Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

The humans, elves and dwarves that are blessed by the G.o.d of light are named the humanoid race.

The demon race, who even though they are few in numbers, individually possess powers far above that of the average humanoid.

The huge continent “Loyndars” is divided into east and west, n.o.body knows when it started but the two sides have been in a continuous conflict.

It lasted for a thousand years, but it unprecedently became peaceful 300 years ago.

It was because of the Demon race’s King, there was a change in owners.h.i.+p of the demon king t.i.tle and the new king is comparatively moderate compared to the previous. Though there are sporadic skirmishes that occur, the humanoid races are getting used to the peace

But then the peace was suddenly broken.

Under the rule of a newly crowned Demon King, during the 2826 Genesis Calendar of the fifth month, the demon race attacked the other territories and the “The Great Invasion” began.

Against the humans who had gotten used to the temporary peace and steadily fought increasingly intensifying battles against their own, this surprise attack which should also be called the general offensive, began.

Not caring about their own appearance, the demons battle tactics of not worrying about the sacrifice of innocents was terrifyingly effective, and in the blink of an eye, numerous countries had been destroyed.

Rather than controlling the human race for the demon race, the goal of the demon king was to completely annihilate them.

Those that resist are ma.s.sacred, those that surrender are taken as prisoners into the Demon Race’s Territory and are never seen again.

Of course the human race wouldn’t just be silent about this, they immediately formed a treaty to each countries as expected, they created a coalition army made from troops of each race.

By all rights, the human side had enough war strength to oppose them.

But foolishly, each country and race had disputes over who should be in charge, and thus the cooperation broke down and the tired main force was crushed.

Afterwards, the humans keep fighting hopeless, one-sided defensive battles.

The Garugan Empire perished on the 4th month of the year 2827

After humanity’s largest fighting force was destroyed humanity had no choice but to lead a desperate suicide attack.

The remaining military forces banded together and challenged the Demon King’s main army to a reckless final showdown gathering the majority of the attention.

Using that chance the hand-picked elite infiltrated the Demon King’s castle to strike at heart of the enemy and slaying the source of this era of despair, the Demon King.

The chance was low, but there was no other way, it was certainly the last gamble.

Then humanity won that gamble. Barely.

The Demon King’s Castle’s deepest part, Maou’s Chamber.

The chamber was enormously large, a small town could easily fit into it.

Crammed onto the floor there was a pattern of geometric shapes and undecipherable characters, other than that there was nothing that stood out other than the altar in the middle.

The deathmatch in front of the altar, the battle that decided the fate of the world just ended.

There was only one person standing, hailing from the Human Tribe the Magic Swordsman Kail.

The figure covered by silver armour was covered completely with wounds, with cuts all over his body and his left hand having being almost minced was surely of no more use. The fact that he was standing let alone alive was already a miracle in itself.

However he was standing purely on willpower, looking at the defeated Demon King.

Kail maintained his vigilance even while looking at the Demon King’s body slowly crumble away.

And then when he confirmed the Demon King was completely eradicated, as if all his strength had been spent he sat down onto the floor.

“With this……it’s all over……”

However, while the demons are much stronger than humans there are many of them who are  selfish and arrogant.

The demon army that was ma.s.sed with the overpowering charisma and strength of the Maou should lose at this rate.

Many deaths were produced because of this war, but originally the humanoids’ death rate was higher. The number of deaths in the demon army was also large enough to end the invasion.

The humanoid’s were saved, slowly but surely they’ll realize this fact.

But Kail felt no joy. Those that were sacrificed for this victory, up until this point there were far too many who were lost.

I see the sword in my hand, no the remains of what used to be a sword.

It was a magic sword with a stone on it that could be called my friend and comrade, however now it’s just a piece of sc.r.a.p that won’t talk anymore.

I see the door leading to the outside firmly closed.

I’ll surely join you later, is what my comrades said who stopped the demons advancing on us. In the end none of them caught up to me.

I look at the World Tree’s Staff lying on the floor a little bit away.

The staff that the Elven spirit user who had been fighting with me used up to this point, she sacrificed herself in the fight just now. In exchange, she ceased to exist in order to save me.

Recalling the smile she showed me at the end tears streamed down.

Out the things I wanted to protect none of them were left.

The hometown I was born and raised in, the friends who I laughed together with, those with whom I lived through near death battles. Even the one I loved….. I had lost everything.

There was no sense of joy nor accomplishment. What lies in my heart are only sadness and emptiness.

After losing my thirst for revenge which was the only drive I had left, I was now like an empty husk.

Here we are at the heart and deepest part of Demon’s Castle

Even if we killed the Demon King, someone else will become the new Demon King.

It was planned for us to escape silently after the deed was done, however I didn’t feel like it.

Although it couldn’t be done as planned.

Kail had deep wounds all over his body, they weren’t at the level where you could say it’d just be alright if you leave it alone. They were wounds that could take one’s life.

But there were no more healing potions, there also weren’t any comrades left that could heal me.

But even that didn’t matter anymore.

As I laid my body down, the only thing left was to accept my death. Thinking that, I closed my eyes.

If I just lost consciousness like this everything would’ve probably ended.

The feathers that grow on the Maou’s back, whether it was coincidence or fate, the feathers floated around. Jet-black feathers were gently touching Kail’s face.

His conscious that was about to be swallowed in darkness cleared up, he thinly opened up his eyes and in the wide s.p.a.ce with nothing much in it only the altar stood out.

From there, a red light was visible.

” …… What’s that?”

Barely able to straighten his body, he walked to the altar that seemed to draw him in.

What decorated the altar was a gem of stunning crimson as if it was dripping blood.

The size was probably as big as a baby’s fist, it seemed to give off a red light like a pulsating heart.

Kail could use magic so he could sense the tremendous amount of magic hidden within it.

“Is this… a magic item?”

Just as its name specifies: a magic item is a tool with magical properties.

Even those that couldn’t use magic could use it.

If I think about it, the movements of the Maou were strange during the battle.

He received an attack he would’ve been able to dodge.

Although it was my victory, it felt as if he was trying to cover something while treading over thin ice.

“What was he trying to protect, was it this?”

Then Kail remembered that the Maou was not watching him who had killed him in his last moments but the altar instead.

The light that kept flowing out of the gem became stronger. As if it was going to release an enormous amount of energy at any moment.

“Did it go out of control because the Maou died?”

It’s probably an incomplete product, like this it’ll end up going out of control.

The result of an incomplete magic item being unstable, is exploding.