I heard the trumpets blaring before I even realized what was happening.
It was a sound announcing the apocalypse, a melody praising the descent of a Demon King... and as it resonated, the air itself died. Pure, crushing pressure ruled over everything.
Bizarre. Abnormal. Alien.
A presence so violent and repulsive filled the atmosphere that, the moment I emerged from the sea, I couldn't help but stare.
"Lumia-dono!? We haven't saved Reima-dono yet!"
"Sorry, Samurai Maid... but if we don't back off right now, we're as good as dead."
This shouldn't be happening, I thought.
Knowing that idiot's personality, he would never have summoned that specific entity of his own free will. But at the same time, I knew the truth. The scales within us Summoned Beasts always tip when our Master's life is on the line.
I looked up at the sky. A cocoon hung there, trembling on the verge of eclosion.
I could see the armor sloughing off, the form within mutating. Logically, I knew that if we were to destroy it, now was our only chance. But considering that idiot’s intentions, I knew this was all for the sake of saving Master—
"You’re going to get such a lecture from Master later, Gluttony."
Ah, it was time. The descent of a Demon King.
The one who governed Gluttony, the one who devoured all... the [Monster] was waking up.
"Listen, Samurai Maid. We’re going to have to fight too, but this is about to become an absurdly stupid battle. Steel yourself."
The cocoon began to melt.
Light overflowed from the center, and that thing descended as if stepping down from the heavens.
It had the same face as Baal, but it possessed six pairs of white wings, looking for all the world like a great [Angel]. It wore white gloves and gentlemanly attire, resembling a count from some far-off land. Yet, its aura was overwhelmingly demonic, a thick veil of malice that made me sick just looking at it.
"The air is good. It makes me hungry. But first, I must deal with the flies swarming around the King."
He spoke a single sentence, and in the next moment, a wet, slurping sound echoed through the air.
It was the signature of his magic. The Krakens that had been prowling the sea were suddenly flung into the sky. Without a moment's grace, they were enveloped in blue flames and incinerated.
"[Well-done]. Now... for the jellyfish."
He turned his attention to Charybdis, the monster that had swallowed Master.
I felt the creature try to flee beneath the waves, but nothing was allowed to escape his presence. He literally devoured the distance between them, dragging the monster toward him before slicing it in two with a knife he had produced from nowhere.
"Ah... O Hero-King who once defeated me. This reunion after so long... it brings me such delightful joy."
The [Demon Lord of Gluttony] trembled with ecstasy, tears actually streaming down his face.
He had already encased Master in a magical cocoon, shifting into a state of absolute protection. Now, he turned his gaze toward me in the water and Belphe, who was circling in the sky. It was a repulsive, appraising look, like he was staring at a piece of meat he hadn't tasted before.
"Lust and Sloth, is it? Honestly, the King keeps such entertaining company. To think my enemies this time would be my own compatriots."
"I have one question," I said. "How much of your memory is actually intact?"
"Memories? Why would I bother discussing such things with an opponent? Besides, there is no way I would ever share the precious records of my time with the King with outsiders."
This thing doesn't know how Master's story ended.
He couldn't. He had been sealed inside Baal all this time. I’d heard he was loyal, but this level of worship was beyond my expectations. He was intent on keeping Master alive, but it looked like he considered everyone else an enemy.
"Now then, shall we begin? Scorpion and Phoenix are such rare delicacies... I'm quite looking forward to this."
"Sigh. Seriously... Master better heal me after this, or I'm going to complain."
"Lumia, I’ll take command," Belphe called out. "Friends, if you lose your focus for a second, you’re dead. Do your best."
They must have realized from his aura alone that this wasn't a normal fight.
Everyone raised their weapons to face him. His wings spread wide, and he gripped a knife and fork in his hands. The battle against the Demon King had begun.
"Now, let us begin the meal. Ah, right. In honor of the King, allow me to offer these words... I humbly partake."
[Table of the Flies] expanded across the horizon.
It was the same technique Baal had used to pollute the Kingdom of Storms. A [Barrier Magic] that functioned as both a feeding ground and a kitchen, it reproduced every conceivable method of cooking and imposed them upon enemies as a series of trials.
"First, shall we wash our hands? If you don't, you aren't even fit to sit at the table."
Dozens of water spears materialized around Beelzebub. Each one was imbued with a magic power so distorted and sharp that they looked like they could harvest a soul with a mere graze.
I readied my spear and funneled my mana into it. As long as it's magic, I can break it.
I lunged forward in a single, explosive leap, shattering every spell within my reach.
"Ha! Even though you look like a mere maid, you won't even let me finish the preparations?"
"Cut the crap. Give us Master’s butler back."
"Impossible. By the contract with my other side, I have no intention of retreating until I have devoured my enemies."
"We aren't even your enemies, you moron... why won't you just go back quietly?"
"‘Not enemies,’ you say? That is an impossibility. Even if you were allies, any being that allows the King to fall into danger has no value. In that case, I shall simply take the liberty of thinning the herd."
Yeah, this guy is definitely dangerous.
It wasn't just that our values didn't align or that he was strong. He was a Demon King in the truest sense—a monster straight out of the [Scripture]. I could see why Baal hated him so much. Anyone would be pissed if they were forced to look at such a distorted reflection of themselves.
"Cutting is the basic first step of any meal, is it not?"
Swords appeared in the sky... no, they were oversized, razor-sharp kitchen knives.
They rained down in countless numbers. Created through alchemy and possessing actual mass, they were impossible to simply "dispel," and their sheer velocity was enough to shred us to ribbons. However, the entire volley was pulverized by a sudden, draconic charge.
"Hey. Are you Beelzebub?"
It was the black-haired boy straddling the dragon.
Makoto—the friend Master had made in this world. He asked the question while radiating pure, unadulterated rage.
"Indeed I am. And you... you possess the power of a dragon? Fascinating."
"I've heard all about you from Master Baal," Makoto said, his voice low. "So I'm only going to say this once: give Master his body back."
"‘Master,’ is it? I am also Baal. Will you not show me the same respect?"
"My master is [Baal Wild Hunt], and him alone! Besides, there's no way you could ever be my teacher. My teacher doesn't hurt his comrades!"
Bellowing in fury, the boy triggered his [Dragonification].
Silver scales rippled across his body as he leveled a magnificent spear at the Demon King, his eyes glowing with a predatory red light.
"If you're going to keep using my teacher's face to throw this tantrum, then I'll be your opponent!"
"Is that so?" Beelzebub smiled. "Then struggle well, enemy of the King!"