The skill Maou Kokuengai allows me to instantly don a suit of ominous, jet-black armor.

If it were just a black suit of armor, I might resemble an adventurer or a knight, but the eerie, sinister aura that seeps out of it makes it impossible for anyone to think well of me.

When I first used this skill in the grasslands and saw my reflection in a puddle created by water magic, I honestly thought I looked like the final boss or a demon lord...

"What the hell is that!"

"Whoa, there’s some freaky guy over there!"

People around me noticed the armor I was now wearing. Luckily, the full-face helmet also covered my head, so no one could recognize my face.

With my leg strength enhanced by the physical reinforcement skill, I leaped in a single bound over the crowd gathered for the public execution and faced off against the Flame Emperor Augas and his knights.

"H-Hey! Who is that guy!?"

"Could he be a demon!?"

"No way! This is bad! Are the demons attacking!?"

Well, it’s not surprising. This ominous aura makes me look dangerous, and showing up in front of the execution platform like this would only make me seem like a demon ally trying to stop the execution.

"D-Don’t worry! He’s alone, and we have the Flame Emperor Augas here!"

"Yeah! Flame Emperor, kill that demon quickly!"

It’s like moths flying into a flame. I’m surrounded—behind me are the crowds, and in front of me stands the seemingly strong and handsome knight, along with his numerous knights. More knights were gathering because of my sudden appearance.

...And no, I’m not sounding like an old man with that "moth to a flame" expression. Let it go!

"...Who are you? Are you a demon?"

"..."

Flame Emperor Augas addressed me, but I didn’t respond.

...Or rather, I couldn’t. I was too scared to speak. An old man like me has never been the center of attention on such a big stage.

If I tried to talk now, my voice would definitely crack, and to be honest, my legs were shaking inside the armor.

"...I’ll acknowledge your bravery for attacking this town alone. However, even if they are children, demons must be killed! Knights, ready your spears!"

Under Augas’s command, the knights in front of the demon children pointed their spears at them, while the others turned their spears toward me.

Demon Lord's Intimidation!

"Urgh!?"

"Whoa!?"

Without me even touching them, the knights in front of me began collapsing one after another.

The Demon Lord's Intimidation! skill is a power that intimidates enemies and slows their movements, but it seems that knights of this level can’t even stand properly under its pressure.

"Urgh... What have you done!?"

Naturally, Flame Emperor Augas wasn’t brought down by the Demon Lord's Intimidation, but it did seem to have some effect, as he appeared to be struggling to move.

About 20% of the knights in front of me were barely standing, using their spears for support. It looks like even an old man like me might stand a chance.

"Damn, you must be using some strange binding magic. Fine... Target, the demon in black armor! All units, fire!"

Well, "all units" is a bit much when no one besides him seems able to move...

"Fire Lance!"

"Stone Edge!"

"Wind Cutter!"

"...!?"

Suddenly, figures appeared on the rooftops around the square, and a barrage of magic was launched at me.

Damn! So they had magic-using knights stationed around the area!

With my Accelerated Thought skill, I saw the incoming magic in slow motion, but it was being fired from all directions, leaving no room to evade. In that case...

Barrier!

Boom!

"Did we get him? No, the binding magic is still active!?"

Paralyze!

"Ugh!"

Phew... That was close. I figured the barrier magic would be strong enough since it could block the Four Heavenly Kings' magic, but seeing all those unfamiliar spells coming at me was still terrifying.

With dust clouds rising from where their magic hit my barrier, I cast a paralyzing spell at Augas and the remaining knights who were still able to move.

"Urgh... I can’t move! Impossible, this armor should have status ailment resistance!"

It seems the combination of the Demon Lord's Intimidation and the Paralyze spell rendered Augas immobile. He certainly seemed like a strong opponent, but my Demon Lord powers were too overwhelming.

"Damn it! Even if I die, protect Flame Emperor Augas!"

"Urgh, move! Move, damn it!"

Some of the knights, struggling against the Demon Lord’s Intimidation, tried to protect the now-immobilized Augas. It looks like this man is well-loved by his subordinates.

"I won’t kill you. But I’m taking these children."

"...What!?"

I walked past the fallen Augas and the knights, heading toward the demon children tied to the crosses.

There was no one left in the square who could stop me now.