MV – Chapter 133: The Demon and the Minor Villain

“Huh? Uh, how do I do it?”

Toko grimaced as he asked Chefei. It wasn’t a transmission from the communication system, but a voice that echoed within the dock. He didn’t know how to respond.

“They’re using a short-distance energy transfer system to send their voice. Sound alone can pass through the field without obstruction. We’ll use the same method, so just answer through this microphone.” (Chefei)

Chefei tossed a communication device about the size of a cigarette box, which Toko hastily caught. It was a black, monolith-like machine that he had never seen before. He opened his mouth hesitantly, wondering if he should speak into it.

“A-Alright. Um, this is Yoroizuka Toko. Can you hear me?” (Toko)

<<Hm? Yoroizuka? From where… Oh, the Yoroizuka family of the Armed Families-usa ne.>> (Tete)

Captain Tete consulted someone and responded right away. Toko felt relieved, hearing that they knew the name Yoroizuka, and regained his confidence. He then spoke more slowly, calculating that if they knew the Yoroizuka family’s power, they would likely be willing to compromise. He had conducted similar negotiations many times before.

“Exactly. I’m Toko, the eldest son. Right now, we’re in the middle of withdrawal operations, so I apologize, but could you move the airship a little? Of course, I will send an appropriate gift as an apology later.” (Toko)

“…………”

Toko’s somewhat condescending reply was met with silence.

(That’s right, that’s right. No one can ignore the words of the Yoroizuka family’s heir. They’ll let one ship pass.) (Toko)

He imagined using this favor to penetrate the Underground District and envisioned a future filled with glory, grinning to himself.

—However, the response was not what he expected.

<<I don’t really get it, but I don’t care-usa ne. Let me give you some advice, you should get out of there fast-usa yo. The soldiers of the Harkein and that demon ship are illegal-usa! You better surrender quickly-usa yo! You know the Hunter Guild shows no mercy-usa yo ne?>> (Tete)

It was a completely dismissive reply. Toko realized they weren’t paying any attention to him at all.

Chefei cast a cold gaze at the panicking Toko.

“What’s this? Not going well? That’s disappointing, Toko-kun.” (Chefei)

“N-No, this must be a mistake of some sort. I’ll contact the head of the Yoroizuka family right away and file a formal complaint—” (Toko)

“Kukukuku, do you really think the rigid Hunter Guild would listen? They pretend to be fair, but they’re a rotten organization that wants to take us down.” (Chefei)

Chefei raised a finger and laughed at Toko.

“You know what happens to people who fail, right?” (Chefei)

“W-Wait!” (Toko)

[Foxfire]

An overwhelming surge of mana burst forth from Chefei’s raised finger, creating flames. These weren’t ordinary flames; they were wrapped in pitch-black darkness and swelled like a tidal wave, engulfing Toko and his entourage.

“How does it feel to experience mana imbued with demonic power, Toko-kun? The wishes of demons are powerful. They even grant concepts to objects.” (Chefei)

The flames weren’t hundreds of millions of degrees hot. They were a few thousand degrees at best. However, the flames carried the magical concept of ‘burning’, incinerating anything they touched regardless of hardness.

When the tidal wave of flames dissipated, nothing remained but the deeply gouged earth. The girls surrounding Toko had been utterly consumed by the flames, leaving not even a trace of ash behind.

━━━ But Toko had dodged the attack.

“You bastard! What’s with the sudden attempt to kill me?!” (Toko)

Lightning wings flared from Toko’s back, transforming him into an aviator. He had performed [Element Fusion], fusing with the Thunder Spirit, Thunderbird, with which he had a contract, before the flames reached him.

“You have enough spirit power to counter demon power? I didn’t expect you could perform Element Fusion. So you weren’t just an idiot.” (Chefei)

Chefei mocked him, causing Toko’s face to flush red with anger. Summoning all his mana, his body began discharging blue plasma, scorching the air.

“How dare you kill my women! I’ll make you witness the power of the genius of the Yoroizuka family!” (Toko)

Toko was fueled by rage. He spread his plasma wings wide and traced a magic circle in the air.

“Take this! My strongest spell!” (Toko)

[Thor Hammer]

Plasma erupted from the magic circle. It was far hotter than the earlier foxfire, with enough heat to instantly turn anything it touched to ash.

The air filled with discharges as the lightning pillar crashed down upon Chefei and his subordinates. The smirking Chefei and his men were swallowed by the plasma, and a dome of plasma exploded, sending shockwaves tearing through the dock. The ship anchored nearby groaned under the pressure, and the dock was ravaged by the blast.

“Hmph, that’s the price for underestimating the Thunder God—?!” (Toko)

Toko was certain he had killed Chefei and his men, but he gasped, and stared at the ground below.

“Is that all? I figured you were a child, but it turns out your magic is on par with an infant’s.” 

━━━ There stood Chefei and his men, protected by a black dome, completely unharmed and calm.

“Well, that attack might have hurt my men. Maybe even killed them. But that won’t work on a superior officer. Not against my demonic barrier.” (Chefei)

Chefei raised his hand, and the black dome surrounding them gathered into his hand before disappearing.

Toko stared in shock and realized…

(I-I can’t win! Is this the strength of the Underground District? I-I have to run!) (Toko)

Toko’s body trembled as he spread his wings, terrified of Chefei’s overwhelming power. Fortunately, Toko, who used a Thunder Spirit, had confidence in his speed. No one could match him when it came to running away.

[Thunder God Wings]

Toko transformed into lightning itself and tried to flee from the scene, but…

His body jerked violently, and he was slammed hard into the ground.

“G-Gaha! W-What the…?” (Toko)

Dazed, Toko looked down at his body and grimaced. Something resembling chains had wrapped around his legs, preventing his escape.

“Don’t do something so cold as running away. Why don’t you show me a bit more of the so-called great Yoroizuka(?) family’s strength? You are a spiritian after all.” (Chefei)

Chefei laughed while holding the end of the chains, his sadistic nature clearly showing.

“If you take me hostage, you can get a ransom. You definitely can…. How about capturing me?” (Toko)

The defeated Toko begged for his life with a glimmer of hope, but Chefei simply shook his head.

“You understand, don’t you? We have no intention of taking prisoners. Do you want your final moment to be groveling like this?” (Chefei)

“D-Damn it! I’m supposed to be the heir of the Yoroizuka family! Why is this happening to me?!” (Toko)

Toko quickly stood as Chefei approached and swung a plasma blade that had formed in his hand.

“Nngh!”

[Thunder God Sword!]

Toko’s plasma sword moved with incredible speed, cleaving down from Chefei’s head —only for Chefei’s body to dissipate like smoke.

“That was good. You might have even been able to break through my barrier. Spiritians are certainly not to be underestimated. A desperate blow can overcome even a power gap.” (Chefei)

[Spear of Doom]

A voice came from behind, and a sharp pain shot through Toko’s chest. He looked down to find a gaping hole in his torso, realizing his barrier had been useless, and he had taken a fatal blow.

Toko staggered and his body began to dissolve into particles. But he still believed his chance to escape lay ahead. Once his spirit fusion ended, his true body would emerge. And that would happen far from here, in what he thought to be a safe location.

This dock was full of containers and cranes, and the dim lighting provided plenty of cover for an escape.

As he had predicted, his vision went black, and when he regained consciousness, he was hidden behind a container. He had managed to distance himself from Chefei and his men, and there was no one around.

(If I stay hidden here… I can survive. Watch me. I’ll get my revenge for how you mocked the Yoroizuka family.) (Toko)

“Being able to think you can escape is such a spiritian mindset. You lot always hide like insects, crawling into the shadows of rocks to skulk around.”

Chefei’s voice came from behind, and Toko’s body froze. He peeked out from behind the container and saw Chefei giving orders to his subordinates. 

Why then was Chefei’s voice coming from behind him?

“You might have escaped if it wasn’t me. You’re really unlucky.”

After those words rang, a sharp pain shot through his chest again. Toko, his face twisted in fear, didn’t even look down at his chest this time. He knew without looking…this was the end.

“This…isn’t how…it should have gone…” (Toko)

And so, after uttering his final words, Toko collapsed to his knees and breathed his last.

Chefei, who had been standing behind him, vanished like smoke, leaving only the corpse of a young man consumed by ambition.

◇◇

<<This is the Hunter Guild. Stop that demon ship right now-usa yo! Listen to what I am saying-usa!>>

Chefei chuckled darkly, his face twisted with amusement, as the repeated blaring orders echoed in the background.

“How many years have we been asleep?” (Chefei)

“Hmm, according to the measurement device, it’s been about 1,200 years, Lieutenant.”

Chefei laughed even harder at his subordinate’s answer.

“So, they’ve been spouting the same nonsense for over a thousand years? They really don’t change, do they?” (Chefei)

“Indeed. Well, they’re like computers without a will of their own. Just ghosts, really.”

“Exactly. Those guys really are not fit to rule this world.” (Chefei)

Chefei’s expression turned serious after laughing for a while.

“Alright, everyone, it’s been a long time since we’ve been on the battlefield. Open all the bulkheads! Prepare the demon ship Forneus for takeoff! Our destination is the Lunatic Library!” (Chefei)

The ceiling began to open with a deep rumble. The multiple thick bulkheads were unlocked one after another, causing debris to scatter down.

And then, as the final bulkhead opened, sunlight poured in, and…a figure flew into the room.

“Lieutenant, a Gunrabbi from the Hunter Guild has infiltrated!”

“Good. Let’s show these ghosts our power for the first time in a thousand years. You all, follow me!” (Chefei)

With a wide grin almost as if it would tear its sides, Chefei kicked off the ground and took to the skies.

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