Maou no Hajimekata

Translator: Reflet

FinallyWait, so you knew that theyd come!?

Of course. Its because I already knew from the beginning that we couldnt win against them with these small numbers

Outside, riding on a flying dragon, Mio and Elen waved their hands simultaneously. While returning their wave, Lilu pressed Aur.

Tell me those sorts of things ahead of time!!

They say that in order to trick ones enemies, one must first start by tricking ones allies, right?

Elen and Mios names were spreading further than originally thought. The maiden who could spur on a flying dragon like her own hands and feet, and the beautiful dark elf who could send down arrows like rain. The devil kings dragoon unit held popularity comparable to the armies of epic poem sagas and was well known to be the mainline of Aurs army.

Therefore, Aur had let them out of the labyrinth. Tasking them with a secret mission that was unbeknownst even to Lilu.

Haahahhahha! Look well at my bow! My military force is fifty-three thousand strong!!

Elens in high spiritsThat girl, her character changes when it comes to battle, doesnt it?

More precisely, no matter how I look at it, I dont think that the military forces are fifty-three thousand strong

Lilu and Spina quipped in a composed manner in response to Elen, who was letting down a torrent of arrows while laughing loudly. They calculated several scores of flying dragons being led. None of these dragons had lived in Aurs labyrinth and were probably wild flying dragons that Mio had tamed with her own power.

There are probably 53 people. Theyre mighty warriors with the strength of fifty-three thousand

The secret mission that Aur gave to Elen and the others. That was to search for remnants of the dark elves and the securing of the magical beasts war potential. With the white elves under Aurs control, no one could oppose them. This brought freedom to search for their comrades.

Also, rather than leaving Mio alone and looking after the gathering of magical beasts, going outside and capturing magical beasts would make it easier to measure the increase of war potential.

The concealment and strengthening of war potential. Aur sent them out of the labyrinth with these two aspects in mind. Wait until the right time, and then, convince the confused Mio.

And now, that time had come.

Though the angels had wings and soared through the air, it was not at all possible for them to win against the speed of the huge, powerful flying dragons. In terms of ground combat, this would be like a fight between foot soldiers and cavalry. Moreover, said cavalry were even unleashing countless arrows at will. The number of angels was decreasing as they watched.

Aur, theyre

Yeah, I know

Aur nodded in response to Lilus words. The numbers were there alright, but even among the angels, these were at most low/mid level. In comparison to demon classes, they had no more than the power equivalent to gargoyles or hellhounds. Which meant that the enemy had not yet let out their mainline.

Get ready. Were going

Well this is bad

Immortalmuttered, anxiously gazing at the falling and disappearing angels. He had been tagging along with Melisande for longer than a thousand years, but this was the first time that he had glimpsed her being pushed into a difficult situation in terms of battle tactics.

Bad? What exactly is?

But Melisande responded with a smile.

Avidya, any other enemy reinforcements?

None

The Avidya Knightreplied in a muffled voice from within his egg-shaped, seamless helmet that blocked all sight. His blind eyes could see nothing. However, his clairvoyance allowed him to see for thousands of miles without obstruction and could expose any hidden thing.

Then well finish them with this. First, silence that fussy archer,Magic Bullet

As you wish

Gracefully saluting, the feather-capped man nocked his bow and fired arrows with a twang.

Next.Dragon SlayerLead

The two big, burly-fleshed men lined up.

Focusing on the flying dragons soaring far away in the sky,Dragon Slayerunsheathed his sword. Then he swung his sword horizontally.

Fall

Leadheld his hands out, increasing his power as he murmured.

Good. Now, lastly. Leaping Piece,Flame Hair. Finish them off

Nodding, the full-body armored knight carried the small-framed girl andleaped. They vanished instantly.

With this its checkEverything is by and large going to plan

Are you all right, Master?When Aur opened his eyes, he saw Spinas face. She had changed to a translucent liquid form from the neck down and was wrapped around Aur. It would seem that she had protected him instantly from falling.

What in the world happened?

First, the rain and hail of arrows that Elen and the others had released was intercepted and shot down. It would be understandable if the arrows were merely blocked. But they were instead shot down with arrows likewise. Aur couldnt begin to even imagine what godly skills were needed to shoot down arrows at high speeds through the air.

On top of that, to fire down hundreds of arrows simultaneously was unthinkable. Another impact shook Aurs army as they were still recovering from their confusion of the unprecedented event. All of a sudden, the flying dragons were bisected, not one of them spared. Flying dragons were stillcommon dragons, far from the power of the last dragon, Metus. Even in the dragon family, these dragons were only the tip of the iceberg; lacking in both strength and intelligence.

Still, this did not change the fact that these were the worlds strongest race, dragons. Far surpassing the strength of average magical beasts, their scales could not so much as be pierced by the swords of half-hearted swordsmen. Moreover, no type of swordsman or mage could split a dragon in halfBisecting scores of dragons without so much as revealing themselves.

At the same time, an irregularity occurred with the sky-soaring carriages. It was as if a bizarre wind had suddenly kicked in, halting the motion of the carriages and reducing them to boxes made of wood. This naturally caused the carriages to begin plunging down, becoming the soldiers coffins.

Lord. What on earth was that just now?

Elen appeared, lightly grazed. Mio and her subordinates were also behind her. Although everyone was lightly grazed, there seemed to be no heavy wounds.

You survived, Elen

Yes, the forest below us was a saving grace

Elves were a race originating from forest fairies. Though they often unveiled their skill at archery, their magic aptitude was nothing to laugh at. It was simple for them to control the various trees leaves and ivy to create a network that softened the impact of falling.

Long time no see, Elen, Mio. Id like to celebrate our reunion, but it seems that this is not the right time for itThe soldiers seem to be extinguished, Master

With an unusually tense expression, Lilu returned to Aurs side. They had patrolled around the fallen carriages, but there were indeed no other survivors.

I dont understand what that last attack was in the slightest. But thats why I think it was probably the work of the heroic spirits

The thing that shot down the arrows, the thing that fell the dragons, and the thing that dropped the carriages. So long as each method was entirely different, it was natural to think of each method as something wrought by different heroic spirits.

If there were 5 or more heroic spirits it would mean defeat. That is what Aur said before the beginning of battle. Only 2 more remained for defeat to be solidified.

At any rate, the carriages and the soldiers have fallen, and we have no more reinforcements. For the present, well return to the labyrinth and revamp our battle posture.

Drawing a magic square, Aur used Lilu and Spinas magic and underwent transportation. Two shadows appeared in that very place once everyone had left. One of them, Leaping Piece, grasped the remaining mana incense, then once again carriedFlame Hairand leaped away.

This had been the most unprecedented surprise attack so far. The clamoring sound of the ringing alarm, and the pain of burning ones body. Controlling a sacred object, Aur was supposed to have escaped the suffering unique to humans, and yet he felt severe pain envelope his body, tormenting him. This was evidence that the dungeon core was being attacked.

What is the meaning of this!?

When Aur left the room, he was surrounded by crimson flames.

The labyrinth, was burning. The impervious stone wall, floor, ceiling, everything was spouting flames and catching on fire.

An enemy attack!?

Even when Spina had attacked from underground, there was still freedom in terms of time. No matter what method they used, there were preparations to save enough time to deal with any intruders in the labyrinth.

This was, impossibleBut then again, the previous defeat was also impossible and difficult to understand. It made it clear that this attack as well as these flames roasting stone and burning iron were the work of great spirits.

In the midst of the burning, flourishing flames, Aur found two figures. A small-framed girl, and a knight whose body was hardened with armor. The Flame-Haired Princessand The Leaping PieceConfirming defeat, these were the 4th and 5th heroic spirits.

Then Aur directed his voice to that familiar figure.

Long time no see. Yunis

Not reacting in the slightest, Flame Hairdrew her sword.

Youvechanged quite a bit

Not heeding her actions, Aur continued speaking.

I remember your last words. Just as you said, Ill believe you

Aur swiftly held out his hands. With vacant, empty eyes,Flame Hairblew flames from her body and lunged for him.

The flame-enveloped sword pierced through Aurs chest, scorching his body. Aur could derive from the pain that these flames were no ordinary flames. The passionate flames thatFlame Hairhad kept to herself burned everything. Whether it be stone, whether it be iron, whether it be the soul, it burned anything and everything.

If he was burned like this, even the sacred object would have no effect. Aurs existence itself would be burned to cinders. And yet, Aur didnt move a single muscle. Trusting in Yunis, he quietly gazed at her. The sword slid in the sky, shining as it was swung down in a whoosh, decapitating the neck. The neck rolled across the floor and was instantly surrounded by flames and burnt to the ground. At that moment, the flames that drifted about the labyrinth were extinguished. This was because their owner, Flame Hair, had died.

You understood me pretty well, huh

A muffled voice could be heard from within the helmet.

You get it, right? Who did you think I was doing these things for?

Aur consciously made a grimace, answering while healing his scorched wounds. Even if to create a decisive opening, it made him shiver when he was on the brink of having his own existence burnt up.]

Im home. So, first off. Its been a while, so Id like to eat your pasta, Aur

Leaping Piecesaid, throwing off the helmet and lifting up the usual smile no different from when they were alive.