"Ugh...…"
When the ninja girl opened her eyes, what she saw was—
"An unfamiliar ceiling...…"
She murmured to herself, then seemed to realize something and suddenly sat up.
"Right, the demon...…!"
"Yo, you're awake?"
Just as the ninja girl sat up, Duanmu Huai's voice followed. She turned her head and saw Duanmu Huai push the door open and walk in, greeting her. Staring at Duanmu Huai in front of her, the ninja girl froze for a moment, then—plopped straight back onto the bed again, motionless.
"I see."
Seeing this, Yue Huasha, who had followed him in, revealed a look of sudden understanding.
"I've heard long ago that your face can stop a crying child. Seeing it now, it really does live up to its reputation."
"Master is very impressive."
Olgis, standing to the other side, also seized the chance to chime in. Listening to the two of them, Duanmu Huai's face darkened.
"That's enough from both of you. Maybe she just got up too fast and felt dizzy, okay? Don't blame everything on me!"
Not to mention my Charm is +1 now!
"This is no time to be unconscious!"
At that moment, the ninja girl opened her eyes again and sprang up.
"I must...…eh? Where is this...?"
"This is an inn."
Looking at the confused ninja girl, Duanmu Huai spoke.
"Do you remember? You were being hunted, then you ran into us..."
"Ah!"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, the ninja girl widened her eyes in surprise and carefully examined him.
"It—it's you!"
"That's right."
Duanmu Huai nodded.
"After we drove off the people chasing you, I brought you back. I already found a doctor to treat your injuries."
"Thank you..."
The ninja girl hurriedly lowered her head to express her thanks. Then she seemed to remember something, raised her head again, and suddenly lunged forward—but was quickly stopped by Olgis and Yue Huasha.
"P-please help us! Help Lisus! We have no other way left!!"
"Wait a second, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Looking at the extremely agitated ninja girl, Duanmu Huai frowned slightly. He had only stayed behind because he wanted to get information from her; otherwise, he could have simply continued on his way.
"Calm down. Take it slow."
"O-okay..."
Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, the ninja girl took several deep breaths before finally calming down and beginning to speak.
"My name is Kentou Kanami. I am the ninja attendant of Her Highness Princess Lia Parapara Lisus of the Kingdom of Lisus..."
Through Kentou Kanami's explanation, Duanmu Huai finally understood the whole sequence of events.
First, it was necessary to explain the overall power structure of the Duel City world. On this continent, there were seven major powers in total. To the west lay the land ruled by the Demon King, inhabited by monsters and non-humans—a dark realm known as the Demon Realm.
Bordering the Demon Realm were the magic kingdom of Seth and the military powerhouse Herman. Between these two nations lay a buffer zone made up of forests and deserts. To the east of the Kingdom of Seth was the sea and the Duel City Zone. Further east lay the Free City Alliance, and north of the Free City Alliance was the Kingdom of Lisus. Even further east was an island nation composed of O.J and B.J.
Among these seven powers, the Kingdom of Seth possessed the most advanced magical civilization. Herman, located in the northern regions, had a harsh climate but was an unquestionable military power. Lisus, meanwhile, ranked first in terms of wealth and abundance.
Logically speaking, Herman and Lisus were separated by a continuous mountain range, making it impossible for Herman to invade Lisus. However, just two days ago, Herman's army appeared in the capital of Lisus as if descending from the heavens, seizing control of the entire royal city almost instantly.
This was, of course, not because Herman possessed some kind of super-advanced technology, but because they had obtained the assistance of demons.
So-called demons were subordinates of the Demon King—the ruler of the Demon Realm. The Demon King was the most terrifying existence in this world, possessing unmatched combat power and an invincible barrier that nullified all attacks. He did not age and could not die. Moreover, by sharing his blood with other beings, the Demon King could transform them into demons.
Demons also possessed formidable combat strength and, like the Demon King, had an invincible barrier that could not be destroyed by mortals. They also did not age—though they could still be killed.
It was precisely because of the demons' assistance that Herman was able to appear so easily within Lisus's royal capital. Not only that, the demon aiding Herman also possessed mind-control powers. Under his overwhelming magic, Lisus's royal guard defected on the spot and turned their blades against the royal family, delivering a fatal blow.
Because the king and queen of Lisus were not in the capital at the time and were traveling abroad, they had taken part of the royal guard with them. The only one left in the capital was Princess Lia. Realizing that the situation was beyond saving, she ordered her ninja subordinate, Kentou Kanami, to take Lisus's holy armament and go seek reinforcements.
As mentioned before, demons possessed invincible barriers, rendering ordinary attacks completely ineffective. To resolve this invasion, it was necessary to find someone capable of wielding the holy armament and killing a demon. Otherwise, no matter how many people were sent, it would all be in vain.
Although Kentou Kanami was agile as a ninja, she was still eventually tracked down. During the pursuit, she lost the holy armament, and then...the scene Duanmu Huai and the others had encountered earlier occurred.
She had been caught up to by the demon Satella. Duanmu Huai defeated Satella's subordinates and even shattered Satella's invincible barrier, injuring her.
And it was precisely this fact that made Kanami resolve herself...
"Please, help Princess Lia, help Lisus—we truly have no path left!"
"Uh...…"
Looking at Kanami kneeling before him, crying and begging, Duanmu Huai helplessly scratched his head. He really hadn't expected that saving someone would lead to this kind of trouble...
But...…demons, huh...…
Gazing at Kentou Kanami, Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment.
If this were merely a war between nations, it wouldn't be appropriate for him, as an Inquisitor, to intervene. As stated before, in the eyes of the Inquisition, any conflict between human factions was a process of survival of the fittest. No matter what ideology, belief, or system you followed, only the final victor was qualified to lead humanity into the future.
But if you collude with demons, then that changes everything.
Duanmu Huai was not yet certain whether demons counted as actual daemons, but if they did, then Herman's crime of consorting with daemonic entities would be undeniable.
In short, having encountered such a situation, Duanmu Huai, as an Inquisitor, could naturally not turn a blind eye.
Moreover, Kentou Kanami was a local and should be far more familiar with the terrain and environment here.
"I understand."
Having made up his mind, Duanmu Huai looked at Kentou Kanami.
"In any case, I'll go take a look first."
With no time to waste, early the next morning Duanmu Huai and the others departed from the free city of Ais and continued onward. However, not long after, just as they were about to enter the free city of Rajel, they were stopped by fully armed soldiers.
"Halt!"
Looking at the enormous Electromagnetic Rhino before them, the patrol guards raised their spears and blocked the road.
"Rajel has already been occupied by our Herman Army. No one is permitted to enter!"
Hearing the soldier's warning, Kentou Kanami couldn't help but cry out.
"Herman has already pushed as far as Rajel? Damn it...…I didn't expect that after occupying Lisus, Herman still wouldn't be satisfied and would even target the Free City Alliance..."
However, Duanmu Huai paid no attention to Kanami's words. Instead, he leapt down from the Electromagnetic Rhino and walked straight toward the Herman soldiers.
"Y-you… what are you trying to do?"
Facing the tall figure before them, the Herman soldiers gripped their spears tightly, their expressions tense.
"No need to be nervous. I just want to ask you a question."
Duanmu Huai looked down at the soldiers and spoke in a low voice.
"I've heard that Herman has joined forces with demons. Is that true?"
"Th-this..."
Hearing Duanmu Huai's question, the soldiers froze, hesitating, unsure how to answer. At that moment, a sharp, thin voice suddenly rang out.
"And why exactly are you asking about that?"
Duanmu Huai turned his head and saw a man with white powder smeared on his face and a small mustache walking toward him.
"That's my question. All you need to do is answer—yes or no."
Duanmu Huai completely ignored the mustached man, instead coldly staring at the soldiers as he waited for their answer. Seeing that Duanmu Huai paid him no heed at all, the mustached man's expression sank.
"How dare you! This is no place for someone like you to run wild! Seize him!"
"Very well."
Looking at the soldiers closing in on him, Duanmu Huai snorted coldly and tightened his grip on the warhammer.
"In that case, I'll just ask your bodies instead."
Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth, Duanmu Huai smashed his hammer down toward the soldiers in front of him. Faced with an attack like a rampaging demon god, the Herman soldiers were shocked and hurriedly retreated—but it was already too late. As the Thunder Warhammer slammed into the ground, the explosive shockwave erupted outward like a raging tide, blasting the soldiers into the air.
At the same time, soldiers farther away hastily raised their muskets and crossbows, pulling the triggers at Duanmu Huai.
"Bang bang bang!!!"
Bullets and bolts struck Duanmu Huai's armor and bounced off harmlessly. Then Duanmu Huai leapt into the air, streaking across the plains like a meteor tearing through the sky before crashing down headfirst.
"BOOM!!"
With a deafening roar, the area where the soldiers stood was instantly engulfed in smoke. The mustached man stood frozen in place, not daring to move. Blood-splattered limbs flew past him, leaving him completely petrified.
Before he could do anything else, Duanmu Huai strode out of the smoke, reached out with one hand, grabbed the mustached man, and lifted him up.
"Answer my question. Has the Herman army allied with demons?"
(End of Chapter)