Sword of the Philosopher

The next day, we were supposed to have a discussion in the hallway after breakfast. Croix was the first to open his mouth.

"Join the minister first. So if you two join this battle, I'll do something so I can be the Demon King."

"You mean ask the minister to do something?

"I'll start where the minister recognizes me"

... I honestly feel like it's Tsu's way.

"Is it going to be that easy?

"He seems to think the Demons will never admit to you, but that's not what it's actually like"

And Croix speaks out.

"Besides, even if your concerns apply, there's a way to move."

"You mean confident... ok, then I'll refrain from mentioning this matter"

"Oh...... and I have to explain what structure this demonic world is in. Follow me."

Travel begins. Ange follows and reaches a place like a large conference room. Even though it is most likely destroyed and can not be discussed properly.

"This is the world of demons."

Croix shows the wall with his hands as he tells him so. There was a map on one side drawn on cloth-like material.

It seemed miraculously safe and I can understand the whole demon world...... can't help but be worn out and dusty everywhere.

"It's the southwest where we are. As you can see from the view of the sea from the village, it really hits the edge"

... This map depicts the vast forest that we magically passed. Naturally more than the space where the vast majority of demons live, the demonic world is still quite vast. Poor could be more vast than the continent of Shelzia.

"Is this map everything in the demonic world?

"There are several other continents… but because of the presence of the Demon King's castle on this continent, those who possess power in the demonic realm are concentrated within this map"

"Well... so everything on this continent is on the battlefield,"

"That's right. I need to shut up every demon tribe in order to be the Demon King, but I don't need to go around the continent and defeat everything. Now the battle has gone on, and the demons have been narrowed down."

"I mean, all you have to do is smash a squeezed demon clan."

"Yes."

"... one, are you sure?

Sophia raises her hand and asks questions.

"I understand that we stand around… what will Mr. Croix do himself?

"Join the fight. Instead, it wouldn't make sense if I didn't do the Lord's crusade myself, would it?

"Do you have a chance?

"It has to do with my abilities... but I am proud to say that I can do enough with the demons who are currently running for Demon King myself. But there are constraints, and the amount of magic I have today leaves me with little time to maintain my abilities."

"Uh, I see. I mean, he wants us to expose ourselves."

"Exactly."

... Perhaps even when this castle was raided, it escaped by ability. He and Ange were safe because of that ability.

"Is ability a physical enhancement or something?

"Oh, yeah. I'm confident I can win with my abilities... but I have the strength to challenge you."

That's where we come in.

"Yeah, I figured out the method of war. Our role is to escort Croix... to the enemy's general."

"Oh. That's how the battle will flow... and I will reunite with the minister and gather strength besides you"

"I'm checking again, but you don't have a problem with us? If they suddenly attack you, it's not human."

"It's okay because it's a mild face"

If you ask me that I am the one who fought for the Demon King, I think I will be bored... but would you like Croix to work hard here?

"That's why we start acting fast today... the destination is the Jelph Mountains, north of here"

"Is it also a base in the mountains?

"Oh, it's a safe house I've got for you when you need it."

Do you feel like you're currently lurking there and peeking at opportunities for a recurrence...? And I have one question here.

"Speaking of which, Croix, even though there is the prophecy of Ange, the fact that there is no one minister..."

"Me and Ange went through a raid in a different place than the minister. To tell you the truth, the minister hasn't been able to see if we're safe, so we're going to show our faces."

"... if I wait, I'll be back in time to see how it goes."

"I think even if I were to come, I'd put some more time between them. I told the minister there was a period of hiding for some time now."

Should he still be hiding if he was... but he said he was here because of Ange's prophecy.

"So I'm coming to see you from us."

"I see that, but is it okay to go into the mountains? Especially Ange."

"Magic keeps you fit, so there's no problem."

If that's the case... that means we're leaving the castle.

When I go outside, the desolate wind strokes my body... there's not even any sign of demons around me, and I can understand that Croix really lost everything.

"Will this place ever rebuild again?

"... when I become the Demon King, I will transfer myself to the Demon King's castle. It is located in the middle of the demonic world, and it will no longer come here. Most of all, there will be many compatriots attached to this land, and I think there are compatriots who move a lot to rebuild it."

Such a place is no different from a human being......?

"Croix, what's the position of the demon world over there... isn't it a very good place to set up a castle?

"It's not like the location or size of the territory will be the determining material. When the Demon King set up a castle in the middle of the demonic world, the powerful demons set up a territory and built a castle to surround the center... so that my ancestors were weak at the time."

"Croix, the current castle owner, says it's different."

"At least we can't beat the demon opponents we're currently fighting."

Confidence... I guess I'll have to be careful not to shrug underfoot by that.

"Well, we're going to the mountains, but it takes quite a while to keep walking normally. So we travel by magic... but you two haven't been walking through the woods, have you? Do you have the means of travel?

"Yes, you'll be fine."

Sophia answers. Then Croix gives instructions.

"Then use magic to travel to the foot of the mountain range. Ange is off because she can't use it magically for a long time... but she'll be there by noon"

"It's going to take longer to climb the mountain from there."

"If we get to the foot, we'll be fine because means of communication exist."

So there's no problem... so we exercised the magic of movement and left the castle.

I look back just once. It didn't seem like it would collapse, but the castle, where no one was anymore, looked terribly lonely.

"- You can't just leave that castle there to rebuild it."

You've seen my gaze like that, Croix speaks up.

"The most I can do that is after the battle is over... and there will be a lot of things in rebuilding the town. It's all about being the Demon King."

"Can you do anything if you become the Demon King?

"Never all-powerful, but powerful enough to do something about a castle or town."

That's true too...... it won't be possible to leave it like that about the castle, and will it be dismantled any time soon?

We even rush to the foot of the mountain range thinking like that... we could reach the forest at the foot without encountering demons or demons on the road.