Each time the black-haired boy slammed Salama's face into the earth, blood and flesh sprayed outward, and the ground caved in beneath the impact. At first, Salama had frantically begged for mercy, but the boy ignored the pleas entirely, continuing the merciless beating without pause.
Not a single voice rose from the onlookers; an unnatural, stifling silence hung over the street. The only sounds echoing through that surreal scene were the thuds of the boy smashing Salama's head into the pavement and the frantic chattering of teeth from those forced to watch the horrific display.
Every face was pale, and several people had even collapsed where they stood, their legs giving out from sheer terror. I did not hold it against them as weakness. Anyone would have reacted the same way after witnessing such brutality.
(Evil...)
That was the only word truly fitting to describe him. The sight of him repeatedly battering the creature into the stone with a faint smirk, utterly indifferent to Salama's desperate cries for mercy, made him look like a member of the infamous Evil Army itself—no, an incarnation of evil far worse than they could ever be.
"After boasting so much, you went down from just this...?"
Clicking his tongue in mild annoyance, the black-haired boy carelessly hurled the limp, unconscious Salama aside like a piece of discarded garbage. Salama's eyes rolled back in its head, its face crushed beyond all recognition—a grim testament to the sheer violence of the assault.
Suddenly, a swirling pillar of crimson and black flames descended from the sky, taking the shape of a person. The Flame Demon fell to one knee, holding both hands horizontally before him to conceal the upper half of his face, and offered his counsel with deep reverence.
"Our Great One, most humbly and reverently do I implore you."
"What is it?"
"That creature is my kin. Might I ask you to leave the handling of this disgrace to me?"
"Handling that thing? I was planning to let Belze dispose of it, but since it's your subordinate... Fine. Do as you please."
At the boy's callous, dark joke, the Flame Demon bowed his head even lower.
"I am unworthy of such benevolence!"
Stepping over to the fallen beast, the Flame Demon kicked Salama's head upward. Salama stirred, regaining consciousness just enough to blearily look up with its one undamaged right eye. The moment their gazes locked—
"Lord Iblisss?!"
With a terrified shriek, Salama vanished into thin air alongside the Flame Demon, dispersing like smoke.
"That just leaves you, doesn't it?"
The black-haired boy turned his attention toward the young elf, Torla.
"W-Wait a second! Just wait! My father is the Prime Minister of Lorelei!"
Torla thrust both palms forward, frantically babbling in an utter panic.
"And?"
"What do you mean, 'And'?! If you lay a hand on me, it'll become an international incident!"
"Oh? Using violence against you makes it an international incident?"
"That's right! Exactly! Just try laying a single finger on me! You'll make Lorelei your enemy!"
"If what you say is true, you already attempted to destroy me. That means an international incident has already occurred, hasn't it?"
"W-What are you talking about?!"
"Surely you don't intend to peddle such sweet, naive logic as claiming that your one-sided violence isn't an international incident, but my retaliation is? If that's what you think, you are sorely mistaken. Going by your own logic, Lorelei has already made an enemy of me today."
"L-Lorelei will mark you for extermination, you hear me?!"
"The one who decides that is none other than you. So choose. Do you truly believe you are in the right and wish for war between me and Lorelei? Or will you admit your mistake and accept my discipline? Personally, either outcome makes no difference to me."
"The one you're picking a fight with is—the great nation of Lorelei!"
"Yes, which is precisely why I am asking if your homeland is truly prepared to have me as its enemy."
"A-Are you insane?!"
Staring back at Torla's stunned, disbelieving face, the boy merely shrugged.
"I am perfectly sane. And I have no intention of losing a war to anyone, no matter who they are. If we must fight, I will destroy Lorelei upon my warrior's pride."
He made the declaration with absolute, unshakable conviction.
"..."
As Torla stood there, his mouth flapping open and closed in speechless shock, the boy spoke again.
"Time's up. I'll hear your answer again after I've educated you."
Gripping his right fist with his left palm, the black-haired boy cracked his knuckles with a sickening pop, a sinister smile spreading across his face as he closed the distance.
"S-Stay away from me! You monster!"
To Torla's completely understandable scream, the boy replied coldly:
"I settle my accounts. I told you that already. Normally, an idiot like you who sacrifices his own allies would be sent straight to Belze, but since you appear to be a student, I'll give you a single chance to learn—unlike that foolish lizard. If you don't like it, try fighting back. With your own strength this time, of course."
"Aaaaggghhh!"
Watching Torla turn on his heel and run for his life, the black-haired boy let out a deep sigh.
"Running away without even trying to fight, are you?"
He muttered under his breath. An instant later, the boy vanished from sight. Torla's body suddenly flew into the air, spun several times in midair, and slammed violently onto the ground on his back.
"Guh!"
As Torla gasped for air, his face twisted in agony, the boy grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up.
"Listen well, brat, let me teach you something. The world isn't nearly as kind or merciful as you think. Once you stain your hands with villainy, it only ends when an even greater power crushes you to dust. That is the way of this world, overflowing as it is with the strong. That is precisely why we warriors must always act with our ultimate end firmly in mind."
Having delivered that quiet admonition, he drove his clenched right fist squarely into Torla's face.