I drew in a breath through my nose, keeping my composure.
At that moment, Chris turned his head and spoke in a soft voice.
"I'll be right back. Just wait a moment."
"Understood."
The Quad wrangle vanished back into the barracks.
Chris finished up the conversation and turned to me.
"In any case, I must decline your request."
I wanted to ask, Who was that just now?
But looking at Chris's expression, I could tell he had no intention of answering even if I asked.
I can tell just from his expression?
The day had come when I was thinking like this.
As a strange sense of joy made me smile, Chris's voice rang out.
"Why are you smiling like that? I said no."
"Don't try to understand this guy."
"And you are?"
"I'm Rennel Brighton, a member of Dai-il's party. I'm a mage and a C-rank adventurer."
"Even someone like you has official party members. Must be tough for you."
"Well, speak comfortably with me. You're way above my station."
"No. I always use formal speech regardless of status."
"I've heard rumors like that, but I didn't think they were true... Sir Chris, you're quite unique."
The two of them chatted briefly.
In the meantime, I sorted out my thoughts.
Just now, the Quad wrangle had been completely covered in white squares from head to toe.
That meant the entire body was fake.
In other words, just like the Absence Demon King or the Illusion Demon King, it was someone entirely different from the real identity, disguised in appearance.
The odds that it was the Deception Demon King himself were overwhelmingly high.
To think it was lurking among the subjugation force from the very start.
As expected of a Demon King worthy of its title.
For the Deception Demon King, this subjugation event itself might be like a festival where it could unleash its 'deception'.
It was shocking, but there was a positive side too.
We'd spotted the Deception Demon King right from the beginning.
Now, if we just bide our time and sever that Demon King's neck, this subjugation would succeed, and Chris wouldn't lose anyone precious.
With that, Chris finished his conversation and headed inside.
Rennel and I stepped away from the barracks a bit.
I asked her.
"About the person who called Chris from the barracks just now."
"Yeah?"
"Do you happen to know who that was?"
I didn't really expect an answer when I asked.
At best, something like 'a mid-level officer in the Radiant Knights Order'.
But Rennel said something completely unexpected.
"I'm not entirely sure, but... probably his little brother?"
"What? Little brother?"
"Yeah. Come to think of it, I heard Chris's brother is in the Radiant Knights Order too."
"..."
"But isn't that something you could tell at a glance? They look like twins. He was identical to Sir Chris."
...
No. Well, it should have been visible to me.
A rough picture was forming.
Did pre-regression Chris know?
That the brother he thought was dead was actually the Deception Demon King.
That the real brother had vanished at some point.
Chris had ended up vowing revenge against the Deception Demon King for the Deception Demon King.
That itself was the greatest 'deception' of all.
Damn it.
Thinking back, our party in the pre-regression timeline had never killed the Deception Demon King.
We hadn't deliberately skipped it.
After the 6th subjugation failed, all news of the Deception Demon King had suddenly cut off.
Even the Saintess's revelations, which we'd come to rely on, stopped working.
And Chris agreeing to disband the party at the very end...
Probably because he thought there was no chance of finding the Deception Demon King if he stuck with me.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
Rennel seemed to be targeting one of the Arch Demon Kings too, and Chris had his debt to the Deception Demon King.
But I'd been so fixated on the Erosion Demon King that I never paid attention to their personal circumstances.
Sure, I could make excuses like they never told me, but the reason they didn't open up was probably because I wasn't the kind of leader worth trusting.
That has to change now.
The first step would be smashing that Quad wrangle flat.
Of course, after finding out what happened to the real Chris's brother.
So, no point dragging this out. Let's get to it.
Crack.
I rolled my shoulders and took a step forward.
Then Rennel's voice came.
"By the way, did you write your will?"
"...? What are you talking about?"
"I didn't see the one you submitted to the guild. You did submit it properly, right?"
"What are you even saying?"
"...?"
"...?"
"No way you didn't write one?"
What the hell had she eaten to spout such nonsense?
Unlike my bewilderment, Rennel sighed in exasperation, even slapping her chest.
"Adventurers taking on dangerous quests have to submit a will in advance. If you die during the quest, the guild handles things based on it."
"I know that."
"Then why didn't you write one?"
"This quest isn't that dangerous. What are you even talking about?"
"What are you talking about? How is a Demon King subjugation quest not dangerous? You didn't write one for the Illusion Demon King quest either, did you?"
Only then did I realize the gap between Rennel and me.
And that realization hit me pretty hard.
Having to write a will just for subjugating the 91st-ranked Demon King...
Rennel at this point in time was weak.
This can't go on.
Seven years from now, Rennel would be strong enough to crush the Deception Demon King with a single finger.
But that strength came from hunting Demon Kings alongside me, overcoming countless near-death experiences.
The basic way humans grow stronger is through real combat or training.
But there's a limit to that.
The one way humans break through so-called 'walls' is simple.
Crisis or trials.
In this world, humans who crumble under crisis or trials become Demon Kings.
But those who overcome them grow incomparably strong.
That was the fundamental rule and common sense of our world.
If I went around soloing Demon Kings because I was strong, Rennel—and future party members—would lose their chance to grow.
When the time came to face the Erosion Demon King, they'd be nothing but baggage.
I needed to change my strategy.
At least let Rennel face off against the Deception Demon King.
Hm. But the other adventurers and knights are a problem.
If they got involved, Rennel would end up just providing rear support a few times at best.
Demon King subjugation quests weren't common, so I couldn't waste this golden opportunity.
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
"Rennel. How much do you trust me?"
"Out of nowhere?"
"It's an important question. Answer seriously."
"Nooot a siiingle biiit."
She said with the Quad wrangle's voice. Meaning she trusted me at least a fingernail's worth.
I smiled gently.
"Thanks for trusting me that much."
"You really only hear what you want to hear."
"I'm about to say something shocking, so I hope you believe me. Based on that deep trust you have in me."
"You're insane."
"The guy we saw behind Chris earlier is the Deception Demon King. You know, his twin brother."
Rennel opened her mouth.
But before her voice came out, I continued.
"Before you say 'insane', hear me out. I was planning to kill him right away at first, but I've changed my mind."
"..."
"I'd like you to set up a suitable stage for it."
"I'd like you to act normal for once."
"First..."
I calmly explained the plan.
As the story went on, Rennel's eyes grew wider.
Eventually.
"Do it like this."
"Haha..."
"It's that easy to make you laugh? Good."
"Hey."
"Well, of course it's dangerous."
I paused briefly before adding one more thing.
"But if you can't overcome even this, taking down an Arch Demon King is impossible."
"...!"
"I don't know which Arch Demon King you're after, but I doubt you want to just borrow my hands entirely. For it to feel right in history, your role has to be in there too."
"...How do you know that so well?"
"The final choice is yours. If you want to get stronger, follow my plan. If you're satisfied just sticking by my side and watching the Arch Demon King die, then refuse."
Rennel didn't answer right away.
I patiently waited for her decision.
How many minutes passed?
She murmured softly.
"Insane."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The operation began, and half the forces led by Chris entered the village.
Rennel has to pull it off.
She'd been part of the village infiltration team from the start, so she'd entered the village a minute ahead.
According to Chris, she seemed like a 'cooperative' adventurer.
Rennel had muttered 'insane' about twenty times.
She never outright said 'I'll do it.'
But given her personality, her answer was as good as set.
I gauged the time in my head.
About five minutes after the forces entered the village, I slowly stood.
I moved with suppressed presence, so no one noticed me slipping away.
The spot I found was a small hill overlooking the entire village.
There, I drew my sword with a shing and pointed it at the village.
In the pre-regression timeline, I and my party members had crossed the line between life and death countless times.
Given this world's trait where humans grow stronger the more trials they overcome, our growth was naturally unprecedented in history.
"That's why something like this is possible."
Crack.
My muscles swelled as if they might burst at any moment.
Steam-like energy rose from the sword.
Keeping the sword aimed, I focused my gaze.
A bit to the left.
No, more to the left. Slightly right.
After fine-tuning the angle, I confirmed no casualties where the sword's path would graze.
I raised the sword high to the sky, then slashed down hard.
And.
⚡ SWORD STRIKE! ⚡
-KU-GU-GU-GU-KWANG!
The energy shooting from the sword cleaved the village in two.
No exaggeration or metaphor—the village was literally split down the middle.
My heightened senses picked up the commotion below.
"Aaaagh! What, what is that?!"
"What kind of energy is this? Is the Deception Demon King really this strong?"
"This is Arch Demon King level."
"They said 91st rank, but this is cheating! Everyone, run!"
Though I hadn't harmed a hair on their heads, the adventurers scrambled to flee.
I hadn't expected much from these hastily assembled adventurers anyway.
Unlike knights or church folk, an adventurer's top priority is always their own neck.
But the knights stayed, just as expected.
I rubbed my palms together and waited calmly.
They just had to move as Rennel said.