208 First encounter with a fantasy world staple

A brief temporal reversal.

The destination upon transfer is within the city.

The lack of a skill for this transfer caused a slight deviation from the intended coordinates.

Managed to appear in an alleyway devoid of people, but one misstep could have resulted in being embedded in stone, or fused with the transfer body—disturbing outcomes.

"Wait... where is this? Who am I?"

Dragging the drowsy Demon King along.

The main streets are crowded with evacuating civilians, so movement is conducted via rooftop jumps.

"Hey... could you explain the situation soon?"

The Demon King says this with a look of disbelief. Reluctantly, I provide an explanation.

"A reincarnated individual is present in this city. I happened upon them during a crisis, so I intervened to rescue."

"Shiro-chan spoke!? And in full sentences!??"

Impolite.

When it speaks, it speaks indeed.

Ah... but the Demon Lord is half my kind, so that might make it easier to speak without hesitation.

"Hmm. A reincarnated one, huh? Unexpected. I thought Shiro-chan would say something like that was troublesome and avoid getting involved."

I don’t intend to get involved further. I just happened to find you at a convenient time.

"Tsundere excellence"

Arrived at the scene.

At the same time, the woman was stabbed and died.

"Ah. Something’s turned chaotic."

What is this situation?

Seems two factions are clashing over the Vampire Child.

Ah, that Vampire Child being carried—wasn't that the Guard I treated earlier?

"Elves? Why them?"

The Demon Lord muttered something.

Elf?

Elves—those standard non-human races from fantasy worlds?

Long-eared, skilled in magic, and long-lived?

She is here.

Her ears are hidden beneath the hood.

The Demon King probably figured it out through鉴定, but it's inconvenient that鉴定 can't be used casually in moments like this.

The Demon King attempts to leap out.

It is stopped.

"Wait just a little longer."

"Why?"

"Appearing at the absolute limit of crisis makes a better impression."

The Demon King looks momentarily bewildered.

"Shiro-chan's kind of disgusting, aren't you?"

Why would she say that.

While they speak, the Guard collapses.

It's about time, I think—but then the Vampire Child begins sucking blood from the Guard.

The air shifts.

Both the Vampire Child who drank, and the Guard who was drained, change in presence.

The Guard slowly rises and attacks one of the elf-like men with a punch.

Wow, that's brutal.

The Guard cracked the man's skull.

And then, without pause, starts sucking his blood.

"Ah, right after evolution, rationality completely shattered. That's what happens."

"Is becoming a vampire also an evolution?"

"Yep. Special evolution."

Hmm.

Oh, the Guard's been taken down.

Blown away effortlessly by a novice woman's magic.

"Huh? That can't be... Potimas?"

A tense note enters the Demon King's voice.

Potimas?

Something about that name... feels familiar.

Ah, right—just a moment ago, the one who orchestrated the attack on D, the idiot behind it all.

"Potimas... is that an Elf?"

"Yep. The name of the lowest scum. But the one there isn't the original. That's a nameless Elf woman's body he's hijacked. Uses others' bodies, stays safe from a distance, watching from above. Sees everyone else as mere tools. That's Potimas."

Hijacking someone else's body, huh?

Hmm?

Has hijacked another's body (the Queen) before.

Observing from a safe location (the Elro Great Labyrinth), from a height.

No interest in anyone except oneself.

"Hah!? If you think about it, Shiro-chan is the worst kind of... b—hell!?!"

Divine retribution.

"Despite looking like a simple right straight punch with no power behind it, it cannot be avoided and penetrates through physical defenses. This is Godpower."

The Demon King explains, nosebleed flowing.

"Anyway, you know. Elves in this world aren't what Shiro-chan imagines them to be. Honestly speaking, from the world's perspective, they're nothing but pests."

The image of elves collapses.

"Even if it's just a temporary vessel, Potimas emerging like this. What kind of twist is this? Well, whatever."

The Demon King leaps away before I can stop him.

"Ah ah. The Demon Princess Ariel, arriving dramatically to save the beautiful young girl and her attendant!"

Huh?

What is he even saying? That fool.

Are you foolish?

Well, never mind.

For now, leave the elf to the Demon King.

Something’s off about this.

I will move to secure the Vampire Child.

Move behind the Vampire Child.

Lift it as is.

Ugh.

Infants are so soft and plump—seemingly delicious.

Small in stature, so likely consumes little food.

The cheeks—elastic, perhaps, would suit well.

Just a little snack, maybe.

Her cheeks, naturally, were that sort of thing—her arms, for instance.

Treatment should be administered immediately after the injury.

Just a little.

Ah.

He let it slip.

Ah.

Perhaps it's unavoidable under circumstances where death is possible.

A baby, after all.

But she’s still a high school student—what’s the point of this?

I’d probably die of shame, lightly.

In truth, the witness has no doubt they could kill everyone without hesitation.

I'll pretend I didn't see it.

That's what kindness is.

No appetite left.

Gently return the Vampire Child to its original position.

The Guard notices me, limping forward to shield the Vampire Child.

According to the Demon King, it was newly evolved—rationality completely gone—but it seems to have full awareness.

Yet, in another sense, it's not surprising it's lost consciousness.

Severe wounds.

It's remarkable it's still alive.

Since it's come this far, I might as well heal it.

Yes.

Healing magic works without issue.

"Are you not an enemy?"

The Guard asks me this, so I nod in reply for now.

Not necessarily an ally, though.

The Demon King is rampaging.

Slaughtered everyone except the woman named Potimas.

Now threatening Potimas—but ah, she's dead already.

A borrowed body, so it doesn't feel pain when it dies?

Could it be similar in nature to my egg's revival?

Egg, egg!?

Damn.

Completely forgot.

Wait, what happened to it?

It should have hatched by now, right?

Need to check on it later.

The Demon King used a wind-based spell, "Slumbering Wind," which induces sleep, to put the Vampire Child and the Guard to sleep.

"Then, let's evacuate quickly."

"Why put them to sleep?"

"Can't talk properly here. Not fully trusted yet. Best to abduct them swiftly."

Ah, right.

Then, let's teleport to an appropriate location.

This time, make sure the coordinates are correct.