And just like that, I was out of gold coins.
I was in a serious bind.
Don't tell me you didn't know who I was? Oh, come now. You really didn't? That was cold.
I was Prada. I was a Devil currently fighting a lonely, desperate battle against an opponent who refused to let me escape, no matter how much I wanted to.
Something was wrong. Lord Gucci’s reinforcements were nowhere to be seen. I had arrived in Shashato City that morning, and the moment I sensed Beton’s presence, I had sent word to him. By the time Beton and I finally crossed paths and moved the fight to this location, it was already past noon. Plenty of time had passed. I had even left a trail of markers so they could find me. So why hadn't they arrived?
If this kept up, I was going to be finished. Completely and utterly done for. I wasn't the combat type, whereas Beton lived for it. There was no way this could even be called a fair fight.
Wait. Why was I still alive?
There was only one possibility: Beton was weakened. I didn't know what had happened to her, but she was clearly too drained to finish me off quickly.
A ray of hope! I could do this! I could win, I could win, I could win—as if!
What was I thinking? My thoughts were being steered. That was Beton's specialty, wasn't it? That was a narrow escape. Or rather, why hadn't I realized I was being manipulated until just now? Once the thought occurred to me, everything clicked.
I was inside her barrier. The moment I had stepped onto this field, I had already fallen into her trap. This likely wasn't even the location I thought it was. That was why Lord Gucci's forces hadn't found me.
Even my sense of time had been distorted. Perhaps because I had finally become conscious of the barrier, the sun suddenly plummeted below the horizon. It seemed I had been fighting Beton for a considerable amount of time. No wonder I had burned through my gold coins so quickly.
I was at my wit's end. What was I supposed to do? The fact that I was still breathing proved Beton was weakened, but I had exhausted my only means of offense. If this stalemate continued, I was a goner.
Damn it, I still wanted to eat more ramen. And the curry from Maruura. I wanted to have the food from the Village of the Great Tree at least one more time... no, ten more times. And I hadn't seen nearly enough art yet!
Someone, please, save me!
"I shall assist you."
The voice came out of nowhere. Stepping into the middle of the fray between Beton and me was a woman of the Devil Race wearing a maid uniform. Was she one of Lord Gucci's subordinates? I hoped so, but I quickly realized she wasn't. Her uniform was different from mine. It was... classic? A much older style.
Then it hit me. Her name was Erme. She was Lady Versa’s maid.
Lady Versa was a Devil even older than Lord Gucci. I didn't know the full extent of her power, but since Lord Gucci always treated her with the utmost respect, she had to be someone significant. As a maid serving such a person, Erme was likely a powerhouse in her own right. She had managed to waltz right into Beton's barrier, after all.
I cast aside my pride and begged. "Help me! Save me!"
"Prada, have a little dignity," Beton spat, but I ignored her.
"Prada-san. As she says, perhaps you could show a bit more pride?" Erme added.
"Be quiet! What good is pride when I'm about to die? Just help me already!"
"Very well, I understand. However, the truth is that I cannot personally fight."
I blinked. "Huh? Why not?"
"An ancient contract."
"Don't think you can just hand-wave everything with that excuse!"
"Even so, we of the Devil Race must honor our contracts, mustn't we?" Erme replied smoothly. "But that does not mean I am without options."
"Meaning?"
"While I cannot fight, I can bring someone who can."
My eyes lit up. "Oh! Then please, do that! Lord Gucci's forces should be nearby. Bring them!"
"Unfortunately, that will be difficult. It seems they finished clearing the magic circles in Shashato City and went home."
They... went home? Was she joking? "Home? You're kidding, right?"
"This is hardly the time for jests. But do not worry. I shall bring someone capable of opposing that Devil."
"R-Really? You can actually bring someone who can stand up to Beton?"
"Leave it to me. Though, while I am fetching them, you will have to hold the line alone for a little while longer, Prada-san."
"Please, hurry!"
"Oh, it will be but an instant. I shall be bringing them by force."
With that, Erme vanished.
"Getting in and out of my barrier as she pleases... how irritating," Beton growled.
I realized with a sinking feeling that I was now expected to buy time against a very angry Beton. And I did it. I really did my best. I managed to stay alive until Erme returned with her reinforcement.
I thought the battle was as good as won. But when I saw the person she had brought...
How should I put this? He was... a portly, elderly man? No, I shouldn't lie to myself. He was a middle-aged man of the Demon Race who was quite fat. He was dressed in fine silks, so he was clearly someone of high status, but who was he? He looked incredibly weak.
"Erme-san! Erme-san, someone else! Please, bring someone else!"
"He will be perfectly fine on his own. Just watch."
Watch? Watch what? I made sure to stay out of the way. I was an ally! The enemy was over there!
Whether he had been briefed by Erme or not, the fat middle-aged man drew the sword at his hip and lunged at Beton. To my surprise, his strike was remarkably sharp. He cleaved Beton clean in two, right across the middle.
But it was useless. Blades didn't work on Beton. She simply stood there as if nothing had happened.
"I see. You truly are a Devil," the man remarked. He took a few steps back and leveled his sword again. "Forgive my sudden strike. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Watogang. Watogang Pugyal. I hold the rank of Count in the Demon Kingdom."
Count Pugyal? Wait, Erme-san, is it really okay to drag a high-ranking noble into this? I didn't want to deal with the political fallout later!
Ignoring my panic, Beton addressed the Count. "I am Beton Guri Anon."
"Beton... To face a Great Devil whose name is etched in history... it is an honor."
"Fufufu. Do you truly believe a mere member of the Demon Race can defeat one of the Devil Race?"
"A dated perspective. I have spent a lifetime training to overcome opponents I supposedly cannot beat. Here I come!"
He charged, but I wanted to scream. Didn't he see? Swords were useless!
Halfway to Beton, Count Pugyal discarded his sword. He lunged forward and slammed his bare fist into her. He didn't stop there—using his momentum, he followed up with a sharp elbow strike and a heavy shoulder tackle.
Every single blow connected. Beton looked genuinely shocked.
"Being famous has its drawbacks. Beton of the Disease Demon. A blade cannot cut a sickness. What can oppose disease is a tempered, healthy body. If it is a brawl you want, I am more than a match for you."
"Guh... I will not forget this!"
Beton’s focus shifted entirely to Count Pugyal. Thank goodness, I was saved!
But I couldn't just relax. I suddenly remembered something important. Count Pugyal was the father of Gol’s wife. He was family to the boys from the village. That meant he was someone I absolutely had to protect.
"You, the maid over there. I shall leave the defense to you."
Count Pugyal’s command was impossible to refuse.
Wait, hold on! This was much more of a headache than when I only had to worry about myself!
"Aah! Give me a warning before you charge in like that!"