232 Episode 232 "In the sneaking arena, I met the hidden Demon King (?)".txt

From Nagi's point of view.

The next night.

Me, Rita, Aine and Cutlass were in the arena.

I had prepared to sneak in.

I bought some skill crystals in the marketplace in case something happened.

However, because the skills for combat were sold out at the martial arts tournament, there were only skills for general use.

The one I bought was the highly versatile "Dove Cleaning LV1".

And also 'Courtesy (vs. Nobles) LV1' so that you can cheat when you meet a noble.

...... I knew there were fewer soldiers on the ground.

Thanks to Iris and Laetitia's help in getting Count Kervis to come along.

The two should be at the merchant's residence having a meeting with the Count by now.

The soldiers have been assigned to guard the Count, which makes the arena less well guarded. Yesterday, there were more than a dozen soldiers patrolling around, but now there are only a few. The fewer lights we have, the more blind spots we have.

That way we can get in without being spotted.

Okay, Rita, I'll need you to be on the lookout.

Yes, sir. Master.

Rita closes her eyes and activates her 'Presence Detection' skill.

And then, she immediately opens her eyes──.

There's no sign of anyone or anything in the arena. The soldiers patrolling the arena are far enough away. We can go.

Thanks to Iris and Letitia.

Letitia and little Iris were both very motivated.

I'm only speaking to you legally, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

Aine and Cutlass nodded.

We continued on and approached the wall of the arena.

After checking the height of the wall, I touched the 'Heavenly Dragon Bracelet' on my arm.

"White. Please.

"Shochika!　'Leftie Shon!

And then, our bodies come to the surface.

This is the effect of White's "Rebiteishon" skill.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

This is the venue for the martial arts tournament?

As I expected, the arena was a facility like the Coliseum in my world.

In the center, there was a combat area for warriors to fight each other, surrounded by bleachers.

In one corner of the bleachers, there was an area surrounded by pillars.

The pillar is drawn with a strange emblem, and it is vaguely shining. It's just like that.

Is that the altar Kamil-Kelvis was talking about?

Somewhere in the arena, the voice that called out to Lord Death should be there. We are here to see that person.

But ...... is empty.

Maybe it's in that altar?

It's not necessarily a human that spoke to Lord Death. It could be an item with a will, just like Lord Death and Reggie. If that's the case, there's a good chance it's in that altar.

''──Nagi. It's best to stay away from the altar.

Suddenly, Rita murmured softly.

If you look closely at the part surrounded by the pillars of the altar, there is something like a faintly glowing wall.

That was...

Is there a barrier?

You know exactly what I mean!

Sort of. For all intents and purposes, it's too suspicious.

Inside the square shaped pillar, something bright is enshrined.

Perhaps that altar is for that "something bright".

Since it is placed so openly, there must be at least some security measures in place.

There is a translucent barrier between those pillars. If you touch it, it will creak and rattle all around you. There will be a lot of soldiers there.

"Can Rita break the barrier?

I can do it, but it's making that awful ripping sound again.

I'd better check it out without going near it first.

I looked at Aine.

'Aine. Call Lord Death from the storage skill 'Sister's Treasure Chest'.

I got it.

Aine called up the Demon Lord's armor (Maouyorii) Lord Death from the storage skill "Sister's Treasure Chest". The box-shaped Lord Death transforms into his original armor with a shakin' motion.

Lord Death can't walk by himself.

I should be the one to go inside here.

If I'm in armor, I might be able to hear the voice that Lord Death can hear.

"So, do you mind letting me in? Lord Death.

'Yes, that I am. You are welcome to visit your husband ......, that you are welcome to .......

What's the matter, Lord Death?

...... It's the first time I've let that ...... person into my life, that I've never let him/her in, so I'm nervous .......

Really?

"I've put slime in it before, that I have, but this is my first time with a person: ......

I know it's a little late for that now, Lord Death.

"What is it?

Is Lord Death a boy?　Or is it a girl?

"A difficult question, that it is.

Yeah.

I'm more ...... nervous about letting your husband in than I am about letting your fellow girls in, that I am. It's also kind of ticklish, that it is.'

Lord Death said as he shook his helmet (helmet).

...... I'm troubled.

I'm not sure I'd be as nervous as I am if you said that.

I think it's a good idea for you to go inside for now, naa-kun.

'Right. We don't have much time, so let's do it.

After Nay-kun, I think Aine should go in there.

...... Why is that?

In doing so, I think we can find out the s*x of Lord Death.

............ Well, okay,

...... Aine, it's not fair.

Suddenly, Rita glanced at Aine.

'That's not like putting on the clothes Nagi took off.

"Sonnakotnaynaw.

"Do you swear to your master?

............ Lord Death's second place in the experience is yielded to Rita.

It's not like he's confessing.

Besides, Nay-kun.

Aine cheated, looking in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

"You need to take your clothes off when you put on full plate armor. Otherwise, it's hard to move.

Yes.

You're right, you can't move with your jacket on.

Not even my underwear. I'll put them in my "sister's treasure chest" and they'll be safe.

'No, I don't think it's right for me to wear my armour naked.

It's okay. That is because I have a function to change the internal structure of the wearer according to his or her condition.

You know?　That's what Mr. Death says.

No, then we wouldn't have to take it off in the first place, would we?

I took off just my jacket and shirt and decided to wear Lord Death.

Aine looked dissatisfied, and her cheeks were puffed up.

I'm not sure if this is good enough. Lord Death.

That's why I put on my Demon King armor, Lord Death.

After making sure it was on properly, I called out to Lord Death.

There is no problem, that there is no problem. Your husband is wearing me well, that he is.

I heard Lord Death's voice close by.

Or rather, it felt like Lord Death was whispering in my ear.

"You are the one, my lord. Is everything all right?

It's all right. It's more than that. Death suits you.

The joints are finely tuned as I move. It's pretty smooth, too. There's nothing to hinder my movement. To be honest, it's no different than wearing cloth clothes.

I can see the outside through the gap in the helmet.

The helmet moves as I move my head, so I can see through the gap in the helmet.

It's really an amazing technology.

This is the armor that Lord Death found in the ruins of the 'Ancient Elf City'.

The Ancient Elves had the technology to make something like this.

When the Lord Death approached this place, I heard a voice. "Come on. I'm going to have a talk with you!" The voice was probably from the Ancient Elves.

The voice probably belongs to the Ancient Elves.

...... We need to find out who it is, or else we won't be able to relax.

"...... Lord Death. Can you still hear the voice?

I can hear you, that I can. Listen carefully. Master.

As I was told, I closed my eyes and focused on the sound.

'............ Finally, you're here. I've gotten tired of waiting.''

I heard a voice.

It was from that altar in the auditorium.

At the same time, I activate "True Consciousness Sharing: Mind Linkage True".

I send the voice I heard directly to Rita.

I ask Rita to share the information with Aine and Cutlass.

"Oh, I can see ....... This is what I've been waiting for. You're the one who's been waiting for this.

The voice continues to speak as if impressed.

'O Death Catastrophe ......, the armour that the Demon King should wear .......'

...... who is this?

"Who are you, that you are?

Me and Lord Death ask the question.

There is a moment of silence.

"My name is Demon King.

「「「「 "The Demon King!" 」」」」

............ demon king.

I knew you were there. Demon King.

He has a grave voice. He's got some dignity.

It sounds like something from the distant past.

His voice is so grave that there's no room to doubt his words.

But why is the Demon King in this town?　And on the altar of the arena.

Don't tell me you're trapped in a warding?

That pillar is used to contain the Demon King, and the Demon King is behind it. In order to defeat him, the power of a brave man is needed, and the ceremony for choosing that brave man is the 'Martial Arts Tournament'.

In other words, Count Kervis and the others are really going to hold a tournament to choose a brave man or woman...?

'Are you really a demon king ......?'

"But... "I am the king of demons...

The voice slowly answers my question.

I am the item that was created by scraping up the leftovers of the Demon King ────'s impersonal body.

「「「「 '............ what?' 」」」」

The voices of me, Lord Death, Rita, Aine and Cutlass hummed.

Regardless of that, the voices continue.

''In order to stabilize the world, the 'Ancient Elves' tried to create a common enemy of all races, the Demon King.

I know.

That's why they made Lord Death in Demon King's armor.

"But the Demon King will be defeated and that's the end of it. The next time the world becomes unstable, there will be no Demon King to unite the people. That's why the Ancient Elf broke the Demon King's original body and created an item called himself.

...... What the hell are you?

"I am the Orb of the Demon King.

The barrier stretched between the pillars wavered.

Beyond it was a sphere the size of a human fist.

It was pitch black, with red lines running across its surface.

''It's an item that will make the chosen one 'look like a demon king's army' through a ritual.

One hour ago, Count Kervis...

Well, let's go hear about this 'Sea Dragon Priestess' thing.

With that, Count Kervis stood up.

This is an inn attached to the arena.

The time was an hour before Nagi and the others snuck into the arena.

Count Kervis, who was in his office, packed up his papers and called his son, Kamil-Kervis.

''Excuse me. ''Father,''

Kamil. I'm sorry you had to go through all those interviews.

''No. It's my job to choose the 'official heroes' to participate in the martial arts tournament.

Kamil-Kelvis bowed deeply to his father.

''I suppose I should accompany you to your meeting with the 'Sea Dragon Priestess'?

That's right. Any of the guys in the quarters who want to participate in the martial arts tournament can have Yamazoe keep an eye on them.

He's a good worker. Yamazoe is.

Excellent. You will do what I tell you to do. You'll do as I tell you, and nothing more. Best thing about it is you never think for yourself.

The Marquis Hilmut once conducted a 'rookie training' at the seaside. I heard that it was to produce something like the Yamazoe.

'So the Marquis has failed spectacularly, though. More importantly, Kamil.

Count Kelvis looks down at his young son and tells him.

'Have you found any of the prospective martial arts contestants that you could use?

I'm in the middle of a preliminary interview. Then a semi-interview. Main interview. We're going to move on to officer interviews, but there are a few that we could send to ...... martial arts tournaments.

Well: ......

Count Kervis, in a hushed voice

"So who could make up the 'Demon King's Army'?

There are many of them. We will move them to the abandoned fort to the north after the martial arts tournament.

"Along with the 'stray heroes' Yamazoe found for me.

''Before the start of the martial arts tournament, your father will hold a ceremony to create a demon king's army, right?

Yeah. That's a very important job. I'll do it.

''In order to prevent them from having any doubts at that time, I have already told the candidates that I have plans to form a unit to scout out the Demon King's army. Officially, I intend to convey this in the following text.

Kamil-Kelvis takes a parchment from his pocket and reads it.

It reads: "'Unfortunately, you were not capable of participating in the martial arts tournament. But it's a shame to keep talent like yourselves alive. I invite you to take another training course. This is important to the world' - right?

'It's our family tradition of writing. It's a family tradition, I'm sure you'll get it.

Yes, sir. Yes. There are some people who have already felt the urge to do so. But...

Kamil-Kelvis looked up.

He looked into his father's eyes, so close, so thickly bearded.

Shouldn't the protection of the altar be necessary? Shouldn't we have Yamazoe protect it?

Dismissed. The fewer people who know the secret, the better.

Count Kervis cut off his son's opinion.

''The Demon King's Orb is the most treasured treasure of all. No one can touch it.

...... is, yes. Yes, sir.

The altar is warded with pillars made by the Ancient Elves. The pillars of the pillars are made by the ancient elves. The only person who can break through it is the demon king.

...... Only the demon king, right?

'Or maybe only those with the power of a demon king or those who have it on their side.

I understand that, but I think we need to take action.

You're not satisfied with my instructions?

The Earl of Kervis's voice turns cold.

It's probably not used to being refuted.

The Earl of Kervis glares at Kamil and shakes his shoulders.

─ This is the mission of the Countess Kervis, passed down from generation to generation. ─ This is the mission of the Kervis family, passed down for generations. Have you grown up just because he's your son, Kamil?

No, no, that's never the case: ......

Don't mess with the pecking order. I'm on top. I'm at the top. I'm at the top, you at the bottom, and Yamazoe and the other heroes. I don't care if you try to strut your stuff among the heroes, Kamil. But I will not allow you to reply to me. But I don't want you to complain until you're as good as me.

...... I'm sorry, Father.

You'll see. Then let's go to Meridia the merchant. We'll need money to defeat the Demon King's army. We'll need to get the merchant and the port city of Irgapha out of there as well.

Yes, sir.

The port city of Ilgafa is a very rebellious place. If they don't pay up, it will be that town that will be attacked by the Demon King's army.

Yes, father.

'You have no opinion of your own, do you? Kamil.

The Earl of Kervis looked at his son and spat.

''The day has come when the White Guild is gone and we, the Kervis Countesses, will finally stand on the stage of history as brave men. A brave man!　It's a hero!

"...... I know, sir. Father.

There is no way you can succeed me with such a lack of ambition.

I am still a young man. I need your guidance, sir.

Of course. Now, come on, follow me.

So saying, the Earl of Kervis and his son Kamil went out into town in a carriage.