Chapter 7: There's a demon lord?

The sun had already dipped low by the time they finally saw it. There are walls.

A huge, gray stone wall surrounded the city ahead. A bridge stretched across a wide lake, leading directly to the massive gate.

And… there was a line. A very long line.

Carriages filled with colorful rainbow ostriches were lined up bumper to bumper. Or rather, it was beak to tail. Merchants, adventurers, and travelers crowded around, all waiting their turn to enter.

It was the very definition of fantasy hassle.

From inside their carriage, Lylia’s mouth hung open. Her neck craned left and right as she took in the sight.

"Hooooh… that’s… that’s a heck lot of people," she muttered, sinking back into her seat dramatically. "My legs are already tired and I haven’t even walked yet. I really hate lines, huh."

Eduart gave a sympathetic chuckle.

"Unfortunately, with recent events, the guards are checking every single person and cargo thoroughly."

"Recent events?" Lylia tilted her head, half-distracted by the rainbow ostrich directly outside their window trying to peck at a carrot.

Eduart’s face grew a little serious.

"The Demon King has been revived. There’s currently an all-out war being waged with demons. Now the security is stricter than usual. This is to prevent spies from sneaking inside the city."

Lylia blinked.

"A demon k ing, huh?"

A slow grin spread across her face. 'Man, now that’s classic. Isekai checklist keeps ticking. A demon King? Ok check. Then, it's a totally standard final boss enemy? double check.' she thought.

She tapped her chin, curious. "So, like… what’s this Demon King supposed to be like?"

Eduart shook his head. "That's what I do not know yet. But according to a few old books I’ve read…" He closed his eyes, recalling the words. "He is said to be a massive being, overflowing with darkness and anger."

Lylia’s face remained unimpressed. "…Wow. Super original. A huge dark angry dude. Totally not cliché at all."

Eduart chuckled awkwardly.

"So what about demons then?" she asked, leaning forward with genuine interest now. "Like, what do they look like? Y’know, for future reference so I don’t, like, accidentally say hi to one."

"Hmm." Eduart rubbed his chin. "From what I’ve read… they look like ordinary humans, but with horns on their heads. They wield terrifying powers of their own. And their very nature is to devour humans, torment them, and deceive without remorse."

Lylia let out an appreciative, low whistle. "Hohhhhh. Straight-up evil monsters. Good to know."

'Hope there won't be any of them who'll be actual good demons though. You know, it's kinda annoying to read about a said demon when the author will just make them a good person that's only an enemy because they're demons. What's the point of making them a demon?'

Then Eduart’s expression brightened, and he glanced toward Slade. "Speaking of demons… Slade, didn’t you encounter one once? You’ve told me bits and pieces, but never the whole story. It would help pass the time while we wait."

Slade, who had been silently watching the line move at a snail’s pace, gave a small nod. "Indeed."

Lylia perked up, eyes sparkling. "Ooooh, story time."

She squinted at his missing arm thoughtfully. "Wait, don’t tell me that’s how you lost it, mr Slade?"

Slade’s flat voice cut in immediately. "No. That was… something else."

"Oh." She leaned back, mildly disappointed. "Well, go on then."

Slade’s gaze turned distant, his voice calm but low as he began.

"I was eight years old at the time. It was evening, not too late. The streets were still full of people heading home. I was walking alone when…"

His eyes narrowed slightly at the memory. "Suddenly, the door of a nearby house burst open. A man came flying out, crashing into the street."

"A regular man?" Lylia asked, leaning forward.

"No," Slade said firmly. "He had two horns growing from his head. His body was battered… and he was limping, like a wounded beast."

The atmosphere inside the carriage grew tense.

"Then," Slade continued, "from that same doorway stepped another man. He was tall, with white hair, wearing his signature black high neck cape. And in his hand… a pitch-black sword."

"Whoa." Lylia whispered, hanging onto every word now.

"The horned man saw me," Slade said, his tone sharpening. "And in his desperation, he lunged toward me, its mouth open, like he intended to devour me to recover his strength. I was frozen in fear."

His single hand curled slightly into a fist. "But before he reached me, the swordsman struck. His blade pierced the horned man’s heart."

"And then?" Lylia breathed.

"Flames erupted," Slade said simply. "The kind of fire that burns until nothing remains. The demon screamed… until even its voice turned to ash."

There was a moment of silence inside the carriage, save for the distant squawks of rainbow ostriches.

"Later, the man told me the truth," Slade finished. "That creature had been a demon."

Lylia let out a long, awed breath.

"…Okay, that was metal. Super metal. And terrifying."

Her grin returned in full force. "But also, that's kinda awesome. That white haired dude sounds insanely strong."

Slade nodded slightly. "Well, he is a famous swordsman."

Lylia tilted her head. "Hmm, woahh… well, who’s stronger, him or you? ‘Cause that boar-slicing move earlier was crazy."

Slade was silent for a moment before replying. "I don’t know. He was my master."

"OHHHHH?!" Lylia gasped dramatically, clutching her staff like it was tea she just couldn’t spill. "Woah woahh."

Slade’s lips quirked the tiniest bit upward, but barely noticeable. "Don’t think too highly of him. He’s only famous because of his magic sword."

"Magic sword?" Lylia perked up immediately. "Is it like those special staves you were talking about before?"

"Kind of," Slade admitted. "It’s just a sword that lets you cast spells. Nothing more."

His tone grew faintly dismissive.

"All it really does is make sword techniques flashier. A true swordsman doesn’t need magic."

Lylia’s eyes practically sparkled.

'If I’d picked both the red and blue orb back then… would I have turned into some flashy sword-mage too?' she thought.

The thought entertained her for a moment. She then shook her head.

'Nah. Swinging swords just isn’t my vibe.'

Still, she beamed up at him. "Anyway, I think I'd love to meet your master someday. I wanna see his magic sword."

Slade’s gaze drifted away, his voice calm but distant. "It’s been ages since I’ve seen that old man. I don’t even know where he is now. For all I know, he’s… either very old, or dead."

"Ehhhhhh…" Lylia deflated, unsure how to respond. "Well, uh… okay then."

To break the awkwardness, she suddenly asked, "So, uh… is there, like, a legendary Hero destined to beat the Demon King or something?"

Eduart spoke. "If you mean the kind from fairy tales, then I don't think so."

Slade raised a brow. "I don't know any hero either. Anyone can be a hero. Who knows? Perhaps I will be the one to defeat the Demon King."

Lylia smirked playfully. "Or maybe it’ll be me~"

"Perhaps," he said, unbothered.

"But really, no chosen warrior or anything?" she pressed.

"No," Slade said simply.

Lylia leaned back, staring at the darkening sky through the carriage window. "No hero, huh…"

Her thoughts drifted as the wheels clattered along the bridge.

'God, was I sent to this world to fight the Demon King? That’d be the ultimate cliché, right? Isekai protagonist, check. Final boss Demon King, check. Save the world, yada yada.'

Her lips curled into a small, excited smile. '…That actually sounds pretty fun, though.'

But she quickly shook her head.

'Nope... Not rushing into that. This isn’t some game with extra lives. Or… wait, is there a resurrection spell? I should totally look that up later.'

For now, she decided to just enjoy being an ordinary beginner mage.

If fate really wanted her to face the Demon King someday? Then so be it. She’d just… go with the flow.

The line crawled forward, the walls looming ever closer as the first stars began to appear in the twilight sky.