Bright sunlight poured down from the heavens. Under normal circumstances, the
warm light would have been a reward for escaping the Schnee Snow Fields, which was
perpetually trapped in winter. Especially if the people in question had just cleared the
Frost Caverns, the final labyrinth left to conquer. However, Hajime and the others
found that welcoming light blocked by an army of gray dragons flying overhead.
Freid Bagwa, commander of the Garland Empire's demon armies, led the flock, riding
his white dragon, Uranos. A grinning Eri Nakamura hovered behind him. Her hair had
turned gray, and there were now gray wings sprouting from her back.
Tch. Of course there'd be more of them… Hajime thought to himself as he looked at the
most dangerous element of Freid's army, five hundred apostles. They filled the sky,
their silver wings glimmering as they absorbed the sun's light. Even though it was still
midday, they looked like stars speckled across the night sky.
Though the apostles were all beautiful, the fact that they looked identical and had the
same expressionless faces made them more terrifying than charming.
"Hold your horses, Irregular. We aren't here to fight."
"Really? It sure looks like you're here for a fight, coward," Hajime snorted dismissively,
and Freid narrowed his slit-like eyes.
For someone who wasn't there to fight, he had brought a large force with him. Freid
knew perfectly well what Hajime was implying.
"So you don't even feel safe enough to talk unless you bring this many bodyguards with
you?"
"I'm simply taking the appropriate precautions for dealing with an insane monster
like you."
Freid couldn't have Hajime whipping out a weapon like the laser he'd used to reduce
the demon army to ash during the invasion of Heiligh. The only way Freid could hold
a conversation with Hajime was if he brought an army so strong that Hajime couldn't
instantly obliterate it.
Still, while Freid's voice remained calm, he couldn't hide the emotions simmering
underneath.
"If you're here to talk, then calm the fuck down. The look in your eyes says you're dying
to kill me," Hajime retorted with derision.
Not only had Hajime ruined all of Freid's missions, but he'd also killed thousands of
Freid's comrades. The demon general's rage was understandable. In fact, it was little
wonder he couldn't hide his desire to murder Hajime.
While the two of them exchanged snide remarks, Hajime surreptitiously activated
Riftwalk and started formulating a plan.
Now then, how should we handle this?
He could tell that his comrades were on edge thanks to this unexpected encounter.
Yue, Shea, Tio, and Kaori were veterans of a thousand battles by this point, and they
were ready to fight at a moment's notice. However, the rest of Hajime's party wasn't.
Kouki was still shaken by the fact that he'd been unable to conquer the labyrinth, and
had even ended up attacking Hajime, so the sudden arrival of Freid and Eri had thrown
his thoughts into total chaos. In fact, he was so rattled that he couldn't even formulate
a response to the repeated confessions of love Eri kept showering him with while
Hajime and Freid talked.
Suzu, whose entire reason for challenging the labyrinths had been to meet with Eri
again, was dumbfounded as well. Their reunion felt all too sudden.
Shizuku and Ryutarou had managed to at least draw their weapons, but the
overwhelming pressure emanating from the apostles had left them frozen in place.
For a moment, Hajime considered a temporary retreat. After all, here was an invisible
barrier that separated the Schnee Snow Fields from the rest of the world.
A perpetual winter where a blizzard constantly raged existed within the barrier, but
the warm climate of the southern continent returned as soon as they took one step
out of it. Not a single snowflake drifted outside the barrier. It was like the blizzard was
a white wall separating the two zones.
If they went back into the Schnee Snow Fields, Hajime and the others would be able
to hide themselves decently well. Unfortunately, Hajime doubted they would be able
to buy enough time for him to use the Crystal Key to teleport them somewhere far
away.
"Don't try anything. You'll only be wasting your time," an emotionless, inflectionless
voice cautioned Hajime.
The apostle next to Freid looked down at him with her glassy eyes. It was as if she'd
read his thoughts.
Guess they're not gonna let us run.
Uranos beat its wings once and glided forward. And as the wind whipped around him,
Freid declared, "I bear a message from the Demon Lord. 'Come to my castle. I have
prepared a reception for you.'"
"What, so the Demon Lord's inviting us over?"
"Yes, and we are here to escort you to him."
Well, that's a surprise…
It seemed Freid really wasn't there to fight. Hajime had really thought Freid had
appeared with his army of apostles to crush him once and for all. After all, the fact that
the Holy Church's apostles were working with Freid proved that the demons and Ehit
were connected in some way. It was only natural to assume they'd come to avenge
Noint.
Freid nodded in an exaggerated manner and added, "Normally the likes of you would
never be granted the honor of an audience with our god."
"Your… god? You make it sound like the Demon Lord and your god are the same person,"
Yue muttered quizzically. Freid turned towards Yue, an ecstatic smile spreading across
his face. A moment ago, he'd been struggling to contain his rage, but his expression
was suddenly full of joy.
"That's right. Our king is undoubtedly a god. He is the one and only kin of the great
creator, Lord Ehit."
The Demon Lord's name was Alva. Until recently, the demons had simply seen him as
the head of their country, and as a shaman who received oracles from their god. The
other nations had believed that was all he was as well. But in truth, the Demon Lord
had been a medium for their god, meaning his orders were the direct word of god. This
was something that not even Freid, the most important man in the country after Alva,
had been aware of until the apostles had descended upon the capital.
"For thousands of years, god has been on our side. And now he's even summoned his
apostles to aid us. He chose to bring his salvation to us demons! Do you understand
what this means!?"
Freid spread his arms wide, looking like an orator addressing a crowd.
"It means we demons are the chosen flock who are destined to inherit Tortus. It is we
who deserve to rule this world!"
Freid's speech rang out through the plains.
Chances were the demons had cheered loud enough to be heard across the country
when he'd given this same speech to them in the capital. But of course, no one present
was impressed by his words. In fact, Hajime simply cleaned his ear with his pinky,
looking bored.
The fury returned to Freid's eyes, but before he could say anything, Tio stepped
forward. Then, she shot a quick glance back at Kouki and the others to see if they'd
recovered from their shock.
At some point, Shea had gone over to Suzu and Shizuku, while Kaori was now next to
Kouki and Ryutarou. The two of them were probably trying to calm the others down
while Hajime and Yue conversed with Freid to buy time. Tio realized they'd need to
stall a little more, which was why she'd stepped forward as well.
"May I ask you something?"
"What do you want, survivor of the dragonman race?"
The inflection vanished from Freid's voice, and his expression went blank. The way his
emotions swung from one extreme to another in the span of a few seconds seemed
wholly unnatural. It was enough to make Hajime wonder if he'd gone mad.
"You have conquered two labyrinths yourself. Shouldn't you be aware of the true
nature of this world by now?"
At that, Shizuku and Kaori looked up in surprise.
That's right, Freid should know that this world's gods are evil… Kaori thought to herself.
Anyone who'd conquered a labyrinth had to have seen the messages the Liberators
had left behind.
Hajime and the others had already heard the story half a dozen times, so they'd ignored
the paintings and statues in the Frost Caverns that explained the truth, but Vandre
Schnee had also left behind records of the Liberators' struggle.
Moreover, Vandre Schnee had been a demon, albeit one of mixed blood. Plus, he'd been
related to the Demon Lord. It was strange that Freid would side with Ehit when he
knew that one of his proud ancestors had joined forces with other races to overthrow
Ehit.
Freid picked up on that implication, and he replied coldly, "What makes you so certain
their words are the truth? Why don't you doubt what the Liberators, nay, the Mavericks,
told you?"
"I see. So you believe their tale to be false, then," Tio mused.
"Well, it's not like they provided any real proof," Hajime pointed out with a shrug.
Shizuku and the others turned to him in surprise. They'd thought that Hajime had
believed the Liberators' words.
In truth, Hajime didn't care one way or another if the Liberators were telling the truth
or not. It didn't matter if Ehit was good or evil, or even really a god. The only thing on
his mind was if Ehit planned to impede his path.
Of course, Freid seemed far more invested in the veracity, or lack thereof, of the
Liberators' words.
"In that case, Freid, what makes you so certain their claims are false? Was Ehit not
meant to be your sworn enemy? Why do you now follow him?"
Originally, the demons hated Ehit, since he was the god humans worshiped. It was
strange for Freid not to believe that Ehit was the root of all evil in this world. If
anything, he should have felt vindicated that demons were indeed in the right when
he learned the Liberators had all united against Ehit.
"Fools. Why can't you understand that this has all been part of Ehit's grand plan?
Everything until now was a trial we had to overcome in order to gain the honor of
following him."
"Oh, I get it now," Hajime said as he nodded in understanding. Of course, he wasn't
agreeing with Freid. He just understood the demon general's true nature at last.
The idea that Ehit was actually the god the demons should be worshiping, and that
everything thus far was a trial was ridiculous. It flipped everything the demons had
believed in on its head, but most importantly, it meant that all the soldiers who'd been
sacrificed in the name of their holy war had actually died in vain, since Alva was linked
to Ehit. Freid knew better than anyone how many men and women had given their
lives for the cause. And yet, he accepted this new reality without complaint.
"I pity you," Hajime muttered quietly.
Somewhere down the line, Freid had lost his way. Of course, that was just speculation,
since Hajime had no idea what kind of person Freid had been in the past. However, the
current Freid closely resembled Ishtar and the other bishops Hajime had met. After
seeing the fanatic devotion in Freid's eyes, he was certain the demon had been
corrupted.
Hajime's words had been soft enough that there was no way Freid could have heard
him. But the demon could tell what Hajime was thinking from his body language. The
fact that his sworn enemy pitied him infuriated Freid. That was the last thing he
wanted.
But just before his rage boiled over, Eri stepped in.
"Come on, Freid, cut the pointless chatter and get this over with already. I want to
snuggle with Kouki-kun as soon as possible."
"Tch… I know…" Freid clicked his tongue and wrestled his emotions under control. At
the same time, Suzu finally recovered from her shock enough to confront Eri.
In a trembling voice, she said, "E-Eri! I… really wanted to—"
"Hm? Oh, you were here?"
"Ah—"
Eri's dismissive tone hurt more than any insult could have. She looked down at Suzu
as if she were a pebble on the road and not her former best friend.
Of course, Suzu had been expecting that, but it still hurt. It felt like she'd been stabbed
in the heart. But even so, she didn't give up. She'd promised herself she'd never avert
her gaze from the truth again.
"That's right, I'm here. I wanted to meet you, Eri."
"Hah… What, so you could chew me out? Go for it. But don't expect me to pay attention."
"N-No! I just wanted to have a proper conversation with you!"
There was so much Suzu wanted to say, and so much she wanted to ask. She wished
she could just pour everything out at once. But their reunion was so sudden that she
still hadn't figured out how to put all of her feelings into words.
Unfortunately, before Suzu managed to organize her thoughts, Eri turned her gaze
back to Kouki. It was clear from her attitude that in Eri's eyes, Suzu had long since
exhausted any use she might have had, so she didn't care the least bit about her
anymore.
"Eri, you bitch! You can't just—" incensed on Suzu's behalf, Ryutarou started shouting
at Eri, but she ignored him.
"Kouki-kun! What do you think of my new look? I'm way prettier than before, aren't I?"
Eri's voice dripped with a toxic sweetness. A warped smile spread across her face and
she twirled around midair. There was no indication that she'd even heard Ryutarou.
Suzu grit her teeth and gripped the hem of her skirt. Shizuku gently hugged her in an
attempt to console her, while Kouki just stared at Eri in a daze.
"E-Eri… What happened to you?"
"Oh, the Demon Lord made me waaaaaay stronger. I just want to spend the rest of my
life with you, but there are all these worthless parasites that keep getting in the way.
Luckily, there's nothing to worry about now! I'm strong enough to get rid of all the
garbage around you! We'll be together foreeeeeeeeever!"
"E-Eri…"
Eri cackled maniacally, her now-gray hair whipping in the wind. Kouki couldn't think
of anything to say. Since revealing her true nature at the palace, she'd only gotten
worse. What little shred of humanity she'd retained back then seemed long gone.
Shocked, Shizuku quietly muttered, "What's happened to you?"
A few gray feathers fell from Eri's wings. As they touched the ground, they obliterated
the grass and ground around them, creating tiny holes. It seemed like Eri possessed
the same disintegration ability that Noint once had.
"You're… not the same as me. You haven't transplanted your soul into a new body.
Instead, you've had your body modified…" Kaori muttered, her expression pained.
This time it was Freid's turn to step in.
"That's enough small talk. It's time you accepted the Demon Lord's invitation. Just so
you know, Irregular, you don't have the right to refuse."
The gray dragons howled in unison, attempting to cow Hajime and the others into
submission. The apostles increased the pressure they were applying on the party as
well.
However, none of those intimidation tactics had the slightest effect on Hajime.
"Fuck off," he spat. Hajime had no idea what the Demon Lord wanted with him, but he
had no obligation to meet with him, either. If anything, the invitation was most likely
a trap.
He couldn't think of a single good reason to follow Freid, which meant it was time to
fight. And so, he casually drew Donner and Schlag.
Red sparks ran down the revolvers' barrels.
"What kind of idiot would head straight into the enemy stronghold when they know
it's a trap? If we're gonna fight anyway, we're better off fighting here. Let's settle this
once and for all, Freid!" Hajime roared as he grinned fearlessly. He didn't seem the
least bit afraid of the fact that there were five hundred apostles before him.
In truth, he intended to kill them all. Of course, he realized it would be his hardest fight
yet. Chances were, he wouldn't come out unscathed.
Still, he wasn't the same person who'd fought Noint months ago. After mastering
evolution magic, he'd heavily upgraded his arsenal of artifacts. Moreover, he'd learned
Limit Break's one derivative skill, Overload. Plus, he'd also experienced numerous
difficult battles since then, and he'd spent countless hours running simulations for
when he'd next have to fight an apostle.
Besides, he had Yue and the others by his side this time. As long as they were with him,
he knew he could overcome anything.
More than anything, though, he'd finally found a way home. At long last, he had the
means to fulfill his promise of showing everyone his homeland. As such, there was no
way he was letting his dream die here.
His comrades appeared just as determined too.
"Mmm… I'm tired of seeing you pop up all the time. Just die already," Yue muttered.
"Hehehe! Right now, I feel invincible! I'll flatten you all into pancakes!" Shea shouted
cheerfully.
"There's no way I'll lose to a bunch of puppets!" Kaori declared.
"How splendid. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to crush another one of
god's plans before we leave," Tio purred.
Everyone's mana began to swirl around them.
Hajime briefly glanced over his shoulder. Suzu twitched in surprise when she saw the
look in his eyes.
He was silently asking her, "Are you prepared?" But he wasn't asking her if she was
prepared to fight her former best friend. Instead, he seemed to ask if she was prepared
to fight to get her back.
"Shizushizu, Ryutarou-kun, Kouki-kun! Lend me your strength!" Suzu flicked her twin
fans open, her gaze fixed on Eri.
"Heh, you know it. Let's get this show on the road!"
"Of course, Suzu. I've got your back!"
Ryutarou and Shizuku instantly readied their weapons. Kouki said nothing, but he
drew his sword as well.
But just before they began their attack, Freid shouted, "Hold on a second, you
goddamn monster!"
Freid was honestly amazed that Hajime still wished to fight despite the clear difference
in strength, so he pulled out his trump card.
A portal filled with light suddenly opened up in front of him. He'd created a spatial
gate. It was a perfectly functional shield if he needed it, but that wasn't why he'd opened
this portal.
"Huh? The inside of a room? Is that the Demon Lord's castle?"
Hajime could see a marble floor and a number of ornately engraved pillars beyond the
portal. A luxurious red carpet rested between the two rows of pillars.
The room was massive, and the gate had been opened up somewhere near its ceiling
to give Hajime and the others a full view of the room.
The gate traveled toward a spot next to the throne in the back of the room.
Gradually, a shocking sight came into view.
"I never said you were the only ones who were invited," Freid drawled.
"Ahahahaha, everyone looks so beat uuuuuup! That's what you get for trying to fight
back."
A large cage had been placed next to the throne. The dark metal bars gleamed faintly,
showing traces of magical enhancement. The people in the cage were sprawled across
the ground, their bodies battered and their clothes disheveled.
"Guys! Sensei!"
"They even took Lily!"
Liliana, Aiko, and all of Hajime's classmates were there.
Kaori and Shizuku cried out in distress. Kouki, Ryutarou, and Suzu looked shaken as
well. Their reactions were only natural. Judging by how beat up everyone looked, it
was obvious Aiko and the others had tried to fight back against the apostles that had
come to abduct them. Nagayama and Aiko's other self-proclaimed bodyguards were in
especially bad shape.
Nagayama, Kousuke Endou, Yuka Sonobe, and Atsushi Tamai were barely even
conscious, and they looked to be on the verge of death.
Aiko and Liliana had done their best to treat the four's wounds, and their hands were
slick with blood.
The students who hadn't put a fight at all were physically better off, but they were all
huddled in a corner, cowering in fear.
Furious, Ryutarou roared, "You fucking bastard! You call this an invitation!? You took
our friends hostage! Let them go right now!"
Kouki, who'd been relatively docile since the group had left the Frost Caverns, finally
regained some of his old vigor. His voice shook with rage as he turned to Eri and
shouted, "Eri, you know this is wrong! Let everyone go!"
"Woooooow, you're so nice, Kouki-kun. Hehehe, but I'm afraid I can't do that!"
"Eriiiiii!"
"Ahaha, I love how passionately you're calling my name! Don't worry, Kouki-kun. You'll
be allllll mine soon enough!"
Though they were talking to each other, Kouki and Eri weren't really having a
conversation. In fact, Kouki's words weren't even reaching Eri. In her mind, the only
Kouki that existed was the one who listened to her whims.
Realizing that reasoning with Eri was out of the question, Kouki grit his teeth and
leveled his sword at Freid. Just as he prepared to try and argue a different angle, two
loud bangs interrupted him.
"Ah!"
"Wawawah!?"
Two streaks of red light shot toward Freid and Eri from impossible angles.
Two apostles instantly came forward to block the two of them. They crossed their
swords in front of themselves to stop Hajime's two bullets.
"Ah!?"
"His power has increased yet again…"
The apostles raised their eyebrows in mild surprise. Each of Hajime's bullets had been
powerful enough to blow a hole in one sword and leave deep cracks in the other.
Chances were even an apostle had no chance of blocking more than one bullet with
their swords. Cold sweat poured down Freid's forehead, and Eri's expression stiffened.
"W-Wait, stop! Please! You promised to leave Eri to me, remember, Nagumo-kun!?"
"Calm down, Taniguchi. I was using the flat end of the bullet."
"That only works for swords!"
Suzu grabbed Hajime's arm and tried to force it down. However, her body weight
wasn't enough to even slow Hajime, and he swiftly pointed his revolver sideways.
A small, palm-sized gate opened right in front of the muzzle. There were a total of four
portals around Hajime, connected to four portals arrayed around Freid and the others
at various angles.
This was a new combination attack he'd developed with Yue. By firing through the
portals, he could still aim at Freid while avoiding the gate the demon had opened to
the throne room.
Judging by the position of the gates he'd fired from, he had aimed for Eri's shoulder, so
he wasn't lying to Suzu when he said he was holding back. That being said, a bullet
powerful enough to shatter an apostle's sword would probably tear off more than just
an arm if it actually hit Eri.
Naturally, he hadn't held back against Freid at all, and had been aiming for his head.
"You're insane!" Freid shouted.
"And you're a moron. You should know by now that those guys aren't good hostages."
The sound of Hajime's gunshots must have reached the people beyond the portal, since
Aiko and the others were looking around in confusion. Hajime spared them a quick
glance as he pried Suzu off his arm.
"It's not like you even said you'll guarantee their safety if we listen to your demands.
Not that I'd believe you if you did, mind you."
He said that mostly for the benefit of Suzu and Kouki.
"Besides…" he muttered, his eyes glinting dangerously as he glared at Freid. "We can
still accept the Demon Lord's invitation after we slaughter all of you."
Hajime was more than willing to storm the Demon Lord's castle after killing Freid.
Sure, it was true that having his classmates taken hostage wouldn't stop Hajime, but he
was at least willing to go save them after he'd finished dealing with Freid. That alone
showed that he'd changed compared to when he'd first left the Great Orcus Labyrinth.
That change didn't escape Suzu, who'd fallen to the ground after Hajime peeled her
off, or any of the others. Though, they didn't know quite how to react to it.
"I know," Freid replied, narrowing his eyes. He pulled on Uranos' reins and put some
more distance between himself and Hajime.
"I haven't forgotten what happened at the capital of Heiligh, which is why I've prepared
one last trump card," he explained as he sneered derisively at Hajime.
If Hajime's classmates wouldn't serve as effective hostages, then he simply needed
someone who would. And he was certain he'd found the perfect person.
Unsurprisingly, his guess was right on the money.
The gate in the throne room moved again, to the other side of the throne. There was
another small cage behind the pillars… that had Myu sitting inside it.
The moment Hajime saw her, he unleashed a wave of bloodlust so overpowering that
everyone fell silent.
"Ah…!"
Freid's breath came in short gasps, and goosebumps rose on his arms. His instincts
screamed at him to run. The fact that they still functioned in the face of such wrath
proved that he was one of the stronger beings in the world.
Freid's gray dragons plummeted to the ground, flailing about madly. Their puny minds
had been unable to withstand the fear Hajime had instilled in them in that moment,
driving them insane.
Though they knew his anger wasn't directed at them, Kouki, Ryutarou, and even
Shizuku took a few steps back, their expressions pained. Suzu, who stood the closest
to Hajime, started backpedaling away as fast as possible.
Seeing how even the apostles were grimacing, Eri hurriedly scurried behind them.
Freid, on the other hand, managed to barely preserve his pride by biting his lips so
hard the pain drove away the fear.
"Hajime!"
"Yue…"
Hajime managed to calm his rage somewhat thanks to Yue calling out to him.
He quickly pulled the Compass of Eternal Paths out of his pocket and activated it.
He asked it to show him what direction his precious daughter, who he'd promised he'd
come back for, was.
"So it's not a trick…" Hajime muttered, looking stricken. At that, Shea and the others
were forced to accept that Myu was truly inside that cage.
"Oh no, Myu-chan!"
"They even kidnapped Remia-san!"
"How craven."
Indeed, Remia was being held captive together with Myu. The two of them were
huddled together, trembling in fear. Though, neither of them were crying.
"Looks like you've confirmed they're real," Freid croaked. He didn't even have the
presence of mind to ask about the curious artifact Hajime had used. Instead, he grit
his teeth and looked cautiously down at Hajime, not even bothering to wipe away the
sweat that dripped into his eyes.
It felt as though he would die if he took his eyes off of Hajime for even a second.
"Were you the one who told them about my relationship with Myu?" Hajime asked
pointedly, staring directly at Eri. She was trying to hide behind the apostles, but his
gaze clearly met hers.
"H-Hahaha… Who knows?"
She tried to maintain her usual haughty attitude, but her face was pale, her expression
was stiff, and her voice was trembling. It was obvious she was terrified of Hajime.
Of course, he knew the answer without even asking. Neither Freid nor the apostles
knew anything about Myu, so Eri was the only person who could have possibly told
them.
"What does it matter how we found out? Will you accept the invitation or not, Irregular!?"
Freid asked, trying to sound as imposing as possible under the circumstances.
However, Hajime looked at Freid as if he were nothing more than an insignificant
insect. He was still oozing bloodlust from every pore, though not as strongly as before.
His fury was a quiet, controlled one now. However, that just made it all the more
terrifying. Freid felt as though the abyss itself was staring at him. His breath caught in
his throat, but he didn't even realize he'd stopped breathing.
After a brief silence, Hajime said, "I'll accept your damned invitation."
"Finally, you see reason," Freid said as he sucked in a relieved breath. Believing that he
once again had the upper hand, he scoffed at Hajime.
He used metamorphosis magic to get the gray dragons back on their feet, then started
constructing a gate large enough for everyone to pass through.
Hajime calmed down and restrained his bloodlust, and Kouki and the others sighed in
relief.
After a moment, Yue spoke to him in a quiet voice and asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah. We could save her if we used the Crystal Key, but it'll take time to activate. And
they know we can teleport with spatial magic."
"So they've probably set up countermeasures?" Kaori mused.
"We mustn't take any undue risks. Your teacher and classmates can at least put up a
fight, but Myu and Remia are powerless. They would be unable to buy even a few
seconds should the need arise," Tio explained.
If he wanted to, Hajime could use the Crystal Key in conjunction with the Compass of
Eternal Paths to teleport to the Demon Lord's castle instantly. However, the Crystal
Key was powered by concept magic.
In exchange for being effectively omnipotent, concept magic took an absurd amount
of mana and a long time to cast. And speed was the most important factor during a
hostage scenario, so it was the least suitable magic for the task.
"Hey, Nagumo-kun. What do you think the Demon Lord wants?" Shizuku asked, walking
closer to Hajime.
"Dunno. But he might know we've found a way back home now that we've conquered
all the labyrinths."
"Do you think…?"
It made sense that the Demon Lord, an accomplice of Ehit, wouldn't want the pawns
Ehit had summoned to return home without permission.
That being said, since Hajime had yet to develop concept magic that could prevent
them from being summoned against their will, Ehit could call them back if he really
wanted to. Granted, Hajime had no idea how much effort it took a god to summon
people, so it was possible Ehit wanted to avoid such a scenario.
"Amanogawa."
"What is it, Nagumo?"
"What're you going to do from here on out? You should probably make up your mind
quickly."
"What do you mean?" Ryutarou asked.
"Ehit was specifically looking for a hero when he summoned all of us."
"So you think I'm the one he wants to keep here at all costs?"
"It's possible. Either way, I doubt Nakamura's gonna let you escape that easily."
"...…"
In essence, Hajime was asking if Kouki wanted to come back with him, or stay and
fight god like he'd initially claimed.
After suffering such a humiliating defeat in the Frost Cavern's trial, it was possible
Kouki's determination had been broken.
"You're free to choose whichever path you want. But make sure you're fully committed
to whatever decision you make."
"Believe me, I know."
Ryutarou and Suzu shot Kouki worried looks. Though, Shizuku and Kaori seemed
more concerned by the dark look in his eyes.
"Yue, Tio. If we get into a fight, focus on protecting Myu and Remia."
"Mmm… I won't let anyone lay a finger on them."
"You can count on me. I'll defend them with my life."
"Shea, you go wild. I want you to annihilate everyone who stands in our way."
"Aye, aye! I'll make them pay for everything they've done!"
While Hajime discussed strategy, Freid finished constructing his giant portal.
"Before we go, I'm going to have to ask you to leave your weapons behind, Irregular."
"Excuse me?"
"I also have some handcuffs here that will seal your mana."
"...…"
Freid pulled out a pair of handcuffs that looked identical to the ones Aiko and Kouki
had been forced to wear in the capital.
Freid had claimed this was an invitation, but he was treating Hajime and the others
like prisoners. He narrowed his eyes and tossed the handcuffs in front of Hajime.
"Put them on yourself."
Freid's sneer was uglier than ever. He clearly held a grudge over all the times Hajime
had humiliated him.
He didn't use to be such a petty person, I don't think… I wonder if getting his ass kicked
over and over changed him? Hajime thought absently.
Or wait, maybe becoming a religious fanatic made him like this?
Regardless, there was no way in hell he was putting those on.
"In your dreams, moron," Hajime replied as he stomped on the manacles, crushing
them underfoot.
For a moment, Freid looked taken aback, but then he furrowed his brow in irritation
and screamed at Hajime, "I told you before, you don't have the right to refuse! Or do
you not care about what happens to those two dragons!? We won't show any mercy to
those two inferior mongrels if you cross us!"
"Did you honestly believe you could control me just by taking Myu and Remia hostage?
Haven't you realized that you're using a double-edged sword here?"
Hajime's voice was calm, but also cold as ice.
"What do you mean, double-edged sword?"
Hajime hadn't tapped into his mana at all, and he wasn't even using the intimidating
power of his bloodlust anymore. Yet for some reason, Freid felt that Hajime had his
heart in a vice-grip. One wrong move and he wouldn't live to see the next second.
"Right now, the only reason you're alive is because you have Remia and Myu. But if you
hurt a single hair on their heads—"
Hajime glared at Freid from underneath his white bangs.
"I won't stop at just killing your soldiers. I'll…"
Hajime's hair stood on end, and he pointed a pale finger at the gate Freid had
constructed.
"…massacre every last man, woman, and child living in the demon empire, regardless
of their affiliation."
That was simultaneously a declaration and a promise. Hajime really wouldn't stop
until he'd eradicated the demon race from Tortus. Freid's irritation vanished in an
instant. It seemed as though the very air around Hajime had gotten darker.
Freid wanted to believe such a feat was impossible, but knowing Hajime, he'd do it. A
shiver ran down the demon general's spine. He reflexively pulled on his mount's reins,
and Uranos shied back.
"If you want me to give up my weapons, you're gonna have to pry them out of my cold,
dead hands. So, if you don't wanna fight here, you'd better rethink your demands."
Normally, the protagonist of a story was rendered powerless when the big bad took
someone they cared about hostage. But that wouldn't work on Hajime. He would never
leave himself without the means to save Myu just for the momentary satisfaction of
knowing no one would hurt her right away.
Even if it meant the people he cared about got hurt, Hajime would prioritize
eliminating the enemy.
If he gave up his weapons, it was possible Freid would just kill all of them. In which
case it was better to fight, even if that ran the risk of Myu getting hurt. After all, his
comrades could use spirit magic and restoration magic. If the worst were to happen,
he would still be able to revive Myu, as long as he got to her in time.
Of course, he didn't want Myu to get hurt. If possible, he wanted to rescue her before
she even felt the slightest bit of pain. But if that was no longer an option, Hajime would
choose to fight rather than surrender.
Thinking about it rationally, Hajime's choice was a cruel one. True, he needed his
weapons and his mana if he wanted any hope of making it out of the Demon Lord's
castle alive, and Freid knew better than anyone how aggressive Hajime was. But even
then, a normal person would prioritize the hostages' safety over everything else.
Thoughts like, "It doesn't matter what state they're in, as long as they're not dead by
the time we rescue them," would never cross their mind. Especially if the hostages in
question were some of the most important people in the world to them.
Realizing just how far gone Hajime was, Freid muttered, "You're… insane."
If Hajime's foe was going on the offensive, then he would too. He'd throw away any
notion of trying to protect those important to him. It'd be a race to see which side
could annihilate the other.
Indeed, anyone with a mindset like that could hardly be considered sane.
"H-Hey, Freid! You're overstepping your bounds! The Demon Lord never said we had
to bring them back unarmed! Don't push your luck, Nagumo's crazy strong!"
"But bringing this monster to His Highness as-is is far too dangerous!"
It appeared demanding that Hajime surrender his weapons had been Freid's idea, not
the Demon Lord's.
Hajime glared at Freid, but before he could say anything, an apostle flew between them.
"Freid, cease this pointless posturing. Whether the Irregular is armed or not matters
little to your lord. Besides, so long as we are here, the worst will not come to pass. Our
very existence shall serve as a deterrent for the Irregular."
Now that Freid had been converted, being told that by an apostle was enough to shut
him up. Though he wasn't happy about it, he reluctantly nodded, giving in. The apostle
then turned to Hajime.
"Irregular. My name is Hearst."
Her face was as expressionless as all the other apostles'. However—
"We have thoroughly analyzed the battle between you and Noint. Do not think you will
be able to defeat any of us ever again."
For the briefest of moments, her eyes seemed to glimmer with hate and rage. Or at
least, that was what it felt like to Hajime.
"Just hurry up and take us to the castle already," Hajime said coldly with a dismissive
jerk of his chin.
Freid started seething at his disrespectful attitude, but before he could do anything,
Eri jumped into the portal.
The apostles lined up on either side of it, opening up a path for Hajime and his friends.
He walked up to the portal without hesitation.
Right before he stepped through it, something inside his hand flashed. But it happened
so quickly that the only one who noticed was Yue, who was standing next to him.
To Hajime's surprise, the portal didn't take him directly to the throne room. Instead,
he found himself in a wide terrace somewhere else inside the castle that was large
enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
Upon turning around, he saw the demon capital spread out below him. The buildings'
roofs were rust-red, but other than that, the structures looked identical to those of
Heiligh's capital.
Most of the apostles and gray dragons that filed in after Hajime and his friends flew
down to the city.
"Come this way. And you better not try anything," Freid said curtly as he dismounted
Uranos and sent the dragon away. Around fifty apostles had remained behind to guard
the party, and they got into formation behind Hajime and the others while Freid led
the way.
The Demon Lord's castle appeared absurdly huge. Hajime, Shea, and Tio walked at the
head of the group, while Kouki, Shizuku, Suzu, and Ryutarou huddled together behind
them.
As they walked down one massive hallway after another, Eri crooned, "Kouki-kuuuuun,
hold meee. That monster's scaring meeeeee."
"E-Eri, have you really—?"
She grabbed Kouki's arm and pressed her body close against him. Then, she leaned in
close and started whispering something into his ear.
"E-Eri, listen! I—" Suzu stammered, desperately trying to grab Eri's attention. However,
Eri was focused solely on Kouki, so she gave no indication that she'd even heard Suzu.
A seductive smile graced her face, and a manic, obsessed look dwelled in her eyes.
Honestly, it was painful for Suzu to see her like this.
It seemed Eri only had eyes for Kouki after all. She didn't seem the least bit guilty about
betraying her classmates or taking them hostage.
Seeing how selfish Eri had become, Suzu's face twisted in anguish.
"Hey, Eri! Suzu's talking to you!" Ryutarou shouted, unable to bear seeing Suzu look so
sad. He reached out to grab Eri by the shoulder, but—
"Do not lay a hand on her," one of the apostles said as she stepped forward, and pointed
her sword at him.
Ryutarou turned to Kouki for help, but Kouki had his hands full dealing with Eri and
didn't even have the time to spare Ryutarou or Suzu a glance.
"Suzu. I know it's hard, but hold it in for now."
"Shizushizu… Yeah, I know. Thanks for getting mad on my behalf, though, Ryutaroukun."
"Tch… Don't mention it. I swear I'll find some way to let you two talk."
Sighing, Suzu and Ryutarou stepped away from Eri.
After turning a few more corners, the party finally arrived at their destination. A pair
of massive double doors stood at the end of the hallway. Judging by how ornate they
were, it was clear the throne room lay beyond them. The carving on the doors showed
an elaborate sun shining rays of light onto the demon capital.
Freid gave a signal to the pair of demon guards waiting outside the throne room. In
response, they placed their hands on the doors, and the rays of light began to shine. A
second later, a loud creaking noise resounded and the doors swung inward of their
own volition.
The throne room looked the same as it had from the portal Freid had shown Hajime
and the others. A lush red rug lay between two rows of magnificent pillars. There was
a raised platform at the back of the room, and a gaudy throne atop the platform.
Keeping their impatience in check, Hajime and the others slowly made their way to
the empty throne. As they drew closer, they saw the cages holding their friends captive.
Naturally, that meant their friends could see them too. The first to notice them was
Aiko. Her eyes went wide, and she squeezed Liliana's hand to grab her attention. The
princess turned around and gasped when she saw Hajime and the others.
A few seconds later, all of their classmates noticed as well.
"N-No way. They really came."
"Look, Yuka! It's Nagumo-kun!"
The first people to speak were Nana Miyazaki and Taeko Sugawara. Tears of joy filled
their eyes as they pointed Hajime and the others out to Yuka, who was lying on the
ground. Kentarou Nomura, Akito Nimura, and Noboru Aikawa also pointed the party
out to their friends, Juugo, Kousuke, and Atsushi. But a second later, their expressions
clouded over when they saw that Hajime was surrounded by dozens of apostles.
"Nagumo-kun…" Aiko whispered in a trembling voice. Among the captives, she was the
only one who'd seen Hajime's battle with Noint up close. She knew firsthand how
strong even one apostle was, so seeing fifty at once brought her to the depths of
despair. However, that despair lasted only a moment. The second Hajime turned to her
and nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, she immediately felt reassured.
A second later, Myu and Remia noticed Hajime's arrival as well.
"Daddy? Daddy!"
"Hajime-san!"
Myu's smile shone as bright as the sun, while Remia looked like she'd finally been
freed from a nightmare.
Upon seeing that both of them were fine, Hajime's expression relaxed a little. He
smiled reassuringly at both of them and said, "Myu, Remia. Sorry for getting you guys
caught up in my mess. Don't worry, I'll get you out of there soon."
"It's okay, Daddy, I'm fine. I knew you'd come. Don't lose to the bad guys, okay!?"
"I'm fine as well, Hajime-san. Please worry about yourself first."
Neither Freid nor the army of apostles scared Myu. She had absolute faith in Hajime.
As long as he was here, she knew everything would turn out just fine.
Remia, on the other hand, still seemed frightened, but she managed to put on a brave
front to avoid worrying Myu.
Yue, Shea, Kaori, and Tio tried to reassure Myu and Remia as well, but before they
could say anything, a booming voice echoed throughout the throne room.
"The bond between parent and child is always a beautiful sight to behold, no matter
the era."
The wall behind the throne began to glow, and a single silhouette could be seen behind
it.
"There was someone just as important to me, once. Though in my case, it was my
niece."
Yue twitched slightly as the deep, clear voice filled the hall. She recognized the voice,
but she couldn't quite remember from where.
Right as Hajime started to ask her what was wrong, the wall became transparent,
revealing the voice's owner. He was a handsome, middle-aged man with slicked-back
blond hair and crimson eyes. His clothes and cape were mostly black, with complex
gold embroidery. The top few buttons of his shirt were open, and he looked surprisingly
sexy for his age. He exuded charisma from every pore, and it was obvious from his
demeanor that he was ridiculously strong.
Hajime was willing to bet money that he was the Demon Lord. Alva, one of Ehit's kin.
And yet, his smile was so gentle that it was hard to believe he was a leader, let alone
the avatar of an evil god.
Of course, Hajime hadn't forgotten that he'd taken Myu hostage to bring them here.
And so, he narrowed his eyes dangerously and opened his mouth to speak. However,
someone beat him to the punch.
It wasn't Freid, nor was it the Demon Lord. No, it was Yue of all people.
"I-Impossible… How…" she muttered in astonishment.
"Yue?"
Yue covered her mouth with a trembling hand. She looked aghast, as if she'd just seen
a ghost. This was the first time Hajime had seen her so shaken.
Just as he prepared to reassure her, he had a sudden realization. The Demon Lord's
hair and eyes were the exact same color as Yue's.
No way. That's not possible… Unfortunately, Hajime's conjecture was proved right by
the Demon Lord's next words.
"Long time no see, Aletia. You're as cute as always."
The affectionate look he gave Yue made it clear they weren't strangers, and no one
except Hajime and the others should have known Yue's old name.
"Uncle…" Yue muttered, leaving no doubt as to the Demon Lord's identity.
Everyone stared at Yue in shock, then turned back to the Demon Lord. At first they
were in disbelief, but after seeing how much the Demon Lord and Yue resembled each
other, they began to think maybe he really was her uncle.
Yue's hands trembled, and her legs looked ready to give out beneath her.
The Demon Lord looked down at her with kind eyes and replied, "Yes, it's me, Aletia. I
imagine you must be surprised. But I'm relieved to know you haven't changed over
these past three hundred years."
The Demon Lord's words overflowed with love. Yue must have seen something of the
uncle she remembered in his expression, since she took a hesitant step backward. A
second later, she felt a warm hand cup her cheek, and she gradually returned to her
senses. Turning around, she saw Hajime standing next to her. Though his gaze was
fixed on the Demon Lord, the hand on her cheek made it clear he was there to support
her.
Relieved, Yue sucked in a deep breath. She hadn't fully recovered from her shock just
yet, but she was able to function again now.
Just as she was about to address her uncle—
"Alva-sama?" one of the apostles called out to him. Though the apostle's voice was as
devoid of emotion as always, her tone was clearly questioning. It appeared she hadn't
expected the Demon Lord to treat Yue in that manner.
It wasn't just the apostles that were surprised, either. Freid and Eri looked taken aback
by the unexpected development as well.
However, the Demon Lord said nothing. Instead, he raised a hand toward the apostles,
still smiling.
A second later, a burst of mana shot out of his palm. His mana was a similar color to
Yue's, but its golden hue seemed a bit darker than hers. The mana burst lasted only a
second, but it was powerful enough that even Hajime was stunned speechless.
As the light began to fade—
"Huh?"
"What? What the!?"
Ryutarou and Suzu turned around in surprise. Though the others were silent, they too
were shaken. Freid, Eri, and the fifty apostles were all lying on the ground, unmoving.
"E-Eri!"
"Suzu, calm down. They've just lost consciousness."
Suzu started running toward Eri, but Kouki held out a hand to stop her. He'd already
checked to make sure Eri still had a pulse.
"What's the meaning of this?" Hajime asked, snapping everyone else out of their shock.
He glared warily at the Demon Lord, but the Demon Lord simply snapped his fingers
in response, looked around for a few seconds, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I've cast a barrier to deceive the surveillance devices in this castle. The apostles
outside should be seeing a different scene from what's actually happening, so we don't
have to worry about them showing up."
Hajime's Demon Eye did indeed pick up a faint dark-golden barrier covering the
throne room.
"Answer him. What're you planning?" Yue asked, confused by her uncle's inexplicable
actions.
He smiled gently at Yue, then gave Hajime and the others a friendly wave. After that,
he turned to the captives and lowered his head in apology.
"I understand you're confused. It's only natural for you to be wary, so I'll be blunt. I am
Dienleed Galdea Vesperitio Avatarl, the ruler of the Garland Empire, and former prime
minister of Avatar, the vampire kingdom. Moreover, I am an enemy of god."
Dienleed's words echoed solemnly through the throne room. Truly, they were a bolt
from the blue. But the sincerity in his gaze gave everyone the impression that he was
telling the truth. Or, well, almost everyone.
In a trembling, confused voice, Yue shouted, "No… this can't be. You're lying. Dienleed
can't possibly be alive!"
"Aletia, your confusion is understandable. Necessary though it may have been, I did
something unspeakably cruel to you. And now here I am, in a situation that defies all
logic."
"Don't call me Aletia! Stop pretending to be my uncle!"
Yue sounded more worked up than Hajime had ever heard. The man calling himself
Dienleed smiled sadly. That seemed to anger Yue even more, and she thrust out her
hand as a torrent of mana swirled around her.
After her experience in the Frost Caverns, she'd come to accept that maybe her uncle
had his reasons for sealing her away, but that didn't change the fact that he had
sentenced her to three hundred years of darkness. Regardless of the circumstances,
he had betrayed her trust. There was no way Yue could forgive him so easily. Especially
not if he suddenly showed up three hundred years later and started treating her with
the same affection he had before he betrayed her.
If anything, it was surprising Yue hadn't lost it sooner. Before she knew it, she'd
unleashed a Draconic Thunder at Dienleed.
The golden dragon howled in rage as it closed in on him. However, he didn't look the
least bit perturbed. He simply snapped his fingers, and a wall of light rose up to protect
the raised platform the throne stood on. It didn't even waver as the dragon slammed
into it.
Dienleed completely ignored the clash as he addressed Yue. Though she truly did want
him dead, the kindness in his voice still tugged at her heartstrings.
"Aletia Galdee Vesperitio Avatarl. The wisest, most beautiful queen in Avatar's history,
as well as my niece. I am indeed your uncle. Have you forgotten? I used to be a powerful
monster user in my own right."
"What are you—?"
"Surely by now you understand what that means. Why do you think I was able to
create and tame such powerful monsters?"
"Ah… You could use ancient magic… metamorphosis magic."
Dienleed smiled proudly, like he used to when Yue did well in her studies. Conflicted
emotions warred within Yue as an overwhelming sense of de ja vu assailed her.
"Incidentally, I'm capable of using restoration magic as well. Unfortunately, my affinity
for it is quite awful, so it's of little use to me. However, my affinity for metamorphosis
magic is high, so I was able to modify and strengthen my body to extend my lifespan.
That's why I'm still alive today."
"Yue, calm down."
"Hajime…"
When Yue had unleashed her Draconic Thunder, Hajime had surreptitiously fired a
few shots at Dienleed as well. However, his railgun-accelerated bullets hadn't been
able to so much as scratch Dienleed's light barrier. There was no point in wasting their
mana, so Hajime laid a hand on Yue's shoulder to calm her down.
Judging by how hysteric she was, she probably wasn't even using her mana efficiently.
Panting, Yue slowly managed to get her emotions under control enough to disperse
her Draconic Thunder.
Hajime's presence barely kept her in check, though, and her voice still trembled when
she spoke.
"Freid Bagwa said your name was Alva, and that you were related to Ehit. He said that
you've been controlling the demon empire for millennia!"
Of course, the fact that Dienleed had been Avatar's prime minister three hundred
years ago meant there was a contradiction between Freid's claim and the reality
standing in front of Yue.
Calm as ever, he replied, "Freid's words are the truth. I am indeed Alva, but at the same
time, I am not."
What kind of philosophical bullshit is this? Hajime thought.
Yue's expression grew darker, and Dienleed smiled sadly before launching into his tale.
"The being known as Alva has aided Ehit since the age of the gods."
Dienleed went on to explain that Alva's loyalty began to waver as he watched Ehit
commit atrocity after atrocity over the millennia. After a few thousand years, his
feelings had flipped, and he found himself determined to take Ehit down.
"But as Alva was one of the lesser gods born from Ehit, he never had any hope of
defeating him. Thus, he concocted a certain plan. He would go down to Tortus and
serve as the world's Demon Lord. He told Ehit that he would help the creator
manipulate Tortus' history and craft interesting situations to appease his boredom.
On the surface he did exactly that, but all the while he was looking for a way to defeat
Ehit. However, gods have no physical bodies of their own. For Alva to accomplish
anything on Tortus, he needed a medium to inhabit.
"Those mediums ended up being the Demon Lord and his descendants. Freid may not
have understood the full picture, but nothing he said was an outright lie. One thing he
didn't understand, though, was that the people Alva possessed did not have their
original personalities erased."
"Does that mean you were chosen by Alva as well, Dienleed?" Yue asked as she shot
him a suspicious glance, and Dienleed nodded.
"Alva was elated to have me. My affinity with him was perfect, and I was an ancient
magic user who knew the true nature of this world."
As comrades who shared a common goal, they'd been able to use their unique
relationship to avoid Ehit's watchful eye and his apostles.
"Alva is in me even now, and he's done so much to help me. Our two souls share this
one body. That's what I mean when I say I both am and am not Alva."
Dienleed placed a hand on the back of his throne and paused to make sure everyone
was following along thus far.
Her expression conflicted, Yue asked, "Since when?"
"A few years before you took the throne. Until then, I'd felt powerless to resist Ehit
even though I knew the truth. But after I met Alva, everything changed. I had a mission."
"What mission?"
"To bring down the wicked god who toys with this world. Of course, it was extremely
difficult to keep him and his apostles from catching wind of our plans. There were
multiple times where I had to do truly distasteful things to maintain my cover. Is there
anything else you wish to ask?" Dienleed inquired with a smile. That expression of his
reminded Yue of the time he used to be her tutor.
His kind voice, combined with the things she'd realized in the Frost Caverns, caused
her to hesitate.
Maybe he really… she thought to herself. If Dienleed really was telling the truth, there
was one thing she wanted to know above all else, one thing she absolutely had to ask.
"Why did you betray your homeland? Why did you betray me?"
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't ask for an apology! I asked you why!"
Dienleed's eyes filled with regret.
Yue grabbed the hand Hajime had placed on her shoulder and clung to it for comfort.
Shea and the others crowded protectively around Yue, while Tio gave Dienleed a
piercing glare. She wouldn't let any falsehoods slip past her.
"Aletia, your talent eclipsed that of everyone else's. No one could even come close to
matching your magical abilities. Even I, who could use ancient magic, stood no chance
against you. But that strength of yours was too conspicuous. It attracted unwanted
attention, the same way the young man standing next to you, Hajime Nagumo, has."
"So that's why they all called me an 'Irregular'?"
"Correct. Do you recall, Aletia? Back then, most of Avatar's influential nobles had been
converted to followers of Ehit. Even your parents had turned. You may not have
realized the implications, but surely you'd sensed that something was off."
"I remember. You argued so often with Father about how I should be brought up. In
the end, you had your way and became my tutor. That's why I grew up learning almost
nothing about religion." Yue nodded as she said that, a bitter expression on her face.
Dienleed nodded back and said, "I wasn't sure whether or not the Liberators' words
could be trusted back then, but even so, I didn't want you to be indoctrinated. I wanted
to protect you. But keeping you away from religion ended up backfiring on me."
"Because Ehit doesn't like pawns who don't move according to his will?"
"Precisely. Ehit started sending skilled assassins after you. Your immortality wasn't
perfect, and after hearing just how terrifying Ehit was from Alva, I—" Dienleed cut
himself off at that point, shook his head, and admitted in an ashamed voice, "I wasn't
confident I could protect you.
"I also didn't want to lose such a potentially powerful ally, so before you could be
assassinated in earnest, I sealed you away and pretended I killed you myself. I planned
to release you once I could openly rebel against Ehit."
"...…"
Yue's uncle hadn't betrayed her. In fact, he'd tried to protect her. Part of the reason for
that was because he'd wanted a trump card to use against Ehit, but he'd also truly
loved his niece and wanted to keep her alive.
The small hints Yue's copy had dropped back during the trial supported that narrative
as well. She could no longer say with certainty that Dienleed was her enemy.
Moreover, she wasn't sure how to take Dienleed's confession. It felt like she was
overlooking something vital, but Dienleed's kind words had made a mess out of her
thoughts. Unable to process the sudden revelations, hesitation and uncertainty filled
her gaze.
In a meek, trembling voice, she asked her final question, "What about the hostages? If
you really are Uncle Dien… If you really haven't betrayed me, then why did you…?"
Her tone sounded almost accusatory, and Dienleed frowned sadly when he heard it.
"You're right," he muttered and snapped his fingers thrice.
The light that had been surrounding the bars of the prisoners' cages vanished and the
locks on the doors clicked open.
Confused, Myu and Aiko tentatively opened the doors of their respective cages.
"I knew you wouldn't agree to meet with me unless I went this far. Besides, I knew if I
kept them close by, I'd be able to protect them if Ehit tried anything. As for their
injuries, please forgive me. It was the apostles who went to capture them, and I couldn't
openly heal your friends in their presence. I did order them to capture everyone alive
at least. After all, they may become my comrades very soon, Aletia."
"Your… comrades?" Yue parroted back, her brain too fried to think.
If Dienleed was telling the truth and her beloved uncle had been forced to seal her
away because he had no other choice, then what he said made sense. Hajime held up
a hand to stop Myu and Aiko from exiting their cages just yet, while Shea and the
others gave Yue a worried look. But her attention was focused solely on Dienleed.
"Aletia, please believe me."
The Demon Lord walked down from the podium holding his throne.
"I always have and always will love you. Not a single day has gone by over these past
three hundred years where I haven't thought of you."
"Uncle…"
Dienleed smiled and walked up to Yue, saying, "That's right. It's me, Uncle Dien. My
beloved Aletia, the time has finally come. Please, lend this foolish old man your strength.
It's time we put an end to everything, once and for all."
"You want me… to help you?"
"Let us vanquish Ehit together, much like we did to all of Avatar's enemies. Ehit is
preparing to put an end to this era. He's already reset the world multiple times in the
past. Watching civilizations grow and develop, then destroying them all in one big
cataclysm is his hobby. But that all ends here. As luck would have it, you're far stronger
than you were in the past. Moreover, you have so many friends capable of using ancient
magic. Together, I'm sure you can hold your own against even Ehit."
"...…" Yue furrowed her brows, her words catching in her throat.
Dienleed spread his arms wide and moved in to embrace her. And that action brought
back another one of Yue's memories from three hundred years ago.
Whenever she did well in class or mastered a particularly difficult spell, Dienleed had
always praised her and patted her head. He'd seemed more proud of her achievements
than even she did. And whenever she'd gone to tell him about something good that
had happened to her, he'd hugged her just like this.
Yue's uncle was alive, and he hadn't betrayed her. The man she'd loved more than her
own father closed in on her for a hug.
Slowly but surely, Yue began to believe that he was someone she could trust again.
Smiling, Dienleed whispered, "Come, Aletia. Together, we can—"
However, before he could finish, a loud boom interrupted him, and a flash of light
streaked toward his skull. He didn't even have time to react before Hajime's bullet
pierced through his brain and made his neck snap back.
Everyone stared in disbelief as Dienleed's body slumped to the ground. He wasn't even
twitching. A strained silence spread through the throne room as comprehension
dawned on the onlookers.
The sound of a revolver cocking finally snapped everyone out of their reverie. They
turned toward the source of the noise, their necks creaking like badly oiled doors.
As they'd all expected, Hajime was standing there, Donner held at the ready.
"Fuck you. I should tear you limb from limb," he spat, looking absolutely pissed.
Aiko and the students' jaws dropped open. As sudden as Dienleed's confession had
been, it had seemed like he was sincere about joining Hajime's side. While they weren't
aware of all the details, the students had at least understood that Dienleed had done
some cruel things to trick their true enemy and that the Demon Lord was an ally who'd
been willing to free them. But then, Hajime had gone and shot him in the head.
Not satisfied with just that, he started shooting the corpse in the heart, the limbs, and
everywhere else. Once he finished pumping Dienleed full of lead, he whipped out a
few dozen of his bolas and tied the Demon Lord's corpse up.
"Hiyaaaaaaaaah!"