episode_0017

“Is the war really starting now?”

I began to strongly feel the approaching reality that the final stage of the game was coming.

The large-scale war between demons and humans, named the ‘Holy Citadel Conquest War,’ played a significant role in the game.

“Was the name of the final stage the Holy Citadel Conquest War?”

After the demon lord Gartos died at the hands of the hero party, they realized that storming the demon castle was impossible because of the powerful barrier surrounding it.

Breaking through that barrier to reach the demon castle was nearly impossible.

“If this place is breached, the barrier of the demon castle will be lifted.”

Therefore, from the hero party’s perspective, it was necessary to release the barrier in order to defeat the demon lord, and the way to do that was to restore the holy citadel.

According to the game’s setting, if the holy citadel could be restored, the barrier of the demon castle could be lifted.

“It’s such an important war.”

Because of this, the demon army desperately tried to defend this place. The imperial army also desperately tried to break through this place.

They fought desperately to secure this crucial place, no matter the cost, as the outcome of the war depended on it.

“Did almost everyone die here?”

The result of the war was the demon army’s defeat.

Although the imperial side suffered significant losses, the hero party managed to restore the holy citadel by defeating the Four Heavenly Kings one by one.

Thanks to the actions of the hero Ronan, the path to the demon castle was opened, leading to an unexpected turn of events for the demon army.

“It may be different now.”

Well, that’s just the original story, after all.

I was currently part of the demon army. I think the course of the war will change significantly without me.

“Is this the place?”

As I walked through the corridors of the demon castle, I suddenly arrived at the conference room.

Before the demon king and the Four Heavenly Kings started the war, there was a strategy meeting. Naturally, I had an obligation to attend.

Creak…

I pushed open the door to the conference room.

And there, I faced the Four Heavenly Kings.

“The demon king said he would be late.”

With five people including myself, only four were present in the conference room.

In the tense atmosphere, as I entered the conference room, the gazes of the three sitting individuals turned towards me.

“Well, I didn’t expect warm looks…”

I thought I wouldn’t be welcomed.

Apart from the demon king welcoming me, the other demons probably had no trust in me.

It was hard to believe that a hero from the enemy camp just switched sides overnight.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

I had to endure and prove myself in that regard.

Ignoring the unfriendly looks, I took my seat.

Since I didn’t want to start any arguments by speaking unnecessarily, I sat quietly and waited for the demon king to arrive.

“Ugh. An immature hero like that entering the demon army…”

However, even if I stayed silent, someone still wanted to pick a fight.

A girl with subtle sky-blue hair, looking quite cheeky, began to openly provoke me with a fresh smile.

“Huh? If you heard it, I’m not sorry at all. I said it loud enough for everyone to hear.”

The demon who threw sarcasm at me with a bright smile was clearly showing her dislike towards me.

“Was her name Retona?”

Having played the entire game, I knew exactly who this female demon was.

A demon who had reached the pinnacle of magic as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the demon army.

The incandescent Retona.

In other words…

She was the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings, Retona.

“You’re not even skilled. Just bluffing…”

“What?”

I casually snorted at Retona’s words. There was no need to take her seriously.

The girl who dies first in a war laughed at me, which was very pathetic.

“You… What did you say? That I’m not skilled?”

This remark seemed quite irritating to Retona, as she slammed the desk and started scolding me.

By the way, what I just said was the phrase Retona hated the most.

“… Each demon king has things they are good at and things they are not… So evaluating as weak or strong…”

“It’s an excuse for the weak.”

“I am a work in progress. Even if I’m lacking now, later on…”

“If you’ve lived for 400 years, isn’t it like winning the lottery already?”

She vaguely recognized herself as the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings, so she had no choice but to be scratched.

Unable to properly counter my words, Retona began to tremble.

Unprepared for my merciless factual assault, Retona couldn’t regain her composure.

“Still, aren’t you better than me?”

However, the verbal sparring wasn’t entirely one-sided.

Retona calmed her anger and scrutinized me once again.

“What happened in the Hero Party, and why did you join the Hero Party?”

“Well, with no lifespan and being separated from the Hero Party, it’s enough reason to join the demon army.”

“But can you really kill the members of the Hero Party?”

What she was saying were remarks that could be easily pointed out by someone who knew Ronan well.

“I admit you’re strong, but Hero Ronan is clearly incapable of making such decisions.”

“No one can kill anyone in a war, right? I can’t accept someone like that as a comrade.”

Retona firmly asserted that I would never kill the members of the Hero Party in a war.

From the start, her dislike towards me wasn’t about Hero Ronan’s combat power or such issues.

It was about pointing out Ronan’s overly fragile heart.

“Well… It’s not entirely wrong.”

Certainly, there was a basis for saying that.

I believe that even if it were Ronan, he would never have killed anyone.

On that point, my thoughts aligned completely.

“Wanna make a bet?”

“What?”

But it wasn’t me.

I confidently told Retona, and her expression showed confusion.

“Are you suggesting we bet on whether I can handle the Hero Party members or not?”

“… Are you asking me to bet now? Why… do we need to bet all of a sudden…!?”

Was I too bold?

She seemed slightly intimidated.

She stared at me, wondering why I was acting this way.

“Scared?”

“… What?”

“When you say that, you won’t back down now, will you?”

“W-Who backed down!!!?”

However, she was fundamentally a proud demon.

In the end, she couldn’t resist my challenge.

“If I win, you’ll be my slave.”

“And if I win, you become my slave?”

“Hmph. Making a show of it.”

She initiated the challenge openly, and there was no turning back.

The bet was accepted.

“Whether it’s a show or not, we’ll find out later.”

What should I ask Retona to do later…?

I don’t particularly want anything specific.

Since I agreed to do whatever, I can’t back out, right?

As she spoke arrogantly to me, I intend to make her pay dearly for it.

“… Hmm…”

Showing considerable confidence, my expression made Retona increasingly uneasy.

Did she misjudge something? She seemed a bit scared and anxious.

“Gartos. Do you… Do you think the same way?”

I asked another Four Heavenly Kings who was next to me how to relieve the anxiety.

She turned her head and looked at Gartos, the Four Heavenly King wearing heavy armor.

“…”

Gartos in black armor.

However, he did not respond to Retona’s words. Well, he couldn’t respond, right?

Because he was the knight without a neck, Durahan.

“Gartos. You still haven’t found your neck, have you?”

“…”

“Hah. Really.”

Leaving Gartos unable to speak, I turned my head again to look at another Four Heavenly King.

A stoic beauty with silver hair down to her shoulders, she was the Four Heavenly King Patriarch.

“Patriarch, what do you think?”

“… I’m not interested.”

“But we’re friends, can’t you show a little interest?”

“Do as you please.”

Unfortunately, Retona didn’t get the answer she wanted from her either.

She’s a demon who doesn’t care about anyone except ‘Demon Lord Artemia.’

“Ah…! Seriously. Why are these so-called Four Heavenly Kings like this?”

In the end, there was no other Four Heavenly King colleague to relieve Retona’s anxious heart.

Watching the unique Four Heavenly Kings, Retona lamented.

‘The reason I have to take Liril away is because of this.’

I couldn’t help but agree with her lament.

The reason I couldn’t get close to the other Four Heavenly Kings was ultimately because their personalities were too strong.

Retona who openly dislikes me, Gartos who can’t communicate, Patriarch who has no interest in others.

It’s almost impossible to persuade them to go to the dungeon.

Tap-tap.

As I quietly nodded my head,

the air filled with unease began to clear.

“Please be quiet, everyone. The Demon Lord is coming.”

“…”

Patriarch closed the book she was reading, signaling the arrival of the Demon Lord.

Even Retona, who had been shouting just moments ago, immediately closed her mouth and sat quietly in her seat.

They prepared to greet their lord, the Demon Lord.

Creak…

“…”

The door opened, and the Demon Lord slowly walked into the conference room.

Sitting in the chair prepared for him at the center of the conference room, adorned magnificently.

After sitting down, the Demon Lord finally crossed his legs and began to gaze down at the other Four Heavenly Kings with a cold gaze.

It was truly the appearance of a ruler of the demon realm.

‘Putting on airs…’

Well, as someone who knows that all of this is just an act, it’s quite amusing…

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

Anyway, with only one day left until the war breaks out, the Demon Lord’s words marked the beginning of preparations for the impending war by the Demon Lord’s army.