We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Stage of Madness
Flames were rising from below the clouds, seemingly licking their way up the surface of the Great Tree’s trunk.
The fire that leaped to the branches in its path spread in an instant, burning the branches and leaves before disappearing into the sky. Smoke mixed with the clouds, rising as if to encroach upon the heavens. The smoke was already pressing towards the tip of the Great Tree where the small palace stood, and shortly after we escaped on Revalia, both the small palace and the Great Tree were engulfed in flames and smoke and disappeared from view.
“Given the size of this Great Tree, there should still be time before the core burns out! Revalia, take me to the Demon Lord’s Castle at full speed!”
“If you mean by that, I’ll head there at full speed, but only if I can shake off those troublesome dolls.”
“That’s forbidden!”
I leaped onto Revalia’s back, holding the Verdant Demon Lord. The Yoguades Doll also managed to get on its back. The other Miko dolls, who had been taking care of the Verdant Demon Lord in the small palace, had escaped by clinging to Revalia’s legs and hands. If Revalia wanted to, it would likely fling them into the sky. But I didn’t want to lose anyone else after coming this far. Even if they were just dolls, I wanted to save those I could. That’s why I made Revalia go to the trouble of saving the Miko dolls as well.
Revalia let out a roar, seemingly displeased with the Miko dolls clinging to its limbs, but it flapped its wings without shaking them off. It flapped its four large and small wings a few times, and its Dragon Energy surged. Then, folding its wings, it plunged headfirst towards the ground at full speed!
In an instant, it pierced through the sky mixed with clouds and smoke. Just as I saw the burning Demon Capital, the Demon Lord’s Castle loomed before us. I caught a brief glimpse of the Great Shrine from above. There were traces of intense magic along the main street in front of the Great Shrine plaza, leading out of the Demon Capital. Lyra and the others might have been caught up in some disturbance. I hope Lyra and the others are alright. With Nimia there, I don’t think the worst-case scenario has happened. Even with these thoughts, we reached the airspace directly above the Demon Lord’s Castle in an instant.
Revalia flapped its Dragon Energy-infused wings fiercely and executed a sharp turn. The sudden deceleration, which felt like it could cause an impact, caused several Miko dolls clinging to Revalia’s legs to fall to the ground. Nevertheless, thanks to the steep dive, they landed safely without breaking. The remaining Miko dolls, judging that it was safe to descend, one after another released Revalia and landed on the ground.
“Alright, then it’s our turn!”
“Your Highness.”
I replied when the Verdant Demon Lord called out to me. Then, while I was holding him, the Verdant Demon Lord said,
“Take me with you.”
“Huh!?”
To be honest, I had wanted to entrust the Verdant Demon Lord to the Yoguades Doll or the Miko dolls. With the Yoguades Doll guarding him, the Verdant Demon Lord’s safety would be secured. Moreover, if the Miko dolls took him to the Great Shrine, that would be even safer. Conversely, if I brought the Verdant Demon Lord to Cadis, it would lead to the worst-case scenario, wouldn’t it? The Verdant Demon Lord himself, like the Puppet King, was actually alive. If Cadis found out about that, he would likely try to kill him in earnest. Furthermore, as the Verdant Demon Lord himself said, he no longer possessed the strength to resist Cadis. Therefore, I didn’t want to take him with me, did I?
Perhaps sensing my inner thoughts from my expression, the Verdant Demon Lord’s expression grew stern.
“I am, after all, a Demon Lord. If you are a Grand Duke, you will obey my orders.”
“No, I will not obey! My guardians are the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte, you know?”
“…Is that so. Their powers. I thought you were a resident of my country, as you visited me with the Puppet King. Then I shall permit it. However, taking me with you is a decided matter.”
“As expected of a Demon Lord, you’re so overbearing!”
However, I couldn’t just rush into the Demon Lord’s Castle holding an elderly Verdant Demon Lord. So, I looked at the Yoguades Doll.
“Fufu. Fufufu. I don’t mind?”
The Yoguades Doll replied, and another pair of arms grew from it. Then, taking the Verdant Demon Lord from me, it held him firmly.
“You can even be modified!”
I should be careful if something happens. Also, the situation of two people with similar appearances being held by each other looks a bit eerie. Especially if they were two old men.
“Get off already!”
Perhaps because the Verdant Demon Lord himself was nearby, the roots and branches of the Great Tree did not attack. However, fragments of burnt-out branches and peeling bark rained down from above like fire. Revalia, while clearing the threat from above with its fiery breath, urged us on.
“Alright, this time for real!”
Now lighter, I activated Spatial Jump and descended to the ground. The Yoguades Doll, holding the Verdant Demon Lord, jumped down. The Verdant Demon Lord looked at me, who had instantly teleported, with an interested gaze.
“So, Elin, where should we go?”
“Please come to the throne room deep within the Demon Lord’s Castle. If you don’t come quickly, something terrible will happen?”
“That’s definitely your doing, isn’t it, Elin!”
I don’t believe Cadis is a brutal demon who would cause unnecessary trouble. The reason he’s currently rampaging through the city as if he’s about to destroy it is because he’s trying to eliminate the influence left behind by the Verdant Demon Lord, whom he thought he had defeated. Therefore, that “terrible thing” the Puppet King is referring to is definitely something the Puppet King himself has sown.
“So, the throne room?”
Looking at the Verdant Demon Lord, who reluctantly forced us to go, I sighed. The Demon Lord, receiving my gaze, pointed the way while being held by the Yoguades Doll. We started running. Revalia, its mission accomplished, soared back into the sky.
The Demon Lord’s Castle was already ablaze. Cadis would mercilessly eliminate any obstacle he found bothersome, even if it was the Demon Lord’s Castle. Defeating the Puppet King. Eliminating the Verdant Demon Lord’s influence. These objectives went beyond “unnecessary trouble” and were absolute goals for Cadis.
Passing through the fiery castle gate, we advanced into the castle, guided by the Verdant Demon Lord held by the Yoguades Doll. The interior of the castle was also in a terrible state. Paintings, carpets, and furniture made of cloth and wood had all turned to ash, and the stone walls were blackened and stained with soot. Moreover, flames remained everywhere, making it oppressive just to walk through the corridors due to the heat. If I hadn’t protected myself with Dragon Energy, I would have been overwhelmed by the heat and smoke before even passing through the castle gate.
Nevertheless, we pressed on. We had no choice but to press on! I realized anew that to quell this chaos, important figures needed to gather. Cadis, the son of the Verdant Demon Lord and a rebel aiming for the next Demon Lord Seat. The Puppet King, who likely had a deep connection with the Verdant Demon Lord. And the ruler of this country, the Verdant Demon Lord himself. Initially, I hesitated to bring the frail Verdant Demon Lord with me. But perhaps the presence of the country’s ruler was necessary to quell the chaos. Therefore, at least these three needed to be present.
We also needed to resolve several questions that the Puppet King had posed meaningfully. The meaning of the pattern on the national flag. Why Elin Beril, who was neither a Demon Lord nor a ruler, was called the “King” of puppets. If these, which the Puppet King might call the “gathering of stage actors” and the “meaning of the stage,” were not truly unraveled, this chaos would leave lingering resentment. Whether that resentment would be confined to Cadis and other involved parties, or whether it would engulf the entire country, and whether we would be drawn in, was unknown. At least, we couldn’t remain mere supporting characters.
“There are no hindrances. Well then, let’s proceed with all our might!”
“Please hurry!”
When I searched for signs of life in the burning Demon Lord’s Castle, I couldn’t detect any signs of people who had been left behind or were hiding. Instead, I detected numerous unsettling presences from what seemed to be the depths of the Demon Lord’s Castle. Relying on these presences from the depths, I activated Spatial Jump. The Yoguades Doll, holding the Verdant Demon Lord, followed without delay. The Miko dolls, unable to keep up with our full speed, some of them got separated.
Running through the charred corridors, we advanced towards the depths of the Demon Lord’s Castle. As expected of a Demon Lord’s Castle, perhaps. Despite sensing multiple presences in the depths, we couldn’t reach it easily. The intricate corridors branched out, seemingly to confuse intruders, and sometimes led us away from the depths. Thanks to the Verdant Demon Lord’s guidance, we were able to proceed without getting lost, but if I were alone, I would definitely be lost!
Nevertheless, we were steadily approaching the throne room. As if indicating our destination, an even greater heat wave than before radiated from the depths of the corridor. The stinging heat that licked my skin registered as pain. However, it wasn’t hot enough to die.
“I’m going to dive straight into the throne room!”
After briefly calling out to the Verdant Demon Lord, the master of the Demon Lord’s Castle, I released the Dragon Lance towards the giant, heavy door I saw before me. A violent explosion and shockwave erupted down the corridor. The door, directly hit by the Dragon Lance, was blown to smithereens, and the shockwave extinguished the smoldering flames. And then, we plunged into the throne room, where numerous presences intermingled, at full speed!
“W-What is this?!”
As the smoke scattered by the Dragon Lance cleared, the full view of the throne room, a vast space, entered my vision. Seeing that sight, I couldn’t help but shout!
“Fufu. Fufufu. I’ve been waiting for you?”
The Puppet King’s voice did not emanate from the Yoguades Doll. Instead, it came from the Puppet King himself, who was seated majestically on the throne at the back of the throne room. The Puppet King, impudently lounging on the throne that a Demon Lord should occupy. But that wouldn’t make me shout. The reason I shouted at the overwhelming sight was…!
A legion of Yoguades Dolls filling the throne room! And numerous dolls resembling Cadis! The Yoguades Dolls and Cadis Dolls were fighting in the throne room, intermingled!!
“Fufufufu. Which one is the real one, I wonder?”
The Puppet King, seated on the throne, looked around with amusement. Beside him, attendant dolls stood ready. In the surrounding throne room, Yoguades Dolls were crushing Cadis Dolls with verdant magic. Cadis Dolls were burning Yoguades Dolls with crimson magic swords. Then, the flames engulfed other dolls nearby, and an arm of a nearby Yoguades Doll turned into a tree branch, sweeping away another doll.
“Hey, what bad taste!”
Was that the real Cadis shouting? No, it wasn’t!
“To create not only Yoguades, but also my fakes!”
A Cadis shouted, revealing his irritation. He swung his magic sword, and then the first Cadis who shouted was cut down and crumbled like a doll. Then, the Cadis who cut down the doll Cadis was cut down by another Cadis and burned by flames. The Yoguades Doll attacked that one and defeated it.
“This is chaos!”
I have no choice but to shout. Who is the real Cadis?! I know that all the figures resembling Yoguades fighting in the throne room are dolls. The real one is being held by the Yoguades Doll beside me. But I don’t know who the real Cadis is!
It might be that the one who is cutting and burning the surrounding dolls with killing intent is the real one, but even that one is defeated by another. So, is the one who is winning the real Cadis? Even as I try to watch the chaotic battle unfold, new Yoguades Dolls and Cadis Dolls keep appearing one after another from those being defeated, and there seems to be no end in sight.
“Elin, you’re going too far!”
The chaotic situation in the throne room was far beyond what could be easily described as a “terrible situation.”
“Fufu. Fufufu. Please be careful, Elnea! If you join in casily, you might mistakenly defeat the real Cadis?”
“How malicious!”
I’m not Cadis, but I can’t help but curse too. Somewhere in this throne room, the real Cadis must be. But how can I find the real one amidst this chaotic melee? To end the melee, we must eliminate all the continuously spawning Yoguades Dolls and Cadis Dolls. But what if the one I attacked thinking it was a Cadis Doll was the real Cadis?! Cadis would then turn his murderous intent towards us with flames.
“Who is the real Cadis?!”
Even if I shout and ask, I get replies from various parts of the throne room with the same voice, saying “It’s me.” This is hopeless!
If only Cadis could get serious and burn the entire throne room with fire magic, it would be simple. However, the Cadis in the throne room are wielding magic swords and only performing localized magic. Why is that? In any case, as things stand, the Puppet King will just continue to stir up trouble amusingly, and the chaotic situation will not subside.
“I have no choice.”
I set my aim and activated Spatial Jump.
“Fufu. Oh my?”
I stepped between the Yoguades Dolls and Cadis Dolls filling the throne room. Even if I fought between the two groups who were killing each other, the end would not come. Therefore, I will cut off the source! Activating Spatial Jump, I instantly moved before the throne. Then, I placed the blade of my White Sword on the Puppet King’s neck.
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