Katahane no Riku

In an instant, the meeting room was wrapped up in voices of uproar.

There was a great variety in their reactions. It was as if someone had put a nest of bees in the meeting room.

While Riku was silently hearing all their voices, and Charlotte′s eyes became wide-open and she became petrified.

This moment has finally arrived.

Riku raised the corners of her mouth. This was something she had been thinking about since she had regained consciousness… Or so to speak, eight days before this.

—–

“Alright, I will kill Charlotte.”

Those words.

Those words Riku declared were the start of everything.

Rather, if one was to be more accurate, perhaps it would be the instant when Asty blurted out about Leivein′s condition.

When Riku asked Asty if Leivein was fine, honestly to a fault, she ended up telling Riku the truth. The more Asty spoke about it, the more Riku frowned, and by the time she had finished telling the last details, with her hands clenched, Riku was about to stand up at anytime.

“Asty, do you know where Charlotte is?”

While silently showing a smile, she gently asked Asty.

While mumbling her usual “Hmm…de gozaru” as she thought, she lightly rubbed her finger on her chin.

“Probably at the highest tower of the Demon Lord castle… But, what are you thinking about-de gozaru!!? Colonel, you must stay put-de gozaru!!”

Asty, who came back to her senses, hurriedly stood in front of Riku.

If she was to let Riku by without caring, maybe Riku would really go kill Charlotte.

Looking at Riku right now, she was already holding her halberd with her left hand. Besides that, while having the glint on her eyes she would have she is at the battlefield, she was wrapped within a dense killing intent.

It was not even needed to think about it.

Riku was seriously going to kill Charlotte. Setting her resolve, Asty carefully chose her words in order to calm Riku down for the time.

“Colonel, you need to contain your anger for now-de gozaruyo. First of all, if you were to kill Charlotte-sama, the provisional Demon Lord, it would be considered that you committed treason against the Demon Lord army-de gozaru. You would lose your standing at the Demon Lord army-de gozaruyo.”

Although Asty boldly begged to Riku as if she was calming down a horse, it ended up like she was putting oil into the fire. The glint on Riku′s eyes became even worse and Asty was showered by a gaze that was colder than usual. 𝐟𝙧ee𝔀e𝐛𝓃𝐨𝚟𝑒𝗹.c𝗼𝚖

“Anger? Contain?”

Riku muttered those two words. Her voice had an stillness that was as if it came resounding from the depths of hell.

With the level of anger that surpassed Riku′s usual, Asty′s back became soaked with sweat. Although her body started to tremble with fear, she didn′t even have the spare time to be noticing that.

“Once someone harms captain Leivein, this someone′s death is decided. Even if it is the provisional Demon Lord, I will have her have a suitable punishment.”

“Th-that is not good-de gozaru! If you were to kill the head of the Demon Lord army, you will be killed by general Leivein later-de gozaruyo!”

Asty desperately tried to hang on, but Riku′s intent didn′t change.

“That is fine by me.”

Without hesitation in her eyes, she looked straight to the door.

The average demon would not have chances of winning against Charlotte, who bears the title of provisional demon lord. However, if it was the Demon Lord army′s ace Riku, how would it be? Even if she had lost her dominant arm, it was possible to imagine her easily winning against Charlotte.

Even if she were to fight against Charlotte, she wouldn′t lose.

Asty had to agree that since that was the case, then perhaps it would actually be fine to let Riku go. However, after thinking about what would be happening next, she hurriedly shook her head.

“Even if it is acceptable, it is no good-de gozaru!! The punishment for killing the provisional demon lord is execution-de gozaru! I don′t want colonel Riku to die-de gozaruyo!”

“…Asty.”

With that small mutter, Riku′s expression suddenly changed.

For a brief moment, Asty became relieved thinking that Riku had finally understood what she was saying. But then, Riku′s halberd cut through the wind, raising a sound. Because of the sudden attack, Asty had to put her all only to draw her sword. Before Asty could wield her sword, it had been knocked off her hand, and now, the tip of the axe blade was pointed next to her throat.

“This is the final warning, Asty Gortoberuk. Let me pass.”

Riku′s voice was cold in all aspects.

Asty had no way to stand against that. She couldn′t win against Riku with her fists, and her sword had fallen down to the floor. Her sword was at a distance that even if she was to extend her hand as much as she could, she wouldn′t be able to reach it. Even if she was able to reach out for her sword, before she could act, her head would probably be sent flying.

“Co-colonel…”

If she didn′t obey Riku now, she would lose her life.

But even so, Asty hesitated.

If she let Riku pass, she felt it would become an unrecoverable situation. Riku also should have felt Asty holding that hesitation. After slightly closing her eyes…

“I see, this is your answer.”

As if she was disappointed, Riku declared Asty′s death sentence.

Asty back muscles stood up. The heartless face Asty had seen many times when Riku would kill was now looking at her. She was giving her all just by standing up. Without hesitations, Riku mustered strength and was about to go kill Asty. And then…

“That′s enough, colonel Riku Barusak.”

Suddenly, the door opened.

A big man with magnificent horns and that lacked one of his arms was standing in front of the door. The instant Riku saw the figure of the man, her face became grimmer, and Asty′s face relieved.

“Your killing intent was leaking even outside the room, you know? It is nice that you are honest, but you need to train yourself to suppress your emotions a little.”

Rudogar Gortoberuk resolutely entered in the room.

“What, I′m just. There are only a few demons that noticed colonel′s killing intent.”(TL note: I don′t know what this means ->なに、私の部下が人払いをさせている<-)

“Ho-honored grandfather…”

After Asty raised a voice that was like that of a chicken on the verge of being strangled to death, Riku went out of her stance. Once Asty was released, the mood that seemed to be frozen loosened, and as if a string that was holding her was cut, Asty sat down.

Seeing her granddaughter like that, Gortoberuk lightly patted her shoulder.

“Asty, you′ve done well in stopping the colonel. I will give you some pocket money later.”(TL note: It feels kind of strange for him to give her pocket money because of that… Here is the japanese raw just in case ->アスティ、よく大佐を止めたな。あとで小遣いをやろう<-)

“Honored grandfather… Thank you-de gozaru…”

“Do you have any business with me, general Gortoberuk?”

While glaring at the conversation between grandfather and granddaughter, Riku asked Gortoberuk.

Riku was wary of Gortoberuk′s appearance, which seemed as if it had been planned. Riku had the resolve to kill Gortoberuk without hesitations if he was to report the conversation that happened just now to Charlotte. With both being fellows about them being one-armed, Gortoberuk won in experience. However, Riku had already seen that she was stronger than him.

Right now, even at this instant… Riku was capable of defeating Gortoberuk.

“…What, you may calm down. I also have the same thoughts as colonel.”

While patting his granddaughter′s shoulder, Gortoberuk said in a calm voice.

“Although I was actually intending on having that in a more peaceful manner.”

“The same thoughts?”

When she had heard that Gortoberuk had the same thoughts as her, a bit of strength left the hand that was holding the halberd. However, those might have been words to lower her guard. Without lowering her vigilance, Riku had asked Gortoberuk once again.

After she did that, Gortoberuk smile vanished from his face.

“I also believe that the provisional demon lord Charlotte should be dismissed.”

His face was showing an expression serious in all aspects. Without faultering in his voice, general Gortoberuk continued his words.

“If considering the future of the Demon Lord army, it is difficult to tolerate someone like that being at the top. Until now, I′ve been obeying her since she was the Demon Lord′s younger sister… But as to be expected, I′ve reached my limit.”

“In that case, isn′t it fine to kill her?”

With Riku saying that, Gortoberuk shook his head.

“…If you simply kill her, you will be accused of that crime. Besides, you, Colonel Riku… No, major general Riku… You are an existence that will be shouldering the Demon Lord army from now on. I don′t want to discard the junior generation for the sake of dethroning that woman.” 𝑓𝐫𝑒e𝒘𝚎𝘣𝚗𝘰𝘷𝐞𝑙.co𝑚

Gortoberuk′s eyes had a sharp glint on them.

To Riku, it didn′t seem like Gortoberuk was telling lies.

“I see. In that case… What do you intend on doing, general Gortoberuk?”

Riku calmly placed her halberd at her armpit as she said that. Although it was at her armpit, it was still at a place where she would be able to reach out for the halberd. If something was to happen, she would be able to immediately retaliate. In order to clear up Riku′s vigilance, Gortoberuk told her his plan with sincere thoughts.

“After eight days, together with colonel′s promotion to major general, they will also be holding a meeting. At that place, major general Riku is to propose the [dismissal of Charlotte]. Until then, we will be increasing our allies.”

“Allies? I don′t think there are any demons that would want to be allies with me though.”

Riku snorted.

Riku was aware that she was hated because she was a human. There was the looks of contempt she had always been given since she had been recruited at the Dragon Demon Division. She couldn′t think that something like that could be cleared away in only eight days no matter what.

As if he had read Riku′s thoughts, Gortoberuk raised three of his fingers.

“The demons participating at the meetings are divided into three groups. The first one is made of demons that will obey Charlotte no matter what. …It is impossible to drag in allies from this group. The second one is made of opportunistic demons. Actually, most of the demons are in this group. They are following Charlotte now, but they can easily change sides to where it is more convenient for themselves. They are fellows that can′t be trusted, but they will be what most of our allies are.”

Gortoberuk lowered down the first and the second finger he had raised. With his remaining finger, he pointed at Riku.

“The third group is of demons that has doubts on Charlotte′s methods even if it is a little. If we are able to pull some allies from there, we will be able to make the opportunistic demons move.”

In Riku′s mind, the image of Charlotte standing by herself at the meeting surfaced.

No matter how much authority she had, if they were to get allies to their side, she would become outnumbered. It will be possible to corner her into her dethronement.

If they were to succeed in doing so, Charlotte would become her “plaything”.

If she loses her title as the provisional demon lord, Charlotte would become a normal demon. Even if Riku boils or roasts Charlotte, she won′t be accused of any crime.

“I see…”

After hearing Gortoberuk′s words, Riku recovered her composure.

Even if she wins Leivein′s grudge, she will be able to avoid being judged by the other demons. Besides, the feeling of wanting to remain next to him once Leivein recovers his consciousness was also strong.

In order to make the future where she remains at her current position and continues to serve under Leivein become true, she needed to kill Charlotte herself no matter what.

Riku′s stiffen face softened.

“General, how many people are there in the meeting?”

After seeing Riku′s attitude, Gortoberuk let out a happy smile.

“A hundred demons will be gathering there. If we get the support of more than half of them, it will be our victory.”

Without any issues, both of them held each other′s hands.

With the hands that weren′t their dominant hand, both Riku and Gortoberuk firmly shook their hands.

Until the meeting, there were eight days left.

That was going to be the moment the trigger for the decisive battle had silently been pulled.