My Disciples Think I’m Strong

Incurou moved to an area where there were hardly any people around. Habito followed him without attacking.

Among the demon race, which comprised numerous intermixed races, there was a culture of showing respect to the strong, even if they weren’t pure-blooded demons. And in his standards, Incurou was worthy of that respect.

“But why is this woman your ‘possession’? I received her from another man.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You ‘received’ her? She reeks of blood.”

From the moment he met him, Incurou had already sensed that Habito was of the demon race. While a face he had never seen before, he recognized that Habito was no ordinary demon.

“Did you kill someone from a noble family?”
“I merely drank a bit of blood from the knights who stood in my way.”

Habito spoke nonchalantly, devoid of any guilt. As Incurou wasn’t one to care about morals either, he didn’t bother judging right or wrong.

What concerned him more was Habito’s strength.

‘Even under the Grand Anti-Demon Magic, his presence remains steady. It’s hard to gauge the extent of his power.’

“That woman is one I intended to acquire first.”
“Hah, but why was she with another noble then? If you couldn’t obtain her, doesn’t that mean she isn’t yours?”
“This brat is really getting on my nerves. Damn it! If there were no interference, she would have been mine!”
“In any case, she’s not your slave, is she? Then why are you blocking my path? Shouldn’t it be as simple as a human disappearing?”

Incurou glanced back at Habito following him before stopping.

An outskirt park of the capital.
Currently devoid of people, leaving it poorly maintained.

The overgrown weeds bore witness to the complete absence of lifeforms for the past few months.

Judging it to be the perfect conditions for a decisive battle, Incurou let out a sigh.

“Damn brat. I take whatever I want, no matter what.”
“Even a woman who has already lost her chastity?”
“I don’t care whether she’s a virgin or not. And if she’s not, I can be rougher, can’t I?”
“Heh, I’ve heard of humans’ dirty desires, but hearing it directly is unpleasant.”
“Says the one who drinks human blood?”
“You’re as unreasonable as your appearance—”

Bang!

The moment Incurou’s Zweihaender struck the ground, a crater formed as the earth shook. It was a surprise attack that had closed the distance in an instant.

However, that attack didn’t reach Habito’s body.
He had twisted his body and leisurely evaded the sword.

“Just looking at your face is infuriating!”
“Attacking mid-conversation is rude.”

Incurou’s sword whirled in a flurry of strikes.

Snap.

The instant Habito snapped his fingers, a pool of blood formed on the ground as thorns shot skyward.
Noticing them, Incurou leapt back by kicking off the ground.

‘Magic? The cast speed is remarkably fast.’

“Your reactions aren’t bad. But—”

As Habito twitched his finger, the blood-formed thorns extended and charged at the airborne Incurou.

“This puny thing!”

Woosh! Clang!
He swung his sword in perfect timing, but the thorns weren’t solid – they were liquid.
His sword strike merely scattered the tips without diminishing their momentum.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!
His left arm. Right shoulder. Right leg.

Three areas were pierced.

“Ugh!”

While not fatal injuries, they were problematic locations in the midst of combat.

“You should have observed your opponent’s attack first before acting.”

Habito extended his hand towards Incurou.

“The blood of the strong is delicious. 「Blood Drain」”

The thorns, infused with magic power, burrowed into his body. Habito’s skill would not stop until it had drained every drop of Incurou’s blood.

However:

“Hyaah!”

Incurou roared as he swung his Ifrit-empowered Zweihaender.
The intense flames nullified Habito’s magic power, collapsing the thorn formations.

“Huh?”

Habito inadvertently let out a sound of amazement at the unexpected development. Incurou, having landed on a rooftop, rubbed the pierced areas as he shouted:

“It hurts, you bastard!”

He drank a potion he always carried as a precaution while cursing.

“What did you just do?”
“What did I do? I just burned it, that’s all.”

Ifrit was a spirit powerful enough for even Demon Lords to be wary of. Combined with Incurou’s own magic power, Habito’s magic couldn’t withstand it.

Of course, the prerequisite for achieving this outcome was being under the Grand Anti-Demon Magic field.

“Hoho… So you’re a contractor of the superior spirit Ifrit. Well, well, it seems I’ll have another gift to present to the Demon King.”

Habito let out an ominous laugh, prompting Incurou to raise his middle finger.

“Damn brat. Hand over the slave and scram.”

The fierce flames vaporized the incoming rain of blood in midair.

“Hmm. Quite powerful flames. They’re searing my magic power. But… as a mere human, you have your limits.”

Habito muttered as he pressed his palms together, then separated them.
Between his hands formed countless red threads, emerging from who knows where.

“I’ll finish this with these.”

Even as Habito prepared, Incurou continued spewing curses:

“It hurts. I’m gonna die. Rotten bastard. Damn bastard.”
[Incurou, that demon is powerful.]

Ifrit’s words prompted Incurou to respond irritably:

“I know. That’s why I’m being serious. I don’t want to be overwhelmed like last time!”

The intensifying flames.
The fire soared so high into the sky that the battle could no longer be concealed.

People sensed that something was happening and simultaneously, the Imperial Knights began mobilizing.

“I’ll end it in one strike, you rotten bastard.”

Instead of responding, Habito slammed his palm onto the ground. At that moment, the countless threads crisscrossed around him and charged towards Incurou.

“「Blood Hell」.”

‘No matter how powerful the flames, they cannot withstand this.’

“You’re asking for it, bastard.”

However, contrary to Habito’s expectations, Incurou swiftly swung his Zweihaender, severing all the threads. The severed threads simply burned away into nothingness.

“…Quite unexpected. So you do have this much capacity left.”

Seeing Incurou nullify his attack, Habito gave an honest admiration.

‘While not at the level of a hero capable of slaying the Demon King, this one poses a threat. I’ll kill him right here.’

“Die, you bastard!”

Incurou closed the distance of several dozen meters in an instant by kicking off the ground, raising his sword high. In response, Habito gathered blood in his palm.

“Pierce through, 「Blood Spear」!”
“「Conflagration」!”

The moment the two moved their weapons, a massive explosion erupted, engulfing the entire area.

Far exceeding the previous strike he had unleashed against Praus, it was complete and utter devastation.

As thick smoke billowed, countless people fled from the sudden explosion that had shattered the tranquility of the capital.

As the dust gradually settled, someone coughed up blood from their mouth.

“Cough! Ugh!”
“It was quite entertaining. Fighting a strong opponent like you.”

Habito’s Blood Spear had pierced through Incurou’s abdomen, but Incurou’s Zweihaender was blocked by Habito’s hand.

By spraying blood to form a protective barrier before the attack landed, Incurou’s strike had been nullified.

“Damn it…”
“Now, I’ll drain your magic power. Blood Drain—”

Splort!

The arm that Habito had used to grasp the blood-formed spear suddenly burst apart. Incurou collapsed limply to his knees, face-planting onto the ground.

“Ugh.”
“…?”

Unable to comprehend this phenomenon, Habito stared dumbfounded at his severed arm for a moment.

“Ah… it was you? You brought these trash along?”

A woman with dark circles under her eyes and short, disheveled hair brushed her bangs back.

“Who are you…?”

Habito frowned as he observed the underlings crushed beneath the silver-haired woman’s feet.

“Me? A retired S-rank adventurer. Ella Todia? Seems it’s been a while if you don’t recognize me. Though, I did nearly die from magic addiction, so I suppose it’s understandable.”

She scratched her head as she spoke.

“Anyway, were you the one who brought these trash along?”

She stepped on the head of one of Habito’s fallen underlings as she asked.

“Not going to answer?”
“What did you do to my arm?”
“Ah, that? It’s called ‘Decay’.”
“Decay?”
“Well, I answered you, so it’s your turn. Were you the one who brought these trash to destroy the Purification Stone I barely managed to obtain in the black market?”

Ella Todia cracked her knuckles as she questioned him.

“How dare a lowly wench interfere with a demon lord’s affairs!”
“Hah, so you’re trash too.”

She shook her head and took a step forward, stretching her neck and wrists.

“Let’s see if this lowly wench can kill you.”

“Ah, come to think of it… There might be another S-rank adventurer around.”

I muttered, recalling the Purification Stone I had sold in the black market.

“The person who definitely had a contract with that spirit Silphi was one of the S-rank adventurers who retired last year. Since it’s been quite some time since I sold the Purification Stone, they might have been staying in the capital for treatment.”

I spoke as I watched Tina and Iris diligently training, combining physical conditioning with practicing the Mirage Waltz forms. Observing them, I stretched and lay down.

“In that case, they might stand a chance against the Demon Lord too?”