Ch.7Locktelune (1)

Crackle, crackle.

The campfire burns brightly. Its red glow spreads heat in all directions, illuminating the barren land. A flame in the night was a dangerous thing. It was like offering oneself as a feast to predators.

“Seems like they’re not coming anymore, right?”

Of course, it didn’t matter if you had power. If you killed all approaching enemies and announced the arrival of a new predator, the area would grow quiet.

“Good. Now we can finally rest.”

Beyond the shimmering heat haze stood a man with a sword. At his feet lay numerous corpses. It was a fitting scene for this desolate land devoid of vitality.

He glanced around once. Seemingly accustomed to the terrible surroundings, the man took a seat by the fire. Silence settled over the demon realm wasteland that should have been noisy. Simultaneously, new figures appeared.

There were exactly three beings who spoke.

“Phew. I really thought I was going to die this time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place with so many demon beasts in my life.”

First was a female elf, sighing while firmly gripping her composite bow.

“Well, the paths we’ve traveled until now were arranged by angels, so they were safe. Honestly, they were boring, but I’m glad we’re not taking those routes anymore.”

Second was a dwarf warrior, chiming in with hearty laughter.

“Even so, this is too much.”

Last was a mage, trembling while using an old wooden staff for support.

They gathered around the campfire with the man and began to share trivial stories.

“Kael. Can I be honest? I still oppose this companionship.”

The mage addressed the man as Kael. He raised his head at her discontented voice. Emboldened, the mage continued more forcefully.

“Returning without the angels’ guidance and bringing a demon with us? That’s nonsense. You’re the hero who must always appear perfect to the people. Hmm? How do you think the kingdom’s people will react when you return with a demon and no angels?”

“……”

“No matter how I think about it, nothing good will come of this.”

“But she’s a necessary existence. She’ll be an essential key for the adventure ahead of us. The future told me so.”

“The future? Did some deity appear in your dream again and tell you that bringing that demon along would be incredibly helpful?”

The mage’s voice grew heated. She pointed at a black hood in the distance as she spoke.

“If that’s the case, I understand even less. She’s a demon. The cursed race we humans have been fighting for 1,000 years. And not just any demon, but a—”

Her voice trailed off in disbelief. After taking a moment to collect herself, the mage unleashed her emotions.

“She’s the Demon Lord. Exactly one week ago, we were trying to kill each other. But suddenly she says she likes you and wants to pretend to be your lover? Does that seem normal to you?”

Her question was reasonable. From a third party’s perspective, it made perfect sense. But Kael’s stern face remained unmoved. His expression only fueled the mage’s frustration.

“At least say something. If you stay silent again, I swear my head’s going to explode.”

“Eili.”

“Don’t just say my name. Answer me.”

She was resolute. Perhaps due to her unyielding attitude, the hero changed his demeanor. The previously silent Kael looked toward the black-hooded Demon Lord that Eili had been complaining about.

“It’s hard for me to explain. I literally received a divine oracle. To be honest, I’m in a similar state as you. I don’t know why we need to travel with the Demon Lord. I don’t understand why that devil suddenly likes me either.”

“Then let’s just get one thing straight. Why are we avoiding the angels? Even if the Demon Lord is with us, if we say it’s divine will, wouldn’t the angels handle it appropriately? Did the oracle tell you to avoid the angels?”

“……”

“Your silence tells me I’m right.”

“Sigh.” Eili let out a deep breath. The atmosphere grew heavy. The silence created by killing all approaching demon beasts had become incredibly uncomfortable. The elf and dwarf, who had been cheerfully relaxing during their break, quietly sat up straight and observed the situation.

They seemed to hope things would go well, but unfortunately, it didn’t end pleasantly.

“Argh. I don’t know. Do whatever you want. I really don’t get it. Did you fight with God and the angels? Damn it. I guess we’ll just have to figure things out after we get to the human realm.”

With those words, the mage abruptly stood up. The elf jumped in surprise, and Eili responded grumpily.

“I’m not going far. I just need to switch places with that woman over there.”

“Oh, is that all? You scared me.”

“Hey. Starting tomorrow, we need to infiltrate the southern border and break through the barbarian tribes. I’m just going to get some air and come right back, nothing unnecessary.”

That was the last of it. Eili glared at the hero once more before trudging away from the campfire.

Crackle, crackle.

Once again, only the sound of the campfire remained in the world. Three people surrounded it. Suddenly, the hero jerked his head up.

“What, what is it now?”

“Kael, did you receive another oracle?”

“No.”

The hero ignored the startled elf and dwarf.

He was looking directly this way.

“There’s a demon beast over there watching us.”

Step by step. Rising from his seat, the hero drew his sword. The gleaming blade came closer.

When the sword tip, still sticky with the crimson blood of demon beasts, came right up to the front, the hero spoke once more.

“You’ve managed to stay alive until now.”

Stab!

With a flash of light, the world went dark.

#

“The record ends here.”

The great hall of the Demon Lord’s castle was lit even at this late hour. Normally, everyone would be working in their own offices as they were busy preparing for the expedition, but this was special.

They had found traces of the hero. There was even evidence that he was with the Demon Lord, albeit minimal. That was why Ludmila had urgently summoned Durin.

She had her succubus maid brief Durin on the situation.

“This is the memory storage from a wolf-type demon beast that regularly patrolled the southern border. An area with a mass of demon beasts killed by the border legion was discovered, and during recovery, an intact portion was found and urgently sent to the castle.”

“Well done. This is truly a significant discovery.”

Durin showed satisfaction for the first time in a while. The memory viewed through the sorcerer’s crystal ball wasn’t even five minutes long. But the clues it contained were crucial.

“So the hero and the Demon Lord are heading south… When was this memory discovered?”

“Just yesterday morning.”

“Then they must already be on the move by now. It’s highly likely they’ve reached the southern isthmus after crossing the border.”

“I’ve instructed the sorcerers to focus surveillance on that border. I’ll let you know as soon as news comes in.”

“I plan to move immediately.”

Durin rose from his seat. Ludmila frowned and asked.

“Now? Right away?”

“Yes. I finished the expedition preparations earlier this evening. Our destination was the south anyway, so this works out well. While I tell the captain of the royal guard to prepare the troops, I’d like you to contact the south, Ludmila.”

“I’ve already put the governor of Laktelun, the base city, on high alert. They can receive you as soon as you cross over. But Durin.”

“Speak.”

Ludmila paused slightly, glanced around, and then said.

“Before you go, there’s something I’d like you to know.”

“What is it? Is it important?”

“Extremely important. It’s about why the hero is heading south.”

Durin stopped in his tracks. Ludmila grinned and clapped her hands.

The succubus maid moved quickly to stand before Durin. The lower demon bowed her head and handed him a small scroll.

“What is this?”

“It’s a scroll that can activate an ancient warp gate built 1,000 years ago. It’s arcane magic that our sorcerers have passed down for generations.”

“An ancient warp gate.”

“To cross from the south to the human realm, they’ll have to use that gate. The surrounding area is just wasteland, so there’s nothing else to use for warping. It was created by the Demon Lord from four generations ago during the war with the celestial realm to secretly send legions to the human realm, so its performance is guaranteed. But now we’re seeing humans use it.”

Ludmila shrugged her shoulders, indicating she had finished speaking. But Durin continued to look at her.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Of course. I don’t know much about ancient ruins. Do you happen to know its location?”

“Ah… about that.”

Ludmila’s red pupils rolled to the side. It meant she didn’t know. Having lost interest, Durin immediately turned away.

“If the central high sorcerer doesn’t know, then it can’t be helped. I’ll try to gather information in the south.”

“You’re going to enter that barbarian land, break through 8,000 troops, and search for it? That won’t be easy.”

“The way you say that makes it sound like you have a solution.”

“Of course. What do you take the high sorcerer of the Demon Lord’s castle for?”

Ludmila smiled brightly as she spoke.

“That scroll I gave you? Take it to the Witch of Prophecy who resides in the Rock Temple of Laktelun. She will surely know.”

“The Witch of Prophecy?”

Durin expressed doubt. It was a name he had never heard in all his years.

“Oh right. You wouldn’t know her by that name.”

She wore a sly expression. As if she had anticipated this, Ludmila struck a pose and began.

“There’s a great figure legendary among us sorcerers of the Demon Lord’s castle. Every sorcerer of the castle must learn about sorcery from her.”

“I didn’t know such a sorcerer existed.”

“She rarely comes out into the world, and her existence is kept secret, so even high-ranking demons don’t know much about her.”

“Is it alright for me to know?”

“I can’t say there’s absolutely no problem, but given the situation…”

Ludmila became serious again. She rose from her seat and approached the maid.

“If possible, try to get a prophecy about yourself too. If she’s in a good mood, she might tell you.”

She looked Durin up and down before leaving the great hall.

“Though it won’t be easy! Good luck trying!”

Her voice echoed from outside the door. But Ludmila’s glibness didn’t reach Durin.

In the crystal ball that hadn’t yet dimmed, beyond the tip of the hero’s sword just before the screen went dark, a black hood flickered.

The escaped Demon Lord.

Lucretia Erich del Abraxas.

The worst dark ruler who had pushed the demon realm into an abyss.

Two days remained until the planned southern expedition.

But such was Durin’s intense desire that even that time would be shortened.