Kuro no Maou

"Long time no see, Mahogany Kurono. Congratulations, this has also fulfilled the Fifth Trial"

The ancient demon king sitting on the pink black throne smiles, saying so.

Thank you, Your Majesty, and I couldn't afford to give it back.

"... I need to ask you something"

There are a lot of things I'd like to ask you and ask you, but this would be the first thing.

"Is it all about being set up"

That I didn't kill Sariel. That Gratney Octo showed up. Alternatively, it's good to include that Sariel woke up to shelter at the earthen pit.

"Heh, you know the answer."

Yeah, I know. It's set up, I doubt it, I just want to blame someone. I should understand that the future I chose and won is now.

"But if I set you up, do you resent me? Or will you thank me?

"It's not such a bad result... there's no grudge."

I was able to rendezvous with Lily and the others. Gratney Octo will also be completely defeated and peace will be visited in the pioneering village for some time.

The only thing that has left Leki dead is purely my mistake everywhere, and all this, I can't blame anyone else. All my life, I'll be a criminal.

"Then I guess that's fine"

"Are you sure? It doesn't make any difference that Sariel was an apostle. Just because you get protection, is that what you're allowed to do?"

"Forgive people or not, that's not up to God (me) to decide. It's always people who judge people."

When I heard that answer, I felt just a little relieved… Is it because I'm trying to forgive Sariel? Do I want to forgive her?

No, you should admit it. I already told you about Sariel.

"But if I'm going to advise you as an elder, I don't think it's anyone else you should be worried about right now, but yourself. A situation where you can honestly reunite with your people. Then you don't, do you?

"That's okay. I'm ready now."

I'll tell Lily and Fiona everything. What have I done since I broke up at Fortress Galahad that day to this day?

"When you're counting on a girl, one day, this is the time to come."

"I've had experience, you talk like that."

"Well, I used to have a lot of things, a lot of things... but if you're a really dear fellow, I'm sure you'll understand and forgive each other in the end."

I hope so.

"By the way, one more thing... no, two, can I ask you something?

"Yeah, what?

It's a pity story, but I couldn't help but check.

"I didn't do a lot of work on this trial, but really, can you admit that I achieved it?"

Instead of stabbing Todome in Gratney Octo, I didn't do much damage. Besides, as in Larspun, he accidentally succeeded in severing the test site with my attack.

Speaking of what I did in this fight, I knocked out all the elephant octopuses, so much so that I slammed them in his stomach for a little while. In the end, it didn't come to the test. Sariel, Lily, Fiona, all thanks to the three of us. I survived, I protected everyone, I achieved my trials.

Really, is this okay? I doubt it, naturally.

"Haha, isn't it usual that you are being helped by someone"

"Ugh."

So is that. The verse that comes to mind is at times of every trial.

"But it's not something to be ashamed of, it's something to be proud of. Because having company to help is much more important than your own power"

"That's, well... I know you're right, but the trials are imposed on me, aren't they? Then..."

"I'm telling you now, a testament to the trials is whatever you need to get. You can have someone pick it up, or you can buy it for money."

"... Huh?

Hey, wait a minute. That's just cheating...

"I'm not cheating. Because it's the king who combines violence, power, finances, everything. I need to rate you, including around there."

Mia is not a warrior god, so you mean you don't just decide by personal force? Like I can convince you, like I can't.

"... ok. From now on, I'm going to think about not choosing the means."

At any rate, I would not have been able to accomplish previous trials with the help of others or the power of gold, and I do not think that I will be able to enjoy and complete them with it. At any rate, next time, we won't be able to get past the trials unless it's the end of the thought of throwing up blood reflexes.

"So, what's the other thing you want to hear?

Oh, speaking of which, I did, and I haven't forgotten. The truth is, I couldn't help but be most concerned about this.

"Oh, uh, what do you say... who is that person?

Between the already familiar Black Throne and its Lord. It is already the fifth place to grant protection, but the first person to try it here was still present as a matter of course.

"... don't hesitate to talk about me"

Speaking grandiose is one lady knight who sits on the throne, right next to Mia, benevolent with a black trident spear.

Wearing a pitch-black armored helmet, how winged and decorated helmets come into being like Valkyrie in any way. But more than such an armored appearance, the signs of Rin emanating from her really made me feel like a war maiden.

"Oh, yeah, this is... I was wondering, too, what is it, Shea?

"It involves the prestige of our empire to see among the thrones that there is not a single guard. So, at least I, the Knights of Kingsguard (Royal Guard), am in charge of protecting Your Majesty."

"Oh, I don't need anything more than that. You can go home."

"No! Terrible, Master!

"Wow!?

Suddenly a conspiracy, or so momentum, the black lady knight jumps to the mia of the throne. The little body of the Demon King barely saw her body of considerable length and then the tip of her hands and feet jittering bitterly under heavy armor helmets.

"Mm-hmm, I can't help it...... well, just sit tight in the corner"

"Wow, thank you very much!

The lady knight returned to her starting position after responding so sweetly that she wondered if the signs of Rin like Valkyrie were her fault. Something about that guy, I feel a little like Sheep Nori.

It is strange, however, because when the female knight again becomes in an upright immobile position with a trident spear on the floor, the atmosphere begins to float with wrinkles again.

"Don't worry about Shea because she's a wacko."

And Mia, saying it as if nothing had happened, seemed like a kitten with her shoulder cape detached, her hair jumping and messed up. Don't worry about this, I'm talking impotent, Demon King.

"... Shea, that's definitely Freesia's nickname."

"That's what I said."

So, after all, does the identity of that female knight mean 'Dark Knight Freesia'?

Should I even say thank you for giving Sariel protection here? Or should I be worried that I will be okay with God's blessing like this?

"Shall I then grant you a fifth protection? It's a little unstable around here, so if we don't do it soon, we're gonna wake up with dreams."

Knowing or not my little patrol, Mia has cut out the requirements all the time.

I guess it's unstable because I'm still around the border between Daedalus and Sparta. Daedalus, the occupied territory of the Crusades. So what, the will of the black gods is not extended?

For that, I rubbed it with Freesia.

"Oh, 'bulimic stomach' is fine with him, isn't it?

What I gave in my hand was a beautiful emerald true sphere of tsuru shiny as polished out. Blurring with pale green light, this is what Fiona stumbled upon and found and picked up from among the burning burning corpses and transformed Gratney Octo. Perhaps this was a testament to the trials, which distracted me.

"Yeah. It's not really a stomach, it's a stomach stone. Gratney Octo can compress substances in his stomach by using this. A kind of spatial magic."

"So drinking from village to village doesn't make your belly swell"

"I'm perfectly fine with drinking one city. When I was there, they wiped out about five cities, haha"

It's not every laugh, is it, Sole? But then you mean the damage this time is miraculous lightness? Well, from the villagers who actually live in it, it doesn't make any difference that it's not something I've enjoyed.

"- Now there are two more trials left"

From my hands, as always weathered with salad, 'bulimic stomach' disappears as a particle of light.

"I'm sure there's a harder ordeal waiting than ever before. But you can make it to the end."

As the testament of the trial is given, Mia's voice and appearance rapidly turn away. Are you already about to wake up with your dreams?

"When you've survived all the trials... that's when you..."

Surrounded by deep darkness, my consciousness returned to the real world...

"- Uh-huh."

I opened my eyes, like I was bounced.

Jumping into my eyes are the mountain woods still thin and snow makeup and the often familiar black witch. And then there was the glittering silver hair just below my vision.

"Did you sleep, Mr. Chrono?

The witch sitting in the front, Fiona asks.

"I'm here for protection. I don't think I fell asleep."

"A little more, shouldn't you sleep?

"No, I have about the strength to cross the mountain. It's okay."

Is this around the middle belly of the Galahad Mountains? After the Alsace Fortress, we spent the entire day traveling to make sure we returned soon. Me and Sariel would have no problem with an insomnia rest enforcement force as it is, but Lily and Fiona are best off resting in the crowd. Now, once I dive into this mountain forest, I take a small pause.

There are a few more places to go until Fortress Galahad. Once you leave here, you only push to the goal without pinching any more rest. It's not too late for me to rest in the fortress.

"What about Lily?

"Still asleep"

Right next to it, there is a tent with a different design than the one I've been using. When Sariel smashed the spatial magic (dimension), the tent of the adventurer rookie set that he had been using since the time of the village of Iles would have been new, because it had no traces left.

Lily is still in her new tent, going back to being a child and sleeping peacefully with Suyasuya. And let's keep it that way for another hour or so.

"... have you been protected by contact with the black gods?

In my arms, I wandered small and asked Sariel to snap a potpourri. I didn't move too much, so I thought he would be asleep, but was he awake? Well, if you're still hugged by me in the black armor of a heavy knight, there's no way you can get a soft sleep or anything.

"Oh. I always dream when I get protection."

"Then that child is the ancient demon king Mia -"

"Can you shut up?

To a sharp voice that flies by accident, the field instantly quiets back.

The Lord of cold voices, so suspicious of my ears, is none other, Fiona. I'm in a bad mood, far beyond what mood level, and in her hands, exasperated by Russia, was Ains Bloom, a longscepter (staff) who already unleashed the firepower to burn down even Gratney Octo's giant.

"... bad, Fiona"

"There is no need for Mr. Chrono to apologize. Next time you open your mouth on your own, I'll smash your throat."

No joke or threat, Fiona does it for real. Her golden eyes glowed demonically, reflecting her cruel will everywhere.

I can't reprimand Fiona for being outrageous or harsh. Her response is right everywhere.

"I can speak the language, which also means I'm free to chant. Remember the danger."

"Sorry, that was my carelessness"

Yes, for Fiona, Saliel is the enemy to be most vigilant. Instead, I can say that I'm better off not imposing any physical or magical restraints.

Even though Sariel already knows that he has no power as an apostle and, on the contrary, has the protection of the 'Dark Knight Freesia', not everything is allowed to wax when his innocence has been proven. The world is not that simple. Fiona's response is natural and, rather, she should be thankful that she is still being tolerated, sweetened, just to draw my attention.

……

Again, silence comes.

In case you don't understand the place, you haven't set off one of the fires and the surroundings are really quiet. Even though it's spring already, the mountain animals don't sound one ringing, as if they haven't yet woken up from hibernation.

The sky is more and more covered in thick clouds as if yesterday's sunshine was a lie. I even get the feeling that the snow is going to shake off and revert back to the winter cold again.

The weather, the mood, it's not clear.

That would be the case, too. I haven't told Fiona or Lily anything important yet.

That time, the moment Lily showed up to help, it was a lie to poke me in the mouth and get out.

"Chrono, why is that woman (Sariel) here?"

I thought they'd kill me. Intuitively, if we don't raise the word of restraint here, Saliel will be pierced by the flash and killed instantly.

So I just had to lie.

"Wait, Lily... he's a prisoner"

Maybe Lily realizes it's a lie, too. No, it's Lily, that's why you can't possibly not notice. There's no way she can spot my shallow lies or anything.

Still, Lily put the spear away for me. On the spot, for now. I'm sure you've restrained a passion that I can't imagine, even forcefully.

"There is no more apostolic power left in Saliel. Keep it up, I'm taking you to Sparda... okay?

The two of you snorted at me would be like a miracle.

"Retreating to the Fortress of Galahad is now our top priority. Detailed explanations of the circumstances will always be provided later. So now, please don't ask me anything."

I can't even be convinced. Still, they admitted it. I'll take Sariel and we'll go to Sparda together.

Though Sariel's strength is all he has left, his magic was almost at the bottom of the battle with Gratney Octo. Again, it is difficult to move the armor of the hands and feet with blackening and walk independently. That's why I carried him on my back the way I always did.

When I rest, in my arms. I didn't go to the wax of letting her go.

I'm not a wacko who doesn't trust the two of you, but in case I take my eyes off... I made a suspicious move, so I had to kill him. That could happen.

You two have a right to do it, and if you do, I can't blame you. I don't want Sariel to die because it's just my personal emotion.

"Fiona...... I'm so, so sorry"

"Why are you apologizing?"

"This isn't what you're allowed to do."

At least I won't forgive you. I can't believe you begged me to help the resentful enemies you fought and defeated with your own personal feelings. If I were in the position of the two of us, it wouldn't be strange to pull out the cunt while cursing that I'm a traitor.

"Forgive or not, because it's not for me to decide alone"

It was a cold reply everywhere, with no emotional cage such as mercy or compassion, although dialogue as I had just heard.

"Right... right"

Even apologizing, ugly self preservation.

I was ready, I was supposed to. My heart was already breaking.