Chapter 46
This time, she wore a short skirt that came up to her knees and boots.
“I wasn’t really planning on seeing you.”
“That demon last time…”
At that moment, Meteo recognized Aldred as well.
How could he not?
This time, it seemed like Aldred had deliberately opened the dungeon targeting me.
He had sarcastically remarked to Meteo, “Even unnecessary people rolled in together, huh?”
Meteo, perceptive as he was, would surely have noticed that comment.
It was clear that while trying to draw me into the demon world, Meteo had unfortunately been caught up in it too.
I decided to shamelessly go all out.
“Hey! We were about to go to our room to sleep. How can you just summon us? Send us back quickly!”
“Impudent little thing. Do you know how many years older I am than you?”
“I have no intention of being polite to a demon!”
“How dare you, to someone older than your mother!”
In an instant, Aldred’s face became terrifying.
No matter how you looked at it, she was only about fifteen in human years—what does “older than your mother” even mean?
The princess’s face, which had twisted into a frightening expression, quickly calmed.
Aldred lifted the corners of her lips slightly.
“…Yeah. What good is arguing with a child? But you’d better stay alert. Do you know where you are? This is where my family’s ancestors have rested for generations. This is the place where I can be stronger than anywhere else.”
Heh heh heh.
Aldred’s laugh sounded devilish.
So there was a reason why she had summoned me to the Aldred family cemetery after all.
Whatever the reason, one thing was certain: I had to kill Aldred.
If that demon didn’t die, annoying problems would keep coming.
At that moment, Meteo whispered.
“Be careful, Crescent. That demon seems even stronger than before. And her intent to kill…”
“Got it.”
Before I could even finish my reply, a gust of wind blew, whipping my hair around.
Swish—the sound of wind slicing past came swiftly.
A silver sword cut through the dim air.
Before the trace of light even faded, Meteo’s sword struck Aldred from behind.
The sword carried immense holy power.
Aldred flinched and recoiled, seemingly not expecting such a sudden attack.
Where her body had moved, a lock of black hair fell. It kept its spiral braid shape.
It had just been attached to Aldred’s head.
“!”
Did he cut her hair?
Aldred, with wide eyes, felt one of her twin braids.
It was gone!
Confirming that it was truly gone, Aldred glared at Meteo fiercely.
“How dare you cut my hair? My hair, as the bride-to-be?”
“Has she really gotten stronger?”
Meteo gripped his sword tightly and replied quietly.
I couldn’t help but marvel.
I had thought Meteo was outmatched against Aldred.
Even Cardinal Ruben hadn’t easily competed with Count Izmir, who ranked 147th in the demon world. Aldred, who was slightly lower in rank, should never be defeated by Meteo.
Moreover, Aldred was currently stronger than usual.
Yet Meteo had cut her hair?
‘Meteo seems different somehow… Could it be…’
The adult spectators responded to the thought I whispered.
<‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ says, “That is exactly the spirit of chivalry.”>
<‘Astina, the maid turned saint’ says, “Meteo is amplifying his power to protect you! Eek!” (she squeals, blushing)>
<‘Yuri Druid Gabriella’ says, “This isn’t a good idea. If he forces his power, his body won’t hold, and he’ll soon lose consciousness.”>
‘Oh no…’
Just as I feared, it seemed Meteo couldn’t maintain that attack for long. It seemed he planned to rely on a surprise strike to increase his odds.
He was aware that with his normal strength, he could not defeat Aldred.
But as long as Aldred’s attention was on Meteo, it would be hard for him to find the next attack opportunity.
‘I need to divert Aldred’s attention to me.’
I secretly took hold of a family heirloom from the Pluto family.
I poured more holy power into Pinkie and urgently conveyed my instructions.
“Stay hidden and wait. When I give the signal, charge Aldred and attack her weak point.”
Ssssh.
The blade absorbed the light and floated in the air.
I drew my sword and smirked slightly at the demon, who now had only one braid instead of two.
“Oh dear, what should I do? Shall I cut the other one too?”
Aldred’s gaze shifted to me.
Perfect!
Meteo’s movement was now free from Aldred’s sight.
Quick as ever, Meteo didn’t miss the opening. The moment he leapt, I dashed toward Aldred as well.
‘I need to catch Aldred’s gaze.’
That was my sole thought as I shouted,
“Pinkie, now!”
The blade spun, sharpening itself, and shot toward Aldred.
Aldred grabbed at the air, and a long scythe appeared in her hand. It was so large it startled me.
The weapon of this doll-like demon girl was a massive scythe, fit for a reaper…?
Clang!
Aldred’s scythe collided with my Pinkie.
But that wasn’t the important thing.
‘Meteo, what’s he doing?’
I hadn’t dared glance at Meteo, fearing Aldred might notice.
“Ugh.”
Then—
I heard a short groan, seemingly from Meteo.
I looked in his direction and was horrified.
Several rows of bones had shot up from the ground, binding Meteo’s limbs. The bones dragged him into the earth.
He struggled, but the grip was too strong to escape.
“Meteo!”
I ran toward him.
But Aldred blocked my way and pulled my neck with her scythe.
“!”
The sharp blade circled my neck, binding me.
“Heh heh. You little ones think I’m foolish? I’m not myself here.”
The blade hovered perilously close to my skin.
I looked up at Aldred without blinking.
“What would you gain by killing us?”
“Obviously, I need to kill you. I’ll do anything to please him.”
I glanced toward Meteo.
He was about to be swallowed into the ground.
“I think I just need to deal with you. Let the kid go.”
“Don’t worry about your friend’s life right now. Do you know whose hands your neck is in?”
Crack!
The sound of joints breaking filled the air as Meteo was buried in the earth. In an instant, his body vanished.
“Meteo!”
My heart dropped as if it had sunk into the ground.
I lifted my feet but couldn’t take a step.
Aldred had pulled the scythe tighter around me.
I urgently asked the adult spectators,
‘Is Meteo dead?’
<‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ doesn’t like spoilers.>
‘No! I’m asking if he’s dead!’
<‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ says he isn’t dead. He feels demoralized and says your shouting hurt him.>
<‘Yuri Druid Gabriella’ says Meteo has lost consciousness.>
‘Phew, thank goodness.’
However, if left like this much longer, it could affect his life.
This place was steeped in magic, the soil being the strongest.
If we delayed, he might die.
‘Even if Meteo escapes, it won’t be easy—he amplified his power and lost consciousness.’
I had to deal with Aldred as soon as possible.
“Heh heh heh.”
Aldred laughed, and I looked up.
Her hair, which had been cut off, was growing back, retaining its spiral braid form.
‘Ah, truly a demon…’
“Shall I cut your hair too? The Demon King wants it,” she said.
“What do you mean by ‘want’?”
At that moment, a strange voice echoed.
It was a voice from someone who had not been present in this space until now.
