Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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SS Escape


This time it's from Hannah's perspective.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

　A plan devised by Demon King-sama.
　It was to divide the heroes' group into three locations and attack them individually.
　It was an operation that deployed more than 80% of the current Demon King's forces.
　However, he said that it was not a strategy to defeat the heroes, but to reduce their strength and exhaust them.

"Third Corps Commander, First Corps Assistant Commander, you will take command from the rear."

　An order given directly by Demon King-sama.
　I would like to thank Demon King-sama for his concern, who ordered me to take command in the rear, perhaps having heard of my blunder in the battle, but ——— to be honest, I want to get away from the place where that terrifying presence is as soon as possible.
　The information that we most did not want to hear was already circulating to us from the place where we had intercepted the ice hero and the healing wizard.
　The devil appeared, they said.
　Or the devil summoned the magic beast.
　At that point, I no longer wanted to be here.

"Haaah..."

　I let out a big sigh and took out the communication magic tool that was installed in the branch office.
　This place, which is dedicated to the transmission of information, has five subordinates, each of whom is in charge of transmitting and controlling information about their respective units.
　I connected the signal to one of them ——— Nono's magic tool, whom I had recently appointed as my deputy.

"Nono, how's it going ove———"
"Hannah-sama!! T-That! That hero is soooo bad! He's faster than Shawn! No, Shawn! Your power is yet to come!! Shawn! Become the wind!! Shaaawn!! That's right, Shaaaawn!!"
"Soo noisy..."

　I frown at Nono, who is in high spirits, perhaps because she is in the middle of a battle.
　...That girl is going to survive somehow.
　While cutting off the sound of the unnecessarily noisy flying dragon duo, I let them check the situation again.

"Has there been any movement?"
"No, the hiding heroes are nowhere to be found, and we are still searching for them. The ones in the sky are being handled as best we can, but... the result is that we are only slowing him down."
"...This is tough."

　This is a good situation.
　This chaos is definitely a positive thing for me.
　Above all, having the Hero of Light wreaking havoc in the sky is a good thing.
　I wouldn't be surprised if some light magic is sent at us by mistake if it comes from the sky.

"Please search the location I will now instruct you to."

　Gather my subordinates around a map placed on a large long table.
　Instructions are given as to where the search will be conducted.
　These instructions are conveyed to the unit leaders, who in turn convey them to their subordinates, thus expanding the scope of the search.　

"Our greatest fear is that the heroes will meet each other."

　The reason why Demon King-sama divided the heroes is probably because he knew that ordinary soldiers would not be able to match the heroes who were together as a group.
　In addition———,

"Another thing we should be concerned about is if the heroes find out about the map."

　Right now, the heroes' movements are superficially restrained because the terrain is more favorable to us.
　If that advantage is lost, the heroes will head toward Demon King-sama almost unscathed. If that happens, it will be more than a blunder on our part.

"First, I want the leaders of each unit to provide security. Next, make sure that your subordinates have the information about the bluff. If the heroes find out about the map and try to take it from them, they will only be provided with false information."

　Make sure that command from the rear is solid.
　I'm not the type of person to cut corners when it comes to that sort of thing, and if I don't do my best, people will naturally become suspicious.
　When my subordinates are satisfied, I point to the map on the table.

"Also, considering the possibility that the heroes may rejoin, let's change the positions of the patrolling soldiers a little. Prepare to send instructions to the unit leaders of each section."
"""Yes!"""

　I seriously consider the situation and give instructions while predicting the actions of the heroes.
　In the process, I create a "hole" in the patrol area without being noticed by my subordinates.

"...And the rest seems to be fine without me."

　When my subordinates turn around and are about to go back to their work, I release a magic bullet of illusionary magic.
　The illusion I show them is simple.
　I sensed something strange outside and went to see what was happening, and I was hit by a direct hit of light magic that flew in like a stray bullet.
　I don't show them a clear scene of my death, but I'll show them a scene that hints at it.

"I've done what I had to do. I'll leave the rest to Gillett-san."

　I put the bag I had hidden over my shoulder, scattered the sword and other items that I knew belonged to me on the ground, and then dropped the blood I had prepared beforehand onto the ground to fake my own death.

"Alright... Let's go."

　Now my subordinates and no one will doubt my death.
　I have memorized all the maps, so there is no problem.
　Now all I have to do is move through the gaps in the patrol route and I should be able to get out.
　Outside the city, there is a dome-shaped barrier created by Demon King-sama, but all I have to do is hide out in the hiding place I have prepared until it disappears.
　The only thing that would remain would be the memory that I was killed by a hero, and I would be free.
　It was just too perfect a plan.

"Now I just have to make sure I don't run into any heroes."

　But the chances of that happening would be slim.
　In this vast city, the chance of the heroes and I, advancing alone, running into each other by chance would be almost zero.
　Even if I were to be found, I would be able to deal with anyone other than the healing wizard.

"..."

　It's not that I don't feel guilty about running away.
　A little bit, I feel sorry for the soldiers fighting here, but still I value myself above all else.

"Because I don't think there's a future ... for the demon tribe."

　The land is drying up, and the demons have no choice but to live on the dying land, but now they are surviving thanks to Demon King-sama.
　We were defeated in the previous battle, and now a group of heroes has come to harm the Demon King-sama.
　No matter how this battle ends, the Demon King's army———the Demon Tribe has no future.

"But even so, I want to be the one deceiving others... I don't want to be deceived anymore..."

　Kindness is meaningless in this dying land.
　The moment you show such a thing, the bread you have offered and everything you will need to survive will be taken away from you.
　As the land becomes more impoverished, the hearts of the demons, including mine, also become increasingly poorer.

"...Maybe that devil is a messenger to destroy us because we are like that."

　I laugh to myself as I say these words.

"What am I saying?"

　Even if that person isn't a real devil, I'm afraid of the healing wizard named Usato.
　It's scary how he has such a nice-looking face yet his actions are out of character.
　What was most frightening was that I sensed no lies at all in the words that came out of his mouth.

"...Turn left at the next corner, right?"

　After walking straight down the narrow passageway for a while, I tried to turn left down the passageway as I remembered it ——— but then someone jumped out from the corner.
　...Is it a soldier on patrol!
　However, I had anticipated the possibility of accidentally running into a soldier, so I quickly gathered magic power in both hands and cast an illusion spell on the person who appeared.
　If touched even slightly, it is an invincible magic that instantly lures you into a world of illusions.
　Whoever was facing it was supposed to have been affected by the illusion———,

"Mmph!"
"Haeh?!"

　———But when someone let out some kind of burst of willpower, the supposedly invulnerable Illusion Magic was forcibly repelled.
　Repelled?
　Eh? Did they repel it?

"Mmhmm!"
"Hiih?!"

　The next thing that approaches me is a pitch-black fist.
　It stopped just before it hit me, and an extraordinary wind pressure slammed into me.
　The man who stopped the fist looked down at me as I slumped to the ground.

"T-The Third Corps Commander...?! Why are you here?!"

　Visible through the gaps in his silver hair were eyes that seemed to pierce anyone who gazed upon them.
　The pitch-black fist that stops right in front of my eyes and nose.
　Although they look different, I know who the person in front of me is.

"Ah, ahhhh..."

　Why, of all things, the lowest chance of meeting him?
　Isn't that strange?
　Because there are so many soldiers patrolling here.
　Why is he running into me with pinpoint accuracy...?

"Could this sweet magic power be... yours...?!"

　What do you mean sweet magic power?
　Do you mean my soul?
　Is my soul sweet?
　It doesn't make sense anymore.
　I don't want to understand anything.
　I've had enough.

"I..."
"I?"　

　The healing wizard tilted his head.
　He had long hair and horns, and looked like a demon, but judging from his voice and facial features... No, in the first place, I've only ever seen one other inexplicable being who could blow away illusion magic with sheer force.
　The healing wizard seemed flustered as he saw tears spilling from my eyes.

"I'll tell you anything, so please spare me."
"Eh..."

　This world is too unreasonable.
　Especially to me.
　While feeling pathetic and half crying, I stopped resisting.
　And so ——— I sold my soul to the devil.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Notes:
With uncommon magic detection, Usato came straight to where Hannah was.
He is the one who is most bewildered by her crying and surrendering at the beginning of the encounter.

Nono was on the front line, which on the contrary she was saved.
Currently, her high tension and power of friendship are causing trouble for Kazuki in many ways.