S-Rank Harem: I Became My Character with Extra Control Skill-Chapter 68: Debt - The Demon King Rigal’s Purpose?

Ryan stood in the center of the remaining Principalities.

He still held the demon’s head firmly in his hand.

He gripped it by the hair while dark blood dripped steadily from the jagged, severed neck.

"How can he be so fast if he’s that strong? It makes no sense..." one of the Principalities growled, backing away like a coward.

"Don’t back away, you idiots! Attack him!"

Ryan hurled the demon’s head directly at the one who had been shouting.

It all happened in less than a millisecond, but by the time the demon fixed his eyes on the head flying toward him.

Ryan’s boomerang was already only inches away.

Crash!

[Bonus acquired: +132,000 XP]

[Luck Bonus +132,000 XP]

His head was ripped clean from his shoulders.

[Level increased] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

[Level bonus: +40 Points]

[Attributes increased: +40 to all stats]

The demons scattered immediately.

There was no longer any semblance of coordination.

Beatrice took advantage of the chaos, striking each one from behind as they tried to flee.

"Young Ryan and his companion... they are so strong."

"Elder, is his companion really a demon?"

"It doesn’t matter what she is. If she is with young Ryan and they are helping us, we should just stay calm. Don’t you remember what he did for us a while ago?"

"Yes, sir!"

’I’m glad the old man is as spirited as ever, though to be honest, he’s so old he belongs in a museum.’

Ryan looked at Beatrice and then at the remaining demons.

"I think it’s time to end this."

Ryan prepared his boomerang.

He took full advantage of the extra agility he gained while in his split-weapon state.

"Physical Enhancement."

’Now my body is stronger and faster. And that should apply to my other skills too, right?’

"Fire Aura..."

The flames that enveloped his fists spread to surround the separated parts of the boomerang.

They glowed with an even greater intensity than before.

A dense, concentrated orange condensed into those flames, which seemed to roar against the wind.

He ran in a zigzag pattern, nimbly dodging the debris on the ground and the fallen bodies.

Zaz!

[Bonus acquired: +132,000 XP]

He ran again, passing by Beatrice at full speed.

ZaZ!

[Bonus acquired: +132,000 XP]

’Only two left.’

Two of the giant demons were running, shouting to each other that they had to warn the Demon King about what had happened.

Ryan passed between them, almost like a flash of light.

He stopped, now standing in front of the demons.

"Tsk... This bastard is too strong! I’ll hold him back, you go warn the res—"

He couldn’t finish his words; the demon’s head was already flying through the air, just like his companion’s.

[Bonus acquired x2 : +132,000 XP]

[Luck Bonus x2 +264,000 XP]

Ryan took a deep breath.

"Recovery." He applied the skill to himself.

It cleared away any damage or exhaustion he might have felt, though it wasn’t as if he had actually taken any hits. Still, he wanted to stay alert for whatever situation might arise.

The demons had tried to flee somewhere, which meant they probably had a settlement not too far away.

Or at least, that was what Ryan was thinking.

He began walking toward Beatrice.

"Did you get hurt in the battle?"

"No!" she said with a smile, then added, "They didn’t touch a single hair, heh heh."

She approached him while Ryan stowed his boomerang into his magic inventory and deactivated the fire power in his gloves.

"I’m glad. You fight better than I expected."

"It was nothing, though in the end, I only managed them thanks to your enhancement skills."

’Whether it was because of that or not, I’m truly satisfied with her power; it was a huge help having her here.’

But her expression changed as they walked toward the elves.

Then she spoke in a low voice.

"Ryan... do you think I should leave? They already know I’m a demon."

"Don’t worry about that. We’ll just make sure they’re okay, and I won’t let them treat you badly. Then we’ll leave."

The elder stood up and walked toward them.

"But how cruel you are, young Ryan. We would never treat our saviors poorly."

He turned his head to look at the rest of the elves.

"Right, boys?"

"Yes!" they shouted in unison.

Ryan whispered to Beatrice.

"You heard them. Don’t worry about it."

Then he remembered the debt payment and ordered Beatrice to scout the perimeter to ensure no other enemies were in the area.

She nodded her head and vanished from everyone’s sight using stealth.

The next thing everyone witnessed.

Was Ryan beginning to cast his Recovery skill on each of them.

"Thank you very much."

"Thank you."

The elves began to offer their thanks, showing their joy now that they were fully recovered.

Ryan turned back to the elder.

"Why are there demons and holy knights in this place? Were the knights helping you?"

The elder spat on the ground.

"Help us? No, not at all. Those knights were only here to subjugate us."

"Subjugate you?"

"Yes. Shortly after you and the heroines left our village, our soldiers found a settlement at a portal that led to Demon King Rigal’s domain. It seemed abandoned, but there was a group of thirty people from the beast race there."

"Beastmen?"

"Yes. We believe that Rigal is somehow performing experiments on them. I don’t know what he’s planning."

’Are they like what I know as demi-humans?’

"So the Principalities from Rigal’s kingdom came to take them back, right?"

"That’s right... that’s why they were torturing us. They wanted to find a way into the village, but the portal to the village remains hidden."

Ryan reflected for a moment, processing the information.

Then he turned his head toward the holy knights.

A girl with long hair.

A man with short, messy hair.

Both were unconscious.

"Okay, I understand why Rigal’s people are here. But then, is it just a coincidence that these two came to attack at the same time?"

"I don’t think it’s a coincidence..." One of the soldiers stepped forward, joining the conversation.

The elder nodded his head. Then the soldier continued speaking.

"Shortly after we brought the demi-humans here, some adventurers and people from the nation of Lunar Veil arrived. They said that by the King’s order, they were to take the remains of the dragon that the heroes of their nation had killed."

Then the elder intervened.

"But we were careless, and we offered them a place to stay that night. Even though we tried to keep the beastmen hidden, they somehow noticed. So I assume they tipped off the people from the Church, and that’s why they were here."

[Debt collection applied]

[Debt bonus: +50 Points]

[Debt bonus: +45000 XP]

"Ryan, there are no more enemies in the area. At least for now, we’ll be safe."

"I see you always surround yourself with beautiful young ladies, young Ryan," the elder said with a calm smile. "How good it is to be young."

Beatrice blushed slightly at the comment.

Ryan looked at the elder.

"And you’re still as full of energy for an old man."

"Ha ha, of course! But for now, let us head inside... to the village."