V6: Chapter 72: The Feast Begins? It Seems So

Chapter 72: The Feast Begins? It Seems So

Perhaps because he's a demon, or maybe it's just a personal preference, now I'm wearing a pure white wedding dress with a small slit and holding a pure white bouquet. A slightly mature-looking high heels, a beautiful pink color that seems to be inspired by Satellite color schemes.

["It suits you well, it suits you very well, Satellite. I've always, always wanted to see you in a wedding dress!"]

"Thank you for that? So, is it alright?"

["You're so cold, but that's what's good about you... Besides, we have plenty of time, don't we?"]

The bride, having finished putting on that outfit, is escorted by 'the groom' who, perhaps in accordance with human customs, is wearing a black tuxedo. There's definitely a feeling of touch. There's undoubtedly something there.

"It's about time you told me your secret weapon..."

["It's a secret, there are some things that are better left unused, right?"]

We step into a space with a building resembling a church. The sky in the demon world should have been a distorted color, but the stained glass windows of this church and the sky above seem to sparkle.

Perhaps it's an application of the magic he used when we met at the castle.

A buzzing noise appears on the speaker, and after a while, magnificent music begins to play.

["Now, the bride and groom are entering..."]

He even recorded that himself; how little trust does he have in his subordinates?

There isn't a single guest in this venue, not even a single staff member in sight.

It's pathological, but... that's precisely why his subordinates can't find this location.

Thorough strategy and risk hedging—that's the essence and weapon of this Demon King.

An intro that sounds vaguely familiar begins to play, and flower petals flutter down—slipping past my cheeks and palms.

This, too, is an illusion. His versatility in magic outside of combat is terrifying.

A buzzing noise emanates from the speakers, and a familiar intro begins to play.

[Butterfly, today───]

A slightly baritone voice begins to sing loudly from the speakers.

I barely managed to swallow the thought that he didn't need to sing that part.

That's not about trust or secrecy anymore.

Holding my cheeks, which were about to twitch, I desperately maintained a cheerful smile as I walked down the aisle.

[Up until now───]

The moment that phrase played and I took my next step───a block of ice appeared from the sky and crushed the surroundings.

★

"That's in pretty bad taste..."　

In a space where parts of the ceiling were crumbling and dust was swirling.　

["What the...?"]

"We were also looking around for a wedding venue, weren't we? Now I feel terrible about that."

The culprit girl kicked the broken speaker, which was only spewing out indistinguishable noise.

The speaker tumbled towards the rubble with a clatter, and never made a sound again.　

And in the raging dust, a single girl, still dressed in a pure white wedding dress, was visible.

"That was dangerous, what if that also hit me?" (Satellite)

"I trusted that you wouldn't die even if you got hit." (Gracia)

"It's all in how you say it, good grief...."

But naturally, even though the surrounding was covered in dust, not a single speck of dust was on my dress... so the culprit girl's assessment was probably not wrong.

"Even so... you really came. Right, of course you would..." (Satellite)

"Satellite! Come here..." (Gracia)

["Honestly, that's a cruel thing to do. They say if you interfere with someone's love life, you'll get kicked by a horse, you know?"]

"...I'll return those words right back to you." (Gracia)

And 'he', naturally, was also unharmed.

No, it simply means that there was no body there to be harmed in the first place.

"To be remote even during your own ceremony, you're quite the coward, aren't you?"

["Well, this is precisely why. I had a feeling that if you were going to come, it would be now."]

The blonde magical girl and the tuxedo-clad Demon King stood side by side.

The first attack was ineffective, and neither side could land an effective blow.

The Third demon King's firepower was weak, and the [Ice Mirror] couldn't perform attacks that transcended dimensions. That's precisely why another factor is needed to break this situation.

"I know that, but..."

"[Charm ♡]"

The succubus's gaze, fragrance, voice... everything she emits is a poison that melts the reason of intelligent beings.

It pierces even him, who is likely observing this space───

["...You hateful slut, don't act so insolently!"]

But it cannot be a fatal move... and that's only natural.

It's difficult enough to cast a charm on someone who isn't directly present, and...

Even for the Queen of Succubi, a charm for someone they dislike significantly reduces its effectiveness.

And as if to stop that, a girl in a pure white wedding dress stepped forward.

"I'll apologize in advance... I'm sorry?" (Satellite)

"...!? You got to be kidding me?!" (Gracia)

"Well, you see, I can't hold back. I won't use magic for attack, so don't worry." (Satellite)

And of course.

There are no players here without cards to play.

Just as they all have cards to play, 'He' wouldn't come into this without a plan.

"Satellite-sama... um..." (Tinkerbell)

"That's how it is." (Squire)

The green-haired and white-haired magical girls appeared from the gate. Now all four magical girls and two demons were assembled.

The players were finally all here. Whoever controlled this battle would obtain their desires.

This was that kind of battle.　

"Lux, Satellite is—Agh!?"

["Unfortunately, my magic seems to be a terrible match for the Association Head's."]　

Crimson blood splattered, dripping from Squire's nose.　

""Squire?!""

Everyone could only stare in stunned silence at the sight of her lying on the ground.

No one could comprehend the origin of the magic, nor did they know what had attacked her.　

Except for one person.　

["My magic is called Thought Acceleration. It's a fitting ability for me, who has been given the role of thinking. With this, I have been simulating this plan for thousands of years."]

He spoke with a cheerful air, as if certain of victory.　

["Even now, of course, I feel like thinking about this situation a little more. Roughly... I'd say I thought about it for about a year, wouldn't you say? If you were to see my thoughts directly... it's obvious what would happen, isn't it?"]

Her magic, [Thought Disclosure], works even through video... it works.

And for her, unable to forget the events, 'it' was more than enough information to burn out her mental resources.

Since her Magic can't be turned on or off, relying on her power in this battle is virtually impossible. The cards in their hand are being played one by one, but surely.

["Are you sure you should only focus on me? My lovely bride is baring her fangs!"]

"───!"

The ground is shaking from a mere stomp.

That mere preparatory movement before an attack is creating a crater.

What was swung with her right hand was pure violence, her body reinforced only with magic.

Yet, with just that, her footwork cracked the ground, and the pressure of her fist made her hair billow.

["A pure white dress swaying! Beautiful pink hair fluttering in the wind! I never imagined that having Satellite on our side would be this exciting!"]

The blow grazed Gracia—and the Ice Mirror cracked with a loud sound.

Of course, it was a fake; Gracia's specialty is mid-to-long range.

There was no reason for her to deliberately expose herself to the enemy.

As the girl raised her arm to make her next move, a mysterious light flickered.

"So that's it, then, take this [Charm ♡]"

"Ughh ♡"

Satellite's movements slowed, and she swayed precariously, almost falling.

However, a dazzling light enveloped her twice.

It seemed 'He' wasn't going to stand idly by and watch this battle, providing support for His Bride.

And as if nothing had happened, she took a big step forward to unleash her next attack.

["Don't direct your filthy, slutty magic at my Satellite!"]

"Some kind of brainwashing... no, that's not it. Then why..."

The Ice Mirror, fired with partial reflection, naturally didn't hit Satellite, but instead flew off into the distance as if its vector had been twisted. Of course, an attack moving at a speed visible to the naked eye couldn't possibly affect her.

"Tinkerbell, can you stall for some time?"

"Sure, but I won't show any mercy if it doesn't work, okay?"

Following the intense surge of magical power and her intuition that this was bad, Satellite tried to retreat, but her body… stiffened unnaturally, as if pinned to the spot… [Stagnant].

"Ugh! Just, just a little bit, I can only hold her for bit, okay?"

But that was only for a moment; Tinkerbell magical power wasn't strong enough to hold Satellite back forever.

But that moment was enough.

"Ugh...!"

Along with the sizzling sound of burning flesh, blood flowed from Satellite's shoulder, staining her pure white dress red.

The Demon King, almost thrown into disarray by Satellite's first hit, desperately tried to think.

It's not there, it shouldn't be.

Satellite was in his hands.

["You bastard... what in the world you're doing...!"]

Satellite herself once said, "If anyone can stop me, it's only Gracia," and she was right. Satellite's attacks are faster than rotation or revolution of this planet. So the only attack that fast enough to completely counter her would be...

"Light... I knew it would come to this." (Satellite)

"It might hurt a little, but please bear with it. I promised mother-in-law that I would definitely bring you home." (Gracia)

Magical Girl Gracia's Magic true nature was a gigantic, semi-transparent ice mirror covering the entire sky───

"I'll bring you home here... even if I have to roll you onto the floor."

"Haha, that's more like it☆"

───A focused sunlight attack.