Yuri Hero and Loli Demon King - Chapter 06

The only thing we need to fear is “fear” itself.

Once you quiet your mind, you’ll find that many things aren’t as difficult or terrifying as you imagined.

(by Tapfer)

My name is Tapfer, and I am a Level 2 Hero.

Currently, there are two members in the Hero’s harem—Rei and Haitang.

“Haha, I’ve taken another step towards building my harem!”

Upon hearing this, Rei couldn’t help casting a glance at Tapfer, but she didn’t seem too bothered, as if she never intended to pay attention to such nonsense.

She looked around, finally setting her sights on Haitang, and asked, “Where is President Haihong?”

“Don’t ignore me!” Tapfer protested.

“Quite some time ago, the President and the first group accepted a mission and went on an expedition,” Haitang replied to Rei’s question.

“The entire first group!?”

Rei appeared very surprised, her already large eyes widened as if she had encountered something bizarre.

“The first group?” Tapfer asked curiously.

“Our guild members are divided into three groups based on strength, with the first group being the elite team.”

Rei explained, “Including Haitang and me, there are twenty of us, each of whom is above Level 50 and considered a top expert.”

… A roundabout way to boast about being an expert.

“Speaking of which, is Level 50 considered an expert? Didn’t I hear that there used to be Levels above 180?” Tapfer asked.

“Five hundred years ago, there was a great war that almost wiped out anyone above Level 100 of every race. The highest known level after the war is Level…”99,” Rei replied.

“So, being LV 50 could be considered just average?”

“No, reaching LV 50 or above is still quite rare. Most people maintain around LV 20, but that’s just speaking for ‘humans’! We don’t have sufficient data on other races,” Rei continued.

“So leveling up is really that difficult?”

“It varies from person to person. Everyone has different limits. If you lack the aptitude, you might remain at LV 20 for decades,” she explained.

“If you have the aptitude,” Haitang added to Rei’s explanation, “it’s possible to level up 5 or even 10 levels in just a few days.”

“Back to the main point, using all the first group members, who exactly is the enemy being targeted in this expedition?”

Perhaps it was because such a massive expedition was unprecedented in the guild’s history; Rei was particularly concerned about this detailed information. Normally, this self-assured witch wouldn’t care about others’ affairs.

“I’m not sure. The president didn’t tell me the specifics,” Haitang replied. “I only know it was commissioned by someone named Carmideus, and the reward for the mission is the Heavenly Grail Codex.”

“The Heavenly Grail… Codex?!” Rei exclaimed in shock.

The Heavenly Grail Codex—the ultimate magical tome sought by mages throughout their lives, rumored to have been authored by the gods themselves. Yet, its actual use remains unknown, and its true value is still a huge question mark.

After all, it is but a legend, and whether it really exists is still an enigma.

Thus, there were two reasons why Rei was so astonished: one was that the Heavenly Grail Codex appeared as a mission reward; the other was the president’s acceptance of the commission.

As far as she knew, the president was a careful planner who wouldn’t act without absolute certainty, making it unimaginable that they would move for such an uncertain reward.

There must be something… a reason compelling the president to obtain this object.

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“The Heavenly Grail Codex.”

On the grass by the riverside, a young, blue-haired woman lay murmuring to herself, “I must obtain it.”

With a single ponytail tied at the back of her head, her features were graceful and enchanting; she was around twenty years old—she is Haihong, the founder and current president of the Mage’s Guild Fairy Buttocks.

Her guild uniform, a maid outfit, was imbued with the scent of grass. The mix of the fragrant grass and her own youthful scent captivated the nearby mages.

No, to be precise, not just any mages passing by, but a fellow member of the guild’s elite first group—Garfield.

He stood with his eyes closed, lingering nearby, only breaking his silence when the president inquired, “How long do you plan to stand there?”

“Oh, nothing much, just had a few questions,” Garfield said as he sat on the grass beside the president. “Is it alright to rest like this here?”

“The target won’t run away, and besides, the timing isn’t right yet.”

“The timing?” Garfield asked.

“Yes,” President Haihong sat up, drawing the ceremonial sword at her waist and pointing it towards the distance, “the timing to cast the net far and wide.”

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In a forest filled with lush low-altitude vegetation, three figures moved forward.”I say…”

Tapfer glanced around with a bit of embarrassment. This forest looked so familiar. If she was thinking correctly…

A group of short, frail, and hunchbacked gray-white creatures charged out from the woods, surrounding the three of them.

“Indeed, it’s the trolls again!”

Tapfer didn’t even know where to begin with her sarcasm. How could they be foolish enough to enter this forest repeatedly?

Haitang drew the long staff tied at her waist. Even though the trolls were several levels lower than her, she remained extremely cautious.

This mountain, Ape Wing Mountain, was filled with many strange beasts and birds, just as its name suggested.

Haitang wasn’t just wary of the trolls before her but was also on guard for any enemies that might suddenly appear.

“Haitang, don’t engage,” Rei said, holding Haitang back. “The battlefield for you to display your skills is further up. Our target is the mountaintop.”

“So it was all planned crime, huh!” Tapfer shouted at Rei. “You knew the way and deliberately brought us up here! Last time, was it on purpose too?”

“Yes, on purpose!”

With a sweet smile, Rei unleashed some flame magic of unknown name, broke through the encirclement, and then grabbed Haitang and fled.

Eh?

“Hey—! What about me!?”

Tapfer wanted to catch up, but her lack of magical defense meant she couldn’t break through the flames with them. All she could do was loudly call for help from where she stood.

But it appeared that no one had any intention of rescuing her.

“Damn it, that scheming witch…!” she muttered, cursing as she pulled out her beginner sword.

Her opponents were about fourteen Lv. 4 trolls, while she was just at Lv. 2. It wasn’t looking optimistic at all level-wise, and her skills were only “Yuri Lv. 2” and “Sarcasm Lv. 2.”With “Fleeing as the Best Option Lv. 1,” there essentially wasn’t any viable combat skill available.

Ignoring the first two useless skills, the third one was just purely an escape skill, and at this level, the chance of retreat was a mere 10%. If it failed, the skill could not be used again in that battle.

Tapfer had little time to devise a strategy before a troll led the charge towards her.

“‘Fleeing as the Best Option Lv. 1,’ activate!”

With Tapfer’s shout, a dull gray-black light indicated failure.

She clicked her tongue lightly, then swung her weapon to meet the attack.

A few days ago at the Fairy Guild, she had consulted the mages about trolls. Since she had encountered them before, it was only natural to want to gather information for future encounters.

Trolls belong to the fairy species.

The common trait of the fairy species is low physical defense. Given that I’m in a physical role, even being two levels below doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause.

The main issues now are the time needed to kill one and how to handle multiple opponents. Prolonged combat with a single troll could lead to getting surrounded.

But such thoughts were just a waste of brainpower, as Tapfer realized when she delivered her first strike.

The troll was easily sliced in half.

“Though I’d heard fairies have low physical resistance…”

While cutting her way through and breaking out of the encirclement, she headed toward the mountain top, “I didn’t expect them to be this weak!”

At the summit of Ape Wing Mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, vegetation had noticeably decreased, and the summit was unsurprisingly barren.

Rei and Haitang had reached this point without encountering any resistance.”This is it, the Starshine Gem that is abundantly found at the summit of Ape Wing Mountain.”

As Rei spoke, she picked up a crystalline object from the ground that was glowing with white light.

“Starshine Gem?” Haitang rummaged through her memories. “Isn’t that a crystal that requires high heat to melt and form? Logically, it should be near a volcanic crater, right?”

“No, precisely because this gemstone is only produced at mountain summits, it’s called the Starshine Gem.”

“Does it mean ‘near the starlight’ then?” Haitang first understood the origin of its name, then continued to question, “But on such a cold and barren mountain, how can it melt…”

Before she could finish her question, an answer powerful enough to shake the sky arrived.

The loud roar of huge wings beating the air—could it be…

“A Dragon!”

A race with powerful magical attacks, not only highly skilled in magic but also possessing a strong physique capable of extraordinary physical damage.

The pressure from the wind grew increasingly intense, almost sweeping the two away. If it weren’t for Haitang erecting a barrier to shield them from the strong winds in time, they might have been blown clear into the sky.

A creature resembling an enormous lizard soared up from the deep valley between the mountains to face them.

“The Blazing Lava King—!”

Its body resembled a red crystal, with molten lava-like liquid seething within, capable of dissolving everything to nothingness, even causing the surrounding sky to darken with soot.

That creature was a BOSS-level monster!

“Rei… should we retreat?”

“No, we must defeat it. It’s a mission objective.”

“A mission?”

“The reward is 13 HP Potions, 15 MP Potions, 9 Antidotes, and 3,000 gold.” Rei added, “In fact, I’ve already collected the rewards in advance.”

“Rei, your seal… it can’t be lifted, right?”

Rei shook her head in response, “I want to keep the seal bound until I battle ‘that person.'”

“Okay, I understand.”

After Rei’s sealing, her level was reduced to less than a third of its original state, now only at Lv. 23, making her no match for this monster.

Can I only rely on myself then?

“Rei, you should move to a safer distance.”

After instructing her to retreat, Haitang concentrated her magic onto the gem on her staff, causing it to emit an azure light.

The red and blue lights clashed in the air, leading to a collision of two streams of magical power.

“Frail Heart Haitang Wenger, here to defeat you—!”

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A girl sat on the ground, her lifeless eyes gazing at her surroundings stained with blood.

Is this the result of being attacked by just two people?

If I had personally faced them when I first received the notification… would it not have ended this way?Ah, yes, it’s all Yui’s fault.

As the Demon King, she couldn’t protect her subordinates.

Trapped in a dark whirlpool of self-blame, Demon King Yui found no way to escape. So just… sink deeper into it!

“Report!”

At that moment, the remaining herald knelt outside the door and reported to her inside the hall, “PalidoLobo has returned and is currently requesting an audience at the Main Hall entrance.”

PalidoLobo, the steward of the Demon King Castle, became Yui’s adoptive father and guardian after the death of her biological father.

Normally, she would have been delighted to grant him an audience, but now Yui didn’t want to see anyone.

She refused the meeting and instructed that no one, including the herald, be allowed to see her, regardless of who came.

She closed the door and the young king huddled alone by the wall. The empty hall seemed to transform into a void, a black hole where everything continually sunk and vanished.

“…If only I, if only Yui had known this would happen, I would have faced the enemy myself.”

Honor, self-worth… everything was being dragged down by the whirlpool of self-reproach, sinking deeper.

She kept recounting the events of that day, falling into an endless darkness.

Suddenly, the girl felt something solid beneath her feet in what should have been a void.

A warm, firm touch gently caressed her small head. Yui opened her eyes and looked up.

“…Didn’t I say no visitors, you idiot.”

A man with a pale complexion, like a knight, was half-kneeling beside Yui.

His gentle azure eyes seemed to have a calming effect, soothing Yui’s heart considerably.

“Sorry, I came in on my own,” said the azure knight.

“…Idiot, idiot, don’t look… Yui doesn’t want anyone to see me like this.”

As she repeatedly wiped away her tears, she said, “Don’t look, idiot.”

However, PalidoLobo didn’t follow her orders, continuing to gaze at the king with a gentle expression.

“It’s okay, if you want to cry, then cry. If that’s what it takes to move forward, then go ahead and cry!”

“Idiot! Yui—Yui is a Demon King!”

“Demon King, monster, it doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re sad, regretful, or in pain, then cry! Let it all out with your tears.”

Her tears flowed… once again bursting forth.The long-suppressed emotions poured out together.

“It’s all Yui’s fault, it’s all Yui’s fault! If only I, if only I…”

“Yes, I’ve heard about what happened,” PalidoLobo said, wiping away the tears that streamed down her face. “In fact, I too bear some responsibility for not being at Demon King Castle at the time.”

“No! It was I, who was at the castle and still couldn’t stop all this, who is even more…”

—Sin.

The word stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.

“Yui should have been able to stop it, yet still resulted in this… Hey, isn’t it Yui’s fault?”

“Ah, yes!” Surprisingly, PalidoLobo didn’t deny Yui’s words. “It is Yui’s fault.”

Because he knew: the more he denied it, the more self-reproach she would feel.

If others could blame her, perhaps her sense of guilt would lessen?

“But it’s also the fault of all the monsters, including mine.”

PalidoLobo stood up and gazed into the distance through the open door. “The king’s fault is the monsters’ fault.”

Outside the door, more and more shadows appeared, gradually increasing in number.

Upon closer examination, it became clear that the monsters were half-kneeling outside the door.

Ten, thirty, fifty, one hundred, hundreds… eventually so numerous that they couldn’t be counted from the door’s gap.

“Don’t forget you are not alone. We will help you bear your faults, our king.”

“You all…” Yui supported herself against the wall and slowly stood up. “Are you all fools?”

I finally see it, Father.

This is my… this is the bond of a Demon King.