We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Puppet Show
It seems the title of Grand Duke was quite useful this time.
From this experience, I feel like even high-ranking demons with noble titles are treating me specially.
I realized at yesterday’s ceremony, and other occasions, that only a limited number of people know about my actions in the demon realm so far.
Those who are central to the country, and among the high-ranking demons, those who actively gather information. Then there are traveling demon merchants and the like. While my presence is well-known among those who are astute with such information, outside of that group, my recognition is remarkably low.
Am I not as famous as I thought?
No, is that not right?
It is a world of the strong preying on the weak. A fearsome country where demons rule over humans and other races through fear of their power.
It is likely that there are those within this society who would dislike a human like me becoming famous as “the Giant Demon Lord’s favorite.”
Perhaps the Demon Lord and those in the country’s core are also deliberately suppressing the spread of information about us, so that the enslaved people do not gain any false hope or rebellious spirit, minimizing our influence.
Under these circumstances, my name has not yet reached the lowest ranks, but from now on, including this recent incident, it would be helpful if our position gradually spread among the demons of the Giant Demon Lord’s country.
And so, if eventually my title and I become known not only in the Giant Demon Lord’s country but throughout demon society, unnecessary conflicts and disturbances should cease.
If that happens, perhaps a day will come when we can freely travel in the demon realm.
I was taking such an optimistic view, but immediately after, I was reminded that this is, after all, a demon realm, and there are those here who are dangerously terrifying and beyond our control.
“Nuaaht!?”
Suddenly, one of the surrounding demons drew his demon sword.
“What are you doing?” the demon next to him asked his colleague with a look of bewilderment, but that demon also raised his weapon.
And then, they turned their hostility towards us!
“Wh-what is this!?”
“My body is moving on its own!”
At first, it was just a few screams from the surrounding demons.
But as the surrounding demons one after another began to ready their weapons and surge with magic power, the high-ranking demons of the ruling class started exclaiming in confusion.
“What are you all doing?!”
“In front of Viscount Sword and Grand Duke!”
Even the high-ranking nobles, who were directing murderous intent-filled curses at us, began to take up their weapons and turn that killing intent towards us, contrary to their words.
What is this?
What is happening!?
We are bewildered by the demons’ movements.
“Hahaha. Are they serious?”
At that moment, Ruilala, who would not stay quiet when faced with weapons and murderous intent, reached for her sword with a smile.
“Th-that’s not right, Viscount Sword!”
“My body is moving on its own!”
“What? What is going on!?”
It was the demons, more than us, who were confused.
The demons, who knew my and Ruilala’s true identities and had prostrated themselves saying they shouldn’t fight, were starting to act in a way that betrayed their previous attitude.
However, in their expressions and words, apart from the swords pointed at us and the killing intent, there was despair that went beyond confusion.
It was clearly a nonsensical situation where, even though they understood that directing hostility towards me and Ruilala meant their own death, their bodies were moving on their own.
“Elnea-kun?”
“Yeah. Ruiseine, you feel something strange too? Something’s definitely off, isn’t it? Ruilala, please stay quiet until we figure this out.”
“Can’t be helped.”
This was becoming a bizarre, if not outright strange, situation.
The demons who had surrendered once were now holding weapons and surging with magic power, directing killing intent at us. But they had no intention of fighting themselves, and seemed to understand what fate awaited them if they directed hostility our way, appearing despairing.
What in the world is this situation?
Are the demons acting?
Are they trying to catch us off guard by creating a large discrepancy between their actions and words, while causing us confusion?
Or is it some kind of prank?
Perhaps there’s a mastermind behind this, trying to surprise me?
Or maybe…
I am seized by a bad feeling.
And my premonitions are usually correct.
“Elnea-kun, I can see threads!”
“Threads!?”
Ruiseine was staring intently at the demons, whose movements were erratic, their emotions and actions out of sync.
Her magic eye must have been activated, as her pupils were faintly glowing.
“Threads are entangled around the demons’ hands, feet, and heads. The threads are extending from a distant place… from the direction of the Demon Lord’s Castle?”
“Aaaah!!”
It was then that I finally grasped the situation.
“The Puppet King!”
At my shout, one of the high-ranking demons spoke.
With a cute girl’s voice, incongruous with his male body.
“Fufufufu. You’ve finally noticed? You were so oblivious, I was about to incite the demons I was controlling.”
“N-no way! Are these demons…!?”
I thought they were dolls created by the Puppet King, but Ruilala denied my guess.
“No, that’s not it. The Puppet Master doesn’t only create dolls; he treats everything like a puppet this way.”
“Wh-wh-what! So the demons are real, and they’re just being controlled by the Puppet King with those threads!?”
“That’s right.”
“This is troubling,” Ruilala said with a light laugh.
You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?
But we’re in serious trouble!
If it were just that the demons were directing hostility at us, or that all the demons were puppets of the Puppet King, I would simply kick them all away without a second thought.
But these demons are only being controlled. In reality, they are the same ones who showed no intention of opposing us just moments ago.
To defeat them simply because they are being controlled and are directing hostility at us would be wrong.
Also, I see. I realized something else.
When controlled by the Puppet King, not only is one’s freedom of movement taken away, but their magic power and “intent,” like murderous intent, are also manipulated.
However, emotions and consciousness are not manipulated?
That’s why there’s a disconnect between their superficial actions and their inner feelings.
The fact that emotions and consciousness are not dominated reveals the Puppet King’s malicious nature.
If he could control their magic power and will, he could, if he wished, dominate everything and turn them into perfect puppets.
Yet, the reason he leaves their emotions and consciousness intact is to enjoy not only the targeted prey but also the confusion and despair of those being controlled.
This is too wicked!
“If we cut those threads, will the demons regain their freedom?”
“I believe so, but…”
Ruiseine can see the threads of magic power, but I cannot.
Back in the Dragon King’s Capital, I could faintly see extremely fine threads.
We still don’t know the full extent of the special abilities the Puppet King possesses as a Primogenitor Race.
I’m sure the essence of the Puppet King’s abilities lies in these fine details, but…
“Fufufu. Well then, shall we begin the second act of the puppet show? Ah, but,”
The Puppet King said, while controlling the high-ranking demons.
“If Ruilala-chan and Elnea-sama were to participate, the curtain would fall in an instant. So, how about this. The three people behind you. If they can save these demons, it will be a comedy. If they fail, a tragedy?”
“No, no, why should we listen to what Young Lady Elin tells us so obediently?”
We got involved with troublesome demons. We came to the arena because of that, and since the master of those troublesome demons knew us, the problem was resolved without escalating into a big commotion.
However, the Puppet King, who must have been watching us from somewhere, has now interfered in this situation.
We’re just enduring trouble after trouble. Moreover, since we’re being roped into this without our consent, we could easily ignore it all and stick to our original plans.
Therefore, there is no need for us to dutifully participate in the Puppet King’s puppet show here.
“Fufufu. How troublesome. But, is that alright? If I wanted to, I could control the priestesses too, you know?”
“Ugh!”
He’s going there!
“You all didn’t capture the moment I intervened, did you? So, if I were to lay a hand on the priestesses or your other family members, could you stop me? Ah, and it would be fun to manipulate Elnea-sama to attack his family members too, wouldn’t it?”
“If you try something like that, I will never forgive you!!”
I glared at the high-ranking demon with genuine anger. More accurately, at the Puppet King controlling him.
The high-ranking demon, who was glared at by me with all my might, stiffened with tension. This was likely his own reaction, not a response to being controlled.
“Fufufufu. Then, please accompany me in my puppet show?”
As expected, demons are demons!
And if they are a Primogenitor Race, even more so!
They will hesitate at no means to achieve their own amusement, stirring up the world and spreading trouble.
But for now, we have no choice but to obey the Puppet King.
It’s exactly as the Puppet King says. Even Ruiseine, who can see the flow of all power, not just me and Ruilala, couldn’t see the moment the demons were controlled.
If this special power were to be directed at any of my family members or loved ones, or even at myself…
Just imagining it sends shivers of fear down my spine.
So, do I have to obey?
Though it’s extremely against my will.
“Young Lady Elin. You said three people behind you, meaning the Miko, right?”
“Fufufu. Is that so? Or are you hiding someone behind you?”
No. Yunyun and Rinrin are not here. In fact, those two did not come to the demon realm this time.
Ares-chan is always by my side, though.
But that’s not what I wanted to confirm.
“So, three people, huh. Ruiseine?”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
What I wanted to confirm was whether the Puppet King considered Ruiseine on the same level as Liz and Serica, the Shooting Stars.
Ruiseine was by my side both when we stormed the Lord’s mansion in the Dragon King’s Capital and during the investiture ceremony. Before that, the Puppet King, who seems to know us well, should recognize that Ruiseine is my wife.
So, I wondered if Ruiseine would be excluded, just as I and Ruilala were excluded from this puppet show.
It seems, however, that the Puppet King wants to put on a puppet show with the three priestesses, including Ruiseine.
It can’t be helped. Since we apparently have no right to refuse, let’s obey!
“Liz-sama, Serica-sama, please do not let your guard down. For the most part, I will handle the offense!”
With that said, Ruiseine gripped the naginata she had received from Ares-chan before coming to the arena.
We know Liz and Serica are skilled Shooting Stars. However, facing a large number of demons, especially those controlled by the Puppet King, might be difficult.
Or so we thought, Elnea and Ruiseine, but…
“Liz, this is good, isn’t it?”
“Serica, leave it to me!”
Perhaps because they had resigned themselves to the fact that combat was unavoidable. Liz and Serica, whose bodies had been tense just moments ago while surrounded by the demons, changed.
Having transitioned to a combat stance, Liz and Serica calmly prepared themselves.
Liz held her staff, and Serica readied her naginata, undeterred by the killing intent emanating from the demons, and assumed a defensive posture.
“Oh my, oh my, well, well.”
Ruiseine also noticed the change in Liz and Serica’s demeanor and was surprised.
It’s understandable. The calm aura they displayed was that of seasoned warriors.
They would uphold their beliefs even facing formidable enemies. Warriors who correctly assess their own abilities and accurately gauge the fearsomeness of their opponents.
“Fufu. Fufufu. As expected, those with special titles are something else, aren’t they?”
“It seems the Puppet Master knows us quite well.”
“Everything is transparent to the demons, isn’t it? However, if that’s the case, we can’t afford to lose!”
“Special Priestess Liz.”
“Special Battle Priestess Serica.”
“We go forth!”
With their shouts, the second act of the unwilling puppet show began.
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