There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her: Daily Life at the Demon King's Castle
Youki used to be a mid-boss in the Demon King's army—right up until the hero's party stormed the castle and ended his boss's reign. But instead of finishing him off, the party's priestess, Cecilia, gave him a second chance at life among humans. And somewhere along the way, he fell for her. Hard.
So he did the only logical thing: he confessed. Dramatically. With a "I am the one who rules the darkness—" speech and everything.
She shot him down so thoroughly it echoed.
Now, six months later, You
There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her: Daily Life at the Demon King's Castle - The Late-Arriving Neck and Medicinal Herbs, and the Smoke Signal of Counterattack
The smell of blood clung to the cold air of the mine shaft.
Youki lay on the ground, unable to move a single finger. Blood from the wound in his belly pooled into a dark stain on the stone floor. Somewhere in the distance, he heard a voice.
"Captainnnnn!!"
The clatter of armor. Heavy footsteps approached from deep within the tunnel.
" Whoa, that's a terrible wound! Hold on, I'll get the herbs—!"
The boy's panicked voice. Youki listened to it through his fading consciousness.
(...So you came after all.)
A single tear slipped free.
His short black hair was matted with blood and sweat, and his deep purple eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling. The fingers of his left hand trembled faintly.
"I'm sorry we're late, Captain."
Duke dropped to one knee beside Youki. Black-iron armor covered his tall frame—six foot one, every inch of it. And perched atop the armor, his head sat exactly where it belonged. Pale skin, red eyes. A dullahan, his head still set upon his shoulders.
" I'm sorry we took so long."
His voice was shaking.
"...Duke..."
A rasping whisper. Youki managed to turn his head.
"Don't speak. Seek, please."
" Yeah! Leave it to me!"
Shaking his emerald-green bob, Seek clutched a pouch of herbs. A tiny body, barely four and a half feet tall. Small wings on his back. The pixie boy's hands trembled as he tried to open the pouch.
" Wait, wait—this wound... normal herbs might not be enough..."
"Calm down. You can do this."
" But—but...!"
"Seek."
Duke's voice rang low.
"You know more about herbs than any of us. Trust yourself."
Seek drew a breath. His water-blue eyes took on a serious light.
"...Yeah. I'll do it."
His small hands opened the pouch. Dried leaves, powdered grasses, tiny flowers—he pulled them out one after another.
"This is staunchweed. It's the best thing for stopping bleeding. And this one's a healing flower. It eases pain and speeds up recovery. And then, this—"
"Explain later. Treat him now."
" Oh, sorry! Doing it now!"
Seek quickly ground the staunchweed. Green juice stained his small hands.
"This'll sting a little, but bear with me."
The cool herb pressed against the wound in Youki's belly.
"—nn—"
Pain. But beneath it, something warm spread slowly through the wound.
" It's working. It's really working, Captain."
Seek's voice brightened, just a little.
"...Thank you."
Youki murmured softly.
"Not yet. We're just getting started."
Duke lifted Youki's body into his arms.
"Hold on tight."
"...Happiness... she's still..."
"I know. We'll save her, no matter what."
Duke's red eyes fixed on the depths of the tunnel.
"Now that we're here, everything's going to be fine."
At those words, Youki closed his eyes.
(...That's right. These guys are my—)
Consciousness drifted slowly back. Seek's herbs were steadily healing the wound.
"Duke, the traps at the entrance?"
"Ah, I smashed them all earlier. A barrier that flimsy shatters with a single swing of mine."
"...As expected."
"But of course. I'm your subordinate, Captain."
The corner of Duke's mouth softened, just slightly.
" Oh, but when I broke the barrier, an alarm went off! It was so loud! My ears were ringing!"
"That couldn't be helped. If we were going to be found anyway, better to make it flashy."
" That's so like you, Duke! But it really scared me, honestly."
Seek giggled, bright and bubbling.
"...You two never change."
A faint smile rose to Youki's lips.
" Oh, the Captain smiled!"
"Don't make me laugh. It pulls at the wound."
" But I'm just so happy!"
The tension in the air loosened all at once.
Duke carried Youki on his back and pressed on through the tunnel. Seek walked ahead, occasionally turning around to launch into another herb explanation.
"You know that staunchweed from before? It grows all over the southern side of the Verde Forest. If you pick it when it's covered in morning dew, the effect doubles. Did you know that?"
"...I didn't."
" And this healing flower blooms at night! When it bathes in moonlight, the petals glow faintly. It's so beautiful!"
"Seek. Now's not the time."
" Aww, but you said to explain!"
"I didn't. I said I'd listen later."
" Huh? Did you?"
"I did."
" Ahaha, sorry, sorry!"
Listening to the two of them go back and forth, Youki laughed quietly.
(...I really wasn't alone after all.)
Just then, footsteps echoed from ahead in the tunnel.
" Here they come."
Duke stopped in his tracks.
" Huh, enemies?! Already?!"
"Hide, Seek. Combat isn't your strong suit."
" Okay... sorry."
Seek ducked into the shadow of the wall.
Still carrying Youki, Duke rested one hand at the hip of his armor, where a long-hilted greatsword hung.
"If you're coming, come. I'll cut every last one of you down."
The footsteps drew closer.
" Sorry I'm late! But I made it!"
A bright voice rang through the tunnel.
"...Yuga?"
"Hey, Youki! You in one piece?! —Whoa, you're absolutely covered in blood!"
It was Yuga, the hero. A bright grin and an easy, light-footed stance. A holy sword was strapped across his back.
" It's because you always charge in recklessly! Going in alone—are you an idiot?!"
Mikana shouted from behind Yuga. The mage clutched her staff, brows arched high. But her eyes wavered with relief.
" ...Thank goodness. You're alive."
"...Mikana came too."
"Of course I did. We're comrades."
Mikana turned her face away sharply.
"...Raven's here too."
Yuga jerked his thumb behind him.
A knight in silver-white armor stood there. Raven. Commander of the Silver Knights, a swordsman of few words.
Raven looked at Youki without a word.
"...Raven, you too."
Raven drew a small board and pen from his breast pocket. He wrote in quick, fluid strokes and held it up for Youki to see.
'What's the plan?'
Just three words. But those three words carried all of Raven's trust.
(...The plan, huh.)
Youki drew a deep breath.
"Yeah. Here's the plan."
Youki's voice rang low and strong.
"First, Raven cuts through every trap. With your sword, even the magic traps Mirror set won't be a problem."
Raven nodded silently.
"Mikana. Can your magic nullify Mirror's enhancement drug?"
"...I can. That drug enhances the body through mana. So if I hit it with opposing mana, it should cancel the effect."
"Good. Then Mikana, prepare a nullification magic round. I'll give the signal to fire."
"Got it."
"Yuga. You're the decoy. Charge straight into the back of the hideout alone and draw Mirror's attention."
" You got it! Being a decoy is my specialty!"
"Duke. Carry me to Mirror. Can you fight?"
"Of course. This Duke will be your shield and your sword, Captain."
"Seek. You're on rescuing Happiness. Do you know how to break the restraints?"
" Yeah. Happiness's restraints should be made of magic. If I burn this release-herb, it weakens the mana, so they should come right off."
"Good. ...Let's move."
"「「「Yeah!」」」"
Raven drew his sword.
The silver-white blade cut through the darkness of the tunnel.
"Let's go!"
—OOOOOOOOOON!!
Duke let out a roar and broke into a run.
Raven took the vanguard. The silent swordsman cut down the magic traps that appeared one after another, each with a single stroke.
ZAN!
A fire trap split in two.
ZAN!
An ice trap shattered to pieces.
ZAN!
A lightning trap dissolved into motes of light.
Raven's sword never stopped. The silent man's blade alone spoke volumes.
"Amazing... Raven never changes."
" Is this really the time to be admiring him?! You're the decoy!"
" Whoa, right! Then I'm going on ahead!"
Yuga drew his holy sword and sprinted into the depths of the tunnel.
" Mirror! I know you're in there! Hide-and-seek is over!"
Yuga's voice echoed through the tunnel.
"...What a noisy fool."
A low voice.
Deep in the tunnel, in a wide open chamber, Mirror stood. His imperial uniform hung loose, a short sword in his left hand. In his right, an empty glass vial. The last of the Raging Syrup sloshed thickly at the bottom.
" Oh my, more guests. ...The hero, a mage, the knight commander. And a headless suit of armor, plus a little bug."
" Don't call me a bug! I'm a pixie!"
" Ha, doesn't matter either way. Demons—I'll just hunt every last one of you."
Mirror raised his short sword.
"Mikana!"
" I know!"
Mikana lifted her staff.
"—Light of purification, nullify the power of evil!"
The tip of her staff blazed white.
"Nullification magic round—fire!"
A bullet of light shot toward Mirror.
" Futile."
Mirror tried to deflect the bullet of light with his short sword.
But.
The instant the bullet touched the blade, it exploded.
"—What?!"
White light engulfed Mirror's body.
" Guh...!?"
Mirror's body deflated rapidly. The muscles swollen by Raging Syrup shrank back to their original size. His eyes, bloodshot red, returned to normal.
" Y-you... what did you do?!"
" I nullified your doping. That's what you get for fighting dirty."
" You little brat...!"
Mirror lunged at Mikana.
"Whoa, over here!"
Yuga swung his holy sword from the side.
GAKIN!
Mirror's short sword and Yuga's holy sword clashed.
" A mere hero—don't get in my way!"
" A mere hero? Big words!"
The two traded fierce blows.
"Duke!"
"Yes!"
Still carrying Youki, Duke circled around behind Mirror.
"Put me down."
"But your wound—"
"It's fine. Seek's herbs have me moving again."
Youki slid down from Duke's back.
The wound in his belly still ached. But he could stand. He could walk. He could fight.
"...Mirror."
Youki's voice rang low and quiet.
"What you did to Happiness. Don't think I've forgotten."
Youki's deep purple eyes glinted in the darkness.
" That little harpy girl? She cried so sweetly. Dig into the places where her feathers were, and she sings even better."
"...Ah. Is that so."
The scar of the crest on the back of Youki's right hand grew hot.
(Anger's pushing me toward monsterization.)
(...But no. If I turn here, I won't be able to protect anything again.)
Youki gritted his teeth.
(Cecilia. I'm going to fight as a human.)
Youki clenched his fist.
"Your opponent is me."
Youki stepped forward.
" Ha, a wounded weakling—what can you possibly do!"
Mirror flipped his short sword to a reverse grip and charged at Youki.
"Too slow."
Youki's body vanished.
"—What?!"
Youki stood behind Mirror.
"Even if you think the enhancement drug made you faster, in front of me you look like you're standing still."
" Don't mock meeeee!!"
Mirror spun and swung his short sword.
Youki caught the blade between two fingers.
"...Ngh?!"
"Who do you think I am?"
Youki's voice echoed through the entire tunnel.
"Former Demon King's army, mid-boss. And now—just an adventurer who takes down scum like you."
Youki twisted his fingers.
SNAP!
Mirror's short sword broke clean in two.
" W-what...?!"
"This is the end, Mirror."
Youki's fist drove into Mirror's gut.
DOGOO!!
"—GAAAAAH!!"
Mirror's body folded in half and slammed into the wall.
Rock shattered, dust billowed.
" Guh... ugh..."
Mirror stayed embedded in the wall, unable to move.
" You monster...! Are you really human...?!"
"Who knows. At the very least, I'd like to think I'm more human than you."
Youki walked slowly toward Mirror.
" S-stay back...!"
Mirror's face twisted with terror.
" What you did to Happiness. I'll pay it back a hundred times over."
Youki raised his fist.
" S-stop—"
—DOGOOOOOON!!
Youki's fist caught Mirror square in the face.
"Gah...!"
Mirror's body slammed into the ground.
" Damn it...! Damn it...!"
Coughing up blood, Mirror tried to crawl away.
" You're not getting away."
Youki stepped down on Mirror's leg.
"GAAAAH!"
" Where's Happiness?"
" H-how should I know...!"
"I'll ask again. Where's Happiness?"
Youki's voice was cold as ice.
" ...Th-the back room...! She's chained to the wall...!"
"Seek!"
" Yeah! On it!"
Seek ran toward the back room.
"...Why are you targeting demons?"
Youki looked down
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