We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Baron Taalkaton.
“Baron Taalkaton…”
The captured demon looked up at the plump woman with a pained expression.
And then, we learned the woman’s true identity.
Apparently, this woman with citrus-colored hair was Baron Taalkaton, the ruler of the city.
At the same time, we learned that the demon, who had been poisoned and brought to the Great Shrine, was Baron Flame Arm.
Even though they held the same noble title, there was a difference in status between a “Baron of the Frontier Lordship,” which possessed vast territories and many privileges even in the frontier, and a regular “Baron.”
Lady Meduria, who effectively ruled the Dragon King’s Capital, was also a Baron of the Frontier Lordship, and her position was higher than other Barons.
In other words, Baron Taalkaton had a higher status than Baron Flame Arm, who was receiving treatment for poison.
I couldn’t help but offer a bitter smile inwardly, thinking how reckless it was for them to casually speak the name of a demon who was of lower status than their own master.
However, it seemed that no such foolish demon existed as to speak the Baron’s name to her face, as the captured demons honestly explained their situation.
They had been tricked by the Silver-eyed Knight and poisoned, losing their territory. They managed to escape, but were at a loss for what to do as they couldn’t cure their master.
It was then that they fortunately encountered Shooting Star Sama and us, and managed to reach this city.
Finally, there was hope for a cure, but they decided it would be better to utilize Shooting Star Sama than to rely on the Miko of this city, and attempted to abduct Lady Mine and Lady Anna.
It was then that we resisted them, causing a disturbance.
Baroness Taalkaton, perhaps because of her gentle personality, listened to their explanation while fixing them with an interrogating gaze, without any unnecessary interruptions.
However, when she heard about their attempt to forcibly abduct Shooting Star Sama, her brow furrowed slightly.
“I too was once in the central region. I believe I possess a certain knowledge and understanding of the human race’s religion. Of course, I know of the existence of Shooting Stars.”
With that, Baroness Taalkaton turned her gaze to Lady Mine and Lady Anna.
“So, are you two the ones?”
Baroness Taalkaton, unusually for a demon, looked at them with a gentle gaze.
She must have a truly good personality. Perhaps too good, and that’s why she couldn’t navigate the world of demons, where only the strong survive, and was banished to the frontier?
Putting that aside for now.
As Baroness Taalkaton’s attention turned to us, it was our turn to explain our situation.
Well, it would be Lady Mine and Lady Anna, who were being looked at with understanding, rather than us, who were being roughly apprehended by the guards.
This time, Lady Mine and Lady Anna spoke about themselves and us.
Lady Mine and Lady Anna had drifted to this land from a faraway foreign country. Then, guided by the Goddess, they met us and had been traveling.
They also frankly told us about being caught in battle between a rebel army and a defense force in the north before meeting Baron Flame Arm’s entourage.
As they were both clergy, they couldn’t lie. However, there were many ways to hide the truth even without outright lying.
I felt a pang of guilt for having them, the Shooting Star Mikos, deceive the other party to some extent, but we couldn’t reveal everything.
They disclosed a certain amount of our circumstances and history. This is a speaking technique to divert the other party’s attention from the truth we wanted to hide.
Baroness Taalkaton listened carefully to Lady Mine and Lady Anna’s story as well.
At that moment, when she learned that we had been saved by the Gray Mercenary, Baroness Taalkaton showed a slightly surprised expression.
“Is that so, you came from the north? And were saved by a mercenary, a former gladiator?”
Of course, Srain’s name was not mentioned.
Even if the other party was a mercenary, it was considered taboo for a human to casually speak the name of a demon.
Nevertheless, Baroness Taalkaton seemed to have guessed who he was based on the descriptor “Gray mercenary who uses a special scimitar.”
“That child rescued you… I see, how interesting.”
Baroness Taalkaton muttered to herself, nodding.
Was Srain, whose existence was known even to a Baron of the Frontier Lordship, actually an incredible demon?
No, he truly was.
In the country of the Bewitching Eyes Demon Lord in the west, he was a powerful individual who had reached the pinnacle as a gladiator. It wouldn’t be strange for his name and existence to be known among the higher-ranking demons in the country of the Abyssal Demon Lord.
However, Baroness Taalkaton seemed to know more about Srain than just “knowing of his existence?”
Given that she referred to him as “that child,” they might have been old acquaintances.
“Thanks to him, we were able to continue our journey safely. Nevertheless…”
Lady Mine hesitantly glanced at the captured demons.
“I understand your circumstances. Even if he acted on a whim, I cannot neglect those whom that child has helped.”
With that, Baroness Taalkaton gave instructions to the guards, and we were released.
However, the demons who had attempted to forcibly abduct Lady Mine and Lady Anna remained apprehended.
“B-Baroness Taalkaton…!”
The demons, who were still restrained even though we humans had been released, did not hide their confusion and appealed to Baroness Taalkaton.
However, Baroness Taalkaton was surprisingly cold.
“We are now in a situation where we must face the army of the Silver-eyed Knight. In that context, someone from another territory has caused a disturbance within the city. I must be suspicious, mustn’t I? What if you were colluding with the Silver-eyed Knight?”
“Th-That’s not true!?”
“We will continue to treat Baron Flame Arm. However, for the time being, we will detain you as a precautionary measure until the situation is resolved.”
Ah, I see. Even someone as ignorant of politics as me can understand that this is how she operates as a demon, and as someone who was once in the central government.
In other words, Baroness Taalkaton was holding Baron Flame Arm hostage, thereby preventing his subordinate demons from causing any further trouble.
After all, the demons were loyal subordinates of Baron Flame Arm, and would be unable to do anything if their master was held hostage.
Furthermore, Baroness Taalkaton’s suspicion was understandable.
Baron Flame Arm and his retainers appeared at the same time as the raid by the Silver-eyed Knight’s army.
Although they had received an explanation, it was natural for a ruler to suspect that they might be connected to the Silver-eyed Knight and planning to attack the city from within.
Our story, or rather, Lady Mine and Lady Anna’s story, was believed because Baroness Taalkaton knew about the Temple Religion.
Clergy do not lie.
And perhaps Srain’s existence, as an old acquaintance, also played a role?
When we meet him again, we’ll have to thank him.
And so, unlike Baron Flame Arm’s retainers, we were released.
However, we were merely released, and the guards’ gazes towards us were still stern.
Even without words, they conveyed the message, “Don’t get too carried away, you mere humans.”
Baroness Taalkaton cast a glance at Lady Mine and Lady Anna, the Shooting Stars, and us, who were now freed, then turned on her heel.
We remained silent as well, but somehow felt as if she was telling us to “follow me,” so we obediently complied.
Baroness Taalkaton proceeded down the corridor of the Great Shrine and exited.
Of course, we also emerged into the large plaza in front of the Great Shrine.
A crowd of demons and slaves had gathered in the large plaza in front of the Great Shrine.
Everyone was huddled together anxiously, voicing their worries about the situation outside the city and what was to come.
“The Silver-eyed Knight is a newly appointed lord, but he is a man of great ambition. I expected him to eventually move to expand his territory.”
While looking at the people who had taken refuge in the plaza, Baroness Taalkaton let out a small sigh.
“Hurry and evacuate the residents while my barrier magic is still active. The army should prepare for defense. Gather everyone who can fight from among the residents and prepare for their arrival. Everything will be alright. If we can hold on, His Majesty will surely come to our aid.”
Baroness Taalkaton issued instructions one after another to her subordinate demons.
The subordinate demons followed her orders faithfully.
Even though it was a small frontier city, the command structure seemed to be in place.
Seeing Baroness Taalkaton, the ruler of the city, issue precise instructions, the people gathered in the plaza began to regain their composure little by little.
We watched the scene intently.
Even in the world of demons, where only the strong survive, there are decent individuals.
There are those who protect their residents with the same sense of justice as humans, and those who face external enemies without fear.
It’s not a society solely based on rule by fear, or where the powerful exploit the weak.
We inwardly felt relieved at the sight of Baroness Taalkaton, a “righteous lord.”
But at the same time, we frowned at the state of the country, where upright individuals are scorned and banished from the center.
What on earth is the Abyssal Demon Lord thinking as he governs the country?
Will we be able to fully understand the current situation of this country and the Abyssal Demon Lord’s thoughts on this journey?
“Now, it’s your turn.”
Having finished giving instructions to her subordinate demons, Baroness Taalkaton turned to us, who had been silently observing.
Then, in an atmosphere that was gentle yet tinged with a slight tension, she guided us to another location.
We were led outside the grounds of the Great Shrine.
“I cannot treat those whom that child saved with contempt.”
However, the woman, Baroness Taalkaton, looked north meaningfully.
“This city will soon be at war with the Silver-eyed Knight’s army. It seems unlikely that we will receive much support from elsewhere at the moment. We cannot allow Shooting Star Sama and her entourage to stay in such a place. You have your own journey to undertake, don’t you?”
Baroness Taalkaton’s concern was appreciated.
Indeed, we didn’t have time to get involved in a territorial dispute between demons.
But a question arose.
Lady Mine voiced our doubts.
“But didn’t you say earlier that His Majesty the Demon Lord would save us eventually?”
That’s right. Wasn’t the story that if we defended with Baroness Taalkaton’s barrier magic and the defense force, the Abyssal Demon Lord would send reinforcements?
Baroness Taalkaton shook her head in response to our question.
“According to the scouts I dispatched, the north is in a more chaotic situation than before.”
“Eh?”
“You are aware that the rebel army and the defense force clashed on a large scale in the north, aren’t you?”
“Yes. But the defense force seemed to have overwhelmed the rebel army, and the rebel army appeared to be utterly defeated even from our perspective.”
“That is the extent of the situation as you know it.”
When Lady Mine asked for clarification, Baroness Taalkaton informed us of the latest developments.
Baroness Taalkaton prefaced her explanation by saying, “This is what happened after you left.”
“The general leading the defense force was killed.”
“What!?”
“After that, not only did the rebel army renew its offensive, but the defense force, having lost its commander, also showed signs of rebellion. Apparently, even the northern border army has been mobilized for suppression.”
“No way!”
What on earth is going on?!
The commander of the defense force, who had achieved complete victory, was killed?
Why?!
And not only that, the defeated rebel army has revived, the defense force is planning a rebellion, and even the northern border army has joined in?
Doesn’t that mean the war situation is not only not calming down, but expanding!
“This area is the far western edge of the country. The central army would never come to our aid anyway. Still, we could rely on the northern defense force, but with the current situation, our hopes are slim.”
“In that case…?”
Was what she said in the plaza earlier a lie?
Yes, it must have been a lie.
Unlike clergy, demons do lie. Especially a ruler of a city. They would have no qualms about lying to reassure their residents and retainers.
“You understand the situation of this city, don’t you? Then there is no need to linger.”
Baroness Taalkaton pointed to the west.
“There is a secret passage to the outside of the city to the west. I will have a subordinate guide you. You should use that passage to leave the city.”
Lady Mine swallowed the words “but.”
She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t say, “We can’t abandon the people of this city,” which would be impossible for Shooting Star Sama and us to say.
If we became deeply involved in the demons’ problems here, there would be no turning back.
Therefore, we couldn’t just get involved based on fleeting righteousness.
Fortunately, Baroness Taalkaton is a ruler with a sense of justice.
She will surely overcome this difficult situation.
Besides, this city also has a Great Shrine, and many Mikos and Shinkan. We should trust them.
“Thank you.”
All of us, not just Lady Mine and Lady Anna, bowed deeply.
Baroness Taalkaton gave instructions to her subordinate demons.
“Follow me. I will guide you, but if you fall behind, I will abandon you.”
A demon with a snake’s lower body started running ahead to lead us.
We followed at full speed.
“May His Majesty and the Goddess bless your journey.”
It left a lasting impression on me that Baroness Taalkaton prayed that as we departed.
