We first ate to fill our stomachs and then moved to the water source. At the entrance to the water source, two guards were standing, and I stepped forward, showing the medal I had received from the prince earlier, and said.
"We're here to investigate the water source. Please open the gate."
"Gasp! This is the royal family's emblem! Ah, understood."
It was definitely a good idea to get the free pass from the prince. The Eris guards immediately opened the gate. We quickly passed through the entrance and headed inside toward the water source. The water source had several large pond-like areas where hot springs bubbled up sparsely from underground, each connected by huge pipes, and through those pipes, the hot spring water was sent down to the village.
We stopped upon seeing the hot spring ponds. Kazuma looked at the pond and said in surprise.
"Hey, this water, it's pitch black!"
As Kazuma said, black water was pouring in from the pipes connected to other ponds. Seeing that, I analyzed it with [Naked Eye] and said.
"Hmm... this seems like poison, as if someone is releasing poison into the source. Let's go check it out first."
Hearing that, Aqua urged us to hurry.
"Let's hurry, or the village will be ruined."
Aqua was one who would do anything for her believers. Perhaps it was because Aqua's believers were few in number and not increasing, so she might value them more.
We went further inside following the pipes. Then, a huge pond came into view, which seemed to be the source of the hot spring water.
"Huh? Wait, someone's there."
Kazuma sensed someone in front of the source and signaled us to stop for a moment. I checked too, and there were two people standing in front of the source. One was Hans, and the other was Vanir.
"Huh? That person is the one shouting detergent and soap, giving the followers a lot of stress, and his masked companion."
Megumin, having seen them often in the village, recognized them immediately. At that moment, Hans, who was in front of the source, sat down and dipped his hand into the source, which was visible.
"What are those guys trying to do at the source?"
Kazuma also checked their actions with his [Clairvoyance] skill at my words.
"Yeah, they're dipping their hands in the water source? Let's go check it out."
We stood in front of Hans and Vanir at the source. Then, Hans, surprised by our sudden appearance, pretended to be an Axis Cult follower.
"Well, well, are you tourists? This hot spring has various effects like back pain, shoulder stiffness, fatigue recovery, beauty effects, and even depression, distractions, various curses, etc., so even distinguished people from various countries highly praise it, so..."
I sighed and informed Hans.
"Hey, if you want to pretend to be from the Axis Cult, you should have recommended joining the cult first instead of the hot spring to be believed. And you, from the first time we met while bathing, you really hated the Axis Cult!"
Kazuma added.
"Yeah, right! That person threw the Axis Cult's famous soap on the ground."
Then, Vanir, standing beside him, laughed and said.
"Hahaha, it's already too late. What a pity, Hans!"
"Sigh... After secretly working on this for years, there's no choice."
The two prepared to fight. So, before fighting, I asked. I already knew, but because Kazuma and the others needed to know.
"But who are you guys? Why not introduce yourselves before fighting?"
Hearing that, Hans and Vanir began introducing themselves.
"Alright! The Silver Flash and the Crimson Mage! I'm Hans, the Deadly Poison Slime, a general of the Demon King's Army. And this guy is..."
"I'll introduce myself directly. I'm Vanir, the Devil Who Sees Through, also a general of the Demon King. But... I still can't sense anything."
Vanir kept looking at me strangely.
"Unexpected. Meeting two Demon King generals here."
Then, Hans talked.
"That's because of you. Remember fighting the Demon King's Army in the capital? Because of that, the Demon King's Army went on high alert. When Verdia said he was defeated by one person, no one believed it, but after seeing you fighting the Demon King's Army, they got scared and reported that one general alone couldn't possibly win. So, it was decided that two would work together on operations from now on."
"If we had time for this, I could have gotten delicious emotions from the Demon King's Army or created a dungeon."
Vanir grumbled as if time was precious. Apparently, because of me, Vanir was on a mission with Hans. Hans continued.
"Even if I say it's fine, they need to understand. Anyway, if I eliminate you guys here, my position in the Demon King's Army will rise."
Hearing that story, Kazuma got really scared and said to us.
"Hey, hey, hey! Two Demon King generals? Let's run away first..."
Then, Aqua stepped forward and said.
"No way, these guys are the culprits! If we leave them like this, the Axis Cult will collapse!"
"Aqua, but let's retreat first..."
I grabbed Kazuma's shoulder and explained.
"I'll handle one, and the rest of you help Kazuma with the other. Kazuma, this is a good chance to make a name for yourself."
Kazuma hesitated for a moment but eventually took a fighting stance.
"Ugh... No choice... Then at least let me choose who to fight."
"Oh? Who do you want to face?"
"We'll take Hans. Please handle that masked guy Vanir."
"Got it."
Hearing that, Darkness was surprised.
"Kazuma, you've made up your mind. To face the formidable slime!"
"Huh? Isn't slime the weakest monster?"
"Who told you such nonsense? Slime is a formidable enemy! First, physical attacks hardly work. Plus, if you get caught once, think it's over. You'll be dissolved by digestive fluids or suffocate and die immediately!"
"What, that! Scary!"
Kazuma was very flustered. Megumin also explained further.
"Moreover, that guy is the owner of a deadly poison that can contaminate the hot springs all over the village! Think of it as instant death if touched!"
"Instant death???"
Then, Aqua reassured Kazuma.
"It's okay, Kazuma, even if you die, I'm here with you! But don't get eaten. If you're digested, I can't resurrect you."
"Gasp!"
Kazuma seemed to lose his will to fight even before starting. So, I patted Kazuma's shoulder and said.
"Don't worry too much, with Yunyun and Cecily here, we can catch him enough. And if I win quickly, I'll come to help too."
"Yeah! We have Yunyun, and Cecily... hmm... we don't know her strength yet, but anyway."
Kazuma gained some courage from my words. Then, Vanir said to us.
"Hahaha, is the strategy meeting over? Silver Flash, you'd better not underestimate me. I'm somewhat evaluated as possibly stronger than the Demon King, you know."
"Since opponents are decided, shall we move to a wider area?"
"Let's do that."
Seeing that, Hans was very dissatisfied.
"Tsk! I have to deal with only small fries. Anyway, I'll quickly eliminate these guys and join you."
Vanir and I moved to a nearby open area and stood facing each other. I glanced toward where Kazuma was; it seemed they had already started, as the area around where Kazuma and the others were was freezing, and several magic circles appeared.
"Really curious. Why can't I read your mind? This is somewhat a shock to me, the Devil Who Sees Through."
"Well, it could be equipment effect, or skill effect."
"Hmm... Seems you won't tell. Well, no choice. Then let's start too."
I quickly approached Vanir and swung my sword, but Vanir hastily backed away and snapped his fingers multiple times, causing the surrounding space to distort and suddenly start exploding. I quickly used [Fast Step] to back away. Honestly, this attack came at such good timing that without [Observation Haki] and [Naked Eye], it might have been hard to avoid.
'Clearly, there was no such attack in the original. Is Vanir also not letting his guard down and doing his best?'
"Well, well, now I see why the Demon King's Army is wary of you. I thought it would definitely hit. Plus, incredible speed."
This time, I moved quickly again and approached Vanir, swinging my sword. But unlike the first attack, I used [Wind Moon Slash], anticipating that he would dodge, and aimed at the expected spot.
Slash!
"Cough!"
Vanir didn't expect this attack and hastily dodged sideways, but his side was deeply cut. However, from Vanir's body, instead of blood dripping, a cross-section like cut soil was visible.
"You, that body isn't the real one."
I already knew from seeing the original, but since Vanir can only be defeated and not killed, I needed to hide my strength. There was no need to let other demons know my power.
"Oh dear, I wanted to hide it more, but you're too strong."
As Vanir's words ended, countless soils rose from the surrounding ground, turning into doll forms resembling Vanir, and started attacking me.
Poof! Bang! Poof!
The dolls exploded upon touching the sword, and since there were so many, it seemed impossible like this, so to target the real body, I immediately ran toward Vanir, but Vanir dodged and used explosions in the air like the first attack to block my path, keeping distance from me.
Tap! Tap!
Bang! Bang!
"Tsk! How long are you going to just run away?"
"That's what I say. Close combat seems not to work for me. So, how about you quickly tire out or give up, hahaha."
Vanir, having lived long, had much experience and quick situational response, making me wonder if I could catch him with just KonoSuba samurai sword skills. I temporarily stopped chasing and caught my breath.
"Sigh... No choice. I have to use what I've been hiding too."
I immediately jumped into the air and used [KonoSuba Advanced Magic] ability to strike a powerful lightning bolt down to the ground.
"Lightning Strike!!!"
Kaboom~!!
As the lightning struck the ground, the dolls underneath started chain explosions, all beginning to burst.
Bang! Bang!
"Oh no! Using magic too!"
As soon as I landed, I shot [Light of Saber] at Vanir.
"Light of Saber!!"
Kaboom!!!
"Tsk!!"
As Vanir hastily dodged sideways, I used [Fast Step] to quickly approach and in an instant, cut Vanir from shoulder to side, bisecting him.
Slash!
"Graah!! To end like this here..."
Vanir's body, hit by the slash, turned into soil and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Did I catch him? It definitely wasn't the real body..."
I went to where Vanir's body had turned into soil and fallen. There, on the pile of soil, Vanir's mask was lying.
"At the moment you wondered!! Hah!"
Slap!
As I approached somewhat, suddenly Vanir's voice was heard, and the mask jumped up and forcibly covered my face.
"Hahaha, did you think you defeated me? Too bad! Unfortunately, no damage at all... huh? Why isn't the possession working??"
"Too bad! Sorry, but that doesn't work on me!"
"Such..."
Thanks to [(EX) Status Effect Immunity], possession or brainwashing didn't work on me. Plus, having seen the original, I already knew the mask was the real body, so I used that to act and easily handle Vanir. I immediately grabbed the mask with my hand and pulled it off my face.
"So the mask is the real body."
"Hahaha, you knew? I lost. See you next time."
Vanir laughed and readily admitted defeat. I immediately put strength into my hand and crushed the mask.
Crunch!
As expected, even if I killed Vanir, I couldn't gain abilities. Since demons don't die completely unless I go to hell and kill them directly, I had to be satisfied with just experience points.
I immediately went to Kazuma and the others. Going there, I saw Aqua enthusiastically punching Hans, who had become much smaller than in the original, with God Blow, and Yunyun and Megumin, perhaps out of mana, were sitting on the ground resting, being taken care of by Cecily. But Kazuma wasn't visible.
"Where's Kazuma?"
As I approached, Yunyun welcomed me happily and said.
"Cassian! You won after all. I believed in you."
"Yeah."
"Kazuma-san used himself as bait and got eaten by Hans, so now he's..."
Yunyun pointed to a skull rolling around nearby.
"I see."
Kazuma, as in the original, sacrificed himself to catch Hans, it seemed. Just then, Aqua, as if finishing up, said to Hans.
"The crime of polluting the precious hot springs of my cute believers! You deserve to die ten thousand times! Repent while hoping for God's salvation!"
An incredible amount of divine power concentrated in Aqua's fist. She must have been really angry.
"God~~!! Requiem!!!"
"Graaah!!!"
Hans, hit by Aqua's punch filled with powerful divine power, disappeared without a trace. With that finished, Aqua resurrected Kazuma.
"It's good to have caught a Demon King general, but what about the water source?"
Listening to Aqua's story, it seemed that because I had told her not to purify the hot spring too much, unlike the original, she didn't purify it. That was probably better. Because unlike the original, without receiving power from Axis Cult followers, if Aqua purified it, it would become just plain water instead of holy water.
"Well, just need to remove the poison, right? I'll do it. I got a good item before."
I took out any item from my inventory, pretending to use it, and used [Material Manipulation] to start removing all the poisonous components from the hot spring.
"Wow~ To have such an item. What a relief."
We went around not only the source but all the water sources, removing all the poisonous components from the contaminated hot spring waters.
"Phew~ This is the last one."
Aqua repeatedly expressed gratitude to me.
"If it weren't for Cassian, it would have been a disaster. Thank you."
"Now let's go to the inn and rest."
"Yeah, let's do that."
We were about to return to the village, but we saw villagers coming up. Probably the sound of our fight with the Demon King generals reached the village. So, Cecily and I explained that the hot spring water quality had deteriorated and we used magic to check if there were other water veins, reassuring the villagers and sending them back. Then we also went down to the inn immediately. They were tired, so as soon as we went down, they collapsed and fell asleep.
So, the second day came, and while eating, we talked about what happened yesterday. To catch Hans, Kazuma acted as bait to lure him to a suitable place, then Yunyun used all the mana she had saved in the mana savings bracelet I made, repeatedly freezing and destroying Hans to reduce his size with difficulty, and Aqua finished him off.
"You worked hard. And it's also the first day Kazuma's party caught a Demon King general. Congratulations!"
As I praised, Aqua boasted.
"Right! We got some help, but we also caught a Demon King general now. At this level, aren't we a good party too?"
Kazuma didn't nitpick this time and silently smiled, giving Aqua a thumbs-up to praise her. Seeing that, Aqua also laughed and gave a thumbs-up. Then Megumin, Darkness, Yunyun, and Cecily all gave thumbs-up and laughed together.
That day, we stayed at the inn, enjoyed hot spring bathing, rested fully, and the next day, we took the carriage and moved back to Axel Town.