We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A murky darkness and a golden sky.
“The Chancellor of the Giant Demon Lord’s country?!”
Balegirod reacted swiftly, drawing the Sword of God Slaying.
However, he couldn’t move.
The newly appeared woman looked at Balegirod with narrow eyes.
“Do you wish for death?”
The woman smiled without ceasing.
Yet, with that alone, Balegirod, who had continued to challenge tough, high-ranking demons, was defeated.
This is a monster.
She is not to be mistaken for other demons.
A Demon Lord. No, a being even more terrifying.
“That’s right,” Istericia understood.
If anything, she was close to those who lived in Shuzan Palace.
Istericia couldn’t fathom which of them brought more despair.
However, her instincts understood that her presence was far beyond that of a mere Demon Lord.
“Oh dear. Are we finished?”
“What do you mean?”
Even Baltnowar shrugged his shoulders at the overwhelming presence of the woman called the Golden One.
Seeing this, the woman tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Well, you see. I was indeed planning to break the seal of the Nine-Tailed Great Demon and recruit them to my side. I never expected their true identity to be the Chancellor of the Giant Demon Lord.”
There is no one among the demons who does not know this woman’s appearance.
Even if they haven’t seen her, they have heard the legends.
Once, a great demon allied army was organized to oppose the Divine Race. It was led by the Giant Demon Lord’s closest aide, a great demon hailed as the Grand Marshal, Charlotte.
Her eyes were always narrowed as if smiling, and her wavy blond hair was the mark of a peerless beauty.
Istericia, who lived in this world under the protection of the Demon Race’s Ruler, also knew at least a little about Charlotte’s appearance and anecdotes.
But, is this woman truly… ?
Everyone present, except for Charlotte herself, was perplexed.
Why had Charlotte appeared here?
What was the “Golden One” that Baltnowar spoke of?
What did the Nine-Tailed Great Demon mean?
Even Baltnowar, who had been scheming about everything, couldn’t grasp the situation accurately, his face twitching.
Seeing this, Charlotte, the Golden One, smiled elegantly and stepped forward so that she was visible in Istericia’s sight.
“Oh my, you were looking for me, weren’t you? I heard it was you who broke the mirror at the Nine-tailed Fox Shrine?”
“The Dragon King… Elnea-kun?”
“Yes, he is a good child. Thanks to him, I was able to resurrect like this.”
“Oh? Can you tell me more?”
Baltnowar was unusually tense. Whether she knew it or not, Charlotte slowly recounted recent events.
She had deceived the virtuous Dragon King, making him create a new mirror to break the seal. Then, she caused a commotion in the Demon Lord’s Castle and parted ways with the Giant Demon Lord.
No one interrupted, and everyone listened to Charlotte’s story.
Even the flippant Ryzen couldn’t make light remarks in front of Charlotte.
“…I see. Then, you will side with me?”
After listening to her story, Baltnowar finally spoke.
However, his tone clearly indicated that he was still skeptical.
“That’s only natural,” Istericia thought, nodding inwardly.
After all, the Giant Demon Lord and his subordinates were currently the foremost obstacles to Baltnowar’s grand plan.
Even if she claimed to have betrayed her master, it was difficult to believe her so easily.
Noticing the suspicion around her, Charlotte feigned shrugging her shoulders.
“Oh my. You’re quite shallow and petty villains, more so than I imagined.”
“What?”
Balegirod’s pupils flashed as he glared, but that was all.
Charlotte ignored him and said something terrifying with a straight face.
“Think about it. If I were your enemy, I would have killed all of you before we even met.”
Charlotte smiled, and her laughter sent a chill down Istericia’s soul.
If she wanted to, she could easily do that. Everyone present instantly understood that she was a monster with that kind of power.
“I see, there’s some truth to that. If you already knew our location, there would be no need to send you as a spy. But, how did you find this place that you can ask?”
“Fufufu, with the magic power spread throughout the heavens.”
In other words, the sky, dyed golden, was Charlotte’s magic power.
They had witnessed magic power that could cover the entire world. And they were still alive.
That meant Charlotte had not appeared to defeat them.
“I would have preferred you to join us after defeating the Giant Demon Lord on the spot.”
“At that time, Elnea-kun would have died as a collateral damage.”
“Oh dear, you see through everything, don’t you?”
Everyone knew that Baltnowar was fixated on the human youth called the Dragon King.
But he never expected Charlotte, who had been an enemy until a little while ago, to know this.
It seemed Charlotte was willing to be their ally, but they shouldn’t let their guard down.
After all, for Istericia’s ambitions, she had to oppose the Dragon Princess, who held a title similar to the Dragon King.
Istericia maintained her vigilance, careful not to let her true intentions be known.
Balegirod, the magic sword user, glared hatefully at Charlotte, who spread despair.
He probably couldn’t act against her now, but he was likely harboring the reckless thought of challenging her someday.
As for Ryzen, he watched Charlotte with an interested gaze, though he refrained from making any light remarks.
It was an unpleasant, disturbing look.
However, Charlotte seemed completely unfazed by the vulgar gazes and intentions, standing serenely.
Would Baltnowar add Charlotte to their side?
And if so, what role would she play?
Istericia watched Baltnowar.
Baltnowar was contemplating with his head down.
From the conversation so far, it seemed that Charlotte was the “trump card” Baltnowar had mentioned from the beginning.
He hadn’t known the titles “Golden One” or “Nine-Tailed Great Demon,” but faced with this desperate presence, anyone could understand. The faction that Charlotte joined would be the victor of this turmoil.
However, Baltnowar might still be perplexed by the Golden One resurrecting in a way that deviated from his plans.
Certainly, she wasn’t an enemy. But he couldn’t understand Charlotte’s true intentions.
It was good that she had resurrected.
But why did she join them afterward? Even after hearing her story, he couldn’t understand her true motives.
“Hmm, then how about this?”
A brief silence fell upon the ruins. Charlotte broke it.
Seeming troubled by the lack of progress, Charlotte said something terrifying again.
“Very well. Then, shall I bring a few Demon Lord heads as a souvenir? Ah, however. Since I am the one acting openly, those insignificant people here are no longer needed, are they?”
Istericia let out a small scream.
Charlotte was saying that her role was so minor that she could handle it with one hand. And she was proposing to Baltnowar that they should kill them, as they were no longer needed.
Ryzen, Balegirod, and Rugah also showed obvious signs of distress.
At this point, Baltnowar finally seemed to make a decision.
He sighed deeply and rejected Charlotte’s proposal.
“They are my important comrades. And if you are willing to join our ranks, I would be greatly helped. However, I would prefer to avoid fighting among ourselves.”
“Fufufu. I shall graciously accept your rather tepid proposal, befitting a degenerate human.”
“Well, thank you for that.”
Her presence was the same as usual, but it seemed Charlotte had officially joined their ranks as a comrade.
Then, what would this woman accomplish as a comrade?
Baltnowar seemed concerned about this as well and asked Charlotte.
“My wish is for His Majesty’s life. You all wish to draw out the higher beings, do you not? Then, I will leave that to you. I will use that opportunity to receive the recompense for my long years of service from His Majesty.”
“Hahaha, even you find the higher beings bothersome?”
“Yes. As long as those two continue to reign, I cannot live leisurely in the Demon Race’s country.”
With such immense magic power, Charlotte was undoubtedly a Primogenitor Race.
However, being a Primogenitor Race meant being bound by higher beings.
Charlotte might be using Baltnowar and the others to be freed from that curse.
“Well, I never expected to obtain my trump card like this. However, this is a golden opportunity. Everyone, please continue your respective activities.”
It seemed the meeting was over now that Charlotte’s intentions were confirmed.
At Baltnowar’s words, Balegirod turned on his heel and left without a word.
Rugah also sprouted wings from his back and flew into the night sky.
“Hey, can you give me a ride again?”
“I dislike you.”
“Hahaha, don’t say that. Aren’t we comrades who got injured around the same time?”
Ryzen approached Istericia, laughing heartily.
However, Istericia had a suspicion. Ryzen, like the two who left before him, wanted to leave this place quickly.
That’s how terrifying Charlotte’s presence was, even after becoming a comrade.
Istericia herself also wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. With a deep sigh, she activated the Great Sin Staff.
Istericia and Ryzen were swallowed by darkness.
Before the reunited comrades could linger, they disappeared from the ruins.
Finally, only Baltnowar and Charlotte remained.
“…So, what is your true wish?”
After seeing Istericia and Ryzen off, Baltnowar turned his gaze back to Charlotte. With an unguarded look, he asked.
Charlotte tilted her head with a smile, saying, “What do you mean?”, but Baltnowar continued to stare as if he saw right through her.
“Fufufu, as expected of Elnea-kun’s senior, you are indeed a messenger. However, please do not misunderstand. I truly want to enjoy the freedom I have finally obtained. That is true. However…”
Charlotte continued to smile with her usual narrowed eyes, but she was also not letting her guard down.
“Recently, the Divine Race’s movements have been disturbing. I couldn’t grasp the details, but it seems they may have obtained a forbidden technique. By the way, did you not visit the Divine Race’s country before coming here?”
“Well, I don’t recall.”
“Is that so? Well, I don’t care about the Divine Race anyway. However, I am interested in you. Did you perhaps develop a new forbidden technique?”
Baltnowar showed no reaction to Charlotte’s question.
“A messenger, no less, dabbling in forbidden techniques. I am very, very interested.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Fufufu. Could it be that the twin-headed dragon and the dragon race behind you are the materials needed for that?”
“Hahaha, please don’t say that. I am not the kind of man who sacrifices those dear to him.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Charlotte accurately recognized the twin-headed Ancient Dragon Species, Gaf, who was suppressing his presence behind Baltnowar and on guard.
Baltnowar realized anew that Charlotte, who he thought he had secured as a trump card, was proving to be unexpectedly difficult to handle, and he slumped his shoulders wearily.
“Putting aside your interest in me. I want you to act as my trump card here.”
“Specifically? Should I also run amok in this land?”
“No, that is not necessary. Ryzen and Balegirod are fighting valiantly. Besides, you don’t want to attract the attention of the higher beings, do you?”
“However, you are trying to draw out those two superior beings? Or is your true objective something else?”
“Hahaha, you’re so suspicious. But I don’t dislike that. Well, you can move as you wish. However, I would prefer it if you didn’t obstruct the movements of our comrades or target them.”
Charlotte nodded along with Baltnowar’s instructions.
“Then, I shall observe by your side until His Majesty shows an opening. Please, dance with all your might.”
Charlotte smiled and extended her right hand.
Baltnowar, without hesitation, clasped Charlotte’s hand in return.
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