48 Chapter 8 5 : How NOT to keep a low profile, part 3 (2/2)

”I'd like to point out that I have a greater wyvern as a summoned beast, and Ver has gotten a mother wyvern to leave her two children behind, which is how Tuare and Char got wyverns as their summoned beasts. Remember, I'm an A rank... and that only because you have to have been an adventurer for at least a year to become an S rank” (Ryuu)

”Uh... right... mind if I ask something? How'd you get to A rank at this age, and in under a year?” (Naotsugu)

”Basically, my father was a bit paranoid about getting targeted by assassins, so he had me trained from a young age to use all kinds of weapons and magic. Combine that with a lot of natural talent, and you have your answer, I guess... the funny thing is, he did actually die to a sneak attack... well, to the poison on a blade that cut him in a sneak attack. In addition, I've pissed off some powerful people, so I've been targeted by assassins a few times myself” (Ryuu)

”That's... rough, I guess?” (Naotsugu)

”Not really. My teachers were good and quite nice, so the training wasn't all that bad, and the closest an assassin has come to hurting me was when one managed to slice my sleeve, missing my arm. Uh... hmm... that's odd... what's going on?” (Ryuu)

As I was talking, I noticed the aura of several dozen people in the direction we were going.

”What are you talking about? What's odd?” (Naotsugu)

”There's a group of about 100 people in a military formation up ahead... And there aren't any humans in there. 73 demons, 12 elves and high elves, 14 beastkin, and 6 dwarves, I think” (Ryuu)

”Demons?! Is it an invasion?” (Naotsugu)

”Sorry, what was that about demons?” (Jaune)

”There's a large group of non-human races, mostly demons, around the bend. They're waiting in a military formation... however... that shouldn't be...” (Ryuu)

”Ryuu? What should we do?” (Tuare)

”I'll go scout, and if possible, I'll deal with the situation. If they really are soldiers, I should be able to” (Ryuu)

”That's crazy talk! If there are a hundred soldiers, the only ones who could beat them-” (Jaune)

”I never said I'd be fighting them. I have confidence in my ability to escape from them if I'm caught, and I might know the commander, in which case I could try to persuade them to leave” (Ryuu)

I didn't wait for their response, I jumped off of the carriage, then ran through the forest to approach them from the side. I was right, they were soldiers from the demon lands, and I did know the commander. The new general Gremory, who managed to avoid being implicated by the evidence we found in Astaroth's mansion. However... he's here right now. I stepped out to where they could see me, and instantly had a few spears aimed at me.

”On whose orders are you in the human lands?” (Ryuu)

”What does it matter to you? You're about to die, after all” (Lieutenant)

”No, I'm not about to die. I'd like to speak to general Gremory, if you don't mind” (Ryuu)

”I... just kill this foolish human” (Lieutenant)

I pulled off my cloak, showed my horns, spread my wings, and jumped over the soldiers trying to stab me. After that, I evaded everyone else as I quickly made my way to the general, who didn't even notice my movements for the last few meters, only realizing where I'd gone when he felt my dagger at his throat.

”General... I thought you were under orders to stay out of the human lands... In other words... Withdraw. Now... If you wish to keep your head. Alternatively, I could execute you and take command to give the order myself, but I'd rather not do so... the paperwork is a nightmare, I don't want to have to put Bartley through that” (Ryuu)

”Uh... who are you? Who's Bartl- wait... Are you referring to... no...” (General)

”Probably, I am, considering that I'm your boss. Would you like your brother to inherit your title today?” (Ryuu)

He used magic to instantly move five meters, then made a dumb move.

”Kill her!” (General)

Yeah, that's treason. I removed all of my limiters, and a third of the soldiers died instantly, most of the rest either fainting or being paralyzed with fear, and only three were able to run, Gremory being in the paralyzed category.

”The correct order would have been 'bow to the Demon Lord' not 'kill the Demon Lord' so...” (Ryuu)

I sauntered up to the general, and then slid my dagger between his ribs, through his lung, and into his heart. I felt like I'd forgotten something, but... whatever. I wiped my dagger on his cape, pulled the broach marking his title of demon general from his corpse, and put my limiters back on. After that, I ran back the way I'd come, though I only took two steps into the forest before Ren landed in front of me.