Volume 4 - CH 1

Part 1

Diablo was stretched out on the bed and breathed out a deep sigh.

──It was a disastrous day.

At times where there was an accident, it pretty much felt like that, but today really was disastrous.

Since he found just remembering what had happened to be a pain, he put it aside in his mind but……

Right now, he had consumed a majority of his MP, and he had recieved the most amount of damage since he had come to this world.

Diablo wore equipment on his body that was counted among the strongest in the MMORPG Cross Reverie. Moreover, he had strengthened that equipment to their limits.

Even if he were to receive an attack that would give instant death to an ordinary person, he would only feel it enough to notice it when hit by it.

However, right now, he bore some considerable injuries.

Demon King Krebskrum’s attack was something like a child throwing objects, but it had easily broken through the Physical Damage Reduction effect of his strongest equipment.

Diablo started thinking.

──I guess that should be expected of a Demon King. If Krebskrum’s memories had completely returned, I might not have won with my current equipment.

「…………」

「You’re kinda making a difficult face, aren’t you, Diablo?」

The left side of the bed creaked.

The one laying down beside him was a young Elf girl.

Her soft golden hair was spread out like a streaming river, and it touched Diablo’s arm. It tickled a bit.

She was Shera L. Greenwood.

She was of the Elf tribe, which was said to be the closest to the Divine Beings, and moreover, she was thier princess. She was in the middle of running away from home seeking freedom.

Diablo had already become considerably familiar with her, but even so, when she approached him with a surprise attack, he still would get a bit nervous.

His current self was claimed to be a “Demon King that came from another world”, and he did actually boast of overwhelming magical power in this world.

However, in truth, he was a shut-in gamer with a communication disorder.

He was so weak with conversations that he couldn’t talk unless he used the Demon King role play that he used in the game.

In particular, he hardly even had any experience talking with women.

The Solo Player that had zero resistance to women had a blond Elf that made him think that she was CG within 15 centimeters from him.

In his mind, his heart was racing.

However, revealing such a shameful true character wasn’t Demon King-like at all.

Diablo exhibited his Demon King role play and made a declaration with a haughty attitude.

「Making a difficult face, you say? Hmph, naturally……For I am looking into an abyss that someone like you cannot even fathom.」

「Waah～, that’s kinda amazing! What’s an abis?」

Maybe because she was pure, or maybe simple, the childish thinking Shera turned a reverent look towards him.

In actual fact, what Diablo was currently looking into was Shera’s cleavage which was way too abundant for an Elf but……

「”Abyss” is a metaphor for the profound things that know no boundaries.」

On the right side of the bed, opposite from Shera, another young lady──Rem Galeu was sitting.

In a place where he could touch if he moved his hand even a little, was her butt. A tail like that of a black cat extended out from a hole on her spats.

Rem possessed black panther-type ears and tail that were rare even among Pantherians. Her hair was also black.

In exchange, though that probably isn’t the case, for a 14-year-old, she had a slender body type. From her sides that had her ribs lightly showing to her toned arms and legs, her body with no uselessness in it attracted gazes and wouldn’t let them go.

Her long black hair streamed down from atop her body as if it were ink that had been spilled.

Rem always talked after thinking for a short while.

「……Diablo, since it has been a day that had terrible things happen, how about resting already?」

She was a very intellectual young lady.

「Umu, I suppose we should.」

「……Yes.」

While singing a strange song that Shera had created, a single child got up onto the bed.

「Let’s sleepー♪ Let’s sleepー♪ Let’s go to sleep alreadyー♪ Once night is done, it’ll be breakfast timeー♪ In our dreams, there’ll be donuts, marshmallows, and stollen♪」

It was a child that possessed cream colored hair. Thick horns grew from the left and right sides of her head.

She had ears that were larger than those of Elves, and scarlet pupils that aren’t normally seen on people of the Races. She was Demon King Krebskrum’s young body──Krum.

On her face, there was a slight complexion of fear.

「Is, is it okay? For Maou to be here too……」

「Why? Do you not want to sleep together? I wonder if it really is too small?」

Shera tilted her head.

Krum squinted her eyes.

「Maou killed people of the Races -noda zo!? I even tried to kill Diablo. You consider me dangerous, do you not!?」

「Ahaha, the only one worried is Sylvie-sanー」

While laughing, Shera patted Krum’s head.

The one called Sylvie was the Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild. Having that position, she said that she “couldn’t allow Demon King Krebskrum in the town even if she had the appearance of a child”.

Certainly, it was a fact that Krum had turned into Demon King Krebskrum and went on a huge rampage. If Diablo hadn’t fought against her, she might have turned the town to ruins.

However, there was a reason that was not at all normal for that.

The person of the Races that she had killed was an abnormal person that was like an evil murderer called the Holy Knight Sadraa. Rem and Krum were nearly killed by him.

Diablo thought about it.

──It’s alright for a dangerous guy like him to live in the town, but Krum isn’t allowed, isn’t that just strange? The current Krum is just a child. To be made uneasy despite that, that’s so sad.

However, speaking kindly to a little girl, that wasn’t really Demon King-like.

Diablo raised his body and tried to convey “there’s no need to worry” while preserving his majesty.

「Hmph……You tried to kill me, you say? Do not make me laugh. An attack of that level would have no effect on me. After all, I am the true Demon King! If you hold any doubt of that, you should challenge me once more. However, at that time, I will not hold back. I shall change you into garbage.」

Shera and Rem made uneasy-looking faces.

「Hau～, I don’t want you guys to fight anymore, okay?」

「……Please calm down, you two.」

Diablo broke out into a cold sweat in his mind. Could it be that his provocation was too excessive? Was his lack of communicative ability displayed?

If she were to say “We’ll fight right now!”, it would be intensely troublesome.

Krum came flying at him.

「Uhehe! Then, that is good -noda! You are sturdy! I shall praise you!」

She tightly hugged him.

Maybe because she was a child, her body temperature was high. Also due to Faltra City being warm, the little girl muffler was a bit hot.

At the neck of that charming Krum, rustic chains made a jangling sound.

Rem also had a iron ring placed around her own neck.

「……Now that I think about it, since 《Slave Magic》 has been cast upon her in the first place, Krum should be unable to fight with Diablo.」

In order to sweep away the Adventurer’s Guild Guildmaster Sylvie’s worries, Krum was made to be absolutely obedient with magic. As proof of that, a 《Slave Choker》 was placed upon her.

The particulars were different from the 《Slavery Chokers》 that were on Rem and Shera’s necks, but they were similar things.

Diablo once again entrusted his body to the bed.

「Let us go to sleep already.」

「Oka~y!」

Shera, who had the most adult-like body type, was the most child-like among them. She brought her body that had a sexual feeling to it close to him.

And then, as usual, Krum stayed clinging onto him. It was a bit hot.

「Umu, we’ll sleep -noda! Well, Maou is fine even without sleep though -nodagana.」

Rem quite reservedly lied down at the edge of the bed.

「……Well then, good night.」

She extended her hand, and put out the wall-mounted candle’s light. She placed a something that was similar to an iron ladle on it and extinguished the flame.

When it became dark, drowsiness immediately assailed him.

Diablo didn’t notice it.

That from a crack in the wall, there was a dreadful existence that was staring at him.

Part 2

*Karikarikari……* (Scratching)

Over Diablo’s head, there was some kind of sound that he just couldn’t get used to.

It was a sound like that of a devil scratching with its nails.

The first one to get up was Rem, and with a *bafuh*, she hit the bed.

「Diablo!」

「Wha……!?」

Having the area near his pillow hit and being called out to, he woke up.

However, the room was enveloped in darkness.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, even if it were in the depths of a dungeon, there didn’t exist any places that were completely dark.

Even if it were a fairly dark stage within a scene, if the display’s brightness was turned all the way up, it was possible to see things that affected the game’s outcome.

However, since this was another world and not the game, the darkness stayed as nothing but darkness.

──Thinking that this might happen, I’ve thought of a counter-measure for night warfare!

Diablo stretched one hand out to the ceiling.

「《Light》!」

A ball of light flew towards the ceiling, and once it hit, it burst and light spread out in the room.

It was a Light Attribute Elementary level magic. His practising of magic during his spare time proved to be of merit.

Shera got up while rubbing her eyes due to it being so bright.

「Nn～? What is it～?」

「Kuー……Supiー……」

Krum, who said “Maou is fine even without sleep -noda”, is firmly sound asleep even with it being this bright and noisy.

Rem pointed at the wall.

「Diablo, it is that!」

「Muh!?」

What was scampering about and running up the wall was, close-to-black grey creature that had a slender tail.

A small animal that vanished into a crevice in the wall and ceiling.

It was a rat.

What, so it was just a rat──is what he was about to yawn, but then he suddenly realised something.

──Wasn’t it making a noise around my head!?

「C, could it be that it was gnawing at my horns!?」

「EHH!?」

Rem and Shera looked hard at him.

Wasn’t a Demon King that had his horns gnawed by a mouse really uncool?

A cold sweat was pouring out.

Rem took a breath.

「There aren’t any changes in particular.」

「Yup, it’s the usual Diablo～」

Shera also made a gentle smile.

He almost fell due to too much relief, but instead, it was here that he made a face that said “naturally”.

「W, well, there is no way something like a mere mouse would be able to damage my horns. Umu.」

──Thank goodness～!! I was about to turn into Dora○mon, you know!?

Rem turned her gaze towards the crevice that the mouse vanished into.

「It isn’t that unusual for preserved food and equipment to receive damage from them. Tomorrow, let’s purchase a mouse extermination tool.」

「Hmph, next time I see it, I shall blow it away with my magic.」

「……It feels like it will disappear along with the ceiling.」

「That’ll make it so that we can see the starry sky, won’t it～……Fuwah～」

Shera made a yawn while smiling.

And then, she suddenly asked a question.

「Hey, hey, Diablo? This brightness, when will it go out?」

「Mu?」

The effect of 《Light》 continued in the room.

Come to think of it, he had practiced the method of how to make it bright as a countermeasure for night warfare, but he hadn’t thought of how to erase it.

Having gone out into the corridor alone, Shera screamed.

Part 3

This time, even Krum had jumped to her feet.

「What is happening -nanodaー!?」

Shera and──one more person entered this room that still had the 《Light》 effect going on.

Shera was grabbed by a hand that went around her to her back, and had a dagger thrust at her breasts. Her face was stiff from fear and surprise.

The attacker, was someone that Diablo’s group knew very well.

Rem raised her voice.

「Alicia!?」

Even the other party had a surprised look.

「Rem-sama!? Y, you were able to stay alive!?」

「……Yes……Because of your lies, I was about to be killed by Sadraa, but I was saved by Diablo and Shera.」

「Is that so.」

Alicia expressed a face that looked like she was relieved.

However, she immediately returned to her former severe atmosphere.

「Please do not move! I am serious.」

The tip of the dagger that was thrust at Shera touched the clothes that wrapped up those abundant breasts of hers.

「Hii!?」

Shera looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Right at the entrance to the room, Alicia, who had taken Shera hostage, was there.

Diablo and the others got down from the bed and put themselves on guard, but in this situation, they couldn’t make any careless movements.

Krum glared at her.

「How dare you appear before Maou -nanoda. As I will be tearing you limb from limb, you should release Shera.」

Despite having the appearance of a little girl, the intensity of that intent to kill was the geniune article. Enough to make them worry if she might turn into Demon King Krebskrum again.

Alicia swung her head vertically.

「……Once my business had ended, I will release Shera-sama, and then, whether it be tearing me limb from limb or something else, please do as you like.」

「Hou?」

「I have heard, Demon King-sama, that you are able to heal a Demonic Being’s wounds.」

「Of course -nanoda.」

「May I have you come this way?」

──They moved to the next room over.

Come to think of it, the room that Alicia rented remained just as it was.

Since they thought that she probably wouldn’t return, they didn’t visit it.

Purplish red liquid had fallen onto the floor in several places.

There was a young lady sleeping on the bed.

It was Edelgart.

「A Demonic Being!?」

Rem became alert but……

No matter how she looked at her, she had a serious wound. Purplish red blood was spread out on the sheets. The color of her skin had changed to a deathly pale color.

If she were a person of the Races, someone would surely think that she was a corpse. Since Demonic Beings would turn into grains of light and disappear when they die, she was probably still alive.

Diablo understood the situation.

「I see, so you two were connected. During the time that we met with Edelgart at 《Starfall Tower》 before, even though we hurriedly brought you along, Alicia, she didn’t ask who you were. I thought that it was strange at that time but……Come to think of it, although she didn’t confirm whether or not I could pour magical power, you had told her that I had learned it at the slave shop, didn’t you.」

Not just Alicia, even Rem and Shera had made surprised looks.

「As expected of you, Diablo-sama.」

「That’s amazing. To think that you would take notice of such small details, I had not considered that.」

「I didn’t notice at all!」

──Do I have a personality that minds the little details too much? Or could it be that the girls are surprisingly not paying enough attention to detail?

In any case, although he was bothered by the relationship between Alicia and Edelgart, in the end, he didn’t mention it, and since that almost led to Rem being killed, he couldn’t take pride in it.

Krum stood in front of the bed.

「So? Who was the one that took her down -noda? This fellow, I had thought that she was a pretty strong Demonic Being -nodagana?」

「It was the other Demonic Beings.」

「What? Why would a Demonic Being be taken down by a Demonic Being -noda?」

「We had planned Krebskrum-sama’s revival, and once that was completed, you would surely destroy the town’s barrier, is what we had thought.」

Alicia talked about the details of the Demonic Being side.

And then, while still holding the dagger towards Shera, she made an entreaty.

「I beg of you……Demon King Krebskrum-sama, somehow……please save Edelgart-sama.」

With her arms folded, Krum turned her head towards Diablo’s direction.

「What do you think -noda?」

「Go save her.」

──It would be too pitiful if she went and died.

No matter who the other person is, life is precious, is the thought that he had due to him being a peace-loving fool, and he didn’t consider being unreasonable and try to change that.

──Coming to this other world, there might be guys that would lose their resistance to people dying once they killed things like monsters, and then eventually grow accustomed to taking lives.

At the very least, Diablo was different.

If there were actually someone that was close to death right in front of him, he would want to save them, is what he believed.

Of course, he wouldn’t say something foolish like “if I have to kill, it would be better to be killed instead”, but if he had to choose, he would prefer that no one died.

Krum nodded.

「As long as you tell me to, Maou won’t mind healing Demonic Beings either -noda.」

She touched Edelgart with her small hand.

The purplish red blood got on it.

「Haaaaaaa!!」

When Krum put some feeling into it, Edelgart stirred.

「Ugh……uu…………」

「Teyaaaahhhhh!!」

Rem minded the door.

「……Is this alright? It is a pretty late hour.」

「Isn’t it fine? It was fine before when Rem made a loud voice after all.」

「Ugh」

At the time when her ears were attacked by Diablo, and the time when magical power was poured into her by Shera, Rem’s heavy breathing resounded quite a bit throughout the inn.

Krum’s spirited voice and Edelgart’s anguished voice continued.

「Toryaaaaahh!!」

「Aguh! Ugh……Kufuh!」

「Nshaah!!」

「Hah! Nkuuh, aaaaahhh!!」

「Neryah! Ah～……Since I am tired, I will do it quietly now -noda.」

Krum wiped the sweat on her forehead.

He reflexively made a retort.

「If you’re going to do it quietly, do that from the beginning!」

「Uーn……I could do that -noda, but～」

「Is there some kind of problem?」

「It wouldn’t give the feeling that something amazing is happening. Maou is amazing -nodazo!?」

「Yeah, you are amazing, you are amazing. So do it quietly. Or else we will be expelled from the inn.」

It is pretty scary when the 《Relief》Inn’s poster girl idol, Mei-chan, gets angry.

Krum closed her mouth and concentrated.

Edelgart raised a remarkably loud voice, and arched her back. And then, she collapsed in exhaustion.

It seemed that the bleeding had stopped.

Surprisingly, Edelgart immediately raised her body up. Even though she was so close to death just a little while ago!

Getting down from the blood stained bed, she got down to one knee on the floor.

「Demon King-sama, greatfully～, blessed! Gratitude? Gratitude!」

「Umu umu.」

「Um……Demon King-sama is～, alive? Why……turned back to original? Why?」

「Maou had something incredibly sad happen -noda. I thought that something sad had happened -noda. Then the world became deep red. But it wasn’t. Since I hadn’t awakened, I returned to normal -noda.」

「Is, that, so.」

「It is fine as long as Maou can eat biscuits -noda. Is there something wrong with that -nanoda?」

Edelgart bowed her head very deeply.

And then, she groaned.

「Don’t, understand……Don’t understand? Don’t understand! Demonic Beings are, things that kill people of Races. Things of destruction. Why?」

Krum tilted her head.

「Who knows? Maou is now living in a town of the Races. Let us stop such a sad thing already. If you will not listen to this command, you will no longer be Maou’s subordinate -noda.」

Edelgart consented.

「Swear……Will never again, oppose……Demon King……-sama’s, will.」

It would seem that there are no problems on this side. Edelgart was originally the type that could be talked to, and she places emphasis on loyalty towards the Demon King over killing people of the Races.

Part 4

Alicia released her hand from Shera. She also put away the dagger.

「Thank you very much. Now what will my punishment be?」

「……Could you tell us your reasons?」

Rem asked that question.

「The reason why I handed you over to Sadraa? It was for the sake of the Demon King’s revival, and because I am a Demon King Worshipper that desires the Demon King’s revival.」

「……So it would seem. But, what I want to know, why would you, a State Knight and daughter of Duke house, become something like a Demon King Worshipper.」

Alicia bit her back teeth.

Having a bad look in her eyes, she showed a vaguely rough expression. She was completely different from the sociable honors student air that she had up until now. It seems that this was closer to her unadulterated side.

「Mankind should just be destroyed──Have you ever had that thought? I’ll beat you to death, you shitty bastard! Have you ever shouted that in your mind?」

「……Putting the degree of it aside, I have gotten angry with others. Probably, a lot more than you think I have.」

「I was forced to take a “righteousness” that I cannot agree with……」

「……Going by your position, would that be in the Royal Capital?」

「Both of my parents, the other State Knights, the Cabinet Ministers in the royal palace……And then, even the King. For me, I can no longer help but see the people of the Races as something unsightly. Enough for me to wish for this world to be destroyed.」

Would she have been able to be saved if she had a more flexible, or maybe suitable, personality? Even if she had things that she disliked, what if she forgot about it by relaxing with other things.

──I guess I’m something similar, aren’t I?

If he was able to skillfully release his negative feelings, he might have become more proactive in life. He might have done his best in whatever in a good way. Would things have ended without him escaping into net games to the point of being called an invalid?

Alicia was someone that was too serious. That alone was what showed on both her inner and outer faces. No matter what she did, she earnestly exerted her all without making any compromise. As a result──even in her hatred against the Races, she seriously headed for their reduction. In the form of aiming for the Demon King’s revival.

Alicia stared at Krum.

「Demon King-sama, are you truly not considering trying to bring about the ruin of the Races?」

「So obstinate -noda. If I were to hate the people of the Races as much as you, I wouldn’t even fall to despair. To begin with, of the Races, I only know of the ones here and Peter.」

The one called Peter was a bakery in the south district and sold delicious biscuits. It was run by three sibling Grasswalkers but it’s said that it was the three of them put together that made up Peter. What the heck, that’s not a personal name but a unit name, isn’t it.

Alicia nodded.

「……Is that so……In that case, there is……no longer anything left for me.」

When she lowered her head, she once again pulled out the dagger that had been sheathed.

And then, she raised it up to the back of her own neck.

Rem panicked.

「Wh, what do you intend to do!?」

「I did not think that I would be forgiven for my betrayal towards all of you……In that case, I thought it would be best to end it all myself.」

「Don’t do something so stupid!」

「Do you think so? It is something that cannot be forgiven, is it not? Not threatened by someone, nor ordered to do so, I attempted to have Rem-sama killed as a sacrifice in order to revive Demon King-sama simply because I hoped for the massive killing of the Races, you know?」

「……I am amazed by your sincerity towards the mistaken direction. However, you do understand that not everyone is the same as you, right?」

「Of course I do. It is because I differ from them that I hold unpleasant feelings for those around me.」

「……In that case, please understand that I don’t wish for your death.」

「EH!?」

Even Diablo was surprised by this. In this recent matter, the one that faced the most cruelty was Rem.

Alicia asked with a face that said that she couldn’t believe it.

「What might be the meaning of this? Do you feel that I am your comrade because of how we saved Shera-sama? If that is the case, that is a misunderstanding. That was because there was an adequate chance of victory and I only cooperated with you all in order to become trusted. I am an enemy of the Races.」

「……In that case……Why, did you release Shera unharmed just now?」

Alicia was bewildered by Rem’s question.

「Eh? That is because I had promised to do so……」

「If you really wanted to kill the Races and already intended to commit suicide, then you should have been fine with stabbing Shera.」

Even though it was an example, Shera trembled from that talk being made. She hid behind Diablo.

「Th, that’s scary～」

「Be at ease. This is a speech about how Alicia’s words of “want to kill the Races” is a falsehood because she had not done that.」

「Nn～to……So in other words, does that mean that Alicia-san doesn’t hate the Races?」

「She must have people that she hates enough to want to kill them. However, at the very least, it would seem that you, Shera, weren’t put in her list of “people I absolutely want to kill before I die”. Good for you.」

「I did it!」

Shera raised up both hands.

Rem pointed her index finger.

「……Alicia, you feel strong hatred for someone of the Races, don’t you. However, you felt relieved by how I was alive, and there is a discrepancy in your words and actions from how you did not injure Shera.」

「I see. That is true.」

「……So how is it? Do you truly feel that you want to kill us?」

「It is just as you say, Rem-sama. I am a bit reluctant, but this might be where we should fight.」

「If you are reluctant, then please stop!」

「B, but, it is not good to leave things incomplete, and I must follow through with my words or else……」

「……Why are you so pointlessly diligent. Rather, don’t you think that what you are saying is strange?」

「I am not normal, after all. I……I have had enough of this! I did not have any expectations of being understood by others anyway. After all! I am all alone!」

In the end, Alicia did not slash at Rem, and tried to thrust the dagger at her own neck.

Rem extended her hand to try and stop her. However, there was no way that she would make it.

Shera raised a small scream and closed her eyes.

Krum and Edelgart basically had no concern about her losing her life, and calmly watched the scene.

Diablo chanted.

「《Arm Scrap》!!」

The tip of Alicia’s dagger hit her white throat.

At that instant──the blade crumbled.

As if the dagger were made out of sand, silver grains of sand smoothly spilled down and created a pile on the floor.

「Wha……!?」

Not just Alicia, even Rem, Shera, and Krum were surprised and gazed at Diablo.

Part 5

He saved her on the spur of the moment.

He needed to say something. Moments of silence are tough.

「Th, that just now was weapon destroying magic. Though it is restricted to weapons that have not been bestowed with magic.」

What he blurted out was an explanation of the magic.

He understood that this was different from the words that they were expecting, but if he were able to say something good in this sort of situation, he would have lived a life where he was better at dealing with things.

Incidentally, in the game, since 《Arm Break》 had no effect on equipment that was greater than Rare, it was of no use in Player battles, but it did have an effect in drastically shaving off the offensive ability of monsters that possessed weapons.

「……Erm……That is quite an amazing magic, but.」

Rem had a baffled expression.

Alicia made an imploring face and asked.

「Why, did you interfere? Diablo-sama, just what kind of thoughts were you thinking?」

──I wasn’t thinking anything at all!

I am really sorry!

It’s just that he didn’t want to see a person die right before his eyes, even moreso when it was person that was once a companion.

But valuing a person’s life, that wasn’t Demon King-like.

Edelgart, who had been silently kneeling until then, stood up.

「Dying, no meaning, to it.」

Everyone made a ”?” face. They had no idea what she was trying to say.

Maybe because she realized that she didn’t explain it enough, Edelgart added to her words.

「Even if you die～, Diablo and others get no profit. That’s why～, probably no meaning? No meaning!」

「Atone, is that what this means? But, how do I do it?」

Alicia looked at Diablo.

Even if she looked his way, he wasn’t thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of whether a person lives or dies in the first place. Demonic Beings are scary.

But even so, Diablo didn’t tear down his placid attitude. Now that it’s become like this, it required courage to speak his heart out and say “I don’t have the answer”.

「Hmph……what should you do, you ask? To not know something of that degree, you are surprisingly a dullard, aren’t you.」

──Although I don’t know either!

After worrying about it for a bit, Alicia nodded.

「After proving useful to Diablo-sama, I should die……that is what this means, correct?」

「U, umu.」

Die at the end your life span.

「However, is there anything that I am still able to do?」

Rem tilted her head.

「……Alicia, you are a State Knight. By stopping the deployment of the military, wouldn’t that mean that you helped us?」

「That depends if I still have my position as a State Knight. In regards to how I handed you, Rem-sama, over to Sadraa, I do not know how that will be reported to the royal capital.」

「……Is there someone to make that report? Sadraa and the others have died, and the ones that saw Diablo and Krebskrum’s fight are us……And then, I think Sylvie and Emil?」

「Apart from the army and the State Knights, His Majesty Dalesh Sandros seems to possess an independent intelligence network.」

This was his first time hearing the King’s name.

In the game, he should have only been refered to as “Lifelia’s King”. MMORPG Cross Reverie wasn’t of the military history genre, so things related to the country and the royal family were pretty much omitted.

If it were reported that “Alicia planned the Demon King’s revival”, not only would she lose her position as a State Knight, she would probably end up being pursued as a criminal.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「That does not matter.」

「Eh……?」

「Your position does not matter, that is what I am saying.」

「B, but……If I was no longer a State Knight, would that not mean I have no value……」

Things like her personal history or her position, whether she would prove useful or not, Diablo didn’t care for any of that.

──What’s wrong with being a shut-in NEET! It’s society that’s in the wrong! A world where you can’t live if you don’t work is wrong! A world that makes me work should just be destroyed!

However, it seemed like she wasn’t bursting with such shut-in NEET-like thoughts. Thinking about how to explain it to her, Rem nodded, looking like she agreed.

「It is just as Diablo says.」

──Eh?

No, calm down. It wasn’t about the shouting in my head, it was probably about the remark of “your position does not matter”.

Rem asked a question to Alicia.

「……Your position as a State Knight, is that something that the important people of the country decided?」

「Of course it is.」

「Alicia, the ones that you despise, it isn’t us, but those important people, right?」

「Th, that is correct……That is exactly it. But, I do not understand. Just……what is it that I should do?」

「……As for that, I don’t know either.」

Rem and the others looked at Diablo.

He was troubled when they brought up difficult topics like the country or people’s lives. He didn’t have rich judgment that would just point out the answer with a snap.

All that he did have was experience within the game.

However, Demon Kings weren’t allowed to respond with an “I don’t know”. In terms of their image that is.

Diablo curved the ends of his lips, and daringly smiled.

「There is only annihilation!」

「EH!?」

「Th, that is……」

Naturally, both Alicia and Rem were bewildered. Shera made a face that said that she didn’t understand.

On the contrary, Krum deeply nodded her head.

「That is exactly it -nanoda! If you don’t like something, whether it be the country or the king, just simply get rid of them!」

「Ohh～, at last, Demon King-sama is……Motivated? Motivated! She is!!」

Edelgart’s eyes sparkled.

「Diablo-sama, thank you very much. I was about to meaninglessly throw my life away. For signifying the path that I should go down, you have my heartfelt gratitude, and I pledge to you my eternal loyalty.」

「Umu.」

To be completely honest, Diablo didn’t signify a single thing. Everyone else just explained things on their own and roused her up.

──That being said, since the problem has been postponed, I guess that’s good enough.

Rather than having a corpse of a State Knight lying in the room, this is probably a much better conclusion.

Rem held her hand out towards Alicia.

「……I can’t forgive your betrayal so easily, but even if you were to die, I wouldn’t be happy about it. I don’t approve of the overthrowing if the Kingdom of Lifelia either but……If the upper echelon of the kingdom have actions they should be convicted for, then I shall cooperate.」

「Certainly, as things are now, it cannot be helped that you think of it as my own unjustifed resentments. I will gather a suitable amount of proof.」

Alicia grasped the hand that was held out to her.

They were having a dangerous conversation, but because of the friendly atmosphere that they had somehow created, Shera made a smiling face.

「This is great, isn’t it, Diablo.」

「It is.」

We’ll make an attack on the royal capital at once──I really am thankful that things didn’t stream into that course of events.

Edelgart pouted her lips, looking uninterested.

Krum, maybe because she woke up in the middle of the night, looked a bit sleepy.

Suddenly, Diablo noticed small eyes gazing at him from the crevice of the wall and ceiling. It was a small grey animal.

It was the mouse again.

Diablo got irritated.

「Tsk……A mere mouse sneaking about. How about I just blow you up along with the ceiling……」

Of course, he wasn’t serious, but he turned one hand towards the rat.

Maybe because it understood words, it panickedly withdrew. And then just as he thought that things had finished with that, that mouse screamed its death throes.

──What is that!?

Did something, exist in there!?

The corpse of the mouse that was twisted and crushed fell to the floor.

A black, viscous liquid slimily spilled down from the crevice of the wall and ceiling.

Part 6

「Kukuku……To think that my 《Shadow Diving》 would be noticed……As I thought, you are no ordinary Magician -degozaruna!」[1]

When the black viscous liquid that looked like coal tar accumulated on the floor, it rose up. That black mass that was about the size of a child──changed into the shape of a person.

It had black clothes and a katana on its back.

Its mouth was covered by an iron mask, so its facial expression couldn’t be grasped.

That appearance was, it was truly that which came from Nippon, or rather, from Japan.

──A ninja!? A ninja, why!?

Everyone other than Diablo showed unrest by the strangely dressed opponent that had suddenly appeared.

Shera, who had sharp senses, was especially surprised.

「I, I didn’t know he was here at all!? Diablo, you’re amazing!?」

Of course, Diablo was also surprised, but with the Demon King role play that was deeply ingrained into him, he maintained his completely placid attitude.

「Hmph……Who are you?」

「Being His Majesty’s eyes and ears, I am one that becomes His sword -degozaru.」

Alicia bit at these words.

「That is not possible! That should be the duty of the State Knights. I have never seen a suspiciously dressed State Knight like you before!」

「Kukuku……I am amazed that you could spout that despite having said that you would overthrow the Kingdom of Lifelia. I am no decoration like that of those State Knights, I am a shinobi that secretly maneuvers in the shadows for the sake of the monarch──by the name of Kuzukage」

MMORPG Cross Reverie is based off of European style fantasy, but there were ninja costumes as joke equipment. There were also Samurai, as well as Western Gunmen.

He thought that it was limited to the game, but to think that it existed here as well……This felt too loose from the world view.

Rem and Shera were suspicious of him.

「Wh, what is this person!?」

「A strange appearance!」

──As I thought, this seems to be unfamiliar equipment in this world.

Diablo readied his 《Staff of Tenma》.

The distance between them was less than five steps. Going by the ninja blade that he carried on his back, he was probably a Warrior-type. Diablo was at a disadvantage in terms of fighting location and starting position, but he couldn’t back down here.

「Hmph, putting aside that I have seen something unusual…..So you are the Lifelia King’s spy. I cannot allow you to go back just like this.」

「Kukuku……That is the same for me. Now that you have seen this appearance, I cannot allow you to live -degozaru.」

「You damned fool, you should open your mouth after considering the situation.」

「Situation? One traitor, three demi-humans, and two Demonic Beings……These are no more than numbers before my ninjutsu -gozaranu.」

「Hmph, who said that it was a problem of numbers?」

「Hohou?」

「Towards this Demon King Diablo, “I cannot allow you to live”, you say? Know your place, you miscellaneous soldier.」

「Kukuku……What a pleasant demi-human. Allow me to teach you which one of us is a miscellaneous soldier.」

Kuzukage’s figure disappeared.

──Teleporation!?

The opponent ran past with enough speed to make him think that.

With a *Puhn!*, blood spurt out from Diablo’s right arm. The upper arm portion of 《The Hollow of Jet Black》 was cut.

At the opposite side of the room, the sound of the ninja blade being sheathed was made.

「Nin」

Kuzukage had two fingers erect in front of his mouth.

Diablo turned around and glared at the enemy.

──He’s, considerably fast.

If it’s just in terms of speed, he was greater than Feudal Lord Galford. Even so, Diablo couldn’t show any timidness.

「What? Was that all?」

「Do not prattle. There is no way that a mere Magician could keep up with my movements!」

Once again, Kuzukage ran.

This time, Diablo’s left arm was cut even deeper than before. Furthermore, he returned and did another attack.

Kicking off the wall, kicking off the ceiling, he freely ran about the room, swinging his blade.

Diablo’s injuries steadily increased.

His blood was dripping onto the floor.

「Fuhahahaha! How is it, Magician! This is the power of a Shinobi!!」

Diablo stuck out the 《Staff of Tenma》.

It bashed into the face of the quipping Kuzukage.

「Gobubeh!?」

He was blown away.

Right before his back banged against the wall, Kuzukage just barely corrected his posture and landed on the wall.

He then got down onto the floor.

The mask in front of his mouth was crushed and fell. With a *buwah*, a nosebleed gushed out, and dripped onto the floor. It was black blood that looked like coal tar.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「So? When will you teach me “which one of us is the miscellaneous soldier”, miscellaneous soldier?」

With a *giri*, Kuzukage ground his teeth.

「You mean to say that a mere Magician was able to see it!? My 《Shadow Running》!?」

「It would seem that you are misunderstanding something. I am sure that I said it, I am not a Magician. I am a Demon King of another world!」

──Fast is fast, but the standard countermeasure against Magicians is the bow and arrow. Compared to rapidly fired bows, it was bit slower.

No matter how fast it was, he could at least see through a Warrior-type’s charge attack. If he didn’t have at least that amount of reaction speed, he wouldn’t have been able to fight against Archer-type Players.

──Though, if his movements were more complex, the counterattack would have been difficult.

In truth, he wanted to use magic, but against an opponent that was this fast, it was too dangerous to be in a stiffened state. At the very least, he wanted to fire it off on a battlefield that was outside.

Kuzukage swung his arm.

「《Flying Kunai》!!」

Of all things, the one that he made the target of the attack was Krum.

The diamond shaped edged tools that looked like the tips of a spear flew, and they aimed at her forehead.

Making a high-pitched *Kaーn!* sound, the kunai were repelled.

Kuzukage’s eyes went wide open.

「Nwhat!?」

Krum glared at him.

「You……To think that you would throw things at Maou, you have some nerve -nanoda. How about I teach you what true fear is.」

A black lightning bolt coiled about in her small hand. Was it magic? Was it a special action?

Before Krum fired off some kind of attack──Edelgart, who was burning with anger, charged at him.

「Doing that to Demon King-sama! You, will kill! 《Sacrifice Charge》!!」

It was a martial art that fired using a lance. Since she was currently unarmed, she stuck out her fist.

Although it grazed his cheek, Kuzukage twisted his body and avoided it.

「GUUuUuUo──!?」

「Charge at him, 《Aslau》!!」

A gigantic bull that possessed three horns──the one that made the summoned beast charge at him was Rem.

Prior to Kuzukage’s escape from that at almost the same time, three arrows were fired. So this was the Archer-type’s martial art 《Triangle Shot》.

It was Shera.

They had thought that Shera had excelled as a bow user since long ago, but to think that she could even use martial arts……

「Injuring Diablo, and aiming at Krum-chan! That’s unforgivable!」

Although the attacks were dodged by Kuzukage no matter what it was, for Diablo, it had bought plenty of time.

──I can’t get used to group battles where I have allies, but it’s true that it’s easier when there is a vanguard.

His magic was completed.

Diablo turned the 《Staff of Tenma》 towards Kuzukage.

「I am not so soft hearted as to value the life of an opponent that attacked with the intent to kill, you know? Regret the fact that you opposed a Demon King in the realm of the dead! 《Burst Rain》!!」

A magic with a narrow range could be evaded by a fast enemy.

This was a ranged magic that fired several fireballs.

Kuzukage opened a scroll.

「《Concealing Water》……!!」

An oni had descended.

An oni by the name of a large claim for damages.

Part 7

Going *nikkori*, the inn’s poster girl──Mei expressed a smile.

「Dear cus~tomer? It becomes troubling when a wall disappears☆」

She is smiling, but it felt as if the characters 『gogogogogogo……』[1] could be seen at her back.

She was unmistakably angry.

Well, if a wall of the inn was scattered away, it’s only natural for her to be angry.

Rem lowered her head.

「……We are sorry……There is a reason for all of this.」

「No, it’s fine. It’s alright. Mei-chan, is a girl that can used to something like this, and this is the third time for you customers, right?」

「……We will pay for the reparations.」

The first time, the first store was destroyed by a Demonic Being. It seemed that the country helped in this one.

And then, the second time, a wall was destroyed by Adventurers. Naturally, the claim went to the guys that broke it.

However, this time, it seems that it was a spy of the king. On top of that, the opponent was pulverized with magic. They probably had no choice but to pay for it themselves.

Alicia stepped forward.

「I truly apologize that things have turned into this sort of situation. I feel that this may not be enough but……」

She took out a small pendant from pocket of her clothes. It had a scarlet gem attached to it.

Mei received it, and checked it with the light of the candlestick that she held.

「Nn～, it looks like the gem is genuine, but I don’t think that this will be enough～☆」

「Y, yes.」

As expected of the daughter of a noble, Alicia had a large amount of money on her, but when it came to repairing a partially destroyed building, the amount of money needed was in a different league.

With the economic strength of Diablo’s group, they could do nothing about it. Even under normal standards, they were in the red with the costs of Krum’s biscuits.

Rem talked sounding as if she were groaning.

「……This is worrisome. If we don’t pay up, we will most likely be expelled from the inn. Since Faltra City prohibits sleeping outdoors within the city in order to maintain public order, we will also have to leave the city……」

「What!?」

「……Not just that, the police might be called. If that were to happen──Ah!」

Rem noticed their blunder and opened her eyes wide.

Diablo also noticed too late.

At almost the same time, Mei was astonished and raised a scream.

「Nigyah!? Th, those girls are……!?」

What lied at the end of her gaze was, Edelgart.

──What a huge blunder!

Because various troublesome things had occured, the coping of it was delayed. Something like a Demonic Being being in the town, that was something that one couldn’t shut their eyes to.

Because she was in her sleep-wear, Krum’s tail was exposed.

Mei stepped back.

「C, could it be……A Demonic Being -nya!? Is it because M, Mei-chan is too cute that she looks delicious and you’re going to eat her!?」

「……」

Edelgart stepped forward. She held her hand out.

──Oi, she couldn’t be planning on killing her, could she!?

He remember that she bisected the bodies of five bandits for the reason of “being witnessed”.

He was going to hurriedly try and stop her but……There was no need for that.

What was held in Edelgart’s hand wasn’t a weapon, but a large drop of a jewel.

It had a size around that of a coin.

「This～, is……needed? Have, lots.」

「Nya!?」

「It sparkles, is pretty. With this～……Demonic Beings, barter, for things like weapons and food.」

So there is currency even among Demonic Beings.

No, is it a bartering system through the use of jewels?

Even Rem and Shera’s eyes were shining.

「……A, amazing……What a large and radiant diamond.」

「It’s so pretty! It’s so pretty!」

「As expected of Edelgart-sama.」

Alicia smiled.

Mei, whose face had frozen up in fear just a second ago, received the jewel and gazed at it with a serious face.

「A, amazing -nya……This can’t be evaluated unless it is done at a specialist shop……But it certainly does have enough worth to rebuild a run-down inn from scratch and still have change leftover -nya……」

After she plainly muttered that, she went *hah*, and returned to her usual business smile.

「Ahah☆ Dear customers, be at ease in your stay here -nya! Ah, that’s right, until the wall is fixed, another room will be prepared for you☆」

That was a magnificent change in attitude.

Rem was surprised and asked.

「Is, is that alright!? These people are Demonic Beings though……!?」

「As long as money is paid, they are customers～」

「……Are you not scared? Even though you had received a Demonic Being’s attack not too long ago.」

「Rem-chan, you see……The thing called business, it’s a life risking thing, you know? Kira (sparkle)☆」

It seems that the management of 《Relief》 is surprisingly tough. This probably means that living is hard for anyone.

Mei turned her sparkling business smile towards Edelgart.

「Ehehe☆ Since we also serve breakfast, come to the dining hall once it’s morning, ‘kay☆」

「Got……it.」

「Ah, but, Demonic Beings, what do they eat? Things like frogs?」

「Edelgart～, likes……fish.」

Come to think of it, since Krum’s favorite food was biscuits, their palate might not be all that different from the Races.

「OK☆ We’ll prepare you some fish!」

「Also……Wild boar, and deer……」

「Say everything you like!」

「Cat」

「Hii～～～!?」

Not just Mei, even Rem shrank away.

So it feels like she’ll eat any wild animals that are in the forest.

Shera became worried.

「But, Edelgart-san, won’t it be bad if you are seen by the other customers?」

With a *pin*, Mei’s index finger went up.

「It’s fine☆ Leave that to Mei-chan -nya!」

A few minutes later──

Diablo was surprised.

「Y, you! Were you actually a Magician!?」

She used makeup techniques that were magnificent enough to make him say that.

Mei puffed up her chest in pride with a “how do you like that” face.

「How’s that -nya! Girls transform, you know☆」

「Ooー……?」

Edelgart’s skin that was lined with small scales had become completely smooth and glossy. Her legs were in black tights, and her hands were covered with white gloves.

For her lizard-like pupils, on top of wearing thick glasses, her forelocks hung down and hid them.

She awkwardly said the words that she was taught.

「W, welcome～, back? Goshujin-sama?」

Krum was made to wear an idol-like outfit.

Since she had transparent-like skin that had no need for makeup, eyeshadow was put on her eyelids, and eyeliner was put on the underside. With a hat, her horns were made to look like decorations.

In order to hide her tail, she wore a parasol-like skirt.

Krum was in high spirits and made a sideways peace sign.

「Kira kira (Sparkle sparkle) -nanoda☆」

「Eheh☆ Kira kira -da nya!」

Part 8

The next day──

Alicia headed towards the Royal Capital.

Although the King’s spy, Kuzukage, was pulverized, there was no telling what kind of information was transmitted. It was dangerous.

However, her resolution was strong.

「For Diablo-sama’s sake as well, I will definitely find evidence of the King’s misgovernment, and investigate the Royal Capital’s war potential and layout.」

「U, umu……Be sure to make your life the maximum priority. For I am not in any rush. Rather, I have recently been thinking that a slow life might be good too……」

「In the overthrowing of the Lifelia Kingdom, is it!」

──There is no slow life like that!

Although he made a retort in his mind, he expressed a fearless smile in a Demon King-like way and saw her off.

After that, Edelgart went to the bakery Peter as Krum’s attendant, and was really into the fish sandwich.

A fish sandwich was where a freshwater fish was deep fried and inserted into bread.

To be completely honest, it was a menu choice that wasn’t all that popular but……the palate of Demonic Beings might be peculiar.

「Ama, zing……Similar! To Demon King-sama’s conferred~, magic power! Bliss? Bliss!」

This was a compliment, but they were also words that the guys at Peter couldn’t be allowed to hear.

Being deeply moved by the taste of other cuisine as well, Edelgart became completely engrossed by the meals of the Races.

Even with Krum, she seemed to have recognized that there were biscuits from places other than the bakery, and that there were confectioneries similar to it. The two of them made a hobby of trying food at various restaurants.

「Listen well! Maou has discovered a new truth -noda! A path towards the supreme was opened by means of a jet black power!」

While listening to that speech, Shera nodded.

「Yup, yup, chocolate biscuits are delicious too.」

「It’s supreme -nanoda! I will buy more -noda! I will buy it all -nanoda!」

「You can only have 500 F worth of snacks a day, you know?」

「Mumumu……Chocolate is the supreme, but how expensive it is is where it is no good!」

That was a truth that really reeked of the common people.

Cocoa seemed to be a treasure in Faltra City, so chocolate had a price that would make it be called an extravagance.

Incidentally, Diablo thought that cheese bread was the ultimate food. The surface was crispy and had syrupy cheese and tomato inside.

Such a peaceful life continued for about half a month.