Chapter 21 Narumi Honoka ⑧
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”—Hey, Honoka. Wake up!” Koganei-kun said, shaking my shoulder.
”Nnh… mm?” I groaned.
Koganei-kun kept shaking me until I finally came to. I blinked, my vision clearing to reveal a room I didn’t recognize at all. It was opulent, dripping in luxury, yet it carried a heavy, suffocating gloom that made my skin crawl.
”…Huh? Wait, weren’t we just hunting that wyvern¹ with Shin and the others…?” I asked.
”Huh? Seriously? How long ago are you talking about?” Koganei-kun asked, giving a frustrated shrug and looking at me like I’d lost my mind.
”Man, that takes me back. It feels like a lifetime ago,” Akiyama-kun chimed in, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling.
”It really does,” Yuuko said, her eyes softening with nostalgia. “I wonder how Shin and Mary are doing. I hope they’re okay.”
…Right. It all came rushing back. We’d slain the wyvern, and the townsfolk had treated us like royalty. After that, we set out on our true mission: the quest to slay the Demon King². Everything Shin had taught me was a lifesaver. We’d handled the long nights of camping without a hitch; everything was going so well. So much had happened since we left the Town Rubia³. For instance…
Wait. What had happened?
”Hey, Honoka! You still dreaming or what?” Koganei-kun called out.
His voice snapped me out of my daze.
”Ah, sorry, sorry! I was just… thinking about how far we’ve come. It’s almost over, isn’t it? I guess I just got a little sentimental,” I replied.
”I get it,” Akiyama-kun said with a determined glint in his eye. “Once we take down the Demon King, it’s over. We can finally go home.”
”Yeah. We’re finally at the finish line. Don’t let your guard down now,” Koganei-kun added.
”I know. You don’t have to tell me twice,” I said.
That’s right. We were inside the Demon King’s fortress. We’d taken a brief rest to ensure we were at peak condition before the final confrontation. I was just… a little groggy, that’s all.
”You sure you’re good? You’re acting weird,” Koganei-kun pressed.
”I’m fine, really! LP and MP are both capped. No problems here,” I said.
—In a moment like that, you’re supposed to strike a pose and say, ‘No problem, everything’s under control.’— For a second, I could’ve sworn I heard a voice in the back of my head. Just my imagination. My nerves must be playing tricks on me.
”Alright. Gear check complete?” Akiyama-kun called out. “Let’s move. The Demon King is waiting.”
”Ready,” Koganei-kun said.
”Yeah,” Yuuko agreed.
”Let’s do this,” I said.
On Akiyama-kun’s signal, we stepped out of the room and into the belly of the beast.
* * *
The castle was a monolith of shadow. Even though it wasn’t night, the corridors were choked with darkness. I’d expected a gauntlet of high-level subordinates—a desperate, bloody struggle just to reach the throne—but we didn’t see anyone.
”We haven’t run into a single soul,” Koganei-kun whispered.
”It’s creepy. Too quiet,” Yuuko agreed.
”Is it a trap…?” I wondered aloud.
We’d been walking for what felt like an eternity without seeing anyone.
”Maybe he’s just rolling out the red carpet for us,” Koganei-kun joked, though he didn’t sound like he was laughing.
”Fine by me. Saves us the trouble of warming up,” Akiyama-kun said, a fierce, hungry smile spreading across his face.
They both seemed so different now—hardened, dependable. Especially Akiyama-kun. He looked so—
Stop. What am I doing? Akiyama-kun is Yuuko’s boyfriend. I can’t think like that. I forced those feelings back down, burying them deep where no one could see. If I let them out, everything we’d built would shatter. I just knew it.
Before long, we stood before a set of massive double doors carved with grotesque, pulsing patterns. There was no doubt. The Demon King was on the other side.
”He’s in there,” Akiyama-kun said, his playful bravado vanishing. His face went stone-cold serious. “I can feel it. A disgusting, vile presence.”
He looked so heroic in that moment. So cool—
Damn it! Stop!
”Yeah,” Koganei-kun said, cracking his knuckles. “If this room is empty, we’re gonna look like total idiots.”
”Or it’ll be a great story for the pub,” Yuuko joked weakly.
”No, he’s in there. Honoka, you feel it too, right?” Yuuko asked.
”Yeah. I’m sure of it,” I nodded.
Beyond these doors lay the throne room. It felt strangely familiar, built much like Liones Castle⁴ back in Plaudix⁵. But while Liones was grand and welcoming, this place was a twisted mirror image. The layout was almost identical, though the path here had been intentionally long and winding. And the doors… Liones didn’t have doors this tasteless.
”Alright. Let’s go,” Akiyama-kun said, reaching for the handles.
We all nodded. Akiyama-kun pushed—but the doors groaned open on their own before he could touch them. He knew we were here. The throne room was massive, a vast expanse of cold stone split by a single, blood-red carpet leading to the far end. And there, sitting upon his throne…
”Welcome. I bid you a formal greeting,” a man said.
He sat with his legs crossed, leaning casually on one hand with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. The Demon King. Two horns curved from his temples, his hair as black as the void. I couldn’t see his face clearly—only his mouth, twisted into a mocking grin. He was draped in a black cloak over pitch-black armor. He looked exactly how a Demon King should.
”Now, I know the answer already, so forgive me for being cliché,” the Demon King said, his voice dripping with boredom. “But I have to ask anyway. Join me. Become my subordinates, and I’ll give you half the world.”
He said it like he was checking a box on a list. It reminded me of some old retro game. My answer, of course, was the same as everyone else’s.
”I refuse!” Akiyama-kun shouted.
”Who would ever join you!” Koganei-kun yelled.
”We can’t even go back home until you’re dead!” Yuuko added.
”So no matter what happens, we’ll never be your underlings!” I cried.
A unanimous No.
”I figured,” the Demon King muttered. He sounded almost… disappointed? Or maybe he was just talking to himself. “I was actually wondering what I’d do if even one of you said ‘I’ll do it.’”
He looked directly at me when he said it. How dare he. As if I’d ever serve a monster like him.
”A monster, huh… I wonder which of us fits that description better?” the Demon King asked.
Wait. What did he mean by that? I hadn’t even said it out loud.
”Whoops. My slip-up. At any rate, I suppose negotiations are over. Prepare to die!” he shouted, standing up. A massive, jagged greatsword materialized in his hand.
”He’s coming! Get ready!” Akiyama-kun roared.
We drew our weapons. The final battle had begun.
* * *
It wasn’t a fight. It was a slaughter. We weren’t the ones doing the killing.
The Demon King was untouchable. Koganei-kun’s strikes didn’t even leave a scratch. Yuuko’s magic was swatted away like flies. Even Akiyama-kun’s Magic Sword⁶—our trump card—couldn’t even graze his cloak. Meanwhile, his counterattacks were surgical and devastating. Even Koganei-kun, our fastest, couldn’t move quick enough to dodge. Every hit sent someone’s health bar into the red. I was burning through my MP just trying to keep everyone standing. We were trapped in a desperate defensive loop, and the clock was ticking down to our deaths.
”To think you dared challenge me with such pathetic skills. It’s truly comical,” the Demon King mocked.
”Shut up!” Akiyama-kun screamed, his face red with rage.
”Akiyama! Don’t let him provoke you!” Yuuko yelled.
”She’s right,” Koganei-kun panted, wiping blood from his lip. “More importantly, he isn’t even bothering to dodge my attacks or Yuuko’s magic, but he’s dodging your Magic Sword. That means it’s the only thing that can hurt him. If you go down, we’re done.”
”I know that! But he’s dodging every single strike!” Akiyama-kun shouted.
”I know… that’s why we need to catch him off guard,” Koganei-kun said.
”Koganei-kun, do you have a plan to break through?” I asked.
Koganei-kun looked away for a second before meeting my eyes.
”It’s nothing that impressive. Honoka, since you have the least offensive power, you need to charge him,” Koganei-kun said.
”What?!” I gasped.
”I know it sounds insane! And I know I’m putting you in the most danger, but it’s the only opening we’ll get. We have to bet everything on this!” Koganei-kun said.
Koganei-kun looked like it was killing him to ask. I could see the pain in his eyes—the sheer desperation of a leader forced to sacrifice his friend. If he was hurting this much, I couldn’t be selfish.
”Okay. I’ll do it,” I said.
”Honoka… I’m so sorry. Thank you for taking the hard role,” Koganei-kun said.
”Don’t be. If there’s even a slight possibility, we have to take it,” I replied.
I stepped forward, my heart hammering against my ribs. The Demon King’s power was suffocating. If he swung that sword at me, I’d be dead before I hit the floor. But if that was our only hope…
”Oh? The healer is stepping up? I don’t know what you’re planning, but you’ve got guts. Fine. Come at me,” the Demon King sneered, his mouth twisting.
His arrogance made my blood boil. He wouldn’t be laughing for long. I gripped my staff with white-knuckled intensity.
”Here I come! I’m leaving the rest to you guys! HAAAAAAAH!” I screamed.
I lunged at him, swinging my staff with every ounce of strength I had. I knew I wouldn’t do any real damage, but this was the strike of my life. Predictably, he caught my staff with a single hand, his expression bored.
”Nice spirit. Too bad it’s useless,” the Demon King said.
”Now!” I screamed, turning my head to give the signal.
This was it. Akiyama-kun was going to end this. But when I looked back—they were gone.
Akiyama-kun, Yuuko, and Koganei-kun were sprinting toward the entrance, not even looking back at me and the Demon King.
”…Eh?” I breathed.
”Sorry, Honoka! We’ll come back for you, I promise!” Koganei-kun shouted.
He left the room, and the massive stone doors slammed shut with a final, echoing thud.
Wait. Had the doors been open the whole time? Did they all know? Had they… abandoned me? It was just like that day. Just like what we did to Sasaki-kun. Just like what we did to Shin.
”No… this can’t be happening…” I whispered.
”My, my. Left behind, were you? Hahaha!” the Demon King laughed. It started low, then erupted into a dark, booming roar. “Tell me… how does it feel? To have your own medicine shoved down your throat?”
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. Having seen Koganei-kun and the others run away, I could do nothing but stand there, stunned.
—
Summary:
The Hero Party arrives at the Demon King’s throne room after a suspiciously easy infiltration. During the battle, the Demon King proves overwhelming, forcing the party into a corner. Koganei-kun convinces Honoka to act as a decoy, but as she attacks, the rest of the party abandons her and flees the castle.
—
Character Insight:
Honoka’s repressed feelings for Akiyama-kun and her blind trust in her party lead to her downfall. The party members show their true colors, mirroring the betrayal they previously inflicted on Shin, suggesting a cycle of karmic retribution orchestrated by the Demon King.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘No problem’ line is a reference to the ‘El Shaddai’ meme (‘Daijoubu da, mondai nai’), highlighting the meta-fictional awareness often found in isekai/web novel genres.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Koganei – Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki.
• Shin – A level 18 greatsword user and Hunter from Rubia. Jade rank.
• Yuuko – A female student and best friend of Narumi Honoka. She is a manager for the baseball club. Described as proactive and quite a beauty. She has her hair in a ponytail and is always stuck like glue to Ryuya.
• Sasaki – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply