Published at 18th of January 2020 10:52 pm

Volume 5, Chapter 5: The Young Man and the Slaughter

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Amongst the languages employed by humankind, there were two primary tongues. The most used was Western Continental, which came from the region with the greatest population, and that was followed by Eastern Regional. Their names came from the places they were primarily spoken, with one being standardized on the continent that served as the center of the world and the other used in the nations to the east.

The region referred to as the eastern nations was primarily composed of small island nations to the east of the continent. Though they were few in number, the settlements on the mainland in that region all bordered the ocean.

This settlement was one that bordered the sea in the land to the south, and it made for an unusual scenery: almost all of the buildings were standing in the ocean itself. Perhaps because these stone structures had been constantly washed by the waves, there were smooth curves to them. Thanks to the tide, the buildings with their contours that made them almost seem like living organisms were more than halfway submerged.

Most of those living in this settlement were merfolk. Part of a merfolk's body was covered with scales, and thanks to the traits of their race, they were able to breathe underwater. The merfolk were known for being more active in the water than on land, and their homes were built as such.

This settlement, which could be called the capital of the sea, had a king: the Third Demon Lord, also known as the Demon Lord of the Sea. This lord had established coexistence between his own retainers and attendants, who were devils, and the merfolk. Though the devils were few in number, by taking care of landwork like farming, which the merfolk were bad at, they had maintained friendly relations for a long time under their gentle-natured king.

There was a building that looked out over the calm, quiet work of those people. It had neither the military fortitude to be called a castle nor the gaudiness to be called a palace, but a king lived there, so it was still a royal dwelling. And in a section of that dwelling, the Third Demon Lord faced an uninvited visitor.

"I imagined you'd be arriving around now."

The Third Demon Lord had the appearance of a man approaching old age.

Devils spent most of their lives as young adults, so this showed that he had lived for quite a long time before becoming a demon lord.

The one this demon lord greeted with a cool and composed attitude befitting his apparent age was a young man in a black coat.

Through the large window behind the old demon lord, the ocean could be seen stretching out into the distance. Compared to the night sky full of twinkling stars, the vast sea looked pitch black. If it weren't for the clear, far- off roar of the waves and the brilliant scenery that had been burned into his eyes during the afternoon, he may not have even known that there was an ocean there. The gentle smile on the face of the old man, who was seated deep in his comfortable chair and gazing out that window, didn't disappear even with this young man who had clearly infiltrated this highest floor without any prior notice before him.

"My apologies for remaining seated. My legs don't work so well anymore," the old man said, speaking in the same language used by his people—Eastern Regional—as he took hold of the decanter on the table by his side. From that, he filled a goblet with a wine of a deep hue. Taking in the pale illumination of the lights in the room, it gave off a wavering crimson shine upon a deep brown.

"Would you like a drink? ...Well, I suppose you may not be in the mood for such things."

The young man looked suspicious, seeing how the old man didn't call for anyone or even ask who he was. He had intended to cut the demon lord down immediately, but because of the utter lack of hostility he was being shown, he became curious about the man's intentions.

Finding the youth's doubts only natural, the old man kept a gentle smile on his face, then took a sip from his goblet.

"I've wanted to talk with you. The Platinum Hero... as the one who defeated the Fourth Demon Lord, you're of great interest to us other demon lords," the old man said while looking at the youth in a black coat. "And you

hero would need to harm them. And so, I assume you must be no mere hero."

"...What then?"

Despite the cold, quiet tone of the young man's voice, the old man's smile remained.

"With that, I assumed that you would come to me as well."

Seeing that things had turned out exactly as he'd predicted, the demon lord with the form of an old man gave a sigh. Demon lords had been killed one after another in such a short period of time. He couldn't be optimistic enough to write that off as mere coincidence. However, his doubts cleared up when, in the midst of that, amongst the affairs from other nations, he heard tell of news that a human hero had defeated the Fourth Demon Lord.

"Are you... perhaps related to the Eighth Demon Lord?"

"I'm..." At a loss for words for an instant, he tightly squeezed his left hand with his right. "...She's the person I love most in this world." In the end, he responded differently than he had to the other demon lords, to whom he referred to himself as her retainer. For whatever reason, he wanted to do so.

"A hero and a demon lord falling in love... Wonders never cease, do they?" Wetting his lips with the contents of his goblet, the demon lord looked straight at him. "I am indeed a target for your revenge. You can take my life if you wish... but will you let me ask a few questions of you first?"

Not dropping his guard in the slightest, the young man stared at the demon lord. His hand remained on his blade's handle, and he stayed at a distance where he could strike down the demon lord at any moment. No matter how much his opponent may excel at magic, his blade would be faster at this range. There was no way he would fail to slay his foe.

The smile on the face of the demon lord in the shape of an old man grew strained when he saw the youth like that. "The Eighth Demon Lord... was a lady, yes? First, let me apologize. There is truly no excuse that can be offered for the way that we sacrificed her in order to save ourselves."

Hatred appeared on the young man's face as the demon lord spoke those words. The demon lord quietly took in the violent emotions he saw under the young man's maintained composure.

"...I see. This is just a manifestation of my sense of guilt. I understand that a mere apology isn't what you are seeking... Go ahead and forget I said anything, if you wish."

"...Why did you sacrifice her...?!" Those words dripping with anger showed his true feelings. He understood. He knew that the Third and Sixth Demon Lords, as well as the king of the devils, the First Demon Lord, were in a position where they needed to protect their own people. Latina likely understood that as well..

For those with people they were sworn to protect, standing against the Demon Lords of Calamity carried a great risk. Despite any disadvantages this old man may have, he was still a demon lord, and so if he were facing another single demon lord, he would be able to employ methods to protect himself. But the circumstances were different this time.

The Eighth Demon Lord was a threat to all demon lords, so by taking her side, one would unfortunately make an enemy of all the others at the same time. There was no helping that the Third Demon Lord chose peace for the people he served to protect over protecting a stranger like the Eighth Demon Lord.

Because of that, Dale didn't affirm his own actions as just. He didn't believe he was flying the flag of justice. He would openly admit that his own actions were fueled by revenge and retribution. He realized that they were done only out of his own conceit, to satisfy his own emotions... that from another point of view, he was the villain.

But even so, Dale's emotions screamed not to forgive this man. "She...!"

He thought on why that warmth, which he'd felt in his arms so many times, was gone now. He questioned why that smile he'd always seen by his side had disappeared. Whenever he turned around, he instinctively looked for her without thinking. When he started to speak to her, the reality that she was gone was thrust in his face.

To the demon lord he sought revenge against and the people he protected, Dale's actions were utterly unreasonable and violent. Even so,

Dale remained true to himself and focused his hatred on the demon lord. If

And yet, the expression on the Third Demon Lord's face showed that he accepted even those feelings of Dale's. With a stillness like the calm of the vast ocean, he accepted that hatred and anger as only natural.

Dale squeezed his left hand tight and clenched his teeth so hard that they made a grinding sound. There was no point in speaking further. Dale knew that, even though there was no need to tell the demon lord before him how precious the girl who had been stolen away had been to him.

Even so, Dale had expressed how much he cared for the girl he'd lost more eloquently than countless words could manage.

The old man had lived a long time both before and after becoming the Third Demon Lord, but it wasn't as if he didn't fear death. The contents of the goblet in his hand continuously rippled, showing his own trembling.

Seeing this enraged hero before him, the demon lord felt fear for the first time in quite a while.

Even so... he thought.

At that time in the space with the thrones, when she was condemned by the demon lords who were part of the natural order, the Eighth Demon Lord's "voice" had trembled and been full of fear. Yet she had remained firm, accepting her fate until the very last.

She was the lover of the youth before him now, so she must have been a young woman. Compared to the Third Demon Lord, who had lived long enough to grow old even for a devil and then had spent a long time as a demon lord on top of that, the Eighth Demon Lord had lived for a far shorter period of time. And yet, she'd faced off against the Demon Lords of Calamity.

An old man like himself couldn't back down, either, for the sake of those he needed to protect. And so, the Third Demon Lord never let the calm expression leave his face, even as he wet his throat, which had grown dry from nervousness, with wine.

"She was sealed away under the consensus of the demon lords. This has likely never happened before. Demon lords are granted the strength of lower-ranking gods by the gods themselves, and this was carried out by the combined power of all demon lords," the demon lord said in a quiet voice.

He had apologized because he wanted to ease his own guilt, but it was also undoubtedly how he truly felt. He regretted not being able to save her.

"I would imagine that a consensus from the demon lords will also be necessary to break the seal. However, that will be impossible. The Demon Lords of Calamity will never agree to release one who eats away at their own power. And so..."

He would give the person who cared more for her than anyone else a push on the back.

He wouldn't deny that his own desire was also involved in wanting it to be that way. He had no way of knowing for sure, so he could only speak based on conjecture.

"I see a possible solution in your actions. It's difficult to call a sealing ceremony without any past precedent or preparation perfect. The demon lords forcefully eliminated her, so it wouldn't be strange for it to come apart at the seams." Seeing a calm resolve in the young man's eyes, the Third Demon Lord finished drinking the contents of his goblet, then placed it back on the table next to him. "I know I am in no position to make such a request but, if at all possible, could you please defeat the Seventh Demon Lord next?"

The land ruled by the Third Demon Lord was under threat by the Seventh Demon Lord's troops, as that demon lord's stronghold was right alongside it. Thanks to the presence of the Third Demon Lord, the land had remained peaceful despite that.

The Seventh Demon Lord liked to trample others with overwhelming, absolute power, but when it came to a direct conflict with another demon lord, victory was not a guarantee. No matter how unlikely it may be, he didn't want to face the unpleasant taste of defeat.

The Third Demon Lord—the demon lord of the sea—could employ a great enough power to contend with the demon lords who specialized in combat, as long as he was next to the ocean.

If the Third Demon Lord passed away, this land would be overrun in an instant. That fact alone was why he clung to life.

"My people have committed no wrong... It is a selfish request, but will you grant it?"

The slight expression that crossed Dale's face almost looked like a tearful smile.

"She..." Dale muttered, thinking of the grey eyes of that girl who was kinder than anyone else. "She loved children... so I don't want to do anything... that would steal away their future..."

That statement was enough for the Third Demon Lord.

"I see... You have my thanks."

After that, the night remained quiet. The far-off noise of the ocean sounded almost like it was sobbing in grief as it embraced this land that no longer had a king.

†

The unrest brought about by the Demon Lords of Calamity hung in the air of Kreuz, too. Though it hadn't suffered damage directly, the outbreak of disease in Laband caused by the Fourth Demon Lord was a big topic of discussion throughout town. And the amount of fear surrounding something like magical elements, which couldn't be seen, was naturally quite large.

Though the town was open towards travelers, they were also accompanied by the concern that they may be unwittingly bringing in disease.

The Fourth Demon Lord had been defeated thanks to the hero. Even so, the plague that had been dispersed wouldn't come to an end so easily. It wasn't as if the defeat of the Fourth Demon Lord would cause all illness to disappear from the world. Now that the Fourth Demon Lord was gone along with her inexhaustible supply of magical element, the affliction wouldn't be able to spread as quickly or far, but those who had already been afflicted by disease weren't healed, and the land that had been infected wasn't suddenly purified. Each and every problem needed to be dealt with separately.

Unease bred unrest in the hearts of man, and that air of unrest further tilted the situation in a negative direction. Unnerved hearts would in turn cause events that would normally seem like nothing at all to become serious incidents. That led to repeated trouble of the sort that would normally never occur.

And yet, things had been stopped at a mere "air of unrest" because of the great efforts of the temple of Niili, which served as a clinic, as well as the guards in charge of maintaining public order. Thanks to the temple's thorough illness prevention and control efforts, no one in town fell prey to this outbreak. And the second any of the embers that might erupt into serious trouble began to smolder around town, the guards got things under control. If it weren't for the trust the people about town had in these organizations that provided them security, they would have been far more ill at ease.

And at the same time, the way that the biggest of those "embers," adventurers, were largely united under a single flag also had a big effect there. With an emblem of a fairy with fluttering platinum hair, this group formed under the name of the "Platinum Fairy Princess," whose image had become known as the symbol of the Platinum Hero, and they occasionally helped the guards deal with the sort who would take advantage of this unrest and confusion to stir up trouble and commit crimes. As a result, Kreuz was able to remain comparatively stable and peaceful in contrast to the rest of Laband.

In a corner of the shop that served as a base for the group that gathered under the flag of the fairy princess, the owner, Rita, looked over information from the Akhdar's message board and gave a sigh.

"Apparently after taking care of the Fourth Demon Lord, next up is the Seventh. That idiot..." Rita said, her tone full of astonishment and unease.

She bad-mouthed him, but if she honestly didn't care about him, she wouldn't keep checking on his movements like this. Rita's goal ever since Dale had disappeared was to use the Akhdar's message board as a terminal and convey all the information she could find on how he was doing to everyone in the Ocelot.

Knowing that she used her sharp tongue to conceal her true feelings, her husband Kenneth broke out in an awkward smile. "Even if it wasn't anywhere near Laband, the Seventh Demon Lord has destroyed a number of countries, right?"

"That's apparently the case...They say that's how he expanded his influence in the past, but he had been locked in a stalemate for decades... only to suddenly start moving again."

It was said that when the Seventh Demon Lord suddenly appeared one day in a small northern country, he first expanded his influence bit by bit. He swallowed up everything around him and brought it into submission, until he had gained an army and territory befitting a king. His military rule was very appropriate for a demon lord.

"Apparently, refugees are fleeing to the adjoining eastern nations, and farther on here into Laband and to the east... It's been pretty confusing, but I've been hearing all this from customers."

"That'll have an effect on the flow of goods, too... I wonder when things will finally calm down..." Rita said, unease on her face as she looked down at her beloved daughter sleeping in her arms. Hearing her gentle, peaceful breathing as she slept only caused the anxiety in Rita's heart to grow.

That was because Rita was a parent. It was only natural for a mother to want her children to grow up in a peaceful world.

"I don't... want to leave everything up to that idiot..." Rita whispered, and then sighed.

Though she didn't want him to shoulder all the burden, as a mother who knew of Dale's abilities, she couldn't help but pray that his actions would cause the world her children would grow up in to be a peaceful one. If it had been some hero she didn't know at all, she'd be able to just irresponsibly thrust her expectations on him, but she wasn't able to do so as things stood.

With the pause in their conversation, the inside of the Ocelot fell silent, as there were few customers at the moment. The atmosphere reflected the gloomy feelings in their hearts.

Suddenly, a cheer rang out. It was Theo, who was playing out in the backyard. Even though the shop had lost the girl, who was like a blossoming flower and always brought a bright liveliness with her, the energetic young boy served as a cheerful topic to clear away the gloom. Seeing their son growing healthily and steadily day by day brought his parents, Kenneth and Rita, a joy that nothing else could replace.

"Welcome back!" "Woof!"

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Kenneth and Rita both voiced their confusion at the same time. They got the feeling that the voice that replied belonged to someone they hadn't seen or heard in a while. The couple looked at one another, and when they heard what their son said next, their faces both froze.

"Did you get Sis to her old home?" "Woof!"

"Good job! You're amazing, Vi!"

They understood from the way the color had drained from their faces that the other was also thinking, Just what has our son done?! And what does he know?! but they were just too astounded that they were at a loss as to just what to ask him.

They were having a bit of trouble understanding what had happened.

They were well aware that there was one and only one person that their son fondly called "Sis."

Looking around, the handful of regulars about the shop were making the same face. Thanks to the utter confusion of the adults, it had fallen silent inside the Ocelot, only for the voices of a single child and animal to ring out again, caring nothing for the common sense of the grown-ups.

"Sis's old home is called Vassilios. I know that!" "Woof!"

"Is Sis there now?" "Woof!"

"I'm gonna write a letter. Can you deliver it, Vi?" "Woof!"

The couple silently came to the conclusion that they couldn't turn a blind eye to this reality. Accepting what was going on, Kenneth called out to the few customers in the shop, "The situation has changed! Somebody go call for Sylvester!"

"We need to contact Sylvia, too!"

"Wait, before that... Theo! Theo! What exactly do you know?!"

The adults learned shortly after what the young boy and the pup had conspired to achieve.

It was a strange sight, seeing the adults—some of whom had scary enough faces to cause a sobbing child to clam up—heartbroken and hanging their heads, faced with a child without a hint of guilt about him puffing up his chest in pride. The chaotic state of the shop made the conversations of the more casual customers who happened to be in the Ocelot veer off-track.

As an aside, having been carried to Vassilios, Latina was extremely confused when she regained consciousness. She didn't have a firm grasp of what she had said in her foggy mental state. If she had been more in her right mind, she would have been able to assess the situation more carefully.

And "normally," it wouldn't have been possible for what she had asked for to be granted. But Vint was no ordinary pup—he was a mythical beast, the first-born son of the strongest soaring wolf, Hagel.

Dale, meanwhile, was in a land far enough away that those agonized cries from Kreuz would never possibly reach him. Right now, the Dancing Ocelot was just too painful a place to be. There were memories of that gentle time he spent with Latina scattered all throughout the place, and traces of her presence all over. For now, Dale couldn't bring himself to look at such things.

He had distanced himself from the people of the Ocelot and relied solely on his village's information network for a similar reason. That shop had been a place where he could be himself. Where his "big bro" Kenneth and his bicker buddy Rita were, and where he didn't need to force himself to kill off his own emotions. It was thanks to that shop that even before meeting

Latina, even if his work ate away his heart, it wasn't destroyed.

So for now, he couldn't return. Right now, he couldn't be "himself." And he didn't want to show the people of that shop the him that he was now.

Dale never could have imagined that the information he wanted above all else was currently held by the young boy and soaring wolf living there.

†

The Seventh Demon Lord was also known as the Demon Lord of War. He loved war itself and sought to use overwhelming military might to trample down others. There was certainly a possessive nature behind that. And yet, this demon lord didn't think about protecting and ruling his own land.

Rather, he saw it solely as something to be exploited to fuel his forces.

It was a failure in terms of his very goals. He wasn't waging war to expand his territory, nor to fulfill his desire to control. Rather, his expanding land and control as a ruler were just results. His goal was ultimately just war itself.

As a result, all of the lands ruled by the Seventh Demon Lord were impoverished and desolate. Even if one tried to surrender in order to avoid destruction, all that awaited them was the despair of waiting for their land and livelihood to be devoured.

Even for Dale, who was the antithesis of a demon lord and now possessed a power that could be called unfair, it would be incredibly difficult to face off against the Seventh Demon Lord on his own. After all, he was up against an army. When facing off against such a large force, rather than trying to settle things by his own power alone, it was necessary to employ tactics. And leading a war effort was outside of Dale's field of expertise.

For Dale, in a manner of speaking, the way that the Demon Lords of Calamity had made a move could be called convenient.

After the defeat of the Fourth Demon Lord, the country of Laband, with its "Platinum Hero," decided to ally with their surrounding nations and move to eliminate the Seventh Demon Lord. As those nations were smaller and weaker than Laband, if the Seventh Demon Lord continued to advance, they'd effectively just be waiting to be overrun. Meanwhile, having just suffered a blow from the Fourth Demon Lord, Laband didn't wish to fight a decisive battle with the Seventh Demon Lord within their territory. All of these nations' thoughts were united toward the same goal, which allowed them to promptly establish a pact. Not wanting to waste even a moment, the leading parties all expedited the decision.

Dale was currently in a unit on the front line. He was on horseback, clad in the platinum armor that had gained such great symbolic meaning. So as not to frighten the horses, Hagel was accompanying them at a distance. No matter how valorous the war horses may have been, the pressure coming off such a powerful carnivore of a mythical beast was just too much to bear.

"On paper, you're my subordinate. Refrain from running off on your own."

"Got it," Dale replied. He gave a fleeting glance to his side. The elegant jet-black horse was stunning, suitable for an animal owned by such a distinguished family. And straddling the beast was Gregor, who was clad in armor that similarly would bring no shame to the name of his ducal household.

Dale knew the swordsmanship Gregor specialized in possessed godlike speed, so seeing him in such heavy armor, no matter how high quality it may be, felt out of place to Dale.

However, Gregor was different than his friend. Even if he was just a third son, as a member of the foremost family in Laband, a country that promoted combat ability, he possessed both the technique and knowledge needed to lead an army.

As someone of great import to the country, Gregor's father couldn't leave its center, and as someone pivotal to national defense, the second son couldn't depart from the national border, so the duty of standing on the field of battle under their household's name fell to him.

"You've got it rough, too."

"...Not really. As a Laband noble, I figured this chance would come eventually," Gregor responded to Dale, looking out over the forces he was in charge of. There was definitely an orderliness and discipline to the systematically advancing troops. In spite of the fact that they were heading towards a formidable enemy, the Seventh Demon Lord, the soldiers' expressions didn't look grim at all.

The champions who had defeated the Fourth Demon Lord. They were heading into battle being led by a member of the ducal family, Gregor, as well as a living legend, the Platinum Hero. The soldiers marching under flags with the emblems of the Eldstedt family and the fairy princess looked downright proud.

Dale made it look almost easy as he dealt with those around him, trying to act dignified enough to not shame the name of the Platinum Hero or let down the soldiers' excessive expectations. His presence clearly raised the morale of the knights and infantry, who thought with something a little different than ambition and closer to a wistful longing that they might become a part of his epic.

Looking out at these troops, Gregor found nothing to criticize.

That's not it... Gregor thought to himself, considering his friend on horseback by his side. He just isn't feeling any pressure from the expectations of those around him. Does he have no interest in how others see him?

There had been a dangerous aura around Dale ever since he lost his beloved fiancée, and it had only grown as the days passed. Gregor couldn't help but feel that ever since he'd put on the mask of the fool known as the "Platinum Hero," something worrying had been building up inside of him.

Gregor looked straight ahead so he wouldn't be seen sighing, and he kept advancing on his horse. He couldn't let the soldiers around them see that he and Dale were merely human. Their role was to act as symbols. They had to remain unshakable, to rouse the spirits of those around them.

To be human... is to want someone to support us...

Is it a sin, to want someone else to help hold our hearts together? Gregor thought to himself, placing his hand over the spot where the charm made by the girl who was precious to him hung inside his armor.

A great number of countries immediately became aware that the grand nation of Laband had moved to eliminate the Seventh Demon Lord. Even if they weren't directly involved, if Laband was defeated, these other countries would no longer have the means to stop the Seventh Demon Lord. Its sheer might as a nation was great, but more than that, without Laband, they'd need to wait for another hero as renowned as the Platinum Hero to appear.

With the Akhdar temples at the center, information had spread throughout the world.

As many countries watched on with bated breath, the allied nations with Laband at their core arrived in the Seventh Demon Lord's territory and commenced battle without so much as declaring the start of hostilities.

The battles taking place away from the center of the demon lord's command were overwhelming victories for the alliance. The terrible sights the knights saw as they advanced ignited in the allied troops a righteous indignation and sense of duty that they must not let their own nations end up like this.

The allied forces were surely advancing towards the Seventh Demon Lord. Before long, that news was delivered even to closed-off countries that didn't interact with humankind.

"The human armies are facing off with the Seventh Demon Lord, you say?" "Yes, my lord."

As the subordinate delivered this report, the "Golden King," seated on a throne behind bamboo blinds, closed their eyes—from which they had gotten their name—and contemplated.

Vassilios had a drier, warmer climate than Laband.

The place that served as the castle of the First Demon Lord, ruler of Vassilios, was the temple of Banafsaj.

The status of demon lord was granted to those who met the qualifications and were chosen by the gods. Therefore, there were times when a king would reign for centuries, and others when the throne would remain empty for a similar amount of time. At times when there was no demon lord, the country operated under a political structure with the high-ranking Banafsaj priests at its core. The shrine was the center of the government and welcomed both kings and gods, and was where the will of the people gathered.

That could be seen from the construction of the town, too. It had been built up with the "castle" of their ruler, the massive shrine built of white stone, at its center. The townscape, which seemed to encircle the shrine, was constructed out of white stone and sun-dried bricks. The town was clean, and orderly, and felt almost like an extension of the shrine; it was more majestic than lively.

The devils had a notably smaller population than that of humankind. This town was the only one in all of Vassilios. In other areas, there were small settlements that would be best described as villages, but that was all.

Geographically, it was isolated from other regions, making it easy for them to take a national policy of isolation.

In this world, not all land was divided into nations. The label "nation" was ultimately limited to areas ruled over by man. The land inhabited by magical beasts, which men could not easily enter or leave, was considered unsettled, but did not belong to any country, and while both regions ruled by demi- humans (which were humanoids outside of the seven races) and regions ruled by magical beasts were regarded as somewhat cultured and open to trade, they were not counted as nations.

Many nations crammed into the land where the conditions were suitable for people to live, and they fought over territory, even though the unoccupied regions were also vast.

Vassilios was adjacent to Laband, but there was magical beast territory between the two nations. Because it was surrounded by that territory as well as a vast desert, Vassilios stood geographically isolated from other countries.

It was still a rugged land, but because the devils were a hardy race, they were able to live there without being overly inconvenienced. They didn't need to worry about other countries invading; they could simply live in peace as they wished.

The great shrine of Vassilios had been built to have numerous sections. The inside of the shrine alone gave the impression of a small town. There were many structures on the grounds, but as you approached the center, it became a secured area where only a limited number of people could come and go.

Within that central area, a clean stream of water so crucial in this arid land moved, the flow sounding crisp to the ear. The waterfall, so thin it was like a strand, poured into a shallow man-made spring lined with jewels. The imperial villa was constructed within that spring.

The building itself was small, but it was a work of art, like a bundle of elegance. It didn't have a flashy or extravagant appearance. The devil culture didn't make a habit of surrounding oneself with luxurious fixtures. However, the materials that had been used to build it were of the best available, and each and every one of the fine engravings upon it had been made with the greatest care. Just by looking at it, one could tell that it was a structure of the utmost quality.

Normally, it wouldn't be so luxurious, but this royal villa was something the previous First Demon Lord had created using a fortune and the best techniques available to make it as chic as possible for his beloved queen.

With the changing of demon lords this villa had lost its master, but now there was once again a beautiful maiden within.

Chrysos was walking through the center of the temple, what could be called the "inner shrine," clad in garb suited to this land, made of layers of thin, breathable cloth. A cool air flowed gently through the outfit. The pure, cold water surrounding this place known as the "Villa of the Favored Concubine" made the air cool no matter how warm the day may be. Seeing Chrysos walking down the hallway leading to the villa, the ladies-in-waiting bowed their heads.

The only ones allowed into this villa were the ladies-in-waiting serving the current master of the villa, the "princess," and the king, Chrysos. Fitting of the devil culture, the inside of the villa had only the minimum amount of furniture necessary: a bed that occupied most of the room. The silk hanging from the ceiling swayed gently with the breeze passing through, blocking the sunlight streaming in and casting a light shadow on the bed. Within that shadow, a girl was lying on her side, and she stirred, sensing someone's presence there. She opened her eyes slightly, and seeing who it was with her grey eyes, the expression on her face softened.

"I see you have awoken, Platina."

The girl tried to move when Chrysos spoke, but she seemed to immediately run out of energy, only for her hand to fall back onto the bed.

"You need not push yourself. You must still be in no condition to move." "I'm sorry..." Latina finally managed to wring out something audible as she lay limply.

"Still, thanks to you, Chrysos... I'm able to be awake for a little bit now." "Even if it was already coming apart, you still forced your way through the seal... I am glad that you made it through that all right, but you acted recklessly," Chrysos said, brushing aside the hair hanging down in Latina's face, then gently touching the remains of her broken horn. Horns were the identifying trait of the devil race and were seen as sacred. They were only allowed to be touched by someone incredibly close to them.

"I beg of you, never again make a choice that will lead to me losing you..."

Chrysos said with a pained expression.

Latina frowned in turn. "I'm sorry... Chrysos..."

"Never mind that. That you came back to me is all that matters." Chrysos said that with a faint smile, then put a hand on Latina's forehead. In that instant, there was a gentle shift in the surrounding air. Latina had been breathing weakly and shallowly, sounding pained all the while, but now she inhaled deeply. Her skin had always been pale to begin with, but it had grown more so to the point that her face looked sickly; but now, it looked just a bit like the blood was returning to it.

Latina had been asleep almost the entire time since Vint carried her to Vassilios. She'd have just brief exchanges with Chrysos, then lose consciousness again.

The spell binding her—the Eighth Demon Lord—had been powerful.

Because Latina had broken free of it in such an incomplete manner, she had in exchange left a great deal of her power with her throne. She had lost almost all of her strength, including what she needed to live. The one who had used their own power as a demon lord to supplement and support her was Chrysos. If Chrysos weren't the First Demon Lord, such a thing would have been impossible.

The First Demon Lord possessed the most demon lord-esque powers of all of them and was the most skilled at manipulating the power granted by the gods.

If asked, "Could you break through the seal like Latina did?" even Chrysos would have to respond that it was simply impossible. It was precisely because the Golden King was so skilled in manipulating such power that they knew just how much Latina had pushed herself and done the impossible .

Thanks to Chrysos's power, Latina had shown signs of recovering bit by bit and was no longer in the dangerous state she had been in when she first arrived in Vassilios. Though with that said, she was still far from being back to normal, and needed to spend nearly the whole of each day in bed, drifting in and out of dreams.

"There's so much... I need to talk to you about... Chrysos..."

"Do not worry about that. Just leave everything to me. You only need worry about yourself."

Latina fell into the grips of a deep drowsiness, and the power drained from her body. When Chrysos heard Latina's rhythmic breathing as she slept, the First Demon Lord pulled their hand away from Latina's brow.

"Is the thing which you must discuss with me your retainer, Platina...?" Chrysos whispered emotionlessly, knowing that voice would not reach Latina in her dreams. "That one who seeks to steal you away from me... I look forward to seeing just what sort of person they may be."

The Golden King's beloved other half had at last returned. How many years had been spent searching for her? Chrysos hadn't imagined the possibility (even logically understanding it, it was hard to accept) of being separated once more so soon after finally reuniting, but it was unavoidable.

That time when she had gone away, it had been so painful that it felt like

Chrysos's body had been torn in two.

As the First Demon Lord, it was essential to seal away the Eighth Demon Lord. In order to not have to kill that beloved girl, that had been the only choice. But making that decision had been so painful that it felt like being ripped apart from the inside.

Now that that precious princess had returned to Chrysos's side, the Golden King would do everything possible to protect her and never again do anything to lose her.

"Do you not feel the same, oh Platinum Hero?" With a determination hidden away inside, Chrysos spoke out to someone who was not there.

†

The number of flying dragon units in Laband's possession were certainly not few. The majority were currently being utilized in the war with the Seventh Demon Lord taking place in a faraway land. Flying dragons were magical beasts of the dragon variety, but if looking at raw attack power alone, they didn't stand out. It wasn't easy to kill one, but they also didn't possess enough strength to turn the tide of a battle.

The most important role of the flying dragon units was the transport of personnel and goods. The number of beings that could travel through the skies was limited, and they couldn't easily be replaced. Because there would be no replacements for them if they were dispatched to the front line and killed, they were mainly tasked with logistical support. Sending them out into battle lightly would carry a great risk.

One such flying dragon in service of Laband, a large male, casually stretched its wings. A rider was atop the brilliant red equipment on its back, the color of which indicated the nation they served. Furthermore, there was a box-shaped object hanging below its body... or it appeared to be a box at a glance, but it also resembled a boat. It was meant for transporting people and even contained a passenger cabin.

In front of the flying dragon carrying the "boat" was a smaller dragon leading the way. It was an escort meant to protect the passengers being transported.

"Just what is His Excellency thinking?" Rose, who was riding in the "boat" carried by the flying dragon, thought aloud while tilting her head. During her personal time, she would informally refer to Duke Eldstedt as "Uncle", but considering her position, she needed to remain professional for now.

"He did not tell us anything. His Excellency only ordered us to protect you, Lady Rose."

"I see..."

Those serving at Rose's side were adventurers with personal contracts with the duke. Just like Dale, they faced off against demon lords and their demons, so they were trustworthy both in terms of ability and conduct. Rose hadn't even been allowed to bring along a chamberlain, just these guards, due to the limited occupancy of the "ship."

It was an inconvenient enough journey that it wouldn't be at all unusual for any ordinary young noble to refuse outright to make it, but as someone who came from a lower-ranking family to begin with and was also used to traveling, Rose didn't so much as bat an eye.

Without exception, all of the adventurers serving Rose were women. This unusually high number of women had been assembled out of consideration for the one they were guarding—Rose, a young woman.

Just what are you thinking at a time like this, Uncle...?

Thanks to the scars left behind by the Fourth Demon Lord, the temple of Niili that Rose belonged to was currently incredibly busy. She couldn't understand the reason she, a high-ranking priestess, was being called out so far on a flying dragon at such a time. However, it was an order from Duke Eldstedt himself, so Rose was in no position to refuse. She was well- acquainted with how prudent the duke was, but she hadn't the foggiest what he was thinking now, which only caused her anxiety to grow.

Is Lord Gregor alright...?

Rose's expression grew clouded as she thought of Gregor standing on the field of battle and leading troops. She couldn't help but feel frustrated knowing that all she could do was pray he was alright.

Through the window, she could see the blue sky with a gently blowing wind, but the beautiful scenery wasn't enough to clear away the clouds in Rose's heart.

Flying dragons weren't suited to flying at night. They had no night vision, so what they could see was greatly restricted after dark. And their riders were humans, which were no better in that regard. As long as they were able to do so, they landed and used the nighttime hours to rest instead.

For a flying dragon to land, they needed enough space to do so. By the time they came across a suitable spot, the sun had already set completely. Using illumination magic to see, the soldiers and adventurers made preparations for camping.

Because she was treated as someone of high status within the group,

Rose couldn't help out. She pulled out writing materials and started

That was when it happened.

It wasn't as if she had distanced herself all that much from the adventurers guarding her. And no matter how much Rose may have been focusing on writing the report, she wasn't the sort to carelessly let her guard down.

"I have waited for this time to come."

Despite all of that, when that voice suddenly spoke out from the darkness, Rose was all alone. It was then that she finally realized she'd gone out on her own.

Rose lost her usual cool for a reason besides being surprised at the sudden voice: she recognized it. In fact, there was no way she could ever forget it.

"You're...!" Rose said, staring into the darkness. Sensing that vague presence start moving, she instinctively stepped into the shadows to follow it.

The footing in the forest was even worse than Rose had thought. She was aware that she was acting behind her traveling companions' backs, so she followed the presence without using illumination magic.

Her sense of distance was being thrown out of sorts by moving forward with such poor visibility. She felt like she'd gone pretty far, but at the same time she also got the sense that she really wasn't all that far from the campground.

After advancing a ways into the forest, the presence stopped. It lit a small, gentle magic light above the palm of her hand, lighting up her face.

"So it is you..." Rose said. Now that she was sure of who it was, her voice was full of conflicted emotion. It was a beautiful, well-featured face. Her golden horns gave off a pale reflection of the light. And above all else, Rose could never forget that long, glamorous purple hair. This was the devil woman who had once saved Rose from the Second Demon Lord.

"I have waited for this time to come. For the moment I would meet you in this place, o rose-hued maiden."

Rose knew that the woman before her was a high-ranking priestess of Banafsaj, the god who gave their divine protection in the form of premonitions. And so, Rose naturally understood the meaning behind the

"You... knew that you would meet me 'now,' yes...?"

That was why, during her chance meeting with the Second Demon Lord, this woman "knew" that Rose would survive. Having seen the future that lay beyond that, such a belief was only natural.

"There is no guarantee that things will play out according to the predictions granted to me by the gods. But meeting with you at 'this time' occurred along the path to the 'future' I've awaited... and finally... I have arrived at this moment..." The purple-haired woman's voice faltered a bit, but she calmly stared straight at Rose.

"The Platinum Hero will defeat the Seventh Demon Lord," the prophet informed her, her voice wavering so little that it was almost frightening. "At that time, the future will be decided. The Second Demon Lord will come to this place," she said, handing Rose a simple map—lines scrawled out on a scrap of paper, indicating geography on the outskirts of Laband.

"The Second Demon Lord conducts herself as she pleases, and it is impossible to guess how she will act. Her whereabouts are never fixed. Even if the Platinum Hero searches for her, it will be difficult to find her with normal methods... That is why I have waited for this moment. By handing you this map, o rose-hued maiden, that future will arrive for the Platinum Hero... and with this, my role will end."

Though Rose was also a priestess with divine protection, she didn't know how Banafsaj's divine protection manifested. Even so, the woman's words made her feel uneasy. There was a determination behind them that was so strong it was almost painful.

"...You told me something before: that a demon lord's retainer yields their right to life and death to their lord... If the Second Demon Lord is destroyed, will you be saved...?"

"In a way," the woman calmly responded. "If my lord is destroyed, then I shall be sacrificed alongside her."

Rose's breath was taken away, but the woman simply smiled and continued on. "I entered into this contract with my lord aware of that fact. I am entirely prepared for everything that entails," she said, her emotions unwavering. She'd resolved herself to this fate a long time ago and seemed almost philosophical about it.

"If I let this chance pass, then my lord will surely kill a great many more people. My motherland has suffered greatly by my lord's hands as well," she said. She remained resolute, as if she were merely discussing her own work. It was almost beautiful, seeing her so unshaken.

"What would you do, if you knew that someone you wanted to protect so badly you'd die for them could be saved if you just offered up your own life?" the devil woman asked, then continued on without waiting for Rose to respond. "Surely, you would make the same choice, yes?"

Having said what she needed to, she ceased her illumination magic and turned her back to Rose, then walked off into the shadows of the forest. For a while after, Rose continued looking in the direction she had disappeared.

Rose then turned around, seeing the brilliant light of the camp, which was illuminated by magic. Still too far away from that glimmering place, Rose stood frozen for a few moments.

"If... I entrust this to Lord Dale..."

The Second Demon Lord was an elusive monster who revelled in slaughter and whose whereabouts were never known, and chances to defeat her were exceedingly rare. Dale would surely head out to eliminate her, but at the same time, that would also mean the death of that woman, who had saved Rose's life.

Rose stared at the scrap of paper in her hands, then shut her eyes and contemplated for a short while.

If I were in her place...

If she were offering up her own life to create the greatest possible opportunity, she wouldn't wish for it to be wasted over simple sympathy. The woman had likely lived all this time for this reason. Thanks to Rose's own beliefs, she couldn't sully the pride of that woman, who was trying to carry out her task. If Rose had to make the same choice, that's what she would do.

Rose opened her eyes and started to return to the campsite. As she walked, her doubts had already cleared away.

Around the time Rose had this unexpected reunion, in the northern lands, the war with the Seventh Demon Lord was entering its final phase.

With the Platinum Hero on their side, who possessed first-rate ability despite also serving as a symbol, the allied forces had continued to advance. this and not wanting the same disaster to befall their own country, the allied forces remained firmly united. The mantra that they marched under— "defeat the demon lord"—remained utterly unsullied.

And because of that, the war with the Seventh Demon Lord ended in victory for the allied forces.

The ravages of the war were carved into the territory that had served as the battlefield, and no liveliness returned to that already trampled land. But even so, it was undoubtedly a victory, and the thought of not having to face any further aggression or invasions brought hope to the hearts of the people. Even on the front lines, all of the allied forces were abuzz with excitement over the victory.

Compared to a war between nations, in a battle with a demon lord like this, victory was much more clearly defined. The Seventh Demon Lord's head was cut off and presented to the nations' kings; meanwhile, the demons who had served as his commanders perished alongside their lord.

The remnants of defeated forces had become an unruly mob, so in the future there may be a need to hunt them down, but at the present they posed no great threat.

In the midst of all this, Dale received a letter from Duke Eldstedt.

"They learned the Second Demon Lord's whereabouts...?"

The message had been delivered in secret by one of the duke's personal soldiers. What Rose had reported to Duke Eldstedt was written there, and the results of his careful investigation that had followed were also included.

Dale had used his home village's information network to search for the Second Demon Lord, but even though Tislow had connections the world over, they had failed to gather any concrete information, and Dale got the feeling they were slightly perturbed by that.

That fact led Dale to think that the duke must have had his own personal information network.

The only demon lords remaining were the First and Second. The First Demon Lord was the leader of Vassilios and thus had a fixed location. In that case, it made sense to prioritize the Second Demon Lord. In addition, the fact that the Second Demon Lord had snuck past Laband's borders made it a situation worthy of significant concern for the country.

Even if countless soldiers struggled with all their might against her, if the Second Demon Lord bared her fangs at the people of a nation that lacked a hero, they would never be able to land a decisive blow. Even if the damages were kept to a minimum, they would still be enormous.

But more than that, the greatest threat the Second Demon Lord presented was the fear she inspired in the hearts of man. In terms of physical damage, the Seventh Demon Lord, who had overrun everything with his army, or the Fourth Demon Lord, who had spread about invisible illness in the form of magical elements, was greater.

Yet largely in part because of her disposition, the Second Demon Lord was no less feared than others. In addition to being elusive, she was a cruel and brutal murderer. It was difficult to predict what the demon lord who slaughtered for pleasure would do. You never knew when she may appear, and when she did, she would bury the place with corpses and the scent of blood. She was a being who inspired absolute terror.

Even Dale had yet to face off against the Second Demon Lord directly. He only had experience with fighting her retainers, and they were all beings who inspired pity even in Dale, their enemy. Even calling them "subordinates" was too much, as they were just pathetic "beings" who had had their bodies strengthened.

They wouldn't break, nor would they die, but they could clearly still feel pain. Even when the agony passed the point of what they could bear, they weren't allowed to break, because the right to die had been stolen away from them.

And yet, Dale killed them. They didn't die easily, but he kept swinging his blade and casting his magic until they perished.

When they were on the verge of dying, the expression on their faces were always that of relief, but to Dale, killing them still felt utterly unbearable.

Having been absorbed in such thoughts, Dale looked up at the presence before him. Gregor was staring back at him with a look of fatigue on his face. It was the first time that Gregor had ever taken command of such a large force. Even though the advisor provided by the duke was excellent, Dale earnestly felt like he himself couldn't handle that feat. If it came to taking command of a small commando unit on the front line, he thought he could manage, but something like this required the right person in the right place.

"Are you going, Dale?"

Even though it was partly in name only, Dale currently fell under Gregor's command. That was how Gregor had also come to learn of the order Duke Eldstedt had given Dale.

"Yeah... His Excellency ordered me to head there immediately."

When he heard Dale's answer, Gregor seemed to think about something.

And then, his friend proposed something Dale had never expected.

"I'll accompany you."

"Huh? You've got to take command for the return trip too, right?"

"If it's just the trip home, then I can leave that to a proxy. On the other hand, there aren't many people who can head out to deal with the Second Demon Lord. And if we're to travel by flying dragon, you'll have to limit yourself to a small, elite group."

"...That's true."

Dale took in Gregor's words, his eyes surprisingly calm. As he was now, he thought he'd be able to keep pace with the Second Demon Lord. He hadn't written off the possibility of going it alone. However, he couldn't explain that to Gregor and Duke Eldstedt, who didn't know that he had become a demon.

Gregor was plenty aware that he was asking the impossible. The responsibility assigned to him now wasn't something that could be easily handed off to someone else, but he intuitively sensed that he shouldn't let Dale go off on his own.

Now that the Seventh Demon Lord had been defeated, there should be no further threat here. In his head, Gregor was thinking things through, trying to decide how to best transfer the right of command to his advisor for the return trip.

It didn't have to be him, but it was difficult to find people skilled enough to take on the Second Demon Lord. Therefore, if it had to be done so suddenly, he thought he should go.

As a member of Laband's ducal household and as a friend, he didn't want to lose this hero. He couldn't let Dale go face the Second Demon Lord alone, especially in his current unstable state.

He couldn't replace that person who was precious to Dale, nor did he intend to. But he still felt a need to support his friend.

"...I have my own role to play, too."

"I see... Then I won't stop you," Dale briefly responded and stood up, the grey mythical beast in platinum armor now in front of him. Seeing something similar in the beast's eyes to what he was feeling, Gregor let out a brief sigh.

Gregor hurriedly entrusted the right of command to his advisor, then formed the small unit for the battle with the Second Demon Lord. Amongst the confusion in the aftermath of the war with the Seventh Demon Lord, Dale and Gregor, as well as a few elite magic users skilled at providing support from the rear, secretly departed on a number of flying dragons,

Even going as quickly as possible by using flying dragons, it took several days to return to Laband from their current position in the north-eastern part of the continent. Even so, their speed was now far faster than that of the advancing forces moving on the ground. And yet, Hagel kept pace with the flying dragons, which specialized in soaring through the sky. The partial armor Tislow had provided to Hagel was equipped with a saddle, which helped support Dale even when they were flying in more awkward positions.

This travel wasn't a burden to Dale, as he could now swing a blade for many days on end without rest, but he couldn't force those around him to do the same. He held back his anxious emotions and mingled with the others around the camp at night.

Gregor looked over numerous letters amidst the flickering light of the campfire. Despite the fact that the Duke was writing under such unstable circumstances, fitting to his personality, the writing was methodical and steady. The paper had been wrapped up tight, placed in a cylinder meant for such purposes, and sealed with melted wax.

Because Gregor was devoted to taking care of the post-war clean-up, he had been constantly sending correspondence back and forth with the mainland via messenger birds as they traveled. After checking over the contents of the unsealed letter numerous times, Gregor furrowed his brows slightly.

"What's up?" Dale called out, wondering why his friend was so lost in thought.

"It's nothing." "I see."

Considering Gregor's position, he couldn't idly gossip about information from the homeland, even with his friend. Dale was aware of that, so he didn't press him; he just let it drop and looked back at the crackling campfire.

Seeing Dale like that out of the corner of his eye, Gregor once more became lost in thought. It was the sort of document that needed to be destroyed after reading, so he threw it into the fire before him. The thin scrap of paper burned up and disappeared into the flames in an instant.

Laband was officially opening diplomatic relations with Vassilios, the country of the devils.

It was this report from back home, delivered with this timing, that was perplexing Gregor so.

Vassilios had been a closed-off nation, never seeking intentional exchange with other countries, for a very long time. But the leader of Vassilios, the First Demon Lord, had formally sent a messenger to Laband, conveying the wish to form a diplomatic relationship.

The First Demon Lord, leader of the devil race, was troubled by the acts of aggression by the Demon Lords of Calamity towards the humans. The will of the devils and that of the Demon Lords of Calamity did not overlap. But it was a fact that prejudice had spread amongst the humans in the long time that the devils had refused to interact with the other races, and now the belief that the devils and the demons lords shared the same feelings was common.

This demon lord was concerned that this aimless fear and misunderstanding would lead to a full-out confrontation between the devils and the humans, and so the king had sent a messenger to Laband, the nation that had led the charge in this great war.

Behind closed doors, Laband was making preparations to respond to

Vassilios's request.

Gregor's thoughts raced as to why his father, "Duke Eldstedt, Prime

Minister of Laband," was sending him this information on such diplomatic matters now.

†

The place where the Second Demon Lord was hiding out was a particularly remote rural town. The manor in this tranquil country scenery had a luxurious and finely detailed appearance, giving it the impression of a noble's villa. The scarlet roof, which was typical of Laband architecture, used high-quality paints so brilliant that it almost looked translucent, absolutely shining beautifully in comparison to the pure-white walls and deep-green scenery.

The courtyard was occupied by a splendid rose garden. There were many varieties blooming profusely there, but most of them were a deep red. The garden existed in perfect harmony with the manor.

A metal table and chair were set up in the middle of the rose garden.

Their elegant form blended into the surrounding scenery, and seated there was a beautiful young girl who only enhanced that feel of perfect harmony.

Her abundant curly hair had a beautiful golden shine to it. The velvet ribbons tying it up and the extravagant dress she wore were both the same deep crimson. The girl was like a blossoming flower, an incarnation of this rose garden.

With a joyful smile, she enjoyed the aroma of the tea as steam wafted from her white porcelain teacup, her actions having a grace befitting her appearance. Seeming to be truly enjoying herself, she let slip a small giggle, and then brought the teacup to her charming lips, which were like flower buds.

"This is fun. Oh so much fun. The Platinum Hero!" she said with a giggle, playing with the baked sweets on the table with her slender fingers. "He's killed almost aaaaall the other demon lords! How wonderful!"

The blonde girl's gaze fell upon several men and women. They didn't reply, but the lovely young girl known as the Second Demon Lord didn't even try to hide her excitement. She kept on talking.

"A hero, whom the gods allow to kill demon lords, and myself, whom they allow to kill men... How are we different, I wonder? Perhaps this hero will have the answer?"

The blond girl licked the sweet she had picked up with her red tongue, then let out a laugh. It was poor manners and the act was suggestive, but it had a captivating grace to it and did not match her young exterior.

"I think I'll gouge out that hero's insides and see if I can find the answer in there. How dreamy! I'm sure they'll be a beautiful color, since he's a hero, after all. He'll definitely be different from my other toys."

The smile she broke out in then, however, was perfectly fitting to her young appearance. It looked pure, with just a hint of mischievousness behind it. And yet, there was also a deep madness behind that twisted smile.

"It sounds like such fun, killing a hero!" Her red lips curled into the shape of a crescent moon. "It was easy, killing the First Demon Lord. It was just over too soon. And killing the candidate for his replacement was simple, too.

Though it was a little fun seeing everyone panic, I suppose."

Amongst the men and women who lay collapsed before the blonde girl, a number glared at the demon lord with dark looks in their eyes. Those gazes full of hatred caused the young girl to tremble with passionate excitement..

"You're still not broken yet? I'm glad. That means you'll be able to entertain me even more, won't you?"

She picked up the small, polished silver knife that was lying next to the tea set as if being placed there were only natural, then threw it without a hint of hesitation. The motion flowed naturally, and the blade didn't miss its mark, piercing through the hatred pointed at the demon lord.

Holding back a shout of pain, a man held his eye that had been deeply impaled, blood and gore seeping out between his fingers.

"Despise me more and more. Just how great must your despair be, being forced to live as the toy of the hated target of your revenge?" the blonde girl said with a giggle, lacking even a hint of guilt. "Given time, that small child you all failed to protect would have become king, right? But you screwed up. Right before your very eyes, I carved him up while he was still alive. That made for a lovely, unforgettable memory, didn't it?"

There is no way I could ever forget, thought the woman with purple hair as she watched the spectacle unfolding before her. It was nothing more than a passing bit of sport for the demon lord.

In the past, Vassilios had lost its leader, the First Demon Lord, thanks to the murderous deeds of this Second Demon Lord in the shape of young girl. Time had passed, and a candidate for the next First Demon Lord was born at last. However, that child never had the chance to become king. Before he had met the qualifications to become a demon lord, he died at the hands of the Second Demon Lord, just like his predecessor.

The man who had just now lost an eye had been that child's bodyguard.

The woman beside him who hadn't even tried to hide her hatred towards the

Second Demon Lord was the child's wet nurse. They had tried their hardest to protect the child, but were oh so easily brushed aside, only for the murder to be committed right in front of them.

As she and the wet nurse were close in age, at night the purple-haired woman had watched the child who should have become the demon king, but she wasn't able to do anything. That was when she became painfully aware of how powerless she was, as even though she possessed high-ranking divine protection from Banafsaj, she hadn't been able to select a future where everything turned out alright.

The sight of fresh blood in reality had overlapped with the identical visions from countless futures that could have been. Those countless possibilities, the sight of all the ways that death could occur, caused her younger self to be left utterly paralyzed with horror.

As she sat there unable to do anything, the male guard and female wet nurse had had their freedom and their very ability to die stolen away by the demon lord. Toys that would easily break held no interest for the Second Demon Lord. That's why possessing a strong will led to earning her

favoritism. Furthermore, because of the demon lord's sadistic nature, that was even more the case when that will was backed up by hatred.

They undoubtedly possessed strong wills, and that was precisely why they were able to keep hold of themselves even now.

It was impossible to imagine just how cruel and agonizing that was.

The priestess with a name that referred to the color of the gods, purple, hid her eyes full of pity just a bit so what was in her heart couldn't be seen. Both her and the people before her now held the same, singular purpose, and so their hearts endured.

For the people in front of her, it was for the master they had lost. For her, it was so that she would not lose someone again, and for the sake of her motherland and the people living there.

She would strike back against this calamity. Without a doubt, this demon lord would die when the time came.

This time around, she wouldn't fail. She couldn't fail. The future she once saw when she was young and that sight soaked in fresh blood... she couldn't let them come true. With an unshaking will, she decided that in her heart.

Just... a little more. Then, I will also... she whispered in her heart, remembering that person who had comforted her when she was stricken by how powerless she was. That man she'd never see again, whose smile was gentler and kinder than anyone else's. And so, Mov brought her hands together in prayer.

The Second Demon Lord was still somewhat immature, fitting to her outer appearance. Having temporarily gotten her fill of playing with her "toys," her retainers, the girl seemed to lose all interest in them, and her gaze turned to her fingertips. Looking at her trimmed fingernails, she was struck with the idea of using nail polish to paint them the same deep crimson as her dress.

"Or maybe I should go with black... I'm very benevolent, so when I send so many to their deaths, it may be nice to have something that represents their lament." Thinking perhaps it would also be good to go with a black dress that was reminiscent of mourning clothes, the blonde girl stood up, her hair fluttering along with the motion.

The demon lord stood before the entrance to the manor, and then the door quietly opened. That was the work of a manservant, who normally never showed himself. Thanks to the silk hiding their faces, it was impossible to tell the manservants apart. The "name" made of symbols engraved in each of their necks was akin to the pillory about the neck of a slave. They were forbidden from so much as even speaking; they were merely living tools permitted to exist solely to make things more convenient for the Second Demon Lord.

Once the demon lord had disappeared into the manor, the purple-haired woman quickly chanted a healing spell.

"Oh light of heaven, grant this request by my name, and please heal those who have been wounded. (Healing light)"

The properly activated magic stopped the flowing blood of the man who had lost his eye. With the mass of mana she possessed, which had led to her possessing a mana trait, she likely could have reconstructed his eye entirely. However, she didn't do so.

The demon lord would never allow something she had taken away to be restored without her consent. If she discovered that such a thing had happened, the man would be reprimanded in a far more repulsive manner.

"Are you alright?" "Yes."

"My Lady Oracle..."

She was a priestess who possessed an unusually high degree of divine protection, so that was what the two before her called her. Even while they were falling apart, a light could still be seen in the eyes of the pair, displaying their strong will. In front of them, this woman who had once guided Vassilios, the country that lacked a king, remained resolute and told of her prophecy.

"Just a little longer. We are bound by a curse, but we have not sold away our souls."

The people she was addressing made for an absolutely tragic sight. It wasn't just the man who had lost an eye. Others had lost body parts, and there were also those who were still bleeding, their wounds not fully healed. That was all the result of the demon lord toying with them.

"Our role is to keep our lord in this place. We have endured being referred to as toys and treated as such all for this moment. Even so, our lives are still our own."

There was a strength in the eyes of those listening to her words. They were able to put up with however they were treated, no matter how poorly it may have been, because of the presence of this beautiful purple-haired woman.

This woman they called "my Lady Oracle" possessed the rare power to see countless possibilities and decide between them in order to lead them to the future she desired. Thanks to her prophecies, they were able to hold on, rather than having their hearts broken by despair. They lived on, believing the time would come when their hated enemy was repaid for her cruelty.

Everyone's thoughts were as one.

"We are most certainly not sacrificing ourselves for the sake of our lord."

That was one way of fighting.

†

It was such a refined and well-designed manor that it was easy to forget it was in a rural town out on the frontier. When he arrived there, Dale unconsciously knitted his brows.

While such extravagance was out of place out in the country, the building wasn't gaudy, and it seemed to blend into its surroundings. There was a great sense of beauty to the manor, and it seemed to have been built with harmony with the surrounding scenery in mind.

Inside the delicately ornamented iron fence were brilliant red roses blooming profusely.

There wasn't a single element of the manor that seemed unpleasant. And yet, there was an indescribable discomfort about the place. Dale was apparently not the only one who felt that way, as a look of displeasure crossed Gregor's face.

"What... is this...?"

"Hmm... could it be...?" Suddenly, he realized. Dale sniffed, and in turn

Gregor looked like he understood, too.

"The smell of blood... and corpses... So that's the cause, is it?"

There was a foreign scent mixed in with that of the sweet-smelling roses.

He sensed that was the source of that uncomfortable feeling.

Dale and the others had no way of knowing, but all throughout this beautiful garden and manor, the Second Demon Lord had amused herself by playing with those she called her "toys." Through these cruel deeds, repeated over and over again, an unconcealable dark shadow had been cast over the place.

It was then that, from a completely different direction, a refreshing voice called out to the group who was checking out the manor.

"Welcome. Please, come inside."

It was only natural that Dale and Gregor, as well as the rest of their party, put themselves on guard in response to a member of the enemy camp calling out to them. They were also left confused. It was impossible for someone to get so close without anyone noticing their presence. This was enemy territory, so they had been even more on guard than usual.

...Huh?

They knew this woman. Even at just a glance, they knew. The beautiful purple of her mana trait stood out so much that they could tell immediately this was the devil woman who had saved Rose, just from the story they had heard.

But what is this? There's something about her...

The woman's gentle smile caused those around her to feel at ease. She blended in like a small animal, and it felt only natural for her to be there beside them. Even though she gave off more of a presence than anyone else when she was acting firm... or that was the impression that Dale got, and he hesitated. He got the feeling that he knew this woman.

"I see that the rose-hued maiden listened to my request, yes? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Platinum Hero," the woman said, then hung her head in a polite gesture Dale wasn't familiar with. "Please, I ask that you kill my lord. To do so would fulfill the dearest wish of those of us who have been forced to obey her."

"Are you the one... who informed us of this place through Rose?" Gregor questioned.

"That is correct," the purple-haired woman quietly confirmed.

As she was a retainer of the Second Demon Lord, they should first question if her inviting them inside was a trap. Dale and Gregor only knew the woman in front of them through what they'd heard from Rose; to the others accompanying them, she was nothing but a sudden intruder. There was no reason for them to trust her. They also couldn't deny the possibility that her saving Rose could have been part of some sort of trick. And yet, Dale was unable to distrust the woman who stood in front of him now.

Why... am I...? Is someone using Center magic to mess with my mind? Dale asked himself; the fact that he wasn't questioning any of this had him a bit shaken. He looked over the people accompanying him. This devil woman belonged to the enemy group, so they were treating her with caution and suspicion. It was a very ordinary reaction to have.

If they all had had the same friendly reaction he did, Dale would more strongly suspect magical interference. Center magic allowed one to control and enslave, and that wasn't just limited to animals and magical beasts.

There were also those who could use it to meddle with the minds of men.

It was then that Dale noticed Hagel. The mythical beast seemed to be hesitating slightly, just like he was, and the soaring wolf wasn't showing any open hostility towards the woman. He didn't threaten her at all; his tail just slowly swayed, as if showing his uncertainty.

"Hagel," Dale called out, and the grey-furred mythical beast looked at him with quiet eyes. The gentle look in those eyes was similar to the one Hagel had when looking at her. In all likelihood, Dale and Hagel were probably feeling the same sentiment at the moment.

When he realized that, Dale decided to trust his instincts.

"We don't have much time. Can you show us the way?" Dale said, shocking Gregor as he showed that he intended to trust her. Gregor understood, since he'd known Dale for so long, but his expression still showed that he was a bit shaken.

"Dale."

"There's no guarantee that we'll get another chance like this. And even if this is a trap, we have no choice but to go along with it."

He'd wipe out everyone who stood in his way. That wasn't something he was avoiding to start with, and their options were limited. The initial plan had been a surprise attack, but since they were up against a cunning demon lord, they had also considered the possibility of a trap.

"I'll keep going until I've mowed everything down."

Now that he'd confirmed Dale's intentions, Gregor looked conflicted, but he held back his arguments and instead chose to support his friend. "If that's how you feel, then I'll keep going until I've completed my task, too."

Seeing that Dale and the others had settled the matter, the purple-haired woman pointed in a different direction than the manor entrance.

"In that case, come this way. There is an entrance that you can use without my lord realizing."

Noble manors were occasionally built with passages running throughout them. These weren't limited to just secret escape routes. They also included ones prepared so servants could move about without getting in the way of the family living there. She had indicated one such route.

"However, there is a limit to the guidance I can offer. My lord has been a demon lord for a long time. It will incredibly difficult to get in without her noticing."

"...We need a diversion, huh?"

"Those who share my will shall take action for the sake of your ambush, yes? Please, truly entertain my lord with a flashy performance." She sounded indifferent.

Gregor knitted his brows slightly in response. "Regardless of your intentions, we won't hold back."

"I do not mind. If my lord realizes that we are acquainted, it will all be for naught."

While Gregor agreed to the plan, he still hadn't discarded the possibility of this being a trap. Therefore, his foremost thought was to carefully whittle away at the enemy's forces.

Dale understood his friend's thinking, but at the same time, he also knew that even just he alone reaching the Second Demon Lord would be enough. "In that case, I'll head for the Second Demon Lord. Gregor, you take the rest of the group and create a diversion."

Gregor stared silently at Dale for a moment. Seeing Dale calmly prepared to fight without a hint of desperation or despair about him, Gregor made up his mind.

"Understood. Good luck." "Leave it to me."

After that brief exchange, Dale followed the purple-haired woman into the passage leading under the manor. The entrance to the hidden route was in the backyard of the estate. Apparently, it was originally meant for escaping in the case of an emergency.

Only the clonk, clonk of their footsteps reverberated through the narrow corridor.

Somewhere far away, the earth shook. The intermittent rumblings were the sounds of battle being waged.

"To my lord, everything is a game," the purple-haired woman said, her pace as she led the way unchanged. She must have realized Dale was focusing on that noise. "Even a life-or-death battle between intruders and her 'toys' is nothing but a way to amuse herself and ward off boredom."

Gregor had infiltrated the manor head-on. The rumbling was caused by the fight between his group and the Second Demon Lord's retainers.

"She finds satisfaction in making those who harbor deep hatred for her fight to protect her."

"...That's in real bad taste." Dale hadn't intended to chime in, but he had ended up speaking half-unconsciously, surprising even himself.

"Yes, that's correct," the woman responded with a restrained smile. She stopped at a point in the middle of the passage where, at a glance, there wall, which then moved a slight bit to the left with a small click. She slid her fingers into that gap and moved the section of the wall. Afterwards, she continued the complex process of manipulating the mechanisms.

"The retainers are also aware of that. They cannot disobey our lord's orders, but they'll surely put on a splendid performance to draw away her attention even a little longer."

Even though both sides had a mutual understanding didn't change the fact that the battle in which Gregor and the others were currently participating was no less of a serious fight with their lives on the line. If they held back and the Second Demon Lord saw through the act, it would no longer serve as a diversion. They each carried out their role so that a blade that could defeat such monsters, that of the Platinum Hero, could surely reach the Second Demon Lord.

With a dull thunk, the wall at last opened wide. Beyond the opening, the gloomy corridor continued on. And after stretching straight ahead, it ended in a plain door.

"My lord lies beyond." Then, with a terribly quiet gaze, she looked straight at Dale.

"What is it...?" Dale asked, sounding perplexed. For some reason, he was terribly weak to those eyes. Although the colors were different, this woman's eyes and smile couldn't help but remind him of her.

"You are the Eighth Demon Lord's retainer, yes?" the woman confidently said. She knew that fact which Gregor and Rose were unaware of.

Dale voiced his conjecture, unshaken. "Did you learn that... through your premonitions?"

"Yes."

"Does the Second Demon Lord know that?" "No."

Having heard her responses, Dale removed the glove on his left hand and showed her the proof of whom he served. The woman had remained calm for the entire time up until now, but when she saw the name there, she looked surprised for the first time.

That expression looks a lot like...

Pretending not to notice how she was feeling, Dale looked at the woman.

"...I have a request," the woman stated with a bit of hesitation, after watching Dale put back on his glove.

"What is it?"

"Will you please kill me?"

What she said didn't surprise Dale, as he'd had a feeling that she held such a desire.

"If the Second Demon Lord is defeated, then I will follow in turn." "She bound your life to hers, didn't she?"

"Yes."

It was very rare for a demon lord to not place any restraints on their retainers, like the girl who was Dale's "master" had done. Placing a condition wherein the loss of the master would result in the death of all their retainers felt like something the Demon Lords of Calamity would do.

"I... want to be free to at least choose my own end. I most certainly do not wish to sacrifice myself for my lord," she quietly stated, holding back her frustration.

"...Will that act as your salvation?" Even though he knew the answer, Dale still asked that question.

"Yes." There wasn't even a hint of hesitation to her reply. "Is there... any other way to save you?"

"Such things cannot be overturned, at least without the intervention of the gods."

"I see..." Dale said, laughing at himself. Even if not by his hand, the woman in front of him would die. Defeating the Second Demon Lord would bring about the same result. She didn't want to be a mere toy until the bitter end. If he wished to leave her pride and dignity untarnished, his only choice was to grant her one wish. "I'm powerless..."

"That is not at all true." The woman's gentle smile overlapped with that of the girl he wanted so badly to get back. "You have been my hope all this time. In that noble girl's future, I saw the results that I sought... And at the end, I met you."

Her voice was just too kind, and Dale felt like it was difficult to breathe.

But even so, in order to save her, he gathered strength into his left hand. He felt the portion of the Eighth Demon Lord's power embedded there. "This is my final prophecy: You will see the girl soon."

The one saving grace for Dale was that he didn't need to swing his blade.

The woman was being kept alive unnaturally by the power of the Second Demon Lord. Certain of that fact, Dale used the ability inside of him to negate that power, and with that alone, the life rapidly flowed from her. Dale caught her thin body in his arms as she collapsed, the strength leaving her.

There was a slight look of surprise on her face, but still she smiled, then silently closed her eyes. Her expression was peaceful and calm, without a hint of suffering. Just from looking at her, it was clear that she really had been "saved."

Just before slipping off into an endless sleep, with her consciousness growing muddy, she whispered in a quiet voice, "Thank you... Smaragdi..."

†

"My, this is certainly something, isn't it?"

She spun about the elegantly crafted opera glasses in one hand. Even without them, she was plenty capable of surveying the events that were unfolding and seeing even the fine details, but she'd taken a liking to the beautiful device and kept it at hand. The chance to use it only rarely came up, and she finally had a proper "performance" taking place before her to appreciate, so she gazed through the glasses, looking pleased.

"The lead performer is that swordsman, I suppose. I'd give him a passing mark both in terms of skills and appearance. The stage suits him well."

The blonde girl giggled and leaned forward. Clad in a luxurious dress, she was in a place akin to a box seat in a theater. It was set up so it was possible to see downstairs, so it was furnished only with a table and sofa. The tabletop was set for afternoon tea, with a tea set and small, elaborate tea cakes.

If the girl had been watching a tragic romance, the sight wouldn't have been the least bit out of place. But the "play" the girl was enjoying so greatly was a battle to the death between intruders and her own subordinates.

Each force only had one warrior at the vanguard. The black-haired swordsman leading the intruders was a cut above. His opponent, her own retainer, was a skilled enough warrior to hold an important guard position back in her old home, but now, he was on the defensive and being driven into a corner. He hadn't been defeated yet, thanks to a woman who was supporting him with magic.

Those two, who hated her more than anyone else, were desperately carrying out their mission to protect her. The girl broke out in a grin, finding that more enjoyable than any comedy could ever be.

"The other side's magic users aren't bad, but their coordination is lacking.

But look at that... At this rate, you'll end up dead."

The intruders unleashed attack magic at the devil woman who was the cornerstone of the defense. However, the demons had anticipated that.

Those who couldn't fight on the frontline despite their wounds threw themselves in front of her, using their own bodies as shields. All devils were capable of using magic. If they cast several layers of simple magic barriers, that would be enough to make a wall that wouldn't be easily broken.

Even so, her own side was at a disadvantage in this clash between the two warriors at the forefront. Having lost an eye, the devil man's vision was limited, which put him at a great disadvantage.

"Oh, my. If only I hadn't injured you so..." the girl said, lamenting the misfortune of her subordinate.

While watching the bloodspray, she spread a suitable jam on a biscuit that resembled a bird-feed cake. Her tongue peeked out from between her red lips, and she seductively placed the dessert into her mouth. She then washed down the taste with her favorite black tea.

Hearing the door open, the blonde-haired girl turned around. She recognized the presence behind the door, and surprise that soon twisted into hatred crossed over her adorable face.

"Mov...!"

Unlike with her other retainers, the demon lord in the shape of a young girl had only placed the minimal possible restrictions on Mov. That had been to grant her room for betrayal.

The restrictions a demon lord placed on their retainers were absolute.

However, there had been no binding force to the contract between Mov and the Second Demon Lord; it had amounted to nothing more than a vow. The Second Demon Lord and Mov had an agreement: as long as Mov did not betray her, the demon lord would not lay a hand on the woman's daughter.

That was why the demon lord had granted Mov freedom: so that she would betray her. If Mov begged to be free of her shackles, she would be permitting the demon lord to kill her beloved daughter.

If she were just going to kill her, then the demon lord could do that any time. But it would be a waste for her to not find a way to get more enjoyment out of her favorite toy so she could stave off the boredom for more of her long-lived life. With rules to restrict herself, it made for a much more exciting game.

However, that had backfired.

What enraged the demon lord more than anything else, though, was that she understood what that meant.

"You dare underestimate me...?!"

Mov, a high-ranking priestess of Banafsaj, had betrayed her and delivered this man to her. It wasn't possible for anyone but her to have sent him here, and that meant Mov had done so because she was confident that wouldn't mean losing the one she wanted to protect.

In other words, Mov had prophesied that this man, this hero, was capable of killing the Second Demon Lord.

The girl kicked off the floor. Her dress was made of countless frills and lace and she wore enamel pumps, but with a speed that was hard to imagine from her appearance, the Second Demon Lord intercepted the intruder. The second she stood up, she was already grasping drawn daggers in both hands. Even Dale hadn't been able to catch the moment that she drew them. It was just too natural of an action, one she was so acquainted with that it almost seemed like breathing.

The Second Demon Lord had a petite build and favored short, easy to handle weapons. She was fond of the way that they let her feel the sensation of skin and bone being sliced and hacked through.

Despite his superior physique, she moved to slaughter the adult man before her. Even when her opponent was a hero, her antithesis as determined by the gods of the seven colors, she was still confident she could kill him.

She brought down her daggers in one absolute blow. Aiming precisely for his vitals, she attacked with both hands, with slight variations in speed.

The demon lord thought in the corner of her mind that it would be a waste to kill him right away. But she soon changed her mind. She had to make proper use of her time so she could show Mov the severed heads of this man and her beloved daughter.

Her long blonde hair drew an arc through the air, then fluttered back down with gravity.

The demon lord's thoughts were then suddenly cut off by a high-pitched metallic sound. In an instant, she grasped that the gauntlet on the man's left hand had stopped her blow and that he hadn't been thrown off-balance in the least.

There wasn't any fear or panic in the hero's gaze. That piercing stare that was pointed right at her made the demon lord tremble a bit.

However, she soon denied that part of herself. Since she became a demon lord, everyone else was weak and feared her, and she was strong and absolute. Even if her foe was a hero, it was impossible for her to be thrown out of sorts.

With her arms so trained that she could focus solely on that silver gleam, the demon lord in the shape of a young girl swung her blade with the intent to reap the life of the hero. As if trying to encourage herself, the demon lord absolutely refused to acknowledge her earlier reaction.

The silver shine darted freely left and right.

Dale was so focused on the blade that he didn't even have leeway to breathe. He wasn't misled by the Second Demon Lord's young appearance, but he still felt out of his element, fighting someone with such a small build. She turned her short reach into an advantage rather than a disadvantage, making use of the speed at which she could pull back. On top of that, each and every blow was so shockingly heavy that it was impossible to imagine them coming from her slender body.

The demon lord had polished her technique by indulging her desire for slaughter over a long, long time. Her skills had flourished to a frightening degree as a result of her thorough experimentation with the act of murder.

But... I can see it.

Dale could clearly pick out the blade in the midst of that silver gleam. He didn't leave it to his intuition, instead fully and accurately dealing with his enemy's attack, reacting to everything. The power he'd obtained by becoming a demon allowed him to see the demon lord's attacks and had given him the body needed to react to them. The equipment provided by his home village was able to endure the demon lord's blows, too. However, that was also proof of Dale's ability to skillfully turn aside his opponent's attack rather than just receiving it.

The demon lord's dagger that had been deflected by Dale's gauntlet danced through the air. Something seemed ever so slightly off about that movement, setting off alarm bells in Dale's mind. Immediately afterwards, the demon lord's now-free left hand threw three thin knives, aiming for Dale's eyes. Once the hand finished its throw, the dagger that should have been flying through the air landed naturally back in her grasp.

The demon lord moved to once more attack with both daggers, only for her eyes to open wide with shock as her own knives came flying back at her; Dale had caught them with his right hand and thrown them back.

She had never imagined that the weapons meant to throw her opponent off-kilter would be used to do the same to her. She hurriedly moved to evade, but Dale landed a gauntlet blow to the demon lord's defenseless abdomen.

"Gah...!"

All of the air in her body escaped through her mouth.

"Ah..."

With that single strike, her legs started to shake. She fell to her knees, and her favored blades she held in her hands fell to the floor as she stared in an amazed daze.

For a long time, the demon lord had been an absolute being.

She had met the qualifications to become the Second Demon Lord and been reborn. Up until that then and forever afterwards, the demon lord had spent her time never feeling pain. But as someone absolute, her ego would not accept kneeling before someone and being looked down upon. And so, she took her blades in hand once more and leapt at the hero. She had become so enraged precisely because she realized she had overlooked such an obvious gap in her defenses.

She swung, and swung, and swung her blades. And yet, all of her swings were deflected with a dull metallic sound. Not even so much as the tips of her daggers reached the hero. Even though any one of those blows were more than enough to take a life, none of them reached their target. Still, she didn't want to acknowledge that fact.

To Dale, those attacks from the Second Demon Lord felt like a child's temper tantrum. Her honed muscles and cruelty weren't fitting to her young appearance. However, Dale sensed that her mind did have some youthfulness about it still. She was terribly skilled, but he didn't feel as fired up as he had during his one-on-one fight with the Sixth Demon Lord. Even though he was fighting someone who proudly basked in her own strength, there was nothing to be found there.

Her blonde hair was disheveled, her adorable face flushed, and her blue eyes tearing up, but her appearance didn't make Dale feel anything. He just coolly looked down on her and observed. It was that gaze that so deeply wounded the demon lord's pride.

Ever since taking that blow from Dale, her movements had clearly dulled. And in turn, Dale came after her without mercy. If she were a normal devil, that attack would have broken numerous bones, starting with her ribs.

Unfortunately, her bones hadn't shattered, so the demon lord stood up countless times, only to collapse back onto the floor.

As that pain wracking her body had been caused without him even drawing the sword at his hip, the demon lord looked up at the hero with hatred in her eyes. As if sensing the demon lord's thoughts, Dale launched a different kind of attack at her. A kick came flying at the collapsed demon lord's face. She tumbled several paces, then lay in that spot, not even able to scream out.

Anyone who saw this sight without knowing the circumstances would undoubtedly find fault with Dale. The girl he was tormenting was just that lovely, and he didn't show even a hint of mercy. And above all else, this was pure one-sided violence, with her having no chance to do anything in retaliation.

As the demon lord lay in a heap, no longer able to even try to get up, Dale finally spoke.

"Is that all?"

A chill ran through her. The only way to describe his voice was as completely lacking any warmth. His expression showed nothing but clear disdain. It was hard to say which one of them was more fitting of the title of "demon lord."

It was then that Dale drew his sword, deliberately and slowly. There was clear panic in the young girl's blue eyes. She didn't want to admit it, but she felt stupid for not having realized her own death was approaching.

The demon lord was aware that her own appearance was charming. She had used that to get her prey to let their guards down countless times in the past, only to slaughter them. Finding the need to reverse the current situation more important than her pride, she looked at Dale with teary eyes and intentionally used a voice meant to invite pity.

"Forgive—"

He didn't even allow her to reach the end of that plea. The girl's small head was pushed to the ground by the sole of his shoe. She heard her skull creak.

After inflicting further humiliation upon the demon lord, Dale made his final statement; in other words, he handed down her death sentence.

Not given even a chance to struggle in vain, the consciousness of the young girl known as a calamity sank into darkness.

Fresh red blood dripped from Dale's drawn sword. Even when one became a demon lord, they still bled the same as anyone else.

He was calm and composed. However, he realized that his anger was definitely the reason he had tormented his opponent more than was necessary.

After thinking back over his actions, Dale sighed. He gave the young girl's motionless body a kick. That was both because of his own resentment and to confirm she was dead.

The purple-haired woman... nothing could have been done to save her. Even so, he couldn't help but reach out to her. He could never forgive the demon lord that had driven her into that corner.

Dale went to the place akin to a balcony, where the demon lord had first been. Looking down over the metal railing, he found Gregor looking up at him from downstairs. The room lay in ruin, the scars of battle leaving their mark. Smoke was still rising from the burnt rug, and a number of people who looked like devils had collapsed in a terribly unnatural manner. It was a strange sight, as if time had been cut off in the middle of the action.

However, Dale was aware of what had happened downstairs, and Gregor also had a vague sense of it.

"Is it over?" Gregor asked, looking up at Dale. "Yeah."

With just that short exchange, Gregor had confirmed a lot of what he wanted to know. He gracefully sheathed his brilliant red longsword, signaling the end of the battle with the Second Demon Lord. Unlike the Fourth, the Second Demon Lord's corpse would be presented to the king as proof.

Everything in this manor served as evidence of the demon lord's defeat and would require a proper investigation.

With the defeat of their lord, the retainers that Gregor and the others had been fighting had collapsed and lost their lives. Just as Mov had said, those who served the Second Demon Lord had all been sacrificed when their master passed away. And yet, though they had been forced to follow their master in death, their expressions were incredibly calm.

When Dale left the manor, a rose-scented wind blew up against him. With a deep breath, the unpleasant sensation that had permeated down to his lungs was washed away. However, it didn't feel like it would completely clear so easily.

Hagel was waiting outside. He hadn't been part of the assault team, but he possessed senses that far exceeded that of the races of man, so he alone was more than enough to serve as a lookout. That had been a big help, allowing them to move as a small unit and not need to worry about ambushes or reinforcements.

Having guarded the entrance in that manner, Hagel looked up at the sky while awash in the light of a pale sunset. He wagged his tail with a relaxed, steady rhythm. Dale had come to understand that that habit of his meant that he was thinking.

"What's up?" Dale called out.

"It's nothing..." He seemed to be at a loss, which was unusual for Hagel.

He looked at Dale, and sensing the smell of blood about the man, he seemed even more troubled as he grumbled, "The young lady..." With those words, the expression on Dale's face shifted.

"The young lady's smell... has appeared in a distant land." "Where...?! Where is Latina?!"

Dale let his intense emotions show clearly, causing Hagel to avert his gaze a bit, feeling a little troubled.

"...My child is more skilled than I am at seeking scents in distant places. I cannot determine such things precisely."

"But Vint could...?!"

"Calm yourself, Dale," Gregor said in a calm, quiet voice. He had come out of the manor after Dale, only to find him with an unpleasant look on his face.

"How could I, with things like—?!"

Dale felt like his emotions were about to boil over, but he somehow managed to rein them in. That was because with Gregor's quiet gaze, he was able to look at himself objectively, just a bit.

"I've also received some information that has been worrying me. I still haven't confirmed it for certain yet, so I've stayed quiet, but..." began Gregor.

"What is it?"

"Currently, Laband has received a proclamation from Vassilios that they are opening their borders, and our nation has begun preparations to officially enter diplomatic relations with them."

Dale couldn't hide what looked like impatience and hatred on his face.

Unfaltering, Gregor continued on, "Apparently the leader of Vassilios is called the Golden King. That king... supposedly favors a beautiful woman known as the Platinum Princess."

There was no agitation to Gregor's voice, but in comparison, Dale was unable to hold back his violent emotions. If he were his normal self, he would have noticed that both Gregor and Hagel wore the same expression of discomfort.

Without so much as a word to Gregor and the others, Dale disappeared.

Though it occurred late at night, Gregor still naturally realized what he'd done. He had leaked the information knowing this would occur and that even if he tried to stop Dale, he wouldn't be able to with the way the man was now. Even though he'd decided to let Dale go without trying to interfere, he still had to hold back a sigh.

This uncanny timing... Should I see it as Dale being intentionally summoned...?

The moon shining in the heavens gave no answer, but even so, Gregor muttered a prayer to Ahmar as he looked up at the sky.

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