Chapter 426 Heroic Spirit Siege
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He made a show of bowing—but before Leohart could speak, Bellgus straightened on his own. As if noticing the sour looks around him, he gave himself a loud sniff, then leaned in close to Leohart. “With all the work of takin’ over Zolgear’s Paradise,” he said, “Ah’ve been right occupied these past few days. Breakin’ in new slaves is such tiresome work—it does tend to leave a certain… musk.”
Before Leohart could even frown, the dashing white-haired secretary at his side barked: “Bellgus! You forget yourself.”
Bellgus didn’t even look at him. If he didn’t respect the Demon King, why would he show any to a lackey? When Bellgus appeared—and especially when he mentioned Zolgear—the faces of Naruse Mio and her two companions turned sour. Aki recalled the origin and purpose of these devils—purple-skinned things that looked like aliens.
When Bellgus’s mean look settled on Naruse Mio, something fierce flickered in Aki’s blue eyes. But now wasn’t the time. A nobody like Bellgus wasn’t worth exposing herself over—not even Demon King-class. Besides, Naruse Mio could handle him on her own. Not to mention Lucia and Shela were right there to back her up.
Sure, Bellgus was an elite of the Curia, but his strength was only average. Otherwise he wouldn’t be pickin’ scraps after Zolgear’s death.
Bellgus stared at Naruse Mio with pure greed. If the Curia’s plans weren’t top priority, he’d be tempted right now to try the former Demon King’s daughter.
”Your Majesty,” he said, his voice goin’ oily, “about that little discussion you was havin’ with Her Highness Naruse Mio… Shouldn’t a matter this big be run past the Curia first?”
Leohart’s good mood vanished. If the gentle approach wouldn’t work, then the Curia was showin’ its hand. He spoke cold: “Oh? Is the Curia suggestin’ I ain’t fit to be Demon King?”
”Perish the thought, Your Majesty. Everyone’s seen your dedication over these many years.”
Bellgus was a snake, but he weren’t stupid. He knew he was no match for Leohart, so he’d never openly fight him. If he so much as nodded, Leohart would strike—and even if he survived, he’d be torn apart. So he couldn’t admit it direct—but he could spin it different.
Bellgus shifted his tone smooth. “Though Your Majesty’s reign’s been commendable, maybe Her Highness Naruse Mio could do even better.”
”Hah. That naive little girl? Better than me?”
”Not on her own, of course. But with the Curia’s guidance…”
Bellgus’s grin spread wide. The implication was clear. Supporting Naruse Mio was a trick—findin’ a new puppet Demon King was the real goal. By now, even an idiot could see what was happenin’. The Curia was movin’ in on Leohart’s throne.
”Hey,” Naruse Mio cut in cold. “You think I’d take the throne if you told me to? Even if I became Demon King, the first thing I’d do is erase the Curia.”
Bellgus shrugged off her defiance. He’d come prepared for this.
”That’s fine if you ain’t willin’,” he said smooth. “We’ll make you willin’.”
Mana flickered in his eyes—and the next moment, a strong spatial wave burst outside the Demon King’s castle. The castle’s magic barrier meant the Curia couldn’t start a riot inside without alertin’ Leohart. Two seconds later, the spatial ripples spread out, and dozens of tall humanoid flesh monsters—each over ten meters tall—began pounding the walls and barrier.
Leohart’s face changed. “How dare you!” he roared.
”Your Majesty, don’t misunderstand,” Bellgus said, his voice drippin’ false innocence. “These Heroic Spirits ain’t our doin’. Listen—they’re Her Highness Naruse Mio’s supporters, actin’ of their own accord.”
His words said no, but his smug face couldn’t hide the truth. And to sell the lie, the devils pilotin’ the flesh monsters shouted through amplification magic: “Surrender the one who stole the Demon King’s throne! Return Her Highness Naruse Mio to us! She is Wilbert’s daughter—she should inherit the Demon King’s throne!”
Few knew Naruse Mio’s name, but Wilbert’s reputation carried weight. Even a decade after his death, many devils still remembered and respected him. As the perfect pacifist Demon King, he’d not only made peace with the Heroes but had restored much of the dead Mio realm after the Great War. And with the devils’ long lifespans, it would take centuries before Wilbert’s name faded.
Naruse Mio was confused. Since when did she have supporters? Wait—since when was she bein’ held hostage?
The naive young girl needed time to take it in. Leohart and his people didn’t.
There was no way to continue their earlier plans now. The main job now was dealin’ with these attackin’ devils. In the short time since the attack began, the walls and barrier had been smashed by the Heroic Spirits. Heavy attacks rained down on the town itself.
Near the walls, some devils had already been wounded or killed.
Nobody paid Bellgus any more attention. Leohart and his white-haired secretary rushed off to get the troops and set up defense. Ramsus teleported back to his own estate.
Aki and the others talked quick and decided to stay out of it—for now. This attack was clearly set up by the Curia; the Old Devil faction hadn’t even shown their faces yet. And in a big battle like this, they wouldn’t be much use anyway. Just like Ramsus headin’ home to protect his manor, this was a job for organized military forces familiar with the city’s layout.
The Demon King’s castle, once so peaceful, was now filled with smoke and chaos.
Shela held Aki, with Naruse Mio and Lucia flankin’ her. The four of them watched from above as buildings crumbled and civilians wailed. They hated the Curia more than ever.
”What are those things, anyway?” Naruse Mio asked, frownin’ at the tall humanoid muscle monsters still comin’ through spatial rips.
”Those are called Heroic Spirits,” Shela explained. “They’re weapons dug up from ancient ruins. The bigger they are, the stronger they are. The ten-meter ones are the basic type—roughly A-rank in power. The twenty-meter ones hit S-rank.”
”I thought they were supposed to be rare. How’d they get so many?”
Shela and Lucia, locals though they were, only knew basic info. Their explanations raised more questions than they answered.
”Don’t these things need someone with strong spiritual power to pilot them?” Lucia wondered. “Lookin’ out there, I only see a pilot on the one in the lead—that forty-meter purple one. The others don’t seem to have any…”
Heroic Spirits were basically biological weapons—like giant mechs. The difference was, mechs were made of steel, while these were made of flesh and blood. Also, the pilot didn’t sit inside but rode on the outside. If they merged into the spirit, they’d be absorbed—eaten, basically—which meant death.
Aki, usin’ her memories and info from Sona Sitri, knew more. “Because those old geezers in the Cardinal Council have made a pact with the Outer Gods—and they’ve got the Heroic Spirit King.”
Leohart had been the one diggin’ up the ruins, but when it came to ancient knowledge, the young Demon King couldn’t match the old schemers. Heroic Spirits were a big help to his forces; anyone with C-rank spiritual power or higher could pilot one. Even A-rank or S-rank fighters could boost their fightin’ power with these weapons. But above all, Heroic Spirits were designed for war—their size and their energy-beam attacks were built for mass killin’.
If strong fighters instead of Heroic Spirits had attacked, the walls and barrier might still be standin’.
”Heroic Spirit King? Outer Gods?” Shela frowned, a memory wakin’. Unlike the younger generation, she knew some secrets. “You mean the Child of Chaos? Wasn’t it sealed?”
”Sealed doesn’t mean it can’t be unsealed,” Aki said, hoppin’ from Shela’s arms into Naruse Mio’s.
”Mio, keep me with you from now on. I figure the Curia’s gonna make their move against you and Leohart soon.”
Those ancient schemers weren’t givin’ up. They wanted to settle things on their own first—if they could, they wouldn’t need to share the rewards with the Old Devil faction.
”More of your past-life memories?”
Aki’s rebirth—or rather, her wakin’ of past-life knowledge—was no secret. The three women chuckled at her strange foresight, but didn’t press further.
As Aki predicted, the Curia wasn’t ready for a final fight with Leohart yet. This assault was meant to push him to give in. As the military forces moved into a steady counterattack, the pace of destruction slowed. About half an hour later, some agreement was reached, and the Heroic Spirit army began a slow retreat.
Just then, Aki’s group received a magical message from Leohart.
Back in the main hall, Bellgus was gone. Only a grim-faced Leohart and his white-haired secretary remained.
”Naruse Mio,” the young Demon King said, his face easin’ some as he looked at the girl cradlin’ the black cat. “About the Demon King matter… we might need your help. I’m glad you’re not workin’ with the Curia. That would’ve been… complicated.”
”Just tell me what you need me to do,” Naruse Mio said absently, strokin’ Aki’s soft fur. She was startin’ to get attached—maybe she really should adopt a cat.
—
Summary:
The Curia escalates from political manipulation to military assault, using Heroic Spirits to pressure Leohart into surrendering his throne to Naruse Mio as a puppet ruler. Aki reveals her knowledge of the Cardinal Council’s pact with Outer Gods and their control over the Heroic Spirit King, while Naruse Mio is forced to decide whether to ally with Leohart against their common enemy. The alliance remains tentative, with the Curia’s ultimate plan still unclear and the Old Devil faction’s role yet to be revealed.
—
Trivia:
Bellgus scavenged Zolgear’s resources after his death, indicating he’s a bottom-feeder despite being a Curia elite.
The Heroic Spirits are biological weapons from ancient ruins, not ghostly spirits—more like flesh mechs than Fate-style Servants.
Wilbert was a pacifist Demon King who made peace with Heroes and restored the Mio realm after the Great War.
The Child of Chaos was sealed but can be unsealed, and is connected to the Outer Gods.
Aki’s past-life wisdom is known to Naruse Mio and the others, and she uses it to predict Curia’s moves.
The Cardinal Council has made a pact with Outer Gods to control the Heroic Spirit King.
Heroic Spirits require spiritual power to pilot, with C-rank being the minimum.
The 40-meter purple Heroic Spirit is the lead unit and has a visible pilot.
Ramsus teleported home to protect his own estate, suggesting he’s a noble with his own household.
The Curia’s attack was meant to pressure Leohart into submission, not a final battle.
Leohart was the one excavating the Heroic Spirits, but the Cardinal Council knows more about their ancient secrets.
The Old Devil faction hasn’t appeared yet—the Curia is trying to handle this alone to avoid sharing spoils.
The Mio realm was desolate after the Great War and Wilbert restored it.
Devils have long lifespans, so Wilbert’s reputation persists centuries after his death.
Notes:
• Bellgus – A sadistic Devil and elite Cardinal Council agent who scavenged Zolgear’s legacy. Beneath formal attire, his monstrous, purple-skinned form radiates a sharp, cheap-perfume stench. An arrogant, predatory underling of the Curia, he uses trash-tier life-drain techniques to torment others. He actively opposes the protagonists, serving Leohart while hiding his vile nature behind political maneuvering.
• Leohart – The young, dark-skinned Demon King with purple magical tattoos and a penchant for combat-ready attire rules the Demon King Castle following Wilbert’s death. Possessing Wilbert’s bloodline, he governs reasonably despite being under the Curia’s thumb. Though struggling against ancient schemers, he remains strategically clever, balancing casual regality with blunt, commanding authority when threatened.
• Zolgear – The deceased, gaunt, ancient Devil Grand Duke was an Ultimate-Class magic researcher and former Demon King who led a hostile Underworld faction from an isolated dimension. A ruthless master of mental arts and artificial life, he created Zest, captured Shela, and obsessed over absorbing Mio and Wilbert’s power. Though physically weak, his legacy and resources are now being scavenged by Bellgus.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Naruse Mio – A gifted 17-year-old and daughter of the late Demon King Wilbert, she is a defiant, tsundere high schooler with signature red twin ponytails. Aki’s loyal girlfriend, she carries her father’s legacy while navigating the Gremory peerage and political intrigue. Despite her naivety, she boldly rejects the throne and manipulation, relying on Aki’s guidance and their bond to survive the supernatural world.
• Naruse – Mio Naruse is a fair-skinned, red-haired schoolgirl with a voluptuous build who serves as a Demon King heir and Bishop in Aki’s peerage. Protected by the Gremory household, this “Sister Flower” evolves from a hesitant tsundere into Aki’s devoted, polyamorous partner. She maintains deep, essential bonds with her sister Maria, friend Kurumi, and her adoptive parents, forming the core Naruse family.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy student and Red Dragon Emperor, he is a reincarnated cultivator who currently inhabits a pitch-black cat form with piercing azure eyes. Calculating and protective, he commands the Boosted Gear and Origin Blood. Connected to the Gremory household and Naruse Mio via a Soul Network, he manages a vast harem while navigating ancient conspiracies and his own feline instincts.
• Mio – Mio Naruse is a fair-skinned, voluptuous Kuoh Academy student with red twin-tails. As the Demon King’s daughter and Maria’s sister, she is a powerful Bishop in Aki’s peerage, currently managing sealed abilities involving gravity and hellfire. A proud, envious tsundere, she shares a deep, intimate bond with Aki while her presence often invites scrutiny, including comparisons to figures like Chisato.
• Lucia – A tall, elegant, white-haired succubus maid with an icy demeanor, she defies her nature through abstinence. As Shela’s daughter and Maria’s sister, she possesses Wilbert’s blood but leans toward her succubus lineage. Often overlooked, this companion of Naruse Mio is a confidante to the family, secretly vulnerable, and deeply invested in Aki, absorbing his energy while grappling with her feelings.
• Shela – A petite, white-haired Succubus Queen with ram horns and violet eyes, she balances youthful looks with a mature, cunning personality. A survivor of the Three-Way War and intuitive teacher, she lives in Aki’s household as a devoted partner and mother to Mio, Lucia, and Maria. Though she once sought to pair Aki with her daughters, she now claims him, blending matronly grace with strategic protection.
• Curia – Demon King Castle elder. Proposed the Colosseum death match method as a political maneuver. Plans to exploit Leohart’s confinement to eliminate his supporters using spiritual power. Has contingencies to force Naruse Mio’s entry. Refrains from interfering with Naruse Mio and Leohart’s interactions, even encouraging them.
• Wilbert – The deceased former Demon King was a pacifist who made peace with Heroes and restored his realm after the Great War. A mysterious benefactor to the Naruse orphanage, he ensured his daughter, Mio, was raised by kind parents in the Human World. His immense power, sought by others, sealed Mio’s abilities. He was the ancestor of the ruling family, leaving behind his sister Sephie, lover Shela, and allies.
• Ramsus – A red-haired Peerage devil wearing round gold-rimmed glasses and formalwear. As an estate owner and uncle to his niece, Naruse Mio, he hosts her, Shela, and Maria at his villa. A cautious former subordinate of Sirzechs, he balances his role as a noble protector with administrative duties, including planning logistics with Demon King Leohart and observing Mio’s composure with newfound respect.
• Sona Sitri – Sona Sitri, aka Shitori Sona, is a High-Class, pure-blood devil who became a master strategist at seventeen. As Kuoh Academy’s Student Council president, she wears formal attire and glasses, sporting short black hair and a stern look. Noted for her massive Mana, she tactically leads the Sitri family and manages local supernatural threats while deferring to Rias Gremory.
• Sitri – The prestigious devil hierarchy family name carried by Sona, representing her noble lineage and identity.
• Sona – An analytical, bespectacled young woman with long black hair, she is the Sitri clan’s future head and Student Council President. Highly intelligent and composed, she manages her council with structured leadership. As a strategic, noble ally to Rias, she works to protect their shared interests and serves as a capable, potential collaborator.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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