I Finished Saving the World, But Then I Picked Up a Girl With Amnesia - Chapter 13

“…Ahem. I’ll keep this brief and stick to the important points. The high-ranking devil I killed yesterday was not aware of ‘magic’ as it exists on our side.”

“That means…”

“Yes, that devil was a ‘new existence.'”

Aria’s expression grew even graver.

The mages and knights who had been holding their breath while listening to their exchange stiffened at the heavy air filling the room.

However—

“…Uh, sorry, Shana. I gotta admit, saying it in such a roundabout way doesn’t really make much sense to me. Like, I get that you’re smart and all, but this is an emergency and the connection could cut out any second. Could you just say it more straightforwardly?”

“Idiot princess.”

“Shut up already!”

The knights and mages, reminded that their leader wasn’t exactly the sharpest after years of adventuring, quietly returned to their assigned tasks.

“You really are an unbelievably dense musclehead, aren’t you?”

Shana let out a deep sigh.

But the Sage’s voice grew firm as she clarified her point.

“The devils attacking you were born after the Demon King was defeated. They’re fledglings. Feel free to beat them to a pulp.”

“…Couldn’t you have just said that from the start?”

“I had so much more I wanted to explain, but I dumbed it down so much for you!”

The Sage’s frustrated outburst was immediately followed by a sharp click.

“Ah.”

“It seems the connection has been severed…”

So, the line had been cut.

“…Ahem.”

After clearing her throat, Aria shifted gears once again.

“Everyone, listen carefully.”

In perfect unison, everyone in the room straightened their posture.

“First, we will abandon this position. Use the underground passages to move to the town as quickly as possible. However, bring any supplies that can be carried. All personnel are to devote themselves fully to the town’s defense.”

“But Your Highness, that would leave you alone—”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Aria’s voice was resolute.

“I will face the enemy myself.”

There was no hesitation in her words.

“Prepare my armor and sword.”

“Understood.”

“And begin the emergency teleportation for them immediately.”

“As you command.”

The Hero and the girl were carried in their sleep to the emergency teleportation magic circle. It was barely large enough to accommodate the two of them together.

Looking at the peacefully sleeping Hero’s face, Aria smiled softly.

“…Ah, geez.”

She knelt down and lightly touched his cheek.

“We finally got to meet again after so long, and now we have to be apart again.”

But for now, this was the only way.

“I’ll protect you. No matter what.”

Her short declaration didn’t reach his ears.

—

“Burn.”

It was only a few hours until dawn.

But before the sunrise could arrive, the mansion was suddenly and completely engulfed in flames.

There was no apparent point of origin. The entire structure was consumed in an instant.

The unnatural intensity of the flames was clearly the result of magic. And the perpetrator, hidden in the shadows, was watching the blazing inferno.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t a human.

“Ah, what a waste. If there were any women inside, we could’ve caught them for some fun.”

“Quit your whining, you fool.”

They were devils.

The beast-like devil, crude in speech and appearance, sneered as it licked its lips.

“Was it really necessary to go this far? If you burn it this hot, there won’t even be bones left.”

“No amount of preparation or caution is too much when dealing with the Hero.”

The calm, two-horned devil added with irritation, “After all, one of us has already been eliminated by that Sage.”

“I have no intention of losing due to a lack of preparation. That’s why I meticulously set up such large-scale anti-base magic.”

“This is boring. Nothing to do but watch.”

“Once you confirm the Hero and the girl’s corpses, you’re free to do as you like. Go down to the town and play with the humans if you wish.”

“Sounds good. Watching this dirty bonfire will pass the time for now.”

The beast-like devil laughed, exhaling a puff of white breath.

“…Huh?”

Only then did it notice that its breath was visible. The surrounding temperature had dropped significantly.

“Hey, what the hell is—”

“Stop babbling. Prepare yourself.”

The two-horned devil glared at the burning mansion and muttered.

“They’re coming.”

And in the next moment, the flames were extinguished.

To be more precise, the entire mansion was frozen solid in an instant.

“Hah… Are you serious? It’s completely frozen!”

“I can see that.”

The area surrounding the mansion was farmland and trees. Now, even the leaves bore a thin layer of frost.

The noise of burning and collapsing structures had vanished, replaced by utter silence.

The light from the fire, which had illuminated the area so vividly, was gone, deepening the shadows of the night.

Pale moonlight peeked through the clouds, shining down on the frozen mansion.

The front entrance shattered and exploded outward.

With the sound of cracking ice underfoot, something emerged.

Its heavy footsteps moved forward at a measured pace.

Clad entirely in rugged, blue-silver armor, the figure no longer bore the silhouette of a delicate woman. From head to toe, it was covered in a full-face helmet, hiding any trace of expression.

A full suit of armor.

It was the kind of full plate armor that had been refined functionally to its extreme.

“Tch. Can’t even tell if it’s a hot chick under all that.”

The beast-like devil spat in disdain.

There was no exposed skin—every part of the figure was covered by armor. Only the slightly shorter stature compared to a man and the faint curve of the chest suggested its gender.

“And dual swords, huh? Looks like someone came ready to throw down.”

The knight held two massive greatswords, each nearly her height, one in each hand.

“Good evening.”

To their surprise, a sweet, cheerful voice echoed from within the helmet.

“That little bonfire earlier… was that your handiwork?”

“Confirmed. I take it you’re the knight?”

The two-horned devil responded in a polite tone.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The red-haired girl and the Hero were staying here, weren’t they? If you know where they are, tell us. It will save us the trouble of unnecessary killing.”

“I see… A negotiation. How devil-like.”

She nodded slightly, the sound of metal faintly ringing from her helm.

Her expression was hidden entirely behind the full-face helmet. Annoying, the two-horned devil thought, letting out a mental click of his tongue.

“Indeed. Your answer?”

“I refuse. Let me ask you instead—are you willing to give me any information?”

“What’s your price?”

“Your lives, guaranteed in this moment.”

The devils thought it an absurdly condescending offer for a mere human.

“I refuse.”

“Heh… Guess the deal’s off.”

The beast-like devil grinned and licked its lips.

The two-horned devil spread its wings wide.

“Very well—”

Her tone shifted.

Her right-hand greatsword swung casually.

A single flash.

With just that single motion, the beast-like devil’s head was severed and fell to the ground.

At the feet of the wide-eyed two-horned devil, a flower of blood bloomed on the icy surface.

“—I warned you.”