“Then, I’ll help you, but… where is this Evil Spirit King fella?” So I asked the Netherworld.

[…I’m sorry… Because I have started the preparation to produce a new gatekeeper, my consciousness is leaving…]

“You’re kidding me!?”

I still haven’t heard any detailed explanation you know!? Just where is he!? The Evil Spirit King!

[…I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Well then, I’ll leave it to you——] “Eh!? Ah, Hold up!”

Even though I tried to call it out for several times, in the end the Netherworld never answered me back.

“Didn’t the difficulty suddenly rise? I don’t know where is this Evil Spirit King, but before all that aren’t I’m lost?”

Eh? This, if you think normally, I’m the end already?

“The development is too rapid I can’t follow it…”

This absurd and messy feeling… reminds me of <Forest of Endless Sorrow>.

Thinking about it again, quite the excellent feat I pulled back then, surviving a place like that after getting casted away without receiving any explanation! My Status for Luck and such was only 1 though!

As I was stumped about what to do in the middle of this desperate-looking situation,

the skill [World’s Eye]’s Enemy Search unexpectedly sensed a presence.

When I turned my eyes towards its direction, what greeted me were a pair of eyes that didn’t radiate light on a pitch black body, and white teeth that peeked out from its hanging mouth, a terribly horrifying entity was staring at me.

“Jiii”

“Scaryscaryscaryscary!!!”

What the hell is that!? Which hell’s hole did it appear from!?

This ominously frightening being really did appear suddenly within my Skill’s search range.

“Jiii”

“W, what is it… Who the hell are you… Rather, your gaze will make a hole on me if you——”

The moment I stopped in mid-sentence, the enigmatic creature’s eyes glowed, then lasers fired at me.

“Bloody hell!?”

While I was unintentionally spook in a Kansai dialect, I bent my body to a [く] character, then dodged the laser.

“A hole was literally about to be made in me though!? What the hell are you!? Having such an eerie face and all!”

“Jiii”

“I told you stop firing lasers!”

The enigmatic creature ignored my words and shot several lasers at me. And I avoided all of them with weird postures.

“Hold on, what the hell are you really!?”

I exercised the skill [Advanced Appraisal]. [Evil Spirit Lv:???]

“So you are the evil spirit!?” I reflexively shouted so.

Moreover the level is unknown! It’s that, I haven’t seen something like that ever since the UMA from the Monster Sales Outlet operated by Balzas in Telbert! That UMA… what happened to it I wonder?

But before that. Evil spirits are, so to speak, a spirit, so that allow them to suddenly appear inside [World’s Eye]’s Enemy Search?

If that was the case, then the Evil Spirit King also hold the same ability… won’t it be impossible to find him? Finally it’s the endgame isn’t it!

I unsheathed the [Sword of Swirling Hatred (Black)] and [Sword of Overflowing Compassion (White)] that rested on my hip and brandished them.

“If you’re an evil spirit, then, sorry about this, I’ll defeat you.”

That probably wasn’t heard by my opponent, but for the time being I gave it a heads up, then leapt at the evil spirit.

I recalled about having to control my power to some degree back when I was about to strike at the Labcoat man back in the Barbadora Magic Academy, so I swung Black with an amount of power that wouldn’t deal damage to world. In addition of that, I also had the skill [Endless Hell/Avici Hell], so it would be okay… Having to consider about the World’s fare, my head is strange.

With my eyes looking in the distance, I was about to connect the attack to the evil spirit.

The evil spirit couldn’t catch up with my speed, still looking at the place where I was until a moment ago.

And then, when Black touched the evil spirit’s body, it was then.

“Eek!?”

The evil spirit’s body texture was springy, the moment Black touched it, the impact shook the body as if it formed a wave.

Just when I thought the impact had reached the bottom of evil spirit’s body, I could confirm that it suddenly directed away then headed towards me.

The moment I affirmed it, a bad hunch went through me, so I hastily moved my feet from there.

And then——. ZUDON!!

A tremendous impact sound rang.

An outrageously huge crater was gouged out in the place where I stood just a little while ago.

“Oi, you’re kidding me…”

Cold sweat streamed on my cheek.

The evil spirit only stood on the spot as if nothing had happened.

“That… No matter how you slice it, that was my attack that bounced back just as is, wasn’t it?”

My attack was redirected, and even more than that, the opponent was uninjured. To an outsider’s perspective, it might seem that I was afraid of such opponent.

However, my head was filled with something else. “So my attack is that fiendish…!?”

There might be people who thought of it as “Now, of all time?”, but now I got to experience the threat of my own attack, I was made to realize the abnormality of my attack even more strongly.

My attack doesn’t work? That can go to hell for all I care! More than that, I’m shivering because I have been swinging around disaster-class attacks here and there!

“Crap… I have to think the way to use my power more seriously from now on…” “Jiii”

The evil spirit’s atmosphere seemed like turned into a sullen one.

Actually, it had an eager air around it before, looking forward for when I fell into despair after my attack didn’t work, but apparently the evil spirit sensed I was being bothered by other things instead. It’s a problem of life and death for me you know!

However, it seemed like the evil spirit didn’t take a liking to it, so it rapidly shot a laser at me.

“Jiii!”

“That’s dangerous, hey!? Calm down a bit!”

Without lending me an ear, the evil spirit didn’t loosen its attack.

For the time being, physical attacks don’t work, but… what about magical attacks?

I then used a fire attribute beginner magic, [Fire]. “There!”

An outrageous mass of fire that couldn’t be called a beginner magic at all fired off at the evil spirit.

And then, the evil spirit stopped shooting laser, received the [Fire] magic with its body, then as expected, it bounced back right at me.

“Oi oi… Just what the hell should I do about this.”

How can I fight against an opponent who nullifies physical and magical attacks?

Strange enough, despite facing that kind of opponent, my head was clear.

However, I suddenly noticed other presences, so while I didn’t turn my attention away from the evil spirit before me, I turned my eyes, then…

“Jiii”

Numerous evil spirits were gazing at me.

Rather, I’m terrified you know!? In the first place I can’t stand ghosts and any kind of horror you know!? I want to go home! I don’t have a home to go though!

As I unintentionally floated a cramped smile, all the evil spirits shot their lasers. [Jiii]

“That won’t even be a joke!”

As I hurriedly crouched down, numerous lasers passed over my head.

However, with me avoiding it, the lasers would only hit another evil spirits and repeatedly bounced back, so even if I wanted to stand up there was only lasers flying about overhead.

“Isn’t this really the endgame already!? Isn’t it impossible to defeat the Evil Spirit King- sama in this situation!?”

I shouted while holding my head so it wouldn’t get hit.

Just how can I defeat them in the first place!?

“I’m sick of it! HALP!! HAALLP MMEEEEE!!!!!!!”

“Copy that.” “Heh!?”

When I voiced my SOS that wouldn’t reach for anyone, an answer came from a place I couldn’t tell.

“Ji—!?”

And then, I could hear the muffled sound of the evil spirit.

Turning my eyes towards it, from around the chest? of the evil spirit, a sword resembling my <Sword of Swirling Hatred (Black)> I had protruded out.

When that sword pulled out from the evil spirit, that evil spirit turned into particles of light then disappeared.

As I was astonished by that sight, a single ikemen appeared.

A silvery long hair divided from the middle… Was it called curtained hair? At any rate, he had that hairstyle, and his emerald like eyes were looking at me gently.

“Long time no see, Seiichi-dono.” “Fuah!?”

Who!? I don’t have any ikemen like this as my acquaintance you know?!

Disregarding the confused me, the ikemen walked closer.

When I look closer, he was wearing a jet black robe resembling mourning clothes and a good quality shirt which was somewhere familiar to me. It was the outfit befitting for aristocrats.

Surprised by the ikemen’s arrival, the surrounding evil spirits were agitated. “Ji—!”

“Ji—!”

“Geh!?”

As my voice reflexively rose from seeing their state, all of a sudden, a jet black spear penetrated several evil spirits.

“Should we join the fun too?” “I’m sorry… I can’t fight…”

“Ahahaha! True that… Then, go wait with the maid over there.”

The voices of a carefree man and a gentle woman came into my ears.

“Uun… It’s a battle after a long time, but the opponent is like that… Good grief, how troublesome.”

Turning my sight, there was a man with black hairs and eyes and a calm expression on him.

Right near to him, there were a woman who wore an apron and another one who wore a maid dress.

Putting that aside, I was taken aback by the man with black hairs and eyes.

As for why, from the man’s forehead, two splendid horns were growing out. That was the same feature with Bell and his group I met before. That means… a demon? If I look closely, there’s also a horn on the woman in apron’s forehead…

Although the physique wasn’t as good as the ikemen, the black-haired black-eyed well- featured demon wrapped himself in another gorgeous attire based on black, with a deep crimson mantle hovered above it.

“Now, well then——Farewell.”

When the demon man lightly spread his hands, countless jet black spears rose to the sky, then flew to the evil spirits.

Even though my attack was absorbed, the Ikemen’s and the demon man’s attacks easily penetrated the evil spirits, gradually reducing their number.

That sight was precisely like that of a [Demon Lord].

“We’re going as well!” “Ou!”

“Understood!” “I’ll do my best!”

Even though I couldn’t keep up with the current situation, a party of four made their appearance this time and started to attack on the evil spirits.

One was a big brawny man wearing a heavy armor, defending from the evil spirit’s lasers with his thick shield.

The blue haired young man who wore plain clothes and brown close just like a traveller, was attacking the evil spirits with a sword in the gap where the big man was defending the attack.

Wearing lightweight equipment resembling a hunter, a red haired woman with unyielding spirits, ranging down the evil spirits with her bow and arrows.

The last member, a blonde girl in pure white robe, bestow magic on the big guy and his group, boosting their offensive power, while also utilizing offensive magic to defeat the evil spirits.

I could no longer tell what is what.

There was also a fact that my attack didn’t work, even though the attack of the people who suddenly appeared worked just fine, but even more than that——.

“Who the hell are you guys!?”

Really, who!? Just when I thought they appeared, they instead helped me… Wait a minute. If I think about it carefully, this situation in itself is scary! This, won’t come with money right!? I have a lot money, but there’s only fear in my heart you know!

When I noticed it, the evil spirits that surrounded me were completely obliterated by the people who suddenly appeared.

I was scared by the horror before, but now I was scared due the worry of my money

being extorted.

Neglecting my feelings, the ikemen came to the place where I was. “It’s the first time we meet when I’m in this form, isn’t it.”

“Y, yea… Umm… Who might you me? Is it money? Is it money that you want?” “M, money!? Seiichi-dono, aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

The ikemen floated a troubled face. Un, no matter what they did, ikemen will stay as an ikemen huh! I’m jealous!

As I was thinking of such a thing, the maid girl who stood near the woman in the apron walked over towards the ikemen.

“Zeanos-sama… Seiichi-sama doesn’t appear to recognize Zeanos-sama…” “Mu? That would be so…”

The ikemen nodded after got convinced. Rather, did she just say Zeanos…?

As I was staring at him with a doubt in mind, he elegantly bowed.

“I shall name myself once again. ——The head of Zeford Duke household, Zeanos Zeford. It was since the <Forest of Endless Sorrow>, wasn’t it? Seiichi-dono.”

The ikemen——Zeanos said so with a gentle smile.

In response to that, I……

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!?!?!?!?”

Was shocked with my everything.

I mean! I mean!? It’s Zeanos you know!? The one I fought in the <Forest of Endless Sorrow>, Zeanos the Darkness Noble you know!?

He was only a skeleton at that time! But now what? A super ikemen!? Not even I know what am I talking about!

Th, then, the girl beside him is…?

Maybe I had wore my heart on my sleeve, the maid girl also bowed with a polished movement.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m someone who serves Zeanos-sama, Mary.” “MARYYYYYYYYYYYY!?!?!?”

As I expected! I have a feeling it’ll be her!

The gallant maid Mary whom I know from reading Zeanos’ life.

As my jaw was about to drop from all the surprise, the people who had been defeating the evil spirits with Zeanos gathered up.

“Seems like you safely met each other, Zeanos.”

“Yes… I’m glad it was on time. I appreciate your help.”

“Do not mind. We also regained our ego, and it’s not bothersome offering some help.”

As the demon man and the traveller like man talked with Zeanos, they suddenly looked at me.

“You must be Seiichi-kun.”

“U, umm… Why do you know about me?”

“That’s because I heard it from Zeanos and those two people.” “Eh?”

“We fully understand your current condition, Seiichi. Because the existence named

Seiichi, we’re able to regain our ego after all. Those kind of people are gathering together and came to help you.”

“I, I see…”

What should I do. I can’t follow it with my stupid brain. In other words, what does that mean?

Looking a me, the demon man broke into a smile then taught me.

“Much like the evil spirits we defeated just now, we’re also originally wandering this Netherworld as a ghost who had no ego. However, because an existence named you came into the Netherworld, we who more or less have a fate with you become able to bear our ego.”

“Fate?”

I know Zeanos. I directly fought him after all. But, I don’t know anyone other him…

As I thought so, the demon man began his introduction.

“For the time being, shall I introduce myself? I am Lucius Arsahl. The first Demon Lord… is it easy to understand if I say it like that.”

I don’t know.

Like hell I know!? The first Demon Lord!? Isn’t it skipping too much from the beginning!? N, no, calm down. It’s not decided yet that he’s the genuine one!

“You may not aware of this, but at the time when the country of Demon still hadn’t existed, I founded a country where everyone could live in harmony along with reliable companions, like the Black Dragon God. All the other companions have died due to their life span, but I wonder how the Black Dragon God is faring.”

He’s the real deal!

“Well then, it’s our turn. I’m Abel. Abel Stardia. Tentatively, I’m a Hero.” “HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!?!?!?”

“I’m his companion, Garus Roccard. A Warrior.” “HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHH!?!?”

“I’m Anna Ryuld the Hunter.”

“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHH!?!?”

“I’m Liliana Morst, a Sage.”

“HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHH!?!?”

I should add [HOOOHH!?!?] here, but I can’t, any more than this and my head will explode!

Abel is that Abel isn’t it!? The person from the diary Saria has at the <Forest of Endless Sorrow>!?

What fate!? Just how much the fate we have between us!?

As I was at six and seven, the woman wearing apron introduced herself with a bitter smile on her.

“I am Nachuriahna Gleend. I’m not some amazing person in particular, and even they say the fate we share, I can’t think of any of it…”

“H, Haa.”

Indeed, I also haven’t any faintest idea as for who Nataliana-san is.

I still could hear Abel’s and his group’s name every here and there, but for Nataliana- san, I don’t know about her in the slightest bit. Just where did our fate connect?

As I tilted my neck in wonder, Lucius said with a smile.

“Now then, we have finished introducing ourselves, but there are still people you have to meet.”

“P, people I have to meet?”

Who are they…?

But before that…

“Say… Is it fine, Lucius-san? For, umm… acting together with Abel and his party…”

The impact was too strong for my mental that I forgot it, but Lucius-san was the first Demon Lord and Abel and his party were heroes.

Wouldn’t normally they will clash with each other…

“That’s fine. I was certainly burning with anger that time, but after I fought against them who defeated me, I became to know that the Heroes are also another victim.”

“That was also the case for us, after we defeated the Demon Lord at that time, we were betrayed by Pierre, and only then we figured out the real appearance of the Demon Lord. We were too indulged in ignorance…”

“…Let’s drop it here! Rather than that, I said there are people whom you have to meet, didn’t I?”

“Eh? Ah, yes. Err… Who might they be?”

“No need to be panic, they’re coming soon. It was dangerous before, so I placed a guard on them and told them to stay away. They’re way weaker than Natalia and the maid girl after all.”

“?”

As I got even more confused, I followed Zeanos’ group while being urged by them. “…Waited for you.”

“Heh!?”

What stood there, was the Treasure Box I met in the dungeon when I defeated the Black Dragon God.

“W, why are you here!?”

“…I, have fate… You, defeated me…” “You still have that grudge!?”

“…No, no more grudge… More than that, quick meet…” “I just can’t understand any of this!”

The scope’s too vast I can’t understand! Even though Treasure Box is here, I can’t see Sandman or Clever Monkey which I defeated as well…

As I proceed with a question mark floating above my head, I turned my eyes to the people who waiting before me, and thus my mind went blank.

“We missed you…”

“Have you been doing well?”

The people who were waiting for me——Were my own parents.

“D… dad…? Mo… m…?”

I squeezed out my words after seeing the two people before me.

Looking at the dumbfounded me, Dad——Hiiragi Makoto laughed gently, and Mom—

—Hiiragi Kazumi smiled with tears. “…Wh… y…”

“We also don’t understand, we were already here when we came to.” “After that, we met Zeanos-san and the rest nearby, then…”

They explained the reason to me, but my mind was blank, none of it entered.

Both of them died in an accident, and I thought I would never able to see them again.

Despite that…

“R, really… Dad and mom…?” “Yeah.”

“That’s right… I’m sorry for leaving you all alone… it was hard, wasn’t it? Painful as well, wasn’t it?”

Mom embraced me, and dad caressed my hair.

It was definitely them. The feeling of being embraced by them. The feeling of being caressed by them.

The moment I realized it, tears overflowed my eyes.

“D, dad… Mom… A… Aa… UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!”

The days I spent on Earth, ever since their death, I didn’t rely on Shota and co., I tried to keep everything to myself, and my heart was on the brink of breaking countless of times.

Why did they die?

I didn’t want to be alone.

The grief I felt for their death, the anger I had for leaving me behind. And with the fear of being left all alone.

All those emotions, along with the happiness for being able to meet them again like this.

Even though there were various emotions mixed, even though I opened my mouth to speak it out, what came out were only groans and weeps.

Even so——being able to touch them again like this, made me happy more than anything else.

To me who was sobbing like a little child, mom gently stroke my back, and dad kept petting my head.

Even though it was such a shameful appearance of mine, Zeanos and his groups didn’t laugh, they kept watching over us with smiles full of affection.

“Uu… hiks… S, sorry… suddenly bursting into tears like that…”

I didn’t know how much time had passed, I just kept crying until I managed to calm down. Just when I got a little bit cooler, I suddenly noticed a certain matter.

And that was that they could firmly recognize me as Seiichi even though my appearance had changed so much.

As for the hood, I pulled it down when I fought against the evil spirits, but even if my

face was seen it had considerably changed…

When I voiced my thought, both of them instead tilted their neck.

“? What are you saying? Just what father would mistake his own son?”

“He’s right, you know? It’s for sure, we can distinguish our own son with a single glance. Right?”

“That’s right. I haven’t seen you for a while and you have grown big… In addition, you also became such a fine man.”

The two of them looked to each other then laughed.

Looking at them, even while I was taken aback, I could strongly feel that I couldn’t match them.

“Beside that, you two somehow looks like young again…?”

Precisely, for some reason the two’s appearance was much younger from when I last saw them, their age was about 30 years old.

Both dad and mom had black eyes and hair and their looks were mediocre, and I was really wondering just how come someone like me could be born out of those two…

“That’s right! Awesome isn’t it, Makoto-san? We can easily became younger just by coming to this world after all!”

“You’re right… wait a sec? This, can’t I make it as a business? [A fascinating spot where you will be younger just by going there!]… This might do.”

“It won’t!”

Like hell it would!? I don’t know if they aware of it but we’re in the Netherworld you know!? They’ll die!

It was been awhile I had watched and did this kind of exchange, it was so tiring back then, but now I was overwhelmingly glad.

After I sighed, I noticed of another matter, so I spook it out.

“But… Really, what are you two doing here? I mean, this is the Netherworld of another world…”

Exactly, even though the two of them died on Earth, why are they in the Netherworld of another world?

Then, not my parents, but Lucius-san who had been watching us in silence spook to me this time.

“There’s a Netherworld for each of the worlds and, originally, they won’t mesh with each other. However, because you, an existence that have rivals the gods… no, even greater than that, have gone down to the Netherworld, the two of them who have strong connection with you have been drawn beyond the boundaries of the worlds. Well, maybe since they were drawn from a different Netherworld of a different world, unlike us they couldn’t grasp your current situation, so I didn’t explain it to them.”

Isn’t the scale a tad too big.

Rather, I heard it quite casually, but Lucius-san said I’m something about the Gods didn’t he!? My body really has went astray regardless of my own intention huh!

“My my, Seiichi is amazing isn’t he.”

“You’re right. A man should aim big shouldn’t he.”

Even though they couldn’t fully comprehend it, the two just nodded in satisfaction.

…No, but, I guess I have to be thankful for my own body this time.

After all, precisely because my body is such an obscene existence that this kind of outrageous phenomenon happened.

“…I was surprised when we came to this world, but now I’m convinced. Even though we were always watching over you, suddenly the whole student body in the school disappeared one day after all. We never knew where did you go, and got worried sick, but now we know you’re in a different world…”

“That’s right… We also know how you faced your painful days. You endured it well. This vexing feeling because we couldn’t help you despite watching over you… I even thought of wanting to kill those ruffians who bullied you.”

Dad spoke while shouldering such exasperation and anger.

Because I was so cowardly, I made my parents worry about me even after their death, and that fact was way more painful than being bullied.

And at the same time, I was very happy that they were still watching over me even after they died, and that made my tears yet again spill.

“It’s all right. I have been living optimistically after all, just like how dad and mom taught me.”

I smiled widely in order to give them a peace of mind as much as I could. And then, Zeanos who waited for our talk to end opened his mouth.

“Well then… Is it okay for me to get into the main subject soon?” “Ah, it’s okay. Thank you.”

“Don’t mind. Treasure your parents, okay… Now then, Seiichi-dono. You have to defeat the evil spirits… nay, the Evil Spirit King. Naturally, we’ll lend you our strength. However, the current you can’t fight against the evil spirits.”

“That’s…”

Certainly, although all of my attacks had been bounced back by the evil spirits, Zeanos and his group could them damage just fine.

“That is why, we will not only cooperate to defeat them, but we will also teach you the way to fight the evil spirits, Seiichi-dono.”

Abel who continued Zeanos’ words said with a refreshing smile.

“I think you’ve known it after you fought against them, but normal attacks don’t apply to the evil spirits. Hence, what the important part is… [Life Force].”

“ [Life Force]…?”

Life Force… isn’t it that thing that has humanity’s greatest enemy, the black shining <G>, as its representative, right. How scary.

“Yes, [Life Force]. Just as their name implies, evil spirits are spirits… in other words, those who have died, so if you pour [Life Force] that acts as the symbol of the living into them, the evil spirits won’t be able to maintain their existence.”

“But you guys have died, haven’t you?”

“Ou! We sure have died, but thanks to Seiichi we’re treated as the living in the Netherworld. In addition, with our hero-class [Life Force], we can easily defeat mere evil spirits even when we’re dying! Gahahaha! “

“No, doing it when dying is as expected would be impossible. This is why you idiots are…” To the warrior Garus’ words, Anna the hunter retorted him troubled.

“Ahahaha… Well, at any rate, thanks to Seiichi-san we can do things we usually did when we were alive, that’s why we can fight against the evil spirits while bearing [Life Force] on us. It’s fine Seiichi-san, if it’s you you’ll be able to handle it any moment now.”

As if cheering on me, Liliana the Sage said so.

“That’s correct. In truth, it’s not that difficult to do.” “Is that so?”

Zeanos too said so to relieve me.

“What, you’ll soon able to do it. Teaching it to you is our role after all.” “I see… Does that mean, Zeanos and the rest will be training me? “

“That would be so.”

“If so then quickly, please do! Time is precious after all. Then, what should I do? Should I start with how to feel [Life Force] or something?”

When I asked him that, Zeanos answered me while laughing.

“Hahahaha! Seiichi-dono is good at making joke. What else than trying it out in an actual battle?”

“ Heh?”

“Now, lets find for an evil spirit. Oops, I’ll also teach you how to find evil spirits, so bear it in mind.”

“For reals!?”

It’s different from the training I had in mind!

No, certainly we don’t have much time, so doing that will be the fastest way though!

Dad who listened to our convo nodded as though he was admired by it. “I see… so this is how my child grows.”

“This is a special case you hear!? Not everyone grows like this okay!?… They don’t, right?” Saying it made me worried.

Thus, I was made to fight under the pretext of being trained by Zeanos and his group.

“Now then, I want to teach you how to find an evil spirit right away, but…”

The people and I who were proficient in battle including Zeanos started to move so I could learn how to deal with evil spirits ASAP.

Mom and dad along with Nataliana-san and Mary-san were in a place a bit away from us. By the way, Treasure Box was there to be their guard.

“First of all, there is nothing alive in this Netherworld. Do you understand? “ “Well…”

“That also the case for the trees that grow in the Netherworld and the soil that we stand on right now, everything is equally dead.”

“Eh!?”

Looking around, even though certainly there aren’t any leaves, the trees are standing firm. However, Zeanos says that these trees are dead.

“Putting aside whether you believe it or not, the trees and the soil from the original world are breathing. Hence, they’re filled with [Life Force].”

“Un.”

“However, that would be impossible in the Netherworld. While the surrounding trees do exist, the amount of [Life Force] is zero.”

“I see…”

“This is where we’re getting into the main point, what I’m saying is that the Netherworld has zero [Life Force] per se. In other words, there shouldn’t be any [Presence] to sense.”

“Okay…”

Well, if everything is dead, then certainly you can’t sense a damn thing.

“Normally spirits are the same as the trees in here, they have zero [Life Force], but that’s not the case for evil spirits. Those lot, their [Life Force] is minus, and instead of the force to live, what resides within them is the force to kill.”

“That is why, if a living person touched them, his [Life Force] would be drained out and soon face death. Seiichi-kun you also have to be careful~.”

As a complementation to Lucious’ words, Zeanos-san said something so disturbing. “Did I, just fight against something so dangerous…”

“Well, if you didn’t know you might get killed easily. But, now that you’ve know it, all you need to do is not touch them. “

Abel was saying that with a refreshing smile on him, but since I wasn’t a certain Red Comet, I couldn’t be that optimistic.

“At any rate, because the evil spirits’ [Life Force] is minus despite the surrounding [Life Force] is zero, as long as you could sense [Life Force] you’d remember the discomfort they bring.”

“Let’s see… If you were to describe it as a bodily sensation, it would feel like you have goosebumps running up your spine?”

“That’s right, if your body shows a repulsive reaction, that means there’s an evil spirit close by.”

Garus and co. taught me something resembling a trick to do so.

“Well, because we currently obtained temporary [Life Force] due to Seiichi-kun’s influence, we’re not exactly a living person. That’s precisely why, without Seiichi-kun’s own power as a genuine living being, It’s assumed that we can’t defeat the Evil Spirit King.”

“I see… Umm, Lucius-san, do you know what kind of being the Evil Spirit King is?”

As I asked one thing I concerned about, Lucius-san gave me a bitter smile.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know all the details. However, it’s certain that he owns an extraordinary amount of negative power.”

“I see…”

Just what kind of thing is this Evil Spirit King, really.

While I was thinking such, all the fighting members except me reacted to something. “…It seems like they came out while we were talking.”

“Eh. Don’t tell me, it’s…” “Yeah, evil spirit.”

Even though I haven’t learned how to use [Life Force], you already came out. Read the atmosphere a bit won’t you.

As I unconsciously sighed, that eerie creature showed itself before me again. “Jii”

“There’s an evil spirit right in front of you now, try to feel its peculiar presence. Once you do that, you’ll be able to handle your own [Life Force] naturally.”

“Presence…”

Even while I was placing my wary on the evil spirit before me, I concentrated in order to feel the bodily sensation with my own body.

I who’s been relying on skills to sense presences, will I be able to sense them all of a sudden…?

Shaking off such negative thoughts and focused to the occasion, suddenly I felt the feeling that froze my spine.

“!?”

As I unintentionally turned over my shoulders, I found another figure of evil spirit there.

“Seems like you can feel it.” “Eh? Y, yeah.”

I who didn’t expect I’d actually sense them could only reacted foolishly.

In addition, by being able to sense the evil spirit behind me, I now could feel the evil spirit ahead of me and so on.

Just as what Anna said, the evil spirit on my back gave me goosebumps on my spine so it was easy to tell, and the other evil spirits somehow gave off a bad feeling from their position, it was a really ambiguous sensation.

“Once you could feel the [Life Force], you’ll be able to sense the presence of living beings without the help of skill when you return to the previous world. Well, as well as the condition that you’d also sense the trees and soil, so you’d have to train how to sense only your target.”

Are you serious… So you’re saying I have become able to do the same thing as those shaolin masters from Earth…?

Perhaps it would be an impossible feat for the me before I evolved, but thanks to this body which the spec is way off the scale, seems like even someone like me could sense them.

“Once you experienced the [Life Force], I’d have you to fight without delay. Well, it’s simple. You only have to flow your [Life Force] into each of your attacks and magic.”

“O, okay… Then, how do I flow my [Life Force]?” “Guts.”

“You kidding me!?”

So what next after sensationalism is guts-o-lism huh! It really isn’t kind for beginners is it!

“No, but, like… isn’t there one? A trick or something!”

“Even if give me that… I could use it from the get-go, so I have nothing to say.”

“I hate you geniuses!”

Damn it! It’s completely can’t be counted on then! Is it really possible to defeat the evil spirits like this?

“Jii”

“Owaah!? Wai… It’s dangerous to attack so suddenly! What would you do if I was injured!”

“Jii”

“I told you! Stop! The attack!? Didn’t your mother teach you to not attack people!?” “…Awesome. He’s preaching morals to an evil spirit…”

I kept evading the flying lasers that came one after another with acrobatic movements. Looking at me, my parents nodded.

“I see… Seiichi, you want to be a stuntman in the future don’t you.” “I don’t though!?”

“My. Then a circus’ acrobat it is!” “Both is wrong!”

“Jii”

“Can’t you wait while we’re talking!?”

“Seiichi-dono… just what are you expecting from an evil spirit…”

Damn right!

But now that I think of it, I never told my parents about my future dreams.

In all honesty, I was bullied all the time, so I never had the room to think about it, but now I ponder it calmly, it’s feels really lonesome.

…Although it’s an hypothetical talk, I wonder what would I do if I was still living on Earth?

I honestly think the past me wouldn’t be able to do anything, but it will be different for the current me.

Well, it’s an hypothetical talk, thinking about it right now.

“Rather than that, there really isn’t a trick? I’ll have to continue dodging if that’s the case though?”

As I asked that all the while dodging with weird postures, Abel and Anna taught me of their own respective feelings.

“You’re right… But, I myself think guts isn’t necessarily the wrong way to put it.”

“That’s true. Since [Life Force] is the power of the living, so won’t guts be included in that? “

“At any rate, you only have to try! What, we’re here to help if you fail!” “Eeh…”

Even if I was bewildered, I who weirdly got convinced because guts held no meaning if you weren’t alive decided to just put my guts into it.

“HAAAAAAAAHH!!!”

Rather than putting my guts into it, it would be more accurate to say I strained my whole body and put my strength to use.

——That being said, I’d be damned if I could learn it only by doing this——.

“Ji!? Ji——”

“Jii! Ji——”

The moment I thought so, some unidentified power explosively overflowed from my own body.

In a blink, the evil spirits near me vanished without trace after raising their

astonishment. “Hah?”

“Ooh, there you can do it!”

“To think you would blast the evil spirit not using your attack but pure [Life Force]’s shockwave… Completely unordinary aren’t you.”

Lucius-san laughed carefreely, but to me it was not the time for that.

What the hell, blasted away!?

Ain’t that weird!? They easily bounced my attacks when we first fought! Now what? They all got blasted away by some strange power I don’t even understand!

As I got stormy on my own, Abel and his group spoke while cold sweats poured down their backs.

“Oi oi… What a ridiculous [Life Force]…”

“Yeah… And that too, was nothing but the burst of the overflowing [Life Force] Seiichi has in him… so to speak, only the shockwave of the excess of his [Life Force]…”

“Indeed, the [Life Force] that is still contained within his body is stronger, isn’t it?”

“That is so… The stuff that overflowed from his body was the unnecessary parts of the [Life Force] he has. Originally it should be nigh-impossible to possess it in that amount, save annihilating evil spirits only with its shockwave…”

“Are you really a human? Seiichi…”

I’m the one who wants to know that the most!

Isn’t my body producing result more than what is expected!? I’m gradually moving further away from humanity aren’t I!?

No, I know it’s not impossible if you consider my status! But it’s still terrible!

As I was drowning in this inexpressible emotion, Nataliana-san who watched us from

a place a little further away from here raised her voice in admiration.

“Haah… I sure was surprised. The [Life Force] that flowed out from Seiichi-san was no different from that of nature itself…”

“Was that so? I could not perceive it other than a mighty [Life Force]…”

“That’s normally the case. I was making a living as a florist in my previous life, that’s why I’m more sensitive to Nature’s [Life Force] than most people. Precisely for that reason, I am surprised by Seiichi-san’s [Life Force] is no different from that of nature.”

“I see…”

Listening to Mary-san and Nataliana-san’s conversation, I got even more confused of Nataliana-san’s identity.

A florist? Just where did she have contact with me? I seriously can’t fathom… “Oh my, Makoto-san! Did you hear it? Seiichi is one with nature!”

“Umu. Becoming one with nature, Seiichi is an indispensable existence isn’t he. As expected of our son.”

“You’re wrong! No, I’m your son though!”

I’m not such an extravagant existence! I’m just your average joe! I don’t have the confidence to say that though!

“Seiichi-dono. Have you understood how to attack with [Life Force]?” “I understand but I can’t handle it!”

I know it’s very effective against evil spirits, but that isn’t the normal way to use it is it? I want to know how to handle it normally!

“I see… Then, let’s continue the actual combat. It’s fine, the current Seiichi-dono can even defeat the Evil Spirit King.”

“Is there even a meaning for the fight if it’s like that!?”

There were only places to tsukkomi no matter how I saw it, but I still followed Zeanos’ words and managed to master fighting against the evil spirits with [Life Force].

“You did well, Seiichi-dono! With this you’re also a splendid [Life Force Master]!“ “What the hell is a [Life Force Master]!?”

Under Zeanos’ guidance, I continued to earnestly annihilate any evil spirits I met after that.

As a result, now not only could I build up [Life Force] in my physical attacks I could also pack [Life Force] into my magical attacks, and I could annihilate them with sheer [Life Force]’s aftershock as well if I wanted to.

Geez, I just can’t fathom the latter half, you see.

All the enemies were pulverized just by me stepping in after all. Apparently my body is just like a bundle of [Life Force], you see.

As I was thinking along those lines, the announcement flowed into my brain. [The title <Life Force Master> has been acquired]

I’ve done nothing and literally became a master! Frankly I had a hunch it would happen though!

Half-irritated, I checked upon the title.

[Life Force Master]… Given to those who have mastered Life Force to the extreme. Said Life Force surpassed even the <G>. (T/N: Reminder, G means cockroach.)

Could you please not make the <G> as the comparison!?

Rather, ain’t it dangerous that the comparison is rising to the <G>!?

As I was shocked by the title’s detail, Lucius-san spoke to me with a smile.

“Man, congrats! To think you’d acquire it in this short span of time… really out of the norm!”

“So, this is abnormal after all?”

“Un? Let’s see… For the record, I think it was a week until I learned it?”

“No no, that’s still terrifyingly fast okay. Even we, the hero group, needed half a year…”

“Umu, mine was also a week, just like Lucius-dono, but… For you, Seiichi-dono, an hour hasn’t even lapsed has it?”

I knew, it I’m abnormal.

Whaddya mean I outdid the heroes and their mentor, and even the first demon lord!? I couldn’t grasp what this body of mine was aiming for since long ago, but if it even surpassed a demon lord does that mean it is aiming for Gods!?

As I retorted to myself, my parents laughed nonchalantly. “I don’t quite get it, but Seiichi is being praised.”

“You’re right… How elating.”

“True that. He’s our prized son after all!”

That’s embarrassing on my end, okay!? I’m very happy though!

“I expected no less from someone who ate the [Fruit of Evolution].” “Ah!”

A certain thing floated in mind when I caught Zeanos’ line within his gentle smile. “Come to think of it, Zeanos was the first to discover the [Fruit of Evolution]!” “Oh, so you know about it to that extent”

“Un. It was by chance. But now that I met you in person, I wanted to ask further about the [Fruit of Evolution]…”

As I said so, Zeanos showed a bitter smile.

“Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I know much about it myself. Anyhow, it was a thing

that even the Gods couldn’t predict. There is no way I could fathom it, is there?” “But if you put it that way, then it all ends there…”

“Well, there are things I do understand. However, these things are the ones that you have experienced personally, Seiichi. Therefore, you can’t expect an answer from me.”

“I see…”

I had placed my expectation, but it apparently Zeanos had no idea regarding the [Fruit of Evolution] either.

“In addition, that fruit is no longer available. Seiichi-dono, you and your companion have eaten them after all.”

“Eh? I’m in the middle of cultivating it though…” “Cultivating!?”

Zeanos’s eyes jolted by the shock of hearing my remark.

“Are you trying to ignore all the previous talk!? You said you’re cultivating the very fruit that even the Gods couldn’t predict!?”

“No, it seems after I had completely conquered the <Forest of Endless Sorrow> by defeating you, I acquired the [Fruit of Evolution], and because I wanted to grow it I produced a personal magic with that purpose…”

“Umu, you went for the strangest turn of event as ever!”

“Originally, it was not something that a human could ever grow. For that reason, it was left to grow by nature in the <Forest of Endless Sorrow>. And the ones that grew naturally, too, should all have been eaten by that gorilla… Saria-dono and you, Seichii- dono.”

“Seriously…”

I’m surprised, to think that the only people who ate the [Fruit of Evolution] would be only Saria and I. No, Rurune ate it too though.

…But, I received the [Fruit of Evolution] as a reward for capturing the <Forest of Endless Sorrow>… that sheep fellow, don’t tell me he’s actually something far more dangerous than I expected?… No way in hell that’s true, is there! No, please don’t let it be true! With that personality of his, I can’t do shit if he’s something dangerous! There isn’t anyone who can restrain him!

“Sigh… At any rate, with this I’ve acquired the power to fight against the Evil Spirit King, right?”

“That would be true. All that is left is to find the Evil Spirit King, but…”

Precisely, we didn’t know where was the all-important Evil Spirit King’s whereabouts. As we were devising the plan how to deal with it, it was then.

[Art thou ones who perturbed my revival?] “！”

All of a sudden, as though creeping out from the bottom of the earth, a very low voice

was heard.

“What is this voice…?”

“…It sounds like it comes from over there.”

Zeanos spoke that with a grave face on him, but I hadn’t the slightest idea of what was happening.

First of all, since I’d been getting goosebumps for a little while, I turned my gaze to the direction he pointed… and I found a very creepy and displeasing object.

To be more specific, a large amount of something black that resembled Munch’s Scream was gushing out of that object. Ugh, gross!

“Umm… Who might you be?”

[I am the Evil Spirit King. As yet I have no name.] “You think you’re a cat or what.”

I sure am surprised. Even though the Evil Spirit himself comes to us, I’m more surprised that he has no name despite being a King. Or is that how it works? Not my business though.

As I was thinking along those lines, Abel and his group opened their mouths with a grave face on them while showered with cold sweat.

“This guy… exceeded our expectation.”

“To think he’s this formidable…”

“…Agreed. I never expected the presence of death could be so dense…” “Just being near makes me feel sick…”

I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but for the displeasing feelings, we’re all in the same boat.

Right? That appearance is really gross isn’t it?

“…It seems like Seiichi-dono is under a big misunderstanding, they’re astonished by the Evil Spirit King’s [Negative Life Force] magnitude. “

“Eh?”

“…True that. Honestly, I didn’t anticipate that it would be this strong…”

Both Lucius-san and Zeanos stared at the disgusting object before us with a serious look.

“Makoto-san. That looks like the modern art, don’t you think.”

“Let’s see… The pattern on its body and the condition of its strain sure are giving off that kind of feeling.”

My parents nonchalantly held such a conversation. No, if I were to choose, then I’d be more like in sync with them though…

I who still couldn’t aware of the gravity of the matter, was being told by Abel with a quite strong tone.

“Seiichi. Don’t relax your guard. That thing is far… stronger than you think.” “Eeh…”

No, even if you give me that…

I who was just a normal civilian… no, as someone who stood in the lowest strata back in the Earth, knows exactly how it feels to be the weakest, so telling me that it’s stronger

than me gives me nothing new…

Rather, be it stronger or weaker than me, at the end of the day I’d still have to defeat it, so it holds no meaning to me who devoted my everything…

As Abel once again opened his mouth to me who just couldn’t get tensed up, a change was occurring to the Evil Spirit King.

The Evil Spirit King’s body was wriggling and bubbling, and it then started to divide.

And then each of the divided body eventually took a humanoid form, and they took the figure of certain people.

And those people were——. “What the f!?”

“Y, you gotta be kidding me…”

Save Abel and his party, even Zeanos and Lucius-san was speechless upon those figures.

However, I and my parents, in addition to Treasure Box, were the only ones who couldn’t recognize them, as such we couldn’t figure why they were so surprised.

By the way, the number the Evil Spirit King divided into was four people.

A noblewoman whose fierce eyes left quite the impression, and a nervous-looking, middle-aged man dressed in a clothing more luxurious than the noblewoman’s.

A priest with a somewhat condescending expression, and a young man wrapped in splendid armour with a prideful look on his face.

The Evil Spirit King transformed into these kinds of people.

Who the hell are they?

Then, Zeanos called out in a trembling voice a name of one of the four. “E, Elizabeth…”

Elizabeth? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…

While I was thinking about it, Mary the Maid who looked at the Elizabeth woman raised an astonished voice, too.

“M, madam!?”

Madam?… Ah, Zeanos’ ex-wife huh! Wait, wat!?

Disregarding me who was at a complete loss, Elizabeth and the elderly man who stood beside her opened their mouths.

“Long time no see, Zeanos. Thanks to you my life was a mess. “

“As she says. Zeanos, and you Abel and the others. Just how much do you think the stress built up thanks to you? You all deserve certain death. “

“Your Majesty…”

Looking at Zeanos spitting a word bitterly, I finally understood it.

The divided Evil Spirit Kings who took the humanoid figures, were the people whose fate was entwined with Zeanos and the rest.

First of all, Elizabeth would be Zeanos’ ex-wife, then the elderly man beside her must be Harmarl Empire’s Emperor, Elschtatt III who showed up in [The Tale of Zeanos the Dark Noble] book. In addition, judging from Elschtatt III’s remark, the one who circulated the unfounded rumour, and the one who drove them to their death was him.

Then that means, the other two would be… “…Pierre.”

“It nauseates me to hear you call my name.”

The one who betrayed Abel and his party, Pierre the priest.

And…

“…To think I’d meet you again like this.”

“Hah! Don’t talk as if we’re equal when you’re killed by this great me, trash. For being slaves to the Human, you demon bunch are getting too cocky.”

…I didn’t know his name, but he must be the hero who killed Lucius-san.

I was able to meet Zeanos and the rest, so they would also meet the people who had a string of fate with them… No, isn’t that weird! Why!?

To my question, Elschtatt III answered.

“With you bearing your respective ego, we who had a strong fate with you too were able to bear our own ego. In that regard, you did quite a good job for garbage. I shall praise you.”

Awesome, he naturally looked down on us.

As though to continue after Elschtatt III, Elizabeth and the other two opened their mouth one after another.

“I never wanted to see that face of yours again, however. Because you were strangely active in all those matters, my peaceful life collapsed. After you put yourself on the wanted list, I couldn’t live as gracefully as before… Just where does this responsibility fall to, I wonder?”

Elizabeth is shifting a rather unreasonable responsibility to him, isn’t she.

“I was… envious of how popular you were. Ah, how envious I was! That was why I backstabbed you! Ahahaha, everyone who has a girlfriend should die! Serves you right!”

Wasn’t he just overdoing things, that Pierre!? Rather, that’s the reason for his betrayal!? So my guess in the <Forest of Endless Sorrow> was right on the money!

“You shitty demons. You all should just obediently get killed by this me… yet you cockily opposed me! I’ll kill your kin before your very eyes for the second time. Aah, I want to see your face distorted in despair!”

Is he really a hero!? Isn’t that absurdly mad!?

I don’t know the details, but I think they have what it takes to be the Evil Spirit King.

Putting that aside, Zeanos and the rest seemed like they were greatly shaken by their appearance.

“You have perturbed our revival. That act alone is already unforgivable. Henceforth, we shall bestow you the most brutal death——Guberahak!?”

[Eh!?]

I floated a dark smile, then punched Elschtatt the Third’s prided face.

As a result, Elschtatt the Third had lost everything from his neck above, and eventually became particles of light then vanished just like that.

Not only Zeanos and his group, even Elizabeth and the other two were speechless at the action I took.

How do I put it, it doesn’t feel like punching a ghost.

Thinking so, as to ascertain that sensation, I opened and closed my hand there then asked Zeanos and the rest.

“If they’re the Evil Spirit King, then I can defeat them right?” [You ask that after defeating him!?]

Zeanos, Lucius, and Abel and his party retorted me all at once.

With me knocking Elschtatt III away, the remaining three who were also the ego of Evil Spirit King made a commotion.

And then, Elizabeth cried out a trembled voice. “Y, y, y, yo, you! Is there no mercy in you!?”

“I, indeed! Even though His Majesty was still in the middle of his speech!” “You’re insane! And you still call yourself a human!?”

I’m a human okay! At least!

At any rate, I didn’t think I’d be called insane by the enemy.

“Even if you give me that… you guys are also planning to defeat us, aren’t you? Then, in any case, we still have to fight…”

“Even if that is the case, is there not something called the beauty in manner!? This is why you commoners are——”

I ignored Elizabeth who still tried to continue her words, and killed Pierre who stood beside her.

As everyone thought, Pierre pulverized in that instant. “Eh?”

“Two more huh…”

“Ah, fuck. This guy is the dangerous kind…!”

The enemy’s hero got scared after looking at me. Even then, you don’t have to be that frightened.

“Impossible… impossible…! Even though the Evil Spirit King is finally resurrected after great pain, as well as the fact that we also could retain our ego in Him because Zeanos and his lot regained their ego…! Even though in the case if Zeanos and his lot weren’t here, then the Evil Spirit King would’ve ended up as a single entity, and we also wouldn’t have been resurrected, but isn’t this development a little bit too much!?!?” (TN: Gosh, I wonder why antagonists like to explain things. Do they not know it’s hard to translate it?)

“Thank you for the explanation.”

Because she explained it so exhaustively now I came to understand the reasoning behind their appearance.

In other words, the reason why Elizabeth’s and her group’s ego and personalities was revived was because Zeanos and his group had appeared, so if I was the only one who came to the Netherworld, and Zeanos and his group weren’t here, it was supposed to be that I would fight the Evil Spirit King alone. My own presence had nothing to do with the appearance of the Evil Spirit King. I can’t tell if my luck is good or bad… No, since I meet my parent due to this, I guess my luck is good. It’s another thing that they’re dead though.

Whilst we were holding that conversation, my parents talked to Nataliana-san behind us.

“Nataliana-san. Just when I thought there’s a strange group of four suddenly showed up, when I noticed it they have been reduced to two…”

“I also have no knowledge in battle, so I can’t exactly explain you what is happening…” “Eh? Seiichi is fighting right now?”

“Violence is not good okay, not good.”

“No, the situation is not that light to… umm… It’s really hard to explain…” Nataliana-san laughed in trouble.

Dad, it’s not a situation that will let you say violence is bad! It’s really dangerous, hey!

As I was listening to their convo, Zeanos and his group returned after being lost in daze until now.

“…I was dumbfounded due to how farfetched the development became, but now I think of it carefully, being fated with us or not, be it Elizabeth or His Majesty, they are a good opponent.”

“…Unfortunately, both that King and Pierre have been defeated with a swift attack though.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better if I and Zeanos handle the remaining opponent? It would be more thorough that way.”

“Let’s see… Seiichi Dono. Would you please leave the two of them to us?”

“Eh? It’s fine, but… is it okay? Zeanos and the rest of you aren’t in the best of shape like when you were alive, right?”

“Truly. However… this is our own problem after all.”

Gazing upon their eyes, I felt like no matter what I said they wouldn’t bulge.

As I obediently withdrew, and Zeanos and Lucius stood in my place, Elizabeth’s and her companion’s mood changed.

“Oh? What is this, the shitty demon is gonna be my opponent? Ain’t I being taken light of.”

“Hee. Zeanos, you’re going to be my opponent? Fair enough, I shall give you all the resentment I have…!”

And they suddenly put on a strong facade.

As I harbour such impression in spite of myself, Zeanos and Lucius looked over them with pitiful eyes.

“Elizabeth… my apologizes. Because I was too fainthearted…”

“…You too, are but another victim of the age, aren’t you.”

As they respectively made their speech, Elizabeth and her companion got their face reddened.

“What’s with that! Don’t you dare look at me like that! Everything is your fault!”

“Aah, aah, aah! Fucking shit ain’t ya!? A lowly demon like you is taking pity on this great me!? Don’t fuck with me!”

After Elizabeth’s side deployed something like lumps of black energy to the surrounding, these things then flew towards Zeanos and Lucius all at once. The thing they fired off was probably the negative energy itself.

That was to say, if they got touched by it the result would be outrageous, but… “It is the least atonement I can give. Please, painlessly, fall into a slumber.”

“I am a <Demon Lord>, and you are a <Hero>.——If we ever met in a completely different role, would there be any change between us?”

Zeanos unsheathed his weapon that resembled my <Black (Sword of Swirling Hatred)>, closing into Elizabeth in an instant, then accurately pierced through her heart.

Lucius-san developed tens of jet black spear around him, making them to run into the black energies the hero deployed and shot them down, then, with the same momentum, pierced the hero’s torso.

“N, no way…”

“I, impossible…”

An ending that was too quick.

Even Zeanos and Lucius-san were astonished by this ending.

As Zeanos sheathed his sword and Lucius-san dispersed his magic, in that moment, their two opponents turned into particles of light then vanished.

“…”

“How do I put it… It was anti-climatic, huh…” Lucius-san muttered a somehow empty tone.

“…We too, by being close to Seiichi-dono, unknowingly had our [Life Force] strengthened, it seems. At the end of the day, I was able to see off Elizabeth without making her suffer. Seiichi-dono, you have my gratitude. “

“Zeanos-sama…”

Zeanos give me his thankful words.

When I hastily asked him to raise his head, it was then. [Not yet… I still haven’t been defeated yet!]

On the ground where Elizabeth and her group stood before, an ominous looking black smoke was puffing out.

And then, with a pair of bloodshot eyes glaring at us, gradually a body was taking a form. [I am the Evil Spirit King! There is no way I was defeated by mere huma——]

“You’re ruining the good atmosphere!”

Zeanos and co. were finally able to defeat their fateful opponent and were immersed in sentiment, but an Evil Spirit King who suddenly said they were getting resurrected was a sore to it.

That was why, in order to ask them to leave, I swiftly land a punch to its face.

And then, completely, without leaving any speck of dust, the Evil Spirit King instantly vanquished.

“If you want to come back, then do it a bit later okay! Now, Zeanos. You can immerse in sentiment without any worry!”

“That would be impossible.”

I guess so! I knew it though.

It had ended without any event, but with this case I was able to defeat the Evil Spirit King so quickly.

[Your Level Has Arisen]

In addition I also got a level up. Even though it was so anti-climatic!

As I noticed that my level rose after I defeated the Evil Spirit King, I hastily checked my status, but the only thing that changed was in the skill column.

“Hmm?”

The thing I newly obtained was an inherent skill named <Synchronization>.

…This is yet another skill I don’t understand.

I couldn’t understand what I didn’t understand, so I obediently looked up what kind of effect it had, then…

<Synchronization>… Synchronize with your surrounding.

Like hell, I understand that!

What’s with that explanation!? You think I’ll understand with only that!? I don’t! Can’t you give me a more detailed explanation!?

I tried to examine the skill’s effect somehow, but in the end, I got no other explanation, and the effect remained a mystery.

As I just couldn’t get contained with that, Treasure Chest and my parents came closer. “…Merciless as usual… I, spontaneously took sympathy on the enemy…”

“I have no excuse for that one time.”

I only could apologize to the Treasure Chest that I killed in the same way with that. I am sorry.

“Seiichi. You sure have grown splendidly. Your dad is proud.”

“He’s right, I can’t wait for your future.”

My parents floated gentle smiles and stroked my head gently.

It was embarrassing, but the joy overrode it, so I kept silent and let them stroke me. While we were having our time, a voice unexpectedly came from all around.

[…Seiichi-sama… Seiichi-sama…] “Eh?”

“This voice…”

“What the hell is happening?”

Everyone else seemed surprised by it, but since it was a familiar voice to me, I calmly responded to it.

“Ah, Netherworld-san.”

“Netherworld!? So you’re saying that voice is the voice of the Netherworld!?” “Eh? Yeah.”

“And how the hell are you calm about it…” Anna muttered so with a tired look on her.

Ah, normally you’d be panicking here, huh… No, I’m normal too okay!

“Is it already fine?”

[…Yes… Thanks to you, I was able to produce a new gatekeeper safely… My deep gratitude…]

“You’re welcome.”

“…Being called out by the Netherworld in itself is already abnormal, but Seiichi-kun who accommodated it is far more abnormal…”

I couldn’t say anything back to Lucius-san who let out an amazed laugh. Exactly as you say, good sire.

“Well then, since my role here is finished, you will return me to the human world, won’t you?”

[…Affirmative… As I have promised, I shall return you to the Human world…] “YOSSHHAAA!!!!”

Thank goodness! With this it’ll end without me being dead!

I was delighted with that fact, but then I suddenly realized one thing.

“Ah… come to think of it, is there a difference in this world’s time axis and the human world’s time axis…?”

Even if I returned, I’d like to avoid any Urashima Taro kind of development where a hundred years had passed there. Because I’d have to part with Saria and the girls.

Besides, the Netherworld only had a single colour for its sky, so I couldn’t tell how much time had passed.

However, my worries were in vain.

[…Please be relieved… The time axis between the Netherworld and the Human world is the same… Regarding the time you have spent in the Netherworld, I assume it’s been about a day…]

“I see. That’s a relief.”

I’m glad I won’t become Urashima Taro.

I don’t want it if I ended up having no acquaintance there, or becoming a withering old gramps the moment I return after all… Though I’m sure this body will adapt to it.

“Well then, let’s return us to the previous human world right away. Ah, dad and mom, everyone is coming along right?”

When I told them that then looked back to my parents, everyone gave me a troubled

smile.

“…What’s wrong?”

“…Seiichi, I’m sorry. We can’t go with you.” “……Eh?”

I couldn’t process what was my dad saying.

“Wh, what are you talking about. We’re returning together, you know? Look, even Zeanos and everyone else too…”

Zeanos slowly shook his head. “Unfortunately, it’s impossible.” “WHY!?”

“Because we have died.”

Lucius-san said so, loud and clear. “Eh?”

“I’m telling you, this is our farewell, Seiichi.”

“Wh, why would it be. We have defeated the Evil Spirit King, so why don’t we all return with me? Besides, even if you say you died… Aren’t you all alive right now!?!?”

“I’ve said it haven’t I, Seiichi-kun? This, doesn’t mean that we are alive like you.” “WHY!?”

I drew closer to Lucius-san who kindly tried to warn me.

“A human who has died once can’t live again. Of course, resurrection magic exists, but that only works immediately after death. This is a rule of the world that can’t be mended by anyone, it’s absolute.”

“I, if that’s the case, then, Netherworld-san! Return my parents and everyone else to the human world too! I’ve helped you defeating the Evil Spirit King, haven’t I!”

[……Seiichi-sama… It can’t be done… It can’t… Especially since I am the Netherworld itself, I can’t break that rule…]

“…”

On Netherworld-san’s apologetic words, I went silent.

As I gritted my hand with all of my might, hiding my face downward, mom hugged me tight.

“Seiichi. It’s okay. If it’s you, it’ll be okay. Why, you are our prized son after all. Seiichi, didn’t you find people who you treasure in the new world? You can’t make them cry, you know. ——Now, go ahead. Your precious people are waiting. We can’t go with you, but keep looking forward and live happily.”

Even while smiling and crying, my mom said so. Listening to it, I was——.

“Like hell I care about it!” [!?]

“The rule of the world? Live happily? ——Don’t make fun of me.” “Seiichi. We’re trying to talk seriously——”

“Serious talk can go to hell for all I care! Go joke around!” “Go joke around!?”

As expected, hearing their words really grinded my gears.

In various stories, for sure, the dead people that the protagonist met didn’t come back to live, but he stayed positive then walked toward the setting sun.

But… if my precious people stayed dead, damned setting sun or happy end means

nothing but shit!

“If you want me to live happily, then be alive! If someone I love… someone I treasured stayed dead, just how am I suppose to live happily!?”

“Seiichi. This is not a story.” “Yeah, this is not a story!”

Precisely, a story is sometimes cruel.

The death of the protagonist’s loved ones are exchanged for his happiness after all.

“Exactly because this not a story, in order to grasp my own happiness, I’ll have every each of you to come back to life!”

It’s a foolish remark. I’m clearly looking down upon life.

Still, I don’t want to deny my own feelings. Even though it’s selfish, I want to continue on with this will.

Whatever happens to the world, I don’t give a damn.

What the public says or whatever it is, not even my business. I’m just saying my egoist wish for my own happiness after all.

In the meanwhile everyone was overwhelmed by my remark and ambiance, Dad who somehow gotten back on track opened his mouth.

“No matter what is coming out from your mouth, reality is not that easy-going. Give up.” As though to remind me, he said that to me.

Not limited to him, the Netherworld in its entirety persuaded me to give up. However, my body was the only one who——lived up to my plead.

[Skill <Synchronization> is activated. Herewith, the synchronization with the surrounding is undergoing.]

I was bewildered at the sudden announcement in my brain.

Heh? Synchronization? Why would that mysterious newly obtained skill is…

As I was dumbfounded by the confusion, abruptly, my parents’ and everyone else’s body were radiating.

“Wha!?”

“This is…”

Everyone was surprised by the phenomenon that occurred to their body, but for me, the announcement once again flowed into my brain.

[The Synchronization is completed. The subject of the current synchronization was to synchronize Seiichi-sama’s nature of <the Living>, as it was to synchronize with the surrounding, the surrounding people’s nature of <the Dead> has been synchronized to be <the Living>.]

I just couldn’t muster out any words.

And that was not only me, even my parents and everybody else were lost for words. And then, Lucius-san spoke with a bitter smile on him.

“I give up… To think you’d actually violate the rule…” “N, no way…”

After dad heard that, Lucius-san laughed gently.

“Apparently, we have come back to life thanks to Seiichi.” [!?]

My parents who couldn’t believe it had their eyes opened wide.

However, the Netherworld gushed out words that seemingly to follow up Lucius-san’s remark.

[…It’s really something unbelievable, but… everyone, because all of you have become

<the Living>, similarly to Seiichi-sama, I can return you to the Human world… really… I can’t understand it anymore…]

Being told that way by the Netherworld as well, my parents were left speechless for a while, before gradually walking closer upon me then embraced me tight.

“Seiichi! I, I… once again, I can see you growing by your side!? Is that so, is that really so!?”

“Seiichi… Seiichi…!”

Succumbing myself to them, all the while being crushed, I kept showing them a smile then hugged them back.

“That’s right. Please keep living healthily even until I become an adult, okay.” “Yeah… yeah…!”

“But of course…! We won’t die until we see our grandchildren and see them growing…! So please get married soon!”

“Isn’t that a tad too hasty!?”

I’m still a high schooler you know!?… No, now I’m a teacher though!

Even among Zeanos’ group, the joy of being able to return to human world spread and thus we congratulated each other.

No matter what the others said, a meaningful death was not something I hope for. Worse if it was the death of my treasured people.

When the people I cared for are living and smiling like this, is what my happiness.

“Seiichi” “Nn?”

After it was decided that all of us were going to return to the human world, dad spoke to me with a serious face on him.

“I’ll say this to you once. Don’t ever do something like this for the second time.” “Eh?”

I tilted my head hearing his words.

“For example, suppose there is someone who has lived out his natural lifespan and died satisfied with his life. Do you think it’s good idea to bring him back to life?”

“That’s…”

Dad gently brushed me who couldn’t refute him.

“There’s this saying about disgracing the dead, right? Seiichi, your action just now wasn’t that far from it. Of course, the thought Seiichi is taking life for a grain of salt never crossed my mind even for a moment. However, the thing called life is something that runs out by nature. And people who have died are never to return to alive. Please take it to your heart.”

“……”

“Well, even so, there are times when you die without living your entire life. While there are times where you can fight against sickness alike, there are also times you just can’t do anything, but that’s also called fate. However, outside of all that… what do you think is best to do when someone you treasure died due to an accident or in an involvement to a scandal? Please think it through while remembering what I said to you.”

This feeling, it was the same as when Dad scolded me.

In dad’s case, he’d never shout at me, he would make me think of what I’ve done. And, this time around, he was scolding me for reviving all of them.

If so…

“…Avoid getting into a scandal or an accident?”

“That’s right. Avoiding them before they happen is the best course of action. Now then, what should you do in order to avoid them?”

“Eh…”

As expected, even I don’t know that.

Is the answer always bracing myself for it? Or is it always to read the situation of the surroundings?

But, no matter how much I try, it’ll be impossible to perfectly avoid every accident/ scandal.

Since it was too absurd a question, I couldn’t find the answer. Thereby, Dad declared it clearly.

“Why, it’s simple. You only have to protect them, Seiichi.” “Eh?”

“I know I can’t do it, but if you’re born a man then you should at least be capable of protecting those you love.”

“…Does that even count as an answer?” Really, this dad of mine…

I was able to do my best because I had these parents who gently showed the way.

“I’ve said lots, but what I want to convey to you is that [Death] is never a bad thing. Don’t just take it to your heart as it is, but you also have to think it through.”

“…Yes.”

As I was having such a conversation with Dad, Zeanos came closer to us. “Makoto-dono. I dare say that an incident like this will be the last of it.” “Zeanos-san, what do you mean by that?”

“This is what I felt body-wise, but apparently our bodies as the dead are influenced by Seiichi’s body… by the body of the living, and thus our bodies are changed to that of the living, and subsequently allowed us to be revived. This is a deed that could be done because we’re in the <Netherworld>, a place where even the dead like us can pertain our consciousness… Even if someone died in the original world, they can’t be revived using the same method. Once you’re dead, your ego will travel to the <Netherworld> after all… It would be nigh-impossible to do the same thing as he did before.”

[…That’s about right… Based on this incident, I too shall place a strict admission limit to Netherworld… Apparently, even I was influenced by Seiichi-san… Now I can do things I couldn’t do before… Placing an admission limit is one of them… Now, any human who hasn’t died won’t be able to enter through teleportation magic or by passing through the gate that placed in the far east…]

Netherworld also expressed his opinions, agreeing with Zeanos’ words.

Wait, what the heck am I, influencing even the Netherworld? Ah, I just don’t understand it anymore.

At any rate, I understood that this time will be the last time an incident like this happened.

…Well, I fully understood that Dad and Mom were no longer with me, and I also understood that I was saying crazy stuff.

I also understood that they couldn’t return to the place where I belonged together with me.

However, now that I had spent my time with them, I couldn’t accept that they had died.

Thinking about it calmly, I was shouting something incomprehensible…

However, now that I can reunite with them, I can touch them like this… I can feel the warmth that I thought I would never be able to feel again.

But, to be separated with them without being able to do anything again, and that they were right in front of me… I just couldn’t bear it.

Though, only my body that went towards such an unexpected direction… My mental spirit did’t even grow. I know it’s a pitiful story, but…

“In addition, I’m just glad that I could come back to life.” “Is, is that so?”

Zeanos told me that he was purely delighted that he was revived.

“Some people may think this as blasphemy towards the dead. But, I wanted to live. I really wanted to live… Along with Marie here.”

“Zeanos-sama…”

“I believe that both cases are just as arrogant as the other. If reviving the dead are judged as arrogant, then doing a deed in the name of the dead are also just as arrogant. Well, it is but an opinion of mine, so pay no heed to it.”

“Huh…”

It seems like Dad and Zeanos are having a difficult conversation, but I have no clue what they are talking about. Can you two make it simpler?… Ah, I’m just too dumb, huh?

“Hey, hey, isn’t it fine!? Let’s just drop all the hard talk! Look, Seiichi-kun is having a hard time trying to catch up.”

“Eh, I’m busted!?”

“That’s obvious, it’s showing on your face.” How useless, I am.

After I let out a fake laugh to brush it off, I asked the Netherworld about something I’m curious about.

“Come to think of it, you said you have created the Gatekeeper, is it already serving its duty?”

[…No… Since I just created it… it’s currently near your position, Seiichi-san…] “Near me?”

As I casually looked back, there was a Nio statue that usually showed up in Japanese history textbook that posed in front lateral spread like a bodybuilder. Since when!? Rather, while the face is scary, why is its pose so weird!? In addition, his character overlaps! A brawny character is enough with Gassur alone!

As I was surprised with the appearance of Nio statue, my parents looked at it with sparkly eyes

“Makoto-san, Makotosan! It’s a Nio statue!”

“Ou! You are right! To think we can see it in here even though we are not on Earth” “Picture! Let’s take a picture!”

“Then, let me take my smartphone… I’m sorry, come to think of it I didn’t bring a smartphone…”

“No way… Seiichi! Do you bring a smartphone?”

“A sightseeing atmosphere even though we’re here!? No, I brought it though.”

Right, I brought it… I wanted to say that it’s enough with breaking the fantasy. It’s about me though

Thing was, because it’s a smartphone that came from Instant Farm magic, the camera function shouldn’t be…

“…It’s there.”

The preparation is good, huh!? I’m surprised!

As I was surprised with the camera function, Mom said to Dad merrily. “Come on! Makoto-san, let’s take a picture together!”

“ Sure. Seichi, you too come here” “Eh? Ah, un”

Is it okay to do something like that? When I saw Zeanos and the others that giving off such a feeling, for some reason I can feel a lukewarm gaze towards me. Crap, I’m embarrassed.

As my face turned reddish, dad pulled my arm and made me stand between him and mom without minding them.

And then, mom talked with a gentle tone.

“…Without me realizing, you have grown up so big…” “…True that. You have grown bigger than me…”

Their gaze felt embarrassing to me, so in order to hide my embarrassment, I spoke loudly.

“Lo, look! We can’t make them wait too long! Hurry and take the photo!” “That’s true, I guess”

Dad and mom’s faces came near mine

I’ve never done a group photo before, so don’t know how to, but let’s do the operation with an unfamiliar way…

“Put a smile on!”

“Your face is stiff, you know”

While Dad and Mom told me to do this and that, I took the photo. “Say Cheese!”

The moment I said so, for some reason, the Nio statue stationed itself behind us, raised two fingers up then smiled so it could be included in the photo.

Oi, aren’t you having too much fun!? What about your dignity as a gatekeeper?

After the group photo was done, the Nio statue moved back to its previous pose as if nothing just happened.

“Seiichi, did it come out well?” “Eh? Aah…”

Before I even could say anything, my parents seized the smartphone to check the outcome.

No, isn’t it within expectation that it would be surprising that such a stern looking Nio statue made a peace sign?

“Un, it’s looks good!”

“Isn’t it. The Nio Statue looks like it’s having fun too!” “Surprising, isn’t it!”

They instead just gloss over it like it’s normal! That’s my parents for ya! I can’t do that, though! Well, I’m saying it above the fact that they’re thinking it’s a vacation even when they’re in Netherworld, you see!

As I was being led around by my parents just as usual, the Netherworld raised its voice. […May I have a word…?]

“Ah, sure. I’m sorry.”

[…No… don’t mind it… well, I’ve never seen anyone taking a picture in the Netherworld, however…]

I bet. it’s way too dangerous to be a sightseeing spot. You’ll die, after all.

[…Well then, I believe it’s time for everyone to go back to Human World… You will be teleported to the place where Seiichi-sama was before he came here…]

In other word, the stadium at Barbadora Magic Academy.

…After all that happened before, I’m guessing that there would be no one there, so I think it should be fine if we suddenly just pop out.

“Got that.”

[…Well then, I’m starting the teleportation… Seiichi-sama… I am deeply grateful for what you have done on this occasion…]

“…Thank you, from my side as well.”

From under our feet, a teleportation circle expanded.

And then, for our last time together, the Netherworld spoke his words. […May your future be blissful… Please, come visit again another time…] “Netherworld isn’t some park you can carefreely come and go, right!?”

I who received such an invitation teleported away along with my parents and the rest.

“…Did we… come back…?”

There was no mistaking it, after the teleportation magic activated, what laid in my field of view was the stadium of Barbadora Magic Academy.

“So we’ve managed to come back…”

Though it should be obvious, there was nobody inside the stadium.

“…I still can’t come to term with it from the bottom of my heart, but… we really, really have revived, haven’t we…”

I turned my head when I heard Zeanos trying to cope with the big surprise, but it

turned that even my parents and everyone else were having the same reaction. And then, Nataliana-san suddenly broke into tears.

“Waahhh, hup, hup”

“Nataliana-san!? What’s wrong!?”

Hastily, we came closer to Nataliana-san.

Whilst Lilana-san patting her back, Nataliana-san let out her fit of crying. “I… I am… vexed…”

“Yes?”

“…I died, leaving the person I treasured behind… not only that, I was killed right in front of him…”

Unlike anyone else in this room, Nataliana-san is the only person I wasn’t in direct contact with.

That being the case, the fact that she came back along with Zeanos and the others just like this meant that she somehow somewhere had a string of fate with me.

However, what kind of fate… I still couldn’t solve it.

Not even I know why and how she died…

“…When… I think I can really meet with… the person I thought I had lost… I, I just…” “Is that so…”

As Liliana kept patting her back, Anna-san spoke of her thought with her most tender voice.

“It’s fine. We aren’t exactly people from this age… that is why, we will always here for you until you find that person you treasure. How does that sound?”

“Why, of course! That should do.”

“Agreed with that. Ain’t we all comrades who escaped the same hell. Yer being stand- offish.”

Both Abel and Garus told Nataliana much less the same thing.

I see. I’ve forgotten about it, but not only Abel and his party, but Zeanos, Mary, and Lucius aren’t people from this time and age.

Not to mention my parents who basically aren’t people from this world… As my head was filled with such though, father opened his mouth. “Seiichi”

“Hm?”

“Don’t mind your Father and Mother.” “Eh?”

I was befuddled with what came out from his mouth.

My father continued what he wanted to say, ignoring me.

“Me and your mother don’t want to be a burden for you. You do you what you want.” “Do what I want, you say… What about you guys?”

In my regard, I will be happy if they don’t leave my side.

After him, it was Mum who spoke.

“We’ll be spending our lives slowly somewhere. You see, I wants to grow my own garden~”

My mother was, just as always, doing everything at her own pace. “Spending time slowly, you said… just where will you live?”

“Dunno. Seiichi, do you have any place you know?”

“In the end you leave it to me!? No, wouldn’t asking Zeanos’ group would be…”

“Things should be different than when we were alive. In addition, if I knew such a good place to live, I wouldn’t have to face such a hardship in my previous life, would I?”

That’s one persuasive remark he said, I could do nothing but be silent.

No, even if they asked about a good place to live…

When my mind reached that far, one place flashed into my head. “…There’s one.”

“Dear me, and where is that?”

“A place called the Royal Capital Terveil, Wimburg Kingdom… The one place that opened their arms to me who just got neglected into this world.”

A place I would call as my second home.

To be frank, though, it was kinda hard to recommend that place since it was infested with perverts.

“Is that so? If they took care of Seiichi, then we have to pay a visit to them.” “You’re right.”

Father and Mother said so with bright smiles on their faces.

“…But, you see, this world is dangerous, you know? Despite that, dad, you said you wanted to act separately from me…”

I don’t want to be separated from my parents. Danger lurks in every corner in this world, you can’t even compare it to Earth’s safety. That, of course, doesn’t mean Japan is completely safe from danger.

When such kind of worry heavied my heart, Zeanos rest me assured with his words. “Seiichi-dono. Won’t you leave your parents in my hand?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s see. I’ll give them my protection too, so don’t be so down.” “Me too… guard… your family…”

Joining him, Lucius-san and Treasure Chest added their words in.

No, if you guys go that far, wouldn’t that be overkill? Just what kind of royalty they are, having the First Demon Lord and the mentor of the Heroes to be their escort? I can’t understand Treasure Chest’s motivation, though.

“It has been mentioned before; we’re not people from this age. That’s why, we can’t be not working.”

“Work?”

“Precisely, we are——Unemployed.” “Ah.”

That would be obvious.

Zeanos might be a duke in his previous life, now that the very country that betrayed him had long gone, his status was the same as being unemployed.

“I’m unemployed too.” “Ah, then we all here too.” “Yeah.”

“Now you mention it.” “What do we do?”

Doesn’t that make it everyone here is unemployed…!

Even the Hero and the Demon Lord are unemployed!? That would look bad in the eye of society!

When I was having such thought, Treasure Chest stuck out what seemingly his chest boastingly.

“I… Treasure Chest. That, my job. You all… unemployed.” [Gahak!?]

Everyone except my parents and Nataliana-san held their chest in anguish. That was a Fatal strike…

Being hit by an unexpected damage, Zeanos refreshed his thoughts before he voiced his proposal.

“U, umu. What do you think? Why don’t we move to this place named Terveil?”

“Ah, that doesn’t sound bad. About looking for Nataliana-san’s precious person, why don’t we first set our base camp there?”

“I’m in if Nataliana-san is okay with it, what’s your thoughts?”

“Yeah. Since there would be a Guild there, it’ll be best if we register then to earn some cash.”

“I agree. Wouldn’t that be the most efficient way.”

“I’m sure everyone here won’t have any trouble being an adventurer.”

I’m sorry in advance, Ranze-san.

One way or another, some unbelievable faces will move into your country somehow. I’m the one responsible for that, though.

As I gave a long sideglance, Mother looked at me tenderly. “Look, Seiichi. We are fine. Everyone will be with us.”

“U, un.”

“Also, don’t you have your own treasured people here?”

“Eh?”

Did we talk about something like that?

That very moment Mother said so, it was then. “Seiichi!”

“！”

Even though it wasn’t that long since I went away, her voice was filled with deep yearn. However, just by hearing it made me smile ear to ear… it was such a precious voice.

Turning my head toward the origin of that voice, what appeared was the sight of Saria with tears on her cheeks and a smile on her lips.

As I was fazed by Saria, she rushed towards me then plunged into my chest with the momentum.

“Welcome back, Seiichi!” “Uwoah!?”

Even with all this abruptness, I still caught her with both of my arms. “Saria?”

“…I believed, that you will be fine… even so, I’m glad that you’re back safely.” Saria said so to me, upturned eyes and beautiful smile.

Looking at that smile, I strengthened my hug with Saria. “I’m back, Saria.”

“Un! Welcome back!”

Saria and I embraced each other tightly right then and there. “Oh my, dear me, tonight’s dinner will be served with red rice!” “Seiichi sure has become a proper adult.”

——I forgot about my parents’ presence.

“Un, un.” “Ara ara”

Boldly embracing Saria in front of my parents, I could feel my face turning red itself.

I’ve done it! I’ve completely third-wheeled my parents!

W, well, albeit momentarily, I was pretty lonely because I got separated with Saria, you see?

I don’t know who I was trying to make such an excuse for, but I could feel my parents looking at me warm-hearted as if they figured something out when I glanced at them, sweating inside.

Nnnooooooo!!! It’s embarrassing! Crap, it’s ultra embarrassing!!

How can playboys from all over the world withstand this shame!? This development is too fast for me!

As my head drowned with such trivial thoughts, Saria noticed my parents and the rest’s presence.

“Hmm? Who are they?”

“Eh!? Ah, aah… They’re people who have destiny with me… it seems?” “Why is it a question?”

No, I have no idea just what’s the basis for this fate thing is… And then, Zeanos voiced out to Saria with gentle tone.

“It’s been a while, Gorilla-dono… No, Saria-dono.”

“Eh?… AH! Zeanos-san!?”

Why does Zeanos know Saria is that Gorilla when she’s in her human form!? If I recall it correctly, Saria became a human after Zeanos was defeated…

In addition, Saria also saw that it was Zeanos in a glance… Am I the weird one for not being able to do so?

“Eh, but, isn’t Zeanos-san supposed to be…”

“Umu. Indeed, I completely vanished from this world after my match up with Seiichi- dono… However, maybe it was fate playing pranks, not only did I meet with Seiichi- dono in the Netherworld, I also reconcile with the one person I love… Mary.”

“Then, does that mean, might you be Mary-san?”

When Saria voiced her question to the person who stationed herself beside Zeanos, Mary respectfully answered.

“Yes… I am Mary, the maid who serves for Zeanos-sama.”

Receiving Mary-san’s introduction, Saria hugged her with a smile across her face. “I’m glaad~! So you ended up together with Zeanos-san!”

“Eh!? Uh, um… yes.”

Mary-san too, while at first she was at loss at how Saria acted, she then glanced towards Zeanos bashfully then nodded with tomato red cheeks.

…It’s because Saria and I had read Zeanos’ life story, that we knew their struggle and saw how their relationship developed.

It was the fact that the two of them were blithesome with each other that made Saria happy.

This time Lucius raised his voice towards Saria who was still hugging Mary-san. “Heya. Do you know me? No, it’s not like you—”

“The First Demon Lord-sama?” “How come you know!?”

The very person who asked that question, Lucius, was surprised when Saria answered.

No, even I got surprised. Really, how did she know?

“Then, what about us?”

“Wait, isn’t that weird if she knows us as well?”

While Abel asked so with grins and smirk, Anna who was his comrade reproached at him.

However, Saria uttered thus with smile on her face.

“Abel-san the Hero and Garus-san the Warrior, and then Anna-san the Hunter and Liliana-san the Sage!”

“You’re kidding me!?”

“She actually guessed it right…”

Behind the shocked Abel, Garus muttered quietly. “E, excuse me… how did you know about us…?”

As Liliana asked so with unintentional inclination, Saria made a thinking posture for a while before she opened her mouth.

“My wild instinct!”

Just, really, what the hell is that Wild Instinct?

Again and again Saria acted with Wild Instinct as her reason, and in none of the cases has she been wrong. Isn’t that already at the level of precognition? Wild-ness is dangerous.

Abel’s party floated a doubtful expression on their faces after they heard her answer.

…Well, it was Abel’s Diary that helped Saria so she could learn the human language, so

it was obvious she would know their names… No, knowing her names alone shouldn’t let her guess them correctly, right?

It would be different if she could use the [Appraisal] skill, though.

Come to think of it, though I know it’s too late by now, both Saria and I read Abel’s diary… Essentially, you can only read a diary when it’s an exchange diary with your friends, and it’s not something you usually show to others.

And we have violated and read it, that very diary… yeah, let’s keep quiet about that. No, it’s not like there’s anything weird written in it, but it’s still something bad for the heart.

“…Me, you remember?”

“It’s Treasure Chest-san! I remember you, you know~!”

As I secretly put an end to the whole Abel’s diary’s matter, Saria was chatting with Treasure Chest.

…Un, yeah. Our encounter and… separation with Treasure Chest tore a hole in my heart. I’ll say this again and again, I didn’t kill him on purpose! It was my body being far too dangerous, even outside of my anticipation!

In the end, Saria managed to guess everyone in a single try, except for Nataliana-san’s case, which she tilted her head instead.

“Umm… My name is Nataliana. Ano… do you perhaps know something about me?” “Hm~… I don’t know anything about you, Nataliana-san…”

“Is that so…”

With that, Nataliana-san expression became darker.

Well, that to be expected.

After all that, though it’s said that they’re summoned due to my influence, I haven’t a clue about what the basis is.

Really, just where did the string of fate entwined us…?

When my mind was occupied by the fate with Nataliana-san, my parents called Saria out.

“Saria-san… right? Can I have your attention?” “Eh?”

“It seems like our Seiichi has been under your care.”

“We’re really grateful for it. From what we can see, we can tell that you really treasure Seiichi… and Seiichi feels the same about you.”

Even though they’re right, it feels super embarrassing to hear it from someone else’ mouth!

Saria looked over them, showed a befuddled face for a moment, before her eyes started to gleam.

“Don’t tell me… Seiichi’s Dad and Mom!?” “That would be right.”

“Etto… I’m Saria! Seiichi’s… bride!”

For some reason, Zeanos was nodding at Saria whose face was deep red and Abel was smirking at us.

And then dad――――

“Makoto-san, did you hear that!?” “Yeah, loud and clear.”

“To think that such a cute and fair young lady isn’t Seiichi’s girlfriend, but his wife… today we’re having red rice!”

“You really became an adult while we weren’t around.” “Just stop it!”

It’s not that I’m denying that Saria is my bride! I love her too!

But I never thought it would be this embarrassing to tell my parents this while I’m being hugged! The gaze surrounding me are more annoying than my fathers’! As I acted self-consciously about this, I felt someone else rushing into the arena. And looking in that direction――――

“Oi, Saria! Why are you running like——Eh, Seiichi!?” “Ah, Milord!”

“Seiichi-oniichan!?”

Al and the girls were shocked when they saw me.

Though my head couldn’t work well due to the embarrassment, but it was indeed strange that Saria came here.

Rather, how did she know we’ll be back here?

When I tried to process that thought, Al and the others rushed over then fled towards me.

“Seiichi…! I’m glad you’re okay…!”

“Milord, I believed in you! I believed that you without fail would make the Netherworld submit to you and come back!”

“…Seiichi-oniichan, welcome home.”

It was this me who kept being thrashed around by various events successively, but I still hugged my girls back.

“Yeah, I’m home.”

They worried about me to such an extent… they’re really wasted on someone like me.

However, what’s with Rurune’s impression about me? Though, the result was more or less the same as she said, so I can’t talk back!

Watching me hugging Al, Rurune, and Olga back, Saria showed a warm expression. However——.

“M, Makoto-san. Seiichi really has grown so much without us knowing…” “H, he sure has… This is unexpected…”

My parents’ face became cramped as they saw me and the girls.

…Again, I forgot they were there.

——Winberg Kingdom’s Royal Capital, Terveil. “Umu~…”

In a certain room of the royal castle, Ranze, the king of Winberg, was groaning over a single letter.

“Now then, what should I do with this…”

“Ranze-dono! I, Garrus, came over by hopping like a rabbit once I heard that you have business with me!”

“Too much information.”

The one who intruded into Ranze’s room without even a knock was Garrus, naked above the waist just like always.

Usually, intruding into a royal member’s room without notice would mean a treason, but Ranze pardoned it with just a single sigh escaped.

“Sorry for summoning you out of the blue.”

“No worries! Even without me, the Guild can operate normally!” “Then that means you’re not needed by the Guild.”

“That hurt!”

Despite being told something rather painful, not a line on Garrus’ face show any sorrow, he just laughed it off and put his hand on his face.

“Well, put those things aside. So, what business could it be?”

“About that… The kingdom would like to request something to the guild.” “…Hou?”

A request from the kingdom, that line alone shifted Garrus into a serious atmosphere. “So you want to ask for the [Effectively Train your Muscle] lesson?”

“Like hell I do! Has your brain turn into muscles too!?” “You don’t need to flatter me.”

“I’m not praising you!”

The serious atmosphere was just an illusion.

“If it’s not about the lesson, then just what kind of request do require of the guild?” “No, there are many other kinds, okay!? Even without today’s summon, aren’t there

things like Monster subjugations and such!?” “Aah. We do have something like that, huh.” “Someone, take the Guild Master role from him!” Ranze’s retort couldn’t be any more right.

“Then, what? Just so you know, we’re completely against joining a war and things along that line, okay…”

“Don’t say it like that… I’d like you to gather every S-Class Adventurer.” “Come again!?”

Surprised, with the serious atmosphere back, Garrus asked.

“Do you mean adventurers with ability equal to S-class? Or do you mean the adventurers with the title S-class?”

“Isn’t that obvious, I mean the adventurers who have ability and title S-class! Why would I hire those perverts from your guild who only has the ability close to the S- classes!?”

“Got that… But, actual S-class adventurers only move according to their desire, you see.” “Crap. Now I’m not sure whether it’s a good idea to ask the Guild.”

“Well, it’s okay! Their abilities are the real deal! But… why do you want to gather the S-Class adventurers?”

As Garrus questioned it, Ranze showed him the letter he had been looking at to Garrus. “The Demon Lord sent us an invitation to meet”

I——Leiyah Falza came back to my castle in order to notify my subordinates about the result of the Parliament of the Demon Lord’s army that we would establish a relationship with Winberg Kingdom.

As soon as I reached my castle, I head towards the room where Bells and the other two would be.

And then, I opened the door without a moment’s falter. “M, my right leg…! Red, it’s the red tile, right!?”

“Wai… Bell-san! If you put your hand there, my hand can’t reach the green tile!”

“Shut it! Do something about that! Rather, Bosco! You’re taking up the whole place with that body of yours, hold your fat a little! Slim down, do it now!”

“D, don’t ask the impossible!”

“Oka~y, I’ll spin it again~… Okay! Next, left leg on blue tile!” “Left leg on the blue tile!?”

“Hold… Can’t reach…!”

“Okay, next~… Rather, is this something you do with just sausages? Looking at men like you guys doing it makes me sick…”

“ “We know that the most!!” “ Slowly, I closed the door again.

…What was that?

I can’t comprehend it. It looked like Bell and Terry are entwined in a strange position on a colourful carpet.

And Bosco, while he was looking at them coldly, on his hand was… if I recall correctly, something called a roulette that gave orders to the two…

Don’t tell me, did Bell and Terry started to have that sort of relationship when I was away? Even though I don’t have a boyfriend myself!?

Or, rather, don’t they already have their own families!? Is this okay!?

…No, it’s still too early to make a conclusion. Maybe I just misunderstood it… For the second time, I opened the door to check on the situation inside. “Uwoooo!”

“Closeclosecloseclose!” “Uwah… nasty…”

The scene of Bell leaning his body atop of Terry who was doing a bridge pose was imprinted on my eyes.

I closed the door.

……

I didn’t misunderstand a thing…

No matter how you slice it, they were about to do that…

Just what is all this about? What happened while I was away? Did they deviate because I left them alone for too long? Eh, is it my fault?

…No, they’re the one at fault. Even though they already have a wife… Yosh, I’ll tell this to their wives.

Having determined so, I slammed the door open.

“You boys, so you’re having an affair…” “Eh!? Tte, LEIYAH-SAMAAAA!?!??!?”

“Ah, Bell-san! Wait… if you let go…!” “Ah”

The moment Bosco said so with a stupid tone, Bell’s posture broke then he fell over Terry.

When that happened, I saw it clearly. Exactly——.

“Hooeeeek!!!”

“Ptoeeh! Ptoeeh!” (I imagine this as spitting) “Yuuuck…!”

That moment when Bell and Terry kissed.

I called out to Bell and the boys, ignorant of their circumstance.

“You boys… So you have that kind of relationship… I’m sorry I didn’t notice it before…” “Wrong! You’re having a big misunderstanding there, Leiyah-sama!”

“No, it’s hardly a misunderstanding if you saw that~” “BOSSCOOOOO!!!! Help me solve this misunderstanding! “

“Aah… I’ve did it with Bell-san… I couldn’t protect my lips… Forgive me for being a weak-willed husband…”

“You too, Terry!? AAarghh!! How did it become like this!?”

——After that, after I heard their explanation, my misunderstanding over what happened had cleared.

Apparently, they were playing a game from another world. I see.

“——So you were playing around?” “Oops, stepped on a landmine.”

“ “BELL-SAAAAAANN!!!” “

For their punishment, I treated them to a full-course of torture.

After the banquet was over, the three trashes were tumbled over right in front of my eyes, black and blue, with one foot in their grave already.

“I, I’m dead… Dead…”

“No more… Iron poles… no more…” “Aah… the metal ball is… the metal ball…”

They seemed like they were muttering some gibberish, but I paid no mind to it and went straight to the main topic.

“Boys, get a grip.” “Eh?”

“At the Parliament of the Demon Lord’s army, it’s decided that we will establish a good relationship with the Winberg Kingdom.”

“Eh!?”

Just as within expectation, Bell and the boys were shocked when they receive this news.

“That’s rather sudden… what happened?”

“That’s what Lutia-sama has decided. As the first step towards reconciliation, we chose Winberg Kingdom. The kingdom is one of the few countries that is friendly

towards demons, you see. And since you boys will go along with us to the meeting as a convoy, make sure to hammer that into your heads.”

“Roger… ah.”

When I saw Bell nodding his head, he suddenly stopped his nods as his face showed an expression as if he just remembered something, then all manner of colour was drained from it shortly after.

“Le, L-Le-Leiyah-sama?” “What?”

“Umm… I feel like… we scattered about teleportation magic around the Winberg Kingdom… or maybe we didn’t…”

Come to think of it, that was true.

And I was thinking about the punishment over that matter.

After I took my whip out, I retrieved the torture instrument I had put away just a few moments ago. Not a single sound came out of my mouth.

“E, eh? Leiyah-sama? Didn’t the punishment just end——” “……”

“Silent!? Being silent is the scariest, you know!?” “B, Bell-san!”

“Don’t be faltered! It’s still not certain she’ll use that on us——” “Now then, I’ll start. You boys ready?”

“YOU’RE KIDDING MEEEEEEE!?!?!?”

For the second time today, Bell and the boy’s screams echoed throughout the hall.

“——That being said, I came back.” “What being said!?”

Managed to return from the Netherworld safely and reunited with Saria and the girls, I… Hiragi Seiichi, was dragged by Saria to Class F.

When I arrived there, the students were there inside the classroom, so I told them how I returned.

Since such a predicament happened, I thought they should’ve gone home by now, but apparently, they stayed on their own accord.

And then, when they heard my monologue, they were just as surprised as I expected they would be.

“Then, the people I met and brought home from the Netherland are my parents, the Hero’s group, their instructor, and the First Demon Lord. And a florist, I guess.”

“Hello, we’re Seiichi’s parents.” “Hero here.”

“His companions here.” “I’m their instructor.” “I’m the Demon Lord~” “I, I’m a florist…?”

“Yosh. Now the introductions are over.” “It’s over with just that!?”

I wanted end the loose introduction right there, but apparently it was just too sloppy to be accepted. yeah, I felt the same.

“Just how absurd can you be!? You died, then came back from the Netherworld, all the while bringing people back!? There should be a limit to how much you can break common sense! In addition, the Hero and the Demon Lord, you said… Our heads are going to explode, you hear!?”

“Oh, you… I can’t refute that!”

“It’s not something to be laughed at, okay!?” As I said that Helen laughed.

In all honesty, just what kind of thing am I, really!

As I laughed—bordering—desperation, I noticed that Beatrice-san was showing me a doubting expression before she voiced her questions.

“Are you… are you really Seiichi-sensei…?” “Yeah, I’ve come back!”

“Really…?” “Yes!”

“Really, really…?” “Y, yeah.”

“Really really real——” “Trust me, please!?”

No, I know I’d do the same if I was in her shoe, though!

Apparently Beatrice-san finally believed what I said, as there were tears in contrast to her smile.

“Really… really glad, I’m…!” “…I’m sorry I made you worry.”

In fact, I also made Saria and the girls worry.

I really should reflect over that matter then take action carefully from now on… I’ve thought about this many times before, but doing it isn’t as easy as saying it, huh. Isn’t about time for me to have growth as well? Just my body doing the evolution, and I’m who is inside it can’t catch up to it.

With that being said, my body, can you slow down the evolution?

“I believed, you know! I knew that Big bro would surely come back!”

“Well, I, too. It is hard to deny that power of yours, you see… After all, it is such an unreasonable thing.”

“That trust of yours feels bitter.”

It hurts me on many levels if you place your trust in my unreasonableness, you know!

However, I felt relieved that both Agnos and Blued stayed the same. Though I know it was only a day since.

After them, I shifted my attention to Bead and Leon. “How are you doing?”

“Y, yeyeyeyeash! I’m perfectly healthy!”

Leon answered me with his teeth clattering. “Hey, you sure you’re okay?”

“I, I’m okay!… It’s, um, I… even though just once, I fought for everyone in here, so… I regain confidence, just a little.”

“I see. Then, now I hope you can fight alongside Agnos and the others, do I?”

“Eeeeeeeh!? Imimimimpossible! Someone as lowly as I cannot possibly stand side-to- side with Agnos and the others…! They’re too amazing, I’ll die as a result! Oh no, did I just talk back to a teacher!? I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry”

“You didn’t change after all!”

I thought he had become positive thinking even for a little, but it seemed like it was still long way until he completely reverted back.

As a bitter smile showed up intentionally, I heard Bead’s voice that was said with the utmost seriousness.

“Seiichi-sensei.”

Different from before, he wasn’t in a bear costume and he didn’t need a sketchbook to speak his mind.

Bead suffered a third degree burn scar on his face that even he couldn’t make any sound before.

“Bead. What is it? Ah, right, I healed you at a moment notice so I didn’t ask before, but was it really alright to do so?”

“Yes.”

Answering briefly, Bead then bowed deep to me right then and there.

“Thank you, Seiichi-sensei. I terrified everyone with that burn scar before. Thus, in order to not scare people away, I hid myself inside that bear head costume. In addition, the woman who was our enemy back there… She was the daughter of the lord of my hometown. Even though we aren’t particularly related, if she was able to regain a little of what she had lost, and it was all thanks to Seiichi-sensei, then… there is nothing else I can do but give you my gratitude. I’m sorry. However… Thank you, very much.”

With clumsy yet steady voice, Bead said so.

“No, don’t mind… I can’t exactly tell you so, huh. Okay, I shall fully receive your gratitude.“

“…Thank you.”

Thus, once the foreword ended, I asked about one thing to Beatrice-san. “What will happen to this Academy in the future?”

“For now, the Headmaster is coping with all the trouble with his life on the line, but what will happen in the future is still hard to grasp. However, I can say that at least we definitely will be active again.”

“I see… Which means the Periodic Exam is cancelled, then?” “Yes. Albeit temporarily, it’s been put on hold.” “YOSSHHAAAA!!! That’s a big win for meeee!!”

Agnos yelled as he heard Beatrice-san’s words.

No matter what school, there would always be a student whose emotion explode when the exam was cancelled, I see. I would be elated too, if I was a student.

“Oi, idiot. You’re noisy.”

“Hah! I’d kill you if it was the usual me, but the me right now is having in good mood! That’s why, I’ll let that slide for now!”

As Agnos was swimming in good humour, Beatrice-san heartlessly dropped some bombs on him.

“However, since we don’t know when will the exam take place, the study for it will continue like usual.”

“——OI BLUEEDDD!!! THE FUCK YOU SAID I’M AN IDIOT FOOORRRRR!!!”

“…Aren’t you letting it slide…”

Murmured Blued with a marvelled undertone.

…Well, while other students are going home, Agnos and other members of this class stayed voluntarily. And since the school is inactive within that period, it should be fine if we assign them to study for the exam. Even without the exam, it is said that studying will become the reason to study.

Therefore, we the Class F members and staff were preparing for the exam, for whenever it would take place.

While we were having a peaceful atmosphere and about to discuss about our future prospects, suddenly, the door slammed open.

“I smell Seiichi-kun!!”

“As I said, what kind of nose do you have!?”

The one who intruded in was one of the heroes and my childhood friend, Kannazuki- senpai.

Kannazuki-senpai rapidly came closer to me then started to thoroughly and intensely check my body that even I got taken aback.

“Are you okay!? Do you have any injuries!? Are you hurt anywhere!?” “I, I am fine! Please calm down!”

Kannazuki-senpai’s sudden arrival made the students freeze in shock. Well, who wouldn’t be.

After I tried to soothe her down with all I could do, Kannazuki-senpai then gazed upon me with a face that was about to burst into tears.

“I was… I was really worried, you know… Even though we are called heroes, there was nothing we could do… and, despite that, you…”

“I am okay, so please rest assured.”

“…No, I understand. I was really upset and my mind was at mess when you suddenly disappeared because of that guy’s ability or whatever it was. I also brought trouble to Shota and the rest… At any rate, as long as you’re here, I am fine with everything.”

“Kannazuki-senpai…”

Kannazuki-senpai was really worried about me.

It has been like this since long ago, I really can’t match her.

While I was thinking so, Kannazuki-senpai told me thus with a dead serious face.

“However, the inspection here doesn’t give me any clue as to whether you really are uninjured or not. I need to examine you from your hair to your toe, so come to my room and take your clothes off. Of course, stark naked.”

“Just what is this woman saying.”

I can’t match her, but please, do something about your perversion. No, really!

“Oh my, isn’t it Karen-chan. Long time no see. You’ve became even prettier than before…” “Agreed.”

Seeing our interactions, my parents said so heartily

When they did so, Kannazuki-senpai finally noticed them then lowered her head.

“Ah… Father in law, Mother in law. It has been a while since I heard from you two… Hmm!? “

Right after she lowered her head, she finally realized just how impossible it was for my parents to be here, with surprise.

Rather, if I didn’t mishear it, it sounds like she was saying [Father in law] and [Mother in law] with a lot of different meanings?

“Wha… wha…!? Did you two get revived!?”

At that question that could be said quite out of the blue, the two just smiled widely. “Yeah. Thanks to Seiichi.”

“Seiichi-kun?”

Kannazuki-senpai directed her surprised face to me, but she soon regained her composure then glanced back.

I was wrong, she wasn’t composed.

Since her uncanny words were spewn quite absurdly, I didn’t have enough time to think of a retort, however, Al who has been staying shut until now finally spoke.

“You little! What kind of joke are you saying!?” “Joke? I have never been more serious, though?” “That’s worse!”

I was turning my brain inside out to think of a way to calm them down while watching their quarrel, until Rachel voiced her question to me timidly.

“Ano~… That person is a hero summoned from another world, right~? How could she be your acquaintance as well, Seiichi-sense~?”

“Eh? Ah, aah. Come to think of it, I haven’t said it yet… I’m also a person who came from the same world as those heroes, you see.”

[Eeh!?]

In response to my remark, the whole class expressed their shock. “Which means, Big bro is a hero too!?”

“Hmm… It’ll take too long if I explain that part… Well, one thing I can say is my existence isn’t something as great as a hero, I think.”

“Hn. And those pompous heroes-sama couldn’t do anything against that guy in labcoat, could they?”

Helen’s referred her provocative gaze towards Kannazuki-senpai. Kannazuki-senpai seemed like she was uncomfortable with Helen’s gaze.

“That’s not… No, let’s stop giving excuses. Even if we’re called Heroes, in the end, there

was nothing we could do…”

What’s with this atmosphere…

I felt discomfort with this heavy mood that weighed the class, but then something came up in my head.

“Come to think of it… Kannazuki-senpai, what happened to you and the other heroes after that?”

“Nn? What do you mean?”

“No, putting aside how you are being treated by them, the heroes are something like the Kaizer Empire’s trump card, right? And if that very trump card cowered before that guy, I can only think that some kind of interference from the Kaizer Empire will come…”

“I see… My mind is filled with thoughts about Seiichi-kun to the brim, but there was such a worry too, huh…”

“No, shouldn’t you be worried about something like that before you think about me?” I am indeed grateful and happy that she thinks of me. But, she should first prioritize herself. “For now, there hasn’t been any contact from the Kaizer Empire yet…”

“But it’s better to not be too optimistic. Worst case scenario, the heroes might be forcefully brought home.”

Blued gave his advice without showing any interest. But, since he’s the second prince of the Kaizer Empire, it’s possible for that to happen.

“Kannazuki-senpai. He’s the second prince of Kaizer Empire. That’s why…”

“Yeah. I know that, since I heard he fought against his biological older brother in the In-school Tournament. Let me engrave it deep in my mind.”

“Hn… In the end, I am someone whose blood is mixed with a commoner’s blood. I’m not someone of high position to own a title.”

Looking at Blued with his usual composed attitude, unwittingly my lips made a bitter smile.

“Now then, I wanted to spend more fun times with Seiichi-kun here, but it seems that can’t happen. After all, I fled from my classroom without saying anything.”

“The heck are you doing!?”

Since it was about Kannazuki-senpai, even if she didn’t tell the whole hero members, I thought she at least left some notification to Shota and the rest… Somehow, I feel like Kannazuki-senpai’s idiocy started to manifest ever since she came to this world.

Though I thought so, she was reliable in other more important aspects, so it was dirty of her.

“Well, don’t get too mad. It just shows how much I worry about you… Well then, everyone, I’m sorry I disturbed you. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law too, I am happy I can see you after a long time.”

“It’s okay, we are happy we can see your face too, Karen-chan.” “Agreed. Come anytime as his bride, okay?”

“Eh, really!? Then, I will bring him home now! It’s okay! I will confine him so nobody else may touch him nor see him ever again!”

“Why did it come to that!?”

As the exchange somehow went towards a really dangerous direction, I pushed Kannazuki-senpai’s back out of the classroom.

“Okay, okay, Shota and the rest is worry about you!”

“Mu… Well, our pledge has been spoken. Next time, let’s hold the ceremony.” “Eh!? That one before wasn’t a joke!?”

That’s weird… Why is she getting further from Kannazuki-senpai that I know?

“Can’t be helped, I’ll really go back this time… Seiichi-kun, I’m really glad that you are

safe.”

“Kannazuki-senpai…”

“I’m still thinking, why won’t you get confined?” “Bloody why!?”

When I unwittingly retorted her in Kansai dialect, Kannazuki-senpai finally returned to her classroom with a smile.

After making sure of that I returned to my own class, but there was a strange mood hung in the air.

“…Seiichi-sensei” “Nn?”

Blued called me with a serious face. “Is every hero like that?”

“They’re not, okay!?”

It was hard to solve the misunderstanding they had.

<<MAIN CHARACTER SIDE>>

The main character.

Tsukkomis very well. But, the protagonist.

Evolved by the fruit of evolution, a person who has returned to human life once from a human being.

His parents passed away a little later after Seiichi entered high school. He managed to make his living through the heritage of insurance money, etc, for he had been on good terms with his parents; he had difficulty accepting the death of his parents; he had no more energy to go out; He had been eating his meals without energy by way of delivery, he became fat.

When he feel’s stress, he’s the type that eats a lot.

It is an advantage to think positively about anything, but there are many times when he can’t think positively.

He was blessed with friends, but he consciously avoided them from his own judgment and small pride.

There is a bad habit that would be self-contained alone.

Because of his appearance and body odor, he was subjected to collective abuse.

In the school, he is the only being who has not been summoned as a hero.

He have to affirm his past self to Saria, he was finally able to admit himself.

Currently called by Barnabas, the head of the Barbador Magical Academy, he’s in charge of the fallout, the f-class.

<Saria>

The Gorilla heroine.

Beautiful girl with fiery red hair. But, is a gorilla.

Originally, a monster named Kaiser Kong.

When she’s a gorilla, can talk in a simple tone, but if she turn into a human being, you can have a normal conversation.

She feels more mature when she’s a gorilla, when she’s human, she spoke like an adult contrary to her tone.

Since she just lived through a tough natural world, she’s surprisingly strong.

With her proud overwhelming heroine power, she do all the housework perfectly.

Because she was in the wild, she has natural motherhood and sensitivity.

Now in Barbador Magic Academy, she’s one of the students in Seiichi’s class

She loves Seiichi.

She seems to be Seiichi’s wife.

<Altria Grem>

An adventurer with an alias of [Disaster].

A brown beauty with silver hair. But, if you get involved, you’ll get hurt. By a curse.

From the time of birth, she has been cursed and called [The One Who Carries Disaster],

she have made her surroundings unhappy indiscriminately.

Involving Seiichi and others, after capturing the labyrinth, by the ring given by Seiichi, She is released from the curse.

Good caring, her sister’s skin.

Because she had never fallen in love because of her constitution, she’s very original.

She’s clumsy, but she’s really thinking of Seiichi.

She often hesitates with Seiichi.

Currently, she is a teacher in charge of many classes of adventure department at Barbadol Magical Academy.

She seems to be Seiichi’s girlfriend.

<Rurune>

Donkey.

Just a donkey…… he thought, but when food is involved, she becomes amazing.

Gluttonous donkey.

She ate the fruit of evolution. She’s becoming a critically acclaimed person.

She herself tried to show the behavior of a knight, but food has a higher priority.

As mentioned above, she’s disqualified as a knight, but she don’t have that awareness. What can she do?

While spending time with Seiichi, it seems that she began to have another feeling different from a Knight……?

Currently at Barbador Magic Academy, she’s a student in the class where Seiichi’s in charge.
She seems to be Seiichi’s servant.

<Origa Carmelia>

The number of units is small.

8 years old.

A black cat beast man.

For cat beast man, because black was a symbol of misfortune and disaster, she was abused by her parents and sold to slave traders where she was bought by the assassins of the Kaiser Empire.

In the Kaiser Empire, she learned how to kill people.

She has the nickname [Twilight Assasin].

Seiichi who took off her collar, to Louis, who asked for Lorna’s interrogation, she have a deep sense of gratitude.

People other than Lorna and Rurune, are called Onee-chan, or call with Onii-chan.

She doesn’t like Lorna, be she doesn’t really hate her.

She is currently in Barbador Magic Academy, and has been Seiichi’s assistant.

She seems to be Seiichi’s sister.

<<THE HEROES’ SIDE>>

Seiichi’s childhood friend.

Beauty with black hair extended to the waist.
Student council president of the school where Seiichi had attended.

Regardless of gender, she boasts overwhelming popularity in the school.

The daughter of the Kannazuki group.

She have a firm heart.

To Seiichi, she seems to have more special feelings than being childhood friends……?

Captain of the kendo club.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

Reunited with Seiichi at Barbador Magic Academy, with the reaction that have never been seen before, she become a very disappointing person.

Her thinking circuit is very dangerous.

She will try to make Seiichi her own if given a chance, if anything, she’s the type who wants to become Seiichi’s thing.

If you noticed, she became the member of the perverts.

<Takamiya Shouta>

Seiichi’s childhood friend.

Handsome. (TN: ikemen)

He cares about Seiichi, but with Seiichi’s feelings and differences, it doesn’t get through.

Basically calm.

Kendo Club.

Takamiya Miu’s older brother.
Summoned hero, currently he is strengthening his status at a school in a different world.

Looking at the attitudes of other heroes at the school, he’s worried about the trouble that will happen.

<Araki Kenji>

Seiichi’s childhood friend.

Handsome with short brown hair. (TN: ikemen again)

He cares about Seiichi, but with Seiichi’s feelings and differences, it doesn’t get through.

Friendly, but scary when angry.

Boxing Club.

Doesn’t get up his head to Kannazuki Karen.

Summoned hero, currently he is strengthening his status at a school in a different world.

<Takamiya Miu>

Seiichi’s childhood friend.

Her black hair extended to her shoulder, a beautiful girl with a flower pin.

Calls Seiichi [Seiichi-oniichan], she is attached to him.

Because her school year is different from Seiichi, it’s hard to see each other, like Shota and others, it was also difficult to worry about him.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Youko Hino>

Seiichi’s friend.

Has brown hair that extended to her back, a beautiful girl with a headband.

Apart from childhood friends, she is one of a few people who care about Seiichi.

Although she does not belong to an idol group, because of her kindness inside the school, she became an idol existence.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Niijima Eri>

Seiichi’s friend.

A baby-faced beautiful girl who puts her hair together easily.

Apart from childhood friends, she is one of a few people who care about Seiichi.

Shouta’s girlfriend. (TN: Riajuus Explode!!!)

She belongs to a moderately famous idol group.

She’s an idol, but love is not prohibited.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Murata Rika>

Seiichi’s friend.

Has a wavy black hair, she’s a beautiful girl with black little eyes.
Apart from childhood friends, she is one of a few people who care about Seiichi.

Kenji’s girlfriend. (Again!! Riajuus explode!!)

She belongs to a moderately famous idol group.

She’s an idol, but love is not prohibited.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Aoyama Hiroki>

Seiichi’s classmate.

Handsome.

Soccer club captain.

One of the main criminals in the class who was bullying Seiichi.

Summoned hero, currently he is strengthening his status at a school in a different world.

Seeing Sarria and the others who came to Barbador Magic.Academy, he tried to contact them with evil intentions, but Sarria and Rurune give him relentless words, moreover, Seiichi also prevented them from contacting Saria and the other.

<Ooki>

Seiichi’s classmate.

Typical mob character.

Has a bad personality, such as deliberately breaking Seiichi’s status.
Summoned hero, currently he is strengthening his status at a school in a different world.

Seeing Sarria and the others who came to Barbador Magic.Academy, he tried to contact them with evil intentions, but Sarria and Rurune give him relentless words, moreover, Seiichi also prevented them from contacting Saria and the other.

<Kobayashi>

One of the persons who bullied Seiichi.

In the same boxing club as Kenji.

Seiichi had been mainly treated as a sand bag.

Seeing Sarria and the others who came to Barbador Magic.Academy, he tried to contact them with evil intentions, but Sarria and Rurune give him relentless words, moreover, Seiichi also prevented them from contacting Saria and the other.

When Seiichi helped Sarria and the others, he stepped on in his face.

<Nojima Yuka>

Half Japanese and half British. However, she has a Japanese name.

Beautiful straight blonde beauty with hair that stretches to the waist.

President of the famous ladies.

The leader of the group of famous in a bad sense.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Shimizu Noa>

Super famous model.

Short black hair and blue mesh beauty.

She belongs to a group of famous in a bad sense.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Seito Airi>

She seems to be a gal, but isn’t a gal.

Beautiful.

A little…… No, quite natural.

Basically, she’s with Yuka Nojima and others, but she also gets along well with other girls.

She belongs to a group of famous in a bad sense.

Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Amakawa Rumi>

Typical gal.

Beautiful woman with light wavy brown hair.

Ultra-modern kid.

She belongs to a group of famous in a bad sense.
Summoned hero, currently she is strengthening her status at a school in a different world.

<Kisaragi Masaya>

The leader of an idol group that represents Japan

3rd grade in highschool.

With smooth brown hair, the owner of the sweet mask.

Former soccer club captain.

He seems to be able to use the magic of four attributes.

Has the attitude of making people foolish and looking down on them.

About the relationship with women, there are no good rumors.

Existence can be said to be the root cause of the situation that Shota and others fear.

<Ouyama Tsuyoshi>

One of Japan’s leading idol groups who were active in the world.

3rd grade in highschool.

Muscular with tanned brown skin, a wild hair of soft mohican dyed red.

Former boxing club.

He seems to be able to use the magic of four attributes.

Very rough and vulgar.

About the relationship with women, there are no good rumors.
Existence can be said to be the root cause of the situation that Shota and others fear.

<Tougo Rento>

One of Japan’s leading idol groups who were active in the world.

3rd grade in highschool.

A handsome guy who set a long blond hair in an exaggerated manner.

The host-like guy.

He seems to be able to use the magic of four attributes.

Chatter in his every action.

About the relationship with women, there are no good rumors.

Existence can be said to be the root cause of the situation that Shota and others fear.

<<KAIZER EMPIRE SIDE>>

He’s bald.

Has bald complex.

Expecting future hair growth.

<Sheld Wal Kaizer>

The king of the Kaiser Empire.
He himself has decided to summon the brave.

Human supremacist. (TN: basically, he thinks that human is the most superior out of all races)

An individual who is planning various things.

Have future expectations.

<Helio Loban> (TN: Herio Roban)

Close to Sheld.

Court magician.

Human supremacist.

He is the only one that uses [Phantom attribute] magic in the world.

With a nickname of [Genma]. (TN: Phantom)

An individual who is planning various things.

<Zakia Guildford>

Knight of the Kaizer Empire.

He owe to The Former Emperor Alfred Kaizer.

With the nickname of [King’s Sword] (TN: Ou keen)

One of the best in the empire.

A person who was against the hero summoning.

Clumsy in various ways.

<Alfred Kaizer>

The predecessor of the Kaiser Empire.

Gentle to the people, he seems to be a person who helps unintentionally regardless of the race if they are troubled.

He is not dead, but he lives in retirement.

<<MAOU ARMY SIDE>>

<Reiya Falzer> (TN: Leiya Falser)

She’s the Captain of the Third Demon Army.

A beautiful woman with long purple hair.

She’s very popular, but because her personality, she flushes easily.

Dating 666 people so far, all of them are handsome among the demons.

She have a unique attribute of [Air Magic]

Her race is phoenix.

As a captain, she’s quite capable.

Although the Maou was determined to interact with the Kingdom of Welmburg, she remembered the story that Belle and the others scattered the transition magic in the past, and is pretty impatient.

She respects Luthia, the daughter of the current Demon Lord(Maou).

Expectations for the future.

<Bell Giselle>

Subordinate who directly reports to Reiya.

Leader that can be relied by Reiya and directs the troops [Victim]…… or should be.

Macho.

He’s married, and he’s going to have a baby soon.

Have a good relationship with Bosco and Terry, they care like a family.

He thinks Reiya is regrettable, but she is a competent boss. Of course, he respects her.

Looks forward to the pleasant future.

<Bosco Dan>

Subordinate who directly reports to Reiya.

Member of [Victim].

He’s thin and tall.

Has a wife and child.

He was on good terms with Terry, and he respected Bell with some sort of remark.

He thinks Reiya is regrettable, but she is a competent boss. Of course, he respects her.

Looks forward to the pleasant future.

<Terry Hemut>

Subordinate who directly reports to Reiya.
Member of [Victim].

He’s small, and overweight.

Has a wife and child.

He was on good terms with Bosco, and he respected Bell with some sort of remark.

He thinks Reiya is regrettable, but she is a competent boss. Of course, he respects her.

Looks forward to the pleasant future.

<Urus Bamyu>

Demon Army Fifth Corps Commander.

Very strict.

He doesn’t look good and is very timid.

Great muscle.

The King Ogre.

Scheduled to appear.

<Realetta Barheim>

Demon Army Forth Corps Commander.

Sexy beauty.

Queen of Succubus.

She’s doesn’t suit the race, so it is very original.
Has good relations with Reiya, she call her Ria.

Common sense person.

Scheduled to appear.

<Zorua Waltor>

Captain of the Demon Army Second Division

A handsome guy who seems to be lazy.

One of the strongest in the Demon Army.

A complete vampire, the true ancestor.

With a nickname of [The Crimson King].

He hate being called a bat.

Relations with Zeros is like between dogs and monkeys

Scheduled to appear.

<Zeros Albana>

Captain of the Demon Army first Division

He’s a man with a small mouth.

He leads the strongest first division among the Demon Army.

One of the strongest in the Demon Army.

Parents are demons, but the tribe is unknown. He is supposed to be a mutant.
Relations with Zorua is like between dogs and monkeys

Scheduled to appear.

<Jade Roven>

Captain of Demon Army punishment unit.

Handsome.

He likes men and have a tone of voice.

His race is incubus.

The three of them including Reiya and Realetta, had girls talk?

The method of punishment is…… I’ll leave it to your imagination.

One of the strongest in the Demon Army.

Scheduled to appear.

<Lutia Butte>

Demon King’s daughter.

Like a doll, a beautiful girl with no expression.

Has a small mouth

Friends feelings.

In spite his father, the current Demon king, being sealed up by the humans, she doesn’t have a grudge against all human beings. On the contrary, she choose a way to coexist, and as a first step, she is trying to interact with the Kingdom of Welmburg.
Expecting future success.

<<TERVIEL, THE CAPITAL OF WELMBURG KINGDOM>>

<Louis Balze> (TN: Ruiesu Barze)

The leader of the Knights [Master Swordswoman War Maiden].

She has the nickname [Sword Knight].

Owner of an external ability other than Seiichi.

One of the strongest knights of the Kingdom of Welmburg.

With her ability, and from the too perfect beauty, she is famous regardless of the country, and boasts overwhelming popularity.

Lose the mock battle with Seiichi, call Seiichi as Shishou. (TN: Master)

She can’t use skills, such as swordsmanship and skills that the other party used, she can wear and handle it not as a skill but as her ability.

She have a lot of magical power, but she can’t use magic.

She has a myth-class weapon called [Suijin no Hoken] (Water God’s Fine Sword)

Florio’s sister, the head of the Magic Division.

By defeating a large amount of monsters, she became a [transcendent] like Barnabas.

<Florio Barze>

Head of the Magic Division.

Has a nickname of [The Ice Demon] (TN: Hirei no Majin.)
Welmburg Kingdom best wizard.

By training with Seiichi, he became possible to use the magic of earth attribute.

By helping Ranze who is the king, as a reward, Seiichi was taught how to use magic and other skills by Florio.

Louise’s elder brother.

<Black Holy Knight> (Black Paladin)

Even Ranze who is the king doesn’t know him, a person whose age, real name, gender, and other information is unknown.

Because the voice has been processed by magic, you can’t tell if it’s a man or a woman.

One of the strongest knights of the Welmburg Kingdom.

A giant body more than two meters, he’s wearing a full body armor of jet black with a rugged and intimidating feeling on.

Can swing the large sword lightly.

Wearing a special jet black flame, he can strengthen his fellows.

Has a unique way of talking, because words are difficult to understand, there are many things that don’t get across to the other person.

The Leader of The Black Army of the Abyss.

<Claude Schlizer>

Knights serving the kingdom.

An ossan who looks unmotivated.
If he dress himself, he’ll look like a nice middle age man.

Good in taking care.

Seiichi and others, have only been in contact for a short time, but they became friends.

Altria, he seems to be an acquaintance of her for a long time.

<Claudia Asterio>

Member of the [Master Swordswoman War Maiden].

A manly woman.

Appearance and personality, such as the male role of Takarazuka. (TN: Female group based on Hyogo Prefecture)

One of the few people with common sense.

<Lorna Kirizas>

Member of the [Master Swordswoman War Maiden].

High tension.

Served as a host of the Royal Capital Cup.

Has mastered Ellis’s [SM course] to the advanced edition.

A great interrogator… It seems.

At the time of interrogation, because she was bullying Origa a little, she was hated by Origa.

<George-kun>

Intelligence Department

Seems to be competent.

He was chastised by Louis.

Is left to Lorna, the person who saw his appearance afterwards is………

He’s alive.

<Claire Haster>

Belfeuil sister.

She is also the director of an orphanage in a church.

Love’s Sarria, who came on a request.

<Adriana>

Her husband is a count.

A beautiful woman.

The atmosphere of an elderly woman.

Altria, she seems to be an acquaintance of her for a long time.

<Fina>

Owner of the inn [Tree of Peace]. (TN: Aragi no ki)
Beautiful.

The three of them are busy, her husband Lyle and daughter Mary,

<Lyle>

Chef of inn [Tree of Peace].

Not a strict Ossan, but a handsome guy.

The three of them are busy, his wife Fina and daughter Mary,

<Mary>

The sign daughter of the inn [Tree of Peace].

Beautiful girl. Because she’s the daughter that is a sign/poster girl. busy with three of my parents Fina and Lyle.
The three of them are busy including her parents Fina and Lyle.

<Ranzel Ford Welmburg>

He was in disguise as a small citizen under the name of Ranze, but he was actually the king of the Welmburg Kingdom.

Cool Ojii-san.

He seems to have been a long-time acquaintance with Noado, the owner of the coffee shop Accoriente.

Origa targeted his life, but Seiichi helped him when he was under a curse by a charm.
He has three children; Roberto, Gionis, and Lattice.

To do an important discussion whether to interact with the demons now and with Luthia who is the daughter of the Demon King, he is slapsticking.

<Noado>

Shop owner of cafe Accoriente.

A sober old man.

Figure standing at the counter, the bartender.

He has a calm atmosphere.

He seems to have known Ranze for a long time.

In fact, he is called [death], feared as the legendary assassin.

<Clay Berger>

The eldest son of the Berger Marquis.

Handsome with brown hair.

Full of confidence to the point of refreshing.

An artist…… Or rather, a painter.

Draws an original picture.

It seems to be selling well.

An amateur who has been drawing for three months.

He won an excellence award in the Kyarasuti Art competition.
Later, he came to be called [The Genius of the Abstract painting].

<Mei Cherry>

A dog beast man.

A dog-eared beautiful girl.

She likes to draw everyday landscapes.

The technicality is there, but she draws a picture that doesn’t fit well.

They are not selling at all.

About a year have passed since she started painting.

A Painter.

She won the best prize in the Kyarasuti Art competition.

Later, she came to be called [Hero of Art].

<<GUILD SIDE>>

Guild master of guild headquarters.

Hentai, a huge pervert.

A naked muscular man, wearing only boomerang pants with brown skin,.

Muscle is everything.

Amazing physical beauty. Namely, the muscles.
You’re doing, muscle training?

Doesn’t know if he is competent as a guild master, but he has a strong desire.

Is a former S-class adventurer, he was called the [Iron Man] because he continued to complete various high-difficulty requests only by his muscles. (TN: Yeah, Tetsujin, literally means Iron man)

It is only boomerang pants now, but it seems that he used to wear clothes. Believe it or not.

<Ellis McClain>

Receptionist at the Guild Headquarters.

The daughter of Countess Maclaine.

Do S…… but heard that, She is good even an M.

There is a great gap between her normal appearance and her everyday appearance.

If you want her to beat you, go to the guild.

Surprisingly, she’s a person with common-sense……… Person with common-sense?

As a receptionist, she seems to be competent.

Is a former S-class adventurer, her second name is [Daughter of the Attack.] (TN: Jokou no Reijo, I don’t know how to further interpret it)

Even now that she has become a receptionist, her ability has not waned.

<Homon Gayzer>

Homoo! The leader of the Class C party [Paradise of Roses].
Did not think that the name appeared.

While it’s the party of C class, it is the largest party in the world.

It seems that the comrade is increasing every time they complete the request, and there seems to be some friends in the aristocracy.

There are members in the range of C to B.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Devil or not. Before their race, they’re all man, right?

I——Takamiya Shota came to the Academy’s stadium in order to witness it myself, the event called Bardora Magic Academy’s In-School Tournament.

It was something we heroes initially had nothing to do with, but because we were told to keep company with Class S’ training, we consequently had to watch the affair as a result. Because Theobolt who was the first prince of the Kaizer Empire whom had summoned us was a member of the class, it was hard to turn it down.

In all honesty, I didn’t have any good impression about Class S’ members. No, I knew that Robert, the first prince of Wimburg Kingdom, was one of the few people that would interact with anyone normally and was a good guy.

However, the majority of them were a bunch of people who looked down on others.

…Well, we heroes couldn’t really speak bad about others.

Quite a few among us used the powers that they had obtained to intimidate others. “…And? Why are you in such a good mood?”

“Hm?”

I asked so to Kannazuki-senpai next to me who, was smiling away which was rare. “Hmm~? You want to know? Hm? Hm?”

“It’s very rare of you to make me pissed off…!”

Kannazuki-senpai who usually didn’t act like this made me curious what was inside her brain.

“It bothers me. Please tell me what happened.” “I won’t~”

Annoying…!

No, Kannazuki-senpai seemed off these days.

She’s so air-headed that it made me wonder; where did her cool and composed self go to?

This is weird… It’s definitely weird… There’s no mistaking that something must have happened.

Come to think of it, Kannazuki-senpai often disappear off somewhere at times… is that somehow related to this?

In the end, whilst I still couldn’t solve what lifted her mood, the tournament started.

First round was Class C vs Class A, which I personally found extremely interesting, but that wasn’t the case for other heroes, it seemed.

“Hah! Magic like that, even I can do that.”

“I knew it, we’re far more awesome than the people in this world.”

“If it’s like this, it will be a piece of cake for us to take over the whole academy.” A lot of the heroes looked down upon them.

For me, I don’t understand what supported their confidence.

It was scary for me; how people changed just because they received power without any hardship.

While I was having such thoughts, a student from Class A changed the atmosphere with his appearance.

It was the emergence of Geonis, the second prince of Wimburg Kingdom. “Kyaah! It’s Geonis-kun!”

“Isn’t his Wildish impression unbearable~”

“Should I go for an attack? We’re heroes after all, so he wouldn’t treat us roughly, right?”

The girls were hyped when they looked at Geonis’ profile, while the boys were not pleased looking at them.

…Exactly, what’s prone to be the root of problems isn’t always about chemistry between the heroes and other classes.

Among the heroes too, many individuals were likely to have perilous mood. Amongst all——.

“…This ain’t fun.”

“Hey, ain’t it fine and dandy if we left him dead?”

“True that. Since we’re told it’s okay to display our strength, let’s make an example out of him~”

The trio of Kisaragi Masaya, O¯ yama Tsuyoshi, To¯ go¯ Rento¯ .

It would be fine to say that these trio were the ones with a particularly bad humour. Apparently, they were pressing onto female students using their power.

“…How troublesome.”

Kannazuki-senpai felt their impropriety then frowned upon them.

For now, Kannazuki-senpai and my group somehow managed to keep them in check, but that wouldn’t last long.

The predictable matches kept preceding until finally the match for Class S whom we had lent our hand came rolling.

“That took a while.” “How boring.”

“Rather, won’t class F be massacred in seconds?” “Lmao”

“Poor Class F~”

“These lot can’t even use magic~ Makes me feel, like, how you’d fight?” The heroes were sneering at the member of Class F severely.

Although I didn’t partake in the laughs, I also entertained the thought that it would need a miracle for Class F to win against Class S.

After all, Class S was the class where students with excellent command of magic gathered, and we accompanied them during their training, allowing them to grow even further.

Among them, the man named Robert, the first prince of Wimburg Kingdom, was overwhelming.

He was a powerhouse who surpassed even heroes, and now he has become even stronger. Truth to be told, among the heroes, maybe only Kannazuki-senpai who could fight with him toe-to-toe? He was such an opponent.

…That’s right, even heroes aren’t considered as the strongest.

However, everyone else couldn’t understand that idea.

Well… I’m even worse, can only comment those within my mind.

While I was vexed of myself, Class F came into the arena.

Along with that, all those boys were licking all over them with their eyes, not bothering to hide their degenerate smiles.

“The girls from class F are good with their looks alone, ain’t they.” “True that. Ah, right, why don’t we make ‘em accompany us?”

“Ah, good idea you got there. Class F is a just a class without future after all. I’m sure

they’ll be delighted to accompany us great heroes”

“Well, if they resist, just use some force until they bend!”

Couldn’t endure those remarks any longer, Kenji whom seated himself until now raised his body.

Against him, Kannazuki-senpai stopped with a face without expression. “Those bastards…!”

“Calm down, Kenji.” “Kannazuki-senpai!? But…!”

“You’re one against many. In addition, I can’t predict what might happen if heroes with bad reputations made an uproar in this venue.”

“Guh…!”

“However, we have to be more careful about their conduct from now on. Particularly, against class F… okay?”

After she soothed Kenji down, the match started.

The one who was first to fight was a male student with a bear headgear on his head. “What the fuck…!?”

“Buhak!? What? Is he trying to get attention or what!?” “How fucking lame!”

“Maybe he just don’t wanna show his face after he got his ass kicked!”

The student with the bear costume received all kind of ridicules the Heroes threw at him.

Meanwhile, the student from class S who was to fight him was, frankly said, just a student with thin presence.

If I have to remember him, then I guess he’s one of the people who leeches off on Theobolt? That being said, he is from class S, after all said and done. His power must be high at least. This would be an unsparing fight…

The match started while I was having that in my mind, trying to watch it over—— However, we were caught utterly dumbfounded.

“Wh, what the ffuck…” “You’re shitting me…?” “Un-fucking-believable…”

The student from class S… was it Fauner his name? Putting that aside, the magic he fired was supposed to have quite a high firepower even in the eyes of heroes.

However, this student from Class F… Bead, warded off said magic. ——He knocked it off.

It was really bizarre.

Indeed, he had brass knuckles equipped in his hands.

However, the thing that knocked away those magic was clearly——the air pressure of his own fist.

Oi, just which manga did you crawl out from… Bead boldly strode towards Fauner, dead straight.

Even among the heroes, there weren’t many individuals who’d do such dangerous flex when facing against a member of class S.

Despite that, Bead was doing so without a single scratch on him.

Lost in disarray, Fauner discharged a large number of magic, which each and every last of it was knocked away, then… with an unexpected chop on the crown, he was defeated.

[……]

The entire body of heroes was drowned in silence. No, not only heroes.

The other students too, they were trapped in shock as that haphazard battle unfolded. The only ones who acted like it was normal, was those from the same class as Bead.

No… don’t tell me, that’s the norm for them? Really?

Even when the venue was enveloped in silence, the match continued.

The next match was Theobolt from class S against his own brother, Blued from class F.

Far from meeting Blued at the Kaizer Empire, we were not aware of his existence until we arrived here.

…There must be some circumstances among the royals for this to happen.

At any rate, it was a sibling quarrel that didn’t share a normal relationship.

While not reaching Robert’s level, Theobolt was a superior fighter worthy to be aware of. If you didn’t include his personality, that is.

He was a powerhouse that amongst the heroes, at best Kannazuki-senpai was the only one who could win against him, while Kisaragi-senpai would need more room to do the same.

That was why, the heroes gradually regained their spirit, putting the last match under the bridge while focusing to Theobolt’s fight.

“W, well, that one was a fluke.” “T, that’s right!”

“Also, next is Theobolt-kun!”

“Hah! Eat that! Class F’s massacre is unavoidable!”

Along with the rise of their spirit, their bullshit also rose. The game started with Blued firing slashes in an unknown direction.

“The fuck you’re attacking at!”

“Oi, oi, do you even have eyes to look where your opponent is!?” “Why don’t you use magic? Ah, you can’t do magic, can you?”

Even if the heroes were spewing whatever they wanted, Blued didn’t change the course of his slashes, still firing them towards a weird direction.

Theobolt too, he was making fun of his means of attack all the while deploying a number of magic.

However, Blued kept his attacks going whilst expertly avoiding the incoming magic.

This development of events continued for a while, until Theobolt couldn’t handle it anymore and decided to end it.

He fired a powerful homing magic in order to bring Blued down for certain. However——That was what Blued aimed.

To my surprise, Blued used that very magic as a foothold and closed the distance with Theobolt with frightening speed.

Theobolt who was surprised by this occurrence tried to evade, but… much to his surprise, the slashes Blued fired made his footings bad, and with his feet losing their place, Theobolt fell senseless.

And then, by seizing the scruff of Theobolt’s neck, Blued turn Theobolt into a meat- shield against his own magic!

With how big the firepower packed within that magic, once it came into contact, the whole arena was clouded in dust.

Once the dust settled, what came out was an uninjured Blued and Theobolt who was burnt into charcoal.

Despite the opponent being his older brother, Blued treated Theobolt like some kind of trash and left him aside.

[……]

Again, all the heroes were engulfed in silence.

Just what is Class F? What do they mean by drop-outs?

Within our minds, that thought started to rule over us.

However, again, only Class F treated the whole ordeal like it was the norm and was unperturbed.

This is weird… this is weird on many levels…

Those who thought that Bead’s fight was a fluke lost their words along with the second loss from Class S’ side.

However, once Kisaragi-senpai’s group regained their composure, they started to turn against Theobolt instead.

“Hmph… In the end, those who aren’t heroes have their limits.”

“Y… you’re right! That fucker Theobolt, I expected him to somehow could it.” “Well, he’s the kind of guy who couldn’t bear any fruit.”

It was but a bluff no matter how you see it, but other heroes had a different opinion and continued with Kisaragi-senpai’s remark.

“You’re right!”

“Things like Class S losing to Class F… this only proves that only the heroes are those who are chosen!”

“Ah, seems like Robert is fighting the next one.”

“Hmph… If it’s Robert, then we can expect something from him.”

It was the Academy’s strongest student, Robert from Class S who was fighting next.

And, from Class F, the one who stood against him was a male student with the look of a delinquent… Agnos.

“Uwah. He seems like an idiot.” “This gon be ez.”

Looking at Agno’s appearance, the heroes once again ridiculed.

…I’ve seen the pattern. No matter how you slice it, that was a jinx… Having that premonition in me, the match started.

And then——. “Eh? Eh?”

“Huh?” “No way…”

It was bizarre, in a different meaning than the previous ones.

Both in Bead’s and Blued’s case, the very development of their fight was bizarre. However, for the fight that unveiled before us, it was simply too high leveled that it was bizarre.

The various super-tiered magic Robert deployed.

And Agnos who fought all of it with a single metal bat.

When things progressed to close quarter combat, even if Agnos had a little bit of wiggle room, it was still an unprecedented sword-to-bat fight that we had no hope to reach in level that unfolded before us.

The fight that kept getting heated up finally was coming to its end.

Both fighters squeezed out the last ounce of their strength, delivering the last attack

they had.

With sheer guts, they produced strength that should’ve been depleted then—— conclusively speaking, they ended it with a draw.

Nobody came out as the winner.

However, who cared a shit about winning or losing.

The heroes who’d been sneering on them couldn’t accept the fact.

That the Class F that they made fun of, such a monster who had that strength existed within.

Uncommonly, even that Kisaragi-senpai and his group had nothing to fix their stiffen face.

We heroes… no, even the whole venue was looking at it like it was the strangest thing to ever happen, but Class F treated it like it was the norm.

Just who is the one teaching Class F? Isn’t his standard of normal way too off the mark?

Watching Class F who acted like that was the most obvious outcome, I was curious about the perpetrator behind the birth of this common-sense-breaking group.

Looking at the bench area for Class F, other than the students who were waiting for their turn, there were three other people.

One of them was a female with a teacher-esque feeling, but no matter how you look at her, it was hard to think that she could give birth to that group.

Another one was not even a teacher, just a little girl of an age suitable to be an elementary schooler. That would be impossible.

And then, the last one of the batch.

A shady guy who hid behind his hood.

Un, it has to be him. He’s too shady.

Just what did he do to make all that happen? Doping? But, honestly, their atmosphere doesn’t feel like they doped.

In addition, as long as there wasn’t any evidence, saying they doped would be a false accusation.

First and foremost, Class F students couldn’t produce even a speck of magic.

Really, just what happened…

While we heroes were lost our words, suddenly, a student from class S made his appearance then voiced his complaints and jeers.

That male student, his name was Freed if I recall correctly, was one of Theobolt’s grovelers just like Fauner. That was all I could think of him.

Listening to Freed, apparently, despite Class F having another student who hadn’t fought, that student was refusing to participate in the showdown between Class S and Class F.

No, I don’t understand your logic.

Since they already bear 2 losses and 1 draw, isn’t it thanks to class F that Class S didn’t come out as the defeated side, yet why they can’t understand that? Let’s say this last student partook in the match, if Freed lost to him then Class S as a whole would lose, wouldn’t they?

Thinking along those lines, the student from class F in question decided to join the game, as I expected.

Well, looking at him from this place, I see him as a fainthearted boy, but it seems like Freed just ignited even that timid boy’s anger with his words.

I can already see what will happen next.

In spite of that, I sighed… Well, the result was within expectation. He lost many things in various meanings——That Freed, I meant.

With that, Class S’ complete defeat was set in place.

However, the heroes didn’t see the one-sided massacre namely the match since they were taken aback by how their pride shattered and what-have-them at the time Freed appeared.

Class S’ homeroom teacher who couldn’t accept the reality finally stepped down from his high horse.

Looking closely, the student from Class F that fought had lost consciousness and the shady guy was caring for him.

While the individual that I thought as the teacher for class F was trying to bring his student to the infirmary, Class S’ teacher started to voice his complaints.

The content of his words mainly about how they cheated, but he couldn’t prove it himself.

However, with the teacher saying so, the heroes started to regain their momentum.

“That’s right… that’s right! Think about it normally, it’s weird that Class S lost to Class F!”

“They cheated is the only reason!” “You cheating bastards!”

“You fucking dropouts should crawl in the mud like how you deserve to be!”

Showering with jeers and boos, Class S’ teacher also struck the other party with magic while he was not on guard.

“Watch out!”

Watching the situation, Kannazuki-senpai let out such warning.

I also was about to intrude in myself——But, yet again, we were trapped dumbfounded. Much to our surprise, Class F’s Teacher grabbed that magic with his bare hands.

It was bizarre enough that Bead knocked away magic with sheer air pressure of his fist, but grabbing magic with your bare hand would be categorized as something on a whole different dimension.

That also applied to Class S’ teacher, as it seemed like you would be able to deploy a large number of magic overwhelmingly stronger than that of us heroes’, and he did it instantly.

However, Class F’s teacher was just much more monstrous than the rest.

I watched how he parried the incoming magic with the one he had in hand, but outside of my expectation, he plucked more of those magic with his fingers then threw them back directly to Class S’ teacher.

In addition, the firepower was off the charts.

Compared to when it was fired by its original creator, the magic clearly packed more punch.

Facing before such excessive firepower of magic, Class S’ teacher ended up with his butt stuck out.

Looking at his situation, Class F’s teacher was finally going to head to the infirmary this time, but the other party didn’t give up still. Or rather, he didn’t know when to give up.

Again, a large quantity of magic was deployed against Class F’s teacher. Everyone thought that would strick Class F directly.

However, the reality——Was different. [Haah? ]

The heroes, every member of us, had our mouth hung open.

As for why, rather than the magic going toward the Class F’s teacher, its trajectory changed towards Class S’ teacher, and its number even exceeded the number when it was first deployed when it rained upon him.

No… err… huh?

Why would someone who fired magic get assailed by the very magic he made?

Every single soul here couldn’t help but marvel about the sight that unveiled before them.

After a while, once the mayhem that birthed from overwhelming magic settled, the unsightly Class S’ teacher was laid there in a pitiful and unfathomable manner as if deprived of human dignity.

Looking upon such a figure, not only the heroes, but the venue in its entirety fell into silence.

As if he couldn’t bear the atmosphere of this venue, the guy behind this retreated to the infirmary swiftly.

I thought that the students from class F were the extraordinary ones of the batch, but I was wrong.

What was the most dangerous was their teacher. [……]

Nobody could accept what just happened in front of their eyes.

That the class F they’d been making fun of was actually a group of people harnessing monstrous strength.

And, in order to deny such reality, Kisaragi-senpai’s lot expressed the darkish feeling they had.

“Unforgivable… absolutely unforgivable… only us… get to be heroes here…!”

Towards such remarks that could only be seen as an outburst of anger, other heroes started to fan the flame.

“True! Like hell some unknown fucker could stand in a place above us…!” “We heroes stand on top while others should kneel to us!”

“Exactly!”

The heroes, one after another, started to pour the darkness of their heart against the Class F due to jealousy.

This is… too late.

I thought they would revert back to their sane mind someday, but they’d gone past the line shouldn’t cross.

As I watched the heroes grimly, I found one student who looked like they were surprised.

It was Sado Airi who kept looking for someone she called [Sei-chan]. With dazed look on her face, Sado murmured so.

“…Sei-chan…?”

The Guild Headquarter of Terveil, Wimburg Kingdom.

Normally, it would be the place where the perverts were at large, giving headache to the soldiers of the Kingdom, but now, it was enveloped in silence.

And those adventurers who usually were making a ruckus inside the headquarters were silent, as they crowded over and locked their attention onto a certain group of people.

“——So? What’s the reason behind our assembly this time?”

A woman in scarlet evening dress, showing glamour and elegance that was unbefitting for the rowdy place such as the Adventurer’s Guild, said so with a silky voice.

There was a folding fan in her hand, and her mouth was hidden behind it.

She was in her twenties, and her profile revealed that she was a woman of aristocracy.

“Right what she says~. You even went as far as utilizing people who can use transfer magic to get us together. There should be an appropriate reason behind that, right~?”

The one who chimed in next was a guy who sported a colossal afro on his head and wearing sunglasses, complementing them were Hawaiian shirts, jams shorts, and a pair of beach sandals. As if mocking the fact that it was a completely different world, his features were of that an African American male.

While his age would be in the late thirties, he and his appearance were gaudy.

“You’ve ruined my fun. Lest it be a worthless summon, I’ll turn your muscle into chopped meat… was what I would say, but since we have such lovely ladies here to spend time with, I’ll let off. By the way, ladies. How does spending a passionate night

with me sound?”

The person who started their line with a threat but ended up saying something unfortunate was a woman with a gallant figure resembling a swordswoman. Her hair so white it was transparent, while her sharp eyes sparked golden.

The sword that settled on her hip, even for a complete novice, anyone could tell it was by no means an average sword.

She seemed like in her twenties, like the aristocratic woman, and her dignified profile would be likely to attract young females.

“Do I really have to partake in this? Y’all should know my position. Even if there isn’t racism within this country, just how would other country perceive it…”

The person who said so while showing a worried expression was a middle-aged male demon, one from a race you hardly could meet even in the Guild headquarter.

He combed his purple hair to the back. His pupil was red. Other than the two horns that grew from his forehead, the feature that pictured the demon race, his overall appearance wasn’t that far from ordinary adventurers.

“Hoaam~… sleepy… can I sleep~?”

The one who had no shred of qualm in the midst of this, was a female young enough anybody would agree to refer her as a little girl.

She sported a pair of magician hat and robe and was already asleep with a bubble of snot.

“I’m fine with anything. As long as I can legally punch some faces.”

The man in yellow tight-suit attire, enveloped by a fluttering red cape——Someone who bore the title <Inevitable Beatdown>, Gargand, said so with a grin plastered on his face.

“Maa, maa. Let’s calm down.”

The one to soothe down situation was a young man, which the word Mediocre appropriately fitted him to the letter.

He, a man with indistinctive brown hair and was geared with traditional adventurers’ instruments, laughed as he was troubled.

The person who stood at the front of this distinctive bunch who shared almost no common point was Gassur, the Guildmaster of the headquarter.

“HA HA HA!! It sure is assuring to see you guys are the same mishaps as ever!” “It’s not something to be laughed at, you bundle of muscle.”

“Many thanks!”

“I’m not even praising…”

The one to the side of Gassur was the receptionist of the guild, Ellis.

After the usual comedic exchange, Gassur cleared his throat once before he shifted his gears into a serious one then started speaking.

“Well now, time to go into the main topic. I’ve summoned all of you for but one reason. A request has come.”

“Request?”

Upon hearing his words, the people in the guild hall could only twist their neck in wonder.

“Hold right there… A request that required us to assembly here doesn’t sound that peaceful to me~”

“Indeed… In addition, seeing this gathering of faces without that person included feels off, don’t you think?”

“Now you mention it… calling us but not her is just weird.”

The Afro man, the aristocrat woman, and the demonkin man voiced out their opinion. In response to that, Garrus explained.

“Aah, if it’s that person, then they’ll come soon enough. Why, I told them first before all

of you. They’re just a little occupied by some other matter.” “That sounds like the usual.”

“If so, then just what kind of request that required us to present? Honestly speaking, a large portion of us would rather not leave this country, me included…”

“Hmm, just tell me the matter. If you’ve even summoned me… it’s a face-punching job then?”

“No way it’s that sort of brute request… no way, right?”

As the Knight-ish woman inquired Gassur further, Gargand let out his comments, upon which the mediocre youngster wearily retorted.

“Umu. Sorry to say this, Gargand, but it’s no punching business.” “I see. Farewell, then.”

“You going back!? You can’t!”

Gargand was going to leave his post, but the mediocre youngster stopped him in his track.

“I’ve no business in here. Off with your hand.”

“Hoaam~~… Ah, Gargand, going home~? Then I’m going home too~” “You guys are too self-centred!”

In line with Gargand, the magician girl said the same thing, which made the youngster retorted even stronger.

“Ha Ha ha! Maan, now this really feels like you guys!” “Don’t just laugh it off, Gassur-san! Help me stop them!” “Do your best!”

“You’re the last person to say that, okay!”

His words were the most correct.

“Well, let’s enough with the jokes… I’ll tell you the request, so Gargand, stay around for a while longer.”

“…tch. Then say it already.”

“Big thanks! Now then, the request that is addressed to you guys is… in the near future, the King of Wimburg, His Majesty Ranzel-sama and the King of the Demons… no, his daughter, Lutia-sama will hold a meeting in regard to Diplomatic affairs…”

Upon hearing it, the assembled people had their faces changed colour. Especially the demonkin man, he was the one who was most affected.

“I’m pretty sure you guys have figured it out, since I’ve said that much, but let me be clear… I wish all of you to be the guards for when that meeting happens.”

“…It seriously is a big request, isn’t it.”

The aristocrat lady said so with a single sigh escaping her mouth.

“Umu. As you all know, our relationship with Demons is quite unstable. I won’t say which countries, but looking back into our history, Humans and Elves have always been at odds with Demons. It’s a controversial story to speak of, but even if there is no discrimination of race within the Kingdom of Wimburg, the same cannot be said for other countries.”

“…I don’t disagree. No matter how much we, Demons, tried to compromise what they do to us, if the Major Powers say that we’re evil then even the smallest country will just swallow that conspiracy whole. And that becomes commonsense in this world…”

With a delicate expression mirrored on his face, the Demon adventurer gazed at the Castle outside. Eyes straight without falter.

“That’s precisely why, we keep bringing troubles to a country like this, a country where us Demons aren’t being discriminated. Just the fact that Demons like us going through its border will agitate the Major Powers, after all… But… I see… This country is willing to go at that length for us…”

“Nothing to worry about! Mi Casa Es Su Casa! So what with the Major Powers, just come home to us! Country borders or even racial differences holds no meaning in front of the might of muscles! With that being said, let’s lift some weight with me together!”

“Ah, no, I’ll pass on that.” “How cold!”

Disregarding the fact that he just got turned down, Gassur showed his Double Front Biceps with wide grins decorated.

Disregarding the fact that he just turned someone down, the Demonkin man couldn’t help but show his smile by Gassur’s words.

“So… How is it? You people, will you accept this request?”

Once again, Gassur reverted to his serious face, and for a few seconds, silence engulfed the hall.

And then——.

“I suppose there is no other way… Very well, I—Cornelia Arnoldi shall accept this request.”

The Aristocrat-like lady——Cornelia, stated so as she closed her folding fan. “Cornelia-kun…!”

“Oh, does Homon-sama partake in this request? You see, I’m a fan of their party, [Paradise of Roses (BL)]… Oops, just by recalling their fabulous figures makes passion leaks from my nose…”

“…It’s for the request, so I’ll summon them later.” “I see! Mufu… guhehehehe”

“Cornelia-kun? You’re making faces unbefitting for a lady, you know?” She couldn’t keep it in, at the very end.

“I’ve no problem with that. I also got some Demonkin homies on me. If my help can bring smiles to their faces, then you can ask for as much as you want. So that’s said, count this Afros Dynowahl in.”

“Ooh, Afros-kun! You save my hide!”

The carefree afro-headed man——Afros showed his will to participate.

“That’s some request, no wonder you summoned me. In addition, frankly speaking, this “Major Powers” in question surely has touched my nerve. Thinking that countless Demonkin beauties have been harassed left and right… I… this Yurinne Rezy shall engage. Umu. Demonkin beauties are really the best! When it comes to the aesthetic of their bodies…! Mu? Ah, pardon. Seems like passion also escaped my nose…”

“Umu, Yurinne-kun! I’m grateful that you choose to participate, but keep your carnal desires in when on the quest, okay!”

The swordswoman——Yurinne decided to join in, with her nose bleeding from

passion just like Cornelia was.

“Hah! I don’t give shit about countries or racism or what have you… But, tentatively speaking, I do bear the cape of the Hero of Justice. Make one room for Gargand Luteax.”

“What are you saying, Gargand-kun! You are the very example of Heroes of Justice!” “There still can be a chance to bash some face, after all.”

“I take back my word!”

Putting aside his motive, Gargand showed his intention to participate.

“Mnnng~… Honestly I’m sleepy so I don’t want to to, but~… If things are peaceful then I can sleep soundly, so~… Okay, Nemu Dreamiere is participating too~”

“Nemu-kun, so you’re participating for us!” “Zzz……”

“And you’re sleeping already!?”

The Magician girl——Nemu, voiced her partake in the request whilst a snot bubble was decorating her face.

“Ahahaha… really, what a free bunch. Gassur-san, let me——Eusto Horace, in this one. I want to be friends with the Demonkins, too.”

“Eusto-kun… With you in, we can say the request is completed already!” “That’s over the top.”

The mediocre young man——-Eusto, stated his determination to participate, with the same mouth that just let out a bitter laugh.

And then——.

“Now then… all that is left is you, Auburn-kun!”

“…As if I can just stay sit on my hand while everyone is saying they’ll help? Auburn Demira, in your great care!”

The Demonkin male——Auburn decided to participate.

With that, everyone in the venue had received the request Gassur brought up.

At the end of the ordeal, Gassur washed over the room with his gaze then stated.

“People, I’m grateful for your cooperation! ——O [S Class Adventurers], let’s complete this request together!”

[Oou!]

The S Class Adventurers that gathered in the Guild Headquarters.

They swore to do their best for the bright future between the Demonkin and the Humans. “Then, why aren’t you fast on your leg and call Homon-sama already?”

“…Yes”

……………… They swore, supposedly.

——Inside a dark room where a crystal ball was there.

One man——Kleis, the Demon King’s aide, spoke to the crystal ball. “Nhi nhi nhi! How is it? Is it assembled yet?”

[Sure. However… assembling such an amount is no small effort.]

“…Nfuh. It’s all because the last fight… those monsters we sent to Terveil were massacred.”

[Phew… Truth to be told, I really wanted to vent my anger on you, but that was my miscalculation too. To think that not only <Man of Steel> and <Graceful Demon of Ice> were there, but even the <Saint of Magic> too…]

The matter they were talking about was the one when they sent a large force of monsters to the Capital Terveil through transfer magic.

At that time, it wasn’t a big a disaster due to Seiichi’s play-in-hand, but in the original script, even with Barnabas the [Saint of Magic] interfering, the casualty wouldn’t be something to scoff at.

Taking everything into account, the reason the attack failed was due to Seiichi’s existence.

“Just when I thought I had to rework the plan… should I say, lady luck finally smiled upon us.”

[…Are you talking about the meeting between the King of Wimburg and the daughter of the Demon Lord over diplomatic affairs?]

“Nhi! Exactly.”

Upon hearing the voice from the crystal ball, Kleis grinned eerily.

[I was able to gather some monsters again, but what are you planning? You want to send them to Terveil again? If so, then it would be more severe than before. Isn’t there the matter about the Demon King’s daughter going there for diplomatic affairs,

consequently, the Wimburg Kingdom would hire S Class Adventurers to guard the city. You can tell just what will happen if you send monsters there. Despite so, what are you scheming?]

“Aah… Indeed, I plan to send the monsters to Terveil once again. However, this time, we will send another person there——Edmund.”

[Sending Edmund? He’s——Ah, so that’s what you mean.]

There was doubt in the voice from the crystal ball for a moment, but it soon gained convincement.

“Do you see it now? Killing the people isn’t the only way to harvest despair.” [————Your aim is the princess?]

“Nhi! Right on the money.” Kleis showed an obscene smile.

“The Daughter of the Demon King died in the hand of humans, in the very meeting that promised friendship between the two…”

[The Demonkins will be infuriated, and their relationship with the Humans will be unrepairable… In addition, the large horde of monsters that keep advancing on…]

“Not only they would be against the angered Demons, they would have to fight the monsters too. Just one life can bring down a river of blood… nhi nhi nhi! Fantastic… truly fantastic!”

[So that’s why you asked Edmund? If it’s him, then it’ll be more than possible. Even if

<Saint of Magic> was there. Should I lend yet another hand?]

“Nhi~. That will suffice. Failure like before won’t happen again. Our existence, the

<Demon God’s Cult>, is steadily getting known by the world, after all…” [……You’re right. Well then, make sure there be no blunder…]

“Of course——”

——Everything is for the Demon God-sama——.

TN:

New characters! I really like how diverse the characters are in this novel. Anyway, about their namings.

Afros Dynowahl (Afurosu Dinowaaru) is, obviously, a direct address to his afro head. Nemu Dreamiere (Nemu Dorimiiru) is taken from nemuru (sleep) and dream.

Yurinne Rezy (Yuriine rezi) is a reference to, well, Yuri. I was about to translate it to Jolynne since it pronounces all the same in katakana (and JoJo, because of course), but I take into account the chance of Seiichi meeting her and retorts about her name.

“I told you, it has to be [Sei-chan]!” “Uh, who was that again?”

Seto Airi, a member of a group that grossly stands out even among the heroes, “Why you do not know him!? It’s that [Seichan], yanno!?”

“Like we know any Sei-chan!”

Towards Seto’s unreasonable question, Nojima could do nothing but retort. “If Airi phrases it like that, then is that person someone we’re familiar with?” “Nope? Ya not know him, yanno?”

“Then we can’t possibly know!”

Though Shimizu sent her a helping boat, Seto’s statement had her off the path to be saved.

“Rather, what’s with this [Sei-chan] in question? What’s between you two, Airi? An item?”

Upon hearing Amakawa’s question, Seto scratched her head with face coloured in red. “Y, you little~… Lovers, you say~… Don’t make me blush~… Not even close, tho.”

“So you’re not!?”

“Sigh… we’re going nowhere. So? Say this Sei-chan is here somewhere, whatcha gonna do?”

“Eh? I just feel that, I want help him~ or something” “So Sei-chan is in a distressing situation right now!?” Nojima’s retort was quick.

“I can’t see where this is going! We don’t even know who’s this Sei-chan in the first place, and we can’t do anything about him.”

“No, no way~… You guys are cruel~”

“I’m just making a sound argument here!”

No matter how much Seto tried to tell them about the person called [Sei-chan], Nojima and the other two couldn’t do anything about him since they didn’t even know who she meant.

Furthermore, Seto had no plans nor anything in case she did meet [Sei-chan] in the future.

Alas, Shimizu reorganize the situation with a single sigh escaped.

“Phew… One thing we know for now about this [Sei-chan] person Airi’s been looking for, is that he’s in class F, right?”

“Rite!”

“Since it’s such a hassle, why don’t you meet him first and act accordingly? It’s not like we know what Airi has in mind.”

“S, suddenly ambushing him like that… won’t he hate me if I do so…?” “WHAT A PAAAIIINNNN!!!!!”

Nojima’s cry of anguish couldn’t be justified more.

Whilst Shimizu tried to calm Nojima down, Amakawa suddenly broke into grins.

“Rather, y’see, looking at Airi’s reactions~ No matter how you see it, she’s gotta have a thing for this [Sei-chan], ain’t she?”

“Eh!? Ya mean it!?”

“…Well, I kinda suspect so.”

In response to them, excluding Nojima, Seto was——. “N, n, nnnnot, not a… a chance, mkay!?”

[Doubt]

Said the three simultaneously.

“Airi… you’re basically an open book…” “No, Yuka still couldn’t read her…”

“I, I could, okay?”

“Calm, girls… At any rate, Airi, you like this [Sei-chan] don’cha.”

These three girls who found the matter troublesome at first, as expected of girls, suddenly so gung ho about it since it turned into a love story.

Airi’s face stiffened, confronted by the three with a glimmer of curiosity in their eyes. “W, what izzit…”

“——Be a good girl and tell us everything!” “UWAAAAH!!”

Airi who was jostled up by the girls, acted like the high school girls they were, or maybe closer to junior high ones, gave up.

“I, I got it, okay! I’ll tell, I’ll tell!” “Good.”

“Agreed, surrendering is important.”

“Ou, then tell us already!”

Airi looked at them a little bit reproachfully, then let a sigh escaped before she started her story.

“Haah… First I met Sei-chan was at Junior High. I have ya girls know, but back then I was a loner, yanno?”

“You serious!?”

“You, Airi…? I can’t imagine that.” “Totes unexpected~”

The three didn’t hide their surprise.

They were friends with Airi since the first enrolled High School, and Airi seldom talked about her Junior High phase. Well, Airi first became what she currently is when she’s halfway her second year in Junior High, she said.

“I really was loner, like lonely loner, before that… the reason I could become the current me is all thanks to Sei-chan.”

“Eh?”

Again with the surprising fact, the three once again raised their voice.

“I told ya I was a loner didn’t I. So like, I eat my lunch on the stairs leading to the rooftop. Really, it’s nostalgic to remember.”

With that as the preamble, Airi started to call back her past.

“Sigh…”

Junior High.

I——Seto Airi, was spending my lonely lunchtime with a sigh.

The reason I was eating my lunch all alone… just as I said before, I didn’t have a single friend. Unlike now, I was reserved yanno?

Anywho, I first found this ideal Loner Meal Spot namely the staircase to rooftop after I enrolled Junior High and had been eating my lonely meal there every day.

My Junior High was just like any other Junior High, the rooftop was a forbidden area, so I went there to eat my Lonely Meal. If it was forbidden to enter anyway, why would they make a staircase to there? Well, I assumed it was for emergency times.

Either way, I could use it for my spot, so I really had nothing else to say.

With that condition, by the time I finished my meal like usual——Sei-chan appeared. “Eh? There’s someone here!?”

Sei-chan popped out so suddenly, and I was really troubled by it. I never thought that such a man of valour would come to this fantastic Lonely Meal Spot.

My impression when I first saw Sei-chan was… well, must be that. I thought he was the typical bullied kid.

I mean, not like I want to make fun of Sei-chan, but he was, like, super plump and his face wasn’t the most pleasing to look at.

He had a particular body odour, I didn’t care about it myself, but it seems like other people didn’t really like it.

Those qualities of him made him got bullied real hard.

Fortunately for my case, I had no friends, so its not like I got bullied or anything…

Anyway, neither of us expected anyone to be here, so it was awkwardly silent for a while.

The first one to speak up was… Sei-chan. “Umm… a loner?”

“And you’re speaking!?”

T’was such an unexpected remark from him that pulled out my retort But Sei-chan paid no mind and just laughed.

“Hahaha! It is weird that I called you that, of all people! I feel like crying now!” “I, uh, I’m sorry?”

“It sure hurts when being apologized with an interrogative sentence!”

Even since then, Sei-chan had been high-strung and it was hard for me to keep up with his tempo.

“So, why do you eat your lunch in a place like this?” “No… I’m pretty sure you’re here for the same reason…”

“Eh… Then, you really are having a lonely meal!? You kidding me!?”

“That’s sure some word from someone who’s having lonely meal too…”

“Ah, you’re right. No, but you see, I’m doing it because I’m being left out, but I feel like that’s not the case for you. That’s why I asked, why do you eat lunch here.”

“…Nothing you should be concerned about.”

“I guess that much. But if this spot is already taken… I don’t know any other place to eat alone…”

Watching Sei-chan making a troubled face, some words escaped my mouth. “…Then, why don’t eat together?”

“Eh?”

“Yer being bullied, ain’t cha? If so, wouldn’t you prefer to take it easy at least when having a meal?”

“Well that’s… extremely grateful, but… are you fine with that?”

[I’m not evil enough to chase you away.]

“I see… Then, I’ll gladfully take your consideration.”

——That was the start of a strange relationship between Sei-chan and I.

Ever since then, we were always there, on the staircase leading to the rooftop during the lunch break, having loner meal… no, two loners having a meal together.

When I tried to talk with Sei-chan, I began to learn that, while he is so high-strung that I find it hard to cope up with time to time, he is nothing short of kind.

In addition, for two people who shared no taste in anything, I started to find it comfortable to talk to Sei-chan, since he was unexpectedly a good listener.

Days like this continued, and for the first time I found someone close… or maybe I should say, I had made a [Friend]. And so, I said it with all my spirit.

“Se… Sei-chan!” “Eh? Sei-chan?”

It was the first time I called Sei-chan like that, so his expression was that of confusion. “Yeah! Taking the Sei from [Hiragi Seiichi], so it’s Sei-chan!”

Come to think of it… Sei-chan’s name was [Hiiragi Seiichi].

I’ve been calling him Sei-chan all this while, so I forgot about it.

…In addition, if I think that I’m the only one who calls him Sei-chan… How to put it, it feels like I’m someone special to Sei-chan, and it makes me happy.

Anyway, since it was the first time I called him [Sei-chan], he was quite dumbfounded for a while, then immediately put on a smile with a hint of pink.

“No, how do I say it… I’ve never been addressed like that, so it’s quite embarrassing…”

He was so cute.

No, I don’t know how other people take it, but for me, Sei-chan’s smile is the strongest in history. Don’t you know? Among us gals, cute means justice… Though I don’t know if it stays true now that we’re in another world.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

“Then I also want Sei-chan to call me as [Airin]!”

“Airin!? Oi oi, we both are loners here, you now? That’s way over us…” “Isn’t that too harsh!?”

“I kid. But… Um… that nick is…”

Sei-chan just wouldn’t call me [Airin]. I guess my despondent showed up and he catched it, so Sei-chan, stuttering and half-shouting, called to me.

“A, Airin!”

“Hehehe~… It sure is embarrassing~” “I’m the embarrassed one here!”

I teased Sei-chan who hid his red face behind his hands for a while.

Thus, after we decided our nicks, we returned to our usual chemistry.

…Right. Though I’ve admitted it… by this time, I’d begun seeing Sei-chan as a member of the opposite sex.

Well, for me who didn’t even have a friend, lovers and such relationship looked like a hurdle too high to reach.

It was just, I never encountered Sei-chan outside lunchtime.

Even if I called out to him, Sei-chan just ran away from me, you see…

It was a hard blow to me and I felt quite hurt he did so, but… I learned that he did what

he did precisely because he was bullied and hoped I wouldn’t be dragged along with… And that, felt like rubbing salt in my wound.

And one day, when we were having lunch together as usual, Sei-chan voiced one question with a curious face.

“Come to think of it, Airin. Why are you a loner?”

“Ain’t that one painful question you just casually asked!?” Upon my reaction, Sei-chan continued his inquiry.

“Ah, no, I’m sorry. I didn’t meananything bad. I’m just thinking, unlike me, Airin isn’t exactly being left out, right? So…”

“…It’s not like I’m alone because I want to. I just, yanno, it’s hard for me to talk with people…”

“Even though you talk to me this much?”

“Sei-chan, it’s because you… well… you’re easy to talk with. Also, I’m not sure I can…”

“Oi, oi, have some confidence! You’re cute, Airin, so if you just dress up a bit and talk to others like you do with me, you’ll make friends in no time!”

“C, cute!?”

I was thrown off-balance when Sei-chan suddenly said I was cute, out of the blue. “Nn? Did I say something wrong?”

“N, no… I mean, cute is a bit…”

“…Ah… Naturally, I no longer speak whatever embarrassing thing that popped up in mind like I used to, but if I didn’t honestly praise someone, then how should I convey my feelings to them? That’s why, I mean it when I said you’re cute.”

“Ah, umm… err…”

Knowing it was Sei-chan’s true feelings only made me even more lost in cloud nine.

My head was pure white. I tried to come up with anything to say back, but nothing. And before I knew it, my mouth moved on its own.

“…Sei-chan, do you… want to see me… dress up?” “I do.”

Without a shred of doubt, Sei-chan nodded.

——And that was the starting line. The first time I got invested in dressing up…

At first I hadn’t a clue. I tried referencing to various fashion magazine, how to apply make-ups, how to choose clothes, all that. But there’s only so much my inexperienced self could do.

That was why, for the first time I summoned my courage and called out to girls from my class.

It was real scary, but my feeling of wanting to be seen cute by Sei-chan overpowered that.

Just when I tried to summon my courage… even to say it myself, it was super anti- climatic how fast I could adapt with the girl’s group.

In addition, I could talk to them like how I talked with Sei-chan.

When I came to, I realized I was already styling up, gyaru-like or not.

From that point onward, my Junior High School life was gradually changing.

Firstly, not only the girls, but I also became able to speak normally with the boys.

Speaking with a boy other than Sei-chan was a real nervous wreck at first, but that, too, came with time.

Also, even I couldn’t believe it ‘till now, but the frequency of being confessed to just got skyrocketed.

Ranging from a boy I could chummy with, to a boy who was obviously a playboy… Anyway, I was confessed by a huge variety of boys…

But, unfortunately, I already had someone in my heart. Anyone except Sei-chan was outside the question for me.

Like that, my gloomy loner school life transformed into a bright and cheerful school life, but… I lost something important as the exchange.

Lunch break.

Sei-chan——Didn’t come.

I patiently waited for Sei-chan there, on the staircase leading to the rooftop, but Sei- chan never showed himself again.

In addition to that, with my new friends got in my schedule, my free time was decreasing by the day.

That was why, I could no longer eat there, but rather having lunch together with my friends.

That was the first time… I felt like I’d prefer being a loner… yeah, it crossed my mind. In the end, I never managed to meet with Sei-chan until the day of Graduation.

The silver lining was, there was a gossip that we got into the same High School… or rather, I heard about a bullying case, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t happy, despite the complex feeling accompanying it.

However, once again, I couldn’t meet with Sei-chan.

Even if I tried to catch him by surprise in his classroom, or going around the campus searching for him… I couldn’t find Sei-chan.

It was as if Sei-chan was actively avoiding me…

It was something I later found out, but apparently Sei-chan had a time where he shut himself in his house.

That strong-hearted… positive and optimist Sei-chan was being a shut-In, I couldn’t even picture it.

It made me think that Sei-chan had something terrible befallen upon him, and I was completely oblivious about it.

I felt… really frustrated that I couldn’t do anything for Sei-chan when he needed it the most… And it was him who gave me my courage.

I didn’t want his effort to go to waste, So I… in my own way, expressed my gratitude by enjoying the life he gave me.

And that was when we all got transferred to another world out of the blue.

I was really at lost for a while, but after calming down a bit, I felt like now’s the time I got to save Sei-chan…

I feel like the current me can protect Sei-chan——.

“————-Well… something like that…” “You’re all over him.”

“I feel like throwing up sugar cubes.”

“Both you and this Sei-chan guy… you’ve really suffered…”

“You guys are being too harsh! And isn’t Yuka being too emotional!”

While Rumi and Noa said so with some degree of awe, Yuka was bawling her eyes out.

Un, Yuka’s this kind of person, ain’t she.

“I mentioned this a lot, but Sei=chan is literally my saviour. That’s why I wanted to say thanks to him. And then, I’d be the one who’ll protect him this time.”

When I said so, the three lined up their faces and told me.

“Really, you… Can’t be helped! If you told me such story, what can I say except I’ll help you!?”

“Frankly speaking, it’s bothersome. But it’s for Aika, isn’t it?” “Un. We’ll help.”

Hearing these words, I couldn’t do anything but asked them back.

“Is it really okay? It’s not like you have anything to do with Sei-chan…”

“It’s fine. He’s the guy who took care of my little Aika. That means we have to say our thanks too.”

“I’m not yours tough, Yuka?”

“We’re not talking about that, are we!? Read the convo flow!” I laughed at Yuka’s retort.

…Sei-chan. It’s all thanks to you, Sei-chan, that I have made such precious friends.

“Then, let’s with godspeed raid Class F!”

“As, as I said… wouldn’t he hate me… if I suddenly showed up…?” “YOU’RE REAL CASE OF TROUBLESOME YANNO!?!?”

And Yuka, once again, retorted.

“Really… why would anyone hold a conference in such a place.”

“GYAAHAHAHA!! Don’t say it like that! If this plan succeeds, then we’re definitely one step closer to the revival of the Demon God, innit?”

“…Exactly. In fact, it would be a lot easier since no big countries are involved.” In the woods in the vicinity of Terveil, there were three silhouettes of men.

“Rather, why are you guys here? I’m the only one who’s got handed this matter, ain’t I?”

“…I’m sure you’re well aware of it, but this matter is crucial. No mistake is allowed.”

“He’s right, ya know? Worst case, we all die, but… we must eliminate our target, no matter what.”

“Well… I won’t complain if that means the odds are higher. But that being said, we’re three apostles here. To top it off, we got these monsters Kleis gave us. I’d say there’s no chance of failing.”

One of the three said so with confidence, but another one coldly refuted. “…Unfortunately, that smells fishy.”

“Ah?”

“…Demiolos just got done in.” [What!?]

Upon hearing these words, the other two showed their shock.

“Oi oi, that must be some kind of joke, right?”

“It has to. I mean, that guy might be one of the battle corps, but he’s still an Apostle. And you’re saying he was defeated?”

“…I also didn’t believe it at first. However, it seems to be the case. And apparently, he was defeated at Barbadora Magic Academy”

“Haah!? So he’s got beaten by brats!?”

“…I’m not updated on the details. But, Angelea’s in the same state.”

“Angelea?… Aah, that pitiful woman. I don’t give a shit ‘bout her, what I can’t miss is Demiolos’ case…”

“…Either way, events outside our plan are likely to happen. Be always on guard about this.”

“Gyahahaha! Just leave it to me!” “…You’re the one most worrying…”

After their conversation concluded, as if they merged with the darkness, the three vanished.

“Long time no see, dear.” “Elmina…”

Terveil. Inside the castle, within the King’s private room, Ranze was meeting with a woman.

Her loose, wavy golden hair reached her waist, and she was donning a gorgeous armor dress enveloped with a pompous cloak. She was the Queen of the Wimburg Kingdom and another S Class adventurer… the one who bore the name the [Thunder Empress], Elmina Kisa Wimburg.

“I didn’t expect you to hold a meeting with the Demons.”

“Aah. Even I don’t know how this will develop, but… I’ve grown tired coping up with those Superpower Countries. And the Demons are quite the good fellas, as well.”

Elmina showed a smile as she heard Ranze said those words oh so lightly. “You never change, dear… That’s what I love about you.”

“…Stop it, you’re making me blush.”

Unusual for a monarch, Ranze didn’t have any concubine, and his relationship with his wife was as good as ever.

“Elmina my dear, you’re home to partake in guarding the conference, aren’t you?”

“I am. I’m also this Kingdom’s queen, though on paper. It is thanks to you sweetie that I still can continue doing my adventuring. In times like these, I want to be the one who helps you.”

“Thanks.”

As it had been a while for them to meet each other, they had so many things to talk about. However, as they were talking, the daughter of the Demon King was getting closer.

They both understood that. Thus, they filled it with just gazing into each other. “…Now then, it’s time to do some prep.”

“…You’re right. I’m off to meet up with other S Class adventurers.” As Elmina said so, she fluttered her cloak and set to leave the room. However——

“Kya!” “……”

As Elmina’s cloak stuck to a houseplant on a table, she stumbled to her back and fell. Pulled by her cloak, the houseplant rolled and fell directly on her face.

“OOOWWwwwwwwW!!”

“……Haaaah. And you’re still as clumsy as ever… I beg you, please don’t show this front to the Demons, okay…”

Embracing his wife who just made a bump on her head, Ranze whispered so.

“…So this is the Capital of the Wimburg Kingdom?” “Indeed.”

A group of demons was nearing the entrance gate to Terveil.

They were the party of the Demon Army who partook in the conference.

The one to lead this party was the daughter of the Demon King, Lutia Vyuth, and behind her were the executive members of the Demon Army, including the captain of the 3rd Demon corps, Leiyah Falza.

“Lutia-sama. Is it really a good idea to bring us all with you? Who shall protect Gran Boige now that we…”

“…It is fine. The White Dragon God is protecting in our stead.”

“I see, it is reassuring to know that the White Dragon God-sama is present… It will be fine, then.”

Leiyah expressed her worry, but it soon vanished with Lutia’s words. However, it was then Lutia who showed anxiety. Her gaze was down.

“…It’s just, we left Kleis behind. Why didn’t we bring him with us? Will he be okay?”

“…Lutia-sama. It is no use to worry over him. We should put our mind on the conference, then bring back a piece of shocking good news to him.”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

As Lutia received Leiyah’s words, she gave herself a little nod, then recovered her gaze.

Observing their princess, the captain of the Demon’s 2nd Corps, Zorua Waltore, voiced his dissatisfaction.

“Hey, can’t I kill that shithead when we get back? Even before we departed, fucker had been on and on about human this and demon that and relationship what-has-he. A cur like that is better be dead than alive, don’t cha think so?”

Dealing with Zorua and his dangerous opinion was the captain of the Demon’s 1st Corps, Zerros Albana.

“Calm down. I also hate his attitude, but you’re going too far.”

“Ahn? Did you even hear what you said?… You’ve noticed too, haven’t you? That shit’s definitely up to no good.”

“…We still have no proof for it, there’s nothing we can do… In addition, I wouldn’t say it’s all fine, but I have my men watching Kleis’ every conduct.”

“Hah! It sure is an easygoing job, observing one little cur. The strongest of all Demon Corps doing odd jobs, now that’s incredulous.”

“What did you say?”

As turbulent air began to stir between Zuroa and Zerros, Jade Leiven, the captain of Disciplinary Corps called out to them with a tired voice.

“Both of you… Being cheerful is good and all, but know your top priority okay?” “Hah? I’m just stating the fact.”

“This bastard started it first.”

With Zorua and Zerros talking almost at the same time, Jade did nothing but sighed.

“Haah… Why do you two get to be in one sync only in time like these… Mou, this is why you cookies are so kyute.”

““……”“

Jade’s casual remark made both of them speechless.

“…Zorua, Zeros, thank you for thinking of me. However, Kleis is one of our precious kin. It’ll be alright.”

“…Roger.”

“…By your will.”

After Lutia told both of them so, they looked into each other then expressed their affirmation with a nod.

The captain of the 4th Demon Corps, Liaretta Barheim, who was silent during the whole ordeal, called out to the captain of the 5th Demon Corps, Uls Banyu.

“Haah… I was worried they’d go all out even when we’re out here. What do you think, Uls?”

“……”

“…Uls? My goodness, he’s out cold!”

As it turned out, Uls lost his consciousness due to the sheer tense atmosphere between Zuroa and Zerros.

Even during all this happened, Lutia and her followers kept advancing toward the gate. “…So this is… The capital, Terveil…”

With a soft mumble, Lutia then tried to pass through the gate.

When she did so, a single guard, presumably the gatekeeper, stopped her on her track.

“Whoops there. You people, sorry to ruin your fun, but we gotta check your belongings before you can pass.

The guard with nonchalant attitude was a soldier of the Wimburg Kingdom, Claude Schneizer.

Looking at Claude’s nonchalant attitude towards Lutia, Zuroa was ready to give him a lesson, before he was stopped by Lutia’s hand.

“…It’s fine. What for?”

Lutia’s [What For?] had the meaning of; [We the Demon Army is going to visit this country, but that news hasn’t reached here?]

“Hm? Ah, don’t get me wrong, but I hear some big fishes from the Demon race is coming. It gonna be ugly if something happened during their visit, so we escalated the guards around here. Or should I say, you guys are all Demon race people?”

“…Yes. We’re the supposed Demon Army.”

“Hoo, I see I see EEEeeeEEEEeeeeeeh!?!?”

It was simply the case of Claude didn’t recognize them.

“Ah, err… My deepest apologies! Oi, someone! Send a message to His Majesty, the Demon Army is already here!”

“Roger!”

Claude bowed with great vigor, then gave a command to one of his peers. And then he apologized again with the heaviest of heart.

“Err… I really have no excuse…”

“…It matters not. Thanks to you, I can see just how high the people of this country are thinking about us. For all reasons, we should’ve given you our gratitude.”

“Huh?”

Claude couldn’t make any word as he was exposed to unexpected gratitude.

In the midst of this development, a carriage that was sent to pick up Lutia and her folks arrived.

Claude was still processing the event that just unfolded as he watched Lutia getting on

the carriage, then snapped out and said his trademark with a smile. “Ah, I forgot——Welcome to Terveil!”

“…Un. Thank you.”

And that was how various groups with their various ideals gathered in Terveil, the capital of the Wimburg Kingdom.

Kaizer Empire, the Monarch’s room.

The Emperor, Schelder Wohl Kaizer, sitting on his throne with one leg atop the other. In front of him was Helio Roban, the Empire’s Court Magician. Together, they were planning a scheme.

“——Your majesty. Apparently, along with the assembly of the S class adventures, the Demon Army has reached Terveil.”

“I see.”

Listening to Helio’s info, Schelder broke into a grin. “Any update on our project?”

“Sir. The units that are armed with Dungeon tools have been stationed. All we need is your command, and everything will be over.”

“Kukuku… What about Zakir?”

“He’s now being stationed in the Deol Kingdom. After which, he is to join the nearest team then go with them.”

Upon hearing it, Schelder’s grin one deepened.

“That’s good. That is for the best. «The Emperor’s Sword» shall obey my every command, like how it should be! Helio, now with the absemce of Zakir, who will be guarding me?”

“——It is I, your Majesty.”

Along with those words, a creepy man with black full-body suit that hid his face. His black hood covered everything but his sharp, sanpaku eyes.

“Hou? So it’s you, Rautice.”

“Sir… The ones to guard you during Zakir’s absence will be us, the Assassination corps. With us being here, no assassin from any other countries can even imagine going near you, Your Majesty.”

“Ha ha ha ha! I can be at ease knowing it’s your people guarding me!… Come to think of it, what’s the status of the «Twilight Assassin» that you sent to Wimburg?”

Upon those words, the black-suit man named Rautice furrowed his brows.

“…That beast woman has failed her mission. In the end, a beastman is nothing more than a beast, they can’t even accomplish a simple mission.”

“Is that so… that’s shameful to hear. I heard you were the one who taught her…”

“I am… However, we have many of more talented individuals in the Assassination corp. The only demerit I suffered is the loss of time I trained her, and outside of that… a slave like she doesn’t hold much information about our empire.”

“Hmph… Whatever. For now, I’ll leave it to you to guard me.” “By your will.”

After he said so, Rautice once again melted into the darkness.

“Now, our preparation has completed. Under the flag of this Empire——we shall conquer.”

“——Your wish is our command.”

——Just as dramatic movements were happening in the heart of the Wimburg Kingdom, The Kaizer Empire had also made their move.

I——Hiiragi Seiichi, had been in uneventful days since the day I returned from the Netherworld.

Even now, what I was seeing before me was the sight of Beatrice-san personally tutoring each student according to the papers she tailored for each individual, teaching the smart students and the not-so-bright ones, like Agnos, how to conquer the upcoming exam.

Shame of me to say this, but I could do nothing if it came to honest studying, so all I could do was observe from the sideline. I’m sorry for my incompetence.

By the way, my Parents’ group had departed for Terveil a while ago.

I was thinking that they could just teleport there, since they had the Treasure Box who owned a Transfer Magic set with them, but apparently, they wanted to take their time and enjoy the scenery.

Originally, in this world which was obviously different from our homeland Japan, a light travel wouldn’t be as much “light” as it sounded, with the dangers lurking in every corner. However, pride is still, pride.

I mean, not only do they have a Hero and the First Demon King with them, they even got the Heroes’ mentor travelling with them, you know? Name one person who can possibly beat this group, if you can.

In addition, it seemed like my parents were anticipating this travel with delight, they even said this before we parted.

[Makoto-san! It’s been a while since we had a trip! Let’s do some Food Tourism!]

[You’re right. Also, if we did get back to Earth, we’d have some hot topic to talk about from this world, don’t you think?]

[Mou, let’s just enjoy the trip, okay? Ah, Seiichi. Do you have a camera with you?]

I really couldn’t be more impressed by my parents who enjoyed their time in another world. No, really, they’re superb.

Anyway, it was disheartening to be parted with them, be it for a short while or not. However, things had changed… now, I could meet them whenever I wanted to.

It was normal and obvious, but it was more than anything.

I wasn’t that worried about their trip, but I kept recalling my last conversation with Zeanos.

[Seiichi-dono. Let me thank you once again. Thank you very much.] […No, I should be the one who’s thanking here. Thank you.]

[…Seiichi-dono. Well, I wouldn’t worry if it’s you, Seiichi-dono, but… let me give you a warning. ——Be wary of the Kaizer Empire.]

[Eh?]

[It would be great if I was just being too overcautious, but… In case my deduction are correct, then I would say that the current Emperor of the Kaizer Empire is a dangerous man.]

[What do you mean…?]

[…As I have no evidence to support it, I can’t say much. However, please note what I said.]

In the end, I wasn’t told anything substantial, but I gained the insight that the Kaizer Empire would be more of a hassle than I thought.

While I was uncharacteristically thinking of hard things, I heard Agnos rising his voice. “How ‘bout this!?”

“…Well, your score did get better from before, but why does the [GUTS] still appear in

the answer sheets?”

“That ‘coz everything’ll be good with [Guts] in it!” “There’s no way that’s true!”

Apparently, Agnos’ mock exam result was getting better than before, but he was like usual, trying to solve everything with [guts.]

Helen, looking at Agnos, held her head in agony.

“You were taught this much, and yet why did you still answer everything with the word [Guts]… Are you perhaps an idiot? Or am I the idiot one here, sparing my time for an idiot like you…?”

“Aint’ that way too harsh!?”

“And it’s the fact, isn’t it? Or rather, Irene, are you okay not studying at all?” Agnos was dumbfounded, for he got completely side-casted so casually.

Irene, who was inquired by Helen, then swept her hair gracefully then answered with a smile plastered on her face.

“That much is obvious. For this perfect and unparalleled me, there is no blindspot in regard of academic strength.”

“Any part you’re having hard time with?”

“None of such thing. If you’re oh so persistent to know, maybe perhaps the fact that I find it hard to write a perfectly balanced handwriting?”

“That’s not even a part of the study, is it…”

Exposed to Irene’s overtly abnormal response, Helen once again held her head. “Ano~ Helen-chan~. What do you think about mine~?”

“Nn? Let me see… Un, Rachel, you’re getting better each time you’re doing it.”

“I am~? Yeaay~!”

Looking at Rachel with her fluffy smile, Helen too broke into a wide smile. “Hey hey! What about me, what about me!?”

Next to give her answer sheet was Flora, and after Helen took a look at it… “Yeah, normal.”

“What do you mean normal!? It hurts, you know!?”

“No, I’m just saying you’re normally getting better. It’s not like you’re exponentially getting better, you’re just normally growing.”

“it’s weird… I should’ve been happy that my score is getting better, but being told as Normal doesn’t make me happy at all…!”

Oh, Flora. Being normal is the best, you know. Why don’t you first experience a visit to the Guild Headquarter in Terveil! You’ll see how great it is to be normal!

“I’m done!”

Recalling the sight of those perverts in the Guild Headquarters, my eyes were looking into the long distance. It was when Saria suddenly raised her voice.

What a thing, as it turned out, Saria had been studying too, using the exam sheet that was especially tailored for her.

In regard of reading and writing, she was already good at it ever since she read Abel’s diary in the <Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow>… It was a good thing Abel doesn’t know Saria and I have been reading his diary.

“…You’re good, Saria-san. It’s all correct.” “Really!? Seiichi! Look, look~!”

“Ou, aren’t you awesome!”

After having Helen checked her answer, Saria showed me her paper with a smile that

reached her ears.

The aura of [Praise me!] she exerted was felt in obvious manner, even if she didn’t say anything, so I patted her head with a smile on me.

“Grrrr…!”

Rurune was studying too, with the paper that was also especially tailored for her, but in contrast with Saria, she was glaring a hole into it.

“I don’t understand… I don’t understand a bit… why is this thing making me choose which one is the [Medicinal Herb]…! Aren’t they all the same once they get into your stomach!”

“…Glutton, you stupid?” “Wha, what did you say!?”

Hearing Rurune’s absurd remark, Olga-chan softly said something under her breath.

No, she’s not wrong though.

In addition, on Rurune’s paper, while the other was indeed a Medicine Herb, the other one was clearly a poisonous mushroom. There’s no way they’re anything similar. You eat that one and you’ll die on the spot.

In the midst of these progressing study, there were students who really had no change in particular.

“Blued, I assume you’re doing fine?”

“Hmph… I’m not the same as a certain musclehead, after all.” “I can hear that, you shit!”

“Nn? I’m just saying musclehead. Not a word of it is addressed to you, is it not?” “Ah, what, so I just misunderstood it~”

“Well, it is you that I’m talking about.”

“I’ll fucking kill you!”

You two are chummy as usual, huh. Oi.

Anyway, Blued didn’t need any additional tutoring, all he needed to do was keeping his score as high as it was. The same could be said for Bead.

The only problem was, if I had to say, Leon. His answer sheet was filled with apologies like usual. Not only Beatrice-san and I, even Helen had gave up on his case and put her hands away.

——I have no clue how other classes were faring, but our class was steadily advancing with the Exam in mind.

A certain day after several days of studying with Helen as our core student.

When I was heading towards the classroom as usual, I noticed that the class was a lot more noisy than normal.

“What’s happening?”

“…There are more people, in the class.” “Nn? Now you said it…”

Olga-chan pointed so after she stuck her neck out to the door. After I checked it with the skill [World’s Eye], I could tell there were a lot more people inside the classroom than the whole members of Class F. [Life Force] sense that Zeanos taught me in Netherworld also showed the same result, that there were more people than usual.

For now, we wouldn’t know what was happening until we entered, so I along with Olga stepped into the classroom.

When I did so, I saw Agnos and other male students were acting as if protecting the girls, and they were facing a certain group of people.

“And. I. Told. You… Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Huuh!? That’s my words you fucking shits!”

“Ha? Oi cunts, who do you think you’re talking to?”

The group of people they were facing was… to my surprise, the heroes from my school. Also, for some reason, the only ones present were the male heroes.

“We’re the Heroes, you know? We’re here to save you lots from the Demon King. You sure are looking down at us, knowing who we are.”

“See if I care, you shit-for-brains! Don’t ya think you can get away with anything, just coz your shitty Hero title!”

“That would be you lot, don’t have any idea of your standings? You sure talk big for some small fries who cheated during the In-School Tournament. You think bastards like you have any chance against us Heroes?”

I could tell this was one real stormy atmosphere, but I didn’t see any reason why this happened at all. Not even the reason what are these Heroes doing here… Though I guess Kannazuki-senpai would come charging here without reason.

In addition, it was unfortunate that both Beatrice-san and Al weren’t here, since they were taking the role of a teacher.

Either way, I can’t believe they’re thinking our feat during the In-School Tournament as a cheat…

Indeed, I had made them able to use magic, and that very act would fall in the gray zone. However, Agnos and his classmates didn’t even use Magic to begin with. It had nothing to do with my power. It was purely their strength.

For now, I’d walk towards Agnos. “What’s with the fuss?”

“A, Aniki!”

“You…!”

Walking right in between both side as to part them, Agnos’ face started to gleam while the Heroes’ frowned.

Placing my gaze on the Heroes’ group, I could recognize Daiki, Kobayashi, Aoyama, and the lot who used to bully me back then. Really, what are they doing here?

In the past, these faces would make me shrunk in fear, but after I went against them during Saria and the girls’ case, I only felt nothing.

I guessed that Aoyama and his lot remembered me, their gaze had been nothing short of a glare.

I paid no mind to these gazes and asked them.

“This is the Class F’s classroom… What business do the Heroes have with us?” “————Nothing much, we only have one little request, you see?”

The one to answer my question wasn’t one of the Kobayashi’s group, but someone behind the three.

Looking carefully into him, I recognized him as one of the Idol Group back on Earth… Kisaragi Masaya senpai.

I didn’t know him personally, but Kisaragi-senpai was the direct opposite of me, a great person who, truthfully speaking, had no shortcomings.

Kisaragi-senpai had a neat smile sitting on his face, but for a reason or another, I could

feel something wicked behind that smile.

Whilst I was pondering so, still with the smile, Kisaragi-senpai continued. “Nothing much, we only asked these girls to be ours.”

“…Huh?”

As I couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words, an exclamation escaped my mouth.

When it did, next to opened their mouth Tougou Rentou senpai and Ooyama Tsuyoshi

senpai, the other members of the same Idol Group.

“No, why do you look so surprised? We told you to hand these girls over to us.” “If you didn’t want be hurt, just obediently hand them to us, you hear?”

For some reason, Ooyama-senpai punched his hand with a grin plastered on his face.

And as if to be on the same page with him, Aoyama’s gang was grinning with dirty intention.

Looking at these Heroes, Blued who was the second prince of the Kaizer Empire, the nation who summoned them, opened his mouth.

“I have nothing to say that bastards like you lot are the heroes. But don’t you even dare to think that this kind of despotism will go away without notice.”

The Heroes were told thus by Blued, but after a period of aligning their faces, the Heroes started to laughed their bowel.

“HAHAHAHA!! You sure said something funny. You think I don’t know? You’re the Empire’s second prince, aren’t you? You’ve got a commoner’s blood running in you, don’t you!?”

“Not only you’re a royal with mudblood, you’re just another dropout who has no power.”

No, you guys are just commoners too, okay? At least, there were no royals or anything back when we were in High School, weren’t it?

Even Kannazuki-senpai who was the princess of a huge conglomerate wasn’t a royal.

Why are you mocking others, when you yourself is just another commoner? It’s too stupid I couldn’t even say anything.

As I was being speechless listening to their bull, Kisaragi-senpai looked down at me then spoke.

“Anyway, what I’m getting at is that you dropouts can be of use to us Heroes. You males will be our gopher, while the females will service us… In particular, I’m interested in

you. You have the honor of serving me.” “Eh? Me?”

At the end of Kisaragi-senpai’s finger was Saria.

“Indeed. For you lot who have no future, wouldn’t it be an honor to serve us Heroes? It was lucky that the girls in the Class F are pleasant to the eye, though that’s the only redeeming quality. We will give you lots of attention.”

“No!”

Saria immediately replied with a smile. Kisaragi-senpai’s smile was stiffen by it.

“Listen… Do you think lowly dropouts like you have any voice in this? To top it, you’ll have the honor to serve this me, you know? And you’re——”

“Nope!” “……”

For the second time in a row, Saria said so with a smile. Upon receiving it, Kisaragi-senpai’s smile started to crumble. “…Even though we’ve been trying to be humble…”

Eh, you call that being humble!? THAT!?

“I don’t get it… What makes you so persistent…” “It’s because I love Seiichi so much!”

“Huh?”

Hearing Saria’s words, the Heroes were showing questionable expressions. By the way, mine was red with blush. I mean, it’s embarrassing to hear.

I thought they’d figure it was me since my name was mentioned, but it seemed like, to them, I wasn’t someone worth to be remembered. They didn’t notice it was the same Seiichi.

For a moment, smile was absent from Kisaragi-senpai’s face, but it soon returned with a black intention behind it.

“I see, I see… So you’re saying you like this Seiichi fellow?” “Un!”

“That’s a shame. This bastard doesn’t have a chance against us, you know? Comparatively, we’re way better. Not only we’re heroes, we’re also Idols.”

“What is Aydolls?”

Kisaragi-senpai was trying to sell himself high, but Saria instead took interest in something else.

Instead of Kisaragi-senpai whose smile started to twitch, Tougou-senpai spoke to Saria.

“Idols are people like us. People who look good and are competent. And even among these idols, we’re standing on the top.”

They sure said that in the face of Blued, who’s clearly above them on that front. In addition, top class they said?

Back on Earth, that might be true. But having seen Blued and that Robert kid from Class S, one could clearly tell the difference in class. What is it again, their overflowing elegance? Of course, that included their look.

Having received Tougou-senpai’s explanation, Saria smiled innocently as though she finally got it.

“That means Seiichi’s the bestest best!” “………Huh?”

Never to expect to get that response, the heroes were once again dumbfounded. No,

well, me included.

Not even heeding to this atmosphere, Saria’s smile was just as strong.

“It’s because Seiichi is the coolest and the strongest! Isn’t that right, Seiichi!” “Ah, and you’re passing the hot ball to me now!?”

I, who didn’t think will be having to bite the bullet now of all time, could only voice out my shock.

When I did so, Kisaragi-senpai and his groups finally realized that the Seiichi Saria had been mentioning was indeed me, and their glare couldn’t be less of any dagger.

“…So you’re Seiichi?” “Eh? Ah, yeah.”

With his gaze rudely licking me all over, Kisaragi-senpai snorted.

“Hah… What a dirty robe… Also, you must be so hideous that you bothered to hide your face. Hahahaha!”

Following Kisaragi-senpai, the other heroes also started to laugh.

…Cliff-sensei, the Class S’ teacher, also laughed when he looked at my equipment, but they sure do laugh at it. Even though it has such a broken stat. Is that what so funny?

Since my [Clairvoyance] skill doesn’t show any response, it seems like nobody used [Appraisal] on it, but… why they don’t? Did they judge they have no need to?

While my mind was wandering along those lines, I suddenly realized Saria’s hand was reaching my hood.

“That’s not true! Seiichi is cool I tell you!” “Eh? Saria?”

[……]

As it was completely an easygoing action of Saria, and due to the fact I had lower my guard, Saria swept my hood off my face.

That moment, I could see their faces stiffen into stone. And that was, if not short of, a wonderful sight.

Then, Kisaragi-senpai with his twitching smile and sweat that kept running voiced out his reason.

“A, at least… n, not… not hideous… per se…?” “H, hmph… Hoo…”

“H, h-hhheeeh… H, hhheheheh he looks… a bit more proper… than expected, is all…”

The ones who showed that reaction weren’t Kisaragi-senpai’s group only, but also Kobayashi’s.

Feasting upon their riddled faces, Agnos started to speak out. “How is it! Isn’t my Aniki just the best!”

“W, well? L, let’s put aside his looks… C, competence! Right, competence!! We as Heroes and Idols have our exceeding competence. Compared to us, what can he do? Huh!?”

I understand what they mean by the Heroes’ competence, but Idols’? What are they supposed to be? Singing? Dancing?

Again, I was lost in useless thoughts when Kisaragi-senpai’s words revitalized the others enough to open their mouth.

“Th, that’s right! I bet you got nothing you can do!”

“I bet you were cheating during the tournament back then! We’re way stronger than you are, both in magic and in swordplay!”

“Hora! Get out of our face if you don’t want to get hurt!”

Agnos and his peers were frowning when they were exposed to these unpleasant

barks.

However, what I really worry about was something completely diffrent.

…No, really, how can you be feeling so domineer about it?

They had the right to be proud of their Idols status. They might have put their effort behind it, or they might not, none of it I did understand.

But, if you think about it again, so what if they become a Hero?

Let’s put aside whether the Demon Lord is really a bad guy or not, or is it egoistic to be prideful for being chosen as the Heroes, isn’t it weird to be so domineering about it? Or am I the odd one?

My neck was twisted as I was thinking so. Then, Saria, again, declared thus with still with her smile.

“You got it wrong! Seiichi is stronger!”

I was honestly happy when Saria said so, but same couldn’t be said for Kisaragi-senpai and his goons.

Their faces were twisted for a moment, but soon turned into a dark, nasty grin. “…Come to think of it, you sure fucking looking down at us back then in the tournament.” “Looking down?”

“Oh, you don’t know? We’re the only ones who are allowed to be strong. And yet… you…!”

Eeeeh~? They sure got off with the most ridiculous reason.

“…Well, fine… If you’re saying that your strength is above ours… why don’t we see that now!?”

“!! Aniki, watch out!”

Suddenly, Kisaragi-senpai emerged flame from both of his hands then launched them

at me.

Agnos was fast enough to react to it, but I was just stood silent and watched it enveloped.

A moment after, those flame magic were halted in front of me, and just hung there on the air.

“Huh? Wh, what happened? Go, fucking burn him into ashes!”

Kisaragi-senpai was desperately trying to take command over his magic, but these fireballs were floating unperturbed…

Kisaragi-senpai who was clearly vexed by this phenomenon leashed his frustration on his associates.

“Oi, you lot! Use your damn magic!” “Eh? Ri, right. [Wind Cutter!]!”

“[Fire Lance]!”

These magic spells kept coming my way.

However, every last of them was no better than the first, they just stopped in the air and wouldn’t move any further.

“T, THE FUCK’S GOING ON!?!?”

Kisaragi-senpai couldn’t be any further shocked to see that their magic just stopped. In the meanwhile, his magic spells called out to me.

[Masutah! What should we do about these guys? Should we kill ‘em?] [We’re born ready!]

[Tell us what to do, Masutah!]

These magic spells just casually betrayed their own creators and said that to me. I just laughed bitterly when I heard it, then spoke to them kindly.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to attack them. I’m sure you guys have enough capability to do so, but there’s a possibility that the classroom would receive unwanted collateral damage. Instead, I want you to vanish as naturally as you can. Can I ask you that?”

[If that’s what Masutah so wished, then we have no other things to say. But… is it really okay?]

“Yeah. Thanks for the consideration. I’ll depend on you guys next time.”

After I said so, the Magic Spells became elated and cheered [Yaaay! Masutah praised me!] before they vanished from the spot.

Kisaragi-senpai and his goons who were oblivious of this conversation were, again, surprised by the development.

“W, WHY THE FUCK OUR MAGIC JUST GONE!?!?”

“Umm… Is that all? We’re about to start our study session here, so…”

For a moment, pure bewilderment was showing itself on their faces, but it soon turned into spears and lances of glares.

“Freaking getting cocky on us… WOY!! JUST SHOWER HIM WITH MAGIC!!” [OU!]

With Kisaragi-senpai’s cue, the other heroes once again send magic spells to me in a large amount.

However, as though my words were collectively captured by these magic spells, each and every of them vanished before they made contact with me.

Since I sensed would take a while, I called out to Helen. “Helen.”

“Wh, what?”

“I’ll do something about them, you can start the study session with everyone else.”

“Under these circumstances!? Just how absurd are you!?”

Am I? But, I don’t want to waste any more time… Well, let’s not dwell on the details.

Helen, despite her retort, brought the other students to their respective desk and started the study session. Un, that’s for the best.

In the midst of it, Saria called out to me. “Seiichi, okay?”

“I’m okay. Saria, why don’t you go and study with everyone else?” “Un! Thanks! Seiichi too, do your best!”

I patted Saria’s head before she returned to where the others were, then started studying.

Kisaragi-senpai, who watched this carefree conversation, had his face became red itself and barked.

“D… DON’T FUCK WITH MEEEE!!! YOU THINK YOU CAN IGNORE ME…!? FUCK! FUCK! FUCKFUCKFFUUUUCCKK!! WHY THE FUCK IT WON’T FUCKING HIIIITTTT!?!?!?!?!?!?”

It’s because I personally asked your very own magic.

It mattered not how hard he shouted, his magic just would vanish before they deal any real damage.

Despite the fact that his magic would always vanish no matter what, Kisaragi-senpai’s eyes still gleamed and he began to use another type of magic.

“Fine… why don’t I show you the symbol of our Hero title, [Holy Attribute Magic]…!” “Ah, you better stop…”

“HAHAHAHA!! IT’S TOO LATE NOW!! FUCKING DIE!! [HOLY LANCE]!!”

The spear of light spell that was different from its cousin [Light Attributed Magic], in the fact that it packed Divine aura in it, emerged from Kisaragi-senpai’s palm and

made its way it’s me.

However, in the end, it wasn’t that much different from the previous spells, as this [Holy Attributed Magic] vanished without trace too.

“whywhyWHYWHYWHHY!!? T, the symbol my Hero title, [Holy Attributed Magic] just vanished…!?”

He must have so much confidence in that [Holy Attributed Magic] of his, but since I personally asked his very magic, whatever kind of spell that is will end the same.

In addition——.

[<Holy Attributed Magic: Intermediate> have been acquired. Taking into account of Seiichi-sama’s latent capacity, <Holy Attributed Magic: Intermediate> have been changed into <Holy Attributed Magic: Extreme>.]

That’s why I told him to stop!

Look! Now you made my body triggered its function! See that!? It was [Intermediate] before, and yet this thing just went and changed it into [Extreme]!

Why would I be able to use Holy Attributed Magic even better than the Heroes!? What’s the use of that!?

When I was retorting to the Announcement in my head, Kisaragi-senpai’s group was starting to figure that Magic had no effect on me, and each of them pulled a sword out of thin air.

Those swords had the design like those [Holy Swords] from the old RPG games, and every members of the present Heroes had one.

“If Magic won’t do, then Sword it is. This is the very weapon that only us Heroes may wield, the one of its kind… the [Holy Sword]!”

Arbitrarily, I used the skill [Advanced Appraisal] on these [Holy Swords].

[Holy Sword]… A Divine Sword whereas only the Hero can wield. It deals high damage against demonkind… I think.

So it really was just [Holy Sword].

In addition, they didn’t particularly have any special power.

Eh, did you say being able to use this is the proof that you’re a Hero? Are you kidding me!?

Even from the result of the appraisal, it wasn’t just [Deals high damage against demonkind], but even that was being questioned!

It has no effect then!!

I was quite taken aback by this joke of an effect, but I assumed that to their eyes, I looked like to be taken aback by the very appearance of these [Holy Swords].

“Fufufu… This sword’s original role is to kill Demonkins, you see. By that, I mean that this is the weapon that deals high damage against demons. With this, even the Demon King will be killed in an instant.”

No, I think that’s simply impossible.

“Now, it feels wasteful to use this weapon against a small fry like you, but… You’ve made fool out of us. That sin can only be paid with your death.”

“Eeeh…”

They’re attempting to kill a human so casually… are they fine on the head?

Well, to me who’ve killed various monsters, I might have no right to say that about others.

“Then… Go fucking die already!”

The first to attack was Ooyama-senpai.

He was as rough as he looked, and his swordplay had no technique whatsoever to support it.

My measure against it was simple——. “Nn”

I just avoided it without hurry.

“Kuh!… So you can avoid my attack… not bad, to say at least.” Ooyama-senpai was saying so with a composed face.

Etto… yeah. One thing I understand is that they won’t hold a candle against the Demon King with this much strength.

However, my thoughts weren’t invisible to these people, so they were able to say whatever they wanted.

“Oi oi, Gou~. You’re making him look pitiful. C’mon, show the real thing already.” “He’s right, just get one in!”

“Ou, you’re right!”

Ooyama-senpai looked at me with a grin.

“You hear ‘em, so we’re done checking the water. Unfortunate for you, isn’t it?” “Haah.”

“Bastard… that attitude fucking got on my nerves…!”

With veins popped on his forehead, Ooyama-senpai came attacking me once again. It was his serious, like how they told him to, but…

I couldn’t tell what was so different from the previous one.

The result was, I normally evaded his attack. Ah, the floor could get scratched, let’s layer it with protective magic.

“Wha!? My serious attack got evaded!?” “Yo, you’re kidding right?”

“Gou! I told you to go serious!”

“Kuh! GrrRRRrrraaaAAAaah!!!”

Perhaps they genuinely believe I couldn’t evade his attack, after a short while of disturb, they had him swing his holy sword on me again and again.

However, I just normally avoided them.

Aah… the wall could get scratched too… let’s use Wind magic to slightly avert his sword point.

Utilizing magic in the amount where these Heroes wouldn’t notice, I kept my evade play whilst keeping the classroom from any scratch.

“Fuck! Why won’t it hit!?” “! Rentou, we’re joining.” “Y, yeah. You guys too!” [Y, yes!]

The other heroes who had snapped out and joined in swinging their Holy Swords against me.

But, it made no difference for me, as all I did were avoiding and keeping the classroom from receiving any damage.

“What’s wrong!? You’ve been only evading!”

Tougou-senpai said so to reel me in, but I paid no mind to it and did what I did.

Despite knowing it held no meaning to me, they also slipped in magic attacks among their sword play.

Some of these attacks went towards Saria and the other students, so I carefully averted them away. In the end, I was their only opponent.

This lasted for 20 minutes, after which, they started to dull out along with their shortened breaths.

“Haa… haa… wh, wha… ‘s… happe…” “haa haa haa haa… m… monster…” “haa… haa… I, can’t…”

“Err… will you guys be fine?”

No, I mean it.

While I do worry their physical stamina, what I’m really concerned about is that they’re going to face the Demon King with that kind of stamina.

Yeah. If the supposed to revive Demon King is on the same level as Lucius-san, then all I see is instant massacre for them.

When he heard my words, Kisaragi-senpai’s glare once again exposed to me, and with his breath still in disarray, he said so.

“Haa… haa… Re… remember this… you bastards…! W. we’ll let it slide this time… Y, you’ll get… one back…!”

No, they’re just tired of me evading. Terrible.

As I thought so, they went away with a wobbly gaze while staring at me until the end.

…….

“Really, what was their business?” “Isn’t it you who’s far too abnormal!?”

Helen’s retort was in a moment’s notice.

For now, since the source of trouble had gone, I’d like to get into the study session. However, it was then when they came.

“Seiichi-kun, did you get hurt!?” “Seichan, are you okay!?”

““Nn?”“

The next guests this classroom saw was Kannazuki-senpai and… the girl I call [Airin], Seto Airi.

“I rushed here when I heard Kisaragi and his goons were heading to this class, but…” “I got here ‘cuz Yuka and the girls pushed me here to meet Sei-chan, but…”

“What are you doing here?” “What’cha doin’ here, prez?”

“No, I should be the one asking that here!”

Class F’s sudden guests, Kannazuki-senpai and Airin, were pointing at each other.

Meeting yet another new character even though Kisaragi-senpai and his group just left a while ago made the students wide-eyed, but it seemed like they chose to stay silent and watch from the sidelines.

For the time being, let us sort out the situation.

First, I could understand Kannazuki-senpai. It was very thankful, but I knew just how much Kannazuki-senpai cared for me, so I could see how she would take action when she heard about Kisaragi-senpai’s conduct.

But, what I couldn’t understand was why Airin here.

In the first place, I hadn’t seen Airin since the day we enrolled into High School.

No, I know she’s been looking for me since Junior High, but I’ve been avoiding her since.

She had finally made a friend and escaped from the loner world, if she was seen with someone like me, everything would have been for nothing.

In the end, I tried to find the reason, but… “Oi oi, what’s happening?”

“Why’s the student council’s president here?”

“…Beats me? It just, somehow feels like a cat fight’s gonna happen…”

Since I heard voices from behind Airin’s back, I changed my line of sight over there. What I saw was a group of three girls whispering with each other, that I assumed were her friends.

“What’s the meaning of this!? Seiichi-kun! Why is Seto Airi——” “Sei-chan, I demand an explanation! Why’z the prez——”

For some reason, their gazes that had been in clash with each other were suddenly turned against me, and when they did so, I could see their expression turned into much like Kisaragi-senpai’s a while ago.

“Eh? Ah, err… What might be the problem?” [……]

My question that for some reason turned into a formal language was faced with silence.

Then, when Airin’s friend saw her suddenly stiffened, they came out from their hiding and voiced their worry.

“Oi, what’s wrong? Wait——” “Something happened?… Huh?”

“ Is he really the rumored [Sei-chan]?”

Her friends, too, had their expression stiffened when they laid their eyes on me. Really, what is it!? Explanation, puriizu!!

When my head was filled with such thought, Airin who finally snapped out came near

me.

“Ain’t cha way too cool, Sei-chan!? What kinda diet ya went through!?” “Eh?… F, fruit of evolution diet…?”

“The heck’s that!? Rather, ain’t cha changed way more than I did!?”

Come to think of it, Airin was just a plain normal girl back then, wasn’t she.

And that girl is now such a pretty and popular woman. But it seems like my transformation was that much of a surprise, comparatively. Well, I did get thinner, and I’ve gotten taller, and I’m no longer balding, but still,

“Is it that much of a change? Isn’t it just my face getting thinner?”

“Just where face did that come out from!? Have ya properly looked into a mirror!?” “Well, I have.”

Eh? I’m the weird one?

Certainly, there had been a number of times I had the chance to check on my own face since I left <The Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow>. These would be when I used the reflection of my face on the water surface.

But, if you asked my opinion, it wasn’t that much of a change. Just like losing some pimples, is all.

When my head went toward that direction, Airin pulled me back to the moment with her tired voice.

“Sei-chan… just how low could your self-esteem be… Rather, I doubt ya can get so cool by getting thinner alone…”

“Eh? Did you just casually diss me?”

While Airin and I were going back and forth, one of her friends voiced her opinion. “…It’s just my opinion, but is it possible that his usual profile was too harsh to look at

that his judgement over his current face is clouded? Though, that in itself is sad to think about.”

“Does that kind of thing even happen?… Wait, with Sei-chan in question, it’s a real possibility.”

I don’t understand what happened, but it seemed Airin got the explanation she wanted.

It was hard to notice with the circumstance at hand, but it came to me that I hadn’t talked to Airin since junior high.

When I realized this fact, sentimental feelings washed over me.

“…It’s maybe too late to say, but it’s been a while since we talked like this, isn’t it…” “…Really… Sei-chan’s sure is selfish, avoiding me on his own…”

“That’s… I’m sorry.”

There was no denying that I did avoid her, and all I could do was to apologize. Airin was looking at this pathetic me with the most serious expression I’d seen. After a while, her face broke down into a warm, gentle smile, then said so. “…Well, all’s fine. I got to meet with Sei-chan again, after all.”

“…Thanks.”

The ambiance between us was awkward due to the reunion, but Airin’s atmosphere suddenly took a 180 degree turn.

“…By the way, Sei-chan. What’s the meaning of this?” “Meaning of what?”

“Playing dumb don’t work on me. Sei-chan, you got a special relationship with the prez, don’t cha? Tell me how it become like that!”

“Even if you say special… we’re just childhood friends, you know?”

“Naaaw! That not it, no matter how you slice it! My intuition is telling me something’s happening! Just spit everything out!”

“What can I spit, that’s all there is to it…”

As Airin was rampaging mad bull, her attack was finally directed onto Kannazuki- senpai.

“You too, prez! You said you didn’t know anything about Sei-chan! You liar!” “……”

“Hello, you hear me?”

Even when Airin had been calling out to her, Kannazuki-senpai was unresponsive.

Come to think of it, Kannazuki-senpai has been silent for a while… what’s wrong with her?

When I leaned my face on her to check her state, she suddenly opened her mouth and asked so with dignity.

“Let’s get married.”

“The hell are you talking about!?”

Just what’s going on in her head!? Rather, where did the talk about weddings come from!? Isn’t she way outside the topic!?

Both Airin and I were surprised, but even in the midst of it, Kannazuki-senpai continued her talk, still in the same state as before.

“I had the resolve to control myself, but now that I see you, my thoughts have changed. What should we do about the reception?”

“You only changed the words, not the context!”

The retort that jumped out from my mouth, followed by Airin who also couldn’t contain her disagreement.

“Wh, whawhawhat are you talking, prez! Do you have a loose screw in your head!?” “Y, you’re right! Tell her more!”

“I’m the one who gets to wed Sei-chan!” “You’re the one who’s saying nonsense!”

It wasn’t just Kannazuki-senpai who had a screw loose.

“I, I can’t help it, can I! I already loved you in the first place, and when we met again, you got so cool!”

“Hah? Love, you said… EEEeeeeeehhhh!?!??”

“I, too, have been in love with Seiichi-kun since long ago. I can’t hold myself back anymore.”

“Wwhaaaaaaaaa!?”

Airin loves me!? Not only that, Kannazuki-senpai too!?!? Crap, too much information is flowing into my brain I can’t keep up with what’s what…!

“Sei-chan, make your choice! You’re going to wed me, aren’t cha!?”

“No, it’s me. You’re going to choose me, aren’t you!? Else, I’ll kill you then myself right after!”

“What’s with this risky option…!?”

It’s weird, it’s weird on so many levels…! Just what has happened to my body!?

I, who was cornered onto the walls, was in literal trouble.

And then, suddenly, I found my right arm coiled with someone else’s. “Y… You can’t! Seiichi’s bride——is me!”

——That was, Saria.

Kannazuki-senpai and Airin were shocked by her sudden arrival. It wasn’t just them, I too, was surprised.

All this time, when I dated Al, Saria never showed an ounce of anger nor jealousy—— And it was the first time I was exposed to that emotion from her.

She was holding my right arm tightly and stared into Kannazuki-senpai and Airin with eyes of angst, but not ones that had lost their reason.

As we were lost in confusion, Saria finally came to her senses and questioned her own action, just as bewildered.

“E, eh? Why did I say…” “Saria?”

When I tried to get her attention, bewildered still, she looked to my eyes.

“Seiichi… I’m, weird. When I heard Kannazuki and the other girl say they wanted to marry Seiichi, I… somehow, I felt really displeased…”

“……”

“Even though I never felt something like this before… What should I do…?” Saria anxiously asked.

Looking at her like that, I——. “…Saria. Will you forgive me?” “Eh?”

When I told her so, Saria’s expression changed into a befuddled one.

Watching the diverse in her expressions made me laugh bitterly, before I faced the other girls again.

“Kannazuki-senpai, Airin, I am truly happy that you feel that way to me, but I already have Saria. I’m terribly sorry.”

My head was bowed low before the two.

…Indeed, I also had another lover, namely Al, but our relationship was already approved by Saria.

But, it seems like the three of us need to sit down and properly talk it out… With my head still lowered, first to be heard from was Kannazuki-senpai.

“Seiichi-kun… I understand your feelings. However, don’t expect me to just back down and shut my own feelings.”

“I’m the same. Just when I get to meet ya and tell ya my feelings, and ya told me to get it over with… I hate it.”

“……”

Toward such a pathetic me who could do nothing but bow, Kannazuki-senpai declared so.

“That is why, all I ask is to be your first concubine!” “………Hah?”

“A, you cheat! I get to be the first concubine!”

Following Kannazuki-senpai’s sudden declaration, Airin also raised her hand.

“Hm? What is there to be surprised about? Polygamy is a common practice in this world, isn’t it? So, if you choose Saria as your first, then…”

“N, nonono! Just hold your freaking horses! We’re not talking about that, are we!? Are we!? Saria!?”

“I’m the first wife right? Then it’s okay!” “Oh dear me, I got the okay!”

Just what in the what!? Is this a problem that can really be solved as simply as that!?

As my head met dead ends after dead ends, oblivious to it, Saria spoke with glee.

“Of course I really love Seiichi and I want to marry Seiichi, but as I said before, I’m not thinking of monopolizing Seiichi to myself.”

“Well that’s——”

“And also, the two of them have known Seiichi long before I do, and they have been thinking about Seiichi all this time, right? I think it’s wrong to tell them to give Seiichi to me who suddenly showed up.”

“…That… might or might not be correct but…”

With my mouth threw out words I didn’t really process, Saria just smiled wide and uttered.

“It’s okay! I’ll just do my best to stay to be your first! Okay?” “――――”

Really, I just can’t win against Saria.

Thinking of Saria from the bottom of my heart, the person in question watched over Kannazuki-senpai and Airin who were still competing over the second position or whatever it was.

“But since there’s Al, isn’t the second position is already taken?” “Ha ha ha…”

I only could laugh dryly.

Then, from among the students who’d been the sideline watcher, I heard Flora mumbled with a stiff smile.

“This may sound late and repeated over and over again, but… Just what are you, Seiichi-sensei?”

That’s what I want to know!

“Fucking shit! I’ll fucking get him back…!” “Fucking made a fool of us…”

“Aah… fucking disgusting.”

Kisaragi’s group was crowding the corridor with profanities after their little visit to Class F and being dealt with by Seiichi.

The other students were fast on their feet to leave as they noticed this particular group of Heroes who bothered not to hide their displeasure.

Then Kisaragi, who was leading the group, voiced his suggestion to the other heroes. “That’s right… why don’t we level up a bit right now?”

“Ahn? Why so sudden?”

Ooyama was confused with his sudden proposal, but the answer he expected came with a dark overbreeding smile.

“We’re gonna level up to kick that bastard Seiichi in the balls. We’re the Heroes, no one else. Our status go up way faster than the others, am I right or what? If so, let’s just level up and teach that guy who’s the boss.”

“You say that, but… what level is he?”

“Beats me. Who fucking cares about that. We’ll be able to snap that guy in half once we level up. That’s all we need to care about.”

With his grin that never left its post, Kisaragi planned their next action. “For now, we need to recover our MP enough to level up.”

Having said that, they strode toward a certain classroom.

——They were still oblivious. The things that would occur to them, they hadn’t the slightest idea…

In the middle of their cruise to said classroom, as they were climbing the flight of stairs——it happened.

“Eh——?”

For no reason at all, Kisaragi found himself missing one step on the staircase.

As the lead stumbled and fell, like the domino effect, the other heroes behind him just fell through the whole staircase.

“AAuuugghhh!” “T, that huuuurt!”

“M, Masaya! Look where you’re stepping!” “Y, you think I did it on purpose!… Hm?”

With all of them practically stuck on the floor, Kisaragi noticed something on the stairs, which he believed was the reason for the slip.

After everyone managed to pull themselves up the stairs, carefully this time, what they found was a dripping wet wallet.

“Shit! Which fucker dropped his wallet here…! No matter who, I ain’t letting anyone go away!”

Kisaragi slammed the wallet back on the floor with rage.

After Tougou and the other guys calmed him down, they reached out to the classroom they aimed, then throw the door open.

“Hey, bring out the mana recovery potion!” “Eh!?”

“Who do you think we are!? Heroes, you know! Fucking bring it out already!”

“Y. yeeeesh!”

The classroom they went into was a laboratory where pharmaceutical classes were held, and there were many medicines and similar raw materials stored within.

Even though the students in the pharmacy lab were doing their best on their experiments, Kisaragi paid no mind to any of it, he just grabbed the nearest student and yelled his order.

As the heroes’ ill reputation was circulating around the whole campus, the students in the pharmacy lab could only obediently obey.

While indeed they were studying there, it was not like they knew every kind of concoction the lab stored.

But, the student knew pleading that would only add insult to injury, so he was desperate to look for what was told.

“P, perhaps… this one…?”

“How long do you want to make us wait!? Here, give it to me!”

Kisaragi, who was already fuming, took the concoction that the student held, and drank as much as he wanted, before giving the rest to the other heroes.

Tougou, Ooyama, and the others did pretty much the same until the bottle was dry. “Phew… that’ll fill some.”

“Th, that’s troubling! If you drank all of it…!” “What? Who do you think you’re speaking to?” “Uu…”

Being exposed to the heroes’ gazes all at once, the student held his breath unwittingly. Looking at his state, Kisaragi snorted.

“Hmph… you small fries have no right whatsoever. All you have to do is just stay silent

and follow whatever we say… We no longer have any business here, let’s scram.” Done kicking a fuss, Kisaragi pulled his group out and went away.

——But, they hadn’t noticed it.

The concoction they drank was nothing close to Mana Recovery Potion.

If only one among them bothered to use [Appraisal] on it, the future might have changed.

After all, this is what would appear if they had used [Appraisal] on it.

[Anaphrodisiac]…… A concoction made for creature with high fertility, i.e. orcs and goblins. A super potent drug; one sip will result in complete failure of the genitals. Subject will be rendered incapable of sexual activity regardless of how aroused they are.

Without them knowing, they had completely lost their function as a male.

Still oblivious of that, Kisaragi and his goon who believed they had recovered their mana stepped their feet on the forest just outside the academy.

“I heard that this is the best place to level up for students. For the time being, let’s just go wild.”

[Ou!]

They delved into the woods to get some levels, yet they could find nothing.

They were oblivious of the fact that it was the same woods where Demiolos did his massacre upon the monsters.

Therefore, the students were prohibited to enter the woods as the ecosystem and the food chain were greatly disrupted.

However, Kisaragi’s group was oblivious of this warning as they stepped in.

Some time had passed, and the heroes were clearly unpleasant at the current state of affairs.

“Why the fuck they ain’t appearing!?”

Kisaragi who finally reached his boiling point, blew up.

“Where’s the slime? The fucking goblins!? Why ain’t even one show up!? Ain’t they just small fries…!”

“You’re right… Isn’t it weird that we can’t even see a shadow?” “This is what I’d call a useless school.”

As they were having such back-and-forth during their search, suddenly, the sound of trees breaking was heard.

“Hmm? What’s that?”

As they turn their attention toward the source of the sound, [It] showed itself. “GRRrrrr…!”

“T, that’s a…!”

What appeared before them was a bear monster that originally would never show up in the vicinity of the academy.

“Finally one shows up… To top it, it’s one that’s good enough to level up, ain’t it.”

They were stunned for a moment when they realized it was a bear monster, but a ferocious smile started to show up when they realized it was their long-awaited prey.

And then, Kisaragi put his hand toward the bear.

“Well, why don’t we kill it fast and look for the next one? [Fire Lance]!”

Kisaragi had casted the spell, and yet there was no indication that the spell would materialize.

“H, huh?”

“Stop kidding around… Here, I’ll do it instead. [Wind Shot]!”

As for Kisaragi had failed his spell, next was Tougou to use his own magic, but the result was just as similar.

“Hah? W, why…”

“GRROOOAAARRR!!” [Eek!?]

As they were in total confusion just because their magic failed to work, the monster that was on alert till then roared.

Kisaragi and everyone there was oblivious of this, but a monster’s roar packed magic to cause panic, and that was just what befell them.

“WAAAAAHH!!”

“D, don’t be a coward!”

“Y, you guys use your magic too! Do it!” “G, got it! [Fire Lance]!”

“[Wind Cutter]!”

“[Water Shot]!”

The other heroes, Kobayashi and his crooks, followed Kisaragi’s command and chanted their spell, and yet no magic formed.

“Wh… why it won’t come out!?”

The reason why their magic wouldn’t form was simple.

They never drank any magic restoration potion in the first place.

Since what they feasted upon was a concoction called [Anaphrodisiac], not even a single drop of mana was recovered.

That being said, it didn’t mean that they were completely out of magic.

However, for Kisaragi and his goons that neglected their fundamental magic practices, they were incapable of deploying spells with the tiniest amount of mana, as it would require detailed techniques to accomplish.

Kisaragi and his group were thrown into a frenzy just because they were incapable of deploying magic, the fact that there was a bear monster that inched closer by the second was completely outside their mind.

With his hips ready to give in, Kisaragi suddenly cried out as though he just remembered something.

“R, right! You lot, use the [Holy Sword]!”

“I see! Monsters are just like demons, aren’t they!” “Eat this you shit!”

Each of them pulled out their sword and blindly swing it around, with no arts or technique to support it.

It was then when all of them were knocked away at once. “Gahak!”

The monster simply swept his arm sideways.

That was all what needed to blow the heroes away without them recognizing what kind of attack it was.

If only they kept their cool and acted accordingly, such an attack wouldn’t have been received.

However, with them under the influence of the monster’s roar and losing their temper over their magic, that scenario was just a pie in the sky.

Every last one of them slammed into the surrounding trees with great momentum, the unfortunate ones were directly exposed to the monster’s devilish claws and had their arms severed.

“It hurts it hurts it hurts IT FUCKING HUUUUURRRTTTSS!!!!!”

“Ow…… augh……” “Haak… Ghh…”

“Ugh… Oegh… Groaaaan!!”

Was it due to luck that no lives were taken, but there was no mistake that they were already a step into their graves with just a single attack.

But the hardest blow would be the sight they had to behold right after. “Eh——”

Much to their surprise, their prided [Holy Swords] ——snapped in half. “N, no way…”

“T, tell me this is a joke. Hey…”

The broken [Holy Swords] were reduced into particles of light, then disappeared into thin air.

They were still in shock to see their [Holy Swords] became scrap, that they didn’t recognize the big change that was happening to their status.

Along with the loss of [Holy Sword] ——they also lost the qualification as a [Hero]. As a matter of principle, a [Holy Sword] wasn’t such a brittle artifact.

On the contrary, in the account of it did break, its wielder wouldn’t lose their qualification to be a hero, as the sword would be restored once they resummon it.

However… Kisaragi and his goons lost their qualification.

That meant they could no longer summon the [Holy Sword] to their cause. And the [Holy Swords] weren’t the only thing they had lost.

As they lost their status as a hero, they also lost their [Holy Attribute Magic], and their growth rate reduced to that of an ordinary person… nay, as they were a resident of a

peaceful world, their growth rate was as low as it could be, to the extent that even a child from this world could single handedly defeat them.

However, the only thing they had in mind was that they just lost their [Holy Sword], completely unaware how much worse things actually were for them.

And in front of them was a bear monster who cared not of how they fared, swinging its devilish claws down unto them.

“U, UWAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

Kisaragi dragged his body around with the last of his breath, trying his damndest to avoid direct hit.

However——.

“M, MY FACEEE! MA, MAI…… MAII FAAACEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

Kisaragi who couldn’t evade in time received a large slash across his face. The injury was so large, his prized idol face was nowhere to be seen.

The monster then pursued other heroes who still were having a hard time accepting their reality.

Tearing, striking, stomping——.

With these ex-heroes reduced to lower-than-commoners, they became nothing but fishes in a barrel.

Each last of them had their faces contorted, destroyed, changed for the worse, until none of them could even call themselves Idols as they had boasted just a while ago.

However, lady luck was still watching them over.

Why, for people who were weaker than even a level 1 commoner, the monster could only see them as playthings that had no need to be killed.

However, the monster couldn’t forever play with their lives.

The bear monster who had grown tired of its toys opened its maws, ready to feast on its Kisaragi-shaped lunch——when that happened.

“And here I thought I’ve told everyone that it’s prohibited to enter here.” A single strike flashed.

Swayed between his consciousness and pitch blackness, Kisaragi saw the moment when the monster’s neck fell with a plop.

“Now that’s some gruesome injuries… I can save your lives, but can’t say the same for these nasty scars. You reap what you sow.”

So Altoriasaid as she entered the forest’s clearing, for she was here to investigate the woods.

She was requested by Barnabas to check upon the forest, since Demiolos’ deed had made the power balance within it go awry.

Altoria frowned when she was exposed to these students’ injuries.

Why of course, what seeped out of their bodies was not only blood and sweat, but all kinds of bodily fluids. Having a dance with death made them lose control of their bladder.

All of those mixed around and resulted in a pungent, horrific smell.

“I’ll give y’all the recovery potions I got on hand, but do know that it can’t restore the blood you lost or completely relieve all the pain. Other teachers are on their way here, so hold on till then.”

It was just as she said, the other teachers briskly arrived for rescue. They managed to relieve Kisaragi and the others’ of their pain, but they were too late to tend to the injuries.

By now, Kisaragi and his goons no longer had a future as an idol.

They felt relief wash over them for now, but the road ahead was nothing short of distraught.

However, just how did they stumble upon disaster after disaster in such a world where even the gods had left behind?

——It was because this very World was trying to please a single [Human].

—— <Arcshell Castle>, Terveil, the Kingdom of Winberg.

In this place, which was usually painted with peaceful demeanor and even became one of the tourist attractions, history was about to be made.

Perhaps in account to that, the high tension was straining the whole castle.

The usual chatter of the handmaidens and the stewards was nowhere to be heard, as they were busy with the arrival of the King’s guest.

“……”

And in the room especially designated for holding meetings, Ranze the current monarch of the Winberg Kingdom and Lutia the Princess as the Representative of the Demon Lord were sat and facing each other. Behind them were their loyal aides ready to protect their respective lord to the last of their blood.

And another party that wasn’t exactly affiliated to either of them whose job was to guard this meeting… all the people that was present in this room, S Class Adventurers, who took their job very seriously—-

“Mademoiselle, are you free tonight? Nay, why don’t we have a nice cup of tea right now——” (Yurinne)

“Of course you don’t! Why are you thinking of turning back so easily!? Rather, don’t flirt with the maid!” (Eusto)

“Gufu… gufufufu. Seeing from that butler’s profile… I can see that he’s an “Uke”. Oh dearie me, my delusions…!” (Cornelia)

“You there! Don’t use the butler for your delusional material!” (Eusto)

“Oh? That guy looks like he got quite the punchable face… let me introduce him to my fist.” (Gargand)

“Why are you trying to hit our esteemed Demonkin guests!? Are you an idiot!? Are you!?”

“Zzz……” (Nemu)

“Nemu-san’s… sleeping already!?” (Eusto) “…Eusto, you sure have it hard…” (Auburn)

“Why don’t we sympathise less and help me out more here, Auburn-san!?” (Eusto)

——They took their job to guard very seriously.

The one who was trying to take the reign of this set of perverts was yet another S Class Adventurer, Eusto Horace, who seemed like his spirit had already worn out before the battle even started.

“Really… come to think of it, Afros-san is rounding up the castle, isn’t he? Is it fine to leave him all alone?” (Eusto)

“I’m sure it’s fine. At least, that way is manyfolds better than bringing anyone from this group with him.” (Auburn)

“What’s the meaning of this guard quest then!?” (Eusto)

“In addition, Elmina-sama is also patrolling the vicinity, though taking a different route. Well, it’ll all turn out fine.” (Auburn)

“…Letting that personage on her own… and in this castle, to boot. Don’t say I haven’t told you when she flipped everything upside down, okay…” (Eusto)

From an outsider’s perspective, they could only be seen as a group of misfits, but they were indeed the pinnacle of every adventurers in the world… those who are called the S Class Adventurers.

When it came to their competency, there should be nothing to be worried about… supposedly. Perhaps. I guess? Actually, they looked very worrying.

Despite the fact that the whole castle was wrapped in high tension, these S Class Adventurer’s lot were anything but, only proving how much guts they had.

“…Err, what should I say about this… Please don’t mind the surrounding adventurers.” (Ranze)

“…No, it’s fine. I like it merry.” (Lutia)

With the adventurers acting the way they liked, Ranze hung his head inadvertently as he said those words, which was returned with a slight smile from the princess.

“——Now then, I’m sorry to say that pleasantries isn’t what I’m best at, so allow me to skip it and get to the question… What do you want out of this? “ (Ranze)

“…What do we want, is it?” (Lutia)

That way of speaking was the usual Ranze’s, but the dignity behind those words was unmistakably of a King’s.

Although Lutia, the one to receive those words, was not unaware of that dignity, her body felt the aura well enough.

After she closed her eyes solemnly, with her resolution shaping up, she made her declaration.

“…We want to coexist with the humans.” (Lutia) “……” (Ranze)

Her gaze was straight itself, gazing into Ranze’s eyes. “…And you’d think we’ll believe those words??” (Ranze) “Hah? You bastard… Do you have a death wish?” (Zuroa) “…Zuroa, calm down.” (Lutia)

Something about Ranze’s wording grinded Zuroa’s gear, but before anything happened, Lutia stopped him.

However, it wasn’t just Zuroa whose alarm tripped with those words.

Everyone from the Demon Army that attended the meeting, every last one of them held anger.

Furthermore, while he himself didn’t hold any particular feelings for that statement, the only demon S-Class Adventurer, Auburn, couldn’t understand why Ranze had to say it like that either.

Why, the whole point of this meeting was to tie a camaraderie in order to gain peace, after all.

Without even winching from the surrounding hate, Ranze continued on casually.

“Don’t get so riled up. Use your head a little, you’ll see what I mean. Putting aside how you guys really are, the surrounding countries are of the impression that you’re the baddies. In fact, that’s what lead to the discrimination and racism your people receive. And joining hands with you will be, well… wouldn’t that be quite the risk for us?” (Ranze)

“……” (Lutia)

Ranze looked into Lutia’s eyes, piercing as it were. Silence developed for both parties.

However, the silence expired soon enough. “…That… would be the same for us.” (Lutia) “Hm?” (Ranze)

With a gaze not unlike Ranze’s, Lutia looked back, strong and resolute.

“…We, too, are afraid to come in contact with the humans. If I am to say it further, I personally still hate humans to this very second. Why, it’s because you humans… sealed my father.” (Lutia)

“……”

“…However, we can’t afford to stay like this. Fearing each other and isolating ourselves will… eventually lead us to ruin. If that happened, we would have no future ahead of us.” (Lutia)

“…You’re right.” (Ranze)

“…However, I cannot let that happen. Currently, I am sitting as the head of my kin. I bear the burden of their fate and lead them to their future. Even if the road I tread is filled with thorn… If I don’t make a move… nothing will happen.” (Lutia)

After Lutia was done with what she said, silence once again enveloped the room. And then——.

“…Phew. My bad, I pulled a bad prank with that one.” (Ranze) “…Eh?” (Lutia)

The air around Ranze returned to the easy-going and gentle one he usually donned with, as though the one he exhibited before was just a farce.

The party of the Demon Army was all but befuddled by this sudden change before one Florio Barze´, titled <The Graceful Ice Devil>, who took post behind Ranze voiced his complain.

“Your Majesty… Please restrain yourself from joking around, it’s bad for my heart…” (Florio)

“Hahaha! Don’t give me that! We still needed to see what they got, didn’t we?” (Ranze) “That might be the case, but…” (Florio)

A single question escaped Lutia’s mouth, as she was having a hard time catching up what the Kingdom was up to.

“…What does this mean?” (Lutia)

“Hmm? Aah, I guess I didn’t make it clear enough. I——The King of Winberg, have decided to officially establish diplomatic relations with the Demon Race.” (Ranze)

“! ” (Lutia)

With these words, Lutia’s eyes were wide-opened. “…Are you… really sure…?” (Lutia)

“Sure or not, didn’t you come here for that?” (Ranze) “…I did, yes, but…” (Lutia)

“Don’t sweat the small stuff! I got some excellent retainers under me, you see. Just some minor military attack from a country or two won’t give them as much as a budge.” (Ranze)

[Undoubtedly. Let this jet black flame of mine scatter and burn them to ashes.] (Black Paladin)

<Black Paladin>, an individual appeared to be a complete set of jet-black full body armor that stood behind Ranze, much like Florio, answered to his lord with a thump to his chestplate.

And next to him, the little sister of the Graceful Ice Devil and and the Kingdom’s Strongest Knight, rivaling even that Black Paladin… Louis Barze´, chimed in.

“Now that I have become a [Transcended], I won’t be falling behind the others.” (Louis) “…Hm? Wait, did you just say [Transcended]!? It’s the first time I heard that!” (Ranze) “Yes. First time I said it too, after all.” (Louis)

“Hey, I’m the King here, aren’t I!? Why aren’t you keeping things updated with me!?” (Ranze)

Louis’ sudden news invited Ranze’s retort.

“Good grief… Well anyway, although indeed they’re problem children, they won’t be defeated that easily. If anything, you should elevate your guard.” (Ranze)

“…It’s okay, we will be fine. My retainers are… strong, too.” (Lutia)

With that simple statement Lutia gave, Leiyah and her peers were washed over with deep bliss beyond words.

“Good, why don’t we seal this friendship with a handshake then? We can discuss the specifics documents later.” (Ranze)

“…Let’s.” (Lutia)

Both stood from their seats, walking closer to each other.

“I hope the best for both of us.” (Ranze) “…Me too.” (Lutia)

And as their hands were closing——.

“Whoopsies there~! That’s not allowed, yanno?” [! ]

Suddenly, a [Shadow] emerged in the space between the two.

In that very second, Louis pulled Ranze back while Zeros jumped to the front of Lutia, protecting their respective lords from the [Shadow].

“Cough!? O, oi… Louis… Couldn’t you treat me a bit gentler than that…” (Ranze) “My apologies, desperate times need desperate measures, after all.” (Louis)

“Take example of our guest. They cleverly covered her behind their back.” (Ranze) “My apologies, that was too much trouble.” (Louis)

“That’s your true motive, right!?” (Ranze)

Ranze and Louis were as worry free as ever, even when there was an unidentified [Shadow] intruding their meeting.

Excluding them, however, the S-class Adventurers and the King’s other two retainers put their maximum wariness onto the [Shadow].

Then, from within the [Shadow], a single man stepped out.

The man who appeared had red, ruffled hair that stood on its ends, along with his bulging, reptilian eyes, he gave off a pretty much creepy impression.

With a frivolous grin plastered on his face, the man looked around. “Gyahahaha! Welp, my bad! Seems like I crashed your party!”

“…Bastard, who are you?” (Zeros)

Still covering Lutia behind his back, Zeros questioned the unknown individual whilst imposing his strongest coercion.

However, as though that amount of pressure was nothing to him, that man instead laughed amusingly.

“I like that, very like that! You strong, aint’cha!?” “Answer! Who are you!” (Zeros)

He just shrugged slightly when receiving Zeros’ inquiries, then proceed to open his mouth.

“Don’t get so hot with me. It is I, an apostle of the [Demon God Cult], Lester…!” “The Demon God…?” (Zeros)

Zeros stiffened his shoulder inadvertently when he heard the words of the man claimed to be Lester.

Then, Zuroa, the one who stood next by, took over the questioning.

“Sire. What might an apostle of such refined organization have to do with this meeting?” (Zuroa)

“I thought I said it? You guys ain’t allowed. Why don’t we practice listening what others are saying? Gyahaha!” (Lester)

“We’re not… allowed…?” (Zuroa)

Looking that both the Kingdom’s royal escort and the Demon Army members were confused, Lester said with a tired look on his face.

“Oi, oi. I told ya this much, what’s so hard to process? In other words, you guys ain’t allowed to play around with these humans, is what I’m sayin’.” (Lester)

[Hou? Which mouth that think they have the right over it, I wonder…] (Black Paladinn)

“Hmm? What’s this, we got a talking iron!? Gyahahaha! This one’s fantastic!” (Lester)

As though something hit his funny bone, Lester break into laughter once he saw the [Black Paladin]’s figure.

Done with his amusement, Lester shifted his glance back.

“You’re asking about rights? Well, since it’s for the Demon God-sama, who give a damn about rights!” (Lester)

“For the Demon God, you said?” (Zeros)

When Zeros questioned further, Lester spoke with a tinge of madness slipping out.

“Yeah… exactly, it’s all for the Demon God-sama. We are harvesting all the <Negative> emotion from all over the world, for the revival of the Demon God-sama! For that purpose, we’ll be troubled if you guys got chummy. It’s because we want you to be more miserable, more cruel, be hostile and kill each other!” (Lester)

“…I don’t know about your demon-whatever-god or his revival whatsoever, but… I can tell that you’re up to something nasty, that much is clear.” (Ranze)

Ranze said so with his glare daggering at him, but Lester was unaffected by it.

“You don’t need to know, y’see. Either way, I’ll have y’all killed here! Gyahahaha!” (Lester)

“We sure are being taken lightly… Don’t you forget that not only there’s the strongest power holders of both Winberg Kingdom and the Demon Army here, but also the S- class Adventurers. What can a single man——” (Florio)

“Oi, oi. You think I got nothing up my sleeve?” (Lester) “Nani?” (Florio)

Lester showed a nasty grin as he intercepted Florio on his words. At that very moment, the door of the room slammed open.

“I, I’m terribly sorry for my discourtesy! At the moment, in the vicinity of the town…

there are hordes of monsters rushing over!” “What!? What’s the number!?”

“About that… it’s several times larger than the last one…” “――――”

The one who busted in was a soldier affiliated to the Kingdom. He brought in a message, like a bomb dropped onto the room.

Lester, looking at the speechless Ranze, began to immerse himself in chuckles and joy.

“Gyaahahahahaha! Aren’t that quite the excellent despair on your face!… Now, what will you do? Wanna have a dance with this lil ‘ol me, or do ya wanna get trampled by the monsters, choose…!”

“Kuh…!”

Ranze knew that the little amount of casualty during the last invasion was all thanks to Seiichi playing his hand.

Precisely because of that he could imagine just how terrible the outcome would be now that Seiichi was not around.

“[Black Paladin]! Lead your <Abyss Schwarz (Black Knight of Hell)> troop and sweep over the monsters! Louis! You too, bring your <Valkyries (War Maiden)> and subjugate the monsters! You two hold the highest command over the battlefield!”

[By your orders.] “Sire.”

“Florio! You and a handful of your Magic Division are to scatter around Magic Cameras! I’m sure the reconnaissance unit is already on their way, so you are to join them and sweep the parameter. And the rest is to help with the evacuation process! Anyway, just bring everyone here… within the walls of the <Arcshell> Castle!”

“Will that be alright?”

“Prioritize the people over me! I’ll make it out somehow!” “…By your will.”

With great vigor, Ranze gave out his commands one after another, and the soldiers within the castle began to move accordingly.

“…King Ranze. Please let us help.” “Will that be alright?”

“…Of course. I have taken my steps, after all. I can’t have my road be blocked here.” “…I see. If so, I’ll leave it to you.”

“…Yes. Zeros, Zuroa, Leiyah, Urs, Liaretta.” [Ma’am!]

“…Subjugate the monsters along with the soldiers of this Kingdom. There is a chance that some of those monsters are capable of communication…”

[Leave it to us!]

“…Jade, I leave my protection to you.”

“Understood, please leave it to me. Zuroa-chan, Zeros-chan, don’t fight with each other, okay?”

“……I’ll see what I can.”

“Sure… You too, Jade. You better protect Lutia-sama till the end.” “I’ll do my best desuwa.”

Members of the Demon Army, omitting Jade, had been deployed too to subjugate the monsters.

Lester, looking over the scenario, grinned wide and commented.

“Oi, oi, you think that many people are enough? Unlike last time, we only assemble S rank monsters this time, ya know? In addition, some apostles like me are amongst there too.”

“! The last big invasion was you bastards’ fault…!”

“Co~rrect~! Well, they all got killed and the plan went awry, tho.”

So said Lester, peevish. In the middle of it, S class Adventurers had decided to make their move too.

“Your Majesty. We’re going to join the monster subjugation front. After all, that’s what we’re most used at.” (possibly Auburn)

“Personally, I’d prefer to plant my fist in that freak’s face. But, well, since it’s an emergency, I’ll head over there too.” (Gargand)

“That sounds good. But, if everyone plans to go there, then I’ll stay to guard His Majesty and keep that bastard in check.” (Eusto)

As Eusto casually threw a dagger gaze towards the still frivolous Lester, he was met with a laugh.

Watching over Esuto, Auburn nodded in approval.

“If Eusto is staying, then all’s gonna turn out well. I leave here to you.” “Sure! Auburn-san too, do your best!… at handling these guys.”

When Auburn noticed that the one Eusto addressed with his distant gaze was the other S class adventurers, his eyes met them.

“……Actually, I don’t want to go……” (Auburn) “I, it’s okay! You can do it!” (Eusto)

“…Aah, I got it already! Demons and humans are finally going to get together, of course I’ll lend my hand! Ora Nemu! You’re coming with me!” (Auburn)

“…Nn? No~o~, let~ me~ g… Zzz.” (Nemu)

“Don’t sleep while I’m dragging you!” (Auburn)

“Ah, please pick up Elmina-sama and Afros-san on the way, okay!” (Eusto) Eusto said so to him as he was exiting, so Auburn turned and waved his hand.

Hence, the ones who stayed were Ranze and Lutia, and Eusto along with Jade as their respective protectors.

“Oi, oi. It sure is getting lonelier here. You sure it’s okay? With only this much people, I mean.” (Lester)

“Ara? I think this much people is more than enough, though? Or should I say, me alone is all needed to massacre you desuwa.” (Jade)

“Sounds about right. I also think the same. Rather, you think you have a chance to go two on one?” (Eusto)

“…Now you said it.” (Lester)

For the first time since his appearance, Lester showed a feral smile, as he was exposed to those words.

Then, ominous aura began to leaking out of his person.

“Well, whatever. Why don’t we begin… killing each other!” (Lester) The moment he said that, Lester became two.

“Wha!?” (Ranze)

That sight made Ranze and the other three gulped their breath.

““Kyahahaha! That’s some good expression! Watch, I can still duplicate, you now?” “ (Lester)

Two became four, four became eight… like that, Lester was starting to flood the whole room with his copy at a tremendous speed.

[Now, it’s not two on one anymore, is it!?] (Lester)

Ultimately, there were at least 30 copies of Lester. And then——.

“Alright then? Then, I’ll handle you on my own desuwa.” (Jade) [Ah?] (Lester)

Jade declared that he, alone, would face him. “…Will you be okay?” (Eusto)

When Eusto said that, Jade looked back at him, feverish.

“Oh dearie, are you worrying about me? I’m happy! But, it’s fine. I’m alone is enough if it’s just this much desu wa.” (Jade)

“I, I see…” (Eusto)

Rather than Lester, Eusto sensed danger ever more so present coming off of Jade. Lester who didn’t think he would be ignored to this degree started to lash out.

[…Oi, oi. You can’t read the situation? Save from thirty to two, you choose to fight thirty to one?] (Lester)

“Of course I can desuwa… You, too. You better have your resolve ready.” (Jade) [Ah?] (Lester)

Suddenly, Jade’s atmosphere took a sharp turn.

From within his body, mana of questionable nature began to flow out. That was the indication as to when Jade switched to his serious mode. Still with his usual gentle voice, Jade voiced out to Lutia.

“Lutia-sama. I’m unleashing my power.” (Jade)

“…Yes. Have a good one.” (Lutia) “——By your will.” (Lester)

At that very moment, the whole room was draped with said mana.

“—— <The Demon God Cult>, Huh…” (Elmina) “Do you know about it?” (Auburn)

With him still draggin the sleeping Nemu, Auburn took Eusto’s advice and met up with Afros and Elmina.

By now, their group was composed of both the S class Adventurers and the top brass of the Demon Army, and in order to share the information on their hand, they were briefly holding a conversation in the front of the castle.

When Elmina learned of the current situation, her face contorted for a slight while before returning to usual.

“Of course. You might know me as the Queen of this Kingdom, but I actually love adventuring. My meeting with my husband… Ranze, happened during one of my adventuring days. It’s all thanks to Ranze that I’m still allowed to be active duty despite bearing the title of a Queen. That is why, thinking that I want to help him with my own way, I’m investigating various subjects during my adventure outside. Among those subjects, there is one that always shows up in every country I visit. And that is——” (Elmina)

“<The Demon God Cult>?”

“Indeed. It’s not clear how many members they have, and for a while, nothing came up about them except that their goal is to resurrect the Demon God…” (Elmina)

“You said for a while…”

“Yes, apparently, their activity started to spike so suddenly these days, and their true nature started to be unveiled. Their goal to revive their god stayed the same. However, their means is… to harvest <Negative> emotion to catalyse it.” (Elmina)

“…That bastard certainly said that…” (Zeros) Zeros was recalling Lester’s words.

“Sorrow, Anger, Hatred… By harvesting these <Negative> emotions, their Demon God would be resurrected, or so it seemed.” (Elmina)

“In the first place, what is this Demon God in question? I’ve never heard of it, even for a demon like me. Does that have anything to do with our kin?” (Zuroa)

When Zuroa questioned her so, Elmina shook her head.

“No, there shouldn’t be any. While it’s true that the head figure the Demons are titled the Demon Lord, the Demon God is something different altogether.” (Elmina)

“Then, just what is that thing?” (Zuroa) “A God.” (Elmina)

“Hah?” (Zuroa)

Upon those casually spoken words, not only Zuroa, but everyone that was present showed their confusion.

“A god? Then, isn’t that something like our Black Dragon God-sama?” (Zuroa)

“No, this one is different. I have read and listened about the tale of the Black Dragon God, but that personage is just an individual with status higher than humans and the other races, not a God in its truest sense.” (Elmina)

“Truest… sense…?” (Zuroa)

Their confusion spiralled even bigger, but Elmina continued her talk.

“It precedes even the tales of the Black Dragon God… the time when this planet was still under the Gods’ blessing. If I said so, I guess everyone knows for sure what I’m talking about, right?” (Elmina)

“H, hold right there! You mean, the Demon God is…”

“Exactly, that Pillar God who sparked the Ancient War of Gods——that, is the God the

<Demon God Cult> is trying to revive.” (Elmina) [……]

Crushed by the scale of the conversation was taking, everyone including even the S class adventurers could only gulped in silence.

“Before that though, you all better be more alerted. We are talking about a cult that is trying to revive a true God, you know? I don’t think we can underestimate the power of one of its apostles. In that sense, are you okay leaving the side of your lord?” (Elmina)

When Elmina addressed that question to the people of the Demon Army, Leiyah stepped in to answer.

“While indeed Zuroa and Zeros possess enough prowess to be of excellent guard, Urs, Liaretta, and I are not strong enough to fully protect Lutia-sama. In contrast, Jade, the one who stayed, is the strongest amongst all of us, with only Zeros and Zuroa under him. So, I believe… there is no need to worry.” (Leiyah)

“She’s right. If he got done in, then that means we won’t have any chance either. In addition, those monsters seem to be a bigger threat.” (Zuroa)

“…I’m of the same opinion.” (Zeros)

“I see. It’s going to be alright, then.” (Elmina)

At the end of their conversation, suddenly, a terrific rumble exploded outside the castle walls.

When they directed their attention there, what they saw was a tide of jet-black flame rising well over the 50 meters high wall.

“I’m glad that Terveil is a walled city. I can see clearly where our last line of defense is… Now then, as it seems like the [Black Paladin] is breaking a leg or two, I’m heading over to him. Everyone, make into groups and head to all four directions. ——Everyone, come back safely, okay?” (Elmina)

[Yes!]

Satisfied with their response, Elmina then activated a certain magic. “[True Thunder God’s Attire] ” (Elmina)

Then, her body was clad with an armour made of thunders.

This was the figure of Ranze’s wife and the mother of Robert and his two siblings, the S class Adventurer [Thunder Empress].

“Well, people, I take my leave now.” (Elmina)

Done conveying her farewell, with the speed of a literal lightning, she jumped from one roof to another.

Looking at her like that, as though reminded of something, Leiyah raised a question.

“Come to think of it… We will be fine since we have Jade to guard Lutia-sama, but what about you people?” (Leiyah)

[Eh?]

When her words rang the air, every single S class Adventurer in that place turned their head.

“Look… This may be me overstepping some boundaries, but the guy, you guys left for guard don’t look that impressive…” (Leiyah)

“Aah, come to think of it… He doesn’t look like he’s a strong fellow, though, is it really okay to leave him alone?” (Zuroa)

Listening to Leiyah and Zuroa’s words that sounded a little bit reproached, these adventurers then understood what was the root of their worry.

And then——.

[HAHAHAHAHA!!!]

They all started to burst into laughter, all at the same time. “EH? Eh?” (Leiyah)

Auburn, as he was trying to settle down his chuckles, explained to Leiyah and the other Demons about the reason behind their humour.

“You’re wasting energy if you worry about him. I mean——” (Auburn) With the words he said, the Demons were nothing but bewildered itself.

“I… Impossible…!” (Lester)

Lester was down, his face kissing the ground.

“Ara. You’re done already? How disappointing.” (Jade)

In front of him was Jade, standing and uninjured as he was.

Dumbfounded, confused, Lester screamed as he voiced out his defense.

“Th, that’s impossible… just how many clones do you think I made!? One freaking thousand! And they’re not simple clones. They are all clones of me who have been granted the power of the Demon God-sama! And… you…!” (Lester)

Having witnessed the one-sided violent massacre that just took place moments ago, differ to Lutia who had known it beforehand, Ranze who was oblivious to it displayed but a dry laugh.

“Both Louis and the [Black Paladin] from my place are tremendously strong, but your vassals are nothing to be scoff at either, huh… What’s with that, first time I’ve seen anyone fighting by manipulating [Mana] itself…” (Ranze)

“…Both Zeros and Zuroa are just as strong, just so you know.” (Lutia)

“Ha ha… Well, I’ll be. No wonder a certain major power is so at loss facing you guys…” (Ranze)

Jade was capable of materializing and manipulating Mana.

If that was all there was to it, then it might doesn’t sound so great, but one wouldn’t realize just how ridiculous it actually was.

First, let alone his own inner mana, he was capable of materializing and manipulating the mana that drifted all around the world.

In addition, as he was using the mana outside of his person, his own mana pool wouldn’t be consumed in the process, as it was, indeed, the world’s own mana.

As the result, Jade was more than capable of attacking from any possible direction, with no blindspot whatsoever.

Of course, there were limitations to his ability, his limited range for example, but that mattered not if all he wanted was to kill all of Lester’s clones.

“Amazing… It’s the first time I’ve seen someone materializing mana. Looks so convenient.” (Eusto)

Unlike Ranze, befitting his profile as an S class Adventurer who had gone through various dangers and fought against various tough opponents, Eusto’s assessment of Jade’s ability was quite light.

“Well, let’s leave it at that… Now, what should we do about this guy…?” (Ranze) “…I have lots to question, so let’s leave his life intact.” (Lutia)

Whilst Ranze and Lutia were discussing the fate of Lester, the person in question suddenly started to chuckle.

“Ku… Kukuku… GYAAHAHAHAHA!!!” (Lester) “!… What’s so funny?” (Lutia)

When Lutia asked him so, Lester looked back at her with his bulging eyes, then grinned. “It’s because the last one to laugh… is us!” (Lester)

“Wha!?” (Lutia)

Suddenly, a [Shadow] emerged behind Lutia. Then, from within, a single man came out.

“——According to Kleis’ script, the demons should hold resentment against the humans. Well, all the same if I just kill her huh.”

The one who said that was a man with unkempt hair and shabby clothing, and his face was dirty with a beard he was too lazy to shave.

However, since he appeared behind Lutia out of nowhere, it was easy to deduce that he was an abnormal User

That man then, without any hesitation, shook his knife down towards Lutia. “LUTIA-SAMAA!!” (Jade)

Even if Jade hurriedly materialized mana, he wouldn’t make it.

Ranze, too, was shaken by the sudden emergence of this mysterious man. As things were, everyone in the room was sure that this would be the death of Lutia.

——Everyone, save for one person.

“I’ll be troubled if you say that.” (Eusto)

Eusto drew his one-handed sword from his waist with a speed fast enough to be called godly, then, still in one move, threw it to the man’s knife.

“HAH!?”

“Sorry to say this, but I won’t let it happen.” (Eusto)

Following it, with his movements flowing like water, he closed the distance between him and the man, slammed him down with an arm twist, then stationed his swordpoint to his neck.

“Okay, let’s be obedient, yes?” (Eusto)

——S class Adventurer Eusto Horace

He was usually the one to hold the reins of the perverts surrounding him, acting as the worrying heart of the uncontrollable headquarters.

That very man was in possession of a certain title.

<Peerless>.

He was the one known as the Strongest S Class Adventurer.

While Eusto and Jade were dominating the Demon God’s Apostles, the members of the Demon Army were heading to [The Sword Knight] Louise and her [Valkyries] squad, while the S rank adventurers were heading towards the [Black Paladin] who lead <The Abyss Schwarz> squad. They separated from each other and went outside the castle’s walls.

“Oi, Nemu! Wake up already! We can’t reinforce the [Barrier] without you!” “Nnh~…?”

Being shook by Auburn, Nemu rubbed her eyes open. “Hua~… What~…? I’m still sleepy~…”

“You can sleep as much as you want once the battle’s over. Just reinforce the barrier that has been deployed here.”

“Nnh~… I don’t get it, but~… Sure~…”

Drowsy as she was, Nemu pulled her cane from her waist and lifted it.

“Fua~… Well, the [Barrier] was deployed for Al-chan’s sake in the first place~… Ah, come to think of it… I haven’t seen Al-chan since I came back~… What’s she doing~? It’s dangerous for her to go out of the [Barrier] after all~… Is she still here~?”

“Hey, leave the thinking for later!”

“Hai hai, I got it~… [Barrier Arts: Evil Warding Layer]”

Being dragged around by Auburn still, Nemu recited her spell.

Right after that, a pale beacon of light made its way from her cane to the sky. The light burst in the sky and enveloped the capital Terveil.

——Nemu Dreamiere

She was an S rank Adventurer with the title [Sleeping Beauty], and she was well known amongst the populace of Terveil for a reason other than her rank.

It laid with the [Barrier] that enveloped Terveil.

In fact, she and Altoria were friends, and she did a lot of research to deal with Altoria’s innate misfortune.

And then, as to facilitate Altoria’s constitution, she put a barrier surrounding the whole town so Altoria’s misfortune wouldn’t befall Terveil.

“Yosh, good job! Then, let’s——” “Zzz”

“You sure are fast to sleep! There are still monsters here, don’t sleep yet!”

“Mu! Do I spy an adorable lady over there!? Mademoiselle! Let’s spend a hot, passion nigh——!”

“Oi Yurinne! Where do you think you’re off to!? DAAAGH!! Eusto, so you’re having it this hard!?”

Auburn had his hands full just by dealing with the S rank Adventurers and their over the top free nature.

Despite all the hijinks, they managed to catch up with the [Black Paladin] somehow. When they did, they saw the fierce battle against the monsters unfold, with Elmina the [Thunder Empress] at the centre of it.

“Oi oi… It sure looks like a desperate fight from here…”

As such words escaped Auburn’s mouth inadvertently, Elmina was confronting a Dragon in front of her.

“Looks like it’s true, there are only S rank monsters here… I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve last seen a <Blade Dragon>?”

“GOOOAAAAAARRGGGHH!!!”

The monster Elmina was confronting was a grotesque-looking dragon that had sharp blades growing all over its body, a <Blade Dragon>.

Each and every blade on it was just as sharp as a sword forged by a skilled blacksmith, and due to the high magical power unique to the dragons, those blades were clad with mana and would sometimes attack.

However——.

“You have it bad, your affinity with me is the worst, you know?”

After she said so, Elmina pushed her right hand towards the Blade Dragon. “[Octillion Thunder Spear]”

A large number of thunder spears emerged from Elmina’s arm. Those spears then merged and bundled into one, giant spear of thunder.

And while it was the same spell Robert used against Agnos in the In-School Tournament, the one he put his everything into, Elmina’s spell was many folds larger.

The produced spear of thunder flew towards the Blade Dragon at the speed it couldn’t perceive and easily pierced its bladed hide.

“GUGGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

Lightning ran through the Blade Dragon’s body, and not long after, it collapsed as black smoke rose from what was left of it.

Auburn who watched it happened said so, wide-eyed.

“I bet you can’t find a Queen as strong as that anywhere else in this world.”

“I agree… Now then, I can’t have Elmina-sama fight the war all alone. I’ll go too.”

Right after, Cornelia came forward with elegant steps as she covered her mouth with a paper fan.

“Ordinarily, you would have continued to lead your peaceful lives, instead of being defeated like this……”

Cornelia gazed upon the horde of monsters before her, with a hint of sympathy on her face, as she pointed a single, slender finger towards them.

“Then at the very least, allow me to return you peacefully to the soil from whence you came from”

The moment she said that, the earth around the horde of monsters started to corrode away, in a way that seemed as though it was trying to swallow the horde whole.

“Sink and Decay. [Rotting Sea]”

The erosion came upon the monsters before long, it’s edges creeping under monster horde’s feet, as it’s decayed surface started to resemble a bottomless swamp

“GAAAA…… GA, GAGA――――” “GIIIIIII! GI, GIGI――――”

“GOOOO, GOGO, GO――――”

Desperately, the monster struggled to escape, but the harder they struggled, the further they were drawn into the swamp’s depths, before finally, silence settled upon the battlefield as the monsters were completely submerged.

The plot of earth, that had just morphed into a depthless swamp, reverted back to its original state, and Cornelia, who had been overwatching everything, closed her fan.

“May you live your next life peacefully” Cornelia Arnoldi

She was the only person in existence with [Rot Attributed Magic], and that, combined with the fact that she was a noble, earned her the title of <The Rotten Noble>

“Haah…… It seems like neither Homon-sama nor the others are here…… Shall we head over there instead?”

……It’s definitely not because she’s interested in those kinds of things that she was

<Rotten>…… Or at least that was the hope.

[TN Note : Being “Rotten” as a lady in japanese culture means that you’re into Yaoi/BL]

While Cornelia was in the midst of cleaning up the horde of monsters, another adventurer of the same S rank, Yurinne, was also cutting down monsters at a terrifying pace.

“Really…… Because of you bastards, I can’t even go around picking up ladies to my heart’s content……!”

Though her reasons for fighting weren’t exactly pure, the fact remained that she was strong, and she was reliably culling down the number of monsters.

“Just how many ladies do you think live on this street alone!? To attack this place…… Even if the gods will forgive you, I won’t!”

Yurinne leapt high above the battleground, lifting her blade towards the skies “Devastate―――― <Hundred Lily Blades>!”

From within Yurinne’s sword, a swarm of flower petals appeared, gathering around it.

Then, she swung the petal-clad sword down, and the impossibly sharp flower petals were like a storm as they rained down incessantly upon the surrounding monsters.

[GYAAAAAAAAAAAA! ]

“Silence! Shut up and die!” [GY-GYAAA!? GY――――]

For such an absurd reason, the monsters were culled into nothing before they could even cry out in their last moments,

Yurinne Rezy

The way she cut down her foes was as lovely as a lily, which earned her the title of the [Lily Swordswoman]

……Well, nowadays the reason for her being known as the [Lily] Swordswoman has changed somewhat, but unfortunately that’s not something that can be helped.

“Nnー…… Every now and again I can find monsters I’ve never seen before mixed into the horde……”

Said Afros, as he scratched the massive afro resting upon his head, One particular monster was rushing straight towards where he was. “Nn? Oh, it’s that guy……”

The being charging towards where Afros was at was a monster that was known for its top class defence abilities even amongst its S-Class brethren, a <Guardian Dragon>

Its scales were so hard that normal weapons couldn’t even leave a scratch on them, truly a monster with the absolute worst affinity for the S-Class adventurers like Yurinne and Gargand.

“GUOOOO!”

“Fuu…… Well, it’s true that this guy is stupidly tough～……”

While Afros sighed as he complained about how troublesome it was to deal with this, the Guardian Dragon made full use of its respectable defensive ability as it continued its charge.

Even though the charge was so dangerous that even S-Class adventurers wouldn’t be able to get out unscathed if it crashed into them, Afros didn’t seem like he was panicking at all.

“Well, at the end of the day it’s just another day on the job”

Just as Afros and the Guardian Dragon were about to crash into each other, Afros suddenly bowed his head down towards the monster.

As a result, it seemed inevitable that Afros’s massive afro and the Guardian Dragon were going to slam into each other but――――.

“Nn, it’s in”

To no one’s surprise, the Guardian Dragon had charged straight into, and was consumed by, the afro

Then, as if nothing had happened at all, Afros raised his head back up, before reaching into his afro, grabbing onto something, and pulling it out.

“Yotto…… As I thought, this guy was pretty big”

What he pulled out, were the bones of the Guardian Dragon that had stood facing him just moments ago

“Fighting is a real pain, but I’m pretty happy getting raw material like this”

Saying that, he was so merry that it seemed like he was going to start humming at any time, as he continued going around and gathering monster after monster into his afro, before pulling out only their bones from within it.

Afros Dynowahl

As the adventurer who reclaimed places that were known as savage lands and haunts of evil, he was a strange person who was given the title [The Devil’s Cave] for his deeply mysterious afro.

“You okay not joining the fray, Gargand?”

“Ah? There aren’t any humanoid monsters after all. I’ll pass”

“You…… As rude as ever…… But, from the looks of things, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting any stage time here”

Said Gargand and Auburn, as they beheld the scene before them.

As a matter of fact, in addition to Elmina, Cornelia, Yurinne, and Afros, there was the

<Abyss Schwarz> led by the [Black Paladin], so the extermination of the monsters was only a matter of time.

The S-Rank adventurers were, in this way, composed mainly of perverts, but it was a fact that they were indeed skilled.

“This is……”

“……Certainly, if you just look at the numbers then it does seem quite hopeless……”

Regarding the members of the Demon King’s army who had come to where [The Sword Knight] Louise Baruze, leader of the <Valkyries>, was.

They had left the safety of the castle walls, only to be left speechless by the sheer number of monsters advancing on them.

But, due to the effort of Louis and her <Valkyries>, none of the monsters were allowed to get close to the castle walls.

While she stared at the scene before her, Leiyah asked Zerros something. “So…… How about it? Do you think they’ll listen to what we have to say?”

“……Impossible. None of them are monsters that are under our command as the Demon King’s Army. Furthermore, it seems like they’ve lost their sense of reason……”

The Demon King’s Army had various species of monsters under its command.

Because of that, depending on what types of monsters were there, they could have used various commands to force them to stop the advance, but after seeing the type of monsters that were attacking them, Zerros had judged that it was impossible to employ that method.

“What a waste of time. Even if we ain’t got that, we can just kill ‘em right?”

Said Zorua, yawning, as a layer of darkness started to wrap around his body. Clad in darkness, Zorua dived straight into the mess of red-eyed monsters.

“Pierce”

A portion of the darkness that Zorua’s body was clad in split off into a sharp spear, striking at the swarm of monsters

The pile of monster bodies skewered upon the spear of darkness continued to increase, as it carried on with its task of exterminating them.

“Ora, daheck are ya doing lazin’ about? Get ya asses into the fight”

“……I’m rather reluctant to follow orders from one such as yourself, but I suppose you

are right”

As he said that, sinister-looking mana started gushing out from Zerros.

“Numbers are just numbersI have a limit to how much mana I can spend, but a bastard like you should be fine right?”

“Ha! Unlike ya, I don’t hafta use mana. But this is a lil’ too much, even for me. Try and send ‘em off with as lil’ mana as ya can, would’ja”

“As if I didn’t already know to do that”

Raising both his arms towards the sky, Zerros’ sinister mana started to flow up his arm, gathering in his palms

“[Annihilation Cannon]”

Releasing the mana gathering in his hands all at once, a terrifying torrent of energy swept over the swarm of monsters.

Nothing was left of the monsters that were hit by Zeros’ spell, not even a single atom left to prove their existence.

“Do whatever ya want, but don’t go kickin’ the bucket on me so early ya hear?”

“Who exactly are you trying to be concerned for? You should be the one that’s careful not to die an early death”

As the two carried on with their little back and forth, they were rapidly culling down

the swarm of monsters.

“……Those two are as monstrous as ever……”

“Truly…… So, what should we do? Shall we go forth as well?”

“If we’re heading out, then perhaps we should head to where the defenses are weak? It’s impossible to completely protect the entirety of the castle walls after all……”

Said Leiyah, and the others that were left behind, as they watched Zeros and Zorua fight.

“Alright…… Let’s do our best to protect weak spots in the defences” Just as Leiyah had made up her mind, and was about to move out. “――――Not bad”

“Huh-! Who’s there!?”

Leiyah and the others were looking around, trying to find the source of the voice that had suddenly interrupted them

Thereupon, they found a single male, who had somehow gotten atop the castle walls without their notice.

“You’re……”

“……That’s right. I should introduce myself . I am Rodius. An Apostle of the <Demon God’s Cult>“

“……An Apostle, you say……”

It seemed that the man named Rodius was an existence whose presence was hard to detect

With purple hair so long that it covered his left eye, and a gaze so sharp he seemed like he could see through Leiyah and everyone else there.

“And what business does the “Great” Apostle have with us?”

“……You’ve already heard from that guy Lester, haven’t you. I have but one goal. The revival of the Demon God”

“I see…… And so if someone like you is here, then that means that……”

At the same time Leiyah’s gaze sharpened, so the gaze of Learetta who was standing behind her

“……As you all might have guessed, I have come to eliminate all of you”

“In that case…… Then we’ll just have to take you out before we get taken out……!” Cladding herself in flames, Leiyah rushed straight at Rodius.

“Leiyah, I’ll support you! [Wind Jet]!”

The spell that Learetta chanted caused Leiyah to accelerate further. “……Fumu, how rare. A member of the Phoenix clan”

“That’s right. That’s why, I’ll burn you to ashes with these flames……!” “Fu…… I wonder about that?”

Even with Leiyah’s accelerated attack, Rodius evaded her easily. “Wha-!?”

“……Even among the Apostles, I am one that is part of a Combat Corps that is primarily focused on fighting. Unfortunately, an attack of that degree is unable to even scratch me”

“Then how about this?”

From behind Rodius who had just avoided Leiyah’s attack, Uls struck out with his body covered with his inner fighting spirit.

“[Oni King’s Blow]!”

Focusing his entire body’s fighting spirit into his right arm, Uls punched Rodius.

“…So this one is the Oni King. Interesting, let’s see who’s stronger between you and I” “What!?”

But, instead of avoiding Uls’ punch, Rodius took it head on with a punch of his own.

By all rights, a being that could withstand a punch from an Oni, a clan that prized itself as one that possessed superhuman strength, should not have existed, much less one that could take on a Oni King.

However, when Rodius’s fist clashed with Uls’, Uls’ fist came to a dead halt. “My punch…… Stopped so easily……!”

“Uls, get down! [Bewitching Gaze]!”

“……And that’s the Succubus Queen. The Demon King’s Army sure has an interesting cast of members”

As a member of the Succubus race, Learetta had used her unique ability to charm others of the opposite sex, but it seemed to have no effect on Rodius.

“No way……”

“……What’s wrong? We’ve only just started to fight haven’t we?” “――――Well then, how about this?”

“!”

Suddenly, Rodius heard a voice coming from above him

In the split second that Rodius had taken to dodge, the space where he had been standing at moments before had been cut through by the sword that the [Sword Knight] Louis had thrown at him.

“……And you’re……”

“Me? I am Louise Baruze. I’ve also been referred to as [The Sword Knight] , perhaps you might be familiar with that title?”

“……I see, so you’re one of the Winberg Kingdom’s two famous knights. Your counterpart seems to be struggling on the other side, however……”

“Indeed. If it’s the [Black Paladin] you’re talking about, then he should be fine. Furthermore, it seems that the S-Class adventurers are there on site as well.”

Louis’s entrance seemed to have surprised Leiyah and the others a little, but they immediately fixed their stances as they took distance from Rodius.

“From what I can see, it looks like you’re the holder of some sort of strange power……”

“……To think that you can see through to that. So, what will you do? Will you be the next to take me on?”

Even though his tone was unchanged, the air around Rodius took a complete 180, as razor-sharp mana started rising up from his body.

“……My apologies, you three there. May I ask that you assist me?” “Eh?”

“……It seems that he is too much for me to handle alone. It would be a great help to me if you would grant me some assistance……”

As she said that, Louis’s gaze was intense, warily watching Rodius’ every move. “……Indeed. Understood”

“You have my gratitude for your cooperation”

Leiyah accepted Louis’s proposal, and Learetta and Uls started to prepare something, even as they kept on guard against Rodius.

“……Four opponents, huh. But…… very well. Come at me”

With Rodius’ words as a signal, the four of them simultaneously threw themselves at him.

“Well then, let’s have a little chat shall we?” “……What exactly is your goal?”

Asked Ranze and Lutia, who were standing in front of an incapacitated Lester and the slovenly-looking man.

Lester and Eusto were using themselves to hold down Jade and the slovenly-looking man respectively, rendering both of them immobile.

But, the slovenly-looking man was still managing to laugh, even in this scenario

“Kukukukuku…… Do the bunch of you, really think you’ve won just because you’ve got us restrained?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you quit being a sore loser already? There’s nothing that the present you can do right now”

Replied Eusto, as he further pressed on the blade that he held against the nape of the slovenly-looking man’s neck.

However, the man’s attitude didn’t change at all.

“You might be right But you see we’re not the only members of the <Demon God cult>

. As long as the Demon God exists, new members will continue to appear. Besides, isn’t that bastard Rodius eliminating your buddies outside right about now?”

“Such nonsensical things you say. I’ve got no idea who this Rodius you’re speaking of is, but with there no way we could lose with that much extra firepower heading out to back them up”

“I wonder about that…… You’re free to think what you like. But unlike us, Rodius is part of the Combat Corps. Don’t come complaining to me when your buddies die, ay?”

Ranze and the others frowned upon the man, who’s smiling face remained unaffected.

“……It appears that our conversation has gotten a little side tracked, so shall we get back to making you tell us your objective? Of course, I’m not referring to all that talk about the Demon God’s revival. I’m asking about your reasons for raiding this place”

“Keh! Who the hell would tell someone like you――――”

“Ah, we were aiming for the life for the Demon King’s daughter over there” “Edmund!?”

Lester was shocked when the thing he was trying to keep secret was so easily revealed by the man called Edmund, that he shouted out in surprise.

“Oi, aren’t you giving away these answer too easily, you bastard?”

“Isn’t this something that they’d be able to immediately figure out even without me telling them explicitly?”

“……Then, why are you aiming for her life?”

The moment Ranze asked that, Jade and Eusto, who were holding down their captives, released a dreadful aura of intimidation.

But, Edmund continued on smiling as if nothing had happened even as he faced their intimidation.

“Kukukukuku…… Why we were aiming for her… huh……” “Nn?”

Ranze sensed something strange about Edmund’s reponse, but at that moment Edmund made his move

“Unfortunately, we haven’t actually started aiming for her ya know!?”

As Edmund opened his mouth, a short sword came flying out from within it.

You might have thought that the sword was aimed at either Ranze’s or Lutia’s body, but for some reason it ended up piercing into Lutia’s shadow

Because of him suddenly spitting out the sword, Eusto struck Edmund’s head with all his might, forcing him to the ground.

“……You, do you understand the position you’re in?” “Lutia-sama! Are you alright!?”

Asked Jade, even as he held Lester down, while Eusto was strengthening the restraints on Edmund.

[!?]

Lutia collapsed on the spot.

“……How childish” “Kuh……!”

Grumbled Rodius, as he looked down on Louise and the others on their knees before him.

A crest depicting an evil devil was floating above Rodius’ chest, much like the one that Demiolos, an Apostle that Seiichi had once fought, had too.

“……Thinking that I would get to fight the [Sword Knight] got quite a few of my hopes up but…… What a let down this has been”

Looking at Leiyah and the other who were collapsed on the ground, all Zerros and the members of the <Valkyries> who were fighting off the monster horde could do was cry out in frustration

“Leiyah!”

“Oi oi…… Whaddya doin’ gettin’ taken out like that!” “Louis-sama!?”

“Kuh! You bastard!”

Even though every one of the members taking on the monster horde wanted to rush to where Louise and the others were to rescue them, no matter how many monsters they slayed, more seemed to come out of nowhere to take their place, denying them the chance to help.

Rodius, who had been indifferently watching those fighting off the horde, once again directed his gaze at Louise and the others.

“……Unfortunately for you, it looks like no reinforcements are coming.”

“……It seems so. However, I don’t intend to simply let myself just taken out like this……!”

“……Oh?”

Louise mustered up the strength to stand again, before unleashing one godly-fast strike

“……It’s certainly fast, and if someone were to take that on, they’d be rendered helpless…… But that’s only if that someone wasn’t me”

“Wha-!?”

As Rodius said that, he stopped Louise’s attack using a single knife, without moving an inch from where he was standing

“……Well then, I’d like to check up on Lester and Edmund for a bit. Let’s end this fight here shall we”

The moment he said that, countless knives seemed to materialise from nothing as they surrounded Louise along with Leiyah’s group in an instant.

“……I’ll kill you all at once” “Louis-samaaaaaa!”

Screamed someone, from within the ranks of the <Valkyries> .

“――――Fumu, I thought this was supposed to be the Royal Capital Terveil……”

“-!?…… Who’s there?”

Right after Rodius reacted to the sudden intrusion of the new voice, a jet black spear pierced through the rows of the monsters, exterminating them.

“That was…… Zorua, was that you?” “……Nah, that [Darkness] ain’t mine” “Then who could it possibly……”

As it was similar to the Darkness that Zorua had unleashed, Zerros had instinctively assessed it be Zorua’s, but that line of thinking was shot down

Just as everyone was wondering what this new turn of events was all about, a new voice suddenly made itself known.

“――――Good grief, I’d thought it would be a good chance to come here given Seiichi- kun’s introduction, but to think that I’d come under attack from my own brethren……”

“……Who are you two……?”

The two people who possessed an overwhelming sense of presence, were slowly strolling to where Rodius was.

“――――Zeanos Zeford. I’m just the Heroes’ mentor” “――――Lucius Arsahl. I’m just the first Demon King” [So――――]

“Are you ready to face me?”

“Have ye resolved yerself to face me?”

――――The strongest possible reinforcements had arrived.

Shinka no Mi, Vol 7

<<MAIN CHARACTER SIDE>>

<Saria>

<Altria Grem>

<Rurune>

<Origa Carmelia>

<<THE HEROES’ SIDE>>

<Takamiya Shouta>

<Araki Kenji>

<Takamiya Miu>

<Youko Hino>

<Niijima Eri>

<Murata Rika>

<Aoyama Hiroki>

<Ooki>

<Kobayashi>

<Nojima Yuka>

<Shimizu Noa>

<Seito Airi>

<Amakawa Rumi>

<Kisaragi Masaya>

<Ouyama Tsuyoshi>

<Tougo Rento>

<<KAIZER EMPIRE SIDE>>

<Sheld Wal Kaizer>

<Zakia Guildford>

<Alfred Kaizer>

<<MAOU ARMY SIDE>>

<Bell Giselle>

<Bosco Dan>

<Terry Hemut>

<Urus Bamyu>

<Realetta Barheim>

<Zorua Waltor>

<Zeros Albana>

<Jade Roven>

<Lutia Butte>

<<TERVIEL, THE CAPITAL OF WELMBURG KINGDOM>>

<Florio Barze>

<Black Holy Knight> (Black Paladin)

<Claude Schlizer>

<Claudia Asterio>

<Lorna Kirizas>

<George-kun>

<Claire Haster>

<Adriana>

<Fina>

<Lyle>

<Mary>

<Ranzel Ford Welmburg>

<Noado>

<Clay Berger>

<Mei Cherry>

<<GUILD SIDE>>

<Ellis McClain>

<Homon Gayzer>

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