That was my memory before I became Commander of the Third Army, when I was an apprentice to a Demon King soldier.

Master, when I accompanied Nero Argens and his men on a mission.

It was supposed to be an easy assignment.

Soon we took to the realm of man to capture powerful demons for the resurrecting Demon King and create a new demon - now called Baldinak.

The sight is still burning vividly in my eyes.

When I was ordered to wait in the rear, I felt strange and arrived at the battlefield, it was turned into hell.

messy mutilated trees.

Fall down, brothers and humans alike.

And with his own sword, he pierced his right shoulder and turned into a tree, and the figure of a woman staring at his master with hateful eyes.

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you"

Ripped off her right eye, blood seeps from all over her body - a body that a normal human would not even be able to keep conscious, and the woman was trying to stab a stop at her master who was crawling on the ground but was already about to lose consciousness.

Even though his body was dying, only his eyes firmly captured only his master.

It was heartfelt horrible.

I didn't think there was such a person.

I desperately moved my body, unable to move due to fear, and I took my master and fled the scene.

Even before I ran off and rode the horse, I felt that woman's gaze all the time and didn't feel alive.

"Armiler"

"... what"

"What a greeting. Was he your superior? Me."

He remembered the past before the battle, but was interrupted by the Second Legion leader, Koga.

As for why this guy is still my superior officer, in addition to the fact that he moves more easily as a soldier... he became attached to his men who follow him.

Currently, the place where our army is at night camp is in the woods that made the Great River the last time Rose broke the bridge, and I was experiencing with my last failure that the bridge was broken, I was taking several of my men on an opposite shore watch.

What can I do for you?

"No, I went to a meeting earlier, and that was over. No, I knew that third regiment leader, eh, naughty."

"That's why she's better suited to the Legion Leader than I am"

Hannah Lowmia, who has become the new Third Corps leader, is outstanding.

She has flexible and cunning thoughts compared to me, who is direct and capable only of fighting.

The magic you have on it is also suitable for backward support.

Must be a pain in the ass for the other soldier.

"So, is there anything else?"

"Nero's old man left command to his deputy and said it was an assault."

"... yeah, right"

In the battle of the Master, those with half-way power are instead disturbed.

It's not weird, but if you still say you have nowhere to think, it's a lie.

"Oh, gossip."

"Hmm?"

Face Koga's voice and follow ahead of his gaze.

Then I saw Nero Argens, a blonde demon with a sword on his waist near the riverbank ——— master, standing there. I can only see behind me, so I can't ask for that look, but I'm looking at the view beyond the river.

"Is that okay? He's your master, isn't he? Shouldn't we talk for a little while?"

"... oh, I know"

I have not yet exchanged words since my master's return.

Sometimes I was busy just before I marched, simply because I didn't know how to talk to my current master.

After returning to the demonic kingdom, the master has changed.

The wounds sustained by his own demon sword were enormous, and he was forced to heal without being able to return to battle even after the demon king was resurrected.

At that time the master had an unconventional obsession due to his self-blame for forcing his men to die and his defeat in the battle against Rose.

Perhaps that will still be the same.

"I've got this place."

"Huh? You want me to keep an eye on the Legion Leader? Hey, don't ignore..."

Ignoring Koga's voice, I turn to my master.

As we approach it, its appearance becomes clear.

On the dull golden hair, on the armor covering his right shoulder, on the devil's sword he could carry on his hips, trying to speak up, even though he was slightly nervous - the master pulled out his sword without touching it, and with a light motion he flanked the space in front of him.

"Huh!?"

In a moment, a blade of wind was unleashed from his red body and he headed towards one heady mountain at the end of the great river.

After a few seconds or so, a tree in the corner of the mountain is cut down and dust is raised.

Confused by the sudden action, the master, with his red demon sword in his sheath, uttered his words as he looked to the mountain.

"Five."

"Huh?"

"I'm a scout. I finished it before they sent me the information. I don't know if that makes sense."

I couldn't understand the meaning of my master's words for about a few seconds, but the moment I understood, I got goosebumps.

The master killed the man who was scouting from the mountains. Besides, even though you can't see decent in the dark.

Again, it makes me understand how out of standard my master is.

"It's been a long time. Armilla."

When I was just amazed at the strength of my long-forgotten master, he inadvertently called my name.

When he stopped a little behind him, the master, who moved his face slightly here, smiled.

"It's been a while. Master."

"Master. Will you still call me that?"

Surprised at the words you mock yourself.

The Master's condition is completely different from before.

At least, until before he fought Rose, his master never uttered a word that would degrade him.

"You are the master who taught me the art of fighting. It doesn't matter what it is."

"... you've grown stronger"

So emotionally groaning, the master shuts his mouth again.

The master's mood cannot be inferred from me either.

But I've always wanted to ask.

"Is the Master thinking of hostility to Rose?"

Are you trying to play snowflake against Rose like I once did?

Unlike me, who was burning in anger, just to clear up my master's carelessness, my master must have a reason to do so.

My master is losing men other than me in the battle against Rose.

To my question the master shook his head small and sideways.

"... no, you don't deserve to be hostile to me. Rather, I'm on the side of atonement."

"Atonement, what?"

"I'm the one who forced them... to die on my men"

They made Rose's men go their way and fall together.

Given the strength of Rose and his men at the time, we would have known it would be a later threat.

I'm not saying the Master was right —— if Rose's men were alive like that, they could have been untouchable.

"My time has stopped on that day of battle"

The whining had strong emotions in it.

"Previously, I thought any sacrifice would be unavoidable if it was for the prosperity of the Demon Nation. But after losing to Rose, his enthusiasm and ideals also disappeared, and all that remained was the urge to fight"

"Nothing else?"

"Oh. My only purpose is to fight Rose. That's all."

The master had been imprisoned in the past.

He was hungry for an unprecedented battle with the like-minded Rose.

Everyone here is fighting for the Demon King - for the survival of the entire Demon Nation, but this man is not the only one who is looking at and fighting the past.

"Isn't Rose fighting now?"

Answer unexpected questions with surprise.

"... Yes. He runs the battlefield as a healing wizard, healing wounded enemy soldiers."

"Has she chosen the way to save, not kill"

I can't take a peek at the look on the face of the master who shrugged so much, but I know I have something to think of.

He was silent for about ten seconds, but he finally opened his mouth.

"If it were, it would be quite a pain in the ass."

"Yeah, totally. Even his disciples gushed out of nowhere until the last battle, even though they were burning their hands in the presence of two brave men..."

I remember the healing wizard called Usat and the two brave men, and I zero my stupidity, not even before my master.

"Apprentice? Are you a healing wizard...?"

"Yes. Authentic, he's a healing wizard of the same kind as Rose"

"Strength?"

"At least not enough to draw from Koga"

Technically, Koga had plenty of leeway, but there's no way that Arre could be a decent healing wizard at a time when he was pushed into stunning, even temporarily.

Once I saw him trapped in a cage with a hinomoto, he looked like a mediocre boy —— his eyes felt a strong will.

"... I see"

The master, who listened to me and nodded quietly, remained silent.

Did you hear about Rose's apprentice and have any thoughts? Either way, for the Master, this march is also a battle against the past.

For me...... it is also a battle for the Demon King and hence the Demon Nation.