The City of Swords came into view in the distance.
　But something is wrong.
　I use white magic to temporarily increase my eyesight to check it out.

''The gates have been destroyed?''

　The massive gates, left open during the day, were now closed, but there was a large hole in the middle of them.
　Normally, travelers and merchants would be frequenting the gate, but there was no sign of them at all.

　On the other hand, there were demons prowling around the gate.
　In addition to werewolves, orcs and minotaurs are all beast-type demons.

　And the one who seems to be leading such demons is a tiger demon with a large battle axe in his hand - no, that could be a demon race.

　They are a type of demon race called the so-called beastmen.
　There are many theories about the boundary between demons and demonkind, but in general, the existence that has the same intelligence as humans and has the ability to speak is called demonkind.
　From this definition, werewolves and orcs are demons, not demons.

　But the humanoid tiger chewing out a bored-looking absent-mindedness in front of the gate was clearly intelligent.

''There might be a demon race here,''
What?　Then, really....

　The demon tribe that was once under the rule of the Demon King had been reduced to the verge of extinction due to the battle against the Seven Heroes, and now they were said to be living in the frontier.
　If the demon tribe had appeared, the resurrection of the demon king might be a certainty after all.

　Once I stopped the ship, I informed the refugees of the situation.

''Oh no!''
Don't tell me that the City of Swords was dropped by the Demon King...?
So where are we going to run to?

　I can't just go running into them with their dismay, but I can't just leave them here.
　Once we make a U-turn and head into the nearby forest.

''We'll go check out the city. I'll put up a cloaking ward so you won't have to worry about being attacked by demons.
Okay, I understand.
Laina will take care of their protection here.
Wait a minute. You're taking two people?
Of course you do, though?

　There are (maybe) demons as well as demons for good measure.
　There's a lot to learn when fighting an intelligent opponent.

''Then take me with you.''
No, Laina can't do "covert", can she?　As expected, they're not going to do something like that to suddenly get in front of you. You can use Ark and Leila, right?
I can use it, Dad!
Ugh....

　Leaving Laina, who could only make gurgling sounds, I approached the city wall with Ark and Leila.
　Flying through the sky to the top of the wall.
　And this is also not something Laina can do.

　You can see the city from the top of the high walls.

''Hmm, it looks like we're in quite a difficult situation.

　The city was riddled with demons with their own faces.
　Looking at the broken houses and roads, it can be seen that this was after a big battle.
　Some houses are still smoldering with smoke, and it seems that not much time has passed.

　The sounds of shouting and sword fights can be heard in the distance.
　Maybe they are still fighting.

　For now, I'm going to head that way, but there are demons flying around in the sky above the city.
　Stealth" while flying in the sky is a bit difficult.
　It would be better to move on the ground.






　The center of the battle was familiar to me.
　It used to be the headquarters of my adventurer's guild, Dragonfang.
　The building is almost like a fortress, protected by thick walls comparable to the walls of a small town.

　It was now surrounded by many demons.

''Cease your futile resistance, you foolish humans!　That'll keep you alive for a while!

　It's the gorilla beastmen who are making the loudest noise.

　Apparently, they are currently holed up in there to continue their resistance.
　A swordsman on top of the defensive wall was cutting down the demon that was trying to enter the interior.

　He did not seem to listen to the words of the beastmen.

''Utterly, humans are truly incomprehensible creatures. As soon as you think you can't resist when your fellow man is taken hostage, you continue your apparently meaningless resistance without a second thought,''

　The gorilla beastman cowered his muscled, raised shoulders as he did so, and approached the barriers himself.
　And then.

'Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

　With a terrific yell, he slams his stiff arm against the wall.

　Zgoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The walls shattered.

''What?''
You're an idiot!　You smashed the defensive wall with your fist?
f*cking monsters!

　The swordsmen who were guarding the defensive walls peeled their eyes and shouted.
　But as soon as they regained their attention, they all slashed at the Gorilla Beast Man at once.

''Futile, futile, futile!
""Gah!"

　However, when the gorilla beastmen swung their arms around, that was enough to blow a few swordsmen away collectively.
　On the other hand, even if their swords were lucky enough to reach them, their armor-like muscles would be bounced off of them and no damage would be able to pass through at all.

''This is really a human warrior!　Too vulnerable!　It's too sad that such a creature rules the earth with its own face!　After all, it is our demon race that deserves to be the ruler of this world!
...This is the demon race....
Incredible strength...

　Hmm, I've heard of them, but those are the demons.
　It's more than I thought--

　Then, with a yank, Leila tugged at the sleeve of my dress.

"Hey, Dad," she said. "Hey, Dad, are they taking it easy on you?　I don't think that gorilla is that strong....

　Yeah, I think your father would agree.