I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [304] [100 PS]

As Nero deliberated, Darkness boldly stepped forward and addressed Vanir with a commanding voice.

"Hey! What are you doing here, suspicious guy? If you're making those dolls, then that means you're the source of this monster chaos, aren't you?"

She drew her greatsword and assumed an aggressive stance, ready to face him down.

Nero thought Darkness's approach was rather reckless... but it probably wouldn't matter much.

From what Nero understood, while Vanir was the highest-ranking Demon Duke, he was one of the least harmful to humans. Since humans could constantly produce the negative emotions Vanir found so delicious, he abided by a personal principle of "not killing humans."

Nero also remembered that Vanir was nicknamed the "Demon of Clairvoyance." His eyes could see anything he wished to, akin to Merlin's abilities. Perhaps this was why his personality bore a resemblance to Merlin's—he enjoyed observing the choices made by people in various predicaments, often with an unsettling fascination.

However, unlike the half-incubus Merlin, Vanir thrived on negative emotions such as contempt, disappointment, and shame. He frequently orchestrated embarrassing situations just to elicit these reactions.

Darkness's outburst successfully drew Vanir's attention from his diligent doll-making.

"Ohhh... I didn't expect anyone to make it here. Adventurers! Welcome to my dungeon! You're absolutely right. I am indeed the source of this chaos, the root of all evil! A general of the Demon King's army! The Demon Duke who commands the forces of Hell! The Great Demon who can see through all things—Vanir!"

Vanir set down his work and rose to his feet, giving the group a theatrical bow as if performing on stage.

Combined with his evening suit, his mannerisms resembled a performer more than a fearsome demon.

"Kazuma... that guy looks really dangerous. Stay behind me," Nero said.

She drew her massive sword, Aestus Estus, gripping it with her left hand as she steadily advanced to Darkness's side.

Kazuma, however, was already hiding behind Nero without needing to be told.

"A—a Demon King's general?!" he stammered, clutching her shoulder. "Darkness! This is way out of our league! If he's a general, we should just leave this to Nero!"

"Kazuma! How can you say something so cowardly? As a servant of the goddess Eris, I cannot back down when faced with a Demon King's general, especially a demon! Even if it means perishing together, I will strike him down!"

"You always get stubborn at the worst possible times!"

Though "Demon Duke of Hell" was a far more ominous title than "Demon King's General," both Kazuma and Darkness seemed fixated on the latter.

Hell was, after all, the counterpart to the Celestial Realm. The demons of Hell had waged an eternal war against the divine beings of the heavens, with victories and losses on both sides. As the commander of Hell's forces, Vanir was undoubtedly a being as fearsome as Aqua in her prime.

...Though for some reason, Vanir didn't seem all that intimidating in person.

Vanir's grin widened at Darkness's declaration.

"Oh? You intend to defeat me? To vanquish one who may be even stronger than the Demon King himself? But… worried that the man bathing next to you might see your chiseled abs and expose the truth of your muscular frame? I don't know why you're so angry, but I've heard that gnawing on small bones can help relieve frustration. My mask is partially crafted from the skull of a magical dragon—you may take a bite if you wish."

As Vanir spoke, Darkness's face turned beet red. She screamed, "That's nonsense!" and charged at him, sword in hand, only to be held back by Kazuma.

Vanir, unfazed by Darkness's mortified rage, smiled slyly and began explaining his motives.

While Vanir bore the title of Demon King's General, the Demon King lacked the authority to command him. His role was mostly honorary, helping to maintain the barrier around the Demon King's castle.

Vanir had come to the dungeon partly at the Demon King's request to investigate the death of the Dullahan, Beldia. But he also had a personal agenda: visiting his old friend Wiz, the lich who ran a magic item shop in Axel.

Upon hearing this, Kazuma and Darkness instinctively glanced at Nero.

After all, it was Nero who had defeated Beldia.

"Hmm? I see... I see..." Vanir's eyes glowed ominously behind his mask as he turned his gaze toward Nero. "So it was you who defeated Beldia? And with such overwhelming force, in a one-on-one duel no less... Thank you for answering my questions in your heart! The girl beside you, shyly fantasizing about all the unpredictable punishments this man might inflict on her, and the cowardly man who's secretly curious about his female teammate's romantic inclinations yet does nothing because they're in the same party..."

"I—I wasn't fantasizing!"

"I—I wasn't curious!"

So this was the so-called Demon of Clairvoyance. His ability to see through people's thoughts was genuinely terrifying.

It was said that Hell's long-standing stalemate with the heavens, despite the latter's vast pantheon of gods, was largely thanks to Vanir. His clairvoyance allowed him to anticipate and counter the heavens' strategies, ensuring Hell always had the upper hand.

These two are already useless, Nero thought, her brow furrowing as she warily studied Vanir.

If he could see into her own heart...

The thought made her stomach turn. Without hesitation, Nero used [Imperial Privilege EX] to teleport behind Vanir, her sword wreathed in flame, aiming straight for his head.

"Oh my! How dangerous..."

Vanir bent at the waist, narrowly dodging Nero's strike. His smirk, however, remained insufferably smug.

"Such an impulsive attack! The woman beside that man who's contemplated abandoning his three burdensome companions to join your party instead... your impatience is written all over your face. What secret are you hiding so desperately? Let me take a peek... Hmm? Why can't I see?"

Vanir's ever-present confident grin faltered, replaced by genuine astonishment.

Though his clairvoyance could pierce through the minds of angels and lesser gods, it was completely ineffective against the red-gowned woman standing before him.

To make matters stranger, Nero exuded no trace of divinity—not even the faint holy aura of a high priestess. She seemed, outwardly, like a mere mortal with exceptional combat skills.

Vanir's confusion left him momentarily vulnerable.

"Umu! Now's the time!"

With emerald eyes gleaming, Nero surged forward, closing the distance in a single step. Before Vanir could react, her flaming sword sliced through his body.

The blade entered at his left shoulder and exited through his right hip, leaving a glowing, fiery gash across his torso.

"Gah—! I… A Duke of Hell... defeated… like this?! Gah—aaaaargh!"

Vanir clutched the wound, roaring in fury and disbelief.

In the next instant, flames erupted from the gash, consuming his body entirely. Within moments, nothing remained but a pile of black ash—and a single eerie black-and-white mask.

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T/N: hmm what was Nero hiding? idkk