The Hero’s Mentor is a Demon (King) Witch

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“Danger!”

Bang, thud.

Hora Morzen emerged with a Magic Pistol and intercepted the crows.

Screeeech!!

The Behemoth flying towards the village nosedived to the ground, and Morzen hurriedly helped the fallen child to his feet.

“Are you okay?!”

“Y-yes…! But, my mom…!!”

“!!”

Morzen turned his head in the direction the child was pointing.

There stood a woman gripping a ladle in one hand and a frying pan in the other, moving as if she were fighting crows with a sword and shield.

Caw, caw, caw!!

“Ugh…!”

However, no matter how sturdy the frying pan was, it was insufficient against the crows’ attacks.

Bang—!!

Morzen accurately intercepted a crow from behind, and it crashed to the ground with a hole in its head.

“Are you alright?!”

“I’m fine, whew. And thank you…! Jack!!”

The woman embraced the child and patted his back.

The child’s eyes welled up with tears, but he didn’t burst into crying.

“Oh, there are still monsters…”

The Behemoths were still swarming around.

Before the Sand Worms even made their appearance, an explosion occurred underground, and adventurers began taking down the Sand Worms one by one…

Screeeech!!

Another Sand Worm erupted from the ground, swallowing an entire building.

The appearance of the Sand Worms showed no sign of stopping, and despair began to settle in the eyes of the adventurers one by one.

“Oh, please….”

Screech!!

“Of course!!”

As expected, crows flew out of the gaping mouth of a Sand Worm, and Morzen checked the remaining bullets and aimed forward.

Click.

“!!”

The magical bullets were completely gone.

A red signal flashed on the Magic Pistol’s magazine, indicating that all the mana had run out, and it was slowly flickering, about to disappear.

“Oh, no…!! If this keeps up….”

Just then, as the crows were about to take off from the Sand Worm, there was a loud “Whoa!!”

Boom—!!

Something massive fell atop the Sand Worm’s head, slamming it into the ground.

“Di! Emery! Punch!!”

Bang, bang, bang!!

The feathers of the crows trying to dart out of the Sand Worm’s mouth fluttered upwards.

Inside the Sand Worm, all that could be heard was the sound of meat being crushed as it distorted.

Bang, bang, boom—!!

The Sand Worm was ultimately forced back into the ground.

Its wide-open mouth was torn, and out emerged a Steel Golem, nearly twice the size of an average adult man, clanking as it walked out.

Magic Golem, equipped type.

The chest of the one wearing the so-called ‘Powered Suit’ boldly bore the emblem of the Adventurer Guild.

“Chief!!”

“Are you alright?”

Francis Di Emery.

“It’s not completely over yet, hold on. Huh!!”

He operated the Golem from within, swinging a massive hammer he carried on his back down at the Sand Worm.

Boom!

The tremor of the ground matched that of the Sand Worm bursting out, and the Sand Worm’s teeth shattered into pieces and scattered below.

The mouth of the Sand Worm was crushed shut, preventing anything from escaping, and the only sight visible between its teeth were the twisted wings of dying crows.

“Phew.”

Having completely wrecked the Sand Worm’s mouth, Francis lifted his face mask.

His white face emerged, and he pointed towards the fallen woman.

“Get to safety elsewhere for now.”

“Elsewhere? Where to….”

“Head to the Adventurer Guild. While you make your way there, the adventurers will protect you.”

“…Thank you!”

The woman left with her child.

“You’re doing great, Morzen.”

“You too, Chief. …Chief, were you crying?”

“It’s nothing.”

Francis pulled his face mask back down.

Though it looked rather fierce, the mask was equipped with a magical radar that could easily detect enemies.

“If you see more people, send them to the Adventurer Guild. There are people along the way, so even if the crows come at them, they should be fine.”

“Phew, how are there so many crows….”

“…They’ve been preparing to invade Normans for a while now.”

Creak.

Francis gritted his teeth and moved the Golem’s body.

Adventurers who had rushed over upon hearing the roar of the Sand Worm looked relieved at seeing Francis and readied their weapons again.

“Adventurers, listen up! We are now in a state of emergency!! Due to the raid situation, once the monster hunting is over, we will assess the results!! What the adventurers hunt belongs to the adventurers!! Kill the demon race along with the Normans’ defense army!!”

Francis bolstered everyone’s spirits.

“Attack the ground before the Sand Worms emerge! When they do, unleash explosive magic and break their mouths open so the Behemoths inside can’t escape and die!! We can win! We will not lose to the remnants of the Demon King’s army!! Citizens of Normans! Unite to protect your families!!”

By encouraging others, instilling confidence that victory was possible, and motivating everyone to protect their families, he raised the morale not only of the adventurers but of all the people.

However.

Screeeech!!

The Sand Worms appeared once more.

And from the dead crows, a black wind surged forth, gathering together as if attracted to something.

“Ch-Chief!!”

“That’s…!!”

The Behemoth, once thought to be an illusion from magic, began forming its mass slowly, becoming tangible.

A gigantic Behemoth.

The demon that was growing large enough to swallow the entire city radiated a terror, as if all the crows’ resentments were coalescing into one.

“A, aa…!!”

As everyone fell into despair and frustration.

Bang—!!

A fiery crimson flame stood before the Behemoth.

A golden flash raced towards the Behemoth.

“Ah.”

On the city walls.

Seeing two men and women standing confidently against the Behemoth, Morzen swallowed hard.

“……A hero.”

Their actions were reminiscent of true heroes.

If they could defeat that Behemoth…

Would it not mark the true arrival of a hero?

And then.

Flames began to blaze brightly around the red witch.

“Wow.”

The witch was engulfed in flames, her clothes disappearing.

The flames twirled around her like a dress, wrapping her up.

*

Combination Technique.

It is the dream of a hero.

Back when I was a part of a macho party.

Specifically, when I led my party against a different faction of the Demon race rising up against the Demon King.

“Hey, Bel! Let’s do ‘that’!”

“That?! Sure!”

–Combination!!

“Burn, O flame!”

“Whirl, O wind!”

–Crimson Gale—!!

I easily handled the Demon race.

By combining two different powers, we drew forth a new force.

Though our party was indeed composed of macho men, there was a grumbling human prince, an arrogant elf, a complaining dwarf, and an old wizard from half-human, half-demon lineage.

“Formation Z.S.A.! Can everyone keep up with my pace!!”

“Hmph, don’t let yourself be caught!”

“I’m off, racing like the light! Let’s goooooo!!”

I learned that when it’s not just one person using the technique, but a combination of multiple, it could yield an even greater power.

Of course.

A combination technique is not just about merging two techniques to become stronger.

It’s about how to enhance one technique or how two people can execute the same technique simultaneously to hit harder.

Truly ‘combination technique’ refers to mixing diverse forms of magic or channeling power into a single weapon.

“Lucius. From now on, I will imbue you with the powers of the Flame Hero.”

“…Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“…Is it really okay? It involves the Power of the Holy Sword.”

“Are you worried I might get hurt due to Divine Power?”

Lucius nodded.

He had pressed forward with his sword, watching for the Behemoth, but out of the corner of his eye, there was worry for me.

‘Everyone is filled with distrust before trying a combination technique for the first time.’

Once the combination is established, like a connection through shared gazes, they can use it together afterward, but the initial attempt can be daunting in many ways.

But I was confident that Lucius would surely be able to keep up with my rhythm.

No, with this body, it might be me who struggles to match Lucius’s rough and swift pace.

So it was right for me to assist, while Lucius wielded the powerful force.

“The principle of the combination technique is simple. You’ll infuse the sword with the power of wind. Then through your physical body, I’ll instill the strength contained within the Flame Divine Sword.”

“That’s possible… no, asking if it’s possible is meaningless when it comes to you, Master.”

“Exactly.”

It’s possible; that’s why we’re doing it.

“There’s only success or failure.”

“And if we fail…”

“Don’t even consider failure. I’ll support you, and there’s no way you’ll fail at swinging the sword.”

I gave Lucius’s back a light pat, straightening him up.

“It’s fine. If worse comes to worst, we can just draw the Holy Sword and blow it away. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

Lucius’s stance stabilized.

I placed my hand along his spine, then I grasped the jewel I held in my other hand.

“…In the name of the Moon Goddess.”

Reluctantly.

If it’s for using the power of the flame housed within this jewel.

Fwoosh—!!

The flames of the Holy Sword engulfed my body in an instant.

Fwoosh.

As the flames of the Holy Sword seemed about to consume me, I quickly began reciting the activation phrase.

“Burn, O flame of life.”

Fwoosh.

As soon as I uttered the activation phrase lightly, the flames of the Holy Sword began to lend me their strength.

The flames that had aimed to obliterate me now wrapped around me like a puppy finally recognizing its owner.

“M-Master!!”

“Look ahead.”

I gave Lucius’s back another tap and sent the Holy Flame forward.

“I will now infuse my magical power into your sword. It might feel a bit hot.”

“…Yes!”

Fwoosh.

The flames gradually seeped into Lucius’s sword.

Kyaaaaaaaaaak!!!!

As expected.

The enemies waiting while we prepared the combination technique were relentless.

The Behemoth flew at us, mouth wide open, and I raised my middle finger placed on Lucius’s back.

“Hold it high.”

Lucius hoisted his sword up high.

The red flames wrapped around the sword towering over his head.

“Just swing it.”

“Um, is there no name for the technique…?”

“…Pfft. You’re just like every other man, huh?”

“It’s called a combination technique…?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Whispering.

“Ah. Keeping the old name would feel a bit awkward…so, here it is. Got it?”

“…Understood.”

I casually recalled the techniques I used to employ in the past and began counting to three.

Three.

Two.

One.

“Scarlet Blaze Slash!!!”

Crimson Flame Moon Slash.

The flames cleaved through the black sky.