We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A noisy life in prison.
So, why did we choose a slow carriage journey along the road instead of the help of Nimia, our safe, secure, and high-speed means of transportation?
If we had asked Nimia, we could have quickly reached the Heavenly Mountain Range, evading the notice of the demons.
However, we, or rather I, did not approve of that.
The reason being.
My role in this journey is as important as reviving Hero Lisuter’s Holy Sword.
Currently, the borderlands of the Armēdo Kingdom are threatened by the Evil Race. I was searching for the whereabouts of Micheila and her companions, who had traveled west from the Forbidden Territory to counter this threat.
Frankly speaking, even reviving the Holy Sword won’t let us counter the Evil Race. They are monster-like beings that even withstood the attacks of Mistral and Teruru.
It’s impossible to counter such terrifying beings with a Curse Power Sword made by humans, even if it is a Holy Sword.
So, while it’s not Lisuter, my journey west is also important.
And yet…
“Hey, chicken-man. This is your fault, you know?”
“I’ll overlook your insulting remark, ‘chicken-man,’ this time. However, regarding this blunder, I believe it is Slaton’s fault, not mine?”
“What did you say, you bastard!”
“Good grief, humans are always like this…”
The ones arguing in the prison cell from before are, of course, Slaton and Louvent.
We were captured by the patrolling demons as the main culprits behind the disturbance in the Demon Capital.
Well, we could have escaped if we had wanted to. But if we had escaped then, we would have been wanted criminals forever after.
Our journey is already difficult enough, and I wanted to avoid any further hardship.
So, we meekly surrendered…
“Hey, Alex. Is Louvent always like this? Your village, where you live, has human slaves, and traveling merchants visit too, right?”
“I am truly sorry for the trouble my attendant has caused.”
We were all thrown into a musty prison cell together.
In the center of the cell, Slaton and Louvent were still arguing, while Lisuter was quietly sitting in a corner, looking exasperated.
Toris, for some reason, leaned against the bars with a look of familiarity and was calm.
And I, feeling fed up with the noisy pair, turned to Alex, who remained composed even in this situation.
“Louvent grew up by my side from childhood. However, Louvent was not supposed to be chosen as my exclusive attendant.”
Gods, like demons, have long lifespans. However, the Heavenly Race that serves the gods does not have lifespans as long as their masters.
Of course, they are longer-lived than humans, but their lifespan is said to be around eighty to a hundred years.
So, Alex, who is a god, is over a hundred years old, and Louvent, a Heavenly Being, grew up watching Alex, who is much older than him.
“Although it is proclaimed as a sacred empire where the emperor’s authority extends everywhere. In reality, there are constant problems, just like in your country or the Demon Race’s country. And also in the borderlands where we live. His parents and two older brothers died amidst such turmoil. That incident was also due to my lack of virtue…”
Alex, who now lives quietly in the borderlands, is, in fact, a descendant of the legendary Fighting God, known throughout the God Race.
And Louvent’s family had served the descendants of the Fighting God for generations.
However, during an upheaval in the borderlands, Louvent’s parents and two older brothers lost their lives.
Therefore, Louvent, the third son, became Alex’s exclusive attendant.
“I know that from childhood, he looked up to me with admiration. And even after the unfortunate events, he became my exclusive attendant. His past excessive remarks ultimately stem from his deep loyalty to me and his pride as an attendant. Therefore, Louvent means no harm…”
Yes, that’s the problem.
Louvent is not a bad Heavenly Being. It’s just that he sometimes lacks consideration in his words and tends to praise Alex a bit too much.
Also, I feel like Alex is partly responsible.
Alex knows Louvent’s childhood intimately. And in the midst of some troublesome events, he caused the death of Louvent’s family.
I believe that Alex’s understanding and indulgence of Louvent’s words and actions are due to such past events.
And then, let’s see.
There’s the tendency to be lenient with family, common in rural areas.
In the borderlands, people often know everyone’s faces and names. Furthermore, not only the neighboring residents but also the familiar merchants who occasionally visit know the villagers well.
And when someone gets married and has children, everyone takes care of them. When someone gets old and infirm, everyone cares for them. In doing so, all the residents and visitors develop family-like connections and a strong sense of kinship.
… I think I read that in an old storybook!
Well, I don’t really know if that’s true.
If they lived together like family in a settlement in the borderlands, then Louvent’s somewhat troublesome behavior would be tolerated with the understanding that “he’s family, so it’s okay” or “we know him well, so we’ll overlook it.”
As he grew older, Louvent’s ideology and speech patterns became fixed.
And that leads to the current situation!
With a sigh, Alex apologized on Louvent’s behalf to me, who shrugged my shoulders.
“So, what’s going to happen to us now?”
Lisuter, who was apparently tired of the constant bickering between Slaton and Louvent, tried to calm them down.
As she did so, she looked at us, who didn’t seem to consider the situation a major problem.
“Hmm, it probably depends on Ruilala?”
I replied casually to Lisuter.
I’m sure Alex is convinced he could easily escape from a prison like this if he wanted to.
And as for Toris, his master is Duke Cat Astel, so I’m sure he thinks he’ll be released eventually.
And I left it up to Ruilala, who was not present.
Only we were captured, and Ruilala was not detained.
What this means is that the patrolling demons noticed the crest on our carriage.
And Ruilala would probably appeal to her superiors and get us released. Ruilala, like those who own territory in the countryside, is lenient towards those she considers family or companions.
And we are Ruilala’s companions!
“Convenient, nya?”
“It’s your imagination, Nimia!”
I smiled at Nimia, who peeked out from my pocket.
After we were confined in the prison for a while, though not a very long time.
Just as I started to feel hungry.
Suddenly, I sensed multiple presences at the prison entrance.
As I watched to see what was happening, a well-dressed demon appeared in the damp prison.
“Hey, which one of you is the Dragon King, human?”
The well-dressed demon observed me, Lisuter, Slaton, and Toris in turn, and asked.
It seems Ruilala’s actions worked as expected.
They wouldn’t know there was a Dragon King here, and that he was human, unless Ruilala told them.
Incidentally, Alex is a god, and Louvent is a Heavenly Being, so they were not considered by the demons from the start.
All eyes in the cell turned to me in response to the demon’s question.
When I honestly presented myself, I was the only one taken out of the cell.
“That’s unfair, you’re going alone?”
“Then, Slaton, do you want to go too? However, you’ll have to run an errand for me?”
Why was I the only one called out?
Everyone, not just Slaton, was pondering the situation. And as if they had all reached the same conclusion, they turned their gaze away from me.
“Elnea was sacrificed…”
“Lisuter, what are you saying!?”
Exchanging a joke like that, I was prompted by the demon to leave the prison.
Outside, a magnificent carriage, unsuited for the place, was parked at the entrance of the robust penal facility.
Without any explanation, I was made to board, and the carriage took me to my destination.
I arrived at the majestic Demon Lord’s Castle, built in the center of the Demon Capital.
I had expected to be taken to Shuzan Palace.
Well, the true ruler of the Demon Race wouldn’t intervene in every little disturbance in the Demon Capital.
So, the jurisdiction for the commotion in the Demon Capital would likely fall under the Demon Lord?
Surrounded by demons, I proceeded through the exceptionally well-maintained corridors. Then, I was led to a magnificent room.
“Hello, Elnea-kun. We meet again.”
“Hello, Ruilala. Thank you?”
In what appeared to be a reception room, Ruilala was already present. And two others as well.
One was a man with a gentle young appearance.
He had magnificent horns growing from behind his ears down to his back, and sharp horns on his elbows and knees, but he welcomed me with a gentle demeanor.
And he spoke to me casually.
“I heard from Lord Ruilala. I understand you are close with the Golden Chancellor who serves His Majesty the Giant Demon Lord.”
“Am I close…? I feel like I’m just being toyed with unilaterally.”
“Being able to be playfully teased by that person is proof that you are favored.”
“Do you perhaps know Charlotte?”
“Yes, I worked under her a long time ago.”
I see. This demon was a former subordinate of Charlotte and has now been recruited to work for the Demon Lord of this country.
In that case…!
Indeed, no doubt about it.
This demon is no ordinary individual. He must be a Demon General or something of the sort.
Though I conversed with him casually as I was guided, I should not let my guard down.
“Your Majesty, the young man in question.”
And the old man the young-looking demon addressed was indeed…
My first impression was of an old man with a long white beard.
However, the aura he exuded was incomparable to that of an ordinary demon. His leisurely attire and the staff that seemed fitting for an old man, from which no sign of a demon king who favors violence and destruction could be felt, emanated a gentle warmth. Yet, his eyes, peeking from beneath eyebrows as white and long as his beard, had a power that could make one submit with just a glance.
Well, it didn’t work on me. Sleigsta, the Giant Demon Lord, and Charlotte were far more imposing.
“Hmm, to not be swayed by my Demon Eye. Indeed, you are the human Lord Ruilala spoke of.”
It seems those eyes were indeed a Demon Eye! And from the looks of it, the information about me was also relayed by Ruilala.
The Demon Lord continued to stare at me without dispelling the pressure of his gaze. The young-looking demon, Ruilala, and I silently awaited the Demon Lord’s next words.
What in the world does he intend to do by summoning me here?
C-Could it be! He’s not going to impose some strange accusation or impossible task on me as punishment for causing trouble in the Demon Capital, is he!? We’re short on time, so we can’t just do whatever the Demon Lord says!
However, contrary to my expectations, the Demon Lord began to speak in a gentle tone.
“According to Lord Ruilala’s account, you have been bestowed the Soul Spirit Seat without ascending to the Demon Lord’s throne?”
“Uh… Yes.”
After confirming with Ruilala, I nodded cautiously. Then, feeling prompted, I manifested Ares-chan and had her produce the Soul Spirit Seat.
“…Without a doubt, it is the same as ours. It seems Lord Ruilala’s account is trustworthy and not mistaken.”
After observing the Soul Spirit Seat I held, the Demon Lord narrowed his eyes, stroking his white beard.
It appears the Demon Lord wanted to see my Soul Spirit Seat to confirm the truth of the explanation Ruilala had given. Perhaps the reason the young-looking demon brought up Charlotte as soon as we entered the room was to verify if I was truly close to Charlotte and the Giant Demon Lord.
At any rate, it seems I have been recognized as the person Ruilala described. …Or rather.
Am I not getting into some strange situation? How did Ruilala explain me? I was curious, and fortunately or unfortunately, I found out the answer.
“Very well. Then, I shall permit your passage within my country. In return, do not cause any further trouble.”
Ah, I see. I remembered. This is the country of the Demon Race, located west of the small Forbidden Territory where Astel lives. The ruler of that country is called the “Sage Demon Lord.” In other words, he made the wise decision that it would be better for the country if we left quickly rather than causing him trouble.
But for the Demon Lord to want me gone… Ruilala must have embellished her story. I’ll tell her my complaints along with my thanks later! As I pondered this, I gladly accepted the Demon Lord’s offer. However, he is the king of the Demon Race, after all. He wouldn’t make things too easy for us.
“I hear you are aiming for the Heavenly Mountain Range. In that case, be wary of the Fairy Demon Lord’s movements.”
“What do you mean?”
I have a bad feeling about this. Gulping, I asked for clarification. The Demon Lord gazed out the window at the distant western sky and continued.
“It seems his next target is beyond the Heavenly Mountain Range.”
“What!?”
The Fairy Demon Lord, Demon Lord Kusharilla. Kusharilla had previously schemed in our homeland, attempting to expand her territory east of Dragon Peak. However, her conspiracy was thwarted by me, Lisuter, Sleigsta, and the Giant Demon Lord. But it seems Kusharilla’s ambition has not been stopped.
Next, beyond the Heavenly Mountain Range? In other words, she’s targeting the human cultural sphere located far to the west, and the center of the Temple Religion, the Temple City!?
The shocking revelation left me stunned, and I lost all my composure from earlier.
