Chapter 484. The Conclusion of Healer Ayanokouji (Part 1)
"Ooooh! Karman is number one under heaven! Karman is our greatest hero!"
In the city of Buranikka, all the residents were cheering, tossing Karman high into the air to celebrate him.
While wiping out the Kingdom's army was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's goal from the moment he arrived, it was clear that without Karman's plea, he wouldn't have minded sitting back and watching a few more people die. This proved that Karman truly loved the city and its people, earning him their absolute support.
If the current City Lord were to pass away from old age, there was no suspense about who the successor would be—Karman was the people's choice.
However... some people were curious. Why did Eve Reese only appear on the battlefield during the late stages of the fight? Where had she been before?
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「She went to save the City Lord.」
「Back when Second Princess Norn arrived in Buranikka, she had imprisoned the City Lord, hoping he would "abandon the darkness for the light" and "be a wise bird choosing the right tree"—essentially, helping her settle the residents.」
「Although the Kingdom's army possessed overwhelming combat power, if the City Lord had helped concoct lies and lock the city gates, the residents would have been even less likely to resist and unable to flee.」
「However, the City Lord preferred death over submission... In this twisted, dark world, the City Lord was a beam of light. If he weren't so upright and resilient, he wouldn't have treated the demons with such equality.」
「Her patience gradually wearing thin, on the day the army began the massacre, Norn ordered her subordinates to execute the City Lord.」
「But Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had long anticipated her move. He dispatched Eve to infiltrate and save the Lord's life. He told Eve to bring the City Lord to the observation deck so that he, along with Karman, could witness the atrocities committed by the Kingdom's army.」
「Thus, the City Lord completely gave up on the Kingdom.」
「"I am a City Lord appointed by the Kingdom; I am loyal to His Majesty the King. If Her Highness the Second Princess wants my life, I can die at any time... but to lay a hand on the people of this city is absolutely forbidden!"」
「For the sake of Buranikka's future, the City Lord resolutely defected: "Please accept my loyalty, Great Emperor!"」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka naturally wouldn't refuse; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Eve to save him. The more intelligent people he had under him, the better, as it meant he wouldn't have to personally manage troublesome administrative affairs.」
「...Having experienced the massacre and then being saved, the survivors of Buranikka—both humans and demons—had only one purpose left in their hearts.」
「Revenge. Retaliation against the Kingdom!」
「These people were incredibly determined. Their friends, family, neighbors, and fellow villagers were dead; this hatred could not be smoothed over.」
「In their grief and indignation, some wanted to ask Ayanokouji why he let Second Princess Norn go—why let the "duck in his hand" fly away?」
「But the Ultimate Four immediately jumped out, offering their own interpretation: "Because the merciful Emperor wishes for you to achieve your great revenge with your own hands~"」
「This nonsense actually moved the residents.」
「They began training under the guidance of the Ultimate Four, hoping to become qualified soldiers. To ensure they gained combat power quickly, Ayanokouji created numerous potions that squeezed out their latent potential—potions that would shorten the residents' lifespans.」
「Yet, the residents accepted them joyfully.」
「In addition to this, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka did something else—something very, very, very wicked.」
「Using his Heal skill, he revived Blade, who had just breathed her last after being provoked to death. He dragged her back from hell.」
「Blade clearly didn't realize she had died and come back; she thought she had simply fainted in the plaza. "Y-you—where is Her Highness? Where is Second Princess Norn? Where is my Norn?"」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka smiled and pointed to a spot... a place with some damp traces on the ground. He said, almost tenderly: "If you don't go now, perhaps they'll be gone?"」
「Blade scrambled over frantically, desperately and hungrily consuming the traces Norn had left behind in her humiliation.」
「"A mere 'licking dog' who dares to offend me, Blade... your 'good days' are far from over~ Did you think you could just die of anger? How could it be that easy?"」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka revealed a smile so wicked it was hair-raising. "In the future, I shall capture and release Norn ten times. Every time I catch her, I will make you enjoy the agony of the cuckold. I want you to watch me, the 'blonde protagonist,' gallop freely before your eyes~"」
「At this moment, Blade did not yet know the full extent of her tragic future.」
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This method truly made everyone's skin crawl.
Shirogane Kei muttered, though she expressed her support and hoped Ayanokouji would hurry up. Seeing villains suffer was a pleasure comparable to drinking an ice-cold beverage in the middle of summer.
While the sister hoped for the "lesbian" to suffer, Shirogane Miyuki wanted to see the "creepy men" suffer sooner: "Blade the sword-user is being handled, now the cannon-user needs it too. Only then can it be called a 'wholesome' ending."
As for Ryuen, he was feeling a mix of lingering fear and relief... the horror of Ayanokouji's "Ultimate Insult" was no less than the most brutal historical tortures; in some ways, it even surpassed them.
Fortunately, Ayanokouji's target was Hikigaya Hachiman. Fortunately, Ayanokouji had transmigrated.
Otherwise, if things had proceeded normally, Ryuen would have inevitably had to "exchange moves" with Ayanokouji. He couldn't even imagine what kind of wreck he would have been turned into.
Even a gang leader knows how to feel fear.
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「On the way back to the Royal Capital, the disheveled Norn slaughtered a village in passing to vent her rage and steal clothes to wear.」
「Once she returned to the palace and reported everything in detail, the King finally realized that the escaped Healing Hero, Keyaru, had become a major threat. He immediately prepared to order a massive army to invade Buranikka.」
「However, at that moment, Ayanokouji's forces stopped hiding. They openly raised the banner of rebellion. Only then did the Kingdom discover that many villages, including two cities, had already become Ayanokouji's territory.」
「The King could not tolerate such a humiliation.」
「Compared to Buranikka, the two occupied cities were closer to the Royal Capital. Therefore, he changed his destination and marched his army north.」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't hesitate either. He rode out alone for thousands of miles to attack the Royal Capital, killing and burning, trampling the Kingdom's dignity.」
「Left with no choice, the King had to return to the Royal Capital alone to hold the line.」
「Without him—this expert among experts—Ayanokouji's faction finally stabilized, no longer being beaten to a pulp by the Kingdom's main army.」
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