Devil King

Saussy Village

...

Saussy Village was just an average commoner village with mixed inhabitants of farmers, hunters, merchants and other commoners with odd jobs. Unlike Hage Village which had the giant demon skull as a tourist attraction, Saussy Village didn't have any special features to show for its self.

Asta had travelled around a lot under the pretext of hunting and selling wild game, and he visited quite a lot of places. He could proudly claim that he knew all villages in the forsaken realm and almost all villages and towns in the common realm.

If Saussy Village had always been shrouded in mist, it would've been quite the famous village. But judging from the fact that it was not famous for its dense fog, Asta could already deduce that the mist currently covering the whole village was not a common occurrence.

His guess was further fortified by Magna's gloomy expression.

"It's magic, Asta can you clear it out?" Magna asked, pointing at the unnerving mist.

Asta wordlessly summoned Demon Slayer, and used it to cut through the fog.

What could possibly cause this fog? Perhaps a child lost control of their magic? Usually commoners wouldn't have enough magic power to create fog to cover an entire village, but Asta grew up with absolute mana monsters like Yuno so he can never be sure.

The safest bet to make would be that the village was under attack, and to proceed cautiously.

"It's so quiet." Noelle pointed out.

The village was eerily quiet.

Magna just stared forward grimly.

Seeing his senior's attitude, Asta suggested,"Let's go to the village square, that's the default evacuation ground for most villages."

Asta's sword flew ahead, clearing the way for them and Magna showed them the way to the village square.

Asta could never unsee what he saw when they reached the square.

The villager folk has been gathered together like cattle, cowering in fear and despair, sharp icicles hovering just above them threateningly, spelling out their impending doom.

"Kill them."

An indifferent and cold voice cut through the mist.

Asta's eyes widen as he sees the towering rain of ice begin to fall. Demon Slayer, covered in Anti-Magic shot forward to their rescue.

"Flame magic," Magna runs forward "Explosive scatter shot!"

Seeing Magna's spell, Asta pulled his sword back in fear of nullifying Magna's spell. Asta's Anti-Magic was nifty and powerful because everyone else uses magic, but it's also tricky because, well, everyone else uses magic, including his comrades.

Fire intercepts the shards perfectly and an explosion booms over the head of the villagers.

"It's three of the magic knights!" A little boy shouts in relief.

Magna appears to recognize the boy as he calls out to him by name and asks him what has happen.

Asta slowly pulls out a claymore from his grimore while keeping an eye on the assailants of the village. Demon Slayer hovered above the square, out of the sight of the ice mage and his company.

Asta needed to be on guard as Magna checked the situation.

It turns out that the village chief that had been gambling with Captain Yami just yesterday was dead.

He died protecting his people.

He was brutally murdered by the ice mage.

Magna became furious.