How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Volume 9

by Yukiya Murasaki

  “That’s...”

  “Hear me, and commit it to heart: Those without strength or natural talent must never flee from effort. The useless are only so because they struggle to the very end!”

  Rem seemed shocked at first, then nodded with a smile. “Yes... That said, I’ve always been terrible at giving up.”

  “Good. Stay behind me.”

  “...Diablo, I don’t have any proof to support this idea...but there’s something I’d like to check. Do you have an Elixir on you?”

  “Of course I do, but why?”

  Diablo took one out. It was a potion known as a divine medicine, capable of healing people at death’s door, restoring one’s MP to its entirety, and removing all negative status ailments. Rem didn’t seem gravely injured, though.

  She pointed at the enemy. “Use it on Modinaram.”

  “What?!”

  “Gah?!” The goat-head’s eyes widened, and it began shaking.

  “...When Modinaram was within me and peered into my memories...I got a glimpse of its own memories as well. In one of those, I saw him fearing an Elixir.”

  “Fearing an Elixir? For what reason?!”

  “...Madness is a status ailment. Therefore, an Elixir can cleanse it.”

  “Wh-What?!”

  Modinaram had that kind of weakness? Countless players battled Modinaram in Cross Reverie, but not one of them was odd enough to use a super rare Elixir on a Demon Lord. If nothing else, that sort of information never existed on the walkthrough sites.

  Holding an Elixir in his left hand, Diablo slowly closed his distance on the enemy.

  “Hmph... How interesting. It’s worth a shot!”

  The result didn’t need to be mentioned. Modinaram retreated, evidently afraid. With the exit to the dome-like room at his back, the goat-head’s gorilla-like body was causing an uproar like an animal at a zoo.

  “I will leave no openings,” Diablo threatened. “I will show no mercy. I will destroy you, here and now!”

  “Uugh... Uugh... Uugh...”

  “Begone, Modinaram!”

  “Gaah, gaah, gaaah!”

  Clank! A mechanical noise echoed through the dome-like space. Symbols were etched onto the goat-head’s forehead.

  “What?!” Diablo had a bad feeling about this.

  “Those are numerals of the celestial alphabet...” Rem said with a concerned expression. “I believe that’s...nine, eight, seven...”

  The etched numbers were changing rapidly, counting down at a pace of one every second. It was definitely a countdown!

  “You!”

  “Y-Y-Y-You shall meet...ruin...with me... Gyaha! Gyahahahaha!” The goat-head’s lips curled up in a nasty smirk.

  “Yeah, sorry...that cliché’s overdone.”

  “Aaah?!” Diablo had wrapped his right arm around Rem.

  The numerals on Modinaram’s forehead were still changing, then its body turned into a flash of light.

  †

  Before the citadel city of Faltra’s western gate—

  “Hiyaa!” Shera fired an arrow, hitting a black serpent that quickly disappeared with a popping sound.

  “Hmmhmm, well done, Shera!” Klem grinned at her.

  Klem had bestowed more power on Shera’s bow before this battle started, as well as to her boots and garments. Shera was currently clad in what could be called a “Demon Lord Gear Set.” It was thanks to this that the area Shera and Klem were in charge of remained well-defended.

  On the other hand...

  Rose the magimatic maid was single-handedly grappling several black serpents. However, her magical energy, which was running low to begin with, was nearly depleted.

  “Rose will complete the task Master has entrusted Rose with...even if Rose must sacrifice Rose’s body to do so!”

  In contrast, it seemed as if every time she defeated the black serpents, they spawned back out in even greater numbers. The attacks were growing more and more savage the closer the castle approached. Galford and Laminitus were fighting bravely as well, with sword and magi-gun respectively in hand.

  The places defended by everyone else, however, were on the verge of collapse. The soldiers were being devoured by the serpents, the adventurers were being pushed back, and screams were ringing out everywhere.

  “Everyone, fight to the best of your ability!” Celes shouted, surrounded by sorcerers. “Just a little longer! Diablo will surely stop the castle!”

  Those words were mere consolation—which made it all the more unbelievable when they became reality!

  Edelgard glared at the castle, blood flowing from her head.

  “Ah... Light?!”

  An explosion spread out. A flash of light spilled from within the castle, fire erupting from the windows the serpents emanated from. Eventually, the whole castle was overcome in black flames. Everyone stood stupefied, gazing at the massive fireball that appeared before them.

  “Where’s Diablo?!” Shera asked in a voice that bordered on a scream. “What happened to Diablo?! And Rem! Where are they?!”

  No one could answer her question...

  The black serpents caught fire, their charred corpses spreading all over the ground as they were reduced to dust with a sizzling sound. They then turned into particles of light and disappeared into the sky.

  When the fire began dying down, Klem suddenly pointed at where the castle was previously.

  “Look!”

  †

  At the epicenter of the explosion was Modinaram, lying down with only the upper half of its torso remaining. What remained of that was crumbling away, and it was only a matter of time until it would fade away completely.

  A black orb was floating near it. The next moment, the fabric making up its surface turned into a cloak with a flapping sound.

  “Ah!” Rem breathed out. Diablo felt just as suffocated, but held it in out of Demon-Lord-like dignity.

  “Pheeew...”

  “...Are you all right, Diablo?”:

  “What of you, Rem?”

  “...Yes.” She smiled.

  “Why?!” Modinaram’s teeth creaked as it lay on the ground. “How?! Hooow?!”

  “Black Curtain.” Diablo pinched up his cloak. “Its effect is a several second long damage nullification. It protects its wearer from any and all damage during that time frame.”

  In Cross Reverie, it defended all the wearer’s party members, but from what Diablo could tell from this usage, it could only protect up to three at most.

  “...To think such a cloak could exist...” Rem said, evidently impressed. “It must be a very rare item.”

  “No, the Black Curtain is only of SR rarity. You may find another if you look around well enough.”

  Its effect was useful, but its stats were rather modest. Even if it did offer complete damage nullification, it only worked for three to five seconds, making its use unstable and highly situational. Diablo only equipped it when facing exaggerated enemies like Demon Lords.

  You could only activate its effect once every three minutes in the game, but I wonder how long it would take in this world...?

  Diablo stood near Modinaram’s dying body with an Elixir in hand. It had no more strength to resist.

  “Can’t even be bothered to take refuge inside Rem anymore, can you? Begone.”

  “Wait...are you sure you wish to...heal me?”

  “Your bluff is ineffective, Modinaram. You should have said that before self-destructing.”

  Diablo spilled the contents of the tube over it, like spilling boiling water over an ice sculpture.

  “Aah! Aaah! Aaah! Disappearing! Fading! Aaah... Gaaaaaah!!!” Modinaram’s hoarse screaming echoed throughout the field.

  And so the Demon Overlord Modinaram was no more...

  Diablo dropped the empty tube into the hollow cavity left in its wake, and it lodged itself in the charred earth. It wasn’t much in the way of a grave marker, but...

  He turned around, and Rem met his gaze. She affectionately pet her ri
ght hand’s ring finger, which now had a silver, unadorned ring on it.

  “...Um, Diablo... Is it really all right for me to have this?”

  “Y-Yes.” Her asking again made him embarrassed.

  “...I’d like to hear you put it into words.” On the other hand, she rather easily asked him to do such a difficult task.

  Ugh...

  “Aah... Erm...” Diablo approached Rem and put his hands on her shoulders. “What I’m trying to say...is...”

  “...Yes.” The short girl raised her chin and closed her eyes, her pantherian cat ears twitching.

  Huh? Eh?

  Diablo found himself stiffen.

  Wh-What is with this situation?! What am I supposed to do here?!

  It was then that Shera’s voice called for them from the direction of the town.

  “Diablooo! Reeeeeem!”

  It wasn’t just Shera who’d raised her voice; Klem, Rose, and the others were running to greet them as well.

  “Shera! Klem!” Rem responded.

  Yes. It’s finally over. Diablo crossed his arms and nodded deeply.

  “Diablo!” Rem said with a grin, her tail waving to and fro.

  “Hmm?”

  “...I never know when to give up, so prepare yourself!”

  Epilogue

  Three days after the showdown with the Demon Overlord—

  The Fallen-repelling barrier had finally been restored. Galford declared the battle a victory, and the town erupted into cheers. Even after sunset, there was no sign of the excitement dying down. At that rate, it seemed like the festivities truly could last for a month.

  That was simply how grave this battle was. Many lives were lost, but it was said that the survivors had a duty to live on for both themselves and those who were lost.

  Diablo, however, interpreted that saying as, “Let’s laze around enough for both ourselves and those who were lost.”

  At the Peace of Mind Inn - Hideout—

  Today was yet another day Diablo spent lying in bed. His HP, MP, and SP were all perfectly restored, and his fatigue was all gone. He simply spent the days lazing about for no particular reason.

  Bless thee, mighty days of sloth!

  Days where you didn’t have to do work were blessings. Diablo pondered how these days were what people lived for. A sweet drowsiness soon came over him, and he closed his eyes...

  “Diablo.”

  Someone had called his name.

  Hm?

  A feeling of déjà vu, having seen this once before, assailed him.

  “Diablo, please wake up.” It was Rem’s voice.

  He opened his eyes, and what greeted him—

  “Whaaaaaa?!”

  It was, without a doubt, Rem. But what she was wearing was an outfit so daring it left little to the imagination. It was as white as a wedding dress, but her skin was more visible in it than any normal lingerie would enable one to see. She wasn’t quite nude, but that only drew the eyes to her more.

  Shera was also present, snuggling up to him. She was even more dangerous because of her voluminous chest. Her impressive swellings jiggled and swayed within her see-through outfit. She was kneeling on the bed, approaching him slowly.

  “Diablo♡”

  “Wh-What are you doing?!”

  Is this a dream?!

  Shera’s hands crept onto Diablo’s lap. The realism of that sensation blew away any suspicion that this may be a dream. This was no hallucination or delusion.

  “I heard you made Rem your wife, too, Diablo?”

  “Uuu...?!”

  He was actually planning on doing so more gradually, at the right time, after consulting Shera first. But, because of Modinaram, he had to give Rem the ring under such circumstances.

  So this isn’t my fault!

  “Polygamy isn’t accepted in Lyferia,” Rem whispered in his ear.

  “Uuoh?!”

  Cross Reverie’s marriage system didn’t support it either, come to think of it...

  “But you’re the king of Greenwood, Diablo. Maybe it’s allowed there?”

  “I wonder?” Shera tilted her head quizzically. “No one’s ever done it before, so I don’t know.”

  “If anything, Diablo gets to decide if it’s possible or not. He is the king, after all.”

  “Yep, you’re right. He’s the king.”

  Diablo was filled with anxiety. Wouldn’t a king’s first order immediately after rising to the throne being “Polygamy is now permitted!” be too dark of a setting? What would the minister of internal affairs, Drango, and the mother queen say?

  “It’s not like the law matters, anyway.” Shera threw back her golden locks.

  It doesn’t?!

  “...That’s true,” Rem agreed. “It doesn’t matter. Diablo, from what I hear, you haven’t done...erm...that, properly with Shera yet?”

  “Aaah, huuh?” Diablo’s sight was swimming.

  “And you said to leave everything to you,” Shera said, puffing her cheeks sulkily.

  I’m sorry, for real.

  “...And so, erm...” Rem mumbled, the blush not being limited to her cheeks but going all the way to her neck. “I thought it might be best if you...erm...include me...so we can form some...err, established facts... No, I mean, solidify this relationship properly. Such is my conclusion.”

  Such was her conclusion, eh? Diablo had to doubt the integrity of her reasoning.

  “Well, forget the complicated stuff, let’s just do it.” Shera leaned forward. “Let’s do it, and properly. So, what do we do?”

  “...We start with a kiss.”

  “Wow, you’re really savvy, Rem.”

  “...For the sake of dispelling any doubts, I will point out I have no experience with this.”

  Rem also placed her hands on Diablo’s shoulders. The touch of their soft, gentle hands completely bound Diablo’s freedom of movement.

  They whispered into his ears.

  “...This is all your fault, you know... I’ve been waiting for you, but you wouldn’t come to my room once these past three days.”

  “That’s right, it’s all your fault, Diablo.” Shera nodded. “I never knew you didn’t actually do it properly.”

  “I was... I am a busy man!”

  Rolling around aimlessly in bed was serious business of the highest priority. In no way, shape, or form was he avoiding them because human relationships were a drag...

  Looking to the left, his eyes met Rem’s. Her cat ears were twitching. Looking to the right, Shera’s breasts were blocking his field of vision.

  I’m done for...

  His rationality was, at least.

  The two girls’ lips drew toward Diablo’s. Rem and Shera were breathing more heavily than usual, as their lips...

  To be continued...

  Afterword

  Our anime adaptation has finally been decided! Rem, Shera, and Diablo will be moving and talking on the screen! I can only offer my deepest gratitude to you, my supporting readers, for making this a reality. Thank you so much!

  To Takahiro Tsurusaki, who’s helped me since the planning stages and handled illustrations. To my editor, Shouji. To Ooishi, the designer from Afterglow. To Naoto Fukuda, who’s in charge of the manga adaptation. To the editorial departments in Kodansha and Sirius! And to everyone else involved!

  You can check out the details on the official How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord anime website.

  This project all started with a chat I had with Tsurusaki. There were few demi-human heroines in the light novel scene, and other-world stories all had to be web novels—that was the outlook at the time. We actually submitted the idea to several publishers, but they turned us down...until Shouji from Kodansha’s light novel publishing graciously said, “It looks cool! Let’s do it!” and accepted it, and we were able to put it out into the world.

  The result has been such a resounding success that we, the creators, couldn’t fathom, and with Fukuda’s manga adaptation, our popularity grew even further. And no
w here we are, with an anime in production. This has been my goal since before I became an author, so I’m very happy. I’ll keep putting my all into this work, so please continue supporting us.

  On to volume nine, then! The climax of the Demon Overlord arc and the greatest battle in the series yet. I’ve penned over fifty volumes of light novels, but I’ve never had to fit so many battle scenes one after another. For a moment there I was worried I may end up getting defeated!

  Rem’s relationship advanced as well. However, the rings Diablo gave are ones he gained in an event in the game. In other words, the rings Rem and Shera have on form a pair... The question of what that implies will be answered soon!

  The next volume will be out soon! This volume was structured a bit differently from the ones before, and I enjoyed writing it. It had few slice of life scenes, and the next volume will have tons and tons of them. Look forward to it!

  Yukiya Murasaki

  Illustrator’s Afterword

  Hello, this Takahiro Tsurusaki, the illustrator!

  How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord is getting an anime adaptation!

  At first, I just wished to see an elf girl I drew on the cover of a novel! That was my lifelong dream, and now I get not only that, but I’ll be able to see it in motion! My life is complete!

  By the way, the circumstances of how I got to draw for How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord are pretty unique too. It started one day when, after working with Yukiya Murasaki on something else, he said he wanted to consult with me about “an other world story I’m planning to write next.” I’d recently gotten hooked on “Narou”-type stories, so I said yes right away. We then began developing the characters and the setting and, before I knew it, I realized that since I was this involved with working on it, I may as well...or rather, it really made me want to draw those characters (plus I’d get to draw an elf!). So that’s the story of how I got involved with this project.

  Illustrators usually draw for novels on demand, so it’s not often one is this deeply involved with the character creation. That’s why seeing these characters, which I’ve become this attached to, moving in animation is a very emotional experience.