I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

Fighting a demon requires a great deal of preparation.
And among all those things, the most important is, of course, “information about the opponent.”

It hasn’t been that long since demons first revealed themselves in human history, but there is one fact {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} that has been etched clearly into everyone’s minds.
Every demon has a unique weakness, and the strategy to subdue them must also differ accordingly. You can’t just go up against one with ordinary methods.
“It’s not a monster.”

Compared to noble-class demons, where just summoning one is enough to obliterate an entire city, the fact that this one was summoned so quietly and unnoticed means it’s not that high-ranking.
A no-name bottom-feeder. Just a stray ghost.
Of course, it’s still a demon. The danger it poses is beyond imagination.

“I’ll contact the Exorcism Division of the Orthodox Church. They’ll definitely be of help.”
Shiona spoke seriously, and naturally, that remark was based on that very fact.
If there’s anyone in the modern age who has accumulated the most knowledge on demons, it’s them.

If what Carlyle had said—“The demon has already been summoned”—was true, then they had to contact that side immediately and gather information about the enemy.
“Before that.”
In other words—

Unless a certain someone who has regressed countless times happened to be standing right there.
“Professor Shiona. Do you happen to know what the terrain looks like near the black market right now? I think that’s more urgent.”
“—? I’m not sure why, but if it’s that, I can get it right away.”

Shiona sent a call somewhere through her communicator, then immediately took a magitech orb out of her coat. After reading the telegram that came through it, she nodded and spoke.
“…There are multiple death-spirit reactions. Looks like the demon really was summoned.”
Death-spirits—those.

What people commonly call undead. Beings that exist outside the laws of nature, made using the dead as vessels.
Carlyle crossed his arms and continued.
“What kind? And how many?”
“Uh—some Maneaters, some Corpse Cleaners, some Ghouls, they say. None of them are in large numbers, though—”

Good. That’s enough.
Because there’s only one demon of stray ghost class that ever travels with a combo like that.
“True Name: Bellicor. Alias: ‘Twin Clowns.’ Weaknesses are mercury and the mark on the abdomen.”

“…”
“There are two entities. One of them will have all the combat power concentrated in a single body, while the other is specialized in commanding underlings.”
Both Gray and Shiona fell speechless, staring at Carlyle.

[…There are 666 noble-class demons, and many times that number of stray ghosts. You’re probably the only human who’s memorized the characteristics of them all.]
Who knows.
You learn it if you keep doing it. Even if you don’t want to, you end up memorizing it.

…Not that that makes it easy—only that what he went through was just that grueling.
“How on earth does Student Carlyle know things like that…?”
So, naturally, that kind of question came out of Shiona’s mouth.

The fact that even the Hero was staring at him in disbelief showed just how ridiculous what he had just done really was.
Up until now, the abilities he’d shown could at least be explained somehow, but—
To know this much detail about “demons”? That was bound to raise suspicion.

Given that the existence of demons and hell had only just recently been revealed to the world, the fact that he could recite such specifics with just a handful of information made anyone look at him funny.
“…That’s for later.”
But right now, there were more urgent matters to deal with than explaining himself.

Since he’d already raised suspicion, he might as well go all in and unload some premium intel at discount rates.
As he stared at the tactical map hovering in the air, Carlyle swiftly drew two lines across it.
“Either one of them has the ability to turn the people they kill directly into death-spirits. They’ll split up and go around slaughtering people.”

And most likely, the place they’d target would be—
“There just so happens to be a place nearby where a bunch of ‘high-value’ humans are gathered.”
Maybe the reason the Gray Cardinal chose the state guesthouse as his lodging was for several reasons, but the most probable was that it was simply close to the investigation site—the black market.

Unfortunately, in this situation where a demon had suddenly appeared, that made it the perfect target for attack.
Both demons would likely aim for it. They’re the kind that instinctively calculate what’ll cause the “greatest chaos” and act accordingly.
“So, we go and protect it.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to call for reinforcements?”
“We don’t have time, and there’s no need. I think it’s better if the three of us handle it. Me, Professor Shiona, and the Hero—divided into three.”
“…I don’t know if the three of us will be enough. It is a demon, after all.”

Well, it’s a stray ghost without even a noble title. For that level, the fighting power we have here is enough.
Besides, to be of any real help in a fight against a demon, you need elite-level combatants.
There aren’t any around here, and even if you called for some, the fastest they could arrive would be half a day later.

In that time, everyone caught in the “advance route” would be mercilessly slaughtered. He couldn’t let that happen.
But then, Shiona’s words were cut off by a displeased voice.
“What are you talking about?”

Gray scoffed and glared at her.
“I’m enough on my own.”
…Well, she probably is.

No one present could deny that.
Carlyle let out a faint smile, then marked one of the paths he had drawn in red.
“If I remember correctly. This one’s more dangerous.”

The older of the Twin Clowns.
And the direction this “more dangerous one” was headed—was the main building of the state guesthouse, where the more famous and influential figures were staying.
The “less dangerous one,” the younger brother, was headed to the annex, where the less important guests were staying.

That left one final question: who would go where?
Carlyle turned his head slightly and looked at Gray.
Gray’s gaze was fixed on the side he’d just said was “less” dangerous.

The annex.
…Where Vespa and Princess Ilia were staying.
“…”

Gray’s fingers twitched restlessly on the hilt of the Holy Sword.
She knew—far too well—what the “right choice” was.
She understood just how important the people in the main building were.

But.
Even so—
—“The Hero is my friend!”

…Something.
She remembered someone saying that to her.
Someone smiling brightly, speaking with complete sincerity.

“Forget it.”
But she cut it off.
She mustn’t think. She mustn’t feel anything.

She just had to decide.
She couldn’t be swayed by trivial things. The duty that bound her was far more important than that.
“Send me to the important location. Obviously.”

…That’s what a Hero does.
You’re supposed to save everyone equally, but if you can, you save the “more valuable” ones first.
That’s the image Cardinal Felix wanted from her, and one she’d agreed was correct.

“…”
Carlyle looked at Gray as she said that.
For a moment, silently. A little longer than usual.

“…”
Gray, meeting that gaze, fidgeted with her fingers again.
What to call it…

…When he looked at her like that, it made her uncomfortable.
It felt like he was seeing right through everything she was trying to hide. Like her innermost thoughts were being laid bare.
At last, he slowly nodded.

“Understood.”
“…?”
But when he agreed so easily, Gray narrowed her eyes.

Weird. She expected him to pull another stunt.
“…Let’s go, then.”
“I’ll handle the preparations.”

Shiona nodded and summoned mana around them.
“I’ll ask the Spirit of Wind to fold space.”
“…What do you mean by that?”

“Means we’re teleporting.”
“…”
As Shiona began quickly drawing a formation on the floor, Carlyle stared in disbelief.

Wait—she can just use teleportation like it’s nothing?
You know, the kind that sends you flying a long distance in one go?
That’s totally broken.

‘…Hero, isn’t this high-tier magic?’
[…Not high-tier. Lost magic.]
No wonder. In previous loops, almost no one could even use it.

“All right then, please step onto the circles. Hero to the left, Student Carlyle to the right.”
Following her instructions, Carlyle and Gray stepped onto their respective sigils.
“Teleportation in three seconds. Wishing you good fortune.”

That fast?
Seriously, Spirit Knights were absurdly useful.
“…”

And definitely—
Their usefulness wasn’t limited to just this.
“Professor.”

“Yes, Student Carlyle?”
“…I’ll leave the fallout to you.”
Probably—

It would take someone of her caliber to calm an enraged Gray.
Carlyle grabbed Gray by the jaw.
Her eyes widened.

True to someone who absolutely loathed being touched, she instantly reached for the Holy Sword as if to react violently.
But before she could—
He flooded the sword with mana to hold it in place.

“…?”
Then—
With a swift motion.

Carlyle swapped positions with Gray.
As her eyes widened, he let go of her and smiled.
“Young lady. You can scold me however you like later.”

As the formation lit up beneath her—
“For now, do what you really want to do.”
That voice echoed in Gray’s ears.

***
Moments later.
As a bright halo of light dissipated in front of Gray’s eyes, the inside of a building came into view.

“—Young lady?”
Beside her, a voice called out.
…It was Vespa.

“Hero? Oh—Hero, you just popped out of thin air—!”
Followed by the flustered voice of the princess.
“…?”

Standing inside the guestroom, Gray stared at them blankly.
…This place.
Originally, Carlyle and Shiona were supposed to come here.

“Haha… That man always does something amusing.”
Shiona scratched her cheek awkwardly beside her.
Which meant—

Naturally, the one left on the other side, “alone” in the “more dangerous place” was—
“—That idiot…!”