Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet...
After staying at the Parion Temple for a while, the group followed Zena's lead, riding a small carriage to tour the city. The morning air was crisp and lively as they made their way toward the western block, passing the Earldom's training grounds and stretches of farmland glowing under the sun.
"Please look over there," Zena called out, pointing toward a towering structure in the distance. "That's the Anti-Dragon Tower. A massive magic cannon is installed at the top which is designed to fight off dragon attacks."
Hachiman, Mei, Sora, and Patricia leaned forward, looking in awe at the tall tower.
"Zena-san," Mei asked curiously, "I noticed there are farm fields this close to the city walls. Shouldn't the fief's forces battle invading dragons outside instead?"
"Ah, yes," Zena nodded with a small smile. "Actually, this entire plain was built as a battlefield to fight and exterminate wyverns."
"I see… so it's the opposite of what I imagined," Mei murmured thoughtfully.
"Huh? What about that broken tower, Zena-san?" Sora asked, pointing toward a damaged section of the wall. "Did a wyvern knock it down?"
"That tower was destroyed during a lesser dragon attack two years ago," Zena explained, her tone turning somber. "From what I've heard, it was burned halfway down. Even the castle suffered damage, but thankfully, they managed to repel the dragon."
"Repel, you say?" Hachiman repeated, raising a brow.
Zena nodded, giving him a helpless smile. "As someone would expect, even a lesser dragon is still a true dragon."
Her shoulders slumped slightly. "Wyverns are one thing, but defeating a dragon is impossible for ordinary humans. It would take someone like the Ancestor King Yamato or the Saga Empire's Hero to bring down a true dragon."
"I-I see, hmm." Hachiman said, doing his best to sound casual while ignoring the dry stares from Mei, Sora, and Patricia.
"Au?" Kagura sleepily tilted her head in confusion at his awkward tone. Hachiman could only sigh and gently pinch her cheeks, earning an indignant squeal from the baby.
Not noticing his reaction or the silent laughter of the others, Zena continued, her tone lowering. "This damage we suffered came from a lesser dragon attack, but apparently when the Black Dragon appeared forty years ago, the army was powerless. Even the outer walls were completely destroyed."
Hachiman, Mei, Sora, and Patricia all twitched at once, each sharing the same thought. 'Oi, Hei Long-san! Just what were you doing?!'
"S-since the city is still standing today, was Hei—ehh, the Black Dragon was repelled, right?" Hachiman asked, his tone forced.
But Zena shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, the army wasn't able to. The Black Dragon simply flew off after having its fill of the goats from the nearby farms."
'Just how much do you love goats, Hei Long?!' Hachiman screamed internally, a thought that was perfectly matched by Mei, Sora, and Patricia.
"I suppose," Zena said with a grim look, "to dragons, humanity is no different from ants."
'I know she didn't mean it that way, but… JUST WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME?! THE PERSON WHO DEFEATED THAT SAME DRAGON?!' Hachiman thought, despair creeping in. He wanted to cry but no tears came.
"Zena-san, Now I'm extremely curious, just what exactly are Heroes for the people of this world?" Sora asked, raising her hand as if she were in class. "From what Sister Auna said, they're people who answered the call of the God Parion, right?" Tilting her head, she added with curiosity, "So what makes them different from others aside from wielding those holy swords?"
"Heroes are people summoned into this world from other worlds," Zena replied with a gentle smile, ignoring the strange way Sora asked. "In the Saga Empire, there's actually a large-scale ritual known as the 'Hero Summoning.' It requires a tremendous price to perform, which is why they only do it once every sixty-six years — during what we call the Demon Lord season."
Hachiman blinked. 'So even demon lords have seasons now? What are they, limited-time events? Local products?'
As if sensing his sarcasm, Mei shot him a sharp side glance that made him stiffen in place, breaking into a nervous sweat.
"And as far as I know," Zena continued, "the Ancestor King Yamato and the Saga Empire's first Emperor were both summoned Heroes."
"Heeeh…" Sora leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest.
'Judging by the food and bits of culture we've seen so far, those summoned heroes probably came from some version of Japan,' Hachiman thought. 'Yamato and this Emperor are most likely Japanese. The otakus back home would probably throw a festival if they knew about this.'
"At this point of time though," Zena said, looking toward the horizon, "it wouldn't be strange if a demon lord appeared again soon…"
"Hmm? Is there a way to know when one's coming?" Sora asked.
"Each city in both our Shiga Kingdom and the Saga Empire has a communication magic tool used for emergencies," Zena explained. "And before a demon lord's actual revival, every Oracle Priestess in each temple receives an oracle pertaining to it, warning humanity."
"Wow! Nicely done~" Sora cheered, clapping her hands in admiration.
Zena smiled at Sora's reaction. "The oracles aren't just limited to demons or demon lords—they can also warn of large-scale calamities. But…" her expression faltered slightly, brows knitting together. "The 'Starfall' event a few days ago wasn't foretold by any priestess."
'I'M SO SORRY!!!!!!' Hachiman shut his eyes and apologized inwardly. 'I just wanted to take the most efficient route to stop the rampaging god, okay?!'
He looked down at the now peacefully sleeping baby in his arms and lightly pinched her cheek. "See the trouble you caused," he murmured.
Kagura made a small noise but didn't wake, making Mei sigh beside him.
"Really, Hachiman?" Mei gave him a dry look, resting her chin on her hand. "Are you blaming a baby for 'divine(self induced) disasters' now?"
"It builds character," he said deadpan. Mei's only response was a dry, unimpressed stare.
"Do the Demon Lords command demonic beasts or monsters?" Sora asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"Hmm, that actually depends on the Demon Lord," Zena explained. "Some command hordes of monsters, while others prefer to fight alone. There are even Demon Lords who travel with humans or demihumans."
Her expression then turned serious. "But among all the Demon Lords' subordinates, the most terrifying of all are the demons themselves."
Mei and Sora exchanged a look, their expressions went to slight surprise. Having meet the greater demons firsthand, they understood the feeling behind those words.
"The demon race can only be harmed by magical attacks or magic weapons," Zena continued grimly. "They're extremely difficult foes. Mid-class demons even possess magic resistance, making them harder to deal with—and their strength alone is enough to destroy a city."
Sora blinked, glancing briefly at Mei. "How about the Greater Demons, Zena-san? How strong are they?" she asked curiously.
"Humanity can't win against them," Zena replied firmly, shaking her head. "Rather than thinking 'how can I defeat them,' people should be asking 'how can I minimize the damage?' or 'how can I escape?'"
"I-I see… hmm." Sora nodded slowly, sneaking a glance at Mei, who looked up at the bright blue sky, her hands fidgeting nervously.
Seeing her reaction, Hachiman smirked. "You look like you've seen one up close," he teased.
Mei's brow twitched as she turned to him with a dangerously sweet smile. "Would you like me to arrange that for you?"
"...Pass," Hachiman replied immediately, raising a hand in surrender. Patricia stifled a laugh behind her hand.
"Then, then! Who's stronger? Dragons or demons?" Sora asked again, her energy quickly returning.
"Dragons, of course," Zena answered without hesitation.
"Ohh! That was fast!" Sora exclaimed.
Zena smiled wryly. "In the past, when the summoned heroes failed to defeat the Demon Lords, they were often defeated by the dragons instead."
"Ehh? Then wouldn't it be better to just ask dragons to defeat the demons?" Sora asked innocently.
Zena chuckled at her pure question. "It's impossible. Dragons are far too whimsical to follow humanity's requests. And besides, the collateral damage from their battles would be far worse than what a hero could cause."
"Ah, I see." Sora nodded, finally understanding.
Their carriage rolled onward into the Western Block — a district Zena explained was home to the city's less fortunate citizens, as well as meat processing shops, alchemy stalls, pawnshops, moneylenders, and businesses that dance the line between legal and illicit.
'Hmm… according to the map, this area is where the drug dens, brothels, and slave companies are.' Hachiman's expression darkened, his gaze turning grim.
As their carriage passed through the narrow streets, Hachiman's expression darkened. He saw people of all ages and genders dressed in rags, slave collars fastened tightly around their necks and chains clinking as they moved. The sight made his chest tighten.
Beside him, Sora's eyes widened, her eyes landing on a group of children, barefoot, thin, and hollow-eyed. She bit her lip hard, her small hands balling into trembling fists. "This is… horrible…" she whispered.
Mei, seeing her reaction, gently placed a comforting hand over Sora's. "Don't look too long," she murmured softly. "You'll just end up hurting yourself."
"… those kids looked even younger than me, Mei-nee," Sora said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Patricia, seated quietly across from them, kept her composure, though her eyes were cold and sharp. "This world still has places like this," she said flatly. "Even under so-called 'civilization.'" Her tone was calm, but both Mei and Hachiman could feel the anger she was holding back.
Hachiman exhaled slowly. "Yeah… some things don't change, no matter the world."
Sora turned her face away, blinking rapidly to stop her tears, while Mei's hand tightened protectively around hers.
"Excuse me," Zena said suddenly, her tone firm but polite as she looked toward the driver. "Could you stop the carriage for a moment, please?" She pointed toward a plaza nearby where a small crowd was gathering.
—----
"...Demi-humans are the failures of the demon races!" A chubby man in priestly robes bellowed to the gathered crowd, his voice filled with venom. "Let the hammer of justice fall and punish these demon dependents!" He thrust his finger toward the three trembling demi-human slaves.
Among them were the same cat-eared and dog-eared children Sora had helped yesterday at the market. The third was older—just a little younger than Hachiman and Mei—with mostly human features, save for the reddish-brown scales across her neck, arms, and legs, and the lizard-like tail swaying weakly behind her.
"Good citizens of Seiryuu!" the chubby priest cried, his face flushed red with fervor. "Do you remember the 'Starfall' event a few days ago?! It was a sign that the gods' protection is fading! If we wish to survive, we must gather and accumulate our good deeds before calamity strikes again!"
The crowd stirred uneasily.
"W-what?! How could that be?!"
"Oh my gods!!"
"Save us, Hero-sama!!"
"Expel the demi-humans!! Drive them away!!"
He spread his arms dramatically and pointed again at the terrified slaves. "Look at them! The failures of the demon race! They are nothing more than demon underlings wearing human faces!!"
Gasps and shouts echoed through the crowd as the priest lifted a shining stone high into the air. "Behold! The sacred jewel of purification! With this, you can cleanse your sins and accumulate good deeds by passing judgment upon these heretics!"
"A-Are we going to kill them?" someone from the crowd asked hesitantly.
"Of course not!" the chubby priest said with a dramatic shake of his head. "Killing them would be a crime under the kingdom's laws. But!"—he raised the glowing stones high—"using these sacred jewels to strike them down, you can accumulate good deeds by delivering divine punishment in the name of justice!"
"T-Then give us those sacred jewels!" one man shouted.
"Right! We'll help cleanse the evil!" another chimed in.
"Calm down, good people of the world!" the chubby priest called out, spreading his hands as if to calm their excitement. "We can provide you the sacred jewels—but remember, this is no charity! You may receive one by making a humble offering."
The assistant priest quickly stepped forward, carrying two large sacks and opening them for all to see. Inside glittered dozens of the same 'sacred jewels,' their faint light reflecting the greed in the crowd's eyes.
"One copper coin for a piece," the priest announced proudly. "However, if you offer one large copper coin, you shall receive five!"
The mob erupted in cheers.
"The number of sacred jewels is limited!" the chubby priest shouted. "Only those who act quickly shall gain the Gods' favor and accumulate their good deeds!"
The crowd quickly ran forward, shoving each other to pay. Coins clattered into the sacks, and moments later, the air was filled with the sound of whistling stones—no, sacred jewels—as they hurled them at the trembling demi-human slaves.
The older scaled girl immediately spread her arms wide, shielding the two small children with her body. The sharp thuds of impact rang across the square, each one drawing a pained gasp from the older girl but she didn't stop shielding the two younger ones.
"Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race!"
"Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race!"
"Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race!"
"Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race!"
"Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race!"
Then all of a sudden, the rain of stones stopped midair before reaching the scale-kin, cat-ear, and dog-ear slaves. A fierce gust of wind swept across the square, scattering the stones harmlessly to the sides. The trembling demi-humans looked up—and there stood Zena, her expression fierce as she shielded them with a current of wind swirling around her.
"Stop this at once!!" Zena's voice thundered across the square, her usual gentle tone replaced by righteous fury. "What you're doing right now is inhuman and disgraceful!"
The crowd fell silent for a heartbeat, stunned by her presence.
"Ha?! What's with you, girl?!" the chubby priest barked, face twisting in rage. "Are you perhaps an ally of the demon race?!"
"She is! Throw a stone at her!" someone from the mob shouted.
A stone flew through the air—only to bounce harmlessly away as Zena's wind barrier flared brighter.
"Cease this at once!!" A firm voice rang out as another figure stepped forward—a man wearing the robes of a different temple. "Claiming that demi-humans are demonic beings… that's not the will of Zaicuon—it's you, priest of Zaicuon Temple, spreading lies!"
"Hmph! Well, if it isn't the philanthropist priest from the Garleon Temple," the chubby priest sneered mockingly. "If you love these animals so much, you can take them for free—after we're done punishing them!"
"You…!" The Garleon priest's fists clenched, his eyes burning with anger.
"Do you even understand what you're doing?!" Zena stepped forward, the wind swirling stronger around her as she glared at him. "If you keep fanning unrest among the people, both you and the Zaicuon Temple will be held responsible for treason!"
"Heh! That count is nothing but a fool borrowing the name of a dragon," the chubby priest spat back. "Or what, girl? Are you a traitor to humanity now—one of those demon-loving heretics?!"
"Everyone here in the western block, please listen to me!" The Garleon Temple priest raised his voice, trying to reach through the chaos. "I understand that everyone here must be afraid—but please, do not become cowards who take out your fears on those who can't fight back!"
"Did you hear that, good people of the world?!" the chubby priest of the Zaicuon Temple shouted mockingly. "The priest of Garleon Temple just called you all evil!"
The crowd stirred, confusion and anger mixing in the air. Then another stone flew—followed by a second, and a third—toward Zena, the Garleon priest, and the three demi-humans. But Zena's wind barrier still held strong, scattering every rock before it could hit.
"Please stop this already!" Zena pleaded, her voice cracking from desperation. "You're hurting innocent lives for no reason!"
"If you continue this any longer," the Garleon priest warned sharply, "the Earl's troops will come, and you will all be arrested for inciting violence!"
"You fool! Do you intend to defy the will of God?!" the chubby priest roared, face red with fury.
Then a deep, amused laugh cut through the tension. "Wahaha! I swear, I only went out to visit my favorite alchemy store and yet, I stumbled upon this circus."
Heads turned as a noble-looking man in his early thirties approached, flanked by armored guards. His refined air and confident stride silenced even the angriest shouts.
"You said something interesting earlier, didn't you?" the man said coolly, his sharp gaze locking onto the Zaicuon priest. "Something about a 'foolish person who borrows the name of a dragon,' was it?" His tone hardened as he took another step forward. "Tell me, should I take that as an insult toward the Earl himself—and by extension, to the kingdom that granted him that name?"
"V-Viscount Velton!" Zena gasped, eyes widening in surprise at the sudden appearance of the noble.
"Hello, Zena Marienteil. It's been a while, hasn't it?" said the man Zena had called Viscount Velton, his calm yet commanding tone cutting through the tension. "That was a valiant thing you did—protecting those in need like that." His gaze softened for a brief moment before turning coldly toward the chaos.
"Tsk! As expected, you're all nothing but demon supporters, aren't you?!" the chubby priest of Zaicuon spat, his face twisting with fury. "Protecting these filthy animals—these demon spawns pretending to be people!"
He turned toward the crowd, his eyes wide with madness. "Look, good people! Look at these fools siding with demons! They're stopping you from protecting yourselves from the next calamity!"
The people looked at one another uncertainly. Some hesitated, but others still gripped their stones tightly, unsure of what to believe.
Then, a lone voice rang out from within the mob—shrill, angry, desperate. "Let the hammer of justice fall upon the demon race and their supporters!!"
Zena, the Garleon priest, and Viscount Velton immediately narrowed their eyes, scanning the crowd for the agitator. The atmosphere grew tense again, the hesitant mob regaining its ugly courage, ready to throw.
But before the first stone could fly, a calm, dignified voice carried across the square—soft yet commanding.
"If you can't believe their words," the voice said, "then perhaps you can believe in mine."
The tension broke as all eyes turned. Auna, still dressed in her Parion priestess robes, stepped gracefully forward, the sunlight illuminating her figure.
"Auna-sama!!" Zena gasped, relief flooding her voice.
"Oracle Priestess Auna!" The Garleon priest's eyes widened in shock.
"Greetings, Auna-sama." Viscount Velton placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.
"Y-you…!" The chubby priest of the Zaicuon Temple stammered, trembling as cold sweat ran down his face. His bravado vanished instantly before her presence.
The gathered crowd froze before Auna. The sight of a known Oracle Priestess standing in defense of the demi-humans—the very ones they had called demon spawns—left them speechless.
"What this man said about the demi-humans are lies," Auna declared, her calm voice carrying a steel edge that cut through the murmurs. "This so-called priest is nothing more than a swindler who spreads panic and falsehoods for his own gain." Her eyes turned toward the sweating Zaicuon priest, her gaze sharp as a blade. "A fool who dares use the name of God for personal profit."
The Zaicuon priest flinched, his bluster faltering under the weight of her words. Gritting his teeth, he tried to retort—but before he could speak, he was suddenly shoved aside and fell to the ground.
A blur of motion went past him. "Sora-san?!" Zena gasped as the young girl, tears falling in her eyes, threw herself into Zena's arms and hugged her tightly around the waist, quickly followed by Patricia.
"Z-Zena-san! I'll call you Zena-nee from now on!" Sora sobbed between hiccups. "You instantly jumped to the top of my favorite people list!"
"W-whaaat?" Zena blinked, completely flustered, glancing at Patricia for help.
Patricia only smiled softly, carrying the peacefully sleeping Kagura in her arms, utterly unbothered by the commotion.
"Zena-nee!" Sora sniffled, looking up at her with watery eyes. "Thank you for showing me that kindness can still exist—even in this cruel reality!" She then turned toward the others, voice trembling but filled with sincerity. "And all of you—Sister Auna, Mr. Viscount, Mr. Priest, thank you all for standing up for what's right! You've proved that our faith wasn't in vain!"
"Yes?" Auna tilted her head, blinking in mild confusion.
"Haa?" The Garleon priest muttered, still processing what just happened.
"Ahaha, aren't you quite the energetic child," Viscount Velton said with a wry smile, his voice holding a trace of amusement.
Sora wiped her tears away, her expression turning into something calm and composed, unnaturally so for her age. Yet everyone watching her felt it; that strange, commanding aura, as if they stood before someone far greater.
"For showing me that all of you have kind hearts," Sora began softly, her tone clear and unwavering, "and that you're willing to confront the unfairness of this world—to protect those in need—please, leave the rest to us now."
The crowd murmured among themselves, unsure why her words carried such strength.
"Y-you brat…!" the chubby priest snarled, forcing himself to stand, his glare burning toward Sora. But she simply met his gaze, calm and unflinching.
Then, a sudden thud sounded through the square. A man had collapsed to the ground near the priest.
"Hoose-dono?!" the chubby priest shouted, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Thank you for your hard work, Zena-san," a familiar, cool voice said as Hachiman approached, stepping over the fallen man. Beside him was Mei, her gentle smile contrasting the sharpness in her eyes as she looked upon the shaken crowd.
"Zena-san, Priest-san, Viscount-san, and you, Auna-san," Mei said kindly, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you for standing up for what's right. You didn't just save those three behind you—you saved many others who would've suffered the same fate."
Zena, the Garleon priest, Viscount Velton, and Auna exchanged confused looks, uncertain of what to make of the scene.
Hachiman gave a faint, knowing smile before turning toward the trembling Zaicuon priest. His voice dropped low. "Your little scam ends here, tubby."
As his eyes glowed with an indigo light, the air grew heavier, pressing down on everyone present. The crowd, the priests, the noble—all felt it: the oppressive force of his presence.
"You've deceived the people long enough," Hachiman said, his tone cold and absolute. "Now… it's time you pay for your sins."
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