The Villain's Second Time

Chapter 8

"Joker!! Why is the Northern Duke of the Demon Realm in Tartarus!!"

The Hero's shocked cry echoed loudly. To be greeted so passionately like this—it almost felt like I was some kind of superstar.

"I'm not deaf. You don't have to shout that loud."

As I casually responded, I glanced at the Saint to gauge her reaction. Fortunately, she showed no particular response despite hearing that I was Joker.

...Relieved?

Relieved? Why am I feeling relieved? What does it matter whether the Saint knows or not? It's not like she's someone who would kill or torture me. I realized that a long time ago.

There was no time to dwell on this incomprehensible emotion.

Right in front of me stood one of the strongest humans on the Continent, radiating hostility. Probably one of the rare beings even stronger than the Dragon Lord, once called the leader of dragons.

"You...! Vile Demon! What are you plotting?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb! Did you not spew the blasphemy that I toyed with the noble Saint!"

"Ah, I hear a dog barking. Someone should catch that mutt and make some stew."

"Silence! How dare a lowly Demon insult me, the Hero, Frey de Siegfried! I will not forgive such insolence in the name of the Siegfried family!"

"...If you want to live long, you should sew that mouth shut. Or should I do it for you right now?"

By the way, I'm the one who killed the Dragon Lord.

One step below, but above all others.

A mantra I repeated when I vowed never to let anyone but the Demon King stand above me.

Although I ended up like this after being betrayed by that Demon King... but that's irrelevant. The point is, I will never be inferior to the Hero.

Ouch—

...Only in my prime, though.

"Will you take responsibility for those words!"

"A single word from me could erase a kingdom. Don't you know what a declaration of war from Joker means?"

"Do you really think these flimsy iron bars will protect you? If so, let me show you how gravely mistaken you are!"

"Noisy dogs need a beating. But there's no club here."

Unfortunately, there's not a single incorrect word in what the Hero said. My body right now is in such a pitiful state that I can't even move, let alone fight back against her.

Expecting help from the Saint is also out of the question. No matter how exceptional her Holy Power is, even if she burns through her entire lifespan, it would be impossible for her to fully heal a Demon like me.

It's not as though I jumped into this situation without anticipating the risks. I'm not so foolish as to lack such judgment.

However, even though I knew it could lead to great danger, I couldn't bear to watch the Saint being humiliated.

It felt as though I was the one being insulted... No, as if something more precious to me than myself was being demeaned. Seeing her still innocently smiling amidst it all, I felt pity, and that's probably why I stepped in.

Clang—!

The enraged Hero drew her sword with force. Excalibur, the Holy Sword said to be the only weapon capable of slaying the Demon King, gleamed brightly in the darkness of Tartarus.

Soon enough, that sword would likely cut through my neck. Black blood would splatter everywhere, and my wretched life would come to an abrupt and empty end.

"You... Even now, you could beg for forgiveness. Unless you want to regret it after feeling the blade."

"Heh."

Regret?

There's no way I'd do something like that. You pathetic fool.

I've never regretted anything in my life. Not once. I've lived doing everything I wanted, leaving behind neither attachments nor regrets.

Either way, I'll face the Empire's guillotine in three days. What difference does it make whether I die now or then?

"Screw you, you bastard."

"You insolent...! Fine! I'll rip that mouth of yours apart!"

Thud, thud—!

The Hero charged at me, leading with the Holy Sword Excalibur.

Ah, to meet my end by being pierced by the Holy Sword, supposedly the greatest honor for a Demon. Perhaps this isn't such a bad way to go?

At the very edge of life, I feel oddly relieved. The fact that I gave a piece of my mind to the bastard who humiliated the Saint fills me with satisfaction.

Slash—!!

The Hero's first strike mercilessly sliced through the obstacle in her path. The adamantium iron bars were cut apart like mere bundles of straw.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—!

The neatly severed pieces of the iron bars fell to the ground with a loud clatter. The Hero's second strike aimed directly at my neck.

Despite her anger, there was no hesitation in the Hero's blade. As expected, even a disgraced loser like me has to admit that a Hero is still a Hero.

The massive greatsword, exuding a menacing killing intent, descended toward my head. Even in my final moments, I glared at the Hero with wide-open eyes.

"Barrier!"

The Saint's sharp cry rang out just then.

Woom—!

Before I knew it, the Saint had come to my side and embraced me. Around her, bright Holy Power radiated endlessly.

The Hero's sword failed to touch me—or rather, us. It was blocked by the Barrier the Saint had created with her Holy Power.

"Maria! Why are you protecting that man!"

"Hero, lower your sword."

"He's a Demon, a Demon! And not just any Demon—he's the Northern Duke of the Demon Army! Are you seriously defending a Demon right now!?"

"You're right, Saint. The great and noble Hero wants to punish this vile Demon, so why are you stopping her?"

Smiling slyly, I said this, but the Saint replied firmly.

"What does that matter?"

"What?"

"Ma-Maria! What are you saying right now!"

"To block unjust evil and protect powerless good—that is all."

"Saint, what will you do if that unjust Hero stabs you for this?"

"Have you forgotten who resisted the Demon Army to the very end in a war doomed to fail?"

Ah, that's right. This foolishly stubborn Saint is the type to carry out ridiculous actions in the name of her creed.

Damn it, this wasn't the outcome I wanted.

The only consolation is.

Wooooom—!

Surrounding the Saint and me, a golden barrier blocks Excalibur. This is none other than the famous 'Sun's Barrier.'

The strongest barrier on the Continent, capable of holding back hundreds of thousands of Demon Army soldiers.

No matter how powerful the Hero may be, she cannot break through this barrier. And if we hold out just a little longer, Kelth will arrive with the chief of Babel Tower.

Hades, the God who governs the underworld. Even the Hero will have no choice but to retreat when he arrives. That is an undeniable truth for anyone on the surface, unless they are the Demon King.

"Maria!"

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom-!!!

However.

"You shouldn't be doing this! That guy is Joker! The Continent's archenemy, Joker!"

Crackle-!

That's assuming the Saint's body remains intact.

"Kuh...!"

"Saint, you don't look very well. Why not just give up and hand me over?"

"No. I never learned how to turn my back on the weak and helpless."

"But you heard it yourself, Saint. I'm not actually weak or helpless. I'm Joker, Joker. The Northern Grand Duke of the Demon Army."

"That was who you were in the world above. This is Tartarus. Here, you are merely a prisoner, just like me."

"Quite the spirit you have there. But shouldn’t you wipe the blood streaming from your mouth, Saint?"

"Ugh...!"

The Saint hadn’t eaten properly in days, barely slept, and at times had even sacrificed her own lifespan to wield her Holy Power. Moreover, before entering Tartarus, she had spent nearly 20 days fighting the Demon Army alone.

She was a human who should have collapsed long ago. No matter how strong the Sun's Barrier is, there's no way her current condition can withstand the Hero's sword. That is an indisputable fact, as constant as the laws of nature.

Rumble-rumble-rumble-!!

The force exerted on Excalibur by the Hero increases. Even within the protective safety of the Sun's Barrier, the immense pressure is palpable.

"Saint, give up."

"I've already told you, I cannot."

"Are you saying you're willing to die here with me?"

"I will not stand by and let good suffer. Even if it means my death, I will uphold my creed."

"Tch, if I’d known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have interfered."

Crackle-crack-crack-!!!

A long crack appeared in the barrier. A catastrophic fissure split the sunlit ground, forming a deep canyon.

Soon, a meteor shower will rain down on us through that rift.

"Maria! This is the last warning! Drop the barrier now, or I’ll cut you and Joker down together!"

The Hero shouts in a desperate voice. Yet, even in that moment, a sly smirk lingers at the corner of her lips.

If we die here, the news will surely be spun as something like, 'The Saint who conspired with Joker, executed by the Hero.'

...I can't let that happen.

I have no regrets about dying alone, but the thought of this Saint—who's risking her life for her enemy—being disgraced?

It irritates me, just a little!

"Hey, Hero."

"Joker? Trying to leave your final words?"

"No... I'm asking, can you really handle this?"

In the end, this is all I can do.

Bluffing. And a sharp tongue.

"What are you talking about?!"

The blade of Excalibur, held by the Hero, burns even hotter, radiating a searing heat that feels like it could melt your eyes just by looking at it.

"We’re death-row inmates."

"I know that! That’s why I’m trying to kill you faster!"

"No... I mean, in three days, we’re scheduled to be executed at the Empire's Square."

"So what?! What does that change?!"

"Are you an idiot? Think about who sentenced us to death."

We all know the answer to that.

"...."

"No answer? Fine, I’ll tell you. It was the Demon King."

"Mr. Demon...? What are you doing...."

"Saint, please stay quiet for a moment. Hero, think carefully. If you kill us now, you’ll be defying the Demon King’s orders. If you’re prepared to face the consequences, go ahead and strike."

I slid my hand under the Saint's arm and began tickling her with swift, deliberate movements of my five fingers.

"Eek!"

The Saint let out an adorable squeak as she squirmed. I never imagined she had such a cute side. A new perspective on the Saint.

Hummm.

The Sun's Barrier, which had been maintained by the Saint, dissipated under my ticklish assault. She hurriedly tried to reestablish the barrier, but I kept my hands moving to thwart her efforts.

"Go on, Hero. Strike."

"..."

Completely defenseless. To make it worse, I spread my arms wide and even tilted my head forward, exposing my neck as if offering it up.

"You told the Saint, didn’t you? That you were terrified of the Demon King. That towering red horns piercing the clouds, that black glare from his eyes darkening the sky... Think about it again."

When the barrier was still up, she fought with all her might, but now that it’s gone, the Hero doesn’t swing Excalibur. No, she can’t.

I leaned into my words, speaking as if whispering a deal into the ears of a fragile human—seductive yet sinister, like a devil offering a contract.

"Kuh...!"

"The Demon King absolutely hates it when his orders are disobeyed. You know that, don’t you?"

In truth, what I just said is a lie. The Demon King is pragmatic. As long as the result aligns with his goals, he doesn’t care how it's achieved.

Therefore, the goal is to force her to accept before she has time to think.

"You know that, don’t you?"

"I do... but...."

"Think carefully. Take your time. After all, you’ve got plenty of it. Oh, though Hades, the chief of Babel Tower, will be here soon, our Hero here has all the time in the world, doesn’t she?"

"…!"

"You should make proper use of the life you barely managed to save. You turned your back on the Continental People and knelt before the Demon King to secure it, didn’t you?"

The Hero's pupils trembled as if caught in a storm. Her Excalibur, too, shook in sync with its owner.

The Joker with the nickname "a single cup of frivolous blood"—I didn’t earn that title for nothing. It’s a name I gained by subduing enemies with nothing more than this finger-sized tongue when unnecessary actions were avoidable.

To conquer a nation, just a single cup of blood is enough. While others form rivers overflowing with red, I don’t need such excess.