◆ Demon Lord Castle – Conference Room ◆
“This is the only place we have.”
With that brief statement, Bathram quietly pulled out a chair from the table and sat down. The large table was surrounded by several chairs, illuminated by the flickering candlelight. The room had a musty, gloomy atmosphere that felt oppressive, but I couldn’t afford to complain about such luxuries. Eeks had also settled into a chair, resting his elbows on the table and looking completely at ease. It seemed the Demon Lord had been returned to his own quarters, leaving Shin to accompany him. In this eerily quiet large room, I tried my best to calm my racing thoughts.
The true nature of the Demon Lord Army, and our situation. The people from Ikana Village who were captured by the kingdom. If only I had known about this sooner. Those thoughts had been swirling in my mind for a while now. But that didn’t mean I held any resentment towards Eeks.
“I needed power. I felt regret for not being able to protect the village, and that’s why I ended up donning weapons and armor made by that shady merchant.”
Eeks’s weapons and armor were apparently crafted by the Death Weapon Merchant, who had been part of the Demon Lord Army until recently. The same merchant who had appeared in the Kingdom of Avangarde and handed Ritta the Black Spear. I never would have guessed that he was part of the Demon Lord Army, and even one of the Twelve Demon Generals at that. It seemed he had infiltrated the army as a collaborator. That spear had driven Ritta mad, and Eeks was surely affected in the same way. The weapons made by the Death Weapon Merchant amplified the negative emotions of their wielders, driving them to madness. But right now, I had bigger concerns than that.
“Here’s some warm herbal tea. If you’d like.”
Bathram had quietly stood up at some point and returned with herbal tea for everyone. I found myself staring at the steam rising gently from the carefully placed cups. It took me a moment to realize that Bathram was watching me intently.
“There’s no poison in it.”
“I know.”
“Even so, in your current state, I could probably take you down myself.”
“What, want to try?”
“Just kidding.”
I knew he wasn’t serious, but I felt a strange irritation at his teasing. I couldn’t really criticize him, though, considering I was the one who had just faced a horde of monsters.
“I have no reason to fight you anymore. In fact, now that I know you are the children of my kin, I would like to treat you amicably. If there’s anything you need, just ask.”
“That research facility… it’s inside the Kingdom of Avangarde, so if we try to force our way in, of course…”
“That’s something you should find the answer to yourself.”
Why did I even ask Bathram? I should have asked Kurinka instead. I wondered if Kurinka had calmed down. She was absentmindedly spinning her saucer with her finger, seemingly lost in thought.
“Bathram, um… the Twelve Demon Generals… they killed my friends…”
“Why do you feel the need to apologize?”
“Because, we had all survived together, and then they went and killed them?!”
“By the time they completed the End, they had already lost their human hearts. To be honest, even I could no longer control them. What’s the difference between a human who has gone berserk, discarding morality and reason, and a monster? In the end, they became a scourge upon the world, and your actions in defeating them cannot be condemned by anyone.”
“But… but…”
“If you hadn’t killed them, many humans would have died, wouldn’t they?”
“Was there really no other way…?”
Seeing Bathram fall silent made me think there might have been another option. But regardless, it was too late. I had killed them. Humans, or rather, those who had once been human.
“A path… is that it? I wish to know.”
Bathram’s words were oddly weak. Perhaps he was seeking answers beyond revenge. He must have wanted to live while still holding onto his humanity. But in the end, he chose the path of vengeance, establishing the Neo Demon Lord Army and directing his hatred towards all humans. If someone who had lived far longer than I was still lost, how could a child like me not be confused? There was no way I could find the best answer.
When I looked up, I noticed Eeks was no longer in his seat.
“Hey, where’s Eeks?”
“He stood up a moment ago and went somewhere.”
Eeks hadn’t said anything to us. Perhaps, given his previous involvement with the Demon Lord Army, he couldn’t find the right words to say. Even though the influence of the Death Weapon Merchant’s gear played a part, Eeks had ultimately gotten himself involved in wrongdoing.
Thinking back, I realized I hadn’t been able to ask Eeks about those things either. I didn’t intend to blame him, but I didn’t know what to say. If he weren’t Eeks, I might have pressed him harder. But I wanted Eeks to recover. I wanted to go on adventures together. It had been a secret dream of mine for as long as I could remember. If he was alive, that should be possible.
“…I’m happy.”
Kurinka, who hadn’t spoken a word until now, murmured while staring at her untouched herbal tea.
“Why?”
“Just knowing that everyone from the village might still be alive gives me something to do. And more than anything…”
Kurinka hesitated, pressing her five fingers together, and fell silent beside me for a moment.
“I realized that Rua-chan is just like me.”
Just like me, what does that mean?
“To be honest, while being able to turn into a dragon is convenient, it’s also kind of lonely. I wish I could have just been a normal girl.”
Her confession came out in a whisper, tinged with a sadness that made my heart ache. I had only seen Kurinka’s surface, the girl who could transform into a dragon. Of course, anyone would be shocked if a normal girl suddenly turned into a dragon.
The day it was revealed, I had been so happy to reunite with Kurinka. I had rejoiced at her ability to control her powers under the Dragon God’s guidance. I hadn’t considered her feelings at all.
“I’m really glad you accepted me, Rua-chan.”
A normal person might dislike a girl who could turn into a dragon. In fact, back in the Nation of Kashiram, I had brushed it off as a skill, but before that, the atmosphere had clearly been one of rejection.
The secrets of Ikana Village, my own situation. I had been so wrapped up in my own shock that I hadn’t thought about Kurinka at all. I had ridden on Kurinka, who had transformed into a dragon, without considering how she felt. I hadn’t even thought about what would have happened if the roles were reversed.
“I see… Kurinka has felt this way for a long time…”
I wanted to say I was sorry, but the words wouldn’t come out. It felt like it would be rude to say anything. Unknowingly, I had been indirectly insulting Kurinka. It was selfish to loathe the fact that I wasn’t human, that I was born the same as the Demon Lord Army.
Kurinka had endured far more suffering than I had. Yet, until now, she had never shown a sad face. She had always been her usual self for my sake. So how could I not respond to that? How could I let Kurinka cry because of me?
“We’ve always been together, haven’t we? Born in the same village, with similar circumstances. And on top of that, we’re not even human…”
I forced a smile, but it was genuine, born from my thoughts of Kurinka. Suddenly, Kurinka jumped up from her chair, wrapping her arms around me from behind. I was startled by the suddenness of it, but I gently embraced her back.
“We’ve been through a lot, but now we’re together like this. And we found out that Eeks and the villagers might still be alive. We’re happy…”
That was true. When I thought about it, this wasn’t the time for such sentiments. If the villagers were captured in Avangarde Castle, we needed to rescue them immediately. Of course, I understood it wouldn’t be easy, and I knew the consequences of such actions. But I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, knowing that.
“Hey, have you calmed down a bit?”
Eeks entered the room, accompanied by that black monster I had seen in Ikana Village. I gasped, but it didn’t seem like it was about to go on a rampage; it was behaving quietly.
“Eeks, what’s that monster?”
“This is the one I brought with me when we met at the ruins of Ikana Village. You understand now, right? This creature is a resident of your village.”
“N-No way! W-What do you mean?!”
“The Demon Lord Army, the extremists, were fueled by their desire for revenge and learned how to wield power from the Demon Race, but these ones couldn’t do that. Not even on that day.”
“So…?”
They had turned into monsters. Just like those from the Demon Lord Army. The negative words threatened to spill out, but I forced myself to remain silent. I held back the words that were on the tip of my tongue.
“But this one hasn’t lost its human heart.”
“Huh…?”
“I never expected a human to come,” the monster said, its voice strained as it pressed its hands against its head. It was a gesture that felt far too human for a creature of its kind. “You see, the fact that it didn’t attack you means it still holds some semblance of human reason… More importantly, it seems to have realized you are Lua, the girl from your village.”
“Lu…a…K…u…r…i…n…ka…”
The monster clearly uttered our names. Its struggle to comprehend was evident, and it was a sight that felt almost surreal.
“I don’t have a clear method to revert it back to normal just yet, but if we head to the research facility, there should be plenty of materials available. Plus, if we can get that one over there to talk, we might make significant progress. So, Lua, you have something to do.”
I didn’t need to hear Kurinka’s opinion on that. Her eyes were filled with a strong light, unlike before, and there was no hesitation in them.
“Eeks, once everything is over, will you come back with us…?”
“Sorry, but I can’t go with you.”
“W-why not?”
“It’s not about atoning for my sins or anything… I just can’t make up my mind yet. Besides, I have the responsibility of taking care of this one.”
“This one” must refer to the villager beside him.
“Don’t make that face. Once I sort out my feelings, I promise I’ll rush to you. Until then, let me stay here.”
“…I understand. It’s a promise, okay?”
“Yeah, I won’t break it this time.”
Eeks flashed a bright smile, resembling the kind older brother he had been back then. The memory of that day when he was pierced by a demon had completely faded from my mind. After all, Eeks had caught up to us like this. It took a little time, but we were together again.
“Kurinka… let’s go.”
Without even nodding, Kurinka took my arm. I downed the lukewarm herbal tea in one go, summoning the motivation that had been dormant until now.
“Hiigyaaaaaaa!”
If I had taken a moment longer to drink the tea, I would have spat it out in shock. Shin’s entrance was nothing short of explosive, accompanied by a piercing scream that sent chills down my spine.
“What’s going on? Is something wrong with the Demon Lord?”
“My concerns are unwarranted.”
The Demon Lord appeared late, followed by a monstrous creature. It was a bizarre beast with the head of a lion and two additional heads, along with a serpent’s tail. I wanted to tell Shin that it was only natural for monsters to be present in the Demon Lord Castle, but perhaps the shock lay elsewhere.
“That creature was in the Garden of Beasts, wasn’t it…?”
“The Blast Chimera has returned here. It seems it has business with you all.”
“W-what…?”
The fact that a monster that had been Pansard’s subordinate had business with us was anything but reassuring. The Blast Chimera slowly approached, bringing its face closer to ours.
◆ Avangarde Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“Ah, normally I should be the one to stop this, but… they have grown terrifyingly strong.”
Aleid, the so-called Hero, explained the situation in detail to Prime Minister Belmund while pressing a hand against his wound. Frankly, it was hard to believe. The idea that those girls had allied with the Demon Lord was likely a fabrication of the Hero’s imagination. The story was too neatly constructed. Even if those two had learned the truth, it was hard to imagine they would immediately side with the Demon Lord Army. Moreover, if Aleid could heal himself completely, it was plausible that the wound was self-inflicted rather than a result of battle.
“I see, we must take action swiftly.”
“Wha!? Lord Belmund, are you really going to believe that story?!”
“It comes from the Hero himself. I cannot fathom any falsehood in it.”
“Someone of your stature can’t be so shortsighted! You’re going to trust the words of this man who just appeared?!”
“Kirkton… I understand your point well. It is indeed difficult to believe. But if we do nothing here, it’s only a matter of time before the living Demon Lord attacks. Is there any guarantee that this country will still exist a year from now? Even without that, the threat of the Demon Lord Army is already upon us!”
With a dramatic thud, Aleid slammed his fist against a pillar. It was pitiful to see the ministers, who held the power of the nation, floundering in such a discussion.
“Kirkton, deep down, you know the truth, don’t you? If that fact spreads, you and everyone else will not escape unscathed.”
Belmund whispered to me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. No, this was for the future of the nation. I was not following him out of self-preservation.
“The former captain must have said the same. It’s not about the individual; it’s about serving the nation. That is the duty of those who serve the state. If you truly love this country, then show it through your actions.”
“I… I…!”
“You will have plenty of work to do.”
Belmund clapped his hands, drawing the attention of everyone who was in turmoil. The mere act of this elderly man silencing the powerful figures showed just how immense his authority and trust were. As for me, I was sweating profusely from just a brief exchange.
What was it about this frail old man that exuded such intensity? It wasn’t merely that Belmund was effectively the No. 2 in power, making it impossible to oppose him. There was something distinctly otherworldly about him. Even the King was but a puppet in his hands, and I felt a deep-seated fear for the man who steered the nation.
“I will issue all the commands. You need only follow them.”
“Y-yes, please!”
“Very well, first, Kamran. Arrange for the ballista and catapults immediately. I will suggest the placements later. Next…”
I could only silently watch as Belmund continued to issue commands one after another. No matter what outcome awaited us, I felt powerless to change it. No, I didn’t even have the right to intervene. Just as Belmund said, I was equally guilty. I had turned a blind eye to the inhumane acts committed in this country due to my position.
I had no choice but to comply. That was the duty of one who served the nation. Regardless of what justice might come to attack us, I had the role of protecting this country.
“Notify the Adventurer’s Guild immediately. I will present the details. The reward will be fifty million gold.”
Belmund’s unending stream of commands spread throughout the room. It felt as if blood was circulating within a colossal beast that was the nation, preparing to rise and confront the impending threat.