Sword of the Philosopher

"First, I have to explain what this place is like."

Yes, Croix makes a preposition.

"I don't think it's incredible to you. I really want you to listen."

I layered more foreground. I don't know what that means.

"You must have come here because of 'hiding'. I visited here... because of the distortions that have occurred in the world, so to speak."

"Distortion?"

"That's right. I'm going to explain how it happened, but it's something like the problem that came up when I created this space."

... this space. I don't know how to say that.

"You mean this isn't the world we were in?"

"Oh. This isn't where you live."

"It's not like there's an angel ruin in the space."

"The spaces created by angels are isolated with only one entrance, right? There is also a heavenly realm in the world, but we have to go to certain places to get in there as well. But this space seems to have allowed doors to be opened anywhere in the world... which has led to the phenomenon of doors being opened to some kind of applause."

"It feels uncontrolled about opening and closing doors."

"Exactly, some people used to manage it back in the old days, but now they've lost that technology too"

Croix laughing bitterly...... apparently there is no way to stop 'God Hidden' itself.

"If so, this place..."

"Oh, let me explain that. In conclusion."

Croix glanced at us, somewhat between us, and then said:

"This is... the place you call the 'Demon Realm'"

- It took more or less time to understand the word.

"... Huh?

Sophia speaks first. Then I turned to Croix.

"Hey, wait a minute...... this is the demon world!?"

"That's right. You may not believe it, but 'hidden from God' is the gateway that leads to the demonic realm"

- This setting, it didn't appear in the game. I mean, there was no such thing as' divine concealment 'in the first place, even though it didn't exist in the setting itself.

"In the past, from the demonic realm we could go any way we wanted to the world...... but as I explained earlier, we lost control. To tell the truth, the Demons also see this phenomenon as problematic. If humans are the only ones, if angels and others still come here through the door... they seem to be trying to block that possibility..."

"Not successful," he said.

"Seems so. It's basically a one-way street from the world side to the demon side, so I guess there are limits to what you can do from the demon side. The direct cause of this phenomenon is probably on the world side… but the Demons can't walk around easily, so the investigation hasn't progressed much either"

I see... but if this is the demon world...

"This castle... the demon king is doomed, what happened?

"I'll explain now"

Once he looked around at us, Croix started talking.

"First of all, right...... let me explain from how the Demon King raided the Shelzian continent. The demon king, our chief, was sealed by the hands of man in the past… by the presence which you call wise men. But he used the power of the wise man to make the resurrection. This is what happened recently."

"And it struck the continent of Sherzia..."

"Yes... why the hell did you hit the continent of Sherzia? Even the executives who follow the Demon King didn't know about it."

Words with certainty.

"Initially, the Demon King was resurrected... when the life of the invasion of the Sherzia continent came down, the majority of the confused demons"

"Only the Demon King knows everything."

"Exactly - the Demon King was sealed for a long time, but in the meantime the Demons believed in the Lord's resurrection and kept waiting in this demonic realm. Most of them took action to bring the Demon King back to life early, and I hear that it is actually a case in the world."

- With history in this world, there is certainly talk of demonic raids. Is that to revive the Demon King?

"While sealed, the demons have maintained the demonic realm by acting on behalf of the Lord... most of all there is no complete control over the Lord than it is sealed, and countless things have happened"

Croix spread his hands to the left and right as he said so.

"This sight is one of them again."

"... did the castle and town get hit by another demon clan"

"Correct. Me and Ange managed to survive."

"... who were in town?

"You're being chased through town and scattered. Once the damage is confined to this place, there won't be any further casualties"

- The Demon King is doomed.

Sophia opens her mouth here.

"There was such a dispute in the midst of..."

"You'd make a prediction, wouldn't you? What is happening in progress is a successor struggle… who will be the next demon king."

- You mean Croix got caught up in it?

"There must have been a demon in the woods, right? That was my delivery, the castle owner. But it's the only castle that has been wiped out, lost its town and left in ruins."

The demon disappeared because of the war... but the reason is spectacular again.

"But well, there's just life. It'll still be better. At present, the demonic world is following a path of collapse. Multiple Demons have named me the next Demon King, but all of them have enough momentum to destroy the other Demons. In my case, all I had to do was lose a town or a castle... and I guess they were still nice."

... enough to think this collapse is still better, huh?

"Whatever. If the demon clan that defeated me is defeated, there is no denying the possibility that the demon clan on the ravaging side will destroy all the towns and people that were under my control... as far as I'm concerned, I want to stop it, but regrettably I have no power"

After that, Croix looks to us.

"But there is light"

"What...?

"Earlier, I told them I trusted them, but one of the reasons for this was Angel's ability."

"Ange's... ability?

"Ange has the ability to prophesy... so that in order to fulfill my wish, I could join hands with the remaining visitors to this castle."

Visited...... which means

"Are you talking about us?

"That's right. Ange's abilities are absolute... and I want to make you a deal."

"Deal?"

"A village that exists from here to the south...... a deal about it. I was aware of the existence of the village, but the basics were static. 'Cause if you interfere badly and they find out this place is the demon world, it can be a hassle too... I had ordered the demons not to be too hard on you, but they still made some sacrifices... sooner or later you should apologize for this"

"To a human opponent, or... So, as things stand, you're in danger of being attacked by demons?

"Oh, exactly"

"Instead of ensuring their safety, you want me to cooperate?

"That's not all. When I become the new Demon King, I'll be ready to send you back. [M] If you become the Demon King, you can do it."

- I see. Is that it?

Well, he didn't interfere even when the humans lived, or at least he wasn't hostile to humans... and the village wouldn't be safe if the demons ravaging his people became kings.

"If there are any other demands, let's drink. You can contract by magic or something and tie it up for the demands to be fulfilled properly"

That's what Croix said. He looked at us.

"- I want to borrow the help of the two men who fought the Demon King."

"... just about the name, you know"

I think with my head... Now, how can I respond?

"I have a question for you, are you sure?

That's when - Sophia inquired as she shot through Croix with a sharp gaze.