The Grellverelka Empire
According to Estoria, she had apparently revived the former Demon King Gustav in the past. However, as mentioned before, did she really revive him? Where? When? What is Gustav’s current condition? I couldn’t obtain any reliable information regarding these questions. This is a good opportunity, so I’ll share the exchange I had with Estoria, who had turned into a klutz.
“Um… I think I might have revived the Demon King before coming to the surface, maybe?”
Don’t answer in the form of a question. This is also very confusing as to how I should interpret it.
“Th-that is, I’d like to keep this just between us… but at that time, I was in a highly emotional state, so my memories are vague. Also, currently, I feel more like my true self as Sister Lia, so I lack confidence as Estoria, or rather, it’s questionable whether it was Gustav I revived…”
Perhaps it was the feelings she held for Gerard that caused it, but Estoria had truly become the personality of Sister Lia from the bottom of her heart. Good for you, Gerard. You are so loved. However, if things continue like this, we’ll have to return to the Underworld without much progress. Even though I knew it was asking too much, I asked her if she could try to become Estoria again.
“I-I’m not confident, but, understood. Haa…”
She took a deep breath. Her ample chest rose and fell. My gaze involuntarily followed.
“…Oh my? You want to chat with me again? Even a weirdo has their limits, I’m still so embarrassed! Why was I wearing such revealing clothes back then?”
Lia hid her face with both hands. This doesn’t look good.
“Ah!? I forgot to bring in the laundry! I have to hurry or Mother will scold me! I’ll need Sister Attra’s help too if I’m going to make it in time!”
The unfavorable weather became the cause of our sudden parting, and Estoria rushed off to retrieve the laundry she had hung outside. In the pouring rain, the sight of the vampire in her sister’s habit frantically collecting laundry might be rare, but aren’t flowing waters a weakness for vampires? That question remains. Well, she used White Magic despite being a vampire, so perhaps she has no weaknesses as the King of the Night.
—Well, that’s the situation. I have no choice but to see for myself.
“That Reviver? Hmm, they say love is blind, but given our past interactions, I can’t imagine it. However, even if her personality changed, her combat abilities shouldn’t have, so I think she’d work fine as Sister Attra’s guard. Someone like the Judge, who was always at odds with her, would be speechless.”
“Sera’s younger sister (provisional). Were they that unfriendly?”
“It wasn’t to the point of being fatal, but I recall them constantly bickering whenever their eyes met.”
Even in the Beast Kingdom Gaun, Bel had a confrontational attitude. It makes sense if she’s like that with anyone she dislikes. Even the former Estoria was quite wild. But still…
“Would someone really bring back the father of someone they had such a bad relationship with?”
“Isn’t that what we’re here to find out, Kelvin-kun?”
“Indeed.”
Estoria apparently has a tendency to fall head over heels for trivial things. A messy relationship where she liked the former Demon King Gustav in the past— No, that’s definitely not it.
From then on, after a few encounters (rushes) with Monsters, we finally managed to get our eyes on the capital of this country from a distance. The outer moat was a deep crimson pond reminiscent of a hellish kiln. The town, enclosed by jet-black castle walls, was deserted, left to ruin for many years. In its center stood a demonic royal castle and tower like a Demon Lord’s Castle, with bats swarming in the surrounding sky. To go to such lengths with the typical tropes, I can’t underestimate Demon King Gustav.
“We’re approaching the capital of Grellverelka. It’s said that in Gustav’s heyday, this city was the center of the Underworld, called the Demon Capital Grelverelka. Apparently, you can’t even enter the outer walls now.”
“The Demon King’s ghost, the cause of all this, is nowhere to be seen.”
“What should we do? Should we go into the Demon Capital as it is— Take cover!”
“Ngh!?”
Ange’s divine speed and surprise attack forced me to duck. My head was grabbed, and I was plunged to the ground, my face pushed into the tall grass. Ooh, Ange-san is quite intense today… but that’s not the point.
“『…The Demon King’s ghost?』”
“『Probably. Look, on the castle wall.』”
The fact that we naturally switched to telepathy in this state shows how accustomed I’ve become to stealth operations. Fortunately, the ground was covered in deep grass, so I could hide just by lying down. The dirt around my face is also a camouflage effect, right? Yes, I understand.
“『Kelvin?』”
“『Yeah, I see it.』”
Jokes aside, I squinted at the castle wall where Ange was pointing. Standing there was something red. …No, not a joke. I could barely tell it was humanoid, but because it was surrounded by a red haze, I couldn’t ascertain its exact form. At this distance, I couldn’t gauge its size either. It truly was like a ghost. I should have borrowed Clairvoyance from Efil.
“『Judging by its gestures, it seems to be a man.』”
“『You can tell?』”
“『Of course, I can. Unless it’s deliberately disguised gestures.』”
“…No, I can’t tell.”
“『This must be a matter of experience.』”
No matter how much experience I gained, at this distance and with that haze, it’s impossible to tell. I can’t even tell how it’s moving, let alone its gestures.
“『So, what should we do now? The grassy area where we can hide ends here. From here on, it’s an open plain with good visibility. If we advance further, we risk being discovered by that ghost.』”
“『Personally, I’d like to charge in with ease, but from a spy activity perspective, I think this is about as far as we should go.』”
“『Huh? Why are you so surprised?』”
I told you I could hold back when necessary. You shouldn’t forget that I am a rational Battle Maniac.
“『Hahaha. Just kidding, just kidding. Let’s have another hunt on our way back.』”
“『That’s a compelling proposal. I accept.』”
“『As expected of a rational Battle Maniac. By the way, Kelvin-kun, I have some good news and some bad news here.』”
“『That’s sudden, hey. Fine, is this a choose-one scenario?』”
“『♪』”
“『…Then, the bad news first.』”
Ange’s gaze turned back to the Demon Capital. She was smirking for some reason.
“『I lost sight of the Demon King’s ghost.』”
*Teehee.* I heard such an onomatopoeia from Ange.
“『…Seriously?』”
The ghost was no longer on the castle wall. The red haze had completely vanished.
“『Well, its presence suddenly disappeared. It’s like a real ghost, you know?』”
Did it bypass Ange’s detection ability? Oops, the possibility of it being an actual creature is weakening. This aligns with Prediction #3: the powerful ghost theory is looking more likely.
“『And the good news?』”
“『Um, that ghost is over there.』”
Following Ange’s fingertip, I turned around. In the grassland area we had walked through, about a hundred meters back, a red haze appeared. At this distance, close enough to roughly gauge its height. The Demon King’s ghost, which had approached without us noticing, was there.
“『We did it, Kelvin-kun. Unforeseen, but it looks like we can fight the Demon King’s ghost!』”
“『Hahaha, it’s a celebration drink today.』”
With mixed feelings of joy and sadness, we readied our weapons.
This will be the last update of the year.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year, a little early!
