Back in our chambers.
"So that was a demon…." Carl paused in thought
"Well he was a kind of demon, they don't all look like him," I reminded.
"He looked way more human than I expected," Gary said interested. While many of us demons could look quite strange and varied most of us did tend to be more human like. Though from a matter of perspective you could say humans looked like us.
The Heroes were all in deep thought over the sudden event. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, then again I couldn't think of another way to end the fight so cleanly.
"I'm tired from the fight so I'm going to rest," I rose from the couch and walked to my room.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that, sorry," Carl said, "You looked awesome though."
"Yeah… the four of us didn't stand a chance before," Sayuri sighed.
"You'll get there one day," I smiled and opened the door, "I'll be out later so don't worry."
"If you need anything just ask," Alicia said as I closed the door.
"Thanks," I called and sealed the room shut. Phew, now to place everything back in order. I sat down in the middle of the floor and began to release my mana to the circuit below me. With the palace on high alert, the difficulty of slipping out without them noticing was becoming extremely tedious but if I didn't a certain someone would cry.
There was small flash and I appeared in a field on the outskirts of the city. Alferir was standing not far from me hiding behind some trees.
"My Lord you're finally here!" he cried. "I thought I was going to die! Don't ever ask me to do something like that again."
"Ah… well you're the only one I could trust with this, so thanks," I patted him on the shoulder even though he was much taller than I was. The other people I could ask were busy or not suitable for the job.
"Your words bring me great joy," Alferir bowed. "Though that man in the blue armour. It looked like he wanted to eat me. If I recall that was Polton…."
"Yep, he was the reason I asked for your help."
"I am glad I could have been of service but please my Lord, I am not suited for battle. Next time call upon another of your servants."
I laughed dryly, it was precisely because he was a coward that I asked him. The others would end up picking a fight and make things worse. "Well you looked cool from my point of view."
"Thank you my Lord."
"Shall I send you back home?"
"Please."
"Then off you go." I gave him a firm pat and he vanished. Now to head back and deal with the ramifications, maybe with this we'll finally get to leave Elsbeth. Ha! Not like that would happen anytime soon with how the King is.
"The ambassadors and I have decided it is time for you to leave Elsbeth."
The hell was going on? The King had a displeased expression while the priest from the Klerical Kingdom was hardly suppressing a smug grin. We had been gathered the morning after the incident and pretty much the first thing said was this.
"I-I don't understand, have we done something wrong?" Carl asked on behalf of the confused Heroes.
The King's face became apologetic, "No, it is the fault of my Kingdom. A demon under the direct control of the Demon Lord made it within the most protected place in Elsbeth and we have no idea how. We no longer have the power to keep you safe." Wait so what he was saying was that this was my fault? I was struggling to think if this was good or bad.
"As such you will be coming with me to the Klerical Kingdom. I assure you that our defences will keep you more than safe from the Demon threat," Portuga smiled disgustingly. Ah this is definitely a bad thing. I had the feeling that this man was a part of the fanatic faction. The King kept a straight face but Heafest behind him was openly irritated.
"I must refuse," I stepped forward from the Heroes.
"I beg your pardon?" Portuga said visibly perturbed. "Do you choose to stay here? They can no longer protect you."
"No, I suggest a different plan." I turned to the Heroes, "Because this is so sudden, if you have any objections to what I say please stand forward." I faced the ambassadors and the King again. "If the Demon Lord was able to come here, I have no doubt it would only take so long before he is also able to infiltrate the Klerical Kingdom."
"Listen you-," Portuga began but the King slammed his fist into his throne.
"The Hero Davios is speaking," The King stared directly at me. Portuga backed down. "Please continue."
"No matter where we go the Demon Lord will come for us. Instead of staying in one place where he can find us, I think it better to move around as much as possible. As such I believe it best for us to leave without a guard and travel just as Heroes. We're already strong enough to hold our own, the Knight Captain and Allain's Knight Commander can attest to that." The two nodded. "We'll gather more experience as we travel the land and spread the word that the Heroes are here ourselves. It's time that we become independent to the Kingdoms and begin doing our job and in the case that the Demon Lord attacks we'll come to assist wherever that may be."
The ambassadors and King all began to seclude themselves in thought. The King however didn't stop staring at me, although perhaps absent minded. He'd lose control over the Heroes but at the same time the other Kingdoms wouldn't be able to govern over us either.
I decided to throw him a bone, "Of course your Highness, for the time that you have taken to care for us and nurture our talents, we shall never forget that." I bowed to the King and the Heroes after a bit of a shuffle did the same.
The King nodded, "I agree with the Hero Davios' plan."
"As do I," The Knight Commander smiled. "Here's to hoping you come visit Allain."
"Of course I intend to take the Heroes and visit all the countries," I returned the smile.
"If that is so, I also agree," Renfa the ambassador of Felinas and the Archmage nodded as well.
"I too," Tobias of Rentolt said straight after.
"Wait! The Heroes are still young they're-," Portuga began to complain.
The Knight Commander silenced him with a hearty laugh, "Though the previous Heroes were not as young, trust me when push comes to shove they don't need our help."
"Are we all in agreement?" The King eyed the priest until finally he nodded with a scowl.
"Hang on!" I raised my hand for them to stop, and faced the Heroes again, "This is my plan but if you want to stay or go to the Klerical Kingdom I'll do what you want."
The Heroes looked at each other and nodded as one.
"I've been itching to explore anyway," Gary smiled stretching his shoulders.
"Palace life will be missed but I guess we'll be fine," Alicia sighed.
"This is the best path for us I think," Sayuri said.
"I agree with the others, besides there are people who need us right?" Carl placed his hand on my shoulder, "We'll follow you."
"Then I the 102nd King of Elsbeth declare the Heroes will be sent forth to protect our lands. Tomorrow we will present them to the people and the day after may we all wish them well on their journey. For the peace of our lands and the subjugation of the Demon Lord!" The King stood up and hit his chest. The surrounding Knights did the same.
"For the peace of our lands and the subjugation of the Demon Lord!"
Hey now I'm all for peace but could we leave out the last part? You're sending chills down my spine.
Just as the King said we were shown off to the public the next day. It was a massive ordeal with a parade through town and flashy magic springing up in the air. We all had to dress in fancy clothes, which at least the girls enjoyed. People called out their love for us and when Gary winked into the crowd a girl swooned, his expression became kind of nasty so Alicia hit him, it was a real thing. There was food, a show, a market… just how did the King organise so much in a day? If I tried doing it back home I'd die from all the paper work.
Anyway that ended and we had been gathered one last time in the throne room. The ambassadors had already left and only the King and his retainers remained. The King's family also showed up for the first time aside from his children. His wife was quite a beauty but not to my tastes, too fragile, and he also had two sisters and a younger brother.
"Heroes, we summoned you to our world for nothing but selfish reasons yet you still chose to help us. We are all eternally grateful." The whole lot of them bowed to us. I wonder what the King would do if he realised just how many times he's lowered his head to the Demon Lord. I'd save that pleasure for later. "And now it is time for you to depart."
Carl stepped forward, "I speak for all of us when I say it came as a shock but we've learnt many things and for that we are can only say thank you."
"Yep, magic is cool," Gary smiled but Alicia hit him over the head,
"Read the mood idiot," she whispered harshly.
The King smiled, "We have some gifts for your departure." The Knight Captain approached us carrying an assortment of tools. "First, we have forged with our greatest talent weapons that hopefully will serve you well." The Heroes' eyes were all shining with their new equipment, even Sayuri. Well I could at least use the new staff as a good walking stick.
"Use these well. You have a ways to go and I'd like to see you all again," the Knight Captain said as he handed them to us. "Although some of you don't really need them." His last words only I could hear.
Heafest came next, "Second these are for your journey, to make things easier." It was a small chest covered in a smooth firm black material. This, it couldn't be? I opened it gingerly, what I saw was a space far larger than it should have been.
I closed it, "This is too much."
"No for the Heroes it is too little."
"What is it?" Alicia asked.
"It's a dimensional pocket tied to our realm." They all looked at me confused. "It's like a magic bag that is bigger than it should be." This time they understood and Gary mumbled 'Like a video game'. "These things are expensive, as in a Kingdom could only buy one in a decade, if they were lucky." For one point you'd need to find a dimensional pocket and then you'd need to tie it down to something sturdy enough to contain it. The parts and effort needed were beyond even me, though I was going to get one from home later anyway….
"Do not worry," the King was pleased with my reaction. "There is also a carriage outside for you to freely use."
"Hmm, we won't need one," I said as the Heroes were investigating the chest.
"Surely you don't mean to walk?"
"No, since I've been here I've read up a lot on magic. I'll be able to make a cloud large enough for us to travel on. It'll be more efficient that way."
Heafest raised his eyebrows, "The mana consumption would be too much."
"I should be fine, I've made it really efficient," I pulled out some papers from my jacket and handed it to him. "These are the spell designs. I'm sure you can make use of it."
"This… you could make a lot of money from this."
"I wouldn't have come up with it, if it wasn't for coming here. This is my thanks to you." I was serious about this one. Demon magic tended to lean on power is greater than anything side, after coming here I was able to see the human side of things. The magic was relatively weaker but their efficient use of mana was top notch and had given me various ideas. This was just a simple amalgam of the two kinds I had now learnt.
"We shall accept this gratefully."
The King rose from his throne and stood in front of us with his hand extended, "It's been a pleasure."
We shook his hand one at a time as each of said their own thanks. For me I wondered what would happen if I assassinated him now and declared I was the Demon Lord. The panic that would ensue would surely be entertaining. Evil thoughts be gone! Well it was just a joke.
"One last thing." He handed us each a golden medal with an intricate pattern, "This is a symbol for the Heroes, in case you need to prove your identities."
With that we said goodbye somewhat anticlimactically.