Chapter 8

“Joker!! Why is the Demon King’s Northern Duke in Tartarus?!”

The shocked hero’s cry echoes loudly. To be welcomed this enthusiastically, it feels like I’ve become a superstar.

“I didn’t lose my hearing. You don’t need to shout that loud.”

While casually speaking, I glanced at the Saintess. Fortunately, she didn’t react much even after hearing that I’m Joker.

…Fortunately?

Why am I feeling relieved? Whether the Saintess knows or not, what does it matter? She’s neither someone who can kill me nor torture me, something I realized long ago.

There was no time to ponder these confusing feelings.

Right in front of me was one of the strongest humans on the continent, radiating hostility. Probably one of the few beings even stronger than Dragon Lord, the leader of dragons.

“You…! Wicked demon! What are your intentions?”

“What?”

“Don’t try to deceive me! Didn’t you make that outrageous claim of mocking the noble Saintess?”

“Ah, where is that dog barking? Those kinds should be caught and made into bosintang.”

“Shut up! How dare a lowly demon insult me, Frey Dr. Siegfried, the hero! The House of Siegfried will not forgive this!”

“…You need to sew that mouth shut if you want to live longer. Or shall I do it for you now?”

But it was me who cut off the Dragon Lord’s head.

One under heaven (一人之下), ten thousand above (萬人之上).

That was the phrase I repeated when pledging never to place anyone above me except the Demon King.

Though I got beaten by that Demon King… but that’s beside the point. The key point is that I’m absolutely not inferior to any hero.

Gurgle-.

…Only during my prime.

“Do you think you can take responsibility for those words just now?”

“One word from me could erase kingdoms. Do you understand what Joker’s declaration of war means?”

“Do you think these frail iron bars can protect a wretch like you? If so, you’re greatly mistaken!”

“Annoying brat. Mongdungis good for you. Unfortunately, there’s none here.”

Unfortunately, everything the hero says is true. My current body can’t even move, let alone fight against the hero.

It’s also difficult to expect help from the Saintess. No matter how excellent her divine power is, even if she were to burn through all her lifespan, it’s impossible to fully heal a demon like me.

I wasn’t unprepared when I intervened knowing full well the great danger involved. I’m not that unreasonable.

However, seeing the Saintess being mocked was unbearable, even though I knew it would likely lead to grave danger.

It felt like… I was being mocked, no, something more precious than myself was being insulted. Seeing her smiling innocently amidst all this made her pitiable, so I stepped in, probably because of that.

Ching-!

The enraged hero violently drew his sword. Excalibur, the holy sword said to be the only weapon capable of cutting the Demon King’s head, shines in the darkness of Tartarus.

Probably soon, this sword will slice my neck. Dark blood will spurt everywhere, and my miserable life will come to an end.

“You fool… Repent now. Unless you want to regret it after receiving my blade.”

“Hmph.”

Repent?

That kind of thing, there’s no way I’d do it. Laughable bastard.

In my life, there’s no such thing as regret. Absolutely none. I’ve lived doing everything I wanted. No regrets, no lingering attachments.

Anyway, in three days, I’ll be standing on the empire’s guillotine. What difference does it make whether I die now or then?

“Go to hell. Damn brat.”

“Grrr…! Fine! I’ll rip that mouth apart first!”

Tatatatak-!

The hero charges towards me, leading with the holy sword Excalibur.

Ah, dying by ‘being cut by the holy sword’, said to be the greatest glory for demons… maybe this isn’t such a bad death?

Even at the very end of my life, I feel relief. It’s relieving to deliver a jab to the guy mocking the Saintess before leaving.

SHOOOAAK-!!

The hero’s first strike mercilessly slashed through obstacles. Adamantium-made iron bars are cut like bundles of straw.

Tengtengtengtengteng-!

The neatly sliced iron bars hit the ground with a loud noise. The hero’s second strike was accurately aiming for my neck.

Even though he was clearly agitated, there was no trembling in the tip of the hero’s sword. Truly, even a despicable loser is still a hero.

The giant broadsword, filled with menacing killing intent, falls towards my head. Until the last moment before death, I glared fiercely at the hero.

“Barrier!”

The Saintess’ cry was heard right at that moment.

Woooom-!

I don’t know when she came near, but the Saintess hugged me. Bright divine power endlessly emanated around her body.

The hero’s sword didn’t reach me, rather us. It was blocked by the barrier created by the Saintess’ divine power.

“Maria! Why are you protecting that guy!”

“Hero, please lower your sword.”

“That’s a demon, a demon! Moreover, the Demon King Army’s Northern Duke! Are you actually siding with demons!?”

“That’s correct, Saintess. Isn’t it proper for the noble and pure Hero to punish ugly demons? Why are you stopping him?”

With a bitter smile, I said that, but the Saintess firmly replied.

“What does it matter?”

“What?”

“Maria! What did you just say!”

“Blocking injustice and protecting powerless goodness, that’s all.”

“That’s true, Saintess. If the honorable Hero intends to punish the unjust, why are you obstructing?”

“Have you forgotten who resisted the Demon King Army until the very end in a war destined to fail?”

Ah, that’s right. This stubborn Saintess is a human who performs absurd acts while claiming faith, despite being utterly foolish.

Damn, this wasn’t the outcome I wanted.

At least the fortunate part is…

Woooom-!

The golden barrier surrounding me and the Saintess, blocking Excalibur. This is the famous ‘Sun Barrier’.

The Sun Barrier that stopped hundreds of thousands of Demon King Army troops.

No matter how powerful the hero is, he cannot penetrate this barrier. And if we hold out a little longer, Kelt will arrive with the Babel Tower Western Captain.

Hades, the god governing hell and the Western Captain of Babel Tower. When he comes, even the hero must step back. That’s an undeniable truth for anyone who isn’t the Demon King.

“Maria!”

KABOOM-!!!

Just…

“Your Highness! He’s Joker! The continent’s archenemy, Joker!”

CHUNG-!

The Saintess, assuming she’s in good condition…

“Grgh…”

“Saintess, your complexion is terrible. Why don’t you give up and hand me over?”

“No. I cannot turn away from pitiful sufferers.”

“It’s not true. Saintess, you’ve heard it too. I’m not a pitiful sufferer. I’m Joker, the Demon King Army’s Northern Duke.”

“That’s who you were in the world outside. Here is Tartarus. Now, you’re merely a prisoner like me.”

“That’s some spirit you’ve got, but Saintess, shouldn’t you wipe the blood flowing from your mouth?”

“…”

This Saintess hasn’t been able to eat properly for days, barely slept, and even sacrificed parts of her lifespan to use divine power. In fact, she supposedly fought alone against the Demon King Army for 20 days straight before entering Tartarus.

She’s a person who should have collapsed long ago. No matter how powerful the Sun Barrier is, she can’t block the hero’s sword in her current condition. That’s an unchanging fact.

KUGUGUGUNG-!!

The force applied to the hero’s Excalibur increases. Even though I’m safely protected within the Sun Barrier, I can clearly feel that power.

“Saintess, give up.”

“I told you, I cannot.”

“Are you trying to die together?”

“I won’t stand idly by while goodness suffers. Even if I die, I will uphold my beliefs.”

“Tch, I wouldn’t have interfered if I knew this would happen.”

CHUNGCHUNGCHUNGCHUNGCHUNG-!!!

A long crack appears on the barrier. A catastrophic canyon splits the sunlit land, creating a deep ravine.

Soon, meteors falling between those ravines will cover us.

“Maria! This is the final warning! If you don’t cancel the barrier immediately, I’ll slay both you and Joker!”

The hero shouts desperately. Amidst all this, a cunning smile lingers on the corner of his lips.

After we die, the news would probably read something like “Saintess collaborating with Joker punished by hero.”

…That can’t be allowed.

I may not care about dying alone, but it’s different for the Saintess sacrificing her own life for an enemy like me.

It grates on my nerves just a bit!

“Hey, hero.”

“Joker? Are you trying to leave a final testament?”

“No… Rather, do you think you can handle this?”

Ultimately, all I can do is…

Bragging rights and eloquence.

“What do you mean by that!”

The energy gathered in the hero’s Excalibur becomes even stronger. Emitting a heat so intense it looks like it could melt eyes just by looking.

“We’re prisoners.”

“I know! That’s why I’m trying to execute you faster!”

“No… We’re destined to face the guillotine in the empire’s square in three days.”

“So what!”

“Idiot? Who do you think sentenced us to death?”

The answer is something we all know.

“…”

“I’ll tell you since you’re not answering. The Demon King, the Demon King.”

“Master… What are you doing…”

“Saintess, please stay still for a moment. Hero, think carefully. Killing us now would violate the ‘Demon King’s order.’ Can you handle that?”

I placed my hand under the Saintess’ armpit. My five fingers quickly moved back and forth, tickling her.

“Kyaa!”

The Saintess emitted a cute moan while wriggling. Who knew she had such a cute side? I see you differently now, Saintess.

Woom.

Due to my tickling, the Sun Barrier the Saintess was maintaining was cancelled. She hurriedly tried to recreate the barrier, but I continued moving my hands to stop her.

“Come on, hero. Hit me.”

“…!”

Completely defenseless. On top of that, I spread my arms wide and even extended my neck. I practically offered my neck.

“Didn’t you say something about the Demon King being terrifying? That towering red horn piercing through clouds, the black evil light from his eyes covering the sky… remember that well.”

When the barrier was up, you were putting all your strength into attacking fiercely, but now that the barrier’s gone, the hero doesn’t swing Excalibur. Rather, he can’t.

I poured strength into my eloquence and whispered. Like a devil offering a contract to a weak human, very secretly and sweetly. Yet wickedly.

“Grgh!”

“The Demon King doesn’t like his orders being violated, you know that well, right?”

Actually, that was a lie. The Demon King is a realist. As long as the result is good, he doesn’t care about the process.

That’s why I asked for confirmation. To get agreement before the hero has time to think.

“I know…”

“Understand carefully. There’s plenty of time. Ah, Hades, the captain of Babel Tower will come down soon, but our hero has plenty of time, right?”

“…!”

“The precious life you gained by bowing to the Demon King and turning your back on the entire continent should be used properly.”

The hero’s pupils trembled like quivering leaves. His Excalibur followed suit, shaking along with its master.

The reckless Joker who only needs a cup of blood to conquer a country didn’t earn that nickname for nothing. For unnecessary matters, I’ve subdued enemies using just this tongue, thinner than a finger.

Conquering a country requires just a single cup of blood. While others create rivers of red blood.

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