Little Devil Princess My Sisters Are Seriously Trying to Marry Me When They Grow Up

Under a cloudless, clear sky, the men walking along the path illuminated by dappled sunlight were dressed in a manner that could only be described as poor. Their clothing was primarily made of simple fabric, and the few pieces of equipment they carried were in obvious disrepair, marked by cracks and dirt. Yet, they wore these garments nonchalantly, each face eerily adorned with a disturbing smile.

“Aniki, are you sure it’s up ahead?”

Asked a plump man. The bald man leading the group replied with a sly grin.

Beyond the dense, overgrown forest lies the Demon Queen’s castle—a place recently visited by another group of adventurers, none of whom returned. Technically, there was one survivor, but to call his state — arms brutally maimed, and mind shattered — a ‘miracle’ would be a stretch.

“They kept mumbling not to go to that castle…”

“Hey, Aniki, maybe we should call it off?” “This seems dangerous…”

Their reluctance to embark on this expedition was evident, but a harsh rebuke from the leader silenced their fears.

“What are you scared of, you fools! Do you know who I am? With me here, any opponent is easy!”

“But the opponent is Demon Queen Astaroth!”

“So what? That adventurer might have been high-ranked, but he was nothing more than a pretty face. In contrast, I have real strength! And yet, everyone judges by appearances…”

While their attitude was undoubtedly problematic, they staunchly believed in their righteousness. Compared to the previously defeated adventurer, these men stood in stark contrast with their shabby appearance and lack of hygiene.

“By the way, Aniki! Isn’t that the castle right there?”

Pointing to a massive castle, the skinny man asked, eliciting another sly grin from the leader.

Castle Tzvalnea — the grand residence of Demon Queen Astaroth, now stands as the stepping stone in these men’s lives. A fact they believed without doubt.

However, the leader’s gaze soon fell upon a young man, causing him to click his tongue in annoyance.

“If you were coming here, couldn’t you have at least brought some decent gear? It would be better to attend a ball in a nice dress than show up like this.”

“Hah! A man isn’t just about gear or looks! You were raised in a greenhouse; you can’t beat us who grew up in the slums!”

“That’s right!” “We’ve survived in harsh conditions!”

“Like you could beat us!” “Go for it, Aniki!”

Ignoring the noisy crowd, the young man’s gaze remained sharply focused on the leader, his eyes as cold as ice. Sensing clear hostility and intent to kill, the leader finally realized the danger and clumsily readied his sword.

His muscles were tense, and his sword shook slightly, betraying his lack of skill.

In contrast, the young man appeared relaxed, holding his sword casually in a way that seemed ill-suited for battle yet leaving no opening. The leader hesitated to advance.

“Do you have any intention of turning back?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! We’ve come too far to turn back now!”

“…I figured it would come to this.”

“I… We came here for a fortune. Don’t you dare underestimate us, demon!”

“If only you had considered the futility of wasting your life on such empty bravado. Well, if you’re not going to back down, I guess there’s no helping it…”

Despite his calm demeanor, the young man’s swordplay was a storm-like frenzy.

He effortlessly parried the man’s sword with a sharp and heavy strike, sending sparks flying and a loud clang echoing. The man’s face contorted in agony, the impact of the youth’s powerful blows transmitting pain throughout his body.

“What kind of power is this!” the man exclaimed, continuously retreating, trying to put distance between them. But the youth’s relentless attacks gave him no respite, reminiscent of a turbulent sea dragging a ship down to the depths.

“Aniki…”

The plump man’s right shoulder bore a deep gash from the youth’s sword. Blood spurted violently from the wound, a sight indicating a fatal injury. Enraged and driven by emotion, the man’s sword emitted a fierce energy. Despite its dull blade, the force behind his attack was sharp enough to force the youth to leap back.

“Ah…” the youth muttered, a faint trace of blood on his cheek.

“You dare kill my cute subordinate!”

“Killing? You knew it was either kill or be killed when you came here. I even warned you to turn back at first.”

“Shut up!”

“Sigh…”

Blade clashed against blade repeatedly. The battle was intense, and gradually, the disparity in strength became evident. The youth had the upper hand. Despite his relentless efforts, the man’s attacks were futile against the clear gap in their abilities. Yet, the youth respected the man’s tenacity, born from the loss of his comrade.

“Is it over already?”

“If you’re gonna kill me, just do it.”

“Aniki!” “We’ll follow you!” “We’ll protect Aniki!”

The subordinates’ loyalty and willingness to protect their leader were clear. However, the power difference was like night and day. Despite their numerical advantage, they could have done better against the youth’s overwhelming strength.

“You guys…”

“We may be like this, but we all owe our lives to Aniki!”

“It’s time to repay our debt!” “Dying to protect Aniki is an honor!”

The man chuckled and stood up, his previously resigned expression gone.

“…Sorry, but it seems I can’t die here after all.”

“You have good comrades. I honestly thought you’d run first.”

A faint smile appeared on the youth’s face, surprising the men. Their reaction, influenced by their knowledge of demonic cruelty, wasn’t misplaced.

“…Who are you?” the man asked.

“I’m Astaroth’s son,” the youth replied calmly.

The men hadn’t expected to face such a formidable opponent so suddenly.

“Ryushi Onii-sama, are you alright?”

“Arissa… And everyone came too?”

The arrival of the beautiful girls momentarily distracted the men, but their admiration quickly turned to horror as the girls unleashed a frosty aura, leaving no mercy for their opponents.

“Ryushi Onii-sama, you’re bleeding!”

“Did these humans do this?”

The redhead smiled menacingly, and the youth flinched at her overwhelming presence. Sensing danger, the man screamed to flee.

“Like we’d let you escape!” “Kururu will take care of them!”

“Pay for your crime against Ryushi Onii-sama with your lives, you lowly beings!”

“Stop, Arissa, everyone…!”

Despite the youth’s pleas, the beautiful but ruthless girls unleashed their fury. Knowing their pleas for mercy were futile, the men met a brutal end, leaving the man to gaze at the blood-red sky.

If only we hadn’t come here… With that last thought, the man let go of his consciousness.