Hero's Coffin Chapter 80

Chapter 80

If it was a male dream demon, was it an incubus? If this incubus was really the twin of the succubus he had fought on the sky island, there was a high probability that 'that guy' Lily was crying out for in dreams was him. No, it definitely was him.

He already had an aversion to dream demons due to a certain incident, and now he was getting tangled in this revenge plot. He slowly stepped backward.

He had only watched his companions hunt throughout the subjugation anyway, and there were other holy knights too, so couldn't he slip away? Even if he could hide with disguise magic, it would be better to use his abilities as little as possible. Judging it to be a wise choice for everyone, he quickly turned around.

Saaaa–

But then, as dark energy ominously spread from behind, it instantly enveloped the entire area. It was pitch-black demonic energy surrounding them like a prison. Not just him, but some other mercenaries must have tried to escape too, as they stopped in front of the wall of demonic energy. Thump thump, no matter how much they pounded, the prison didn't disappear.

[Hmm, since that is his will, everyone must stay here.]

[Yes! Don't think about escaping. The holy knights will die torn apart by my hands here, and the rest of you rabble must become hostages to lure other holy knights. Kyahahahaha!]

At the incubus's chilling declaration, the mercenaries shrank their shoulders and looked at each other. The holy knights flinched but soon ground out "How dare mere demons..." nervously, while only his companions turned to look at him with strange faces. They must know that he was the person the incubus was looking for.

However, he was suddenly bewildered by something unexpected. The situation of having escape routes blocked was alarming, but more than that, the black energy enveloping this space in a hemisphere shape was strangely familiar. Though it was clearly demonic energy, why?

Clank, clank, clank...

Another demon emerged through the darkness of the forest. The sound of iron armor rattling was particularly loud because the being wearing that armor was a skeleton. Its body was extremely large with two horns protruding from its head, and a dark red light flickered in its hollow eyes. Energy wavered like flames through the gaps in its bones visible between the armor.

Mela exclaimed in shock.

"Death Knight...?"

A type of undead demon called the knight of death. It must be a demon created either by calling back the soul of its master into an already dead body, or by injecting a new powerful soul. It was also called a necromancer knight, and he realized why this demon's energy felt familiar. Though Death Knights manipulated demonic energy, they still used the same necromancy.

While he was comprehending the cause of this sense of kinship, Mela urgently approached Haren and spoke.

"Commander, we must be careful of that demon. It's not an ordinary one."

Haren nodded. As if he had sensed it even before receiving her report, he watched the Death Knight with increasingly sharp eyes, and Kalterik also gripped his sword firmly while clicking his tongue.

Noi had turned quite pale, seeming to struggle since the moment they were trapped in the demonic prison. He muttered tremblingly that they couldn't even request reinforcements from the city. Judging by the holy knights on the other side panicking with their communication artifacts, it seemed they really couldn't communicate with the outside.

Beatrice's eyes also changed as if she sensed the situation was turning serious. When killing intent frosted over her sun-like eyes that had been filled only with interest until now, she looked like a beast.

"What do you think? Can we resolve this with just the holy knights here?"

"Yes."

"...What? How can you be so sure?"

Though it was quite a serious question, Haren answered very breezily. Hadn't Samuel's holy power been too faint earlier? How could those who had struggled even against flying monsters handle an incubus and Death Knight?

He looked at Haren with questioning eyes along with Beatrice, but he spoke with a smile on his lips as if it were obvious.

"The ones in white uniforms aren't the only holy knights in this forest, right?"

Even Kalterik and Mela nodded in agreement. Though the Death Knight was a dangerous demon, their behavior was imbued with confidence that the three of them wouldn't be overwhelmed. The commander trusted his two vice commanders, and they trusted the hero.

Beatrice let out a "Ha!" dry laugh. She seemed to like this wordplay as she curled up the corners of her mouth.

"Right, then as a member of this mercenary group, I should help too."

As she lightly swung her staff, an orange twilight-like glow spread faintly and surrounded the three knights. Their auras seemed to become even hazier. Had their concealment been strengthened?

Noi explained admiringly that while we could recognize the three knights as we were in the same mercenary group, others would have to concentrate very hard to perceive them. Beatrice's magic specialized in this kind of mental manipulation rather than attacks, which was quite scary to hear, but at least welcome right now.

Just then, the incubus burst into a sharp laugh.

[Kyahahahaha! There's no need to keep the hostages completely intact. So everyone, fall into nightmares!]

Dream demons usually entered humans' dreams after they fell asleep, but this twin was unnecessarily active. The succubus he had encountered on the sky island had been like this too. While he was clicking his tongue inwardly, the dark red energy instantly spread widely throughout the entire forest.

"Ugh, urgh..."

"Huk!"

The mercenaries clutched their heads in pain and some even collapsed to the ground. Beatrice swung her staff again to create a narrow shield encompassing just her surroundings, which included Noi and him. Using multiple spells simultaneously seemed to limit her range.

The holy knights in white uniforms on the other side staggered but barely managed to hold onto trees. They squeezed their eyes shut and recited scripture verses as if trying to draw forth holy power.

[Holy knights. I'll kill all the holy knights first!]

Hearing those words, the incubus flew towards them with fierce eyes. As his cries rapidly continued—that he would dye the holy knights' uniforms with bright red blood, that he would slaughter them, that he would destroy them in the most pathetic state—the energy spread more thickly. It was a nightmare containing curses.

Then Haren, Kalterik, and Mela moved. They advanced across the forest trees to catch the incubus hovering above the swamp. Though the tree trunks were uneven and difficult to balance on, the three moved very skillfully and quickly, and then...

Swish!

"I'm sick of nightmares now!"

Kalterik attacked while cutting through the dark red nightmare energy that had spread like fog. It was a very skillful response, having encountered this energy twice before. Was this why experienced workers were preferred?

Though the sword Kalterik had newly acquired from the market wasn't as large as his previous greatsword, its impact sound still rang terrifyingly. As he cleared away the dark red fog, Mela charged swiftly at the demon.

[Kya, kyaaak...!]

The incubus barely dodged, but Haren was waiting there. Bang! With a loud noise, the demon crashed into a tree. Its left wing was slightly torn.

Haren made a "Hmm" sound and twirled his sword a couple of times, seeming to gauge how much force the sword could withstand. If he had used the holy sword, the demon's wing might have been completely severed. Since disguise magic didn't work on holy objects, the holy sword was quietly stored in his other scabbard.

[Aaaack! What, what are you guys? Why are you so strong when you're not even holy knights...!]

The incubus tried to flee urgently. But then with a creak, Noi moved the trees to block the demon's path. Everyone acted quite boldly, taking advantage of the moment when all were fallen into nightmares, and the three knights didn't miss the opening created by the flustered demon.

Thwack! Thud! Since all three attacked without using holy power just in case, it sounded like they were beating with swords. He could understand that because demons had high physical resistance, meaning their outer skin was tough, they needed to strike that hard to cause harm without holy power, but... as sounds that should come from beating someone kept ringing out, he started to feel sorry for the guy.

[Wait, ugh, kyaaaa, kuk, uwaak!]

[...What's happening?]

The incubus, who had been getting hit from all sides while surrounded by the three, barely escaped with the Death Knight's help. The Death Knight shot black energy to push away the three knights.

In just two minutes, the incubus had been completely battered. His wings were torn, he limped on one leg, and both hands were completely crushed. It was thanks to the three concentrating their attacks to prevent him from releasing nightmare energy again. The incubus who had fled to the Death Knight's side cried out whimpering.

[There are strange guys here! Crazy guys with no holy power but incredible strength...!]

[Strong without holy power?]

While their conversation continued, people began to wake up one by one. As the nightmare energy spread by the incubus thinned, those who regained consciousness looked around the space in bewilderment when suddenly Kalterik staggered.

"Oh, oops. I'm dizzy! My head feels like it's going to split, kuaak!"

"...Ugh."

Even Mela groaned while clutching her forehead. Haren just watched his subordinates' performance with a face that seemed about to smile. Since they weren't visible to others' eyes anyway, they didn't really need to act.