The voice was revealed to be Bordeaux.
He stood calmly, holding what appeared to be a lifeless body in one hand.
"And Shizue Izawa," Bordeaux said flatly,
"you disappoint me. How can one who caused me pain die at the hands of this weakling?"
Orthos' grip loosened and Shizue fell to the floor, gasping as she looked up.
Orthos turned slowly to face Bordeaux.
Shizue forced her head up and whispered,
"Y–you are…"
Bordeaux glanced at her.
"It is my policy to keep my promises," he said.
"I hope you are the same, Shizue."
He smiled faintly and then casually threw the body onto the stone floor.
The King rose from his throne in panic.
"W–what's this?!"
The corpse suddenly ignited.
Black flames consumed it in seconds, revealing a lifeless lesser demon.
The minister shot to his feet.
"Impossible… Our knights are renowned for their unrivaled strength!"
Bordeaux turned his head slightly toward him.
"You call it unrivaled strength," he said,
"because they can kill a mere Lesser Demon."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your standards for strength are far too low."
The King scowled.
"You are indeed strong," he said, forcing confidence,
"but you are no match for us."
The minister sneered.
"After the Conqueror of Flames, you will be next. Just wait—"
The sentence never finished.
A silent Cleave flashed through the air.
The minister's head separated cleanly from his shoulders and spun across the floor.
Blood sprayed against the walls.
Bordeaux didn't even look back.
He turned toward the King and started walking towards him.
The King collapsed where he stood, scrambling backward in terror.
"It can't be… we have the protection of a Greater Demon—"
Bordeaux seized his head mid-scream.
"Stop squealing," he said coldly.
"You trash."
His fingers tightened.
With a wet, crushing sound, the King's skull caved in.
Blood splattered across the chamber.
Orthos watched the scene unfold with a smile, making no attempt to intervene.
Behind him, Shizue stared in disbelief.
I thought he had merely escaped…
I never imagined he was out hunting demons disguised as humans.
Bordeaux turned and started walking towards Orthos and casually crushed the demon-transformed head of the Knight he had killed earlier beneath his foot as he walked.
Orthos laughed.
"Just because you defeated our puppet," Orthos said,
"do you think you can defeat an Archdemon?"
Bordeaux continued walking toward him without slowing.
Orthos' smile widened.
"A lower demon like you can't—"
The world blurred.
In an instant, Bordeaux vanished.
Orthos felt an iron grip clamp around his throat as he was lifted off the ground.
Bordeaux's face was inches from his own, wearing the widest smile yet.
Orthos screamed as pain tore through him.
Bordeaux spoke in a dangerously calm voice.
"Who are you calling lower?"
His grip tightened.
"For a dependent of Rouge," he continued,
"you are quite overconfident."
Orthos clawed uselessly at Bordeaux's arm, his face turning red.
"That's why," Bordeaux said softly,
"you can't judge how powerful your opponents truly are."
Orthos wheezed, blood leaking from the corners of his eyes.
"I–impossible… you… you are—"
"You've disgraced yourself," Bordeaux cut in.
"Associating with these insects."
His smile sharpened.
"You don't deserve to live. I will destroy your very soul so you can never be revived."
The pressure increased.
Blood streamed from Orthos' eyes as his screams turned frantic.
"No—no—!"
Bordeaux's smile became utterly sinister.
Just then, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"Bordeaux-sama," it said calmly,
"if you continue… you really are going to kill him, you know."
Bordeaux paused.
He turned his head toward the newcomers, then casually released his grip.
Orthos dropped to the floor, coughing violently as he clutched his throat.
"My bad," Bordeaux said lightly.
"I got a little excited there."
The two figures standing at the entrance were Jinny and Jenny. The Silver Wings.
Orthos' eyes widened.
"Impossible… The Silver Wings?" he rasped.
"There's no way you should be alive."
Jinny smiled, a sharp and unsettling smile.
"What is it, Orthos?" she said.
"Are you surprised?"
Shizue stared in disbelief.
The Silver Wings…
How are they still alive?
Bordeaux chuckled.
"I might, or might not have brought them back to life," he said casually.
"Forgive me."
Shizue's shock deepened.
"Brought them back to life…?" she said.
"How is that even possible?"
Bordeaux waved a hand dismissively.
"Oh, it's quite simple really," he said.
"I just told them to come back to life… and they did."
Orthos' face drained of color.
"You… you…" he stammered.
"You are the same kind of being as Guy-sama."
His voice trembled.
"A Primordial… How are you here? Why are you here?"
Shizue's thoughts raced.
So he really is a Primordial…
But Demon Lord Leon never mentioned a Maroon-colored one…
The Silver Wings were equally shaken.
Jinny stared at Bordeaux.
"You're a Primordial…?"
Jenny turned to her sister.
"Sister… how did you summon something like that?"
Orthos looked at them in horror.
"You summoned him?" he shouted.
"You summoned him?! Do you have any idea what kind of monster you dragged into this world?!"
His voice cracked.
"A threat far, far greater than me!"
He laughed hysterically.
"Are you idiots?!"
Bordeaux chuckled softly.
"Don't worry yourselves too much," he said.
"I have no intention of staying here beyond my short-term goals."
His eyes glinted.
"But make no mistake, I will fully manifest in this world someday."
He smiled.
"Just not yet."
Shizue clenched her fist.
I knew he was strong…
But I underestimated him this badly?
Her thoughts darkened.
Can Ilfrit even defeat him…?
He cannot be allowed to roam free.
Jinny stepped forward.
"Shizue Izawa," she said firmly.
"Will you lend us your strength to kill this demon Orthos?"
Shizue blinked.
"Huh…?"
"Can't Bordeaux, was it? Just kill him?"
Jenny shook her head.
"He could," she said calmly.
"But we want to take our revenge ourselves."
She looked at Orthos.
"But we know our limits. We can't defeat him alone."
Shizue pushed herself to her feet.
"…Alright," she said.
"I'll help."
Orthos' eyes darted between them.
That demon already shaved away most of my soul, he thought.
I can't win against the three of them… It's impossible.
Panic set in.
I have to retreat. I need to recover my strength.
Suddenly—
A barrier snapped into place, sealing the room.
Orthos froze.
He spun around, attempting to teleport.
Nothing happened.
Bordeaux chuckled.
"We can't have you running away now," he said pleasantly.
"Stay here and face your punishment, you vile being."
Orthos looked up at him.
At that smiling face.
Despair flooded his chest.
This…
This is the end, isn't it?
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