Hyaku Ma No Aruji

- Do you know what's going on?

Lights swinging in the ceiling of the room.

Zaras looked up at Merea-Mere, the (white god) illuminated by that light, sitting down on the ground.

-... I see. I think I figured out how that white-haired demon is given a second issue called "White God".

"... situation. Yeah, I know. Probably."

As he answered, Zaras was immediately turning away from Melea. I can't look straight at that any further. - No, 'you must not'.

"I mean, Mooseg intervened, didn't he?... the aim is my ability as a" light demon ". Special spermatic circuit. And then... and Juliana."

"That's right. They have intervened in Sisalis' activities in Virgilia. The goal is the Demon King."

Merea never blurred that point.

Zaras laughs powerlessly at Melea's words.

"So, Sisalis noticed Mooseg's intervention, - he escaped"

"Oh. They decided to avoid hanging out with Mooseg properly"

"Good decision. If it's a normal country, it fits."

Zaras shrugged his shoulders and continued.

"Though, even Sisalis doesn't want to let go of the Demon King easily"

Juliana, in particular, has been especially bought by Sisalis for her abilities as an "enchanter". Juliana's Devil's Eye is very useful for Sisalis' indoctrination activities.

whereas I have been bought power as an escort on a set with Alter, who uses the operating machine,

"It's not as important as Juliana."

Nothing, I'm not going to say anything about that.

This isn't even the case, or rather, I even have sympathy for Juliana.

"That's right. But for Mooseg, it seemed - 'the other way around'. Museg rather craved Zarath-Minailas, the Light Demon."

- Do you already know my name?

Maybe there's some good intelligence behind this guy. Or an information network because it's in consortium with Remusee. Zaras let go of his voice again as he thought about that with a slightly calmed head.

"That kind of thing overlapped, and I was turned into a" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "

"- Oh."

Again, Merea did not deceive the facts.

But for Zaras, that affirmation was appreciated instead. You don't have to have any odd hopes.

Leaning on aspirations and dreams, a person in a position called the Demon King dies easily.

So this is all we need to survive.

"... you think you've lost your place"

Voice from Melea. Zaras, while dropping his gaze, guessed with the strength and weakness of the sound that Merea's position was slightly closer than earlier.

"Nothing like that. It wasn't even as good a place as it was originally. It's better than sitting in a fucking big wasteland, so I was just there."

Sisalis was like a borough hut that stood in a cold, windy wasteland. Better than not, but just because there was doesn't mean it's safe.

"But well, I only know properly that I was kicked out of one of those critical cabins and thrown out into the wasteland again"

said Zaras. In my head I had already figured out how I could keep Alter in a better place. At least, Alter alone.

But on the other hand,

- Well, just... you're getting a little tired.

To be honest, this one was easier than usual. That's not because you've been betrayed. I'm used to being betrayed because it's usual.

The reason this time was because the mighty country Museg was after us. Because of this, things feel heavier than usual.

Anxiety and impatience come at the same time. Zaras felt an unpleasant chest upset.

Then,

Do you want a place?

So again, a voice came.

"Well, if that's what you have."

I'm already searching all the time.

But I still can't find it.

Maybe there's no such thing.

"Then I'll tell you."

So, the White God said.

◆ ◆ ◆

"I'll give you a place."

◆ ◆ ◆

Zaras looked up again and saw Merea's face.

"My name is Merea-Mere. He's the head of the Lemuse-based Demon King's Union."

It was like a starring actor on stage. In the dim darkness of the underground, there is often no light, but it looks strangely white and glowing.

And Zaras saw that Merea had been offering her hand. The hand was so beautiful that I didn't think it belonged to the combatant, but then it looked very, very big.

Zaras is going to accidentally lay his own hands on that hand.

However,

"... no"

My left hand held on to my stretched right hand.

Then I shook my head, and Zaras said.

"I did a very 'bad thing' to you. I... trampled on your thoughts once. I used it. That was really not a good thing."

Zaras revealed his thoughts honestly.

"So I don't deserve to grab your hand"

That was her, that was serious.

"... you're probably a very strong one. I'm not talking about the body. The will, the heart. And then, maybe, something awesome is stupid. You're so stupid and so strong to say," Follow me "even though you're like me."

Zaras thought so without falsehood. That rumor has, at some point, elevated into truth in itself.

"No shyness, no weird looks, fucking serious. Probably thinking about a lot of, you know, realistic things on top of that."

It proved that it is based in Lemuse. It is impossible for only the Demon King to be independent somewhere from the start.

"But I knew you'd be amazing to say 'do the place'. So if there's another demon king who has nowhere else to be, tell him so."

Zaras said so and turned away from Melea again.

But think of what's right after that, and connect words at the end.

"It's just, you know... if you don't officially have to be the Demon King to accept it -"

- At least, only Alter.

As soon as I thought so, I tried to say the words, from beyond by accident, my voice was flying.

◆ ◆ ◆

"Then you're welcome for me to grab that hand on my own."

◆ ◆ ◆

When I realized, someone was taking my hand.

As Zaras looked up slightly, there was a figure of Merea nearby pulling her hand with a gentle grin.

And not long after I raised my voice, my body was hugging him.

"... ah!?"

"From what we're talking about, it's definitely not that I don't like it, is it? I'm not hostile because of my association with Sisalis, but because of my conscience, I don't dare take my hands off it."

"Oh, hey, hey."

"Forcing me to do something that I don't like is just what I hesitate to do. Because it will twist and bend the will of the individual. But if you don't like it, if you're not positive, so to speak, you're neutral - I'll step in."

Merea said as she looked down at Zaras in her arms with a serious face.

"I just need you to judge me later. If we're going to be together and you don't think it's enough trust, do whatever you want. You can do whatever you want, even when you find a better place. Honestly, when it does, I probably will, but I don't think I'm gonna be forced to."

……

"So if you don't currently have anywhere to go, you should come to me for now. If you don't like it clearly in this room right now, I'll drop you off again."

"Huh..."

Taking Merea's straight gaze, Zaras bit her lip.

"Eh, yi-"

- Seriously. Tell me you don't like it.

"Take your sister!

The moment I tried to spin the word of denial, the voice of Alter wore the ear of Zaras.

When I saw the voice coming, Alter was trying to keep his head down towards Melea, kneeling down on the ground.

Zaras looked at his brother,

――

I can't say anything anymore.

Then this time Merea approaches Alter with the Zaras in her arms and controls her head with her hand as she tries to lower it.

"I said Alter. It doesn't mean you're not gonna pull in unless you're the Demon King, so you should come with me."

"What?"

Alter glanced up at Melea, properly.

"I respect you. You've always defended the Demon King by yourself. It's really amazing that you're alone and you didn't abandon that thought. Even I'm finally supported by everyone."

Alter took Merea's word for it and accidentally looked like she was about to cry.

But I immediately wiped my eyes with a sleeve of clothes,

'Cause it's mine, it's important, it's my sister.

That's right, say it small.

Zaras realized then that he was much more 'protected' than he thought this brother would be.

"Well, let's go outside for a moment. The others are waiting upstairs. Because I still have something to do."

That's what I said, and Melea pointed at the big hole in the wall of the room with her chin.

"I've smashed the ceiling in the next room, so I can go up from there"

Going through the big hole as it was held by Melea, as the words put it, the ceiling goes out into a brilliantly smashed room.

Zaras looked up, wondering what the hell I could do to drill a hole like this down to this basement.

Then there, the night sky of the city of art and the faces of the two.

When we met three days ago, I saw your face.

-... I wonder if those are demon kings too.

Zaras felt something coming up from the bottom of his belly, thinking somehow. It's like a little fever. It comes all the way to the eye and finally makes my vision sauvignon.

- That's not the pattern.

I feel like I've been crying for the last three days.

But now, the warmth of Melea that I feel next door - was in the way of stopping me from crying.

◆ ◆ ◆

- I'm not sure myself if I'm unwilling, or if I'm just a lot stubborner than I think.

In the end, Merea could only forgive.

There are all kinds of things associated with Juliana and I'm not saying that I have no complaints at all about the Zaras.

Still, Merea forgave.

That was Merea's choice.

After Shaw poked Mouseg's intervention, Merea immediately decided to go save the Zaras. We didn't have as much material to convince them of, but that no longer matters either. I didn't like footsteps anymore.

- I guess I'm sweet.

If we are to protect only what we have at hand now for sure, I guess we do not need to show this kind of tolerance from now on.

But that's not what Merea wanted.

Then simply protect your people.

I wouldn't even say that's bad. Nice enough.

But when I spoil myself there,

- The word "save the demon king" makes no sense.

It falls into paranoia at one time.

- So, not yet.

It crosses a thin line, stretched high above the sky.

I don't even know how far it goes, on the line.

If I fail, I fall, and I will definitely regret it.

I know best who didn't tell me that.

- But I still only see this line.

So proceed there, desperately balancing not to fall from the top of the line on the spot. It's a totally stupid way to do it.

- I'm supported by their kindness.

I will cross that line as long as the demon kings of the Union of Demon Kings (Meer-Nesaiah) and the demon kings involved earlier, like Juliana, say 'Fine'.

Maybe they, they can't do it and say 'fine', but now that they don't have enough power, they just have to sweeten themselves to that tenderness.

- Sooner or later, let's be sure to reward that kindness.

I'm not going to stay like this. I need to be bigger so everyone around me doesn't have to.

"... what about Juliana?

Second, on the way up the vertical hole, Zaras asked.

"I'll help you, never"

Melea answers her question.

"I owe Juliana a proper apology."

said Zaras as he dropped his gaze.

"Oh. - So am I."

Merea thinks of that watery haired girlfriend.

I was nicer to everything than anyone else, look at her.

"It's okay, 'cause I'll see you soon"

For the last rescue, Merea sharpens her consciousness.

Now I just saw it before.

I don't have time to get lost anymore. You don't even have to get lost.

Protect the Demon King, both from Mooseg and from Sisalis.

"Always, I'll see you"

The light of Merea's will was shining mightily in her red eyes.