Do You Think Someone Like You Can Defeat the Demon King?

Northern part of the continent, the home of the demonic clan Seleid.

The land, which has been snowing all year, is lined with brick buildings.

It was the giant castle behind it, stoned and uniquely intimidating - the Demon King's Castle.

Just ask for the name, if you are human (...) the home of evil for everyone to fear.

But in fact, living there is not the kind of horrible person imagined from the word "demon king”.

Cafeteria located on the first floor of the castle.

Candlesticks set on walls and tables illuminate the room with soft brightness.

Very low temperature Cereid, but thanks to the fire in the fireplace, the inside kept a pleasant temperature.

In such a room, there are three demons holding knives and forks in their hands and serving meals.

It is Negas of the Blood Wind, Zeion of the Hot Fire, and - the Demon King Seatum.

Did Sheetum look like a 12-year-old girl when it came to humans?

She's like a doll wrapped in a white dress, her feet haven't reached the floor because of the high chair, and she's plumping her red low heels.

"So, Negas, how was the lab investigation?

Seatum asked Negas, who now tries to cheek exactly the meat cut into smaller pieces with a knife.

As thin as ever, she stops it in front of her mouth and gives it a slightly unfortunate look.

Sautéed Huge Goat with mushroom sauce is a dish widely loved by demons, not just her.

Especially what Diza made me, which is so delicious that I can't compare it to what I made myself.

The juiciness is doubled by careful under-preparation, and the sweet gravy spills over softly just by chewing that meat.

That mixes with a mellow flavor and a slightly sour sauce - anyway, it tastes like you want to put it in your mouth as soon as possible.

Negas, who was looking forward to Diza's meal until she skipped lunch, can't help but be discouraged.

"Mmm... as expected, it's the oldest, so I found something about 30 years old. And the embedded cores."

"Again? 30 years ago, it's a time of demonic warfare."

"In a moment, you may have set up a plan to put war as a force."

"Since before the war, we had already conducted experiments on our fellow countrymen. It must be on that extension line."

"At the end of the day, you put in as much power as a kid."

Neigus recalls.

The human army at the time of the Demon War, it was already terrible.

He was forced to participate in a battle with no prospect of winning, low morale, and a ruined chain of orders.

Ultimately, so much so that the Demons took it backwards that they would not try to take human life as far as possible, creating a child-only unit and using it as a shield.

After all, they withdrew without a hand or a leg.

"Except I heard there was an accident at the lab about 10 years ago, and it seems to have stopped being used"

"That's not a power that can be handled in people's hands, but where did it leak from..."

"Isn't the seal loose? Demon King."

Zeion told me to stir it up.

Seatum rebuts by swelling his cheeks.

"That's not true! Since I became a witch, there has been no change in the seal! And we're checking with Diza, aren't we?

"Whoa, don't be angry, Demon King."

"What is it, brother, like harassing the Demon King and the Demon King just now!

"You're calling me that because you're going to say the Three Demons."

"Become... don't you have a choice, the gas drain of the people's accumulated depression and what it took to counter the braves!

"No, it's nothing. Didn't you have to get caught up in that and name the Three Demons or something?

"I don't want my brother to tell me he's always got his collar up and he's snuggling!

To the two people who would start a verbal fight at their usual pace, Negas and the man standing behind Seatum gazed and laughed bitterly.

His name is Deaza.

General Sandemon, would it be easier to understand if I said the muddy Disa?

He was an excellent butler, about 40 years old, wearing one-eyed glasses, a male demon clan with a soft waist of swallow tail clothes, who has supported the Demon King in shadows since his predecessors.

"Hmm? You, did you fool around with this? Are you making fun of this hot fashion!?

"I'm making a fool of myself! Why do you only stand on your collar when you wear any clothes, be mine to walk with your brother!

"Oh my... you're nasty, aren't you? You said the best taboo!? Let's go outside and compare the heat to the right one!

"I just want it, if you think my sun and darkness can break about the fire of your brother's shoboymatch -"

Two arguments to heat up.

Diza coughs up "Oh hon" when she sees Zeon and Sheetum staring at each other until she gets out.

Then the loud voice that was echoing in the dining room stopped perfectly.

"You're both eating. Be quiet."

"Ah... sorry"

"I'm sorry."

When they honestly apologized, they sat back in the chair.

Still staring at each other, but not making as much noise as I did earlier.

"It won't change when you grow up, will it, both of you? Since I was a little girl, I've kept my mouth shut when Diza got mad at me."

"You haven't changed either."

In contrast to Neigus, who says with laughter, Zeion discards.

"Afterwards, Zeion, you called yourself the Three Demons General, didn't you surprisingly like it? When you were fighting, you said," Satisfy us three demons, Sacetemilo. "

"Brother... Was I?

"Ugh... no, that was just, like, getting a little hot and what was going on with my head..."

Mouthwatering Zion.

But it is a well-known fact that he adores Seatum, a childhood tame, like his sister.

In short, a bickering between two people is a reversal of friendship.

"Heh heh, just the same wow"

"Uh-oh."

Zeion turns that way and shuts up.

Negas looked at him like that and laughed even more, saying with a smile.

"But the brave men don't think the Three Demons are just a bunch of childhood friends, either."

"Once we've gathered the powerful, it just so happens. As a matter of fact, we're achieving results, so isn't it good to have details?"

"Hey... I don't really feel comfortable breaking the town"

"I have no choice, otherwise people's grievances will explode. Besides, you didn't take your life, did you?

"Of course it is"

Neigas and Zeion have destroyed human towns over and over again.

It is a countermeasure to the destruction of the demonic towns by the brave men.

Seatum didn't want to get his hands on human territory as much as possible because the battle could get muddy, but he can't say that more than there are demons who were actually chased home.

The troubled phrase, with Diza's advice, imposed the condition that “you will never take your life” and issued an order for the destruction of the town.

So I'm always giving you notice before raiding the town, and I'm also allowing time for evacuation.

Still, if there are people who have missed the escape, Negas or Zeion can rescue them with their own hands... in odd circumstances, but that's the order, so I can't help it.

In fact, because of that, the people's hoarding dropped.

"The invasion of the braves is slowing down, and little by little humans may understand that we don't want a fight,"

Indeed, the invasion of the braves has slowed lately, and apparently the number of parties has decreased.

But Negas knows there's another reason.

And I remember.

The girl who left the brave party - that she was receiving a damaged core when she encountered Fram at the lab.

After finishing the meal for a moment and even flattening the dessert cake, Neigus showed the core to Seatum in a calm place.

"This is..."

"You had a kid named Fram at a brave party, didn't you? I got it from her."

"It's damaged, I've never seen a core in this state before."

I observe how Disa put her face closer to the broken core and said intrigued.

Zeion was just as surprised by this, wrinkling between his eyebrows with his arms together.

"No matter how we scratched it, we couldn't break it. Plus, Fram's the woman who wasn't useful in that stat 0, right?

"Oh. She didn't even know why she was there. You just had a rare power."

"Flip."

Because the magic power was 0, she never waved that power in the form of magic.

But...

"Rotate, reflux..."

Disa squeaks.

"I think that's probably it. So only that kid could destroy the core."

Fram instilled his natural strength anyway during the battle with the alien Auga.

Though I didn't keep my arm strength, my plana, and my physique as magic - nor the magic of inversion.

"I mean, was she chosen as a hero because she had that power?

"But hey, that girl sure is just a country girl. If I hadn't bothered to call, I wouldn't have noticed my power."

"Are you saying you had a reason to just call it to your place? You still don't know what you're thinking, do you, guy-- no, they're..."

Zeion sighs.

Quiet back room.

It was Sheetum's words that broke the silence.

"Whatever it is, neither that girl named Fram, nor the brave men, can let us approach the seal. To keep this world at peace."

And she declares, with strong determination.

"You can't let that obnoxious mechanical god, Origin, like you."

◇ ◇ ◇

Again, progress to the planned point was not achieved.

Gene leaves the metastasis chamber behind, seeping remorse into his expression.

It's not just about him that I'm feeling depressed.

Flam, the brave party followed by Eterna and the departed was approaching the worst.

Linus, who only wants to avoid aerial disintegration, but can't find a good way, leaves the room scratching his head.

Maria went after him worryingly.

Only Cyril and Gadio remain in the room.

Cyril also dropped her shoulder and tried to head outside, but "I want to talk to you a little," Gadio stopped her.

"What's wrong, Gadio?"

Looking back, to Cyril listening back, he said in the same flat tone as usual.

"At the end of my next journey, I'm gonna skip the party."

"Huh... well"

Somehow, I felt like it would.

He liked Flam, and Eterna and I were relatively close.

Now that those two have fallen out, I don't have a stepchildren to remain as good an adventurer as he is at a party where I can no longer see ahead.

Because he didn't participate in honor or status desire.

"I'm sorry. But as an individual, I'm starting to wonder if there's a reason for this journey."

"Daiyi? Isn't it about defeating the Demon King?

"By now, the Demon King is like a synonym for evil, but from the point of view of the implications, he just says“ the Demon King ”"

"But... you attacked me in the war, you killed a lot of people,"

Gadio shook his head.

"The Demon War was set up by man. The tide that the Demons are evil is also just something that has been spreading by government policy for about 50 years at best. Until then, I was just a neighbor with no interaction."

"So the Demons aren't the bad guys?

"God says he's an enemy. They are the evil that erodes the world. It's up to you to believe that."

Maybe it's extra blame.

But I am aware that she cannot easily escape this journey, being in a position to carry expectations from people all by herself: the brave.

So if we didn't just leave advice behind, then yes, the sense of duty drove us.

Or maybe it just bothers you, but still.

"The world is not made of a simple structure: justice or evil. You better not be betrayed if you don't think you're absolute justice."

"... it's hard."

"I guess, you can't judge everything right with me. So I just have to believe what I see with my own eyes as well as the information given to me by others"

"What I saw with my eyes..."

Just grumbling, moving forward managed to get this far.

But now that my people are down, I can't handle my powers well, and I've stopped.

On the contrary, it could be a chance to look around.

If Cyril finds a new way with it, I'm sure it's better for her that way.

"Just one more thing. This is advice."

Gadio glanced at the entrance and told Cyril to make sure no one was there.

Watch out for Maria.

"How could you tell me about her?

"I'm probably hiding something. I'm a church entangled person, I've never gone beyond caution. I just told you to believe what you saw with your own eyes, but for once, I thought that was all."

That said, he leaves the room.

Cyril, left alone, remembered what was important and hurried to speak to him in hindsight.

"Oh, wait, Gadio!

"What's up?

"Um... flam,. I wonder what's going on in Flam's hometown..."

Gadio, who stopped his leg and looked back, "Huh" and broke his face uncommonly.

"I care about her, too. If I ever go to the country on request, I'm going to see how it goes."

"Ah... thanks"

"It's not like you're thanking me."

With that said, he raises his hand gently and starts walking again.

I know Cyril doesn't even deserve to show Fram around.

But I couldn't help but say.

Ever since we were chosen by God to treat ourselves as “brave men” - because she was the only friend.

◇ ◇ ◇

Linus and Maria, out of the room, were walking side by side in town.

Linus' room is also available in the castle, but he says it's cramped and stays in an elevated hotel on the East Side.

"Maria, are you glad you didn't go to the cathedral?

Linus asks her, who has not even invited her, but who has followed her on her own volition.

"Is it strange if I worry about Mr. Linus?

"No, I'm glad. I think he looked so depressed."

"I was, it was an atmosphere where I said I was worried"

"... I'm sorry about that"

"I can't help it, because this is the situation"

The departure of Flam and Eterna.

A journey that does not proceed as late.

To a frustrating Gene, Cyril is not getting back on track.

And Gadio, who would probably be thinking about leaving.

Linus' head is full of troubles.

"Hey, Maria."

He stopped his leg.

"What's going on?

Linus says with a dark look to Maria, who tilts her neck adorably.

"If I did, what would you do, Maria, if I told you I was gonna live with you out of the party?

To a sudden confession, Maria opens her eyes and is amazed.

Tongue, tongue and heart pounding.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel bad.

But...

"... sorry"

She has a situation where she can't shake her head vertically.

"Haha, that's right. I knew it."

"Beh, it doesn't mean I don't like Mr. Linus! I'm so happy with that suggestion itself, and I'm sure we'd be happy if we could live together, but..."

"We can't stop the journey until we destroy the Demons,"

"... Yes"

Maria's hatred is deeply rooted.

It must be like a curse, something that will not go away until the Demons can disappear from this world.

Falling in love with someone, living with someone - even trying to grab such happiness, hatred gets in the way.

"Actually, I took the liberty of looking into Maria."

"About me?

"Oh, I'm really curious. I won't do it again."

Linus lowering her head at first sight, but Maria smiles when she hears that.

"That's all you care about me, Mr. Linus."

"Sarasu but the Virgin, gentle"

"I'm not so nice to anyone, because I'm not going to forgive you if you're someone other than Mr. Linus. But... you've also learned that my homeland was destroyed by the Demons."

"Oh, when I was eight?

"Yeah...... that day the town I lived in was suddenly raided and doomed overnight. Survivors will hear about it later, but I'm the only one."

Maria remembers the time with a distant eye.

The tragedy that floats in the back of my brain is still in my memory without fading.

"I remember clearly the appearance of the devil clan who uses magic to stab, chop, crush and burn through the important people"

"... well"

"It's a lie that the Demons didn't kill humans. They are ugly monsters who can kill people with laughter, evil to be destroyed!

There is probably no lie in Maria's words as she grips her fist and rolls her hatred.

But as far as Linus felt, neither did the word "we don't kill humans” by the Demons seem a lie.

"Ah... I'm sorry, it's getting hot"

"Fine, I'm the one who shook it."

Linus is in love with Maria to such an extent that she would like to support her.

He slaps his hand, "Yes," and waves away the subtle air that drifts.

"There's a delicious ice cream shop around here, why don't we go now?

"Nice, I like ice cream"

A smile returns to Maria's face.

This look still suits her best.

Let's support her until one day we're free from all hatred and the time comes for heartfelt laughter.

Linus vowed so quietly in his chest.

◇ ◇ ◇

Time had passed since I left the metastasis room and it was completely dark outside.

The area around the royal castle was completely quiet, but in such silence, a man's roar began to sound.

"What's an S-rank adventurer, what's a star crushing brass arm! It's just a smashed back, dammit. Ah!

- It's Gene.

He was rough in his own room.

Kick your desk or wall over and over again, beating you enough to seep blood into your fists.

Throw the paperwork and books on the floor and, extremely, the momentum is likely to knock them down to the bookshelf.

This is all he's rough for, for a reason.

Gadio just came to tell him about the departure of the party.

Even now that the journey is not progressing, it is no longer possible to reach the planned point if it falls out to Gadio.

Cyril would be even more depressed, and Gene's position would get worse.

"I can't believe I'm dissatisfied! You get the money to play and live your whole life as long as you finish your journey, the honor to be praised by all the people, and enough to be involved in the heart of the kingdom's politics!? An adventurer doesn't work if it's even more rewarding. Ooh!? In the first place, think of it as an honor at a time when you can travel with a genius like me. Whoa, whoa!

Gene, dissatisfied from one end, lifted his shoulders up and down with his fist gripped, repeated a rough breath.

Still, I can't run out of anger.

Why doesn't it work, why, when you say you're a genius and you're on a journey?

From a young age to the present, he knew no failure.

Even the challenges poked at to discredit the genius Gene were solved with a cool face to show.

I have completed so much research that I don't need a companion, I don't need to collect as many wizards of the kingdom individually, and his confidence is never pride, etc.

It's just that the wall I hit was too high.

Having regained some calm, Gene sat back in the chair and took the feather pen in his hand.

Immerse the tip of the pen in the ink and start drawing letters on one of the pieces of paper scattered around the desk.

I kept my face so close to the paper that I shook my powerful hands, and I conjured up my magic theory, but...

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

It didn't go well and threw the paper round in a shamble.

"Why, how can it not work! If only I could complete this theory, which binds four attributes, in the world! No one needs trash like Flam or scum like Eterna or Gadio, and I can do it alone.

And scratch your head.

I think I'm going crazy.

Now, how can he reflect and change his mind?

He was an oddly distressed Gene, but in his room like that - Concon, and the sound of knocking on the door.

"I don't want to see anyone right now!

That's what I'd say, Gene.

But modestly speaking from outside the room,

Mr. Gene, it's me, it's Maria.

It was Maria who was supposed to have finished her date with Linus and returned to the cathedral.

Exactly when it comes to the visit of the Virgin, you can't ignore it either.

When Gene tongues "chip," he rises from the chair and opens the door in a cat-backed position.

And I glanced at Maria, who showed up.

"What do you want!

"It's the priesthood's job to save the troubled lamb."

"So what can I do for you?"

Before the frustrating Gene, Maria took out the black crystal.

And I grin with a dust.

"I thought you were looking for strength, so I brought you the right tools for you."

In the crystal, a huge amount of energy is swirling.

Gene stared at it, silently, to be enchanted.