Volume 2: Chapter 1 – Part 2Author: Geraint
I snuck away from the others without being noticed and waited at the meeting place until Lilith arrived with news. I had ordered her to gather intel about our location and what they planned to do with us. She handed me a map of the world and pointed to our position.
"We're currently in the Zelonia Kingdom—a small country nestled between the Holy Kingdom of Celestria and the Zendaria Empire in human territory."
"To think we were summoned to the farthest place from the Demon Realm…"
"At least it's on the mainland. Unlike those island nations, we don't need a ship to reach it."
"Have you contacted Naamah about the plan?"
"Not yet. She's still gathering the other Disaster Witches."
"Fine. We'll handle it ourselves for now. I'm glad we have Lory's help tonight."
"Shouldn't we just destroy this place ourselves, Seir-sama?"
"We can't reveal our identities yet. Especially not to Kaho-san or Riko."
I clenched my fist, but Lilith gently held my hand.
"I'll always be with you, Seir-sama. Tonight, we'll escape this place—with everyone."
I nodded and gave her a small smile.
"I still can't show them my true self. Not yet."
"Seir-sama… I'm prepared to stain my hands with blood for you."
"We don't know how smoothly things will go tonight. I might need to rip someone apart to protect them. Stay sharp, Lilith."
"Yes."
Evening arrived. The sky had darkened by the time we were called to dinner. On our plates was the same spoiled-looking hard bread. Everyone was losing their appetite from the constant mistreatment.
"I've had enough of this!"
One of the boys stood up, grabbed his bread, and hurled it at a soldier standing by the wall. Then he dropped his plate, shattering it. The sound drew everyone's attention.
"That's right!"
"I don't want to be treated like this!"
Other boys followed suit, slamming plates down in protest.
"Hey! Stop it, guys!"
Our female teacher turned pale and rushed to calm them down, but a soldier stepped forward in fury. He struck the student in the stomach with the butt of his spear.
"Ugh!"
Gasps echoed through the room.
"You little bastard!"
The soldier kicked the student in the face, knocking him to the ground as blood dripped from his nose. Then he stomped on him repeatedly.
"Stop it! Don't hurt him anymore! I apologize for his behavior!"
The teacher shielded the boy and took the blows herself.
"Shut up! Get out of the way, bitch! I'm gonna kill this punk!"
"I'm begging you, please!"
The other soldiers laughed as if it were entertainment.
I was just about to rise from my seat when a blonde girl burst into the room, panting heavily.
"What's going on here?!"
"Tch."
The soldier clicked his tongue at the sight of the princess.
"Are you all right?"
She knelt beside the teacher, whose lips were bleeding. Turning to her attendant, she ordered, "Bring them to the infirmary. Now."
Her vassals carried off the teacher and the unconscious student. The princess turned to the offending soldier and jabbed a finger at his chest.
"These people are supposed to be our heroes! Why are you hurting them?"
"What are you talking about, Princess? None of them fit the description from the divination. They're all rejects. There's no point in keeping them!"
Her expression fell. She looked down in frustration.
"That means… the true Hero was summoned elsewhere. Your job is done, Princess. The Prince has taken over this facility. He might find better use for them."
"Huh? No one told me this!"
Her voice cracked in disbelief. Everyone, including me, was stunned.
"What's the meaning of this?! You're supposed to send us home!" Kaho-san shouted.
"So, the Princess hasn't told you the truth yet," the soldier smirked.
"Hey! Stop—!" the princess pleaded.
"There's no way for you to go back. You'll all be staying here—for the rest of your lives."
The room fell into despair.
"No way…"
"Tell me this is just a dream…!"
"I want my mama…"
Some girls broke into tears. Others clung to each other in fear.
"Onii-sama…"
"Seir-kun…"
Yuuka and Shiina latched onto my arms, trembling.
"Calm down, you two. Don't forget who I am."
Riko stood in front of me, looking shaken. "Mom… Dad…" she murmured.
Lilith, meanwhile, was chewing her stale bread like it didn't matter, smiling back at me when she caught my gaze. She nodded—everything was going as planned.
I couldn't wait to see this pathetic kingdom burn.
Later, the knights rounded us up and herded us back to our chambers at spearpoint. Yuuka and Shiina stayed close, refusing to let go of me. Behind me, Riko clutched my shirt, terrified of the glares from the knights.
It was already dark outside. I sat in the same corner as before, staring through the window. Everyone was restless, unsure of what tomorrow would bring—but Yuuka and Shiina were asleep, leaning peacefully against my shoulders.
Kaho-san and Riko looked jealous.
"You're really reliable, Seir-kun, if they can sleep so soundly," Riko said with a soft smile.
Kaho-san looked exhausted. Her dark eye bags said it all. She hadn't gotten proper sleep since we arrived.
Without a word, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her gently toward me, laying her head on my lap.
"W-Waah!"
"You should rest. I'll keep watch."
Kaho-san blushed furiously.
"But—"
"Shut up and sleep. It'll be fine."
"Seir… How can things be fine in this situation? We're stuck here."
"Silly. Just leave it to me. For now, rest."
She looked into my eyes. My smile must have reassured her, because she slowly settled into a comfortable position and closed her eyes.
I noticed the princess pacing the room, clearly distressed by the heavy atmosphere. She glanced in our direction and walked over.
"Um…"
"Hm? Princess?"
"Oh, you weren't there when I introduced myself. I'm Irina, the second princess of Zelonia. Though I don't have much influence, since I'm just a concubine's daughter."
She looked younger than me—adorably cute, even rivaling Yuuka.
"What a waste," I muttered.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Ah… nothing."
"You seem oddly calm, considering the situation."
"Panicking won't help. It solves nothing."
"Hehe… You're amazing. May I ask your name?"
"It's Yuki."
"Then, Yuki… I'm sorry for everything. We just needed the Hero to save our kingdom."
She bowed her head.
"What's the point now? The Hero wasn't among us."
"The other nations summoned people too. The Hero may be with them."
"Why did you need to summon a Hero in the first place?"
She hesitated before answering.
"To fight the Demon King's forces that are ravaging our lands…"
I searched her expression for signs of deceit—but found none. Either she was telling the truth… or she genuinely didn't know any better. Just as they say—ignorance is bliss.
Suddenly, soldiers burst into the chamber, waking everyone.
"Huh?"
"What's going on…?"
In the center stood a commanding young man. He looked around with a calculating gaze.
"Onii-sama?!"
So that's the prince—the crown prince of Zelonia.
The girls grew tense. Those beside me clutched my arms again.
The prince walked up to a girl with long orange hair, studied her, then pointed.
"Take that girl."
"Huh?"
She was confused—until soldiers seized her and began dragging her away.
"Let go of me!"
"Honoka!"
Her friends tried to help, but spears to their throats stopped them.
"Somebody, help me!"
The prince grabbed her blouse and ripped it open, exposing her chest.
"Kyaaaaaah!!"
Everyone froze.
"Yeah… what a nice rack you've got there." The prince licked his lips.
"Onii-sama! Stop this at once—!"
"Shut up!"
Without hesitation, he slapped the princess across the face.
"You shouldn't even be here. The king gave me full control. These girls are rejects—so I'll use them to entertain the troops."
Riko rushed to Irina's side, cradling her bleeding cheek. The princess trembled in fury.
The prince moved to select his next victim.
"You bastard!" one of the boys shouted—but was silenced by a blade to the throat.
"No one here has the right to defy me."
The prince grinned and grabbed another girl, tearing open her top.
"Kyah!" she cried.
I stood to intervene—but Kaho-san pulled me down.
"Seir! Don't!"
"Kaho-san, I have to—"
"I'm begging you. Please don't…"
"That one's good too. Take her."
Soldiers grabbed the girl. She smiled at me through falling tears as they stripped her blouse, revealing her bra.
And that was it.
The darkness in me—long dormant—swelled again.
I stood and lunged for the prince's throat.
But a knight intercepted me, severing my arm in one strike.
"Onii-sama!"
"Seir!"
The girls screamed as the knight stabbed me through the chest, the blade piercing clean through.
"That's what happens when you defy me," the prince sneered.
A familiar feeling surged through me. It brought me back… to what I used to be.
"…I'm home."
As the knight raised his blade for the final blow, I caught it between my fingers, shocking him.
"Humans… nothing has changed since I left."
The knight backed away, trembling.
"Be careful! He's a demon!"
"Too late."
My severed arm twitched—then shot into his chest like a spear.
He dropped to his knees, blood pouring from his armor.
The prince stumbled back in fear.
"Don't just stand there! Kill him!"
"You're already too late."
"Huh?!"
The soldiers and knights began shaking. Panic set in.
"My body…!"
"I can't move!"
"My hands—!"
They turned their weapons on themselves.
"Help me!"
"Gyaaaaah!"
One by one, they stabbed themselves, their screams echoing in the chamber.
Everyone watched in horror. The captured girls ran, covering their bodies.
The floor was soon littered with corpses—only the prince remained, drenched in blood.
I walked toward him. He crawled backward, slipping over the dead.
"No! Please! Spare me!"
He picked up a sword—but his hands wouldn't listen.
I redirected his blade toward himself.
"My body… What's happening?!"
I pointed downward. He looked.
Blood strings stretched from the corpses—connected to my severed arm.
"Don't tell me… You're…!"
"You really messed up… bringing me back here."
I tapped his shoulder.
"Now… enjoy your trip to hell."
I retrieved my arm, reattaching it seamlessly.
Behind me, the prince collapsed—a blade through his throat.
"Death Marionette."
I looked around. Everyone stared at me in terror—even Yuuka and Shiina.
"It's your choice now."
I faced them.
"If you want to leave this place alive—and return to Japan—follow me."
(To be continued.)