Chapter 9: Round One Fight!

"Where in the world could he have gone…"

I’d managed to slip out of the royal palace without incident, but wandering aimlessly through the city wasn’t exactly making the search for the Demon King any easier.

In the end, I decided to start near the spot where I’d last seen him during the parade. They say the culprit always returns to the scene of the crime, after all. Clinging to that small, pointless confidence, I headed toward the site.

"This should be about where it was, if I remember right…"

Passing through several castle gates, I finally reached the commoners’ district and began walking along the main street.

Maybe because evening was settling in, the crowds were thinner than during the day. Many shops were already closing, boards being nailed over their entrances as I passed. A few, however, were just lighting their lamps and preparing for business—bars and taverns that only opened at night, for example.

I scanned the street as I searched, but there was no sign of the Demon King. Looks like I struck out this time.

…Seems he’s already moved on from this area. Well, it has been hours since I last saw him this morning.

With no other leads, I decided to move farther along—toward quieter parts of town where fewer people passed. But as dusk deepened, most shops here were closing too.

Among them, a fruit vendor happened to be running a half-off sale.

"Ah, mister. I’ll take one of those green ones."

"Sure thing. Provincial apples. Sweet stuff. Two hundred gold."

"Alright, here you go."

"Yup. Got it—thanks for your business."

I bought one of the apples. A bit tart, but good. My throat was dry from wandering so long, so the moisture was welcome.

By the way, “gold” was this world’s currency. Fittingly simple for an eroge world. Though despite the name, the coins were actually made of copper. Go figure.

I had my complaints about the world’s logic, but I pushed them aside and kept searching.

Even here, a few shops still had their lights on. At this hour, the ones operating were mostly tool shops, bakeries selling night snacks like bread and bacon, and soon-to-open taverns—pretty much the same as before.

I returned toward the main street, checking a few larger taverns facing the road, hoping—maybe desperately—to spot the Demon King.

…

……

………

No luck.

Well, not that I really expected anything else.

When I peeked into one tavern, the rough-looking men inside all turned to stare at me, eyes practically crawling over me.

Yikes. Terrifying.

Without meeting anyone’s gaze, I quickly backed away and left.

After checking several more places, I still hadn’t found him.

"Guess that’s about it for today…"

Evening had long passed; it was already night. Half-resigned, I accepted that finding him wouldn’t be so easy. It had been around three hours since I slipped out of the palace.

Officially, I’d told everyone I wasn’t feeling well and would be resting in my room—no visitors allowed. By now, someone would probably be checking on me soon.

If it were just a short while, I could claim I’d been taking my usual evening walk around the palace. But too long, and it’d start to look suspicious.

So, even though the search had been a bust, I decided to head back. I turned on my heel.

I’d just have to think of another plan later.

Letting my guard down slightly, I exhaled. Despite everything, I’d been tense this entire time.

…But I shouldn’t have relaxed yet.

This wasn’t the safety of the royal palace. There were no guards here on the city’s night streets.

In my search, I must’ve strayed from the main road—into an area with less-than-stellar security.

The sky had already sunk into darkness.

Then, without warning, a hand yanked me from the shadows—pulling me hard into a back alley.

The grip was strong enough that I couldn’t fight back.

"W-what are you doing!?"

I barely had time to shout before something slammed into my back.

"—Gah!"

I couldn’t help it—I hit the ground hard.

I-it hurts.

And, of course, in the fall, my glasses went flying.

"Wha—!"

What the hell are you doing!? I tried to protest, but when I lifted my head, a group of burly men surrounded me, grinning lewdly as they looked down.

"Hey—!"

N-no way…!

"S-somebody—! Help me—!"

I couldn’t hold back and shouted, but there was no fool willing to rescue someone in a back alley at night.

The men carried daggers at their waists. Against a group this violent, even the authorities wouldn’t dare intervene without significant backup.

"…Ugh, ughh…"

I’d been too distracted by the Demon King. Right now, I was just an ordinary girl.

"Well, well. Looks like we hit the jackpot!"

"This one… not only has a body that looks tasty, but her face is an absolute beauty! Top quality!"

"We’re seriously lucky!"

"Totally!"

"Yahaha!"

They cheered and celebrated around me like idiots.

"…Ugh, ughh…"

I wanted to cry.

After all that effort to avoid a disaster at the hands of the Demon King, this is how it ends?

I scanned the men around me. Not a single one looked capable of pity. Reason and morality had clearly been long discarded. These were beasts in human skin.

…Damn it.

I almost wished I had stayed wrapped in sheets in my palace room.

"Let’s have some fun before the authorities show up!"

One of the men reached toward me without a shred of caution.

He was completely underestimating me. Well, I suppose he thought I was just a helpless little girl.

But…

"…Haaaah!"

I dodged his hand, grabbed his wrist, spun, and at the perfect moment twisted it—throwing him to the ground. In Aiki martial arts, this is called a kote-hineri wrist twist.

I held a rank for this style. This was my first time using it in a real fight, but I had no choice!

"Ughh!"

The throw landed perfectly. The big man rolled across the ground.

"Oi!"

The remaining men bristled with hostility. Apparently, they hadn’t expected any resistance.

Moreover, this technique wasn’t like the martial arts common in this world. To an observer, it probably looked like magic.

I focused my energy in my dantian and let out a loud, threatening shout.

"Come at me!"

The men slowly closed the distance.

…Ugh, ughh.

Outnumbered.

I had to find a weak spot, break through, and run as fast as I could…

My mind raced through plans for escape.

Amid the tense standoff, the balance shattered in an instant.

"…Huh?"

A dumbfounded sound escaped me.

Before I could react, a man had circled behind me and wrapped me in a crushing hold.

"Damn it…"

I twisted my body, trying desperately to break free, but his grip was like a vise—there was no escaping it.

"Ugh!"

From the front, several of his companions ran over and together pressed me to the ground.

"Ow!"

My face slammed hard against the dirt. Thank goodness it was soil. Had it been cobblestone, this would have been a disaster.

Even as they held me down, I forced a crooked smile onto my face.

"…Weren’t we taught that ladies are to be treated carefully…?"

If my spirit broke here, I probably wouldn’t recover. That’s why I refused to give up hope, even until the last possible moment.

"Heh. Little lady! You sure gave us a show, didn’t you?"

"Ah… ugh…"

One of the men grabbed my jaw and forced my face upward.

I-it hurts…

"Hehehe… now it’s our turn!"

The men around me laughed in unison.

"U-ugh…"

Is this it? Completely hopeless.

I glanced around, but there was no sign of anyone coming to help. Multiple men were holding me down. Breaking free by sheer force seemed impossible.

…God, please, at least don’t let it hurt.

Just as I was drowning in hopeless, almost tearful despair, a casual, almost nonchalant voice called from the alley—as if someone had simply stopped by during their stroll.

"Hey. What the hell do you think you’re playing at?"

"!? "

"Who the hell—"

The men started swearing and glaring at the intruder, clearly ready to confront him.

Black hair, black clothing. Tall, handsome, piercing eyes. A man stood in the alley, staring intently at us.

"D-Demon King…"

I whispered the name softly, stunned, staring at his face. The Demon King I had been searching for had appeared—seemingly of his own accord.