on the ground.
“… Run away… Izabella… if you’re in the house…”
“Shut your mouth!!”
With a bang, the student kicked my father in the face.
“Now, let’s see if we can get you to behave. You know what will happen if you try anything stupid.”
“Hmm. What’s going to happen?”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha, isn’t it obvious? After chopping him up into pieces, I’m going to confront the misfit with his dismembered corpse. Then I’ll snicker at him in the midst of his anguish. Avos Dilhevia is here after all! Hyahaha… haha――eh…?”
The man stiffens and stops speaking.
Like a rusted iron puppet, he turned his head awkwardly.
“… A… Anos…?”
He had a mournful expression on his face, as if he could foresee his tragic end.
“I see. You want to tear apart the body into pieces. As I recall, the execution was carried out by chaining the limbs to horses or oxen and letting them run free.”
I seize the bodies of all the students with <All Creation Hand I Gneas＞ and lift them up into the sky.
“… O-oi… what are you…”
“S-stop it… you couldn’t be… killing us…?”
“… This must be a lie… hey… it’s a lie, right… am I really going to be dismembered…?”
The magic, <Magic Thread Gillel>, attaches a thread of magic power to their entire body. The tips of the threads are all gripped by <All Creation Hand I Gneas>.
And one more thing, I’ll cast a certain magic spell on them.
To avoid showing Mom something unsightly, I lift them even higher into the sky.
“Don’t worry. I will not dismember you guys.”
There are 888 threads tied to each of them. They were simultaneously pulled in different directions by <All Creation Hand I Gneas>.
Instantly, the bodies of all the participants were torn to shreds as if they were bursting apart.
“Tearing from limb to limb.”
Their bodies were reduced to shreds.
“I am dismayed by the feeble-mindedness of your hearts, but it is Avos Dilhevia who is the culprit of all this. I will neither blame you nor kill you.”
I had applied <Temporary Death Indole> to their source in advance. Even if they were to suffer enough damage to the brink of death, this magic would allow them to have a temporary death.
It is an outstanding technique that retains the consciousness of the person and their five senses, and it can also be used for revival magic.
Well, although it will hurt more or less, that was often the case 2,000 years ago.
“You’ll be shredded for a while, but you’ll survive.”
