HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

As Yae Sakura's blade claimed several soldiers before her, their dismembered bodies did not meet their end. As the corpses began to rot, winged demons—each with horns jutting from their heads like cattle—emerged crawling from the decaying flesh.

"Demons... These soldiers were all possessed by demons."

"Low-rank demons," someone clarified. "These soldiers must have been infected by demonic parasites."

"What in the name of the heavens is happening here?" one adventurer muttered, his voice tinged with growing unease as he watched low-rank demons emerge from the fallen soldiers' remains. The situation was far more complex than anyone had anticipated.

However, Yae Sakura remained indifferent to these thoughts swirling among the adventurers; as long as they didn't perish en masse, she would consider her mission accomplished.

Gazing at the emerging low-rank demons, she casually unleashed another wave of sword energy, annihilating them instantly. Her eyes then turned towards the approaching reinforcements—all similarly afflicted by demonic possession.

It was impossible to discern how many low-rank demons the unseen orchestrator had summoned. In this world, demons required sacrifices to be called forth by humans. The age of a demon dictated the type of offering needed for its summoning: younger demons demanded lesser tributes, while older ones required greater sacrifices.

The hierarchy of power within this realm's demon race was based solely on longevity—the longer a demon lived, the stronger it became. Consequently, the original seven demons held unparalleled might compared to all others that followed.

Within the grand hall stood nearly a thousand soldiers—each one harboring a low-ranking demon. Yae Sakura cast her gaze upon the minister protected at the steps above.

The mere sight of her sent shivers through his body; he trembled visibly with fear.

However, Yae Sakura didn't immediately confront him. To her, this minister was but a minor pawn—a single kill would hardly make a dent in their situation.

[Flash Slash]

[Mark of Slaying Intent] erupted forth!

Locking onto a soldier, she vanished in an instant, reappearing behind him with breathtaking speed. In that same moment, waves of Sakura Sword Force radiated from her, sweeping across the room and annihilating a significant portion of the soldiers in its path.

Both the soldiers and the demons within them were wiped out in this devastating assault.

In moments, Yae Sakura employed her Instantaneous Slash technique with devastating effect. Within half a minute, every last soldier had been eliminated without harming even one adventurer.

The reason these soldiers sought to capture adventurers alive rather than kill them was distinct from the high-rank demon general Great Pinecone had slain earlier. This... this entity desired living sacrifices for its demonic rituals. Live offerings amplified their potency significantly.

Eliminating a couple here or there might have gone unnoticed, but slaughtering all of them would not do.

The previous batch of adventurers met precisely such a fate—captured alive and offered as sacrifices. Not only did this greatly enhance the power of that high-rank demon general, it also inadvertently summoned forth a powerful monster in the process.

"You should leave now!" Yae Sakura commanded, cleaving open the palace gates with a single stroke before addressing the nearby adventurers. Though they were still weakened, without the encroaching threat of soldiers surrounding them, escape should be manageable at least.

"Many thanks for your rescue," one of them ventured to ask. "May I inquire after your esteemed name?"

As they watched the gate splinter under her blade, some death-fearing adventurers hastily made their way towards the exit. The remaining few turned to the hooded girl with swords at her side, urgently seeking guidance.

"Such details aren't important now," Yae Sakura replied firmly. "Your priority should be leaving this place swiftly. The king you see is not the true ruler; it's a demon disguised as him. But fear not—I will handle matters here. Just ensure you stay safe on your own..."

To Yae Sakura, these weakened adventurers were nothing more than burdensome encumbrances. Without them, she wouldn't have needed to expend effort eliminating each one individually.

"Well then... take care yourself," the adventurers responded, seemingly grasping the unspoken implications in Yae Sakura's words.

They chose not to press further, turning instead to depart from the royal palace without delay.

-

Soon, nearly all the adventurers had vacated the grand hall, leaving only Yae Sakura and Higokumaru behind.

Yae Sakura seized one of the ministers, pressing her katana against his throat with a firm grip.

"Have mercy..." The minister's face paled as he gazed at the blade resting against his neck, pleading fearfully for his life.

"Lead me to your master."

"Don't kill me—I'll take you there..."

-

"The basement..."

Under threat from Yae Sakura, the minister led her and Higokumaru through a subterranean passage beneath the royal palace.

After descending some steps and walking several paces, they found themselves in an enormous underground corridor—nearly seven or eight meters wide—with a massive door at its end.

Despite being fully below ground, the corridor was surprisingly bright, with no discernible source of light—not even candles flickering on walls adorned with murals depicting knights, mages, demons, and various other fantastical creatures.

"Esteemed adventurer," the minister said deferentially, pointing towards the grand entrance ahead, "my master awaits you within this palace. Please proceed inside."

Yae Sakura remained silent, merely nodding as she continued forward without hesitation.

Higokumaru lingered close by her side, whispering softly into her ear, "Big Sister, there's a monster lurking inside. Be cautious."

"...I see." Yae Sakura acknowledged his warning with a quiet response.

Upon reaching the gates, Yae Sakura released her grip on the minister and began straining to push them open.

Just as the doors creaked slightly under her force, the minister suddenly took several leisurely steps back. Then, with a mocking smile still playing across his face, he turned heel and fled.

But before he could get far, a burst of flames struck him squarely.

"Ahh..." The cry of agony was cut short as the minister's body instantly burned to ash.

"Trying to run away right in front of me..." Higokumaru observed the deceased minister thoughtfully, twirling strands of fox fire between her fingers.

-

Just then, Yae Sakura finally managed to push open the heavy door—a task that proved truly arduous even for her strength. It was unclear what material such a ponderous barrier could possibly be made of.

"Big Sister, watch out!"

As soon as Yae Sakura opened the doors, a burst of flames erupted directly towards her.

Higokumaru's expression shifted instantly. Four tails sprouted from her back, rapidly growing immense in size. Before the flames could reach Yae Sakura, Higokumaru enveloped her completely within one of her colossal tails.

The inferno struck Higokumaru's tail, but it was effortlessly repelled by the fox fire emanating from her fur. Not even a single hair on Higokumaru's tail was singed.

Once the blaze had subsided, Higokumaru swiftly pulled Yae Sakura behind herself with her tail, then released her grip to reveal an unscathed Yae Sakura.

"Are you alright, Big Sister?" Higokumaru asked, concern etched across her face as she focused solely on Yae Sakura's well-being. She paid no heed whatsoever to their adversaries beyond the gate.

Simultaneously, Higokumaru's five fox tails returned to their normal size.