#23: Assembly, The Sacred Edges — The Middle-Aged Hero Who Died After Being Betrayed by His Favorite Disciple Is Reborn as the Strongest Demon King in History (WN)

Ludmila’s memory begins with a world of fire.

Flames spreading before her eyes.

Flames burning down houses.

Flames spat out by demons.

Her hometown—burned to ashes by a demonic legion. Her father, a sturdy hunter, was devoured. Her mother, kind and beautiful, was tortured to death. The bright, happy family next door, the neighborhood children she played with, the adults who always greeted her on the street—one by one, they were slaughtered hideously, as if the demons were enjoying a game.

A demon eventually reached the five-year-old Ludmila, who was hiding in her home’s basement.

I’m going to be killed—.

At the moment her heart was about to break from terror and despair, a pillar of jade light descended upon her.

The Seraph-class Miracle Armament, Raphael.

A holy weapon of God that can only be held by the chosen—a Hero. With that overwhelming power in her hands, Ludmila slaughtered every last demon.

“I will never forgive the demons.”

As her small body was stained with the blood of her enemies, she felt a fierce rage burning from the depths of her soul.

Deeper than the sadness of losing loved ones.

Deeper than the emptiness of losing her home.

Only rage toward demons dominated her heart. Thus, Ludmila holds only one sentiment toward them:

Extermination.

That simple, singular impulse is what drives the Hero Ludmila to this day.

“To think that you, who jumped out saying a Demon Lord would be no match for the power of us ‘Sacred Edges,’ would be so soundly defeated.”

The Sacred Edge of ‘Earth’—a knight in full-body armor—spoke flatly.

“No, it simply means the current Demon Lord is that strong. Wouldn’t you agree, Ludmila?”

The Sacred Edge of ‘Water’—a young man in robes reminiscent of a mage—said comfortingly.

“I have the confidence to hold my own even against a Demon Commander. But the Demon Lord…”

Ludmila bit her lip.

“I stood no chance. The dimension of his combat ability is entirely different.”

“You’re acting weak. If that’s the case, we just need to acquire even greater power. Am I wrong?”

“Greater power…?”

Ludmila furrowed her brows.

“There was an ‘Oracle’.”

“God shall bestow a new power upon us.”

“Let us go to the ‘Cathedral’ together, Ludmila-san.”

Fiore wore an elegant smile.

The Cathedral—the sanctuary of sanctuaries, where only the upper echelons of the Hero Guild are permitted entry. Even Ludmila, though titled a Sacred Edge, had never stepped foot inside.

“The… Cathedral?”

She swallowed hard.

“The battle is shifting into a new domain—for that, the four of us must obtain further power.”

“And we shall become the true Heroes who slay the Demon Lord.”

“They say measures are being taken so that those of us with Seraph-class Miracle Armaments can finally enter the Demon Realm.”

(Greater power… huh.)

Ludmila clenched her fist. She would certainly avenge the humiliation of her total defeat. She would destroy all demons. Yes, to fulfill the vow she made that day. For the sake of the impulse of rage that hasn’t faded since that moment.

“I’ll go too. I’ll show you I can become even stronger—”

Afterward, I had Stella assist me with my experiments. However, in the end, the fragment of the Demon Lord’s blade remained a mystery.

…When we get back, I’ll try asking Yurisha.

“Alright, let’s look for the demons under Regal’s command. But before that—Stella, how much have you recovered?”

I checked with her once more.

“It should be quite a bit by now. I’ll test it.”

In the previous battle—the one where the hundred Heroes made their desperate charge into the Demon Realm—Stella had consumed a massive amount of mana. I had heard that while she had no trouble using her Clairvoyance, she couldn’t exert her full strength in combat. It seemed she had been recovering bit by bit, but I wondered to what extent.

“—Haa.”

Stella gave a small shout of focus. Her entire body was enveloped in a pale blue aura. Her long silver hair fluttered, and the third eye manifesting on her forehead emitted a golden radiance. I see; her mana was significantly higher than before. My mana detection isn’t particularly high, but even I could tell clearly. This was an amount of mana that far surpassed an average demon.

Truly fitting for a Demon Commander.

“About seventy percent, I would say.”

Even this was only seventy percent? Stella dispelled the aura surrounding her.

“Putting aside someone of the ‘Sacred Edge’ class like earlier, I can fight average-level Heroes without any problem.”

“Understood. I’ll follow up as much as I can, but make sure to at least protect yourself if things get dire.”

“My apologies. Normally, I should be the one protecting you, Fried-sama…”

“There’s no need to apologize. I’m the one who chose you as my companion. Besides, you’re already plenty helpful with your Clairvoyance.”

I gave a bright smile to the apologetic Stella.

“—There is a presence approaching. It is not an enemy.”

Suddenly, her expression sharpened. I put on my Demon Lord’s mask and prepared for the newcomers. Before long, a presence emerged from the thicket behind us. Turning around, several red glows appeared in the darkness.

It was their eyes.

“Are you the demons under Regal’s command?”

I called out into the darkness.

“The previous King Yurisha has been slain. I am the new Demon Lord who has succeeded her. My name is Fried.”

I raised my right hand so they could see. I let the Demon Lord’s Crest glow on the back of my hand.

“Oh! It’s the Demon Lord!”

“Lord Demon Lord Fried!”

A chorus of joyful voices rang out. About twenty demons emerged from the darkness. Skeletons, amorphous ghost-like figures, zombie types… they were all undead-class demons. Not a few were wounded.

Undead do not die from physical damage. However, they are fragile if their core is crushed or if they are hit with holy or purification-type attacks.

“Stella, how should I treat those who are wounded?”

I had heard that if undead receive healing spells, it actually causes them damage.

“In the case of undead, I believe it is fastest to directly provide dark mana, which is their energy source.”

“I see, dark mana…”

I focused and heightened my mana.

“Those who are wounded, replenish yourselves with this.”

I released small, black, bead-like lights. It was condensed dark mana—a sort of nutritional supplement for them.

“Oh…”

The undead who received it let out unanimous cries of joy.

“Power… is surging…!”

“This mana… it’s thick, rich… and delicious.”