We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Mimicho of the Forest of Curses.
A Mimicho woman steps into Shuzan Palace.
The woman, holding a great staff that belies her small physique, proceeds through the palace. She is guided by a soulless puppet.
The puppet serving Shuzan Palace apparently does not recognize the Mimicho woman as an intruder and leads her to the deepest part of the palace as requested.
Then, the puppet guides the woman to a heavy door and leaves without a word.
Facing the door before her with a tense expression, the woman thinks, “Beyond this, there is a being who surpasses the Demon Lord.”
As she realized this, the hand holding the great staff visibly trembled.
The woman tries to calm herself by taking a deep breath. However, it felt as if something was stuck in her chest, and no matter how much she tried to inhale, no air would come in.
Soon, the trembling spread throughout her body, and the woman could barely stand, leaning on the great staff for support.
The Mimicho woman stands motionless in the deepest part of the palace, breathing shallowly.
She had finally come this far, yet she couldn’t take the final step.
The being waiting beyond this door was immeasurably fearsome.
Nevertheless, the woman had no choice but to proceed. If she didn’t, the future promised to them would never come.
Mustering her courage, the Mimicho woman tries to knock on the door.
But before her fist could touch the door, there was movement.
The door, which no one had touched, opened on its own.
Surprised by this unexpected reaction, the woman stepped back.
“Well, well, this is unexpected. It’s very rare for the master of the Forest of Curses to visit. Please, come in, Istericia.”
Behind the open door, a little girl in a scarlet dress waited with a lovely smile.
The little girl, as if she had known the Mimicho woman was coming, invited her into the room while preparing tea for the number of people present, addressing her as Istericia.
However, Istericia could not move.
Facing such an absolute being, even her breathing had stopped.
“Master, this is quite a rare guest. Has it been since you were raised to the position of clan leader that they last visited?”
The little girl smiled at Istericia, who had frozen before the open door, and then, carrying the freshly brewed tea, went to the back of the room.
Then, the little girl informed her master of the visitor.
“Now, please come in. The tea will get cold.”
The little girl handed the tea to her master and returned to her original position. She walked back and forth across the large room with a leisurely pace, as expected of a child.
However, during this time, Istericia could not move at all. Moreover, she felt as if she might lose consciousness if she relaxed even slightly.
Seeing Istericia like this, the little girl beckoned her again with a smile.
On the reception table, tea brewed for Istericia was already steaming.
Istericia mustered her resolve and shook off the spell.
To remain motionless, or rather, to be unable to move, would be an act of disrespect.
Since she was told to come in, she had no choice but to do so.
After all, she had come all this way with a request to make to the two people waiting in this room.
Her chest, which had stopped, rose and fell with shallow, spasming breaths as she forced herself to inhale. Along with the fresh air, the fragrant aroma of tea seeped into Istericia.
Following her breath, she took a step forward.
Despite her awkward movements, Istericia began to move.
Once she started moving, her whole body moved as if she were a manipulated doll.
Istericia entered the room, leaning on her great staff, but instead of sitting on the reception sofa, she prostrated herself deeply on the carpeted floor.
“Oh my. You don’t need to be so considerate between us and the master of the forest.”
The little girl urged Istericia to relax, but Istericia remained prostrate.
The little girl wore a slightly troubled smile that did not match her apparent age, but she did not force the issue further.
Istericia knew how dreadful it would be to disobey the instructions of the little girl standing before her. However, she could not raise her head. This was because she was about to make an audacious request to the little girl and the being who resided in the back of the room.
With a trembling, dry throat, Istericia spoke the reason for her visit to Shuzan Palace.
“…I am displeased.”
“Oh, you are?”
The little girl tilts her head cutely, but Istericia, still prostrate, cannot see it.
Istericia continues, gazing at the exquisite carpet.
“Why? Why did you grant the promised land to someone unknown, instead of us?”
“Ah, I see.”
The little girl in the scarlet dress clapped her hands, as if she understood.
“Speaking of which, you visited that land recently, didn’t you? But I heard you were severely injured then. Are you feeling better?”
“It is unbearable that there are others besides us in the promised land.”
Istericia had been forced into recuperation from early spring until recently.
When she visited the land she called the “promised land,” she had been gravely injured by someone’s technique. It took her until summer to heal.
Finally, with her wounds healed, Istericia began to take action against those who had taken up residence in the promised land without her permission.
“That land is a place promised to us. It is utterly unbearable that outsiders are there.”
Istericia knows.
She knows that the inhabitants of this room are among those who jointly manage the promised land.
However, the little girl only smiled with a troubled expression and did not utter the answer Istericia desired.
Instead, she said something unexpected.
“This is troublesome. The Giant Demon Lord gave that place to the Dragon Princess. Currently, the Dragon Princess and her family already live there.”
“W-what…?!”
When she visited the promised land, she saw mysterious Mimicho.
Despite being Mimicho, they were two women who seemed like spirits.
And why were there Mimicho other than themselves in that land? That alone was unpleasant, but to think that the Dragon Race and their family had settled there was beyond belief.
A tremor, different from tension, coursed through Istericia’s entire body.
“That land… the promised land, belongs to us.”
“I understand your point, Istericia. However, it has been two thousand years since your clan left that land. The connection to that land has been passed down to other races as well.”
“B-but…”
“Fufufu. You seem very displeased?”
Istericia gasps.
If either the little girl or the one in the back were to be displeased, her life would end there.
Even if she were the leader of a clan protected by these two, that would not change. However, Istericia had no choice but to make her plea, even knowing this.
The promised land was that important to them.
“Th-then… I have a request…!”
With the resolve to die, Istericia conveyed the collective will of her clan.
“If the Giant Demon Lord granted permission to outsiders, then please grant my clan permission to return to the promised land as well.”
Normally, only Istericia, as the representative of her clan, was permitted to enter the promised land.
However, if the Dragon Princess and her family were also allowed to enter, then her clan should have the same rights. Istericia’s request prompted the little girl to look at her master lounging in the back of the room.
And she smiled with delight.
“Very well. With our authority, I permit your Mimicho clan to enter the forbidden territory.”
“Th-thank you.”
Istericia shows her gratitude by rubbing her forehead against the carpet.
“Fufufu. Your long-held wish since the commotion two thousand years ago will be fulfilled. However, we will only grant permission for the clan to enter, mind you? We must also save face for the Giant Demon Lord and the other administrators.”
“Yes, that is enough.”
The adorable little girl, despite her appearance, carried a terrifying implication in her words.
She was implying that Istericia’s clan should resolve the matter with those already living in the promised land themselves.
In other words, she had tacitly given them permission to use any means necessary, whether it be force or negotiation.
Istericia knows.
The rulers of the demon race would do anything and sacrifice anything for their own amusement.
This time, they had granted Istericia’s clan permission to return to the promised land, anticipating a conflict with the current inhabitants.
And, she suspected, these two already knew that Istericia was in league with Baltnowar.
Yet, they showed no sign of reprimand, nor did they mention it.
In that regard, Baltnowar’s intentions were thwarted. However, for Istericia, the fact that these two would not intervene was an advantage.
Now, all that remained was to bring her clan members and return to the promised land. Then, they would eliminate the hindrances and reclaim their utopia.
For that purpose, she would not hesitate to have her own hands stained with evil.
She would not hesitate to commit an unforgivable great sin.
Still prostrate, Istericia reaffirmed her resolve.
“Now, your business is concluded, is it not? Well then, farewell.”
To the little girl, who smiled with delight as if she had found a new toy, Istericia felt an unfathomable terror.
However, there was no turning back.
Istericia politely requested her leave and exited Shuzan Palace.
Then, her face turned pale.
The sky she looked up at was dyed golden.
It was night, yet the sky shone brightly, as if it were daytime.
“What in the world…?”
Istericia trembled with an inexpressible fear, different from what she had felt from the inhabitants of Shuzan Palace she had just faced.
“I am convinced.”
Yes. In this world ruled by demons, there was no land where the Mimicho could live in peace.
Therefore, she would definitely return to the promised land and build their utopia.
Istericia activated the Great Sin Staff and plunged into the darkness.
A great change had occurred in the world.
And there was no doubt that Baltnowar’s scheme was causing this upheaval.
Istericia was convinced of this and transferred through space.
Her destination was the ruins where her comrades had once gathered.
There was no prior arrangement.
But if something were to happen, her comrades would gather here.
Isteria’s prediction was correct.
Beyond the soul-devouring darkness. Isteria, who had transferred to the ruins that were once the detached palace of the Fairy Demon Lord Kusharilla, was met by Baltnowar and his allies.
“Hey, you’re late.”
“I dislike you.”
“Tch, you’re so cold. I have a broad heart that cherishes beautiful things regardless of race.”
Istericia ignored Ryzen, a high-ranking demon casually sitting on a fallen pillar, and faced Baltnowar.
Baltnowar was looking up at the sky.
Above the ruins, the sky was also shining gold.
There was a considerable distance between the territory ruled by the Sage Demon Lord Vastrade, where Shuzan Palace was located, and the country once ruled by Kusharilla.
Yet, the sky was the same golden color.
“My word, I’m impressed. To this extent.”
Baltnowar muttered with a wry smile.
“So, do you know the cause of this abnormal sky, boss?”
Ryzen, with his mouth hanging open haphazardly, also looked up at the sky.
Also looking up at the golden sky in speechless amazement were a swordsman clad entirely in jet-black armor and the giant Dragon Race, Rugah.
“I want to know what this is,”
Isterias, still gazing at the sky, asked the seemingly knowledgeable Baltnowar.
However, Baltnowar brushed aside Isterias’s question and instead asked his comrades about their recent circumstances.
“The cause of this sky will become clear eventually. Whether it’s a good omen or a bad one remains to be seen. More importantly, it seems Ryzen and the others have been causing quite a commotion.”
It seemed that even if he knew the circumstances, Baltnowar was still unable to determine whether the golden sky would be a boon or a curse to them.
Ryzen, apparently tired of looking at the sky, returned his gaze to the ground and grinned vulgarly.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? I’m not even leading the way, but allies are just increasing on their own.”
The allies Ryzen was referring to were the numerous bandit groups rampaging through the country.
“Just a little demonstration, and it’s as you see. Demons aren’t entirely useless, are they?”
And Istericia looked at Ryzen, who was laughing with utter delight, with contempt.
Istericia also chose no means to an end for her objectives. However, she did not possess the base desire to involve unrelated individuals from the start and then enjoy it with all her heart.
Therefore, she lashed out with a sarcastic remark to dampen the spirits of the high-spirited Ryzen.
“I know. You were injured by a human, weren’t you? Yet you have the leisure to torment lesser beings like this?”
“Hahaha.”
Ryzen, however, brushed off Istericia’s provocation with a laugh.
But his sharp eyes betrayed his true feelings.
“I’m not biting at any female’s provocation… but well… please don’t mention that guy. It irritates me just thinking about it.”
His mouth showed a frivolous smile, but the killing intent he exuded clearly indicated his mood.
“Of course, I’m not going to let that guy run rampant forever? But you see, the boss…”
Saying this, Ryzen looked at Baltnowar.
“Hahaha. I’m not allowed to make a move on him yet. The young man with the black arms. Shall I call him a gladiator who wields both magic swords and divine swords? He was such a famous person that you could easily discern his identity if you looked into it. However, his master is the problem. He’s a slave of that Cat Duke.”
“Cat Duke?”
Being of Duke rank, he was likely of the Primogenitor Race. However, given that they were provoking the Demon Lord and even higher beings, why would they need to be cautious of a mere Duke-rank demon now?
Baltnowar, sensing Istericia’s question, added with a wry smile.
“The Cat Duke himself isn’t a particularly remarkable Primogenitor. But his territory is in a bad location. It’s on the frontier, but it’s within the territory of the Giant Demon Lord. I’ve asked you to operate in this area, but it’s still too early to interfere with countries ruled by other Demon Lords.”
In other words, Ryzen would pursue the young man with black arms into the Giant Demon Lord’s territory after causing more havoc here for a while.
Istericia found it amusing that the frivolous Ryzen was reluctantly complying with Baltnowar’s advice and felt a sense of satisfaction.
“Well, I’m fine as long as I can cause trouble. And all this is thanks to the boss, I guess?” ‘
Ryzen, having quickly regained his good mood, Lightheartedly laughed and turned the conversation to the magic sword user in full armor.
“Boss, impressive as always. Knocking down high-ranking demons one after another.”
“Hmph, none of them offered any real challenge.”
“No challenge…”
This magic sword user challenges strong individuals indiscriminately and defeats them.
But was this due to his own strength? Or was it because he was clad in legendary arms and armor? The magic sword user’s presence stiffened at Ryzen’s meaningful gaze.
“I would prefer if you refrained from fighting amongst yourselves, comrades.”
It was Baltnowar, of course, who intervened to mediate.
He appeared carefree, but he was quite a wily character.
The strange technique he displayed last time they gathered was not to be underestimated. Even Rugah, a Dragon Race whose combat prowess surpassed that of demons, was flustered.
Rugah was quietly stationed next to Baltnowar this time.
It was surprising that the man who had been so full of bluster had become as docile as a tamed beast. Ryzen and the magic sword user could only offer bitter smiles at Rugah’s change.
Especially Ryzen, who picked fights with everyone, showed no interest in Rugah, who had lost his spirit.
Istericia was also indifferent to Rugah’s movements and could have ignored him.
But upon seeing Rugah, she remembered.
The Dragon Princess, who had received the promised land from the Giant Demon Lord, was also of the Dragon Race.
Baltnowar, noticing Istericia’s gaze, misunderstood and spoke of Rugah’s recent circumstances.
“Rugah also had a bit of a painful experience, just like Ryzen and Istericia. But since then, he has been diligently strengthening himself.”
“Diligently, hmm?”
Ryzen laughed. However, Rugah, who had shown his temper last time, did not fall for Ryzen’s provocation. Although he slightly furrowed his brow, he showed no sign of moving.
“Boss. But why did you add a Dragon Race member to this group?”
Ryzen continued to provoke Rugah, who did not take the bait. Baltnowar, with a wry smile at the high-ranking demon, defended Rugah.
“He is necessary for my plan.”
“Hmm? A Dragon Race…?”
“Besides them, I also need Ryzen, Istericia, and Barejilo.”
This was the first time Istericia learned that the man clad in jet-black armor was named Barejilo.
“And I would like to ask for your cooperation as well?”
Saying this, Baltnowar looked up at the golden sky.
“Hmm. Why the sky?”
Goaded, everyone present looked up at the sky.
“Fufufu, fufufu. What are you looking at?”
However, a new voice reached them from an entirely different direction.
A chill ran down Istericia’s spine.
Behind her, in a place where there should have been no presence just moments ago, she felt an entity of absolute terror.
“Hahaha. I’m impressed. I never imagined that the Golden One was you.”
Before she knew it, the sky that had been shining brightly had vanished as if it were a mere illusion.
Instead, behind Istericia stood a beautiful woman adorned with a golden robe.
