Upon rushing back to Kitamiya and the company, I found it in a state far from its usual appearance.
The company’s entrance floor, usually a symbol of calm and solemn unity, was now in a state of utter ruin.
Chairs and desks were blown away one after another, the floor showed signs of breakage here and there, and the walls bore multiple cracked and scorched spots.
The reception counter, in particular, was completely unrecognizable.
The sheer destruction made me wonder what kind of event could have caused such damage. Based on my experience, it was unmistakably the aftermath of a battle. Goblins and Orcs were clearing away the rubble, broken desks, and chairs, while Giants were engaged in repairs.
“…It’s worse than I thought,” I muttered.
“Indeed,” Kitamiya agreed.
The thought of Amelia being responsible for this, even if it wasn’t her intention, darkened my expression. Kitamiya shared the same sentiment, glancing around the scene. We began scanning the area, trying to find someone who could confirm the situation.
“Evia-sama! You shouldn’t be up! Your injuries haven’t healed yet!”
“Get out of my way. This is a matter of urgency. Ignore the pain.”
While searching for Kaido, I spotted the supervisor walking across the floor, looking remarkably composed despite her pained appearance. Her left hand was in a sling, and her forehead was bandaged. Her usually impeccably tailored suit was disheveled, with her jacket missing, leaving her in a mere white shirt. There were strange talismans stuck to her shoes. She looked severely injured, in no condition to be walking around. Yet, the supervisor carried herself as if she were unharmed. A medical officer was flustered, trying to stop her, but she ignored his warnings. The fact that she was walking, instead of using teleportation magic for speed, indicated the severity of her injuries.
“The supervisor… lost?” I breathed out.
“No, it can’t be…”
Seeing her, Kitamiya and I were stunned by the realization that the current devastation wasn’t solely the result of Amelia’s rampage. This devastation was born from a battle between Amelia and the supervisor. Combining her appearance with Kaido’s account, it seemed the supervisor had not won. It might be something else, but the sight of the supervisor, who possessed extraordinary strength within the company, in such a pitiable state, left Kitamiya and me speechless, our mouths twitching in disbelieff. Demons were supposedly as tough as Oni, and yet the supervisor, one of the strongest among them, had supposedly been matched by Amelia’s hidden soul. The true power of the Demon Lord dwelling within Amelia was unimaginable.
“Hm? You’re back at a convenient time. Jiro, follow me.” Kitamiya instructed.
“Yes, Kitamiya, you go to the Party Room. Kaido should be there.”
“…Understood. Tell me later.”
“Will do.”
Then, the supervisor, her gaze piercing, signaled me to follow her, ignoring the medical officer’s attempts to intervene. Kitamiya was sent to the Party Room, and I followed the supervisor, who was walking despite her apparent injuries. We arrived at an unused conference room.
“Have you heard about the situation?” she asked.
“Briefly, just the overview.”
“Then I will explain the details.”
As if standing was too much, the supervisor immediately sat down, though her expression remained unchanged. She gestured for me to sit as well, and after I did, she began to speak.
“Your subordinate, Amelia Miyagawa, went berserk. The cause is the soul of the first Demon Lord sealed within her. Do you understand so far?”
Like a preliminary confirmation, she brought up the point that caused the current commotion within our shared information.
“Yes,” I replied.
From Kaido’s story, I had suspected this might be the case, but the supervisor’s words turned my suspicion into certainty.
“The damage is along the path from the entrance to the Gate. I don’t know if she probed Miyagawa’s memories or if she knew beforehand, but her movements were unwavering. However, unwavering doesn’t mean normal. When she entered the company, spewing abnormal magic power, I intervened. But she’s not sane right now.”
With that preface, the supervisor recounted the events. As soon as Amelia, dressed inappropriately for work, arrived at the company, the supervisor, sensing a heavy, murky magic power that she didn’t normally feel, used teleportation and discovered Amelia.
“Her eyes were filled with hatred, and she didn’t respond to my questions. She was blindly pursuing something. Since conversation was impossible, I judged it an emergency and attempted to subdue her, but this is the result.”
Amelia didn’t laugh maniacally or scream to vent her inner feelings. Instead, her eyes clouded and bloodshot, she stumbled about, searching for her perceived enemies. The supervisor, standing before her, immediately determined that dialogue was impossible. After issuing a warning, she launched into a full-force battle, something she rarely did. She reasoned that even if Amelia’s magic power was on a higher level, her techniques would be rusty, and Amelia’s body would be a hindrance, preventing her from going all out. Even with these conditions in mind, the battle resulted in the release of suppressed magic power, and the supervisor barely managed to contain it.
“It’s fortunate that the Dungeon wasn’t damaged, but in exchange, we had to send her to the battlefield.”
“…I had a feeling when you mentioned the Gate, but does that mean Amelia went there?”
“Yes. I had my subordinates confirm it, and she crossed over to the continent where our headquarters is located. They are still pursuing her and haven’t lost sight of her, but based on her direction, she is likely heading towards the battlefield. It’s only a matter of time before she sets foot on it.”
I couldn’t fathom what the Demon Lord within Amelia was thinking, but I could guess her objective. Revenge, most likely. Against those belonging to the Sun God, like the Hero.
“So, you’re telling me this to what end? To have me go and bring Amelia back?”
The supervisor, who always tried to avoid unnecessary actions, summoning me alone must have meant she wanted to convey something. And that something could be broadly divided into two choices: to do it or not to do it. If she told me to go, I would go. Conversely, if she told me not to move, I would have to consider my options, specifically trying to persuade the supervisor. If it were someone I didn’t know well, I might think differently, but this was someone I was friendly enough with to not abandon. I wanted to avoid doing nothing.
“Yes,” she replied.
“…You are surprisingly direct.”
I had expected her to tell me to stand down due to my lack of skill, but the supervisor simply affirmed my question.
“We are in a situation where we have to use anyone we can, even a cat. Ideally, I would mobilize our internal personnel, but we must maintain the company, so that’s not feasible. This leaves us with limited options.”
Being recognized as someone useful was an honor as an employee, but coming from her, I was apprehensive about what I might be tasked with.
“Furthermore, if we consider those who have the power to change the current situation, the conditions become even more restrictive. Jiro, your Fallen Angel will also need to move.”
“What do you intend to do?”
Himik’s position was that she was being protected under my supervision. She would listen to Suella and Memoria, but she wouldn’t take orders from other members of the Demon Lord’s Army. Because I would prioritize anything Himik asked of me, it was a bit problematic that I couldn’t carelessly ask her for favors. However, her position generally stood separate from the Demon Lord’s Army. Taking Himik with me further complicated matters. At this point, conflict was almost certainly expected.
“To draw out the Hero.”
The supervisor, or rather, the Demon Lord’s Army’s plan was explained. Currently, all generals, including reserves, were deployed to handle the ongoing rebellion. The enemy had also prepared considerable forces, and a stalemate had been reached, making a breakthrough necessary. The breakthrough would involve defeating the enemy’s trump card, the Hero, Carter, who wielded the Holy Sword. And how Amelia fit into this was…
“Amelia’s current state is almost identical to that of the Demon Lord. And the Hero, the wielder of the Holy Sword, is sensitive to the magic power of a being like the Demon Lord. When he senses the magic power, he will definitely appear. That’s when the Demon Lord will strike.”
“So, she’s a decoy? But isn’t there a possibility the enemy won’t take the bait?”
“That won’t happen.”
“May I ask why?”
“Amelia Miyagawa’s existence is a secret within the Demon Lord’s Army. On the surface, she’s registered as a Tester, but only a select few know her true nature. It’s information that those belonging to the frontier wouldn’t have. If they knew, they wouldn’t just let it slide. While the first time might be a deception, it’s possible to trick them.”
So, the fact that Amelia harbored the Demon Lord’s soul was a hidden secret that perfectly matched the current situation. Logically, no one would assume there were two Demon Lords. Objectively, from the enemy’s perspective, the idea of two Demon Lords would be a nightmare.
“Your mission will be to retrieve and pacify Amelia when the Hero and the Demon Lord engage in combat.”
“You have a method, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t send you unprepared.”
The supervisor explained her plan to me, considering that Amelia, despite her weakened state, was exhibiting Demon Lord-level power, her current course of action was akin to a suicidal charge, truly “Heroic” in the worst sense. To prevent such a thing, the supervisor had devised a plan.
“…Seriously?”
“I like jokes, but the timing is crucial. Can you do it?”
“If it’s a matter of can or cannot, then yes, I can.”
“Then do it.”
“Understood.”
The plan was so outlandish that I couldn’t help but confirm it, but the supervisor didn’t dismiss it as a lie or a joke. She simply asked if I could do it. When I answered that I could, she ordered me to proceed.
“Can I bring others?”
“Yes, it will be necessary. We will also prepare the equipment. Mobilize everyone we can.”
All that remained was to make preparations. With that, I stood up, ready to begin, when the supervisor called out to me.
“Jiro.”
“Yes?”
I turned back to face her. She looked at me intently.
“Return safely.”
“Impossible to be unharmed, but I’ll do my best.”
“That will suffice.”
She sent me off with a kindness I rarely saw from her.
Today’s message:
Well, let’s do what we can.
This concludes today’s update. If you found it interesting, please leave your thoughts, ratings, and bookmarks.
*The first volume has been decided to be published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The content has been revised and expanded from the version posted on Shosetsuka ni Narou, with the addition of unreleased interludes.
